Harry woke up surrounded by a comforting warmth and pushed back into it, he felt arms tighten around him so he tensed and tried to recall the previous night. When he realised that it was just Draco he relaxed and carefully rolled over, looking at the still sleeping teen. One silent Tempus Charm later and Harry was snuggling closer to the boy as he continued to sleep.
When Draco began to stir, Harry reached up and brushed a section of the teen's hair from his face, the semi-asleep boy leaning into the touch.
"You stayed in bed Potter."
"Didn't want to wake you, besides, I was comfortable."
"Didn't get restless or want to read your book?" Harry shook his head with a gentle smile, Draco forgetting all of his well held control as he pressed a soft kiss to Harry's brow. The blonde shut his eyes and tucked Harry under his chin while tightening his arms and whispering. "Good, I'm comfy too." Harry smiled into the other's chest, both burning with embarrassment.
"Double Potions first today."
"How long have we got?"
"How long are you going to spend doing your hair?" Draco playfully swatted the back of Harry's head but honestly began considering the answer.
"So I should get up now then?"
"Yeah, probably best." Draco groaned as they released each other and he rolled onto his back.
"I thought staying with you would be less hassle in the morning, you just nag me instead."
"Hey, I have no right to comment on your hair, leave it if you want. I don't mind what it looks like."
"That's even worse. You saying that I always look a mess Potter?"
"Well-" Harry smirked as Draco looked at him with his mouth agape.
"That's it. I've got to prove you wrong now. You can come back in once you're dressed as well if you want. I'll open the bathroom door when I'm dressed. Not that I'm saying you have to leave now though."
"My bedroom Malfoy, you have to leave if you want time to do your hair." Harry was stood and pulling clothes from his wardrobe before Draco had even moved from the bed and commented to the other teen.
"It's too early for you to be chipper Potter."
"There's a cup of coffee on the drawers behind you Draco. Drink it, get ready!" Draco looked and did see a cup on his dresser, purring happily at the sight of it.
"Gods I love you!"
"Whatever. You won't if you're still in that bed when I leave the bathroom."
"Yes mother. I owe you." Harry chuckled at the first part but didn't answer as he turned to face the other with crossed arms and furrowed brows.
"No you don't. Why would you owe me?" Harry cocked his head to the side in genuine confusion.
"For the coffee. No doubt you'll be ready before me if you're making me leave-"
"I'm not making you leave. You can stay there and just not do your hair and go to lessons in your pyjamas."
"Precisely, so you're making me leave. You're more than welcome to repeat yesterday and come into my room when you're ready if you want, I'll leave the door open for you and be in the bathroom. If that door's shut, I'm nude- don't walk in."
"No arguments there from me."
"Good. Thanks for the coffee Potter, it's nice." Harry nodded his head in acknowledgment but waited for Draco to leave before going into his bathroom and getting changed. 10 minutes later he was ready and tentatively knocked on the other's open bedroom door. "I left it open so you can just come in. You don't have to knock."
"Okay, sorry." Harry cautiously sat on the bed in silence, occasionally glancing up at the open bathroom door and contemplating going in to talk to the boy.
"You're awfully quiet Potter. Don't tell me you dropped another book on your face and knocked yourself out or something."
"No. No, I just- never mind."
"If you make me stop doing my hair to come out there and find out what is wrong I will have to tickle you."
"It doesn't matter Malfoy."
"Oi, tell me."
"It's just- thanks. Thanks for staying with me last night. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable or like you had to or something."
"You are so stupid sometimes. I really didn't mind, it was no bother. I can't get used to having no one else in the room while I'm at school anyway. I DID have to, but because I didn't want to leave you alone anyway and you asked for me to stay so it was the only thing I could do. Got it?" Harry nodded before he realised that the other couldn't see what he was doing but he didn't voice his answer as he curled up on the foot of Draco's bed. "You still there?" A blonde head peeked round the door and spotted Harry on his bed, a small smile sent his way which Draco was quick to return.
"Can you do me a favour Draco?"
"What?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Remind me to write a letter when we finish classes today and to show you something."
