Chapter Text
Midnight
Harry was there at dinner! Draco had seen him, he looked happy and bouncing around unable to keep still. His green eyes twinkled with glee as he was telling his friends something. The red-headed boy was just staring at Harry open-mouthed.
‘Idiot,’ thought Draco, he was deeply envious, he wanted to know what was going on. Two red-headed twins, (more Weasley’s) ran over to Harry and spoke in low voices. That was it, curiosity got the better of him and he got up and strode over to the Gryffindor table arriving just as the twins left.
‘Last meal Potter?’ Malfoy snarled. Ron bristled beside Harry, but Harry knew the true meaning behind the snarl. Harry knew Draco was worried that he was being expelled. Harry wanted to try and reassure Draco without making it obvious to Ron and anybody else that may be listening. But how? Harry thought for a minute, he needed to get Draco alone to talk and reassure him.
‘You’re a lot braver now you’re back on the ground and you’ve got your little friends with you.’
Draco stared at Harry, what was this about? Does Harry hate him now? Then he caught the twinkle in those green eyes, what was he up to now?
‘I’d take you any time on my own.’
This is exactly what Harry had hoped would happen.
‘Tonight, if you want. Midnight all right? I’ll meet you in the Trophy Room it’s always unlocked.’ Draco continued looking at Harry. Harry nodded in reply he’d be there. Draco walked out of The Great Hall with a small satisfied smile on his face. ‘Clever bugger’ he muttered.
When Draco had gone Ron looked at Harry,
‘I’m coming too mate.’ Harry was prepared for this. ‘ No Ron, it will make him worse I need to get this over with, imagine if he thought I was that weak I brought someone to fight my fight?’
Ron thought for a second, ‘You’re right but he’ll bring back up’ moaned Ron.
Harry smiled inwardly, he didn’t think he would somehow but he could hardly tell Ron that.
‘So’ shrugged Harry, ‘I’ve had worse.’
......
Meanwhile in the Slytherin dungeons a similar conversation was taking place.
‘But Malfoy he’ll have back – up’
‘Oh, so you think I can’t handle Potter and the little Weasel, is that it?’ Draco glared at Goyle.
‘No’ he stuttered.
‘Well shut it then ok.’
......
Draco lay on his bed listening to the horrific sounds of snoring coming from the bed next to him. For Christ’s sake he thought ‘I’ll be seeing Father about this, I’m Draco Fucking Malfoy I shouldn’t have to share with these bloody buffoons. Ugh he’d have to remember to send an owl to his father in the morning, but for now, he had something else to think about, he was getting to spend some time with Harry, some time where he could just be himself and he couldn’t wait.
......
‘Half past eleven,’ Harry thought. ‘I’d better go.’
He pulled on his dressing gown, picked up his wand and crept across the tower room, down the spiral staircase and in to the Gryffindor common room. A few embers were still glowing in the fireplace, turning all the armchairs in to hunched black shadows.
Just as Harry reached the portrait hole;
‘I know why you’re doing this Harry.’ A lamp flickered on. It was Hermione Granger, wearing a pink dressing gown and a frown. Harry looked at her, he couldn’t believe anyone could be so interfering.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I know why you want to see Malfoy.’
‘He challenged me to a fight Hermione that’s why, go back to bed and stop interfering.’
‘You’re not going to fight Harry, I’m not stupid, I see things.’ Harry stared aghast at how right she had things.
‘How’d’...
‘Harry is it worth it? He’s a bully and not to mention a complete idiot.’
At this Harry’s blood began to boil, ‘He’s my friend Hermione, ‘ he snapped ‘ he’s not like that really, it’s ... well it’s complicated.’
Hermione looked at Harry, she had her suspicions about something but wisely kept her mouth shut (for a change) She was often told that she was wise beyond her years and she could see something in this boy that she didn’t even think he had seen himself yet.
‘Okay,’ she smiled ‘just don’t get caught we can’t afford to lose any more house points.’
Harry smiled as he pushed open the portrait hole, perhaps he had been wrong about her.
......
Harry flitted along the corridors striped with bars of moonlight from the high windows. At every turn Harry expected to run in to Filch or Mrs Norris, but he was lucky. He sped up the staircase to the third floor and tip toed to the trophy room.
Harry pushed open the door and took a look around the room that he now found himself in. The trophy’s lined every wall and glittered silver in the moon light. Harry was mesmerised as he stood staring at the magnificent sight and he did not notice Draco in the corner of the room.
Draco sat in the dark corner watching Harry, he watched the small boy’s face light up with wonder at all the trophies. He liked it when his face looked like that. He had noticed recently that his mood had started reflecting Harry’s that seeing Harry happy in turn made him happy. Draco gave a small cough...
