Harry had just sneaked out of the Gryffindor dormitory, wearing his invisibility cloak as he walked through the halls. Only a few older students were walking around as it was already getting late, most returning to their own dorms. Harry however, was heading to the Slytherin dormitory, intending to meet up with his boyfriend.
Theodore Nott had approached him in the library one day, starting simple small talk. He had been shocked but the older boy was nice to him during their talk so he hadn't been against the talk. Or all the other random talks and following meet ups they had afterwards. They had been talking almost daily when Theodore had asked him out for a date. As they had grown closer, he accepted without any second thoughts or doubts. The older boy had treated him so sweet, it was an amazing date. Soon after they decided to date, only in secret as they both agreed on waiting till things are more stable between them before telling their friends.
They had been dating for a month now and Harry was happy. They often went to meet each other near the Slytherin dormitory, spending some time together in empty class rooms or sneaking outside sometimes as well. But they always made sure to never get seen. Tonight Harry had planned to ask for them to be official, wanting to tell his friends about their relationship.
He stopped in front of the Slytherin dormitory, peeking inside when one student opened the secret dorm. He could hear people talking and smiled when he heard Theodore's voice as well. But as he listened more closely the words got clearer and his smile died right away.
"You should have seen his smile! He really thought I like holding his hand. He really is so naive!" He could hear Theodore joke. "Just a bit more and he will do anything I ask from him. This game is so easy. Pansy, get ready to pay up. I'll manage to get into his pants before Yule comes."
He could hear laughter following the statement before the door to the Slytherin dormitory closed in front of him. He was shocked by what he just heard. Theodore's words meant that everything was all a lie, that the boy had just approached him because of a bet. Had he really been that easy to woo? He tried to remember their dates, wondering if there had been any signs of everything being a lie but nothing came to his mind. He had really thought everything was real and that he was wanted. His breathing started to come in fast little puffs of air, his mind finally realizing that he had made a complete fool of himself. He had been played with all alone. His eyes started to sting but he refused to cry now. He couldn't break down while still standing in a hallway.
Taking a stumbling step back, he collided with a person who was apparently on their way to the dormitory. Cursing, he turned around and looked at Draco Malfoy. The blonde was scowling while reaching out and somehow managed to yank down the hood of his cloak.
"Potter?? What are you doing here??" Draco asked loudly and he quickly pulled the boy into an empty room nearby, scared someone could see him. He couldn't handle talking to people right now, especially since he had just heard that his relationship was fake all along and he was pretty close to an emotional break down.
"Don't scream like that!" He tried to scold but his voice was shaky and heavy with emotions. Take a deep breath he tried to calm down, leaning against the cold stone wall.
"Don't tell me what to do Potter! Why are you hiding outside the Slytherin dormitory? What are you planning? Did you try to sneak in and cause trouble?" Of course Draco would assume he was there to cause trouble. No one knew about him and Theodore after all.
But wait- Didn't Theodore just flaunt about wooing him to all the Slytherins? So why would Draco assume he was there for trouble?
"If you really need to know...I was there to see my boyfriend. Or should I say fake boyfriend." He spoke, trying to sound angry but honestly, he was just sad and knew it was apparent in his voice.
He waited for Draco to start laughing in his face but all he got was a moment of silence and a frown.
"What boyfriend? Why fake? You're not making any sense Potter. Is that a lie to keep me from reporting you to Snape?" Draco asked with a scowl.
He frowned and looked up at the blonde, trying to find any hidden emotions that could show if Draco was playing with him, pretending not to know. But the boy just looked really confused and still somewhat annoyed with him.
"Theodore Nott? We've been seeing each other for a while. Always meeting in secret. He just told everyone about how he will get into my pants soon. Like it was a game." He admitted softly, looking back down on the ground. "Are you trying to tell me you didn't know? He basically just yelled it through the dormitory. And everyone was laughing like it's a great joke. There you go! That's what happened. If you want to have your laugh as well, go ahead. Now is your chance Malfoy! But make it quick please so I can head back and have my well deserved break down."
