#drarry slow burn

[thegatheringdust]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Pansy Parkinson, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Auror Harry Potter, draco works in a magical antiques shop, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Light Angst, POV Alternating, Trauma, Grief/Mourning, Healing, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Magical Artifacts, Black Markets, there's romance! there's crime! there's pocket watches!, what more could you want 

Summary:

Draco knows how to fix almost anything. When customers bring him their broken antiques and oddities, he always finds a way to repair them.

But the day that Harry Potter walks through the door, asking uncomfortable questions about illicit Dark artefacts, Draco begins to wonder if maybe there's one thing he can't fix.

#drarry #drarry fanfic #hp fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter #draco malfoy #auror harry #enemies to lovers #drarry fandom #drarry slow burn #harry/draco

[myshipsmyotpmylifeistrash]

Hate when a fic is labeled slow burn and the author says it’s gonna be extremely slow burn but the characters already like each other

Like I want to see the leading up to them even having feelings for each other, type of slow burn, not them just get into a relationship type of slow burn.

And like why is it only one chapter and less than 10k

Like I need to see the evolution of them even having feelings for each other, not start the fic with them already having these feelings.

Please someone tell me if this makes sense

#fanfic #slow burn #I need it to be slow #like the burning point needs to be high and take days before it starts boiling #sterek #bamon #dramione #merthur #hellcheer #drarry #destiel #bethyl #steddie #zukka #zutara

[sitp-recs]

Hello, I was wondering if you could have any friends to lovers drarry fic rec for me? I enjoy slow burn with a kind and soft Draco (where he isn’t a bully) or one where draco stood for the light side of the war (so preferably during the war). I just want want to see Draco have a strong friendship with the golden trio, really! (I don't mind if the romance is a subplot. I just want a focus on Draco)

(I quite literally watched Harry Potter with my sister thinking Draco was going to have a hell of a redemption arc and was sorely disappointed... So here I am seeking for comfort fics)

Anyways thanks in advance!

Hi anon! I feel you, Draco’s redemption arc was poorly done and so frustrating :( I hope you’ll enjoy these as they combine slow burn, friends to lovers and redeemed Draco. Some are told from Harry’s pov and while Draco’s not always soft I think his characterization will be right up your alley. You might also enjoy GallaPlacidia’s Draco, her fics were taken down but you can find them here. Finally, I have also added my personal favorites redemption arc as a separate category, highly recommend them. Enjoy!

Friends to lovers slow burn:

Vortex by @xanthippe74 (T, 20k)

The idea of perfectly-matched soulmates feels more like a curse than a blessing to Draco. Who would want a soulmate who was a schoolyard bully, a Death Eater, and a convicted felon? Certainly not Harry Potter. And Draco is determined to take this secret to the grave.

Nice Things by aideomai (M, 22k)

The first thing that happened was Theodore Nott came back from France.

With Great Yawns and Stretchings by sugar_screw (T, 22k)

The coffee is very good. Really. And the cats are so cute. That's why Harry goes so often.

Moldova's Magical Tea by @aibidil (E, 32k)

Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and—to everyone’s surprise—Draco Malfoy are opening a magical tea shop to revive wizarding tea culture and, hopefully, to bring the community together after the war. Harry, who is unemployed and trying to find his way in post-war society, wants to help his friends with their new business—but that means spending a lot of time around Malfoy.

Open For Repairs by @drarrytrash (M, 35k)

After the war, Draco works at a tv repair shop and Harry breaks things.

Follow the Water by @xanthippe74 (T, 38k)

Harry Potter’s life is fine. Maybe a little dull and predictable, but he shouldn’t complain about that, right? When he unexpectedly finds himself at Luna’s house one afternoon, Harry gets invited to join the secret wonderland that she’s creating with a surprising group of friends. Maybe a summer outdoors is just what a former hero needs to bring some zest back into his life.

