Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Love For What You Believe In ❯ Closer Always ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10: Closer Always
Harry looked up at Draco lying in the over half of the bed. Today they were returning to Hogwarts, the week they spent together seemed all too short and the longer Christmas holidays seemed just too far away. Draco could feel Harry watching and opened his eyes. He loved waking up to those dazzling green eyes every morning; they sent a wave of happiness over him every time he gazed into them. Harry lent over and kissed Draco on the forehead and running his fingers through his golden tresses.
“Morning handsome” he smiled serenely as Draco blushed slightly.
“You know I really do love your hair longer” he teased lovingly, coaxing the blush on his cheeks to deepen.
“Thank you…” he managed to mumble while trying to discreetly calm his reddening face.
“I think yours looks good long too, very striking.”
The pair burst into laughter, ceasing their tormenting of each other – even if it was true the words that they were saying.
That morning the burrow was a flurry of hectic packing. Ginny traipsed around the house sulkily, avoiding Harry and Draco to the best of her ability. And before the group of Hermione, Ron, Harry and Draco knew it they were dismounting the Thestral drawn carriages and walking up to the gates. Both Harry and Draco had donned the invisibility cloak since leaving the train as to avoid suspicious gazes and to keep their privacy.
“Where we off to then?” Ron said out loud, to what appeared to be thin air.
“Follow us” Harry replied cheerily.
“We would do mate, but can’t see you”
“Oh yeah right” Harry appeared from under the clock, giving Draco a cheeky kiss before he materialised out of nowhere.
And with that Harry lead his friends to their private room. Even though they had been there a few times before, it was Harry and Draco that allowed them access to their rooms. It was their private sanctuary, guarded from all others and needed their specific requirements to open their room. It was great for them to have that place that they could retire to, that they felt safe in and could be together in without being judged.
The group of friends settled down, had drinks and snacks and talked casually.
“One day you will have to tell more people about you two” Hermione suddenly remarked over the top of the book she was reading.
“What do you mean” Harry asked innocently
“She means we can’t hide away forever. I love you Harry and want to be with you, freely, when I want, where I want. To be able to do that we need to tell the world about us” The blonde said entwining his fingers with Harry’s.
“I wouldn’t recommend you tell everyone at the same time though mate. That’s be a bloody shock to a very large amount of people”
“Ron’s right Harry. You need to gradually let people know. You have done so far and it’s working out pretty good. I mean you told us, then the Weasley’s and we’ve all taken it well, I mean once we’ve gotten to know Draco we can see just what a kind person he is, Nothing like the name that many have come to associate with fear. His name doesn’t define him, though a lot of the wizarding world judges him by it. Just like you Harry”
“So what kind of people should we tell?”
“Houses maybe? I reckon they are the safest people to tell. And then there are friends in numbers.”
“Well we hope they’ll be friends…” Draco muttered to himself
“Of course they will once they know you, they’ll love you” Just not as much as I do…
“So what house first?”
“I think we should definitely tell your house first, they’ll be more receptive and understanding. My house will only judge then turn and harbour anger at anything different and out of their comfort zone. You know just like Pansy all that time back? And half of them are in league with the dark Lord and I don’t want any of you, or your families to be in danger.” He said making a point to look over in Ron’s direction who, as Draco could plainly see, hadn’t thought about the increased threat that could be posed to his family if they found out about Harry and Draco.
And it was then decided. That evening Harry and Draco would reveal themselves to Gryffindor house, baring all and hoping to be accepted.
****
The Quad entered the Gryffindor common room. It was quite crowded as the weather outside was dismal. Frost creeping across the windows. It was nearly a new year and a new chance. That’s what Harry and Draco were hoping anyway. It was time for them to tell the truth. What’s the use in lying when Draco was really one of the good guys? It was time the truth came out.
Harry climbed up on a table in the centre of the room. Draco stood concealed under the invisibility cloak between Hermione and Ron who stood in front of the table Harry was now upon.
“I have some things to say” He said loudly, demanding attention which he received – the room turned to look at him. Ginny sat in a corner of the room and scowled over at Harry and her brother.