Harry heard the small noise and looked over to where Draco was sitting on the floor, his knees pulled in tight to his chest with his arms wrapped around them whist resting his chin on top watching Harry. Harry looked at him, why the hell couldn’t he look like that? The boy was like an elfin statue. Harry found himself a bit envious of the way the Slytherin looked in the moonlight.
‘HI,’ he said shyly
‘Hi yourself’ said Draco in a way that reminded Harry of the first time that they had met at Madam Malkin’s. Harry chuckled and walked over to Draco;
‘You getting up?’
‘Nah, comfy, join me? ‘ Draco asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry shrugged and sat down by his side, he mirrored Draco’s position pulling his knees up to his chin so their elbows touched.
‘So you didn’t get kicked out then?’
‘Nah, don’t worry, you’ll still get to see me around,’ Harry replied with a twinkle in his eye.
Draco looked at Harry and saw that Harry was grinning at him. Draco smiled back, Harry liked it when Draco smiled, God knows why he just knew he did and who was he to argue with himself.
‘Oh I nearly forgot I have amazing news...’ Harry started, ‘Draco looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
‘I’m not supposed to say ... you can’t tell.’ Harry continued
Draco laughed, ‘ Jeez Harry who the hell would I tell, you can just imagine the conversation, ‘So Malfoy how did you find that out?’ ‘ Well I snuck out of bed in the middle of the night breaking several school rules to go and sit on the floor in the corner of a dark room just so I could spend some alone time with Harry Potter.’ At this Harry laughed, ‘Okay, I see your point.’
‘Seriuosly though Harry I wouldn’t tell anyone anything you didn’t want me to, you can trust me.’ And Draco for once in his life meant every word.
Harry looked at the blonde Slytherin and believed him. ‘Okay,’ he said and told him his news.
‘You’re joking, Seeker, but first –years never- you must be the youngest house player in about – ‘
‘a century,’ finished Harry.
Draco pulled his friend in to an embrace before he even realised what he was doing.
‘Harry that’s bloody fantastic. I was terrified when I dropped the ball and now I find that it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,’
Harry sat wide-eyed in his friends embrace, he was quite happy there, although he had been shocked at first. He actually found himself not wanting to move.
Draco faltered when he realised he still had Harry in his arms, bloody hell, he thought, the only person he had ever held like this was his mother after another of his father’s drunken outburst. He slowly removed his arms , ‘so... erm... yeah... I’m made up for you I really am and don’t worry friends don’t tell.’
Harry looked back at Draco, ‘Friends?’ he asked.
Draco ran his long fingers through his blonde hair and chuckled, ‘Yes Harry friends,’ after a few minutes of companionable chatter Draco stood up and brushed the dust from his immaculate tailor made, black and green silk dressing gown. He held out his hand to Harry, a worried look crossed his eyes as he remembered the last time he had made this gesture to Harry, he needn’t have worried Harry took his hand without hesitation and Draco helped the smaller boy up.
‘C’mon Gryffindor we better get you back before Granger reports you,’ remembering what Harry had said about the girl.
Harry stared at the floor, then, using his fringe as a shield looked at the silver eyes in front of him;
‘Erm... she knows,’
Draco dropped Harry’s hand and looked at Harry in shock willing him to explain.
‘She know’s the truth Draco. I don’t know how but she does.’
A million thoughts went through his mind, this bloody muggle-born, too nosey for her own good. God, she’d relish telling the whole world just to make him look like an idiot.
Harry, as though reading Draco’s mind placed a hand on the taller boys shoulder;
‘She won’t tell Draco, I know she won’t she promised, she even let me come tonight provided I didn’t lose any more house points.’ Harry said with a small smile looking up at the other boy. Draco felt the weight and warmth of the hand on his shoulder and returned the smile, if Harry could trust the nosey bugger then he guessed he could to. He shrugged and said;
‘Okay boy but it’s on you,’ with a soft chuckle. He strode out of the room with Harry in his wake.
‘What do we tell them?’ Harry whispered as he caught up with Draco. Draco thought for a moment, ‘It was a trick, I didn’t show, I was trying to get you in to trouble.’
Harry nodded, ‘Yep sounds like you.’ He said with a soft chuckle. Draco smirked at the small boy.
A noise from the next room made them both jump, then a voice spoke,
‘Sniff around, my sweet, I could swear there are students around.’
‘This way!’ Draco mouthed. Petrified, they began to creep down a long gallery full of suits of armour. They could hear Filch getting nearer. Draco turned to look at Harry; ‘Do you trust me?’ Harry gulped then nodded, Draco took Harry’s hand and whispered ‘Run!’
They sprinted down the long gallery swinging around a doorstop and galloped down one corridor then another. Just then Peeves the pesky school ghost appeared in front of them, if he saw them they were done for. Harry dropped Draco’s hand knowing that the blonde boy would never live it down if he was seen. Draco felt the absence in his warm palm and it made him sad, god knows why but now was not the time to wonder what the hell that was all about. He grabbed Harry’s hand again and ran in a different direction. The two boys ran for their lives, straight in to a locked door.
