Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
Saturday, 12 September 1998
After spending awhile at the graveyard, the group took the floo back to Grimmauld Place where Draco and Harry easily agreed to have dinner with Narcissa and Andromeda. The two sisters spent the dinner reminiscing about their youngest cousin.
Around 7:00, Draco mentioned that they should probably head back so they could have some time before the party that night. After saying their goodbyes and making plans for Teddy to spend the following Saturday at Grimmauld as well – so Harry wouldn’t have to worry about reigning it in at Hermione’s birthday party – the boys headed back to Hogwarts. Harry decided to apparate them back into his quarters instead of using the floo so he could talk to Draco in private before they were around all of their friends again.
They were greeted by Neville who was sitting on Harry’s couch chatting with Salazar about his travels, “hello Sal, Neville,” Harry greeted.
Neville stood up and immediately pulled Harry into a hug, “how’d it go?”
“It went great,” Harry said, hugging his brother back and happily soaking up the comfort, “I’ll tell you the details some other time.”
“Alright,” Neville agreed, holding onto the hug for another minute before pulling away to greet Draco.
“Draco,” Harry started, “Neville knows everything you know but there are very few people who do. I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t talk about … anything … I told you today.”
“Of course, Hades,” Draco promised.
“Thank you,” Harry said with a tired smile, “if you want to go back to your dorm, my front door will bypass the other floors of this tower and lead you immediately to the entrance on the 3rd floor.”
“Sounds good,” Draco said, smiling back, “I’ll see you two tonight?”
“We’ll be there,” Neville responded.
After Draco left, Neville confirmed that they’d eaten dinner before sending Harry to go take a shower.
* * *
When Harry was done, he stepped into his room to get ready for the evening and found Theo laying in his bed reading a book.
“How’d you get here?” Harry asked in shock.
“Not happy to see me?” Theo responded with an overly-exaggerated pout.
“I’m always happy to see you,” Harry said with a smile, his first genuine one since that morning, “but how’d you get into the tower?”
“Neville,” Theo said with a shrug.
“Should’ve guessed,” Harry said, shaking his head, “do you know what time we’re supposed to be at this party?”
“I wasn’t given an exact time, but Pansy said after dinner was done so I’d bet around 9:00.”
A glance at his watch told Harry it was only 7:30, meaning they had time before they needed to be anywhere.
“You look exhausted,” Theo said, “do you want to take a nap before heading over? I can stay here and make sure you wake up in time.”
Harry weighed that option for a moment but then he looked at Theo again. His kind, intelligent, understanding, and ridiculously gorgeous boyfriend was laying on his bed in jeans and a t-shirt, muggle clothes Harry and Hermione had talked their pureblood friends into buying at the end of the summer. He had one hand behind his head, and he was looking over with so much care in his eyes it made Harry’s breath catch.
“I think I have another idea,” Harry said with a smirk.
“And what’s that?”
In answer, Harry dropped his towel and crawled onto the bed, straddling Theo and pulling him into a searing kiss.
“Good idea,” Theo murmured against Harry’s lips.
“I have my moments.”
In a brief moment of clarity, Harry waved his hand to lock the bedroom door and throw up a silencing charm in case Neville decided to come back and check in.
“Merlin,” Theo whined, “do you understand how stupidly attractive your casual use of wandless, wordless magic is?”
“Have a thing for power, Nott?”
“Only when it’s yours.”
“God,” Harry breathed out, pulling back slightly, “that’s fucking hot.”
Obviously displeased at the lack of contact, Theo wrapped his hand around the back of Harry’s neck, tangling his fingers in messy black curls, and pulled Harry back down to kiss him soundly.
“Needy,” Harry mumbled in a teasing tone.
“Mhm,” Theo murmured before pulling back slightly to begin pressing kisses across Harry’s cheek and down his neck, stopping to bite down on his collar bone before continuing down, peppering kisses across Harry’s chest.
Harry snapped out of his reverie long enough to pull at the hem of Theo’s shirt.
“You want it off, love?”
“Please,” Harry said, just this side of begging.
