Chapter Ten:
Cocoon
A/N: Yes! Slash goodyness next chapter *indefinitely*! I'm so excited after ten long chapters! Also, some more from Draco's "POV", I don't think I've spent enough time properly portraying him thus far :) I hope to have another chapter for you guys tomorrow! Thanks for all the reviews and please continue to read, review and enjoy! :)
P.S. Sorry for the slighty short chapter, please forgive.
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This quiet serves only to hide you
Provide you
What I knew: it'd come back to you
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There was something inviting about Winter; the way everything, even the dying, leafless trees, could be animated and brought to life by a simple snowfall, the feeling of cold air nipping your skin no matter how many layers you wore, the way everything was blanketed pure white, blinding against the sunlight and calm, sparkling under the moonlight. Harry had always personally enjoyed it, perhaps more than most due to his indifference to the cold. This particular Winter's morning he found himself happier than he had been in awhile, almost excited if he dared so stretch the word. There he stood, his hands in his heavier cloaks pockets, rolling back and forth on the balls of his feet as the top of his raven hair collected light snowflakes before they melted, almost just after contact.
It was hard for him to hide his excitement to be alone, to have nearly the entire Gyrffindor Common Room save a few straggling younger year students, to himself to study, think, stroll without having to answer questions. Especially given his disconnected, distant and monotone behaviour all of his friends found his good mood upon their departure rather odd. Other than, of course, Hermione and Ginny who had their own separate speculations that were similar in their ways. He was standing, waiting by his friends in the line-up of students whom were piling on the carriage pulled by the large Thestrals only few could see. Harry eyed them suspiciously, as always, but even they weren't off putting to his mood that morn.
"Last chance, mate," Ron started as they moved up their queue in the line, nearing the front to load onto the carriages, "I'll be able to send some of Ma's cooking but it won't be the same through the mail," he tried to change Harry's mind, though he hadn't pushed too hard, thankfully enuogh for Harry, they all did kind of understand his unwillingness to return to the Noble House of Black with fresh memories of Sirius still lingering in the forefront of his mind.
Harry smiled, shaking his head and along with it some of the fresh snow, "Really, thanks, but I'm better off here, for now. I'll miss you guys," he added, trying to sound sincere as he did. The whole time they waited both Hermione and Ginny seemed rather uncomfortable, as if they had something to say but shooting glances at Ron neither of them ever were able to spit the words up. Eventually their carriage arrived, both girls sighed visibly, turning towards Harry to hug him goodbye. After their short goodbyes, Harry waited by the minimizing line of students to wave his friends off, calling a happy holidays as they were taken off in the distance.
Almost as soon as they were out of sight, Harry could feel a weight lifted. It's not that he didn't like his friends anymore or appreciate them, but their constant care and need to be reassured of his well-being both mental and physical got rather exhausting after months on end. He thought he could get used to it but he still really needed his time to himself, his space without the enquiring looks. He found himself back up in the Gryffindor Common Room, already started on the homework he knew he was weeks behind on, thinking it was the perfect opportune time for him to get it done.
He had been peacefully undisturbed at his work for almost an hour, even he was surprised how quickly time flew when he could be uninterupted in his studies, when a small voice, shaking, piped up from before him. Harry looked up over his glasses and the top of his Charms text to look at very small looking First Year Gryffindor boy, he looked so young and almost freightened to be addressing Harry. Harry sighed, he didn't mean to come off as freightening but he guessed if even his friends sometimes worried about approaching him it must be tenfold worse for a First Year. "Yea?" he asked, the boy having just called his name.
"T-this, is for you, sir," he stuttered, holding out an unsealed envelope in his balmy hand.
Harry grumbled, leaning forward, "Please, my name's Harry not sir," was all he said before curiously taking the envelope, "Who gave this to you?"
"I-I'm not sure. He said he was your friend," the boy admitted, turning to take his leave, obviously nervous as most younger students were to be in The Boy Who Lived presence.
Upon opening the enveloping and taking out the folded parchment, as soon as he saw the scrawling script he began to grin, knowing immediately who it was. "Hey, kid, what's your name?" Harry called after the boy before he had the chance to fully slip away.
"Uh-" the boy stumbled, turning back to face Harry, "Peter Scriver,"
"Thanks, Peter," was all Harry wanted to say before he closed his studying books and opened the parchment.
'You owe me a game of Wizard's Chess.
The library.'
