Fic: After Effect, Harry/Draco, NC-17, [Complete]
Title: After Effect
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Summary: No one knew Draco had a daughter, but due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding the end of the War he'll have to bring her to school for his eighth year. Perhaps a bit of innocence can help to open eyes.
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Twelve
Harry hadn’t anticipated the consequences of his actions on Halloween night. Of course, he and Draco’s relationship was spectacular. And now they could hold hands in public and do things that two people who are dating should be able to do-but it was still hard to hear some of the things that were being said.
Before Halloween, it had all been speculation, except for Harry’s friends and the people who’d been at Carina’s birthday party. Now, though, everyone had seen them on the dance floor. They’d seen the way Harry had touched Draco, the way Draco had reveled in the attention. Their relationship status wasn’t just rumors or gossip anymore-it was fact. And although most other students simply didn’t say much about it, there were the few who liked to speak loudly about how disappointed they were in Harry. About how Draco Malfoy didn’t deserve him; how he was nothing but a Death Eater and deserved to rot in Azkaban.
A few times Ron had had to hold Harry back from attacking them.
It worried Harry. Not just that Draco was potentially unsafe, or that the words might get him down, but the way it all affected him. He really cared about Draco. A lot. More than he would have anticipated. More than he cared to admit, really. He hadn’t brought it up to Ron or Hermione… It felt too personal. And, though he was ashamed to say it, he felt a little embarrassed. This wasn’t just a boy he was falling in love with, but Draco Malfoy. Regardless of everything he’d been through and the way he’d changed, he still had put Harry through hell. And he did have a Dark Mark on his arm, whether or not he despised the very sight of it.
How could he have feelings for someone like that?
Well, it didn’t really matter, did it? The simple truth of the matter was that some time in the past few months he’d fallen for this boy. Hard. And where he would have loved to see people tormenting Draco only a year ago, now it made his blood boil.
And perhaps it wasn’t only because of the injustice of it.
In the back of his mind, a niggling part of Harry’s brain was scared. Scared that maybe these people could be right. What if Draco was using him? What he could be using Harry for, Harry didn’t know. But still…
Harry decided, against his better judgment (not that his judgment was ever that great), to bring it up. After all, how could they have a relationship if they weren’t honest with each other?
Harry asked Hermione and Ron to watch Carina one Saturday afternoon. Draco had looked a little suspicious when Harry had asked him to hang out. That in itself wasn’t unusual, but Harry wasn’t particularly good at hiding his emotions, so something must have been showing on his face. Draco didn’t say anything, though-he was apparently more tactful than that.
Harry led him to an empty classroom and closed the door behind himself. His heart was pounding and his hands were beginning to sweat. He hadn’t the slightest clue as to how this would play out. How Draco would react when Harry laid his insecurities on the table.
But the worst part was … what if it was true? What if Draco was using him? To regain his own popularity, for his fame, for any number of things, really. What if Harry put it out there and he saw guilt in Draco’s eyes? Harry wasn’t sure he could handle that. He’d certainly dug himself into a deep hole with this one.
Once inside the classroom Draco sat down in a chair and Harry pulled another one over, gingerly sitting down across from him.
“Draco,” he said quietly, “everyone’s been saying stuff about us…”
“I know, it’s preposterous.” Harry bit his lip nervously and looked down at his hands. He could feel Draco staring at him. “Harry… You’re not actually about to ask me if I’m using you.” Harry fidgeted nervously with his hands. “I know you’re smarter than that. Of all the people in this school, you should know better than anyone that rumors are always bullsh-”
“What do you mean, me of all people?” Harry spat, feeling his stubborn temper rising in spite of himself. Draco’s gray eyes suddenly adopted that cold, calculating look they’d been devoid of for weeks now. Harry’s heart plummeted.
“Exactly what it sounds like! You complained about stupid rumors for six years and now you’re going to start listening? And to one as fucked up as this?”
