Chapter Text
It was Remus and Kingsley who came to escort Harry and Draco to Grimmauld place. They decided to apparate, deciding it was the smartest way to go undetected by anyone who might want to track their whereabouts. Their trunks would have to travel to Number 12 by car, but would make it back to them before the day ended.
Kingsley was to travel with Draco, as he was most likely to be targeted if he was being hunted down like it was assumed. They disappeared with a loud crack from the Dursley’s living room, where the Dursley’s had scattered away from as soon as they were informed of the method of travel. Dudley was the most conscious of it, escaping to his room before the wizards even arrived.
It left Harry and Remus alone to wait for their signal to leave. Remus explained that, as a precaution, they would have to wait for Kingsley to send a Patronus confirming that it was all clear before they too left.
Being reunited with Remus always excited Harry, but he was reminded of their correspondence through Sirius and had to store away some embarrassment about all the things Remus knew about his summer. He was fine with telling his godfather, but a part of him forgot that he probably wasn’t going to be able to read it without some assistance.
As he feared, Remus began giving him a certain kind of look that turned his stomach.
Biting the bullet, Harry asked, “What is it?”
‘You‘ve just grown up so quickly, it’s hard to believe.” Remus’s smile was soft, but his expression grew amused. “Some of it is no doubt accredited to this new relationship of yours.”
Harry groaned, already feeling hot in the face. “I knew you were gonna say something.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Remus laughed with his hands up in mock-surrender. “Just…You know, I had to patrol the neighborhood quite often—I shadowed you for your London excursion as well. And, well…”
Harry grew even more mortified thinking about his old professor tailing them on his and Draco’s not-date—He completely forgot that there had to be someone monitoring them, and buried his face in his hands to avoid looking at Remus anymore.
“I just need to tell you to be a little more careful when you go out—Look at me, Harry.”
Harry did, slowly raising his head while fighting every instinct in his body telling him to flee.
“I know better than anyone about what it’s like to have to hide away who you truly are. You’re just a little luckier that it was more accepting people that had to witness—“
Harry’s heart stopped in his chest. He interjected, “People, plural? You mean—?”
Remus looked a little apologetic. “Yes—Well, it was only a few Order members that were on watch who…saw things. And word gets around—but don’t dwell on it! More importantly, we’re happier than ever that you’re happy and discovering yourself, it’s so important to—“
Harry stopped listening completely. He dropped his head back in his hands, wishing that the floor would open up under him and swallow him whole, because a vision of an Order meeting dedicated to talking about his relationship flashed in his mind and it was too humiliating to swallow.
He thought he had some time to settle into his and Draco’s relationship before telling those he trusted outside of Ron, Hermione, and Sirius, but he hadn’t even been aware that the luxury was spoiled a while ago.
“Please Splinch me in half when we leave,” Harry mumbled into his palms.
He had no idea how he was to break the news to Draco that their promise to stay a secret was unwillingly broken, but he was definitely going to find out upon arriving to Grimmauld Place.