the-yellowsubmarine

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Okay, but “chemicals” by post malone is the most drarry shit I’ve ever heard. Like, goddamn… just… somebody write a fic based on this please…

“Oxytocin makin' it all okay

When I come back down, it doesn't feel the same

Now I'm sittin' 'round, waitin' for the world to end all day

'Cause I couldn't leave you if I tried

You break me, then I break my rules

Last time was the last time too

It's fucked up, I know, but I'm still

Outside of the party, smokin' in the car with you

Seven Nation Army, fightin' at the bar with you

Tell you that I'm sorry, tell me what I gotta do

'Cause I can't let go, it's chemical

No, I can't let go, it's chemical

Every time I'm ready to make a change

You turn around and fuck out all my brains (woo)

I ain't tryna fight fate, it's too late to save face

I can't get away, maybe there's no mistakes (maybe there's no mistakes)

You break me, then I break my rules

Last time was the last time too

It's fucked up, I know, but I'm still

Standing outside of the party, smokin' in the car with you

Seven Nation Army, fightin' at the bar with you

Tell you that I'm sorry, tell me what I gotta do

'Cause I can't let go, it's chemical (chemical)

No, I can't let go, it's chemical (chemical)

No, I can't let go, it's chemical”

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Do you think Drarry use pet names for each other? I like it but sometimes it feels cheesy

They don’t use them daily but Draco will hold Harry by the neck during sex and the subsequent whisper of “darling” makes Harry come so fast he’s whiplashed. Draco’s not immune, his cryptonite is “baby”.

Sometimes “love” maybe but very sparingly. If they’re using “sweetheart” they’re mad and being passive aggressive. Honestly, using each others first name is a pet name to them.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Imagine Harry is on his way from Dumbledore’s office to the Forbidden Forest during the battle of Hogwarts. But he runs into Draco Malfoy on his way out. They just look at each other for a moment and then Malfoy asks, “are you going? to the forest?”

Harry just nods his head.

Malfoy nods too in understanding.

They continue to stare at each other for a second more before Malfoy strides up to Harry and kisses him hard.

Harry’s eyes widen in shock and marvels at the feel of Malfoy’s warm chapped lips on his. He doesn’t think about what it means. Nothing really means anything for him anymore anyways.

It takes only a second more for him to return the kiss.

There’s no tongue. No battle for control. Just a solid press of lips and a mutual understanding.

Malfoy finally pulls away, but lingers close. Harry can feel his moist breath brush across his face.

“Goodbye, Potter.”

“Goodbye, Draco.”

Harry turns away and doesn’t look back.

Fast forward to September 1st.

Mcgonagall announces the new roommate pairings for the eighth years.

“Potter and Malfoy!”

Harry looks across the room at Draco in surprise. They haven’t spoken to each other or even really seen each other since the Battle. Apart from when Harry spoke for him and his mother at the trial. And now they were going to be roommates?

Well... shit.

This year just got a lot more interesting.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

“You can’t love me,” Draco says. You can’t love me. You can’t love a forest burnt to cinder and ashes, you can’t love the aftermath of a war, the ground scorched black with pluming smoke, the air stifling and acrid. You can’t love me. You can’t love the aftermath of a massacre. You only stare at it, stare at it, and stare at it until you vision blurs.

“Shut up and come here.”

“You can’t love me.”

“Shut up.” Softer, “Just come here and cast the spell.”

Draco puts his wand to Harry’s temple, closes his eyes, and casts Legilimens.

Engulfed in light. Bright, and then gentle, the cold air suffused with the clean scent of pine. He opens his eyes, and he is in a forest: pines ancient and towering, evergreen. He looks around. First snow covers the foliage, pristine, the air silent and wondrous. His laughter rustles in the trees with the passing wind, like pealing bells.

“This is what loving you feels like,” Harry says, gentle. It’s as though his voice comes from his mind, not words but an echo. “I love you.”

You’re broken and I love you. You’re in pain and I love you. You think I can’t, but I do. I love you.

