Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Plot and characters are the property of J.K. Rowling.

This story is a rewrite of some of the key scenes in Harry Potter, but with one major difference- Harry and Draco are in love. It starts during the events of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when Umbridge learns of the existence of the D.A. and tries to catch them in the act of holding an illegal meeting. There are some slight changes to details from canon- it's pretty minor, you might not even notice.

Edit 3/26/19- Fixed some spelling errors

Year Five

"AAARGH!"

Something caught him around the ankles and he fell spectacularly, skidding along on his front for a good six feet before coming to a halt-

"Get up, Potter!"

Malfoy was grabbing his arm, dragging him into the niche behind an ugly dragon-shaped vase along the corridor. "What're you-"

"Unless you want to end up with scars on your other hand, you'll Shut. Your. Mouth. Now."

Harry stared at the other boy, confused. Malfoy's pale blond hair, normally so perfectly combed, was loose around his face, and his cheeks were flushed. Malfoy stared back down the corridor, listening to the sounds of approaching footsteps.

Whatever Malfoy was up to, it couldn't be good. Harry tried to wiggle past him, only to be shoved back into the niche. He opened his mouth- to scream, to curse Malfoy, he wasn't sure- when Malfoy clapped his hand over Harry's face.

Outside of their niche, Umbridge and the rest of her gang of Slytherins raced past, wands out. "Miss Parkinson," he heard, "Check the girl's bathrooms- the library- anyone out of breath-"

And then they were gone, and it was just Harry and Malfoy, hiding in the niche.

Malfoy moved his hand away from Harry's mouth, and Harry, breathing hard, asked, "Why'd you do that?"

Malfoy shrugged, already exiting the niche. "I've seen who Umbridge is. She forced you to cut open your hand for telling the truth. Who knows what she'd do for this?"

Then he was gone, leaving Harry to ponder what had just happened.

Of course, when Harry went to try and warn Dumbledore, he ended up in the headmaster's office right as a nasty confrontation was going down between the Professor and Cornelius Fudge.

o-o-o-o-o

Harry waited for an excuse to talk to Malfoy for days. The next time they ran into each other, he was being a prat. Inquisitorial Squad. What a load of bullshit.

Harry seized the next opportunity that presented itself, the following Monday. Occlumency lessons with Snape were always torturous, so it came as a pleasant surprise when Malfoy turned up, blabbering on about Montague having turned up in a toilet. The moment Snape and Malfoy had left, Harry ran after them.

Harry followed Snape and Malfoy up the stairs from the dungeons. "Draco," Snape said, "Go and alert Madam Pomfrey. I have no doubt Montague will soon be needing her services. I shall go and assist Professor Umbridge." Snape swept away, and Malfoy stopped in the Entrance Hall, taking what looked like a deep, bracing breath. Then he proceeded up the stairs to the hospital wing. Harry followed, waiting outside the door when Malfoy went in to talk to Madam Pomfrey.

When Malfoy exited the Hospital Wing, Harry grabbed his arm and dragged him into the storage closet around the corner.

"What the hell, Potter?" Malfoy demanded. "What was that for?"

"I need to talk to you," Harry said.

"This had better be really good, Potter. I'm tempted to take off a few House points right now."

"Why did you do it?"

That shut Malfoy up. He stood there for a moment, mouth gaping, before saying, "Fat lot of good it did. You went straight to Dumbledore, and look where it landed you."

"I got off, actually."

"Barely."

Harry rolled his eyes. "What I'm asking, Malfoy, is why you even care."

Malfoy gave one of his signature sneers. "Who says I do?"

"Well, you cared enough to risk an awful lot. Why?"

Malfoy looked away. "Honestly, Potter. I thought it would be obvious by now. God knows I've tried, but there doesn't seem to be anything… I can't help it."

"Help what?" Harry asked. Malfoy ignored him.

"And now the shit has hit the fan, maybe hit the fan years ago, and you and me, we're still doing the same dance we've been doing since we were eleven years old."

"Will you please just tell me what the hell you're going on about?"

"No, I will not."

"Malfoy."