“Those rumors didn’t make any sense! I saw Voldemort come back! I-”
“And this does make sense?!” Draco suddenly stood up from his chair and Harry had to stop himself from shrinking away. “Why, Harry? Because I’m a Malfoy, and I couldn't possibly do something without having evil plans behind it? Because you’re Harry Potter, and Draco Malfoy couldn't possibly want you for anything more than your fame?” Harry felt his stomach turning raucously, angry tears building up behind his glasses. But he couldn’t speak. Draco looked on the verge of exploding. “Newsflash, Potter! I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHO YOU ARE! You think you’re something special ‘cause of that fucking scar on your head!” Draco moved forwards and Harry stood up from his chair, backing away from the furious Slytherin. He simply pushed Harry against the wall, grabbing his collar roughly. “Get this through your thick skull, Potter,” he whispered dangerously. “You’re a spoiled, conceited hero who’s gotten by on nothing but luck. Get over yourself.”
And without a second glance he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Harry, his whole body trembling, sank along the wall to the ground.
That had gotten very bad very quickly. They hadn’t entered the room more than three minutes ago and Draco was already gone. Harry swore and let his head fall back against the brick wall, shutting his eyes to stop any tears from coming out.
He shouldn’t have said anything. He’d known it was a bad idea. But it had been honestly bothering him.
Draco had a point, though, ashamed as Harry was to admit it. For six years people had spread rumors about Harry around school. Fifth year had been among the worst. He should have known rumors at Hogwarts were always stupid. Only now could he appreciate how that must have felt to Draco. Perhaps Harry wasn’t as over the War as he’d thought. He liked Draco a lot, that wasn’t a question. But there was still distrust there. There was still suspicion. There was still a Dark Mark on his arm.
Despite what he’d told Draco when he’d formally asked him out, he was still Draco Malfoy. The past didn’t just disappear. They were on their way to making it right, but they weren’t there yet. Not nearly. And for the first time Harry was seeing that. They couldn’t just jump into the relationship six months after the War ended and expect to be a perfect, happy couple. Harry couldn’t just suddenly discover his sexuality and attraction to Draco and expect it to work flawlessly.
And to be honest, he was embarrassed of himself for ever having entertained that notion. When had his life ever been normal? Sure, he would have liked that. But even with Voldemort gone it was too much to expect normalcy. Especially when they were dealing with Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
Besides, really, who had a normal life?
Harry sighed deeply and stood up, preparing himself to find Draco and talk to him.
Unfortunately, his mission was impeded by Ginny, who stopped him on his way to Gryffindor Tower, where Hermione and Ron had been watching Carina.
“Harry,” she said breathlessly, grabbing his arm from behind and spinning him around.
“Oh, hey, Gin,” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I just need a minute.” He nodded, looking quickly toward the stairs anxiously. She seemed to notice because she hurried on. “Mum wanted to know if you’re coming home with us for Christmas.” Ginny smiled. “I mean, she expects you to, of course, and she’ll probably skin you alive if you don’t, but I thought I’d ask anyway.”
Harry laughed and ran a hand through his hair.
“’Course I’ll be there. Thanks, Gin. And tell your mum I say hi.”
Ginny nodded and turned back around, presumably to send her mother an owl. A thought struck Harry, though, and he called out to her again, running to catch up.
His face heated before he even began talking.
“Er-Ginny. Do you think…” He bit his lip, trying to think quickly about this. He looked into her eyes. “Do you think Draco and Carina could come?”
She looked shocked. At a loss for words. But, to Harry’s surprise, she finally opened her mouth and said quietly, “Yeah, I don’t see why not. I’ll, um … I’ll tell mum they’re coming along.”
She turned again but Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug. She froze for a moment before returning the gesture.
“Thank you, Ginny,” he whispered. “I love you.”
He pulled away and found Ginny smiling lightly. “Love you, too, Harry.” She kissed him on the cheek before leaving.