Modern Love by @tackytigerfic (E, 61k)

Harry Potter, of all people, knows that life isn���t always fair. And no one gets to be happy all of the time. But surely there’s something more—something better—than a rubbish Ministry job, and a lonely old house, and that feeling that everyone out there is doing a better job of living than Harry is.

Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love by @aibidil (E, 80k)

In which a group of wizards' rights activists goes on the offensive after a prohibition against love potions, forcing the magical world to confront the horror of magic's role in sexual assault and the murky legal nature of consent. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Draco are swept together to solve the case, and in the process they're made to confront their own love and lust—with and without potions.

At Your Service by Faith Wood (E, 95k)

Hogwarts students are in danger; Harry is determined to save them all. There's only one thing he knows for certain: Draco Malfoy is somehow involved.

All Life is Yours to Miss by Saras_Girl (M, 114k)

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.

My favorites - Redemption arc:

And Save Me From Bloody Men by @blamebrampton (T, 10k)

Draco Malfoy once watched others fighting to stop the world falling apart. This time, he's not just watching.

Slithering by astolat (E, 27k)

Draco found the nest down in the Manor’s cellars, while he was clearing them out.

Heal Thyself by astolat (T, 47k)

"Are you going for the course?" Lovegood asked. "You have the NEWTs.” “What course?” Draco said, then, “No, don’t be ridiculous,” when he realized she meant the notice pinned up on the board he’d been staring at: Applicants To The Introductory Mediwizard Course For The Coming Term Shall Present Themselves In The Chief Mediwizard’s Office By August 24th.

A Young Radical's Guide to Love by @blamebrampton (T, 66k)

Memories of the war are still fresh, which is all the excuse Decent People need to do appalling things. In this quietly waged conflict, Draco Malfoy is happy to be on the right side of things for once, and even happier to find he’s not alone.

A Thousand Beautiful Things by geoviki (M, 104k)

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.

Changing Tides by carpemermaid (E, 109k)

Draco has spent half of his life spouting the things his father has taught him without much thought about how he feels about what he says. When he unexpectedly comes face to face with the Dark Lord, he grapples with the harsh realities of the world and struggles with his changing views on life.

Far From The Tree by aideomai (E, 112k)

The arrival of Harry Potter’s children—snapped back in time, the children themselves guessed, twenty or so years—was the most interesting thing to happen at Hogwarts for years.

By the Grace by lettered (T, 140k)

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

Eclipse by Mijan (T, 287k)

Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It's the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

Twist of Fate by Oakstone730 (T, 302k)

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.

#asks #anon #Drarry reclist #friends to lovers #slow burn #redemption arc

[panevanbuckley]

#specifically if they only see each other every other week but i can work with different scenarios #just in a whole what's the largely acceptable time #polls #ao3 #slow burn #imagine your otp #wattpad #fanfic #lestappen #buddie #landoscar #drarry #sterek #jegulus #wolfstar #kanej

[iamnmbr3]

Me reading a drarry fic: hmm. this just isn't shippy enough. *opens up the canon books* ahh. that's better.

#no but for real jkr accidentally wrote a 7 book slow burn and that's the tea #epilogue? don't know her. #crack #humor #drarry #Harry Potter

[raleighrox]

Looking for Vibes

I just finished reading Evitative by Vichan on Ao3. If you haven't read it yet: ( Evitative - Chapter 1 - Vichan - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] ) Do it.

This is literally one of the best Drarry fanfictions I have ever read. The next one in the series isn't officially finished yet (and I'm not sure it ever will be) and I NEED similar suggestions.

Give me Slytherin Harry Potter. Give me the cutest Drarry. Give me slow burn. Give me soft love. Give me two idiots who can only understand one another. Give me the vibes that I desperately crave.

Not opposed to spice or enemies to lovers either, tbh.

Thank you!!!

#drarry #fanfic #fanfiction #harry potter #harry x draco #slytherin harry potter #slow burn #fanfic request #please please please #I need the vibes #sleep is decidedly less important than drarry fanfics #thank you #draco malfoy

[oknowkiss]

microfic may day 4 - praise

all my @microficmay entries are connected into a larger story. this year i’m shoving harry & draco even further north, to a seed bank in the arctic. previous entries can be read here 50 words. rated T: sexual innuendo. drarry

“Found religion, then?” Harry asks around a mouthful of stew. 

