Understanding

Part 14

"How long?" Hermione whispers to us excitedly. Draco looks at his bare wrist as if there is a watch there and replies.

"About five minutes." He shrugs. He lays back on the couch again as the others start flooding in. Hermione and Ron have become overly excited, sharing glances with us and smirking. I can't help but feel embarrassed by the whole situation that I let get out of control because of my feelings. It could have been a small kiss but I escalated it and now they know. I trust my friends to keep a secret but their actions could be just as obvious and give it away. The other Gryffindors already have a good guess because of  Draco's presence almost every day. If Ron and Hermione start acting weird around us, they will know and label us as a couple before we even know what we are.

He might not even like me. I know he kissed me back but that could have been a reflex or it could have been out of pity for me. We've grown closer. He may not have wanted to hurt my feelings. I feel sick to my stomach at the thought and excuse myself from the group. I feel Draco's eyes trained on me but I don't turn around to take in his expression.  I lock myself in the bathroom and lean on the sink for support.

"What has my life come to?" I whisper to myself. I splash cold water on my face to cool the blush on my cheeks. I remember his breath on my lips and the look in his eyes. He seemed so real, yet so much like a doll too. He's everything I didn't know I wanted in someone and everything I need. He is level headed and doesn't charge into situations head-on. He's sympathetic to the situation I have been in and can even relate because he's been there too. He's so strong, sweet, funny, smart, and easy to talk to. Literally anyone would fall for him but I didn't expect that anyone to be me. Am I falling for him? Am I falling for his bed hair and the way he makes himself at home anywhere he goes? Am I falling for the way he looks at his son even if he's only known him for a few months? Am I falling for the way he likes his tea and the clothes he wears and the pain he has been through that has made him so fucking human and so much like an angel all at once? I really am and it terrifies me. I have never been in love but every time he is near, my heart aches for him to get closer and he's all I can think about and talk about. I want him to be happy always and it kills me to think that he has cried himself to sleep over the pain someone else has caused him. He wakes up screaming from nightmares that someone else caused. I want to take him into my arms and protect him from that ever happening again. I want to bring Voldemort back to life just so I can torture him even a fraction of the amount he tortured Draco. I didn't realize I was crying until now. A knock sounds on the door and I wipe the tears away angrily. I swing the door open to reveal Draco, who pushes me back into the bathroom and closes the door.

"Harry." He begins.

"If anyone saw you do that, they will think we are doing something dirty in here." I joke. He smiles at me sadly.

"You've been crying, Harry. What's wrong?" He asks me.

"What? No, I haven't." I argue.

"You have a tear on your cheek now. If you want me to get Granger or Weasel, I can. I'm just worried about you." He sighs.

"Why are you worried?" I ask.

"Because Harry. You are in the bathroom crying. I don't want you to feel sad. I know it's so hard not to because of everything that has happened but I care about you and I won't let him get to you again. He's gone, Harry." 

"It's not that," I mumble.

"Then what is it?"

"It's you." I answer and his face contorts into confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm crying because of you. It's been so long since I have felt anything for anyone. My last kiss was Ginny and that's not saying much since I like boys. And I like you. And I know you don't feel the same. How could you?" I laugh bitterly, looking down at my worn sneakers compared to his polished dress shoes.

"Harry, please. Look at me." He insists. When I don't obey, his fingers curl under my chin and he pushes my head up. My vision is blurry from the tears but I can see the twinkle in his eyes anyway.

"What?" I ask wistfully.

"I like you too,  Harry. I have for a while. I liked you even before the trial. What do you mean "how could I"? You are Harry Fucking Potter, the savior of witch and wizardkind. The boy who lived, the boy who took Voldemort down. You are on everyone's wall at this point. I am one of the thousands who like you. I just happened to be lucky enough to talk to you. And that kiss... I am so thankful for that. If I never get another one,  I'll still be able to say that I have kissed Harry James Potter, which only a handful of people have experienced." I blush at his words but a smile has appeared on my face.

"Do you mean that? You aren't just saying that because I give you and Scorpius a place to live?" I ask and he laughs.

"Harry, for the savior of the wizarding world, you are pretty daft. I am a Malfoy. I could pretty much own anything in the world. If I wanted to get a house of my own, I would have by now. I wanted to stay with you because you make everything better. You make me feel safe and honestly, you feel like home." He is now cupping my face in his large hands and I feel so small in the best way.

"You make everything better too. I'm just afraid this isn't real. I'm afraid tomorrow you will wake up and hate me again." I admit and he smiles softly at me. He leans forward to me and closes his eyes. Our lips touch for the second time and I fall for the way he tastes. The kiss is slow and passionate but still very deep and I am breathless. His hands have come to rest on my hips and the small of my back and I wrap my arms around his neck. I touch his soft hair and pull him in closer, deepening the kiss. He walks me back until my body presses against the tile of the wall and his tongue swipes on my bottom lip. To tease him, I don't let him in and instead slow the kiss down. His hand trails down to my butt and he squeezes it causing me to squeak and he takes the opportunity to slip his tongue in my mouth. He must not have locked the door back because it creaks open and we don't even have time to separate before Seamus is yelling in shock.

"What the hell? My eyes! My eyes!" Several other members of Gryffindor come to check out the commotion and I can imagine we both look very guilty. His hair sticks up in every direction, his face is flushed, he is breathing heavily, and his lips are swollen. Similarly, My hair is a mess, I am still leaning against the wall trying to regulate my breathing, I can feel the heat burning on my cheeks and down my neck, and my shirt is untucked from my jeans.

"Isn't there another bathroom in this place?" Draco growls causing me to flinch. He's right, though. In the commons area, there are two female bathrooms and two male ones. And then up to where the rooms are, there is one for every set of bedrooms. 

"Are you two together?" Dean Thomas asks, completely ignoring Draco's angry remark.

"Yes, now fuck off. We were busy." Draco spits and the others raise their hands in defense.

"We're together?" I ask him quietly as they walk away.

"I d-don't know. I-if you want." He stutters, looking everywhere but me. It's my turn to make him face me and I place a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I'd like that." I smile and he wraps me in the most comforting hug I could ever receive. We told everyone soon after that and the Weasley family was very accepting. 

Time goes by and we grow together raising little Scorp. I got Draco a Christmas present and we celebrated at the Weasleys. I got him a golden brooch pin for his robes with the Slytherin snake on it. The eyes were diamond and the teeth were tipped with liquid gold. If touched, liquid gold will spill out on your fingers due to a charm placed on it. He got me a gold ring with the Potter family crest on it. Engraved on the inside is "James, Lily, & Harry Potter." It made me tear up when I opened it because it's so close to my heart. He told me it was originally my grandfather's and he had it restored for me. Ginny's first game is right after New Years and I pull her aside during the New Year's Eve party.

"What is it, Harry?"  She cocks her head sideways. I glance back at Draco who is discussing something with Percy. They both seem comfortable with the other as Draco sips his homemade eggnog and Percy munches on a cookie. Draco feels my stare and turns to me. He casts me a smile reserved for only me and my heart swells. He's wearing his dark green and grey sweater that Molly knitted for him with a large letter D in the middle. He looks good.

"I think I'm going to need that extra ticket after all."