“What I have to say will probably confuse you, most likely shock you, but it is something that needs to be said. I’ve recently come to discover myself, the real me. To most of the wizarding community, including maybe some people in here; I am ‘the boy who lived’ or ‘the chosen one’ and I am both of them. But that’s not all I am. I’m a person with feelings too and recently I have actually been overwhelmed. I hated being stared at and whispered about. It’s a horrid feeling to not know what someone is going to say about you when you’re not looking, all the judgment that is placed on me without even knowing me. It’s a huge burden to bear, but someone has pulled me through these tough times. My greatest rival and the son of a Death Eater”
There were gasps around the room and many horrified faces, the most of which was Ginny’s. She started at the spot between Hermione and Ron, He was there and she knew it.
“He knows the feeling of being judged as I have, the feeling of only being what people expect you to be. The person behind a name. There is a person behind my name and his, but you need to know the real people. This person, who many of you will not trust, has saved my life. And even the life of my best friend. I have finally found someone who has seen the real me and I want everyone to see it. If I am to defeat Vol-“There were sharp intakes of breaths around the room “-The Dark Lord then I need you to know who is protecting you. I want you all to know the truth and not just what is told to you in the Daily Prophet or through rumours.”
From Under the cloak Draco looked up at Harry, tears of adoration shining in his eyes, a sweet smile gracing his lips.
Before Harry could continue with his speech, rage had engulfed Ginny and she lunged forwards and ripped the cloak off of Draco and pointed her wand at his neck.
The Gryffindors around the room looked shocked at the revelation of Draco Malfoy in the middle of their common room.
“I will never trust him, NEVER!” she screamed fury pouring from her.
Harry launched himself off the table and slid in front of Draco so that Ginny’s wand was now pointed at his throat.
“If you kill him you kill me Ginny that’s the way it works now, because without him my life has no meaning” he reached his hands back and took Draco’s in his own.
“No, no, no! It’s supposed to be me Harry, ME.”
“Not everything revolves around you Ginny and you will have to learn that. You can only manipulate people so far. I love Draco and that’s what you will have to understand.”
The Gryffindors stood in silence; it was like watching a live soap opera. The crowd weren’t sure whether to be outraged that Draco was in their common room or shocked at the behaviour of the youngest Weasley. The scene was a lot to take in.
“But he doesn’t love you, he’s using you Harry!” she screamed, her face wild. Draco stepped out from behind Harry and stood beside him.
“We’ve already been over this” He said calmly in his smooth voice.
“I’m not using him. I love Harry, wholeheartedly.” And with that he leant over and kissed Harry who easily melted into his lovers lips.
Ron and Hermione smiled softly, truly knowing just how much they really did care for each other, and how caring the real Draco was. The scene rubbed off on Ron and he put his arm round Hermione’s waist and pulled her into his side into a kind of embrace. Her face turned scarlet and she looked extremely flustered, but Ron seemed not to of noticed and stood with a dopey look on his face.
Ginny span on the spot and stormed out of the common room up to the girl’s dormitories. From below the crashing of objects being thrown, even blown apart, could be heard.
The boys kiss broke apart and they stared intensely into each others eyes, Draco broke the gaze kissing Harry on the fore head and slipping his arms around Harry’s waist.
“I urge you to get to know the real Draco Malfoy and the real Harry Potter” Harry announced, he too slipping his arm around Draco’s waist.
“And so do we” Ron piped up stepping over to the boys “Draco saved my life, I owe him. He brings a whole different meaning to the Malfoy name. He’s basically one of us, if not better than some of us…” He grinned and gave Malfoy a soft punch to the shoulder.
The quad sat on the chairs in front of the fire and waited for the information to sink in. They were sure it had been a lot for them to take in.
No going back now eh? Draco said snuggling into Harry.
Definitely not. And I wouldn’t change it. He replied moving to give Draco a soft peck on the lips.
Slowly but surely Gryffindors came over to speak to the group of friends. They were taking it really well. People were really keen to talk to Harry about himself and his plans and others really wanted the chance to talk to Draco. Most of them had never actually said a word to him. His family name and supposed ‘reputation’ had made him an immediate enemy, but here he was in love with the ‘chosen one’, and a threat to none of them.
In the three hours that the friends sat there and talked, so much weight lifted off their shoulders. People were starting to see their real personalities and were surprisingly very receptive.
Throughout it all Dean stood in the shadows of the corner, a forlorn look on his face. He really thought that he and Ginny had something, especially after how she was with him at the party. But no. She was just using him because she wanted Harry. Dean was however unexpectedly pleased for Harry. He saw how those boys looked at each other and just wished he could have someone to share that with. He thought he’d wanted that with Ginny, but her selfish nature had been shown and although she was a beautiful girl she was ugly inside and that made her ugly.