Malfoy threw his hands in the air. "What, Potter? What does it matter? What does it matter how I feel, when my family and yours have been on opposite sides of this since before we were born? What does it matter that I love you, when I don't have a choice but to stand by my family, even if I've been rooting for you to win this all along? What does it matter that I can't live without you, when you hate me, when you'll probably kill me one of these days, anyway?"

It was dead silent for a moment. Malfoy's hands dropped out of the air. The two boys looked anywhere but at each other. Both of them were blushing.

"You know, I'd say you made all that up," Harry said, "But I've never seen you blush like that. I didn't even think it was possible."

"Shove off, Potter," Malfoy muttered, reaching for the doorknob. Harry stopped him.

"Serious question, Draco. Where have you been the last five years?"

Draco blinked, confused. "Here."

"Yes," Harry said. "So since you've been here, clearly paying quite a lot of attention to me, I'm sure you've noticed how obsessed with you I am?"

Draco shook his head, once, twice. Slowly. "Seriously, Harry. If this is your idea of a joke, stop."

Harry sighed. "Shut up. I've known how I feel about you since I saw you at the Yule Ball, with that bitch Pansy Parkinson-"

"She's really not that bad, you know," Draco murmured. Harry ignored him.

"And for some reason, all I could think was that I wanted it to be me. Me who got to go to the ball with you, and dance with you, and- and be there with you, and I was stuck with Parvati Patil. Then, of course, I realized what I was thinking, panicked, and tried not to ever think it again. Fat lot of good it did."

Draco just stood there, not blinking, not moving. "You're serious," he said.

Harry shrugged. "Dead serious."

He wasn't sure who leaned in first, who took the step and a half and closed any space between them. He only knew that he didn't know- how it had happened, what they were doing or going to do- but then Draco was kissing him, and he forgot everything else.

Before this, now, Harry had only ever kissed Cho. He wasn't sure why this was so different- ok, yes, he did. It was different, better, because it was Draco. Because it was Draco Malfoy kissing him, running his hands through Harry's messy hair, tracing the outline of Harry's jaw with his lips.

When they finally broke apart, neither boy spoke for a long time. They had somehow ended up at the back of the closet, leaning against the wall, and they stayed there, watching each other.

"Now what?" Harry mused, almost to himself.

"Now what?" Draco repeated. "Now what? I don't see that we have much choice but to just… pretend it didn't happen. Get on with our lives. We're on opposite sides of a war, Potter, for Merlin's sake."

"Is that what you want? For this to be a one-time thing?" Harry asked, watching Draco carefully.

"Fuck. No," he said. "I want this to be an all-the-time thing. But… Harry, we can never just… go on dates, hang out, be normal boyfriends. My father's master tried to kill you last year. Hell, eventually, I'll have to try to kill you."

Harry smirked. "You called me Harry."

"What?"

"You called me Harry. Not Potter. Keep doing that, ok?"

"What does it matter?"

"Well… If you want…" Harry cleared his throat, unreasonably nervous. "I mean, no one has to know. We can met in the Room of Requirement or something. I'm sure it can turn into a movie theater or café or whatever…"

Draco was staring at Harry in a way that made him think the blonde boy was planning how best to murder him.

"If you want," Harry said. It was all he could think to say.

"Are you asking me out, Potter?"

"Harry. And… yeah. I'm asking you to be my boyfriend. Ok?"

Draco was looking at Harry like he was a world-class idiot now. "Ok."

A huge smile was spreading across Harry's face. "Really?"

"Really- Oh, wipe that ridiculous expression off your face, Harry. I'm still going to be an asshole to you in public."

o-o-o-o-o

Draco Malfoy was as good as his word.

For the remaining months of the school year, Harry's boyfriend was his usual prat self in public. Taunts, points deducted from Gryffindor- though never more than twenty at a time, and always with an apologetic look if he thought no one would see. And when the two boys met up in the Room of Requirement three or four nights a week, Draco would apologize endlessly for every barbed word and empty threat.

Harry understood, of course. The situation was delicate. The Malfoys were some of Voldemort's most fervent, loyal supporters- if anyone found out about Draco and Harry- well, it was both of their necks on the line.

