A/N: I'm always gonna remember this as the story that took 15 months, countless snapchat voice messages, 42 tiktok videos, 5 graveyard writing sessions, one venomous spider, and 8 betas.
(The following dedications reference ao3 usernames. The fic is cross posted on there, and it has some beautiful page breaks, chapter headers, and end of chapter art. I'm very proud of them. 3)
Dedicating this to Pigoletta as a belated birthday present, because you literally light up my life and helped me get back into reading fics. Plus like so much more, you're so cool it's not even fair.
Next to Amber, who suffered waiting for this fic to be finished for the LONGEST. Who received the original voice memos of me reading the handwritten version of this story, which also means she received me breaking out into giggles over stupid things I mis-said and bad jokes I made about my own writing. She was the first beta *listener* so to speak.
To A who was the first official -reader- of the story, and thoroughly went after all of my grammar. Brutal, but fantastic.
Mads, XxsazaxX, Amelia, Moonyiswhatmyfriendscallme, and Elliot... who all very eagerly wanted to read it as I talked about it in a live. So they allll went through and left a series of increasingly hilarious chain comment reactions (which I plan on posting to tiktok). Truly making this the MOST community oriented fanfic I have ever written. Here's to Mads and XxsazaxX for bullying me into finishing (cause I left everyone on a cliff hanger for weeksss oops.)
This story is literally the reason Marauders Audio Project exists. Without my windy way of making this silly little mess of angst and fluff and squee, we would never be where we are today. Which makes me -especially- ecstatic to say this will become it's own full cast audio book too! But more info on that at the bottom. 3
For now, I've rambled and dedicated enough. I hope you all enjoy.
CHAPTER ONE - Similar Conditions
Following and obsessing over Malfoy had become a habit. Something that could draw in and consume Harry's waking hours. Something he could do when he felt powerless in this slog against Voldemort. Because Harry could reach Malfoy. He could stop him. They were on the same level. Just one of them was an evil pinched faced blonde posh git, and the other was Harry.
Harry had seen the panic in Malfoy's eyes looking at the newly returned Katie Bell. The guilt there was obvious and Harry had no clue how everyone else missed it. Especially lately, with the bags under his eyes and the usually shiny blonde hair looking lank and askew. Today was probably the worst he'd ever seen. Shirt rumpled, tie loose, eyes hollow and hurrying out of the Great Hall, practically running.
Harry followed. Something in his stomach became unsettled as he did. The look on Malfoy's face kept playing over and over in Harry's mind as he pursued him. Amidst the guilt and shock, there had also been… relief?
He was probably reading too much into it.
Malfoy turned into the corridor on the sixth floor and dashed into the boy's bathroom. Harry paused outside the door and looked both ways to see if he had noticed them. Then quietly slipped into the bathroom. The heavy gasping was the first thing he noticed, then he saw Malfoy with his back to the door and a death grip on the porcelain sink. His arms shook slightly and he was shaking his head with his eyes squeezed shut.
"Don't!" Crooned the unearthly voice of Myrtle, so far from her normal haunt. "Tell me what's wrong… I can help you."
"No one can help me." Malfoy said, his voice thick and wet sounding, the gasping sounded again as his whole body vibrated. "I can't do it… I can't. It won't work… and unless I do it soon… he says he'll kill me… he'll kill them too if I fail… but I can't, I don't-..." He started to lift his face to the mirror and Harry slipped out of view of the reflection, shocked to the bone upon realising what the gasping noise meant: Malfoy was crying.
He was sobbing here in the bathroom while Myrtle tried to comfort him. Harry's entire world was tilting on its axis. Harry had always likened Malfoy to Dudley, but Dudley only ever cried to get something. Malfoy was alone, panicking in this bathroom. Harry knew that meant he was in trouble. Voldemort had given Malfoy a task and had threatened death to Draco and others if he failed.
