I was asleep, as one was supposed to be in the middle of the night. A grueling day of Charms, Potions, and History of Magic had exhausted me and I had been grateful to sink into my bed.
My dreams were simple, and uninteresting. I was flying in a Quidditch Tournament, and I had just caught the snitch. Chang, the other team's seeker, was angrily buzzing around the field.
Suddenly, my dreams were interrupted by an uneasy feeling that woke me up. I wanted to ignore it and go back to sleep, but it wouldn't go away.
After a moment in bed, I sighed and got up. Slipping on my shoes, I went for a walk around the castle.
Praying Filch and the prefects were occupied elsewhere, I strolled in a random pattern. Somehow I ended up outside.
Shrugging, I went down to the Quidditch Pitch. It was a clear night. When I got there, I realized I hadn't brought my broom with me. I was about to turn around and go back to the dungeons, but I felt somehow compelled to just go and sit in the bleachers.
For a few minutes, I played with my wand and cast a few simple spells. Then something caught my eye.
A figure was running across the field. Looking closer, I recognized Harry's shaggy black hair. He stopped in the middle of the field and shot a few sparks into the air. A creature came swooping out of the skies and came to a running halt in front of him. Buckbeak again.
Instead of climbing on the hippogriff, Harry started to brush him down with what I could tell was a currycomb. I watched as his strokes became forced and random instead of gentle and smooth, and eventually he just threw his arms around Buckbeak's neck and his body convulsed with sobs.
I stood up and hurried down to him.
"Harry? Harry, are you alright?" I called as I reached him.
He looked at me. "H-hi Draco. I come down h-here s-sometimes when I need to c-calm down and brush-brushing Buckbeak helps."
I smiled and pulled his arms off of the hippogriff, who shook himself and started grazing, and placed his arms around my waist instead. I leaned my forehead against his.
"What happened?" I asked him quietly.
He calmed down a little and his sobs quelled for the moment. "I miss Sirius."
"Who's Sirius?" I asked, confused. Did he mean my cousin?"
"S-Sirius Black. He was my godfather, but Bellatrix Lestrange killed him two years ago. He was the closest thing I had to a father, and now that he's gone, and the Dursleys are gone, I have no family left." Harry confided to me. I felt so bad for him.
Pulling his waist closer, I said, "You always have friends, you know that right?"
"Yes."
"Granger and Weasley, and Longbottom and Chang, and Lovegood. And the professors and Dumbledore. And me. You'll always have me, Harry. For anything."
He closed his eyes, keeping his forehead on mine. "Thank you, Draco. You have no idea how much this means to me. How much YOU mean to me."
I made a split-second decision and, bringing his chin up with my hand, I put my lips on his. He responded immediately, opening his mouth and letting my tongue in.
Our kiss was long and gentle, and when he pulled away and laid his head on my chest and his hands on my shoulders and let the tears fall, I stood tall and supported him.
Buckbeak squawked and sniffed at me. Harry giggled. "He smells the ferret on you."
I didn't even retaliate, instead petting Buckbeak and helping Harry to stand on his own.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" Harry asked.
"Let's go to the Room of Requirement." I suggested. "Away from prying eyes."
He nodded and, sending Buckbeak off with a pat, clasped my hand and walked with me back into the castle.
When we reached the Room of Requirement, Harry opened the door and we went inside. It looked like a dormitory, but with only one bed. Harry yawned, exhausted, and I helped him into the bed. He laid his glasses on the nightstand and I crawled in next to him. Snuggling close, we fell asleep.