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   Draco Malfoy had plenty of reasons to dislike the Dark Lord, even exempting the fact that he was a noseless bastard. 

When he was a child, he had thoughtlessly agreed with his parents that the side they had taken was the right one. It was in his sixth year, when he had newly become a Death Eater that he had been introduced to the darker side of their ways. 

The task Voldemort had set him, of killing Dumbledore, was the igniting match. 

Voldemort’s extortion to kill his parents if he failed, Charity Burbage’s blood splayed over his dinner plate and Voldemort punishing his family for letting Potter escape were the sources of oxygen that helped the fire burn stronger. 

He knew that he was fighting the wrong side of the war but it wasn’t that easy to switch sides when you had convinced everyone you were a staunch supporter of the other. 

And he had seen enough to know Voldemort was better a friend than a foe.

So he let his cowardice take over and prevent him from going to the Order and seeking refuge. If there was anything Voldemort hated more than Muggles, it was traitors and deserters. There was no guarantee the Order would be able to keep him safe.

The fire inside him continued to blaze just as brightly but he learned to hide it, trying hard to diminish the flame. 

He remained at Voldemort’s side, knowing what he was doing was wrong but unable to make himself do anything to change that either. 

His godfather, Severus Snape was the only person he confided with and even he disappeared to Hogwarts very often, leaving Draco lost with people he disliked. He had frequently planned on running away but each time a vision of Voldemort’s red eyes blazing stopped him. Whenever the Dark Mark branded on his arm caught his eye, he felt a new wave of helplessness wash over him. The mark only served as a permanent reminder of his unbreakable loyalty to the Dark Lord and the uncrossable line between him and the rest of the magical world. 

Penance had found him not so very later, a punishment for his silence and cowardice. 

His parents were killed in the battle that took place at Hogwarts. All the reasons he had not acted come to waste.

But that wasn’t all. He had been paralyzed in the battle, a parting gift from Voldemort. The whole incident was still rather fuzzy and he didn’t wish to recollect it all. All he knew was that he had lost the use of his legs completely, leaving him stuck in a wheelchair, his condition untreatable. 

He needed aid for the simplest of tasks. Now that his parents were dead, he was left under the care of Severus Snape. He stayed with his godfather in his tiny cottage at Spinner's End. They spent the days nursing his legs and trying to find a cure. 

But fate had other plans for him. As Hogwarts had lost too many students, all 7th years were obligated to attend for an 8th year. So Draco packed his trunk with a heavy heart. None of his classmates knew of his paralysis, and he had hoped to leave it that way.

He was to be living with Severus in the dungeons. At least he would have the support of the newly elected Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts.

He had no wish of taking the Hogwarts Express and meeting other students. He had received his Apparation license this summer so he just apparated right to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the wards preventing him from landing any closer. He was reminded of the first time he had come there, detention with Potter. He had not thought about Potter in a long time; he hadn’t thought about any of his classmates. He could imagine their reactions at finding out his present state- they would certainly be satisfied that the Death Eater had got a suitable punishment. Of course, they didn’t know about the internal war he waged against himself everyday.

The forest loomed darkly in front of him, the tangle of branches and roots on the forest floor teasing him mercilessly. He was starting to regret dismissing Severus’ offer to help him get to school. Another time his Malfoy pride came in the way.

Resignedly, he wheeled the chair over the knots of fallen twigs and leaves. The wheelchair jerked wildly, throwing him from side to side. The floor was uneven and bumpy and took all of Draco’s self-restraint to not disregard the Trace and simply use magic to navigate.

The Forest was eerily quiet; all the creatures were probably avoiding his path. At a far distance, the shadow of the castle towers was visible against the clouds. 

Gazing at the school, Draco had slacked in his tedious task of missing the stray branches. The left wheel of his wheelchair caught a gnarled root, tipped over and sent him lying on the cold hard ground. 

His hands scrabbled at the dirt, his body twisting frantically as he tried to upright himself. Only his upper body lifted itself while his lower half remained unresponsive and he had to slump back in resignation after a few minutes of trying in vain.

There had to be another way. 

He surveyed his surrounding and his eyes fell upon his wand which had fallen out of his pocket and was lying a few feet away from him. 

He extended his arm, his fingertips inches away from the wand. If he could reach his wand, he could send up red sparks to signal someone to help. Or he could Accio his wheelchair closer to him and attempt to return on his own. 

His fingers inched closer, he had almost grasped the handle, he- there was a sudden touch on his shoulder and Draco, startled, jerked his hand back in surprise. A boy was crouching next to him, staring back at him with equal surprise. 

It was Potter. Harry freaking Potter. Draco was hit with nostalgia as he remembered the last time he had seen Potter in the Room of Requirement when he had saved Draco from the consuming flames of the Fiendfyre. Draco still had a bittersweet edge to that memory.

For some reason, instead of leaving him alone or even handing him his wand in a brief act of kindness, Potter crossed him to retrieve his wheelchair. Wordlessly, Potter’s warm hands wrapped around his slim arms, lifting him delicately back into his vehicle. To his utmost surprise, he was moving forward, his wheelchair pushed by Potter.

Draco realised that this was the first time Potter saw him after the paralysis. Yet he hadn’t made any rude comments. Draco suddenly felt guilty for teasing Potter for his dead parents over the past years.

What was wrong with him? He was feeling sorry for Potter? The world must have been turning upside down. First Potter was helping him, and then he was feeling sorry for him. 

Lost in his thoughts, Draco hadn’t noticed that they had reached Hagrid’s hut. 

Draco wanted to thank Harry (when did it change from Potter?) for helping him till there but Harry was already walking away. 

Draco watched him walk towards Hogwarts; half hoping that he would turn back. Ugh, he shouldn’t be thinking such things! That was his arch-enemy for crying out loud.

Draco waited with bated breath when suddenly Harry paused at the entrance of the castle and turned around looking as though he wanted to say something.

Although, when he saw Draco looking at him, he simply turned around and ran into the Great Hall.

‘Well that was odd’ Draco thought, a small smile on his face. The smile didn’t vanish as he wheeled around the Great Hall, concealed from the masses of students inside. He just wasn’t ready to reveal himself in front of everyone yet. He took a secret passage leading to the dungeons where Draco was to stay in Severus’ quarters.

Draco didn’t mind sharing a room with Severus. After his paralysis, Severus spent most of his time at Draco’s side.

There was a bowl of soup set out for him by Snape who, as usual, had planned everything. He wolfed down the soup and lay down, tired from his journey.

Only when he was drifting to sleep did he wonder why Potter had been at the Forbidden Forest.

*-*-*-*

Harry couldn’t bear to stay in the castle. The trip on the Hogwarts express had been bad enough; all the students staring at him, the savior of the Wizarding World, the Boy Who Lived.

Nonsense.

As if they knew anything about him. He was a murderer, so much blood in his hands. So many innocent lives lost on his behalf. 

His parents. Sirius. Remus. Hagrid. Dumbledore. Collin. Fred. Cedric. Tonks. Dean. Seamus. Moody. Lavender. 

That was the monotonous beat of his heart, every second reminding himself of how many lives he had wrecked.

He deserved to burn in hell for his crimes. He most certainly didn’t deserve the concern for him in Ron and Hermione’s eyes. Or the reverent look on the faces of all of the Wizarding Community. 

The castle brought back so many memories; the bad ones- Fred crushed under the stone wall, Hagrid falling to multiple Killing Curses, but also the good ones- Harry flying with Ron while Hermione watched from the stands, the three of them sneaking along the corridors under the cover of the Invisibility Cloak and pranking fellow students.

The school had done a good job in repairing all the damage incurred during the war. But everywhere Harry looked he could only see the Death Eaters overriding the school, students fleeing in panic and of course, Voldemort. 

Harry shivered as he thought about the Dark Lord. 

“Are you alright?” 

Harry saw Hermione look at him, her eyes soft. She looked sad as though she had the exact same thoughts.

