The Weasley/Granger wedding was set to take place on Saturday and Harry was looking over his dress robes for holes, swishing his wand over it and thinking a non-verbal Reparo.

Several months had passed since he broke up with Roger and though he knew it was a mistake, he hooked up with Muggles two more times. Both disasters. Once, Ron Flooed in just as his date walked out starkers from the bedroom and he had to be Oblivated. That didn't last more than a fortnight. And the third fellow had found Harry's wand. Harry tried to explain it by saying he had been interested in being a conductor at one time but since he couldn't read music, the man thought Harry was hiding another boyfriend somewhere. There was shouting and name-calling, and Harry called it quits.

He had to face facts. His love life stunk. He was beginning to think he would end up like those sad bachelor teachers, like Binns or McGonagall. Or Dumbledore. Although he always secretly wondered about McGonagall and Dumbledore...

Of course there was one solution. If Muggles weren't going to work out then he'd have to go with wizards. But how was that to work? It was two months ago when Harry gave it a lot of thought and found himself at London's finest gay wizard's club. He'd never been to one but he reckoned this might be the fastest way to find someone.

He had Disillusioned himself. He learned the proper way from Tonks. Though she couldn't teach him to be a Metamorphmagus, she taught him the same spells the other Aurors used for disguises. Harry believed that if he went incognito he could at least meet a bloke who was interested in the real him. That is...the him behind the illusion...well. He sighed. It wasn't a perfect solution but it had to do.

Harry entered the Swish and Flick. The music pounded in his chest and the lights-which turned out to be fairies-darted here and there. A dance floor was in the middle. There were men of all stripes; young, middle aged, even older, and a mix of both Muggle and wizard wear. Most of the younger men went for the Muggle wear; skin tight jeans or leather trousers, and for those still wearing shirts, they wore the muscle-man type, some with buckles, some just vests leaving their chests bare.

It smelled like a combination of the Quidditch changing room, a pub, and cedar chest with the heady aroma of all sorts of colognes mixing together.

Overwhelmed, Harry went to the bar first. This was the test, of course. If anyone looking at him didn't recognize "Harry Potter", then he was safe.

His disillusioned glasses looked different from his normal gear. His hair was a light brown and his eyes the same colour. His nose was made a little more pointy and his chin more rounded. He didn't look like himself at all, though someone who knew him well might make a double take.

He smiled at the bartender and asked for a beer. The man smiled back without recognition, but with a bit of a flirty glance. Harry reddened. Well, his disguise was good. And at least he didn't look like a troll.

He took his beer and then turned back to watch the dance floor. It wasn't long until someone came to the bar beside him. Harry saw platinum hair and was immediately interested. The man looked at Harry and smiled seductively. "Hi. Sitting this one out?"

"Oh, I don't come to clubs usually," he said, trying to sound casual.

The man nodded and brushed back his long locks in a familiar way. "Neither do I. Noisy places. But what's a boy to do? Can't go into the Muggle end of town."

"I dated Muggles a few times."

The man leaned in. "Really? What was that like?"

"They were all nice blokes, but. You know. Hiding everything gets tiring." A pang of guilt washed over him. He was exactly being the most honest person at the moment himself.

The man nodded again. "See what you mean. Besides. I can't very well start dating Muggles. I work at the Ministry."

That gave Harry a shock. But then...maybe he didn't work with Ron or Mr. Weasley. There were certainly a lot of posts at the Ministry. "What sort of stuff do you do?"

"I work in reception. Atrium."

"Oh, that sounds interesting," Harry said politely.

"Actually, it isn't. But I'm working my way up. How about you? Ministry?"

"Oh no. I'm-" The next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Want to make a guess as to who I really am? Gods, what was he going to say? Not too many lies, Harry. "Er...I tutor. Home schooling, you know."

"Didn't know. Some witches and wizards are home schooled? I thought they all went to Hogwarts."

