"Mr. Potter! Tell me about your relationship. How did it all end?"
"Mr. Potter! If I could please steal a moment of your time to ask about the situation between you and Miss Weasley?"
"Mr. Potter! Is it true what happened between you and Ginny Weasley, the Quidditch star?"
"Mr. Potter! What do you have to say about-"
"Mr. Potter-" "Mr. Potter-" "Mr. Potter-"
Harry was at his breaking point.
Though, if he were being honest, he was at his breaking point a long time ago.
He and Ginny had broken up just after the war, deciding they were in very different places and wanted very different things.
In other words, Ginny and Luna Lovegood began dating just after the war.
Harry wasn't upset by it. He was thrilled, actually. He wasn't sure he and Ginny were ever really right for one another. She was Ron's sister, someone he'd been introduced to like family; things had felt wrong between them long before she ever realised she was gay.
It also made it a lot easier for Harry to accept his own truth.
That he was too.
To keep Ginny from getting any backlash as she moved up the social ladder throughout her quidditch career, they all agreed it was for the best if they pretended to still be in a relationship.
It was just easier that way.
Harry could see whoever he wanted if he chose, and Ginny could be with Luna without any pushback from the press.
It wasn't hard to pretend either. They didn't do anything more than they usually did when they hung out; they talked like always, went out to cafés and went shopping together.
People just assumed the lack of kissing and hand-holding was a PDA issue. Harry made sure to encourage those rumours.
And this all went swimmingly; Ginny and Luna got married, all the Weasleys were there, and it was a beautiful ceremony.
Well, it was good, until someone released photos from said wedding and outed Ginny to the entirety of the Wizarding World.
They tried to deny it, tried to claim it as fake and charmed together. But the proof was undeniable. The picture showed Ginny exchanging rings with a woman in a bridal dress while Harry stood off to the side as Ginny's best man.
The news spread like a wildfire. It went far and fast and it was all anyone would talk about for the rest of the year.
And that's how Harry ended up here. No matter what the event was for, no matter what conference he was holding or what fundraiser he was appearing at, it was always the same questions.
Did you know your girlfriend was gay?
How do you feel about being cheated on?
How are you recovering from your recent heartbreak?
Why were you the best man? Did she force you to attend?
It was madness.
They had agreed to deflect these questions. Harry still wasn't sure he was ready to come out, and Luna's face was never shown in the photo; it was better to keep the damage to a minimum and not answer anything.
"Mr. Potter?" His assistant called, drawing him out of his spiral.
He glanced up. He could see on the screens around the large auditorium how tired he looked.
He had spaced out, as he often did at these sorts of things. His introduction often took far longer than it needed to.
In his opinion, a simple 'Auror Potter' would have done fine.
The rest of that Boy Who Lived crap was just ridiculous, really.
"Yes, Beatrice?" His tone was sharp, maybe a little too sharp, given they were in public and Beatrice was actually a very nice woman.
"Oh! Um... sorry, sir, you have a question."
"Go on then." He waved in the general direction of the reporters.
He didn't want to see that spark of excitement in the journalist's eyes as they pelted him with questions about the so-called affair, or how he felt about the war, or what it was like to fucking die.
The only thought in his mind was a repeating one: Merlin, please don't ask me about Ginny.
He was surprised when he recognised the speaker's voice. Deeper now and without the typical jeering tone to accompany it.
"Can you tell me when the Aurors will be making a decision on the protection of children in pureblood homes? The petition has yet to be signed, and the community needs an answer."
Harry's eyes snapped up.
Looking directly into Draco Malfoy's.
Harry didn't reply, partially because he couldn't find his voice, and also because he had no idea what to say to Malfoy after all of these years.
He didn't care what he looked like, or what other people would think of his blatant staring.
For once- perhaps the first time since he graduated and began his journey as an auror- he completely forgot he was in the public eye.
"Malfoy." The word was barely a whisper, but the microphone placed directly in front of him ensured the entire room could hear.
This one word is what drove the room into pure silence. Harry doubted the Minister of Magic herself could manage this level of attention he gained in a single breath.
Malfoy's eyes widened and he cleared his throat, glancing around at the screens with their cameras now pointed at him.
"Potter," he greeted. The microphone made it sound like a shout in the quiet room.
Harry's heart lurched at the sound, the familiarity of his name from Malfoy's lips.
In a world where everything had changed so rapidly since the war, this was something he could count on.
