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When Harry won the war, no one expected the Ministry to become the thing that needed to be overthrown next. People were so blinded by their preconceived notions and their relentless desire for safety, that they ignored what was right under their noses.
Draco had always known what the Ministry was like. His father had worked for the Ministry for years, had trained Draco to be ready to join the political sphere, after all. He was under no delusions that the Ministry was concerned with one thing and one thing only:
Power.
He'd watched as Harry had tried to correct the Ministry's path from within, watched as he failed over and over and over again. He'd been patient; he hadn't wanted Harry to leave for his sake, but he knew it was only a matter of time.
And Harry had left in a righteous blaze of glory, burning the flags off the Ministry and destroying that horrendous statue on his way. He'd thrown off the magic-dampening cuffs the Ministry had slapped on him in order to make him appear more ordinary, and his magic flowed freely from his body. Harry gave a moving speech to the press that Draco was certain would be censored, then he wrapped an arm around Draco's waist and apparated them away before the aurors could mobilize fast enough to stop him.
That had been six months ago and it had been war ever since.
It had also been the most time Draco had ever gotten to spend with Harry, which he certainly wasn't complaining about.
"The southern border needs reinforcement," Harry said as they walked the perimeter of the old castle they were turning into a safe space for people standing against the Ministry and trying to make the world better. "And we're going to need more people working on kitchen duty since we got those extra thirty people running for their lives last night."
Draco hummed and let his fingers trail along the stones of the castle wall in question.
"Are you listening?" Harry asked, his magic reaching out to poke at Draco and get his attention.
He laughed, couldn't help it, Harry's magic always felt good on his skin, eager and clean, beautiful like him. "I'm listening," he affirmed, letting his own magic brush against Harry's, a skill he'd only recently started developing because he hadn't known it was something he could do before Harry. And even then, Harry's magic always had to reach out first, to actually bridge the gap between them.
The other man's breath caught and Draco felt his magic give a pleased shudder before entwining more fully with Draco's magic. "Draco," he murmured, sounding dazed and delighted, making a pleasant shiver slip up his spine.
"I'm always listening to you," he murmured, relaxing even more into the feeling of Harry's magic strumming through him. "You feel good," he murmured.
Harry groaned softly and Draco turned to look at him where he was leaning against the wall, eyes closed, mouth open slightly. "You've no idea," he replied.
He was about to reply, about to step into Harry's space, and hoped that Harry would finally read his intentions and kiss him, but a twig snapped in the distance and Harry was on high alert, magic abandoning Draco as it zoned in on the sound.
"Shit," he breathed. "Don't cast at them," he said before casting a wandless shield around Draco that was strong enough to make his ears pop.
"What do you mean don't cast?" he asked.
Harry glanced at him, "I don't have time to explain," he said. "Please, just trust me."
He nodded once and Harry turned back toward the woods, watching and waiting.
"Could you work on strengthening the wards on this side while we're here?" he asked, "I think they're targeting this side for a reason."
Draco started casting, drawing runes into the walls, and waiting with baited breath.
It was only a few minutes before a small group of aurors appeared in the clearing and Draco's heart stopped at the sight of Ron Weasley standing front and center.
"Ron," he called in greeting, "Andrews, McCoy, Daniels, Hook," he said, nodding at each of the aurors in turn.
"Don't make us do this," Weasley called. "Come on, mate," he said, lifting the golden cuffs that would dampen Harry's magic in the air. "Just come away easy. No one has to get hurt."
Harry swallowed and Draco could feel his magic pulsing and swelling, crackling around them. "If you think you can cage me, you're wrong and we both know it."
Weasley pulled out a box and Harry's body stilled. "They've been working on this for ages."
"I know," he replied, voice cold and steely. "I helped them."
"Don't make me use it," Weasley said, pleading. "Harry come on, this isn't you."
He shook his head, "It won't work, even if you try," he replied. "I've exploded dozens of them. As you know."
Weasley glanced at the aurors at his sides, "Harry, please. What if this is the one that works?"
"I guess you'll get what you want, then," he replied the hurt and the anger a palpable thing in his voice.
Weasley shook his head and pointed toward Harry, "Take aim-"
Draco raised his wand but Harry turned quickly to glance at him, "Do not cast." he hissed and Draco lowered his wand. "No matter what."
He lowered his wand and waited. It was only a moment before the aurors were firing at Harry and Harry was deflecting and firing back. It was always a thing of beauty, watching Harry duel, especially without a wand, and Draco was absorbed by the give and take.
Weasley opened the box and Harry let out a pained sounding shout, left hand clenching in pain even as his right cast a spell that knocked one of the aurors off their feet.