He mumbled out a silent yes and made his way to the Gryffindor tower. He passed the near empty common room and paused at the doorway of his dormitory.

There were the same five beds but now they looked overwhelming. Harry knew that two of those beds would never be occupied by the same inhabitants again. Dean and Seamus had died in the Final Battle, defending the castle. 

Harry avoided looking at the two beds and began to unpack his belongings. But it only kept him occupied for a few minutes and it didn’t take much time to be consumed by the memories that would never leave him alone. The ghosts that haunted him in the night were beginning to catch him in the day too.

He needed to get away. He stumbled out of the dormitory, nearly colliding with Ron on his way out. It started with a scurrying which quickened into a sprint. He ran and ran and ran all the way to the Forbidden Forest only pausing to catch his breath when Hogwarts was out of sight. 

Harry roamed around the Forest for a half an hour, savouring his time away from his classmates before he heard a loud pop in front of him. A boy in a wheelchair apparated and started pushing himself forward. From the distance, he could only make out his blond hair shimmering in the sunlight. There was only one person who had hair like that, Draco Malfoy. But it couldn’t be him; Malfoy didn’t need a wheelchair. The last time they had encountered was in the Room of Requirement and he had been alright then. 

But thinking back, he hadn’t seen Malfoy after that. 

 ‘Must have injured himself in the war.’ Harry thought. ‘Just another thing I couldn’t prevent.’

Without really realising what he was doing, Harry began following Malfoy, who moved pretty swiftly for a wheelchair user. Why he had wanted to follow his tormentor was still a mystery to him.

A few minutes later, Harry heard a muffled cry from the front. He ran forward and saw Malfoy sprawled on the forest floor. His wheelchair was lying sideways; Harry could conclude that he had fallen out of it. 

A few years ago, Harry would have simply laughed at Malfoy and mocked him but Harry had changed.

If he saved one person would it wash away a little of his guilt?

He gently helped Draco back into the wheelchair, his bony arms poking into Draco’s body.

He even went as far as pushing Draco back to the school. When they reached the school grounds, Harry stiffened suddenly. 

Hagrid’s hut. Hagrid, his incredibly kind half-giant friend who had been the one who had introduced him to the world of magic. He owed all his life to Hagrid.

And now he was gone. Unable to stand there any longer he bolted away, the shame and guilt making everything else disappear.

He had already run halfway when he remembered Malfoy. Harry turned around and met Draco’s eyes. There was a new emotion in them as though he wanted to thank Harry. Harry jerked away and ran into the castle.

He didn’t deserve Draco’s thanks. He didn’t deserve anyone’s.

*-*-*-*

“I’m sure he’s alright Ron.” 

Hermione spoke in a certain tone but her eyes looked troubled.

“Where is he then? He was supposed to meet with us ten minutes ago.” Ron looked agitated, his eyes darting around the Great Hall. 

The usual Welcoming Feast took place smoothly, only with the new Headmistress Mcgonagall in the place usually filled by Dumbledore. Both Ron and Hermione simply pushed their food around their plates, an aura of tension around them.

Another 20 minutes went by and there was still no sign of Harry. 

Hermione pushed her chair back suddenly and raced out of the hall. A surprised Ron dropped his fork and followed her.

“We have to find him.” Hermione said breathlessly. ”Let’s look in the Common Room first.”

They whispered the password to the Fat Lady and rushed into the Common Room. To their dismay, it was completely empty, not a single person inside. They trudged out, amid shouts from a disgruntled Fat Lady who had not liked being disturbed for no reason.

There was a soft shuffling sound from above and Hermione suddenly realised that they had forgotten to check the dormitory.

She tugged Ron by the arm and ran back into the Common Room, ignoring the angrier cries of the Fat Lady. She took the stairs to the boys’ dormitory two at a time. She practically fell into the room and was invited by the surprisingly peaceful image of Harry sitting cross-legged on his four poster bed. He had a picture album open on his lap which he immediately snapped shut when he saw her and Ron. 

She moved forward to sit opposite to him, on Ron’s bed. She felt the bed sink as Ron came up and sat next to her.

“Why didn’t you come to the Great Hall for dinner?” she asked Harry with a motherly tone.

Harry simply shrugged. ”I wasn’t hungry.”

“But you didn’t eat anything from the trolley on the way here either.” Ron interjected.

A spark of anger flared in Harry’s eyes. ”I’m not hungry! Why can’t you two just leave me alone?”

Harry had been way more touchy after the war. He often skipped meals and became an expert at disappearing whenever he felt like it. Both Hermione and Ron had tried helping him but he kept pushing them away. 

“Harry, we’re your friends. We care about you.” Hermione pleaded. ”Talk to us.”

Harry stiffened. With a furious glance at Ron and Hermione, he drew the curtains shut. Hermione knew that there was no use of trying to part the curtains; he had put an Unstickable Charm on it. It had happened so many times before.

Seeing nothing else to do, Ron and Hermione left the dormitory, a leaden feeling in their hearts. Hermione curled up in an armchair in the Common Room, Ron perched on its arm.

She stared into the empty fireplace, reverently wishing that she could help her friend. She remembered the small smile on his face when they found him.

She turned to Ron. ”Why do you think Harry was smiling like that when we found him?”

Ron seemed to ponder the thought for a moment. ”I think it was looking at those old pictures.”

Hermione nodded though she wasn’t satisfied with the answer. Something else had happened. Harry had rarely smiled a true real smile after the Final Battle. Ron and Hermione could never find out what was wrong with him though. Voldemort was gone and Harry could finally let go of being the saviour and hero. Things were finally over. Harry should have been happier than he ever was. Yet he was distant and unfriendly, even with them.

Hopefully whatever had been the cause of his odd smile would make him whole again.

*-*-*-*

Harry had only recently realised the usefulness of Silencing Charms. It was one of the simplest charms and was absolutely perfect for his nightmares. He could keep the others from worrying about him even more. 

It was the same routine every night- Unstickable Charm on the curtains so no one could see him writhing in bed, twisting the sheets around him. Then the Silencing Charms so no one could hear his screams.

Even his nightmares had the same routine; first Cedric lying in the graveyard dead, then Sirius falling through the veil and finally the Final Battle. Sometimes there were extra fittings like Voldemort’s red eyes right in front of his face and a searing pain through his scar or his parents’ screams as they made their last stance.

Tonight, it turned out, was one of the different nights. He passed the usual dreams- Cedric, Sirius and finally rested on the new part.

Fred, Collin, Dean, Seamus, Hagrid were standing in a row. They all looked at him with accusing eyes.

Harry flinched in his dream state as he saw the familiar faces. 

Fred stepped forward. “You stole my family from me, Harry. You stole George from me! You don’t belong with us.” 

Collin came towards Harry but stopped midway. “I idolised you Harry. But you just let me die. You’re not worthy of being a hero!”

Harry moaned into his pillow, tossing and turning.

Dean and Seamus spoke up. “We were your friends. Did you think we would forgive you for killing us?”

The most painful, Hagrid didn’t even look at Harry. “I can’t believe it ‘Arry. Yeh didn’t even try to save me. Lily and James should ‘ave never given their lives to save a murderer!”

“NO!” Harry screamed. He was sweating profusely, his breathing hard. He ran his hands through his hair as though that could dispel the shadows of his nightmares. 

He could still hear their voices ringing in his head. Especially the last thing Hagrid had said.

A murderer. That was all he was. 

He mashed his face into the pillow and fell into a fitful sleep.

*-*-*-*

Draco woke up to someone tapping his forehead. He made out the figure of Severus Snape through his sleepy eyes. Snape was already ready in his black robes. How the man managed to be such a morning person was still a mystery to him. 

“You have 10 minutes to get ready. We have to get to the Great Hall for breakfast.”

Draco rubbed his eyes, still not entirely awake. “Can’t you just bring me some food like yesterday?”

