Harry was awoken by a tickling sensation in his nose. He opened his eyes to a face full of blond hair. Draco was curled up, back pressed against Harry's chest, deeply asleep. Waves of pure pleasure hummed through Harry's body from the contact. Draco shifted in the bed and brushed against Harry's length, making him groan softly. He was heavy and hard with arousal. Gods, he smells good. With a sigh, he forced himself to pull away and turn over. Somehow he thought it would not be well received if Draco found Harry's erection pressed into his back when he woke up. While he laid in bed and willed his hard on to go away, it occurred to him that while stuck in this situation there would be no possible way to have enough privacy to have a wank. Merlin, this was not going to be bloody easy.
He froze when he heard whimpering behind him. Slowly, he turned back around to face Draco, who was whining in his sleep, face scrunched up pain. Harry knew all too well what was happening. It was strange, it had never occurred to him that Draco might have nightmares too, after the war. He supposed that was quite a self centered thought. Now that he thought about it, of course he would have nightmares. He had gone through real life nightmares, just like Harry had.
Harry couldn't see past his rivalry with Draco to notice what was really going on in previous years. He now recognized that they weren't so different after all. Draco had been born into a family that pushed their racist, pureblood values at him from a very young age. Sure, he had been a right git growing up, but most of that had been him parroting things his parents had taught him, undoubtedly seeking approval from his unaffectionate father. And when the Dark Lord returned, he was stuck on the wrong side of the war, surrounded by Death Eaters and Voldemort whenever he went home from Hogwarts.
In sixth year he was given the choice between joining the ranks of the Death Eaters and performing an impossible task, or a death sentence for him and his family. And to top it off he had almost been sliced to death by his childhood rival. Harry couldn't even imagine what the nightmare of Voldemort's last year must have been like for the Malfoys. Draco had been stuck right in the middle of the war by no fault of his own, just like Harry.
Harry reached out and put his hand on Draco's shoulder, trying to comfort him through his nightmare. Malfoy woke with a jolt. Bleary grey eyes stared at him for a moment, before Draco jerked away from Harry,
"Get your hands off me Potter! What do you think you're doing?" he spit out,
"I'm sorry, I think you were having a night-" Draco cut him off,
"I don't care what you think. It's none of your business." He snapped.
"No need to get defensive. I'm pretty sure everyone has been having them since the war… I know I have.." Harry did his best to placate him, knowing how nightmares could be a touchy subject. Draco sneered,
"I don't need your pity Potter. I know you've got a hero complex, but the last person I want sympathy from is you. In case you've forgotten Potter, we fought on opposite sides of the war," Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. If you want to be like that Malfoy. I thought we were past this childish pettiness, but I guess not." He turned his back to Draco and laid back down.
"Oh no you don't. Get up, we're going to be late. I suppose it's okay for the savior of the wizarding world to have a lie-in, but I don't get those same privileges," Harry just rolled his eyes and followed Draco into the bathroom.
They took turns showering with the other sitting right on the other side of the shower door. Harry tried his best not to stare at Draco clad in just a towel around his waist. Luckily his arousal had been damped by Malfoy's scathing attitude.
"Hey, erm, would you mind if we sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast?" Harry stole a quick glance at Draco, who was performing a shaving charm on his face. "It's just that I haven't had a chance to talk to them yet and-"
"Fine."
"What?"
"I said it's fine," he huffed, "you'll just keep pestering me until I say yes. And besides, I doubt Slytherin would appreciate the Golden Boy hanging about anyway." he turned to face Harry.
"Let's go Potter, we're going to be late,"
When they made their way into the Great Hall, all eyes were on them. They hurried over to the Gryffindor table and sat between Ron and Neville. Neville glanced at Draco wearily before turning away from him and continuing his conversation with Ginny.
"Harry!" Hermione cried from the seat across from him, "Headmistress McGonagall told us what happened! I cannot believe you'd do something so idiotic, you could have been killed!"