Draco’s eyebrows raise. Harry motions at the Bible, open on the worktop. 

“Read everything else,” Draco explains. “Why? Wondering if I’ve improved on my knees?”

Harry flushes. Smirks. “That’s impossible.” 

Draco grins, scrapes stew off the spoon with his teeth.

#no slow burn this time around lmao #my fic #microficmay #microficmay2023 #drarry microfic #harry potter #draco malfoy

[iouanapple]

i finished two to shore last night and i just laid in my bed after and sobbed 😭😭 gonna need at least a week to process that ohhh boy i loved it so much

#drarry #drarry fics #if you haven't read it and you fancy a loooong beautiful slow burn read ittttt

[goblinmatriarch]

My beautiful baby is finally birthed into the world, screaming and covered in viscera!

Title: The Practice of Everyday Life

Words: nearly 70k

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Draco/Harry, Pansy/Hermione, background Pansy/Neville

Tags: semi-epilogue compliant; in that the Golden Trio had all the marriages and kids; but with a 10-year delay; and subsequent divorces; The Golden Trio; Silver Trio; magical lore; Rituals; Pureblood Culture; Potter Children; Granger-Weasley children; Snark; wildly unnecessary snark; children are fucking monsters istg; why am I writing parenting; this is meant to be escapism; what is wrong with me????; Banter; Dad Harry; BAMF Ginny Weasley; chill ron; successful hermione; Ministry Bureaucracy; The Ministry of Magic is Corrupt; Pandemic; Clearly I'm exorcising some shit here; Slow Burn; Drinking; like not a lot of drinking; but it's in there

Summary: After the War, Harry married Ginny, had three beautiful children, and remained best friends with Hermione and Ron, who had two children of their own, and they all were happily married until they weren't. Harry and Hermione are both struggling to navigate post-divorce parenting, Ministry careers, and then this fucking pandemic hits. If that wasn't bad enough, Draco Malfoy reappears out of nowhere with worrying information about magical wards falling and the future of magic itself at risk. Harry and Hermione will have to navigate horrifying bureaucracy, complex magical rituals, confusingly sexy Slytherins, and Having It All

Read it on AO3

#drarry #fanfic #drarry fic #pansmione #pansy parkinson #hermione granger #draco malfoy #harry potter #divorce #rituals #magical lore #weasleys come in late but strong #slow burn #70k #complete fic

[drarryficrecsbasement]

Chapters: 34/34 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Severus Snape Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Time Travel, Not Epilogue Compliant, Slow Burn, Permanent character deletion, the perils of time travel, family lost, family found, the slowest of slow burns, Hurt/Comfort, Protective!Draco, Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, this is a everything was happy then it got ruined and now they're trying to cope fic, this is Not a fix it fic, Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Background Wolfstar, Angst, Sexual Content, Explicit Sexual Content, but only like 4 scenes in over 300000 words so not much really, Just casually re-writing order of the Phoenix in five months don’t mind me nothing to see here, By slow burn I mean 200000 words ish of burn Summary:

‘Emotion was building in Harry’s throat, “This is very interesting Draco,” he admitted, aiming for casual but knowing the shaking of his hands was giving him away, “But how do we get back?”

Draco’s face crumpled, “I’m sorry Harry, there is no way back,” it was like a bell had been struck inside Harry’s head - all he could hear was ringing, “There’s no where to go back too,” Draco moaned, “He wasn’t just trying to travel in time - he was trying to obliterate his own,” Draco choked on his tears, “There’s nothing ahead of this to travel too yet Harry,” he let out a few more hiccuping tears before finally suppressing his noises of pain, “There is no going back,” he whispered.’

—

Harry had known working at the Department of Mysteries came with risks, but he never would have expected it to destroy his entire life. Now, trapped as his 14 year old self just after the resurrection of Voldemort with Draco Malfoy for company, they must try and figure out how to move forward.

