A/n: Whew lads and lasses. It's me. I'm back. It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? (5 years, to be exact.) Anyway, here we are. I'm slowly trying to get back into the swing of things. Soooo. Without further ado, have some Draco/Harry. (No beta) ~Kiz

Warnings/Tags: Dark!Harry (as requested, but I don't imagine this is will be AS dark as I have tended to write him in the past), angst, coarse language. (If more come up, I'll tag per chapter.)

Who should you expect to see: My usual character loves: Theo, Blaise, Pansy, and Neville. Some Ron and Hermione. Mentions of Dean and Seamus (unsure how often they'll be mentioned).

A/U: Alright, it's an 8th Year fic, ya know how I do it by now. Shared common and dorm rooms. (Love a good 'ole forced proximity!) I also want to note the whole Gryf/Slyth hate isn't gonna carry over, I address that in this first chapter with a comment from Ron. (I just think at some point they all realize they're adults and they lived through a traumatic event [putting it lightly] and they grow up.)

Summary: "I can go back to ignoring you, if you'd rather, Potter. How'd you say it earlier? Hating you?" / "I don't think I would rather that." / You move on, you grow up, you change, but how can you accept those changes when your past haunts you? Do you really have to do it all alone? [Drarry. Year 8 AU. EWE? Rated: MA. Prompt Writing.]

Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Year 8 AU. EWE? Y'all it's me, back with the same 'ole disclosure as always: I don't own this shit, if I did, Draco would be bent and Harry would be bent and they'd be BENT. Got it? 'Kay!

"Fuck, Potter." Draco growled, throwing his broom across the Slytherin locker room, "I can't stand his stupid fucking face and those fucking green eyes, and his shitty fucking hair!"

"Yeah, I can tell." Blaise said dryly, rolling his eyes, as he slipped his jumper over his head.

"I mean, did you see him!" Draco yelled, his face pink at the image that came to his mind. Stupid fucking Potter and his beau- NO! He blinked, jerking back. No, I worked through this. It was just a childhood crush. We're adults now. I'm an adult. Fuck him, who cares if he acts like an adult. I act like an adult.

Blaise was talking, Draco realized as he focused on the here-and-now. "Anyway, it's not like, y'know... Draco we don't get anything out of playing. It wouldn't matter if we played or not."

Draco stared at Blaise, "what did you just say to me?"

Blaise rolled his eyes, "Draco, mate, you want to play we'll play, but, also, if you didn't want to. That'd be fine."

"I-." Draco stared at his best friend, "I mean, yeah, of course." He nodded, pushing a hand through his blonde hair, and sighed, "whatever. It doesn't matter to me."

Blaise snorted and Draco narrowed his eyes, "I mean, Draco, it seems like it matters."

"Oh, piss off Zabini!" Draco threw his hands up, annoyed. Why the fuck am I so bent out of shape about this?!

Blaise smirked, taking a step closer to his friend, tilting his head as he watched the flush on his cheeks fading, "more than a childhood crush, Draco?"

Draco narrowed his eyes, jerking his uniform pants down to change, "I'll end you."

"Will you?" Blaise taunted, "stupid fucking Pott-!" His taunt fell off, when the man they had been discussing was there. Standing there. Right there. "Uh, Potter?"

Draco jerked his head to where Blaise was staring, and his eyes grew wide. I'm going to kill him. I am going to fucking kill him. Both of them.

Harry was holding something in his hand, a smile playing at his lips, "discuss me in the locker room, often, boys?"

Blaise laughed, quickly stopping when Draco narrowed his eyes at him, before he turned away from both of them and grabbed his clothing from the locker. "Did you need something in particular, or just spying on us, Potter?"

"Ah," Harry still had a laugh in his voice that made Draco's teeth grit. "I was actually bringing this by," he held up a paper, "but, like you said, it's not like we get anything out of playing this year. Just for fun, and all that."

Draco could have stopped breathing, fuck. Fuck. FUCK. FUCK! How much did he hear?

Blaise moved from beside Draco, and the blonde assumed he was going to get whatever it was Harry was holding as he stuffed his legs into his jeans. "Oh, a schedule."

"You all ran off before I could give them to you," Harry was saying and Draco fought the urge to look over his shoulder at him. "Anyway, if you decide not to play, just toss it."

"Right," Blaise was nodding, and reaching towards Draco. Who took the paper, threw it into the open locker, before slamming it shut without a word. "You'll have to forgive, Malfoy, here. He's in a foul mood." Blaise was teasing him, and Draco let out a quiet hum as he sat down and pulled his shoes on.

