Chapter Text
Draco woke up happy. Not normal happy. Not had-a-good-night happy. Not even Harry-Potter-kissed-me-until-my-hair-looked-like-I’d-been-electrocuted happy.
Something worse.
Something deeply embarrassing.
He woke slowly, face half buried in his pillow, one leg tangled in the blanket, and before his eyes were even properly open, there was already a smile pulling at his mouth.
‘Harry.’
Draco kept his eyes closed.
‘Oh god.’ The smile widened. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.
Last night came back in pieces.
Harry’s hand on his waist.
His mouth.
His fingers in Draco’s hair.
No.
Draco’s fingers in Harry’s hair.
‘Excellent hair.’
The cinema.
Harry remembering the film.
The truffle pasta.
Dessert.
Harry sitting on his sofa.
Harry letting Draco put both legs across his lap like Draco had been doing it for years.
“Because I don’t want the night to be over yet.”- Harry, last night.
“Oh, my god.” Draco covered his face with both hands.
His voice sounded rough from sleep. The apartment remained mercifully empty.
He lowered his hands. And immediately remembered Harry standing in his doorway.
“Because you came.” - Also, Harry, last night.
“Absolutely disgusting.” Draco smiled to the ceiling.
He was happy. Really happy.
Warm in a way that didn’t seem entirely contained to his chest. It sat in his stomach too, in his shoulders, in the stupid little smile that apparently had no intention of leaving.
‘So... boyfriend?’
His brain, because it had never once in its life allowed Draco to experience an emotion without immediately ruining it, produced.
Draco’s smile disappeared.
He blinked.
‘No.’
Another blink.
‘No, obviously not.’
He turned onto his side.
‘We went on one date.’
Technically two dinners, but Harry had been very clear the first one did not qualify.
So.
One date.
One real date.
One real date and two kissing incidents.
‘Three if we count the sofa separately.’
That seemed dishonest.
‘But he said he wanted another date.’
Draco frowned into his pillow.
‘People date without being boyfriends.’
Obviously.
Draco had done that. A lot. Sometimes for weeks. Months, once.
He had dated a model for nearly two months before finding out the man had also been dating a dancer, a stylist, and, somehow, a professional tennis player.
Draco hadn’t even been offended.
Mostly impressed by the scheduling.
So.
Dating did not necessarily mean dating.
Except Harry was Harry.
Which explained absolutely nothing.
Draco reached for his phone. Three notifications were waiting.
Harry💚: Good morning, darling.
Harry💚: Sleep well?
And sent twenty-six minutes later:
Harry💚: You’re still asleep, aren’t you?
Draco smiled.
And just like that, the thought disappeared.
Me: no
Me: i’ve actually been awake for hours
Harry💚: Of course.
Me: rude
Harry💚: How long have you been awake?
Draco checked the time.
10:14.
Me: recently
Harry💚: Draco.
Draco stared at the message. Something in the simple use of his name made him sit a little straighter against the pillows.
‘Ridiculous.’
Me: like five minutes
Harry💚: Better.
Draco’s stomach did something small and strange.
He looked at the word. Better.
That was-
Nothing. It was literally one word.
Harry💚: Have you had water yet?
Draco looked toward the nightstand. The glass he’d brought to bed last night was still sitting there.
Me: about to
Harry💚: Good.
There it was again.
A tiny warmth spread beneath Draco’s ribs. Not butterflies exactly. Something softer. Lower.
He picked up the glass before he had actually decided to.
Took several gulps.
Then stopped.
Draco stared at the water. Then at his phone.
‘Did he just make me hydrate through text?’
No. Obviously not. Harry had merely asked. Draco had merely- done it.
‘Weird.’
His phone buzzed again.
Harry💚: I’ll be done around four.
Draco forgot about the water entirely.
Me: 👀
Harry💚: That is not a sentence.
Me: are you coming over
There was a slightly longer pause.
Harry💚: Do you want me to?
Draco frowned.
‘Stupid question.’
Me: obviously
Harry💚: Then yes.
Draco’s face softened.
Harry💚: Eat something before then.
Me: you’re not even here
Harry💚: And yet.
Draco looked at the glass still in his hand.
‘Witch.’
Me: fine
Harry💚: Good.
Draco stared at that one again.
Then, because apparently he had developed an issue overnight, he smiled.
__
By eleven twenty, Draco was sitting across from Pansy and Blaise with a coffee in his hand and absolutely no intention of discussing the fact that Harry Potter had spent half of last night kissing him on his sofa.
This intention lasted impressively long. As long as he kept changing the conversation to Pansy’s dating life, Blaise’s work trips, and the next vacation they gotta plan- he was gonna last forever.
That lasted until Pansy lost her patience. About twenty minutes before they had to leave for the airport. Now sitting on Draco’s balcony around a table, sipping the third round of coffee.
