Ghost at the end of the table

by SweetSalt23

Harry stared, even though he tried not to, his eyes constantly going back to the ghost that sat at the end of the seventh-year table. He felt something in his chest as he took in the mere shadow of a person who for years had always had his attention. This attention was vastly different however, the feelings fluttering in Harry' chest unfamiliar when it came to the new Draco Malfoy.

6. Chapter 6

Warning: Bit of a night terror deal in this one

Pairing: MxM Drarry

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER I AM TO POOR FOR THAT

Read: If you do not like gay sex you should not be reading this! Also, any negative (that is not valid) will be taken down! Thank you and lots of love~

O0O

Chapter 6

Harry stared into the fire of his room, running the day through his head. After his own self-revelation, he had pretty much just sat there like a stunned seagull as Draco asked him question after question about the shadows that licked at his magic. The blonde didn't seem to notice how distracted he had been and he was grateful. It gave him more time to shield himself. After he had realized what his feelings actually meant he couldn't help but replay every single instance and interaction he had had with Draco previously. Of course, he would never give up friendship with the blonde. Not now and not ever. He instead would hide his feelings and hope they went away, that he found someone else, or pray to Merlin that Draco felt the same. Even now as he sat alone in his room, he wished for the blonde's company.

With a heavy sigh Harry stood and got ready for bed, glad that the holidays were fast approaching.

O0O

Harry moaned, his eye lids fluttering open as he tried to move. He sucked in a startled breath when he realized he couldn't so much as he twitch his toes, fear immediately swarming in his belly. He strained to see around him, his eyes darting wildly around the room, but nothing appeared. He frowned, searching the area before his gaze locked at the end of the bed near his feet. Cold, numb horror shivered down his entire body, his heart nearly stopping at the shadowy shape that stood silently before him.

Harry gasped, struggling to move as the figure seemed to take a step back before drifting to the side of the bed closet to the Gryffindor. Harry's eyes tracked the figure, heart thudding heavily and breath panting past his frozen lips. He tried to suck his tongue, hoping that that would break him from this trance so he could move. However, before he could so much as blink, the shadow was looming above him, its static like silhouette sparking primal fear in the prone man.

A loud ringing noise began to fill his ears as the fuzzy darkness inched closer, time seeming to slow as Harry watched in horror as the figure began to change. Large, deep set eyes slowly appeared, seeming to struggle as they grew bigger until the blackness was drowned in white. Harry shivered, cold as he stared into the whites of the creature above him, fighting as hard as he could to move just as the middle of the eyes darkened into pupils.

A large, canine filled mouth began to appear below the large eyes, stretched wide from one side of its head to another. The empty space behind the startling white teeth caused fear to ripple down Harrys back, staring into the demonic face before him as it began to laugh silently and moved ever closer. Just as the figure raised a hand as if to touch the frozen man, a loud scream erupted from Harrys mouth.

Harry gasped and bolted up right, immediately recognizing the blonde in front of him as his fingers clenching Draco's soft sleep shirt. "Wha…." Harry choked, coughing. He felt the Slytherin quickly spell his airway clear and he sucked in a sharp breath, his skin clammy and heart thudding heavily in his chest. "Draco? Why…?" Harry trailed off, confused as to why the blonde was here. He allowed his magic to spread out, frowning when he realized the silencing wards around his room where gone. "You heard me?" He muttered, his throat dry. He swallowed and rubbed his throat with numb fingers, wincing in pain. "I thought I put up silencing spells?"

Draco stared, face ashen as he gripped the Gryffindors arms tightly. "Harry. You had silencing charms up?" He whispered, voice hollow and shaking as he pulled the other man closer to him. "You broke them then. I heard you screaming and came rushing over. You…..you wouldn't respond so I had to hit you with a spell." Draco suddenly pulled Harry close and pressed their foreheads together, his warm breath fanning over the Gryffindors cold cheeks. "Don't ever scare me like that again. I thought someone had broken in or that you had hurt yourself….."

