Ch. 7: Why Was He Half-Naked When I Came In?

Harry awoke slowly, his eyes fluttering open to find himself alone in bed. He glanced around the room and found Draco perched in the chair Harry had sat him in the night before.

"Potter, are you awake?" the blonde whispered, tilting his head to the side.

Harry turned onto his right side so he was facing Draco and yawned. "How did you know?"

Draco laid his head back and closed his eyes. "Your breathing changed. You were breathing faster."

"Oh."

Harry grudgingly climbed out of bed and padded over to the chest of drawers for clothes. "You know," Harry mused as he gathered two sets of clothing, "I was thinking that I could stay with you today instead of going to the Alley with Hermione and Ron. There's quite a large backyard here and..."

Draco grinned slightly and said, "What?"

"Well, Dumbledore informed me of a way to leave the house without anyone knowing."

Harry walked over to Draco, his ankles popping, sounding their lack of use. He laid the clothes in Draco's lap. "What do you say?"

"Sounds fine. Just tell Granger and Weasley to get extra of whatever you're getting. Your clothes seem to fit me well enough. A- are you sure you have enough money for all of this?"

Harry sighed and said, "I have plenty of money. I've inherited enough money to last me more than one lifetime. Now, do you want to try to go to the bathroom by yourself?"

"Colours?"

Harry cocked an eyebrow and said, "Pardon?"

"What colours are my clothes?"

"Emerald jumper and jeans."

Draco wrinkled his nose as if contemplating the clothes then finally said, "Outfit approved."

Harry snorted. "So now you have to approve the outfits I give you?"

Draco nodded, his blond hair falling into his face. "Exactly. I don't like hearing how odd I look in red. If I have to wear your clothes at least dress me in something less offending. Is this the jumper you got for Christmas last year?"

Harry perched on the arm of Draco's chair. "Yes... since when do you notice my clothes?"

Draco stood, trying to remember the way to the restroom without running into anything. He then said, "You usually dress like a vagabond. When you actually receive a new, correctly-fitting article of clothing it is a miracle. Plus, I liked the colour."

Harry chuckled and shook his head. "Thank you, I guess."

"No problem," Draco retorted as he began his careful journey to the loo, his fingertips grazing the wall lightly as he went.

Harry followed at a bit of a distance to make sure that Draco didn't harm himself.

After Draco had safely re-mapped the restroom and allowed Harry to start the water for him Harry said, "Hurry and we might make it somewhere for lunch."

"Don't rush me Potter. I'll be ready when I'm ready."

The Gryffindor rolled his eyes and pulled the door closed.

Harry was completely ready, having went to another bathroom to take a quick shower and brush his teeth, by the time he heard Draco's water switch off. He was pulling on a lightweight creme jumper when he heard Draco call, "Potter? Are you out there?"

Harry walked quietly back to the bathroom and poked his head in to check on the blonde's progress.

Draco was mumbling to himself, half-naked and hair dripping.

"Why did I have to drop the stupid fucking hairbrush? Damn. Damn. Damn." With each curse he slapped the ground. "Why did bloody Potter have to bloody leave?"

He growled, pushed the hair out of his face, and yelled, "Potter! GET THE FUCK IN HERE! HELP ME!"

Harry pushed the door open the rest of the way, watching for a moment as Draco's hands glided over the tile floor in search of the wayward hairbrush.

He only stooped to help Draco when he noticed frustrated tears streaming down Draco's face.

Harry scooped the brush into his hand and passed it on the Draco. "Here's the brush. Are you okay?" He then laid a light, almost hesitant hand on the blonde's leg.

Draco drew up into a ball and rested his head on his knees. "I can't do this, Harry. I hate how I am always fucking crying, I hate how I can't be independent, I can't..."

Harry put his other hand on Draco's back and rubbed gently. "I'm here to help you Malfoy."

Draco made a miserable sound in the back of his throat, although his tears appeared to have stopped. There was silence for a while before Draco spoke again.

"Why did I bloody have to turn down the Dark Mark? I didn't even..."

He cut himself off when the rubbing hand on his back stopped. "You...you did turn it down, then? So...you are on our side?"

As if someone slapped sense into the blonde he regained his control, whispering, "I knew it. That's all you care about, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Harry said and withdrew his hands.

Draco scooted away from Harry and ran into what he assumed was the bathtub.

"You saved me just so you could have me on your side. Listen Potter, you would do well to just... leave me alone. Please."

The pleading in his tone was all too evident and he wiped his tear-laced eyelashes slowly.

"I can't," Harry replied, "you're..."

"Do you have it in your head that I'm your responsibility? Believe me Potter, I'm not. The only reason I'm bloody here is because Dumbledore probably told you to gather me. I'm tired of not having a choice in things. My fa..." he paused, the ghost of a sneer appearing on his face. "Lucius made sure that I could never be on my own."

Something floated across his mind, something that someone had told him about his punishment, but it slipped away before his conscious could fully grasp it.

He was brought back by Harry sighing and whispering, "I'm sorry Draco, truly I am. I know you aren't my responsibility, I just..."