His godfather didn’t reply immediately. Draco cracked an eye open to look at Snape. The man didn’t look very composed; there was a nervous edge to his actions.

“I want you to get familiar with being around other people. I know that this is the first they will be seeing you after the war,”- by war, they both knew Severus was talking about his paralysis- “but you’re going to have to meet your classmates again.”

At Draco’s unimpressed look, Snape sighed and tugged at the stray threads on his robe. “If you don’t meet them now, they’re going to see you in Potions for the first time. We don’t want those dunderheads to blow up the place at a higher rate than usual.”

Draco snorted dismissively, though emotions were churning inside him. He knew that he would have to face them someday but realised that he wasn’t prepared for that that day.

‘Today,’ he amended, with a sinking feeling in him. 

“Okay,” he said, bracing himself. “I’ll come to the Great Hall.”

He rolled his way through the corridors, feeling more nervous than he had ever felt before.

They reached the doors of the Hall and he took a deep breath, readying himself for what lay on the other side. 

He pushed the doors open. It made much more noise than Draco had expected, banishing all his hopes of entering unnoticed.

The Hall turned dead silent. All eyes were trained on Draco and Snape. He couldn’t bear to meet any of their eyes. There was no turning back now.

Any lesser man would duck his head and hurry but he was a Malfoy and Malfoys didn’t show weakness.

Draco held his head high, rolling his way in, amid whispers. Draco could hear only snatches of the conversation- ‘Death Eater’, ‘payback’, and ‘good riddance’.

Draco hadn’t expected anything different but that didn’t mean he didn’t hope.

He took a place at the Slytherin table, sitting apart from the others. Even his own housemates couldn’t refrain from staring. 

There was a loud clearing of the throat from the teachers’ table. Draco looked up to see Severus giving the students his withering glare.

The noise died briefly and Draco’s mouth curved upward. His godfather most certainly knew how to handle things.

He shoved food down his throat for the sake of eating and quickly wheeled his way out as soon as he could.

Only when he was in his room could he breathe normally again.

He was an idiot to hope. All the students had the right to hate him. He had committed enough crimes against them for that.

‘It’s just one year.’ He told himself, as he began to gather his textbooks for Charms. ‘And then I’m out of here.’

*-*-*-*

He wasn’t hungry. But it wasn’t like Hermione was going to let him skip three meals in a row. He trudged down the flights of stairs, determinedly ignoring everyone. 

Harry had barely slept last night and all the company was not making it better. He managed to snag a seat at the corner of the table and served himself a small amount of scrambled eggs under Hermione’s glare.

He picked at the food lazily. It wasn’t like he was going to eat any of it.

Harry surveyed the Great Hall. His eyes passed the Hufflepuffs, the Ravenclaws and landed on the Slytherins. It was clearly the least populated table. Rumour had it that most of them had fled the country.

It wasn’t until Harry had scanned the entire table did he realise that he was searching for someone in particular.

Malfoy.

Harry almost let out an exasperated sigh on his own behalf. Why was he looking for Malfoy? Since first year, Malfoy had somehow been there. Even though they were enemies, it didn’t change the fact that Draco Malfoy was a part of his life.

So where was he?

Almost on cue, the doors banged open and Draco Malfoy rolled his way into the Hall. Behind him, Snape was standing in his usual black robes, one hand on Draco’s wheelchair. Sure, Snape and Harry had taken Voldemort down together in the Final Battle but that didn’t mean he was Harry’s favourite person. Though, he had to give Snape credit when he noted Snape’s tight hold on the chair and realised that maybe he cared too much to let go.

The Hall went from noisy chatters, to pin-drop silence before breaking into whispers, everyone blatantly staring at Draco. 

Snape moved first. He pulled his hand back and strode purposefully to the staff table like the Dungeon Bat he was.

Draco pushed his way towards the Slytherin table. His face was tinged grey from...worry? But he did not hurry himself. Harry supposed it would have scorned him to do so.

Harry returned to his scrambled eggs. It seemed wrong to wish ill on his tormentor when he looked so helpless. Harry knew all about people ogling at you like you were a creature at the zoo. Hopefully one less pair of eyes on him would be better. 

He had taken a good many bites before he chanced another glance. All he could catch was a glimpse of metal before the boy he was looking for vanished out of the Great Hall. 

Harry frowned lightly. No one should have to feel the need to escape. Not even an ex-Death Eater.

Harry knew that Draco’s parents had died in the Final Battle. Perhaps Draco’s injury was related to that. Now both he and his nemesis were orphans.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice half of the table leaving for their first class. He got up only to see Hermione standing to his right, hands on her hips and the expression she wore that meant no negotiation. 

“Finish the entire plate.”

“I ate half of it, Hermione! That’s a lot!” pleaded Harry, even though he knew it was in vain.

Hermione just glared viciously at him. Resignedly, he shoveled bits of egg in his mouth. By the time he was done, the Hall was almost empty and they were late for their first class- Defence Against Dark Arts with the Ravenclaws.

Slughorn was taking Potions so that left Snape with the Defence Against Dark Arts post.

Anyone who went to Hogwarts knew that it wasn’t the best idea to be late to Snape’s class.

Ron, Hermione and Harry raced down to the dungeons and skidded to a stop in front of the classroom. Snape was doling out instructions but immediately stopped when he saw them.

Harry could feel waves of dark amusement roll off him as though he couldn’t believe he had attained the chance to deduct points the very first period itself.

“Well, well, well if it isn’t Potter and his fan club.” Snape remarked. “Seven years and you still think you can use your Chosen One status to do whatever you like.”

Harry bit back a retort, knowing that it wouldn’t get him anywhere besides detention.

“Twenty points from Gryffindor for each of you.” snapped Snape. “Quit disturbing the class.”

They slunk into the classroom, taking their customary backbenches.

“Well that went better than expected.” muttered Ron under his breath.

Snape was lecturing them about ghouls and banshees. Harry felt his attention waver in and out of the lecture. Suddenly, he felt a wave of nausea wash over him. The feeling was so common for him now; he immediately knew what to do.

“The best way to banish a ghoul is- Potter, where do you think you are going?”

Harry bolted out of the classroom. He had barely made it to the boys bathroom when his stomach decided to upchuck his breakfast. He bent over the sink, breathing heavily. 

He never should have listened to Hermione and eaten an entire plate. It was a long time since he had an incident like this. 

He rested his head against the cold mirror. Would he ever heal from everything that had happened? Would everything be okay?

He couldn’t explain what came over him. 

He punched the mirror. The sound of the mirror cracking was so satisfying. So very satisfying.

He drew his hand back, punching the ruined mirror again and again.

He was panting hard when he finally slid down the wall and slumped on the floor. That was how Ron found him, glass embedded in his hand, dripping blood on the floor, staring blankly at the wall.

*-*-*-*

“You have to go to Madam Pomfrey.” said Hermione, beseechingly.

“I’m not going.” Harry said in that same vacant tone.

Hermione was beside herself with anxiety when she had seen Ron come into the dorm with Harry.  

There were drops of blood that dotted the path Harry had come by. She had taken one look at his hand and sat down beside him, readying herself to take out the shards. Even when she pulled them out, he did not make any noise. His face was devoid of expression. 

She had asked him multiple times who had done this to him but he didn’t respond. Hermione wondered what had happened in the bathroom.

She resolved to find out but first she had to heal her friend.

“Ron, could you ask Parvati to get my makeup kit from the girls’ dorm?”

Ron nodded and went in search of Parvati. That’s what she loved the most about her boyfriend. He trusted her unquestioningly and carried out even her oddest requests.

He returned in a few minutes, carrying a large bag. She pulled out the kit. Instead of the usual eyeliner and mascara one would expect in a makeup kit, it was filled with far more necessary items. There were rolls of bandage, dittany, Calming Droughts, bottles of Dreamless Sleep and finally the item they were looking for- essence of murtlap.

Hermione measured the solution in a bowl and soaked a towel into it, lightly brushing it against Harry’s wounds. 