"Oy, mate, thats some bloody bad luck," Ron commiserated, while filling his plate. Harry leaned over to him,
"You don't even know the half of it," He glanced over at Draco, who was looking over his Potions text, and cast a Muffliato over him, Ron, and Hermione. "We had to share a bed last night.." Ron looked horrified,
"Blimey Harry! I think I'd rather off myself!"
"Ronald! Don't be so insensitive!" Hermione scolded, "Harry, I'm sure between us and the Professors we will get this figured out in no time," Harry smiled at her,
"Thanks, 'Mione," he canceled the Muffliato and began to fill up his plate. When he glanced up from his plate a moment later two third year Hufflepuff girls had approached the Gryffindor table and were trying to conceal their giggles,
"Hello Harry," one of them said timidly, twisting a lock of her blonde hair around, "we heard you two are stuck together… Is it true that it's because you're soulmates?" both their eyes were wide with adoration.
"That would be, like, so romantic," the other girl said, her overly eye shadowed eyes starry. Harry made a face, still unsure how exactly to deal with the many fangirls he had acquired since the war, many of which were barely in their teens.
"Erm, no…" Both girls looked disappointed, "It was just an accidental spell…" Hermione cut in,
"I think Harry and Draco would both appreciate it if you didn't spread rumors of that sort.. I think Harry has enough on his plate at the moment without more silly gossip going around, don't you?" She gave the girls a pointed look.
"Oh. Of course… sorry Harry!" the blonde girl rushed out and they both turned and fled back to their tables, giggling and whispering to each other. Harry groaned,
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that…" Draco scoffed,
"Just another perk of being the great Harry Potter I see." Harry stared at him with his mouth open,
"A perk? Maybe it would be to you, Malfoy, but I don't see what enjoyment I could be getting out of little girls fawning over me."
"Oh, I'm sure it's not just little girls. I'm sure there are plenty of women fawning over you. Not to mention there are probably men as well," Draco smirked at him.
"Oh sod off, Malfoy. I'm not any happier about being in this situation than you are. Your attitude is not making it any easier." he raised his voice more than he had intended, and looked around to see most of the Great Hall glancing in their direction and talking hushedly.
"Great, now you've drawn even more attention to us," Draco said exasperatedly.
"Me? You're the one-" Ron cut Harry off mid argument,
"Mate, you're starting to sound like a bickering couple," he looked uncomfortable, "I'd stop doing that in public if you don't want more rumours going around.." he turned to his plate and shoveled another spoonful of eggs into his mouth. Draco grimaced at Ron,
"The weasel is right," Ron glared at him. "Try to control your temper Harry, it's quite unbecoming." he smirked. Harry just muttered under his breath and turned away from Draco. Just then an elegant black eagle owl swooped down and dropped a letter in front of Draco.
He pet the owl and gave it a bit of bacon before opening the envelope. The owl perched on the table, seemingly waiting for a reply to send back. Malfoy skimmed the letter in his hands and sighed,
"Mother wants me- us- to come stay with her during Easter Hols. I don't suppose I can convince you to go?" he turned to Harry.
"Erm, well, I was planning on going to The Burrow for at least half of the time…" He hadn't even thought of what they would do during the spring holiday, which was only a few days away. He knew he didn't want to go stay at the manor, even if Lucius was in Azkaban. But it was hardly fair of him to deny Draco seeing his mother. If they never found a solution to their failed spell, he would have to go with Malfoy to see his mother from time to time anyway. He shivered a bit at the thought of being stuck with Draco forever. A small part of him was excited at that thought, but an overwhelming part of him remembered how Draco had been acting this morning, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be stuck with that for the rest of his life.
"If you agree to go to The Burrow for a few days, I'll go to the manor with you for the other half of the holiday." Draco scowled at him, and didn't respond for a few moments. He let out an exasperated sigh,
"Fine, Potter," He returned his attention to the parchment, and wrote a quick reply before handing the scroll back to the owl.
"Oy," Ron whispered, leaning over to Harry, "never thought I'd have Malfoy over at the burrow.." he grimaced.