Still, Harry looked forward to his stolen hours with Draco each week, to them talking about Fred and George's miraculous escape (Draco was more excited about it than Harry was) to complaining about teachers and friends, to speaking in more somber tones about the war. And snogging, of course. There was lots of that.

The first signs of summer were starting to appear around the castle, and all of the fifth years were realizing the enormous stress they were under. Studying for O.W.L.s had begun in full force, and one evening in early June found Harry and Draco in the Room of Requirement, surrounded by a halo of books and papers. Just that morning, Harry had overheard Draco bragging about his father's friendship with Griselda Marchbanks, the exam administrator.

"Is your father really friends with Marchbanks?" he asked now. "Cause Neville's grandmother is, and he says it isn't true."

"Nope," Draco said. "That was complete bollocks- chalk it up to nerves- have you seen my copy of Fantastic Beasts?"

Harry handed it to him with a fond smile. "Do you ever stop working?"

"I'm here, aren't I? You should be working, too, Harry. O.W.L.s are important, you know."

"You sound like Hermione."

Draco huffed a laugh, turning to face Harry. The blonde boy reached out, grabbing the front of Harry's robes and tugging him closer. "Granger's right," he whispered. "How are you supposed to become an Auror if you fail? Who will chuck my entire family in Azkaban?"

Harry frowned. "I'd never do that."

"You might not have a choice." Draco leaned forward, pressing his lips against Harry's. They stayed there on the floor, in the center of a ring of books and notes, kissing, for what could have been a few seconds or a few hours. By the time they left for their respective dormitories, both boys were flushed, lips swollen, hair messy, smiling unreasonably wide.

"Harry?" Ron murmured when Harry entered the dormitory at half past eleven.

"Go back to sleep, Ron," Harry said.

"Where the fuck were you at half past- Harry?" Ron had sat up in his bed, and he sounded slightly more awake now. "Where the hell were you?"

"Nowhere. Studying." It wasn't technically a lie.

"At half past eleven. And then you wander into the dormitory looking like that- wait. Were you snogging someone?"

Harry rolled his eyes and turned away. "Any chance I could convince you to drop it?"

"No way- come on, mate. Who was it?"

Harry laughed. "No one. Go back to sleep."

"Fine. But don't think I'm forgetting this."

Harry flopped back into his own bed, smiling slightly. "I'm sure you won't." Knowing Ron, he'd have forgotten the entire conversation by morning.

o-o-o-o-o

The day of the Charms exam arrived, and all things considered, Harry thought, the written portion hadn't gone badly at all. Having cornered Draco in an empty corridor during lunch for a good-luck kiss, Harry was feeling reasonably confident when his name was called for the practical.

"Potter, is it?" his examiner, Professor Tofty, asked. "The famous Potter?" Off to the side, Harry saw Draco glance over at him, blush, and lose control of the Levitation Charm he'd been casting. A wine glass fell to the floor, scattering bright shards everywhere. Shooting his boyfriend an apologetic look, Harry moved in front of Professor Tofty, wand out.

o-o-o-o-o

The morning after the Astronomy exam found Harry and Draco once again in the Room of Requirement, Draco listening patiently as Harry ranted about the events of the previous evening.

"…And he didn't even do anything! Neither did McGonagall! I just… This school has gone to hell, you know?"

"Thought that was my line, Harry," Draco said, wrapping his arm around the other boy's shoulders.

"Yeah, but you're right."

"I know," Draco sighed. "Umbridge is a right old git, I'll tell you. Thank your lucky stars she hates you. I'm stuck with her all the time. The prodigal pureblood son," he sneered. "If being the Malfoy heir means acting like that, I'll pass."

"You did act like that- you do," Harry said.

"Yes, but it's not real, and you know it. I don't actually hate Hagrid, or Dumbledore, or Mudbl- Muggle-borns. Or you, for that matter."

Harry scooted closer to his boyfriend, laying his head on Draco's shoulder. "You might be the only thing in my life that doesn't suck right now," he said, sleepily.

"Come on, Harry," Draco said, but he was blushing. "You've got Granger and the Weasleys. And the rest of your Gryffindor friends."

"Sure," Harry said. "But you're my favorite."

Draco chuckled softly. "Thanks, Harry."

"I love you, Draco."