This Harry did know. "No, not all do. All are invited, certainly, but not all do."

"Did you go?"

"Oh yes." Harry sipped at his beer.

"Did you go to school with Harry Potter?"

Harry felt sweat trickle down his back. Why did he have to bring this up so soon? "Um...yeah."

"Wow. What was he like?"

"Oh you know. Regular chap."

"Oh go on!" He pushed Harry's arm. "I bet you didn't know him at all."

"Well, he was kind of private. Stuck with a small circle of friends."

"So I hear. Well, enough about him. How about you? I'm Wulf Ingalls. And you are?"

"Er...Harry. Harry...Evans."

Wulf shook his hand. "You know. Funny thing. If you squint, you sort of look like Potter."

"Really?"

Wulf kept a hold of his hand. And then he took the beer from Harry's other hand and put it on the bar. "Well maybe not. Let's dance, Harry."

"I'm...not very good at dancing."

"It's just moving to the music."

"If you say so." Harry allowed himself to be led to the floor and they joined the other wizards dancing up a storm all around them. It was fast music and so he could make up steps, which seemed to work out better for Harry, who kept conjuring up his hopeless attempts at dancing at the Yule Ball in his fourth year. Wulf seemed very gregarious. More so than his other boyfriends. Wulf laid his arm on Harry's shoulder while he ground his hips to the music and Harry watched it with a glazed expression and a crotch growing in size. Harry wasn't into the idea of one-offs but he was beginning to see what others found so appealing about it. He wanted to have sex with Wulf. One didn't need a relationship for that. It's only sex. That's what all men wanted, after all. If Wulf wanted it to, Harry decided he'd give it a go.

They danced together most of the night. Wulf didn't seem interested in anyone else. After they'd both taken off their shirts and tucked them into the back of their trousers, Wulf pulled Harry into an embrace and kissed him, hard and firm-right there in the middle of the dance floor. A few boys nearby whistled and shouted, "Get a room!"

Wulf smiled at that. "Shall we?"

Harry fortified himself with good old-fashioned Gryffindor courage. "Why not?" he said brazenly.

They slipped on their shirts and left the building. "Your place or mine?" asked Wulf, running a finger down Harry's sensitive neck.

"How about mine. Want to side-along?"

"Sure. Anytime you're ready." They Apparated outside his flat and Harry led the way up the stairs.

"Looks like a Muggle part of town."

Harry almost took out his key but remembered he didn't have to. "I like it better than wizarding parts of town."

"Muggle-raised, eh? I find most blokes raised with Muggles stay in Muggle parts of town. It's what their used to." He watched Harry wave his hand to open the door and raised his brows. "Wandless, eh? You must be a good teacher indeed. Sort of young, aren't you?"

"Just a bit advanced is all." Harry whispered Lumos and a transfigured Muggle lamp came on. "Want a drink?"

But Wulf grabbed Harry and pulled him into a rough kiss. Harry's dick reacted in delight. He'd never had it like this before. "This is what I want," growled Wulf to Harry's damp lips, and shoved his jacket off. He was pulling at Harry's clothes, not caring if he snapped off buttons or tore the material. Harry didn't care either. He was being swept away on his own lust and this man dragging him into the bedroom and throwing him on the bed.

Harry usually topped, but apparently not with Wulf. Harry decided it didn't matter if the man was a one-nighter.

Wulf seemed to like holding Harry down. He pushed him into the mattress, face mashed against the pillow. Wulf forced Harry's legs open. "I'm not using lube, Evans. And I'm not going to be gentle. If you have any reservations, you'd best say them now."

Harry never experienced anything like this. It was very exciting. He turned to looked at Wulf over his shoulder. His glasses got pushed askew and so all he saw was this naked man with white-blond hair crouching over him, ready to giving his arse a good pounding. His voice caught in his thickened throat and his prick was suddenly hard as a rock. "W-wulf. Just do it."

