Coming Home

The next day is better, and Draco finds himself being able to slide into conversations more smoothly, finding that maybe he has more in common with Ron and Hermione than he ever thought was possible. They sit at the dinner table again, Draco feeling more comfortable as the conversation goes on, finding himself almost laughing out loud at some pieces of the conversation, but biting back his laughter in fear of making anyone at the table uncomfortable.

Everyone brings their dishes to the kitchen, setting them in the sink as Molly insists that she’ll cover the job on her own tonight.

Harry waves for Draco to follow him and Ron outside, and Draco smiles at him, stepping to follow him, but feeling a hand grab at his arm. He spins around, coming face to face with Hermione.
“Sorry, um, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come play Exploding Snaps?” She says, smiling at him with a small smile.

Draco turns back towards Harry, and Harry gives a small nod. As much as he’d rather go wherever Harry is going, Draco knows that staying behind with Hermione would be a better idea, a better opportunity to show how different he truly is.

“Sure, yeah.” Draco says, smiling back at Harry before following Hermione into the study.

She grins at Ron as she turns, leading Draco away and sitting on a small rug by the window. Draco sits across from her as she pulls out the cards, setting the game up in front of them.
They begin to play, laughing as they do. Draco finds it strangely comfortable to play with her, feeling a strange sense of familiarity in her company, even though he’d never spent time with her deliberately in school.

After a few rounds of the game, the sound of someone running into the house sends Draco’s head whipping around towards the source of the sound. Ron runs into the room, his face flushed with heat as he breathes heavily, a wide smile on his face.
“It worked.” He breathes, looking at Hermione. “They’re alone now.”

Draco looks between them with a confused expression, setting his cards down as Hermione does the same.
“What’s going on?” He asks, looking between their faces as Ron kneels beside Hermione.

“We sort of set Harry and Ginny up.” Ron says with a laugh. “They’re both just so awkward, they just needed to be alone.”

Hermione laughs, nodding enthusiastically as they both stand to look out of the window, apparently waiting for the pair to come into view.

Draco’s heart hammers in his chest, a mixture of fear, anger, and jealousy coursing through him. He stands up, walking towards the window to see what exactly the others are waiting for.
A few moments later, Ginny and Harry come into view, walking closer together than Draco would’ve expected. His heart beats quicker, his face flushing as he looks down at them, wondering what’s going through Harry’s mind.

Does he still like her?
Does he regret settling for Draco, when someone like Ginny Weasley is so infatuated with him?

Ginny is the better option for him, the safer option. She’s the option that would never be questioned by peers or family.

Draco slowly sinks to his knees, eyes locked on the window, but his body feeling somehow too weak to stand anymore as he watches the pair walk closer to the house.
“Open the window!” Ron whispers, and Hermione steps forward to silently slide the window open, all three of them leaning closer to try to hear what they’re saying.

______________________________________________________________________________

The pair comes to a stop before the front door, and Ginny turns to face Harry. Harry hesitantly turns to face her in return, smiling at her in a friendly way as he shifts his weight.
“Thanks for walking with me.” Ginny says with a small smile. “I don’t know where Ron scampered off to.”

Harry laughs, shaking his head.
“Yeah, he can be a bit odd.” Harry says, smiling back at Ginny. “It was nice to catch up with you.”

Ginny shifts, shifting herself closer to Harry as she does.
“It was nice.” She says softly. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Harry nods, his eyes flitting to the door, feeling slightly uncomfortable with her proximity to him.
“Me too.” He answers, trying to sound as casual as he can. “It’s nice to be somewhere other than Hogwarts, it’s nice to see everyone again.”

Ginny nods, stepping closer and setting her hand on Harry’s shoulder.
“I’ve missed you, Harry.” She murmurs, her voice lower than before.

Harry’s heart beats faster, his body freezing under her touch, not sure what to do in this moment. Before he has a chance to react, Ginny’s lips are on his, her body crushing against his enthusiastically as her arms wrap around him.
______________________________________________________________________________

Draco watches in horror as Ginny’s lips press against Harry’s, his heart sinking deep into his stomach as a wave of cold covers his skin. Ron and Hermione breathe in sharply, hushing each other excitedly as they watch the couple down below.

Draco silently kicks himself, wondering how he could be so stupid, wondering how he could’ve ever made himself believe that Harry cared for him, especially over someone as pure and good as Ginny Weasley.

He moves to stand up, blinking back an embarrassing mist of tears in his eyes as he mentally tracks through the path they took to get here, mapping in his mind the quickest route to the train station.

“Stop!” He hears from below, his eyes immediately glued back to the window. “I—We can’t do this!”
Ron and Hermione freeze too, the three of them watching from the window as Harry takes a step away from Ginny.

“What’s wrong?” Ginny asks, looking at Harry. “Why don’t you like me anymore?”

Harry sighs loudly, raking his fingers through his hair.
“I—It’s not that.” He stammers. “I just… I’ve met someone else.”

Draco’s heart races, hammering against his ribcage so loudly he fears Harry might hear it downstairs.
“Who is she?” Ginny asks, crossing her arms over her chest. “She must be quite the girl to have you forget me so quickly.”