#drarry #drarry fic #drarry fic rec #drarry fanfic #time travel #slow burn #draco malfoy #harry/draco #harry potter #harry x draco

[marscellaneous]

In a silly little reading rewrites mood and got to making these little covers for the for the first book in @leahrocky / @dracoandthehounds ‘s series dm and the hounds of love - twin little covers to acknowlede both titles.

also can you tell i just bought new water colour brushes n canvases for procreate

#drarry #hpdm #draco malfoy #its a slow burn dwdw #drarry fic

[ao3-hp-fanfic-reader]

All the HP fanfic on AO3 ranked by kudos #11

Evitative by Vichan

Guys. I think this is the best fanfiction I have ever read. It felt more canon than the actual 5th book. Dear god I wish this could be canon. Here are the details; main ship: drarry. Rating: teen. Content warnings: blood, self inflicted wounds for rituals, bullying. Word count: 222,435

I don’t even know where to start. Ok, Harry has a relationship with the dark arts in this fic. It’s basically what influences him to accept being resorted into Slytherin. The author invites a beautiful sub-lore to the fandom. And believe me when I say it is well described and detailed. The author does an amazing job explaining Slytherin prejudice and wizards hatred of the dark arts. It’s si profound because it’s never touched on in the books cause JKR kinda hated Slytherins herself. It’s just amazing what this author does for the slytherins. They handle pure blood prejudice very well and show the house as willing to grow and change. Overall, the dark and misrepresented slytherins and given their time to shine in this book.

Ok now Drarry! I wanted mooorrreee. This was the slowest slow burn I’ve ever read. And honestly that’s because the relationship wasn’t the main focus of the fic. In all honestly the main ship should’ve been Harry/ Dark Magic. That was the main cultivating relationship with drarry being minor. But it was still very very well done. Extraordinary. I suppose it’s good that it was a super slow burn because it fit the mood of the fic very well. Harry has to adapt to being in slytherin and being able to trust his peers, so it only makes sense that it takes a long time for him to cultivate a relationship with Draco. But it ends really well.

The plot of this fic is just astounding. Take the entire Order of the Phoenix and warp it to Slytherin Harry Potter and that’s this fic. Including the length and the detail. It was so moving I feel like I can’t even properly articulate it.

All I have to say is read it. That’s it. This is my favorite piece of HP fanfic I’ve ever read. Please, if you want to read a long fic, read this one. 10/10. I recommend to anyone in the HP fandom who needs more of the books without JK’s Slytherin prejudice. This is an amazing piece of literature.

#evitative #Harry Potter #drarry #slow burn #slytherin Harry #dark Harry #hp fanfic #fanfic review #ao3 fanfic #ao3 tags

[kythwena]

It took a certain kind of courage, he realized, to tell someone you loved them without expecting that they would love you back, but there was a freedom in it too. You could love enough that you could love any choice that other person made, and feel some solace in it as long as they were happy.

By the Grace by lettered @letteredlettered Collection: Fandom Trumps Hate 2019

#quote time #fic rec #harry potter fic #harry potter fic rec #drarry #ao3:lettered #slow burn #ptsd #Fandom_Trumps_Hate_2019 #letteredlettered

[sitp-recs]

Thank you so much for your recs—they are fantastic! I wondered if you had any for Draco and Harry becoming friends at (and eventual lovers) at Hogwarts (doesn’t have to start with 1st year, but can!). Thank you!!

Hi there! Happy you’re enjoying the recs 😊 I got a couple recs, the majority is 8th year since I don’t really read canon rewrite AUs. I hope you enjoy these!

Thermodynamic Equilibrium by DorthyAnn (T, 5k)

Harry's far too hot. Draco's always cold. And somehow against all odds, together they create a perfect equilibrium.

Good Company by Greenflares (T, 8k)

With Hermione and Ron always together, Harry's return to Hogwarts to complete his education isn't exactly fun. Somehow, it's his unlikely friendship with Malfoy that keeps him sane.

