Its Impossible To Exist In This World Without Losing A Piece Of Yourself. I Look At The Way That My Fingertips

It’s impossible to exist in this world without losing a piece of yourself. I look at the way that my fingertips press to your cheeks like butterfly kisses and wish I was better at this. Everyday a human looses 40,000 dead skin cells, each afloat like ashes drifting off into a winter breeze. I find solace in the fact that some of this confeti of DNA has found home on your cheekbones like buried treasure. You’ve spent all day studying genetics so I wonder if you can tell me how long this will last. The helixes of our DNA intertwined across skin like satin ribbons, silky to the touch and yet so slippery.

Boy with a Dragon Tattoo

Draco and Harry get drunk at a party. Banter and kissing ensues.

Read on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35128768

The only thing Draco remembers about his first day of eight year is Harry Potter's tattoos. Perhaps it is frivolous of him. Perhaps he should remember gasping for air at the top of the front staircase or the tunnel vision he got when he tried to enter the main hall. But all he remembers is how blank his mind had gone when he saw Harry for the first time. He remembers the three seconds before he coached his face blank when he had stared openly drinking in the sight before him. He remembers the ache in his chest as he watched wizard tattoos flit across the bare arms of the man before him. He remembered being stunned at how much someone could change. And most of all he remembers the way his breath had caught in his throat during dinner when he looked across the eight year table and saw a small tattooed Norwegian Ridgeback sleeping curled behind Harry's left ear.

Now Draco watches Harry from across the crowded common room. He’s tipsy enough that he can’t coach his face blank and he knows he needs to distract himself before he gets caught. He contemplates grabbing another drink from the makeshift bar in the corner of the room but quickly forgets as he continues to watch Harry.

He is standing, slotted between Theo and Neville. All three are laughing so hard they can’t talk. Draco watches as he stumbles, his glass tipping in his hand and spilling Hermione's carefully crafted lime green cocktail onto the already sticky floor. He rights himself by swinging his arm up around Theo’s shoulder and leaning in. Draco’s stomach fills with a heavy ache.

“You know he wouldn’t mind if you joined them” Pansy’s shrill voice pierces his thoughts.

“Shhh” Draco whispers hurriedly before he can think better of it and, hmm it seems like he has had more than enough to drink after all.

“You know this is pathetic don’t you Draco?” Pansy demands in a staccato hush.

Draco hangs his head playing with a loose thread of his lounge chair to avoid eye contact. “I know Pansy, we’ve been through this before.” he sighs dejectedly trying to look anywhere other than Potter.

Draco doesn’t know how to explain that ever since he glimpsed Harry across the room covered in tattoos five months ago he can’t stop watching him. He can’t stop overthinking the way his ink would look up close dancing over his olive skin. He can’t stop thinking about Harry’s broad hands or how his shoulders have filled out since the end of the war. He can’t stop thinking about how he has no chance at all because Harry would squish him like a bug under his heavy black boots if he could.

“Draco?” Pansy questions again.

Shit, He’s staring again. Like he said, he can’t help it.

“I need some fresh air, I'm going outside” He snaps a little too loudly. Pansy startles just enough for him to feel bad. As he stomps away he thinks he’ll probably need to apologize to her later and that's the problem isn’t it. He’s always been a little too loud and little too much for the people he loves. Draco pushes the wooden doors back heavily and steps into the icy January air. The eight year dormitory is fairly nice. The large common room and the balconies almost make up for the fact that he has to see Potter daily. He’s surprised he’s made it this long without doing something totally daft. It feels like he can’t get away from him.

Glancing out across the snow covered hills Draco muses that this obsession is probably a coping mechanism. He wishes he could be as pure and fresh as the snow around him. He wishes he could sleep at night or get through a full potions class without choking on the air in his throat and going to the bathroom to breath deep hands shaking as he struggles to remain calm. Fuck that Draco thinks, he’s young and drunk and if he wants to only think of the velvet ink that ropes across Potter’s beautiful skin he will. He’s always been selfish.

He’s always been selfish and so when soft footprints pad behind him and he swings around to find Potter a little too close to his face he steps forward instead of back and fumbles inside of his cloak producing a joint. His slender fingers extend towards Potter as he offers it “Fancy a smoke Potter?”

Harry looks taken aback. His lips part with shock and Draco almost has time to take back his offer before Harry responds “Sure mate” and proceeds to sit down against the wall sprawling his legs out in front of him.

Draco can’t quite believe that Harry has referred to him as a mate. Sure, they’re on better terms this year than they've ever been. The Gryffindors had made it their duty to take Slytherins under their wing about a month into school once the bullying started to get out of hand. Draco had always seen this as a truce formed in pity. Nothing close to friendship.

“Um Malfoy” Harry says, low and tentative.

“What?” Draco hopes his face hasn't given away his thoughts.

“Are you gonna join me?”

“What and get my clothes all dirty?” he responds coldly and out of habit before noticing the way Harry’s face has gone pale and serious.

“Sorry” He rushes out. “Of course I’ll sit”

Because of course he’d do anything for this dark haired boy with the dragon tattoo. Draco thinks if he hadn’t been so blinded by the expectations of his father maybe he would have noticed sooner. Or maybe he wouldn’t be in this mess to start with.

He sits his back pressing against the frigid building and tucks his legs underneath him. Harry turns towards him and their faces are inches away as he places the already burning joint into Draco’s cold hands. Draco watches the way the warm orange light reflects in the green of his eyes for just a second too long before ripping himself away and taking a deep drag of the pungent smoke. As he breathes out he feels his body relax almost immediately.

“ I didn’t know you smoked,” Harry muses, slurring his words slightly as he scotches a little closer to Draco.

“You know,” He continues conversationally, staring out into the snow. “Pansy practically pushed me out the door after you just now”

Fuck Draco thinks.

“Oh it’s not bad, you know she just wants to look out for you” Harry states, his tone is almost too mild.

Shit Draco realizes he’d just said fuck out-loud.