Harry didn't know what to do but he knew it had to be something. It wasn't the wisest move to step around the corner, making his presence known. Malfoy saw him in the mirror and confusion quickly melted to anger. Malfoy spun around and drew his wand.
"Potter." He spat and tried to project hate but Harry could see the fear in his eyes. "How long have you been here?" Harry hadn't raised his wand, but he did have his hand on it in his pocket.
"I followed you from the Great Hall." Harry answered. Malfoy tried to sneer but the effect was lost on his shiny tear stained face and red eyes. "Voldemort, he's threatened to kill your parents too, if you fail at whatever his task is?" Malfoy flinched, his wand arm shaking and lowering slightly.
"Don't offer to help me."
"Why not?" Harry bit out, feeling his frustration get the best of him. "Because you don't believe me? You won't take it? Or are you just beyond saving?" Harry watched Malfoy grit his teeth like he was considering how to answer while something painful passed through his grey eyes.
"Fuck you, Potter." Malfoy raised his wand, Harry dodged as a wordless blasting spell was aimed his way and tiles exploded off the wall. Thankfully, the shot was wide, like a warning.
"They're using you! Can't you see that?" Another blast hit the corner near where Harry was standing so he cast a silent shield spell as he stepped back.
"You're a bloody hypocrite if you can't see the same." Malfoy's voice echoed off the tiles as Harry caught sight of him in the mirrors on the other side. Malfoy ran a hand over his face and up into his hair just before catching sight of Harry in the mirror. He went to raise his wand again but instead he smirked and let his arm lower. "Aw, is the poor Saviour confused?" Malfoy taunted. "Can't fathom that Dumbledore is using you just like The Dark Lord is using me?" Harry could feel himself losing control. He whipped around the corner and aimed his wand.
"At least our side isn't killing innocent people!"
"Maybe not, but they get their own killed a lot, don't they? How old were your parents? Twenty-one?"
"Don't talk about them, you don't know them!" Harry shot off a blasting spell and Malfoy ducked, laughing. He looked manic.
"Neither did you! That's my point! What about my cousin? Your beloved godfather. How old was he?" Harry's face twisted in rage and another spell flew out of him. Malfoy blocked it easily. "Use that thick head of yours, Potter! Why's a man as old as Dumbledore using kids to fight his battles? Most powerful wizard in the world hiding behind his army of children." Harry's mind was reeling at Malfoy's words, his wand arm dipped slightly as if succumbing to the weight of such a reality.
"Dumbledore is a good man." Harry said through gritted teeth and Malfoy scoffed.
"No he isn't. He's a puppeteer."
"Voldemort is evil!"
"No shit, Sherlock."
"He-" Harry stopped as Malfoy's words caught up with him.
"Ah. There we are, back to your normal state. Dumb and mute until outraged." Malfoy said tiredly. "It was all three by the way, you absolute tosser. Every time I turn around or try to do anything there's always you and your dumb glasses." There was an achy feeling in Harry's chest at the tone of Malfoy's words. He couldn't name it, just that his mind spun looking at the boy in front of him. But he was accepting all three things Harry had accused him of. Draco Malfoy knew he was beyond saving and that thought made the same emotion flare brightly in Harry's chest, sloshing haphazardly through his whole system like it could come spilling out at any moment. "How about we just say you won this round and you leave now.'' Harry was still staring. Malfoy hadn't met his eyes once during these last moments. When he finally did there was a very put upon annoyance creasing his face trying to shroud the hopelessness in his eyes. "Or must I cast an unforgivable just so the world can make sense to you again?"
"Malfoy, I-"
"Crucio!" Harry's ears started ringing as Malfoy cast the curse and Harry deflected it on instinct. The sound of the dark curse hitting his shield echoed as the energy reverberated back on Malfoy. He flew backwards as if a giant hand had picked him up and flung him. The tiles cracked and fell where he hit the wall and he smashed into the sinks. Even the mirrors shattered from the impact of the deflected spell. Harry had his wand still pointed up but he dropped it when Malfoy hit the floor like a lifeless doll.