“Anything for you,” Theo said, sitting up slightly to pull his shirt over his head.
Harry wasted no time in shoving Theo back down against the pillows, pulling him into a messy kiss, tongues battling for dominance, hands exploring bodies and tugging at hair. When Theo was properly blissed out on the kiss alone, Harry pulled back and began a trail of kisses from cheek to chest. When he reached Theo’s hip, he looked up with mischief in his eyes and a smirk on his lips before teasing at the button of his boyfriend’s jeans.
“Please,” Theo begged.
“Only because you asked so nicely, darling.”
Theo tried his hardest not to blush at the petname. But, if Harry’s responding grin was any indication, he failed miserably.
Harry made quick work of unbuttoning Theo’s jeans, continuing to pepper kisses across his hips and lower stomach before pulling off his trousers and pants in one fell swoop.
Keening at the brush of cold air against his quickly hardening length, Theo reached down to tangle his fingers in Harry’s curls once again.
Wasting no time, Harry licked a stripe up the underside of Theo’s dick. Then, glancing up at him to make sure he was watching, sucked him down to the root.
It took every ounce of self-control Theo possessed to stop himself from thrusting up.
Harry took control, wrapping his hands around Theo’s hips to hold him against the bed and setting an unrelenting pace. When he could tell Theo was getting close, he ran one of his hands down between Theo’s thighs and ran a gentle finger across his entrance.
“Harry,” Theo gasped, “if you do that I’m gonna –”
“That’s the point, darling,” Harry interrupted before returning to his ministrations.
Theo couldn’t hold himself back any longer, finishing down Harry’s throat with a cry.
Harry gave him no time to recover, reaching up and grabbing one of the pillows, he placed it underneath Theo’s hips before muttering a protective charm and a spell to conjure lube in quick succession.
This is new, Theo found himself thinking through the haze. He pulled himself together enough to ask, “you sure?”
“If it’s alright with you,” Harry said in a casual tone, “I’d really like to fuck you.”
“Salazar, Hadrian,” Theo breathed out, “please.”
“Anything for you,” Harry echoed, leaning down to kiss Theo soundly.
Theo jumped slightly at the feeling of Harry’s lube-slick finger teasing at his entrance again but quickly relaxed into the touch.
When one finger wasn’t enough, Harry slid in a second, scissoring his fingers carefully, pressing kisses across Theo’s face, neck, and chest until he was painfully hard and begging Harry to fuck him.
Harry, never one to tell Theo no, quickly lubed up his own length and pressed himself against Theo’s arse.
“You sure you’re ready?” Harry asked.
“Positive,” Theo said, “now, please, Harry, fuck me.”
Ever so slowly, inch-by-inch, Harry slid in, making sure to allow Theo time to adjust before moving.
Once he’d set his pace, he reached down to stroke Theo in time with his thrusts. Theo grasped at Harry’s hair and dug his nails into Harry’s back hard enough to draw blood, Harry simply thrust faster in response. When he felt himself getting too close to the edge, he slowed his pace, focusing on hitting Theo’s prostate with each thrust, stroking him until he was practically writhing, begging for release.
Leaning down, Harry pulled Theo into a messy kiss and increased his pace until he felt Theo’s entire body tense, clenching down on Harry’s length, warm release spreading between their stomachs. Theo’s face when he finished was enough to send Harry over the edge.
Breathing hard, Harry did his best to collapse next to Theo, rather than on top of him, and failed rather spectacularly.
After a minute, both boys caught their breath. Theo turned his head to the side, reaching up to push Harry’s messy curls off his forehead and press a kiss right on top of his scar.
“I think you might need another shower, love,” Theo said with a light chuckle.
“Join me?”
Theo smiled, “How could I possibly say no to that offer.”
* * *
By the time they got out of the shower, it was 8:30 and they needed to get ready for the party.
Theo searched around the room for his discarded clothes, getting dressed quickly. He turned around to find Harry staring at his wardrobe, smiling to himself, he walked up behind his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist and leaned his forehead against Harry’s shoulder, “everything alright, love?”
