Chapter 2: Draco Malfoy Needs a Rest
Chapter Text
Draco Malfoy, at 17, didn't think his life could get any worse at this point.
He was a death eater, with parents and friends barely surviving the Dark Lord, who was always with them every second of every day.
Draco had enough. The war had been going on since Voldemort regained power, and the past few years had been some of the most stressful years of his life. Being almost killed by a hippogriff was the most normal thing in his teen life. Draco would've given anything he had to have that same level of normalcy once again.
Draco wanted to take a rest from all of this. He didn't want to be part of this stupid cult anymore, not since he was enlightened by him.
Not since his eyes had been opened by those ugly happenings around him—those murders, tortures, and kidnappings of innocents—it wasn't some silly taunts and school craps anymore. Those shitty pureblood prejudices had materialized and become real.
Too real for Draco.
He believed he wasn't the same bratty kid who wanted to follow in his father's footsteps anymore. He was enlightened and wanted to make a change, but he couldn't do anything because he was already marked. Tainted.
Every day, he looked at his dark mark and wanted to carve it out of his pale skin. It looked ugly. It felt like he could feel Voldemort everywhere. It was creepy.
Draco just wanted to fall asleep and be awakened once this was all over.
If Draco had just enough power and bravery, he would've taken care of Voldemort.
As it was, the only person who could ever put a stop to the monster was the same person who had and will only have Draco's heart.
Harry Potter.
-
Lying in the flooded bathroom with cold water seeping onto his clothes, and blood quickly seeping out of him from the painful slashes on his chest was one of the worst things to happen in Draco's life.
He wasn't ready to die yet. Not at the hands of Potter, and not while said childhood enemy was looking at him with an unintelligible look.
Draco couldn't understand anything at that point, he was hallucinating and slowly falling into unconsciousness at the loss of blood, but he knew the harsh cries he was emitting.
He had a guess at how he must have looked pitiable while Potter stood strong above him.
He knew Potter didn't leave and didn't do anything, until Snape arrived, and then the bleeding stopped.
But he didn't realize yet that it would also be a turning point in his life.
Just a few minutes after Pomfrey and Snape left him alone to rest, Draco heard a rustling beside him and then he heard the familiar sound of Potter removing his invisibility cloak.
"Malfoy," Potter whispered. "Are you awake?"
Draco remained lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, not acknowledging the git's presence.
"I know you're awake. I'm sorry if I surprised you."
Draco rolled his eyes, as if he didn't know Potter had followed him when Snape grabbed him and deposited him in the hospital wing to be further examined by Madam Pomfrey. Potter was as subtle as Greg's growling stomach at night. From his bed, Draco could just hear Potter's uncomfortable twitching and the hitching of his breath when Madam Pomfrey revealed deep, angry red marks on his chest.
It was odd how Snape and Pomfrey didn't pick up Potter's presence, but then again, with all the scufflings they did, Draco had an unwelcome sixth sense for Potter by now.
Not that Draco Malfoy was a stalker, mind you. That was more of Potter's forte, heavily intensified this year, much to Draco's ire. Draco Malfoy, being a Malfoy, loved attention and he would have preened at the fact that it's coming from Potter, but not when he looked like an empty shell just trying to survive, heavily burdened by the Dark Lord's tasks.
"I apologize for what I did. I didn't know it would cause-" Potter took a deep breath and didn't continue for a while, so Draco glanced at him before returning his stare at the ceiling.
Potter looked very panicked and for a moment, Draco felt a surge of happiness, a first for a long time.
Wanting Potter to leave him, Draco used the perfect tool he knew would have made Potter walk out in rage. Draco began mocking him.
"Me almost dying? It's fine, Potter. It's not like it wasn't normal for me to be almost killed here," Draco threw as much vitriol as he could muster with his state, the blasted Hippogriff, and being turned into a ferret still fresh in his mind. "Besides, I almost cursed you with an Unforgiveable, so I think we're even."
"Still, I am sorry. You didn't do it. But I did. I didn't know the spell nor how it would affect someone, so I'm sorry."
Trust Potter to be careless and reckless when he uses a spell he doesn't know.
Draco didn't respond, hoping his silence would lead the prat away. He didn't want to be with Potter at this time.
"Are you alright, though?"
