Chapter Text
After saying their goodbyes to Hermione as she flooed home, Harry and Draco had retreated to their room (Harry’s room, since it was the biggest, but Draco didn't have a problem with that), and started to get ready for bed. Hermione had left Draco with some things to think about, but for right now, all he wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep for forever. It had been a long day, and Draco was absolutely shot. He could tell Harry was getting there too, as he was yawning too much for one who ensures that he’s fine. Even with his Alpha energy, Draco could tell Harry was undeniably exhausted.
He sat on the bed as he watched Harry strip off his shirt and move to the bathroom to wash up. He admired the lean muscles that shone proudly on his back, the dark skin encasing them against his bones. He wanted to touch, to run his fingers over them to feel how strong they really were; he wanted to taste, to lick and suck at the supple skin...
The Omega was drooling before he realized what he was doing. Quickly wiping the back of his hand on his lips, he stood and moved to the dresser to change. He could see Harry in the bathroom mirror, fiddling with some kind of potion flask that Draco didn’t know what it was for. Shuffling towards the bathroom, a question on his lips, Draco abruptly stopped as Harry shut the door. He didn’t even see Harry looking back at him.
Shocked, Draco finished dressing and crawled into bed, the side he had the last night he slept with the Alpha. A few minutes passed as Draco fiddling aimlessly with the sheets that covered him. He didn’t want to barge into the bathroom and demand Harry tell him what the potion was for and why he shut the door- Draco would just sound crazy. So he decided to give Harry the privacy he clearly wanted, and waited patiently for him. Something his younger self would never have done. He would just wait until his boyfriend came out to ask him.
Boyfriend. It was still so new. He’d never had a boyfriend before. He wasn’t even really gay, not that he had anything against it, he just never really considered it. The only reason he had one now, was because he was actually his mate. That was new too, but he was ok with that. More than ok, actually, cause he really liked this Harry. The one he never really got the chance to know back at Hogwarts.
As he was trying to think how much Harry has changed since they graduated a few months ago, the subject of his thoughts exited the bathroom and came to lie down beside him. Draco smiled at him and Harry smiled back, though a little strained. Draco wasn’t one to beat around the bush, he really wanted to know what was wrong with Harry.
“What was that?” He asked, watching the brunette try and get more comfortable.
Harry paused “What?”
“The potion.”
Harry didn’t say anything for a minute and Draco watched a blush creep up his neck. “It’s nothing.” He murmured, but Draco was having none of it. He turned to look at Harry.
“I don’t appreciate being lied too, and it clearly wasn’t nothing if you had to close the door to prevent me from looking. What was the potion for?”
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. He was clearly mentally debating whether or not to tell Draco, but Draco just continued to stare at him. He finally gave in. “It’s to help me sleep.” He murmured, but Draco heard him cause he strained his ears too.
“Why?” He asked softly.
“Because. I get bad nightmares. Sometimes they still get through, but the potion helps a lot.”
“Like the other night?”
Harry nodded. “The war…” he trailed off but Draco understood perfectly. He nodded as well and they sat in silence for a minute. Sleep creeping up more into his brain, Draco tucked himself further down under the covers. Harry got the message and turned the bedside light off, then rolled over to the Omega and curled around him.
And like that they slept into the late hours of the morning.
***
A week had passed and everything was going really well to Harry’s surprise. He was a little worried about Draco falling back into the ignorant git he used to be, but Draco proved him wrong. He was extremely helpful now that he was more comfortable being around Harry. He’d helped organize a schedule for Harry, sorted through his mail with him, even went as far as arranging meetings with Kingsley and other important Ministry members.
Kingsley had asked Harry how he and Draco were getting along after not seeing the man since Draco’s trial. Harry told him the truth, leaving out the part that they were mates, but told Kingsley they were together and happy.
He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d gotten. After the war, Ginny and him decided to end things, simply because he had to find his mate (who, he realized after many failed attempts to reassure himself, wasn’t the redhead). Also Ginny was leaving London to travel with her professional Quidditch team she’d joined. Harry was truly happy for her, and felt bad that he didn’t reciprocate the feelings she strongly had for him. The best thing was to let her go, but that didn’t mean he didn’t need anyone. That’s where Draco came in and, although flipped his whole world around, brought him joy he hadn’t quite experienced before in his 18 years.