“I buried my father today, I miss Teddy even though I saw him two hours ago, I’m thinking about when we should tell everyone we’re together,” he paused for a second, “and I don’t know what to wear.”
Trying his hardest not to laugh at the word vomit, Theo said “why don’t we start with clothes and then we can talk about everything else?”
“Alright,” Harry said, taking a deep breath, “what do you think I should wear?”
Humming lightly, Theo stepped toward Harry’s wardrobe and pulled out a pair of light wash jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a maroon hoodie.
“Here,” he said, holding out the clothes, “these all look nice on you, they’re comfortable, and you have layers if you get warm.”
Nodding his thanks, Harry started to get dressed, pausing when he heard Theo clear his throat.
Harry looked up in question, “I didn’t ask earlier,” Theo said, “I was a little distracted, but care to explain your new jewelry? And also, maybe, the third knife I see in your holster over there?”
“Ah, this,” he said, holding up his necklace, “is Mum’s engagement ring, these” he continued, holding up his right hand, “are Papa and Mum’s wedding rings, I already had Dad’s, but I got the others today.”
“That’s nice, love,” Theo said with a soft smile before putting on a mock-stern face and continuing, “and the knife?”
“Peverell ritual knife, I needed it for this morning and Death who, fun fact, is also named Hadrian, said it’d probably be best to keep it on me.”
“Ignoring the part about Death having the same name as you for the moment, how do you continue waltzing about the school as a walking armory?”
Harry just shrugged and responded, “I never exactly asked anyone permission, so no one’s had a chance to tell me no.”
“That should be your new life’s motto.”
“I rather like it,” Harry said with a cheeky grin, before pulling on his hoodie and holding out his arms, “how do I look?”
“Lovely as always,” Theo answered, reaching out to run a hand through Harry’s damp curls, “now, what weapons are we bringing to a party full of our friends?”
“I’m pretty sure I have to carry all of them,” Harry answered, “the Slytherin Grimoire is clear that the Lord should have the family ritual knife on them at all times, Godric was rather insistent that we each carry a fighting dagger otherwise he was going to make us start walking around with full on swords, as a Warrior of the Nation I’m meant to have my gifted weapon on me so that means the fang is a must, and I need to have at least one wand on me so I suppose I could leave the Peverell dagger and my holly wand behind.”
“Might it be smart to leave one wand behind every so often, so you know you have a backup somewhere safe?”
Harry shot Theo a slightly offended look, “I have four family vaults full of wands and you really think this is my only back up wand? Who do you think I am?”
“Forgive me,” Theo said, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “I’d forgotten you were schooled in paranoia by Alastor Moody himself.”
“Constant vigilance!” Harry barked, maintaining a straight face for all of five seconds before he cracked a grin, “anyways,” he said, shaking his head, “it really does seem excessive but at least my scythe is stored in that sort of shadow space along with the Cloak, so I don’t have to actually carry it.”
“Did you just say your scythe?”
“Did I forget to mention that?”
“I believe you did.”
“Ah, well, I have a scythe.”
“I heard,” Theo deadpanned, “did you want to talk about anything else you mentioned before we go to this party or would you like to wait?”
Thinking for a moment, Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “I think wait, my thoughts are still rather scrambled and I’d like to focus on having fun.”
“Sounds good love,” Theo said, pulling Harry into a hug and taking a deep breath, “want to head over?”
“Sure, let’s check and see if Nev is in his room”
* * *
After collecting Neville in his room and Susan on the stairs down, the group of four 8th Years headed into the hall, “I’m really not sure what to expect,” Susan commented, “I know what Hufflepuff and Gryffindor parties were like, but I have no clue what went down at Slytherin parties.”
“We didn’t really party much,” Theo said with a shrug, “a lot of people were really focused on appearances, so parties were few and far between, what about the Ravenclaws?”
“Unless it was a party after a quidditch victory, they usually just joined Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Their tower was usually pretty quiet,” Harry answered.
“I guess that makes sense,” Theo mused, “but, like Susan said, I have no clue what to expect tonight.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Neville said, stepping up to the portrait and speaking the password.
When the group stepped through the portrait hall, they walked into the absolute last scene they’d expected; a completely silent common room.