It was almost like the situation in their 5th year when that toad Umbridge had used the Blood Quill on Harry. Except he wasn’t this withdrawn even then.

Hermione couldn’t help but wonder what was worse than Voldemort messing with your head. 

Then she realised. When you messed with your own head. 

She remembered a phrase she had read in some muggle book- ‘Your brain is the most powerful weapon’.

“Why did you do this to yourself Harry?” Hermione asked sadly.

Ron, who was sitting morosely on the bed till then, looked up at Hermione, startled. “Mione, how can you say that? It was probably some bastard Slytherin-“

Harry had turned towards her, his eyes blazing with anger. 

“Oh, I did this to myself didn’t I?” he hissed, furiously. “I would be like this if it weren’t for you!”

Hermione’s eyes widened fractionally. “What did I do?” 

“Well if you hadn’t force fed me lumps of food, maybe I wouldn’t have had to spend half of the day in the bathroom, puking my guts out!”

Hermione’s stomach dropped. 

Ron told her stories of the summer after the war. Harry had stayed at the Burrow with Ron while Hermione travelled with her parents.

Ron had recounted incidents when Harry would remove himself from the dining table without eating anything. Other incidents when he would eat a little then be heard vomiting it out in the bathroom.

“But I thought you would be okay when you came to Hogwarts.” babbled Hermione, partly to herself. “Being the Burrow couldn’t have been good, all those memories about Fre-“

Hermione stopped abruptly, hoping she hadn’t gone too far.

Harry stood up, his face a mask of fury, his hands trembling with rage.

 “Okay? How can you expect me to be okay? I thought maybe you guys would understand. Turns out I thought wrong.”

He turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door on the way out. 

Ron had come and sat next to her, rubbing her shoulders soothingly but all she could think about was how much of a horrible friend she was.

*-*-*-*

Draco was so glad to finally be free of people. There was always at least one pair of eyes trained on him. If it wasn’t the stares, it was the questions he most certainly wasn’t ready to answer. Or worse, the slurs and scorn the students hurled.

Fortunately, the teachers acted more civilised. Except for those pitying looks Sprout gave when he couldn’t go into the greenhouses in his wheelchair. Or when Slughorn would bring ingredients for Potions from the cupboard instead of making him go and get it.

To say the least, he was aggravated. The only thing that had stopped him from blowing up was Snape.

No one dared to approach Draco in Snape’s presence; they had already witnessed Dennis Creevey get a week of detention for asking Draco how he had lost the use of his legs.

It was a Friday evening- perfect for everyone to be partying in their common room. There were barely any people in the deserted corridor.

The window to his right showed quite a nice view but it wasn’t one Draco appreciated. The Quidditch pitch. 

That had been the worst blow. He was now unable to sit on a broom, much less play Quidditch. He hadn’t been a wonderful player but he greatly missed the feeling of soaring through the sky, free as a bird. 

He spared a glance at the field. The stands were vacant, free of any practicing team. He remembered all the times he had booed the other houses from those stands, with Vince and Greg. Maybe the memory would have been sweeter if Vince wasn’t dead and Greg wasn’t on the run.

Draco squinted hard. There was a dark figure flying around the hoops. The flier gracefully performed turns and flips in the air, the broom obeying their every command and the wind bending at their will. Draco caught his breath; he had never seen anyone ride so naturally, as though they had been born in the sky. 

Who was the anonymous flier? Draco had to know. He pushed his way across the corridor to get a closer look. 

He stopped with a start. He would recognise that tan skin and unruly black hair anywhere. It was Harry.

Ever since their run-in on the first day of the 8th year Draco and Harry had stopped hurling insults at each other whenever meeting in the hallways. They had come to a sort of unannounced truce. 

Harry had saved Draco’s life in the Room of Requirement and again helped him in the Forbidden Forest. Draco supposed he could address him by first name in his head at the least.

Wouldn’t Harry be partying in the Common Room with his Gryffindors? What was he doing on the pitch?

Plus, Harry had quit the Quidditch team. That had been the area of gossip for around a week although no one had come anywhere close to extracting the reason from him.

But Draco could sense something off with Potter. He seemed more sullen than usual and unsociable.

Draco had once been jealous of Harry’s friendship with Granger and Weasley but now it seemed more like a pity party as the other two whispered to each other, shooting furtive glances at Harry while he ignored them.

Suddenly Harry dropped into a dive, rushing towards the ground as though chasing the snitch.

Draco watched fascinatedly, his eyes wide as they followed Harry.

Harry had almost reached the ground and there was still no sign of him pulling out of the fall.

Draco looked around frantically. There were only a few students around, none of them paying attention to Harry.

The metal of his wheelchair cut into his palms as he harshly wheeled himself towards the field, trying to make it in time to cast a Cushioning Charm.

Just then as Draco drew his wand, Harry pulled out of his spectacular dive, a few centimeters to spare.

Draco couldn’t do anything but stare. Even Victor Krum hadn’t performed such a good Wronski Feint in the World Cup. 

Draco had been too blinded by envy to notice the raw talent Harry had been blessed with.

Harry was now doing a sort of victory lap, a wild smile on his face and his cheeks red with exhilaration.

Draco sucked a breath in. He couldn’t stop looking at Harry. Draco had never noticed how his entire face lit up when a smile broke across his lips. Probably because that smile had been practically absent this year.

Harry turned his direction and caught sight of Draco. His smile faltered considerably. He descended slowly, landing next to Draco.

“Well I didn’t know I had an audience.” Harry remarked, but without the dislike their past 7 years of conversations were tinged with. 

“I would have liked to announce my arrival but you were too busy plunging to your death.” Draco retorted back, equally amicably.

Harry rolled his eyes. Draco had never seen them up close. His eyes were the brightest shade of green but seemed heavy from some weight. Like fresh grass trampled upon.

“I could have easily pulled out of the Wronski Feint whenever I liked. I wanted to see how close to the ground I could get.”

Draco shook his head. “You’re mad Potter.” He would never call Potter ‘Harry’ in front of him.

Harry’s gaze hardened. His eyes turned a shade darker, more like a forest green. “Maybe I am.”

Draco shuddered lightly. He knew that this was the person who had vanquished the Dark Lord but he wasn’t used to the rigidity Harry had adopted. 

Draco tried to detour the conversation. His eyes fell upon Harry’s right hand, which was heavily bandaged.

“What happened to your hand?”

Harry’s expression didn’t change. “I punched a mirror.” He said simply, as though that was a perfectly normal thing to do.

“Well, what brought that about?” Draco asked as nonchalantly as he could.

Harry glared at him in response. “I don’t owe you answers! In case you want to keep up with the questions, you should probably tell me more about yourself.” He gestured at Draco’s wheelchair. “How did you get paralyzed? Wh- who did this to you?” His voice broke at the last sentence, as though he was genuinely concerned.

Draco just looked down. He hadn’t expected the conversation to turn towards him. “You tell me what happened to you and I’ll tell you about me.”

Hardy smiled wryly. “That’s not how it works. Go first.”

It was hard to socialise with anyone without them enquiring about his paralysis. On the other hand, he wanted to tell someone his tale. He was sick of having only himself as company. So the story unraveled.

“After Voldemort delivered his ultimatum- that you had to deliver yourself to him, he gathered the Death Eaters. He was furious; clearly he had not expected such a resistance. Voldemort decided that someone had to pay. The members of the Order and Ministry rebels had entered through the Room of Requirement. Someone from Hogwarts had to be punished.” Draco recalled, his face ashen. 

“The Dark Lord raised his wand, his red eyes trained on Professor Snape. Just as he was about to cast the Cruciatus Curse, I broke ranks and flung myself in the path of the curse.”

Draco stopped for a moment to glance at Harry. His eyes were round as quarters, wide and guileless. 

“It was pain beyond anything I had felt before.” Draco continued, talking monotonously as though they were facts he had memorised.

