Queer & There

Epilogue

Opening Up

There was a long pause in the room, as Harry looked at Draco, and Draco looked at Harry. The pause was painful, and Draco could do nothing but stare for a moment.

He swallowed. "You know, talking is highly overrated," he started, and stepped toward Harry. When the other man noticeably tensed, Draco stopped, his heart sinking a little. "Okay- I guess it's not."

"You do realise that you just walked out on me, Draco?" Harry's voice was obviously annoyed, although the hint of hurt in his tone was what bothered Draco more. "You just- left. Right before this, too."

Draco scowled, suddenly annoyed himself. "Oh, so it's the club that's bothering you. Lord forbid I should miss the opening, I suppose."

There was a pause, and Harry stood to his feet slowly. "That's not what I mean. You know that's not- it." Another quiet moment, and Harry was fully standing. Draco was not sure why he was intimidated. "I like you so much, Draco."

"I bet you never thought you'd say that," Draco managed, forcing a laugh and trying not to fall over from the weight of this conversation. Although it had just started, he knew it would not be easy, and he sank into a nearby chair.

Harry looked disappointed, before his features hardened a little. "No, I didn't. I really didn't, Draco, and-"

"And what? You want me to apologise for being afraid, is that it?" Draco's scowl returned, and he felt far more serious now, far more genuinely upset about any of this than he had. "I'm sorry if you find it difficult to be with someone who's never done this before, Harry, but you know what? It's hard, and it's scary, and I think you know that. I think you should know that."

Draco was on his feet again, uncomfortable remaining in one position, and his throat felt tighter. The room was hotter, too, and he didn't like it at all. The silence that was once again filling the room was overbearing, and Draco's eyes fixed on Harry's. "Are you really telling me you didn't go through this too?"

Harry sighed, and glanced down. He appeared guilty, and Draco felt this was the least he could do. "I-" Harry stopped, seemed to consider, and then started speaking again. "I guess I sort of did. It just didn't seem like a big deal, after all the- people trying to kill me and everything." He offered Draco the slightest of smiles.

"Plus, you don't have a crazy mother to make it even more difficult," Draco pointed out.

"That's true."

"Or, you weren't brought up by an even more evil dictator type father who tried to turn you against exactly that sort of business," Draco added, somewhat more enthusiastically.

Harry sighed. "Again, true. You're definitely right."

"And also! I'm bisexual, which is far more confusing. You're just plain old gay." Draco beamed, briefly, and then seemed to sober. "I just mean, it's been really confusing, the past few months. It's been a lot to get my head around."

"I know," Harry replied quietly, settling against the side of the desk and looking over at Draco, his expression somewhat concerned. "I don't know exactly, but - I can imagine."

"And you haven't been very understanding," Draco pointed out, frowning a little. "You've been very pushy, Mr Potter."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Not really."

"Really!" Draco nodded, once again enthusiastic. "You were very unsympathetic when I wasn't ready to have sex with you, if you remember." He faltered, and cleared his throat. "Not that I'm- I mean... I'm not exactly still- I-"

A smile flickered on Harry's lips. "What makes you think I even want to have sex with you right now?"

Draco smiled back, could sense the humour in Harry's tone, and he stepped toward him. "It's just the way I hold myself, I'm irresistible at all times." His smile turned into a grin. "You know what I'm talking about."

Harry rolled his eyes once again, and reached out a hand to tug Draco toward the desk. "What about the club?"

Giving a bit of a laugh, Draco shrugged, and let one hand slip round Harry's neck to bring their faces close together. "It's really not going anywhere, is it?"

Against Draco's mouth, Harry replied, "I guess not." His lips touched just slightly against the other man's, and he gave a little smile. "I guess we have some time to spare."