Smiling, Harry stood and tossed the envelope and what had been its content into the fire. Not having to worry about anybody coming by and stealing his homework, as if they would rob his rubbish work in the first place, he just left his things on one of the emptier desks in the Common Room before throwing his cloak on and quickly making his way to the library. Why he was so excited he couldn't explain, it was like those nerves he got when going to meet Malfoy but they were slowly being added to anticipation. Harry could go so far and call what they had a friendship now, though it was in no way related to what he held for Hermione or Ron, it was so entirely different and new. They were honest with one another, sometimes brutally so, and that was one of the key qualities Harry needed to have in a friend; honesty, though Draco was never humble about it, he still was true. He had given up contemplating why these days he preferred the Slytherin's company because now it only made sense to him, Draco wasn't afraid of Harry in anyway and he wasn't overly concerned with hurting his feelings constantly. Hermione and Ron were always so gentle, so touchy and yet so prodding all at once, on days when Harry's scar ached or he had nightmares or perhaps just longed for a conversation with his late Godfather the two were too much to handle. Draco, on the other hand, was just enough.
"You are late," Draco drawled, he was sitting at one of the desks in the far corner of the library, Wizard's Chess already set up before him and what looked like an Advanced Potions text on the table next to him, reading as he waited for his opponent.
"Hardly, everybody just left an hour ago," Harry returned, taking his seat opposite the blonde. He knew they needn't worry about who spotted the two of them together, the corridors of Hogwarts were nearly barren and the library was most certainly the last place students would be on their holidays. "Is literally every Slytherin gone?" he asked, curiously, settling into his seat as Draco marked his page and slowly closed his text, shoving it into his bag sitting next to him on the bench.
Draco raised an eyebrow, motioning to Harry's chess pieces as he was the white pieces which always went first, "Why, Potter, planning a break in or something?"
Harry ordered his first pawn to move, it did obligingly, he was going to attempt one of the strategies he had seen Ron use on him a million times over. "Nah, the Slytherin Common Room's are rubbish, been there," he teased, grinning, "Just curious s'all,"
"You have been to the Slytherin Common Room? How? When?" Draco hardly had to look at the board before choosing his first move, his hands were folded neatly on his lap as they began playing. "And yes, no Slytherin ever stays," he added to answer the boy's original question.
"Must be nice," Harry moved his next piece, "Gryffindor Tower is pretty vacant but you get the odd First Year running around. I was kind of hoping to have a quiet Christmas this year but, y'know how kids can be," he was only half-joking, he was slouched at the table leaning comfortably forward on his elbows. He felt so relaxed in Draco's presence, especially since their last DADA class they had together.
Draco wanted to invite Harry to join him on Christmas, he wanted to let him into the Slytherin Common Room, but he thought that might be too fast, that Harry might be too weary of him still. Though they acted calm and collected together, he didn't want to push any friendship they had hanging by a thread too fast and too far. Though he knew he was going to in the coming days, with the looming all important date regarding his Father overhead. They both made a few moves in silence, the minutes passing quickly by for them, before Draco spoke again. "So, will you be telling me about your ventures into my Common Room? Why were you even ever there? I can guess you used your blasted Cloak and Map,"
Harry smirked, "Hah, I didn't even have my Map back then. I can't go spilling all my secrets, but I can say it had something to do with the Polyjuice Potion Snape suspected students brewing out of class. Not to mention you were the one who let us in," he almost had to surpress a bout of laughter at the incredulous look Draco shot him.
"Me? And I remember that, Sev was raving about the most expensive of his ingredients going missing - that was back in Second Year!" Draco collected himself coolly, he knew Potter and his friends were always up to no good but honestly, to the extent it seemed bewildered each time he learned something new, "No wonder people say you have a knack for trouble,"
"It always seems to find me," Harry's cheeky grin was fading now again, slowly being replaced by a frown. Draco didn't like it, what was he thinking about? He always seemed to masked in his thoughts. One minute he would share something that seemed so personal and the next he would close walls in around him as if to say that's not even the beginning of it, thinking of something much more personal. He wished Harry could feel more open with him, though he understood why he wouldn't be and he equally would not, either. At least not yet.
For now the boys concentrated on their game at hand. It wasn't long before, as perdicted, Draco's Knight was slashing its sword through Harry's King. Defeated, but not in any way finished, Harry automatically went up for another round. "Are you sure, Harry? I will just win again," the blonde teased, helping put the pieces back together.
"Positive. I love Wizard's Chess even though I'm rubbish at it, I'm used to losing to Ron all the time," he admitted, unashamed that Chess in any shape or form had never been his forte.
"I am surprised that Weasel can put two-and-two together long enough to play a round," Draco scowled, he really disliked that whole redheaded family especially after his previous interaction with the youngest and only female.
