Harry sat on one of the couches in the Prefect bathroom's common room. It was a small room that led to the two separate bathrooms; one for the girls, one for the boys. He looked at the clock on the wall; Malfoy should have been there nearly five minutes ago… He wasn't sure whether he should wait for the Slytherin brat. Malfoy never did anything for him before…
Harry had been mentally debating with himself whether or not he should have come. It wasn't so much a matter of what he would say, but how he would find sympathy in his heart for Malfoy, of all people. Some days he thought that he despised Malfoy more than even Lord Voldemort. But Harry had seen a lot of things over the past few years. He'd seen how people could change; seen lives change in mere seconds. He hadn't been able to do anything about them…Could he possibly do the impossible and transform Malfoy..?
Draco scowled as he pulled himself tight against a wall. Damn Peeves. You could always count on finding him when you didn't want to be seen or bothered. He silently opened the portrait and climbed inside, closing it swiftly behind himself. He turned around to see Potter.
Draco let out a small sigh of relief. As much as he was hoping that the black-haired Gryffindor would be there, he highly doubted that Potter would show.
"You're true to your word, Potter." Malfoy gave a half smile. "Good to know."
"Shut it, Malfoy." As much thought as he had given to Draco lately, Harry was not about to start liking him.
Draco bit his lip to hold back a foul retort. "Sorry." HE said quickly. "I hadn't meant for it to-"
"It's fine." Harry snapped, cutting Draco off.
"Did you think about it?" Draco's eyes softened with hope. He sat down on a separate chair nearby. His heart was beating rapidly underneath his chest and he could barely get the words out properly, making the tone in which he spoke drop to a low, almost husky sound.
Harry trembled a bit as Malfoy's words hit his ear. He suddenly became embarrassed by his old, worn flannel pajamas. They had been Dudley's, of course, and draped over Harry's smaller frame, Draco was wearing elegant looking black fabric pants and his dark green robe was made of silk. Harry's cheeks blushed a bit and he snapped back into the present moment. "Yeah, I thought about it." Harry looked back at Draco and suddenly felt a pang in his heart.
Draco Malfoy was paler than he had ever been; which was saying something. His silver-gray eyes were almost lifeless and black, its pupils wide. His chest was rising and falling so fast that he could barely tell which the other boy was doing at the time. Draco had lost weight as well, enough that his robe was loose, revealing etched clavicles. He took a deep breath and bit back his surprise.
"I'll help you, Malfoy." He hung his head. "Merlin knows why I'm saying this," He shook his head, his black hair falling over his forehead. "But I'll help you."
Draco could feel the relief washing over his entire being; cleansing him of fear. "You, you will, really?" He choked back a sob. Harry nodded.
"I will, really." Draco jumped up and gave him a quick, awkward hug.
"Thanks!" He was gone before Harry looked up.
For a few moments, Harry's mind lingered on the touch of Draco's arms against his shoulders, and how it felt right in a way…
