The next day, Harry met Draco at their favorite restaurant in Diagon Alley for lunch, a quaint little cafe called The Green Dragon.

Draco was already there when Harry arrived, standing with his back to the door.

Harry paused for a moment and took in the sight of him. Draco was standing with his arms folded, his posture impeccable as always. He might look stiff to some, but Harry knew Draco now. He could see the subtle lack of tension in his shoulders, the way he bounced ever so slightly onto his toes as he waited; It was clear to Harry that Draco was in a great mood. That thought made Harry smile. 

The light coming through the windows was illuminating his platinum hair. His forest green Specialist Healer's robes bringing his bright hair and pale skin into sharp contrast. Harry didn't think he'd seen anything or anyone so beautiful in his whole damn life. Damn Gorgeous, he thought with a smile.

He closed his eyes for a moment, summoning every ounce of Gryffindor courage in his body, hoping against all hope that telling Draco how he felt would be a good thing.

He touched Draco's arm in greeting as he stepped up beside him and was met with a warm smile.

Here goes nothing.

•••••

Half an hour later, they were sitting at a small round table, eating and talking about Harry going back to work in a few weeks. Draco grinned when Harry leaned conspiratorially across the table.

"Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

Draco leaned in too, appreciating the excuse to be close to Harry. He caught a hint of his cologne and had to resist the urge to breathe in deeply.

Harry lowered his voice. "I don't think I have it in me to be an Auror for much longer, Draco. I miss working, but this leave of absence has been really good for me. I feel... lighter. Calmer. Happier, even. I've been thinking about quitting and doing something else. Everyone expects me to be this great Auror, but... I'm only twenty-five, and I think I've had enough of fighting dark wizards. I'm exhausted. And I—" Harry hesitated, "—I haven't told anyone else. I don't want to disappoint... Well, everyone."

Draco looked into Harry's bright green eyes, now clouded with worry. A lock of raven hair had fallen onto his forehead when he leaned in. Draco wanted to brush it away, but he forced himself to concentrate. Harry was waiting for a response, anxiety written on his face.

"I think that you need to do what's right for you. The important people will understand. You gave the first seventeen years of your life to save the Wizarding World from Voldemort. It's okay for you to be selfish now."

Draco smiled and reached out to put a hand on his arm, gently squeezing in what he hoped was a friendly, non-creepy gesture. "You deserve to be happy, Harry. More than anyone."

"You think so?" Harry murmured softly, his voice suddenly low and heavy with emotion. His eyes dropped to Draco's lips, lingering there, and Draco swallowed nervously.

"I do. I—"

Draco's response was interrupted by the arrival of their drinks. He jumped and removed his hand from Harry's arm.

An attractive waitress set the drinks down in front of them. "Sorry for the wait on these, boys... Oh! Are you Harry Potter?"

Based on the number of buttons she'd undone on her blouse before coming over, Draco had a feeling she already knew the answer to her question.

Harry barely glanced at her as he shrugged uncomfortably. Yes, I am."

"In that case, this is on the house."

"That's really not necessary."

She touched his arm where Draco's hand had rested a few seconds earlier, and Harry flinched, reluctantly looking up at her.

"Of course it's necessary. You saved us all from you-know-who. I wish I could give you more than a free meal and drink." She drew out the word 'more,' biting her lower lip and batting her eyelashes. "My shift ends in fifteen minutes, you know..."

Draco watched the exchange, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Harry's response to the waitress was polite, but firm. "I'm not interested, but thank you for bringing us our drinks." He gave her a slightly forced smile in an attempt to soften the clear dismissal.

The waitress huffed. "Fine." She spun on her heel and walked away.

Harry took a sip of his Firewhisky and turned back to Draco, looking annoyed. "Sorry about that. I don't know why..." He waved a dismissive hand at the waitress's retreating back.

Draco stared at him incredulously. He knew precisely why the woman had come on to Harry, and it wasn't just his fame. It was those muscular shoulders and arms, tugging at his long-sleeved black tee. It was his emerald eyes, disarmingly bright behind his glasses. It was that charming crooked grin... Once again, Draco forced himself to focus and respond. He coughed. "Does that happen a lot?"

Harry sighed. "Yeah, but I really wish it didn't."

