Thank you - Drarry

Chapter 8

In the days that followed the two boys fell into a routine. After their moment in the library they found themselves craving each other's company, and they quickly decided not to fight it. Neither boy had brought up their fight from earlier that year, and they both seemed pretty content with acting like it had never happened.

Harry had his Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the morning right after breakfast with the impressive Professor Jules Leiton. She had previously worked as an auror at the Ministry of Magic and had fought alongside the Order in the last battle. She was a wickedly clever woman in her early thirties who had successfully been able to smuggle intel from the depth of the Ministry out to the Order of the Phoenix during the war.

After the war, McGonagall had asked her to fill in as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher until she had time and opportunity to find a permanent one. Many still believed the position to be cursed, but the Headmistress was sure that the curse had died with Voldemort. Now all she had to do was prove that, and Professor Leiton had offered to help.

Apart from Harry, there were seven other students in the class. Professor Leiton had from the very start decided to take the practical road towards learning. She was the opposite of Professor Umbridge that had been the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's fifth year. While Umbridge had only taught in theory, Professor Leiton almost only taught by doing, which Harry found brilliant. It was all very similar to how he had held his DA meetings. The classes were tough but very rewarding.

After class it was practically lunch time and Harry would sneak off to his hidden corner of the library. Or I guess you could now call it "their" corner, since Draco could almost always be found there as well. The first day after Harry had comforted Draco about his father, Harry had found him there after class. After their talk, when things had gone back to how they had been before their fight, Harry realized how much he had missed Draco's company, and he felt happy that they were friends again.

Usually when Harry found him, Draco had a plate of food from the Great Hall with him and he would sit and eat it while reading a book. The first time Harry had found him there, Draco had been forced to fight a hungry Harry for the food, so he had started to bring enough for them to share. So, now when Harry came to their spot, sweaty and full of adrenalin from dueling all morning, there was a plate of food waiting for him. And if Draco was in a good mood there might even be some pumpkin juice.

Three days after winter break had started Harry found Draco in their corner, a big bowl of candy by his side and a letter in front of him. At first Harry got scared that maybe this was another letter from home, carrying more bad news. Thankfully he was quickly able to relax when he saw that it was Draco that was writing the letter this time. As he sat down Draco raised his hand as a hello before dunking it into the bowl and picking up some licorice before continuing to write.

Draco looked like he might be busy for a while so Harry decided that now was a time as good as any to do his homework from today's class. But he had barely finished writing his name at the top of the parchment before Draco let out a frustrated huff and threw the quill on the table and leaned back in his chair

" Something bothering you?" Harry laughed, causing Draco to let out yet another huff and reach for the candy bowl.

"It's Blaise! He went home to visit family with his mom over break. And not the git writes to tell me that he's found a girl over there and he needs my advice on how to get her." He stuffed a big piece of pumpkin pasty in his mouth and chewed angrily. "I mean how in the world am I supposed to be able to help?"

Harry couldn't stop himself and let out a quick laugh which were met by a death glare from Draco.

"Well, you just have to tell him how you would have done it I suppose." Harry suggested after calming down his laughter a bit. Expecting Draco to go back to his letter he turned his attention back to his homework. Shouldn't be a problem he thought. Considering how many girls Draco had had in the past.

When he didn't receive an answer nor heard the sound of quill on parchment for a few seconds Harry looked back up, only to find the other boy blushing. The two boys sat staring at each other for a minute, Harry trying to figure out why Draco would be blushing. Harry couldn't imagine it being embarrassment for having had many girls, but he also couldn't think of another reason. As he thought Draco leaned closer and took a deep breath.

"Harry..." the hesitation was clear in his voice, but he continued anyways. "I've never been with anyone before."

A laugh escaped Harrys lips, before quickly disappearing as he realized that Draco was serious. Embarrassment evident on his face.

"But... what about Pansy, or Daphne or all of the girls I've seen you with?" Harry didn't judge him, not at all. He himself hadn't really been with anyone apart from Ginny. That is unless you count that one awkward date and kiss with Cho Chang, which he couldn't say that he did.

Draco, realizing that Harry was just shocked and a bit curious, instead of judging, relaxed a bit and let out a small chuckle.

"They're just friends." When he met Harry's questioning look he added "maybe sometimes I've made it seem like more, but they've only ever been friends."

"Why?"

Draco looked at him like he was an idiot. "Probably because neither of us have been interested in the other in that way" sarcasm evident in his voice.

Harry rolled his eyes at the words.

"Obviously I mean why have you made it seem like you were more than friends, you idiot!"

Instead of rolling his eyes back at Harry, Draco surprised him by looking embarrassed again. And he confused Harry even more when all he said back was a simple "because". But now Harry was properly curious and he really needed to know, and if there was one thing he had learned about the Slytherin boy in the last few months it was that he absolutely couldn't stand awkward silence. So, Harry just got comfortable in his chair, not saying anything and waited for Draco to continue. And while Draco did try to ignore Harry, he didn't last very long.

"What?!" He had an annoyed look on his face.

"You tell me!" Harry smirked, pleased that he had been able to predict how the blond was going to react.

"Because people gossip Harry, especially purebloods, and I knew that everything I did would finds its way back to my father."

"And why would your father need to think that you were hooking up with a bunch of girls?" Harry somehow felt more confused now than all he had gotten as an answer was a "because".

Draco hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and continuing with a low voice.

"Because that is was a pureblood guy like me is expected to want."

Harry was just about the let out a frustrated "what?" before it finally dawned on him what Draco was trying to explain. And when it did his face turned bright red, which caused Draco to let out a soft laugh.

"Don't worry, no one else has figured it out either. Although I've never really laid it out so clearly for anyone before. So, you know, considering your reputation as a brilliant wizard, you sure needed more nudges that I would have thought." Another laugh left him as he looked at Harrys bright, red face, and at that comment Harry joined him. So, they sat there, in their hidden corner in the library, and laughed together. Between quick breaths for air, Harry would look at the boy in front of him and feel happier than he had in years.