Hey! So the reviews I got said that a sequel/continuation would be welcome; so I have written another chapter! I guess it wanted to be written as it didn't take long!
Disclaimer; As always I do not own Harry Potter, nor will I ever I suspect. Such a shame.
Hope you Enjoy!
When Harry woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was that he was lying on hard stone. Cracking his eyes open, which took more effort than he cares to admit, he saw that he had fallen asleep in the corridor. Confused, he surveyed his surroundings, startling when he realised that Draco Malfoy was pressed against his side. Rolling his eyes at himself because really that should have been the first thing he noticed; he took his time staring at the boy. It wasn't often that he got the chance to see him without a mask, without his guard up.
Not that he blamed Draco for that of course; with all the people around him ready to report his every move, Harry perfectly understood why he was so guarded. That didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the rare opportunity presented to him though; and enjoy it he did.
Draco's face was so… peaceful, when he was sleeping; instead of the usual sneer his face was smooth of lines, of any emotion. His eyelashes were so long that they brushed his cheek and cast shadows across his cheekbones, Merlin were they really that defined? Harry felt like he could sit in the damn corridor forever as long as Draco decided he would stay too, was that a weird thing to think? Harry thought it might be, but then he wasn't so sure what was weird for him.
It was probably weird.
Though really, did he care? It wasn't like he was gonna tell anyone that he had thought about Draco like that. Whilst he was on that topic, when did he become Draco? He had always been Malfoy before. Though really, when Harry thought about it, he'd been thinking of him as Draco in his head for most of the year; he'd even nearly tripped up and called him that out loud. He just knows he hadn't imagined the suspicious look Hermione had sent him.
"Ugh…"
Harry's eyes snapped back down to look at the blonde, eyes fluttering and hand trailing along the floor beside him. Thank Merlin it wasn't his other hand! Harry felt a flare of panic when Draco's eyes snapped open and fear flooded them. He barely had time to blink before Draco was on the other side of the corridor, pressed up against it like he could will himself to fall through it if he wished hard enough. He whipped out his wand too late for it to seem like it had been anything other than a second thought.
"Whoa Draco, I'm not gonna hurt you." He tried to keep his voice calm, he really did.
"What in Merlins name was I doing pressed up against you in a corridor Potter?!" Draco's voice shook, and Harry knew him well enough, or at least liked to think he did, to know that it wasn't anger, but fear that was driving his actions.
"We talked last night; I guess we just fell asleep. Nothing more Draco." Harry didn't think it was the right time to try and explain the consequences of the talking they had done. He wasn't lying, they had just talked, but the weight of the things talked about… he'd let Draco remember on his own.
"Talked? Like you'd just talk to me!" Harry hated the way his eyes darted around, looking for an ambush or something he supposed.
"Draco; nothing's gonna hurt you. Least of all me, I promise you that." Disbelief shone out of every line of Draco's face and Harry found himself rather desperate to hug him again. Merlin he wanted to make him happy, to make those lines go away.
Draco lowered his wand slightly, his grip so tight his knuckles were white, and his arm shook with the effort of holding it. How much sleep has he been getting? Harry shook himself, now was not the time to dwell on things like that, first he'd focus on the things he could help with. Things like getting Draco's mum away from the fucking monster that was Voldemort. Possibly her husband too.
Glancing around the corridor, taking note of the way the sun was slanting along the stones, he realised that they probably didn't have much time until the early risers began to make their way to the Great Hall; didn't have much time until someone stumbled across them. It was a bloody miracle that no prefects or teachers had come across them in the night.
"Look Draco, we don't have much time now, but I can help you. I can help your mum, but you need to trust me okay?" He didn't have time to keep talking, at the mention of his mum Draco had bolted at him. Harry found it hard to continue his train of thought with Draco pressed against him, forget him trying to bloody talk.
"Thank you, thank you; you really mean it?" Harry was confused for a second. Oh.
"Yeah Draco, of course I bloody mean it!" To think he'd say such a thing and not mean it! "I'm not going to let you get blackmailed into helping Voldemort to save your mum! Super low of him by the way, using your mum like that." Harry grimaced; mums were, well, special. Using one like that was just…wrong.
"I- I didn't- " Harry was alarmed to see that Draco's eyes were beginning to brim with tears, his mouth was stuttering as he bit his lip; trying to contain sobs he realised.
"No, no don't cry Draco; everything is going to be okay. I swear it." Should he be worried that Draco didn't seem to remember what had happened last night?