He watched the Omega bite his lip in concentration as he made yet another list, putting a broad smile on Harry’s face. He walked up behind Draco and snaked an arm around the thin waist, he pressed a soft kiss against his neck. Draco chuckled as he turned his head to capture Harry’s lips against his own.
“Hi.” Harry whispered against the pale lips.
“Hello.” Draco shot him a breathtaking smile.
“What’re you writing?” Harry pulled back and threw himself down beside Draco on the bench he sat on.
“Oh, nothing. Just a list of stuff to remember for this week.”
“Like?” Harry prompted.
“Like the meeting with The Daily Prophet, wanting to know how the Saviour is managing life after Hogwarts; the groceries we need for this week: milk, toast, eggs, all the wonderful stuff; and dinner with Granger and her Weasel. I’m sure I’m forgetting something, so I’m trying to figure out what.” Draco replied, tapping the end of his quill on his chin.
Harry smiled and kissed his cheek before removing Draco from his embrace and exiting the kitchen, not wanting to distract the blond from his thoughts any further.
He retreated to his study like always, and began to prepare for his interview with The Daily Prophet. Draco had reminded him that he’d have to leave his world of comfort that he’d built inside the walls of 12 Grimmauld Place, after not having left in more than a week, to explain to the press and the whole Wizarding World that he was doing fine and not much has changed since he’d left Hogwarts.
Except for a particular Omega, his mind supplied.
He wanted to tell everyone about him and Draco, he wanted to scream it from the rooftops, write it all over the side of buildings and wear a sign on his chest telling the world that he had found his mate, his one true person. The only person he’s ever needed and will ever need.
But he hesitated.
The backlash was for sure going to be negative. The Boy-Who-Lived found mate with Ex-Death Eater Malfoy. He knew Draco was so much more than his past and mistakes, but no one else would see that. The change from Malfoy the Prat to Draco the Precious was drastic, but nobody knew Draco like Harry did. And that’s why he decided to keep their relationship private. It was just better that way.
***
The morning of the interview, Harry was meant to meet the reporter in a small cafe a few blocks west of his home. As he was getting ready to leave, he saw Draco shifting on his feet by the door, his bottom lip pulled in between his pearly white teeth, his eyes cast down at his shoes and his eyebrows furrowed. He looked worried.
Harry approached the blond and wrapped his arms around the slightly smaller body. He rested his chin on his head and squeezed slightly.
“You ok?”
Draco shifted and hummed softly. “Yeah.”
They were silent for a minute, Harry waiting for Draco to continue with what was so clearly bothering him, and Draco silently praying Harry would drop it.
“Draco..” Harry said expectantly.
The Omega winced and extracted himself from the Alpha’s embrace, wrapping his own arms around himself. “Are you ready? We’ve gone over some possible question they might ask, so you should be good for those. You know they’re going to start off with basics: job opportunities, ministry functions, current projects, etcetera, etcetera-”
“Draco.” Harry interrupted, but to no avail.
“- then they’re gonna ask personal questions, which you should be able to handle, they shouldn’t be too hard. They know to avoid things like financial details, but you know those hungry vultures.”
“Draco.” Harry tried again, stepping a little closer to the blond.
“Personal relationships, well, that’s on you. There’s Granger and Weasley which they’ll no doubt ask about. As for romantic relationships… well, um…” that’s where Draco seemed to falter and Harry caught on quickly.
Draco drifted off and averted his gaze back down to his shoes. Harry took this opportunity to try and comfort the Omega. He wrapped him back up in his burly embrace once again, holding the blond to his chest, feeling their heartbeats sync in a rhythmic pattern of thumps.
“You know what will happen, don’t you? If I tell them?” He whispered into the fair strands of hair. Draco only responded with a slight nod, gripping Harry tighter. “I’m sorry, love.” It was obvious that Draco wanted to tell everyone, just like Harry, but knew the same thing that Harry did. The thing being that nothing good would come out of it. Harry kissed Draco’s head and pulled back, not wanting to be late.
“I’ll see you later.” He said with a smile as he walked out the door. Draco didn’t even spare him a glance as he turned and walked up the stairs. Harry sighed and shut the door behind him before walking down the steps and headed towards the cafe.
***
Draco could admit that he was overreacting. They both knew keeping their relationship to themselves was the better choice rather than telling everyone about it. Their close friends knew, as well as the Minister of Magic, as per Harry’s request because he had to know how they were doing, living with each other and all.