"Shit." Harry muttered and slid forward, dropping to the floor next to the boy he'd always thought of as an enemy. Harry's hands fluttered, unsure what to do as the knees of his trousers began to soak through. One of the faucets had broken when Malfoy fell and now water was pouring out of the equally broken basin.
Finally, a drop of instinct fell into him and his fingers went to the pale throat to check for a pulse. It was there, a bit fast, but definitely still alive. However, the water under Malfoy's head was beginning to bloom with red
"Shit." Harry cursed more loudly, his fingers moving through white blonde hair, trying to find the wound. He scooted forward and gently lifted Malfoy's head onto his leg. Harry couldn't even tell if he looked paler than normal. "Shit, you pompous idiot." Harry said as he found the wound near the back side at the crown of his head and pressed his hand firmly to… he didn't know, staunch the blood flow?
"Well…" Malfoy croaked suddenly and Harry jumped, nearly forgetting what he was doing. "Your bedside manner is atrocious." His eyes still didn't open but his face pinched in pain. Harry noted other spots of red, small cuts. Two on his face, one by his lip, the other on his cheek bone, one on his neck, and various spots staining his white uniform shirt.
"You're bleeding." Harry explained. "A lot."
"Alright, Shakespeare. Don't compose the next sonnet just yet." Malfoy quipped but he was practically whispering.
"You need to go to Pomfrey." Harry said and applied a little more pressure to Malfoy's head wound as if to prove a point.
"No." Malfoy said with a wince. "I think I'll take my chances." Harry scowled as Malfoy finally opened his eyes slightly, only to smirk at Harry and wince which caused his eyes to close again. "That's a first." Malfoy said, leaving Harry baffled and half wondering if he had a brain damaged Slytherin on his hands.
"What?" Harry tried really hard not to snap.
"A worried scowl. It must be bad." Draco said lightly, like everything was just so funny. Harry sighed in exasperation.
"Listen Malfoy, I don't know any healing spells-"
"Yet you've been picking fights bigger than you since you were eleven-"
"I'm taking you to Pomfrey, you're babbling." In one relatively fluid motion Harry whipped out his wand, cast a featherlight charm, lifted Malfoy up, and transferred his head to Harry's shoulder. Malfoy groaned a bit and Harry could feel him gritting his teeth. "Sorry."
"Only the envy of every girl in the castle." Malfoy muttered but Harry just assumed he was hallucinating at this point since nothing he was saying made sense. "Gods, my head. Why do you put so much power into every little spell?"
"You were being antagonistic."
"It's my job, oh Chosen One." Harry rolled his eyes and started to make his way out of the bathroom. "Wait, I can't…H-.. Potter!" Malfoy's slip up made him pause. "She'll turn me in. You know why." A chill ran down Harry's spine, but it wasn't a feeling of fear or hatred.
"So does my nose." Malfoy coughed a surprised laugh at that and Harry started out into the corridor towards another destination, it was closer anyway. Malfoy groaned again.
"Don't be funny, Potter. It doesn't become you." Harry rolled his eyes.
"You think you'd be in too much pain to be an arse." Harry quipped with considerably less bite than normal. His destination was in sight, stupid tapestry and all. Harry tried the best he could not to jostle Malfoy as he waited for the next smart ass comment and was surprised at the continued silence. "Malfoy?" Harry asked softly but only a faint groan was his answer. The featherlight charm was wearing off and Harry was shocked at how small Malfoy actually was, all angles and bones. Thankfully his request was granted and the doors that had appeared in front of him opened on their own.
Inside was a cosy, if moderately bare room. This was the smallest version of the room Harry had ever seen. There was a bed immediately to the left with crisp sheets and a thick black throw at the foot. Harry's arms had only just begun to get tired as he set Malfoy down. His hand went to his head to set it gently on the pillow. When Malfoy didn't respond to being jostled, a stab of panic went through Harry's chest. Harry glanced about the room and noticed cabinetry stocked with potions tucked in the corner next to the door. He rushed over, scanning for things he recognised, then grabbed a pain potion and some dittany. Off to the side he snatched a towel off the pile of fresh washcloths and dipped it into the basin of water conveniently placed by them. Sadly, Harry knew more about muggle first aid than wizard healing.
