Chapter 2: Snapped

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything to do with it.

"The goblin wars of the twelfth century would go down in history as one of the most brutal wars ever fought in our world. Wizard's, witch's and goblins alike lost many lives, leaving our world..."

A blonde head made sharp contact with the edge of the table it was sitting at. Someone stifled a laugh bringing steel grey to meet sapphire blue in a glare. His tablemate simply smiled, picked up a quill and began to write. Draco never did understand how Reaghan paid such close attention in this class. Binns was more boring that watching the grass grow. A piece of parchment was shoved under his nose and he looked down at it before rolling his eyes.

Bit boring, isn't he?

A bit is the understatement of the century.

Watch this.

Draco looked up at the same time that a crumbled piece of parchment went sailing across the room and through Professor Binns head. He had to place his head back down to keep from laughing out loud. He heard an annoyed, disapproving sound come from somewhere behind him. Both he and Reaghan turned and looked straight at the female part of the Golden Trio. Her face was flushed and she seemed to be insulted for the ghost at the front of the room. Potter and Weasley were looking anywhere but in front of them, and Reaghan simply smiled at the girl before turning back towards the front and picking up her wand.

Draco watched in amusement as a piece of chalk start writing random things on the board and more and more students came out of their bored stupor. When the chalk finally fell back to its place and he read the last line, he could no longer hold back his laughter. There for all the world to see was written:

Granger-0

Trine-1

Take that, you walking encyclopedia. I win!

The bell rang and Draco followed Reaghan out of the classroom, his laughter still making itself known in small bursts of hilarity. They made their way to lunch, talking and laughing at different things. Many of the students looked at the duo like they had lost their minds, but there was no doubt that the episode in Binns classroom would eventually make its rounds. They sat at the Slytherin table and greeted Blaise before pilling food on their plates and beginning to eat. It seemed that the extreme heat had passed, for now at least, and the entire school was enjoying it.

"How was History of Magic? I have to endure it next, and I want to know how well I'll be sleeping."

"Well, if the chalkboard is left alone you probably won't be sleeping."

"Why?"

"Reaghan decided to relieve the boredom."

"What did you do?" Blaise asked turning to the girl and sighing in exasperation.

"Nothing," Reaghan shrugged, " I spelled the chalk to write some random stuff on the board is all."

"And she threw a ball of parchment through Binns' head."

Blaise stared in disbelief for a moment before he burst into laughter. Reaghan just smiled and took a drink from her cup. The girl was wicked smart, sly, and ambitious but sometimes she did not take the credit that was due. They left quickly when the bell signaled their next class and they made their way to the potions classroom. Severus Snape stood at the front of the dim room looking as intimidating as ever. His dingy, raven hair fell to his shoulders and obsidian eyes glared at approaching students. To his left, a large black cauldron bubbled with a vile potion that looked to be the color of regurgitated pumpkin pasties. Despite the love Draco had for the subject, even he wrinkled his nose in disgust at they took their seats.

The class ended quickly, which left Draco and Reaghan with the rest of the day to do as they pleased. They were always together now. The war had changed many things, but the friendship between the two Slytherins was not one of them. If it did anything, it drew them closer together. They made their way outside to their favorite spot on the grounds, a willow tree on the edge of the Black Lake, and sat down. Their bags had been shrugged off along with their robes. Their ties went next.

Reaghan leaned her back against the tree and stared across the lake, allowing Draco to place his head into her lap. Her small hands ran through his soft, blonde locks causing him to relax and sigh. She chuckled but did not stop her ministrations. She glanced at him every so often. It was a bit unnerving. Draco could tell that she wanted to say something, but gave her the time to work out her thoughts.

"How's your mom, Dragon?"

He allowed a small smile to cross his face at the nickname, "She's well. She hates sitting in that house all day. It brings back memories."

"I can imagine. When will you be let off house arrest?"

"Three more months."

They lapsed back into silence. Reaghan did not like thinking about how he and his mother were sentenced. It was unfair in her eyes. Then again, she was kept away from the war for the most part. Her parents were the only reason he was spared from Azkaban, with a little help from the hero himself. He stared into the sky. The sun's rays tickled the water of the lake making it glitter in its warmth. He closed his eyes and relaxed. it was not often when he was allowed to show who he really was. He was an ass, there was no doubt about that, but he was not a horrible person like everyone thought he was. Reaghan, his parents, and Blaise were the only ones who were privileged enough to see his caring side.

He felt Reaghan tense under him and his eyes squinted together in confusion. It cleared a second later, however.