“‘You dare defy me, you unworthy scum!’ he screamed quite ferociously, raising his wand again and I braced myself. For the next few minutes, I couldn’t hear anything besides my screams. Just before I lost consciousness, there was a sharp pain through my legs. When I woke up, Snape told me my legs were paralyzed.”

Draco inhaled sharply. He had just told his story to Harry. He felt…. lighter. He snuck a peep at Harry. His face was frozen, but a raging heat in his eyes.

“Voldemort did that to you?!” Harry said harshly. “The Cruciatus Curse!”

The look in Harry’s eyes was pure loathing and Draco was glad it wasn’t directed at him.

“I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

Draco laughed lightly, half to let go of all the emotions churning in him. “You already did. So all’s good.”

Harry looked at him sharply. “No it isn’t. So many people’s lives are ruined because of Voldemort. If only I had been able to stop him earlier then all of this wouldn’t have happened.”

Harry was wringing his hands frustratedly, his hands searching for something to do.

He had punched the mirror to steady his hands.

“So I’m guessing you punched the mirror for the same reason.” Draco said, realising that Harry was putting quite a heavy burden on him for the sake of the world. “You blame yourself for all the casualties caused by Voldemort. Why?”

“Because it is my fault!” Harry screamed angrily, all signs of the previous happiness gone. “If I hadn’t forced Cedric to take the cup with me, he wouldn’t have been killed! Or if I hadn’t gone running to the Ministry like a fool, Sirius would have been alive! Maybe if I hadn’t been so distracted in the Fiendfyre, I could have saved Crabbe!”

Harry blinked furiously, his eyes beyond reason. “You should hate me Draco! I killed your best friend!”

Draco stared at Harry in horror. In his time at Hogwarts he had never seen Harry lose control like this.

“Harry,” he said placatingly, laying a hesitant hand on his shoulder. “None of this is your fault. If someone’s to blame, it’s Voldemort. And now he’s gone.”

The fight drained out Harry. “No he’s not.” he said weakly. “He ruled over my life, still does. Forced me to be the Chosen One and the Saviour. And now he’s come with all the people I murdered to plague my dreams. I never asked for any of this!”

Draco’s stomach dropped. “You’ve been having nightmares about your dead friends? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Harry gave out a hollow laugh. “Tell them that first Fred comes? He comes and tells me that I stole his family from him. Then Dean and Seamus lie unmoving, their eyes blank and lifeless. Next Hagrid-“

Harry stopped abruptly as though remembering who he was talking to. He staggered a few steps backward. “I- I have to go.”

Draco sat unmoving, rooted to the spot. Harry took one last dazed look at Draco before sprinting back to the castle. 

It was a long time before Draco went back to Severus’ room.

*-*-*-*

Harry couldn’t believe it. He had told Draco Malfoy everything. Of all the people he could have picked, why Malfoy?

He raced up the dormitory stairs, not bothering to engage in conversation with the Gryffindors partying in the Common Room. He laid face down on his four poster bed. His head felt like someone had fried then scrambled it.

Half of it was concentrating on his big heart-to-heart talk with Malfoy and the other half concentrating on Malfoy’s tale. 

All he could see was Draco’s downcast grey eyes as he recounted his tale and his rapt expression as Harry told his. Harry had never taken Draco to be so perspective. But then again, he and Draco had never interacted so before. 

The sounds of the party disbanding downstairs could be heard. It was a very long day indeed. Harry took off his glasses and lay down, fast asleep before anyone had come up.

*-*-*-*

It was midnight and Draco Malfoy still wasn’t asleep.

If Severus was there, he would have forced him to go to sleep but Draco was thankful that it was Snape’s turn to monitor the corridors.

Draco sat up slowly, wincing lightly as pressure was applied on his stiff legs. He leaned against the wall, staring blankly at a picture on the dresser.

The picture was the only one of its kind in the room, starring Snape and Draco standing together. Emphasis on standing.

It was taken in 5th year, before he had become a Death Eater and everything had gone downhill.

It was quite a nice shot; Snape alternating between curving his mouth into a rare smile and frowning at the camera man and Draco slinging an arm around his godfather.

Draco was looking at the photo but not quite seeing it. His mind was elsewhere; a few flights above, in the Gryffindor boys dorm.

Harry was the first person to ever be indignant on his behalf, besides Snape. But he had not been entirely truthful with Harry. Or more like he had concealed bits of it.

He had been Crucio’d by Voldemort but it couldn’t be explained just as ‘pain’. It was as though he was doused in flames, his body burning. Like a thousand knives piercing every inch of his skin.

The only thing he had held onto was the relief that Snape was safe. Then Voldemort had targeted his legs, sending him past his breaking point and into the blissful unconsciousness.

He had woken up 5 days later and found himself at Spinner’s End. Snape had been the one to break the news. The curse had broken him. He was paralyzed waist below. There was no way to heal him; the curse was dark of origin which meant there was no cure. That didn’t stop Snape from rummaging the entire library over the next weeks in hopes of finding something. 

But there had been another thing.

Turned out, Harry Potter and his reinforcements arrived right after he passed out, sending hexes flying across the forest, wreaking mayhem.

His father was struck down by a Bone Shattering curse at the head, instantly killing him.

At the time, Snape had used the chaos to drag Draco out of the way. 

Snape must have been livid then, even though he didn’t tell Draco so, for he fired a Killing Curse at Voldemort, quite the same as he had done to Dumbledore. At the same time, Potter cast an Expelliarmus. The split soul in Voldemort died as did the Horcrux in Harry. Oddly, both Voldemort’s and Snape’s wand flew out of their hands. Snape’s wand was caught by Harry while Voldemort’s wand landed next to Narcissa Malfoy. 

She had lost everything she was living for, Snape had told him sadly. She picked up Voldemort’s wand and killed herself. It was pitiful; her Dark Lord had taken away her husband and son and finally his wand had taken away her life. 

Draco had not been himself then. Piled with his paralysis and his parents’ death, he yelled horrible things at Snape. Blamed everything on Snape, the only person alive that cared about him. 

The next few days, he was alone. Snape didn’t visit him besides passing food into his room and helping him shower and use the bathroom, all in silence. One night, he was thirsty and tried getting out of bed, momentarily forgetting his immovable legs. 

He fell heavily on the floor with a loud thud. He remembered Snape running into the room and picking him up, all while chastising him for not asking for help. 

It was the first time in a long time someone had bothered to help him. He broke down completely, sobbing against Snape’s robes. Snape had put an arm around him, allowing him to let go of all the emotions boiling inside him.

It was after that he had truly accepted his situation. Snape spent most of time with Draco, playing Gobstones or reading him a book. They had contrapted a specialised wheelchair for him. It was able to levitate over staircases and was under an Undetectable Extension Charm which allowed him to put all his books inside with no difficulty. 

He also spent a lot of the time reading books about paralysis, mostly Muggle. The Muggle books were more explanatory. In muggle terminology, he had paraplegia which included the paralysis of the lower half of the body. But even the Muggles had no cure and rehabilitation was the only method for them. In his case, even that wasn’t an option.

But he was happier than he had ever been before. He owed all he was to his godfather.

Snape was originally going to quit his job at Hogwarts to tend to Draco but rejoined when it was declared that all 8th years had to return.

Harry and Snape now acted cordially to each other, though so many years of dislike couldn’t vaporise in a second. Now that he had seen both of their real sides, he knew both of them were painfully good, their commitment to the light equally commendable. Draco let out a snort of laughter at the thought of Snape and Harry to be similar. He would love to witness a normal conversation between the two of them.

Just then the door opened. To say the least, he was astonished to see Snape come into the room, half dragging a limp Harry.

*-*-*-*

He surveyed the gathering with his cold red eyes. He was disappointed, highly disappointed with his followers. They had failed to destroy the school, much less kill Harry Potter. 

His wand hand was itching to do something. Someone had to be punished.