Draco’s vision blurs.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

the gif version of drarry in the hallways 

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[the-yellowsubmarine]

Most popular fics of 2019

✔ subjectively sorted by Hits || alphabetically listed || as of 2020.07 (4253 works) ✔ 2019 in review : (daily) complete fics  +  (monthly) longest fics  +  list of all the fests ✔ most popular fics of other years

A ► L

All the Earnest Young Men by @tepre [E, 29k]

All the Things I’ve Never Felt by @l0vegl0wsinthedark [E, 4k]

Alpha Daddy by @mslyramalfoy [E, 1k]

amid this warm and steady sweetness by @forestgreenlesbian [E, 21k]

Among Those Killed by motleygrrrl [M, 228k]

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The Black Heir by nani_punani [T, 41k]

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Burn The Witch by @lettersbyelise [E, 95k]

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Catching the Niffler by @keyflight790 & @tsundanire [E, 10k]

Celestial Bodies by @shiftylinguini [E, 20k]

Cruciatus by @gxldensnitched [G, 19k]

“Dad says” by GallaPlacidia [?, 39k]

Dark Wizengamot by Emerys_Potter [T, 95k]

Dear Mrs. Malfoy by @lalionnebelle [M, 53k]

Dissident by Constance1 [E, 182k]

distractions in red by @okaypottah [T, 1k]

Draco Malfoy’s Stupendous Seduction Seminar by @lettersbyelise [E, 8k]

every now and then (our stars align) by @toomanydreamers [E, 160k]

Everything a Word Can Mean by @rockmarina [T, 2k]

Faint Indirections by @dracomalfoyofficial [T, 29k]

Falling for a Golden Boy by @rockmarina [E, 44k]

Fate Has Different Plans by @drarryruinedme7 [E, 24k]

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Foreplay by @lqtraintracks [E, 6k]

Freedom to be by @quicksilvermaid [E, 169k]

From the Dungeons series by huntersg1rl [?, 95k, 2 works]

The Generation Who Lived by @lettersbyelise [E, 14k]

Ghosts by @tsuki-chibi [T, 10k]

Grounds for Divorce by @tepre [E, 122k]

a handful indeed by @okaypottah [E, 1k]

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Let it burn in hell by ImmortalAcorn [M, 40k]

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M ► Z

Keep reading

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Hi do you know any good really looooong Drarry fics? I always seem to find a good one but its been abandoned since 2007 or something :(

Sure, sorry for the delay!

80K+ WORD COUNT

Turn (Saras_Girl)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 306,708, Summary: One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

Tales from the Special Branch (@femmequixotic) (incomplete)

WC: ~1,200k (yup!), Summary: When Gawain Robards asks him to form Special Branch seven-four-alpha, Harry Potter knows they’ll have to work outside the confines of the law–even though they are the law.Notes:This is a five-story arc about an Auror Special Branch unit whose core members are Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini. I can promise endgame Drarry, but, let’s face it, there are going to be a lot of up and downs on the way. (Think Shondaland for Drarry.)

The Man Who Lived (sebastianL)

WC: ~250k, Summary: Draco breaks a cup, and one thing leads to another. A story of redemption, tattoos, dreams, mistakes, green eyes, long conversations, and copious amounts of coffee.Set in New York twelve years after the war.

A Thousand Beautiful Things (Duinn Fionn)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 108,033, Summary: Draco Malfoy struggles with changed fortunes, shifted alliances, an ugly war, and an unusual spell, with the help of a concerned professor, an insightful house-elf, and an unexpected Gryffindor friend.

Bond (Anna Fugazzi)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 173,499, Summary: Yet another one of those Harry And Draco Are Forced To Be Together By Something Beyond Their Control And Then Stuff Happens Leading To Twoo Wuv stories.

Yours Is The Earth (Hold On, Hold On) (chickenlivesinpumpkin)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 127,175, Summary: When they first meet after the end of the war, Draco doesn’t want anything to do with Harry. But as time goes by, Draco’s growing love may be the only thing that can save them both, because after a serious accident in the Forbidden Forest, Draco’s personality begins to undergo subtle changes. At first, Harry credits this to a new enthusiasm for life. But as the days pass and Draco’s behavior becomes more and more mysterious, Harry begins to suspect that something bigger - and darker - is at work.

All Our Secrets Laid Bare (firethesound)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 149,500, Summary: Over the six years Draco Malfoy has been an Auror, four of his partners have turned up dead. Harry Potter is assigned as his newest partner to investigate just what is going on.

Reparations/Foundations Verse (Saras_Girl)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 364,300, Summary: Harry is about to discover that the steepest learning curve comes after Healer training, and that second chances can be found in unexpected places.Series

Any Instrument (dicta_contrion)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 131,102, Summary: Draco Malfoy wouldn’t go back to England for anything less than an exceptional case. Being asked to figure out why Harry Potter can’t control his magic might be exceptional enough to qualify.