Harry frowned deeply, he hated that nickname, "I bet you and him at Wizard's Chess would be a real match," was all he said, making Draco shoot him a short scowl before starting their game over again.
Time passed easily for the boys. As they both had thought, not a soul left or entered the library and Madame Pince never bothered them. They played many rounds and in between talking about the most inconsequential things like their passed end of term exams or the way Gryffindor was shaping up in Qudditch, as much as Harry could care less for the game nowadays it just being another thing to think about, and when it was silent between moves or games they both revelled in it. It was nice, collecting, something neither got much of since the start of term. To be able to let go of their hammering thoughts in the silence they strived yet not having to truly be alone when the worst thoughts would come to them.
When finally their session had to come to an end, their parting ways were awkward at best. Harry felt the need to reach out and shake his hand, awknowledge him and a farewell in some way. They stood at the library doors, both Common Rooms in separate directions of the Castle. "So..." Harry trailed off, awkwardly unable to bring things to a close.
"Yes, tomorrow," Draco raised an eyebrow at the other boy's obviously nervous demeanor, "Here again, after breakfast," he wasn't exactly demanding but as per usual he never left space for argument.
Harry nodded, smiling softly, he left how little room his classmate left for discussion. Harry hated making decisions but his friends always left them almost solely up to him, it was exhausting and it just felt like an extra stresser, even when it came to little things like picking a time to meet and play more Wizard's Chess. At that moment, he felt relieved and grateful he had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays.
Draco turned and left, not wanting for a response, the smile and nod was good enough for him. He heard Harry call a farewell after him, he smiled to himself but didn't turn around to return it. The Veela in him was urging him to run back down the corridor and sweep the brunette off his feet bu the Malfoy in him was restraining the creature rather skillfully, he was enjoying their time, unpressured. He had hoped the coming days could bring about more ease for both of them and more opportunities for him to gently pry.
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The days slipped by all too fast, Harry was surprised to wake up on Christmas Eve morning, the sun was what caused him to rise as early as he did. The students whom had stayed back at Hogwarts were allowed to go to Hogsmeade that afternoon so he had fully planned on doing so, loving the emptiness and solitude of the Castle but still taking any opportunity he could for at least a slight change in scenery.
Him and Draco had met everyday since the start of holidays, making it five days in a row now where they spent countless hours in the library playing Wizard's Chess, studying in silence alongside one another or just simply sitting and talking. They talked about the most inconsequential things like Harry's dislike for most Wizarding candies yet Draco's obsession with them, which quite surprised Harry, or their passing remarks on their recent lessons and the usefulness of them. They even got personal sometimes, Harry sharing some of the things Ron, Hermione and himself had gotten into over the years or where he got his Marauder's Map from, even explaining in detail whom was whom and what it all meant. Draco seemed more than fascinated by the Map and what it personally revealed about Harry's history; his Father being an animagus as well as Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew and all to support their friend, Professor Lupin, in his transformations. Draco recalled Severus cursing Harry for being so much like his Father and Draco could see it now, only a boy who put others over himself and cared so deeply about his friends would go through those lengths for them.
Harry never once questioned sharing any of this with Draco. He really truly was beginning to trust him, there wasn't any purpose for him to hide anything as he had nothing to hide. Draco even was comfortable enough to share his views on Pureblood breeding. They had gotten into a heated debate about that one and it had only made Draco admire Harry more, Veela aside, and it had only gotten Harry to understand the Slytherin's motives further. So what, they differed greatly in opinion when it came to the appropriate nature of magical persons mating with muggles, Harry said if they love one another it shouldn't matter, Draco said that the magical bloodline was more important than that. It was refreshing to be able to hear each others points of views, debate them, even heatedly so, and let it go afterwards, gladly settling to disagree.
Not bothering to dress before heading down to The Great Hall, Harry just threw his robe around him and slippers on his feet and without even taking a second glance in the bathroom mirror he was off. He doubed anybody other than maybe Professor McGonagall or very few other students to be having breakfast as of yet. For some reason he had risen much earlier than usual and his stomach was grumbling. Almost cheerily he made his way out of the portrait hole only to be immediately greeted by a weary looking Draco.