Harry slumped in the mans hold, inhaling his warm vanilla scent to try to ground himself. "It's not usually that bad…." He whispered, closing his eyes and reaching up, loosely clasping the other man's wrist. "Thank you for waking me…I didn't know if I could…" Harry heard the blonde hum and slowly starting to relax, the room quiet as his heartbeat went back to semi normal levels. "Sorry for waking you up…."

"Harry, don't. I would do it all over again." Draco pulled back slightly, facial features tight as he slowly released his grip and instead massaged the Gryffindors upper arms. "Even if we just started to get to know each other, I have started to care for you a great deal."

Harry sighed; a small smile full of amused exhaustion resting on his face. "We have never really done things in halves, have we? Always all or nothing…." He squeezed the blonde's wrist, slumping again to rest their foreheads together. "I don't think I can go back to sleep."

"Neither can I, at the moment."

"Library? Might as well do something worthwhile. At least until the exhaustion catches up to us." Harry sighed again and opened his eyes, flushing at how close the other man was. "Might as well grab some slippers and head down." He released the blonde's wrists and pushed off the bed, his muscles weak. "It will be slow going though, I feel like I have been trampled by a Hippogriff." He took a step forward and almost stumbled, saved from falling by the Slytherins quick reflexes. "Merlin, all this from a nightmare?!"

"It was a pretty bad one, Harry. Why don't we sit in the seats by the fire? That way we won't chance a fall down the stairs. I'll go grab us some books to read. Is that agreeable?" Draco muttered, voice once again flat and toneless except for the slight thread of concern underneath. "I will also grab something from the kitchen. I bet you will be starving pretty soon." He gently guided the Gryffindor over to the seats across from the bed, lowering the man onto it before straightening. "I will be right back."

Harry nodded and waved the blonde off, reaching beside him on the brown leather loveseat and pulling the plush blue blanket on top of his legs. He sighed and leaned back, melting into the plush cushions. As he sat there, he replayed the nightmare over again through his head, shivering at the soulless eyes that had stared back. He knew that his shadow contained something, but it had never been as clear as it had been during his nightmare. He felt a sense of fear as he remembered before he squashed it, immediately allowing his ambient magic to spark around the room. It gave him comfort, the lights brightening up the room and washing the darkness away from his shadow.

He sighed again and leaned his head back, raising one arm and expelling more magic, the air crackling with energy. Just as he allowed wisps to dance along his skin the door to his room opened, the blonde quickly stepping in and shutting it behind him. Harry sat up and tucked himself against the chairs arm, reaching forward and grabbing the books that the blonde offered. "Thank you, Draco." He said softly, glancing up when the Slytherin hummed.

"I see that even tired you have an army's worth of magic to expel." Draco sat beside the Gryffindor, their legs touching. He placed the tray of snacks and drinks he had brought onto the coffee table, leaning back and grabbing another plush blanket to throw over his legs. "It does add much needed light."

Harry nodded, glad that the fire was radiating so much heat. He still felt cold from his nightmare, the numb terror still very much present in his mind. "It helps…..wards off the aftereffect…" He muttered, his face downcast as he stared at his lap and twiddled his thumbs.

"I see." Draco said simply, face as cold as ever. However, Harry could see through the thin cracks to the pain underneath. "I understand how the light would help." A half smile rested on the blonde's face before he raised a hand, a multicolored Lumos lighting up on his palm. "Over the last few years, I have gotten quite good at this spell." He snapped his wrist and it disappeared before he grabbed a book and settled in the read.

Harry's breath was frozen in his chest, the feeling of someone else understanding how dark his world seemed causing relief and comfort to explode throughout his body. Harry felt weak as he chuckled softly and grabbed the blonde's hand, uncaring that the man was holding onto a thick tome. "Thank you…." He whispered; voice filled with a multitude of emotions. He squeezed the blonde's hand, shivering at the warmth that raced down his arm.

Harry cleared his throat and let go, turning to the tray of food in front of him. He quickly grabbed at the meat and cheese board, filling up as the weakness in his body demanded sustenance. He heard the soft rustle of paper beside him and grinned, the mere notion of how close he had gotten to the blonde in the past two months mind boggling.

