Harry sat up in bed, fumbling for his glasses. When the room came into view, he looked next to him at Draco's bed. Draco wasn't there, but he could hear him, or he thought he could. Still half asleep and confused, Harry got up and stumbled toward the sound. Draco was sitting in a fetal position against the wall and he was crying.

"D-Draco?" Harry whispered.

Startled, Draco looked up. His eyes were red rimmed. It was obvious he had been crying for a long time. "Go away," Draco said not in his usual fiery voice. He sounded beaten down, broken even.

Sitting down next to the blonde, Harry glanced over at him, startled when Draco didn't even try to pretend he wasn't crying. Draco must be half asleep, too, or finally at a snapping point. Harry would have liked to reach out and give him the comfort he needed, but he was sure Draco would bite him like a rattlesnake would bite its prey.

"You're crying," Harry said dumbly.

"No, you think?" Draco snapped.

'Ouch, just like a rattlesnake.'

"Well, why?" Harry asked.

"Why would you even care?" Draco muttered.

"Because I'm the caring type," Harry offered. He smiled, getting a glare in return. "Hey, Draco, I know you hate me, but the feeling isn't mutual, so yeah . . . " Harry sighed. He pulled his knees up to his chest and just gazed at Draco, watching the blonde as he cried. Harry wished he knew why.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

"What for?" Draco snapped again. Even when he was crying, Draco was still Draco.

"For being a jerk in class. I wasn't serious when I said that stuff about your preferences," Harry mumbled, embarrassed.

"Don't care about that. I'm used to people saying a lot worse," Draco admitted. Harry raised an eyebrow. Was Draco opening up?

"Then if that isn't why you're crying, why?" Harry had wondered if he had hit a nerve earlier, but he guessed not.

"Just go away."

Harry frowned, "I can't."

Now it was Draco's turn to frown, his tears still flowing slowly, "why not? Everyone else does it easily enough."

"I'm not everyone, and a friend or not, I'm not leaving my roommate when he is upset. I'll just sit here until you feel better."

Draco sighed. "I don't understand you." The blonde pressed his face against his knee, hugging his knees to him so tightly that he was hurting his face. "You are..."

"A freak?" Harry suggested when Draco seemed at a loss for words.

"Something like that," Draco said with a yawn. "Go away," the blonde tried again.

"No."

"Just leave, let me cry in peace."

Harry laughed, "not gonna go. If you want to cry, do it on my shoulder."

"No way," Draco said. He went to push Harry away from him, struggling when instead of pushing the brunette away, Harry was trying to hug him.

"S-stop it!" Draco cried, nearly hysterical. "Stop being nice to me!" He struggled some more, becoming tired and limp in Harry's arms, having no strength to push him away.

"Why are you crying?" Harry tried again. He felt oddly protective of the blonde, no matter how mean he could be. There was just something about him and Harry couldn't stand his tears. Harry held onto him, holding him, nearly pulling the blonde into his lap, he was probably giving Draco something he would never admit to needing.

"My parents," Draco whispered. His chin resting on Harry's shoulder, he was slightly, just slightly relaxing. In the morning, he could pretend this never happened.

"Yeah?" Harry urged him on. Draco needed to talk.

"Dead."

Harry blinked, but that seemed to be all Draco would say. "I'm sorry."

"Morning Draco," Harry said cheerfully, just like he said every morning when he woke up. The response was the usual "go to hell" that Harry knew was coming, though Draco didn't sound quite as hateful as usual. Harry sighed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before he grabbed his glasses.

He did not doubt that Draco would act as if nothing happened the night before. At least it had happened, though. At least for a short while, Draco had been comforted.

"Want something to eat?" Harry asked. "I'll bring something back for you." Harry didn't wait for a response, knowing what it would be anyway. He left and returned with Draco's favorites. Draco always pretended he didn't want the food, but in the end, he ended up eating it, saying that it was stupid to waste food, so he might as well eat it.

"It's Saturday," Harry started.

"Duh," Draco muttered, rolling his eyes. The blonde was eating, though grumbling about how Harry was going to make him fat.

"Yes, so that means no school, so that means you and I are going to do something normal people do when there's no school."

"We're not normal, and we're not doing anything," Draco said firmly.

"Well we can pretend for a day that we're normal, and we're doing something," Harry countered. "Please, come on Draco, have a heart."

"Nope, I don't have one."

Harry knew for a fact that that was a lie. He had no idea if playing the guilt trip on Draco would work, the kind his mum played on him, but he thought it was worth a try, so he frowned, looking as heartbroken as he could, before sighing, "fine, I just . . . wanted to take you away from this stupid place for one day. I know how you hate being here and all. Never mind, nothing I do will ever be good enough for you, will it?"

Harry was troubled by how upset he was. Well, who wouldn't be upset if they had no friends and the one person they were trying to befriend kept pushing them away?