"Granger, Potter, Weasley," Reaghan said, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I've went to Professor McGonagall and told her what you did to Professor Binns today. She would like to see you."

Reaghan's hand tightened in Draco's hair and he sat up, allowing Reaghan to square off with the trio. "You just can't stand for someone to have a bit of fun, can you?"

"You disrupted other's learning. It was rude and disrespectful."

"You're the only person I disrupted. Potter and Weasley were even laughing. Maybe if you took the wand out of your ass, you could laugh every once in a while. You act as if I wrote 'All Hail Voldemort' on the board."

"Watch it, Trine." Weasley said, stepping up beside Granger.

"You watch it, Weasley. Unlike everyone else around here, I don't bow down to the Chosen One and his two lap dogs. I'll go and see McGonagall, but I would watch my back if I were you, Granger."

Reaghan stormed off, leaving Draco alone in the company of three Gryffindor's. He nodded to them, picked up his and Reaghan's things, and left them standing there. It was over an hour before he saw Reaghan again, and he pitied Granger the next time she ran into the blonde. You could practically see the steam coming from her ears in her rage. She was mumbling to herself, and that was never a good sign.

"Rea, just let it go."

"That old hag gave me detention for two weeks!"

"What?"

"Yeah. I apparently also wrote vulgar language on the board. That bloody twat is so going to get it."

"You didn't write anything vulgar."

"Don't you think I bloody fucking know that!"

Draco sat back in his chair and went right back to writing his charms essay. There was no talking to her when she was like this. He heard her stomp up the stairs and the door to her dorm slam shut before he released the breath he was holding. He sat his books down and left the common room after that. He knew where he was going. The Astronomy tower was calling his name. He walked slowly. He had plenty of time before curfew to make it there.

He walked through the door and up the stairs, positioning himself the same way he had the day before and looked up at the stars. It was like nothing could touch him up here. He sat in silence for countless minutes before he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He did not even turn. He was certain he knew who it was.

"I'll go back to the common room in a bit."

"I can't tell you how happy that makes me, Malfoy."

Draco jumped up and turned to face the boy behind him. He glared into emerald green eyes and felt his body stiffen. He was positive that this was going to end badly. With that thought, he moved away from the railing of the tower and leaned against a wall casually.

"I'm not going to push you off the tower."

"I'm supposed to believe that?"

"No, I suppose not. What are you doing up here?"

"That is none of your bloody business, Potter."

He watched as Potter shrugged, placed a cloak on the ground, and sat. He did not know what to do. He knew that they would end up fighting, and the fact that they were on the tower would probably end up in death. He knew that he should leave, but could not bring himself to move. He did not want to be there. Finally, after a few tense minutes, Draco's body decided to cooperate with him and he began to move towards the door.

"You don't have to leave."

Draco snorted, "Why would I stay here with you?"

"Just shut up and sit, Malfoy."

If you asked him a week from now what possessed him to do what Harry Potter told him too, he would deny it with ever part of himself. If he were honest, however, the look on his face made him do it. Harry Potter looked like hell. There were bags under those startling green eyes, his face was pale but flushed lightly across his cheeks, and he appeared to have lost a bit of weight. It was unnerving and it made his heart give an unfamiliar twinge. He walked to where he had been previously and sat. You could cut the tension with a knife, it was so thick. Maybe it was just him. Potter looked completely relaxed.

Draco took in the sight before him. The man was beautiful, anyone with eyes could see that. With his thick, untamable black locks, emerald green eyes, and quidditch toned body; he could not name one person that did not find him attractive. His eyes traveled up his rivals' body and met green eyes. He turned away quickly.

"What are you looking at?"

"You look like hell, Potter. It's like a train wreck. It's horrible and you want to turn away, but you just can't."

"You aren't so perfect yourself."

"What is the savior of the wizarding world doing on top of the Astronomy tower with his school rival and ex-Death Eater?"

Harry shrugged, "I come up here sometimes to clear my head. As for you being here with me, I haven't figured that out yet."

"We hate each other, Potter. There is..."

"I don't hate you."

"What?"

"I don't hate you, Malfoy. I haven't since sixth year. I still don't like you, but I don't hate you."

Silence enveloped them again. The night was warm but comfortable and the stars glittered in the dark sky. The light of the moon bathed the tower in its light, and Draco relaxed. If Potter was not going to be his normal vile self, then Draco would show just as much maturity. If he was honest with himself, he did not hate Potter anymore, either. He had freed him from the Dark Lord, after all.

"What did McGonagall do to your friend?"