Of course, friendship isn't the only thing you want. Is it? Harry thought inwardly, cursing his intrusive thoughts. He growled silently to himself and pushed it out of his head, determined not to change any aspect of his relationship with the blonde. With a hum he continued eating, not noticing the contemplative blonde beside him.

O0O

A few hours later

Harry sighed, closing the book he was skimming through with a snap. He groaned and rolled his shoulders, waving his hand and piling all the books onto the coffee table. He turned, just now noticing that the blonde was sleeping with a thick tome laying open on his lap. His fingers were curled loosely around the edge, as if he was in the middle of reading before succumbing to sleep. Harry smiled, knowing that that was exactly how it had happened.

Harry hummed and spelled the fire to grow, filling the room with more warmth before he leaned over and draped another blanket around the Slytherins body. "Silly…" He muttered, staring at the man. He sighed and reached over, sliding his fingers through the golden locks and rubbing at the soft strands. "Silly man…." Harry ran a finger down the man's cheekbones down to his chin before he pulled away, reaching over and grabbing another blanket for himself. He sighed and settled in, turning his head and resting his cheek against the couch. He continued to stare at the blonde, allowing himself this when the man couldn't see him.

Harry smiled at his own ridiculousness and snorted, turning the other way around and falling quickly into slumber.

O0O

A week later

Harry quickly walked through the library doors and headed for his and Draco's hidden table, hoping that Hermione hadn't been waiting to long for him. He turned a corner and froze, raising an eyebrow at the scene in front of him.

Hermione was seated across from the blonde, her arms crossed and her eyes glaring at the stone like Slytherin. Between them was the packs of parchment that outlined their rally to change laws regarding Dark creatures. The two of them were totally silent, the growing tension palatable.

Harry shook himself and hurried forward, shoving his chair closer to Draco and falling into it. "Hey, Hermione. Glad you found the table; thought you would get lost." He placed his bag on the floor and pushed himself closer to the two of them. "Have you talked to Draco about this yet?"

"No!" Hermione exploded, her anger startling the other Gryffindor. "He hasn't said a word to me since I got here! It's like he doesn't even see me!" She huffed and slumped back into the chair, glaring at the blonde.

"It's because he doesn't." Harry sighed when Hermione glanced at him, her anger sliding away as confusion took its place. "He doesn't really see or hear what is going on most of the time. There are triggers to help make him more aware, but he really only does it with me. As far as I can tell." Harry shrugged and waved his hand, filling the space with heat. "Don't be angry with him, please. He will close you out if he sees that expression on your face." He said quietly before he turned and flashed the blonde a smile, feeling rather than seeing the shift of the man 'waking'. "Hey, Draco. Sorry I was late, some first years tried to con me into eating laced chocolates." He shrugged and chuckled, reaching forward and sliding the papers closer to the Slytherin. "As if I wouldn't know."

"To be perfectly honest, I am shocked you did." Draco drawled, a small grin on his face before he saw Hermione sitting across from him. Immediately his mask slid more firmly into place, no emotion showing as his features hardened. "Granger." He inclined his head, doing nothing else as he reached forward and started to flip through the corrections that the female Gryffindor had made.

Harry glanced at his friend and shrugged, seeing the curiosity on the woman's face. He reached down into his bag and pulled out a book, a copy of the one in the library detailing old laws from over 100 years ago. "Also, Draco helped me find the Black library. Unfortunately, you won't be able to go in. But I copied this for you to read. Take a look, if you would." He grinned and handed the book over to the other Gryffindor, not missing the hungry look on the woman's face. "If you want me to I can copy a few, but don't go crazy." He laughed when Hermione glared at him before turning to the blonde, knowing that the woman would get lost in reading. He groaned when he saw the infamous purple quill, reaching forward quickly and snagging an already redone page. "At this point we will never get this done."

Draco glanced out him, allowing only Harry to see the slight amusement underneath his cold façade. "Well, at least if we do finish, it will be worthy of being published. We need to have a paper that cannot be argued, and at this rate I think we are almost there." He slid another paper to Harry, nearly snorting when Harry sighed. "The only thing you have to do is rewrite this. Also, use that spell I taught you so the handwriting will right itself. We want Kingsley to actually be able to read this."