* * *
Harry was surprised to find Carina still sitting with Ron and Hermione in the common room.
“Hey,” he said, eyebrows drawn together, as he approached them. Carina’s face lit up and she ran over and hugged his leg. Harry smiled and placed a hand on top of her head.
“Where’s Draco?” Ron asked, peering behind Harry to the portrait hole.
“Er-I’m not sure, to be honest.”
Hermione and Ron shared a look.
“Did something happen?” she asked quietly.
Harry looked down at Carina, who was now placing her own foot next to Harry’s and comparing the size, and sighed.
“’Rina, go with Ron for a little bit, okay?”
“Where are you going?” she asked, her eyes wide and sad. Harry laughed.
“I’ll be right back, I promise.”
When Carina finally ran over to Ron Hermione got up and followed Harry out of the portrait hole. They were silent for a little while, Harry contemplating what he would say and Hermione tactfully waiting for him to speak first.
“I asked you guys to watch Carina earlier because I wanted to talk to Draco about something that’s been bothering me,” he said finally.
“What was bothering you?”
Harry ran a hand through his hair, a tad embarrassed to admit this to Hermione.
“You know how people have been saying stuff about us recently? Like, how Draco’s not good enough for me and how he’s just using me.”
She seemed to know immediately where this was going. She nodded once.
Harry took a breath.
“Well, I started worrying a little. I mean, I … I really like Draco. A lot. But he’s still Draco Malfoy. You know?” He looked over to Hermione. Again, she nodded.
“So am I correct in assuming you brought that up to him?”
Harry looked at her and bit his lip. She seemed to take this as a confirmation.
“Well, what did you say exactly? They’re legitimate fears, I think. But then again, you’re right, he’s Draco Malfoy, and I won’t pretend to know him very well, even if we’ve gotten closer in these past couple weeks.”
“I didn’t say much. He knew. I brought him into a classroom and, well, I said what I said to you. That there were rumors going around. And he just got mad right off the bat. He said that… He said that I, of all people, should know that rumors are ridiculous.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. The more he thought about it the more fucked up the situation became in his head. He should have gone to Hermione first. “He got really mad when I said the rumors from before had been stupid. Because I’d seen Voldemort come back.”
Hermione’s eyes went wide.
“Do you realize you implied that these rumors are reasonable, then?”
“Yes, yes, I know,” Harry whined, stopping to lean against a wall. Hermione watched him sadly. “He got so angry, ‘Mione. He pushed me up against a bloody wall and yelled in my face. Told me I was a spoiled hero or something. To get over myself.”
“Oh, dear.” She came over and took his hand but didn’t say anything. She seemed to be thinking.
“Do you think he’ll forgive me?” Harry whispered. She finally looked up at him, her eyes understanding.
“Yes, Harry, I do. He really likes you, too. I think you need to find him and apologize. However, I also think you need to explain to him why you were worried in the first place. Your fears may have been hurtful to him, but, like I said before, they were legitimate. He has to understand that he was a Death Eater and that you two have only been dating for about a month. He can’t expect you to suddenly trust him with every fiber of your being. Realistically, these rumors right now aren’t as ridiculous as the ones from, say, fifth year. But to Draco, someone who’s still recovering from feeling like a downright criminal, that hurts. You had every reason to be anxious, Harry, but you should have said it differently.
Now, let’s go get the Map, find out where he is, and you can go have a talk with him.”
Harry leaned forward and wrapped Hermione in a bone-crushing hug, laying his head on her shoulder.
“You are absolutely amazing, Hermione,” he whispered. She hugged him back and Harry was reminded of the time they’d danced in the tent last year. Ron was his best mate, but Hermione was like a sister. Harry didn’t know what he’d do without her, he really didn’t.
“Come on,” she said, pulling away and nodding in the direction of the stairs. “We can talk about what you’ll say on the way up.”