Ron turned from his seat in front of the fire and looked around the common room, it was nearly empty now, and then he saw Dean huddled on a seat in the corner. Excusing himself he went over to Dean and sat opposite to him.
“She hurts everyone and I’m sorry she got to you as well, I wouldn’t wish her manipulation on anybody, and I’ve dealt with the repercussions of it. And it made me want to kill myself”
Dean looked over at the youngest Weasley son and stared at him in shock.
“She made me believe that my best friend had molested her. I didn’t want to believe her. But she’s my baby sister ya’ know? I never thought she’d lie about something like that. I even hit him, you probably saw. But I soon saw the truth and I was distraught. Harry would probably give his life for me, but my own sister wouldn’t she’s too selfish to fight for anything but herself.
And I tried. I tried to kill myself. But he saved me. Draco Malfoy saved my life and I couldn’t be more grateful to him. I have now fixed what she broke and I’m free to continue living my life happily. And you’ll see it will get better, she’s just a nasty bump in the long road ahead.”
Dean nodded and looked over at Harry and Draco who were talking with Hermione and laughing and they sat their completely comfortable in each other’s arms as if there was no where else they’d rather be.
“I want that…” Dean whispered softly, causing Ron to turn and look at him.
“Their relationship it’s so … real. The only place they want to be is with each other and I couldn’t imagine a greater feeling of love than that. I really thought Ginny and I might have evolved into that. But it turns out not.”
“There’s someone out there mate don’t you worry. You’ll find them one day, just don’t give up” and with that Ron smiled at him and clapped him on the shoulder and got up to rejoin the others.
Dean sat in deep though for a moment. But it wasn’t long before he had swung his legs round and left his chair, adjourning to the dorms.

Lessons were back in full swing now and they were already deep into the first three essays of the term. The four of them sat at the back of the library on the most hidden away tables. Although Gryffindor knew, nobody else did. And for now it was going to stay that way.
Ron wrote furiously, his cheeks red with frustration, he then scribbled madly, crossing out his last paragraph. Hermione eyed him from over the top of her book, her three finished essays already lying neatly furled next to her quill
“Need some help?” She asked him cheekily
His eyes looked up to meet her hazel ones staring back.
“No, I’m fine ta.” he replied back stubbornly, he was trying to show her he could be independent and didn’t need her help all the time anymore, but in all honestly, he could do with her help right now. But he wasn’t giving in, his Weasley stubbornness wouldn’t let him give up.

Luna skipped along the alcoves of the library. She turned one of the many corners and skipped up to a shelf right by their table.
She glanced over at them and saw Draco leaning his head on Harry’s shoulder, hand in hand.
“Oh. You two make a sweet couple” she said dreamily as she took her book from the shelf and skipped away.
They stared at her in disbelief as she skipped, her blonde curls trailing behind her.
“Is she always like that?” Draco asked turning to those dazzling green eyes he so adored.
“Yeah. She’s very receptive that girl – she says the most profound things, well midst the rest of the waffle which I usually don’t understand.” Harry replied with a smile

Her blonde curls swayed behind her as she skipped back to her table at the other end of the table. Her books and parchment were all stacked neatly and her quill sat perched on top. The other half of the desk was littered with little scraps of parchment and many books lie open.
“How’s it going Neville?” Luna asked sitting down and opening her charms book to the right page.
“He looked up from his books, his hair messy a dishevelled look on his face which suddenly broke out into a huge grin.
“This should be my best Herbology project ever!” he replied excitedly.
“That’s good to hear” she replied in her dreamy way, slowly turning the page of her book.
“It took you a while to find your book Luna” he stated
“Yes. It is quite a distance. It was over in that far corner where all the older books are. Some of our Gryffindor friends were over there. They’re sitting with Draco Malfoy. Draco and Harry make a sweet couple don’t you think.”
“I – ah – What?” Neville just blinked at her in confusion.
“Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, they’re a couple. Didn’t you know?”
He just sat agape and his eyebrows furrowed. He gathered his work and stuffed it into his bag and headed off for the corner Luna was talking about. Luna just blinked her large grey eyes and scooped up her neat pile of books and parchment and she followed Neville, her cork necklace bobbing up and down as she jogged to catch up.
