Part III- The Reckless Sleeper
Harry looked up from his plate to meet the intense gaze of grey from across the Great Hall. Just for a second, their eyes met.
"…So he told me that I should try out for it with my brothers…Harry? Are you listening to me?"
Harry faltered. "Um…" He looked at Ron. "…I'm not hungry, I'll, um… meet you back in the commonroom, later, or something"
He got up from the table and made his way to the doors. He could almost feel the steel gaze, following out into the entrance hall. He stopped for a second, willing himself to walk forward, but wanting to wait at the same time. He felt a thrill as the breeze on his back meant that the doors had opened once again. Was it Draco?
He turned around to meet Hermione's anxious face.
"Are you alright Harry? You were acting a bit strange."
Harry smiled weakly.
"Oh, don't worry Hermione. It's just er, Quiddich practice. You know how it is…I have so much work. In fact, I have to complete some Charms homework for tomorrow and I've only done three inches, when we were meant to have done two feet. I should really be doing it now. Yes, I'm going to go and do just that- my homework I mean…on the origins of secondary charms and the Isis law..."
Harry realised that he'd been babbling, and stopped abruptly.
Hermione still looked concerned.
"Harry, why don't you let me help you? We can go to the library- I came across a really useful book for that."
Harry had been telling the truth. He really hadn't done his Charms homework. But not because of his commitment to Quiddich; it was his two late nights with Draco. It wasn't only the time he spent with Draco; it was the time he spent thinking about their strange conversation.
He therefore, agreed to Hermione's offer of help, and the two black clad figures made their way up the castle to the Griffindor tower, to retrieve their quills and textbooks.
They walked into the quiet of the library, footsteps echoing slightly on the stone floor. Hermione pointed out the correct shelf and took the task of climbing the small rickety ladder to reach the volume. Harry ran his digit along the old, faded spines, his finger, finally resting on a large, green, leather bound book. It read 'The muggle view of insomnia and wizarding conceptions'. Hmmmm Draco.
The textbooks were carried to their usual corner, and Harry began to work, Hermione leaning over from her own work every once in a while to check on him.
Harry found this rather irritating, not to mention patronising. When Hermione decided to leave he wasn't too upset. She gave him some excuse about being tired, but he knew that she was equally irritated with having to sit with him, when she really preferred to be with Ron. 'Doing what?' Harry thought to himself with a faint grin.
He watched her leave, through the rows of shelves, but felt a strange jolt when a blonde head appeared at the same doorway Hermione exited. Their eyes met again. But Draco looked away, completely dismissive of Harry, just as he always used to be. Harry was quite offended, not that he knew why. He looked back at his parchment in defiance. Soon he was lost in the complex workings of secondary charms and the Isis principle. Grey eyes and white-blonde hair, pushed from his busy mind.
Harry opened his eyes. Where was he?
Oh great Gods. The library. …Only dim light through the window above him revealed his location. Then the noise that had awoken him sounded again. A current of curses, uttered fluently into the darkness- so quiet, it was but a murmur. Harry's chair scraped slightly as he stood, resulting in the flow of words lapsing into silence.
Harry poked his head round the bookshelves and scanned the shadows for signs of life. He wouldn't have found any…if Draco's hair hadn't been the type that almost emits a light of its own.
Harry stepped into the open.
"Draco" he whispered. "It's only me."
Draco stepped forward into the feeble glow. He simply stared at Harry.
"What are you doing here." He asked with a tinge of cold in his voice.
"I, errr…fell asleep here."
A glint of cruel amusement passed across Draco's face, quickly covered by a look that spelled Harry's insignificance. He turned away, and took his seat once more, by his table full of open books.
Harry stood.
"What're you doing?" he ventured.
Draco left a pause before he replied, a pause that established his control, *his* power.
"Nothing that concerns you Potter." Draco looked up from his reading. He surveyed Harry through thoughtful eyes- weighing him up, scrutinising him. Harry felt uncomfortable, but stared back without moving an inch. Draco squinted. He wanted to tell him. He has said he would, and a Malfoy never breaks his word. Draco had not broken his word- except of course, that he had been avoiding the Griffindor boy for some days.