Stand Back: I'm About to Perform Archaeology by Blowfish_Diaries (E, 10k)

A new Muggle Studies professor takes the Eighth Year students to work on an archaeological excavation. In which Draco is lazy, Harry is sweaty, Hermione is drunk, and Ron turns red.

Nice Things by aideomai (M, 22k)

The first thing that happened was Theodore Nott came back from France.

Makes Me Stronger by Lomonaaeren (E, 29k)

Rita Skeeter’s Harry James Potter: An Unnatural History is a best-seller, mostly due to the fact that Skeeter’s collaborated with a photographer who’s infused the pictures in the book with Harry’s actual memories. As Harry struggles to survive the storm consuming his eighth year at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy becomes an unexpected ally.

On Our Way by evils (E, 30k)

Draco is trying to spend the summer keeping his head down, but a repair project and a certain snowy owl have other plans for him.

Eager for the Sky by @oknowkiss (E, 35k)

It was announced, just as the Triwizard Tournament had been, at the start of term feast. A year-long, international Quidditch varsity match — the inaugural Wizarding Academy Cup. In which Harry is Hogwarts' star Seeker, Draco is on the bench, and they both have a thing or two to learn about playing for the same team.

Like Lightning at Your Fingertips by potterwatch (T, 43k)

The problem with living with another insomniac is, eventually, they find out you’re one, too. When Harry and Draco return for their eighth year, they think they’ll see very little of each other. Then McGonagall assigns them to room together. And the castle starts breaking. And there’s that thing with Potter’s magic.

The July Tree by @oknowkiss (E, 51k)

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail… nor well-meaning friends, nor questionable communication skills, nor seven years of hating each other’s guts can keep Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy from falling in love.

The Promise of Summer by Omi_Ohmy (M, 67k)

How was Harry supposed to know that coming back for eighth year would be so confusing? Everything is the same, and yet not the same. And nowhere is this more obvious than with Draco Malfoy. Harry finds himself once more watching and following Malfoy, trying to work him out. When they are drawn together to heal the castle, Harry doesn’t just find Malfoy - he also finds himself.

Azoth by @lol-zeitgeistic (E, 88k)

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.

Helix by Saras_Girl (E, 93k)

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.

Changing Tides by carpemermaid (E, 109k)

Draco has spent half of his life spouting the things his father has taught him without much thought about how he feels about what he says. When he unexpectedly comes face to face with the Dark Lord, he grapples with the harsh realities of the world and struggles with his changing views on life.

Written on the Heart by who_la_hoop (E, 114k)

Unnerved by the attention he’s attracting from everyone – the Slytherins are the least of it, to be fair – and struggling with a raft of changes to Hogwarts itself, Harry wishes he could be happy that one constant remains: Draco Malfoy really fucking hates him.

Twist of Fate by Oakstone730 (T, 300k)

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.

#asks #magtops #Drarry reclist #8th year friends to lovers #slow burn

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Making It Work (Chapter Nine)

If Harry tried to say that their training was a walk in the park that afternoon, he’d be lying but it was strangely far more tolerable than it had been the past several days. Malfoy still got irritated with Harry for his impulsiveness and Harry still felt like he was chomping at the bit trying to drag Malfoy along with him but they at least communicated more. 

They were both lying on the floor trying to catch their breath from the last simulation when Higgins came in. 

“I see the Nexus orb is doing its job,” she said.

“We passed?” Herry asked hopefully.

“No,” she and Malfoy said simultaneously.

She smiled at Malfoy, even as Harry rolled his eyes at him and stuck out his tongue.

“What, are you 5, Potter?” 

Higgins spoke up before Harry could say anything, “So, your physical response and emergency response indicators were both up by 3%, which was a great improvement. But the indicators that really showed that your orb was working was your personality response. That was up 11%, good work you two. Obviously, it’s helped the two of you to talk with one another more.”

Harry nodded and glanced at Malfoy, “Yeah, I think it is helping.”

