this chapter isn't really all that eventful but i hope you like it.
Comforting company chapter four
Dumbledore agreed to let Draco recover,he was given a private room that connected to the main infirmary. No classes until further notice and no visitors, the door was also charmed so that he could not open it himself and his wand was taken away just incase he had a few spells up his sleeve.
He had been there for three days without Dumbledore's presence,
it was a relief to say the least, but he was getting restless.
Draco's room may not have been as big as his private prefects room in Slytherin territory but atleast it was heated, unlike the dungeons, and best of all he had a window.Perhaps thats what made it bareable.And as much as he missed his fellow slytherins, he didn't want to deal with pansy's annoying screeching, she would surely damage an ear drum if she knew why he was really here. The headmaster had apparently told slytherin Draco had been injured after falling from his broom. ha.
A few hours after lunch on the third day Severus came to visit him, he brought with him a few book, which surprisingly had nothing to do with potions. He also told Draco that he would be around if ever he wanted to talk. Draco had always relied on Severus, as a father and as a friend, it pained him not to allow himself to blurt everything out, but he still didn't know what Dumbledore had in mind for his father.If his father got sent to prison it would not be on him, Dumbledore already had the evidence so it was his fathers fault for leaving it. Draco had given up trying to deny it but he sure as he'll didn't want to talk about it. When Pomfrey questioned him, he only gave answers to a few of her questions:
"How long has this been going on and how often?" she would ask.
"Since late June. Atleast twice a week in the summer, maybe once every two weeks since school started." Draco would answer.
"Did he ever beat you?"
"No, not really, perhaps a slap or two during sex, or a bite on the neck.." He flushed at the bluntness of this statement.
She had already seen his scars on his shoulders and back from his fathers fingernails, he was relieved when she told him she removed them.
It was nearing dinner time when he finally picked up the books Severus left for him, he read the title of the first one:
"The world of muggles"
He skimmed the back and rolled his eyes and tossed it on the other side of the bed and picked up the other one.
"Muggle law, muggle books, great..."
He had been about to open to the first page when his bedroom door opened and closed by itself. Draco lifted his brows.
'Now i doubt that was just the wind.'
"whos there?" Draco felt the presence he had felt in the tower, when potter must have seen the exchange between him and his father... but Draco hadn't seen him so.."Potter?"
Harry had waited for three very long days to see Malfoy, he had to know how the other boy was doing but Dumbledore and Snape had said not to disturb him, Madam Pomfrey had told him Draco was not to have visitors.
So he did what he always does to get his way, he went behind their backs...actually in this case it was more like under their noses. Hehehe.
The sound of Draco's voice startled him.
"Whos there... Potter?"
Harry looked at the slytherin in front of him and immediately felt guilty, he pulled the invisibility cloak from around himself and hung it over a chair near the bed.
Suddenly all the anxiety of the situation came back as Draco looked at his school rival.
"...what are you doing here Potter? come to gloat? does mocking me at this point make you feel better about yourself"
Draco glared but it was dimmed by the worried look that was mixed in to it.
Harry was clearly taken back by the accusation.
"No, why would i gloat? I...I..came to see how you were doing."
Draco scoffed.
"Why would you gl-..why?" Now he truly looked puzzled.
"why wouldn't you? after everything I've ever said and done to you, why wouldn't you want to throw i back in my face? of all the orphan comments I've thrown at you, of all
the insults about your father...surely you have some about mine after..." Draco felt his throat tighten.
"Just get it over with now and say what you have to say! Big bad Malfoy, raped by his own precious father, whats my money going to do for me now? This is your chance! say it!" Draco was now on the edge of his bed, fists clenched.
"tell me what you think of what you saw! tell me how disgusting it is! Tell me and look at me! do i make you sick? Did i deserve it? did i? did i"
Draco was almost hysterical, tears glistened on his cheeks, he looked desperately at Harry for an answer, as if his sanity depended on it.
