Author's Note: Rated M just in case. This fic will contain mentions of being in a bad headspace, and childhood trauma, feel free to hit the back button. Otherwise, enjoy!
Harry stalked into the eighth-year common room on silent feet – no need to wake up everyone else just because- He cut off the thought and thunked his head against the wall.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked in concern from the window seat. Harry let out a growl of frustration and slid down the wall, resting his head on his bent knees. "Harry?" he asked as he crossed the distance between them. He crouched and gently lifted the brunet's chin, eyes filled with sympathy as he met the brunet's gaze. "There is nothing wrong with you, or what you're thinking or feeling," he spoke firmly and released his grip.
"Not sure everyone else would agree with you," he breathed.
"They didn't have to live through what you did," he stated. "They only see the end result, not what it cost you."
"But you do, don't you?" he murmured. The blonde inclined his head. "There's something I've been curious about…"
"Why I didn't tell them it was you?" Harry nodded. "I got what I always wanted – or was told that I should – and realised it for the horror that it was. Even-" he cut off and cleared his throat. "Even if that had not been true, I couldn't let you be his prisoner." His voice lowered to a haunted whisper, "I saw what he did to those that opposed him, and knew that the longer you evaded him, the more inventive his retaliation would be."
Harry laid his hand over Draco's and the blonde blinked. "Thank you, for saving me from that."
"You saved yourselves," he stated. "I merely caused a delay."
"I'm appreciative all the same."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Harry glanced at their positions. "Shall we sit down first?" Harry licked his lips. "Or…?"
"I have a room to myself," he spoke in a rush. "We'd have more privacy and-" he cut off and averted his gaze.
"And?" he prompted gently.
"The bed's comfier to sit on than any of the chairs down here."
"Been trying them out, have you?" the blonde teased as he rose.
"I have a problem with insomnia," he admitted, averting his gaze.
"You're not the only one afraid to sleep, because of what you'll see," the blonde stated and Harry's gaze shot to his, expression startled. "Yes, Slytherins are less likely to admit to fear than Gryffindors, but that's not what we are anymore, is it?" he murmured and held out a hand to the brunet.
"I suppose not," Harry murmured in return as he took the hand, Draco easily tugging him to his feet. He led the blonde up to the highest room in the boys' tower, and undid the wards on his door. "Habit," he murmured sheepishly as he closed the door after them.
"It's not a bad one," Draco replied as he kicked off his shoes. "Even discounting your well-founded paranoia, you have rabid fans to contend with too."
"Especially since girls can come into our tower," Harry retorted as he reset his protections. "You can get out if you need to," he reassured. "I just make sure that only a select few can get in," he added as he settled on his bed, the blonde sitting beside him.
"I'm not going to criticise you," Draco stated and Harry startled. "You're used to that, aren't you?"
"People either worship the ground I walk on, or pounce on the slightest mistake," he answered with a shrug.
"That wasn't what I meant," he murmured, aware that Harry's body tensed, even while his expression showed curiosity. "I want you to know, if there's a topic you don't want to talk about, you don't have to," he stated, and saw his companion relax. "You didn't have a good childhood, did you?"
Harry licked his lips. "Let's just say, that it wasn't the easiest."
"You could never do anything right? No matter how hard you tried?"
Harry blew out a breath and leant back on his hands. "They didn't want me, never did. Anything they could do, that wouldn't potentially mar their 'perfect' persona, they did. It took a few years for me to realise that," he added.
"You thought you deserved to be punished?"
"They made me think that, or did their best to." He pulled a face. "I thought you'd want to talk about the war."
"We can, if that's what you want."
"But?"
"But, if you experienced trauma before then, it is likely to have been exasperated by the newest one."
"So you're saying, until I deal with the issues I had from before I came to Hogwarts, it doesn't matter if I sort out what happened after?"
"In a manner of speaking. But like I said, if you don't want to talk about it-"
"I probably should," he murmured.
"For once in your life, don't be a Gryffindor," he spoke fiercely, and Harry looked at him, startled. "Do you have an idea how many times I have had to watch you face danger or an unpleasant situation, simply because you were a lion?"
"I didn't realise you were watching that closely," he breathed.
"I'm just better at concealing it than you are," he murmured.
Harry ducked his head with a blush. "Sorry." He saw the blonde shrug in his peripheral vision. He peeked up. "Draco?"
"I liked that I finally had your full attention," he retorted. "Gave me something else to focus on other than what I had been assigned to do."
"I'm sorry about-"
"I was about to cast something worse," he interrupted. Harry opened his mouth. "I think it might be best if we don't start a tally of what was done to whom," he spoke firmly. "It could take us all night, and," he continued pointedly, causing Harry to shut his mouth abruptly, "on that score, the scales are about even."
Harry regarded him for a moment and held out his hand. Draco took it and they shook. "Feel better?" the blonde murmured.
Harry's lips kicked up at the corners. "You realise, if we start talking about my childhood, we'll be up all night anyway?" he asked in a small voice.
"Well, I have no plans for tomorrow morning, how about you?" Harry laughed softly. "No?"
"I think Mione would be happy that I'm not already at breakfast when she gets there," he murmured. "Of course, that wouldn't stop her from coming to check on me."
"I figured that she would," he admitted. "Shall we get comfortable?"
Harry slipped under the covers and settled on his side facing the blonde. "Where should I start?"
"With the first thing that comes to mind," he answered, his expression encouraging. "And don't worry if it's not linear, I know you enough to be able to follow," he added with a slight smile.
Harry smiled slightly before he opened his mouth…