"I've gathered, shame." Harry answered, and Draco blew out a breath. "So, anyway, I was curious," Draco tied his shoes, then he sat up on the bench, listening to Harry continue, "we're going for a pint, want to join?"

"Yes!" Blaise said excitedly, agreeing quickly, "let me just grab my jacket." He was in his locker again, grabbing his jacket and wand.

Draco looked at Blaise, watching him, no we are not going with stupid fucking Potter to get a drink. Blaise looked at Draco, catching his look, then he rolled his eyes, "apparently we're not interested." He said, pulling his jacket on anyway, "maybe another time," he added to Harry.

"I'm just too stupid, huh?" Harry chuckled, his eyes on Draco, who still remained quiet, and jerked his uniform top over his head. Harry's eyes widened at the sight, Draco had scars across his back, all over, like he had been sliced by thousands of little knives. Harry swallowed roughly, the memory from just two years ago coming to his mind.

Draco pulled his jumper on, opened his locker door again to throw his uniform top inside. He took his wand, in his hand, and turned to Blaise, "ready?"

Blaise was nodding, "have one for me tonight, Potter!"

"Oh, right," Harry recovered, nodding, his eyes trailing from Blaise back to Draco who was making it a point not to look at him. "Malfoy?"

"Potter." Draco answered, without looking at him, walking past Blaise and towards the door. He took a step to the left to avoid being close to Harry. Stupid fucking Potter, and his stupid fucking Quidditch schedule, and his stupid fucking laugh, he thought as he walked past him, Blaise was close behind and as soon as they were out of the locker room Draco shot a glare at Blaise, "I'm going to kill you."

Blaise laughed, waving off his attitude, "you'll survive, Malfoy, and you can go back to ignoring him like you don't have a crush on him. You did a pretty good job in there, while he was trying everything under the sun to get one single word from you."

Draco tutted, "fuck Potter!" He snapped, marching off ahead of Blaise, who was shaking his head at his best friend.

"I know you'd love to!" Blaise called to his back, jogging to catch up with him.

Harry stood there in the hallway, watching as Draco stormed off, and Blaise followed after him laughing, he smiled to himself and shook his head. Draco Malfoy, he thought, turning the other way and heading towards the group that was waiting for him. He could see it in his mind, the way Draco had flushed when he was ranting about him. Hearing Blaise tease him about how'd he'd like to fuck him... He let out a quiet sigh, frowning to himself, it'll never happen he hates me more than he likes me.

"Alright, mate?" Ron asked as Harry approached them.

"Oh, yeah, let's go."

"No, Zabini or Malfoy?" Neville asked, looking behind Harry.

"No, other plans." Harry grinned, clapping Neville on the shoulder, "let's go, we should be a little respectful of curfew, I guess." Neville chuckled, leading them away from the school.

Harry looked over when he heard the laugh, it was sudden and like a bubble, it broke through the soft murmur of the shared 8th Year common room.

He watched Draco Malfoy with a grin and flushed cheeks laughing as Blaise laid next to him, his head on his left leg.

"You're a bloody idiot, Zabini," the blonde was saying, now, shaking his head.

"Harry?" Ron asked, giving him a nudge.

"Yeah?"

"Bed…?" He gave Harry a look, clearly implying that they had just had this conversation and he hadn't been paying attention.

"Oh, right," Harry nodded, moving to stand, and when he did he bumped into Neville who had been laying near the foot of his chair. "Oh, sorry, Nev."

"All good," Neville moved before he pulled himself off the ground.

Ron was headed up, towards the stairs, Hermione by his side. Harry bent and grabbed his bag off the ground, "anything interesting?" Harry asked curiously as Neville closed his book and grabbed another off the floor.

"Nothing you care about," Neville chuckled, giving him a nudge. "Thank you for asking, anyway."

Harry frowned, "I do care, Nev." He watched as Neville took a step towards the other side of the room, and not the stairs, "what're you doing?"

"Oh, about to attempt flirting," Neville said quietly, before making eye contact with the girl in the armchair next to Draco and Blaise. "Hey."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, watching, as she laid the magazine she had been reading on her crossed legs. Pansy Parkinson, I think?

"Hello," she answered, her eyes taking him in, and then she looked at Harry, "boys."

Blaise tilted his head, that was on Draco's leg, back, to get a better look, a smile pulling at his lips.

"Busy?"