Chaos Theory (tessacrowley)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 102,771, Summary: Chaos: when the present determines the future, but the approximate present does not approximately determine the future. One gene varies, one neuron fires, one butterfly flaps its wings, and Draco Malfoy’s life is completely different. Draco has always found a certain comfort in chaos. Perhaps he shouldn’t.

Twist Of Fate (Oakstone730)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 302,209, Summary: Draco asks Harry to help him beat the Imperius curse during 4th year. The lessons turn into more than either expected. A story of redemption and forgiveness.

How I Met Your Father (dracogotgame)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 95,500, Summary: Harry sits his kids down and tells them a story. A very long story.

Another Mask Behind You (lettered)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 116,557, Summary: Draco is a high-end prostitute who hides his identity. Harry unknowingly hires him. And then there is porn, questions about identity, domestic bliss, more porn, and truth as seen through a web of lies.

Level Two: Series One (multiple - and brilliant - authors)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 113,499, Summary: Witches and wizards are disappearing in a seemingly random fashion. Coincidence? Abductions? But no one is claiming ransom. The Aurors are not even sure the disappearances are connected, then one of the missing turns up dead. Meanwhile, Auror Harry Potter is thrown into the infamous Sirius Black Muggle murder case from 25 years ago. Given a chance to clear his godfather’s name for good, Harry is not above accepting even the help of magical specialist Draco Malfoy.Notes:

The Marriage Of True Minds (lomonaaeren)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 211,817, Summary: Lucius curses Harry and Draco to a forced marriage. But they’re not required to be with each other, only live together, so both pursue other relationships. As time passes, however, things change.

Azoth (zeitgeistic)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 88,722, Summary: Now that Harry is back at Hogwarts with Hermione for eighth year, he realises that something’s missing from his life, and it either has to do with Ron, his boggart, Snape, or Malfoy. Furthermore, what, exactly, does it mean when one’s life is defined by the desire to simultaneously impress and annoy a portrait? Harry has no idea; he’s too busy trying not to be in love with Malfoy to care.

Drop Dead Gorgeous (Maya)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 140,000, Summary: “I realise this may come as a shockto you, but our investigations have been going on for some time, and we‟re quite sure. Yourmother Lily Evans was not, as we had all previously believed, of pure Muggle stock. One of her ancestors was a Veela.”

Starts With A Spin (Maxine)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 119,852, Summary: It started with the spin of a bottle, and now Harry and Draco have gotten themselves so far into their own game there’s almost no way out again. Except to keep playing.

All Life Is Yours To Miss (Saras_Girl)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 114,741, Summary: Professor Malfoy’s world is contained, controlled, and as solitary as he can make it, but when an act of petty revenge goes horribly awry, he and his trusty six-legged friend are thrown into Hogwarts life at the deep end and must learn to live, love and let go.

Mental (sara_holmes)

WC: 186k, Summary: Harry has had quite enough of sharing his mind with someone else, thankyouverymuch. A miscast Legilimecy spell says otherwise.

The Printed Press (Soupy_George)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 119,705, Summary: Draco Malfoy was still slightly amazed that he was standing on the doorstep of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. He never would have thought that Harry Potter’s very public and very … sweary, emotional explosion would have led to him offering Draco, of all people, a job.

Veela-Struck (lomonaaeren)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 160,319, Summary: Veela don’t have destined mates, and thank Merlin for that. Draco wants to date Harry Potter because Harry is one of the few people in the wizarding world who treats him decently. But when Harry refuses, with his refusal focused on Draco’s creature blood, Draco sets out on a different journey than he ever expected.

Kiss Me (Under The Light Of A Thousand Stars (Iwao, Sophie_French)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 114,744, Summary: Harry rescues Draco Malfoy from Azkaban, where he has been imprisoned for three years after the war. Draco is not as Harry remembers, as Azkaban leaves its mark on even the strongest of wizards. With no memory of who he was or how he came to be in Harry’s care, Draco needs Harry’s help if he is to have any hope of making a full recovery. But Harry has his own demons to fight and together with saving Draco, Harry must also discover a way to find himself.

Eclipse (Majin)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 309,149, Summary: Draco swore revenge on Harry for Lucius’s imprisonment, and for once, he keeps his promise. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. But when Draco’s world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins.