“You’re right, yeah, she’s looking out for me” And trying to get me laid Draco almost continues before remembering that he wants to get laid by said boy next to him and said boy hates his guts and said boy does not need to know Draco even finds him attractive in the slightest. Draco briskly runs his fingers through his hair. Settling back against the wooden wall he takes several deep breaths of cold air in an attempt to sober himself.

“Or she’s trying to get you laid” Harry speaks, green eyes focused on his wand as he twirls it between his fingers.

For a second Draco freezes convinced he’s accidentally spoken his thoughts aloud for a second time. As he struggles to think of an appropriate response the door beside him bangs open. Harry startles shifting even closer to Draco.

“How’s it going out here boys?” Pansy trills. Her dark curls are disheveled and behind her she's dragging Hermione by the cuff of her robes.

“We’ve brought refreshments!” She announces loudly smirking gesturing to the platter of lime green drinks that Hermione is levitating with her right hand.

“Um thanks?” Harry says quietly scratching the back of his neck with his hand.

“You know the polite thing to do would be to invite us to join you” Hermione huffs, Draco hears laughter in her tone.

Draco marvels at just how quickly Pansy has rubbed off on her. Just a few months ago Pansy and Hermione had been verbally sparring in the halls and now they were so close he occasionally felt possessive of Pansy. It was amazing how much a war could bend people, make them more flexible, more tired. Make them more likely to forgive each other.

“We’ll just have to invite ourselves ‘Mione, these one’s have the worst manners I’ve ever seen” Pansy announces, dropping down onto the floor beside Draco.

“Hey, I’ll have you know I always scored better than you in our etiquette classes” Draco shoots back. He’s not about to let Pansy get the upper hand on him even if he is tipsy and a little crossed.

“Draco, you have the most unreliable memory of any of us” Pansy retorts. “You had a meeting with Mcgonagall last week and you literally forgot to wear pants.”

“Pansy I was wearing robes, you make it sound like I showed up to her office naked!” Draco replies in annoyance refusing to acknowledge the way Potter's cheeks appear to be pinkening with a slight blush. What a loser embarrassed by a little bit of nudity.

“It doesn’t matter, it's still completely unprofessional” Pansy sniffs before she glances over at Granger and they both start giggling.

“You know what, I was distracted. I have many important things to keep track of and it's not my fault pants don’t sit high on that list.”

“Oh okay Draco, you keep telling yourself that” Pansy retorts.

“Whatever, I know you’re jealous of my time with Mcgonagall” Draco snips, putting his nose in the air and attempting his most cavalier look.

“Oh so jealous. I’m just craving court mandated monthly meetings.” Pansy laughs, glancing across to him.

Potter’s voice breaks through the flow of conversation “I didn’t know you had mandated meetings”

“Are you jealous too now Potter?” Draco questions, raising his eyebrow, “Seems like Mcgonagall has herself some rabid fans”

“I should think Potter can meet with Mcgonagall whenever he likes” Pansy pronounces.

“ Maybe so but I think the court mandated aspect might add some nice tension.You know I love some extra excitement” Harry winks across at Hermione.

“Oh yeah, you’ve made it clear you like a little power play” Hermione responds before falling back into her giggles

Draco finds himself momentarily stunned that Potter is so easy to joke with. And honestly a little curious about the power play Granger’s referred to. In his mind Harry’s either the Savior of the Wizarding World or a beautiful boy covered in tattoos. Even with their growing cordiality this year he hadn’t expected Potter to be fun and maybe interesting. Draco does his best to look uninterested, gazing out across the winter snow. He spaces out for a bit, only coming back to the conversation when he hears Harry’s voice drop to a more somber tone.

“I’ve been meaning to mention ‘Mione, I saw Ron leave the party earlier with Lavender. I don’t want to upset you but I thought you should know.”

Draco watches Hermione carefully across the circle. He has his own suspicions about the end of Granger's “Golden” relationship.

“Oh don’t worry about it Harry, I saw.” Hermione says looking completely unphazed. “It’s been a while and I want him to be happy.”

“Yes Harry don’t worry, Hermione’s gotten over Ron fairly quick.” Pansy pats Hermione’s hand.

When Draco fixes Pansy with his suspicious glare she grins back and winks at him. He’s always thought Pansy had no shame.

“Okay, if you say so.” Potter looks very confused.

Draco scoffs at his innocence.

“Well anyways, me and Pansy better be off. We have things to do” Hermione says breezily.

“Um alright” Potter looks shocked he hasn’t been invited off with them. Draco can’t believe he hasn’t caught on yet.

“Yes, so many deeply important activities to check off our list” Pansy rises off the ground shaking her robes out before offering Granger her arm and parading them back into the party. As the door slams shut she calls behind her “You to have fun out there boys!” then Draco and Harry are left in silence.

“Well that was a bit odd.” Harry’s voice breaks the quiet.

“Was it? I hadn’t noticed” Draco keeps his voice as bland as possible. He hadn’t really thought Potter was dumb before. What an interesting turn of events.

Potter seems momentarily lost in his thoughts but quickly breaks the silence “Well anyways look! They’ve left us drinks”

Of course they have, Draco thinks. Pansy always has a nefarious plan up her sleeve and Draco can see right through this one.

“Want one?”

“Sure.”

Potter passes him a bright green cocktail complete with a colorful umbrella. “Hermione went all out of these”

“I didn’t know Hermione knew how to make cocktails” Draco muses as he sips his drink.

“She bartended at a Muggle bar for a while last year while they rebuilt Hogwarts” Harry tells him. “I think she needed a bit of a break from magic and you make good money mixing drinks”

Draco wonders how different Muggle bars are from wizarding bars. He doesn’t ask Harry. He does his best to keep his face from looking too inquisitive.

“I would watch out though she makes her drinks pretty strong.”

Draco glances down at his hands and is surprised to find his glass is almost empty. He drains it and then looks contemplatively at the others resting on the tray. Even with Potter's warning he's feeling quite reckless tonight. He grabs for another.

“I really would wait a second if I were you, Malfoy.” Potter cautions.