Taking his arm load back to the bed he set things carefully within reach. First he took one of the washcloths and placed it on the back of Malfoy's head. Turning his enemy to face away from Harry, he was able to clean the blood from his hair and get a look at the gash. Thankfully it was small enough, but still bleeding. It wasn't like he was about to attempt stitches even if he knew how so he would keep the wash cloth on it. Rolling the unconscious boy onto his back again, Harry sat on the side of the bed and took a fresh cloth to begin cleaning the other wounds. He wondered how bad the cuts on Malfoy's chest might be and if Harry would have to remove his shirt which was more pink than white at this point. He'd already done more than either of them had probably anticipated.
"Please tell me I'm in the Slytherin dorms and this nightmare is over." Malfoy whispered and Harry pulled the cloth away from his face.
"How would I have gotten you there?" Harry said in a soft and annoyed tone. Malfoy opened his eyes drowsily and squinted in the dim light.
"Oh fuck. Harry Potter, actually nursing me at my bedside. I'm sure at least half the students in the castle have had wet dreams about this." Harry didn't respond. Instead he reached over and snagged the pain potion, uncorking it and passing it over. "What, too lazy to spoon feed it to me?"
"I liked you better unconscious." Harry said, pinching his nose and turning away. Malfoy chuckled at that.
"No you don't, bet you panicked."
"Drink the fucking potion."
"Maybe I won't. Maybe I deserve the pain." Malfoy said petulantly and Harry growled, snagging the potion bottle and pouring it into Malfoy's pouting mouth. He choked a bit and glared at Harry, but he seemed mostly fine.
"What I said earlier, about not wanting help or that you can't be saved… I was just guessing how you were thinking. Not saying what I believe." Harry muttered and set the potion bottle on the bedside table. Malfoy was watching him carefully, a blank look on his face. Harry decided it was best to move on. "Do you know any healing spells or potions? You've got a gash on the back of your head, and I can't even tell how bad your chest is." Malfoy groaned.
"I'm teaching my own nurse" Then he gestured vaguely. "A blood replenishing potion and a wound cleaning one. Then I guess you can try reparifors, episkey, but if not those then ferula." Harry nodded and went back to the potion cabinet in search of said items. "Ha-.. Potter, where the hell are we?" Malfoy said and Harry heard shuffling accompanied with groans. When he turned back the idiot was sitting up in the bed and holding the bloodied washcloth in his hand, looking ashen. "Merlin's beard, what did I hit?"
"Broke actually. The sink, the faucet, and the tiles. I'll take responsibility for the mirrors though." Malfoy raised a pointed eyebrow and looked around the room. "Oh… uh. Room of Requirement." Malfoy's eyebrows shot up.
"No way twenty of you fit in here and learned defence spells." Harry laughed at that which had a surprising effect of making the Slytherin blush slightly.
"It's nice to know something you don't for once." Harry said as he came back over. He passed Malfoy the potions, and he took them roughly, downing them like they were water. Draco wouldn't look at Harry anymore and he wondered if their uneasy truce was broken by Harry laughing. If that's even what this was. "It's a room that can become whatever you require. Dobby found out about it and suggested it to us."
"And you required a quaint room with a little fire to hide away your nemesis while you finished him off?"
"Precisely." Harry retorted and Malfoy turned a bit too fast causing the colour to drain from his face.
"Fuck." He said and Harry grabbed his shoulder to steady him. "Stop being funny."
"I shan't. It's my job." Harry answered with a smirk. Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"No, your job is to be righteous and brave and stupid while you botch attempts to save the world."
"That too." Harry smiled a bit and Malfoy groaned.