Harry rolled his eyes and snorted, pushing his shoulder against the blondes and bending down to stare at the Slytherins immaculate writing. "Says the man who can literally sing with spelled words. I will never understand how you got so good at that." He smirked, ignoring the heat of the other as Draco pressed more firmly against him in retaliation.

"It is called class, Harry. Learn it." Draco shuffled the papers and continued to mark all over the pages, the red from his editing and the green from Hermione's almost giving the Gryffindor a headache. "Now, do your job."

Harry chuckled and pushed at the blonde before bending over his own work, grabbing a pen. He glanced up before starting, hearing how quiet the other Gryffindor was. He frowned when he locked eyes with Hermione, the woman seemingly frozen with the open book in front of her like a shield. "You good?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. He frowned when Hermione shook her head, glancing between the two men before twisting her lips. Harry shrugged, confused. "What?"

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, instead turning her attention to the book she was currently holding. They remained like that for about an hour, Draco editing on top of Hermione's, Harry rewriting them, and Hermione reading and writing notes beside her. They were interrupted, however, by a glowing Patronus, the mangy dog rolling onto his back as Ron's voice issued from its mouth.

"Hey, Hermione. Where are you? I'm done for the day at Moms, wanted to know if you wanted to hang out for a bit before going down to Hogsmeade for dinner. Loves and kisses." The voice ended and the spell ended in thin blue wisps, the magic lingering for a moment before disappearing.

Hermione sighed before standing, closing the book and gathering up her notes. "That's my que I suppose." She paused, holding her things close to her chest as she stared at the stone like Slytherin. "Thank you for your help, Malfoy." She inclined her head before turning away, disappearing amongst the shelves.

Harry felt a sudden Muffilito surround them, glancing at the blonde in confusion. "Yes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he reached forward and started to shuffle all the papers into a single file. "The thank you scare you?" He asked, knowing he hit the mark when Draco smacked him on the arm. "She is grateful you know. She doesn't hate you, but I doubt she will forgive so easily. Just give it some time, and she will see what I see." Harry shrugged, stuffing the pages into his bag. He turned and grabbed the blonde's hand, smiling. "Don't be so suspicious." He squeezed the man's fingers, heat whipping up his arm from the contact.

"You are the only one that I can't be suspicious of, Harry." Draco huffed, his mask slipping slightly to show the hesitation the man suddenly displayed. The Slytherin frowned, gazing at Harry sidelong. "I heard what you said before. That I would close her out if I witnessed her anger." Draco licked his lips, the nervous gesture unconscious. "Thank you…. however, any emotion she harbors for me is most likely justified."

Harry immediately shook his head, releasing the man's hand to push himself into the blonde's space. "No, Draco. It wouldn't be." He said simply, keeping it short as he was not willing to argue with the man. He sighed and stood, squeezing the Slytherins shoulders. "Enough of blame this blame that, let's go relax by the lake before dinner. Also, we still on for heading to the house to train?" He asked, shouldering his bag and walking out of the library with Draco beside him.

"Yes, of course. Also, there is something I want to discuss with you when we get to the Black residence." Draco drawled, not bothering to look at the people that stared at them as they walked through the halls. "I think I found something in the books from the library that will help with the…..touch problem." He stated, brushing his hand against Harrys and raising an eyebrow at the literal spark between them. "I will show you when we get there."

Harry nodded, a little nervous as they walked away from the castle. Well, I won't know what it is until we try it. Hopefully it isn't something weird, that is unlikely what with it being Draco. Still, Draco has done some weird shit. Harry rolled his eyes at himself, quickly catching up with the rapidly walking blonde. "Hey, wait up!"

O0O

"Draco, the actual fuck?" Harry said bluntly, face twisted. "You want to what now? That makes no sense." He crossed his arms, smirking in amusement when the blonde immediately copied his stance and raised an eyebrow. "How did you go about even finding this so-called solution? Find actual data on this?"

