Sorry for the late chapter! Midterms are kicking my butt :(

Thanks for the beta as always, Sterekhale and Leila1589


Chapter Six

"Draco…" Harry said softly, a mixture of anxiety and vulnerability in his voice.

Draco stood rigorously, his gaze remained locked on Harry's, as if trying to convey a thousand unspoken words through their eyes alone.

"Harry," Draco croaked.

Tears welled up in Harry's eyes and let himself smile for the first time since Christmas break had begun. He went to step forward, but Draco stepped back. His smile dropped and his brows drew together, "… Draco…?"

Draco turned to the door of the Room and abruptly turned and ran into the hallway.

Harry stood there, stunned and bewildered, watching as Draco's figure grew smaller and smaller through the door. As he watched Draco disappear from sight, Harry felt a mixture of confusion, hurt, and concern. He didn't understand why Draco had run away.

Harry hesitated for a moment, torn between chasing after Draco and giving him space. Ultimately, he chose to respect Draco's need for distance, hoping that whatever turmoil Draco was experiencing would eventually find resolution.

In the days that followed, Harry couldn't help but wonder what had triggered Draco's sudden flight. He knew that their unexpected reunion was charged, but the abrupt departure left many questions unanswered.

As the days turned into weeks, Draco's distance from Harry was noticeable. The school had taken notice, most of all Ron and Hermione. They had begun bullying Harry about Draco. Their teasing and harassment became a relentless onslaught, leaving Harry feeling isolated and emotionally battered. He felt abandoned by Draco and his 'friends' (if that's what you could even call then now) weren't understanding him at all, making things almost unbearable.

It was a cold night in the Gryffindor common room after classes when they began openly mocking Harry's feelings for Draco, mimicking his expressions of affection and making derogatory comments about their imagined relationship.

"Look at Harry, still pining for Malfoy!" Ron would sneer, silencing the room. The crackling of the fire was the only thing that could be heard.

Hermione, whom Harry considered his closest friend, joined in with hurtful remarks, "It's almost pathetic how obsessed he is with someone who will never want him."

Their words cut deep, and Harry's attempts to defend himself only seemed to fuel their cruelty. With sad eyes, he looked around the common room. There was a mixture of reactions – surprise, disgust, confusion, curiosity.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron taunted, "Can't handle a bit of banter? Or maybe you're just too sensitive."

Hermione chimed in with a mocking smile, "It's just a bit of fun, Harry. Lighten up."

The bullying extended beyond the common room. In class, they would purposefully undermine Harry's confidence, making snide remarks about his abilities and his personal life. They whispered behind his back in the corridors, spreading hurtful rumors and insinuations about his feelings for Draco.

Their relentless torment left Harry feeling cornered and defenseless. He found himself withdrawing from social interactions, avoiding the common room just like during Christmas break, and spending more time alone in the Room of Requirement, seeking refuge from the cruelty of his supposed friends.

The hurtful behavior of Ron and Hermione had eroded any hope he had of regaining their friendship and understanding. He thought that maybe he would be able to persuade them to at least be a bit more open-minded. Harry wanted Draco.


Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, had been a complex and formidable figure in his life. His recent passing, amidst the backdrop of his own defiance against the dark forces that had once controlled him, weighed heavily on Draco's mind.

The death of Lucius Malfoy at the hands of the Dark Lord was a moment Draco would never forget. It had been a result of his refusal to take the Dark Mark, a choice that had set into motion a series of events that culminated in a devastating loss.

In the depths of the Malfoy Manor, a place that had long been associated with dark magic and sinister intentions, the Dark Lord had summoned Lucius. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and the shadows seemed to stretch ominously in every corner.

Lucius had stood before the Dark Lord, a mixture of fear, defiance, and regret in his eyes. He had been a loyal servant of the dark forces for years, but his son's refusal to follow the same path had placed him in an impossible position. The Dark Lord regarded Lucius with cold and unrelenting eyes. The air was thick with an oppressive silence as the final moments of Lucius's life unfolded.