"Show me what?"
"Later."
"Urgh, you're such a tease Potter. Can I at least have a hint?"
"It's magic."
"We live in a magical castle. I'd be more surprised if it wasn't. Fine, keep your secrets until this evening but I hope you know that I will be asking as soon as we have both set foot through that door."
"I know." Draco moved away from the door and Harry's smile dropped as he fell back into the silence he was previously in. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice Draco walking back into the room, ready for the day, or the tears that had been slowly rolling down his cheeks until the other wiped them away and pulled Harry into an awkwardly positioned hug.
"What's wrong?" Harry shook his head of his thoughts and plastered a smile on his face as he sat up and put on his shoes. "I'm not falling for any of that bullshit. Want me to talk to Sev in first period and ask him to dismiss you from lessons today?" Harry shook his head and stood, offering a helping hand to Draco who quickly accepted.
"Come on, breakfast."
"Wait, where were you?"
"On your bed," Harry stated emotionlessly.
"You know that's not what I mean."
"With Seamus yesterday, in the dungeons." Draco gave the boy's hand a quick squeeze before they both walked out of their dormitory and into the quiet corridor.
Harry didn't want to eat anything when he got down to the Great Hall but knew that he had to as it wasn't just himself that he was depriving of food so he forced himself to eat some plain toast and drink a goblet of pumpkin juice. As soon as he was finished eating Harry sat at the table with his head on his hands while waiting for Draco to finish so they could leave, tensing each time a student walking behind him and purposefully brushed his back. As soon as Draco met his eye and nodded subtly, both teens stood from the table and walked out of the doors to head down to potions early where there were less students around. As they left the room an unseen person shouted after Harry.
"FAG!" Draco stopped to look around the area in an attempt to see who shouted at them but Harry merely grabbed his arm and pulled him along after himself, down to the dungeons.
"What the hell Potter? I was just trying to help, to make sure that they don't do it again." Draco smoothed out the creases in the arm of his uniform from where Harry gripped it.
"It won't just stop because you stop one person Malfoy, all that will do is make the rest of them more determined. It's not like they were too bad anyway. You go after one of them, you'll have put a target on yourself as well as me. I won't let you."
"Didn't know you bloody well cared so much Potter!" Draco span and began to walk away towards potions. "I'll remember not to help you in future." Harry began chewing on his lip as tears formed and he followed Draco down to potions, the two walking a couple of steps apart and in a stormy silence until they reached the classroom and waited outside. Harry was sat on the floor, refusing to let tears fall while Draco resolutely looked the opposite way with crossed arms. The next person to walk down the corridor was the potions master who looked at the two with barely hidden confusion and suspicion.
"Everything alright here?"
"Yes." Draco replied while Harry merely nodded in response as he drew his knees closer to himself.
"I'm sure. The two of you depend on one another presently. Sort it out, now." Snape walked into his classroom and Draco guiltily looked down at Harry's form, sitting down next to him on the floor.
"I'm sorry Draco."
"What? What for?"
"Making you mad. I guess I won't stop you in future."
"Shut up." An arm wrapped around the shoulders of the younger teen. "You're right, it was a stupid move, we should wait for it to be done properly."
"I didn't mean to make you angry," he whispered as he felt the arm holding him tighten.
"I wasn't, not really. I shouldn't have shouted. I didn't mean what I said either, I'm still going to help you in future, you know that right?" Harry ducked his head down onto Draco's shoulder but didn't respond to the teen, staying that way until they heard voices nearing when they separated and stood up.
When Snape walked out of the room to order the class in he paused momentarily on the two boys and nodded almost imperceptibly at them for the obvious reconciliation.
"Potter! Stay after class!" the man shouted making Harry look up at him but upon seeing no real anger in the man's face he nodded at him in agreement before continuing to work on his potion silently.
"I'll wait for you outside, okay?" Draco whispered as he walked passed Harry on his way out of the room drawing a nod from the boy. As soon as the rest of the class had left Severus sat on a stall on the opposite side of the table to Harry who dropped his gaze.
