Flowers

~13-Draco~

The rest of the break passes quietly. We spend it in the snow-covered gardens and by roaring fires in my bedroom. Eventually, it's time to go back to Hogwarts.

My mother waves as I disappear in a flash of green through the fireplace. I stop myself from toppling on top of the carpet in the eighth year dormitory. Harry falls out next to me a few seconds later, spitting ash and muttering.

"Welcome back," Ron says from a couch. Hermione leans against him, smiling contentedly. Ginny sits in an armchair across from them with Lovegood practically in her lap.

Harry grins at Lovegood. "How was your holiday Luna?"

"Oh, it was great. I spent Christmas day with my dad. He was so mad about my hair." She'd dyed it lavender while visiting with Ginny. She notices my stare and her answering smirk is terrifying.

Ginny curls a hand around her shoulders smugly. "It was pretty boring once you two left. Ron and Hermione were all over each other the entire time."

We sit down next to Ron and Hermione. It's odd how easy it is to be friendly with them. Barely a year ago, this would have most likely ended in a duel or fistfight.

Harry glances at his watch. "Dinner is starting in about an hour. We should go check on our flowers for Herbology Draco."

We say goodbye and wander down to the greenhouses. We check all the plants.

"The automatic watering spell didn't work," Harry growls, sending a stream of water at the plant he's working on.

"They don't look that dead. It probably just missed the last few days." I poke at the hyacinth. The brittle leaves tremble but stay on the plant.

"I knew I did something wrong." Harry's voice wavers like he's forcing back tears.

"Hey, it's okay. It was a hard spell. You did fine." I pull him into a one-armed hug and press a kiss to his forehead.

He pulls away after a moment. "We should go to dinner."

I nod and let him pull me towards the castle.

-------------------------------------------------------

We sit with Ginny and Lovegood. Ginny rolls her eyes when we ask where Ron and Hermione are.

"They left a couple of minutes ago." She snorts.

"They're acting weird." Harry frowns.

"I bet Ron did something, that git," Ginny mutters, aggressively shoving food in her mouth.

"Are you mad at him or something?" I ask.

"Yeah" her eyes fixed on the plate in front of her. "I came out to my family."

Harry chokes. "Really! How'd it go?"

"The bloody git-!" Her hand slams down on the table. "He rolled his eyes and said 'you too!'"

Harry sighs and rubs his temples. "Ron is a bit of git."

"So you admit it!" I cry.

"Shut up darling. He's still my best friend." He turns to Ginny. "He probably didn't know how to react, or what bisexual means. He thought we were going to get married until I told him I was gay after all."

A group of Gryffindor fifth-years walk by. They smirk at Harry, their eyes glistening with malicious glee. He flinches as they pass. My eyes meet Ginny's and go wide.

"Harry-" I say slowly. "Who were they?"

"I dunno" he looks down, eyes glassy with suppressed fear.

"Were they the people that hurt you?" Ginny's voice is quiet.

"Please don't do anything." He grabs my arm, his eyes pleading. "Don't get in trouble for me."

The boys disappear out into the halls. Ginny and I slowly stand up. Harry groans and buries his head in his hands.

We find the boys in an empty classroom. Their piggish laughter rings through the air.

"Did you see his face!" one cries. "The Boy Who Lived, Reduced to a shivering mess in the presence of a couple of 15-year-olds!"

A growl rips from my throat and I slam the door open. "Hello boys" I purr. "That would be my boyfriend your talking about."

Their eyes go wide with terror. Ginny smiles cruelly.

"What should we do to them as punishment for beating the hell out of the boy who saved their miserable lives," I sneer.

"I'm known for my Bat-Bogey Hex." She raises her wand.

"I know quite a few legal pain spells."

"Get away from us Death Eater." One works up the courage to speak. "We all know what you're doing. You've got Potter under some spell. There's no way the Boy Who Lived is a f****t."

A snarl escapes from my lips. "Don't call him that."

"What, f****t?" The boy's lip curls.

I pocket my wand. "I've changed my mind. I'll beat them into a bloody pulp with my fists." Their eyes widen in fear.

"Draco no!" Somebody grabs my arm. I look over into Harry's terrified face. "The Ministry doesn't need any excuses to send you to Azkaban."

I look at the group again. "You little shits are lucky I listen to my boyfriend." I pull out my wand and wave it. They shriek as they are lifted into the air and turned upside down. Their robes fall around their waists.

I flick my wand and they float, still shrieking, out into the main hallway. Laughter explodes as the stream of students sees them.

Harry sighs. "At least you didn't kill them."

"Can I kill them?" Ginny asks. "I don't have Malfoy's name."

Harry groans. "I swear, you all are gonna kill me someday."