Harry sighs again, shaking his head as he begins to pace slightly back and forth.
“It’s not like that, Ginny.” He tells her, looking at her briefly as he paces. “It’s—it’s really complicated.”

Ginny laughs bitterly, shaking her own head now.
“You don’t have to lie, Harry.” She spits. “You could just say you don’t like me anymore. Be bold.”

Harry stops his pacing, throwing his arms out at his sides.
“It’s not another girl!” Harry exclaims. “It’s—blimey Ginny, it’s Draco!”

Draco stops breathing entirely, trying to ignore the way that Ron and Hermione’s eyes immediately lock onto him, his own eyes still locked on Harry.

“What?” Ginny breathes, her arms going limp at her sides.
Harry stops his pacing, his hands wringing together as he looks at her.

“I’m with Draco Malfoy.” Harry tells her, his voice raised slightly. “I’m in love with Draco Malfoy.”

Draco stumbles backwards away from the window, his eyes wide as his breathing comes in jagged bursts.

In love with Draco Malfoy.

He plays the words over and over again in his head, wondering if he heard that correctly. Somewhere far away, he hears Ron and Hermione trying to talk to him, but the words don’t form coherent sentences in Draco’s mind as it spins over and over again.

The door slams open a moment later, and Draco’s head spins to face the entrance of the room. Harry stands in the doorway, his eyes locked on Draco as he breathes in and out jaggedly.
“Did you hear all of that?” Harry breathes, ignoring Ron and Hermione entirely.

Draco nods once, his eyes remaining locked on Harry’s.
“I’m sorry, Draco.” Harry breathes, taking another step closer. “I’m sorry you had to hear it like that, I’m sorry you had to be put in the middle of this.”

Draco shakes his head, standing up and walking towards Harry.
“I understand if that was too much, and I understand if you want to leave.” Harry tells him, his voice wavering slightly. “I understand if you’re done with this, I’m sorry Draco.”

Draco shakes his head again, finally reaching Harry, standing right in front of him.
“Just tell me.” Harry murmurs. “Tell me what I can do.”

Draco reaches out, cupping Harry’s face gently with his hand, running his thumb along Harry’s cheekbone.
“I love you, Harry.” Draco whispers. “You don’t need to do anything but stay. I love you.”

A smile breaks across Harry’s face, his eyes sparkling as a choked laugh breaks from his throat.
“I love you too, Draco.” Harry whispers back, his hands suddenly circling around Draco’s waist and pulling him in.

Draco doesn’t have a chance to think of the repercussions of Ron and Hermione seeing this, instead he just holds Harry close, pressing his lips to his own as he kisses him deeply.
Harry laughs as he pulls away, brushing a lock of Draco’s blonde hair away from his forehead as he looks into his eyes. A moment later, he looks up past Draco, looking towards his friends.

Harry steps around Draco, sliding his hand down Draco’s arm, lacing his fingers between Draco’s as he turns him to face Ron and Hermione.
“I suppose the secret is out.” Harry says quietly. “We’ve been—together, for a few months now.”

Draco watches as Ron and Hermione turn the information over in their minds a few times, processing the information.
“Are you happy?” Ron asks, his voice unsure as he speaks, his eyes flitting between Harry’s and Draco’s.

Harry nods his head.
“Happier than I ever have been.” He breathes, squeezing Draco’s hand softly. “I didn’t mean to hide it from you guys, I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

Hermione nods her head, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around both Harry and Draco.
“I’m happy for you.” She whispers between them. “You deserve happiness. Both of you do.”

Harry hugs her back with his free hand, and Draco hesitantly follows suit, reaching up and patting Hermione’s back gently. Draco’s eyes flit to Ron’s, finding Ron to already be staring at him. Ron nods once, seeming like a gesture of acceptance to Draco. Draco nods back, noticing the way that Ron’s mouth twitches at the corners, almost like a smile.

“I’m going to go check on Ginny.” Hermione says as she lets go of the boys, taking a step backwards. “Thank you for telling us.”

Harry nods, and Draco does the same.
“I’ll go with her.” Ron says, walking past Harry, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently as he passes.

The door shuts behind them, leaving Harry and Draco alone in the study. Harry leads Draco to the fireplace, sitting on the rug in front of it and pulling Draco down beside him.
Draco leans on Harry, resting his head on his shoulder as Harry pulls him closer. They watch the flames flicker in front of them as they sit together, feeling content in each other’s presence.

“I didn’t mean to tell them without telling you.” Harry says after a moment. “It just sort of came out.”

Draco shakes his head, wrapping his arm around Harry’s waist, pulling him close.
“Don’t be.” He replies. “I’m glad it’s out, I’m glad your friends know.”

Harry nods, twisting to press a kiss against the top of Draco’s head.
“Me too.” Harry whispers. “I’m not ashamed of you Draco. I hope you know that.”

Draco turns to look up at Harry, finding only the warmest sincerity in his eyes.
“You’re sure?” Draco asks, not used to people speaking to him like that, not used to people being so sure of his character.

Harry nods his head, kissing Draco’s forehead now.
“Positive.” He replies. “I’m more sure of you than I am with nearly anything else.”

Draco smiles, nodding his head as he reaches up to cup Harry’s face again.
“I’m sure of you.” Draco replies. “I love you.”

Harry laughs, leaning in to kiss Draco again.