"Are you alright Potter, after yesterday?" Harry nodded but didn't look up at the man still. "What happened this morning?" Harry shrugged. "Talk to me, are you sure you should be in lessons today?"
"I'm fine sir. Just distracted today I guess. This morning someone shouted at me when we left the Great Hall and Malfoy got mad at me for not letting him find who it was."
"What did they shout?"
"The truth."
"Mr Potter-"
"They called me a fag, alright? I told Draco that stopping one person would make the others worse but he didn't like that fact."
"Are the two of you alright now?"
"Yeah."
"Well I guess you can go on to your next lesson if you're sure you are okay to be in lessons. If you change your mind, let me know and I will take care of it. Okay?" Harry nodded and met the eyes of the other with a small smile.
"Thank you sir."
"You're welcome, I'll write the two of you a note for your next teachers, no doubt Mr Malfoy waited as he should."
"We have Charms together next."
"Very well." The man stood and walked towards his desk to write the note.
"Sir?" Snape looked back at the boy who took a deep breath. "Do- the other teachers, do they know?"
"About you?"
"Yes sir."
"Somewhat. They know that you and Mr Malfoy were no longer safe in your dormitories. I think Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore knew about the beatings but not necessarily the extent. As of yet it is only me who knows the full extent of EVERYTHING that has been done. Is that alright?" Harry tried to mask a yawn as he closed his eyes and nodded. "Are you sure you're alright with lessons today?" The man asked as he handed Harry a piece of parchment.
"Yes sir, I'll be fine." He sent Harry out to go to his next lesson while belatedly allowing his next class entrance, immediately ordering the 7th years to begin brewing. After charms the two teens had to separate for the rest of the day and their separate classes, only meeting up once more after dinner when they walked back to their rooms together.
"You have a letter you want to write don't forget Potter." Harry paused in his steps for a few seconds until Draco realised he'd stopped and said his name again, breaking him from his reverie.
"Yeah, I don't think I can."
"Of course you can. We can go to the Owlery when you've written it so you can send it."
"It's not that Draco. I just- I can't."
"Okay, I won't force you. What I do want to know is what you want to show me?" Harry chuckled quietly and continued to walk back into their rooms with Draco in tow asking for information.
"Wait here," Harry stated as he walked through their shared room and into his own bedroom, quickly rummaging through his trunk before returning to the other teen. He sank down on the sofa next to Draco and handed over the parchment.
"I'm not seeing the magic here Potter."
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"I think you've lost it finally." Harry just smirked and looked pointedly down at the piece of parchment until Draco followed his example and raised his brows at the appearing ink. "I think perhaps not. What is it?"
"Open it." Draco followed his orders and began unfolding the parchment to view the map. "It shows everyone in the castle and where they are except for in the room of requirement. I thought you should know about it in case something happens and we need to find the other or something."
"This is amazing. Where did you get it?"
"My dad made it, along with Lupin, Siri and Peter Pettigrew." Harry curled up into Draco's side at the mention of Sirius. "I thought about asking Remus to make a smaller version, or tell me how to, so that it could be carried around rather than left here but I can't. Sirius is dead because of me, Remus loved him although he thought I never knew. The last person he had in his life, the last friend, and I killed him. I can't ask anything of him, I'd hate me if I were him."
"He's not dead because of you."
"He is. Remus has every right to hate me, I wouldn't even put up a fight if he wanted to kill me, it's no less than I deserve. I wouldn't want to see me or even talk to me if I were him. I can't ask him for a favour."
"You turning suicidal on me now Potter? Now I've got to make sure you don't get attacked AND that you don't attack yourself?" Harry shifted back slightly, away from the angry teen with fear clear on his face.
"N-no. No, I'm pregnant. I-I wouldn't do- I couldn't do that. I'm just saying that I deserve to- to die but I wouldn't, you know, go willingly until after the birth."