Neville threw himself into one of the chairs opposite Draco and Harry, Luna perched herself next to Hermione.
“So, How? When? What the fuck!?” Neville asked flustered his arms waving madly. The whole table shook their heads in confusion and sat agape at Neville’s uncharacteristic outburst.
“To what are you referring?” Draco asked smoothly, he was twirling Harry’s hair in his hand.
“You two, I mean … I’m confused”
“Weren’t you in the dorm on Monday Neville?” Hermione asked him
“No, I’ve been in the library almost 24/7 trying to get my Herbology project finished, so I can get professor Sprout’s opinion on it.”
“Ah” Harry said scratching his chin.
“Well…”
And with that the four of them explained to Neville what he had missed earlier that week, Luna sat and listened quietly.
“Whoa…” he whispered “I never imagined that this turn of events might occur!”
“You’re taking it pretty well Neville” Hermione stated
“Well after all the good things that Draco has done, doesn’t that make him one of us?”
“Yeah, it does” Harry said smiling and squeezing Draco’s hand.

From that point, Draco was considered an honorary Gryffindor, allowed into the common with Harry and his friends anytime. Ginny avoided the common room as much as she could now days, her horrific outburst changing a lot of people’s views on her.
Though Draco had this right of passage they group still spent a lot of time in their private rooms. Today there was six of them gathered round the table with books and parchment spread out. Neville and Luna had been spending a lot of time with the others. They seemed to be the most accepting of the situation and had really taken to Draco. And he to them.
“See Hinkypunks are all very good, but I say they should be teaching us about Knargles, they are more of a threat. And much more interesting”
While others found her irritating, Draco found Luna rather fascinating, she could lift the bore right off a study session in the middle of a Saturday.
“So Neville how’s your Herbology project coming?” Draco asked, twirling his quill idly between his fingers.
“Good, I’d just finished double checking the final draft actually.”
“Really? Can I take a look?” The blonde asked
Neville was slightly taken aback; no one usually took any interest in his insane Herbology projects apart from Professor Sprout.
“Sure” he replied, handing him the bound parchments. Neville watched curiously as Draco thumbed through his work, the blonde nodding to himself and making little faces as he read.
“This is really great Neville” he finally remarked when he had finished reading it. “It was really in-depth and informative, I mean some of the information in there you don’t come across easily.”
“Nope you don’t, there’s days, even weeks, worth of research in there” He said with a triumphant looking smile.
“So what career path will your outstanding Herbology skills take you down?”
“I’m not sure” He responded eyes wide, everyone knew his passion was Herbology and that he was good at it, but nobody had ever asked him how he would use it.
“I haven’t actually given it much thought” he added
“You want to know what I think you should do? I think you should teach.”
“Teach?” he asked quizzically his brows frowning.
“Yeah I think you’d be able to inspire younger generations and you’re a really hard worker. I can imagine you as being a friendly teacher that pupils could get on well with.”
Neville just sat and blinked at him.
“Really?” he finally muttered out
“Yeah really.”
Neville sat in deep thought. It was true that he’d never put much thought into what he would do after school. Herbology was his passion and he’d never really thought about where it could lead him. But teaching? He’d never even considered it…. But it sounded like a good choice. He’d have to put a lot more thought into it. But at least now he could finally focus on an overall goal rather than individual projects.
The table sat chatting idly among themselves; Luna turned to Neville with her great grey eyes and smiled.
“I think you’d make a great teacher Neville! I’d love to be taught by you. I’m reckoning you’d be a slightly unconventional teacher, and that makes learning all the more interesting you know”
Again Neville just sat there and blinked, a soft smile gracing his lips. Today was a day where Neville was just speechless.
***
Things were great. Harry no longer felt separated from his friends, his life was ‘normal’ again but now he had someone to share it all with. And he could be as lovey with Draco as he wanted because his friends all accepted him. He’d fit in so well and it had come as a shock to everyone just what Draco Malfoy was really like, past his name, past his family. He was a kind hearted boy who encouraged and stood up for his friends and he loved Harry – wholeheartedly.

“Blimey look at the time! It’s time for dinner – caw I’m so glad! I’m bloody starving!” Ron said looking at the clock. He stood up and stretched his arms above his head.
“Is all you think about food Ronald?” Hermione asked grouping together her parchment and books and putting them in her bag.
