Draco woke up with a start when he heard someone shouting his name. When he sat up in his bed and opened his bed curtains, he looked around the room frantically looking for who had woken him up. When he saw that all the other bed curtains were closed and heard the light snoring, he realized that no one in his dorm was even up. Baffled beyond belief Draco lowered himself back down into his pillow ready to go back to sleep. Just as his head hit the pillow he heard the voice in his head again. 'Wake the hell up already you lazy arsed idiot and help me now.' Draco jumped up again with a start.
'I'm awake. What the hell is going on? Why are you shouting at me?' He asked completely in shock. He took deep breaths to try and calm himself down after harry had made him jump.
'I need you to help me now. Draco please come and help me.' Draco could hear the desperation in Harry's voice, but Draco couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot in shock, unable to move.
'What is going on Harry? Where are you?' he asked frantically. Draco was scared that something had happened to Harry in his sleep. Draco tried to tell himself that harry couldn't be hurt because he would have felt the pain too. Then it occurred to him that maybe something did happen to harry and Draco just slept through the pain. Harry hadn't answered his question and Draco was getting more and more frantic.
'Harry James Potter, answer me this instant.' He insisted. Draco wasn't sure if he was going to get an answer but soon enough he did.
'I'm sprawled out on the floor in the corridor near the great hall. I'm too weak to get up. Please find me and help Me.' he pleaded. Before Draco could even blink he was dressed and rushing out of the Slytherin common room, at quite a fast pace. He ran down the corridors frantically until he finally reached the corridor near the great hall. Draco froze suddenly when he saw Harry standing up and leaning against the wall. Draco looked at him utterly confused. He was breathing hard from where he had run all the way down there, and his checks were pink from where he was a bit hot.
"Ah, there you are. Took your time didn't you?" Harry said as he saw Draco stood there rooted to the spot. Harry pushed of the wall and walked up to Draco. He reached out and placed his hand on Draco's arm. He held it there for a bit and then pulled it away. "Thanks." he smirked and walked past Draco. Draco was utterly shocked.
"You arsehole!" He turned around and scowled at the back of Harry's head as he kept walking. "You made me frantically run down here thinking you were hurt, or in danger. When all you wanted was me to slightly touch you to regain your energy. Why did you tell me you were on the floor and too weak to get up?" harry stopped in his tracks and turned around. He suddenly looked quite guilty; as if he had no idea Draco would have had that reaction. Draco scowled at him.
"Because I didn't think you would bother coming if I didn't make out I was practically on deaths door." He said weakly. Draco's scowl deepened.
"I told you already. I want to be friends, therefore yes I bloody well would have come. You didn't have to worry me like that." Draco was still a bit out of breath. Harry looked at him sceptically and then smiled. Draco's face softened by about 99.9% at the sight of Harrys smile.
"Sorry." He mumbled under his breath. Draco wanted to just snap out that it was ok, and that he accepted his apology, but he didn't want Harry to think he was a push over. He smirked at Harry.
"Apology not accepted." He said as he walked past Harry and made his way back to the dungeons. He hadn't got far until Harry was running up behind him and falling into place next to him.
"Ah come on Draco. I said I was sorry. What do you want me to do? Lick your shoe?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Yes actually." He stopped and lifted his foot slightly into the direction of Harry. "Lick my shoe, and then we are even." Harry just started at him for a minute. "To be honest, that is letting you off lightly. Licking someone's shoe is not as bad as running half way around Hogwarts frantically worrying for someone's life." He scowled at harry, who was staring at him in disbelief.
"You can't be serious? I am not going to like your shoe Draco." He smiled and shook his head. Draco was still scowling at him, when Harry started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" He asked quickly, once again trying not to let the panic and desperation show through his voice. Ever since he was told that Harry might die, Draco for some really weird reason had become quite protective over Harry. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was him, who had the power to help Harry whenever he needed it. When Harry didn't reply and kept walking, he reacted. "Harry." He shouted a bit louder than he intended.
"Alright. Keep your knickers on. I'm just going for a walk. Is that alright with you? I didn't realise I needed to get your permission to do things I want to do." He said as he smirked at Draco.
"No you are not. You are coming with my back down to the dungeons so I can get ready, and then we are going to breakfast." Draco demanded. Harry sighed. Draco knew he had to go wherever he was because Harry needed him. Draco smirked when he thought about that. Harry needed him. He could get used to that. When Draco started to walk, Harry followed. They walked all the way down to the dungeons and entered the Slytherin common room. Harry Practically hid behind Draco as they made their way up to Draco's dormitory. When they entered the dormitory no one else was up apart from Blaise who was sat on the end of his bed dressed for the day, and pulling on his socks.