"Enough banter. Fix my head so this can end." Malfoy snapped and Harry's brow furrowed, but he complied. He gestured at Malfoy to turn, then pulled out his wand and attempted the spells at Malfoy's direction. A few episkeys later and the head wound was only a raw pink line. Harry brushed his fingers over the repaired skin in awe. He'd never done magic this delicate before. Malfoy pulled away but didn't turn around entirely, almost like he was nervous.
"Why are you doing this?" The question wasn't hostile so Harry moved to sit on the bed.
"Because I did this. You said I put too much power in the shield and you were right." Malfoy turned fully to face Harry, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"I cast an unforgivable on you. You ju-"
"No you didn't." Malfoy's mouth hung open at the interruption, eyes wide and Harry just shook his head. "Sure, you said the word, but that's not what you cast. I know what it looks like, what it feels like in the air." Harry made a point of meeting Draco's eyes. "And it can't be stopped by a shield. I would know. I tried to stop Voldemort."
It was quiet for a long moment. There was a fire in Draco's eyes that wasn't anger or hatred and Harry couldn't place it.
"So do I." Draco said hallowly followed by more silence. Harry looked down at his hands as he remembered the movement of Draco's wand in the bathroom.
"It was Ventus, wasn't it?" Harry looked back up again and Malfoy was scooting himself back up against the headboard, watching him carefully. After a moment Draco nodded. "Did you just want me to hate you even more?" Harry wondered aloud.
"I honestly didn't think you'd be smart enough to figure it out." Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Besides, we have our roles to play. What good would it do to go off script."
"Didn't know you were so passionate about theatre. It's a rather muggle thing, isn't it?" Harry taunted as he narrowed his eyes.
"Not like you would know, Potter, but it's not as if muggles are the only artists in history."
"Still doesn't explain why you even know who Shakespeare and Sherlock are." Harry leaned forward slightly, smirking just a bit. Malfoy's eyes widened but he quickly smoothed the look away with a scowl.
"If you're quite finished, I'd like my wand back and to be done with this tête-à-tête."
"You're not getting out of this so easily. And besides, I don't have it."
"What do you mean you don't have it? Were you too busy wondering if you'd killed me to worry about my most valuable possession?" Draco asked with more incredulity as he went on. Harry flopped back on the bed, exhausted. "Potter, I'm serious!" Malfoy said and nudged Harry's shoulder with his shoe.
"No, you're Draco."
"Fuck you for the umpteenth time, I'm getting my wand." Malfoy started moving and Harry sat up and leaned forward, stopping Malfoy with hands on his shoulders.
"Fucking hell you're high maintenance. I'll get it, just-" Harry groaned and bit his lip. "Stay here. Please?" Malfoy looked at Harry for a moment before shrugging Harry's hands off and crossing his arms as he looked away. "Okay?" Harry asked as he scrambled off the bed. Malfoy didn't answer, but he also didn't move so Harry sidestepped towards the door. "Be right back."
Harry moved through the corridors silently. Luckily without seeing any prefects, professors, or Ms. Norris. Re-entering the hall with the bathroom Harry heard the gurgling before he really saw the water he was stepping in. Apparently, the damage the two of them had done was enough to have running water leaking out of the bathroom and down the corridor. Not great.
Being in the bathroom again caused Harry to take in the damage and he winced, hoping Peeves would be the most obvious culprit. Malfoy's Hawthorne wand was under one of the still intact sinks and besides being damp it was completely fine. Harry dried it off on his trousers and the motion caught his eye in one of the shattered mirrors. In it he saw the shoulder of his grey sweater was marred with a dark stain that Harry was startled to realise was Draco's blood from his head wound. It made that strange emotion that felt a bit like protectiveness flare up in his chest again. Harry left the bathroom, trying to simultaneously fool himself that Malfoy was going to be fine and that he also wasn't just waiting for his wand before he made his escape. Which were two very conflicting thoughts, but everything between them consisted of conflict, so why should it surprise Harry when that crept into his own thought patterns about the Slytherin. That maybe, he would actually talk to him just this once. He needed to be able to convince Draco that..
