~1~
Draco hardly ever smiled anymore. Vincent knew why. Of course he did. He accepted that there was nothing he could do to change it unless he killed Voldemort himself, letting Potter escape unscathed and somehow making Draco out as the hero. The blond would've loved that, to have Potter be the one who thought he was good and brave.
Vincent thought Draco was brave. How could he not? But it wasn't the same, coming from him. He didn't know what to do to make Draco happy again without getting himself killed in the process of trying.
He always volunteered to be the one to cast Crucio on the ones in detention so Draco didn't have to do it. He thought that, maybe, it would relieve some of the misery the blond felt. He made up Draco's plates of food for him so that he'd eat. He worked extra hard in classes so he could help Draco complete his homework, lest the boy forget to and get a detention.
Nothing really worked. As much as Vincent wanted to reach out for Draco and hug him, he didn't think it would do any good. He knew how much the other boy cared for - for someone else.
And as Draco got thinner and paler, Vincent's heartache and worry grew.
It was sometime after Halloween, with murmurs of Potter's whereabouts spreading like wildfire, that he came up with the idea. He'd take Draco to the room of hidden things, like they did a year prior, except they'd go there for other reasons. It seemed like the perfect plan. It couldn't go wrong.
Vincent had excitedly taken Draco's hand and nearly dragged him up the seventh floor, the blond protesting the entire time. They reached the floor without much trouble. Vincent was a star student, after all.
I need a place where Draco can feel safe and comfortable. I need a place where Draco can feel safe and comfortable. I need a place where Draco will feel safe and comfortable.
He pushed open a plain wooden door once it appeared. Draco glanced curiously at him before entering. The room provided had a comfortable queen-sized bed and a fireplace. A rug was on the floor, plush and light grey in color. That was all. Vincent was confused for a few moments, but he knew that he'd concentrated hard enough on the outcome. He figured that the blond needed somewhere away from the Carrows and bloodthirsty Slytherins.
Draco walked towards the bed with a sigh, kicking off his shoes and pulling his tie off as he did so. The blond collapsed onto the bed, stomach to the ceiling, with a groan. Vincent stood there, watching. Maybe this would work. He hoped it would.
"Vinnie, what're you doing?" Draco asked tiredly. "Come lay down with me." Vincent did as he was told, removing his shoes and tie just as Draco had done. He had never considered Draco to be the cuddly type, but the blond seemed to enjoy curling against him. He laid his arm over Draco's waist, pulling him closer and bending slightly. Their bodies were flush, for the first time in bed together without it ending with them covered in sweat and come.
Something inside of Vincent broke and mended at the same time as they laid there. He refused to believe that love hurt, so this could not be love. They fell asleep in that position. Vincent hadn't realized Draco felt safe with him, and he never would.