The Secret of Secrets: Sleeping with Sleeping Beauty
Harry woke up with a splitting headache, and he thought he was still asleep because it was still dark, but then he realized that it was nighttime and his glasses were off. He put them on and when his eyes focused, he saw Malfoy standing by the window. Harry stared quietly at Malfoy, but Malfoy turned around and looked at Harry.
Malfoy eyed Harry before saying, "It's about time... And you say I sleep too much."
Malfoy turned around to look back outside of the window. Harry stood up and walked over to him. He took a deep breath and swallowed before resting a hand down on Malfoy's shoulder.
"I know something's up."
Malfoy, surprisingly, didn't shrug off Harry's hand. He merely continued staring down at the dark forest, the lands, and the lake. It was a while before he replied. "I know you know... And I mean a lot of things by that."
"What else besides the obvious?"
Malfoy seemed to be on the verge of just blurting it out, but then he caught himself. He was standing here, talking to his arch enemy as if they were best friends. Still, he didn't turn around to glare at Harry. He simply said, "And to think, the famous Harry Potter finally hasn't figured out a mystery."
Harry didn't react with anger, but with question. He knew he was being way out of character, but for once, he honestly and seriously was worried about Malfoy. Not only that, but he was curious, very curious.
"Curiosity killed the cat," Malfoy muttered.
Harry eyed Malfoy. He turned Malfoy around and bit his lip. "Just tell me."
Malfoy shook his head.
"And to think that you wouldn't even try to get on even terms with me," Harry said.
"Telling me about the map, the cloak, and the password to Gryffindor tower is nothing compared to my secret."
"So what, it's like the secret of secrets or something?" Harry said incredulously.
Malfoy nodded solemnly, and Harry couldn't help but laugh, despite the situation. "Oh, come on, Malfoy... It can't be that serious."
"It is."
"What is it?"
"I'm not telling you."
Harry sighed in frustration and gave up. True, he was worried about the guy, but if he refused to tell him, it wasn't his fault. Harry was willing to just tell Malfoy that they could be friends, just until they were freed from this hell hole, of course, but friends nonetheless, and that would mean Malfoy could tell Harry anything, and Harry would protect those secrets with his life if it was that important to Malfoy.
But what was Harry saying?
Honestly, what was Harry saying? It seemed strange, stupid, idiotic, barbaric, and insane that Harry would even think about making such a deal with Draco Malfoy of all people. Yet wouldn't it be strange, stupid, idiotic, barbaric, and insane if Harry merely didn't pretend that Malfoy wasn't standing there with a huge problem?
Yes, it would just be better if Harry at least tried to be friends with Malfoy, just for right now. Besides, he wasn't that bad when he didn't have an audience around to laugh at the jokes Malfoy made about Harry. Harry would simply ignore the past conflicts. He would never be able to survive even another night just lying there, staring at the ceiling.
Yes, this was the right choice.
Malfoy had looked up from the window and looked at Harry. He looked like he was about to say something, but he merely shook his head. The dark shadow suddenly reminded Harry about his first year when he was in the dark corridor. A flash of Snape and Quarrel in the corridors, Snape reaching out to touch Harry, Harry swearing that Snape can read minds -
And that famous singer popped into his mind, the same one he was trying to remember hours ago. "You can read minds," he said quietly.
Malfoy looked away before he looked back up at Harry and nodded, but then he added quickly, "I swear, I'll kill you if you tell a soul."
Harry ignored the comment. "You mean to tell me you've been reading my mind the moment I walked into this room on the day back?!"
"On the train, too," Malfoy said simply.
Harry growled, but Malfoy put his hands up in defense. "Please don't even pretend that you wouldn't have read my mind if you had the chance."
Harry was about to think something to himself, but then realized that he wouldn't even be safe that way. Instead, he asked, "So that has something to do with you being tired, huh?"
Malfoy nodded. "It takes up way too much energy."
"Who else knows?"
"McGonagall, Dumbledore, Pomfrey, and Snape," Malfoy said. He put his hand on top of Harry's and took it off of his shoulder. "And since when have I qualified to being Sleeping Beauty?"