"No, you little fuck." Harry snorted. "There isn't any real data, unless the unspeakable have something. Which, knowing them, they do. However, we are going to work with what we have. Touching excessively might help, might hurt, but we won't know for sure until we try. Winter break is in two weeks. I already agreed to an extensive stay, so we might as well make the best of it." Draco shrugged, dropping his arms before sitting cross legged in the middle of the large training room. He patted the ground in front of him, cocking his head and staring at the Gryffindor. "I won't bite."

"Oh, yes you will." Harry muttered, sighing before sliding into place in front of the blonde. Their knees brushed together, the action causing Harry to tense. He glanced up from his legs and raised an eyebrow, seeing the scroll of parchment and purple quill. "What is that for?" He asked, nerves lighting up his spine at the faintly amused expression that graced the blondes face.

"For notes, Harry. It wouldn't be beneficial to do this and not see the physical evidence." Draco bent his head down and started to scrawl words on the top, the elegant swish of the feathered quill mesmerizing. "I think we should time it and do it in longer increments as we go."

Longer increments. Merlin's sagging ball sacks. Harry thought inwardly, nearly shivering at the thought of being able to touch the blonde for more than a few moments. He tried to suppress the wave of nerves glee, wrestling it back into the small little corner that was now dedicated to 'Draco and this weird warm feeling called adoration'. "A-Alright…..." He shifted nervously, rubbing his palms against his sweatpants. "Who is going first?"

Draco shrugged, humming under his breath as he grabbed his wand. "One at a time. Just something simple." His voice was matter-a-fact, the professional tone making Harry feel more at ease as the Gryffindor grinned at the blondes all business no pleasure attitude. "I will let the quill record on its own. Especially since…...it can be a bit intense…..." Draco's face tightened for a moment, the only indicator that he was uncomfortable. "I think five minutes should be enough."

Harry stiffened, worry and fear wiggling into the nerves that sat heavy at the bottom of his stomach. "A-Are you sure?" His voice cracked in the middle, wincing when Draco's head shoot up and his clear water glass eyes stared at him. "Just in case….." Harry glanced away, a hot blush running up his neck and flaming bright on his cheeks. "I think a minute for today…"

There was a brief silence that made Harry sweat before Draco's voice echoed throughout the room. "One minute then." Harry expelled the air in his lungs, relief relaxing his tense body. He quickly nodded, shuffling closer as he felt a spell waft over his skin.

"That was?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It is to see how high the heart rate is, the heat in the body, all types of vitals. Just so we can get an accurate read on you. I will do the same for me." Draco placed his wand back into the holster and released the parchment and the feathered quill. The items floated beside him, waiting. "I think I will go first. I can watch what is written as we go. See if there are any drastic changes depending on the area and the length."

Harry swallowed; muscles tight as he waited. He didn't know how this was going to end, but he hoped that in the moment that Draco touched him he wouldn't do something embarrassing. Before the blonde could reach forward however Harry raised his hands, quick to pause things. "Wait! We forgot the alarm!" He exclaimed, sweat sliding down his back as the jangled tangle of nerves rumbled in his belly. "Here, let me!" Harry flicked his wand out of the wrist holder, swishing it quickly to set an alarm before setting it off to the side. Every second that he stalled was another for him to try to regain his balance. Even that small moment gave him some relief. "There!" Harry smiled tightly and set his wand down beside him on the floor, fingers trembling slightly.

Draco raised an eyebrow and stared before he seemed to shake himself, the ever-present mask slipping slightly. "Alright. I want you to close your eyes and fold your hands in your lap. We need to calm you down to get your set vitals before we proceed." Draco showed the position he wanted Harry, nodding in satisfaction when the Gryffindor quickly complied. "There, now close your eyes and start taking deep breaths in and out. I will tell you when we are about to begin."

Harry nodded, still extremely nervous before he sucked in a deep breath and slowly started to fall into meditation. He was never really good at this part, but he could settle his body down enough that it felt like he could. However, nothing he ever did got him to the point where he disconnected from his body. He wasn't to upset about it, not really liking the feeling of floating outside his own mind. As he sat there and the moments ticked by, he slowly calmed his heart and circulated air through his lungs.