He jumped when his words were followed by a loud crash. Looking back up he saw Draco had pushed over a table and was now cursing loudly. It confused him a lot to see Draco angry over this. Why wasn't he laughing like the others? Wasn't his whole existence a joke to them?
"How dare he??" Draco screamed, making him jump again and looked around nervously. "He knew! I told him everything and still..."
He frowned when Draco's words trailed off. The blonde made even less sense that normal.
"Why are you so angry?" He blurted out, not able to stop his curiosity. "And who knew what?" He added as the former statement had really confused him.
It took a moment before Draco actually turned to look at him again, anger still clear on his face. The blonde leaned against a table, sighing softly before finally speaking again.
"Nott knew that..." Draco started before stopping again, seemingly thinking about what to say next.
"Come on Malfoy. Whatever it is can't be worse than this." He spoke, making wild gestures with his hand as to indicate he was talking about his own situation. "Just tell me please. I won't laugh. Promise!"
Usually he would take any chance he got to laugh at Draco but he was still too hurt right now to even think about finding anything funny.
"He knew that I like you, okay!" Draco screamed before crossing his arms. "I told him quite a while ago. He just grinned and told me to think about if I really want you. I didn't know he would..."
He looked at Draco in shock, not really knowing how to react. He hadn't expected to get a confession from the person who usually spent all his free time bullying him. They were enemies!
Narrowing his eyes he stepped closer, stopping right in front of Draco.
"Are you trying to trick me now as well? Is this part of this stupid game? Is everything just a stupid joke to you??" He screamed, getting angry now as well. It was already bad enough that Theodore Nott had played with his feeling but now Draco wanted to join in as well? "You know what, don't answer that. I'm leaving now!"
He turned around to walk away, already almost at the door when a hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him back. He stumbled a bit but managed to stay upright.
"Wait! Potter- Harry please. Just listen okay?" Draco started and he almost sounded like he was pleading with him. No, that couldn't be right. Draco Malfoy never pleaded with anyone.
He wanted to pull his wrist away but instead turned his head to glare at Draco. The pain he saw the those grey eyes made his anger falter, adding more to his confusion.
"Just...wait please." Draco said again. "I know this must sound like another trap. I know okay! But...I'm not lying! I really didn't know what Nott was planning. I might be the reason for his stupid game but...I would never..."
He frowned when Draco stopped talking again, wondering if he would really put his trust in those words. He had trusted Theodore Nott as well and he now knew how much of a mistake that had been. He had been too open, had given his heart away too easily. Maybe he did deserve the pain after being so weak to his own feelings and his need for some romantic company.
When he stayed quiet Draco started to talk again.
"You don't believe me right?" The blonde asked softly. "I can understand...I wouldn't trust myself either after all that."
He sighed softly, looking away from Draco. He couldn't deny that Draco was acting really different from usual and his reaction to hearing what Theodore Nott had done was a lot and didn't look staged. But his hurt heart just wanted to guard itself, wanted to avoid further hurt. A part of him knew that he could never be really sure what people's intentions were towards him. Most just saw the boy who lived, never the boy who was abandoned.
"Prove it." He spoke and looked at Draco. "Prove that you're not lying to me. That you aren't part of this game."
He wasn't sure why he gave Draco a chance but something inside those grey eyes made him feel the need to give him a chance. Merlin, he really was too soft, too easy to sway.
"I- yes?" Draco asked and slowly a smile started to appear on his handsome face. Wait- since when was Draco so handsome? And where the blonde's eyes always glowing like that when he smiled? Harry could only stare for a moment before shaking his head.
"To be honest, I don't know why I let you sway me." He admitted. "And I'm probably setting myself up for more hurt here."
He would have probably said more but suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. His hands hovered in the air as he blinked in surprise, not knowing how to react. A part of him, his traitorous heart, wanted to learn into the touch right away but another part wanted to push Draco away.
"I won't hurt you...I promise. Just give me this one chance. It's all I ask for. I will prove to you that I mean every word." Draco spoke softly, his words a bit muffled as the boy was speaking into Harry's unruly hair. "I can start right now if you want? With the proving I mean. Part of me really wants to punch Nott right now. Let me show you that he didn't tell me anything."