Pansy stared at him.
Draco took another sip.
She kept staring.
“What?”
“You look disgusting.”
Draco frowned.
“I look incredible.”
“You look happy.”
“Oh.”
Blaise snorted into his coffee.
Draco narrowed his eyes at him.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You made a sound.”
“I breathed.”
“You breathed judgementally.”
Pansy leaned forward across the table.
“So?”
“So what?”
“The date.”
Draco tried for casual.
“It was nice.”
Both of them stared.
Draco lasted three seconds.
“It was perfect.”
Pansy slapped both hands against the table.
“I KNEW IT.”
“Keep your feelings down!”
“You said perfect.”
“It was!”
Blaise looked far too amused.
“What did you do?”
“Dinner. Cinema. Dessert. He came upstairs.”
Pansy’s eyes widened.
Draco immediately pointed at her.
“Nothing happened.”
Her face fell.
“Boring.”
“He kissed me for like half the night.”
Her face recovered.
“Less boring.”
“And he sat on my sofa.”
Blaise blinked.
“Thrilling.”
“You don’t understand. He took his shoes off.”
There was a pause.
Pansy slowly looked at Blaise.
Blaise looked back at her.
Then both looked at Draco.
“What?”
Pansy’s mouth curved.
“Oh, you’re fucked.”
Draco frowned.
“Why?”
“You’re excited because a man took his shoes off in your apartment,” Blaise stated.
“That is not why I’m excited.”
“Right.” Pansy rolled her eyes.
Draco kicked her lightly beneath the table.
She kicked him back.
Blaise checked the time, then glanced toward Pansy’s suitcase in the living room.
“We need to leave in fifteen.”
“I know.”
Pansy sighed dramatically before looking back at Draco.
“So when are you seeing your boyfriend again?”
Draco stopped.
“My what?”
“Harry.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
Pansy blinked.
“Oh.”
Draco’s stomach did something unpleasant.
Blaise looked between them.
“You’re dating him.”
“Yes.”
“And kissing him.”
“Yes.”
“And he spent six hours taking you around the city before making out with you in your apartment.”
Draco frowned.
“Yes.”
Blaise took another sip of coffee.
“Sounds fairly boyfriend-shaped.”
“We went on one date.”
“Okay.”
“People date without being boyfriends.”
“Also true.”
Draco stared at his coffee.
Pansy smiled slowly.
“Ask him.”
His head snapped up.
“Absolutely not.”
Blaise laughed.
“Of course not.”
“I’m serious.”
“We know.”
Draco crossed his arms.
The subject was over. Completely over.
He was not thinking about it.
Not even slightly.
‘Boyfriend-shaped?’ Oh, fuck off.
__
Harry came over at 16:38.
Draco knew because he had checked the time when the intercom rang.
Not because he had been waiting.
He had simply been aware. Very aware.
Aggressively aware.
He had also changed shirts twice, which was unrelated.
Their second date was considerably less impressive than the first.
Harry arrived carrying takeaway from a place Draco liked, removed his coat, put it over the same chair he had used the night before, and kissed Draco before Draco could even properly say hello.
Draco forgot every question he had spent the afternoon constructing.
That became a theme.
They ate on the sofa.
Harry told him about a producer who had spent forty minutes insisting a twelve-page contract could somehow be “condensed emotionally.”
Draco nearly choked on his food laughing.
Harry stole one of his dumplings.
Draco slapped his hand.
Harry took another one.
“This is theft.”
“You’ve eaten six.”
“They’re mine.”
“You stole half my dessert yesterday.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“I wanted it.”
Harry looked at him.
Then took another dumpling.
Draco stared.
“You’re horrible.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Draco leaned across the small space between them and kissed him.
Harry smiled against his mouth.
And that was it. The question disappeared again.
Because when Harry was there, Draco didn’t particularly care what word belonged to them.
Harry’s hand rested on his waist.
Their food got cold.
Draco ended up tucked into his side, with Harry’s fingers moving slowly through the back of his hair as they argued over whether a film Harry loved was objectively terrible or merely “emotionally constipated.”
It felt easy. That was the dangerous part. Not exciting. Though it was. Not sexy.
Though Harry’s hand had been resting on his inner thigh for the last twenty minutes and Draco was definitely aware of it.
Easy.
Like Harry had been sitting on this sofa for months instead of the second night in a row.
Like Draco had always known exactly where to fit against him
Like there had never been a time when Harry’s hands on him would have made him stop breathing.
Now it simply made Draco relax.
Harry eventually checked his watch.
Draco groaned.
“No.”
Harry smiled.
“I have an early meeting.”
“On a Sunday morning?? Cancel it.”
“No.”
“You’re the boss.”
“That does not mean I can cancel work because you’re comfortable.”
“It should.”
Harry’s thumb brushed once over Draco’s thigh.
