Trouble in Paradise
Ron found Harry pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. It was nearly midnight, so there weren’t any students left in the common room. “Trouble in paradise?” he teased his friend.
The black-haired boy stopped abruptly and turned to Ron with wide eyes. “Am I an egocentric coward?”
“Huh, what brought this on?” Ron asked perplexed.
Sighing, Harry sank into an armchair. “Draco thinks I’m blindly loyal to Dumbledore and don’t value my own life because I said I would die for the greater good. And now he questions my love for him.” Panicked, Harry looked at Ron. “Oh God, do you think he’s going to break up with me?”
“Oh wow. Breathe, mate” Ron scratched his head. “Malfoy isn’t going to dump you because of this. Even I can see that you’re both disgustingly in love. You’re worse than me and Hermione, and I always stare at her like she hung the moon. But you stare at each other like the whole universe revolves around the other. Will Draco make your life hell? Definitely. But will he dump you? Certainly not. So, calm down.” He clapped Harry on the shoulder.
When Harry's breathing was back to normal, Ron asked “Okay, so what was that about you wanting to die?”
“I don’t want to die. I just said, that if I had to, to save the world, then I wouldn’t mind.”
Ron facepalmed and groaned “Harry, you’re an idiot.”
“What did I do?” Harry exclaimed exasperated and threw his arms up.
Ron sighed heavily. „Okay, imagine this. If the only way to defeat Voldemort would be sacrificing Draco, would you let it happen?”
Harry shook his head vehemently. “Of course not. I would find a way to defeat him some other way.”
“But there’s no other way.” Ron said patiently.
Harry frowned. “Then the world could go fuck itself.”
Rons face lit up. “See? And that’s how Draco and all of us feel about you, too.”
“Oh.”
Ron watched as realization hit his friend.
“Oh, indeed. So, you should be a little bit more considerate of other people’s feelings for you. It’s the same with you always going alone to keep us out of danger. In all those past years you should have learned that your ego-trip isn’t helping with anything. You need help, you need us. And you know we are strong. Together we’re better.”
Harry thought back to all his adventures. That he survived all that truly was because of his friends. “You’re right.”
“Of course, I am.” Ron replied smugly. Hermione's wisdom finally rubbed off on him.
Harry slapped his forehead “Godric, I am an idiot!”
“That you are.” Ron nodded solemly.
Harry began pacing again. “I – I have to apologize to Draco.”
“Go get him, tiger! I mean, lion!” Ron cheered him on as Harry went towards the common room exit.
He opened the portrait and was promptly met with the blonde head he was going to look for.
“Can I come in?” Draco asked sheepishly. He couldn’t sleep after he left Harry in front of Dumbledore’s office. He needed to know if his boyfriend was alright.
“Of course. Actually, I was just about to look for you.” Harry said and helped Draco climb into the common room.
Now that Draco was in front of him, Harry began to panic again. Had Draco come to break up with him? All of Ron’s reassuring words were forgotten.
“Listen, I shouldn’t have been that harsh to you earlier.” Draco fiddled with his robe sleeves. In general, Malfoys don’t apologize, so he wasn’t sure what he should do. “I–I don’t think, I said anything wrong per se. But I didn’t say it exactly right, either? Uhm, I just wanted to tell you that I worry about you because I…” Draco blushed and looked resolutely at the floor. “I love you. And I don’t want to lose you”, he finished in a whisper.
Draco risked a glance at his boyfriend and startled when he was met with teary emerald eyes. He rushed to him and hugged him.
“I’m sorry to make you worry so much, Draco. I realize that I can be a reckless idiot, and I tend to go off on my own because I think I have to protect everybody alone. But I know that I can rely on you and the others. I still trust in Dumbledore. But I promise you, I don’t want to die. I want to live, with you. And I will fight to live, whatever the future may brings.” Harry said wholeheartedly.
He cupped Draco's face and whispered. “I love you. With every fibre of my body and soul.”
Harry was about to kiss Draco when a loud crunching sound interrupted them. They looked around for the source of the sound and startled when they met the eyes of a not guilty at all looking Ron.
„Oh, don’t mind me, mate. I’m just enjoying the show. Go on.” Ron gestured for them to continue, then made himself comfortable on the couch, and ate another potato chip.
„Hermione, get your boyfriend under control!” Draco huffed annoyed. The girl had just come back to the common room because she forgot her romance novel. Yes, you heard right. Hermione Granger read something other than schoolbooks, now and then. Although the romance was about a biology professor and contained detailed information about certain biological processes.
Hermione sauntered over and snuggled up next to Ron. “What are we watching?”
“Drarry making up. They had their first fight, isn’t it cute? I think, they are going to solve it by snogging, so I’m just waiting for the right moment to comment on it.” Ron offered her the bag of crisps.
“You are despicable” Hermione laughed and grabbed a potato chip.
“Hermione!” Harry exclaimed betrayed.
“Eyes on me, Potter” Draco grabbed Harry’s head and turned it towards him. They were interrupted in their moment, but that was no reason to let their attention go astray. He leaned in, feeling bold in the spur of the moment. “Let’s give them a show, then.” And with that Draco pressed his lips against Harry's.
Harry returned the kiss hungrily, forgetting his surroundings completely. He trailed his tongue along Draco's lips, requesting entrance which was promptly granted. As their tongues intertwined, he let out a mix between a content sigh and a groan.
“Ew, get a room! Some people are eating!” Ron snickered.
Harry thought, for once Ron had a brilliant idea. He lifted Draco up and carried him to his bed which he warded with silencing spells and drew the curtains shut tightly.