An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Fast Forward, Two Steps Back
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Neville Longbottom, Minerva McGonagall, Hermione Granger
Note (January 2020): This fic was originally written and posted to Livejournal in 2011. I have not had an opportunity to reread it and add any relevant content tags. As such, this fic may contain untagged content that some readers may find objectionable. Please take note of the rating and pairing, and proceed with whatever level of caution is appropriate for you.
Everyone knows that Draco Malfoy died in the Room of Requirement ten years ago. So when he suddenly reappears at Hogwarts ten years later, still seventeen years old, Professor Harry Potter's life gets very complicated.
Malfoy stared at him, his eyes blazing. Harry felt the pull between them as if it was an actual force and then Malfoy closed the distance between them. He clenched Harry's jumper in one fist and tugged him forward. Harry held his breath, knowing he should put a stop to this, but finding himself unable to do anything but stare back. After a long moment, Malfoy leaned in and crushed his mouth against Harry's, and then it was all Harry could do to keep on his feet.
Malfoy kissed like he was seventeen -- rough and hard, with far too much tongue, but it was still more erotic than Harry would have imagined. His hands found Malfoy's shoulders and then one hand was in his hair, and he willed his brain not to process any of it, just to feel for a while. It had been months since he'd been kissed by anyone, ages since anyone had looked at him the way Malfoy did, with such want.
Malfoy backed him into a desk and Harry broke the kiss, panting. Neither of them said anything for a moment.
"I think I'm gay," Malfoy said.
"I got that impression, yeah."
Malfoy's grin was predatory. He leaned in to kiss Harry again.
"We can't do this." Harry pushed him back with one hand against his chest. "Merlin knows I want to, but fucking hell, I'm your professor."
"You're not the one who could get sacked for this, Malfoy. I'm sorry, but I can't. At least not until you've finished your NEWT and I'm not your teacher anymore." Harry took a step to the side and straightened his jumper.
"No one would have to know." There was a hint of desperation in Malfoy's voice now. "Potter, come on! I've been struggling with this for ages, my whole life. And I'm suddenly ten years in the future in a time that's so fucked up and weird, but then I find out that it's okay to be gay here -- the one thing that was always threatening to ruin my life before." He stepped closer to Harry again, his grey eyes more open than Harry had ever seen them, and he reached out to touch Harry's face. "Do you know how long I've wanted you? And now that I know you want me back, you're telling me you can't?"