“Up.”
Draco looked at him.
Harry looked back.
Something in Draco reacted before the argumentative part of his brain arrived.
He sat up.
Harry stood.
Draco froze.
‘...Did I just do that?’
Harry was already reaching for his coat.
Draco stared at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Harry gave him the look.
The one that somehow communicated: I know you’re lying, but I’m deciding whether it matters.
Draco loved that look.
Which was probably concerning.
Harry held out one hand.
“Come here.”
Again, Draco moved before considering whether he wanted to make a point about being ordered around in his own apartment.
He stood.
Harry’s arm slipped around his waist.
Draco forgot the point entirely.
The kiss was slow.
Teasing.
Warm.
Familiar already.
Draco’s hands went around Harry’s neck, fingers immediately finding the hair at his nape. Harry pulled back after a minute.
Draco followed automatically.
Harry smiled.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Following.”
“You keep leaving.”
Harry kissed him once more.
“There.”
Draco narrowed his eyes.
“That was barely anything.”
“You’re very demanding.”
“You like me demanding.”
Harry’s eyebrow lifted.
Draco smiled.
“Don’t you?”
Harry looked at him for one long second.
Then his hand tightened slightly around Draco’s waist.
“Very much.”
Draco’s smile disappeared. Not because he was unhappy. Quite the opposite, something about the quiet certainty behind it went directly through him.
Harry watched his face change.
Draco knew he noticed. He always noticed.
“Good night, darling.”
Draco swallowed.
“Night.”
Harry kissed his forehead.
Then left.
And approximately forty seconds after the elevator doors closed, Draco’s brain turned back on.
‘Okay.’
He stood alone in the hallway.
‘So what the fuck are we?’
__
Monday morning, Harry fixed Draco’s tie.
That, technically, was not new. Harry had fixed his clothes before.
The elevator incident had been the first time Draco discovered that having Harry’s fingers anywhere near his throat was a threat to his continued ability to form sentences.
Yet today was different.
Today Harry stood directly in front of him backstage, calmly undoing the knot Draco had apparently managed to make crooked.
“Hold still.”
“I am holding still.”
“You’re moving.”
“I’m breathing.”
“Try doing it without your shoulders.”
Draco frowned.
“That sounds medically questionable.”
Harry ignored him. His fingers worked the fabric loose. Draco watched his face, the concentration, the little line between Harry’s eyebrows, the way his glasses slipped slightly lower when he looked down.
‘Boyfriend behavior.’
The thought appeared immediately. Draco’s stomach tightened.
‘No.’
Harry retied the knot. Straightened it. Smoothed the front once.
“There.”
Then Harry looked up.
Draco kissed him.
No hesitation. No dramatic lead-up. No checking whether anyone was looking.
He simply leaned forward and kissed Harry because Harry’s mouth was right there, and apparently that was something Draco did now.
Harry went still for barely half a second before one hand settled naturally at Draco’s waist.
The kiss stayed short. Draco pulled back, Harry looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
Harry smiled.
“Language.”
Draco’s eyes narrowed.
“You cannot police my language.”
“You’re going on live television in thirty seconds.”
“That is completely different.”
“Twenty-five.”
Draco looked toward the stage entrance. Then back at Harry.
“Wait, seriously?”
“Twenty.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“Twice.”
Draco’s eyes widened.
Harry calmly straightened his lapel.
“Breathe.”
Draco did. Again, without thinking. One slow breath. As Harry watched him.
“Good.”
There.
That little drop in Draco’s stomach again. His shoulders loosened. Harry’s hand remained briefly against his chest.
“Go.”
Draco went. He made it through the entire interview flawlessly. Of course he did. He was Draco Malfoy. He had been doing live television since before he had all his adult teeth.
But halfway through a question about his upcoming project, while smiling perfectly toward the host, his brain suddenly supplied:
‘Boyfriends kiss before work.’
Draco nearly lost the thread. He recovered before anyone noticed.
‘People who are casually dating also kiss before work.’
The host asked another question. Draco answered.
‘People who are fucking definitely kiss before work.’
‘We aren’t fucking.’
‘Tragically.’
The host laughed at something Draco had apparently said. Draco smiled back.
‘Okay, focus.’
When the segment ended, Harry was waiting backstage. Draco walked toward him. Harry looked him over once.
“Well done.”
The thoughts stopped. Completely.
Warmth bloomed through Draco’s chest.
“Yeah?”
“You were excellent.”
Draco’s stomach dropped. Not unpleasantly.
His entire body seemed to register the praise before his brain understood why.
“Oh.”
Harry smiled.
Draco immediately realised.
“Don’t count that.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You had the face.”
Harry’s smile widened. Draco stepped closer.
“Say it again.”
That caught Harry slightly off guard.
“What?”
Draco almost backed out.