"Ok…I'm doing a little late night research on insomnia. But I haven't found much yet- this library is pathetic in terms of scientific concepts."
"Scientific concepts?…You know about muggle concepts?"
"Don't look so shocked Potter, I was educated by the finest tutors."
"But mage education, right?"
Draco's silence answered him.
"Traditional mage education teaches no science at all."
"I liked to do extra reading." Draco confided reluctantly. He didn't know how to win this one. It wasn't their usual argument or debate, or anything. It was just a conversation- not a friendly talk, but a regular conversation. If were to ignore Harry, it would be like he didn't have an answer. It felt too much like losing an argument…so he had answered. And now it was like he had given away a vital secret- why was that?
"Want some help?"
"Don't need any help, thank you." Draco replied quickly and coldly.
"I may have…"
"That's alright. It's all under control.'
Harry stood in the dark for a while, as Draco turned back to reading by wand-light.
"Well, I'm coming back in an hour. Want me to grab you a snack?" Harry asked with a tinge of sarcasm. "I'm going to raid the kitchens."
Draco didn't look up.
"Pumpkin pie, here I come." He muttered darkly as he walked out of the library, as if it were a curse.
Harry stalked through the castle, hands full of cream cakes and eclairs. After all these years, the castle still held its little surprises. He had to be on his guard.
He wondered if Mrs Norris could smell the cakes. She always seemed to be everywhere at once. His mind wondered to what Mrs Norris would do if she found Draco in the library. What would Filch do? Harry sneered to himself.
He saw the dim glow of the wand-light through the library door as he approached, his footsteps deliberately light. He peered round the doorway. There he was- crouched over a book. Just sitting there, wand in one hand and a corner of a page, in the other. His silk hair flopped lightly over his pale-moon face.
Draco stopped reading.
He had that feeling. *That* feeling.
He knew that feeling well, - he spent all of his life being cautious and guarded, so that now it was more than second nature, it was part of his character. Well, it was Filch, Mrs Norris, or Harry.
Hmmm…Filch would have roared by now…so it was either Mrs Norris or Harry.
He would have to take a risk.
"What do you want Potter?"
He felt the atmosphere change around him; the faintest of breaths- it was Harry all right.
"Have you found anything?"
"No…This damned library!"
"I saw a book."
"You what?-why didn't you say?!"
"I offered my help." Harry said with a certain smugness that became him not.
Draco felt like telling him this- 'Harry! Don't act smug. It doesn't become you!' He imagined the words in his mind- they sounded stupid- he sounded stupid. Ponce.
Harry emerged from behind a shadowed shelf; he carried the green book. It looked like quite a heavy volume, but Harry seemed to carry it effortlessly. Maybe it was just a trick of the light. The book must be made of low-density paper or something.
Draco reached up for the book, which Harry placed deftly into his awaiting arms.
It *was* heavy! Draco felt the tingling pain of his funny bone as his arms hit the table.
Harry's smug look returned, and a raised eyebrow.
He could carry quite a weight for such a small boy. Not that Draco wasn't small either. They were both around the same, slightly short, height.
Draco glared up at the dark-haired boy. He removed his ill-performing arms from under the large book, and turned the leather cover.
"…Well, read aloud then!"
Draco looked disgusted. "No." He said with the force of an unsatisfied, spoilt kid.
Harry rolled his eyes and snorted lightly. "Fine then." He pulled another of the ancient wooden chairs besides the other boy, and began to read over his shoulder.
"Will you stop that."
"No." Harry replied mirroring the same force, in a twist of subtle sarcasm.
Draco felt the hot breaths on his neck, and thought he might start spasming right there. So close…
He pulled his chair away, allowing the other boy to share the book, and taking the opportunity for a deep calming breath. He glance sideways at dark hair and glimmer of green eyes behind glasses. No, not the eyes again.
And what was this? As the other boy shuffled closer in response to his own movement away, there was a brush of leg on leg under the table. There they rested together, leg on leg- a warmth. Yes, clothed leg, but still, the sensation of sharing this heat made it real. Draco could feel his heart rate increasing.
He tried to concentrate on the writing…
Introduction. This is a guide to…
The warmth is so inviting. The touch…
Introduction. This is a…
Can he hear my hear beat quicken?