Only not really. They weren't fighting anymore. And Malfoy was still waiting for an answer to his question.
"I'm sorry." Harry sat up a little straighter, actually paying attention for what was probably the first time that evening. "Would you mind repeating the question, please?"
It was the politest he'd been to a reporter in, well, ever. Malfoy nodded and looked back down at his notebook.
"The activists for the protection of children in abusive pureblood homes would like an official statement from the Auror department on what they are willing to do to help," he explained again.
Harry watched Malfoy's eyes, the way he spoke with so much passion. Harry remembered it so clearly. It was the same glint he'd held all those years ago.
The sight made his stomach flip. Maybe things hadn't changed so much after all.
"Tell me more about your organisation," Harry said.
Beatrice shot him a questioning look. The conference was to introduce Harry as the new Head Auror, and they had a strict schedule for questions that was going to end soon.
Harry didn't care.
Malfoy looked a little shocked but nodded anyway. "We've been working to remove and re-home young wizards from suspected abusive households, especially but not entirely exclusive to pureblood families."
Harry didn't know why this would surprise him. Malfoy was always strong-willed; of course he would lead an organisation for something he was passionate about.
Harry thought back to his time with the Dursleys and found himself nodding, imagining how much easier his life would have been if he'd been placed with a family like the Weasleys from the start.
"I'll have to admit you have my interest." Harry gave a half smile. He could see cameras flashing like mad.
Harry wasn't sure he'd ever smiled at a conference before.
"Enough to convince you to help?" Malfoy raised an eyebrow. And just like that, they were kids again, young and content in their own small worlds, like nothing else mattered around them.
"That depends." Harry leaned back a little. "You're the spokesperson?"
"Does that fact bother you, Potter?"
"Not in the slightest, Malfoy." He felt his lips twitching further upwards. More lights flashed to capture the monumental moment of Harry's real smile. "What's the name of this organisation?"
He hesitated. "A Chance to Choose. Most of us just call it the Chance Movement."
"You named it?" He could tell by the nervous way he checked his charts.
Malfoy's chin tilted up. "I did," he replied, gaining the confidence Harry had always considered him to be a ponce for as kids. Now, he found it rather charming.
"I like it." Harry nodded.
Malfoy cleared his throat. "What do you say, then? Do you think the Auror department will be willing to help?"
Harry let out a long breath and finally glanced over at Beatrice. Her eyes were wide. She shrugged; this wasn't something they normally had to deal with on the Head Auror's first day in position.
"I'll tell you what. I'll have my assistant find you afterwards; we can discuss this matter further when we have more time to do so."
"Would that be a yes, Potter?" Malfoy smirked, his tone hinting at playfulness.
Harry laughed softly, and it felt so freeing he wondered why he didn't laugh more often.
Cameras flashed again, everyone desperate to get his image, effectively reminding him exactly why he didn't.
"That would be a yes, Malfoy. We'll continue this?" He couldn't help the feeling of hope spreading through him, or the relief at the sight of Malfoy's nod.
"Of course. Thank you for your time, Head Auror Potter." He said the name with the same mock-reverent tone he used to call Harry The Chosen One.
It made Harry smile involuntarily.
Leave it to Malfoy to make fun of one of the Head of the Auror department.
"Any other questions?" He asked.
Every single hand in the room shot into the air.
Harry hadn't looked away from Malfoy yet, watching as he bit back a laugh.
Harry nodded and stood from his seat. "On second thought. I think that will be all, thank you."
There was a sudden uproar of noise from the crowd as everyone began talking at once.
Harry walked straight to the edge of the stage, holding out a hand.
"Would you like to walk with me? My assistant can help you with whatever you needto get our collaboration started."
Malfoy smiled and reached up to take it, letting Harry help him onto the stage.
Harry had the afterthought to give the rest of the crowd a quick wave as he led Malfoy to where Beatrice stood.
"I will kill you some day," she hissed.
Harry smiled easily at her. He still hadn't let go of Malfoy's hand.
"I'm sure you will, Bea. Can you clear my schedule for the rest of the day? You can yell at me about public relations later. Mr. Malfoy has more pressing matters to discuss with us."
She narrowed her eyes but didn't object. Something about the way she fought back a smile told Harry she was just as happy as he was about the outcome of the conference. She turned, motioning for security to follow along behind them as they left for Harry's department.
"Scared, Malfoy?" He whispered as they walked.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "You wish."