Chapter 7-
Draco woke up in the room of requirement, with sunbeams spilling in through the cloudy windows. He blinked and brushed the pale hair out of his eyes. The air was cold, but his body felt so warm. Potter must have put a blanket on him as he slept. Potter… In an instant, last night's events came rushing back into his mind. He, the heir to the Malfoy name, had cried like a little kid in front of Harry bloody Potter. Not just in front of him, actually. He'd wept into Potter's arms for ages. No one had ever held him like that before. Draco blushed and shoved the blanket off. Standing up and glancing across the room, Draco could see that Potter was gone. What did you expect? Draco thought bitterly. That someone could care about you for more than one night? Potter was probably telling all his friends that Draco Malfoy was just a crybaby deep down. Draco had seen it coming, but he still felt like crying. Well, seeing as he was already alone… Draco curled up on the messy sofa was cried into his robes for what felt like too long. He was thinking of summoning his silver knife when he heard a creak at the door.
"Merlin's Beard!" It was Potter. He came back for me, Draco thought. It was tragic how happy that made him. Slowly, he looked up from the tear-stained sheets, towards the dark-haired boy in the doorway. He was holding a plate of food and looking bittersweet. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah…" Draco mumbled, sitting up and looking down. "Is that breakfast?"
"Oh, yeah, it's for you." Potter smiled sadly and set the plate gently on the table. "I figured you wouldn't want to go down to the Great Hall, just yet."
"T-Thanks." Draco didn't know what else to say. Potter was hovering by the sofa, looking like he expected something of him.
"You were crying just now," Potter said flatly, sitting awkwardly by his side.
"It's nothing…" Draco muttered.
"It's not nothing, if you're upset," Potter said. "What happened?"
"Nothing, really."
"You can tell me, you know." The other boy whispered. "I'm here for you." He placed his hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco flinched but decided to stay. Potter came back for him, after everything. Maybe he deserved a little piece of his trust.
"I thought you'd left me," Draco said quickly. He was turning a rosy shade of pink by then.
"What?" In a second, all of Potter's tension seemed to have disappeared.
"You asked!" Draco cried. "I know I'm pathetic."
"No!" Potter laughed. "It's just… that's sweet."
"I'm not sweet," Draco mumbled indignantly.
"It's okay," Potter said lightly. He leaned closer to Draco and pulled him into a hug. His body was warm, like the blanket. Draco felt all fuzzy inside. This was the second time someone had really hugged him in five years. Only now did he realize just how lonely he was. It was terrifying. It had only been one night, but he already felt so dependent.
"I won't leave you, Draco." Potter murmured.
"Ok…" He murmured back.
Draco wrapped his hands around Potter's shoulder and faded into his embrace.
"I want to talk about what you're doing to yourself," Potter said cautiously. "The cutting, I mean."
"W-What?" Draco stammered. He'd almost forgot that Potter knew about that now. He knew too much.
"Not now." Potter said quickly, "If you don't want too."
"I don't," Draco muttered.
"Then later." The other boy said, not sternly, but with resolution. Draco figured it was no use arguing with him. He didn't want to push Potter away. He wasn't going to stop cutting, though… He needed it. But he'd have to find a way around that later. In that moment he just wanted to focus on the warmth in Potter's arms, the kindness in his words. "Maybe we should go somewhere else."
"Where?" Draco asked
"You like sitting by the lake, don't you?"
"Yeah…" Draco blushed. "How'd you know?"
"You were there that day, when… when we fought." Potter said, somewhat ashamed. "You looked so lonely. I-I feel really guilty about that now, actually. I shouldn't have hurt you like that, not when you were down."
"No, It's- It's my fault," Draco whispered. "I've always been a dick to you. E-Ever since you rejected me that first time."
"I rejected you?" Potter asked, looking genuinely stunned.
"On the train." He said. "I remember you choose Weasley over me."
