Chapter Seventeen
Accept the Love
Harry grinned at Ginny as she and Colin were sitting down. He was still a bit surprised that he was partially the subject of the first few lines of their duet, but it was quite understandable. Harry shrugged and went back to his activity of playing with the little hairs at Draco's ankle.
Harry had snuck a look at Draco while Colin and Ginny were singing. His eyes were closed in what looked like contentment, so Harry just kept on playing with Draco's legs.
A small smile was resting comfortably on Harry's lips because he knew that at least for the moment, he could do something to make Draco Malfoy happy. And that, in itself, made Harry happy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco was, indeed, content. In fact, he had never been more relaxed than he was at that moment. Harry's fingers gentle caress was the most wonderful feeling in the world in Draco's mind. The corners of his mouth were making very serious threats to pull his lips into a smile, and of course Draco could not allow that to happen. He couldn't let on how truly contented he was. Not while Harry was touching him, anyway.
Draco sat up a little and opened his eyes for a moment to take a look at Harry. He was grinning at those Gryffindors that had just sung about him a moment ago. A stab of jealousy ran through Draco as he saw how much Harry's smile lit his face.
Why can't Harry look at me like that? Draco wondered. Then he realized that of course Harry wouldn't smile at him like that. Because for the last four years, he made it his quest to make Harry's life as difficult as humanly possible. Draco wanted to kick himself for that now. There's no way Harry would ever grin at me like that now. I've pissed him off far too much.
Draco noticed that Harry's fingers had stopped their ministrations to his ankle then. Draco sat back again, the hint of a sorrowful frown tainting his face now. He closed his eyes again, wishing Harry would start up the stroking again. Almost instantly, Draco felt Harry's fingers start moving again, and Draco gave a silent sigh of joy. He was sure that today would be something he would remember for a very long time, even after he left Hogwarts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Seamus climbed up the stairs to the stage again. He grinned out at his captive audience, who had finally settled down after Ginny and Colin's performance. Now everyone was waiting to find out who was going to sing next.
"That was great, Ginny, Colin," said Seamus, looking to each Gryffindor as he mentioned them. The couple smiled back at him as the audience clapped again politely. "Alright," continued Seamus. "Our next act is another performance from Slytherin House. Please put your hands together for Blaise Zabini!"
The black-haired boy stood from his seat on the other side of Vin and Greg. Blaise started to the stage amid more polite applause.
Draco opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Why didn't he tell me he was singing? thought Draco. He shrugged and his eyes followed his best friend to the stage.
Blaise stood at center stage, and snapped once. His school robes were replaced with carpenter jeans, a Slytherin-green button-down shirt with the top few buttons opened, and a black tee shirt peaking out of the opening of the button-down. He pulled his wand out of a long, skinny pocket along his right thigh. He waved it above his head and his accompanying music started.
Blaise took a deep breath, and when his cue came, a strong tenor voice escaped his throat. He hazarded a quick glance at Draco as he sang.
"You know you're seeking
Love, and I wish you'd find it."
Blaise tapped his temple softly.
"Oh, but it's hiding in the back of your mind."
He shook his head and shrugged.
"You never did get it.
You were never given it."
The Slytherin put a hand to his chest and shook his head again.
"Now you feel, and you don't get why.
But inside you need to look, deep down,
Past the hatred that you used to learn"
Blaise looked at Draco again and saw his best friend was looking back in bewilderment. Blaise nodded just enough for Draco to see, just enough for Draco to understand this song was to him, and then he looked away. He didn't want the whole world to know who he was really singing to.
"Now you've got to listen,
Listen and wait for the
Songs of the love that inside you burns."
Blaise took a deep breath and started the chorus of the song.
"He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be"
A smile that looked almost like a longing one was set on Blaise's lips, and he looked directly at the object of Draco's affections. Blaise and Harry made eye contact for a second, then Blaise's eyes slipped closed.
"He does all the right things
At exactly the right time.
But there's nothing between you and I don't get why."
Blaise shook his head yet again, opening his eyes.
"You're waiting for something"
He held his hands out and brought them together like he was pressing something together between them.
"To push you together.
You're waiting for something to make him stay"
Blaise covered his chest, right where his heart was.
"There's always another
Wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say."
Blaise glanced over to Draco again as he sang the chorus again.
"He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be"
He nodded and closed his eyes, the sad smile resting on his lips.
"He does all the right things
At exactly the right time.
But there's nothing between you and I don't get why."
Blaise once again shook his head and opened his eyes.
"But you'll just sit tight"
He swept his hand, palm up, in front of him like he was reaching out to someone walking past him.
"And watch love go by."
He closed his fingers into a fist and pulled in back to his body.
"He's everything you're waiting for."
Another sad shake of Blaise's head came.
"You'll never be fine
Just biding your time
'Cause with him you'll be so much more."
He sighed.
"Out of the shadows,
And into the sunlight,"
As though it was planned, a streak from the setting sun outside lit Blaise's face. He threw back his head, eyes closed, and revelled in the receeding sunshine.
"Heal the pain that comes from what you learned.
You never noticed
But you've always shied away
From songs of the love that inside you yearns"
Blaise wanted to look back at Draco, but he knew if he kept that up, then the whole school would know he was singing to Draco. And that was not something he wanted the world to know. He made himself look at several different girls as he sang the chorus again.
"He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be"
Another sad smile painted Blaise's lips as he looked at the audience.
"He does all the right things
At exactly the right time.
But there's nothing between you and I don't get why."
Blaise pointed to himself now. His face was the portrait of sadness along with the hint of jealousy.
"I'm not anything you want.
I'm not anything you need
There's not anything inside of me that you wish you could be.
I don't do the right things
Never at just the right time
And there's friendship between us and I don't get why."
Blaise shook his head again, sadness, jealousy and confusion twisting his features. He repeated himself softly.
"I don't get why.
Why?
Why?
I don't know."
Blaise lowered his head, a look akin to defeat on his face. The music died away a minute later. The crowd broke into applause, and quiet "aww"s could be heard here and there, as well as whispers of "I wonder who he was singing to." Blaise moved to his seat, content in knowing that he sang well, and that he had not given away who the subject of his song was.
As Blaise was settling back into his armchair, two boys sat together, yet alone. And they wondered why the Slytherin had glanced directly at them.
~*~TBC~*~