It wasn't as if Harry hadn't bottomed before. He enjoyed it but preferred to top. But Wulf was so commanding, and quite frankly, Harry got a charge out of being out of control for once.

Wulf had a thick cock and he only spit in his hand to give himself some lube. But Harry soon discovered he wasn't kidding about it. The man's cock pushed at his hole, forcing the flesh to widen around it. Harry hissed in pain and tried to wriggle away. "No...." he gasped, having second thoughts, but Wulf kept on pushing. His dick penetrated Harry and his hips shoved forward. "Ah!" It felt so full. It burned. The cock slid back and forth, seeming to tear his insides, but at the same time, Harry had to admit how hot an experience it was. But just the same, he non-verbaled a bit of lube and he felt Wulf above him chuckling.

"Aren't you a naughty boy, Evans." And he gave Harry's bum a smack. Not just once, but each time he shoved forward, spanking each cheek until they were raw and red.

Harry didn't know what to think about the stinging slaps. No one had ever done that to him before. It hurt, to be sure, but when he pushed back into Wulf, the man sped up his thrusting, and he soon forgot about spanking Harry, and fucked him in earnest. It was finally starting to feel good to Harry and he thrust back into Wulf, fucking himself on the man's penis.

With a shout, Wulf clutched at Harry's hips and came, stabbing short thrusts into him. He stayed in him a long time, not moving. Harry was still hard, his pricked trapped between his body and the mattress. Finally, Wulf pulled free of Harry but he latched his teeth onto the back of Harry's neck. He bit hard and Harry winced. "Still hard, little Harry?" he whispered.

"Yes," said Harry, wondering if he was turned on by being bitten or not.

"We'll have to do something about that. Turn over for me."

Cautiously, Harry did so. "That was...pretty intense," Harry said a little shakily. "Y-you're not going to hurt me, are you?"

Wulf smiled tenderly. "No. I'm sorry if I was a bit rough. I enjoy it rough. I just want to suck you now. Is that all right?"

"Oh. Certainly." Harry laid back and straightened his glasses to watch.

Wulf licked at Harry's erection and Harry eased back. "That's better, isn't it?" cooed Wulf between licks. It wasn't long till he was swallowing it whole and sucking and licking in turns. Harry didn't hold back. He came in a thundering orgasm, pumping his cock into Wulf's warm, wet mouth. And Wulf swallowed every drop. And when Harry softened completely, Wulf gave it a kiss before smiling like a Cheshire cat and moving up to lie next to Harry.

Harry thought that this was an amazing night of new sensations and was glad he'd decided on at least this once to a one-off. But as it turned out, the man kept coming back for more, and even took Harry to some of the finer wizard restaurants. He enjoyed Wulf's company. He was terribly funny and he was good at making Harry feel special. And even though the sex was good, the man did like it rough. And he seemed to be liking it rougher and rougher. Harry was beginning to suspect there were a few kinks he wanted to give a try with Harry. But besides the good time he was having with Wulf, he felt guilty. He knew at some point he was going to have to tell Wulf who he really was. It just didn't seem fair otherwise. He certainly knew every other intimate thing about Harry!

But the wedding was looming and he was beginning to wonder if he was going stag or not. "Listen, Wulf," said Harry one day while they strolled in the zoo. Harry glanced at the reptile house fondly, thinking of that day he released the snake and locked Dudley in the cage in its place. "There's something I've got to tell you-"

"Ice cream!" Wulf squealed in delight. He rushed over to the vender and got Harry a chocolate in a cone and himself a vanilla. They walked to a bench and sat. Harry watched Wulf's sensuous tongue do to the ice cream as he had done to Harry many a time, and Harry forced himself to look away.

"Wulf, what I have to say is important."

Wulf looked at him with his undivided attention. He only licked the ice cream occasionally so that it didn't drip down to his hand. "I'm listening."

