A/N: The chapter you've all been waiting for ;) Bit of fluff in here so be prepared! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 10: A Nightmare is Soothed
Harry lay back in his bed, annoyed with Draco and embarrassed that he laughed at him. He knew there was something happening between them that was much more than he ever thought was possible. He just couldn't figure out what it was. Well, that wasn't true, he knew what was happening, he just didn't know how or why. Harry pulled the blankets up and summoned a book from his shelf. He had come to enjoy reading and he needed a distraction.
It wasn't long before Harry fell asleep, his book lying open on his chest. He began to dream of being somewhere that he didn't recognize. After a few moments, he realized that he was at the house that he had been hit with the cutting curse at. He looked around carefully and drew his wand. He made his way towards the back of the house and came across a man with long brown hair that was held back in a pony tail. He looked very similar to Lucius Malfoy and Harry felt his skin crawl at the thought.
The man hadn't noticed him yet so he continued to approach him, but then his head turned and his cold, brown eyes were on Harry. He froze where he was. He raised his wand to strike at the man, but his hand shook so hard that he couldn't manage to keep it still to cast a spell.
"Harry!" someone called out behind him. Harry turned quickly, knowing the voice. It was Draco and he was running towards him looking frantic. He stopped short as he noticed the man who was now staring at them both, smiling evilly at them. He said nothing, just simply raised his wand.
Harry's eyes widened and he lifted his wand again, putting himself between Draco and the man. The man opened his mouth and yelled out a curse. Harry cried out as Draco leapt in front of him, and the curse hit him and blood spilled from the slash mark across his chest. The man cackled evilly before he disappeared. Harry threw himself down next to Draco and pulled his shirt off, holding it against the gash across his chest. It didn't matter, the blood seeped through and soon his shirt was soaked.
"Draco, no, please no. Stay with me, please," Harry begged as he tried to mend the cut, knowing that nothing would help, but dittany and the countercurse which he had and knew neither. He started to cry. He couldn't lose Draco, now that he had him in his life.
"Harry, wake up! Harry!" Draco cried as he shook Harry roughly. Harry's eyes opened and he looked unfocused for a moment before his eyes fell on Draco. They widened as he sat up and threw his arms around him, pulling him as close as he could.
"You're alright. You're okay," Harry murmured as he pulled back for a moment to look at him and run his fingers across his chest just to be sure. Draco was frozen in place. He had no idea what Harry had been dreaming about, but if his reaction was any indication, it was about him and it wasn't going well. Harry hugged him again.
"What happened?" Draco asked quietly.
Harry reluctantly let go and gave Draco some space. Draco shifted uncomfortably as he moved back some. "I had a dream that I was back at the place that I was hurt at and I saw this guy, and I think it's the guy who cursed me. Anyway, I was sneaking up on him, but he must have sensed I was there because he saw me. Then you came running around the corner, calling my name and Merlin, there was so much blood and it wouldn't stop," Harry replied, nearly wailing at the end. He felt new tears forming in his eyes and he buried his face in embarrassment. He was crying over a dream where Draco was hurt, how more ridiculous could he get?
Draco stared at him with wide eyes wondering why there was so much blood. "Harry, why was there a lot of blood?"
"You stepped in front of me when he cursed me with Sectumsempra. I was so scared. It was just like sixth year all over again only so much worse," Harry whispered.
"How was it worse?" Draco questioned quietly.
Harry looked up, his eyes were wide and he looked as if he were still in his dream. "When I cursed you during sixth year, I thought I had killed you and there was so much blood and I felt awful. I may not have liked you much, but I didn't want you to die. I was freaking out then. This time, in my dream, I was so afraid that you were going to die for real this time. I didn't know the countercurse and I didn't have any dittany and there was so much blood and it seriously felt like my heart was breaking. I was crying and crying, trying to stop the bleeding. I couldn't lose you, not now," Harry replied. He didn't look up at him, but if he had, he would have seen the elation on Draco's face as he realized that Harry most definitely returned his feelings. How could he not with a dream like that?
He had to keep his cool. Part of him was still so unsure and he didn't want to jinx himself. He knew, more than ever, that he had feelings for Harry. Those feelings had been brewing for years and it took something like this, Harry's injury, to bring them to the brink and he couldn't let Harry slip away. He felt it deep within him that he was supposed to be with him. "Harry, look at me," he directed quietly. Harry lifted his head, wiping at his eyes. The way that Draco said his first name went straight to his core and he couldn't deny how much he wanted Draco to say his name over and over again. "I'm fine. It was just a dream and I have no intention of ever getting hit by that curse again. Why were you crying though?" he asked quietly.