Link to Chapter Thirteen
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Summary: No one knew Draco had a daughter, but due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding the end of the War he'll have to bring her to school for his eighth year. Perhaps a bit of innocence can help to open eyes.
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Twelve
Harry hadn’t anticipated the consequences of his actions on Halloween night. Of course, he and Draco’s relationship was spectacular. And now they could hold hands in public and do things that two people who are dating should be able to do-but it was still hard to hear some of the things that were being said.
Before Halloween, it had all been speculation, except for Harry’s friends and the people who’d been at Carina’s birthday party. Now, though, everyone had seen them on the dance floor. They’d seen the way Harry had touched Draco, the way Draco had reveled in the attention. Their relationship status wasn’t just rumors or gossip anymore-it was fact. And although most other students simply didn’t say much about it, there were the few who liked to speak loudly about how disappointed they were in Harry. About how Draco Malfoy didn’t deserve him; how he was nothing but a Death Eater and deserved to rot in Azkaban.
A few times Ron had had to hold Harry back from attacking them.
It worried Harry. Not just that Draco was potentially unsafe, or that the words might get him down, but the way it all affected him. He really cared about Draco. A lot. More than he would have anticipated. More than he cared to admit, really. He hadn’t brought it up to Ron or Hermione… It felt too personal. And, though he was ashamed to say it, he felt a little embarrassed. This wasn’t just a boy he was falling in love with, but Draco Malfoy. Regardless of everything he’d been through and the way he’d changed, he still had put Harry through hell. And he did have a Dark Mark on his arm, whether or not he despised the very sight of it.
How could he have feelings for someone like that?
Well, it didn’t really matter, did it? The simple truth of the matter was that some time in the past few months he’d fallen for this boy. Hard. And where he would have loved to see people tormenting Draco only a year ago, now it made his blood boil.
And perhaps it wasn’t only because of the injustice of it.
In the back of his mind, a niggling part of Harry’s brain was scared. Scared that maybe these people could be right. What if Draco was using him? What he could be using Harry for, Harry didn’t know. But still…
Harry decided, against his better judgment (not that his judgment was ever that great), to bring it up. After all, how could they have a relationship if they weren’t honest with each other?
Harry asked Hermione and Ron to watch Carina one Saturday afternoon. Draco had looked a little suspicious when Harry had asked him to hang out. That in itself wasn’t unusual, but Harry wasn’t particularly good at hiding his emotions, so something must have been showing on his face. Draco didn’t say anything, though-he was apparently more tactful than that.
Harry led him to an empty classroom and closed the door behind himself. His heart was pounding and his hands were beginning to sweat. He hadn’t the slightest clue as to how this would play out. How Draco would react when Harry laid his insecurities on the table.
But the worst part was … what if it was true? What if Draco was using him? To regain his own popularity, for his fame, for any number of things, really. What if Harry put it out there and he saw guilt in Draco’s eyes? Harry wasn’t sure he could handle that. He’d certainly dug himself into a deep hole with this one.
Once inside the classroom Draco sat down in a chair and Harry pulled another one over, gingerly sitting down across from him.
“Draco,” he said quietly, “everyone’s been saying stuff about us…”
“I know, it’s preposterous.” Harry bit his lip nervously and looked down at his hands. He could feel Draco staring at him. “Harry… You’re not actually about to ask me if I’m using you.” Harry fidgeted nervously with his hands. “I know you’re smarter than that. Of all the people in this school, you should know better than anyone that rumors are always bullsh-”
“What do you mean, me of all people?” Harry spat, feeling his stubborn temper rising in spite of himself. Draco’s gray eyes suddenly adopted that cold, calculating look they’d been devoid of for weeks now. Harry’s heart plummeted.
“Exactly what it sounds like! You complained about stupid rumors for six years and now you’re going to start listening? And to one as fucked up as this?”
