Chapter Text
The courtyard was cold. It was always cold this late.
Draco was already there, at the base of the tree. Same spot. Harry's breath fogged when he exhaled.
He sat down next to him. Draco didn't move closer.
That was the first thing Harry noticed.
“Hi,” Harry said quietly.
Draco turned his head.
“Can I do something?” Harry asked.
Draco looked at him.
“Can I—” Harry cleared his throat. “check your arm?”
Draco exhaled and held out his left arm. Didn’t even roll up his sleeve himself.
Harry slowly lifted it.
“They’re healed,” Harry whispered.
Draco pulled his arm back.
“Let me see the other one,” Harry said.
Draco froze for a second.
“Let me see,” Harry insisted.
Draco then held his right arm out.
Harry rolled it up slowly again.
Harry’s breath hitched.
“When did you do this?”
“The other day,” Draco muttered.
“This one is really bad. Draco. It’s really bad.”
Harry’s hands shook, but he didn’t release his grip on Draco’s wrist.
Harry stared at it closely, as if he couldn’t help himself.
“What did you use to do this?”
Draco didn’t fight it.
“A blade,” he said quietly.
“How? How did—how did you do it this deep? This one is really bad,” Harry emphasized again.
“So do you actually want a damn explanation?” Draco snapped.
Harry’s eyes darted off to the side before he looked back at Draco’s arm.
“Yes.”
“I just—” Draco stopped himself for a moment. “I just went over the same spot a bunch of times, okay?”
“Are you…doing it for the pain?”
Draco pulled his arm back.
“Okay. I think we’ve had enough,” Draco said.
“...’We’?”
“We can’t be seen together anymore.”
“Why—”
“You know why. You know exactly why.”
Harry’s breathing became uneven.
He could fix this. He just had to say it right.
“We can—”
“It can’t work,” Draco said firmly.
“You’re breaking up with me?”
“Don’t call it that.”
“Did—did this mean anything to you?”
Draco looked away.
“Please tell me. Did it?” Harry asked again.
“We just—we can’t go on like this,” Draco said as he got up, Harry’s head following him.
Draco walked away.
Harry saw Draco’s shoulders move—just once.