The Veela Enigma (jennavere)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 187,794, Summary: What if some of Draco’s ancestors, pretending to be purebloods, concealed the truth about their veela heritage? You’d end up with one very confused Draco Malfoy, who’s fallen head over heels in love with Harry Potter and has no idea why.

A Private Reason For This (femmequixotic)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 92,189, Summary: When the wife of a star politician in the Scottish Ministry turns up dead just outside Hogsmeade, Draco Malfoy and his murder investigation team are called in from the Edinburgh Auror force to find her killer. What DCI Malfoy doesn’t expect, however, is to have an ex from two decades past end up in his murder room, endangering not only his case, but also his heart.

Malfoy Flavor (Vorabiza)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 200,550, Summary: Harry’s ready to banish the Golden Boy image and take charge of his life. Unfortunately, or fortunately, for him there are still more surprises in store for him.

The Silent World Within You (femmequixotic, noeon)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 95,189, Summary: Harry only wanted Malfoy for one night, one birthday. It wasn’t meant to be anything more.

Silververse (fearlessdiva)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 121,748, Summary: A love story concerning possessed furniture, black silk pyjamas, courtroom drama, premonitions of doom, assassination attempts, Death Eater yoga, absinthe, bare feet and a sensible werewolf. Beware: coarse language, brief drug use, some sexual content, and consideration of issues of sexual consent.

Two Sides Of The Same Coin (noislessheart)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 117,270, Summary: Harry and Draco find out the hard way that the line between hate and love is a fine one, and that somewhere between the Battle of Hogwarts and being thrust back together as Hogwarts eighth years, they may have just crossed it.

Helix (Saras_Girl)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 92,870, Summary: Seven months after the end of the war, Harry is feeling lost. Fortunately, he is about to be offered an unexpected and sparkling chance to find himself again.

There’s A Pure-Blood Custom For That (lomonaaeren)

Rating: PG-13, WC: 105,549, Summary: The day that Harry stops Draco Malfoy and his son from being bothered in the middle of Diagon Alley starts a strange series of interactions between him and Malfoy. Who knew there was a pure-blood custom for every situation?

Chains Of Earth (dysonrules)

Rating: NC-17, WC: 89,800, Summary: Draco is kidnapped and forced to make a choice between taking his own life or becoming something less than human. Of course, he makes the right decision. Enter Harry, who discovers he has a bit of a thing for wings.

Wild (Seefin)

WC: 92k, Summary: “No,” Harry said, by way of greeting. Malfoy’s blonde head rose slowly, carelessly. “Get out.”“I feel as though we’ve already established this, Potter,” Malfoy responded. “And I feel that what we established was that you telling me to get out of places really doesn’t make me more likely to vacate them.”

Balance, Imperfect (@bixgirl1)

WC: 91k, Summary: When Harry sustains an injury in the line of work, he no longer knows how to navigate the life he loved, and finds help and solace from the most unexpected source.

Seven Steps (@dorthyanndrarry)

WC: 130k, Summary: It started with just seven steps to try and win Potter’s affection, but life and relationships are rarely as easy as a checklist on a piece of parchment.

Grounds For Divorce (Tepre)

WC: 122k, Summary: Malfoy finds a coin. Harry finds a letter.A story about histories, a story about families. A story about a lemon tree somewhere in Upper Egypt.

Soup-pocalypse and the Great Curry Cataclysm (SquadOfCats)

WC: 104k, Summary: Eleven years after the war, Draco Malfoy leads a quiet, boring, and perfectly respectable life, thanks very much. Or, at least he does, until a sudden and very unexpected veela awakening causes him to throw soup all over Harry Potter in the middle of the Ministry cafeteria.

Hermione Granger’s Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents On the Run (waspabi)

WC: 93k, Summary: 'You’re a wizard, Harry’ is easier to hear from a half-giant when you’re eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you’re seventeen and late for work.

What We Pretend We Can’t See (gyzym)

WC: 130k, Summary: Seven years out from the war, Harry learns the hard truth of old history: it’s never quite as far behind you as you thought.

If The Fates Allow (saras_girl)

WC: 80k, Summary: What’s that crackling in the walls?Harry has no clue at all.He’ll eat some cake and drink some wineBecause he is completely FINE.–A story about life’s disregard for our plans.