Harry looked away and sighed. "I'd like to blame it on your potion or the injury or my lack of getting out in the fresh air," he paused for a moment and Draco chuckled. "I feel differently about you now, Draco. I can't exactly explain it or I can't put it into words, but I feel different. This dream, the emotions, were so different from when I cast the curse on you in sixth year and I can't ignore that. I don't know what's happening, but all I know is that the thought of losing you, even after this short time with you, is something I don't want. I wasn't kidding when I said that if you never left, I wouldn't mind," Harry replied.
Draco stared at him. It was like music to his ears. So unbelievable. He couldn't, didn't want to screw this up. He needed a moment though to be sure so he stood up and moved away from Harry for a moment, to look out the window. The moonlight was shining again and it cast an eerie glow across Harry's garden. "All I ever wanted, deep down, was to be your friend, be a part of this glorious life that I thought you had. It wasn't until I was older, after Hogwarts that I realized that your life was anything, but glorious. You were almost killed every single year at Hogwarts, more than once in a given year and then you really died. Hagrid brought you to the castle, dead, and I felt as if my world was collapsing around me. All the hope that I had because of you was gone, because you were gone. But then, you rose up and finally rid us of the Dark Lord forever. I realized that everyone that you loved, aside from Granger and Weasley had been taken from you. How could I possibly have been so jealous of you all those years? You had so much stacked against you and taken from you. I had my parents and I had a leisure life. It still didn't feel complete. When they put you in front of me this time, I felt similar to how I felt at Hogwarts on that last day, but there was something more there. I didn't realize what that was until I started spending more time with you. That need to be your friend was still there, but then something else. I don't think I could stay away, even if you asked me to," Draco explained.
Harry had stood up at some point and moved towards Draco. "I always wondered why you were so jealous of me," he muttered.
Draco jumped slightly at his closeness. He turned to look at him, a smirk on his face. "You had friends, you were well liked, you were our savior since you were 15 months old, and you were so damn lucky," he stated.
"I wasn't that lucky," Harry pointed out, a sad smile on his face.
Draco turned to face him. He brought his hand up tentatively and cradled his cheek. Harry turned into his touch and closed his eyes. "Harry, you are the luckiest guy I know. You've survived death so many times I've lost count. You are lucky, even if you've lost so much," he assured him calmly.
Harry looked up at him and smiled. Draco stared down at him. He couldn't stop this. He didn't want to. He leaned forward and gently pulled Harry towards him. He pressed a cautious kiss to his lips. It was soft and tentative. Harry kissed him carefully back and then, so as to not push it, Draco broke the kiss. Harry looked up at him and shook his head and pressed their lips together again, more firm this time. Draco responded easily and felt his heart doing a happy dance as Harry brought his hands to Draco's waist and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer. Draco brought his other hand up to cup Harry's other cheek and cradled him in his hands. This was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Finally, after air was necessary, they broke their kiss and rested their foreheads against each other. "I have wanted to kiss you for days now," Draco whispered.
Harry chuckled. "I wish I had realized how you felt much sooner."
"Kreacher noticed before you. He popped that stone up to get you to have a moment with me," Draco responded with a laugh.
Harry moved his head back and narrowed his gaze. "That sneaky elf. I told you it wasn't my fault," Harry said loudly.
Draco laughed and shook his head. "I am sorry I laughed at you, but you were so adamant and serious. It was just funny," he apologized. Harry shrugged. Draco sighed and pulled him close again. He kissed him gently. "I should let you get back to sleep," Draco said as he pulled away.
Harry nodded and rubbed at his eyes, feeling tired suddenly. He climbed back into his bed and pulled the blankets up. Draco stood there, unsure of what he should do next. He started to leave, thinking that's what he needed to do, but then Harry spoke up. "Can you just stay here, until I fall asleep?" Harry asked sleepily.
Draco turned back and looked at him. His eyes were closed, but Harry was still awake, waiting for his response. Draco couldn't calm his racing heart. The things Harry did to him and made him feel. "Yeah, um, in a chair or something?" he asked quietly, his voice shaking.
Harry opened his eyes and smiled, shaking his head. He patted a spot on the other side of him. Draco gulped and nodded slowly as he walked over to the other side and settled in next to Harry. He still had a smile on his face as he closed his eyes again, turning towards Draco. Draco looked down at him and could see his breathing slow and knew that he was falling asleep. He looked peaceful again and it felt good to be next to him like this. He settled more into the bed and soon his eyes started to close and he drifted off to sleep.