An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead)
dustmouth, nerakrose
art by dustmouth, written by @greaseonmymouth
Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Romance, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, POV Harry Potter, Relationship Problems, Asexual Character, Asexuality, Asexual Harry Potter, struggles relating to internalised acephobia (he gets over it), Biromantic Harry Potter, Gay Draco Malfoy, Queer Themes, Mental Health Issues, Depression, Anxiety, hints of mild suicidal ideation, post-coital dysphoria, Little League Quidditch, Warm and Fuzzy Feelings, Fluff, Light Angst, Books, Conversations, Social Commentary, Expensive Bath Bomb Habits, Relationship Discussions, Original Character(s), Minor or Background Relationship(s) - Freeform, Minor Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Ginny Weasley/Original Female Character(s) - Freeform, Padma Patil/Pansy Parkinson - Freeform, Seamus Finnigan/Dean Thomas - Freeform, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley - Freeform, Blaise Zabini/Original Male Character(s) - Freeform, Angelina Johnson/Lee Jordan/George Weasley - Freeform, Percy Weasley/Oliver Wood - Freeform, Trans!Dudley, Trans Character, Embedded Images, Fanart, Art, Harry/Draco Big Bang 2018, Community: harrydracobang
Summary:
Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.
Features: Little League Quidditch, an abundance of bath bombs, happy endings, and gay robots in space.
Excerpt:
The cashier tried to hide a smile. “Your costumes are excellent,” she commented. “Where’s the party at?”
Malfoy blinked. “Oh! Sorry. There’s no party. This is for LARPing,” he said, enunciating carefully. “We’re both wizards.”
“And these are your weapons?” she indicated the pile of bath bombs on the counter she was sorting into bags. Harry had bought so many that she was divvying his into three bags.
“Yes.” Malfoy grinned. “They’re meant to look like potions, you see.”
Harry was staring. “What are you doing?” he whispered. “You can’t break the Statute of Secrecy!”
“I’m not,” Malfoy whispered back. “I’ve got it under control. It’s LARPing, see?”
Harry did not see, but he paid for the bombs (and was nearly short on Muggle cash, which he did not tell Draco—these things were expensive) and ushered him outside. “What was that? What’s larping?”
“It means Live Action Role Playing, it’s an acronym. LARP, see?” Malfoy said. “It’s a Muggle game about dressing up as something and then pretending to be that character and doing things like solving quests and fighting and things like that. I read about it in class.” Malfoy gestured at the store. “She thinks we’re roleplaying wizards.”
Oh. Oh. “Oh!”
“Brilliant, isn’t it?” Malfoy was grinning, all giddy and happy and pleased with himself.
He looked lovely like this, Harry thought. That smile suited him. And Harry really, really wanted to kiss him. But they were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and also Harry had to go to his Record-keeping Theory and Practice lecture, and it didn’t seem like the time or the place.
“Yeah,” Harry said, and gave him his bag. “This is yours. I, uh, have to go.”
“Right. Your course? I’ll walk you.” Malfoy put his bag into a well-charmed concealed pocket, where it disappeared out of sight and didn’t cause any unnecessary break in Malfoy’s silhouette.
Harry’s pockets weren’t as well-charmed, or as roomy, but he had space in his book bag for the third bag. “Okay, uhm. This way.”
“I know which way the College is,” Malfoy said, quick grin on his face. He fell into step with Harry, and a few seconds later, his hand was in Harry’s. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah,” Harry said, throat dry.
It was a short walk to the College; back to Direction Alley and then down the small path past the Archive which led onto Toothill Square, where the College was tucked in between the Archive Garden and the White Hart.
“So, standing invitation to join us at the pub on Friday, as usual,” Harry said, gesturing at the pub. “But I actually wanted to ask—on Sunday I have my first Little League game. Do you want to come? I’ll reserve you a seat with the team if you’d like? I mean, it’s for parents and other family members of the team, but as captain I get seats too.”
Malfoy hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to come,” he said. “I just…I’ve already bought a ticket.”
“Oh.” Harry blinked. “So…”
“It’s for charity, right?” Malfoy looked uncertain. “I want to support the charity.”
“Yes, of course—that’s fine, that’s brilliant. Thank you.” Harry squeezed his hand. Malfoy hadn’t removed it yet, even if they were on the steps of the College. “I’ll…see you after? I’ll get you a pass that’ll let you into our section if you’d like? Or we can meet—”
“I’d love that. The pass,” Malfoy said, and then suddenly he was leaning close and speaking into Harry’s ear. “Thank you for today,” he said. A brush of something warm and soft on Harry’s cheek, and then Malfoy had taken a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Harry said, touching his cheek where he was positive Draco had just kissed him. Kissed! “I’ll see you then.”
Malfoy Disapparated.
There was no way Harry was going to be able to focus in his lecture.
꒰⁎˃ ॢꇴ ॢ˂⁎꒱➴ෆ⃛❤️