"Right now?" Pansy asked, her eyes falling back to Neville when he asked.

Neville grinned, shrugging, "anytime, really?"

The girl chuckled, and lifted a slender shoulder, "I mean, there are times I am busy, yes."

"Hm," Neville nodded, "how about tomorrow?"

Harry chuckled from behind Neville, rolling his eyes, and when he did they fell on Blaise and Draco. Draco was watching the scene in front of them, and Blaise offered a smile to Harry.

"Potter," he said, and moved slightly, to roll over to his side.

"Zabini," Harry answered, feeling Draco glance at him, "Malfoy."

Draco gave him a once over, before looking back towards Pansy.

Blaise shook his head, "how were classes for the week, Potter?"

"Uh, good, sure." He chuckled, "yours?"

"Ah, first week down, how many ever to go." Blaise smiled, lifting the shoulder he wasn't lying on.

"Alright," Neville said, "tomorrow at 1pm, I'll be there." Harry looked over, when Neville said that.

Pansy smiled, grabbing her magazine off her lap, "I'll see you then," she shot a wink at the man in front of her, who grasped his heart and earned a chuckle from Draco.

Harry looked back at Draco, taking in his laugh and smile. His heart skipped a beat, he didn't see it often, which was a shame. It was beautiful.

"Harry you gonna ask Malfoy to join or we headed to bed?" Neville asked from beside him, and Harry looked at Neville before back to the blonde. Draco looked very curious now, his eyes narrowing. Not at Neville, but at Harry.

"Uhm," Harry stared at him a moment, falling quiet before blurting out, "yeah, of course."

"Of course?" Neville asked, "what?"

"I mean," Harry took a step back, "uhm, no. Why would I do that?" He hissed at Neville, then gave a jerk of his head towards the stairs, "have a good night."

Neville watched Harry back up, then he waved at Pansy, "see ya tomorrow, girl."

"What the fuck was that?" Harry demanded once they were on the stairs.

"You been pinning after him for fucking years, mate. Honestly, make a move or move on." Neville said from behind him as they walked up to the shared boys dorm, "what's the worst that happens? He says no?"

"I…." Harry looked at Neville, "well I don't fucking know, Neville. He could hex me?"

Neville shook his head, "honestly really doubtful, Harry."

"What's doubtful?" Ron asked as they all settled in around their beds.

"Malfoy hexing Harry," Neville explained, tossing his books on his trunk.

"Did you finally talk to him?"

"No!" Harry groaned, "and what the fuck do you mean finally?"

"What?" Ron scoffed, sprawling across his bed, "I mean, Harry, you fucking stalked the guy for years, mate. I watched you."

"That's what I was saying!" Neville threw his hands up, before collapsing on his own bed.

Harry shook his head, sighing, "can you all stay out of my love life?"

"Love life?" Dean chimed in, calling from his own bed that he was sharing with Seamus. "You finally talked to the bloody git?"

"Wh-what?!" Harry groaned, jerking his shirt over his head, "stop!" He jerked his jeans down, next, before stuffing his legs into a pair of sweatpants.

A snicker came from across the room, and Harry gave half a glance finding Theodore Nott stretched out on his bed, "ah, Potter, as much as I love to see you getting teased by your mates, I gotta ask you to stop talking about my mate."

Harry looked away, "I'm not talking about anyone, Nott."

"Just Malfoy and how he's going to hex you. Scared of him, Potter?" Theo waved a hand, before grabbing his covers and pulling them up his body, "if ya need a bed warming buddy, I got room."

Harry let out another groan, his annoyance at an all time high, "I am not scared of Draco fucking Malfoy!" He practically yelled, "stay out of my love life!" He added, before hurrying to the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him.

Blaise looked at Draco, who was standing at the dorm entrance in shock, "well, that really clears the air," he said lightly, watching his friend walk across the room towards his own bed.

"Would you hex Harry if he talked to you, Malfoy?" Ron spoke up, once they were in the room.

Draco looked at the man, rolling his eyes, "I don't give a fuck about Potter."

Ron sighed, laying back, "you two…. Ya know like we all almost died right?" He asked, and the whole room fell silent looking at him, he shifted and forced his hand through his red hair. "So, maybe, we all deserve a little bit of selfishness and happiness wherever we can find it."

Draco lifted an eyebrow, watching as Ron rolled over to his side before waving his wand and pulling the curtains around his bed. Neville let out a nervous laugh, as the silence in the room grew, "so uh what should I wear tomorrow?" He asked, sending a smile across the room towards Draco and Blaise.