"So I've got 6 freaking months until I have to keep an eye out for you whenever you see a knife or something!?" Harry tried to move further back but found himself stuck by the edge of the sofa so he whimpered quietly, that small whimper was all it took to stop Draco's anger. He shifted closer to Harry who instantly drew upon the survival method of fight or flight as he made the short dash to his room and to the cupboard in there. As he sat on the floor crying, clutching one of his Weasley jumpers tightly Draco followed him into the bedroom but found a barrier preventing him from reaching out to Harry. "I didn't mean to scare you Potter. Can you come out?" Harry shook his head. "Can I come in?"
"No!" Harry shouted while he turned vigorous in his head movements, breath picking up speed.
"Okay. Not coming in, I promise. Calm down for me hun, that won't do much good for your babies, okay? Take deep breaths Harry." The younger teen began doing as he was asked, each lungful of air becoming less shakily inhaled until he was completely calm other than the silent tears. "Good. Thank you. I will NEVER hurt you, you know that right?"
"You seem so angry with me today," he whispered but nodded all the same.
"I'm more angry at the people who have ever hurt you than I am with you. You have done nothing wrong, I shouldn't take my anger out on you. I'm sorry."
"It was because of me that he died."
"Nah, it was my aunt who killed him from what I hear. You were there fighting alongside him. Please come out, I swear I will never hurt you." Harry looked up at the other boy with watery green eyes and chewed his lip as he crawled out of the cupboard and into Draco's lap, arms instantly wrapping around him.
"Please don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere Potter. You taken your potions today? I noticed you didn't eat much at any of the meals."
"Not yet."
"Come on then." Draco stood with Harry in his arms. "You lay down and I'll go get it for you and something to wash it down. Okay? Do you want anything to eat?" Harry bit his lip but didn't answer when Draco led him on the bed. "What is it?"
"I-I want chocolate, and ham. Not the kind of ham we have here but the sliced ham that Muggles put in sandwiches but we can't get it so it doesn't matter."
"Chocolate and muggle ham. I'll see what I can do." The raven-haired teen hummed appreciatively at this but didn't let himself hope too much, shutting his eyes as the blonde left the room and quietly called Dobby, asking him for the two items before getting one of the nutrient potions out. Dobby reappeared with the food stuffs and handed them over, unsurprised by the look of disgust that Draco gave the packaged meat, doubting that anyone would eat it.
"You there still Draco?" Harry called out after silence for so long so Draco thanked the elf and returned to the bedroom.
"I don't think this is ham, nor edible, but there you go, and here is your chocolate, pumpkin juice and potion." Harry's eyes lit up as he saw the ham and he smiled widely as he opened both the ham and the chocolate, breaking it into rows.
"Thanks Draco." Harry separated one slice of the meat and wrapped it around one of the rows of chocolate, taking a bite and moaning quietly. "Want some?"
"I'm still not convinced that is edible so I'll stick with chocolate thanks." Harry picked up one of the rows and handed it over to Draco who began sucking on it to melt the chocolate while watching Harry in almost disgust for his choice of food.
"Oi, you don't get to judge what I'm eating until you try the ham."
"I'll stop judging then."
"Don't be such a baby." Harry began wrapping his third row in ham. "Just rip a little bit of the ham off and try it."
"No, I'm quite alri-" as he opened his mouth to speak, Harry slipped in a piece of the ham and grinned innocently as Draco glared at him. Rolling his eyes, Draco ate the bit of meat before swallowing with a sneer. "Disgusting, but not inedible. Next time you plan on feeding me, at least make it something nice."
"Want to try it with chocolate?" Harry asked threateningly making the blonde hold up his hands in surrender.
"I can't." Draco shifted to whisper in Harry's ear. "You've just eaten the last of it." The younger pulled back in shock and looked down at the empty packet of meat with a pout, banishing the offending rubbish with a flick of his hand. The two met each other's gaze and as Draco went to speak Harry popped a square of chocolate into Draco's mouth who sucked lightly on Harry's finger before eating the chocolate. "Much better."
"Why do you care so much Draco?"
"What do you mean?"
"About me. Whether or not I am wanting to die."