“That’s only because it hasn’t started asking the hard questions that you’ll resent it for later,” Malfoy said, and Harry couldn’t help but wonder if he was teasing or serious.

“Well, I think the progress you’ve made is brilliant.”

“Thanks,” Harry said with a grin.

As they walked out of the room Malfoy stretched his arm across his chest, his breath hitching slightly. 

“Alright?” Harry asked.

“Fine,” he said briskly as he exhaled. “Old shoulder injury that’s never managed to heal up properly. My body takes a beating as your partner, even when we’re not in the field apparently.”

“Wanker,” Harry replied, knocking his shoulder into Malfoy’s good one.

As they stumbled into their office laughing and shoving at one another, they were met by the sight of Ron and Hermione staring dumbstruck at the two of them. “Ron! Hermione! Hey,” Harry said, pleased to see them.

“Hi Harry,” Hermione replied, an odd expression on her face before she turned to Malfoy and nodded in greeting, “Draco.”

“Hello,” he replied carefully.

They stood in awkward silence for a moment as Ron gawked at the two of them and Hermione looked between the two of them calculatingly with a look Harry was not entirely fond of.

“Well,” Hermione said after the strain apparently became too much for her to bear. “We just thought we’d stop by and see if you’d like to grab lunch with us.”

“Yeah,” Harry replied immediately, like he always did when they invited him to a meal. “Oh, err,” he turned to Malfoy, “Did you want to come too or...”

“No,” Malfoy said quickly, then he cleared his throat, “No, thank you. I have some leftovers from last night and loads of paperwork to do. I will be fine here.”

“Are you sure?” Harry asked uncertainly, suddenly feeling like he was somehow bailing on the other man.

“Quite sure,” Malfoy replied as he moved toward his desk and busied himself with some files.

“Do you want me to stay-”

“For Circe’s sake, Potter. Get out of here. Go to lunch,” Malfoy snapped.

“Yeah, alright.” He glanced over at Ron and Hermione; Ron was standing there looking at him like he’d grown an extra head but Hermione just looked curiously at him. The curiosity seemed much worse.

They made their way to the cafeteria and thankfully Hermione started talking about one of the projects they were working on developing for St. Mungos. Unfortunately, this only lasted until they’d gone through the line to get their meals and sat down; then Hermione cast a muffliato and Ron immediately opened his mouth.

“What just happened?”

“Sorry?” Harry asked, feigning innocence and stabbing into his food.

“I think what Ron is trying to ask is if you and Malfoy have decided to be friends?” Hermione clarified.

“No, I mean what the bloody hell is going on,” Ron said. “Are you under an imperius curse?”

“Ron, I can throw off an imperius curse, remember?” he replied, rolling his eyes like Ron was being dramatic even though he would have said the exact same thing a week ago.

“Calm down, Ronald,” Hermione said briskly as she took a sip of her tea. “Let him speak.” Then she looked at him expectantly and waited.

“Well,” Harry said, “We’re not friends, exactly, but we don’t exactly hate each other anymore either.”

“How?” Ron asked, his brow furrowed. “This is Malfoy we are talking about.”

“Well he’s not the same as he was at school,” Harry said with a shrug as he stuffed his sandwich in his mouth hoping to avoid having to say any more about it.

“Really?” Ron asked skeptically. 

“Yeah,” Harry said through a mouthful of food. “Spending over a week in someone’s presence really forces you to get to know them a bit.”

“Huh,” Ron said, staring off into space for a long moment.

“We’re just surprised,” Hermione said quickly. “We thought it would be unbearable for you.”

“It was in the beginning,” Harry replied. “But eventually I realized I was still imagining him as the stupid prat we knew at school but he’s not that person any more than I am who I was at school.”

“But the pureblood, elitism shite he was always spouting?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, haven’t heard a single word out of his mouth about any of that," he replied honestly.

“Huh,” Ron said again before shrugging and shoving a crisp in his mouth. “Who would’ve thought it?”