Harry didn't get to finish that thought since he noticed movement at the end of the corridor. He was too distracted to think fast enough to disillusion himself or some other logical choice.
There in her tartan robe and slippers with her hair loose as she walked down the cross hallway in her own wand light was McGonagall. She hadn't noticed Harry until he'd nearly tripped as he came to a stop. McGonagall turned with a surprised look on her face which quickly turned to exasperation upon realising who she'd found.
"Mr. Potter. Why aren't you in your dorm?" Harry guessed it probably wasn't best to tell her he'd never gone, or to say he had no idea what time it was, but it couldn't be too terribly late. Somehow out of those two options Harry managed to find an even worse one.
"Don't tell Dumbledore." McGonagall's eyebrows raised and Harry wanted to smack himself in the forehead. But instead he gritted his teeth and moved closer to his transfiguration professor.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Potter?"
"Right, sorry. I just-.. Take whatever house points you need to. But I'm gonna take care of this thing. And tomorrow, if you want I'll come tell you why it was important and you can be as mad with me as you like but just don't tell Dumbledore, please." Harry was flying on wild dumbass Gryffindor instinct and just hoping the older woman could hear his sincerity. Mainly, she scrutinised him in silence. Then her eyes dipped to the wand in his hands. Her lips pursed as she met his gaze once more. Then, shockingly, she gestured him onward. Harry's eyes widened as he nodded and stumbled past her. "Thanks Professor."
"Mr. Potter." Her voice caught him just before he got around the corner, so he stopped and faced her again. "My office, tomorrow, first thing." Then she turned and walked away from him, taking her wand light with her. Harry let out a huge sigh of relief into the now dark corridor and then set off. He made it back to the Room of Requirement with no further issues.
Stepping back into the hidden space was another relief, even knowing who was concealed within it. Malfoy was sitting up on the bed when Harry shut the door behind him. His shirt was gone and all the various cuts and abrasions were on full display. There was even some bruising forming on his right side where he'd taken most of the impact. Perhaps on his back too from where he'd hit the wall but Harry couldn't see from here. He could see the way Malfoy tensed up at the sound of the door shutting, but didn't look up.
"Took you long enough. Hand it over." Malfoy made a grabby hand and Harry came over to pass it off.
"Ran into McGonagall." Malfoy looked up at that, eyes scanning the room, then landing back on Harry.
"She didn't even take house points, did she." Harry smirked and Draco rolled his eyes long and languidly. "The absolute favouritism." Draco muttered as he attempted to point his wand at one of his wounds but the awkward position made the Slytherin wince. Now it was Harry's turn to roll his eyes.
"Let me." Harry said as he climbed up to kneel on the bed and gently pushed away Draco's hand, wand and all.
"Now this is excessive." Draco muttered but he notably did not resist.
"Yeah well, so were your dramatics in the bathroom. Which we're still going to talk about by the way." Harry said pointedly as he healed cut after cut. Draco sighed extra dramatically and flopped backward. "Hey, Dra-" Harry had been about to chide him for moving so much but his eyes had gotten stuck on the black ink slightly moving under the skin of Malfoy's left arm. Harry snatched Malfoy's wrist and turned his forearm up so he could look closer. Malfoy tried to pull away but Harry had him locked in his grip. The whole area around the mark was red and inflamed, like it was infected.
"Does it hurt?" Harry asked softly, still not letting go of the pale wrist as his head rose to meet Draco's eyes. Draco watched Harry a moment before pulling his arm again and Harry released him finally. Draco cradled the arm against his bare chest so Harry couldn't see it anymore. "You got it this summer, right?" Harry asked and Draco searched Harry's eyes for a moment before looking away. Then he nodded.
"I've been past saving for a while." Draco said blandly as if it didn't matter one way or the other. Harry's head was shaking before he could even get the words out.
"No. I told you I don't believe that." Draco's eyes snapped back to Harry's.
