Change In A Star's Alignment

Chapter 8:

It had been three days since Harry and Malfoy's conversation. He and Malfoy hadn't spoken since then so as not to blow their cover and put Narcissa in danger. But they won't have to do that for much longer because today is the day Narcissa is supposed to come to Hogwarts.

Harry looked over at Malfoy who was slowly picking at his lunch. Harry noticed that, as the day progressed, Malfoy got more and more anxious. Snape had told them yesterday how Narcissa would most likely be here by breakfast so when she didn't show, Malfoy started to panic. He hadn't shown up for our first class, Potions, so Harry had asked Snape if he could go to the bathroom. Normally, Harry wouldn't have bothered to ask and Snape would have said no, but today was different. Turned out, Snape was worried about Malfoy too and, much to the surprise of his classmates, Snape let him go.

Harry immediately went to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and found the blonde sitting on the floor with his head in his hands. Harry had told him how Narcissa was probably in Lucius' company so couldn't leave. Malfoy seemed to calm down while Harry had ranted about how she is fine and soon enough, Harry was back in Potions and Malfoy had promised to go to his next class. But sitting here at lunch, Harry could see that Malfoy was starting to worry again.

Harry sighed in frustration. He knew he couldn't go help the blonde without someone finding out so he had to act like nothing was happening and that he still didn't like Malfoy. So Harry got up and left when Hermione did and went off to his next class where he couldn't focus on anything being said.

Eventually dinner came, but there was still no sign of Narcissa. Harry saw that Malfoy seemed to be falling apart. Harry had to admit that even he, himself was getting rather worried. He couldn't imagine how Malfoy must be feeling. Harry saw how, piece by piece, Malfoy's mask fell away. Harry was getting extremely worried about the blonde. He knew exactly how much Malfoy depends on his mask and that he'd have to be in complete turmoil for him to let his mask slip this much.

Malfoy looked up suddenly and locked eyes with Harry before he stood up and rushed out of the Great Hall. Harry waited ten minutes and then got up as normally as he could. He told Hermione not to wait up and that he'd explain things later, then he left the Great Hall much more calmly than Malfoy had. Once he was out of everyone's sight, he ran as fast as he could to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

When he got there, however, Malfoy was nowhere to be found. Harry groaned in frustration and took out his shrunken invisibility cloak from his pocket. He put it back to its normal size, slid under it, then ran as fast as he could to the Slytherin Common Room. Once he was there though, Harry remembered that he didn't know the password.

"Shit!" Harry said, completely stressed out.

Luckily for Harry, Zabini came over and said the password. Harry slipped in behind Zabini before the passage could close. As Harry passed by to go up the stairs, he saw Zabini look in his direction, but Harry didn't really care at that moment. He knew that Zabini would only be able to see his feet at most. Harry rushed up the stairs, silently cursing the person who put Malfoy's room at the very top of the staircase. Finally, he reached the blonde's room. Harry knocked and tried to catch his breath while he waited for a reply. The door opened slowly and Harry was face to face with a very confused-looking Malfoy.

"Who's there?" the blonde asked.

Harry himself became confused and then realized that he was still wearing the invisibility cloak. He quickly pulled it off and said, "Sorry, I forgot I was still wearing it."

After Malfoy got over the initial shock of having Harry appear out of nowhere, he turned and walked back into his room, gesturing for Harry to follow. "S'alright." he murmured.

Malfoy moved over to the couch and sat down while Harry sat in the chair he had been in last time. Soon after sitting, however, the blonde got up and started pacing back and forth along the back of the couch.

"Malfoy," Harry said, getting the blonde to stop his pacing and look at him, "I'm sure she's fine. Snape would have informed us if your mother got discovered."

Malfoy continued his pacing, obviously not taking any comfort in Harry's statement. "But she should have been here by now, Potter! I can't help but think that something has happened to her! And it would be all my fault!"

Harry noticed that Malfoy was starting to have trouble breathing and that he seemed to be having a panic attack. Harry hurried from the chair he was sitting on, over to Malfoy. He put his hands on the blonde's shoulders to stop his pacing before saying, "Malfoy! Malfoy, you need to breathe okay? Look at me!" When Malfoy looked at him, he continued. "Now I need you to breathe, alright? Just follow me and do what I do. Can you do that for me?" When the blonde nodded, Harry started taking deep, even breaths and motioned for Malfoy to do the same. Soon enough, Malfoy calmed down enough for Harry to walk him to the couch. Harry sat down beside him and watched as Malfoy's breathing went back to normal.

"Sorry," Malfoy said, "that's never happened to me before..."

"It's alright, it was just a panic attack. You got yourself too worked up and worried about your mother."

"I just... I can't... I can't lose my mother..."

"You don't have to explain, Malfoy." Harry said, "I understand. She's the only family you have. Of course you don't want to lose her. I'd be the same if I were in your position right now."

"I'm just so worried." Malfoy said, tears forming in his gray eyes.

"I know," Harry said quietly, "I am too."

