Chapter 29 Reach for Me
Cursing, Harry looked down to see who he'd mowed over only to see wide gray eyes and shining blonde hair. The surge of annoyance he'd felt vanish as he locked eyes with the smaller boy. Though he'd often times been the bane of his existence, he couldn't help the part in him that made him unable to walk away. He never could just walk away, not when it came to Malfoy.
"Let me help you, Malfoy," Harry said sighing and thrusting forward his hand. Something felt familiar about the gesture. No, it was the other way around.
After a few moments he began to wonder with annoyance why the boy below him did not take his hand nor made any move to get up. Again he was drawn back to that time on the train, he imagined how Draco must have felt, despite the fact that he was being a right git. He looked searchingly into the depth-less gray pools, but Draco quickly averted his gaze, unconsciously looking down toward his injured hand. Harry eyes followed to where Draco gently cradled his no longer bleeding fist.
"Draco," Harry said with a gasp, unaware that he'd slipped and used the boys first name. "What happened?" He asked, worry coloring his tone that he struggled to keep light.
The reaction was instant. The very moment Harry began to voice his concern Draco withdrew his hand into his sleeve and scooted away backwards from his peer.
"N- Nothing," he stammered, moving to stand once more, his brain freed from the paralyzed trance that had held him in place. "Accident." he added in a quiet mumble shaking his robes out and readjusting them. He moved for the door again, attempting to brush by Harry with no further hassle, however this was not the case. A strong hand gripped his arm, pulling him back toward the taller boy. Without warning he used his free hand to lift and inspect the wound on Draco's hand. Draco shifted uncomfortably, the fear that Potter would inadvertently uncover his secret coursed roughly through his veins. He focused on Potter's eyes, face, the smooth skin of his lips, trying to quell the riot that was going on inside him at Harry's closeness. Draco noticed his bottom lip quavered as he examined the partially healed wound.
"It looks like you were able to stop the bleeding at least, but maybe you should go see Madam Pomphrey..." Harry said trailing off as he remembered the last time he'd suggested that. He stifled a shudder as he remembered seeing Draco that day, beaten and bleeding. How could he have let him go that day! But, he supposed, the boy had healed himself somehow, at least well enough to come to class the next day.
"No." The answer came as immediately as Harry had expected. He tried to meet the blondes gaze but failing to he simply nodded and softly dropped the boys arm, allowing him to pass by him and out of the bathroom. Still, as the wan boy slowly vanished from his sight, something bothered him. The strange intensity in his eyes, yet guilty look on his face when he examined the wound stirred impatiently within him.
Hadn't their been another "accident?" Harry thought back through his [mostly] brief interactions with Draco throughout the year thus far. It was strange to recall things about a boy he'd tried so hard this year to not think about. Another part of him scoffed, thinking hardly. You've done nothing but fret and mope and snip everytime you're reminded of the boy. But Harry squashed that voice, telling himself it was just natural to worry about his roommate, even if they used to be mortal enemies... right?
Directing his thoughts away from the weirdness he felt toward the Slytherin he remembered that day he fought to forget again, that awful day when he'd been so bruised and defeated, and there it was. The odd comment; "potions accident", the long angry cut the ran across his wrist. He stewed anxiously thinking of the memory. Something was off, and he didn't feel good about it.
Harry headed to his room as he entered the common room, ignoring the greetings and invitations from his classmates to join them. He was suddenly feeling very tired, a tired that sunk low into his bones, and he very much just wanted to take a hot shower and lay down for a while. He wondered idly as he made his way to his room if Draco would be there, though he highly doubted it. Draco tended to be scarce as it was, without some recent awkward encounter to further scare him off. He was relieved to find he had the room to himself to sort out his feelings, but on the other hand, much to his annoyance Zacharias Smith was in the bathroom AGAIN. The prat always took forever! Primping again, no doubt! Harry thought angrily to himself. Well, there goes my hot shower.
Harry had become lost in thought as he lie in bed musing over his life, trying to forget the irritation that gnawed at him each minute that git hogged the shower. He didn't even notice when the door quietly squeaked open and Draco came in. However the rustling of parchment brought his attention back to the room. The sight of the blonde drew his mind back to all the questions he had for the boy in the bathroom the went unasked. Like for instance, where he'd been all afternoon, prior to the bathroom incident.
"You didn't come to classes this afternoon." Harry stated before he could stop himself. Draco paused but didn't turn away from his desk, clutching some blank parchment.
"Wasn't feeling well," Draco heard himself say. "After effects of bonding with a vampire you know," he added grimly, turning around finally with a grim smile planted on his face. "Nasty affair, really."
"I...see." Harry said unsure how to tread. "Doing some homework, then?" Harry asked in what he hoped was a casual voice, gesturing to the blank parchment still firmly in his grasp.
The blonde sighed, setting the parchment down. "I probably should, considering I wasn't even in class today." He said after a moment, with that exhausted look that haunted his face so often these days. He instead headed toward his bed and began digging through his bag. "Damn," he muttered and set aside his bag.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Harry inclined his head toward the boy. "Lose something?" He asked. Draco just looked at him for a moment, then out of nowhere, began giggling hysterically.
"Nothing you'd like, prude." He added gasping for breath, remembering their previous encounter with firewhiskey. Perhaps he was a bit tipsy after all. Naturally, after his encounter with Harry in the bathroom he'd gone back to his tower hideout to continue where he left off. Though after about an hour he'd discovered he no longer cared to be there today. Harry only looked at him quizzically.
"Are you drunk?" The brunette asked incredulously. He was about to remind him that he could get in trouble with the ministry, being on probation and all, however he thought wiser of the suggestion at the last minute. Instead he said "That git Zacharias Smith has been in the bathroom at least an hour and a half now. Does he always take this long when you are around?" Harry asked, taking this opportunity to smooth some of the tension between them.
Draco only broke down into laughter once more. "You don't suppose him and Boot are getting it on in there?" He asked between fits. "Dunno, why, you need a wank then Potter? Is he interrupting you personal time?" He asked with a touch of that lost Malfoy smugness he'd always used to torment him. However now, the words didn't come across hurtful, only playful. Reluctantly Harry cracked a grin a tossed a pillow at the snarky blonde.
"No, just looking for a hot shower," He said, a mild chuckle in his voice.
"You know Potter that doesn't exactly prove I'm wrong," Draco retorted still snickering, tossing the pillow back at Harry's face. Something about the situation, suddenly it felt so comfortable. Like that night...Draco thought with a shudder suppressing the memory of Potter's mouth hot on his.
Clearly Harry felt it to, because he strode over to where Draco sat on his bed and took a seat beside him. Draco tried to hide his surprise at the Great Savior now sitting so close to him willingly.
Harry spoke, "Look, Draco, clearly we have a...history together, but we've also both been through a lot since we were stupid kids on a train. What do you say we start over. For real this time. We don't have to be friends. But let's put aside the past, and maybe we could be."
Draco said nothing, his earlier mirth suddenly forgotten. Instead he looked Harry right in the eyes and took his hand.
"D-Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you." He said, shaking Harry's hand.
"Harry Potter. Call me Harry," Harry said in response, smiling as he shook Draco's small, soft hands.