"That?" Potter smiled softly. "We were so much younger back then. I didn't know you at all. It's different now."
"Really?" Draco looked up, into the dark-haired boy's endlessly green eyes.
"I think we should get to know each other better," Potter said. "We can go down to the lake, and just talk."
"S-Sure…"
Together they stumbled down the snowy grounds. It had been snowing all night, so all the flowers and footprints were buried under a white blanket. The sky was pure blue, like they were at the bottom of an icy lake, looking up. It was so peaceful, Draco thought. He smiled to himself, and Potter glanced over in amused confusion. Draco met his eyes, just for a second. He felt happy and embarrassed at the same time. It was weird. He looked over to the other boy and saw that he was still staring at him with those playful green eyes. Draco blushed and pulled his scarf over his mouth. He didn't want Potter to see him grinning like a girl. It was just so strange having someone else to spend time with like this. Someone to hold him when he cried and bring him a warm breakfast and walk with him down these lonely paths. It was almost like they were dating… No! Draco cursed himself for thinking that. He wasn't gay, especially not for Harry bloody Potter. Absolutely not! Still… He didn't want to miss the moments he spent with that boy. As they walked together through the falling snow, Draco wanted to treasure the feeling of looking into the eyes of someone who might actually care.
"What's up?" Potter asked, grinning.
"N-Nothing," Draco told him. "I just like it out here. It's so lonely."
"You like feeling lonely?" Potter said.
"N-No, it's just that in crowded places there are always groups of friends, couples, you know. Happy people. Out here, it's like they all just disappear. It's stupid…"
"No it's not," Potter said warmly. "I get it. I feel that too, sometimes. Like no one understands."
"You do?" Draco said softly. "I- I always thought you were so popular, being the chosen one and everything…"
"I could say the same about you, Mr. Prince of Slytherin."
"S-Shut up…" Draco giggled.
They reached the lakeshore too soon, Draco thought. They walked together along the edge, over the pale space where the water met the snow. The lake lapped in and out, softly eroding the blanket ground. Draco only slipped once, but Potter said it was too dangerous and he needed to hold his hand. Draco couldn't tell if he was being serious or not, but he accepted the offer anyway. He was glad no one was around to see them. From the castle, they would only look like two dark silhouettes against the endless frozen world. Draco didn't want anything to ruin the moment. Potter's hand was sort of chapped and very warm. Draco realized how cold he must feel, but Potter didn't seem to mind. He just smiled and led him down to a quiet space below an old snowbank.
"I used to come here too," Potter told him. "In the fourth year, during the Triwizard Tournament. Back then, It- It felt like the whole world was against me."
"I'm sorry," Draco whispered.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop apologizing?" Potter said sweetly.
"I can't help it," Draco said quietly. "I just wish everything was different."
"Why?" Potter murmured. "I'm here now. Everything's alright."
Oh God. Draco blushed and tried to focus his eyes on the vacant sky. They were still holding hands, even though they were sitting now and there was no way Draco could fall. Oh God, Draco through again. I'm not gay, I'm not gay, I'm not-
"What's wrong," Potter asked, leaning closer to him.
"Nothing!" Draco said, trying to stay cool.
"Ok." Potter smiled. "You know, you're supposed to be telling me about yourself."
"I don't know what to say," Draco whispered.
"Anything."
"I'm cold," Draco said petulantly.
"That's all?" Potter laughed.
"Yes."
"Then…" Potter murmured.
"What?" Draco could barely get the words out. Potter was so close to him now. Oh God! His pale, flushed skin. The loose strands of black hair that fell just above his eyes. Harry… Draco was hoping he couldn't see him blushing when suddenly, Potter's lips were against his.
AN: Sorry I've been taking so long to update, I've been kind of stuck on what to write next. I was thinking of doing some chapters from Harry's pov, just to make it more interesting, but I don't know. Let me know what you think. Anyway, thanks to everyone's who's reading. I love you all :)