He hesitated while slowly placing his hands to rest on Draco's sides, sighing softly. He knew he shouldn't, knew this wouldn't end well. It was all so sudden and didn't make any sense to him either. But how much worse could things get? There wasn't anything more he could lose really. Well besides that tiny amount of dignity that he had left. It got even more impossible when Draco gently pulled him closer and started to rub his back. Had Theodore ever been this gentle? Sure, they had been holding hands and hugged as well but neither had made him feel this secure and safe. It could just be his need for affection that made everything seem better but he felt different with Draco.
"Alright, one chance Malfoy. Only one. If you mess up I will let Hermoine have her fun with you." He said, pulling away slightly so he could look at Draco properly. Draco was looking down at him, smiling gently while nodding. It was getting harder to doubt his decision when Draco seemed so happy about it.
"Can we start by calling each other by our first names? Call me Draco?" The blonde asked and he nodded with a small smile of his own. This was already feeling so weird just to think about calling the other Draco out loud.
"Let me show you the Slytherin dormitory. I will choose a completely different approach from what you're used to. I won't hide you."
He was surprised by the sudden suggestion. Theodore Nott had always made sure no one would ever see them together. They didn't even talk when they weren't alone, always hiding everything with the excuse that no one would ever understand their relationship. Maybe that should have already made him realize that something was wrong. If Draco wanted to walk around with him now then maybe this was real now. He didn't want to get his hopes up at all but his heart wanted this.
"Alright, let's go then." He said softly, taking a deep breath to calm down a bit, feeling nervous as he had to face Theodore Nott as well and admit that he knew everything now. He looked back at Draco when the other took his hand.
"Is this okay? I don't want to push you to do something. I just thought...if we walk in...this will help?" Draco said slowly, blushing a bit. He nodded slowly, smiling gently at how cute Draco could look. He never thought he would use the word cute to describe Draco.
"Yes, this is okay I guess. It makes us look like...we're dating?" He asked hesitantly, not sure if that was what either of them wanted. Well technically Draco kinda confessed a crush but that didn't have to mean anything. And he himself had basically just had a breakup with his old fake boyfriend whom he would see again soon.
"I like the sound of that." Drado admitted, leading them out of the room and over to the secret passage into the Slytherin dormitory. They looked at each other and nodded before Draco said the password to let them inside. They could immediately hear people talking and his heart hurt when he heard Theodore's voice as well, sounding all happy and cheerful. His fake boyfriend apparently also forgot that they had wanted to meet tonight as well, too busy priding himself with his fake relationship. He could feel Draco squeeze his hand as they walked into the common room together. All the noise died right away, everyone starting at them in shock.
"H-harry? What are you doing here?" Theodore Nott asked, getting up to walk over to them. "What is going on here?" Theodore looked at their joined hands and frowned, reaching out towards Harry but Draco stopped him.
"What does it look like to you Nott? I'm showing Harry our dorm. Do you have a problem with this?" Draco asked before Harry could react. "You will see Harry here more often as he gave me the chance to court him."
He looked at Draco and could see him smirking at Theodore, looking rather smug when Theodore's facial expression moved from shocked to angry. He had never seen Theodore show so many emotions so openly when they were together. Only now he realized just how little emotion Theodore showed, only always having a charming smile.
"Harry? Is this true?" Theodore asked, taking another step closer. "What about us my love? Is this because I never introduced you to anyone?"
He wanted to laugh at how Theodore was trying to act like they were real, trying to lure him back into all his lies and empty promises.
"Theo darling." He started with a sweet smile like he always did when they met each other in secret. "We were never real my darling. Wasn't it such a fun little game? Pretending to date in secret?" He asked, feeling Draco wrap his arm around his shoulders. He stood a bit straighter, looking directly into Theodore's eyes. "Guess what? You can forget about getting into my pants now. Please spare us both the embarrassment of having to continue this talk."
He couldn't stop grinning when he saw Theodore trying to find the right words, obviously realizing that he heard everything. Oh how he enjoyed to see the older boy so exposed right now. He could hear some of the Slytherins snigger before Pansy Parkinson called out.