Introduction. This is a guide to the…
Does he know how beautiful his eyes are?-NO, I can't think like this. This is impossible. It will never happen- never.
INTRODUCTION: This is a guide to the science of insomnia. It will provide understanding, factual information, but most importantly a cure…
Faint noises intermingled with the sounds in Harry's dream.
He opened his eyes to meet the bright, early sun, and a pale, fluttering eyelashes. Draco lay beside him, head in his arms, facing Harry. Harry sat up slightly. They were in the same positions as they were in last night. The book still lay open.
Draco was whimpering slightly and his brow was creased with frustration and worry.
"No." he whispered. "I didn't…I never…"
He jerked in his seat, gently at first. Suddenly, the whole chair toppled over and Draco lay sprawled on the floor.
"Wuh?" His eyes were worried and misted in tears. He was trembling again.
Harry looked equally as shocked, but held out his hand for Draco to take. In his astonishment, Draco accepted Harry's offering and scrambled to his feet, looking as uncontrolled as he did that other night- such a new concept for Harry.
He still trembled, but regained his composure quickly. He turned to Harry.
Harry thought he saw some kind of gratitude- camaraderie? Dreams. Just fantasies.
Draco sneered with a revived bitterness.
"I'll being seeing you in class, Potter."
Notice the shift in dominance there? - paralleled in imagery? *smirks* - no, me neither ^_^
Ok then, anyone notice the very very subtle Pratchet reference? (clue: Mort) (Another clue?: Keli) Hehe- too easy.
Once again, a Magritte 'The Reckless Sleeper' (the usual turns into something personal and unusual- 'Ceci n'est une pipe')
Thank you's to all that reviewed.
**(Cali- wow, thanks) Julianna Priest, (Saburu- you don't like cliffies? *smiles sweetly*) (Penguin's angel- dear me…has it been fixed yet?) Unicorn Chick, (Starfish Girl- Hi!) Amo Draconem, princess katrina, (Sarvihaara- me too, didn't you notice :) Adelina, Moondragon, Elaine, Catfish, (Gwenn- mystery? Hehe) GentleWaterSoul, AnimeGirl, and Geppe.
~finite
Harry looked up from his plate to meet the intense gaze of grey from across the Great Hall. Just for a second, their eyes met.
"…So he told me that I should try out for it with my brothers…Harry? Are you listening to me?"
Harry faltered. "Um…" He looked at Ron. "…I'm not hungry, I'll, um… meet you back in the commonroom, later, or something"
He got up from the table and made his way to the doors. He could almost feel the steel gaze, following out into the entrance hall. He stopped for a second, willing himself to walk forward, but wanting to wait at the same time. He felt a thrill as the breeze on his back meant that the doors had opened once again. Was it Draco?
He turned around to meet Hermione's anxious face.
"Are you alright Harry? You were acting a bit strange."
Harry smiled weakly.
"Oh, don't worry Hermione. It's just er, Quiddich practice. You know how it is…I have so much work. In fact, I have to complete some Charms homework for tomorrow and I've only done three inches, when we were meant to have done two feet. I should really be doing it now. Yes, I'm going to go and do just that- my homework I mean…on the origins of secondary charms and the Isis law..."
Harry realised that he'd been babbling, and stopped abruptly.
Hermione still looked concerned.
"Harry, why don't you let me help you? We can go to the library- I came across a really useful book for that."
Harry had been telling the truth. He really hadn't done his Charms homework. But not because of his commitment to Quiddich; it was his two late nights with Draco. It wasn't only the time he spent with Draco; it was the time he spent thinking about their strange conversation.
He therefore, agreed to Hermione's offer of help, and the two black clad figures made their way up the castle to the Griffindor tower, to retrieve their quills and textbooks.
They walked into the quiet of the library, footsteps echoing slightly on the stone floor. Hermione pointed out the correct shelf and took the task of climbing the small rickety ladder to reach the volume. Harry ran his digit along the old, faded spines, his finger, finally resting on a large, green, leather bound book. It read 'The muggle view of insomnia and wizarding conceptions'. Hmmmm Draco.
The textbooks were carried to their usual corner, and Harry began to work, Hermione leaning over from her own work every once in a while to check on him.
