Disagreement.
Draco could hear voices.
Sometimes he could hear what they were saying, sometimes he couldn't. Sometimes he heard things he didn't want to hear. Hermione's voice was heard often, and so was Ron's. Once or twice he'd heard Professor McGonagall, and even Snape, arguing about the possible cause of Draco and Harry's unexpected dip in the lake.
The general theory was that Harry had been pushed by Draco, but that Draco had been pulled down with him. Sometimes, Draco wanted to blurt out the truth as loudly as possible, proclaiming his undying love for the Boy Who Lived. Because to be frank, now that he knew how Harry felt about him, he didn't care who found out.
Sometimes he desperately wished he has the power to shout it out all over the castle - but for some reason he couldn't. He couldn't move, and he couldn't talk. Someone had charmed him into a magical sleep, and he could do nothing until the spell broke. Nothing except listen.
Judging from the voices he heard, most of the people were visiting Harry. He had heard Hermione and Ron bicker countless times, and various members of the Weasley family had visited on occasion. Members of the Order of the Phoenix often passed through as well. His only visitors were Pansy and Blaise. Draco was reminded of his Third Year, when he ended up in the Hospital Wing after he was 'viciously' attacked by a 'dangerous' Hippogriff. Yes, he had nearly got that oaf sacked for that. Happy times.
There was one voice that he didn't hear. Harry must have still been asleep. Draco had no idea what had happened to Harry after he had blacked out, he was fairly certain that Harry was alive after being saved by that unknown witch or wizard from that blasted lake. In fact, Draco thought, Harry might be unable to move like him. Maybe the charm would break sometime soon.
He was done with waiting, but perhaps he would rest, close his eyes… Just for a minute…
The next morning, Draco awoke. He felt strange, as if he was waking up for the first time. He flexed his fingers and opened his eyes, jumped out of his bed and walked around with a new spring in his step. He looked around the pristine room; it was exactly as he'd seen it last. All was white. How dull. He walked to the window, and looked out. The grass outside was completely dry, there was no sign of any debris from the storm. How long had he been here?
"Draco?" A voice emanated from a drawn curtain in the furthest end of the room from where he stood. He recognised the voice, and his theory was confirmed when he strode over and ripped open the curtains. It was Harry, looking fully rejuvenated. Looking normal again; same old battered glasses and messy raven black hair.
"It is you!" Draco exclaimed, and reached forward to hug him. Judging by the look on Harry's face, he wasn't expecting this at all. Draco stopped in mid-air, and resumed his former position. He couldn't blame Harry really. After all, it wasn't a very Malfoy thing to do.
An awkward silence ensued.
"Did you mean what you said?" Draco whispered. All he'd been thinking about was Harry; well, in between listening to conversations and sleeping, that was. Fear crept over him as he considered that maybe, Harry had misunderstood him. Maybe Harry thought he wanted to be friends? Draco knew perfectly well he wanted so much more than friendship. He awaited a reply, and sneaked a glance at Harry, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Yes. I'm pretty sure I did." He chose his words carefully, and Draco noted his unsure tone. Harry was hiding something, he was sure of it. And if anyone knew how to get secrets out of people, it was the Malfoys. Draco would use that to his advantage.
"What's wrong? Do you need time to think? Because I can give you time, it's just…I don't want to keep it a secret." Draco paused, thinking about what would be the best thing to say. "I think it's time to end our supposed loathing of each other for good."
Draco waited for his reply on tenterhooks. Maybe Harry didn't want the same things as him? Maybe he didn't like him that way? Since when did Draco question everything that happened to him? It must be a side-effect having grown up on the wrong side of the Great War. Insecurity.
"Draco…I don't want to tell anyone just yet…I'm not ready. I need some time to think things over...come to terms with everything…" He ended mid-sentence, looking away from Draco, into the distance.
Draco rolled his eyes. Melodramatic fool. He could have made very good actor if his life as the 'Boy-who-lived-again-and-again-and-again' didn't work out for him.
Suddenly, Minerva McGonagall rushed into the Hospital Wing, cloak billowing behind her as she strode.
"Potter, Malfoy." She used her sternest voice. Draco gulped. "So! You two thought you'd get into a fight after curfew on a balcony in the middle of a raging storm did you? But of course, you had to go for the most dangerous option! I expected nothing less!" she glared at the pair and paused for breath before resuming.
"Foolish! Pure luck that both of you survived! And it was by chance that I was out in the grounds that night or Potter, you would most certainly not be here! 50 points from both Houses and a months' worth of detention for both of you! That should give you something to think about! Now explain yourselves."
Harry and Draco struggled to find the right words…
"Not his fault…tried to stop it…weren't falling out…" McGonagall, unfortunately, did not find their excuses convincing enough.
"I can't imagine what possessed you both to do this, but you better have a story ready for me by this evening, or there will be dire consequences!" She stormed, turning on her heel and walking away.
It took some time for them to recover from Professor McGonagall's unexpected appearance. Draco was first to speak.
"So what, you don't want us to be together?" Draco was surprised; he didn't mean to sound so… cold. Oh well, a bit of infamous Malfoy malice couldn't go amiss in a situation like this.
"Draco," Harry sighed, "Let's not be like this. I just want to keep it…err…keep it quiet. For now, anyway. Just while I think about…stuff." Harry averted his eyes; shame? Fear? Draco couldn't tell.
"Well…if that's what you want…" Draco trailed off, trying to make the disappointment apparent in his voice. It seemed to have had the desired effect.
"I'm sorry Mal…Draco. I'm really do like you…but I'm not ready for the world to know that yet." His emerald eyes gleamed with tears as he stared into Draco's grey ones. Draco understood perfectly.
Unbeknownst to them, Madam Pomfrey had finished going to the Library, and was walking through the door when she saw them.
Draco took a step back, but she still ran towards them, as if she were expecting them to draw their wands and start duelling right in front of her. Muttering something about irresponsible teenagers, she ushered Draco back into his bed, tucked him in and went into her office to get them a potion of some description.
Draco looked at Harry fervently. "Are… are you sure?" Draco asked, already knowing the answer but asking just to be sure. Harry nodded, and they fell into a comfortable silence. They understood each other now, yet it seemed Draco had more to say.
"But Harry…you say you don't want anyone to know…" Harry nodded again, wondering where Draco was getting at. "So what if we just keep it a secret?"
Realisation dawned on Harry's face, and suddenly, a cheeky smile danced on his lips.
"Well…I'm good at keeping secrets…" Harry whispered, his eyes full of mischief.
Draco had a pretty good idea of what was to come in the next few weeks… and he had no problems with that.
"Really? Well…all the better for you…"
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A/N: Hey guys! A rather tame chapter after all the revelations and cliffhangers of the last 5 chapters! Will try to update really often from now on, although various factors such as approaching exams and me getting a job will invariably affect this.
Thank you xoGinevraMalfoyox once again for her feedback and tips; she follows her instincts which are good and nearly always right! (lol)
Reviews:
Draco and Hermoine is like PBJ - I can't tell you what's gonna happen! But now you know - hope it doesn't disappoint!
Inexistant - Yeah SO SORRY! I think I've ended it rather nastily here to, with promises of a secret Harry/Draco relationship in Hogwarts! Just don't expect any M rated stuff...my Beta will refuse to work for me if they have sex or something...lol!