Draco, hidden in the shadows, watched helplessly as his father pleaded for mercy, for understanding, for a chance to rectify the perceived betrayal. It was a heart-wrenching scene that tore at Draco's soul, but he knew that his refusal to take the Dark Mark had been a choice born out of his own struggle for a different path.

As the Dark Lord's wand was raised, casting the Killing Curse that would seal Lucius's fate, the room seemed to hold its breath. The darkness closed in, and the cruel hand of destiny played out. Lucius Malfoy, once a powerful and feared figure, fell to the floor, lifeless, a tragic consequence of the choices that had led him to this moment.

The death of Lucius left an indelible mark on Draco and his mother, a testament to the complexities and consequences of their entanglement with the dark forces. Draco knew his father had done terrible things, unforgivable really. In the end, though, Lucius had still been his father. He had spoiled him and loved him – protected him.

Shortly after witnessing his father's death, he fled with his mother to a safe house for the rest of break. His mother was just as bad, if not worse, with dealing with the aftermath of the death. She was grieving, paranoid, and at loss for what to do. She was hesitant to let Draco return to Hogwarts. It took a lot of persuading on his part, but Draco convinced his mother to let him finish this year.

The first thing Draco did upon his return to the castle was head for the Room of Requirements. He hadn't expected Harry to be there. Their interaction had been tense and Draco felt everything welling up inside of him. He needed to get away. So, he turned and ran. He went back to his dormitory, praying to Merlin that no one else would be there.

As he settled into his, thankfully empty, dormitory, the silence and solitude of the room enveloped Draco like a shroud. The empty spaces and cold stone walls seemed to echo with the memories of the past, a past that had been fraught with dark influences and expectations.

And so, the days went by like this. He spent his time in a haze, going through the motions of daily life without truly engaging with it. The laughter and camaraderie of his fellow Slytherins felt distant and out of reach. He had become a ghost of his former self, lost in a world of shadows and sorrow.

Draco's eyes, once filled with sharpness and pride, were now tinged with weariness and sadness. He had lost his usual sense of composure and arrogance, replaced by a quiet introspection and vulnerability.

The solitude he sought after his return to Hogwarts was both a refuge and a reminder of his isolation. He longed for a connection he had with Harry but couldn't bring himself to approach the Gryffindor again.


A few weeks had passed when Draco noticed other students giving strange glances to him and Harry. It wasn't until Draco was passing by a group of students, their voices lowered to secretive tones, that his ears caught a snippet of the conversation that made his heartache.

"Did you hear about Potter?" one student said with a sly grin, "Seems like he's got a thing for Malfoy."

Draco paused, hidden from their view, listening intently.

"Yeah, and it's not just a rumor," another student added, "He admitted it to Weasley and Granger. They've been giving him hell about it."

Draco's chest tightened as he processed this information. He had been avoiding Harry since their strained reunion, grappling with his own emotions, the complexities of their friendship, and his father's death. But the revelation that Harry was not only facing bullying but also that it was related to his feelings for Draco left him deeply conflicted.

As he continued to eavesdrop on the conversation, the students continued to discuss the situation, their words a mix of gossip and judgment.

"Potter's just confused," one of them said dismissively. "I mean, who could blame him? Malfoy is pretty good-looking."

Draco felt a rush of emotions—bewilderment, empathy, and a growing sense of guilt. He knew that Harry had been struggling with his feelings, but he hadn't realized the extent of the bullying and rumors that were swirling around him.

As he left the group of Slytherins behind and continued on his way, Draco couldn't shake the heaviness in his heart. He knew that he couldn't continue to hide anymore, not after finding out what Harry was dealing with. He felt a little stupid for hiding. Harry was bearing his heart on his chest for him, and he was hiding away. There was no doubt in Draco's mind that Harry would have been there for him, listened to his every word and gave him support after everything he'd been through. So, he went to find him.


Surprise! Draco POV!

Believe it or not, this book is slowly coming to an end. Only a few more chapters are left (that I have planned!).

Also, please bear with me in these coming weeks because, as I mentioned before, I have midterms and other school work to get caught up on so the next few chapters might come out delayed :(