“Worried you can’t keep up with me Potter?” Draco taunts as he sips from his new beverage.

“Oh is that a challenge?” Potter sloppily grins at him and Draco feels a heat ignite deep in his core. In that moment it feels like he’ll do anything to keep Potter smiling.

“I would challenge you at any opportunity Potter” He smirks, raising his glass again. “Want to bet I can finish this faster than you?”

“I don’t know. Do I get a prize for winning?”

“I do think whoever wins would deserve a prize” Draco says frowning when his attempt at aristocratic tone is slightly ruined by the slur in his speech.

“Okay, I can work with that” Harry says softly and then he winks at him. Harry winks at him. For a second Draco’s heart freezes in his chest.

“Alright now, don’t get too excited.” He pushes back at Harry, trying to understand the motivation of his wink.

“Why wouldn’t I get excited, I’m about to claim the prize.” Harry’s grin widens and he pushes his dark curls back exposing his tanned forehead.

“You ready Draco?”

“Obviously” Draco drawls attempting to look distinguished as he pushes his own hair back and grabs his drink.

“On the count of three. One, two, three”

Harry tips his drink down his throat chugging as fast as he can. Draco watches the way the moonlight reflects on his face and looks on as his throat undulates, gulping down the bright green liquid. In fact for the first couple seconds Draco finds himself transfixed by the dark haired boy in front of him. He wants to step closer to brush Harry’s dark hair off his cheeks. As he hesitates to do so he suddenly remembers that he is supposed to also be chugging his drink. In fact, Harry is halfway through his now and is eyeing Draco with quite a confused look on his face. Draco hurriedly lifts his glass to his lips and starts to chug as well.

As the two boys drink, Draco's eyes lock with Harry. Growing up the competition between them had always been exhilarating. Draco realizes he’s missed it since the end of the war. Though he doesn’t quite remember wanting to grab Harry’s neck and pull him into a bruising kiss every time they competed as kids. He assumes this must be a new feeling and tucks it into the back of his head for further inspection at a later date. A later date where he doesn’t have Harry two feet away from him gasping for breath as he sets down an empty glass on the balcony floor.

“Aha! I won, I’m victorious!” Harry yells, flinging himself into Draco’s arms.

At first Draco doesn’t know what to do with the heavy weight in his arms. Harry smells like cedar and cinnamon, his body heat burns against Draco's chest. Draco freezes for a second before following his instinct and wrapping his arms around Harry. They hold each other for a second until Draco gently pushes them apart.

“So, what prize would you like your majesty?” He questions as he folds his body into an elaborate bow. He quickly realizes he’s misjudged how drunk he is as he loses his footing and stumbles knocking into Harry's side.

“I told you you should have slowed down on the drinks” Harry admonishes wrapping his right arm around Draco to steady him.

“Oh and miss out on the fun? I could never do that.” Draco retorts petulantly. He leans into Harry's side craving the heat of his body against his. He longs to tangle his finger through the dark locks that curl along Harry's cheek bones and his hands twitch at his sides before he restrains himself. He compromises by swinging his left arm around Harry's hips. Harry shifts against him and he wonders if he overstepped for a second before he realizes that Harry is shifting towards him till they’re facing while their arms still drape across each other like vines.

“So,” Draco isn’t sure if he’s imagining it but he’s pretty sure Potter's gaze just flicked across his lips. “Tell me about your ideal prize, Potter.” He watches Harry's eyes as they darken and then flick nervously to the floor.

Harry licks his lips and then pauses nervously “To be honest I would love to hear what you would have picked as your prize Draco I need a bit of inspiration”

“ Oh fuck off, are you saying now you wish I had won?” Draco says argumentatively and removes his arm from around Harry’s waist so that he can shove him back away from him towards the wall. As she shoves Harry he grabs around Draco’s shoulders to keep from being pushed back and they both slam tipsily into the wall. Draco feels his entire body press up against Potter pining into the wall. Draco's head is squished in the gap between Harry’s head and his shoulder and Draco only just holds himself back from licking down the naked expanse of skin where Harry’s neck meets his shirt. Draco pulls his head further back so that he can make eye contact with Harry.

“Come on Harry, tell me your prize.” he says huskily, refusing to break eye contact with the boy in front of him.

Harry’s eyes are dark and as he struggles to gather his thoughts he squirms against Draco only making the heat in his core more intense.

“Kiss me” Harry breathes as he looks directly into the silver eyes in front of him.

Draco must be really drunk because what?! Did the infamous Harry Potter just ask to kiss him?

“You want me to kiss you?” He questions Harry. Refusing to believe the words that just came out of his mouth.

“What are you scared?” Harry gently taunts reaching out and caressing Draco’s cheek. Draco clenches his jaw to hold back a whimper. He can't comprehend the feeling of Potter's beautiful hands against his skin. They are warm and rough and everything he’s ever imagined.

“Scared? Never.” Draco bites back, leveling his gaze with the boy before him and leaning in. Their lips meet warm and suck him in like he’s drowning in an oil spill. Everything is dark and smooth and Draco finds he is incapable of pulling away. He feels Potter lick up in between his lips and their tongues trace each other leaving him gasping. Draco presses closer to Harry pinning him harder against the wall as he winds his hair through Harry’s wild curls. He tugs slightly and startles when Harry responds moaning into his mouth.

“Oh you like that Potter?” Draco teases, pulling away slightly to look into Harry’s eyes. Harry’s eyes are dark with lust and turn the spark in Draco's chest into a wildfire. He wants to rip Harry's clothes off right then and there. He craves the taste of Harry's skin against his tongue.

“Yeah I do Draco, come back. Keep kissing me.” Harry demands petulantly before wrapping his hards into the collar of Draco’s shirt and pulling him back in. Their bodies collide, sliding against each other and building up heat. Draco pushes his hand under Harry’s jumper and laughs as Harry jumps slightly at the cold of his hands before pulling him closer again. Their breaths grow rough and ragged as their bodies drag against each other quicker.