Someone at Hogwarts. The Carrows were dead- killed by some Order member. There was only one person left. Severus.

Severus didn’t even bat an eyelash though he was sure Severus knew what was coming.

“Crucio!”

The figure on the ground writhed and cried out. Ah yes, this was good. He needed more. He needed-

The screams intensified as he cast another Crucio.

There was a ragged gasp from his right. He momentarily diverted his attention, annoyed. Never before had anyone interrupted- it was Severus! Then who was under the curse?

The figure pitifully gasping for breath on the ground was Draco Malfoy.

His non-existent nostrils flared as realised the young Malfoy must have defended Severus.

No one disobeyed him. “You unworthy scum!” He shrieked, livid with anger. 

Another Crucio head the young Malfoy’s way. He had no use for traitors and disobeyers. He would shatter his bones. He targeted the curse at Malfoy’s legs. By now, Lucius and Narcissa’s screams mixed with their son’s. He fed on their agony; they deserved it. Soon the boy lost consciousness. He let out a maniacal laugh. Maybe the afternoon wasn’t wasted. 

Harry Potter woke up in his four poster bed, his scar searing with pain and sweating profusely. He scrabbled at the blankets, clawing himself upright. Anything to dispel that horrid memory from his mind. Harry was sure it was what had happened the day of the Final Battle, before Harry had attacked the Death Eaters in the forest. 

Draco’s screams rang in his ears. His scar hadn’t hurt since the war; his vision must have been Voldemort’s version of what had happened in the forest.

He fumbled for his glasses. He put them on, startled to see two sets of eyes peering at him from the other side of the room. Ron and Hermione.

They wore identical looks of alarm. 

“What are you two doing here?” Harry croaked, his voice raspy.

Hermione let out a shaky breath. “You were screaming Harry. When Ron and I tried to wake you up, you kept thrashing harder. You were burning up. Neville has gone to get a teacher.”

Surprise made him turn his attention away from the dream. He could smack himself for forgetting to put up the Silencing Charm.

Just then, Snape burst into the dorm, a haggard Neville tagging along.

Great, the ‘best’ choice of teacher ever.

He inspected the room slowly. “Well Mr. Longbottom, nothing seems amiss here. I suggest you all go back to sleep.”

Neville opened his mouth to remind Snape about how Harry had been screaming till now but Harry was having nothing of that.

“Professor, it’s nothing. We were playing a game. Just a stupid dare. I’m perfectly alright.”

He stood up and immediately the walls turned upside down, and his vision blurry. He would have fallen to the ground if Snape hadn’t caught him.

The next thing he remembered was clutching onto Snape and making his way down the corridors. His feet must have been uncoordinated for every once in a while Snape ordered him to walk properly.

He recognised entering Snape’s quarters where he was unceremoniously dumped into a chair.

“Get a Fever-Reducing Potion, a Pepper Up Potion, a Calming Drought and Dreamless Sleep.” Snape said from behind him.

The order hadn’t been directed to him; there was a jingling noise as someone retrieved the bottles of potions. 

“Give him the Fever-Reducing Potion first.”

The mystery person moved in front of him, holding a beaker of, most probably, Fever-Reducing Potion. 

He had expected a tiny house-elf to help him, but was surprised to have the Potion fed by long nimble fingers.

In less than a minute, his head stopped pounding and his eyesight cleared.

Now who was his ministering angel?

He opened his eyes, glad to see a clear picture. He nearly fell out of his chair when he recognised the platinum blond hair, pale skin and signature smirk. Malfoy again.

Fate and Circumstance must have certainly been working together to make him and Draco keep meeting.

Even in his half delirious state, he had to appreciate how personable Draco looked in his tailored pajamas and bed hair.

Draco blushed, as though reading Harry’s thoughts. 

Snape had returned, taking Harry’s attention from a reddening Draco.

“Potter how many fingers am I holding up?” Snape questioned.

“Three, of course.” He was rapidly shaking off the drowsiness. “Why am I here? I’m fine.”

Snape’s eyes glittered. “If running a fever with a headache and dizziness means ‘fine’, then you need to fix your vocabulary.”

Harry could have rolled his eyes. “Alright, you cured me. Let me go now.”

He was ready to put the whole incident behind him. Maybe a few jokes from Snape in class; he could put up with that. Or a good many confrontations with Malfoy as he jeered about being a baby, running to a teacher for a stupid nightmare. Both of those possibilities were better than being forced to sit here or worse, explain. He hastily made for the door.

*-*-*-*

Snape was not having any more nonsense from Potter. Clearly the boy needed help. Snape knew that he wasn’t exactly the best person for it, but if Potter wasn’t going to ask someone for help himself, he would have to adjust to who he got. 

Suddenly the boy made a dash towards the door, obviously wanting to escape.

“Not so soon Mr. Potter. You’re going to have to explain yourself.”

Snape locked the door with a flourish of his wand. “What made you ‘scream like a banshee’, as Mr. Longbottom quoted, in the middle of the night?”

“It was nothing! Just a stupid nightmare.” Potter said, almost convincingly. “Though a different one from every night” he mused.

The end of Snape’s nose whitened. “Every night? Potter you had better speak now or I will not hesitate to use Legilimency on you!”

Potter visibly winced. “You wouldn’t!”

‘Well, aren’t you wrong.’ Snape thought, before throwing a silent Legilimens at him.

Snape knew Potter had felt a presence poke around his mind when he broke eye contact with Snape, his breathing slightly erratic. “Fine! I’ll tell you everything. Just stop that!”

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. Snape wondered where all that bloody Gryffindor courage had gone.

“In the Burrow, everything was too overwhelming. Bill was adjusting to being a half werewolf and th- they were just coming to terms with Fred’s death.”

“I had constant nightmares about the war. I had to starve those demons. I ate less and even when I did eat, it usually came out.”

“What nightmares did you have Potter?” Snape asked half-wary of the answer.

Harry looked like he wanted to argue but clearly remembered about Legilimency. He continued, not meeting Snape’s eyes. “Cedric blames me for his death, then Sirius falls into the veil repeatedly. Fred and Collin and Dean and Seamus can’t even call me their friend, I’m the reason they died. Finally, Hagrid tells me me I’m a murderer and that my parents should have never given up their lives for me.” Harry finished softly.

Snape stared at Harry, feeling extremely troubled. How much had the boy burdened on himself?

“Harry, you can’t blame yourself for their deaths. You’re the Saviour, if you hadn’t stopped Voldemort, there’d have been many more deaths.”

If Snape had hoped those words would be comforting, he was mistaken. Harry had shot up from his seat and grabbed fistfuls of Snape’s robe looking Snape right in the eyes. “I am not your Saviour! I’m the reason so many people are dead! You should hate me, all of you! Maybe I should have died when Voldemort tried to kill me as a kid!”

Snape watched shell-shocked, as the fight drained out of Harry and he fell to his knees, trembling violently.

Hollow sobs racked Harry’s body as he buried his face in his hands. It was like a waterfall of unexpressed emotions spilling out of him.

Snape couldn’t believe that Harry considered himself better off dead. No one should have to question their existence.

Draco- Draco, who Snape had forgotten till now, pushed himself forward. He settled in front of Harry, putting his arms around him in a tight embrace. Harry lifted his tear stained face, surprised to be held onto. 

Draco was muttering comfort words, soothing Harry as Snape had seen Narcissa comfort Draco plenty of times. 

Harry’s face twisted painfully as he buried his face into Draco’s shoulder. He wept heavily for a good ten minutes, before settling for slight sniffles.

Snape knew how it was to let go after so long. Like a dam breaking upon pressure. 

Harry still hadn’t let go of Draco. Snape suspected a change in their attitude towards each other but didn’t know it went as far as trust and friendship.

He slipped out of the door silently, trusting the boys to save each other. 

It was early morning when he returned and was contented to see Harry asleep on Draco’s bed, tear tracks still visible on his face but a small smile too. Draco had taken residence on Snape’s bed, the same smile on his face. 