"Morning guys." He smiled. "Just gone for a morning snog as newlyweds?" He snickered. Draco was about to rugby tackle him to the floor for being an arse when he heard Harry laugh. He let a smile appear on his face. "Blimey Draco. Did you go out of the common room looking like that?" Asked Blaise, who couldn't have looked more shocked if he tried. "Your hair isn't its perfect self and your shirt is all hanging out." He looked over Draco as he examined him. Draco scowled at him, when he realised that yes, he had gone out looking a state.
"Well I was in a bit of a rush and didn't have time to sort out my hair or clothes." He scowled at Blaise, while running his hands over his hair to flatten the wisps of hair that were out of place.
"Why were you in a rush?" Blaise asked confused.
"Harry, the stupid git, told me telepathically, that he was on the floor in the corridor too weak to get up. Naturally, being the amazing husband that I am, rushed out of bed instantly to aid to his every need." Harry looked at Draco sceptically as if he was still having a hard time getting used to this Draco.
"This is really weird. Are you sure you are not acting? Did you just spin me a load of lies about how you are not really a twat, and you actually want to be my friend? I really do have a hard time believing it." Draco rolled his eyes and went into the bathroom to sort out his hair.
Harry sat down on the only other bed that was not occupied, therefore concluding that it must have been Draco's. Blaise looked at him with a questioning glance.
"What?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes at him. Blaise just shrugged.
"I don't know. I just reckon you should stop asking questions like that. If Draco said those things, that he wants to be your friend. Then surely you should just believe it. How do you expect to work together and beat this thing if you don't start believing each other?" Harry thought about it for a long while before he replied. Blaise was right. Draco had a lot of pride, and he wouldn't have admitted that if it was not true. Draco really did want to be his friend. He was sure of it. It must have been true. Harry thought about the way Draco had panicked when he though he was in danger. Harry smiled at the thought. It was nice to know he could worry Draco like that.
"You are right."
"He is right about what?" Asked Draco as he stepped out of the bathroom and sat down on the bed next to Harry. His hair was now in its perfect position, as it should be. He looked between Blaise and Harry, and couldn't help but feel awfully left out. He shuffled a bit, away from harry, as he realised he was sitting rather close.
"Nothing. Come on. Let's go get something to eat. I'm starving." Harry stood up and made his way to the door. Blaise and Draco followed.
The walk down to the great hall was quiet. No one spoke much as there wasn't much to talk about. As they entered the hall, Blaise straight away made his way over to the Slytherin table. Draco and Harry froze and gave each other a strange look. Harry wasn't sure if he was meant to carry on over to his table, or to go and sit with Draco. He even thought that Draco might come and sit with him. In the end, they both gave each other a small nod and parted ways. Draco made his way over to the Slytherin table and sat next to Blaise, while Harry plodded off over to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Ron. There weren't many people sat in the hall that day. It was Saturday, so not many people were up at this time. Ron and Hermione gave Harry a small smile. Harry knew that neither of them was very comfortable, as they both knew where he had just come from.
"How are you feeling today Harry?" asked Hermione as she lifted up her cup of pumpkin juice. "In fact, don't answer that. I have something important to say and I'm afraid it won't wait anymore." She sent a thoughtful glance at Ron. "I talked to Blaise yesterday after I found him in the library. He was looking up ways to get rid of the bond. I know you already know that, but what you don't know is that I and Blaise are working on finding out who cast the spell. Once we have, then the bond can be broken. Me and Blaise think it is best if you and Draco don't interfere with that. We believe it's best if you carry on just being together to try and grow closer. We will do the rest. We just think it's important you still try and grow closer in case we can't figure out who did it. Although I'm pretty sure we will. It has to be someone at Hogwarts." She stopped talking and let out a huge sigh of relief, as if she had been waiting to say that all her life. Harry thought about her idea for a short while, and then nodded.
"Thank you Hermione. You have no idea how kind that is of you." He smiled at her and pulled her into a hug over the table. Once he had let her go Ron gave him a polite hit on the back.
"I'm really sorry about this mate. Can't be easy. I mean Malfoy of all people." He pulled a disgusted face. "Although, I can think of worse people to be bonded with." He said with a smile.
Harry couldn't believe it. Were they seriously just going to sit there and take this? Why was Ron not standing on the table protesting how disgusting Draco was, and that there was no way he was going to let that slime ball anywhere near Harry. He wasn't sure if he was hugely relieved that they were not making this harder for him, or sad at the fact that he thought Ron would do that.
"Blaise is so lovely. I was in shock for about an hour while I was talking to him. In absolute shock. Who would have thought it? Certainly not me that's for sure. I thought the whole Slytherin lot were a load of utter morons who had nothing but pride. But Blaise is ever so nice. He told me all about how much pressure it can be to be in Slytherin." She paused as she glanced over to Blaise and gave him a small wave when she saw him looking. She turned her attention back to Harry and carried on. "I guess I never really thought about that." She said as her face looked concerned. "I wonder how many more of those poor people feel under pressure." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Feeling sorry for the Slytherins Hermione. Never thought I would see the day. Sure, some of them might be under a bit of pressure but not all of them. I bet Malfoy isn't. His father is practically the right hand man for you know who. Therefore there is no way he doesn't believe in all that crap they say." Hermione gave him a quick slap on the arm.