Suddenly Harry pulls back. “As much as I love this I don’t want Pansy coming back to check on us and getting an eyeful” he rushes. “Come up to my room.”

“Sounds like a plan for Potter.” Draco casts a rueful gaze across to him as he buttons his shirt back together and pulls Harry's robe closed across his jumper.

“Hurry up though I can’t wait all day”

“You know you’re very impatient.” Harry teases before grabbing his hand and pulling him quickly through the door back into the common room. Luckily it’s late enough by now and most everyone has disappeared in twos or threes back to their rooms or on drunken adventures. The couple of people left in the common room pay them no mind and Harry grabs Draco's hand dragging him into a darkened hallway.

“It’s this way, second door to the left.” He whispers slowly for a second and Draco takes the opportunity to press up against him from the back, feeling the curve of Harry's body against his as he once again drags his hands up Harry's sides.

Harry fumbles with his keys distracted as Draco presses hot kisses up his neck, mouthing and sucking until Harry gives up on the keys altogether pushing his body back into Draco. Then Draco pauses, bringing his mouth up to Harry’s ear he whispers “Come on Potter, get it together, open your door.”

His prompt is all Harry needs, he pulls his body up off of Draco and pushes his keys into the door swiftly unlocking it and letting them in.

A soon as the door swings shut behind them Harry’s hands come up to unclasp Draco's robes and swiftly unbutton his shirt. Harry’s hands are hot against Draco's cold skin and he feels himself melting into Potter at the contact. Draco maneuvers them closer to the bed and Harry falls back on it before reaching up and pulling Draco down on top of him. Their bodies meet hot and tangled and Harry pulls Draco’s shirt off in one go.

“Shit wait, Draco can you close the blinds?” Harry pants, voice husky.

“Yeah, here.” Draco twists his body reaching for the blinds and he hears Harry gasp beneath him. He immediately forgets about the blinds turning back to Harry “What is it? Did I hurt you?”

“No” Harry rushes. “Just what’s on your back?”

“Oh this little old thing? You can see it if you want” He pulls himself off of Harry and turns around. Harry gasps again and Draco grins as the moonlight reflects off of his back and Harry watches an inky Norwegian Ridgeback unfurl its wings across the expanse of Draco’s pale shoulders. “You never told me we matched,” Harry says, his voice awestruck as he gently turns Draco’s body and pulls him back onto the bed.

“You never asked,” Draco whispers, his lips tracing Harry’s neck along a similar outline of a smaller dragon.

If he was a color she would paint him across her mouth like lipstick. I watch as she wears him flaming crimson against her smile. He hangs across her collarbones delicate as a ruby necklace or the scarlet imprint of fingertips before they bruise. His body against hers feels like tripping over a cement curb, he tastes like my cherry chapstick mingled with the blood of her split lip. Given the choice we would both scald our throats just to hold his embers at the base of our stomach. When late at night she texts me a sucker punch of sorry I picture him stained across her skin like wine.

Late last night she texted me one word “sorry” like a sucker punch and I saw him stained across her skin like wine.

Bonded

Harry/Draco, Pansy/Hermione

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35392933/chapters/88219483

Summary: Harry gets assigned the most boring Auror case in the world with the most horrible partner. Featuring a certain blonde nemesis, ancient magic bonds, a dragon, and a little too much Pansy/Hermione love (in Harry’s opinion).

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 

Chapter 3 

Harry awakes to the sound of metal doors clanging open and Pansy Parkinson's shrill voice yelling “What the hell!”

He blinks his eyes open and looks up dazedly to find Hermione and Pansy glaring at him with their arms crossed looking scarily similar.

Pansy strides up to them and grabs Draco by his collar, waking him up. Before he can even open his eyes she’s berating him, “How could you do something this dangerous Draco! I told you the tunnels were dangerous when you asked me about them?! And you wonder why Shakleboldt says you go on suicide missions?!”

“Ha! I told you Malfoy goes on suicide missions.” Harrys says to Hermione before meeting the steal in her eyes and thinking that perhaps now is not a time for jokes.

“Yes Harry but you’re on one too right now.” Hermione says looking pointed furious and glaring around the room.”

Suddenly the room grows quiet as both Pansy and Hermione’s gazes fall on their clasped hands at once. They exchange startled glances before Pansy glares at Harry.

“So what's this then Draco?” She speaks icily, gesturing to the bloody hands between them.

“Um, we’re in a weak magic zone so we combined magic for Harry to cast.” Draco looks chagrined.

“I did wonder about the dragon.” Pansy says haughtily looking a little relieved.

“Can you pull apart your hands now?” Hermione asks carefully, “I think we should get a look at your injuries.”

Harry meets Draco’s eyes startled that neither of them had thought to check their hands earlier and finds Draco looking equally confused. “Yeah sure”

They slowly pull their hands apart.

Hermione gasps.

Pansy says, “What the hell.” This time softer and a little awestruck.

Harry looks across at Draco’s face and watches the flickering blue light dance across it. He looks otherworldly and Harry just barely holds himself back from caressing his cheek. Instead he looks down focusing on the glowing blue lines etched across their palms and does his best to look concerned.

“What is this?” He asks softly, voice wavering as he watches Pansy and Hermione watch them.

“Draco, how did you bond your magic exactly?” Hermione says tentatively, never taking her gaze away from Harry’s face.

Draco explains the process and Harry tries to listen but he’s distracted by blue light reflecting in the depths of his grey eyes.

“Harry?” Hermione startles him and he breaks his gaze turning back to her. “Sorry what?”

“I’ve read about this sort of thing. It was common for wizards to share power in the medieval ages in order to fight bigger magical beasts. If I’m correct the glowing only happens in the dark and should fade over time. Your scar holds a bit of Draco’s magic and vice versa. I think if you hold hands you should be able to continue to share magic. It might tire you out though.” She cautions looking carefully between them. “I wouldn’t use it again unless you’re in a life or death situation.”

Harry looks across at Draco and finds his uncertainty mirrored.