Maybe the two boys could truly save each other.

*-*-*-*

Harry was avoiding Draco. And perhaps Snape too.

He had cried like a baby on Draco last night. It was so shameful to think about even now. 

He remembered falling down after confessing to Snape, his legs unable to keep him up any longer.

And then the tears came uninvited and he recalled Draco holding him close.

He had never been hugged by anyone besides motherly hugs from Mrs. Weasley and sisterly ones from Hermione. 

He had relished the way his face fit perfectly in the curve of Draco’s neck and the sense of security that had engulfed him, in Draco’s arms.

He had fallen asleep in Draco’s bed, after downing a bottle of Calming Drought and Dreamless Sleep. He had been mesmerised by the rich cologne and hairspray smell emitted from the pillow and Draco’s things in general. 

When he woke up, he was startled to see the new surroundings, before the events of the previous night came crashing down on him.

Then he was throwing on his robe and rushing out, thoroughly embarrassed. He hurried his way to the Gryffindor tower, hoping to reach before the others were awake, to avoid awkward questions. 

Both Ron and Neville were snoring their way into the day; Harry scampered into his bed and lay down, pretending to be asleep. 

Last night’s ordeal was already rather embarrassing and he definitely didn’t need his friends’ questions to make it worse.

An hour later, the three, mainly two of them stirred awake. 

Ron and Neville hadn’t asked too many questions and had been appeased when Harry had told them that Snape had given him a few potions. 

Satisfying Hermione would be a little harder; she was smart, she would immediately notice something different. 

He walked down to the Common Room, still trying to invent excuses. Quite astonishing, everyone was huddled around the notice board near the fireplace. Out of curiosity, Harry went over to look at the notice that had sparked everyone’s attention. There was a notice addressed by the Headmistress. It read:

Family Day! Spend an entire day with your parents at Hogwarts, showing them your cozy dormitories, favourite nooks-and-crannies and the extensive grounds! Trips to Hogsmeade are allowed if accompanied with a parent! Parents are requested to arrive on September 9 before 10 am. Come and enjoy with your children in their beloved school and experience the feeling of being a student again!

Most people around him were chattering excitedly at the prospect of meeting their parents so soon again, but Harry just felt a dull ache. It was at times like this, he was painfully reminded of his orphan status.

If it was earlier, maybe Sirius or Lupin would have come. Now he had no one.

He realised today was September 9th. The parents must have gotten the notice earlier and the students later to control the excitement.

He spotted Hermione bounding towards him and braced himself for reproval about last night’s happenings. 

“Come look at the parents arriving!” Hermione pulled Harry to the window excitedly.

Amused, Harry let himself be dragged to a large window. There was a flood of parents entering in a variety of colours. A glass carriage drew into the field, from which a green-clad family descended, clearly ex-Slytherins. Another family sporting Gryffindor colours, was speaking animatedly with Professor McGonagall. A Muggle couple stood on the side and watched the whole procession was disbelieving eyes. 

“There are my parents and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!” Hermione cried from his side. 

Sure enough, two red heads and two brown ones stood out in the crowd. Mr. Weasley seemed to be asking the Grangers a tumble of questions while Mrs. Weasley chided him from the side.

Hermione waved madly at her parents, catching their attention. They waved back and so did the Weasleys. 

The sight was so full of love Harry had to step away. If this was how the entire ‘Family Day’ was going to be, he didn’t want to be a part of it. He ran back to his dormitory and lay down in his bed, his thoughts his only company. 

*-*-*-*

Draco was sick of sitting in the Common Room, listening to his housemates blabber ceaselessly about their parents. Pansy had made it no secret that her parents were arriving in their classic glass carriage. Blaise and Theo were slightly better; they didn’t mention their family every second but both ran away the moment they saw their parents.

No one would come for him. His parents were dead, who was left?

‘Severus’ a voice in his head said but he shoved it away. Severus was probably too busy to remember him and it didn’t do any good to hope for things that weren’t possible. 

The Common Room was almost empty except for a few sulky second and third years whose parents were arriving in the afternoon.

‘At least they’re coming,’ Draco thought morosely. 

He had to do something else besides mope around. ‘Hogsmeade!’ he exclaimed in his head, a plan formulating.

He had discovered a secret passage to Honeydukes last year. If he used that, he wouldn’t have to pass the guards posted at the gates to guide the parents and prevent unaccompanied students from roaming.

He was going after lunch, he resolutely decided. 

Lunch was a somber affair, for him at least. The dishes were pleasant but all he could think about was if the seats next to him were occupied by his father and mother. He had never really appreciated his parents when they were alive. They weren’t necessarily caring but never failed to show up to events like this. The three of them would strut around in Ministry gatherings, as though they owned the place. He needed someone.

Severus, he looked around. The professor was deeply engaged in conversation with Pansy’s parents who, to his disgust, were in Slytherin robes. 

Draco willed Severus to look his way but no matter how many times he did so, Severus wouldn’t turn himself away from the conversation.

He looked back down at his food, feeling miserable. He needed to get out.

Leaving his half-eaten meal, he wheeled his chair up to the third floor using the Levitation Charm.

All he had to do was get into the passage by the One-Eyed Witch unnoticed, and then he was free. 

At the time, there was no one about in the corridors, a perfect time to make his move.

He hurried around the corner and had the shock of his life when he saw someone already operating on the One-Eyed Witch. None other than Harry!

Though Harry was now turned the other way, all Draco could see was Harry’s poor and shivering figure from last night. What was Harry doing here?

He watched from the shady corner as Harry peeped around for any onlookers before scurrying into the passage. He seemed to be holding a small bag.

Surely he couldn’t be running away, right? Draco would have never put down Harry to be one to run away from his problems, but one could only cope up with so much. 

Draco had seen how broken Harry had seemed last night. Maybe the Family Day was the last straw.

He had to follow him. He had to make sure he didn’t do anything rash. The thought of Harry leaving so abruptly gave him an odd feeling in the stomach. 

He wheeled his way to the One-Eyed Witch, tapped it on the hump and muttered a ‘Dissendium’. 

The passage opened soundlessly. Beneath him, a soft patter of footsteps could be heard; Harry wasn’t very far. Though he could have rolled his way down the slide, he used the Levitation Charm to avoid making noise and drawing Harry’s attention. He kept an eye on Harry and continued down.

The descent was boring and Draco’s mind began to wander. Why was he so interested in Harry? Maybe because he was his only friend right now. It was so weird, being enemies to friends. Draco hadn’t expected Harry to forget all the misdeeds he had done so quickly but he had. 

But he couldn’t count Harry as a friend exactly. Draco always felt odd whenever he was around. Last night when Harry had looked at him like that, he had been reduced into a blushing mess. Draco knew Harry hadn’t himself then because of the fever, but it made him feel giddy nonetheless. 

His old friends hadn’t made him feel this way. Was it possible Draco had a crush on Harry?

Lost in thought, he had not kept Harry in his line of sight. Panicked, he listened for the sound of footfall but heard nothing. He stopped and put his wheelchair down, frantically scrambling for a solution. 

Suddenly, a wand was pressed against his skull and an arm covered his mouth, preventing him from screaming. “Don’t move,” ordered a low voice into his ear.

He froze, his hand inches from his wand. “Who are you?” he managed out.

The hand slackened and an uncertain but familiar voice said “Draco?”

He pulled the wand out and cast a ‘Lumos’. It illuminated the green eyes, round glasses and lightning scar. His captor was Harry. 

“How did you sneak up on me?” Draco asked incredulously. 

Harry frowned. “I heard a faint metallic sound so I turned around. I didn’t know it was you. Why were you following me?”

“I wasn’t following you, I just wanted to go to Hogsmeade.”

Harry brightened considerably making Draco’s heart jump at the fact that he had made him lighten up.

“I’m going to Hogs Head. Want to join?” Harry asked jubilantly.