Everyone was there, but it was entirely silent.
“What is going on here?” Harry asked.
“We can’t agree on what to do,” Padma informed him.
“Um,” Harry said, “party?”
“No shit, Potter,” Seamus teased, “we can’t agree on what that means.”
“Haven’t you been planning this all week?”
“We have,” Pansy confirmed, “but we didn’t exactly think past time, place, food, and alcohol.”
“Well, we have the essentials,” Harry said before turning to Neville, “you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Almost always,” Neville said with a manic grin.
“No,” Dean said.
“Absolutely not,” Seamus added.
“You two are barmy.” Ron finished.
“What is going on?” Draco asked.
“Think it’ll be easier or harder to break into Slughorn’s stores now?” Harry asked instead of responding.
Hermione caught on quickly, “no, we are not playing truth or dare with Veritaserum."
"Why not,” Harry whined.
“It’s so much fun,” Neville added in the same tone.
“Weasley’s right,” Draco said, “you two really are barmy.”
“Ugh fine,” Harry sighed, “we could just play truth or dare and if you don’t want to answer or do the dare you take a shot? It’d be lower stakes than our way.”
“That works,” Pansy said, “and while we’re playing, think of other drinking games to suggest.”
“Alright,” Lavender said with a shrug, “it’s our first time drinking all together so this will probably be easier than just launching into an all-out rager.”
“Right as always, Lav,” Harry said with a grin, “get into a circle, people!” he yelled, clapping his hands, “it’s time to get trashed and embarrass each other!”
“Alright everyone,” Ron stage whispered, “Harry is nearly incapable of turning down a direct challenge so give him your worst.”
“You’re the worst Ronald.”
“You love me, really.”
“Whatever,” Harry said, waving him off, “now, the premise of the game is incredibly simple, but does anyone have any questions? No, okay, pour yourself a shot and let’s get going, who wants to start?”
“I’ll start!” Seamus yelled, turning toward Neville, “truth or dare, Longbottom?”
“Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss Harry.”
“Why is this always your first dare?”
“Cause it’s funny.”
“Is it?” Neville asked with a long-suffering sigh before rolling his eyes and giving Harry a quick peck.
“Finnegan, your sense of humor leaves much to be desired,” Harry said.
“Neville’s turn!” Seamus said instead of responding to his friends’ protests.
Laughing at Seamus’ antics, Neville looked around the circle for a minute before deciding, “Zabini, truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Blaise said after a moment’s thought.
“If you had to be in any house other than Slytherin, which would you pick?”
“Probably Ravenclaw,” Blaise answered with a shrug, Neville ignored the scandalized looks the other Gryffindors were sending him for asking such a tame question, “Granger,” Blaise said, “truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Were the rumors about you and Harry in fourth year true?”
Looking across the circle, Hermoine made eye contact with Harry who immediately burst out laughing, followed closely by the rest of the Gryffindors and most of the Hufflepuffs.
“What’s so funny?” Blaise asked.
“Do you not remember when he told us he was dating Diggory fourth year?” Theo asked, smiling at his friend.
“Okay, well, maybe not during 4th year,” Blaise hedged.
“You can re-phrase your question, Zabini,” Ron asked with a grin.
Rolling his eyes, Blaise asked, “have you and Potter ever hooked up?”
That sent the lions into another fit of laughter.
“Now I really don’t understand what’s so funny.” Blaise said throwing his hands up.
“They’re like siblings,” Padma choked out, “that’d be like asking if Harry and Neville ever hooked up.”
“I literally just watched them kiss,” Blaise protested.
“That’s just because Seamus has a sick sense of humor,” Dean said, “but Harry and Hermione are totally platonic.”
“Dean’s right,” Hermione answered, “no, nothing has ever happened between Harry and I.”
“I really don’t understand why people keep thinking that.” Harry said.
“If you saw how the two of you dance at parties you’d understand,” Lavender said, raising an eyebrow at Harry.
“That’s valid.” Harry said with a shrug.
“What does that mean?” Theo asked, looking over at Harry.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Harry said with a teasing grin.