Then Draco starts to look a bit cheerful. “You’re saying I’ve bonded magic with the Savior of the Wizarding world?”

Hermione nods at him confused.

“Aha!” He cackles. “This is great now, Shaklebodt can never fire me.”

“Our magic is bonded maybe forever and all you can think about is getting to keep your job?” Harry glances at Hermione who is glancing across at Pansy and finds them to be just as perplexed as he is.

“You’ve got to learn to look on the bright side of these things.” Draco says looking affronted. “I mean think of all the things we can do. “We have enough power to fight dragons.”

“You can’t actually use it for those things.” Hermione cautions. “If people find out about this type of bonding everyone will be doing it. It’ll cause power imbalances. In fact,” She sniffs. “It’s very dangerous. We’ll have to hope it fades.”

“Way to spoil the fun Granger.” Draco makes a face at her childishly.

“It’s important you know the details.” Pansy admonishes him, sharing a glance with Hermione.

The four of them tramp through the tunnel and back into the lobby. Hermione and Pansy insist that they report their magical development to Shacklebolt which makes Harry and Draco moan and groan and drag their feet across the marble floor.

Hermione and Pansy walk them all the way to his office door like untrustworthy little jailers and invite themselves into the meeting. Harry and Draco make childish faces at them every time they turn their backs until Shacklebolt catches them and asks if their bond has caused facial twitching. Harry and Draco pretend not to know what he means.

~~~~~~~~~

“I can’t believe he kicked us off the safest, most boring Auror case ever.” Harry says when they’ve been ejected back into the hallway and the heavy oak door has slammed behind them.

“It’s important that they observe your magic for a couple weeks to make sure it’s still stable” Hermione sniffs at him sounding haughty. Harry starts to think Pansy is rubbing off on her.

“So we just have to sit around in our offices doing nothing for two weeks?” Harry asks grumpily.

“No. Shakleboldt said you’re going straight to St. Mungos for a couple hours of observation and then they’re making you do magical testing every weekday to make sure your magic is still fine.” Pansy states flatly looking at him with mild concern. “Do you have hearing problems? He just told us this during the meeting.”

“Ha!” Draco says, sounding hysterically amused. “I told you. You never listen to anything Shakeboldt says Harry.”

“I have more important things to think about.” Harry says dramatically quickening his pace down the corridor.

They break off from Pansy and Hermione towards the floos and Hermione calls after them “Don’t forget to meet us at Dragon's Lair when Mungos releases you! Its pub night after all.”

Huh, it is Friday Harry ponders as he steps into the floo beside Draco.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The healers at Mungos take them into a small room eager to poke and prod them with spells. They cast diagnostic after diagnostic, picking at the golden and blue strands of their magic until Harry and Draco are looking at them blurry eyed with boredom only pausing to roll their eyes at each other periodically. Finally after an hour of tests the healers proclaim their magic “stable for now” and click the door behind them leaving Harry and Draco alone in the blinding white room to wait out the last three hours of their observation.

“And I thought our case couldn’t get more boring.” Harry mutters staring at the medical posters splayed across the walls.

“I wish I had my ministry model to work on.” Draco says echoing his sentiment as he kicks his legs back and forth off of the examining table.

“This is such a waste of time” Harry grumbles getting up to look at the medical tools on the counter.

“Should we try our new powers?” Draco says, cocking an eyebrow at him.

“Why not?” Harry steps closer until he’s facing Draco who’s still perched on the examining table. Stealing himself he moves in until he’s bracketed by Draco’s legs and extends his hand towards him.

Draco hesitantly reaches his own hand forward. Gently placing it down across Harry’s palm.

Their scars touch and the air around them starts to crackle like fireworks. The heat of their palms draws them in. Unknowingly they shift closer. Harry’s other palm comes to Draco’s waist and they lean into the dense sparkling warmth of each other's bodies.

Harry find himself hypnotized as the gentle gray of Draco’s eyes swirl before him. He leans in and watches as Draco’s eyelids flutter.

Suddenly Draco is shifting against him and Harry leans in further before he realizes that Draco is trying to shove him away. He stumbles, feet tripping over each other until his back hits the wall behind him. As he becomes aware of his surroundings he realizes that his clothes are smoldering.

“I… Um. Sorry” he spits out taking in the shaken expression that’s fallen across Draco’s pale face.

“Its uh, It’s alright.” Draco stumbles over his words, flustered “Should we maybe try touching again without our scars touching? To make sure it’s them causing this?” Draco suggests hesitantly. “Er okay,” Harry steps nervously forward and extends his other hand. He hopes Draco doesn’t notice he’s shaking slightly.

When Draco slips his long slender finger through Harry’s shorter brown ones the rushing heat fills Harry's head once again. He looks up and is captured by Draco’s gaze. His tongue flits over his lips and he’s about to give in, letting himself fall over the precipice that is Draco’s warmth when he realizes that Draco’s face is coached perfectly blank and his eyes are cold.

His heart drops to his stomach. He realizes maybe Draco doesn’t feel what he feels so he shoves his feeling into the back of his head and steals himself to pretend. He glances back into those beautiful grey eyes with a challenging expression and wills himself not to feel. It works, he thinks because Draco drops his hand as if he’s been stung.

“Well good.” Draco says flatly. “Looks like it only happens when our scars touch.We’ll just have to avoid that whenever possible.”

Harry spends the rest of their time at St Mungo's feeling shell shocked and empty. He studiously ignores the way Draco’s hair falls in soft waves against his neck and the way his heart expands when Draco gets excited explaining the next phase of his cardboard model.

Harry wonders when he started noticing these things about the blonde man in front of him and can’t quite place it. He wonders if it happened when he first tumbled off of the library shelves and Draco was on the ground waiting for him, arms extended. He wonders if it was during the fight that had cracked his scar open onto Draco’s desk, when he’d first realized Draco looked like an angel.