"Well, firstly because I would have to go back to the Slytherin dorms. Secondly because we shook hands and that meant friends. Thirdly because I like you and I don't want to lose another person I care about."
"Love you."
"I thought Hufflepuffs were meant to be the soppy emotional ones not Gryffindors or Slytherins." Draco led out on the bed with arms spread. "But I suppose that I return the sentiment. Love you too Harry." Harry folded the wrapper back around the remainder of the chocolate bar and placed it on the side next to his bed before curling up with his head on the other's chest and a soft smile on his lips.
"I think I might like emotions from a Slytherin. Maybe other houses wouldn't hate you so much if you didn't all look so cold and uncaring all the time."
"Is the great Saint Potter wanting to campaign for house equality suddenly?"
"Perhaps. You never know. Lately I've found Gryffindors to be not very brave or loyal. Not all Hufflepuffs only care for emotions and never do anything, like Cedric. Ravenclaws don't have to be bookish. Then there is Slytherin, well, two particular Slytherins, who don't seem to be evil or uncaring."
"Who might they be?"
"Take a guess."
"I want to hear it from you though."
"Severus Snape and one Draco Malfoy. I think I like them." Harry yawned widely and shut his eyes.
"Come on. Potion first, then you can sleep." Harry forced himself to sit up, Draco doing the same, and screwed up his nose at the foul taste of the potion as Draco chuckled and handed him the pumpkin juice. "Goodnight Potter." The teen left Harry's bedroom and walked to his own, smiling at the reply that was shouted after him. About an hour after he got in bed Draco was led there staring at the ceiling as he was unable to get to sleep when he heard a quiet knock at his door.
"Malfoy? You still awake Draco?" Harry whispered.
"What do you want Harry?"
"Can I- can I stay with you?"Draco flicked his wand at the door, opening it to the other boy and raised the other side of his duvet in a silent answer. An answer that Harry did not hesitate to make use of as he quickly moved to the bed and crawled under the covers, into the blonde's side.
"You alright Potter?"
"Now? Yes. I'm sorry about this Draco."
"No worries. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"What WAS wrong then?" An arm wrapped around the younger teen so he nuzzled into him.
"I don't know. I just kept thinking."
"About?"
"Everything. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"I could handle it."
"I know but I wouldn't want you to have to. I feel- I feel safe with you so I want you to be safe as well."
"You really are turning Hufflepuff on me, aren't you?" Harry took this to mean that his words weren't welcome so he moved to get out of the bed, only stopping when Malfoy pulled him back. "I told you I'd keep you safe, I meant it. A couple of hexes never hurt anyone, too badly anyway. I'll look after you and you can look after me too."
"Those nutrient potions of Snape's really do the trick, you know?"
"You putting weight back on then?"
"I've got some fat for the first time since I was a baby." Draco chuckled as Harry beamed proudly up at him. "It's only been a couple of days and already I have the first signs of a bump. I'm going to be huge soon."
"You're going to be showing soon enough. That's good though, means that they are healthier, and you too. When you start showing fully Sev will probably want to do another scan, can I come see?"
"Oh please, even if you said no to going, I would drag you there if I had to."
The room lapsed into silence and stayed that way as they both fell asleep until the next morning when Draco was woken by the sound of retching in his bathroom. Kneeling next to Harry he rested his forehead against the other's back while rubbing his lower back soothingly and holding a cool, damp cloth to Harry's forehead. "Told you that meat was inedible," he joked.
"The ham was fine."
"Morning sickness?" Harry nodded before retching into the toilet again.
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"Favour?"
"What do you want?"
"Top drawer next to my bed. Stomach settler."
"Consider it done," Draco whispered as he pressed a kiss into Harry's hair and went to get one of the vials for the teen. As soon as he got back he handed Harry who quickly drank the potion but soon threw it up again. After a second try with the same result Harry was in tears with the pain of retching on an empty stomach. "What do you want me to do?" Harry couldn't answer through his gritted teeth so he made the snap decision to floo call the person he trusted to help.
"Dragon?"
"He can't stop throwing up, including both of the stomach settlers as soon as he's had them. What do I do?"