"The fact is, we've been seeing each other now for six weeks-"

Wulf stared at him, a mixture of fear and anger in his eyes. "You're not breaking up with me. Harry!"

"No! Nothing like that. Though when I tell you how dishonest I've been to you, you might want to."

Wulf squinted at him, now entirely confused.

"Boy, this is hard." Harry licked the cone one more time and then tossed it in the nearby bin. "I'm...I'm not who you think I am. I'm...I'm under a Disillusionment charm."

"What? Why?" Then Wulf laughed. "Oh Harry, I don't care what you look like. I really like you. I wouldn't care if you looked like old Snape. Remember him?"

"Yes, quite well. Um...it's not because I'm ugly, it's because...because...Oh hell. Why don't I just show you." Harry pulled out his wand and tapped his head. "Finite Incantatum." He felt the disillusionment shimmer away. For a moment Wulf stared at him uncomprehendingly, until the light of recognition widened his eyes. He drew back slightly.

"No. No. It's a trick."

"The trick was before. This is the real me. But you see why I had to, right?"

"Because you look like Harry Potter."

Harry sighed. "Well, it's not just that I look like Harry Potter. It's because...I am Harry Potter."

Wulf's eyes doubled in size. "Holy Merlin's balls!" All the thoughts Harry feared ran through Wulf's expressions. "Harry Potter is...gay?"

"Yeah, but it's not something I want everyone to know, you know. How...how are you with this?"

"The things I said to you. I insulted Potter...er you."

"No you didn't. You just said some things that any interested person might say. I'm sorry about the deception but surely you see why I had to do it."

"Oh yeah, yeah." Wulf was quiet for a while and Harry was beginning to think he'd made a mistake. Until Wulf's grin nearly split his face. "I've been shagging Harry Potter."

Harry made a guilty laugh. "Yeah, but you know I can't have that going around. Teacher and all."

Wulf looked up at him tenderly. He tossed his ice cream aside and took Harry's face in his hands. "I won't tell. It's my secret. And besides, you're nothing like I thought Harry Potter would be. I thought he'd be an arrogant prat."

"Well I'm not, right?"

"Not at all. You're adorable. And lovely. And a wonderful, wonderful shag."

Harry blushed. He was glad he didn't have to deceive Wulf any longer. And now that the wedding was coming up it looked as though he'd have a partner to go with. Except...

It was only a few weeks before the wedding, and sex with Wulf was getting kinkier and more dangerous. Harry wasn't certain if it was something that would have occurred anyway, or if Wulf was getting some sort of kick out of doing these things to "Harry Potter" but it all had to stop. This isn't the kind of thing Harry enjoyed nor the basis for building a relationship. He had a long discussion with Wulf and though it was a tearful break-up, Wulf promised not to tell anyone. Harry had his wand hidden in his sleeve the whole time. He didn't want to have to Obliviate him but he knew that was always a possibility.

And so Harry went to the wedding of his two best friends, stag. Which was just as well. If he wasn't coming out to anyone he couldn't very well bring a male date, now could he? Besides, he had too much to do as Best Man.

Ron was outrageously nervous and trying to back out at the last minute. Harry only convinced him by giving him a peek at Hermione who was waiting behind a rose arbor at the Burrow. "She's beautiful, isn't she Harry?"

"She's the most beautiful girl I know. Always has been."

He looked at Harry. "I'm a stupid prat, aren't I?"

"Yes. Yes you are. Are you going to go through with it now?"

"I love her so much, Harry. I only hope you find...er...someone you can love."

He patted his friend's shoulder. "Thanks, Ron. I know I will someday. But right now, it's your day. Shall we?"

He walked close beside Ron, ready to grab him if he bolted, but he needn't have worried. Once he had spied Hermione-her hair all beautifully done-up in curled piles on her head, and her flowing white dress-Ron was the very picture of Faithful.