"Hmm?"

"What did McGonagall do to Trine?"

"She has detention for two weeks."

"Oh."

"You had better tell Granger to watch her back. Reaghan was furious when she got back to the Common Room."

"Hermione was right. She shouldn't have thrown that paper at Binns."

"That isn't even way she got two weeks of detention. Granger told McGonagall that she was writing vulgar comments on the board."

"But she didn't..."

"I know she didn't and so does she. Just tell your friend to watch her back. Reaghan isn't the person you want to piss off."

Potter nodded to him, leaned his head against the stone wall, and closed his eyes. The sigh that escaped his lips was exhausted. Draco wanted to ask why he appeared to not have slept in a long while, but kept is mouth shut and simply allowed his thoughts to wander. He was far more comfortable here with him than he should have been, but he knew the other boy would not harm him. They were not in public and it was not expected. That was way they had been at each other's throats all these years. He was Draco Malfoy, all around bastard, an ex-Death Eater, and Prince of Slytherin. He was Harry Potter, slayer of the Dark Lord, Gryffindor Golden boy, and defender of good. It just was not meant to be. They were not allowed to be friends. They were expected to hate each other, and they made good on that expectation.

He could not tell you how long he sat there in silence, just letting Potter sleep. Finally, he stood and walked towards Potter. The boy was sleeping peacefully, his face bathed in the moonlight. His chest rose and fell evenly, and he appeared to not have slept in years. Draco sighed, squatted beside him, and shook his shoulder.

"Potter, wake up."

"G'way"

"You have been sleeping on the floor for hours, " Draco shook him harder this time, "Get up."

"Mmm."

He sighed in frustration, placed both hands on the other man's shoulders, and gave him a firm shake, "Potter!"

Many things happened at once. The Gryffindor's eyes shot open and he knocked Draco to the ground. One hand was around his pale throat while the other held his wand at Draco's temple. His breathing was erratic and his heart was thumping swiftly under his chest. A growl escaped him and his eyes had turned hard.

Draco's body was shaking. the look in Potter's eyes frightened him. The tip of his wand was beginning to light up. He did not want to know what spell was going through the Gryffindor's mind. There was so much rage and hate filling those memorizing eyes that Draco could guess.

"Potter, let me..." He started quietly, like he was talking to a caged animal.

"You're not going anywhere, Tom."

Draco's eyes widened, and his fear grew tenfold, "Potter, please."

"I'm going to finish this, once and for all."

"Potter, you don't want to do this. Please, let me up, please." Draco was terrified. His sight was becoming blurred with tears and his body shook harder.

"You don't have a bloody clue what I want, Tom. It's time to say goodbye."

"No, please, " Draco pleaded. The tip of the wand was beginning to light green, "Please, No. Let me go. Stop! You don't know what you're doing."

"Time to die, Tom."

"Harry, please." Draco whispered. His eyes fell shut as he waited. This was it.

He could still hear heavy breathing above him. He could feel the tip of the wand at his temple and he was certain that it was coming at any moment. He felt the hand on his throat loosen and the wand slowly being moved from his temple, but he did not move. Tears still leaked from his closed eyes.

"Malfoy?" Draco opened his eyes and looked into green orbs. They were clear once again, "Oh, Gods. I'm sorry."

Potter sat back against the wall and Draco sat up slowly. Horrified realization crossed Potter's features as Draco sat up and scooted across the floor. His eyes never left Potter as he wiped the tears from his face. The boy-who-lived placed his head in his hands and took slow, even breaths. Draco was still shaking and the last remnants of fear rocked through his brain.

"You called me Tom." Draco told him quietly.

Emerald eyes looked into steel grey. There were tears clinging to thick lashes, "I what?"

"You called me Tom. What were you dreaming of?"

"Voldemort."

Draco cringed involuntarily, "Yes, I thought so."

He stood to leave and walked to the door before he turned back to Potter. The boy was crying silently and his heart contracted. It was obvious that the hero was in pain, that he needed help, but Draco was not the person to do that. He pulled the door open and went to step through it.

"I am sorry, Draco."

It was whispered, as if it was not intended for him to hear. He continued down the steps and towards his common room. Even though the Gryffindor would expect it, Draco did not plan on telling anyone about what had happened that night on the tower. It was nothing to be mocked. Well, he would tell Reaghan, but she would not say anything.

As he crawled into bed that night, Draco felt a new respect for his longtime rival. Not that he would ever know that. When sleep finally took him that night, he dreamt of glittering tear-filled green eyes looking brokenly back at him.