Chapter Eleven
Draco had been so distracted during the Holidays that he had wound up punished by Lucius several times for being 'an insolent little moron'. His muscles still ached, but he was back at school and he wouldn't be seeing Lucius until after his birthday in June, which suited him just fine.
He was growing increasingly worried, for everyone that had left for the winter holidays had returned early that morning on the Hogwarts Express, except for six people—Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys. Draco didn't really care about the other five. He just wanted to know where Harry was, if he was alright, and why he had disappeared three days earlier than everyone else.
Draco was pacing in circles around the Astronomy tower when he noticed a group of people heading towards the castle. He wanted to meet Harry in the Entrance Hall, but that seemed too desperate and forward. He had caused Harry distress and pain, and he figured that he should probably wait for Harry to come to him, as painful as it was.
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The next few days went by without much incident. Harry never came to find Draco, and Draco never actively went to find Harry. They passed each other in the halls several times, exchanging small smiles, but no words were said between the two. Draco was beginning to wonder if he had royally fucked up the only good thing he had ever really had.
Right as Draco was beginning to give up hope, Harry cornered him after Potions in the dungeon hallway. His heart was beating so fast that he was sure Harry himself could hear it.
"Can we talk later?" Harry asked, staring at his feet. "I'm sorry I haven't said anything, it's just-"
"It's fine, Harry," Draco told him, cutting him off. "We can talk before dinner, if that's a good time for you." Harry nodded, still not looking at Draco. "Does the Room of Requirement sound good?"
"Sure." Harry finally looked up, and Draco thought he might pass out. He hadn't seen Harry up close for days. The black haired boy smiled. "That sounds good. I have to get to Transfiguration or McGonagall will kill me, so I'll see you then." He took off, leaving Draco, who was definitely going to be late for his next class.
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When Divination finished, Harry slowly collected his things and put them in his worn rucksack. He was trying to stall for as long as possible. He was worried about what would happen between him and Malfoy, and he was becoming increasingly nervous. Ron was dawdling near the table, and Harry shooed him off.
"I have something I need to do," he said, and Ron left him without a second glance. He was still upset about Draco joining Dumbledore's Army. Harry could honestly care less at the moment.
Slowly, Harry made his way to the Room of Requirement, which was already open. Draco was waiting for him. He swallowed the large lump in his throat, wiped his hands on his trousers, and opened the door. The room was set up differently from D.A. meetings. It was at least three times smaller, and looked a bit like a common room. Draco was sitting in the lounge area on a black couch, his face hidden by his hands. He jumped to attention when Harry shut the door behind himself. He waved at Draco awkwardly. "Hi."
Draco smiled. "Hi, yourself. Are you going to stand over there forever?" Harry blushed and made his way over to the posh sitting area and sat across from Draco in a plush green armchair. Harry felt extremely awkward—he didn't know what to say.
"Harry," Draco began. He looked unsure of himself. "I'm sorry if I upset you at the last D.A. meeting. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I should have listened to my head and not my heart." The blond chewed on his lip and twiddled his long fingers together as he avoided eye contact.
Harry reached across the small gap that lay between the two of them and grasped Draco's hand in his own. Draco looked up at him in surprise. "I was confused," Harry said quietly. "I had a long talk with Hermione about everything, and it helped me clear my head." He squeezed Draco's hand. "I'm just scared. I don't want to get hurt again."
"I wouldn't hurt you," Draco said immediately.
"No, I don't think you would, but if you haven't noticed, everyone I get close to winds up in danger, or... well, dead." Harry took a deep breath. "I can't let that happen to you, Draco. I care too much about you." Draco looked desperately like he was trying not to smile.
"I can take care of myself, Harry," said Draco, squeezing the brunette's hand tightly. "I would have thought that was obvious by now." Harry smiled.
"I know, and that's what worries me." Draco glared at him. "I want to try, Draco. I do." The blond couldn't contain his smile anymore. The sight of it caused Harry's stomach to twitch slightly. He moved to sit next to Draco, who immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Harry. The black haired boy lay his head on Draco's chest over his heart and listened to the tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump of his boyfriend's heart.
"Wait, you told Granger?" Draco's voice had suddenly taken on a slightly high-pitched quality, and Harry had to suppress a chuckle.
"Of course I told Hermione. Who was I going to tell, Ron?" Draco considered that for a moment before snorting. "That's what I thought."
"What does she think about it all?" asked Draco. He sounded nervous, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer to his own question. It sounded as if he wanted to know that Harry's friends approved of their budding relationship. The thought of that made his entire body grow warm.
Harry began to draw pointless patterns across Draco's turtleneck-clad chest with his index finger. "She just wants me to be happy. She could care less whether it was you or even Pansy Parkinson." Harry paused. "Well, she might have some problems with Pansy..."
Draco kissed the top of Harry's head, and they both lapsed into a comfortable silence. The only sound that filled the room was the noise of their combined breathing and the crackling of the fireplace. Eventually, Harry nodded off, curled up against his boyfriend. They slept right through dinner.
