Author's note: Thank you for your support.

From Shadow to Bond

Chapter two

Glimmers of Hope

Harry sighs multiple times on his way back to the tower. He returns with hanging shoulders and flops down in the empty chair by Ron and Hermione who are working on some of their homework. As probably should as well. He just sighs again thinking of how cute Draco had looked when he laughed. Why did it have to be about his perfectly fine excuse to make out with him?

"You look like your little date didn't go to well." Ron grins at his friend. "Did Malfoy not appreciate your help with McLaggen or did Cormack refuse to fix the guy. Would be hard to kiss him without a mouth."

"Ron." Hermione sighs exasperated "Be nice. Don't you see how down Harry is." She turns towards Harry. Her eyes and tone a lot gentler "What Happened Harry?"

Harry shrugs and starts "It went weak at first. Even got in a good swing at Cormack."

"Seriously?" Ron cheers. He's still resentful towards the other guy for having flirted with Hermione during their sixth year.

"Broke his nose." Harry grins sheepishly before he sighs again "I'm not sure Draco was as happy about is as you. He seemed almost scared of me afterwards."

"You broke someone's nose." Hermione rolls her eyes. "What did you expect when you react that violent with your temper?"

Harry shrugs "It got better. We went to have dinner in the kitchen…didn't know what to say though. Was rather quiet." He sighs again "He eventually wanted to go back, blamed it on curfew."

"Would make sense. You returned too late so it must have been close at that point." Hermione tries to cheer him up. "It might not have been an excuse if he didn't leave that long before curfew."

"I offered to walk him back, just to make sure no one picks on him again and even offered to fake date to keep him safe." Harry shrugs. "He laughed at me."

Hermione just looked at him for a moment and then says "Harry."

Oh no. Harry thought and almost knew the next words already.

"You are such a moron." She adds and Harry almost smiles thinking I knew it. I knew it was her 'why are all men morons' voice.

Harry looks at Ron who just shrugs. Clearly he had no idea and could see how Harry's plan could have worked "Honestly." Hermione sighs seeing their confused look at each other "If you want him to like you Harry, you shouldn't treat him like he's just some duty. Or some poor damsel you need to safe."

"He said he's not a damsel." Harry mumbles.

"See." Hermione just goes on "Think for a second, how would you like it of Malfoy would have treated you like you are a weak little damsel he just has to safe and than to offer to make out for fake just to safe you?"

Harry looks at Ron for help, how was he supposed to answer to that? He'd take the chance and hope he'd fall for him? Something in Hermione's eyes told him that it was not the answer she'd wand to hear.

Ron just shrugs and looks at his book. Clearly not willing to risk getting dragged into this. "Boys." Hermione sighs "I give up." She closes her books and says "I'm going to bed early, since I'm done with my homework."

"Seriously, what did I do wrong?" Harry just asks Ron.

Once again Ron shrugs "Maybe you could try to not pass it of as fake? I mean you are still serious about him, aren't you? Last time you sounded damn serious." Ron sighs and ads in a mumble "Though I still don't get why. I mean it's Malfoy."

Harry sighs jet again. "I am." He remembers the scene he had told Draco about earlier. The day he saw Draco cry in desperation only for him to defensively start cursing when he sees that Harry had seen him cry.

Especially how he lay there in his own blood after Harry's curse had hit him. The one he had used not knowing just how deadly it could be. He would never again use a spell he didn't know in detail.

But it wasn't the only reason "Draco, he just is so, different. Not like I used to think." Harry tries to put it in words. The look he had seen in Draco's eyes in Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix had dragged Draco before him to identify him. Despite Hermione's spell making his face swell, Harry knows Draco had recognised him. Had seen it in his eyes. The shock, fear and confusion. And despite the danger for him, Draco had denied to be sure.

Of course he hadn't said he wasn't Harry. Draco knew the spell will fade and the truth will come out anyway. And he'd be I danger for nothing. But he had left them the time to flee until then. By not identifying him, Draco had protected him. And that despite the risk of angering Bellatrix. A woman almost as happy to throw around torture curses as Voldemort.

That look in his eyes. The fear but also determination. Harry had no idea how to explain how it had made him feel. He hadn't understood it himself and the situation had been too much to think about it. But Harry still dreamed about it. About those burning eyes that almost begged Harry to make it, to escape safely.

There were other moments. But those eyes in particular are staring in his drams a lot now. His smile too and his laugh. Harry feels his heart beat faster just thinking about that laugh just now. "At least my suggestion made him laugh." He shrugs with a weak smile.

"Man you're whipped." Ron sighs shaking his head seeing his love-struck friend "You look actually happy that he laughed despite the fact he laughed at your attempt to get into his pants."

"Don't say it like that." Harry grumbles and gently kicks Ron under the table to make his point "I don't just want that."

"Obviously." Ron chuckles "You want him to laugh. Maybe you should offer to kiss him more often if it helps make him laugh."

Harry just kicks him again but grins a bit "You're an ass you know that."

Ron just shrugs "I know. You love me anyway mate. In a not gay platonic way."

Harry rolls his eyes. Ever since he told Ron that he is gay Ron always adds that when talking about their friendship. Like Harry would ever see more in him. Ron was like a brother. Dating him would be so freaky.

In that moment he sees Ginny walk towards the girls' rooms and quickly says "Excuse me a sec." He rushes over and stops her from leaving "Gin, can we talk." His voice hard while thinking of what Draco had said.

She sighs apparently catching on that this most certainly was not about him regretting the break up. "What about?" she just grumbles still upset.

"I heard what you did to Draco." Harry growls.

"Draco?" Ginny drawls "Calling him by his name now? Seriously?"