“Those rumors didn’t make any sense! I saw Voldemort come back! I-”
“And this does make sense?!” Draco suddenly stood up from his chair and Harry had to stop himself from shrinking away. “Why, Harry? Because I’m a Malfoy, and I couldn't possibly do something without having evil plans behind it? Because you’re Harry Potter, and Draco Malfoy couldn't possibly want you for anything more than your fame?” Harry felt his stomach turning raucously, angry tears building up behind his glasses. But he couldn’t speak. Draco looked on the verge of exploding. “Newsflash, Potter! I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHO YOU ARE! You think you’re something special ‘cause of that fucking scar on your head!” Draco moved forwards and Harry stood up from his chair, backing away from the furious Slytherin. He simply pushed Harry against the wall, grabbing his collar roughly. “Get this through your thick skull, Potter,” he whispered dangerously. “You’re a spoiled, conceited hero who’s gotten by on nothing but luck. Get over yourself.”
And without a second glance he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Harry, his whole body trembling, sank along the wall to the ground.
That had gotten very bad very quickly. They hadn’t entered the room more than three minutes ago and Draco was already gone. Harry swore and let his head fall back against the brick wall, shutting his eyes to stop any tears from coming out.
He shouldn’t have said anything. He’d known it was a bad idea. But it had been honestly bothering him.
Draco had a point, though, ashamed as Harry was to admit it. For six years people had spread rumors about Harry around school. Fifth year had been among the worst. He should have known rumors at Hogwarts were always stupid. Only now could he appreciate how that must have felt to Draco. Perhaps Harry wasn’t as over the War as he’d thought. He liked Draco a lot, that wasn’t a question. But there was still distrust there. There was still suspicion. There was still a Dark Mark on his arm.
Despite what he’d told Draco when he’d formally asked him out, he was still Draco Malfoy. The past didn’t just disappear. They were on their way to making it right, but they weren’t there yet. Not nearly. And for the first time Harry was seeing that. They couldn’t just jump into the relationship six months after the War ended and expect to be a perfect, happy couple. Harry couldn’t just suddenly discover his sexuality and attraction to Draco and expect it to work flawlessly.
And to be honest, he was embarrassed of himself for ever having entertained that notion. When had his life ever been normal? Sure, he would have liked that. But even with Voldemort gone it was too much to expect normalcy. Especially when they were dealing with Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
Besides, really, who had a normal life?
Harry sighed deeply and stood up, preparing himself to find Draco and talk to him.
Unfortunately, his mission was impeded by Ginny, who stopped him on his way to Gryffindor Tower, where Hermione and Ron had been watching Carina.
“Harry,” she said breathlessly, grabbing his arm from behind and spinning him around.
“Oh, hey, Gin,” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I just need a minute.” He nodded, looking quickly toward the stairs anxiously. She seemed to notice because she hurried on. “Mum wanted to know if you’re coming home with us for Christmas.” Ginny smiled. “I mean, she expects you to, of course, and she’ll probably skin you alive if you don’t, but I thought I’d ask anyway.”
Harry laughed and ran a hand through his hair.
“’Course I’ll be there. Thanks, Gin. And tell your mum I say hi.”
Ginny nodded and turned back around, presumably to send her mother an owl. A thought struck Harry, though, and he called out to her again, running to catch up.
His face heated before he even began talking.
“Er-Ginny. Do you think…” He bit his lip, trying to think quickly about this. He looked into her eyes. “Do you think Draco and Carina could come?”
She looked shocked. At a loss for words. But, to Harry’s surprise, she finally opened her mouth and said quietly, “Yeah, I don’t see why not. I’ll, um … I’ll tell mum they’re coming along.”
She turned again but Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug. She froze for a moment before returning the gesture.
“Thank you, Ginny,” he whispered. “I love you.”
He pulled away and found Ginny smiling lightly. “Love you, too, Harry.” She kissed him on the cheek before leaving.
