“What on earth is that?” Theodore stopped still in the middle of London to gawk at a man in a suit zooming past them on a bike. Harry laughed at the first 50 questions, but at this point, the humour was almost sucked out of the whole situation.
Turns out their one-time encounter had in fact not been a one-time thing. in fact, it had turned into a multiple-time-a-week thing, which after a couple of months had formed something Harry could not put a title to yet.
He liked Theo, a lot. It was nice to have him around now that Ron had not been talking to him, even though he could not compare Ron to Theo, the most important point being that he and Ron did not sleep together multiple times a week.
The only issue with their relationship growing was that they did not exactly want to be seen together by the wizarding world. Harry could already see the papers now. It would be like all Christmases coming at once for the paper with all the stories they could come up with if Auror Potter and ex-death eater Nott were seen together, hell it was Rita skites wet dream.
Harry leant over to Theodore to speak to him gently as they darted in and out of the busy crowd of London.
“it’s a bike” Harry said finally answering Theo's question.
He saw Theo’s face form into a deep frown before adding “It’s a cheaper alternative to transport, some muggles use it instead of cars” Theo looked satisfied enough making Harry sigh in relief that he had not asked about Car’s again.
it had taken him about 30 minutes to try to explain it to him and in the end, it just left Theo more confused than at the start. It was one of the drawbacks of the muggle world being the only place out of peering eyes. Every time they stepped out into the Muggle world it was quite a culture shock for Theo, being raised by a Muggle-hating father, meaning that Theo knew practically nothing about the Muggle world.
The one thing that Theo had taken a liking to in the Muggle world was the bookshops. He spent hours in one the other day, flicking through book after book every one seeming to grab his attention like a child in a Candy store. Harry did not mind at all, he enjoyed it in all honesty, to see Theo enjoying the muggle world despite all that he had been told by his father growing up.
After a moment of silence between them the sounds of the bustling city around them taking over.
Theo leaned in “Have I also mentioned before that you look excellent in Muggle clothing?”
Harry grinned at him sheepishly “You might have mentioned it before”.
He enjoyed moments like this more than he realised. It was a nice escape from work, it was the only time he allowed himself to take time off from work at the moment. He sighed at the thought of work. After the war, the ministry thought that putting away Fenrir Greyback and his biggest supporters would end his Cult, taking the approach of ‘cutting the head of the snake and the body would die’ but it did not.
It had festered away under the surface, as the children that had been turned started to grow up, they were once again seeing a growing rise in missing children, taken to join the werewolves. Harry had managed to start to take out small pockets of the Werewolf army hiding and living out in the sewers of London but it never seemed like it did anything.
The feeling of Theo's arm brushing against his was enough to pull his brain away from work and over to him.
“Where are we going potter?” Theo asked with an arched eyebrow
“I will take you wherever you want me to” This made a sweet look form on Theo’s face before he caught himself making it locking it away replacing it with his monotone stare.
“What about that Café you told me about last week, the one that you and Hermione would go to” Harry did not reply to Theo simply offering his hand as Theo’s gloved hand wrapped around his as they made their way through the city.
Harry grinned as he watched Theodore Nott sip away at his English breakfast tea as the fire behind him filled the small café with a soft warm light. Theodore put down his mug gently before his eyes went up to meet Harry.
“I should tell you I won’t be here in two weeks” This made Harry raise his eyebrow. “I will be going to Australia for a week,” This really made Harry’s eyebrow rise in curiosity. Harry never pushed into Theo's reputation for being a collector like his father of Power wizarding items. he honestly did not want to know, legally if he did know he was meant to report it to the ministry, so not knowing gave Harry a somewhat false sense of being lawful, but it was increasingly hard to ignore.
“Oh, and why Australia?” Harry knew why, if the rumours were true Australia would be Theodore's wet dream, being known for its large underground dark magical items that were smuggled over from Britain in the 1800’s. Theodore said nothing for a moment, reaching back for his mug
“Do you really want to know?” His voice held a somewhat warning to it. Harry despite his normally curious nature fought against it so they both dropped the topic altogether.
Harry looked around the Café, taking in the seat around him before he glanced up at the stairs that led up to the second story of the shops where he was met with a familiar sight of long brown curly hair, Hermione. Harry went to call out to her but as he went to open his mouth, he realised a tall blonde hair man was standing next to her, arm wrapped around her small frame, Draco Malfoy.
