Chapter 1: Heat wave

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter or anything to do with it. If I did, do you really think I would be here? :)

Author's Note: So... This is my very first Draco/Harry fanfiction. I have had a few people requesting I write one for years, and I have finally decided to try my hand at it. As always, reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Both the good and the bad. This will be rated M, simply because my stories seem to have a ton of cursing, death, and other depressing things. I hope all of you enjoy this and much as I'm enjoying writing it.

The leaves crunched beneath the feet of the students as they walked to and from the lake. It was un-naturally hot for this time of year. The sun beat down on them so relentlessly that many of them hand begun to disrobe in hopes of relieving the heat. It did not work, however. Sweat still poured off of them in torrents. It was miserable. The trees of the forest and those that were sat throughout the grounds had turned brown and were already shedding their leaves.

Draco Malfoy slipped his robe off of his shoulders and loosened his tie. He looked up at the puffy, white clouds floating happily across the sky and sneered. It had not rained in months it seemed, and it honestly had not. Two months of no rain and extreme heat had everyone's tempers a bit shorter. Steel grey eyes scanned the grounds. The female population had taken it upon themselves to act as if they were on a summer holiday on an exotic island. Even the palest person, which would be him if he were honest with himself, held a healthy glow to their skin.

The castle was just as beautiful as it had always been, but even the dark halls could not grant them a reprieve from the stifling temperature. The fortress was hotter than standing in the direct sun. A light breeze blew today, which they were thankful for. Many of their classes had been held on the grounds instead of the classrooms.

"Are you coming, Malfoy?"

Draco turned to the dark-skinned boy behind him and nodded. He picked up his discarded robe and tie before following his fellow Slytherin towards the castle. Without speaking, both boys knew that they were heading for the Great Hall. It was not full as it normally would have been. Many of their peers had taken to eating out on the grounds instead of crowding their house tables. They took their seats and placed their chosen meal onto their plates, eating in silence for the most part.

Laughter reached his ears and he looked to the large entrance, his eyes narrowing before rolling in annoyance. Harry Potter stood there, allowing the youngest Weasley child to slide from his back, laughing at something that he could not hear. The younger redhead planted a chaste kiss on the lips of the boy hero before grabbing his hand and dragging him towards their seats.

Draco stabbed his food viciously before putting it to his mouth. It never failed to annoy him. Granted, just seeing the boy-who-lived annoyed him, but the fact that he was so happy and carefree made his mood plummet to an all-time low. He stabbed another bite of food and growled.

"What did that chicken ever do to you?"

His steel eyes flashed to the boy beside him briefly, "That is none of your bloody business, Zabini."

"Perhaps you're right, but if you don't stop staring at Potter it will become everyone's business."

Draco sent him another glare, but redirected his eyes. Blaise was right and he knew it. Ever since the Dark Lord had been defeated it had been like that. It did not matter if it was a casual glance, or one of his glares, if you were caught looking at the Gryffindor the rumor mill kicked into high gear. He took a sip of his pumpkin juice and stood, leaving the questions behind him and acknowledging no one.

He walked through the deserted corridors, looking at the many chunks that were still missing from the stone and sighed. The war had been rough for everyone. It did not discriminate between blood or social status. It did not matter if you fought beside Potter or if you fought with the Death Eater's, everyone lost someone. The older students had lost their childhood. Some of them more than that.

Draco sighed and took the familiar route to the Astronomy tower. He could not explain why he found himself there when he needed to be alone. This place was where he fell from grace on more than one level. He walked towards the railing and placed his hands on the smooth metal, and took in the grounds. They were still beautiful even in the middle of the worst draught in history. Dozens of students dotted the grounds and he could vaguely hear the sounds of laughter echoing from them. He wished he could be like them, so much that it hurt at times. He was a Malfoy, however, and that would never happen. His father was imprisoned for crimes against humanity and would never be released. His mother and himself were under house arrest, the one exception for him was school.

He sat down and let his long legs hang over the edge, his head resting on his folded arms. He let the silence seep into his mind as he closed his eyes. This was the only place he was ever at peace and, sometimes, he even felt like Albus Dumbledore was still there with him. He could still hear him telling him that he was not a killer, could hear him offering his help and his protection. He wanted to take it, but he never had the chance. Many of his peers still looked at him with hate filled eyes and made comments about what happened on this tower, but none of them knew the truth. None of them knew that he would have given anything to take back what he had made possible.

"Still up here pouting, I see."

Draco turned his head, rolled his eyes, and looked back out over the grounds. "I'm not pouting."

"Yes, yes you are."

"What do you want, Trine?"

"Blaise told me that you took off in the middle of dinner. I thought I would come and check on you. You've been up here for hours."

He sighed in defeat and moved over to give her room to sit beside him. He would never tell her this, but he was glad she cared enough to come and check on him. He looked at her when a contented sigh escaped her lips. Reaghan Trine was one of the prettier girls in Hogwarts. Her hair stopped just past her shoulders in golden waves and her eyes were the color of sapphires. She was petite, slender, and her skin had a healthy tone to it. She turned to him and smiled as he continued to stare.

"See something you like, Draco?"

Draco snorted.

"Didn't think so. You may have the rest of the school convinced of your straight status, but I'm not just anyone. It is a pity, though."

"What are you going on about?"

"About you being gay, Malfoy. Don't try and deny it, either. Just because my hair is blonde doesn't mean that I'm an idiot."

"I am not."

Reaghan glanced at him in disbelief and he wisely shut his mouth. They had been friends forever and she knew things about him before he did, not to mention her temper was legend. She even put Weasley to shame. They sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. This was another reason he did not mind her coming to find him when he came here. She did not feel the need to fill the silence with senseless chatter.

They sat together long after the sun had crept behind the horizon. He looked at her briefly before he stood and stuck his hand out. She smiled at him as she took his hand and pulled herself up. Neither dropped the others hand. There was no need. Reaghan was the only comfort he had had in the months after Voldemort was defeated and she was the one true friend he had ever had. He did not care who saw them walking through the halls hand in hand. The Slytherins were so use to it that they barely ever acknowledged it anymore.

"So, do you want to tell me what made you slink off to the tower today?"

"Needed to be alone is all."

"Potter it is then."

"My entire life does not revolve around Harry bloody Potter."

"If you say so."

"It doesn't."

"Alright, your life doesn't revolve around Potter."

"Thank you."

"But every time you go up there, he is involved."

"Bloody hell, Reaghan!"

"Alright, alright. I'll leave it for now."

Draco glared at the back of her head as they reached the portrait hole and she walked through it. The common room was almost completely empty and Draco took his favorite seat. The black, leather couch that was in front of the fire place. Luckily, the fire was not lit. The only light was made by the candles throughout the room. Reaghan walked across the room, said something to Blaise, and then came back towards Draco.

"I'm going to bed, Draco. Try not to stay up to late. We do have classes tomorrow." She dropped a kiss on his head, "Goodnight."

"What are you my mother?" He said to her back, smiling.

"Nope. If I were Narcissa, I would have killed you already."

"Goodnight." He chuckled.

Reaghan waved as she disappeared up the staircase. Draco shook his head and sat in silence for a few moments before following her. When he entered the dorm, the other boys were changing and crawling into bed. He followed suit and crawled under his green duvet. He turned away from the rest of the room and closed his eyes, praying silently that the nightmares stayed away for just tonight.