He wonders how he hadn’t realized it. How Draco had snuck up on him and made him feel like this. Sudden anger hits him like a sucker punch. His world is on fire and he’s burning with it. Draco shouldn’t be allowed to make him feel like this. Draco, his nemesis. Draco, bonded to him through ancient magic. Draco, who goes from sullen to cheerful with the flick of a switch.

Suddenly Harry can’t trust himself in a room with Draco. He clenches his fists, tries to breathe but within seconds he’s standing and snatching his wand from the counter beside them. Without a word he turns to the door and storms out.

Harry wanders the cold winter streets until his hands go numb and his cheeks are red against his tanned skin. He watches as his boots leave crisp prints in the snow and wishes that somehow things could be easy.

Eventually the sun dips low on the horizon and the sky darkens. When the street lamps around him click on he decides it’s time to head home.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry steps into the sitting room to find Hermione waiting for him. She’s dressed in going out clothes. A skin tight green dress and high heels, her dark velvety robes draped over her shoulders like the night sky. “Well you took forever.” She snorts, turning towards him, arms crossed firmly over her chest. “You remember its pub night tonight?”

“I needed some time to think.”

She continues as if he hasn’t even opened his mouth.“You know I really thought working with Malfoy would be good for you. Wake you up a bit, give you a new perspective. But instead I find myself increasingly unsurprised to find you acting like it’s sixth year again. I mean come on Harry. Walking out of a medical supervision period? Risking your life instead of sitting peacefully in a room with Malfoy is completely insane.”

Harry rocks back on his heels and keeps his mouth shut. It’s completely unhelpful to do anything other than agree with Hermione when she’s in a ranting mood.

“And Kingsley’s already owled to say he’s forgiven you. How does that man expect you to grow up when he keeps supporting this immaturity?!” She throws her hands up in the arm exasperated.

“Sorry ‘Mione I know I shouldn’t have” Harry mumbles throwing himself down into one of the armchairs. “Being bonded to my nemesis was a lot to handle and I needed some air.”

Hermione looks at him suspiciously and he can tell she doesn’t buy his explanation. She sighs and sits next to him. “I know it’s a lot to handle Harry and I’m sorry for berating you. I just wish you and Draco could figure things out as easily as me and Pansy have. I mean I can’t believe we weren’t friends earlier.”

“Being friends with Draco is never going to be that easy.”

“It might, you never know.”

Harry tries to picture being friends with Draco Malfoy but all he can think about is the hot heat in the examining room and his tanned palms against long pale fingers.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry arrives at pub night and marches through the crowd straight towards Hermione’s tousled curls.

“Look I’m here, just as I promised.” He says as cheerfully as he can muster before looking down and doing a double take.

“Um.” He pauses searching for words. “Are you two holding hands?”

“Yes.” Pansy responds serenely, lifting their clasped hands and pushing them into his face.

“Would you like a drink Harry?” Hermione asks swiftly, a light blush coloring her cheeks.

Before Harry can even respond she’s shoving a large blue cocktail into his hand. “We have some extras, a man kept sending drinks to Pansy.”

“What can I say? I'm irresistible.” Pansy grins unapologetically across at Hermione.

“Yes, and now we have all these drinks to show for it.” Harry notices that Hermione is slurring her words slightly as she gestures to the array of brightly colored drinks on the table. “Ginny and Theo have claimed those purple ones but all the others are up for grabs.

Harry glances out onto the dance floor and notices Theo and Ginny laughing heads thrown back as they twirl each other through the colored lights of the dance floor.

“I know you’re plying me with drinks to distract me from the hand holding Hermione” He says suddenly feeling a whole lot happier. “And to be frank, I’m so exhausted from the day I’ve had, it’s working. So cheers.” He holds up the bright blue cocktail and clicks it against her glass before lifting it to his lips and downing the whole thing in one go.

He’s wiping his lips and gasping for breath in recovery when he spots a head of white blond hair pushing through the crown towards them. His stomach immediately drops and sends him into a massive coughing fit.

“For god's sake get it together Potter. We’re in public and people are looking” Pansy hisses stepping on his foot.

He takes a deep breath and is finally calming the tickle in his throat when Draco reaches them.

“Pansy!” He calls warmly wrapping her and Hermione into a hug.

“Hullo Potter.” He says flatly as he pulls away. “Fancy seeing you here after you walked out on me. You know that examination was incredibly boring for the last two hours.” His gray eyes are dark and steely as he glares at Harry. Harry finds himself having a hard time glancing away just the same.

“Sorry I um had to do something.”

“Oh very convincing Potter.” Draco sneers sitting down at their booth.

They fall silent for a while listening to Hermione and Pansy chat about ministry affairs. Harry settles about drinking the array of drinks in rainbow order.

He’s started on his yellow drink when Hermione excuses herself to the bathroom.

“So Pansy, what did you do to convince that man to keep sending you drinks?” Draco draws, ignoring Harry completely.

“Oh. I bribed him obviously” Pansy responds dismissively, reaching for a new drink.

“What? Why would you bribe him?” Harry breaks through their conversation and from both of their startled looks he can tell they’d forgotten he was there.

“Well don’t tell ‘Mione obviously but I was trying to make her jealous.” Pansy confesses sticking her nose in the air. “Obviously it worked. I'm incredibly genius.”

“That you are.” Draco’s eyes are soft with fondness as he claps Pansy on her shoulder. Harry finds himself distracted, wishing Draco would look at him like that.

“What do you mean why would you try and make her jealous?” Harry stumbles shocked as things start to make sense.

“Oh I think you know Potter.” Draco winks across at him and Harry realizes that Draco must have known about Pansy and Hermione before tonight.

“You knew about this?!” He spits staring Draco down in what he hopes is a menacing manner.

“Obviously” Draco drawls. “How could you not know? It was right in front of your face.”

Harry stomps on Draco’s foot under the table and is about to respond when Theo and Ginny come crashing down onto the bench next to him.

“Hey everyone!” Theo calls to the table, swinging his arm around Harry’s shoulder and leaning in.

“I saw that handholding.” Ginny taunts Pansy as she reaches for her purple drink draining it quickly.