A Big Black Sky ( @alxmeg)

WC: 90k, Summary: Draco shifts his head as he turns to look at Scorpius, his cheek touching the pillow. “Did you know that…” He pauses, his throat convulsing, and it sounds audible in the silence, besides Michael’s steady, even breathing from the other bedroom.Scorpius is staring back at him, in wait of something new to learn, a beautiful and intelligent child. He has Draco’s mind. He has Draco’s eyes and nose and mouth and hair. He is his. All his. All he has of Michael are his wild curls and the green of his eyes, and sometimes he looks into them and imagines that they aren’t Michael’s, but someone else’s.Draco leans his head closer, biting the quiver out of his lips before he breathes a laden and shuddering exhale, and he whispers, “You are my star in a big black sky.”

All I Want For Christmas (Is For You To Stop Talking) (@femmequixotic, @noeeon)

WC: 162k, Summary: The Niffler’s Garden is the most prestigious wizarding nursery school in England and has been for the last century or more. Harry Potter’s boys are both enrolled as pupils at the Garden. When he volunteers to assist with the Yule pageant, he has no idea that he’ll be working closely with another parent, Draco Malfoy. Although they haven’t seen each other much since their own school days, Harry faults Malfoy for not being a hands-on dad to little Scorpius. Will the intense weeks of preparation fan the fires of enmity or something else entirely?

Dear Cousin, Love Regulus (@xx-thedarklord-xx)

WC: 86k, Summary: As the sole Malfoy heir, Draco understood that his path was set long before his birth; who to be, how to act and what his choices should be. What he had not counted on was the power of outside influences. Letters from his deceased cousin caused him to realize that he did have choices, starting with the choice to be someone else, to be who he wanted to be. The road to self-discovery was difficult and navigating that path in the shadow of Harry Potter was its own challenge but maybe, just maybe, his friends would help him along the way. And he would owe it all to Regulus Black.

Burn The Witch (@lettersbyelise)

WC: 95k, Summary: When Harry Potter is sent in to investigate Draco Malfoy’s successful potions company, posing as Draco’s bodyguard, he doesn’t know the case will launch a series of events that will change his life — and Draco’s.A story about choices, scars, Chopin piano pieces, and finding all kinds of love in the most unexpected places.

Who We Are In the Shadows (@quicksilvermaid)

WC: 99k, Summary: What happens when you’re forced to become the very thing you despise? Ex-Auror Harry Potter, tossed out of the Ministry for something he had no control over, has been looking for a way back to his former life. When he comes across Draco Malfoy in the criminal underbelly of Wizarding London and in need of protection, Harry figures bringing him in to face the Ministry’s justice is his ticket back to everything he’s lost.But nothing is exactly as it seems. Not even Harry himself. And as he gets drawn further and further into Malfoy’s world of honour and deception he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew—about his childhood nemesis, the Ministry job he misses so much, and most of all, about himself.What happens when you’re forced to see that you were wrong?

The Darklist (dysonrules)

WC: 87k, Summary: When Draco Malfoy, wanted criminal, strolled into the Ministry to give himself up, he seemed destined for Azkaban until he offered to hand over information to avert an upcoming crime. Of course, he refused to divulge that knowledge to anyone but Harry Potter.

Where The Falcons Fly (MyNameIsThunder)

WC: 283k, Summary: Where the Falcons fly, there’s blood. Where Draco goes, there usually is too. That’s his job, after all – heal morons and the people who get in their way. He could deal with that, he thinks, if only there wasn’t Harry fucking Potter, Seeker, who gets injured a lot even by the Falcons’ standards and seems to have made a habit of inserting himself in Draco’s private life. Draco just wants to heal people – normal people, that is – and do his research in peace. Well, when does he ever get what he wants?

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Harry: I don't need to visit a healer!

Draco: You're bleeding!

Harry: Many people bleed once a month and they don't visit a healer!

Draco: Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you were having your period on your shoulder just where that dark curse hit you

[the-yellowsubmarine]

i’ve been saying this to myself this morning and i’m going to say it to you in case you need to hear it: you are not here to be physically attractive. that is not your purpose. you are here to learn new things and be kind to people and listen to your favorite music and pet cute dogs and read big books and drink good coffee. you are here to see beauty in the world and create it when you can’t find any. you are not here to impress people with how you look.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

If you're not reading "Oxytocin" by WouldItWere right now, then what are you doing with your life?!?