Merlin. Draco knew Potter didn't possess intelligence, but he was hoping Potter could be more observant to pick up that Draco wanted him to leave.
"Yes Potter, I am alright. I bled and was almost killed tonight, and I have these permanent scars, so yes, I am."
"That didn't sound like you were alright."
Draco scoffed. "Really? What was your first hint? My tone or the fact that you almost killed me?"
"You said you were fine, though."
Draco didn't know if Potter's playing stupid, or he expected too much from him.
"Leave me alone, Potter."
When a minute passed with Potter still standing beside him and Draco considering shouting for Madam Pomfrey, Potter sighed and took his leave, but not before softly squeezing his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
Draco bit his inner cheek when he felt warm tears rolling on his cheek. He wasn't sure if it was because of the sharp sting caused by his fresh scars or because what Potter did was the first humane act he had received since 6th year started.
-
Draco came back in 6th year far from who he was when he left Hogwarts for the summer. So much had happened.
He wasn't the same boy whose only worries were how to beat Granger on exams and how to make sure Potter was annoyed and angered by him. Now, he had tasks, serious tasks from the Dark Lord himself.
Tasks he didn't know he could do, but he would die trying. Because if he didn't, his parents would suffer, and that is death in itself. The Dark Lord was a merciless lord.
So, Draco focused on his tasks. He abandoned his friends and abandoned his entertainment of annoying Potter and studying hard to beat Granger.
The only time Draco had given himself some me-time was for an hour at the Astronomy Tower while he read thick books of potions, advanced magical theories, and healing spells.
However, the day he was released from the Hospital Wing and went straight to the Astronomy Tower, he found that he couldn't have the luxury anymore when Potter sat beside him.
Draco didn't have to look up from his book to know that it's Potter. It's always been Potter.
"What are you doing here?"
Draco didn't ask 'How did you find me?' anymore. Potter, for some reason, always knew where he was.
"I just want to apologize. Again."
"So you said. I accept. Now leave."
"No, I did some thinking, and I realized you've been alone this year and maybe, you want to talk to someone?"
"Potter, if I wanted to have a talk with someone, you would be the last person I would ask. I have friends, Potter, I don't need you."
"Friends you've been ignoring. So, I reckon, if you couldn't tell your friends what you have in mind, maybe you can tell me?"
Draco put his book on his lap to glare at Potter. "You? My enemy? Don't you have other heroic things to do? Weaslette to make out with?"
"We broke up."
Draco ignored the surprise and relief he felt at the news. "Then go bother Weasley and Granger. I'm busy." Draco went back to his reading.
"Busy doing what?"
"Nothing of your business."
"I know what you've been up to."
Draco's hands tightened around his book. He gritted his teeth. "Leave me alone, Potter."
"I won't bother you again, but I will stay here and I will stay quiet. If you're ready to talk, I will listen."
Potter did stay as silent as he could beside Draco. Draco didn't talk, though, but Potter stayed.
And when an hour was up, when Draco stood up, Potter stood as well, brushing the dust off his clothes, like the muggle that he was.
"Bye, Malfoy. I'll see you again tomorrow."
Draco didn't look back at Potter. He continued walking to continue his task.
He was sure he would never see Potter again.
-
Draco, by now, should learn to stop underestimating Potter's grit as the most annoying person in Draco's life. He totally forgot that Potter had a boner for saving people and for sticking his nose where he shouldn't, both of which applied to Draco.
Seeing his glare, Potter had the audacity to give him an embarrassed smile. "I did say I'll see you again."
When Draco made a move to leave, Potter stopped him. "Please, stay. I know you're comfortable here. Like I promised last night, I will stay quiet."
Potter's right. Draco's comfortable here, and this is Draco's spot. It would be hard for him to find another comfortable spot without seeing snogging couples.
Draco frowned, and walked past him, and sat down, continuing to read his unfinished book.
It was so easy to ignore Potter. He made minimal movements and he was quiet. It was so easy to tune out Potter's breathing when Draco was immersed in his books and thoughts of his parents dying.
Potter never talked to him for an hour they were sitting together but he would always say, "Bye. I'll see you again tomorrow," at Draco's retreating back as if he's welcome.
