Coming Home

Harry offered Draco a hand up from the picnic blanket, and Draco took it with a smile. They cleaned the clearing before walking hand in hand, back down the dirt path that they’d come down hours before.

“Harry,” Draco said as they walked, “how did you know that spell would work?”

Harry shook his head, squeezing Draco’s hand a little bit tighter.
“I didn’t.” Harry answered lowly. “Remember when I’d told you I had to go help Professor McGonagall with something while you and Neville were clearing the dormitories?”

Draco nodded once as they continued to walk.
“Well I did go see her… but it was only to ask for her help on the Mark.” Harry admitted rather sheepishly. “And we consulted with Flitwick as well.”

Draco nodded again, but Harry’s steps were slower, more reluctant.

“I’m sorry Draco I really should’ve told you what I was doing, but I just I didn’t want you to be disappointed if it didn’t work and I was afraid it wouldn’t or I’d do it wrong and I—” Harry stammered, his feet coming to a stop as the picnic basket slipped from his hands. “I’m sorry I told them.”

Draco stopped as well, turning to face Harry completely, taking both of Harry’s hands in his own.

“Harry Potter.” Draco said lovingly, only letting go of one of Harry’s hands for a moment to push a loose strand of hair falling across his scar back onto his head. “Do you think I could ever be upset with you for what you did? For how much you have helped me?”

Harry didn’t answer.

“I am… so in love with you, Harry.” Draco murmured, dropping one of Harry’s hands again only to cradle his cheek in his hand. “You gave me my life back… You saved me entirely and you didn’t have to. After all I’d done, to you, to everyone, you should’ve left me to rot.”

Harry shook his head, opening his mouth to rebuttal, but Draco silenced him with a finger over his lips.

“But you took me away from the hell I’d made for myself, and you loved me where I was.” Draco continued, shaking his own head once as he laughed under his breath. “I’ll never be able to tell you just how much you mean to me.”

Harry finally cracked a smile, pulling Draco in and kissing him deeply.
“Blimey Harry!” A voice called through the darkness across the courtyard, causing both boys to stagger away from each other. “Get a room!”

Harry only laughed, reaching down and picking up the picnic basket before weaving Draco’s fingers between his own.

“But then what would you have to entertain yourself with?” He called back, as Ron Weasley stepped into view.
Draco relaxed slightly when he realized it was only Ron, though the tentative friendship between them was still uncertain in Draco’s eyes.

“What’re you doing here?” Harry asked as they reached Ron, dropping Draco’s hand to embrace his friend, and picking it back up immediately as he stepped back to Draco’s side. “Is Hermione with you?”

Ron shook his head.
“She’s still at home.” He said with a smile, falling into step beside Harry as the three men walked into the campsite outside the castle. “I’m here to invite some people back to our place, we’re throwing a sort of party.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Ron, a smile still twitching at the corners of his mouth.
“A party?” He echoed. “You aren’t really the party type, Ron. What’s it for?”

Ron sighed, shaking his head again as he chuckled.
“Oh, believe me, I tried to get out of it.” He answered, eyes flitting to Draco’s for a moment, as if he wanted Draco to feel included in the conversation as well. “Mum is throwing it. Well—Mum, Hermione, and Ginny—are throwing it.”

Harry laughed, shifting to let go of Draco’s hand and wrap his arm around his waist instead, so casually pulling him closer. Something in Draco warmed at the sentiment, the idea that Harry had become so open, so natural at being near him like this, of showing how he felt about him in front of others.

“It’s for the survivors.” Ron said, his voice slightly lower, hardly noticeable, but still. “They wanted something to celebrate the idea that we’re still… here.”

Harry nodded, his hand pulling Draco the slightest bit closer.
“Are you inviting everyone here?” Harry asked.

Ron smiled, nodding as he looked between Draco and Harry once.
“Yes, I was hoping you two might be able to help spread the word.” He replied, his eyes settling on Draco’s for a prolonged moment.

Draco smiled at Ron, clearing his throat.
“We’d love to.” He said suddenly, surprising himself with his boldness, yet half expecting Ron to clarify that he’d really only meant for Harry to come.

But Ron didn’t retract the invitation. He simply smiled wider, reaching out to clap a hand onto Draco’s shoulder.
“That’s the spirit I was looking for.” He said with a laugh.

Draco couldn’t help but laugh too, his smile only growing as Harry laughed beside him. He had been popular in school, but never like this. Never in a way that made him felt good about what he was doing.

Harry and Draco got the rest of the details from Ron about the party, and over the course of the next few days, they spread the word to whoever was around them. Some former students were excited about the event, others were skeptical of being in such a large group again.

By the end of the week, Harry and Draco made their way into Hogsmeade, searching the shops for clothes to wear to the party. Harry found black pants, a black jacket and tie, with a deep red shirt to go underneath. Draco found grey pants, a grey jacket and tie, with a dark green shirt underneath.

Harry looked down at his clothes, and then at Draco’s before laughing.
“We must’ve been brainwashed.” He said, shaking his head as he pulled Draco to the mirror in the shop. “We’re in our House colors.”

Draco looked at them in the mirror, something about the Gryffindor and Slytherin colors caused his stomach to turn.
“May I?” The shopkeeper asked, approaching with something in her hands.

She put a tie tack on Harry’s tie before turning to Draco and putting one on his as well. Draco lifted the end of his tie, revealing the Slytherin crest on a small metal tack. He looked at Harry’s, realizing his was Gryffindor.

He didn’t know what to say as he looked at them, the odd feeling of guilt and sadness twisting within him.

Harry seemed to pick up on it without a word said between them. He took his own tack off before removing Draco’s. Draco watched as Harry switched them silently, putting the Gryffindor crest on Draco’s tie before putting the Slytherin one on his own.

“There.” Harry said softly, stepping beside Draco and looking at their reflections in the mirror. “A piece of you and a piece of me.”

Draco couldn’t help but smile.