Harry watched as the presiding wizard joined their magic, listened to the vows sworn, and sighed deep inside. He was certain he'd find someone someday. But how come he always pictured a man with a pointy nose, pointy chin, a smirk on his lips, and white-blond hair? He'd had all these relationships but not one of them resulted in his falling in love. That's because you're already in love, you idiot, he told himself. You've got to stop it. Draco isn't coming back! Ever!

He was shocked into sudden awareness when everyone burst into shouted applause. The ceremony was over and suddenly Ginny took his arm and they followed the bridal couple back down the aisle amid a shower of rice.

Harry went through the motions of the party. He supposed he could also celebrate the near completion of his Hogwarts education. Lupin had told him how proud he was and Dumbledore was pleased with his marks so far. He continued to work with Lupin on his spells for his Defense class, though Lupin told Harry that the young Gryffindor knew more than he had at his age. Harry knew the man was only flattering his young pupil, but Dumbledore tried to convince him otherwise. He explained to Harry that though there might be more to learn from books, Harry was intuitive in his knowledge of spells and they came to him naturally, whether he was using the orthodox methods or not. Harry cheered at this. He felt like he knew more now. Loads more and with his rebuilding of Hogwarts that was nearly complete, he really did feel like a wizard at last. It was a heady feeling. More than defeating Voldemort, which seemed more like someone else's assigned task, as if it were inevitable. But being his own man, his own wizard, was something Harry needed on his own.

But he was lonely again. Lonely for the kind of companionship his married friends, or Lupin, or Dumbledore couldn't offer him.

He Disillusioned himself again and went to the Swish and Flick but after cruising through a few times, he ended up leaving alone. Besides, he was afraid of running into Wulf. He went instead to a Wizard gay bar he'd heard about, The Broomstick. And then he saw him leaning against the bar. He was tall and thin and his platinum hair shone in the candle glow. Harry didn't think about it. He just moved forward through the crowd, waited until the man looked up and caught his eye, and positioned himself unmistakably in front of him. "Buy you a drink?" said Harry, amazed at his own bravery and how he felt perfectly right about it.

The man looked him over and smiled. "Sure. A butterbeer for me."

"Nothing stronger?"

"No. Don't want to lose my head."

Harry smiled. "Two butterbeers," he said to the bartender. He smiled at the man and shrugged. "Maybe I don't want to lose mine either."

When they received their bottles, they clinked them together, and drank. Harry felt a bit giddy. Was he about to pick up a man? A wizard? How cool was that?

"So what's your name?" he asked, taking another drink.

"I'm Edward."

"I'm Harry. You're cute, Edward."

The man blushed and took another quick drink. "Thanks," he muttered, smiling. "So are you. I haven't seen you here before."

"Well, I haven't been here before. Not quite 'out', you know."

"Yeah, I know how it is." He pushed the beer forward. "I can't come out to my family. Can you?"

"No. Just my closest friends. It isn't easy, is it?"

Edward sighed. "No. There's all these expectations."

"Yeah! And the fear that all you've done won't amount to anything if people knew."

Edward looked at him. Harry noticed he had very long lashes and a soft-looking mouth. "But we don't have to talk about this," said Edward sheepishly.

"No," said Harry, mesmerized by Edward's mouth. "Actually, I'd rather be kissing you now."

Edward blushed again. "You would?"

Harry wondered where all this courage was coming from. "Yeah. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," said Edward, a little too eagerly.

Harry didn't care. He took Edward's shoulders and dragged him forward, planting his lips on him. He did have soft lips and a leisurely tongue. Harry pressed his whole body against the taller man, loving the way it felt as it softened beneath him-except for a particular part that was digging into his thigh, a decidedly hard something.

Harry kissed him deeply, holding him, relishing the sensation of body, of mouths, of tongues. They kissed for a bit, ignoring the noise and clatter of the bar and just concentrated on each other. When they finally pulled away, they were both panting.

"Want to get out of here?" asked Harry.