The world was dark around him as he rested his hands palm side up loosely in his lap, his body slowly relaxing as the nerves from before settled and calmed. Just as he was about to enter the place of dreamlike serenity, he heard Draco's voice as if it was miles away.

"Begin."

Harry didn't really react to the word all too much, only really sighing and slowly opening his eyes. Right when he locked gazes with Draco the man reached forward and slid both of his hands up the Gryffindors arms. Harry's mouth opened in a silent moan, his fingers flexing as literal sparks danced on the skin that the Slytherin touched. He shuddered hard, his head tipping back in pleasure as the man in front of him trailed the pads of his fingers up Harry's arm.

Harry felt the Slytherin press his fingers in and massage his arm hard, his throat clicking as he swallowed against the wave of heat that bombarded his body. He felt the man shuffle closer before Draco dragged his nails higher up, the hard shudder that wracked his body devastating.

"Heartbeat increasing by rapid increments."

Harry didn't even register the blonde speaking before the touch disappeared, the absence of that fiery heat causing him to struggle and rise to alertness. Right before he broke through, he suddenly felt the blonde run his hands hard down either side of his neck, the load keening whine that exploded from his chest echoing throughout the room.

Harry immediately tensed; the moment shattered as he lurched back to try to create distance. His hand, however, hit his wand that he had laid on the floor, the wood sliding from under him and sending him falling back. He cried out, his elbow cracking against the ground and the blonde falling half into his lap from his hold on his neck. Harry moaned in pain and grabbed his throbbing elbow, the tingling down his arm causing him to hiss. He rubbed the spot before trying to sit up, the blonde man in his lap stopping him. "You okay?" Harry asked, blushing and clearing his throat when his voice came out rough. He froze when he locked eyes with Draco, the man's pupils blown wide. "D-Draco?" Harry went to reach for the Slytherins, not really knowing what was going on but knowing that the way Draco stared at him was new. Right before his hand could touch him, the wand at his left lit up like a Christmas tree, blaring loudly in the otherwise quiet room.

Draco lurched back, shuffling a bit farther away to create some distance. The mask that he always wore slammed down, hiding his thoughts. "I apologize. I didn't realize how intense that would be." He swallowed hard, the motion unconsciously as he quickly reached for the quill and pad of paper that floated beside him. "Are you hurt?" He asked, his voice hesitant. "I saw how hard your elbow hit the ground." He put the items he held beside him once he stopped the magic from recording, gesturing toward the fidgeting Gryffindor. Draco held out a hand, eyebrow quirked. "Let me see."

Harry nodded, mortification and embarrassment and a million different emotions rushing through his body as the last five minutes began catching up on him. He quietly rolled his sleeve up and showed the blonde, hissing as the fabric rubbed against the molted bruise that was already forming. "Ouch….."

Draco gasped and reached forward, gently holding the spot right above the bruise and grabbing his wand with the other. "What am I going to do with you?" He asked, flashing a very small smile before going about healing the Gryffindor. "You are so clumsy." He muttered spells under his breath, the tip of his wand ghosting over the other man's wound.

Harry hissed, the heat from the blonde touching him, and the tingling from healing magic causing him to shiver. "N-Not my fault…...the touching was…intense…" He whispered, blushing bright red as he remembered the noise he had made earlier. He frowned when the blonde paused, the mans grip tightening around his arm. "Draco?" He glanced up and cocked his head, his breath catching at the look on the mans face. He watched as the blonde seemed to shake himself before continuing, not commenting as he muttered quietly under his breath.

What is going on? Harry thought, frowning. That look… Harry's eyes unfocused as he thought back to it, shuddering almost violently as he remembered the expression on the blonde's face. Like a man who was starving and suddenly saw a buffet laid out before him. Interesting….

O0O

HELLO! SO sorry for the late update my life is in bad shape at the moment. I use fanfiction to help, so writing is very stress relieving. But anyways, after this it will move a little faster (i hope) but if not i am not to worried. let me know what you think!