“Did everyone know about this but me?” Harry asks, glaring at his friends (and his arch nemesis) ((and Pansy who he guesses is his friend but it seems a little complicated. Especially if she’s keeping secrets)).

“You know we might not be able to be friends if you’re keeping secrets from me.” He admonishes Pansy.

“The only person I told is Draco,” Pansy huffs prissily. “The rest of them must have figured it out by themselves.”

“It was pretty obvious when we walked in on them cuddling on the coach last week.” Theo adds grinning at Pansy.

“I had a freak out at first but they actually make a lot of sense together.” Ginny interjects quickly. “But don’t tell Ron I said that he’d have a cow.”

Harry wishes Ron was here at least then someone would be as oblivious as he was. Then he thinks about the way Ron had thrown two of his favorite chairs across the room the first time Hermione had gone on a date after their breakup and realizes that this is the first time he’s actually been glad Ron’s gone.

“Well we all know I’m a thousand times better than Ron.” Pansy proclaims looking quite proud.

Harry is startled to find himself agreeing with her. He’d always been confused about how Ron and Hermione worked together. They were both so focused on different things and Ron never paid attention when Hermione talked about work which she passionately cared about. He thinks back to the couple of times he’s seen Pansy and Hermione together the last few weeks and realizes that Hermione's seemed a lot happier. Good for her for finding someone who makes her happy, he decides.

“I think you do make Hermione quite happy.” He states glancing across to Pansy, extending his olive branch. He’s startled to watch a bright grin spread across her face.

“Well look at that!” She giggles in a startlingly un-Pansylike way “the Savior has declared his acceptance. I really must be a thousand times better than Ron.”

Harry winces, in that moment he’s never been more glad that Ron is out of the country.

“You’re making it sound like Potter's approval is worth more than mine.” Draco whines, setting his green drink down onto the table.

“Yes.” Pansy responds primly. “That’s because he’s famous and world renowned and Hermione's best friend.”

“I’m famous and world renowned.” Draco shoots back at her lazily stirring his drink.

“Famous for working with an evil sociopath.” Pansy retorts haughtily.

“Well we can’t all be born the chosen one.” Draco shoots a glare across the table at Harry but this time it’s softer, almost playful and Harry can’t bring himself to glare back. Instead he shoots a lopsided smile back at his nemesis. Draco blanches and breaks eye contact quickly looking down at the sticky table in front of him.

At that moment Hermione’s heels click up to the table and she slides back into her seat next to Pansy. The table falls silent and Hermione looks around suspiciously. “Okay so what did I miss?”

“Potter was just saying he thinks I make you quite happy.” Pansy says her unnatural grin pouring across her face a second time.

“Oh, was he?” Hermione looks flustered and quickly picks up a red cocktail sipping it as her cheeks start to blush.

“I was.” Harry says looking at the two women across from him with warmth in his eyes. Hermione deserves happiness after all she’s gone through and if she’s found it with prickly aristocratic Pansy he’s going to support it. Yeah Pansy can be overdramatic but she’s also quite funny and recently he’s found himself warming up to the cold cutting charm of the Slytherins.

“Well good.” Hermione looks pleased and she scootches closer to Pansy pressing a peck to her cheek.

Theo, Ginny and Draco immediately wolf whistle at them startling Harry but he joins in when they start to applaud.

Pansy pulls away looking sour. “Now look at what you’ve done! everyone’s looking.” She turns toward Hermione looking for support in her reprimanding but Hermione has lost it giggling over her drink, her head falling to Pansy’s shoulder. Pansy softens and brings her hand up to card through Hermione’s curls.

Watching them, Harry's stomach curls. It takes him a second to recognize the feeling as jealousy. He wants what they have so badly it aches. He tries to distract himself glancing around the table to his other friends but his eyes catch on a flicker of gray and suddenly he’s staring into Draco’s eyes; it only makes the pain in his stomach worse.

Without thinking he drains his drink and stands up. “Alright, does anyone want to dance?” He tries to sound as cheerful and unsuspicious as possible.

Hermione immediately glares at him suspiciously.

“Yes!” Ginny and Theo cheer immediately. They’re always up for a rambunctious romp around the dance floor.

“Looks like Harry’s quite drunk already.” Theo says teasingly as he pushes himself up from the table wiggling his eyebrows at him. “Takes quite a bit of drink to get this one moving.”

Harry stands up from the table and finds his legs already feel wobbly and loose underneath him. Huh he must be quite drunk.

He imagines finding out his best friend is dating the best friend of his nemesis and almost accidentally kissing said nemesis all in one day warrant a few more drinks than usual.

The reminder of the almost kiss causes panic to rise in his stomach again and he grabs another drink off the table gulping it down before following Theo and Ginny onto the dance floor.

Theo and Ginny pull him in almost immediately and before he knows it they’re spinning back and forth under the rainbow lights. His legs feel wonderful and light and everything goes a bit blurry. He exchanges grins with Theo as Ginny spins between them her long red hair hitting them both in the face. He allows himself to forget his disastrous afternoon and sinks into the beat of the music.

After a while Pansy and Hermione join them and they form a circle spinning together in an empty corner of the room. Harry finds himself dazedly wondering where Draco has gone and scans the room spotting him across the room dancing close with a dark haired man he doesn’t recognize. A bitter taste rises in the back of his throat and the hot curl of jealousy returns to his stomach. He curses himself for allowing his stupid blonde nemesis to make him feel this way and focuses determinedly on his friends around him. However he can’t quite keep himself from glancing over at Draco every couple of minutes.

This means that when Draco finally leaves his dance partner and starts the trek across the room towards them Harry notices. He does his best to feign ignorance and concentrate on the sway of Ginny and Theo on either side of him leaning into their bodies and laughing with them.

He does such a good job at concentrating on his friends that he actually is startled when Draco cuts in between them.