Harry wasn't even slightly surprised, but he was angry. "You were supposed to be asleep."
Malfoy shrugged. "And you were supposed to hate me."
"You're supposed to hate me too."
"Who said I didn't?" Malfoy said with a smirk. He glanced back out of the window and laid down on his bed. Harry followed him and sat down on the edge of his bed.
"So tell me what Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were thinking."
"Well, that Mud- Hermione," Malfoy started, quickly correcting himself, "knows that you're bi. The reason she looked so worried to you was because she was worried about how you would take the news, what with Ron finding out. She knew before even you knew," Malfoy said, quickly dismissing Harry's question. "Ron was angry, as you all ready know, and Ginny was excited; she's turning into quite the gossip queen."
"Can't you control it?"
Malfoy nodded, knowing Harry meant the... er... 'talent'. "But why waste a perfectly good gift?"
"Well, turn your power off! I like to talk to myself in private, thanks!"
Malfoy smirked slightly and nodded. Harry turned around and looked suspiciously at Malfoy, who was lying there innocently. What he wouldn't give anything to read Malfoy's mind at the moment. What was that white-haired brat thinking? Had he really turned off his power?
Harry narrowed his eyes. He searched Malfoy's expression. His cold, unwavering eyes, his pale cheeks, his perfect nose, his lips... Harry inwardly smirked and he pictured himself kissing them. Malfoy twitched, and Harry's inward smirk came out onto his face.
"I knew it. You're a liar."
Malfoy shrugged and watched Harry stand up off of the bed and walk to his own bed. Harry lied down and stared at the ceiling with his arms rested behind his head. Harry tried to make his mind blank, but it was no use. Thoughts just flooded into his head all the more, so Harry just pretended to build a mental block, and glanced at Malfoy to see if it worked.
Malfoy was smirking at him. Guess not.
Harry sighed in frustration and looked up at the ceiling. Stop reading my mind! Harry said to Malfoy. Harry rolled over and gave Malfoy the butt, and Harry had a feeling that Malfoy was taking that the perverted way. Well, he was too, wasn't he? Stop it!
Malfoy laughed from his bed.
"Seriously, Malfoy, quit it!"
"But I all ready know all of your deepest darkest secrets," Malfoy said. "Even in your sleep you think these sorts of things. I stay up half the night listening to you think about You-Know-Who, about wanting to live with that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, about Weasley's crush on Granger."
"You wouldn't dare," Harry said, rolling over to glare at Malfoy, but Malfoy merely went on.
"And some of the dreams are just... wrong."
Harry blushed, knowing exactly what dreams Malfoy meant.
"And then there are the dreams with books eating you," Malfoy smirked.
"Shut up," Harry said. He buried his head into his pillow in embarrassment. He hoped with all of his heart that Malfoy hadn't found something out too bad, especially something that Harry himself didn't know. He could use that against him.
"Good idea."
Harry gave Malfoy a long, colorful string of mental curses. Malfoy merely smirked, but then his smirk faded.
"Do you want to know a secret about yourself?" Malfoy asked.
"What?" Harry sighed.
Malfoy smirked again, and for a second Harry thought that he wasn't going to tell him a thing, but then Malfoy asked, "Are you sure you want to know?"
Harry rolled his eyes and nodded.
Malfoy shrugged. "I warned you." He stood up off of the bed and climbed into Harry's bed. A familiar warning flashed across Harry's mind, but Malfoy shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare, not to get kicked out of school."
Instead, Malfoy rested his head down on Harry's shoulder and muttered into his ear, "Go to sleep."
Harry looked at Malfoy in confusion.
"Go to sleep. That's the secret that you wanted to know. You want to sleep with me - and not in the perverted way."
Harry blinked and began to sit up, but Malfoy reached across and forced him back down on the bed. "Seriously, just go to sleep," and before Harry could even think twice, Malfoy had fallen fast asleep. Harry supposed that Malfoy was exhausted because he was reading so many minds lately, his own mind for one.
So Harry rested back, put an arm around Malfoy's back, and went fast to sleep.
