Harry had come back to Hogwarts to figure out what he wanted to do now that the war was over. He enjoyed teaching Dumbledore's Army, so he decided to become a teacher. He went back to obtain his NEWTS in DADA, Charms, Care of Magical Beasts, and Transfiguration. He would then get his masters in DADA and then apprentice under a professor at Hogwarts for a year and take over for them when the year was over. Hogwarts had borrowed an Auror to work those three years to help out.
Harry was wandering the castle at night a lot to help keep the nightmares away. It also helped him clear his head. While he was wandering one night he saw Draco also walking around. He didn't mind that the other boy had come back to Hogwarts. They were both there for the same reason. Draco was also working to become a teacher, a potions professor to work at Hogwarts as well. Harry had nothing against him. He had testified for him at his trial. He advocated for Draco and his mother. They were both released. Harry and Draco left the past behind them and forged a friendly terms alliance. They were roommates which helped them get to know each other better. Harry regarded Draco with a sense of pride and respect. Harry looked at Draco closely. It seemed Draco wasn't fully aware of where he was.
"Malfoy?"
He received no answer, not even an acknowledgment. That was strange.
"Malfoy?" He asked louder.
Still nothing. Harry furrowed his brow. Then Harry saw that Draco was about to walk down the stairs, but they weren't there yet. They had moved! Draco didn't see it. Harry took off into a run and grabbed Draco before he fell. He got to him just in time! "What the hell, Malfoy?" He growled. The other boy still didn't acknowledge him. He took a closer look at Draco. His eyes were glazed, unseeing. Harry quickly took out his wand and cast "Finite Incantatem." Draco didn't seem to come out of his trance. Harry worried his lip. He thought that would work. Oh. Wait. Maybe he was sleepwalking. That must be it. Harry knew that you shouldn't wake a sleepwalker, so he helped Draco back to their shared dorm and made sure Draco went back to bed. Harry put up monitoring spells to alert him if Draco started to leave the room again while sleepwalking. Thankfully he didn't that night.
Harry watched him sleep for a while before drifting off himself. He hoped that he could help Draco stay safe. He wondered what was bothering Draco so much that he was sleepwalking around the castle. He would have to make sure to keep an extra eye on him from now on.
Harry set up monitoring spells every night and made sure to follow Draco. He saved him a few times. It didn't seem that Draco had a specific place he wanted to be, but he continued to sleepwalk the castle hallways.
Harry tried to get out of Draco what was bothering him, but the other boy kept brushing him off. Harry was stubborn. So, he kept on it.
"I just want to help."
"You don't understand. This will change everything," Draco said exhaustedly.
"I want to understand. Please," Harry asked pleadingly.
Draco sighed. He looked at Harry sadly. "I have been dealing with something since the beginning of the year. It had been a problem before, but not this bad. It became worse this year due to circumstances out of my control. I have been trying to manage the issue, but I am obviously not managing it if you noticed something was off."
"Truthfully, I observed you sleepwalking one night. I saved you from stepping off a staircase that had moved. I kept following you when you sleepwalked. I wanted to keep you safe. I am sorry."
Draco was taken aback. "I didn't know that. Thank you for saving me, again."
Harry shrugged. "I care about you, Draco."
"I wish you didn't. It makes me feel guilty."
Harry paused. Maybe it had something to do with him. "About what?"
"About my struggles."
Harry gritted his teeth. "You're avoiding the truth. Tell me. Is it me?"
Draco winced.
"It is! Fine! You don't want me to be around? You hate me. I can solve that problem for you," Harry angrily spat and stormed off.
He ignored Draco calling him back and to wait up.
He was angry. He was sad. He went to the Astronomy tower to think. He cried and yelled. He couldn't believe he fell for the other boy. He had fallen in love with him over the months of watching him and getting to know him better. He thought he found his other half. He was wrong. He was so wrong. It brought back all of his insecurities. He thought he was over them. Draco had broken through the barriers around his heart and then broke it. He was hurt. He didn't return to his dorm that night. He felt guilty, but couldn't go back to the dorm. Luckily he grabbed his map and watched it avidly that night. Draco did leave their dorm but seemed to stay safe that night. Harry sighed in relief as Draco just walked the hall on their floor and didn't walk near the stairs. Harry watched Draco's dot eventually stop. Harry put away his map and found his way to Draco, who was asleep on the floor in the hallway near their common room. He helped Draco back to their dorm and left for breakfast.
He avoided Draco as much as he could. He figured he would just stay away from him, but still help him at night. Then he heard him crying one night.
"Draco?'
The crying abruptly stopped. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Harry bit the inside of his cheek. "I know. I am sorry. I was hurt."
"No. Harry. You misunderstood. I don't hate you! That isn't my issue."
"Then what is. Please, help me understand."
"Iminlovewithyou," he mumbled.
"What?"
Draco huffed, "I said, I am in love with you."
Harry halted. "You're in love with me?"
"Yes, don't you see that is a problem?"
"No. Not unless you make it one. Draco, I am in love with you too."
"You can't be!"
"But I am," Harry said.
"I- I..." Draco stuttered.
"Draco, I can help you. We can work together to get over your fears. Do you not want something to happen between us? Is that it?"
"No. I was scared that you would reject me. It stressed me out so much that it made me start sleepwalking apparently. I can't believe you love me too. I never expected that. I am not sure how things would work between us. Everyone would be against us. You are the savior and I am a death eater."
Harry smiled. "I would have your back. You're not a death eater though. I believe we could make it work. Can we at least try?"
Draco stared at Harry. He nodded. "Yeah. We could."
"Perfect," Harry murmured, pulling Draco in for a sweet meeting of their lips. A small press of a tender first kiss. Draco kissed him deeper. It made Harry feel so light and happy. He knew they weren't totally out of the woods, but they would work on it, together.