Apparently, Malfoy couldn't hold in his emotions any longer. The blonde started crying fiercely. Harry scooted closer to Malfoy and wrapped his arms around the crying boy's waist in order to comfort him. Malfoy didn't tense as much or for as long this time and quickly leaned into Harry's embrace. Malfoy continued to cry with his head buried in Harry's neck. They stayed like that even after Malfoy had stopped crying, both boys just relaxing and calming down from the blonde's crying.

Unknown to both boys, three people had entered the room. The three guests had frozen at the sight of Harry and Malfoy embracing. Finally, Harry felt their presence and looked over to see who was there. To Harry's surprise, he saw the stunned faces of Dumbledore, Snape and Narcissa standing in the doorway. After seeing Narcissa, Harry immediately turned to the blonde in his arms, not even caring that the three guests had seen them embracing. "Malfoy!" Harry said happily.

"What?" the blonde grumbled into his neck.

"Malfoy, it's your mother! She's here! She's safe!"

Draco's POV:

Draco immediately got up, not even caring that he had knocked over Harry in the process. Draco looked over towards the door and quickly skimmed over the faces of Dumbledore and Severus before he saw the one who mattered most.

"Mother!?" Draco exclaimed. He ran over to his Mother and gave her a hug. "Oh, I was so worried!" he said.

"Oh Dragon," she said, "I just couldn't shake off your damn father! But it's okay, I'm here now."

Draco's mind was trying to process everything. He couldn't focus on anything else. His mind just kept repeating, She's here... She's safe... Draco looked up briefly to see Potter smiling at him. Draco smiled back but then buried himself into his Mother once more. Draco moved and sat down with his mother on the edge of his bed.

Draco looked up again at the sound of voices and saw Potter talking to Dumbledore and Severus. He briefly wondered what they were talking about but at that moment, he truly didn't care. He had his Mother and that's all that mattered.

Harry's POV

Harry watched as Malfoy and Narcissa were reunited. The joy Malfoy was emitting brought a smile to Harry's face. Just then, Malfoy looked over at him and gave him a smile. Not just any smile, but a true smile. Harry didn't think he could ever remember Malfoy actually smiling. It was breathtaking. When the blonde looked away, Harry found himself almost disappointed. Harry quickly shook those thoughts out of his head and looked towards the two other people in the room.

Snape still looked a little surprised and Harry wondered if the Potions Master was in shock. Dumbledore, on the other hand, didn't look surprised anymore and actually seemed quite pleased. Harry made his way towards the couch he had vacated earlier and the other two sat in the chairs across from him.

"So Harry," Dumbledore began, with a gleam in his eye, "that was quite a moment you and Mr. Malfoy were having earlier."

Dumbledore was smiling brightly at Harry, who had no clue what the Head Master was talking about. Oh... That! Harry thought. He had forgotten that he had been comforting Malfoy when the three guests had entered the room.

Wait! Harry thought suddenly, Does he think Malfoy and I are... Dating!? Harry tried very hard not to burst out laughing, but one laugh did manage to get through. This laugh, however, seemed to break Snape out of his state of shock.

"And what, Potter, is so funny?" Snape asked harshly.

"Sorry Sir," Harry said, "it's just that Malfoy and I aren't dating or anything like that! He was just really upset and had just finished having a panic attack and I was comforting him!"

"Ah," Dumbledore said, "I see." The Head Master still had a little smirk on his face and the gleam was still in his eye, however, which kind of worried Harry a little. Does he think I'm lying to him? Harry thought. Even Snape still had a suspicious look on his face.

"I swear!" Harry said, "I'm telling you the truth! Just ask Malfoy if you want."

"Oh, I believe you Harry." Dumbledore said. He still has that damn twinkle in his eye though! Harry thought angrily. Harry sighed and closed his eyes, suddenly very tired. He cast a simple tempus charm and saw that it was one in the morning. No wonder I'm so tired.

"Um... It's really late," Harry said, while trying to stifle a yawn, "and I'm tired. Can I go back to my room now?"

"Of course, Harry." Dumbledore replied. "Besides, I believe we should leave the two Malfoys to catch up."

As Harry got his invisibility cloak from where he left it just in front of the door, a voice stopped him from leaving. "Potter wait!" Malfoy said.

Harry turned and saw the blonde heading towards him. Surprising Harry and everyone else in the room, Malfoy pulled Harry into a hug. Harry paused for a second in surprise but got over it quickly and wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist. While still in Harry's embrace, Malfoy spoke.

"Thank you... For everything." The blonde gave Harry's shoulders one last gentle squeeze before letting go and walking back to Narcissa.

As Harry was making his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry felt as if he was missing something. Harry started thinking of what it could be, but soon stopped trying to figure out because the only thing he could think of was... Well, it was so absurd... But he kept thinking he missed Malfoy holding onto him... But of course, that was nonsense. He was definitely only thinking that because he is so tired.

So Harry shoved those thoughts way into the smallest corner in the back of his head and quickly forgot them as he let sleep take over.