"Can you pretend to love me? Just once?" Harry had quietly asked the Dursley's when he was eight. The silence that followed had hurt. Every moment made Harry's lip quiver a little harder. Each confused look between the Dursley's seemed to shine hope into Harry, but then it diminished completely when they looked back at him.

Vernon finally gained the knowledge of what to do in this situation. "Back to your cupboard boy."

Struggling not to cry, he wiped his eye before letting out an emotional, "please."

"Back to your cupboard boy. Pull yourself together."

That was the last time Vernon had even attempted to seem like he cared. Despite the harsh rejection, this was a lot kinder than his usual words.

Then over the years it seemed to get worse. Before it had just been a couple chores, and now, almost three years later, Harry almost ran the house. The bills, and the smaller important things were still left to the adults. All the physical tasks had been left to Harry. Gardening, cooking, and cleaning were Harry's jobs. It was his way of escaping the Dursley's glares. Sometimes when he watched how others interacted with their children, Harry was jealous. Then he remembered the Dursley's weren't his parents, nor would they treat him as their own child which was prominent during special events. Dudley on full display, and constantly praised while Harry was hiding. It wasn't enjoyable, but Harry had learned to live with it. They would not treat him as their own. Why would they? He was not one of them was he?

Then he'd gotten that letter. Of course Vernon didn't allow him to read the first couple, but suddenly Petunia seemed terrified of him. It had taken Harry a couple years to realize that Vernon's reaction was indeed one of fear. Wanting to seem in control, he threatened, changed the situation in his favour, and spit rude words out whenever he pleased. These tactics helped Vernon feel in control. They also made him seem in control in Harry's eyes. A dictator of the house.

Suddenly Hagrid was there breaking down the door, and Harry was free of the home that didn't love him. Temporarily of course. He would have to return in the summer, but Harry was happy with the improvement.

Getting his robes, he'd met a boy in the robe shop. He was quite strange to Harry. The blond had confidence, and he wasn't all that rude about it. Until Hagrid had walked by, and the blond had insulted him. The boy had spoken of Hagrid the same way the Dursley's spoke of Harry. Perhaps he would have to stay away from him.

Fate decided that wasn't possible seeing as the boy was introducing himself as Draco Malfoy, and asked to be friends. Well he did in fact insult one of Harry's new friends in the process. Looking back, Harry wondered if he would've accepted if Draco hadn't made that comment about "the wrong sort". Harry decided he would have. They could have been friends if Draco had just been slightly kinder.

Throughout the years, Draco had proven himself to be like the Dursley's in some ways. Except Draco was rigorous in getting Harry's attention rather than losing it. That was something Harry didn't understand. If Draco hated him as he so claimed, why did he keep trying to get Harry's attention?

Many things prevented Harry from actually finding out why Draco wanted his attention so much. Like school, being attacked once a year by an evil mad man, or his henchmen, not to mention teenage drama that he avoided like the plague. Then a war as well, in which he found that Draco didn't want to be on the side he was on. It seemed he'd been forced. At least it seemed this way to Harry.

That brings us to this year. Things had changed completely. Draco had apologized to many people, starting with Hermione, then Ron, and a brief one to Harry before he'd run off.

This had of course flabbergasted Hermione, and this time it wasn't just Harry who had an interest in Draco. Without noticing, they both watched Draco closely this year. Well it was nothing new for Harry of course....

It had shocked Harry when they'd been paired together, and they'd gotten along. In fact Harry had made a rude joke under his breath about the new teacher, and Draco had nearly messed up the potion because he was laughing so hard.

Continuing their acquaintanceship, they left school as friends.

Harry had visited Narcissa a couple times, and caught Draco off guard. One time Draco had come in with his hair an absolute mess, and left blushing like a madman. Then another Draco had barged in shouting, "why are love lives so difficult!" Draco then saw Harry and left with an apology.

Of course Harry had teased Draco next time they met up about his love life, and Draco hadn't known what to do. In fact he had looked a little constipated.

