Chapter 32

The Man Who Lived is being courted by Severus Snape, who our anonymous source says began his seduction well before Potter's matriculation. The truth behind this accusation has not been proven. However, it has been noted by locals that Potter has not opened his bookshop, Emerald Books in Hogsmeade, since it was announced he was being courted officially by Severus Snape, Death Eater turned professor and spy for The Order of the Phoenix. This has caused worry in many of the locals and former classmates who fear he is being manipulated and effectively held captive by his suitor. Some have speculated this might be a purposeful slight against Snape's former friends, the Malfoys. We will share more to this story as we learn of new information.

Sirius laughed as he threw the paper down. "These are just absurd rumours. Let them talk. Let them 'speculate.' Soon enough they'll get tired of talking about this, they'll see you are fine and well, and everyone will forget about this nonsense."

"This was all Draco. He's angry and going after Severus. He's going to ruin him."

Sirius snorted. "No, he won't. They're a powerful family but not as much so these days. Let this all die down. Don't lower yourself to the level of even responding to this rubbish."

Harry sighed and flopped onto the sofa with Sirius. "You're right. I know you're right. I just hate that Draco's problems with me could cost Severus everything."

Sirius patted Harry's shoulder. "He knew what he was doing when he sent that courtship proposal. Nothing can compare to what he went through as a spy during the war. I'm sure Severus is just fine."

"I need to stop this before it goes any further."

"If this hasn't answered your little quandary of who to choose, I don't know what will."

Harry pushed open the door to his flat above his shop. The door was cracked open. Harry stepped in and looked around. It was completely empty. Draco had taken his things and left.

He strode across the room and into the fireplace.

Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco seemed to be mid-argument as Harry stepped through to Malfoy Manor.

Draco huffed. His nostrils were flared and alabaster skin tinted red.

Lucius scowled at Harry.

"What do you want?" Narcissa hissed.

Harry ignored them. He grabbed Draco's wrist and pulled him into the library. He drew a circle over his head with his pointer finger, warding the room.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I hate when you do that."

"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable to see how powerful I am?"

Draco shifted his weight to his other foot.

"I scare you, don't I? You just want to control me. Do you even really want to be with me?"

"I did at one point."

"Why couldn't you just admit you didn't want to be with me anymore? Why go through all this?"

"You terrify me, alright?!" Draco screamed, seeming frantic. "You can just.. blink your damn eyes and you make things happen! It's too much... too much like him."

"Who? Voldemort?"

Draco shuddered at the name. "Yes!"

"I'm powerful. He was powerful. The similarities end there."

"Except when you get upset! You look like you could bloody explode! It's why I try to keep you from this wild magic, I feel like you'll blast me to pieces!"

Harry's anger began to dissipate. He wasn't sure anyone had ever been afraid of him before. He didn't want to be feared. He stepped closer to Draco, but Draco took a long stride away from him.

"Why'd you ask me to marry you? If I scare you so much, you could have just left."

"I did. I'm assuming you saw the flat?"

"But why hold on so long?"

"Father made me. He told me to marry you. He wasn't happy when I came back here with boxes of my things."

"Your father? Sure. Blame it all on him. He make you go to the paper too? Tell you to smear Severus's name?"

"Yeah, actually. He did."

"What do you want? What does he want?"

Draco pulled his lips into a thin line and looked away.

"You used to care about Severus."

"I used to care about you, too. I still do, really."

"I want to believe that."

And Harry did. He did want to believe it. Draco had grown through the war. He wanted to do what was right. He'd opened up to Harry and his friends. He'd formed a real bond with McGonagall. He'd shunned the dark. But somewhere along the way, Draco had grown cold and distant again.

Draco ran his hand through his hair. He began to pace in front of the unlit fireplace.

"You don't understand what it's like to come from a very old, powerful family. You didn't have the upbringing I did. I do as my family tells me. You saw what happened the last time I didn't obey. I was excommunicated."

"But your father saw how wrong that was. He changed sides because of you."

Draco let out a sardonic huff of laughter. "That was for show. He doesn't care about sides or doing what is right. He just wants to win." Draco eyed Harry nervously, seemingly thinking of whether he should say the words on his tongue. "My parents are in debt. Voldemort and his 'cause' took everything they had. They're barely maintaining the Manor."

Harry was confused, but he nodded as if he understood. Draco continued, "If I married you..."

"They're after my money."

"Yeah. And Sev trying to take you from me made them feel foolish. They didn't want him interfering in their... finances, as it were."

Harry's stomach flipped. He felt as if he'd be sick. His relationship with Draco hadn't been traditional in any sense, but at least it felt somewhat real. But it had been fake all along.

"In the beginning, I felt guilty. I love you, I do. When I saw that you'd never feel for me the way I felt for you, I'd have been fine to part ways but they wouldn't let me. I couldn't just let them lose everything."

"Even if it meant destroying me. And Severus."

"When I saw the two of you together that night... I knew it was over. I packed my things that evening."

Harry slammed open the door to the library. Lucius's head snapped up, his icy glare unchanged.

"Name your price."

He laughed. "Price? For what?"

"Do not play coy. I will pay off your debts and give you enough to begin rebuilding your status. Just tell me how much."

"I'm trusting this isn't out of the kindness of your little saviour heart."

"No. It isn't. Draco will recant everything he told the paper. Say he was jealous or whatever he has to say. Then your family will leave Severus and I alone forever. I don't even want your family name mentioned to me for as long as I live."

Harry gave the family access to as much as they needed. It still didn't put a dent in what he had in his vault. Before leaving, Draco finally approached him again. He seemed more at ease than he had in quite some time.

"For what it's worth, Harry-"

"-nothing out of your mouth is worth anything. Save it."

Harry stepped back through the floo without feeling a single iota of regret or bitterness.

It was over. It was finally over.