Title: The Well 25/~26-27
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~1,000 (~20,000 total)
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst.
A/N: Many thanks for the comments and support.
Draco apparated into his bedroom and looked around, waiting for his thoughts to catch up with him. He knew panic was keeping him from thinking clearly, but his mind was full of thoughts of the past year, of walking to Grimmauld Place and seeing Harry packing. Of hearing Harry say things weren't working out, when he knew he meant that Hermione disapproved. He'd thought after her help with his father's case, she at least was starting to believe him a human being worthy of being loved, but he knew Harry couldn't stand by him when faced with the combined displeasure of his two oldest friends. His breathing was speeding up, out of his control, and he knew he was shaking, though he felt strangely separate from his body. He dropped the pile of clothing in his arms and made his way to the loo, turning on the shower as hot as it could go, trying to scrub Harry off his skin before he realized he was still wearing Harry's striped pajama pants. His laughter had a hysterical tinge and he finally collapsed in a heap under the hot spray.
He was feeling much calmer when he emerged half an hour later. He was clean, he smelled of his own soap, and his skin was bright pink from scrubbing and heat. He dressed slowly, his mind still going over the events of the morning, carefully avoiding any thoughts of the previous night. He knew he shouldn't have left, that he'd promised Harry the chance to prove his love, but he couldn't ignore his certainty that things couldn't change. He knew he couldn't face losing Harry all over again.
A quiet knocking roused his attention and he looked up to see Lippy poke her head in. "Oh, Master is awake! Master must be getting dressed! Master must be coming to the study!"
"I don't wish to see anyone, Lippy." He cringed inwardly at how hoarse he sounded, then watched in surprise as Lippy's head shook until her large ears flapped.
"No, Sir, Mr. Malfoy, Sir. Master is to be coming to the study! Mistress Narcissa be very specific. If Mr. Draco Malfoy be here, he be coming right now!"
He nodded slowly, his mother wouldn't be put off. "Very well, tell her I will be there in a moment."
Lippy nodded, pulling the door closed behind her. He decided to avoid making her wait, she'd probably just come in if he took too long, and simply pulled on his sleeprobe and slippers, running his fingers through his wet hair to try and settle it back from his face. He made his way quickly to the study, and entered to see his mother sitting calmly in the most comfortable chair, a pot of tea on the small table beside her. The opposing chair had been transfigured to something much less comfortable, and he almost smiled at the memory of the last time they'd been in this position; in the manor when the notice of his engagement to Pansy had appeared in the Prophet.
Knowledge of why she was here, of what the Prophet had reported this time caused his hands to clench and he took a moment to collect himself as she watched him quietly. "Good morning, Mother."
She gave a small nod in return. "Good morning, Draco. How are you?"
He knew the pleasantries were scripted, an opener to further interrogation and likely chastisement, but he was tired and she was his mother. He didn't answer, merely crossed the room and ignoring the chair, collapsed in a heap at her feet, burying his face in her lap. Her surprise was evident, as she startled, but she quickly reached down and wrapped him in her arms. She simply held him, murmuring quiet nonsense in his ear, gently rubbing his back, and rocked him as he cried.
Once his tears had stopped, and he was left feeling thick-chested and bleary-eyed, she gently pushed him upright and stared down into his face. She offered a small smile, "That wasn't quite the reaction I was expecting to the question. I had planned on simply chiding you for keeping news of your love life from me and leaving me to find out from the Prophet, but it seems there is more at play here, hm?"
He nodded, but didn't feel up to replying. She pressed a cup of tea into his hands and watched pointedly until he took a sip. The warmth helped to ease his aching chest and he sipped again before quietly responding. "Yes, there is more."
She settled back in her chair and poured her own cup. He settled himself more comfortably, deciding the floor was less effort and likely more comfortable than the transfigured chair, and stared into the flickering fire trying frantically to gather his scattered thoughts. "Harry and I..." He took a sip of tea to clear his tightening throat. "We were seeing each other last year. Briefly. Before he went to Romania." His mother was silent so he took a deep breath and continued. "It was only for a few weeks, just over a month. His friends found out, well, Granger found out. She wasn't happy. He left for Romania. He was the one who snuck father out of Azkaban, I'm sure you know that. We met again when he told me. He asked if we could try again. Then there was the story in the Prophet, and his friends saw it and they were... upset."
His words trailed off, and he was uncertain what else to say. He didn't want to talk about the Well, and his foolish wish. He didn't want to talk about finding Harry in the midst of packing. He didn't want to talk about how he'd let himself hope things would be different enough to find himself back in Harry's bed, only to be confronted with cold reality the next morning. He didn't want to talk about how comfortable it had felt before Weasley had arrived, actually being able to joke about the article. But his mother's blasted silence was just begging to be filled, curse her Slytherin heart.
He was almost relieved when there was a loud banging from the front door, until he heard the agitated-sounding voice obviously arguing with Lippy and the library door burst open. Harry looked frantic, Lippy was wailing beside him, and he burst out "Draco- Mrs. Malfoy. What happened? You just left! And your floo is closed... Why are you crying?"