Harry’s mouth fell open in shock, he blinked for a moment but when he opened his eyes he was met with the sight again. As the two of them reached the bottom of the stairs Harry watched on in horror as Malfoy's hand slid awfully low down the small of her back as they turned towards the exit.
” What the fuck” Harry’s curse came out as a hiss that sprung Theo to life, his head turned to where Harry was looking.
“Ah- fuck” Theodore mumbled not sounding shocked at all at the situation.
Before he could say anything, Harry was standing up at his table calling out at Hermione who spun around.
Her whole face dropped in horror as she met eyes with her best friend, if Draco was shocked, he did not show it however, he did slowly pull his arm back so that it fell at his side. Hermine quickly hurried over to their table before Harry could start a scene.
“Oh h-hi, Harry” Hermione greeted them with a stutter trying to force a smile on her lips “What are you doing here”.
Harry narrowed his eyes as Draco Malfoy walked over. Harry did not despise Malfoy as he did at Hogwarts but, there were some things you just can’t forget. Every time he looked at him, he could see Dumbledore’s limp lifeless body falling, he was reminded of all the worst parts of himself, and he could remember Draco's Body lying in a pool of his own blood thanks to Harry and his wand.
Theodore sensing the tension stood up from his seat. “We should be going” Draco's eyes darted over to his best friend but Harry noted there was a coldness to them as the glanced over at Harry and then back at Theo.
“No, we are not going,” Harry said firmly turning to Hermione.
“What are you doing here Hermione!” He watched as a deep red blush grew on Hermione's cheeks
“I could ask you the same thing potter,” Draco said glancing back over atTheo and it clicked.
Theo must have not told Draco about Harry. Harry’s eyes stared at Hermione who looked like a deer caught in headlights before she sighed
“Harry let's not discuss this here, please come back to mine?” Harry said nothing for a moment before he grabbed his coat “Fine” and he was walking out of the café, Theodore quickly following after him.
Harry stormed through the streets of London pushing and weaving his way through the crowd searching for a spot to apparate from.
“potter” Theodore's voice called out from the crowd behind him but Harry did not slow down powering through the streets. He said nothing as he pushed and weaved his way to a quiet back ally, Theodore closely behind him.
Harry’s chest heaved, the image of Draco’s hand on Hermione’s back burned into his head. all that he could think about was a young Draco calling her a ‘mud blood’, mocking her nearly daily, how could she even look at him after all he had done? Harry’s chest heavied and anger flowed through him feeling like an out-of-control fire.
“Are you remembering to breathe?” Theodore asked causally causing Harry to shoot him a dirty look.
“Did you know about that?” Harry asked watching as Theo hesitated before nodding.
“Why did you think I was at Hermione’s place that night house-sitting”.
Harry let out a dark chuckle in reply leaning against the brick wall as he dropped his head.
Images of Draco walking through the halls of Hogwarts with death eaters ran through his head. The haunting laugh of Bellatrix rang through his head and he saw Sirius, the cruse sticking him, his body going limp.
he remembers
his scream
the pain
his blood.
He could see Voldemort’s face over his body, his laughs, the images of twisted corpses, death all wrapped up in pain, blood curling, ear-piercing pain.
“Harry” Theo's soft voice called and Harry looked up from the ground letting out a shaky breath, slipping a hand against the wall taking in the feel of the brick under his fingers trying to ground himself.
“Sorry,” He mumbled before silence fell over the two of them before Harry allowed his body to fully sink onto the ground. Theo walked over to close the distance between them, sitting down next to him.
Harry turned to look at him “he just makes me think of the war”.
Theo said nothing just gently nodding his head “I understand it must be hard for you”. Harry sighed it had been 6 years ago and it still sat fresh in his mind every day, thoughts of those times would pop back into his head, the dreams were the worst past, forcing him to relive his horrors every night.
“You know he is not the same man he was during Hogwarts” Theo added softly “his father sucked and that came from someone with a terrible father” Harry sighed glancing at Theo who stared at the wall across from them deep in thought.
“He may not be the saviour of Wizard kind or a winner of some ministry award but he is a good man, a changed man” Harry tried to let Theo’s words cast away his fear and doubts but the image of Hermione and Draco together made his stomach churn it felt wrong, like some alternate reality.
“How long have they been together?” Harry asked and Theodore quickly glanced over at Harry
“It's not my place to say”.
