A/N: I know, this chapter is short. Sorry in advance.
Disclaimer: Still don't own any characters or the school.
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What we have isn't love. I know it's not. We hate each other. It's a known fact throughout the school. That hasn't changed. I still think he's a self-centred git who thinks he can buy the world. I do, honestly. He's a greedy, selfish little ferret. It can't be love if I think that. I don't even know why I'm thinking about this. I don't even like him, let alone love him.
Something is wrong with me. Since the day I broke down in front of him, nothing changed. He still bumps into me in the halls; he still calls me 'Potty' or 'Golden Boy'. He still glares and smirks in a way only he knows how. But the other Slytherins don't seem to know what happened. Draco was, and is, being himself, even though he saw me cry. I know it's weird, but I'm so grateful for that. I told myself I didn't care, and that even if he had announced what had happened over dinner, I wouldn't mind. The truth is, though, that I think what he did was a decent thing to do. Keep it to himself, that is. He didn't change the way he acted around me, and I was glad for that, too. I didn't need him trying to give me hugs because of what happened. I smiled at him a few times in the halls. I wouldn't go up and say 'Thank you', because, well, there are people around, and even if there weren't, it'd still be weird. And on one momentous occasion, he smiled back. That was also a milestone in our insane situation. The day Draco Malfoy smiled back.
Yes, something is definitely wrong with me. I guess I was never that normal. I had an idea. A crazy idea after I saw that stupid smile of his. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to know how he felt about what had happened. I wanted to know his thoughts. You have to realise that then, this situation wasn't clear yet. I hadn't realised just how much I wanted to be near him, or wanted to talk to him about whatever thoughts he had, or wanted to just sit around and be in his presence. I was blissfully ignorant. How I miss those days…
I decided to write a note. I asked him to meet me in the Room of Requirement. I knew for a fact he knew where that was. I don't think my reason for wanting to see him was good enough, but I just felt like seeing him. I wanted to talk, and have someone listen who wouldn't feel obligated to mourn with me. Or maybe I was just bored, but I doubt that. I think what pushed me to do it the most, was that my feet hurt. I was tired of walking and thinking. Does that make me the damsel in distress?
By the way, when I said 'nothing changed' before, I meant to add 'in public'.
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Harry watched as the Slytherin boy entered the Room of Requirement. Harry had made it look like a common room, but with general wood colours instead of red and gold. He didn't want to insult Draco.
Draco looked around with a questioning gaze. Of course, it was because the note that reached him hadn't said why Harry wanted to see him, but only that he did. Harry had thought of reasons to tell the blond all day. He had come across many.
'I was bored.' 'I just wanted to chat.' 'I wanted to thank you for not making a scene.' 'I wanted to know how you were.' 'Just letting you know I'm doing okay.' 'Thanks for being there for me when I cried.' All of those things had been possibilities to say to Draco, but Harry didn't find either one suitable enough, and most of them pretty lame. He, in fact, wasn't sure of the exact reason he invited the boy into the room, so couldn't really speak the truth.
A moment of awkward silence fell into the room as Draco closed the door and stood, watching Harry. Harry looked right back at him, taking in his Slytherin look. Draco seemed to be doing the same to Harry, except for Harry being Gryffindor, and then blinked.
"Yes?" he asked simply.
"I… er… What you saw the other day… I don't usually act that way." Harry muttered, looking down, feeling embarrassed. This must have been the stupidest situation he ever voluntarily put himself in. He shouldn't be allowed to act when he was confused.
Harry didn't notice, but Draco blushed slightly. "It's ok. I know you don't. I'm sorry for bringing it up. I honestly didn't know…" Harry looked up, remembering that it had been Draco who had pushed him over the edge. Draco took a small step forward when Harry didn't respond. "It must have been pretty bad…"
The raven-haired boy sat on the floor, making sure it didn't look like he collapsed. He just wanted to sit. He didn't answer Draco, just stared ahead of him at the floor with the same expression he had been using all year. Draco sighed.
"You need to talk about it. Let it out."
"No, I don't." Harry whispered, suddenly angry at his stupid decision. "I don't need to do anything, especially not when you're around." Harry wrapped his arms around himself, as if it would help himself calm down. Draco sat beside Harry, so they wouldn't be forced to make eye contact.
"Potter, I've been waiting for you to talk to me since you broke down. You need to talk about it. You're pushing everyone and everything away. You're on a road to self-destruction. I won't tell anyone what you tell me, and I'll act the usual way with you out of this room. Isn't that what you want?" Draco spoke quietly and slowly.
Harry glared at the floor. That was exactly what he wanted. "I don't want to talk to you. Even if I talk to someone, it won't change anything."
Draco seemed experienced in what to say. Truth be told, he really had been waiting for Harry to send him a note of some sort. He had practised the situation in his mind several times. Harry Potter just wasn't Harry Potter nowadays. He was failing, and Draco noticed his friends were barely noticed by him, and Harry had just completely given up. Draco sighed deeply.
"Potter, just tell me what happened."
Harry blinked rapidly, trying to get the tears to go back into his eyes. "Your aunt." Harry spoke very slowly, every word paining him. Draco winced, but urged Harry on.
"What did she do? Tell me. You'll feel better. I promise." Harry turned his head to face Draco, and Draco's breath hitched. Harry's face was so sad. Draco could see that behind the sparkling emerald eyes, Harry was broken.
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't. He shut his eyes, his face contorted in pain, and shook his head. Draco lifted his hand to Harry's face, and gently took his glasses off.
"Don't make promises." Harry whispered, almost inaudibly. Draco hadn't expected that, and felt deeply sorry for Harry.
"Please tell me, Harry. I want to know."
Harry's eyes locked with Draco's, and he searched the grey pools, looking to find if he was sincere or not. Harry, vision blurred without his glasses, just shook his head again.
Draco's hand pressed gently on Harry's cheek, and the Gryffindor stopped moving his head. The tears began, but Draco didn't move his hand away. Harry refused to make eye contact and shut his eyes, willing the tears away.
"It doesn't matter if you cry, Harry. You can. I won't tell." Draco's words were soft and comforting, and if Harry had been watching the situation and feeling differently, he might have wondered how Draco ever got to be so nice.
The effect of the blond's words made the flow of tears increase. Harry's head pushed up against Draco's hand, like a cat wanting to be pet, and his own trembling hands covered Draco's.
Draco studied the boy in front of him, wanting to comfort him with all his might, though hopefully, no one but he would ever know that. Draco's hand moved under Harry's chin, and he raised it slightly so Harry would make eye contact with him.
"It's okay, Harry. I won't tell…" An urge overwhelmed Draco, and before he knew it, he leaned forward and pushed his lips gently against Harry's own. He could feel the warm tears on his own cheeks, which urged him to part his lips slightly.
Harry responded and kissed Draco back, his body still shaking slightly. He held onto Draco's robes and pushed a bit harder, kissing back with trembling lips.
Draco wondered if maybe Harry was vulnerable, or if he really didn't mind being kissed. Harry pulled away unsteadily, and Draco noticed less tears in his eyes.
"Oh Malfoy…" Harry murmured in a sad tone, before he buried his face into the Slytherin's robes. Draco put his arms around the boy and rocked him gently. Placing a kiss on Harry's head, Draco remained rocking him until Harry fell asleep.