"Spell it into him."
"How?"
"Never mind. Just go back to him, I'll be there momentarily." By the time Draco returned to his bathroom Harry had curled his body tightly in on himself as if he was trying to hide from the pain somehow, each retch bringing a new round of tears. The blonde sat on the floor and drew Harry into his lap, wrapping one arm around him while the other returned to holding the damp cloth to his forehead, comforting the teen. Snape walked in having followed the sounds of tears and crouched down in the doorway, instantly spelling a potion directly into the boy who relaxed back into Draco after a minute or so, shutting his eyes.
"Thanks sir." Harry whispered at the same time Draco thanked the man.
"You should try and eat more. It will be less painful if you have something to get rid of, morning sickness shouldn't be that bad."
"Small stomach sir. I get full easily, I learnt that after the sorting feast in first year. Whenever I'm ill it tends to be worse than usual. I'll be fine now sir. Thank you."
"Very well. I shall pop in after classes today if I may to show you both how to spell a potion into someone should it be this bad again in future."
"I think that would be helpful. Sorry for disturbing you both this morning."
"Don't be foolish."
"I'm sure Draco won't feel the same once he figures out that he won't have the same amount of time to preen like he normally does."
"You never know. You might be the one to break him from that particular habit."
"Never going to happen Sev, you can stop dreaming that one day I will stay at yours and you will get me ready in less than an hour."
"A man can hope." Harry smiled as he listened to the conversation, shutting his eyes while resting his head back onto Draco's shoulder.
"They can but it is pointless in this case."
"One day it will happen Dragon."
"Not for a long time."
"We'll see. You best start getting ready for the day if it isn't changing yet."
"Can- can I talk to you in- in private sir?" Harry stuttered in fear at the prospect of being alone with him but determined to talk to him.
"Certainly child. When?"
"Now?" Snape bowed his head in acknowledgment and stood, moving away from the door, Harry squeezing Draco's hand slightly as he stood from his lap and left the bathroom. "What do you want to talk about child?" he asked once they were sat in the 'common room', a privacy charm erected to make sure Draco wasn't listening in.
"Do- the Order sir, have they met at all in the last few months?"
"Yes."
"So you've seen Moony?"
"Yes, would you like a message passed on to him?"
"No, I- how is he sir?" Snape looked at the boy as if determining how much of the truth he should tell the teen.
"Intoxicated most of the time."
"Does he- does he blame me? For Siri? I know it's my fault but does he blame me?"
"No. Why would you even think that?"
"He loved Padfoot and I killed him. I'd blame me if I were him, I do blame me. I wanna write, I wanna talk to him but I don't know that he wants to talk to me, not when I killed the man he loved."
"He knows that it wasn't your fault. He was there. From what I hear he had to hold you back from following him through the veil or getting killed for attacking Bellatrix. Write to him, or fire call him, it might do him good to hear from you. You're both trying to move past this loss on your own, help each other through. Tell him what you told me a few days ago, tell him you're pregnant and want his help, tell him whatever you wish but don't keep trying to continue on your own."
"I miss him."
"I know, and so does Lupin."
"Thank you sir. Sorry for bothering you."
"It was no bother. You best be getting ready for the day." Harry nodded and the man walked out of the door, heading down to the Great Hall with hope that he had managed to help ease some of what Harry was feeling. Once Harry was dressed he took a chance and went into Draco's room, curling up at the foot of his bed. The blonde was shocked when he walked from his bathroom and saw the other there but he refused to let it show as he moved nearer and ran a hand gently through the messy, raven hair, Harry pushing slightly into his hand subconsciously.
"You ready?" he whispered making Harry nod and sit up with a smile before standing and taking Draco's hand to pull him into a tight hug which was quickly returned.
"Thanks for helping me this morning."
"What else would I do?" Harry shrugged nonchalantly.
"Leave me," he stated matter-of-factly. Draco fondly shook his head at the other's low self esteem as he pulled back from the hug and pulled Harry carefully towards the door to their quarters, leading their way towards breakfast.