Harry woke up with a splitting headache, and he thought he was still asleep because it was still dark, but then he realized that it was nighttime and his glasses were off. He put them on and when his eyes focused, he saw Malfoy standing by the window. Harry stared quietly at Malfoy, but Malfoy turned around and looked at Harry.
Malfoy eyed Harry before saying, "It's about time... And you say I sleep too much."
Malfoy turned around to look back outside of the window. Harry stood up and walked over to him. He took a deep breath and swallowed before resting a hand down on Malfoy's shoulder.
"I know something's up."
Malfoy, surprisingly, didn't shrug off Harry's hand. He merely continued staring down at the dark forest, the lands, and the lake. It was a while before he replied. "I know you know... And I mean a lot of things by that."
"What else besides the obvious?"
Malfoy seemed to be on the verge of just blurting it out, but then he caught himself. He was standing here, talking to his arch enemy as if they were best friends. Still, he didn't turn around to glare at Harry. He simply said, "And to think, the famous Harry Potter finally hasn't figured out a mystery."
Harry didn't react with anger, but with question. He knew he was being way out of character, but for once, he honestly and seriously was worried about Malfoy. Not only that, but he was curious, very curious.
"Curiosity killed the cat," Malfoy muttered.
Harry eyed Malfoy. He turned Malfoy around and bit his lip. "Just tell me."
Malfoy shook his head.
"And to think that you wouldn't even try to get on even terms with me," Harry said.
"Telling me about the map, the cloak, and the password to Gryffindor tower is nothing compared to my secret."
"So what, it's like the secret of secrets or something?" Harry said incredulously.
Malfoy nodded solemnly, and Harry couldn't help but laugh, despite the situation. "Oh, come on, Malfoy... It can't be that serious."
"It is."
"What is it?"
"I'm not telling you."
Harry sighed in frustration and gave up. True, he was worried about the guy, but if he refused to tell him, it wasn't his fault. Harry was willing to just tell Malfoy that they could be friends, just until they were freed from this hell hole, of course, but friends nonetheless, and that would mean Malfoy could tell Harry anything, and Harry would protect those secrets with his life if it was that important to Malfoy.
But what was Harry saying?
Honestly, what was Harry saying? It seemed strange, stupid, idiotic, barbaric, and insane that Harry would even think about making such a deal with Draco Malfoy of all people. Yet wouldn't it be strange, stupid, idiotic, barbaric, and insane if Harry merely didn't pretend that Malfoy wasn't standing there with a huge problem?
Yes, it would just be better if Harry at least tried to be friends with Malfoy, just for right now. Besides, he wasn't that bad when he didn't have an audience around to laugh at the jokes Malfoy made about Harry. Harry would simply ignore the past conflicts. He would never be able to survive even another night just lying there, staring at the ceiling.
Yes, this was the right choice.
Malfoy had looked up from the window and looked at Harry. He looked like he was about to say something, but he merely shook his head. The dark shadow suddenly reminded Harry about his first year when he was in the dark corridor. A flash of Snape and Quarrel in the corridors, Snape reaching out to touch Harry, Harry swearing that Snape can read minds -
And that famous singer popped into his mind, the same one he was trying to remember hours ago. "You can read minds," he said quietly.
Malfoy looked away before he looked back up at Harry and nodded, but then he added quickly, "I swear, I'll kill you if you tell a soul."
Harry ignored the comment. "You mean to tell me you've been reading my mind the moment I walked into this room on the day back?!"
"On the train, too," Malfoy said simply.
Harry growled, but Malfoy put his hands up in defense. "Please don't even pretend that you wouldn't have read my mind if you had the chance."
Harry was about to think something to himself, but then realized that he wouldn't even be safe that way. Instead, he asked, "So that has something to do with you being tired, huh?"
Malfoy nodded. "It takes up way too much energy."
"Who else knows?"
"McGonagall, Dumbledore, Pomfrey, and Snape," Malfoy said. He put his hand on top of Harry's and took it off of his shoulder. "And since when have I qualified to being Sleeping Beauty?"