Blaise, recovering from the truth of Ron's words first, spoke up, "nothing tacky."

"Tacky?" Neville asked, "okay, so…."

Draco gave him a look, "slacks and a nice shirt, Longbottom."

"Oh hell," Neville laughed, "alright, easy."

"Something fitted," Draco added, "it'll show off your body, let me see." He took a step towards Neville, snapping his fingers. Blaise chuckled, joining them.

Neville pulled out a pair of folded dark chinos laying them on his bed, before grabbing a dark gray rugby shirt, and laying it over it. "What do we think?"

Blaise smiled, clapping Neville on the shoulder, "looks good mate, why'd you even ask?"

Harry pulled the bathroom door open, pausing at the sight of the three standing at Neville's bed.

"I want to look good," Neville shrugged, "have you seen her?"

Draco chuckled, shaking his head, "I think you'll pass, Longbottom." He turned to walk away, pausing and looking back at him, "just go easy on her." Blaise looked at Draco and gave a soft smile to his mate. "She's still adjusting."

"Adjusting?"

Draco nodded, glancing towards Ron's bed, "about the things he said. She is awful hard on herself for the role sh— we played in those things."

Neville gave Draco a look, "oh," he swallowed, hard, "y'know Malfoy, we all were a bit of shit, really." He stepped forward and held out his hand, it hung there for a moment, before Draco reached out and took it, "I'll take care of your friend." Neville grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

Blaise smiled, throwing his arm around Draco, "alright, it's bedtime. I'm tired!"

Draco gave Neville one last look, and he dropped his hand, allowing Blaise to direct him back to their own beds. Harry looked at Neville, who was moving his clothes and laying them on his desk. He walked over to his own bed, sitting on the edge and pulling off his socks.

"Alright, Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry offered a tight smile as he tossed them on his trunk, "hey, Nev?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome?" Neville asked, giving him a look.

"For being you," Harry reached over and grabbed his pillow, and then his blanket. "I'll see ya in the morning."

"Alright, mate. Sleep well." Neville waved, as Harry stood back up with his items and headed out of the dorm room.

Draco watched Blaise, he knew he was going to say something, but he really was hoping and wishing he wouldn't. "Where's he go at night?"

Neville grabbed his pajamas, pulling them on, "the common room." He glanced at Draco, who hurried to look away and busy himself with his own dressing for the night.

"What's there? Secret meetings? Hook ups?" Blaise asked as he laid himself on his own bed.

Neville chuckled, "I wish it was that way for him," he shook his head, and sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him. "Harry has dreams, a lot of them, and they're not always pretty."

"Nightmares?"

"Sometimes, sure." Neville nodded, grabbing a book from his desk, "they can get violent, and loud, and he doesn't sleep much… he just removes himself, so he doesn't bother other people."

Draco tried not to listen, but he was. It was the only sound in the room, of course, their conversation. He sat his wand on his bedside table, frowning, stupid fucking Potter and his fucking nightmares and dreams….

"Oh," Blaise said softly, so quietly it was almost inaudible.

"Don't worry about Harry, he wouldn't let you anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"He won't talk about," Neville shrugged, "he'll do what he does, and that's all there is to it."

"That's got to be bloody exhausting," Draco spoke up, and both Blaise and Neville turned to look at him, both sharing the same shocked expression. Draco stood up, straight and rigid, "I mean, does he think he's the only one with demons to fucking face?" He snapped, but the vehemence wasn't there. Not really. Stupid fucking Potter making me feel bad for him!

Neville grinned, and shrugged, "no, I don't think he does. I just think this is how he handles his demons."

"Alone?" Draco hissed, irritated he cared. Irritated, he was asking questions. Irritated, he was thinking about Harry Potter at all. Fuck Potter!

"Alone," Neville agreed, "he'd always prefer to face all of these things alone."

"Well," Draco huffed, his face red, "fuck Potter!" He growled, "stupid git!"

Blaise shook his head, and grabbed at his covers, watching Draco stand there a beat longer, and then he was leaving the room, Blaise started to get up but Theo spoke up before he could get off his bed. "Let them be, they'll eventually figure it out."

Blaise looked at him, letting the words sink in. He glanced back at Neville who had opened his book, and settled in to read. "Right," he laid back after a moment, grabbing his wand to dim the lights.

"I'd pay anything to be a fly on the wall down there, though," Ron spoke up from his closed off bed, earning a laugh from the room.