“Nope. My heads filled with many thought thank you very much!” he said cheerily. He was in a very good mood for some reason. Hermione just gaped at him, one eyebrow raised quizzically.
They finished packing away their stuff and started heading out.
“You guys go we’ll be down in a minute” Harry said sitting hand in hand with Draco at the table.
“Alright then mate”
“See you in a bit then”
And with that their friends left for the great hall.
“May I ask why we aren’t leaving with them love?” Draco asked cheekily.
Harry didn’t say a word but just pounced on the blonde knocking them both onto the floor. Draco didn’t need to ask, he could feel the lust emanating off Harry. He’d bee able to feel it brewing for the past half an hour, he’d even been as cruel as to send some rather graphic images across the link teasing the brunette. Draco knew that Harry wouldn’t throw his friends out, he’d wait for them to leave by themselves, but it was still fun to tease and see the little twitches and jerks every time Harry received messages from the blonde.
They didn’t even make it to the bedroom. Clothes were already discarded littering the lounge floor; Draco swore he saw a sock on top of the TV as Harry pushed him down onto the sofa.
“I need you Draco “ Harry panted boring into Draco with his green eyes dazzling with desire.
“Well who am I to refuse you what you need” he whispered softly moving to nibble on Harry’s collar bone. He pulled harry by the small of his back, pushing his hips against his lovers, increasing the hunger in them both.
Draco traced his fingertips down Harry’s chest, the feathery touches sending electricity through his body. The sensations drove him wild his brow starting to glisten, his body grinding madly searching for release. But Draco wasn’t giving in so easily, He knew Harry wanted this and he was willing to give it, in time.
Draco nibbled at Harry’s jaw, tasting the delicious salt of his skin, feeling the intense heat from his raging body. Harry’s eyes were glazed over in a haze of want, of need. He couldn’t take it anymore, pinning Draco on his back, thoroughly surprising the blonde. Harry kissed Draco’s chest moving his kisses down, setting to nibble on the pale hip bones – licking and sucking in frenzy. The blonde’s usually pale cheeks were rosy, his breaths were laboured with effort to breath. And Harry took Draco in his mouth, twirling his tongue methodically. Draco gasped thrashing his head backwards, one of his hands threading his fingers into Harry’s think brunette tresses. His movements were sending the blonde wild, his hips quivering involuntarily. With every movement from his lover Draco pulsed, his veins throbbing with lust. Their feelings had intertwined across the cerebral bond, making them feel one in the same, and they wanted to be connected in the profound way that they both craved. Harry liberated Draco and crawled back up to gaze into his fluid eyes, searching him.
I love you… Harry managed to send through the haze before descending to assault Draco’s lips with his yearning ones.
Draco kissed furiously in return, shifting harry into his lap. Their skin slid together glistening and damp with ache for each other. Draco sat with his back straight against the sofa, Harry straddling him, his hands clenching the back of the sofa in earnest longing. And once again they were one being, moving in unison. Panting and writhing, heavy moans escaping from them both. All sense of time had dissolved; they knew nothing put the movement of their bodies, the feelings of ecstasy pulsing through them, building with each second; their movements becoming more erratic and crazed with pleasure. Harry thrust his head into the crook of Draco’s neck, his body trembling all over. His quivering hand drawing Draco’s jaw to meet their lips together in a feverish craze and with a final push both bodies were quaking and writhing, slick with the juices of passion, sticking together with heat. Both bodies heaved with racking breaths, lying together their foreheads touching, their eyes closed. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry’s back pulling him into a tight embrace.
I love you too, always….
****

Harry walked into the great hall, still obviously flushed and not so subtly trying to flatten his even messier hair. Soon after Draco took his seat at the Slytherin table looking composed and just as neat as always.
I don’t know how you do it Harry told him
It is a skill I admit. But in truth and am composing myself for when I get you back upstairs again the blonde smirked famously, leaving his lover flustering from the opposite side of the hall. Draco just heard the crash of a goblet and knew that pumpkin juice had just flown everywhere over at the Gryffindor table.
And now you definitely need cleaning up, so dirty…
This time it was the plate he heard crash. Harry was too easy to tease. And it was just one of the many things he loved about him.

A/N: I’m soooooo sorry about the long wait guys!!! Work has been quite hectic. And I had a bit of trouble getting this chapter to work, but I hope its up to scratch!