"Ronald Weasley. How dare you? I personally believe that no one is under more pressure than Draco Malfoy, for that very reason. Malfoy has never really hurt anyone. Sure he says some very terrible things. But weather he means them or not, only he knows." She looked around the room and then lowered her voice, and leaned further over the table to Ron. "Think about it Ron. With the war coming, he would have to attack and possibly seriously hurt some of his own school mates. Me and you included. Now I'm not a Malfoy expert but I genuinely believe that he would not want to do that. No matter how much he hates us." She pulled away and smiled. "Now, after me saying all of that, I should imagine you will want to change your opinion of Malfoy at once."
Harry looked at Hermione with utter shock. How on earth had she managed to notice all of that while he and Ron had been so oblivious all this time? Her face looked almost smug, as she noticed the shocked expressions on the two boys' faces in front of her.
"Malfoy might not be the nicest person in the world, but he is not evil boys. And you both would do well to remember that." She picked up a bit of toast and took a small bite.
"Actually guys, I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone but I really don't think that stretches to you guys." Said harry as he leant in closer to his two best friends. Ron instantly perked up at the thought of getting some dirt on Malfoy, and Hermione scowled at Harry.
"Harry, if Mal-Draco, told you something in confidence, do you not believe it important to keep it between you two? He is your husband after all." She smirked as the word husband left her mouth.
"Did you just call him Draco?" asked Ron quickly. His mouth was a perfect 'O' shape.
"I did indeed Ron. And as should you. We need to accept that we are all going to need to be civil with each other to get through this. Where better to start than by calling him Draco?" she asked with a genuine kind smile plastered on her face. Ron groaned loudly, but nodded all the same.
"I guess you are right Hermione. I probably should keep it between us." He leant back and smiled. Ron looked completely outraged. He quickly grabbed Harry's arm in protest and pulled him close again.
"Oh no you don't Harry. You can't bloody say that then not tell us." Hermione kicked him under the table and he let out a loud 'OW'. Harry smiled at him. Maybe he should tell them? What harm would it do to tell them?
"Fine, I will tell you." much to Harry's surprise, both Ron AND Hermione let out an excited squeak. Harry laughed slightly then lunged into his story. "Draco told me that he doesn't agree with his father." He let out quickly in one long breath. Hermione and Ron gasped loudly.
"See, I bloody well told you." said Hermione excitedly.
"Oh good god. What is he going to do when his father finds out?" she wailed. "I can't even begin to imagine what will happen to him" she said sadly. Suddenly Harry felt quite panicked.
"What- what do you mean?" Asked harry frantically.
"What do you think I mean Harry? His father is not going to be best pleased." Harry griped onto his robes tightly in some sort of desperate attempt to calm himself down.
'What the hell are you lot talking about there? I can see you all huddled together whispering. Are you talking about me?' Harry jumped back instantly, startling both Ron and Hermione.
"Are you ok Harry?" Ron asked worriedly.
"Sorry yeah, Draco just said something telepathically and it made me jump. It's hard to get used to you know." He laughed.
'How about you mind your own business nosy.' He said as he looked over and smiled at Draco who was looking at him thoughtfully. Draco just glared at him.
"You know. That is very unnerving." Commented Hermione as she watched them communicating with glances. Harry turned his attention away from Draco and smiled at Hermione.
"So I have been told." He laughed.
"What did he say?" asked Ron, who tried to make it look like he was just casually asking. But harry knew he was just being nosy.
"He was being nosy, just like you." Laughed Harry. "Looks like you have a bit in common."
Harry moved closer to his two best friends again.
"Now, onto a more serious note. You don't honestly think that Lucius would do anything to Draco do you?" he asked worriedly. Hermione looked thoughtful for a few moments before she replied.
"I honestly don't know Harry." She picked up her cup once more and took another sip. "You don't think you could find out a bit more about their relationship do you? Maybe if you could, it would be a bit clearer as to what Lucius might do. Then maybe it will put all our minds at ease." She said quietly. Ron snorted.
"I think you mean your minds at ease. I couldn't care less." He bit out. Hermione looked at him for a moment and then Ron continued. "Oh alright. Maybe I would care. But only because I don't like to see anyone hurt." That comment only seemed to panic Harry more.
"I really hope he wouldn't hurt him." He commented quietly, mainly to himself than anyone else. Both Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement and then pulled away. Hermione turned her attention to Ginny, where they both struck up a conversation. Ron turned to Seamus who started to talk animatedly. While Harry just sat there silently worrying.
It was at this point that Harry realised, he really, honestly, and truthfully, worried about the safety of Draco Malfoy.