Harry can see Draco Malfoy's thoughts whenever they touch.

At first, Harry thought it was a product of his overactive imagination or as a result of a history of inconvenient obsession over everything that is Draco Malfoy.

The "peeks", as what Harry call them in his head, come in either a picture format or in short reel version complete with sound and movement. What makes them incredible, is the experience of Draco Malfoy's emotions during each specific moment as though they were his own.

The first time it happened was after their Auror Training. Draco Malfoy suddenly lost his footing and slipped. Harry reached out and grabbed his arm to keep him from falling. An image flitted at the forefront of his mind. Harry immediately knew that thought is not his; it was both foreign and unfamiliar.

It was an image of Harry Potter, suave, glamorous, sophisticated, and totally unrealistic. Whoever thought of him this way, really needed to undergo a thorough eye check-up, at the least.

Even with his occlumency shields are at their fullest strength, the image lingers vividly, unaffected by his guards.

The flexing of the arm muscles beneath his hand brought him back to the present. Harry removed his hand, and the vision disappeared. Its sudden absence from his mind was disorienting prompting Harry to blink to reorient himself. "Alright there, Malfoy?"

A dusting of pink graced Malfoy's cheeks as he murmured a quiet thanks and goodbye while walking away as fast as he can.

Harry stood there, transfixed with a nagging impression that the strange, foreign thought suspiciously originated from Malfoy.

The incident continued to bug him for days. His brain wanted to dismiss it as a fluke, while his heart secretly hoped it wasn't. Harry made up excuses to touch Malfoy again if only to feed his curiosity. The opportunity came, and this time, they shared a hug.

A piece of soft violin music played in the background as Harry witnessed the two of them pleasantly cuddling together in a comfortable sofa. A feeling of incredible warmth filled his soul when Draco further tightened his embrace. Harry caught himself sigh pleasurably in reality, basking in the contentment and the security Draco's arms offered.

In the privacy of his mind, Draco Malfoy is surprisingly more open, welcoming and delightfully warm.

The motion picture disappeared as soon as Harry withdrew from the embrace. Harry keenly felt the loss of Draco's comforting warmth and arms around him. Harry shivered involuntarily.

In real life, Draco Malfoy is cold, distant and disdainful of the hug they just shared. Harry had to breathe deeply to ease himself and his heart into this harsher reality.

Now, it is completely proven. Harry Potter can see, hear and experience Draco Malfoy's thoughts whenever they touch. And such a secret absolutely terrifies and excites him in equal measure. Fortunately, Draco's invading views were only about Harry. As it is, Harry is already mortified and embarrassed to be privy to Draco's thoughts about him.

To learn about his private thoughts about other people will be beyond horrifying.

Now, the dilemma of what to do about it. Nothing. This will continue to be his dirty little secret that Harry will, possibly, bring with him to his grave.

After the war, they all had to grow up. They were not the same people five years ago. All of them struggled to survive, in any way they knew how at that time. Now, they have moved on with their lives, past the petty bigotry, old resentments and hurts.

His relationship with Ginny progressed from romantic to a more profound friendship. With his growing circle of meaningful relationships, Harry does not find himself lacking in love.

However, Harry honestly cannot resist the selfish pull of wanting to know what else Malfoy thinks of him. His dirty little secret eventually became his little guilty pleasure.

The third time it happened was in the cafeteria after lunch.

When they stood to leave, Harry saw that Malfoy's lips still has crumbs from the treacle tart he just ate. Unthinking, Harry reached out and wiped them off with his thumb. He stilled at the incredible feel of soft lips under his fingertip.

The resulting short film clip that assaulted his mind was breath-taking. The reel ran at a much slower rate than average, even for a snippet, each detail was displayed stark and vivid, like an unfiltered, slow-motioned introduction to an erotic video.

Harry sees himself closing his heavy-lidded eyes, the edges of his mouth lifting in anticipation as Draco's lips approach his. Heartbeats pound in Harry's ears, their hot breaths mingling. At the touching of their lips, his breath catches, a bloom of warmth spreads from the point of contact to his chest. Someone, probably him, moaned when Draco's teeth tugged on his lips, his tongue swiped, demanding entry. When Harry opens his mouth to deepen the kiss, Harry felt a sudden uncontrollable surge of burning longing and yearning that took his breath away.

Harry dropped his hand from Draco's lips, and the motion picture vanished, leaving Harry wanting and bereft. Harry had a sudden, desperate urge to kiss Draco just to find out if reality will be as good as Draco's imagination.

Draco stilled for a moment, a faint blush bloomed on his face, his eyes wide, looking at him in horror, as though ashamed of his forbidden imaginings. Draco averted his gaze and walked away quickly, leaving Harry with an overwhelming sense of loss.

The whiplash of emotions was jarring and deeply frustrating.

Maybe his feelings are bleeding out on mine? Harry had to believe this is the reason for his overwhelming reactions. Harry was not ready to think about the alternative — that he was slowly developing romantic feelings for Draco Malfoy.

Please, no. Harry likes his comfortable, uncomplicated life as it is, and he is not planning to give it up anytime, soon. Harry had to STOP indulging in his little guilty pleasure. God, he had been shameless to take advantage of Malfoy that way.

Unfortunately, in their last training day, they needed to work in pairs and he ended up with Draco as his partner. Draco's objective was to catch him and, put the magic-suppression cuff on his wrist within 30 seconds.

Draco Malfoy is a difficult opponent to face in a combat situation. He is highly resourceful and has no problem fighting dirty.

The cuff is on Harry's wrist before the timer went off.

As soon as their hands touched, Harry saw Draco in matrimonial robes, slipping a wedding ring into his finger. Sweet, beautiful music permeated the air inside a gorgeously decorated hall.