Harry stared wide-eyed at the broken looking blond, searching for the right words to console him, calm him but it was taking too long, he said the only thing he knew to be true..
"No." his voice barely above a whisper.
Draco stared at him for a long moment, shocked beyond words.
"What" he asked quietly
Harry cleared his throat.
"You don't deserve it Malfoy, nothing you could ever do would make you deserve it, your not disgusting, your not sick, your father may well be but you, your just a kid, just a boy really,
you shouldn't have to think about these things, you should be worrying about grades and dates and what you want to be when you grow up."
Draco looked at Harry and sank down on his mattress, he wondered why he suddenly felt so relieved, why did he care what potter thought? but then why did he suddenly feel so much better now that he knew potter wasn't disgusted with him? Draco was still looking at the other boy,
at his fierce green eyes, and his messy black hair, his flawless tan skin, why did he have to look so sincere? why did he have to look so concerned?
Harry sat down beside the blond and put his arm around Draco, he looked in to Dracos beautiful grey eyes.
"Mal-Draco...I'm sorry for everything that happened to you, do know that i would never blame you, as I'm sure no one else is going to should you press charges against your father, but it is up to you. if you want me to I'll testify as a witness."
"Why? why do you care?" Draco asked as he looked down at his hands.
"Because i know what its like to think that nobody cares." Dracos head snapped up to look at Harry, who smiled softly, Draco opened his mouth to speak when the door slammed open.
"What in the name of Merlin is going on here?"
Both boys looked over to the doorway to where Madam Pomfrey stood holding a tray of clean clothes.
"Mr.Potter! i told you no visitors! Albus is going to hear about-" Poppy stopped when she noticed Harry's arm around Draco and the look on Dracos face.
Harry realized what she was staring at and pulled his arm away from Draco, looking rather flustered.
Draco surprised himself with being disappointed when the other boy pulled away. He didn't want Potter to get in to trouble for visiting him so for the first time since fifth year he pulled himself up and plastered on the Malfoy Charm.
"Come now Poppy, you wouldn't punish one of my visitors who made such an effort to cheer me up after such difficult time now would you?" Draco nearly smirked her trust.
"Well...i suppose if he's making you feel better..."
'Almost there' he thought
"Oh he is, infact i wondered if you might get the headmaster for me, i think I'm ready to hear what he has to say."
Poppy raised her brows, this was a definite improvement.
"Alright dear, if you ready feel up to it" Barely finishing the sentence as she rushed out of the room, leaving the door wide open.
Harry stood up.
"Your really going to talk to him?"
Draco snorted.
"No" He walked out of the open door.
"But i thought you just said..." Harry followed him down the main infirmary.
"I did just say Potter and she fell for it, thanks." Draco opened the door to the infirmary and walked out.
"for what?" He suddenly felt uneasy.Draco Malfoy didn't thank too many people, if any.
Draco turned around with a big grin on his face, he chuckled at the innocently confused look Potter was giving him.
"For helping me escape." He then turned and continued down the hall.
Harry mentally slapped himself i the head. of course Draco had been locked in! he had tried to escape the first night in the infirmary. Harry trailed a little behind Draco.
"UH...Draco maybe you should-"
Draco cut him off.
"Nope."
"But-"
"uh un."
"I don't think-"
"Dont care."
Harry sighed, he tried.
"Where are you going?" Harry was at least going to make sure Draco didn't leave the school grounds.
"For a walk." Draco shrugged, this was going to be fun.He continued to walk as he spoke to Harry.
"To where? i really don't want to-"
"Listen Potter, you really don't have to come with me if your too scared, just say i fled before you could catch me.
Its almost dinner so most kids are headed to the great hall, why don't you join them?" Draco smirked, Potter was so predictable, three, two, one.
"Wait! I...sigh fine, lead the way."
And lead the way Draco did.
