A/N: This is the chapter where Harry and Draco finally crack. Just warning you in advance.
Chapter Fifteen: The Sun Must be Getting to Them
After the hand dipping, Draco finally fell asleep.
Not long after, Harry woke up.
"How am I going to find dry firewood now?" he asked himself, looking around. "Maybe there's something else I can use...? It can't be anything important that we may need later." Then something clicked in his mind. "I've got it! I'll use Malfoy's socks to start a fire!" Harry exclaimed. He went over to Draco's feet and pulled off the puppy socks. He paused for a moment, holding them. These are soft. He thought. He looked down at the socks, down into the eyes of the two yellow puppies. It was enchanting... the comfort... the fibers... the colours... the cuteness! Harry realized he couldn't live without this pair of miraculous, wonderful, perfect socks. Still hypnotized by those eyes, he carefully slipped them on his own feet. Giving a sigh of relief, he took a step. And another. And another! It felt like he was walking on clouds. He had a whole new respect for socks. He walked around slowly, enjoying every step. More... more... more! I love these socks! He thought, a smile on his face. Yes! Yes! Yes! I love you! I love you so much! Who's a good little poochie? He walked around faster. Without realizing it, he started to yell. "I love you! I love you! I love you! You adorable, perfect, flawless, wonderful little –"
"Harry... what are you doing with my socks...?" Draco asked slowly.
Harry spun around. Draco had awoken, and was now standing in front of him.
"How – How much of that did you see?" Harry asked, feeling his face grow warm.
"You running around with your eyes closed wearing my socks. Mind giving them back?" Draco replied, holding out his hand.
Harry took the socks off his feet and gave them back.
"Even I'm not that obsessed about them," Draco scoffed, laughing.
"Um, may I ask where you got them?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"I don't know. They've been in my family for generations," Draco said. "But, next time you want to walk around in my socks, just ask me, okay?"
"Okay," Harry agreed.
Draco slipped them on his own feet, closing his eyes and smiling. "They are fun to wear, aren't they?"
"Oh yes," Harry replied, nodding.
After taking a few slow steps, Draco looked at Harry again.
"Well, we'd better go find more firewood," Harry said, walking into the forest. Luckily, he found a pile of sticks under a log, and had remained dry. Picking them up, he returned to the shore, made a pit, and put the sticks in it. "Draco... would it be too much to ask you to give me those socks?"
"Much too much," Draco replied solemnly. "I told you, those have been in my family for generations. It's a Malfoy tradition," he looked down at the socks. "They mean so much to me."
"I'm sorry... I never should have asked," Harry apologized. "But they are cute."
"I know," Draco said. Then he shot Harry and mean look. "But they're mine, so you can just forget about ever wearing them again!"
"You don't have to be rude," Harry said.
"Yes I do!" Draco protested. He looked at the sky. "I mean, this is the only thing that tells me my father loves me. He so cruel... and possessive. Good thing I didn't inherit that gene."
"Yeah, right," Harry said, hiding a grin.
Draco looked downward again. "It seems like he hates me, and my mother's never around. I have no siblings either. Not one. No one to play with. I'm all alone, out here in this big world... without a real father..."
"I don't have a father either," Harry said. "He died, and –"
"But at least he loved you!" Draco cried, dropping to his knees and burying his face in his hands. "Oh, woe is me!" he sobbed. He stood up again, brushing away his tears. "Oh, whatever. I'm chucking these socks!" Ripping the socks off of his feet, he cast them into the lake. "Take that, father!" he yelled.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, staring at Draco. "I'm going to look for more firewood."
As soon as Draco was sure Harry couldn't see him, he dove into the lake. "No! My socks! I can't let you drown!" he shouted, swimming to the socks. He grasped them tight, and swam back. Laughing as he put them back on, he jumped around in glee. "Wheee!"
Harry came back. "I'll ask this one more time: Are you okay?"
"Never been better!" Draco cried happily.
Harry looked out at the lake. Could it be real? Was there really a boat heading for the islet?
Draco's high-pitched laughter seemed so far away. "Wheeeeee! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
There was! It was real! A boat was coming to rescue them!
"Malfoy!" Harry shouted happily. Draco stopped giggling. Harry pointed to the motorboat. "A rescue boat! Look!"
It quickly advanced to the shore. Kate and Mitch were inside. "Are you two alright???" they called.
"We are now!" Harry said.
"Get in, we'll drive you back," Mitch said.
Harry got in, and Kate had to pick Draco up and dump him in because he refused to stop jumping up and down.
"We're saved!" Harry and Draco cried out in unison.
"The sun must be getting to them," Kate told Mitch.
In their infinite happiness, Draco and Harry burst into song. "99 puppy socks on the wall! 99 puppy socks! Put one on, that one's gone! 98 puppy socks on the wall-!"
"Ho boy," Mitch said. "The faster we get back to camp the better."
"- on, that one's gone! 97 puppy socks on the wall!" the two boys continued singing. "Everybodyyyy!"
A/N: 96 puppy socks on the wall, 96 puppy sooooocksss! ...Oh, um, excuse me. Got caught up in the moment. ::clears throat:: Anyways, I hope you didn't think sick for the 3rd paragraph. Harry was running around with socks on. That's it. Okay? Just a reminder to all the sickos. Hope you liked this chapter, next one soon!