Harry paused, lowering his head. "I don't know what to do. I'm used to taking charge. I... I just want to help. If you don't want me to help, fine. I know you can do fine on your own, you are a strong, stubborn git."

"That's the thing Potter," Draco said in a darkly amused tone, "I'm not strong. I'm falling apart. I can't do it on my own; I've never done anything on my own. I have no choice but to let you help me."

There was silence from both sides and Draco finally stated, "Just... just let me try. Let's just keep it like this. When I need your help I'll ask, okay? I'll just stick by you and it will be alright for now. Just lead me along until I can get a cane or whatever the hell they are called."

Harry snorted and caught himself before he nodded to the blind teen.

"Okay Malfoy."

Draco smiled in relief and stood, his left hand holding up his towel and his right firmly on Harry's shoulder.

"Now, help me back into the bedroom so I can get dressed."

Harry wrapped an arm around Draco's waist and grabbed the clothes he had deposited on the floor.

There was a knock on the door of Harry's bedroom as Draco pulled on his pants. "Go ahead and answer it," he said softly as he unfolded the jeans, pulling them on one leg at a time.

Draco jumped slightly when he heard Ron's loud voice. "We're going Harry. You ready?"

Draco couldn't stop himself; he rolled his eyes. He then shook out the jumper, running his fingers around the neck of the shirt to determine the correct way to put it on.

"I've decided to stay with Draco. Remus has my measurements written down for robes, just tell Madame Malkin to double the order. Don't tell anyone why, okay?"

Draco stood, running his hands over the ribbed jumper and soft, well-worn jeans. "Socks, Potter?"

"On the bed to your left. Just reach beside you and you're there."

Ron made a slightly angry noise as Draco did what he was told, finding the socks with minimal difficulty.

"You... you're staying with HIM? Why? We... we always go to the Alley together," Ron sputtered.

Harry crossed his arms and said, "Well, since it is out of the question for Draco to go to the Alley with us to do his shopping, I was going to stay here and help him with learning how to move better in the dark. If I had known I required your permission, I would have asked. I apologize."

Draco tried not to laugh as he found the chair, sitting down and pulling on his right sock upside down. He quickly fixed the problem in silence, entertained by the proceeding conversation.

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it," Ron snarled. "I just don't understand why you want to help him. He's a git Harry. A blind git, but still..."

"Ron," Harry whined, rubbing his temples, "I want to help him. That's all that matters. I'm not being forced to do this, I agreed to it. If you can't understand, than you can leave."

"But why is he using your bathroom? Why is he in your bed? Why was he half-naked when I came in here?" Ron said in what he thought was triumph. "Why does he have your rooms?"

"He's sharing Weasley," Draco piped up in an echo of his usual malice. "That must me something you aren't familiar with. I didn't take anything from your precious Golden Boy. He's staying here too."

Ron watched Draco as he spoke, the blonde's scarred eyes fixed on an unidentified point.

"WHAT! You are sharing your bed with him?" Ron screeched.

"You sound like me Ron," came a female voice from the doorway.

"Can you please tell Ron to leave, Hermione?" Harry said softly to her. "He's giving me a headache."

Hermione handed a letter over to Harry and said, "This came for you in the post. You are staying here, right?"

Harry nodded and said, "Yeah."

"Good. Come on Ron," she said, then spied the blond sitting in the bedroom. "Oh, good morning, Draco."

Draco raised his head in surprise of actually being addressed. "It's afternoon, Granger. Good afternoon."

"Technically," she replied in a good-natured tone. "We'll see you later, alright?"

Draco snorted and said, "Yeah, and I won't."

Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry, who was trying to mask a grin. "Goodbye Potter," he finally spat and stormed away, the slightest tinge of pink rising on his cheeks.

"Bye Harry, bye Draco," Hermione said and hugged Harry with one arm.

"Have fun Hermione," Harry said and Draco put on a smile.

Harry looked down at the letter in his hand and recognized Oliver's tidy script.

"What came for you in the post?" Draco questioned as he threaded his fingers through his hair.

Harry folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "A letter from Oliver. Are you ready to go?"

Draco didn't press the subject, just said, "Yeah, but I need shoes."

Harry pulled out two pairs from under the bed. "Would you prefer black Chuck Taylor's or brown suede driving mocks?"

"The black ones," Draco said after a brief pause. Harry padded over and dropped the shoes in Draco's lap.

The Gryffindor watched in slight fascination as Draco slowly loosened and straightened the laces on the shoes one by one. He pulled his right foot into his seat, then slid his foot into the corresponding shoe. He then pulled the laces tight and tied a near-perfect bow.

"They're actually rather close in size," Draco stated, shaking Harry from his stupor.

Draco nodded and put on his other shoe. "Do you have on your shoes yet, Potter?"

Harry grinned, having forgoed putting on his own shoes in favour of watching Draco put on his own. "No, I was watching you. You're getting really good at that. You're really good at seeing with your hands."

Draco stood back up and straightened his trouser legs. "Thank you, now put on your bloody shoes."

Thanks to brionyjae for the beta!