"I love you, too."

o-o-o-o-o

The moment Harry and Granger had been led away by Umbridge, Draco dropped the act.

The Cruciatus Curse. That bitch Umbridge would have used the Cruciatus Curse on the boy Draco loved, while he just stood there sneering like the junior Death Eater everyone believed he was.

Well. Everyone except Harry, and a few of his best friends, who were all in a similar position.

"Stupefy!" he cried out, pointing his wand at Warrington. The big Slytherin dropped to the floor at once.

Blaise and Pansy, bless them, didn't even flinch, or question it. They pointed their own wands at Crabbe and Goyle and within seconds, every other Slytherin in the room was stunned.

"Draco?" Pansy asked. "What are you-"

Draco ignored her, tossing Harry's wand to the male Weasley before making sure each Gryffindor (and Lovegood) got their own wand back.

"Malfoy, what the fuck are you doing?" Weasley demanded.

"I owe Potter one," Draco said. "Just go. Do whatever it is you lot do when you get into scrapes like this. Save the day. Whatever. Just… Go. Before Har- Potter gets himself and Granger killed."

The Gryffindors (and again, Lovegood) were all eyeing him suspiciously, but not one of them said a word as they filled past him out the door. Only Lovegood said "Thanks, Draco," as she breezed past.

Once they were gone, Draco, Pansy, and Blaise looked at each other, then glanced around the office. "Draco?" Blaise asked. "Something you want to tell us?"

"No," Draco said. "We need to figure out what our story is."

Pansy snorted. "Right. Like we can just explain away this."

Draco rolled his eyes, but it was Blaise who spoke. "So," he said, "You and Potter."

"What?" Draco whipped his head around to stare at his best friend.

"Come on, Draco. I saw you when Umbridge was threatening him. You looked like you were going to puke. How long's that been going on?"

"A few months," Draco muttered, trying to ignore the look on Pansy's face. Honestly, that girl could be more of an insufferable know-it-all than Granger.

"Finally," Blaise sighed. "Watching you pine after Potter was driving me mad. Good for you, mate."

"Mouths shut, both of you," Draco warned, but he knew they wouldn't say anything. They hadn't said anything the first time he'd confessed to not wanting to be the person his parents (his father) wanted him to be, or when he'd told them he was gay, or when he first fell for Harry. Draco rarely felt like he'd gotten lucky with something, unless it was Harry being his boyfriend, but right now, he thought he'd defiantly lucked into two amazing friends.

o-o-o-o-o

"How did you get away?" Harry demanded, taking his wand back from Ron.

"It was the weirdest thing," Ron said. "Malfoy stunned Warrington, and then Parkinson and Zabini just went with it. The three of them took out the other Slytherins, handed us our wands, and then Malfoy told us to get lost. What do you make of that, huh?"

"Umm… Dra- Malfoy owed me one," Harry stammered. Leave it to his ridiculous boyfriend to pull something like this, the second the teacher's backs were turned. Harry smiled slightly, blushing.

"Funny. That's exactly what he said," Ginny commented. "What've you done with Umbridge?"

o-o-o-o-o

Harry could feel the tears drying on his face, streaks of salt on his cheeks. He scrubbed at them, pulling in a deep, shuddering breath. The events of that day at the Ministry loomed, threatening to crush him under their weight-

The door to the hospital wing creaked ever so slightly as it opened. Draco slipped inside.

Harry instinctively glanced around, but only Ron and Hermione were still here. Everyone else had been deemed ok to spend the night in their dormitories- broken bones weren't much of a challenge for Madam Pomfrey- and both of them were sound asleep, thanks to the potions they had needed for their injuries.

"I heard," Draco said, coming to sit beside Harry on his bed. He wrapped his arms around the other boy, holding him. "I'm here, love. I'm here."

Draco didn't say I'm sorry, or It'll be ok. Harry appreciated that.

For the first time since Dumbledore's office, since he had heard the prophecy that had changed his life when he was just a year old, Harry wept. He clung to Draco for hours as he cried, while the other boy rubbed his back in circles, murmuring softly to him and letting Harry ruin his shirt with salt water and snot.

