Chapter Ten: Draco
At the mention of sleep, Draco's body had suddenly felt ready to collapse under him. Harry led Draco from Dumbledore's office on the seventh floor down to the fifth floor, where Draco's sluggish thoughts finally caught up to him. They were in a hallway with nothing but a huge vase on one side, and a rather ugly tapestry of trolls in ballet outfits facing it.
'Harry, what-'
'What do you want more than anything right now?' Harry interrupted.
'A huge bed.' Draco said without thinking.
'OK, focus on that thought. Trust me.' Harry said, raising their joined hands and grazing his lips across Draco's knuckles. Draco felt a pleasant shiver run up his arm.
Harry led Draco from the huge vase, following the wall to a window. There, Harry gently turned Draco around, and they walked back to the vase. Even though he was beyond exhausted, he did as Harry asked, and focused on the thought of a bed so huge ten people could fit into it.
After walking along the wall three times, Draco was starting to trip over his own feet, when Harry stopped. Where there had been a blank wall, there was now a door.
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Harry tugged Draco through the door.
Bloody impulsive Gryffindor my boy is.
The door led to a short, but wide and empty hallway, with a door on either side. Harry seemed confused but he reached out for the door on the right and stuck his head inside. He withdrew, smiling, and turned to poke his head into the door opposite.
'In here, Draco,' Harry gestured as he opened the door wider. Draco followed unhesitatingly.
Inside was heaven. Well, almost. It was an overwhelmingly huge four poster bed.
Draco kicked off his shoes, pulled off his robes and shirt and crawled in. The mattress was better than the one he had at home, perfectly soft but supportive.
Harry moved to the end of the bed as Draco was burying himself under the quilt. There was a large chest resting there, and Harry pulled out pyjama pants for both of them.
'Come on, Draco. Put these on, you don't want to fall asleep in your school trousers.' Harry coaxed.
Draco grumbled as he pulled off his trousers and boxers, going commando in the new pyjama pants that Harry handed him. Once they were on and Draco's head hit the perfect pillow, Draco was asleep.
Draco had no idea how long he had slept for, but he woke up gradually, stretching each individual muscle slowly, languidly.
'Good morning.' A voice said. Draco frowned. He hadn't opened his eyes, but it wasn't a voice that should be in the Slytherin common room. He absolutely didn't want this dream to end.
The space in the bed next to him dipped with the weight of another person, and lips brushed against Draco's forehead.
Maybe not a dream.
Draco finally opened his eyes, and he found Harry Potter hovering next to him.
'How'd you sleep?' Harry asked. Draco didn't answer, but he rolled over to cuddle against Harry, not quite believing he was there. He was slowly remembering what had happened the last few days.
'Is Mother alright?' Draco mumbled. Harry nodded.
'I went to see Dumbledore today, and he said all the attackers have been found. Oh, and we are welcome to hide out this week and re-join our classes on Monday, if we feel it necessary. If you want, Dumbledore can organise for you to go see your mother.' Harry said, running his hands up and down Draco's back lightly.
'… how long have I been asleep?' Draco asked.
'Only fourteen hours. It's Thursday evening.' Harry said. 'If you're hungry, there's food at the side of the bed.'
'I was asleep. For fourteen hours?' Draco said, shocked.
'Well, you didn't sleep for over forty-eight hours in the first place, silly.' Harry said, kissing the top of Draco's head. Draco tilted his head so that his lips might (finally) meet Harry's, but his stomach growled embarrassingly loudly. Draco sighed when Harry laughed.
'Let's get some food in you, then you can shower.'
While Draco ate, Harry updated him on what had happened. Harry had woken up that morning and gone to find Dumbledore who, as usual, had been upfront and honest, telling Harry everything. Draco was relieved that the bastards who had attacked his mother had been apprehended, but what he really wanted to know was if his mother would recover and be herself again.
'I asked Dumbledore and he told me to remind you, that patience is a virtue, and that the human mind is stronger than we tend to give it credit. Or something like that.' Harry said, reassuringly putting his hand on the back of Draco's. Draco just sighed, but decided to put his trust in Harry, and in consequence, Dumbledore.
'So, where are we?' Draco asked.
'The Room of Requirement.' Harry said, looking around the room fondly. 'The house elves call it the Come and Go Room. It changes depending on what the person needs. This is the room we used for Dumbledore's Army meeting's in fifth year.'
'Oh,' Draco looked around. 'It must be some very powerful magic around this room, it looked nothing like this back then.'
'Yeah, Hermione's tried to figure it out, but it just gives me a headache.' Harry shrugged. 'I just know that when I need a particular kind of room, like hiding from the school with you, the Room of Requirement will help.'
'So, where did the food come from?' Draco asked, making the assumption that the room didn't cater.
'Dobby.' Harry said. Draco thought he'd misheard.
'Dobby?' he asked.
'Dobby.' Harry said. There was a loud CRACK.
'Yes, Master Harry?' A high-pitched voice squeaked from behind Draco. He slowly turned to see his old family house elf.
'Master Draco.' Dobby said, giving Draco a low bow. Draco couldn't speak.
'I'm sure your father told you, I'm the reason Dobby was freed.' Harry said
'Dobby is a free elf!' Dobby stood up proudly, looking Draco in the eye. Draco didn't respond for a few moments.
'I can see that.' He finally drawled.
'Be nice, Dobby is my friend.' Harry warned in an undertone. Draco gazed at Harry in surprise.
'House elves are not our friends. They are our servants.' Draco said.
'Just as Purebloods should never fraternize with Mudbloods or blood traitors.' Harry growled. 'Dobby is my friend. He has helped me so many times that I've lost track. If you can't at least be polite to him…' Harry's intense gaze didn't waver. Draco was the first to look away.
'Fine,' He mumbled, not unlike a petulant child.
'Dobby, we're finished, can you get us some spare clothes from our common rooms, please?' Harry asked.
'Of course, Master Harry!' Dobby squeaked, bowing to the pair before disappearing with another loud CRACK.
Harry and Draco sat together in silence until Dobby returned with their clothes, giving them each a new pair of boxers, jeans and a shirt each. Draco frowned when he noticed the elf had given him odd socks, but he saw that Harry was smiling at his own mismatched pair.
'Thanks, Dobby.' Harry said, sending a pointed look to Draco.
'Thank you.' Draco said, a little stiffly, but Harry sent him a heart melting smile.
'You're welcome, Masters Harry and Draco.' Dobby beamed before leaving them alone.
'Come on, the room across the hallway is a bathroom with the most amazing shower.' Harry said, standing and gesturing for Draco to follow.
