Don't You Feel It?
Chapter 1
Harry wove his way through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, having to stop every so often to shake hands with an admirer with a hurried greeting and bashful nod of the head. Still, seven years after the war his 'golden boy' image was following him around like his shadow and was one of the reasons he put off these excursions until absolutely necessary. Today was one of those necessary occasions due to Hermione's birthday fast approaching and Harry leaving it to the last minute as usual to find her a present. It's not through a lack of trying however. She was simply one of the hardest people to buy for. Books would have been an obvious choice but she had so many already and she had never been interested in expensive jewellery or any other typical birthday presents. No doubt Ron was having the same problem, although Harry felt sorrier for him since Hermione was his wife and so had even more pressure on him to deliver. As he rounded a corner onto a quieter path, he heard a noise to the far left of him down a narrow alleyway that sounded like muffled rough voices and a man whimpering. His instincts kicked in and he grabbed his wand from his back pocket, a habit that he still hadn't lost despite Mad Eye's warnings of losing a buttock in his youth, and ventured to investigate the source of the noise. It had been a while since a dark wizard attack but he was always vigilant, never completely letting down his guard. His recent years of working as an Auror meant that he was still always ready for an unexpected attack. As he walked down the seemingly deserted alleyway the sounds grew louder until he could hear they were only a few feet away around the corner.
"…Malfoy scum", a man spat. "You and your whore of a Mother should have been thrown in Azkaban along with your pathetic Father. "
"Don't you dare call my – "
"CRUCIO!"
The sound of Draco Malfoy crying out in pain made Harry's anger come rushing in in full force for reasons he wasn't sure of but he decided he had heard enough.
"Expelliarmus", Harry cast the spell and caught the wand of Malfoys attacker. "What the FUCK do you think you're doing?" he growled through gritted teeth. The man looked shocked at having Harry Potter standing inches from his face. He had shoulder length thestral black hair and his eyes looked distant and cold with a scar across his left cheek. Probably a remnant from the war. A lot of people still bore the scars both visible and invisible. He looked shocked at being prevented from continuing his abuse of Malfoy who many of the wizarding world still bore a heavy grudge against and who would usually have turned a blind eye but the vexation in his face was beginning to turn into fear at the ferocious anger and disgust flashing behind Harry's eyes. It was so powerful and threatening, that it made even Draco who was lying half conscious and bloody upon the floor take notice and look at in awe.
"He – He's a Malfoy. He deserves everything he gets. You know what him and his family were involved in. How many people died because of their spineless devotion to You Know Who."
"What is your name?"
"Peterson. Xavier Peterson."
"Well, Peterson, it must have escaped your notice but he and his Mother were found not guilty by the Wizenagamot, based on MY evidence. He is a free man to do as he pleases and I'm sure he's not the only one who did things they regret in the war. I'm sure you would have done the same to protect your family – or would you have just let them die? Yeah I didn't think so. The use of an unforgivable curse carries the highest form of punishment so I suggest you get out of my sight now before I have you arrested. And if I hear you have ever done anything like this again I will see to you personally."
And with that, the man dissaparated. Harry, still internally fuming turned to Malfoy who was still led on the side of the path, his nose bleeding and cuts across his face and hands, looking utterly spent. Harry performed a healing charm to fix his broken nose and stop the flow of blood, while also healing his cuts.
"Why…" Draco asked quietly.
"No one deserves to be treated like that. You don't deserve to be treated like that." Harry looked into Draco's silver eyes and saw an emotion there that he couldn't quite read.
"I do deserve it. It's true what he said. I was a coward in the war and by all rights I should have been chucked in Azkaban. This is the third time now that you've saved me Potter. I can look out for myself I don't need your help." Draco said while trying to lift himself up off of the floor.
"Yeah it looks like it" Harry answered sarcastically. "Here, let me help you."
Harry offered his hand but Draco smacked it away.
"NO. I don't need your help. I had it under control okay! Stop being such a goddamn Gryffindor if you could for one second. Just go. We don't want your golden boy image to be tarnished by people seeing you with a death eater now do we?" Malfoy snarled.
"Ex – death eater you twat. And you only did what you had to save your family. But fine if you don't want my help then I'll go."
Harry turned to leave but heard Draco whimper again whilst trying to stand.
"Oh for goodness sake, Malfoy just let me help you!" And with that, Harry put his arm underneath Draco, supporting his weight. It was an odd feeling being this close to Malfoy. He could feel the heat of his breath on his neck whilst he clambered up from the ground and the feel of him pressed to his side was one that Harry missed when Malfoy let go of him to lean against the wall instead. Green eyes met grey and a silence fell between them for a few moments in which Draco slowed his breathing and Harry tried to read what he was thinking to no avail.
"I'm sorry…thank you." Draco mumbled
"It's no problem", Harry sad rubbing the back of his neck, shuffling awkwardly at the new change in atmosphere. Cordiality wasn't something new between Harry and Draco. For the past few years they had been civil to each other when needed. However, this was something else. This was a moment of genuine sincerity on Draco's part. His Malfoy mask had slipped away for the briefest of moments and behind it Harry saw the glimpse of a vulnerable and changed man from the sneering, sniping boy he had known in his youth. He looked weary and all of a sudden all Harry wanted was to take the man in his arms and hold him and protect him until all was right. Harry shook his head to try and get rid of these feelings. Wait…feelings? Since when had he had feelings for Malfoy of all people aside from irritation and suspicion?
"What are you staring at Potter?" Malfoy snapped defensively. His mask now firmly back in place.
Shit he had been unintentionally gawping at Malfoys face for however long his thoughts had led him astray.
"What, nothing. I was just thinking while you got some of your strength back."
"I should have known that thinking would require all your brain power, Potter." Draco jibed. Although harry could have sworn he caught a glint in his eye when he said it.
"Piss off, Malfoy. Are you alright to move now? Where do you live, I don't want you walking home alone in case there's a repeat performance of you getting the shit beaten out of you."
A hint of shock crossed Malfoys face at that. "Why do you care if I get the shit beaten out of me anyway?"
"I told you already. Because you don't deserve to be treated like that. And…" And what Harry thought to himself. And because seeing Malfoy in pain like that is something you never want to see again so long as you live that's what. No. Harry shoved that thought to the back of his mind where it lay repressed but not entirely dormant.
"And what?"
"Nothing. Don't worry. So where do you live then?" Harry asked, recovering his train of thought.
"Trying to get into my bed already Potter, I am surprised." Draco smirked.
"What" Harry blustered as images of what Malfoy would look like in bed flashed across Harrys mind making a blush spread across his cheeks. "I'm not trying to get into your bed Malfoy I'm just trying to help you, you twit."
"Merlin, Potter. It was only a joke. I live a few minutes away above my potions shop. 23 Abbeydale Way, Diagon Alley."
Harry once again put his arm underneath Draco's, supporting as much of his weight as Draco allowed and with that, they walked together with some difficulty and in silence apart from a few muttered directions, to Draco's flat.