Draco started to draw his wand again but Harry shook his head, "Don't cast," he repeated through gritted teeth. His magic started to shimmer in the air around them as the box sucked it in and he could only watch in horror.
After only a few minutes of dueling, Harry was starting to look worn down; his bronze skin dull, body shaking, face drawn in concentration.
It was almost too much for Draco to bear and he watched as a stunner hit Harry's shoulder and he stumbled a bit, crying out in pain. Just as he was about to start dueling, Harry's words be damned, the box in Weasley's hand imploded and a wave of magic knocked the auror team off their feet and left them lying unconscious on the ground.
All except Ron Weasley, who stood there holding the box.
Harry gasped as magic flowed back into his body, coughing and shuddering at what Draco imagined must be an unbearable feeling. "Fucking hell," Harry grunted, staggering toward Weasley and pulling him into a fierce hug.
To say Draco was confused would be an understatement.
"You really had me going there for a minute. I don't know what I would have done if it drained your magic," Weasley said, handing the shattered box over to Harry before digging around in his bag and producing a second. "When Hook got you with that stunner, I almost lost the part-"
"Thanks," Harry said, taking the box from him, "I'm alright." He held up the new box, "Mione thinks she'll be able to find a way to overload them faster if she has one to study. Stupid fucking things."
"Sorry," Draco said, "Would someone like to explain to me what is going on?"
Weasley glanced over Harry's shoulder, "There's not a lot of time before these idiots wake up. Short version, I'm helping destroy things from the inside. The Ministry has made a box that sucks normal wizard's power. And we're trying to dismantle it before they can weaponize it against Harry."
One of the aurors on the ground stirred slightly and Harry shook his head, "I've got to knock you out. Ready?"
"Let me lay down first," Weasley grumbled, "I hate waking up with bruises."
Harry laughed but waited.
"Tell 'Mione hi for me," he added. "Tell her I love her."
The other man nodded, "She loves you too."
He closed his eyes and gave one tight nod before Harry cast at him and knocked him unconscious. Quickly Harry tied all of the aurors together and snapped a portal onto Ron's robes before activating it and making them disappear.
"What the fuck?" Draco ground out.
Harry turned to him, magic reaching for him, probing gently as though it was seeing if he was okay.
"I'm fine," he said, trying to hold onto his frustration when the other man was being so sweet. "Did you plan that?"
"Not exactly," Harry said as he started casting disillusionment charms on the castle. "I knew he'd show up with the box eventually but didn't know when. And the boxes do get better every time, so," he shrugged.
"And why wasn't I allowed to cast?" Draco asked as they continued their security loop.
Shrugging, Harry replied, "I didn't want them to take your magic. It's fairly painful, honestly."
He huffed and half heartedly punched Harry's arm. "So noble."
Magic flooded over him, delighted and amused, and so terribly fond that it made Draco ache.
"I couldn't bear it if something happened to you," he confessed.
Harry glanced at him and shrugged, "All of you would be alright. You've got a lot of really strong wizards-"
"Harry," he said, stopping the other man and pressing him against the wall. "Not because I'm worried about the cause. Because I am worried about you. As a person, not a machine."
"Draco," Harry breathed and his eyes dropped down to Draco's lips before flickering back up again, magic skirting all along Draco's body.
He closed the distance between them and kissed Harry first, his lips moving against the other man's as their magic spiked and connected, flooding the space around them with light and heat and sparks.
He moaned into Draco's mouth, arms pulling him in closer as they kissed. "So good," he groaned into Draco's mouth when they broke apart to gasp for air. "Fuck. You feel so good."
"You too," Draco murmured, rubbing his nose against Harry's. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," he replied and Draco's heart kicked in his chest at the tiny proclamation of self love, so rare when it came to this tender-hearted savior. "Let's finish our patrol," he said. "Then there are a few things that I'd rather be doing. Inside," he added.
Draco grinned at him, "Took you long enough."
"Shut it," he said, nipping at Draco's bottom lip before pulling away and beginning to walk again, his magic plucking at Draco's as though he couldn't bear to be separated. "I've had a lot on my mind. And you're very intimidating."
"I'm intimidating?" he asked incredulously, slipping his fingers through Harry's and helping to cast wards. "You're the most powerful wizard on earth."
Harry shrugged, "But you're gorgeous. And clever. And funny. And wicked good at magic. You're out of my league, if we're being honest."
He laughed, "Agree to disagree," he replied as they made it back to the main entrance.
"I have to drop this off with Hermione. Meet me in my room?" he asked, a little shy.
Draco pressed a kiss to his cheek, "I'd like nothing better."
And the world may be turned upside down, they may be fighting for their lives and their future, but Draco hadn't ever been more sure of anything in his life. He and Harry were going to be just fine.