“Right?” Harry replied, glad that Ron and Hermione seemed to be settling into the idea that Malfoy wasn’t awful more quickly than he had.

“Well, it’s not really surprising when you think about it,” Hermione said.

“How so?” Harry asked as Ron said, “What do you mean, not surprising?”

“Well, he sort of rebelled against Pureblood culture, didn’t he?”

“Hermione,” Harry said, “You're using the 'we all know what's going on here voice' when in fact you are the only one who knows what's going on here. Tell us what you know that we obviously don’t.”

Ron nodded in agreement.

“Well, it was all over the papers and Millie Bulstrode couldn’t stop gossiping about it at work. It was quite the scandal.”

“What was?” he asked, barely tamping down on the desire to snap in an effort to get her to talk faster. He never read the Prophet and he didn’t have any coworkers or friends who were in the same social circle, she knew all of this.

“He was supposed to marry Astoria Greengrass, you remember?” Harry didn’t but he didn’t say so. “His parents had set it up, it was supposed to help the Malfoy name, he was supposed to go into politics or something. But after a few weeks, he called the whole thing off, said it was a sham and neither he nor Astoria deserved to live a lie.”

“Wow,” Harry said.

“His parents didn’t take it well, from what I understand. His father demanded he marry some pureblood girl and start a family but he refused and his father disowned him. It was quite a public spectacle, I’m told. Draco apparently opted to shout abuses at his father on the sidewalk in Diagon alley outside of a restaurant. The direct quote, if I’m remembering correctly,” and Harry had no doubt she was, “was that ‘all of their antiquated pureblood traditions could go straight back to hell from whence they’d come.’”

“Blimey,” Ron said with a low whistle.

Harry didn’t quite know what to say. After a moment he decided on, “You couldn’t have told me this before I made a complete arse of myself and basically called him a bigoted prick who was exactly the same as he was in school?”

Hermione shrugged, “I’m sorry. I’d just assumed you’d heard. He works in the same department that you do and it truly was in all of the papers. They hounded him for weeks to get quotes from him and he always said things about how terrible the whole system was and that it was a load of codswallop. Some people thought it was just a publicity stunt to get him into good graces in the ministry, I just assumed that’s what you thought too.”

“Yeah, but his parents disowned him,” Harry said. “Even if it was a publicity stunt, that sort of consequence doesn’t seem worth it.”

Hermione nodded, “I agree, but how was I to know that you didn’t know?”

Harry shrugged, suddenly feeling like even more of a heel. “I feel like a jerk.”

“But you couldn’t have known, mate,” Ron said conciliatorily. “And it seemed like the two of you are getting along fine now so he must not be too mad at you.”

“No,” Harry agreed. “He’s been pretty kind, actually.” He snorted, “He thinks I have a deathwish and hate my job-”

Hermione and Ron gave each other one of those pointed shared looks that Harry hated. 

“Which I don’t,” he said, glaring at them. “But honestly, it’s been nice having a partner who calls me out and doesn’t treat me like I’m made of glass and always right.”

Hermione nodded but Ron said, “I mean, I hear you, mate but Malfoy? Really?”

“I know,” he said with a helpless little shrug. “He drives me a little batty but I think this might actually work.”

They moved on to a different topic of conversation, Hermione telling them more about her work. Before long, Harry found himself saying goodbye and heading back to his office and feeling just the tiniest bit nervous. 

Malfoy was sitting at his desk, filling in paperwork, when Harry came back in and he looked calm enough but Harry couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking about. “Hey,” he said.

The other man glanced up at him, “Hi,” he said before going back to work. No other words were forthcoming but Harry couldn’t help standing there and waiting for him to say something else.

“Did you need something?” Malfoy asked.

“Are you mad?”

“Mad?” Malfoy asked. “No, why would I be mad?”

“I don’t know.”

Malfoy went back to writing again but when Harry didn’t move he dropped his quill and rubbed his hands over his face, “What, Potter?”

“What are you thinking?”

“That you’re an irritating prat.”