"You're not interested in her? I mean, she was... pretty." Draco had to choke the last word out. He turned away, trying to conceal his emotional response.

The discernible jealousy in his voice gave Harry the sudden burst of Gryffindor courage he needed.

"Draco?"

The blond fought to reign in his emotions, attempting to compose his face into an apathetic expression before looking back at his friend.

"Draco. Please look at me." Harry leaned close again, placing a hand on his cheek and turning his head, forcing Draco to make eye contact. Harry's viridian eyes were shining, and Draco's heart began to race as he looked into them.

"I already know who I want," Harry said softly.

"Who do you want?" Draco whispered, hope and longing rising up in his chest.

Harry lightly brushed his fingers over Draco's cheek.

"You, Draco. Just you."

"I want you, too," Draco breathed, suddenly feeling rather light-headed at the sight of Harry's soft smile as he leaned in.

He closed his eyes as Harry brushed his lips against Draco's in a slow, sweet, breathtakingly tender kiss.

Draco couldn't help the needy sound that escaped him a moment later. He ran his tongue over Harry's lower lip, begging for entrance. The raven-haired man responded beautifully, cupping his jaw with both hands and tilting his head to deepen the kiss, allowing Draco slip his tongue into his mouth and explore. Harry groaned softly as their tongues tangled together and Draco clutched the front of his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer across the little table between them.

In the kitchen doorway, a glass shattered in the hands of their waitress. "Told you they were on a date," her coworker crowed happily, snapping a picture. "Think the Prophet will give me some money for this?"

Harry gently pulled back after a minute, pressing one last sweet kiss against Draco's warm lips. He kept his hands on his jaw, watching as his silver-grey eyes fluttered open. They stayed that way for a few seconds, both keenly aware of the magnitude of what they'd just done, and each seeing their own feelings reflected in the other's eyes.

A slow smile spread across Harry's face, crinkling his eyes at the corners in the most endearing way, and Draco felt himself smiling back. He chuckled softly, lifting a hand to brush Harry's hair off of of his forehead, still slightly shocked by what had happened. "Harry."

The other man stroked his cheek with a  thumb, his hands still gently holding his face. "Draco, I—"

He was interrupted by a soft tone indicating a Tempus Alarm from Draco's wand holstered in his sleeve. They both jumped at the sound, and Draco groaned in frustration. "I have to get back to the hospital."

"Come over after?"

Draco eyed Harry's delectable mouth again, wishing he could skip work, but he had important appointments to keep that afternoon. "Yes, of course. We should... Talk."

Harry's eyes sparkled playfully. "We definitely should. Come on, then."

Harry dropped a couple of Sickles on the table to pay for their meal and took Draco's hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world, dragging him out into the street.

Harry pulled him in for another quick kiss, then brushed his fingers over Draco's cheek again. "See you tonight?"

"Mm, yes. I might even be able to get out early. If I were properly motivated, that is."

Harry laughed. "I'll make it worth your while," he whispered, trailing kisses behind Draco's ear and down his neck before abruptly pulling away and backing up few steps. He gave Draco a wicked grin and a jaunty wave. "Until tonight, then." He spun on the spot and Apparated away with a sharp crack!

Draco stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot, a wash of heat spreading over his cheeks. A second Tempus Alarm rang, shaking him out of his stupor, and he Apparated back to St. Mungo's.

He finished with his appointments and stopped by the Head Healer's office to let her know he'd be stepping out two hours early that day, "for personal reasons."

Dottie caught him on his way out. "Hey, you're leaving?"

"Yeah, I need to... Er, I have a date. And Mr. Parker in 357 puked all over me so I need a shower before I go."

"A date—with Harry?"

Draco nodded, an excited grin tugging at his lips.

"What's happened?"

"We kissed. At lunch today."

She shrieked, causing a medi-witch nearby to shush them loudly. "Tell me everything tomorrow."

Draco gave her a sly grin. "I'm off until Thursday. I needed to take a few days off this week, for 'personal reasons,' you see..."

Dottie laughed, but covered her mouth to muffle the noise this time. "Have... Fun?"

"Oh, I plan to." He winked and took off for the Apparation point.

•••••

An hour later, Draco was showered, dressed in muggle clothes, and nervously knocking on Harry's door.

Harry opened it quickly, letting Draco in. He barely got the door shut behind him before Draco grabbed him and crushed their mouths together.