Surprised, and slightly embarassed about his appearance, Harry stood before him, confused. "Draco? Why are you up here so early? How did you find it?" he asked, referring of course to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"I asked that Scriver boy when I had given him that letter days ago," he shortly responded, his voice was quick, cold. Something was obviously wrong, he looked almost nervous in appearance at first but a calm washed over him as he eyed Harry up and down, his tousled, sleepy state causing him to take a moment to raise an eyebrow, grinning at the Gryffindor. He looked almost cute, if Draco dare thought, all messed up more so than usual first thing in the morning. A look he hoped to see more of. Draco shook the thought from his head, that wasn't what was important at the moment. "I wanted to ask you a favour, Harry. I needed to ask you now in case I would not see you over Christmas,"
Harry didn't know what he meant by that, he hadn't anywhere else to be for Christmas other than by himself or with Draco or Professor Lupin if he so wished it. He could tell this was of a more serious matter, Harry rubbed his eyes gently, the sleep still heavy in them and then he straightened his glasses, giving the blonde his full attention. "What is it?" he urged gently.
"I was contemplating whether or not I would ask Severus for his attendance but it just does not feel right to have him there," Draco began, confusing Harry, "Then I thought I could do it on my own, it was not going to be a big deal and whether or not I was even there myself it would take place...but I know I have to be there, I just do. I cannot explain why I feel the need to but I need to see him as it happens,"
A dawning realization grew on Harry's face, he looked painfully up at the slightly taller boy who looked oddly uncomfortable talking about it. Harry cursed himself for forgetting about Lucius Malfoy's sentence to receive the Dementor's Kiss, it was scheduled for the twenty-sixth of the twelfth month which Harry thought was oddly cruel of the Ministry of Magic to do, the day after Christmas. "Anything. Whatever you need, I'm here," Harry quickly said and without doubt.
Draco sent him a true, genuine and appreciative smile, "I was hoping you would accompany me. Under your Cloak, mind you. Though it is a private congregation I fear there may be a few Daily Prophet buggers hanging around," he grumbled.
"Me?" Harry asked, dumb-founded for a second. Draco wanted him there, over even Blaise Zabini? He knew Draco didn't have any other acquintances left to consider friends but up until that point he hadn't considered them close enough for Harry to attend such a personal event.
"Harry," Draco breathed a heavy sigh, he didn't want to have to express or explain more than necessary. He already felt so bear, so naked from the usual masked Malfoy he was so used to being. "You above all will understand, not just because of your loss, but because I know you know my Father fully deserves his sentence. You also know, more than anybody else, how I feel in regards to him," he still spoke so icily of his Father, even with only two days left on his soul's clock.
Harry nodded slowly, "Of course, I understand. I'll be there," he said, promisingly. Almost with that, Draco turned to leave, Harry quickly grasped out and grabbed his arm. There it was again. In their days spent conversing and hanging out in the library Draco had purposefully avoided coming into physical contact with the brunette but there it was, unavoidable. That electric sensation bubbling where fingers met limb, pulsing down each others arms and sending an almost tranquil vibration through themselves. Draco verbally sighed, he felt the weight of the conversation almost instantly leave him upon the simple touch. "Draco," Harry breathed unexpectedly at the sensation. Draco finally pulled his arm out of his reach, ending whatever it was that had transpired. Harry took a moment to regain himself, blinking slowly. "Uhm-would you like to join me in Hogsmeade today?" he asked, not wanting to leave the blonde alone after what he had just asked him to accompany him with.
"No," Draco immediately shook his head with a quick, "Thank you," as an afterthought. He turned to leave again. This time Harry called awkwardly after him. He stopped, raising his brow and turning on heel to face him again. As much as his Veela wanted to stay with Harry, he didn't want to become consumed by him over the holidays.
"Erm, you mind if I stop by the Common Room tonight? Nothing to do," Harry mumbled, he was looking at his feet now instead of at Draco, a slight ping tinge to his cheeks.
Why ever would he be blushing? Draco was thinking to himself, but it caused a bemused smirk to rise to his lips. He liked the way the frazzled Gryffindor looked, blushing timidly. "Of course. So long as you have no rotten Gryffindor plans to destroy the place. We Slytherin's have a knack for cleanliness above all," he empathsized the word, pointedly looking Harry up and down as he did. Harry blushed further, he was stubbing his toe into the ground and avoiding the Slytherins gaze.
"Right, well, after dinner then?" Harry's tone was questioning.
Turning so he wouldn't see his satisfied smile Draco reassured him, "I will see you after dinner, outside of my Common Room," he liked how even in the subtle ways Harry always made it seem like he was the one making the simple decisions. Draco, an even more satisfied Veela, left Harry to continue on his way down to The Great Hall for breakfast. Despite his uneventful trip to Hogsmeade, Harry couldn't seem to be able to keep his mind off of Draco and his thoughts kept bringnig him round circle to just how close he wanted their friendship to really be.
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