Almost. Instead, he tried for casual.
“That I was excellent.”
Harry’s expression changed.
Not much. Just enough to make Draco suddenly aware that he had asked for something without quite understanding why he wanted it.
Harry looked at him for a moment. Then his hand settled lightly at the back of Draco’s neck.
“You were excellent.”
Heat climbed into Draco’s face. That was-
‘Oh.’
Not sexual. Except perhaps a little. Mostly it just felt- good. Really good. Too good for four words. Harry’s thumb moved once against the skin beneath Draco’s hair.
“Come on. We’re late.”
Draco followed him. And did not think about the praise thing again.
For at least seventeen minutes.
__
By Tuesday, Draco stopped knocking on Harry’s office door.
This was not a conscious decision. He simply arrived, opened the door, and walked in.
Harry looked up from his laptop.
“You have lost all respect for professional boundaries.”
“Morning.”
“It’s one thirty.”
“Good afternoon.”
Harry returned to his screen. Draco dropped onto the sofa. He had a script, two coffees, his phone, sunglasses, and absolutely no reason to be there.
His meeting had ended downstairs twelve minutes ago. He could have gone home. Instead, he put one coffee on Harry’s desk without being asked.
Harry looked at it, then at Draco.
“Long espresso. No sugar.”
“I know what I drink.”
“So do I.”
Harry’s expression softened almost imperceptibly.
“Thank you.”
Draco waved one hand.
“Don’t make it emotional.”
Harry returned to work. Draco smiled into his own coffee. That was how the next hour passed. Harry worked. Draco sprawled across the sofa reading a script he was supposed to have finished yesterday.
Neither spoke much.
It should have been boring. It wasn’t. Draco liked the sound of Harry typing. Liked occasionally looking up and finding him concentrating. Liked that Harry had stopped asking why Draco was still there.
At some point, an assistant came in carrying lunch.
“Mr. Potter?”
Harry looked up. The assistant placed two bags on the side table.
“I added the salad and sandwich you asked for.”
“Thank you.”
Draco lowered his script.
“You ordered for me?”
Harry gave him a look.
“You’re here.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“You haven’t eaten.”
“That also doesn’t answer the question.”
Harry opened one bag.
“Come eat.”
Draco stared at him. There it was again.
Not an order exactly. Or perhaps it was. The strange thing was, Draco didn’t care to check. He got up. Sat across from Harry. Opened the other bag. His usual. Of course.
“You’re creepy.”
“You’ve mentioned that.”
“You know my lunch order.”
“You’ve ordered it in front of me four times.”
“Still.”
Harry stole a bite of Draco’s salad. Draco slapped his fingers. Harry took another.
“You have your own.”
“I wanted yours.”
Draco stared, Harry ate.
‘Boyfriend.’
The thought hit so hard that Draco nearly said it aloud. Harry looked up.
“What?”
Draco’s brain instantly emptied.
“Nothing.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. Draco took a bite of his sandwich. Harry watched him chew. Then nodded once.
“Good.”
Draco almost inhaled the bread. Harry’s eyebrow lifted.
“You all right?”
Draco coughed.
“Fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Harry handed him his water. Draco took it. Drank. Harry returned to his lunch. Draco stared at him over the bottle.
‘Oh, this is a thing.’
Apparently.
Noted. Filed somewhere private. Very private. Possibly under things Draco would absolutely not be discussing with Pansy because she would become unbearable.
His phone buzzed.
Pancy nancy🐝: alive?
Draco looked at Harry. Harry was reading an email while eating. His glasses reflected the screen. Draco typed beneath the table.
Me: unfortunately
Pancy nancy🐝: are you with mr boyfriend
Draco froze.
Me: dont call him that
Pancy nancy🐝: why
Me: because he isn’t
The typing dots appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
Pancy nancy🐝: isn’t he
Draco stared.
Me: IDK
Pancy nancy🐝: have you considered asking him
Draco locked his phone.
Absolutely fucking not.
__
Wednesday was the car.
Harry sat beside Draco in the back while Jim drove them across the city.
Draco had been reading emails. Harry had been on a call for the first fifteen minutes.
Nothing unusual.
When the call ended, Harry put his phone away and leaned back. Draco continued scrolling.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
At some point Draco became aware of warmth along the side of his leg. He looked down to see their thighs were touching.
Fully. From knee to hip. Draco blinked.
Neither of them had moved. He tried to remember when it happened.
Couldn’t. Which somehow felt more intimate than if Harry had deliberately moved closer.
Draco looked at him. Harry was reading something on his phone. Completely unconcerned. Draco looked back down.
‘Okay.’
Their legs remained pressed together.
‘Normal.’
Harry’s hand came down a moment later. Rested on Draco’s inner thigh. Not even looking at him. Just– There.
Draco’s brain stopped. His body did not. Without thinking, he shifted slightly closer. Harry’s thumb moved once.