“No!” Ron yelled.
“What?” Harry asked, looking over at his friend.
“We don’t have the record player anymore! What’re we going to do for music?”
“I have a solution but you’re going to have to wait a week.”
“What’s in a week?” Hermione asked.
Ron and Harry just stared at her until she realized, “oh!” she said grinning, “my birthday! Alright,” she said, turning back to the circle, “my turn, Pansy, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Did you actually date Draco?”
“Absolutely not.” Pansy responded.
“That’s like asking if you and Hades dated.” Draco added.
After the laughter died down, Pansy turned toward Theo with a slightly wicked grin. Theo swallowed hard, knowing exactly what was coming.
“Theodore,” Pansy said, “truth or dare?”
“Truth.” Theo answered in a rather defeated tone.
“Why did you arrive to this party, freshly showered might I add, from Founder’s Tower rather than your own dorm?”
Theo looked to Harry for an indication of how he should answer, Harry shrugged which Theo took as permission to tell the truth, or at least part of it, “I was with Harry.”
“That is not the full answer, Theodore, and you know it.”
“That’s what you’re getting, Parkinson.”
Pansy slumped back in her chair, crossing her arms with a huff. Theo just smiled and shook his head before turning to ask Susan, “truth or dare?”
An hour and a half later, everyone was pleasantly drunk and the game had devolved into people just chatting.
Theo looked across the room where Harry was sitting between Hermione and Lavender smiling and chatting, smiling softly to himself, Theo turned back to the conversation he was having with Ron and Draco.
Pausing their conversation, Ron looked over at Harry and back at Theo, “take care of him, alright?”
“Of course,” Theo said with a nod.
“It was a long day,” Draco said, “I really don’t think he should sleep alone. He’s putting on a face right now, I can tell.”
“Draco’s right which is something I never thought I’d say,” Ron added, “I lived with him for 7 years, I don’t know what exactly happened today, I only know pieces, but I do know that look in his eye and he really shouldn’t be alone.”
“Then I’ll make sure he’s not alone,” Theo said.
“Thanks mate,” Ron responded, clapping Theo on the shoulder before returning to the discussion on the international quidditch league they’d been having before.
An hour later, Theo saw Harry stifle yet another yawn. Walking across the room, Theo circled the couch so he was standing behind him, leaning down he said in a low voice so only Harry could hear, “you ready for sleep, love?”
Harry merely nodded.
“You alright walking out of here together?”
“Yeah, I don’t care if people find out. The people who really matter know.”
“Alright,” Theo said, smiling softly, “let’s go to bed.”
* * *
After bidding goodnight to everyone, Neville decided to head back as well. The trio made their way out of the portrait and across the hall.
As they climbed the stairs, Neville stopped outside of the library, “let’s go,” he said.
“Really?” Harry asked.
“Yeah, I already talked to Luna and Susan, we just need you to finish adjusting the wards.”
“Thanks, Nev,” Harry said with a grin.
“What’s happening?” Theo asked.
“We’re adding you to the tower’s wards,” Neville answered, “you’ll be able to get into the common area downstairs and into Harry’s room, the library, training room, and armory wards cannot be adjusted. You can only enter those with one of us.”
Theo simply nodded his thanks, strangely emotional at the gesture.
Harry stepped back out of the library grinning, reaching out for Theo’s hand he said, “let’s head to sleep.”
Once they were safely in Harry’s room, Theo turned to Harry and asked, “did you want to talk about today?”
“What about today?”
“Any of it.”
Harry was quiet as he pulled of his clothes and threw them in the laundry basket, he was quiet as he went into the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth, he was quiet as Theo did the same.
Theo let him be quiet.
Finally, once they were both under the covers and the lights were turned off, Harry turned reached out and tangled his fingers with Theo’s and started talking.
He explained his day from start to finish, including the things he’d neglected to tell Narcissa, Andromeda, and Draco. He even told Theo about the conversation he’d had with Regulus’ spirit.
Once he was done talking, Theo simply squeezed his hand and said, “thank you for telling me, love.”
“Thank you for listening.”