"Oh, Ron, I'm sorry, I suppose I sort of forgot that it's your house for a moment," Harry said sheepishly, "I won't come this time if It's too uncomfortable for you," Ron shook his head,
"Nah, we still want you there," he clapped Harry on the back, "you're lucky though mate, you're the only one I'd let bring a Malfoy over," he gave Harry a small smile, "I'm sure Mum won't mind too much, being as there will be another person to feed. And I'm sure the twins will be happy to laugh at your expense," Harry groaned,
"This just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?"
After a full day of classes involving many small arguments, stares from other students, and failed attempts to stay close enough together but not touch, they found themselves in the library trying to find a solution to their faulty spell. So far they had come up empty handed. Harry was getting fed up with dealing with Draco's attitude, and all the accidental touches that had happened throughout the day, sending little jolts of electricity through them weren't helping at all. If both their and their professors' lack of luck with finding info on what they had done were anything to go by, they were probably going to be in this situation for a while. So Harry resolved to try and reason with Draco and get him to drop the attitude, for both of their sakes,
"Malfoy?" Draco looked up from his book, and raised an eyebrow,
"Yes?"
"Erm, well, I've just been thinking, perhaps we should make a truce of sorts… It doesn't seem like we are going to get out of this easily, and I think we're making this harder by arguing all the time.." he ran a hand through his wild mass of black hair, "What I'm trying to say is, can't we at least pretend to be friends until all of this is over? If we're going to be stuck together, torturing each other isn't going to make it any more pleasant," Draco smirked at him,
"Do you propose we also start snogging? If you're looking to make this more enjoyable that's clearly the way to go, no?" Harry felt a blush creeping up on his cheeks,
"See, that's exactly what I'm talking about! Urgh, nevermind. I should have known you'd be incapable of being anything but sarcastic.." he snapped his book shut and leaned his head back, eyes closing in frustration.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist Potter. I'm only teasing. I'll try not to offend your delicate sensibilities from now on.." Harry opened his eyes, preparing to hash out his own remark, when he saw the look on Draco's face. Instead of his standard arrogant smirk, there was a small genuine smile on his lips. He was teasing him, Harry realized. His stomach fluttered at the amused look in Malfoy's eyes, cheeks becoming an even deeper shade of pink.
"Erm, thanks then…" he trailed off awkwardly, opening another book and pretending to read.
"Draco! Have you been avoiding me?" Both boys looked up to see Pansy Parkinson approaching their table. Malfoy nodded to her,
"Pansy," She sat down next to him and pouted,
"Professor Snape told us what happened, and I expected you would come and talk to me. I can't believe you didn't come to your best friend about this," she crossed her arms over her chest. Draco rolled his eyes,
"If you couldn't tell I've been a little busy. What do you think talking to you about this could do to help? I thought I'd spare myself the drama," she huffed,
"Well if you're going to be like that about it… Hello Harry, I don't believe we have really spoken since, well, you know…" she cleared her throat, "anyways, since we will probably being seeing more of each other due to this, uh situation, I propose we start fresh," she held out a perfectly manicured hand to him.
"Erm, sure, I suppose that's a good idea.." he reached out and grasped her hand; she shook it vigorously. She smiled brightly at him, and turned back to Draco.
"When are you going to come back to the common room, Blaise and I are bored without you there," Draco sighed,
"I doubt I will be for now, Harry and I have private rooms for the time being," she cut him off,
"Oh! Can we come and visit?"
"Perhaps another night Pansy, It's been a long day. I don't have the patience to deal with your insipid gossiping." She rolled her eyes and huffed,
"Fine, but I expect to see you soon!"
"Yes, yes.." Draco waved his hand and her dismissively. Pansy stood up, turned up her nose at them and left. Harry stared after her, amused. He had never witnessed Draco and Pansy interacting close up before. It was all quite… poncy.
"What's so funny, Potter?" Draco said, looking confused at Harry's amusement.
"It's just, you two have an interesting friendship.. It's like you're trying to out-snob each other." Draco rolled his eyes,
"Very funny Potter." Harry just grinned at him.