Theodore gently reached out his arm “beside Potter” and with a flick of his hand the glamour on his arm fell away to reveal the dark mark sitting against his pale skin “he is not the only one that did terrible things in the war”.
Harry looked at the mark, so dark against Theodore’s skin. He had not seen it on him before. Theo clearly keeping the glamour up at all times. He could not imagine him as a death eater, he was defiantly determined like a Slytherin, hell Harry had seen that the man goes after what he wants with a fierce passion not letting anyone stop him. but Harry had seen a warmth to him, a kindness that a true death eater could not have.
Harry's thoughts went to Lucius Malfoy, his cold eyes, his stern face, he could only imagine the lies and filth he filled Draco’s mind with, the choke hold he had, the way he tried to carve his son into his bitter image, Harry ran a hand through his hair feeling overwhelmed.
“She’s happy,” Theodore said after a moment and Harry now turned to fully face him, Theodore doing the same.
“Hermione she’s happy with him, he looks after her, I have never seen him look at someone the way he does her” and with that, Harry knew he was going to have to make it work.
Harry and Theodore appeared with a brief ‘pop’ outside Hermione’s apartment before Theodore took the lead gently knocking on the front door. It was quickly pulled open by a nervous-looking Hermione “I thought you may have not come” she said quickly and Harry could see the fear and shame she was feeling so without another word, he pulled her in for a warm hug whispering “It’s ok Hermione, it's ok”. In his arms, he felt her whole body relax as she pulled out of his embrace grabbing onto his shoulder and staring at him through wet eyes.
“I'm so sorry for not telling you I was just so scared” Harry gave her back a gentle rub.
“it's okay I understand” smiling at her.
“And thank you for not telling Draco about Theo and me” She smiled leading them both into her hallway.
Harry looked up into the lounge room to see Draco standing next to the fire having stripped off his coat, standing ominously in a white button-up stop, the flames covering him in a warm glow.
As they walked into the living room Harry caught Theo quickly glancing at the couch where Harry and him had their little ‘one-time’ reunion. Harry pushed away the thoughts quickly before taking a seat.
“so” Malfoy turned around to Face Theo. “Potter?” he asked his best friend who shrugged nonchalantly, Harry admired how level-headed Theo could make himself.
“What can I say we both must have a thing for Gryffindor’s” This earned a chuckle from Malfoy, Harry noted he had not seen Malfoy smile like that since about 5 years at Hogwarts.
“Can you imagine what your father would say?” Malfoy chuckled making Theo let out a somewhat dark chuckle,
“I hope someone tells the fucker, I wonder if the dementors give prisoners a copy of Witch Weekly” Harry had never heard Theo speak about his father, clearly a painful subject for him.
Theodore looked up at Draco to add “I would love to see the look on your father's face if he saw you with a ‘Mud blood” Harry watched as Hermione flinched at the word making Theo’s face soften. “Sorry I meant it in the reclaimed sense” Hermione smiled softly at Theo; Malfoy wrapped an arm around her pulling her into his body.
Harry had to look away, he was happy for her, he was but at this moment he could not watch Malfoy touching her like that, it was going to take some getting used to.
“So, how long have you been together?” Harry asked after a moment still not looking over at them but he could see Hermione tense out of the corner of his eyes.
“About 8 months” she replied softly making Harry rear his head over to her in shock.
“I thought you and Ron only started your break 6 months ago?” This made Malfoy straighten up against the fireplace and he watched Hermione squirm slightly.
“We did not do anything Harry” she replied firmly.
“He was just there for me to talk to” Harry chose not to press into the situation further but Draco saw this as the time to launch into his questions.
“so, Theodore how long?” However, unlike Draco and Hermione Theodore leaned back into the sofa with a soft grin “Couple months” Draco narrowed his eyes “I thought you were seeing that-“Draco pulled up his hands to do quotation marks in the air “’ the hottest guy you had ever been with’ a couple of months ago”.
Theodore's grin grew and wordlessly he glanced down at the coach he was sitting on before looking back up at Harry, Draco’s jaw tinted at the sight.
Harry frowned leaning over to Theo and whispering “you told him about the Sofa”. Theo replied into Harry’s ear. “I told him I had the best sex of my life on a Sofa”
“Hermione” Draco mumbled as his girlfriend looked up at him “Burn the Sofa”.