The Darkness that Dreams Are Made Of
And You Will Shed Tears Of Scarlet
Harry breathed a little deeper and opened his mouth, tasting the air. He slowly opened his eyes and licked his lips. Draco sat in the farmost corner of the carriage, looking out in the distance, as if he was only dreaming, except with eyes open.
Harry had told Ron and Hermione to take a carriage farther up front, he said he would catch up, he didn't intend to.
Harry plunked himself down neatly in the middle of the seat across from Draco, closing the door to the carriage and quickly locking it with his wand. Tilting his head casually towards Draco's direction, he smiled slightly, "Do you smell that?"
Draco jerked back, flinching as he met Harry's eyes. They grew wide with shock even as Harry's smile grew wider. Draco adverted his eyes looking at the corner of the carriage nearest his feet.
"I know that smell," Harry breathed, "It's…blood," Draco's head jerked back up so quickly his neck popped sharply, painfully. Harry didn't move, "Dried blood, wounds made recently, they have been treated well enough though."
Draco said nothing for a few minutes before looking back to the floor, "You may tell whom-ever you wish, I have nothing to give and no pride to speak of."
Harry sighed and leaned back in the seat, just as the cariage began to move.
"God I love that smell, it's so similar to the smell of my own blood just slightly different, only, slightly different."
"What are saying?" Draco whispered tiredly, "Aren't you, I mean, are you not going to tell the whole school of this? Or use it as blackmail?"
Harry yawned slowly, covering his mouth only at the end, "Who? Who did it to you? Caused you to bleed, both inside and out."
A tremor wracked Draco's body, tears suddenly coursing down his face, falling from his eyes and streaming down his too pale face.
Harry moved over until he was directly in front Draco, pausing as the carriage jerked to a halt and voices raising in eager chatter. He reached forward and raised Draco's chin until he was looking him straight in the eye. He leaned forward, sliding his hand up to cup Draco's cheek.
Draco cried unhindered now, as he had back on the train. Too many bad memories for even a million lifetimes. He wanted it, what Harry innocently hung in front of his eyes, closer than it had ever been before in his life.
"Don't cry, it doesn't fit you at all, although you are very pretty when you cry."
Draco pulled away, hurriedly wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Everybody's gone inside ahead of us, we need to leave."
"Not yet. You haven't answered my question."
"I…it…it…was…" Draco's voice trailed off.
"Hm?" Harry cocked his head slightly to the side.
Draco's head dropped again, hands clutched tightly together, tears flowing silently.
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he had come a conclusion on the train, although he had been thinking about it almost all summer. He was tired of playing the golden wonder boy; he was almost eighteen, almost out of school. School didn't really matter though, both his life in the muggle and wizarding world was a play act. Shaped to the watchers will. From now on Harry would do as he pleased, act as he pleased, and speak whatever came to his mind. No more Harry Fucking Potter the Fucking Boy Who Lived.
Upon Harrys conclusion Draco drew no similar one, he was tired of life and was simply waiting for the opportunity to end it. Harry, however, had opened a new light to Draco. Not good or evil, simply an open, unspoken, offer.
Harry smiled at Draco, softly, "I won't ask again, although I think I already know the answer."
When Draco didn't reply nor move to respond, Harry's smile faded and a single tear escaped his eye, slipping slowly down his cheek.
Draco looked up; his mouth opening slightly, his hand reached forward and caught the tear on his fingertip.
"Blood?"
"It only happens, when the pain becomes too much to bear."
"…sorry…." He murmured, "I didn't mean to become your pain."
"Here" Harry opened his arms to Draco.
Draco didn't move for a while, biting his lip. He surprised Harry when hesitantly, he moved into Harry's embrace.
Harry wrapped his arms around Draco pulling him into his lap. Draco pushed his head down into Harry's chest clutching his robe.
Harry unlocked the door of the carriage and slid out into the cool night air, still holding Draco in his arms.
Hagrid was putting away the lead coaches and was not to be seen. The Great Hall inside rose with cheers as the sorting ceremony commenced.
Walking up to the front entrance, Harry paused only once, to look down upon his fragile cargo, almost asleep in his arms.
He smiled and whispered into Draco's ear, "Can I keep you?"
Draco made no response except to pull himself closer to Harry, sighing contentedly.
"Hm, I think I will take that for a yes. You are mine now, Draco."