"Mm, hello," Harry got out between kisses.

"You bloody tease," Draco growled, "I could barely focus at work this afternoon."

Harry just laughed in response, so Draco pushed him up against the wall and kissed him again.

Things heated up quickly, much to Draco's surprise and delight. He parted his lips and Harry slid his tongue into his mouth, drawing out a breathless moan in response. Draco tangled his hands in Harry's thick hair, biting his lower lip and smiling when he gasped sharply.

Harry broke the kiss and began trailing kisses down Draco's neck that made him groan with pleasure.

Draco pulled away to tug Harry's shirt up and over his head and ran his hands over Harry's bare chest, but he stopped and took a step back when he felt the other man freeze, his body suddenly rigid under his fingers, his breathing shallow and intense. Harry's hands balled into fists and he squeezed his eyes shut tight.

"Harry? Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The dark-haired man's eyes were still clenched shut, his breathing unsteady.

Draco hesitantly set a hand on his cheek. "We can stop, Harry. We can slow down. We don't need to—"

"No." Harry opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, Draco. I want this. I just haven't since..."

"He drugged you."

Harry nodded. "Sorry."

"Stop apologizing sweetheart," Draco admonished gently, "you've done nothing wrong."

"I want this," Harry repeated, giving him a grateful smile, "I just need a moment."

When his breathing steadied and his heart stopped racing unpleasantly, he pulled Draco close and kissed him again, his fingers deftly working on the buttons on the blond's shirt. He tugged it off his shoulders and dropped the garment on the floor.

Draco pulled back to look into his eyes, searching for signs of distress, and Harry smiled at him. "I'm okay." He reassured as he ran his fingers over one of Draco's Sectumsempra scars, leaving a trail of heat on his chest before he kissed him again, so fiercely that Draco could barely form a cognizant thought.

This couldn't be real, but it was. He could feel Harry's mouth moving hungrily against his own, smell Harry's cologne, that deliciously musky and sweet scent, with just a hint of citrus. He could feel Harry's bare chest, smooth and warm, beneath his fingers. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders, grasping at that impossibly soft black hair.

Harry took the lead, pulling him toward the sofa. He slid one hand behind Draco's neck. The other wrapped around his back, pulling Draco onto his lap as they sat down.

Eventually, one of Harry's hands found its way to Draco's thigh, then slid up to grip his arse. The blond let out a low, involuntary gasp and Harry abruptly pulled his hand away.

"What are you doing? Don't stop!" Draco hissed.

Harry chuckled against his ear. "Sorry, I was worried I'd crossed a line."

"You didn't," Draco whispered back, stroking the nape of Harry's neck reassuringly. He turned his face and their lips met for another breathless kiss.

After a moment, Harry pulled away, his eyes dark and slightly glazed. He glanced at his open bedroom door, then back at Draco. "Do you want to—?"

Draco pulled him close again, nipping at his lower lip. "Yes, Harry, I want to. But are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes. I trust you."

Draco grinned. "Well, then get back to kissing me, Potter."

Laughing again, Harry leaned forward and resumed kissing him for a moment before standing and setting Draco on his feet. Harry took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

•••••

An hour later, they lay side by side on Harry's bed, hands intertwined. Harry was playing with Draco's fingers, sliding his hand through them, then clasping them again. He pulled their hands up to his mouth and brushed his lips over Draco's knuckles. "You're incredible," he said softly, "just... absolutely perfect."

"And your moaning is positively obscene," Draco drawled, flushing in response to Harry's compliments.

Harry grinned and rolled onto his side, facing him. "You loved it."

"You're right, I did," Draco sighed, closing his eyes.

They lay there for a few minutes, a comfortable silence between them.

"Who would have ever thought you and I would end up here?"

"I imagined it, but I never dreamed it would actually happen," Draco whispered softly, wrapping an arm around Harry and snuggling even closer.

"Sorry I was so slow on the uptake," Harry whispered back, "but I'm glad we're together now."

"S'okay," Draco mumbled sleepily, "are we? Together?"

Harry turned and kissed his forehead. "I'd like to be, if that's alright with you."

"More than alright."

They drifted off for a comfortable nap, waking well after dinner time.