"Oh, fine, you're such a crybaby," Draco said, crossing his arms. He seemed a little confused, having a hard time looking at Harry. He didn't get why Harry was being so nice to him even after everything he had done.

Harry beamed at him, making Draco look away.

"I do not want to go anywhere that has a lot of people," Draco stressed.

Harry felt like some weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It was a strange feeling being so pleased about this.

"Where the hell are we going?" Draco asked, his eyes wide. He cursed Dumbledore for allowing them off the school grounds. What nerve did he have to trust them? That was just wrong!

Harry laughed at Draco's nervous expression. He wondered if it had to do with his motorbike. It was all thanks to Uncle Sirius that Harry ever learned how to ride a bike. Harry was pleased he was allowed to bring it to school.

"Oh, get on, and don't be so scared," Harry teased, shoving a helmet down on Draco's blonde head. "You said you wanted to go somewhere that had no people, so we're going somewhere I think you'll like. No humans, I promise, but I can't guarantee we will be alone."

"Why have you brought me to a horse farm?" Draco said, in disgust. "These creatures are filthy, ugh..."

Harry laughed. "Oh, stop being so high and mighty," he said, tugging Draco toward some of the horses. "They can be very relaxing. Just live a little Draco, stop being so snobby."

Draco glared at Harry, before snatching his hand away from him. "Fine, and just what are we doing here? Won't we get in trouble for trespassing?"

"Like you'd care about getting in trouble."

"Fine, you have a point," Draco admitted.

"We're going riding," Harry announced.

"Like hell! I'm not touching one of them. You can't make me!"

"Come on," Harry urged. "Riding is fun."

"Bareback? I don't think so. If I ever were going to do it, I'd never do it bareback," Draco yelled.

Harry couldn't help bursting out, "that's what she said," with a snort.

"Shut up, Harry! You're such a pervert."

"It is not my fault you make it so easy, Draco. Just give it a try, once. I know what I'm doing, I promise."

Draco bit on his lower lip, trying to decide what he wanted to do. Finally, he sighed and turned to look at Harry. "That's what she said," he said in response.

Harry had to think before he got it and then he couldn't stop the laugh and feel a burst of happiness. Maybe Draco was coming around slowly, but surely.

The blonde flushed, looking annoyed with himself. "Shut up."

Harry shook his head. "I can't stop laughing. You do realize by saying that, you have agreed to give this whole friend thing a chance?"

Draco's eyes widened, "I did no such thing!"

"Yes, you did. You did or else we wouldn't be here right now and enjoying ourselves. You are happy. Admit it."

"No, I'm not. I only came to get you to stop whining."

"Okay," Harry said quietly. "If that's how it is then. Just tell me one thing Draco," Harry started to walk away from the blonde toward one of the horses. He was going to ride with or without Draco.

"Do you hate me?" Harry asked as he effortlessly got onto the horse's back, holding onto the mane.

Draco glared, his cheeks slightly red, he didn't answer.

Harry frowned. "That's all I wanted to know. Bye, I will pick you up when I'm done." Harry gently kicked the horse in the side, clicking in the back of his throat to get him to move.

"W-wait!" Draco stuttered, running after Harry. "I don't hate you, I just... I can't help being a brat sometimes," Draco whispered. It was just hard for Draco to let down his guard, otherwise . . . he'd get hurt again, though for some reason it hurt even worse knowing that Harry thought he hated him.

"Come back and I'll get on the damn horse, but so help me God, if I get thrown . . . "

Harry was at Draco's side before he could finish what he was going to say. He reached for the blonde's hand, pulling him up on the animal.

Sitting behind Harry, Draco was at a loss. "Where do I put my hands?" He asked, sounding flustered.

"Just around me," Harry replied softly. His head seemed to be in the clouds, though he wasn't the only one.

Hesitating for a moment, Draco put his arms around Harry's waist. "I feel stupid," the blonde complained.

"I don't," Harry replied. That shut Draco up for the rest of the ride. When they finished a couple of hours later, with no talking, just comfortable silence, Draco felt relaxed and dare he admit it, kind of fond of the beast.

After their ride, they somehow found themselves lying on their back under a shade tree. It was kind of nice. It felt normal. Draco put his arm over his eyes.

"Harry," the blonde murmured. "Did you think I hated you before? For real?" He asked.

"No, I just wanted to hear it for myself," Harry answered. "I don't know why you get under my skin so much," The brunette chuckled. "I've probably annoyed you to no end, but I was determined to... well I wanted to see you happy."

"You did annoy me, you still annoy me. I don't understand you, Harry. But today was probably the first day I've relaxed in a long time, so I guess you did make me happy, in a way. Briefly, mind you."

Harry laughed. "Of course. I won't make it a habit."

Draco gave Harry a doubtful look.