[the-yellowsubmarine]

This is how this movie end for me.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

his small smile… his trembling face… his hand holding onto her… his eyes 🥺 he can’t believe she loves him. but she does.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

This brought me so much joy.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

Harry was sat alone in the eighth year common room, staring deeply into the fire and leaning forward towards it's warmth. It couldn't have been earlier than two or three in the morning. But he knew he would never get back to sleep following that kind of nightmare.. Moony.. Padfoot.. Prongs...

Fred.

He stared into the fire, letting the flickering of the flames drown him and pull him deeper down into his depression. The numbness that would not leave him no matter how many smiles he willed himself to plaster on to his face. No matter how much he tried to just move on. Get on with his life. Enjoy the peace his victory had brought.

That was what Ron and Hermione had said to him over and over again since the end of the war. But it was different for them. They had each other. They had distraction from their scars. Their battle wounds. Harry only had the flickering flames and his nightmares.

Harry rubbed his eyes, willing the desire to sleep away. As he massaged his eyelids he felt a dip in the sofa next to him.

"I'm not tired," he sighed, expecting it to be Ron or Hermione. He opened his eyes and froze when he saw Draco Malfoy instead.

Malfoy was staring at him with a blank expression, despite having one eyebrow slightly raised. He was sat closer than Harry had probably ever been to him in his life, which was the main reason he had expected it to be one of his friends.

They stared at one another, both saying nothing. Harry was afraid to break the silence. They hadn't spoken to one another all year. But they still watched each other. Studied each other. As they always had. Old habits die hard.

Harry knew Malfoy had been struggling just as much as he had been since the end of the war. Harry had testified for him and his mother, but that hadn't stopped the media or the other students from ostracizing him. Someone who had once been so loud and proud and just plain irritating had been reduced to a shell of a human being.

He sat with the other Slytherins at meal times, but in complete silence, often just staring down at his plate and appearing to try to make himself as small and insignificant as possible. During classes he would quietly perform the tasks assigned, but if the lecture were particularly boring or painfully simple he would gaze out the window until the class was over. He would then be the first to leave. Harry only ever saw him in three places when he looked for him on his map: the library, behind a tapestry on the sixth floor, or in his dormitory. He spent the majority of his time in his dormitory.

Harry would stare at him in the Great Hall and during classes. And Malfoy would often stare back. But they never spoke. They hadn't spoken since the trial.

In the firelight Malfoy's hair glowed bring yellow. The bags under his eyes suggested he hadn't slept at all that night. They stared blankly at one another almost challenging the other to break the silence.

Finally, Harry shook his head and sat up against the back of the sofa. He could feel the warmth radiating off Malfoy's shoulder as their arms pressed together. They both looked forward towards the fire and sat in awkward silence.

For the first time in a long time, Harry's mind was buzzing. What was Draco doing? Why was he sat so close? He could have chosen another chair... Or even taken one look at Harry and turned around.

It was strange to be so close to his former rival. Harry had no memory of ever doing anything but fighting with him. But at the same time, it was almost comforting. He smelled nice. Almost like a Christmas spice, though Christmas had passed almost two months earlier. And it had been a long time since Harry had been this close to anyone besides Ron and Hermione. But still... it was Malfoy.

He didn't know how long they had sat there like that. At some point Malfoy had folded his arms and adjusted his position so he was slouching a bit. Harry, for some reason, found himself leaning into him slightly. If he moved his head just a little he would be resting it on Malfoy's shoulder. Harry could feel Malfoy breathing deeply and a few times he believed he had fallen asleep. But whenever he slid his eyes sideways he could see Malfoy was still staring determinedly at the fire.

Eventually, Harry, himself, started to doze a bit. He had grown more and more comfortable and was now actually resting his head on Malfoy's shoulder. Just as he was ready to give in and let his eyes close he was jolted awake by a sudden movement.

Malfoy was no longer looking at the fire. He had turned his head towards Harry and buried his face in his hair. Harry sat there for a moment feeling Malfoy breathing him in. Finally he sat up and looked Draco in the eyes.

Again they stared at one another. Malfoy's brow was furrowed and his eyes were searching Harry's. He looked like he was trying to solve an annoying arithmancy equation. Whether he found an answer Harry didn't know, but the next second Malfoy had looked down towards Harry's mouth and moved forward, pressing their lips together in the lightest kiss Harry had ever experienced.