"You won't let me get dragged down, right?" It was said in a light, watery voice that he thought had no business coming out of Draco bloody Malfoy's mouth, but he was glad that he seemed to remember last night. He smiled at him.
"Exactly. I dare anyone to try."
Draco thought that the near feral smile that lit Harry's face in that moment was equal parts terrifying and comforting.
Then he remembered what Harry had been saying, before he had practically tackled him into the wall. Pulling back, he looked up and down the corridor, spotting an alcove a few metres away. Why hadn't they taken refuge there? He snorted mentally; trust Potter to ignore the safe hiding place in favour of the very unsafe corridor. Honestly, it was his fault; he'd been emotional after all.
"Why are we in the corridor?" He fought the urge to snicker when Harry's face creased in confusion.
"Uh, we fell asleep here? Didn't I already mention that?" Draco didn't bother trying to suppress his eye roll.
"Yes Potter, but why were we in the corridor, when there's a perfectly good alcove right there?" Would it be inappropriate to laugh? Draco thought that it might be, so he bit his cheek to prevent himself; after all, it wouldn't do to annoy Potter too much.
"I- well I was too busy making sure you were alright to give a damn where we were Draco!" Harry realised a second too late that that was possibly a very, telling thing to say.
"Honestly Potter, you're such a Gryffindor." He was smirking when he said it though, so Harry wasn't too bothered. In fact, he thought it might have even been a complement this time.
"Well excuse me for giving a damn!" Harry fought to control his temper, Merlin he makes me CRAZY! "C'mon, let's go see Dumbledore." Harry was grumbling. He knew it. Draco knew it. Harry couldn't bring himself to care, and Draco was too amused to really give a damn either.
He did know better than to antagonise him any further though. He, wisely, kept his mouth shut the whole way to Dumbledore's office. He was quite proud of his self control.
OoOoOoOoO
"Blood Pops!"
"Bertie Botts!"
"Cockroach Clusters!"
"Pumpkin Pasties!"
"Lemon Drops!"
"Chocolate Frogs!"
The gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office finally opened. Draco gaped.
"I reckon he thinks that having a chocolate frog card is his greatest achievement." Draco gaped some more. Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed his arm, pulling him onto the stairs and letting them slowly spin them upwards. He didn't try and make Draco walk up them; he seemed a little too… preoccupied.
"Come in." Draco continued to gape.
Harry pushed open the door, pulling Draco into the office behind him. He pushed the boy past all the spinning, whirring and colourful objects that littered every surface and sat him in a chair. Draco didn't stop gaping.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, I can't say this isn't a surprise! Harry, I trust you have a reason for being here so very early in the morning." It was only then that Harry realised that it was indeed very early; the sun had only just fully entered the sky. He flushed. Dumbledore twinkled. Draco gaped.
"Oh, well, uh…" He glanced around the office, taking note of the still sleeping portraits. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't- I didn't realise it was so early." Dumbledore just smiled, quite clearly not minding the early hour.
"No matter my dear boy! Now, what exactly can I do for you?" Harry had never been more thankful for his eccentricity. The things you get away with when your headmaster is completely mad.
"Voldemort is threatening Draco's mum and forcing him to try and kill you, if he doesn't succeed Voldemort'll kill his mum!" Draco stopped gaping.
"Well, that is grave news indeed." He turned to Draco. "Where is your mother Mr Malfoy?" perhaps it was the fact that no one had ever looked at him with such…grandfatherly concern before, but Draco found himself unable to speak for a moment.
"Draco?" Harry's voice distracted him from his thoughts. Can distract me any day Potter. Shaking himself of such, unwanted thoughts he turned to face the headmaster. When had he turned to look at Potter anyway?
"I- she's at Malfoy Manner sir. The Dark Lord, he came over the summer…he's been there for months." Harry's heart wrenched at the idea of Draco, beautiful Draco, being subjected to that monsters company for that long. Thank Merlin he had to come to school. "I- He wants to Mark me when I go home for Easter break."
"No!" It took Harry a moment to realise that the shout he heard was his own. The very idea of Draco being marred by such a thing disgusted him. Beautiful Draco, protect him! Draco was looking at him, he seemed surprised. Dumbledore just looked pleased. "You are not getting the Dark Mark. No bloody way in Hell."
"Well it isn't like the idea appeals to me either Potter!"
I hope I didn't disappoint! Please review and let me know what you thought! :)
