Chapter Text
The holidays have finally arrived. Harry had thought about going to the Weasley’s for the holiday, but he had decided against it. He just felt like he needed to stay at Hogwarts this year.
“Mum’s going to kill you,” Ron says when Harry tells him that he will not be joining them for the holidays.
Harry rolls his eyes. “No she won’t. She loves me.”
“Exactly!”
“It’ll be fine, Ron. Be sure to tell her that I will come visit. I promise.”
“Just know that if you get a howler, I’m going to tell you that I told you so.”
Harry laughs in response, and turns as Hermione walks up to them. “Are you joining Ron this year?”
“Yes,” Hermione says shyly. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Be sure that Ron tells everyone I said hello.”
“Oi, why do you assume I’m going to forget?”
“I’m not. I just know that Hermione will remember.” Harry winks at Hermione, and she laughs. Harry walks away, waving at them as he does.
*****
When Harry gets back to his room, he finds Draco sitting on his bed, his suitcase only partially packed.
“Are you going home, Draco?”
Draco jumps at Harry’s voice. “Oh, I’m not sure. Doesn’t really seem like a place I want to be right now.”
Harry nods once and sits on his own bed. He glances down at his hands, not sure what to say next.
“My mum is having a hard time. Dad got his sentence just before this term started. I should go home for Christmas, but,” Draco takes a deep breath before continuing, “I just don’t think that I can handle it. That dark, empty house. I just don’t-” Draco lets out a shaky breath.
“Draco, you aren’t obligated to go home.”
Draco throws down a sweater that he has in his hands. “It just isn’t fair!” He starts pacing around the room.
“What isn’t fair?”
“I know I was horrible! I’m trying to be better! Everything just feels like so much. I should want to go back home and be with my mother. I should want to spend the holidays with the remaining family I have. But I don’t!
I want to stay here, avoid the sad eyes of my mother. I feel like it’s my responsibility. I feel like I need to be taking care of her, but then I get worse in my own head. I just want to be able to feel like I’m a normal guy again. I want people to know that I’m getting better, that I’m really trying. I want to be a better person. I didn’t have choices, but I still could have treated people better. And now I’m trying to be! I’m trying to be a better person. I was just so horrible that it’s hard to get people to listen and believe me.”
Draco continues pacing while Harry sits on his bed, listening intently. “I just want to feel… I don’t know!” He sits on his bed, and he puts his head in his hands.
Harry stands up and walks over to Draco. He puts his hand on his shoulder. “Draco, take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. You don’t have to go home, and people are going to realize you want to get better. I know you’re trying to be better.”
Harry takes a seat at Draco’s side. “Listen, I’m staying here for the holidays. You stay here too, and we can just have a calm holiday. Most people are going home, there won’t be nearly as many stares. What do you say?”
Draco nods and stands. He starts putting his clothes back where they belong in his drawers.
Harry moves back over to his bed and sits, glancing over at Draco every couple of minutes. Draco throws his trunk back into the corner, not caring that the lid has fallen open. Harry walks over to the trunk, closes the lid, and he places it neatly in its corner. He returns to Draco’s side, looking at him until the blonde looks his way.
“What, Potter? Why are you staring at me?”
“Oh, back to a last name basis now, are we?” Harry jokes, a smile spreading across his face.
“Shove off.” Draco pushes his shoulder against Harry’s before looking back to his lap. “Why aren’t you going off to the Burrow for the holidays?” Draco says, quietly.
“I thought about it,” Harry flops back onto the bed, his legs still hanging off the side. “I know that Molly and them still want me there, but I just feel like I would be intruding. We’ve lost so many people. Everyone is still coping. I know things can’t be easy, and I just feel like I need to stay away this year.
Maybe if Ginny was still with me, then I would go. I’m still friends with Ron and Hermione, obviously, but it’s just different.” Harry looks up and finds Draco looking at him.
“Why are you staring, Malfoy?”
Draco rolls his eyes, and he lays back onto the bed with Harry. “I know what you mean. It’s been a lot. For everyone.” He sighs and closes his eyes.
“Yeah, it has.”
Harry’s hand finds Draco’s at his side, and their fingers are soon intertwined.
*****
“Come on, Draco. Let’s go.”
Draco is blinded awake by the sun coming through his now open window.
“Piss off, Potter.” He rolls over and buries his face in his pillow, clearly desperately trying to fall back asleep.
“Oh, no. I don’t think so.” Harry grabs the blankets covering Draco and rips them away.
“Merlin, Potter, what?” Draco practically shouts, his voice still groggy and raspy with sleep. He sits up and finds Harry already dressed. Draco’s eyes linger on the ‘H’ knitted into the front of Harry’s jumper.
“Where are you going?”
“Not me, us.”
“Us?” Draco rubs his eyes before glaring at Harry. “What do you mean us ? Do you know what time it is?”
“Draco it’s ten in the morning. You’re acting like I woke you up before dawn.”
“You might as well have,” Draco mumbles, sliding out of bed. “What is the appropriate attire?”
“Seriously, mate?”
“Don’t you ‘mate’ me. It’s too early for your shit, Potter. What do I need to wear? You haven’t told me where we are going at this ungodly hour.”
“Oh, stop being so dramatic. Just throw on a jumper; we’re just going to Hogsmeade.”
Harry watches as Draco slides a black jumper and black trousers from his drawer. He disappears into the bathroom, and when he returns, he grabs his green scarf from the hook on his wall.
“Lead the way.” Draco puts out a hand, waving Harry toward the door. Harry smirks and sees Draco roll his eyes in response, but Harry doesn’t miss the smile tugging at his lips