Slowly.
Draco stared out the window.
‘Boyfriend.’
No counterargument arrived this time. That was worse. Jim glanced at them through the mirror.
Draco saw it. Jim said nothing.
‘Don’t.’
Jim looked back at the road. Harry continued reading. Draco remained perfectly still for several minutes. Then Harry locked his phone.
“You’re quiet.”
“I can be quiet.”
“I know.”
“You say that like it’s surprising.”
“It is.”
Draco looked at him. Harry’s mouth twitched. Draco leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Harry turned slightly before Draco could move away and caught his mouth instead.
Barely a kiss. One second. Maybe two.
Jim’s eyes remained aggressively on the road. Draco smiled.
“You cheated.”
Harry’s hand squeezed his thigh.
“You’ll recover.”
And, annoyingly, Draco immediately felt like he could.
__
Thursday was the first time Draco kissed Harry goodbye in front of Jim. Not cheek. Not a careful little almost-private thing.
A kiss.
Harry had walked him back to the car after a script meeting that had run two hours longer than planned.
Jim stood beside the driver’s door.
Harry opened the back for Draco.
“I’ll call you tonight.”
Draco turned.
“Why?”
Harry raised an eyebrow.
“To discuss tomorrow.”
Draco frowned.
“That sounds like work.”
“It is work.”
“Disappointing.”
Harry smiled.
“And to say good night.”
Draco’s frown disappeared.
“Oh.”
Harry’s smile widened.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were going to.”
Harry touched Draco’s waist. Draco looked at him.
And, because apparently shame had left his body sometime around Tuesday, he simply leaned in and kissed him.
Harry’s other hand came up to his cheek. It lasted several seconds.
Long enough that Draco became aware Jim was approximately two metres away.
He did not care.
Harry pulled back.
“Get in the car.”
Draco smiled.
“Bossy.”
“And yet you’re getting in.”
Draco looked at him. Then, because Harry was irritatingly correct, got in. Harry closed the door. Draco rolled the window down immediately. Harry stared.
“What?”
“One more.”
Harry laughed. Then leaned down through the open window and kissed him again.
Draco sat back, satisfied.
“Better.”
Harry looked at Jim.
“Good luck.”
Jim nodded solemnly.
“I’ve had years of training.”
Draco gasped.
“Both of you can fuck off.”
Harry’s eyes moved to him. Draco froze. There was no actual reprimand there. Just amusement.
Still, something made Draco straighten instinctively.
Harry noticed. Of course he did.
“Language.”
Draco narrowed his eyes.
“You’re not the boss of me.”
“Yet you’re gonna be good.”
The answer came too quickly. Draco’s face heated. Harry smiled.
“Good night, darling.”
Then he walked away. Draco watched until he disappeared inside. Jim pulled from the curb.
Silence.
Draco looked out the window. Jim drove.
Another ten seconds. Nothing.
Draco glanced toward the front. Jim remained silent.
Twenty seconds. Draco frowned.
“You’re being weird.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Exactly.”
Jim’s mouth twitched in the mirror. Draco narrowed his eyes.
Another five seconds. And finally-
“So he wasn’t straight.”
Draco closed his eyes.
“Shut up.”
Jim laughed.
“I’m just saying.”
“You are not allowed to say anything.”
“I seem to remember someone insisting he had a wife and three children.”
“I was under stress.”
“You’d known him for forty minutes.”
“An extremely stressful forty minutes.”
Jim chuckled. Draco looked out the window again. His smile returned before he could stop it.
Jim noticed. Obviously.
“So.”
Draco’s stomach tightened.
“So what?”
“You two are together now?”
There it was. Draco’s smile disappeared.
“I mean.” He shifted.
“We’re dating.”
“Okay.” Jim glanced at him through the mirror.
“Like. We went on dates.”
“Mhm.”
“And we kiss.”
“I noticed.”
“Shut up.”
Jim smiled. Draco played with one of his rings.
“But we haven’t actually said anything.”
“About?”
“What do you mean about?” Draco stared at him.
“You’re the one who brought it up.” Jim shrugged.
“I didn’t bring anything up. You interrogated me.”
“I asked if you’re together.”
“Exactly.”
Jim waited. Draco hated when he did that.
“So?”
“So I don’t know.” Draco frowned.
“Ask Harry.”
“No.” Draco looked horrified.
Jim laughed.
“No?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s humiliating.”
“You kissed him through a car window in front of me thirty seconds ago.”
“That is different.”
“How?”
Draco opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Jim looked incredibly pleased with himself.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
Draco crossed his arms. That phrase belonged to Harry now.
Jim did not get to use it. He looked out the window. His brain started again.
‘Are we together? Does Harry think we’re together? Is he seeing anyone else?’