Huffing Harry asked, “What were you thinking before I came back in?”

“That I could barely remember the details of the case I’m writing up and I really ought to have gotten to it before now,” he said blandly.

“Malfoy,” Harry growled warningly.

“Just leave it.”

“No,” he said, stubbornly crossing his arms across his chest.

“Fine,” Malfoy exploded and now he did sound angry. “I was wondering if Granger and Weasley were going to bring you back to your senses and make you hate me again. I was wondering how much ground we were going to have to recover. I was wondering if there is any way this bloody partnership will ever work. Happy?” he spat.

“Oh,” Harry replied.

“Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say?” He threw down the paper he’d been holding and stood up. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Malfoy,” Harry said, holding out his hands trying to placate him. 

“Don’t,” Malfoy replied and Harry didn’t think that was quite fair because how could Malfoy know what he was going to say when Harry didn’t know himself? “This is not easy for me, Potter, whatever you may think. It is bloody hard living with someone who has every reason in the world to hate you, to never forgive you, and to be right for both of those things.”

“Malfoy,” Harry started again.

“I said dont.”

“Draco,” Harry said, not entirely sure why he was using Malfoy’s given name, but Malfoy froze so it was probably the right call. “Listen to me. I do not hate you. Ron and Hermione didn’t want to tell me that I was being an idiot, they just wondered how everything was going. I told them things are going well.”

“You did?” he asked disbelievingly.

“Well, yeah,” Harry replied. “Things are going well, aren’t they?”

“Well, I thought so.”

“Right, then why are you worried?”

“I’m not worried,” Malfoy sneered.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

“Because you’re unpredictable!” he burst out. “Because it is exhausting living with someone and waiting for them to remember that they have good reasons to dislike you.”

“You have good reasons to dislike me, too,” Harry replied softly.

“No, I don’t. You literally saved the world. You are so noble and good that you came to my hearing and testified on my behalf even though I did all of those horrible things.” 

“I literally cast a spell at you that could have killed you.”

“Because I was trying to crucio you,” he said. Then he added, ”I am the representation of everything you fought against.”

“You’re not,” he said firmly. “Malfoy, you were just a kid. You were right when you said you had no choice and you were right when you said it was easy for me to make the right choices. It was hard sometimes, I guess, but for every person you had pushing you to do horrible things I had someone pushing me to do good things.” Harry swallowed and took a step toward him, “I do not regret testifying at your trial, or at Narcissa’s. The war never would have been won if it weren’t for the two of you.”

“But there never would have been a war to begin with if it weren’t for people like me.”

“Do you believe those things? Do you believe in any of the things that Voldemort stood for?”

“When I was younger-”

“Right now,” Harry interrupted. “Do you believe any of those things? At this moment, do you believe even a word that that madman said?”

“Of course not.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“What is?”

Harry held out his hand, “Let’s start this all again, yeah?”

“What?”

“Hi,” he said after a deep breath. “I’m Harry Potter.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Harry just stood there, hand outstretched, waiting. He got the terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that Malfoy wasn’t going to take his hand.

But after a moment he took Harry’s hand and shook it, “Draco,” he said. “Draco Malfoy.”

Harry kept his hand gripped tightly in his own, “We were both just kids, Draco. Stupid kids. Let’s move on.”

Malfoy nodded once.

Harry beamed at him, “Great. I look forward to working with you.”

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

Chapter Eight | Chapter Ten

#making it work fic #getting along #making progress #having conversations #slow burn #Hermione sees where this is going #they don't call her the brightest witch of her age for nothing #drarry #love eventuall

[iamnmbr3]

"...everyone thinks he's so smart, wonderful Potter with his scar and his broomstick--"

^ An actual canon line spoken by Draco Malfoy in the canon books that are canon. Is it tho? Is it really "everyone" Draco? Is there something you'd like to share with the class?

#Just wild this is not a fic. #jkr hates drarry but accidentally wrote a 7 book slow burn fic #drarry #Harry Potter #hp reread