Harry sighs "Listen Gin, I'm sorry okay. I know I hurt your feelings but what was I supposed to do? Date you and possibly marry you when I see you more like a sister than a lover?"

"A sister?" Ginny almost screeches. "You kissed me in your sixths year."

"I know. I was confused okay? I don't know, I just..." He sighs "You know how it was. The fear of the looming war all the people after me, you flirting, Hermione and Ron in their romantic mess. I felt like I had to love someone and just couldn't make head or tails of my own emotions. And I do like you and you are pretty. I just don't like you like that." Harry tries to explain himself yet again. He had told her all that a million times. He frowns now his voice getting les apologetic and more accusing. "That is however no reason to tell Draco that he should have died."

"If he had you might still be mine." She pouts.

"Are you for real?" Harry just stares at her for a moment "You were there. You saw the war. Your family lost Fred. You seriously say more should have died?" she flinched at his tone and accusation. And the reminder of Fred's death "Do you even have any idea what it is like to hear that? How much it hurts when anyone says those words to you? Do you even realise such words can drive a depressed person over the edge? With all he is going through..."

"What he is going through. Fred died and he is partly responsible..." Ginny cries out.

"Draco has no blame in that." Harry insists not letting her finish "And you know it."

"He went back. He walked over back to you-know-who when we thought you had died." Ginny accesses "He's nothing but a death eater."

"And when did he go?" Harry hisses almost in his anger "He didn't go when Voldemort asked people to come over. Not even when his own father called out his name dud he go. And that despite the fact Voldemort could easily punish them both later if he doesn't go right away. He didn't go until his mother called him to her. He didn't go to Voldemort. He went to his mother. What would you have done."

"My mother would never have been on that side." Ginny growls with a pout.

"Well lucky you." Harry just dead pans "He didn't have that luxury. He had to choose. Risk his mother being tortured to death or go. He'll I would have gone to safe my mother."

Ginny just glowers angrily and turns to go, still upset. Ron walks over to Harry and puts a hand on his shoulder "Give her time. She'll get over it and see more clearly. And I'll ask Hermione to talk to her tomorrow."

"Thanks." Harry sighs trying to calm his raging emotions. He hated seeing Ginny upset. He still remembers how she lay in the chamber of secrets almost dead. And he gets how it is particularly hard for her to see Draco differently now. It ess Draco's father who had given her the old diary of Voldemort. The one that possessed her and almost killed her. He sighs again. Still, she had to stop blaming Draco. He wasn't like Lucius Malfoy had been. And Lucius was punished by denentor kiss like so many other death eaters.

At least Narcissa was freed. Largely because Harry had told them how her lie to Voldemort had saved him. After Voldemort had tried to kill him and destroyed the horcrux in him. Narcissa had done it for Draco and not Harry or any greater good. But Harry still thinks that at least she earned a second chance. Just like Draco does.

"Let's hit the hey Harry. It's late." Ron suggests

"I haven't finished my homework." Harry sighs

Ron just waves him off. "It's for Slughorn, he loves you. Just tell him you struggled with nightmares too much and he'll let you off the hook."

Harry shakes his head not wanting such preferential treatment. "No, you'll go ahead, I'll do it now."

Ron sighs but nods and silently hands his own homework for reference to help his friend be done at least a little faster.

With one last pet on Harry's back Ron leaves and Harry returns the look of the other Gryffindors that overheard his discussion with Ginny. They are still just stating at him silently. "Seriously, can you make it any more obvious. And the show is over in case you didn't notice." He grumbles upset at the scrutiny.

Most quickly turned to their friends and spoke in hushed whispers. Harry still could hear his own name a few times and a whispered "Malfoy" or "No way" here and there.

At least this time, something good could come out of it. Maybe some more would think about leaving Draco alone at least, or better yet, help him where needed.

The next few days Harry, still worried, really does stay close to Draco. Though he never once managed to get up in time to escort him to the great hall in the morning. Even the one-time Harry get down up at five, Draco is already at the great hall when Harry checks if he's there. But he does start to walk him from classes when possible.

Draco seams to avoid him though. He's always gone when Harry rushes from his own class to wherever Draco's last class was.

He still tries his best and follows all the advice Hermione gives him. Like try not to get angry around him. Be gentle. Don't raise your voice. Smile a lot. Don't treat him like a damsel in distress.

The last one was a little harder. Harry couldn't help it. He just wanted to at least make sure Draco was safe. And wasn't it supposed to be polite to open a door for your partner when he escorts him to his next class?

Draco still frowned whenever Harry does that or holds a chair out for him when he escorts him to the Slytherin table before a meal.

Despite that Harry is very glad when even Hermione one day during lunch smiles at Harry saying "He's staring at you, again. I think you're growing on him."

"Like a wart?" Ron just grins cheekily.

Harry just grins at his friend and gives him a gentle, friendly shuffle "Shut it you dope."

Still Harry looks at Draco next and sees him blushing look away caught. With a happy smile, especially since Draco had to turn all the way around to stare, he mumbles "He blushed again. He definitely blushes more often these days around me."

"He's smiling more too." Hermione cheerfully adds "You should ask him out. You know a friendly trip for starter. You could day that you have nothing to do next Hogsmead weekend because we'd go on a date?"

"We are?" Ron excitedly chimes in.

Hermione just rolls her eyes "If Harry can get a date that way we'd have to."

"Splendid plan Hermione." Ron cheers "Go Harry ask him and screw up my date."

Harry just chuckles at his friend and goes over towards the Slytherin table. He is almost there when he sees Draco look at a girl in front of him. "By the way Astoria, would you like to go to Hogsmead with me? On a date?"

Harry just froze hearing those words.