Tender Love ~ Drarry Smut✔

Loving his scars

"Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed."― Benjamin Alire Sáenz,

"You don't want to?" Draco loosened his grip on Harry's arm, sounding somewhat disappointed.

"Of course, I do!" Harry defensively exclaimed. "It's just..." He glanced up meekly at his boyfriend, whom he had been dating for about six and a half months.

Their relationship had begun during the latter part of their eighth year at Hogwarts, and it hadn't been an easy journey. The first post-war encounter between them took place at the Wizengamot, where Harry had spoken during Draco and Narcissa's trial. From there, it had been a series of awkward thank-yous, brief conversations and staring had started.

A lot of staring...

More than even Harry had done in his sixth year.

Then, finally, after more than five years of unresolved tension broke when their desires became just too strong to ignore.

One thing led to another, and here they were, together, very much in love and about to embark on their healer training.

Draco, having been cleared of all charges, wanted to pursue something that could make a positive difference in the world by helping others, and after hiding, being chased and enduring the relentless pursuit of Death Eaters and the harrowing hunt for Horcruxes, Harry too had decided he had had enough of a life filled with dark wizardry and declined to become an Auror, much to Ron's distaste....

Ron... Ron... Ron, his first and best friend, his almost-brother...he was still a sore spot in his heart...When Harry chose not to rekindle his relationship with Ginny, Ron and Molly were disappointed, and Ginny was heartbroken. Then, when Ron learned of Harry's career choice, he was beyond disappointed and tried to nag him to continue with their collaborative dream of becoming auror partners, but it was when Harry told him about his relationship with Draco that he exploded all at once. Ron even attempted to set Harry up with any bloke he suspected might have the slightest interest in other lads. He shouted and blamed Draco for manipulating Harry's mind. Hermione, ever the loyal and supportive girlfriend, wholeheartedly sided with Ron, highlighting the toxicity of being involved with someone who had once called her a Mudblood and they reminded him of every bullying incident that happened between them, completely forgetting the fact that Draco had also saved his life by lying to the snatchers. ...

Harry had pointed out that Draco had personally and publicly apologised to every person he had hurt, multiple times. People can change, he insisted. But his mates dismissed his arguments about Draco's redemption and did their best to drive them apart. As a result, the rift from his row with Ron during the Horcrux hunt only deepened, and eventually, all the pent-up frustration he had carried for years over Ron's jealousy and anger issues exploded.

The golden trio shattered...

Draco, such a self-degrading prat as he was, saw Harry's separation from his best mates as his own fault. He even attempted to break up with Harry—or rather, he tried to—but Harry, fuelled by his Gryffindor stubbornness, refused to let him go.

"Love?" Draco clicked his fingers in front of his face, and he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Eh, what?" he blinked, and Draco gave him a knowing look that he always gave him when he was lost in his head, thinking about his broken friendship.

'The kicked puppy look,' or what Draco referred to as the look...

"We don't have to if you're not ready." Draco gave him a small smile, which caused his heart to swell with love...

'How can anyone not see the difference—the change in the blond?'

"No, no, I am—it's just..." He trailed off, not knowing how to define the feeling.