Harry used a Muggle device he called a 'telephone,' and told Draco someone would bring them their food. He paid the man in Muggle money, and introduced Draco to some surprising delicious takeaway from a nearby restaurant.

They ate from boxes, sitting on the sofa, facing each other with their legs intertwined. After they finished, Harry vanished the boxes with a lazy flick of his hand.

"So, how do I compare to the Quidditch player?" Harry asked lightly, feigning indifference.

Draco looked up, recognizing the significance of the question. "He was good, you're better."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, much, much better."

Draco leaned forward and briefly pressed his lips against Harry's in a sweet kiss.

"Hmm."

"It probably helps that I actually like you."

Harry laughed. "So you're not just using me for my body?"

"Not entirely," Draco smirked.

Laughing, Harry leaned over and kissed him gently. When he pulled back, he looked into Draco's stormy grey eyes, green eyes glittering with mischief. "Want to go again?"

Draco's eyes widened. "You're insatiable."

Harry bit his lower lip and raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Draco snaked an arm around Harry's neck and pulled him into another kiss. He was helpless, the man was irresistible.

•••••

The next two days were a blur for Draco. A hazy, euphoric blur of tangled sheets, tender caresses, whispered words of affection, and conversations about everything and nothing. They stayed in Harry's flat, barely clothed, talking and making love and ordering in when they got hungry. Draco couldn't imagine anything better. 

They read the Daily Prophet article filled with speculation about just why Harry Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World, was spotted kissing Draco Malfoy, former Death Eater, and tried to laugh it off together. Draco had made light of some of the harsh words that had been written about him, but Harry still apologized, trailing kisses over the lovely dragon tattoo that covered his Dark Mark.

"They don't know you like I do," he'd murmured gently, moving to kiss behind Draco's ear and along his jaw.

"I should bloody well hope not," Draco had drawled wryly, making Harry laugh so hard he'd had to step back to breathe. Draco had decided then that Harry's laugh might just be his favorite sound in the entire world.

Draco had caught Harry in his lie from months before about having been sleeping okay that first night, when Draco was jarred awake by movement in the bed. Harry was thrashing and muttering in his sleep.

Draco gently shook his shoulder. "Harry?" The thrashing stopped.

Draco slid closer and wrapped his arms around him from behind. "Harry, it's okay. It was just a dream."

Once awake, Harry turned to face Draco and tried to push him away. "Don't. I'm sweaty."

Draco shook his head and pulled Harry close again. "I don't care."

Harry had buried his face in Draco's chest, comforted by the smell of him and the softness of his own borrowed t-shirt. Draco held him and hummed a lullaby that his mother had sung to him as a child, and they both drifted off.

Wednesday morning had been the most eventful of the three days, when Ron and Hermione had come over unannounced. Draco smiled at the memory.

Shortly after breakfast, Draco had climbed onto Harry's lap, tugging the neckline of his shirt down and eagerly kissing his collarbone.

"Now who's insatiable?" Harry had muttered, tipping his head back to give him better access.

Draco laughed, then bit him gently. Harry closed his eyes and leaned back against the table as Draco languorously kissed and sucked on his neck, leaving purple marks.

"Merlin," Harry gasped. Draco grinned against Harry's skin. He shoved their plates aside and stood, then deftly lifted him up onto the table. Harry laid back obligingly, and Draco quickly climbed on top of him and resumed kissing his neck, but now while grinding down against him. Harry rolled his hips, buried his hands in Draco's hair, and let out a throaty moan. "Oh, yes, Draco—"

It was at that moment that Harry's Floo burst into green flames and Ron and Hermione stepped through.

Harry and Draco froze, looking up at them in surprise.

"Harry, have you seen the paper yet today, because—Oh." Hermione's voice trailed off as she took in the scene before her.

Ron stood behind her, pulling a face and then turning away and covering his eyes. "Ugh! I told you we should have called first, 'Mione!"

Harry's face was flaming, and Draco's pale complexion was even brighter. He climbed off of Harry and took a seat behind the table, shifting uncomfortably.

"Morning, Granger-Weasleys."

Harry rolled off the table and took a seat beside him, stammering awkwardly, "Er, sorry, I wasn't expecting... Uh. What's going on?"

Hermione was smiling at them, while Ron still averted his gaze.