Draco’s stomach tightened unpleasantly. He hadn’t thought of that.
Harry had told him about his previous relationships. Nothing current. But dating did not automatically mean exclusive. Draco knew that. Harry knew that. Probably.
‘Would he tell me?’ Maybe.
‘Would I care?’ Yes. The answer arrived so fast it irritated him.
‘Okay. Fine.’ He would care. A lot, apparently.
‘Would Harry care if I slept with someone else?’ Draco frowned. That was– Interesting. There was one extremely simple way to find out.
No. There were several simple ways.
The most obvious involved behaving like an emotionally functional adult and asking Harry whether he wanted them to be exclusive.
Draco dismissed that immediately.
There had to be another option. Then, slowly, his brain supplied one. Draco smiled. Jim saw it in the mirror.
“Oh no.”
“What?”
“That face.”
“What face?”
“The one you make before doing something stupid.”
Draco’s smile widened.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Jim sighed.
__
By Friday afternoon, Draco had almost talked himself out of it.
Almost.
The problem was that Harry kept behaving like everything was completely settled.
For example, that morning-
Harry💚: Be ready at nine.
Not can you be ready?
Not what time works?
Be ready at nine.
Draco had stared at it for approximately twenty seconds.
Me: bossy
Harry💚: Nine, Draco.
Draco had been downstairs at 8:57, which was irritating.
At lunch, Harry had moved Draco’s untouched salad closer to him mid-conversation without even looking.
Draco had started eating it. Also irritating.
Then Harry had told him the screen test went well.
Draco asked, “Just well?”
Harry looked at him.
“You were very good.”
And Draco’s entire internal argument had collapsed like a badly built stage set. There was definitely something wrong with him. He would investigate later.
Possibly never.
Now they were in Harry’s office. Again.
Harry was behind his desk. Draco was stretched across the sofa. Again.
Apparently this was his habitat now. His shoes were off. One socked foot hung over the armrest. A script lay open across his stomach. He had read the same paragraph four times. Harry was typing. Draco looked at him. Looked back at the page.
‘Ask him.’ No.
‘Just ask.’ Absolutely not.
‘You are twenty-five years old.’ Almost twenty-six.
‘Worse.’ Draco frowned.
Harry kept working.
‘Can I fuck Blaise?’ Draco almost laughed aloud. It was such a stupid question.
Perfect.
Because the answer would tell him everything without Draco having to actually say:
“Hello, Harry, I have developed feelings and would like to know whether I am currently allowed to refer to you as my boyfriend without emotionally exposing myself in a way I find horrifying.”
No. This was much better. Draco lowered the script.
“Harry?”
“Mhm?”
Harry didn’t look up. Draco’s confidence disappeared slightly.
‘Maybe don’t.’
Then Harry reached for his espresso. Draco watched his mouth touch the cup.
‘Fuck it.’
“Can I fuck Blaise?”
Harry stopped.
Not dramatically. His hands simply went still over the keyboard. Then he looked up.
Draco held his breath without meaning to. Harry’s expression was unreadable for approximately two seconds.
“No.”
Draco blinked. Harry looked back at his laptop. Started typing again.
Silence.
Draco stared at him.
‘...No?’ That was it? No question. No confusion. No why Blaise? No do you want to? Just– No.
Draco sat up.
“Why not?”
Harry looked at him again. There was genuine confusion in his face now.
“Because you’re dating me.”
Everything went quiet. Not the office. The air conditioning still hummed. Someone walked past outside. Harry’s keyboard made one final click beneath his finger.
But Draco’s head-
Nothing.
No arguments. No possibilities. No frantic collection of evidence.
Just: Because you’re dating me.
Harry said it like Draco had asked whether he could walk through a wall. Like the answer should have been obvious. Like there had never been another interpretation available.
Draco’s chest tightened. Something warm and frighteningly tender moved through him.
Harry was still looking at him. Draco swallowed.
“Yes, but are we dating-dating?”
Harry’s eyebrows pulled together.
“What exactly have you thought we’ve been doing?”
“I DON’T KNOW.”
Harry blinked. Draco threw both hands up.
“YOU NEVER GAVE ME TERMS AND CONDITIONS.”
For one second Harry simply stared. Then his mouth twitched. Draco pointed at him.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re about to.”
“I’m trying to understand.”
“That is worse.”
Harry leaned back in his chair.
“You thought I was taking you on dates, kissing you, seeing you every day and-”
“That does not automatically mean exclusive!”
Harry stopped. Draco immediately wished he had not said it quite so loudly. He lowered his hands.
“That’s not-” He sighed.
“Harry, I’ve dated people before without being exclusive.”
Something in Harry’s expression changed. Not anger. Attention. Full attention.
Draco hated how much easier that made it to speak.
“I don’t assume things like that.”
“All right.” Harry nodded slowly.