Harry was going to have to tell his boyfriend everything Dumbledore had said, and soon. But for now, Harry just held on to Draco, and allowed himself to mourn his godfather.

o-o-o-o-o

Harry ran into Draco on his way down to Hagrid's one Sunday. He was hoping this wouldn't have to be an unpleasant encounter. He knew Draco had been avoiding him in public, trying to spare him the asshole demeanor. Of course, Draco had also snuck into the Hospital Wing every night that Harry was there.

Draco was flanked on either side by Zabini and Parkinson. When they saw Harry, they smirked and headed up the vast marble staircase. Parkinson ignored him completely; Zabini clapped him on the shoulder and said, "You break my best friend's heart, I'll make sure you're in for a world of hurt." Then he, too, strode off up the stairs.

"What'd he say?" Draco asked, moving closer to Harry and frowning up the stairs at Zabini and Parkinson's retreating figures.

"Told me if I hurt you, I'm dead," Harry replied.

Draco rolled his eyes affectionately. "He means well," he said. "Blaise and Pansy figured it out after what happened in Umbridge's office. They won't say anything."

"Alright," Harry said. "They're your friends, I trust them."

Draco nodded. "Thanks," he said. "I know… I know you're not ok, Harry… but are you getting there?"

"Not yet," Harry whispered. "But I will, I think."

"Ok," Draco whispered back, pulling Harry in and kissing him softly. Anyone could have seen them. Anyone could have walked down the stairs, or in from the grounds. And as it happened, someone did.

"Ahem."

Both boys whipped around to find Snape standing behind them, having just come up from his office. "What do you think you're doing, Potter, Draco?"

"Snogging, sir," Draco said, reaching for Harry's hand. "We'd appreciate it if you kept this to yourself."

Snape looked like he'd rather swim with the giant squid than deal with this. "Fine," he said. "Ten points from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Ah," he added, "I see Gryffindor no longer has any points left. In that case, Potter, we will simply have to-"

"Add some more?"

If Professor McGonagall noticed that Harry and Draco were still holding hands, she didn't mention it.

o-o-o-o-o

All too soon, the trunks were packed, owls were retrieved and stuffed into their cages, broomsticks and spell books were gathered up, and then everyone was on the Hogwarts Express, pulling out of Hogsmeade Station.

After a few hours, Harry stood, ducking out of his compartment and walking down the train to the bathroom. Only a few minutes later, Draco entered, wand out, clearly pissed off.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Had to shake Crabbe and Goyle," Draco said, slipping his wand back into his sleeve. "I swear, if they had any fewer brain cells… Anyway."

Draco strode over to where Harry was standing next to the sink and kissed him soundly.

When they finally broke apart, Harry said, "I have to tell you something. It's about Voldemort- why he lured me to the Ministry." He told his boyfriend everything Dumbledore had said that day. About the prophecy, and what Dumbledore had done, and the protection spell cast by his mother's sacrifice.

When Harry had finished, Draco shook his head. "Fuck," he said. "Harry, I-"

"It's ok," Harry said. "We'll deal with it. We always do."

Draco nodded, then frowned and shook his head again. "Harry, if you die- I can't lose you."

"You won't," Harry said. "I promise." Both boys knew it was a promise Harry might not be able to keep.

"Stay safe this summer," Draco said. "I don't know if I'll be able to get in touch with you."

"I will," Harry said. "Privet Drive is probably the safest place for me. You worry about your family."

Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry again. "I'll see you in September, then."

"Yeah," Harry said. "I love you."

"I love you."

o-o-o-o-o

Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley had just turned away from the Order, Harry trailing in their wake, when he glanced back. There were his friends, arrayed against the Dursleys, and behind them… Draco had just leaned over to embrace his mother, but the other boy looked up then, as if sensing Harry's eyes on him.

Their gazes locked, and for a moment, King's Cross melted away, and it was just Harry and Draco. Then the world came rushing back, and they were off, Harry dragged along behind the Dursleys, Draco pulled along after his mother- but Harry had read the silent support and love in his boyfriend's eyes.

Now it was back to Privet Drive, back to being ignored and hated and feared for two months, but this time, things would be different. This time, Harry had something extra to look forward to.