* * *
Harry was surprised to find Carina still sitting with Ron and Hermione in the common room.
“Hey,” he said, eyebrows drawn together, as he approached them. Carina’s face lit up and she ran over and hugged his leg. Harry smiled and placed a hand on top of her head.
“Where’s Draco?” Ron asked, peering behind Harry to the portrait hole.
“Er-I’m not sure, to be honest.”
Hermione and Ron shared a look.
“Did something happen?” she asked quietly.
Harry looked down at Carina, who was now placing her own foot next to Harry’s and comparing the size, and sighed.
“’Rina, go with Ron for a little bit, okay?”
“Where are you going?” she asked, her eyes wide and sad. Harry laughed.
“I’ll be right back, I promise.”
When Carina finally ran over to Ron Hermione got up and followed Harry out of the portrait hole. They were silent for a little while, Harry contemplating what he would say and Hermione tactfully waiting for him to speak first.
“I asked you guys to watch Carina earlier because I wanted to talk to Draco about something that’s been bothering me,” he said finally.
“What was bothering you?”
Harry ran a hand through his hair, a tad embarrassed to admit this to Hermione.
“You know how people have been saying stuff about us recently? Like, how Draco’s not good enough for me and how he’s just using me.”
She seemed to know immediately where this was going. She nodded once.
Harry took a breath.
“Well, I started worrying a little. I mean, I … I really like Draco. A lot. But he’s still Draco Malfoy. You know?” He looked over to Hermione. Again, she nodded.
“So am I correct in assuming you brought that up to him?”
Harry looked at her and bit his lip. She seemed to take this as a confirmation.
“Well, what did you say exactly? They’re legitimate fears, I think. But then again, you’re right, he’s Draco Malfoy, and I won’t pretend to know him very well, even if we’ve gotten closer in these past couple weeks.”
“I didn’t say much. He knew. I brought him into a classroom and, well, I said what I said to you. That there were rumors going around. And he just got mad right off the bat. He said that… He said that I, of all people, should know that rumors are ridiculous.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. The more he thought about it the more fucked up the situation became in his head. He should have gone to Hermione first. “He got really mad when I said the rumors from before had been stupid. Because I’d seen Voldemort come back.”
Hermione’s eyes went wide.
“Do you realize you implied that these rumors are reasonable, then?”
“Yes, yes, I know,” Harry whined, stopping to lean against a wall. Hermione watched him sadly. “He got so angry, ‘Mione. He pushed me up against a bloody wall and yelled in my face. Told me I was a spoiled hero or something. To get over myself.”
“Oh, dear.” She came over and took his hand but didn’t say anything. She seemed to be thinking.
“Do you think he’ll forgive me?” Harry whispered. She finally looked up at him, her eyes understanding.
“Yes, Harry, I do. He really likes you, too. I think you need to find him and apologize. However, I also think you need to explain to him why you were worried in the first place. Your fears may have been hurtful to him, but, like I said before, they were legitimate. He has to understand that he was a Death Eater and that you two have only been dating for about a month. He can’t expect you to suddenly trust him with every fiber of your being. Realistically, these rumors right now aren’t as ridiculous as the ones from, say, fifth year. But to Draco, someone who’s still recovering from feeling like a downright criminal, that hurts. You had every reason to be anxious, Harry, but you should have said it differently.
Now, let’s go get the Map, find out where he is, and you can go have a talk with him.”
Harry leaned forward and wrapped Hermione in a bone-crushing hug, laying his head on her shoulder.
“You are absolutely amazing, Hermione,” he whispered. She hugged him back and Harry was reminded of the time they’d danced in the tent last year. Ron was his best mate, but Hermione was like a sister. Harry didn’t know what he’d do without her, he really didn’t.
“Come on,” she said, pulling away and nodding in the direction of the stairs. “We can talk about what you’ll say on the way up.”
Link to Chapter Thirteen