Draco had considered finding another place but decided against it since he's sure Potter would still find him anyway. He also considered staying in the dorms, but staying in his bed made him suffocate and no way would he let Potter win by giving up that place.
They stayed like that for days and just as Draco thought Potter would soon give up, he dropped a bomb.
"I found a horcrux last night. Voldemort's horcrux, to be precise."
The effect was instant on Draco. He dropped his book and looked at Potter so fast that he was fortunate his neck didn't break.
Draco knew what a horcrux was, and he had an inkling that's the reason why, until now Voldemort's alive.
Still, for Potter to share it like that as if he was just asking what Draco ate for breakfast was insane. And to Draco, of all people.
"Are you insane?! Why would you share something like that to me?!"
Potter was smiling. "Because I know that's what will make you talk to me and I'm right."
Draco put the book aside and hurriedly pulled his sleeves, until the ugly mark was visible. Potter didn't look surprised and that was heartbreaking.
"I'm a death eater, Potter. I'm marked. You know what I can do right now? Kill you or bring you to the Dark Lord. I should've done that the moment you annoyed me," Draco smirked. "Now I know what your lot is doing, maybe I should report to the Dark Lord right now so he'd stop you."
Potter was still smiling. "Yet, you're only reading those thick books," Potter tilted his head. "I didn't realize just how similar you and Hermione are. No wonder she was scared to relax because you'd give her a run for her money."
If Potter said that at any other time, Draco would've gloated and celebrated. But now that he didn't have any reason to compliment Draco and he should be attacking Draco now that he knew Draco's a death eater.
Draco began to have trouble breathing, feeling something stuck in his throat while his eyes began to well. "Why are you doing this?" He whispered. "Why are you telling me this? Why are you being nice to me? Why me, Potter?"
"Why? Because I trust you, Draco."
His heart beat a little faster at that.
"You're insane."
Potter moved to sit in front of him and took both his hands. Draco let him be.
His hold was soft, as if he was afraid he'd break Draco.
Draco wanted to laugh at how ironic that was. Draco's the last person who deserved this treatment from Potter.
"I know that you're doing something in the room of requirements," Draco looked elsewhere.
He couldn't look at Potter, he didn't want to see the disappointment in his green eyes. It's too late now anyway, the Vanishing Cabinet was almost fixed.
But Potter got a hold of his cheek and softly moved his head so that Draco was looking at Potter.
Draco didn't find the harsh judgment that he expected.
"But I also know that, given a chance, you would do things differently."
Draco choked. Beads of tears quickly trickled from his eyes. "You expect a lot from me but I'm not like you."
Draco wasn't selfless like Potter. He wasn't brave. He knew that if Potter were in his position, he would do every alternative, even if it harmed him just to save everyone.
"I don't know what you're going through right now, how much pain and stress you're enduring, but I admire how you can wake up everyday and still have the interest to read these books."
At the look of forlornness on Potter's face, Draco chuckled a little.
"I know I'm not the one you need, I'm the last person you want to share all things you want to let out, but I'm ready to listen. No judgment."
"I can't, Potter. I can't."
Draco didn't know what he couldn't do. Talk to Potter or endure the stress.
But Potter, sweet sweet Potter, had given him a smile. "I understand."
That made Draco break down because no one understood Draco. His mother did, but she was always held back by the pureblood principles she grew up with.
Potter had offered to listen to him. All his life, all the people around him told him what to do. No one wanted to listen.
Potter moved closer to Draco until his arms were around Draco. Potter was so warm and solid that Draco couldn't stop himself from hugging Potter as well, as he sobbed his heart out on Potter's chest. Finally, Draco had someone beside him.
"How can you be this nice to me, Potter?" Draco sniffed when his sobs had subsided. "I made your life miserable."
"I almost killed you, I think we're even."
Draco pulled back a little to look at Potter. He had a sorrowful look in his eyes, Potter didn't deserve that. Suddenly, Draco just wanted to make him happy.
Draco hugged Potter back and whispered, "We're even."
After a few minutes, with Draco's head on Potter's shoulder, and Potter's arm tightly wrapped around him, Potter started speaking again,
"If you're not ready to talk about what you're up to, I won't force you. How about we just talk about your childhood?"
Draco picked up the loose thread on his cloak. "My childhood is so boring. I'm all alone."
Potter sadly smiled. "Try me."