"Wow, its really beautiful up here, Draco." Harry let his eyes wonder the sky from where he stood on top of a roof at Hogwarts. (note:I don't know if there are any actually roofs at Hogwarts but whatever)
The stars had come out and Harry couldn't help but stare i awe, he felt so close to him that he was sure he could reach out and touch them.
Draco smiled but his focus was on Harry.
Harry turned to the silverhaired slytherin and smiled back.
"You really do love the stars don't you?" he asked
"yes, but what makes you think that?"
"I don't know...Draco.." Harry sat down on the floor of the massive roof. "That night... in the tower you were singing...where did you learn that song? surely you know its muggle?"
Draco came and sat down next to Harry and looked up to the stars.
"How i wonder what you are, its nice isn't it?" Draco sighed. "One of my nannies was Muggleborn, she used sing to me, she used to tell me to wish upon a star and that no matter what changed in my life the stars would always be there, and that no matter where i was in the world i could look to the stars and know someone else in the world was looking up at them too, so you were never alone if you didn't want to be..she also said that once you found your soul mate that they wold become your star and you wouldn't need the sky anymore."
Harry sat in silence as he thought of just how much he didn't know about Draco, he turned to Draco and gave a small smile.
"You had a very wise Nanny."
"Well what can you expect when dealing with me?" Draco smirked.
Harry rolled his eyes, still smiling. "only the best I'm sure."
Draco snickered."Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry."
Harry raised his eyebrows."For what?"
"For the past.."
"Oh."
"I wasn't exactly nice to you." Draco laughed softly, that was a major understatement. "But you've got to admit you didn't leave much room for friendship after refusing my hand."
"No, your right, i didn't but you were a nasty git back then so i guess we're even."
Draco took a deep breath and extended his hand to Harry. "What say we try this again?"
Harry, while finding this extremely amusing, took Dracos hand in to his own. He hadn't been prepared for the shocking warm sensations that spread through him when their skin connected.
Dracos eyes widened slightly, as he felt it too.
They sat in comfortable silence, hand in hand, both studying each other and wondering how, after so may years of animosity, that they could feel so...good in each others company.
A thought came to Draco, Had he ever Hated Harry Potter? Not really...was jealous of? Hell yes. Though its not something he liked to admit,even to himself. He suddenly felt it was important to let Harry know this...well maybe not the jealousy part.
"I never really hated you Harry." He said softly.
"You didn't?" Harry wasn't surprised, he had been thinking along the same lines.
"Not even in our first year."
Harry smiled. "I hated you then, but i think it was just me wanting to blame someone for everything that happened to me, and well you were the only one who seemed to want to hurt me."
Draco snorted back laughter, Hell, if he could have done all those things to Harry back then he would have, given the chance.
Harry leaned back, looking once again highly amused. Neither one noticed their hands were still clutched.
"Did you just snort Malfoy?"
Draco stopped laughing and frowned.
"Of course not! Malfoys Don't snort."
Harry smirked, an expression that looked strangely good on him.
"Sure."
"Whats that suppose to mean?"
"Oh nothing, just the fact that Malfoys have a reputation of not being exactly law abiding and your putting snorting in the category of things not to admit. Yet i just saw you snort so either you admit it or i might have to tell some of your slytherin friends, say pansy for instance,
that i saw a Malfoy snort."
"...They'll never believe you..."
Harry's smirk darkened.
"Alright alright i snorted! Man, Harry, some Gyffindor you are."
Harry stuck out his tongue, Squealing when Draco reached out to grab it.
"You squeal like a girl."
"And you don't?"
"No i don't." Draco said in a superior voice.
"We'll see about that." Harry pulled Draco on his back and proceeded to tickle the life out of Draco, who by the way DID squeal like a girl.
Both boys later lay back on the roof to catch their breaths, giggling (in a most manly way of course...) Harry turned his head to look at Draco.
"I think we'd better get back, Poppy's probably sent out a search."
"Crap, i forgot about that, come on then." Draco hopped up and pulled Harry to his feet. They headed back to the infirmary to face the wrath of Madam Pomfrey.
End chapter four.