The next day found Harry popping round the shops. Draco had given Harry the film to develop, so after dropping it off, Harry had gone out to purchase some picture frames. After that, he did some grocery shopping, buying more than enough for two before stopping to pick up the developed film. By the end of his shopping spree it was lunch time, so with a grin, Harry popped into the diner to get his and Draco's usual to go.

He waited for about 10 minutes until Draco was available.

"You said someone was here for me Mary?," Draco asked, head tilted curiously.

"Auror Potter," she replied with a smug grin.

"I've brought lunch?," he offered, holding up the takeout bag.

"Come on you," Draco replied with a fond sigh, his face beginning to turn pink. "You didn't have to do that."

"Figured it'd be nice to visit you at work without you needing to work on me."

"That's kind of you, thank you."

"How's your shift been?," Harry asked kindly. 

Draco filled Harry in on his day, sharing whatever he was able to do without breaking healer patient confidentiality, their legs gently bumping into each other.

"What about you?"

"Oh, I had the pictures developed!"

"Can I see?"

"You can, tonight over dinner? I went grocery shopping today," Harry offered with a soft smile.

"Who am I to pass up a home cooked meal? I'll be there."

"Brilliant! Bring the drinks?"

"Consider it done. I'll see you at 6 tonight then?"

"I'll see you then."

There was a brief awkward pause before either man left Draco's office. Huffing a quiet laugh in amusement, Harry pulled Draco into a quick hug.

"Enjoy the rest of your shift, I'll see you tonight."

"Thanks Potter."

When he got home, Harry continued his efforts to clean up Grimmauld Place. He set an alarm on his wand to remind him to start dinner, and continued with his assessment. Someone was coming over tomorrow to survey the backyard to put in a pool. The house would finally be in a state that would make both Sirius and himself proud.

Harry was shocked out of his reverie by the sound of a firecall. Brows furrowed in confusion, Harry stuck his head in the fireplace.

"Hello Harry, do you mind if I step through?"

"Come on through Hermione," he invited, taking a step back.

"I hear you're on vacation," she said, dusting soot off of herself.

"I'm doing well Mione thanks," he drawled, rolling his eyes.

He had to bite back a laugh as he realized he was acting like Draco.

"Sorry Harry. How are you?," she asked, pulling him into a hug.

"Better. Yourself?"

"You know how work is," she replied, waving him off. "Always something or someone that needs saving."

"Mhmm. Why are you here?"

"I wanted to check up on you. I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"Because you haven't."

"Why is that?"

"You know why. You have to side with Ron and-"

"I do not!," she said indignantly.

"Sure you do. If you don't, you'll be hearing about it all night. We've been playing this game for years Hermione, and I'm tired. It's like I'm dealing with fourth year Ron all the time. I can't talk to him anymore, which means I can't talk to you."

"I'm making us tea, we're long overdue for a chat."

Keeping an eye on the time, Harry nodded with a sigh.

"Talk to me, forget about Ron," she instructed. "How are you? What's going on?"

"I'm exhausted and burnt out. The other aurors take advantage of my savior complex and I get hurt more than anyone else on the team. I didn't jump in when someone got hit with a stunner when they called me in, and he looked at me as if I hit him personally. Everyone expects me to take all of the hits for them and I physically cannot do it anymore.

I'm not happy and I'm trying to change that. I've taken time off to try to figure out who I am, what I can do without throwing myself into harm's way. Ron has a good team, they respect him and listen to his leadership. My team acts foolishly and expects me to jump in and save them from the consequences. I'm happy he's happy, but this isn't what I thought it would be. He won't sit down and listen to me talk about this though."

"I didn't know you felt that way Harry, I'm sorry."

"You haven't been around to talk to. I don't blame you, not really, but I've lost both of my best friends at once. It fucking sucks honestly."

"Can we have dinner on Wednesday? The three of us and try to fix things?"

"Okay."

"I won't keep you from dinner Harry. Thank you for talking to me."

Draco could tell something was off as soon as he stepped into Grimmauld Place.

"How was the rest of your shift?," Harry asked, stirring dinner before turning to the cabinet to take out plates.

Using his hip, Draco nudged Harry out of the way so he could get the place settings.

"Better than your day apparently."

"I really cannot hide anything from you can I?"

"I got an O in Potterology, what can I say?," Draco teased, smiling as Harry laughed.

After setting the table, Draco hopped up on the counter, swinging his feet.

"So?"

"Hermione stopped by, hence why dinner is a tad delayed."

"Oh," Draco replied, shifting uncomfortably on the counter. "That's... unexpected."

"She invited me over for dinner with her and Ron on Wednesday. She's lucky you're busy on Wednesday or I would've told her no. This is it. Being friends with people shouldn't make you feel like this. It's never felt like this with you. You're here and it's like... I dunno, I can breathe again."

Harry was startled to feel arms wrapping around him.

"You can always come and have dinner with us."

"I'm not sure which is worse," Harry teased.

"Are you... never mind."

"Am I ever scared that the bubble is going to burst?," Harry finished, turning around in Draco's arms.

He leaned against the cabinet Draco had him trapped against and looked up to see a vulnerable expression on Draco's face.

"No, I'm not. I think if we can act as enemies from 11 through 18 that this, what we have, will last. Nothing's really changed you know? We're still seeking each other out, reading each other's moods and mannerisms, and making fun of each other. It's just more playful now. I can look at you, and you understand me without even having to say anything. So no Draco, I'm not worried at all. I'm quite fond of you, you're stuck with me."

"I just get... apprehensive I suppose. We can live like this alone or in muggle spaces, but what about the wizarding world?"

"Tell me exactly what you're afraid of so I can fix it."

"That our friend groups won't mix. That I'll be accused of having done something to you because why the fuck would you willingly choose to keep me in your company?"

"It makes me sad that people will never know you in the way that I do. Gods Draco you're quick as a whip, you're so funny, extremely smart, you actually listen, you're kind, caring, compassionate. You know what it's like to be treated how I've been treated so even when your patients are fucking assholes you still treat them with respect even when they don't deserve it. I think a part of you still believes that you deserve it, that it's some kind of retribution for what you think you did, but you're wrong.

I'm trying to show you that you're wrong. Not because I think you need saving. Hell, you're the one who's saving me Draco. There are so many things you could've done after the war. You could've stayed in France, but you decided to come back home to fix the aftermath of the war here. Earlier, you had mentioned that I put in a good word for you. All I did was talk to Hermione about creating a bill where applications are judged off of their qualifications, not their names. I may have inadvertently gotten you through the door Draco, but you got yourself your position because of you."

"I... I don't even know what to say Harry."

"That you'll work on trying to believe me when I tell you these things because I don't say things I don't mean."

"Okay."

"Good. Now, let's eat because I don't want to overcook dinner."

"Then you can show me all of the pictures we took. Have you looked at them yet?"

"No, I wanted to wait for you."

Draco was accepting that he was absolutely gone for Potter. There was nothing to be done anymore, and he was worried Harry would be catching on soon.

"I would like to meet them. Or, re-meet them I suppose."

"Who?"

"Parkinson and Zabini. They mean something to you, so..."

"I can arrange a movie night at mine? You really don't have to-"

"I know. Like I said, I plan on keeping you around. This is another step."

"Another?"

"Domestication has been working quite well," Harry teased, grinning brightly at Draco.

"I knew it!"

"I haven't even pulled out all of the stops yet," Harry replied smugly.

Harry pulled out another stop after Draco had left and he framed his favorite photos of them and hung them on the wall in the living room. He swore the house seemed to have gotten just a tad brighter, a reflection of his mood.