The Slytherin common room was filled to its brim. Music was playing, people were dancing, everyone was celebrating Harry's successful first task. His dramatic Animagus transformation gained him enough points to conquer first place in the competition so far.
The egg, the champions were informed, was a clue for the next task. When Harry opened, it just produced the most awful noise he's ever heard. He decided to leave it for another day, and celebrate!
Both Hermione and Draco, but mainly Hermione, had a lot of questions about the whole Animagus transformation.
"I started training a year ago when I borrowed the book from Remus," Harry answered. "This was the first time I was able to transform fully."
"How difficult is it?" asked Hermione.
"How painful is it?" Asked Draco.
The party resumed, until it was very late. Hermione went back to Ravenclaw tower under Harry's Invisibility Cloak, all the other students, as well, went up to their dorms, leaving Harry and Draco in the common room. Alone.
Harry has had an exhausting day. He sat there on the couch feeling drained, but he also realized that he owed Draco a conversation, and he knew Draco expected it. He's been avoiding it for too long now. Almost a month…
Harry has always felt particularly close to Draco. Sure, he had other great friends, like Hermione, but Draco is the closest person to him. When Hermione was petrified, he was there for him; when the Goblet of Fire spit out his name, he was there for him. Draco's presence has always been calming for Harry. It felt safe.
That night, however, he got too close. The closest Harry has ever been to… well, anybody! It felt unfamiliar, and it terrified him. Draco, obviously, knows him well, but getting this close… what if he doesn't like what he finds? Would he still have feelings for him if he got closer? Saw deeper into him?
What if he gets hurt? Worse! What if Draco gets hurt?
Over the last month, he would go back to that night. How he felt safe in his arms, how he got lost in those dreamy eyes, how good his hand felt going through his hair, and then touching his cheek, and how devastating it would be to lose it all…
He could not afford it.
"I'm sorry, Draco." Harry said.
"What for?"
Pause.
"For not having this conversation earlier," Harry said. Draco simply shrugged.
"It's okay."
Another pause. A longer one this time.
The silence was deafening.
"I think what happened that night was a mistake."