"I'm so glad you two finally talked," she said, trying to ease the awkward tension.

Harry nodded.

Ron looked like he might be ill.

This had irritated Draco, and he'd drawled, "You're lucky you came when you did, Weasley. Ten minutes later and you would have caught us doing more than just fully-clothed snogging."

Ron's ears turned red, while Harry rounded on Draco. "Seriously, Dray? Not helpful." Draco just smirked in response, completely unabashed.

Harry turned to Hermione, desperate to change the subject. "So, there was something you wanted to talk about? You came in talking about the newspaper?"

"Yeah," Ron responded, jumping at the chance to talk about literally anything else. "We thought you might be upset after seeing it, so we dropped Rosie off at the Burrow and came right over."

Harry and Draco looked at each other apprehensively, then at the still-rolled-up paper on Harry's table. Draco picked it up and slowly unfolded it, taking in the front page with narrowed eyes. He held it out to Harry, who took it and read:

................................................................

COMING SOON!

"I Dosed Harry Potter with a Love Potion for Four Months: A Tale from Azkaban"

ALL OF HARRY POTTER'S SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED IN A NEW BOOK BY WORLD-RENOUNED REPORTER RITA SKEETER AND NEW AUTHOR GEOFFREY RICHARDS

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED:
If Harry Potter snores? If he still has a raging temper? What his favorite foods are? Why he and quidditch star Ginny Weasley broke up? How he spends his free time? If Harry Potter is still traumatized by the war? If he is even fit to serve as an auror? If he brushes his teeth regularly?

ALL of these questions AND MORE will be answered in this book.

Coming to you: December 1
Preorder your copy NOW!

................................................................

Harry read over it again, while his two best friends and new boyfriend watched him apprehensively.

Harry sighed, "Well, it's not surprising that hag Skeeter is involved. I'm sure she jumped at the chance to interview Geoff about me."

"I should have never let her out of that jar," Hermione said savagely. Draco looked at Harry inquisitively, but Harry just shook his head in response, mouthing the word 'later.'

"Oh Harry, what are you going to do?"

Harry looked around at the three of them, shrugging helplessly. "What can I do? I mean, Geoff and I lived together for months. He does know my secrets. And the mundane details of my life, too. I can't believe that git."

"Well, I have a few ideas as to what we could do to him," Ron snarled.

"Me too," Draco agreed, and the look in his eyes made Harry a little nervous.

"Listen, I'm glad you're agreeing on something for once, but let's not do anything crazy just yet."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "We could speak to the legal department at the Ministry, see if we have a case against them? This is slander, it has to be. And I know I've seen a book that covers the details of wizarding publishing laws. I'll get it and read up on it when we get home."

Harry nodded and gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Hermione."

Ron walked over and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "It'll be alright, mate."

"Thanks, Ron."

Harry gave his friend a quick hug. "I know you don't understand this—" Harry murmured with a nod towards Draco, "but I'm happy. He's really changed. So try to get along, okay?"

"I'll try." Ron smiled at him, clapping him on the shoulder. "Maybe we can bond over Wizard's Chess some time. Salazar knows, besting you is no challenge."

Harry chuckled amiably, not bothering to defend himself. "That's the spirit."

Ron nodded. "'Mione, we'd better get going."

"Will you be at the burrow next Sunday?" Hermione asked.

Harry smiled, "I think so. We haven't discussed it yet."

"Okay. Bye, Harry."

"Bye guys, thanks for stopping by."

Harry pushed the door shut behind his friends and leaned against it, suddenly exhausted.

Draco paused, standing next to the table, unsure what to do.

"Are you okay?"

Harry turned to glance at him and sighed. Then moved to the couch and sank onto it, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah. I should be used to this by now. He does know some things that could be... Damaging. Hopefully having Skeeter on the project with discredit him. She's not exactly known for writing the truth."

Draco hadn't been sure what to say, but he'd sat beside him and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Now they were back in Harry's bed, the raven-haired man already asleep curled on his side and breathing deeply beside him, and Draco was steeling himself to go back to work in the morning. He had important work to do at the hospital and he knew they couldn't stay locked up in Harry's flat forever, but leaving their perfect little paradise in the morning was not going to be easy.

He sighed and rolled onto his side, wrapping an arm around Harry's waist and burying his face against his shoulder.