"Guess you're not as charming as you thought Theo!"
He turned to look at Draco and smiled gently. "Maybe we should move somewhere more quiet?" He asked, just wanting to get away from Theodore Nott as fast as possible. While he acted all though in front of everyone, he was still hurting inside and the longer he had to stand there, the harder this was getting.
"Of course Harry. Let me take you somewhere else." Draco said and started to lead him away from the common room. They didn't get far before Theodore reached for his hand, trying to tug him back.
"Harry dear. It was only a joke between friends hm? It wasn't anything serious. Come on baby." Theodore started to sweet talk. "Don't throw us away. I will even introduce you to my friends. We won't be a secret anymore."
He clenched his teeth while Theodore spoke, angry that the older boy apparently still thought he had a chance. That he was still so easy to sway. He wanted to say something in return, curse Theodore for trying to play with him again but Draco beat him to it.
"Harry isn't available for your games right now. Or at any other time." Draco spoke firmly. "Don't think this won't have any consequences Nott. You knew about my feelings for Harry. I won't let you get away with this nonsense."
Before anyone could say anything Harry felt himself get pulled out of the room by Draco. He followed silently, watching the blonde closely. He would he lying if he said he had never looked at Draco closely, but it was the first time he didn't have to pretend to be annoyed by the other boy or look away fast. He had to admit that Draco was quite handsome, though he would have never guessed he would end up in such a situation. But here he was now, getting pushed down to sit on Draco Malfoy's bed.
"Sorry you got pulled into this." He spoke softly after a few minutes of them just sitting next to each other in silence. He didn't really know what else to say, feeling out of place and really embarrassed about the scene he had just caused in the common room.
"Please don't apologize. I did offer to come with you, didn't I?" Draco said with a smile. "Did...did this convince you? That I didn't know about any of this?"
The question came slowly, almost hesitantly which made him look at Draco again. He couldn't stop himself from smiling when he saw how nervous and almost shy the other boy seemed to be right now. It was such an unusual sight but also so endearing.
"Yes. Yes it did convince me. And everyone looked so shocked as well." He spoke with the little confidence he had managed regain. "I guess Theodore never thought any of us would find out. Him trying to save the situation was so embarrassing."
He smiled sadly, looking down at his lap.
"Where you really honest earlier? That you want to give it a try? Give...us a try?" He asked gently, not able to face Draco as he asked this question. He would never openly admit it but he was scared of the answer. For all he knew, Draco could have already changed his mind again. He looked up quickly when Draco reached for his hand, holding it so gently.
"Of course I was honest. I still am. I really want to be by your side. I know things won't be easy, especially in the beginning. But I know we can overcome things with time and we can always do everything slowly. So...please give me a chance? Let me court you?" Draco asked softly and he smiled before reaching out to wrap his arms around the blonde's neck.
"One chance..." He mumbled while hiding his face on Draco's neck. He could feel lips on his hair as Draco pressed the most gentle kiss there. Closing his eyes, he slowly relaxed more and finally allowed himself to stop worrying so much. Maybe this day wouldn't be the worst day in this school year after all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They did make things official the next day. Harry had already told his friends when he came back to his dormitory at night, even confessing about his secret relationship with Theodore Nott. While Hermoine and Ron where a little bit sad that he had kept things a secret, they did understand him and promised to support him in the future. They didn't like Draco but after hearing how the blonde supported him and stood by his side made them accept their courting quite fast.
They did receive many weird looks when they were seen together for the first time, holding hands as they walked together to the first class they had together that day. He couldn't really blame people for staring at them as they were usually fighting or insulting each other. But he had to admit that it felt good to not hide for once, to not ignore the person he was dating. And he knew everyone would get used to them talking normally and occasionally even holding hands. It would just take a while and soon things would be completely normal again.
Now he could smirk whenever he saw Theodore Nott watching him together with Draco, enjoying the upset look on the older boy's face. It wasn't really revenge as he was serious about Draco, but if it was revenge, then it would be the sweetest revenge he ever had.