Author's Note: Rated T just in case, enjoy!
Draco slipped into the Eighth-year common room after even the most resilient were asleep, and found Harry pale and tense in an armchair furthest from the outside wall. "What's wrong?" he asked in concern. Before the brunet could open his mouth, thunder rumbled ominously above their heads and he flinched.
Expression filled with sympathy, Draco crossed the room. "Here," he murmured soothingly, as he tugged the brunet gently to his feet, took his seat, and urged him to sit back down. He wrapped his arms around the still-tense brunet. "It's all right," he soothed, resting his head atop Harry's.
Another boom of thunder sounded overhead and Harry squeaked. He shifted so his head was buried against Draco's chest, his legs tucked up.
"Everything will be okay," the blonde soothed as he gently stroked his hair. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
Harry clung to him, tense as only one in the grip of fear could be, until it was clear it was over. He blushed and hastily rose from Draco's lap, settling in the armchair next to it. "Sorry," he muttered.
Draco gave him a look. "We all have fears," he stated.
Harry scoffed. "I can face off against the Dark Lord time and again, but I can't deal with a storm?" he retorted scornfully.
"You had some control when dueling with the Dark Lord, however, you can't fight a storm. No one can."
"I hadn't thought of it like that," Harry murmured.
"You're too hard on yourself."
"And you're not?"
"I need to prove I am more than the mistakes I've made," he spoke earnestly.
"If anyone gives you a hard time, send them my way."
"After all I did to you?" he asked dubiously.
"You saved my life," he stated. The blonde opened his mouth to protest. "We both know you recognised me, but you didn't say so," he remarked and the blonde inclined his head. "I think it says something, that when an opportunity to help me presented itself, both you and your Mum took advantage of it. After all, if both of you had told the truth, you would have gained a lot."
"But at what cost?"
"And that is why I'm going to help you," Harry spoke with a smile. He became solemn. "I know what it's like to make a choice you regret, and how hard it can be to live with the consequences and guilt of those choices." He shook himself. "I'm working on looking if I could have made another choice in the moment, rather than looking back at it in hindsight."
"Hindsight?"
"It's a muggle thing," he explained, "basically, it's much easier to look back on a situation and see the best decision you could have made, than it is to do it in the moment."
"Perhaps you should also look at what would have changed, if you hadn't made the choices you did," Draco suggested.
"You mean like, if you hadn't taken the mission from the Dark Lord, you wouldn't have been in a position to save my life, and consequently provide the distraction that allowed us to escape."
Draco's lips curved slightly. "Yes. Though, perhaps you should talk them through with me, so I can provide you with insights as you just did me."
"We'll take it in turns?" Harry asked pointedly.
"Of course," Draco drawled and gestured for Harry to take his turn.
Harry let out a soft laugh, and opened his mouth.