Edward's eyes glittered. "Yeah."

They went to Harry's place and instead of the almost desperation of Wulf's lovemaking, they went at it slowly, peeling the layers of clothing off as if discovering something new. Harry gently laid Edward down on his stomach and massaged his whole body, paying extra attention to his white, rounded bottom, and kissed each cheek before he ventured a finger down his crack. Edward moaned and writhed in a most delicious fashion and Harry found himself intimately licking the man while spreading his cheeks with his thumbs. Harry loved the musky taste of men, loved to make them moan beneath him, loved to shag a perfect round bottom, but never admitted-never consciously noticed-that it was made all the better when his partner had white-blond hair and his face was slightly turned away.

Harry lubed them both, scrambled up to his knees, and leaned forward over him. He guided his dick to Edward's gasping hole and shoved forward. He threw his head back at the first giddy sensations of the man's flesh enveloping him. "So tight," he murmured. And then he began the slow in and out of his cock, feeling that rosy bud try to expel him only to suck him down again. Edward writhed a lot when Harry shagged him and Harry enjoyed that, too. When he came in jolts, he felt Edward squeezing down on his anus to milk Harry all the more.

Harry lay back and blinked languidly at the man's erection when he turned over. "However shall we take care of that?" asked Harry playfully.

Edward rolled further and pressed it against Harry's thigh. "Actually, I'm so aroused now, I'd just like to rub against you," he said, breathlessly.

"No problem," said Harry, and watched as the man rolled on top of him, thrust his penis into Harry's damp groin, and frotted. He came in seconds, drenching Harry's pubic hair. He wrapped his arms around Edward and lay with him on top for a while until they naturally slid into a cuddling position.

In the morning, Harry awoke to the sound of the bath draining and an empty bed. Edward came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped about his waist. "Hope you don't mind. I used your bath. I'll be out of your way in an instant."

Harry sat up and grabbed his glasses from the side table. "There's no need for that." Edward was quite handsome, and he liked the way he pushed his long hair out of his light blue eyes. "You can stay as long as you like."

"Yeah? Cheers." He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "I like you Harry. I wonder...can we see each other again?"

Harry grinned and lay back. "I'd like that. I'm not really into one night stands."

Edward rubbed the back of his neck. "Me neither. Last night was the first time I went straight home with a man. Can you believe it? At my age."

"Not so unbelievable. You were the first one I ever just picked up like that."

"Really?" They looked at one another a little shyly. "I don't think I caught your surname last night."

"Didn't give it. Too busy being horny, I guess." He chuckled a little uncomfortably. "It's...Evans. Harry Evans."

"Well. I'm Edward Touchstone."

Harry gestured to him to come back into bed. Edward smiled shyly and tossed the towel aside. He slid under the covers. His cleaned flesh felt cold against Harry but Harry soon warmed him.

After another bout of lovemaking, they stayed in each other's arms. "What do you do, Edward?"

"I work in the Ministry."

"Blimey. Doesn't anyone work anywhere else?"

"You, too?"

"No," said Harry. And he gave Edward the same lie he gave to Wulf. And almost on cue, Edward asked the same question.

"Did you go to school with Harry Potter?"

"Yeah. Didn't know him, though."

"They say he is a nice bloke."

"That's what they say," said Harry a little guiltily.

And so they began going out. But Harry didn't wait nearly as long to tell Edward who he was. He fixed a nice dinner in his flat, poured wine in Edward's glass, and sat opposite him at the counter. "So, Edward."

Edward twirled his fork in the spaghetti and ate a large mouthful. He looked up at Harry with raised brows. "It's good," he said once he'd swallowed. "I notice you cook a lot the Muggle way."

Harry blushed. "I kind of keep forgetting. I can do it the wizard way. But I sometimes enjoy it the other way." He toyed with his pasta for a moment before laying down his fork. He took up his glass and drank almost half the wine down. "So Edward. I really asked you here tonight to tell you something. Something important. About myself."