Sheer happiness and contentment settled in Harry's chest. His heart soared in elation until a flood of panic abruptly replaced all emotions, and his vision completely turned black.

Harry realized that Draco Malfoy withdrew his hands hastily, as though desperately trying to escape from his own thoughts.

The disorienting black screen is still there, invading Harry's mind. Draco was trembling unnoticeably, face pale, eyes carefully avoiding looking at anyone. He faced Robards, had to clear his throat twice before saying, "I am sorry, but I have to leave now. I think I am getting sick." Not waiting for any reply, he stalked off, bringing with him the black screen. Finally, Harry's vision cleared.

With the suppression cuff in his wrist, Harry's occlumency shields were down, Draco Malfoy inadvertently stumbled into his mind and learned of his dirty little secret. Harry was utterly mortified.

After that rather embarrassing incident, Harry had not interacted with Malfoy again. The prospect of confrontation between them was too humiliating to even contemplate.

Regrettably, their comfortable avoidance setup came to an early end. Hermione and Harry had to attend Draco Malfoy's marriage to Astoria Greengrass. As someone who spoke out in Draco's defence during his trial after the war, Harry had no valid reason, short of being ill, not to be present. Harry was tempted to take puking pastilles just to avoid that day, but Kingsley Shacklebolt made him promise to be there.

By the Malfoy's standards, it was a small wedding with fewer than fifty guests. It was the same hall as in Malfoy's thought. The decorations were less lavish and there was no sweet, beautiful music playing.

Draco Malfoy, distinguished and elegant in his silver matrimonial robes is standing with his bride-to-be Astoria, radiantly beautiful in her matching silver robes. They are receiving each guest personally.

Harry's heartbeat hammered loudly in his ears as they are nearing the couple; his hands was becoming unbearably clammy, Harry had to discreetly wipe them off his pants repeatedly. Hermione had been shooting him worried glances. Harry squeeze her hand and gave her a smile to reassure her.

Harry fervently hoped he will not get anything disturbing when they touch this time.

It was a short but sorrowful clip that invaded Harry's mind. Draco Malfoy was in the same robes, playing a hauntingly beautiful, intensely mournful song in his violin. Harry did not even know Draco can play the violin. Draco eyes remained tightly closed, tears freely flowing, his expression as grieving as the music he played.

Tears prickled at the back of Harry's eyes, and his chest tightened painfully in sorrow. Harry risked a glance at Draco's face. It remained, smooth, implacable, serene and unmoved in its politeness. Harry sincerely does not know how Draco maintained an illusion of outward calm when Harry's already broken heart was desperately trying not to shatter any further.

Thankfully, the handshake was done. Harry and Hermione moved to their seats. Harry did not know how he survived the ceremony and reception that followed. His heart was still reeling from Draco's pain.

Looking back at the wedding, Harry can only remember a single memory: He was desperately doing his best not to breakdown and cry in heartbreak.

After the wedding, Harry Potter avoided all contact with Draco Malfoy. Harry requested field assignments. For his part, Draco petitioned for reassignment to the Department of Mysteries. Since then, they rarely saw each other.

After so many years of careful, mutual avoidance, Draco and Harry met again. It felt like meeting a dear old friend after being apart for long. Harry genuinely missed Draco. Outside of the strange, disturbing "peeks", Draco is a great guy to hang out with.

They are older and, hopefully, wiser now. Draco Malfoy looks happier and more contented. He is divorced, currently a single father to Scorpius Malfoy who attends Hogwarts in the same year as Rose, Ron's and Hermione's daughter. Harry is still single, still not in any hurry to be in a relationship despite everyone's interference and attempts to set him up. Harry did go out to date the men and women his well-meaning, albeit meddling friends set up for him. Unfortunately, nothing worked out. Therefore, Harry remained a carefree, single man.

Draco extended his hand, expecting Harry to shake it. Harry bravely shook his hand, bracing himself for any foreign daydreams about to invade his mind.

There was absolutely nothing. Harry felt unbelievably relieved and disappointed at the same time.

Draco laughed softly. Harry opened his eyes, unaware that he closed them, to Draco's amused stare, a fond smile pulled at his lips.

"Harry, I apologize for my uncontrolled projection of thoughts before. It must have been awkward for you. Well, it was beyond appalling and humiliating for me." Draco ducked his head, clearly embarrassed.

"You were aware of projecting the whole time?" Harry asked.

Draco gave him a long look then answered, "Will you tell me every instance my thoughts projected to yours? I believe, I deserve at least that."

Harry debated with himself for a while and decided to come clean. They were Draco's thoughts, after all. "The first time was when you slipped during the Auror training, and I had to help you."

Draco was frowning, possibly recalling the incident. After some time, he nodded and asked, "And the next?"

"It was when I hugged you, and then when I had to wipe off the crumbs." Harry had to stop here. His cheeks were flaming uncontrollably. Harry still can vividly recall each detail of the memories—the slow-burning kiss, the yearning, the longing…

"Ah... Thank you for being honest." Draco awkwardly acknowledged his face as red as Harry's. "I think we both know what the last two were." A long, awkward silence ensued. Both men lost in his own thoughts.

Draco took a deep breath and looked at Harry, his silver eyes bright and earnest, his voice firm and steady. "Harry Potter, will you give me a chance to court you? It will be my honour if you will have me."

Harry was stunned. Of all the possible things to happen at their meeting, Harry never expects to be courted by Draco Malfoy. Harry was greatly flattered, thrilled even. Maybe this is the reason why he is still single all this time. Perhaps, Harry was really waiting for Draco to have the courage and finally tell him his feelings.

Notes:

This is my second fic for Harry Potter fandom. I have no beta so all grammar mistakes are mine. Let me know what you think. Your reviews are always welcome.