‘This is it’ Harry moaned ‘We’re done for.’ They could hear Filch getting closer. Draco thought for a second and then took out his wand and whispered, ‘Alohomora.’ The lock clicked and the door swung open, the two boys ran through it shutting it quickly behind them. They both slumped back against the door and slid down to the floor breathing heavily. They listened to the sounds of footsteps retreating in the distance . Draco realised that he was still holding hands with the dark haired Gryffindor, well, he wasn’t going to let go, if Harry cared that much then he could be the one to let go. Harry didn’t.
Harry looked in wonder at the blonde boy sat on his left,
‘Where did you learn that?’
Draco’s head dropped on to his knees and Harry instantly regretted asking. ‘I’m sorry Draco, I didn’t mean to be nosey, it was just well, it was bloody amazing.’
At this Draco smiled and thought to himself for a minute before turning to look in to those big green eyes and saying, ‘it’s okay, you trusted me twice already tonight , I think I can return the favour, I have never actually used that spell before but..’ Draco thought about how to continue, ‘...well I get locked in my room a lot at home and that is the spell Father uses when he’s ready to let me out.’
Harry’s eyes widened as Draco confessed to the abuse that he suffered at the hands of his family. Harry wondered if, like himself, the abuse did not stop at forced confinement but he wasn’t going to ask, Draco had shared enough.
Harry’s grip on Draco’s hand tightened as he looked in to Draco’s silver eyes he was trying to say that he understood, he understood so much more then the Slytherin could know. Draco felt Harry’s hand squeeze and was immediately glad he had shared. He squeezed back as he looked in to Harry’s eyes, unknown to the small boy he had seen his bruises and he knew that Harry understood.
Just then Harry noticed something move behind Harry’s head and jumped to his feet . He was looking straight in to the eyes of a monstrous dog, a dog which filled the whole space between floor and ceiling. It had three heads and three snarling mouths. Instinctively Draco pulled Harry behind him, he could wonder why later, right now they needed to move. He groped for the doorknob – between Filch and death he’d take Filch.
They fell backwards – Harry slammed the door shut, and they ran as fast as they could. They didn’t stop running until they reached the staircase that separated the Gryffindor tower and the Slytherin dungeons. They stopped and finally let go of one another’s hands, neither wanted to leave.
‘Next week, same time?’ Harry asked with a smile.
‘Sure thing Potter’ replied Draco with a wink as he ran towards the dungeons, ‘stay safe’
Harry turned and headed towards the portrait of the fat lady with a huge grin on his face.
‘Pig-snout’ he said to the Fat Lady, who did not look amused one bit at being disturbed from her slumber. She grumbled at Harry, he thought he heard the word inconsiderate and chuckled to himself.
Hermione was still up waiting for him,
‘Thank goodness,’ she said. Noticing the smile on Harry’s face she asked, ‘Good night?’
‘Oh Hermione wait till I tell you.’ With that he ran to sit beside her on the comfy sofa in front of the fire that she had kept going. He proceeded to tell her what had happened, he had left out the secrets that they had shared but did let her know that Draco was aware that she knew. Hermione was shocked at this, nut with a small, knowing smile let the boy continue. Harry was just telling Hermione about the dog when he realised something,
‘Hermione it was standing on a trap door.’
Hermione considered this for a moment,
;Do you think it as guarding something?’
‘I dunno’ Harry shrugged.
‘Oh I’ll go to the library first thing’ she said with a glint in her eye excited at the prospect of research. Harry chuckled and she suddenly looked at him;
‘What will you tell Ron, I’m sure he’s dying to know what happened?’
Harry thought for a moment then explained about the cover story Draco had come up with, ‘then’ he said ‘ I can tell him everything else without the need to mention Draco.’
Hermione smiled and with that Harry kissed her cheek and bounded up the stairs towards his dormitory. Hermione watched him go, It wasn’t an unusual feeling for her to know something that somebody else didn’t, however it was unusual that she knew something about Harry that he himself did not and probably would not know for a long time. She smiled to herself as she walked towards her dormitory remembering the light that had filled Harry’s eyes as he had told her about his exploits and the pink tinge that had crept to the tip of his ears as he had told her that Draco had winked at him. She shook her head with a soft chuckle and just said, ‘boys.’
......
Draco was in his bed in the dungeon, but yet again sleep evaded him. He was lay on his back with his fingers laced behind his head thinking back over what had happened that night. That bloody dog had terrified him but his instinct had been to protect Harry, without thinking he had put himself between the small boy and harm’s way, ‘What the fuck was that about?’ He’d never put anyone else first in his whole life, what is it about Harry bloody Potter?