"You're Muggleborn? I could have guessed. That sort of rot doesn't matter to me."

"Oh. I'm glad. But I'm not Muggleborn and that's not what I wanted to tell you." He finished his glass and set it aside. "The thing of it is, I've been deceiving you a bit as to who I am. I'm under a Disillusionment Charm because I have to disguise who I am. Bit foolish, really, but I just didn't want everyone to know I'm...you know. Gay."

Edward put down his fork and dabbed at his lips with the serviette. "Oh? Well...who are you, then?"

"Okay. I'll remove the charm, shall I?"

Edward looked pretty nervous and even more so when Harry removed the charm. In fact, he leapt to his feet. "You're Harry Potter! Oh God!"

"I-it's not that bad, is it?"

Edward began breathing heavily. "Oh God!" He backed toward the door.

"Edward. Calm down. It's no big deal."

"No big deal! You're only the most important person who ever lived!"

Harry winced. "No I'm not! That's absurd."

"Y-you saved us all. You killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Y-you...you're a very p-powerful wizard."

"Not that much," he pleaded. Edward was still backing toward the door.

"I should have known." He glanced back toward the Firebolt. "I should have realized. Oh my God!"

"Edward!" He reached for him but the man shrunk back.

"No! I shouldn't be here. I'm not good enough for you!"

"That's ridiculous-"

"No. I'm sorry, Harry-Mr. Potter."

"'Mr. Potter'? Edward-"

"No. I have to go."

Harry reached for him again and grasped his arm. "Edward. I'm the same person you knew before. I'm not anything special. Please. Come back and sit down."

"No. I'm sorry. I just can't. I just...can't." He slipped Harry's grasp and was out the door in an instant.

The door shut and the sound seemed to echo in the empty flat. Harry stood staring at the closed door for a long moment. He wasn't certain if he should be angry or depressed. He opted for depressed.

Silently, he cleared away the dinner things and suddenly heard the fireplace whoosh. For one hopeful second he thought it might be Edward changing his mind, but it turned out to be Ron and Hermione.

"Hey, mate? Did we miss dinner?"

Harry, who was standing with the plate poised over the trash bin, looked down at the spaghetti sliding off the plate. "Yup." He scraped the rest of it before he realized he could just Scourgify it. "Dammit."

"Harry," said Hermione, all concern. She came around the counter to look at him. "What's the matter?"

He hadn't meant to say anything but suddenly it just tumbled out. "I was in the middle of a date when I finally revealed who I really am and he ran straight out of here like his robe was on fire."

Hermione hugged him and Ron-seemingly torn between the idea of Harry and "date"-said nothing. Hermione tugged Harry along and sat him down on the sofa. They sat on either side of him. "It's only one man," she said.

"But Hermione, is this the rest of my life? Hiding who I am? Afraid to tell them? Afraid they'll run off in fear of being with the great Harry Potter? I hate that!"

There wasn't much for them to say. But after all, it was their presence that comforted him the most. It was like old times, really. They stayed with him quite late, playing wizard games and just talking. He was glad that nothing had changed between them. He worried that it would once they married. But it all seemed the same. The three of them. The way it was meant to be.

Later, Harry tired not to think about his love life, or lack of it. He worked hard on his studies, both to finish his Hogwarts training and his teaching work. His NEWTs came back extremely high-and he'd done it all himself! He was particularly proud of that, especially since Hermione offered to help him. And his powers were stronger than ever. He didn't tell the others how much wandless magic he was capable of. No sense in bragging. But he felt into his own all right. And Hogwarts would reopen again very soon. So he should be happy. And he was. Very happy. Maybe a little lonely, but happy.

If only he could stop thinking about Draco Malfoy.


On to Chapter Eight
"A Hogwarts Honeymoon"

Back to Chapter Six
"Everyday Life With Draco"

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