like recognises like || t4t drarry one-shot || [ENG]

like recognises like

this story is mostly about trans joy and gender euphoria. there aren't any graphic descriptions of dysphoria, though it is referenced.

words: 4,850

Draco wasn't usually very observant, he knew this. But when Potter started acting in so very familiar way, he was bound to take notice. The way Potter seemed to grow smaller every time someone called the prat 'the Girl-Who-Lived' or 'the Girl Wonder' or when professors called out 'Ms. Potter'. Draco recognised the signs. He knew them in a very intimate fashion. He had been there, as a child. He remembered how every time he had been misgendered felt like a stab to the gut. Of course, he had been lucky. His mother had known what he'd meant when he had said he wasn't a girl, and his father had paid for the best treatment, so now he felt mostly at peace in his own body. Of course, nobody but his parents knew about him being trans, he had been presented as the male heir of the Malfoy name from the start. He thanked the pureblood tradition of revealing the baby only after their sixth birthday - it was so that pureblood families had time to get rid of the squibs, but served him well, regardless.

Potter, though, wasn't so lucky. Everybody knew the prat as a girl, it was plastered across the front page almost every morning. Potter was becoming almost invisible, the way Draco saw the prat only in classes or the Great Hall for meals, and even there Potter was quiet, never drawing any attention. And it was grating on Draco. He remembered what being called a girl felt like (horrible), and he wouldn't wish it even on Potter. He had to do something about it.

⚧

"Potter." Draco cornered the prat in an empty hallway.

"Malfoy." The answering phrase was neither a statement nor a question. Draco didn't know what to make of it.

"Look. I hate you, you hate me, but..." Draco drifted off, not sure how to continue.

"But?" Prompted Potter. Stupid fucking Potter. Draco decided just to get on with it.

"Look," he started again. "I see the way you act when someone calls you a girl."

Potter's face drained of all colour, and the stupid prat stared at Draco, terrified.

"I just want to let you know that... Ugh." Draco dragged his palm across his face. "I won't out you. But how in the Salazar's silken undergarments am I meant to insult you now? I need to know what terms you're okay with!" Yes, Draco realised how it sounded. "I hate you, but I'd never... I know I'm right, alright? I know you aren't a girl," Oh fuck, Potter's stupid green eyes were filling with tears, "I know you aren't a girl," he repeated, "but I need to know your pronouns, I'm going crazy not knowing how to refer to you - in my head. Not aloud. With other people, I won't use pronouns for you before you come out." Draco ceased his rambling before he made even more of a fool of himself. Potter's eyes were still full of tears, and the expression on the scarhead's face was... mostly confused. There was still fear, but it was minimal. Then there was amazement, most likely from being seen or some such hippogriff dung. Draco knew how that felt.

"I- I'm... a boy," Potter whispered quietly. So quietly, that Draco had to lean closer to hear.

"A boy, okay. Your pronouns?" Draco questioned and was met with a blank stare. "You know, he/him, she/her, they/them? Words people refer to you with?"

"He/him, I guess?" Potter's answer was tentative, and Draco pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Okay, fine. Let me try something."

Potter nodded, still unsure but that was as much permission as Draco needed.

"So there's this prat Potter, y'know? He's so stupid with his messy hair and fucking glasses I just want to hex him. But no one else seems to realize how annoying he is cuz he just looks at them with these green fucking eyes of his and-" Tears had started pouring from Potter's eyes, and Draco is interrupted by a loud sniffle. Potter wiped his eyes with his sleeves, but fresh tears continued to fall on his cheeks. Draco watched, smirking at himself for a job well done.