Draco blinked. That was- reasonable. Annoyingly reasonable.
Harry closed his laptop.
“Do you want to sleep with Blaise?”
“No.”
Immediate. Harry stared. Draco stared back.
“Then why did you ask?”
Draco looked down at his rings. Because suddenly the joke wasn’t funny anymore.
“Because I wanted to know if I could.”
Silence. This one felt different. Draco twisted the ring around his finger once. Then again. Harry stood. Draco’s eyes lifted automatically. Harry walked around the desk. Stopped in front of him. Draco’s hands went still. Harry looked down at him. Understanding settled slowly across his face.
“Oh.”
Draco frowned.
“Don’t.”
Harry smiled faintly.
“I’m not counting.”
“Good.”
Harry reached down and took Draco’s hand. Not pulling. Just holding it.
“Come here.”
Draco stood. Again without thinking.
Harry’s free hand settled at his waist. Draco looked at him. Close like this, the anxiety immediately became quieter.
Not gone. But quieter.
Harry’s thumb brushed once over his side.
“I should have asked.”
Draco blinked.
“What?”
“I assumed.”
“You?”
Harry gave him a look.
“Yes. Me.”
“Wow.”
“Draco.”
“Sorry.”
Harry’s mouth twitched. Then became serious again.
“I thought we were exclusive.”
Warmth spread through Draco so fast it almost hurt. He tried very hard not to let that show on his face. Failed. Harry definitely noticed.
Of course he did.
“I’m not seeing anyone else,” Harry continued. “I don’t want to.”
Draco looked at him, Harry held his gaze.
“And if we’re doing this, I don’t want you seeing anyone else either.”
There. Simple. Clear. No guessing.
Draco’s chest felt too full.
Harry’s hand remained warm around his.
“But,” Harry added, “I don’t get to decide that for you. If exclusivity isn’t what you want, tell me.”
“It is.”
Harry paused. Draco hadn’t even let him finish.
“It is,” he repeated, quieter this time.
Harry studied him.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
No thought required. No spiral. Nothing. Just yes.
Draco stepped closer without meaning to.
“I don’t want Blaise.”
“I gathered.”
“I don’t want anyone else.”
Harry’s expression softened. Draco’s throat suddenly felt tight.
“I just wanted to know if you wanted me not to.”
The words came out far more vulnerable than he intended. He hated that.
For approximately half a second.
Then Harry’s hand moved from his waist to his face. His thumb brushed beneath Draco’s eye.
“I do.”
Draco breathed out. Something inside him settled. Actually settled. Not temporarily. Not because Harry distracted him with a kiss. The question that had been running around his head all week simply– Stopped.
Harry wanted him. Not generally. Not vaguely. Not only when they were together.
Harry wanted this. Wanted it enough to draw a line around it.
Draco leaned into his palm. Harry watched him.
“You all right?”
“Yeah.” Draco nodded.
Harry’s thumb moved once.
“Good.”
The word landed differently now. Draco’s eyes dropped for half a second. Harry noticed that too. His expression sharpened just slightly. Not enough to make it a conversation.
Not yet.
But enough that Draco knew Harry had filed something away. That should have embarrassed him.
Instead, it sent a tiny shiver through him. Harry’s hand slid to the back of his neck.
“Look at me.”
Draco did. Immediately. Both of them seemed to notice.
Harry’s eyes changed. Draco’s heartbeat picked up. Neither said anything about it.
Harry’s thumb moved slowly against the nape of his neck.
“There you go.”
Draco’s breath caught.
‘Oh.’ That was definitely something.
Harry smiled. Not smug. Worse.
Knowing.
Draco narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You’re thinking.”
“So are you.”
“Mine are private.”
Harry leaned closer.
“So are mine.”
Then he kissed him. Draco melted into it with embarrassing ease. One hand curled into Harry’s shirt.
The other went around his neck.
Harry held him steadily at the waist, directing the angle without seeming to think about it. Draco followed. Also without thinking.
When Harry shifted him back half a step, Draco moved.
When Harry tilted his chin, Draco let him.
When Harry slowed the kiss, Draco slowed too.
When Harry brushed his tongue gently to his lip, Draco opened his mouth.
It happened so naturally Draco barely registered it. Only the feeling.
Warm. Held. Easy.
Harry pulled away. Draco followed a fraction.
Harry smiled against his mouth.
“Easy.”
That word again. Draco’s eyes fluttered shut for one second.
“Stop being attractive.”
“No.”
Draco opened his eyes.
“That was hypocritical.”
“You asked a question.”
“I was joking.”
“I wasn’t.”
Draco smiled. Harry kissed him once more.
…
“So.”
Draco hummed.
“Blaise.”
Draco groaned and dropped his forehead against Harry’s shoulder.
“Forget I asked.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Please.”
“No.”
Draco sighed into his shirt. Harry’s hand moved slowly over his back.