Tonight they were at the bar as well. A little pub they'd found that was fairly small, and very little people came. Ron next to Hermione, Ginny sitting next to Pansy, and Draco beside Harry. Ron and Hermione had decided that they should remain friends which had made the group dynamic strange once again, but it had eventually settled.

Ron seemed determined to get drunk despite Hermione's comments. He'd already gone through a pitcher of beer, and was dizzy. Unfortunately Pansy was pushing him to continue as she matched every drink Ron took. As Ron was busy, Pansy would replace her drinks with water. Ginny smirked cheekily at her brother as he rambled on about Auror training.

"Shoulda seen em mate! He tripped over a banana peel! I've never seen sometin more comedic in my life!"

"Are you sure you know what comedic means Ron?" Ginny teased.

"Course I do! When something makes me laugh it's comedic!"

Harry noticed Draco had been mostly silent for the night. So quietly, not to disturb the ongoing conversation, he asked, "You good Draco?" Harry didn't know when they started using first names, but now that he started he would never stop.

Giving Harry a dazzling smile Draco replied with, "I'm great, you?"

"Good. Do you think Pans, and Gin are dating yet?" Harry questioned.

"Have been for a year you oblivious dolt." There was no bite in his words, and a goofy smile fell on Draco's face. Harry loved that smile. It only happened when Draco was relaxed, and really happy.

"Well I'm going to get Ron home before Pansy kills him," Hermione spoke loudly. She sent a glare to Pansy before she yanked poor Ron out of the pub.

Pansy and Ginny burst into loud giggles as Ron tripped over nothing when Hermione let him go for a moment. "He must have tripped over a banana peel!" This comment sent them into more giggles. Still giggling, they managed to get out of the booth.

"Anyway, it's getting late. Night Harry, night Draco," Pansy stooped her laughing to tell them. Then she took one look at Ginny and started cackling again.

Draco seemed stressed, but Harry didn't know why. So he figured he'd just start a conversation and see where it went. "Just me and you now."

"Just you and I, Harry."

"That's what I just said?"

Draco sighed with the corner of his mouth tilted up. "You know you're adorable sometimes, but you really can be oblivious."

"What did I miss this time?"

Instead of answering, Draco just gave Harry a pained look. Then grabbing his belongings, and waiting for Harry to do the same.

"No I'm serious, what did I miss?" Harry questioned as they walked out.

Draco apparated them to Grimauld place. Then turned towards Harry, and staring into the green eyes.

In this moment Draco seemed so self conscious. So worried. Finally he seemed to come to a conclusion because he blurted, "Can you pretend to love me? Just once?"

This took Harry back a great many years ago to when he was a boy, and standing in front of the Dursley's. Harry wondered if he looked so insecure, and how the Dursley's could have rejected that look.

Draco took his silence as a no, and began to walk away. He didn't get very far before Harry grabbed his hand, and pulled him back to the sofa. Harry would not make the same mistake the Dursley's has all those years ago.

Draco's eyes were still insecure, but now they'd gained a spark of hope. He let himself be pulled to the couch, and lay with Harry.

Enjoying the tight embrace, and the hand playing with his blond locks, Draco just stayed still for a while wishing this would never end. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and Draco fell asleep.

The next morning they were still sprawled together on the couch (fully clothed) when Draco awoke.

Harry had pretended to love him as he'd asked. So it was time for him to leave. Draco wiped a tear as he attempted I untangle himself from Harry.

Then Harry pulled Draco back. "You're the reason I realized I was gay you git. You're not leaving until we've talked out what we're gonna be." Harry muttered. "We'll do that after we get some more sleep. Good?"

Draco blushes but nodded. Realizing that Harry's eyes were still closed, he responded with a soft, "yes."

The two got comfortable again.

Maybe Harry did like him. All this time Draco had thought his feelings were one sided, but now it seemed they were not.

"I like your hair messy," Harry grumbled into Draco's ear. Draco blushed in response.