Immediately, Malfoy pulled back and again they stared in silence. Harry's mind now was a whirlwind. What the hell was that? This was not how he had expected this night--this year!--to go. His stomach was fluttering; he could feel himself going red. Malfoy's cheeks had also turned slightly rosy, but his eyes and his mouth had gone back to their normal vacant expression.

Finally, Malfoy gave him a curt nod and stood up, walking straight back to the dormitories without looking back.

Harry stared after him for a moment and then leaned forward once more towards the fire. He was still in shock from what had just happened and then, all of a sudden, started to laugh.

It started out as a chuckle and quickly turned into a full belly laugh like he had not laughed in years. It made his stomach ache in the best way possible. It made him spill shameless, warm tears of joy. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation kept coming to him in waves and prolonging his laughing fit. He had cuddled with and kissed Draco Malfoy! "Potter stinks," "just wait till my father hears about this," ferret-face Draco Malfoy!

As his laughter finally died down, Harry realized that he felt good. He had forgotten what it felt like to laugh like that. To think about something other than the pain and emptiness and the memories that came along with the end of the war. Somehow he had forgotten that there was still warmth and light in the world. And it could come from the most unexpected places.

With that, Harry stood up and decided that maybe he could go back to sleep after all.

------------

The next morning, Harry sat down to breakfast and looked over towards the Slytherin table. He found Malfoy sat next to Zabini, quietly sipping his pumpkin juice and reading the morning paper. What had he been thinking? Why had Malfoy even sat with him in the first place? Harry had been asking himself these questions all morning and had been trying to decide if he should confront Malfoy about it or not.

The next moment, Malfoy spilled some juice on his tie. Harry watched as he swore and grabbed his wand to clean it up. For the first time in less than eight hours, Harry chuckled again.

This was Malfoy. His former rival. An ex-death eater.

But really? He was just a boy who wanted to pass his NEWTs and who smelled like Christmas in February.

Harry quickly grabbed a nearby Daily Prophet and ripped the corner off one page. He then took out his quill and wrote one word.

Why?

He was feeling too lazy, but also too jumpy to call one of the owls in the hall that were delivering mail so he wadded up the bit of paper and launched it as hard as he could across the room. Thankfully, it hit Malfoy right on the head and he immediately looked around until he caught Harry's eye. He glared and then looked down at the crunched up bit of paper that had landed on his plate.

Harry hadn't felt this anxious in a long time. He tried to eat a piece of bacon as he waited for Malfoy to do something. Anything!

Finally, Malfoy did what Harry had not and grabbed Zabini's owl. He jotted down a quick note and attached it to the bird and sent it back to Harry.

With great anticipation Harry opened the note. All it said was

You make me feel

Harry stared at the note and then looked up. Malfoy had already left the Great Hall.

He looked down again and thought of the words written in a shaky, yet elegant handwriting. He thought of the way Malfoy had made him feel in the common room on that sofa. He felt calm. He felt anxious. He felt comfortable. He felt surprised. He felt confused.

And then he remembered the way he had laughed after Malfoy had kissed him and walked away. Like it was the first time he had ever laughed before.

He thought about the anger. The frustration. The hatred he had felt towards Malfoy over the years. And also the curiosity.

No matter what, Draco Malfoy had always made Harry Potter feel. And especially lately, that was exactly what Harry needed.

Suddenly, he jumped out of his seat and ran up to the dormitory to get his map. He quickly scanned it and, to his surprise, he found that Malfoy was in his room right next door.

Without knowing what he was doing, he walked out into the hallway and knocked. He heard the scraping of a chair before the door opened.

"Hello," Harry said before Draco could slam the door in his face.

Draco stared at him in clear surprise. He cleared his throat slightly and then said, "Hello."

With all the Gryffindor courage he could muster, Harry took a step forward until they were almost touching. He could feel Malfoy's breath on his face. Could smell the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Then whispered, "you make me feel everything."

[the-yellowsubmarine]

soft

[the-yellowsubmarine]

So what if you don’t feel pretty? You’re not here to look pretty. You’re here to love, to experience things, to create, to learn, to teach, to care, to help, to laugh, to LIVE. Being pretty doesn’t have to be on your list of priorities! What your body looks like will always be secondary to all the things it allows you to do and experience.

[the-yellowsubmarine]

This is by far the best thing ever!