“I can’t believe that was how you chose to ask if we were exclusive.”
“I didn’t ask that.”
“You asked if you could sleep with your best friend.”
“Efficient.”
Harry laughed. Draco smiled against him.
“Terrifyingly efficient.”
“That’s my line.”
“I’m stealing it.”
Harry kissed the top of his head. Draco stayed there.
Quiet. Comfortable.
And for the first time all week, there was absolutely nothing he needed to figure out.
__
Draco stood in the elevator watching the doors close.
Harry had kissed him goodbye. Called him darling. Reminded him about tomorrow morning.
Told him to eat dinner. Draco had rolled his eyes.
Harry had said: “Draco.”
And Draco had said: “Fine.”
Which was becoming its own problem.
He got home. The elevator doors closed.
Silence. Draco waited. For the thoughts.
They didn’t come.
No- What are we?
No- Does he actually like me?
No- What does dating mean to him?
Nothing. Draco walked back into the apartment. Closed the door. Leaned against it.
And smiled.
A slow smile at first. Then wider.
Then completely ridiculous.
‘We’re exclusive.’ His heart kicked.
“Oh, my god.” He pushed away from the door. Walked three steps. Stopped.
‘Harry doesn’t want me fucking anyone else.’ Draco pressed his lips together. That thought was considerably hotter than it should have been.
‘Not the point.’ He kept walking.
‘He isn’t seeing anyone else.’ Warm. Very warm.
‘He thought this was obvious.’ Draco laughed. Then stopped again in the middle of his living room. Because there was another word sitting there. Waiting. He had spent the entire week avoiding it. Now it didn’t feel frightening. Just big.
Wonderful.
Terrifyingly wonderful.
‘Boyfriend.’
Draco covered his mouth. Then laughed into his hand.
“No fucking way.”
His phone was already out before he consciously decided to use it.
Bad bitches only🐍
Me: apparently I can’t fuck Blaise anymore
The reply came from Blaise almost immediately.
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Thank god
Draco stared.
Me: rude????
Pancy nancy🐝: WAIT
Pancy nancy🐝: WAIT WAIT WAIT
Pancy nancy🐝: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
Me: harry said no
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Why the fuck did you ask harry if you could fuck me
Me: THAT’S NOT IMPORTANT
Pancy nancy🐝: HE SAID NO?????
Me: yes
Pancy nancy🐝: OH MY GOD
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Draco.
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Did you seriously use me to ask if you were exclusive
Draco stared at the message.
Me: maybe
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: You are twenty-five years old
Me: almost twenty six
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: That makes it worse
Pancy nancy🐝: SO YOU’RE BOYFRIENDS
Draco’s fingers stopped.
There it was. On the screen. He read it once. Then again. His smile came back.
Me: i think so
He frowned. Deleted it before sending. Typed again.
Me: yeah
Three dots appeared from both of them.
Pancy nancy🐝: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Happy for you dray ❤️
Draco’s expression softened.
Me: disgusting
Cums too fast Zabini(don't answer)🛑: Fuck you too
Pancy nancy🐝: OUR BABY HAS A BOYFRIEND
Me: im literally older than you
Pancy nancy🐝: OUR ELDERLY BABY HAS A BOYFRIEND
Draco laughed. His phone buzzed with a separate notification.
Harry💚: Home?
Draco looked around his own living room. Then smiled.
Me: yes
Harry💚: Good.
There it was again. Warmth curled through Draco immediately.
He stared at the message.
Then typed.
Me: so
Harry💚: Dangerous start.
Me: are you my boyfriend now
This time the typing dots appeared almost immediately.
Harry💚: I thought we just established that.
Draco’s smile became painful.
Me: just checking the terms and conditions
Harry💚: Yes, Draco.
Harry💚: I’m your boyfriend.
Draco went completely still.
His mind… Quiet. Beautifully, wonderfully quiet.
‘HOLY FUCK.’
Draco dropped onto the sofa, kicking his feet once against the cushion before immediately pulling them back.
“Oh, my god.”
His phone buzzed.
Harry💚: You’re smiling, aren’t you?
Draco stared.
Me: no
Harry💚: Liar.
Me: shut up
Harry💚: Language.
Draco laughed so hard he had to put the phone down for a second. When he picked it back up, there was another message waiting.
Harry💚: I’m smiling too, darling.
Draco’s entire face softened. No questions. No careful analysis. No trying to work out what Harry meant. He knew. Harry Potter was his boyfriend.
His.
Draco hugged a cushion against his chest, staring at the screen like the words might change if he looked away. They didn’t. For once, his brain had nothing useful to add.
No warning. No doubt. No spiral.
Just a ridiculous amount of happiness with nowhere to go.
Draco smiled into the cushion.
‘Boyfriend.’
He could definitely get used to that.