Harry found this rather irritating, not to mention patronising. When Hermione decided to leave he wasn't too upset. She gave him some excuse about being tired, but he knew that she was equally irritated with having to sit with him, when she really preferred to be with Ron. 'Doing what?' Harry thought to himself with a faint grin.
He watched her leave, through the rows of shelves, but felt a strange jolt when a blonde head appeared at the same doorway Hermione exited. Their eyes met again. But Draco looked away, completely dismissive of Harry, just as he always used to be. Harry was quite offended, not that he knew why. He looked back at his parchment in defiance. Soon he was lost in the complex workings of secondary charms and the Isis principle. Grey eyes and white-blonde hair, pushed from his busy mind.
Harry opened his eyes. Where was he?
Oh great Gods. The library. …Only dim light through the window above him revealed his location. Then the noise that had awoken him sounded again. A current of curses, uttered fluently into the darkness- so quiet, it was but a murmur. Harry's chair scraped slightly as he stood, resulting in the flow of words lapsing into silence.
Harry poked his head round the bookshelves and scanned the shadows for signs of life. He wouldn't have found any…if Draco's hair hadn't been the type that almost emits a light of its own.
Harry stepped into the open.
"Draco" he whispered. "It's only me."
Draco stepped forward into the feeble glow. He simply stared at Harry.
"What are you doing here." He asked with a tinge of cold in his voice.
"I, errr…fell asleep here."
A glint of cruel amusement passed across Draco's face, quickly covered by a look that spelled Harry's insignificance. He turned away, and took his seat once more, by his table full of open books.
Harry stood.
"What're you doing?" he ventured.
Draco left a pause before he replied, a pause that established his control, *his* power.
"Nothing that concerns you Potter." Draco looked up from his reading. He surveyed Harry through thoughtful eyes- weighing him up, scrutinising him. Harry felt uncomfortable, but stared back without moving an inch. Draco squinted. He wanted to tell him. He has said he would, and a Malfoy never breaks his word. Draco had not broken his word- except of course, that he had been avoiding the Griffindor boy for some days.
"Ok…I'm doing a little late night research on insomnia. But I haven't found much yet- this library is pathetic in terms of scientific concepts."
"Scientific concepts?…You know about muggle concepts?"
"Don't look so shocked Potter, I was educated by the finest tutors."
"But mage education, right?"
Draco's silence answered him.
"Traditional mage education teaches no science at all."
"I liked to do extra reading." Draco confided reluctantly. He didn't know how to win this one. It wasn't their usual argument or debate, or anything. It was just a conversation- not a friendly talk, but a regular conversation. If were to ignore Harry, it would be like he didn't have an answer. It felt too much like losing an argument…so he had answered. And now it was like he had given away a vital secret- why was that?
"Want some help?"
"Don't need any help, thank you." Draco replied quickly and coldly.
"I may have…"
"That's alright. It's all under control.'
Harry stood in the dark for a while, as Draco turned back to reading by wand-light.
"Well, I'm coming back in an hour. Want me to grab you a snack?" Harry asked with a tinge of sarcasm. "I'm going to raid the kitchens."
Draco didn't look up.
"Pumpkin pie, here I come." He muttered darkly as he walked out of the library, as if it were a curse.
Harry stalked through the castle, hands full of cream cakes and eclairs. After all these years, the castle still held its little surprises. He had to be on his guard.
He wondered if Mrs Norris could smell the cakes. She always seemed to be everywhere at once. His mind wondered to what Mrs Norris would do if she found Draco in the library. What would Filch do? Harry sneered to himself.
He saw the dim glow of the wand-light through the library door as he approached, his footsteps deliberately light. He peered round the doorway. There he was- crouched over a book. Just sitting there, wand in one hand and a corner of a page, in the other. His silk hair flopped lightly over his pale-moon face.
Draco stopped reading.
He had that feeling. *That* feeling.
He knew that feeling well, - he spent all of his life being cautious and guarded, so that now it was more than second nature, it was part of his character. Well, it was Filch, Mrs Norris, or Harry.
Hmmm…Filch would have roared by now…so it was either Mrs Norris or Harry.
He would have to take a risk.
"What do you want Potter?"
He felt the atmosphere change around him; the faintest of breaths- it was Harry all right.