Harry wasn't even slightly surprised, but he was angry. "You were supposed to be asleep."
Malfoy shrugged. "And you were supposed to hate me."
"You're supposed to hate me too."
"Who said I didn't?" Malfoy said with a smirk. He glanced back out of the window and laid down on his bed. Harry followed him and sat down on the edge of his bed.
"So tell me what Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were thinking."
"Well, that Mud- Hermione," Malfoy started, quickly correcting himself, "knows that you're bi. The reason she looked so worried to you was because she was worried about how you would take the news, what with Ron finding out. She knew before even you knew," Malfoy said, quickly dismissing Harry's question. "Ron was angry, as you all ready know, and Ginny was excited; she's turning into quite the gossip queen."
"Can't you control it?"
Malfoy nodded, knowing Harry meant the... er... 'talent'. "But why waste a perfectly good gift?"
"Well, turn your power off! I like to talk to myself in private, thanks!"
Malfoy smirked slightly and nodded. Harry turned around and looked suspiciously at Malfoy, who was lying there innocently. What he wouldn't give anything to read Malfoy's mind at the moment. What was that white-haired brat thinking? Had he really turned off his power?
Harry narrowed his eyes. He searched Malfoy's expression. His cold, unwavering eyes, his pale cheeks, his perfect nose, his lips... Harry inwardly smirked and he pictured himself kissing them. Malfoy twitched, and Harry's inward smirk came out onto his face.
"I knew it. You're a liar."
Malfoy shrugged and watched Harry stand up off of the bed and walk to his own bed. Harry lied down and stared at the ceiling with his arms rested behind his head. Harry tried to make his mind blank, but it was no use. Thoughts just flooded into his head all the more, so Harry just pretended to build a mental block, and glanced at Malfoy to see if it worked.
Malfoy was smirking at him. Guess not.
Harry sighed in frustration and looked up at the ceiling. Stop reading my mind! Harry said to Malfoy. Harry rolled over and gave Malfoy the butt, and Harry had a feeling that Malfoy was taking that the perverted way. Well, he was too, wasn't he? Stop it!
Malfoy laughed from his bed.
"Seriously, Malfoy, quit it!"
"But I all ready know all of your deepest darkest secrets," Malfoy said. "Even in your sleep you think these sorts of things. I stay up half the night listening to you think about You-Know-Who, about wanting to live with that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, about Weasley's crush on Granger."
"You wouldn't dare," Harry said, rolling over to glare at Malfoy, but Malfoy merely went on.
"And some of the dreams are just... wrong."
Harry blushed, knowing exactly what dreams Malfoy meant.
"And then there are the dreams with books eating you," Malfoy smirked.
"Shut up," Harry said. He buried his head into his pillow in embarrassment. He hoped with all of his heart that Malfoy hadn't found something out too bad, especially something that Harry himself didn't know. He could use that against him.
"Good idea."
Harry gave Malfoy a long, colorful string of mental curses. Malfoy merely smirked, but then his smirk faded.
"Do you want to know a secret about yourself?" Malfoy asked.
"What?" Harry sighed.
Malfoy smirked again, and for a second Harry thought that he wasn't going to tell him a thing, but then Malfoy asked, "Are you sure you want to know?"
Harry rolled his eyes and nodded.
Malfoy shrugged. "I warned you." He stood up off of the bed and climbed into Harry's bed. A familiar warning flashed across Harry's mind, but Malfoy shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare, not to get kicked out of school."
Instead, Malfoy rested his head down on Harry's shoulder and muttered into his ear, "Go to sleep."
Harry looked at Malfoy in confusion.
"Go to sleep. That's the secret that you wanted to know. You want to sleep with me - and not in the perverted way."
Harry blinked and began to sit up, but Malfoy reached across and forced him back down on the bed. "Seriously, just go to sleep," and before Harry could even think twice, Malfoy had fallen fast asleep. Harry supposed that Malfoy was exhausted because he was reading so many minds lately, his own mind for one.
So Harry rested back, put an arm around Malfoy's back, and went fast to sleep.