"Well I certainly don't want you to save me."
"Good. 'Cause I can't." Harry told him. This time Harry didn't imagine the pain in those grey eyes, it was real. Then there was the acceptance as Draco nodded and looked away. "You have to make that choice. Only you can save yourself." Harry looked down and rolled his wand between his fingers. He could feel Draco's gaze on him now just like he always could. Heavy but familiar. "Turn. Let's do your back." But Draco didn't move. Eventually Harry looked back up at him and Draco laughed. It was this hollow empty thing.
"Oh, Salazar. You mean it. You're serious." Draco stopped laughing, forgetting how he'd been protecting his arm to lean into Harry's space. "Potter, none of this is that simple."
"I never said it was." Harry fired back.
"What would you suggest I do?"
"We could talk to Dum-"
"Don't even finish that sentence!"
"Why not?"
"Because he doesn't actually care! About either of us!" Draco was practically yelling now and Harry returned it just as vehemently.
"You haven't even tried-" Harry was cut off by Draco growling and slamming both hands onto the mattress.
"I don't need to! He already knows about me! He's known all year and he's done nothing. I've botched two different attempts to kill him. Both of which have actively hurt others, so please spare me the Gryffindor loyalty. He won't offer to help me till my wand is at his throat." Draco was breathing heavily as silence rang throughout the room. His eyes were stormy, cheeks flushed, and a clarifying thought occurred to Harry: Draco had no reason to lie. He knew there was no way Draco believed Harry would switch sides, so telling him about Dumbledore was honesty.
"How do you know?" Harry asked so quietly he could almost pretend the question didn't come from him.
"Severus. He plays for both sides, but he's loyal to Dumbledore."
"What does Snape-"
"He's my godfather." Suddenly a lot of the past six years made so much sense.
"Speaking of favouritism-"
"Yes, yes. Pot and kettle, I know. But anything Severus knows, Dumbledore does. Yet Severus has been the only one trying to stop me all year. I thought at first he wanted the glory for himself but no." Draco's shoulders sagged. "If helping me and my family worked into Dumbledore's great plan then it would have been done by now. However, I'm just a pawn. You and Severus are his favourite pieces. I don't want to play anyone's game. I don't want anyone else to die. And I mean that. Including mudbloods and muggles." Draco sighed with the weight of the whole world and Harry felt he was looking into an inverted mirror. Everything about him and Draco was so starkly opposite, they were a near perfect contradiction.
Harry gingerly placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and the other boy looked at it, then looked up to Harry slowly, like he was still trying to decide if this was all real.
"Will you trust me?" Harry asked and squeezed Draco's shoulder. Draco's eyes searched Harry's gaze for a moment.
"What exactly did you tell McGonagall?" Draco was still suspicious and it was probably very confusing when Harry started blushing. Then he pulled his hand off of Draco's shoulder to rub his neck.
"Umm… well I blathered a bit but the first thing out of my mouth was not to tell Dumbledore." Draco's eyebrows rose incredulously.
"Holy shit. You listened to me."
"Well, that is typically the point of communication-"
"Shut up! I mean, in the bathroom. Despite everything between us and me hurling curses at you-"
"It was only a blasting hex-"
"Harry!" Draco shouted, shutting them both up in shock. A beat passed, then another where they just stared at each other. The air charged and heavy with the knife's edge potential.
"Draco." Harry breathed out.
"Are we doing this?" Draco whispered so cautiously.
"Do you want this?" Harry returned and that question felt like a thousand nerve endings firing all at once. Waiting for Draco to answer had Harry's breath caught in his chest, his heart frozen between beats.
When Draco finally nodded, all that pent up air depressurized out of him.
Was this the answer?
Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, Death Eater.
Once the air was all gone, Harry smiled and stuck out his hand.
Draco smiled too, a tiny thing of relief and maybe even hope. So it was then, over five years later, that Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter shook hands.
A/N: Chapter two will go up tomorrow!
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