"Have you found anything?"
"No…This damned library!"
"I saw a book."
"You what?-why didn't you say?!"
"I offered my help." Harry said with a certain smugness that became him not.
Draco felt like telling him this- 'Harry! Don't act smug. It doesn't become you!' He imagined the words in his mind- they sounded stupid- he sounded stupid. Ponce.
Harry emerged from behind a shadowed shelf; he carried the green book. It looked like quite a heavy volume, but Harry seemed to carry it effortlessly. Maybe it was just a trick of the light. The book must be made of low-density paper or something.
Draco reached up for the book, which Harry placed deftly into his awaiting arms.
It *was* heavy! Draco felt the tingling pain of his funny bone as his arms hit the table.
Harry's smug look returned, and a raised eyebrow.
He could carry quite a weight for such a small boy. Not that Draco wasn't small either. They were both around the same, slightly short, height.
Draco glared up at the dark-haired boy. He removed his ill-performing arms from under the large book, and turned the leather cover.
"…Well, read aloud then!"
Draco looked disgusted. "No." He said with the force of an unsatisfied, spoilt kid.
Harry rolled his eyes and snorted lightly. "Fine then." He pulled another of the ancient wooden chairs besides the other boy, and began to read over his shoulder.
"Will you stop that."
"No." Harry replied mirroring the same force, in a twist of subtle sarcasm.
Draco felt the hot breaths on his neck, and thought he might start spasming right there. So close…
He pulled his chair away, allowing the other boy to share the book, and taking the opportunity for a deep calming breath. He glance sideways at dark hair and glimmer of green eyes behind glasses. No, not the eyes again.
And what was this? As the other boy shuffled closer in response to his own movement away, there was a brush of leg on leg under the table. There they rested together, leg on leg- a warmth. Yes, clothed leg, but still, the sensation of sharing this heat made it real. Draco could feel his heart rate increasing.
He tried to concentrate on the writing…
Introduction. This is a guide to…
The warmth is so inviting. The touch…
Introduction. This is a…
Can he hear my hear beat quicken?
Introduction. This is a guide to the…
Does he know how beautiful his eyes are?-NO, I can't think like this. This is impossible. It will never happen- never.
INTRODUCTION: This is a guide to the science of insomnia. It will provide understanding, factual information, but most importantly a cure…
Faint noises intermingled with the sounds in Harry's dream.
He opened his eyes to meet the bright, early sun, and a pale, fluttering eyelashes. Draco lay beside him, head in his arms, facing Harry. Harry sat up slightly. They were in the same positions as they were in last night. The book still lay open.
Draco was whimpering slightly and his brow was creased with frustration and worry.
"No." he whispered. "I didn't…I never…"
He jerked in his seat, gently at first. Suddenly, the whole chair toppled over and Draco lay sprawled on the floor.
"Wuh?" His eyes were worried and misted in tears. He was trembling again.
Harry looked equally as shocked, but held out his hand for Draco to take. In his astonishment, Draco accepted Harry's offering and scrambled to his feet, looking as uncontrolled as he did that other night- such a new concept for Harry.
He still trembled, but regained his composure quickly. He turned to Harry.
Harry thought he saw some kind of gratitude- camaraderie? Dreams. Just fantasies.
Draco sneered with a revived bitterness.
"I'll being seeing you in class, Potter."
Notice the shift in dominance there? - paralleled in imagery? *smirks* - no, me neither ^_^
Ok then, anyone notice the very very subtle Pratchet reference? (clue: Mort) (Another clue?: Keli) Hehe- too easy.
Once again, a Magritte 'The Reckless Sleeper' (the usual turns into something personal and unusual- 'Ceci n'est une pipe')
Thank you's to all that reviewed.
**(Cali- wow, thanks) Julianna Priest, (Saburu- you don't like cliffies? *smiles sweetly*) (Penguin's angel- dear me…has it been fixed yet?) Unicorn Chick, (Starfish Girl- Hi!) Amo Draconem, princess katrina, (Sarvihaara- me too, didn't you notice :) Adelina, Moondragon, Elaine, Catfish, (Gwenn- mystery? Hehe) GentleWaterSoul, AnimeGirl, and Geppe.
~finite