But Draco was still a little upset. He was proud to be with Harry, and if they were to spend the rest of their lives together as mates, everyone would eventually find out anyways, whether they would tell the press themselves or they would be spotted together in public, grocery shopping or taking a walk in the park, holding hands or sneaking quick kisses to each other.
Draco smiled at the thought, then frowned at the thought that that’s not what Harry would want. The way he was acting seemed like he wouldn’t want anyone to know about them, ever. Was Harry embarrassed to be with Draco?
Of course he is, Draco thought. He’s an Ex Death Eater of Merlin’s sake! Why would anyone be proud of that?
Draco felt his eyes burn and saw his vision cloud up before he threw his head into the pillow, and sobbed, wondering when he became such a sensitive sap.
***
The interview was coming to a close as Anne, the interviewer, said she had a few final questions for him. She’d already asked the exact same or very similar questions to those that Draco came up with, regarding Harry’s employment, position in the ministry, any present or future projects he planned to put into action, and many, many more. She also briefly asked about Hermione and Ron, another thing Draco was right about. But she was yet to ask about his love life, something he was dreading.
He’d seen the look on Draco’s face before he left, he felt the cold barrier Draco tried to build out of thin air to separate himself from Harry, the way he hugged himself so tight… it was all so wrong to Harry, and he knew what he had to do, despite his reluctance to do it. But if he was happy with Draco, and Draco with he, then why not tell everyone? He was dreading it because he didn’t want to hurt anyone, making them think he betrayed them by falling for one of Voldemort’s followers-
But he wasn’t. He had simply fallen for someone who changed for the better, who was a wonderful, loving person now that he’d found himself amongst the rubble of his past and mistakes. Someone who not only makes Harry a better person, but who’s good for him, who treats him how he should be treated, who cares for him the way he’s never really been cared for before.
He’s pulled out of his thoughts when he hears the question come from the reporter “Is there anyone special in your life? In a romantic sense, that is.”
Harry smiles. He was hesitant before, dreading this moment for hours… but now he knows exactly what to say. He’s not hesitating, and he’s more than willing to answer this simple question.
***
Draco hears the familiar crack of apparition and the front door open and close, followed by booted footsteps.
He places his book down on the coffee table, his poetry reading interrupted by his boyfriend’s arrival. He leaves the library and walks towards the stairs, looking down to see Harry with his cloak dropped beside him on the floor, his back pressed flat against the front door.
Draco slowly makes his way down the stairs, realizing that the Alpha is in some sort of daze and hasn’t made eye contact with him since Draco had come within his sight. Draco walked right in front of him, put both hands on his cheeks and looked deep into Harry’s eyes, trying to bring the raven back to his senses.
“Harry…” he said in a deep whisper, voice rumbling from within his chest. It worked as Harry seemed to fall out of his stupor and refocus on the pale face in front of his. “There he is.” Draco said with a small smile. “Welcome back.”
Harry didn’t speak or move, just stared deeply into Draco’s eyes. A few minutes passed, silence wrapped around them before Harry said “I did it.”
Draco’s brows furrowed. “Did what? The interview? I know, that’s where you’ve been all afternoon.”
Harry shook his head. “No. I did it. I told them.”
It took Draco a moment to realize what he was talking about. His eyes widened and his jaw slacked slightly. “You told them?”
He nodded. “ I did. I told them, about us.”
Draco was stunned for a long while before he asked in a whisper “Why did you do that?”
Harry shrugged and grinned sheepishly. “They’re going to know eventually, right? I mean, you are my mate ‘n all.”
The Omega felt his cheeks heat up before he grinned too. He started pressing kisses all over Harry’s face saying “You stupid-ridiculous-act-before-you-think-Gryffin-dor.” Finally he pulled back and said “But why? Why not wait? You didn’t tell them that we’re…”
“We’re what?”
“That we’re Alpha and Omega.”
“Oh, no, no. I won’t tell them that, ever. That’s our secret.” He leaned forward and kissed Draco’s nose. “As for the ‘act before I think’ part, I’ve done a lot of thinking about us. This is it. This is what I want. You’re my mate, Draco.” Harry said quietly, rubbing his hands up and down Draco’s arms. The blond fell into Harry and he just held on tightly, never wanting to let him go.