“Potter.” He says and Harry’s eyes flick up to find the blonde man directly in front of him. Draco’s milky skin is covered with a fine sheen of sweat and he can tell Draco’s had a good amount to drink by the flush on his cheeks.

“Um. Yes?” Harry says, still moving to the music.

“Dance with me?” And suddenly Harry is certain this must all be a trick of his mind. He’s so drunk he’s completely lost it. Or maybe Pansy bribed Draco this time, trying to pull an ultimate prank on him.

“Did Pansy bribe you to ask me that?” He shouts back over the music, his mind still reeling.

“Um. No?” Now Draco looks confused and hesitant.

The lights wash over him painting across his skin and abruptly Harry doesn’t care if Draco’s been bribed or if he’s hallucinating. He gulps, clearing his throat nervously “Er sure. I guess. I guess I’ll dance.”

He steps closer to Draco and Draco pulls him by the sleeve deeper into the crowd. All at once Harry is immensely grateful for how drunk he is. He places his hands on Draco’s shoulders and loses himself in the push and pull of their bodies against each other.

Immediately heat pools at his navel and it feels like there are sparks of magic in the air around him. He gasps as Draco’s slender finger closes around his hips pulling their bodies even closer. He glances up into charcoal eyes expecting them to be cold and blank like in the examining room. His mind draws a blank when he realizes that Draco’s eyes are dilated and his gaze seems to be dragging across Harry’s mouth.

Harry’s too drunk to care about the ancient magic bonding them or the way Draco acted in the examining room earlier that day. All he cares about is the heat in his stomach, and the look in Draco’s eyes, and the sticky sweat feeling of their sweaty bodies against each other. He clasps the back of Draco’s neck in one of his hands pushing his fingers up through the back of his hair. He remembers when he first had the realization that Draco looked like an angel in the sunlight. He never would have imagined he’d find himself here in a darkened club pushing his body into Draco as he looks down at him with so much want in his eyes.

He watches as Draco’s gaze drags across his lips a second time. This time he can’t stop his own eyes from flitting across Draco’s lips and suddenly the two men are leaning in. The cool brush of Draco’s lips against his set a forest fire blazing in his stomach. He leans in craving more and lets himself drown in the dark bliss. Draco licks up between his lips and he opens his mouth to him. Their tongues curl around each other, all hot heat and hurried gasps. The kiss feels like making up for lost time. Harry pushes even closer, sliding a hand up and under Draco’s white shirt.

He barely gets a chance to caress the scorching skin beneath before Draco’s hands are up on his chest. He can’t quite comprehend what’s happening but suddenly he’s stumbling back into the dancers behind him. The burning heat of Draco’s body disappears leaving him cool and aching. He reaches back towards Draco to pull them together where they belong but Draco shoves his hand away.

When Harry meets his eyes they are wild and blazing. “How could you let this happen?!” Draco spits in an accusatory tone. “This isn’t us. It’s the bond. This could never be us. I don’t want you.” His voice is cold and cutting and suddenly Harry feels stone cold sober. He watches frozen as Draco disappears into the crowd.

It’s only after Draco’s disappeared that he looks down at his scarred hand and remembers the gauze he’d wrapped tightly around his scar before leaving that night.

He tries to make sense of what’s just happened and suddenly the panic and confusion of it all solidifies in Harry’s stomach and he’s immediately certain he’s going to vomit that very second.

He pushes his way through the crowds and stumbles through the side door of the pub, vomiting onto the bricks of the alleyway. It’s only a couple seconds before he feels Hemiones cool hands on his back she pulls his hair back for him as he continues to retch onto the cobbles.

“What happened? I saw Draco walk out?” She asks in her most soothing voice.

“I can’t talk about it okay. I just can’t.” Harry is embarrassed to note his eyes are watering; he hopes Hermione doesn’t mistake that for tears. He most certainly is not crying. “The bond is too much and he’s so confusing and I just don’t know what’s going on anymore.”

“Okay okay. We’ll figure it out. It’s going to be okay.” Hermione wraps him in a hug pulling him in close. “I’m going to apparate us home and we’ll have some tea. Tomorrow we can problem solve.”

“What about Pansy?” Harry finds himself asking. Pansy is the last person he wants to see right now; he can't believe he asked that.

“Oh she went after Draco.” Hermione explains quickly, waving her hand towards the front of the pub where Draco had disappeared. “It’s important for her to be there for her friends.” With that said she turns swiftly on her heel apperating them back to Grimmauld Place directly into the sitting room.

Harry drinks the tea Hermione prepares for him and goes about ignoring every single question she asks him. When she presses him he answers her in incoherent mumbles and she quickly gives up hugging him and sending him to bed.

Harry immediately falls into a fitful sleep. He dreams of pale hair tangled between his tanned fingers and milky skin in the sunlight.

Draco pulled the bottle toward him and Harry watched as large pale hands wrapped tightly around the dark glass neck. Draco’s lips came together at the bottle top and he tipped his head back closing his eyes tight. As he gulped the sweet liquid down, his throat undulated in the firelight. Harry couldn’t stop thinking about reaching one of his hands out and feeling the way it moved.

“You want some?” Draco said huskily, pushing the bottle into his hand.

“Yes.” Harry placed his lips over the ghost of Draco’s own. He kept his eyes open as he drank. He watched as Draco’s cheeks went pale and his pupils dilated. He finished drinking and set the bottle down on the carpet. He was about to turn back to Draco, continue to lose himself in Draco’s eyes when he looked back at the rest of the group and noticed Blaise watching them.

One of my fav excerpts from my new fic Infiltrate the Slytherins

I’m not in love with him but he’s here and you’re not.

When I press the pads of my fingers down into his cheeks they feel like bruises, sweet like rotting fruit. Last summer we watched peaches decompose on dry grass, the stench of honeyed mildew pulled at our nostrils, a delicate reminder of seasons change. On the last day of August I bit in to an overripe fruit. Her golden skin split against my lips in a perfect crescent and pealed back revealing the bright orange innards to my overeager tongue. As my incisors cleaved a chunk of flesh, fermented juice slipped down my throat and left me coughing. I never would have guessed that a peach this perfect would leave me choking.