Draco just nodded, and they finished the stroll down side by side; Harry walking while Draco levitated beside him. 

Harry attempted at small talk. “Who made your wheelchair? Clearly it has some special features.”

“Snape, of course. He’s a genius with muggle machinery too. There’s a Levitation Charm and Undetectable Extension Charm to carry my books.” Draco responded proudly. Then he remembered the way Snape had barely looked at him today and his pride diminished. 

Harry snorted. “Never thought I’d live the day Snape was interested in Muggle things.”

Draco voiced the question he’d been meaning to ask since he saw Harry in the third floor corridor. “How did you find the passage by the One-Eyed Witch? I found it only last year, accidentally.”

Harry smirked smugly. “I’ve known it since third year. That was how I came to Hogsmeade and pelting mud bombs on you.”

Draco vividly remembered chunks of mud hitting him, Vince and Greg from no visible point. Over the years, he had put the incident down to rogue magic even though he was sure he had seen Potter’s face floating in the air.

“How did you manage not to be seen- the Invisibility Cloak!” Draco had never seen Harry’s Invisibility Cloak but he obviously knew how it worked. 

Harry’s smirk widened. “Yup, I used the cloak. The look on your faces was priceless.”

Turned out, Harry would have been an interesting person to be around if Draco had played his cards right. When they first met in Madame Malkin’s, he had acted like a stuck-up jerk, he would admit now. He had wanted the intimidate the scrawny bespectacled boy, not knowing that it was Harry Potter. 

They had reached the bottom of the tunnel. Harry stopped and rummaged bag. 

Draco looked at the bag and remembered the real reason he was tailing Harry- he had thought he was running away. Harry wouldn’t have brought Draco along with him if he was actually planning to run away. Now, Draco felt ashamed of even considering that to be a possibility. 

Harry pulled out a long silvery fluid article from the bag and Draco let out a tiny gasp. It was the Invisibility Cloak, one of the three legendary Deathly Hallows. 

Harry’s hands vanished as he held the cloak out for Draco to see. 

“We’re going to go under this.” Harry explained. “If anyone sees us we’re dead meat, so be very careful.”

He elegantly spun the cloak around and draped it on Draco and himself. Draco looked down, and to his amazement, his legs were missing. Even though Draco had grown up surrounded by magic, the small things still continued to amaze him. 

But there was still one problem. The wheels of his wheelchair were still peeking out and so was one of Harry’s arms. 

Harry must have noticed the same problem, for he sighed dejectedly after trying to arrange the cloak in various ways, with no avail. 

“I have another idea.” Harry began tentatively and Draco already knew he wouldn’t like the idea. “I can carry you and we both will fit under the Invisibility Cloak. I’ll shrink wheelchair and we can put it in my bag.”

Draco wanted to protest immediately; being carried while unable to move your legs wasn’t the best experience. But then being carried by Harry was a whole different thing. And he didn’t see any better option.

“Alright, I’ll do it.” Draco said resignedly.

Harry awkwardly put his hands under Draco’s legs and lifted him up with surprising strength. 

Draco’s head moved against Harry’s chest, savouring the steady sound of his heartbeat. 

Harry shrunk the wheelchair and stuffed it on his bag, his hands shaking lightly.

‘Must be the cold,’ Draco thought, thankful for his many layers of clothes.

Then the cloak was above the two of them and Draco looked up at Harry’s face, unable to look anywhere else. It was just both of them, invisible to the world, under the cover of their own secret blanket.

Harry’s face turned accented by the scarce light and his eyelashes cast dim shadows on his cheeks. To his surprise, Harry’s eyes were trained him too, achingly haunting and beautiful.

Beautiful. That was what Harry was. 

Draco and Harry held each other’s glance for a long moment. It felt like hours before both of them tore their eyes away from each other, like drunken men stepping away from alcohol.

Harry was weaving through the bulging crowd, his breathing more rapid than usual. But it was just the cold, right? Draco was cautiously aware of the up and down movement of Harry’s chest as he walked and the tightness of his hands on his body. 

They reached Hog’s Head far too fast for Draco’s liking. Hog’s Head was deserted compared to Honeydukes. Harry had found a secluded corner and set Draco down on a chair. His hands seemed hesitant to let go though and lingered a minute longer. 

Then he set up the wheelchair, his face expressionless and Draco wondered if he had imagined it. 

Draco was moved into the wheelchair and Harry sat in the chair opposite to him.

“Do you want anything?”

Draco realised that in his rush to get out of the castle, he had forgotten to bring any money or anything with him. But opposite him, Harry was already counting out Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.

“My treat.” Harry said with a breathtaking smile. 

“Ok, a Butterbeer maybe.” Draco obliged. There were times Harry acted like more than a friend, but then the moment was gone before Draco could come to a conclusion.

But then it could have also been his own wishful thinking, making him imagine things. 

The bartender brought two Butterbeers- one for each of them.

“Cheers to new times, and of course new friends.” Harry announced, raising his glass. Draco smiled widely and the glasses collided with a chink. Harry’s eyes were fixed on Draco like they wanted to tell him something. Again, Draco couldn’t tell if he was just imagining it or not. What did Harry want? 

They sipped their foamy drinks in silence. 

“So, what made you come here?” Harry asked, an attempt to make small talk. 

Draco smiled wryly. If it was someone else, he wouldn’t have answered but this was Harry. Draco knew he had the same problem. And Draco felt calmer around him. “It’s Family Day.”

Harry nodded understandingly. Draco had it bad but Harry had it worse. He wasn’t sure there was anyone Harry could call ‘family’ besides the Weasleys. They were probably busy with their own children. 

“What about Snape?” Harry asked curiously.

Draco looked down. He didn’t want to think about the way Snape hadn’t even looked his way since the morning. 

“I’m sorry,” Harry said, real concern in his eyes as he predicted what had happened.

“It’s alright,” Draco heard himself say even though he felt very far from fine.

“He really cares about you, you know.” Harry said suddenly, making Draco snap his head up. “Even before your injury, he used to always favour you. On the day you came to the Great Hall for the first time after your paralysis, he was gripping your wheelchair so hard. It hurt him to let you go. He loves you, don’t question that.”

Draco felt his throat constrict with emotion. Harry wasn’t the best person to talk to him about Snape but it was comforting.

“Thanks,” Draco managed to choke out.

Harry gave him another long look before looking out and exclaiming “Merlin, it’s already dark! We had better get back.” 

Draco had barely felt the time pass. It was such a shame they had to part ways so soon already.

They returned the same way, Draco in Harry’s arms and he felt the same thrill, though dampened. When would they have another moment together alone? It seemed so unfair that they were given a little time in their utopia, and then forced to go their separate ways as though nothing had changed.

Back in his wheelchair, he moved back up the passage in silence.

They maintained it that way until the passage doorway was in view. 

That was when Draco realised that this would be the moment he could change things. This couldn’t be the end of their time alone. He wouldn’t allow that.

“Harry!” he called desperately, though he wasn’t sure what to say after.

Harry turned around and walked up to Draco. 

He paused inches away from Draco’s face. Draco was rendered speechless as their breaths mingled and Harry’s green eyes shined brightly past his glasses.

They knew what they had to do.

And then their lips met, soft and passionate. As brilliant as a thousand fireworks bursting in his heart. This was just what they needed. Two lonely souls trying to find a place they called home. Wandering till they realised two halves, no matter how broken made a whole.

Just then, a grinding sound came from behind them as the passage opened.

They broke away quickly, jumping apart. But not quick enough, Draco realised as he took a glance at the dumbfounded expression on Severus Snape’s face.

*-*-*-*

Harry had no idea what to do; Draco had turned bright red and Snape was still frozen, apparently unable to find his voice for once.

For once, everything had been going perfectly- Draco in his arms, laughing over Butterbeer and finally their kiss in the passage. Only someone like Snape would be able to ruin something like that.

“Come with me Draco.” Snape’s rough voice cut through Harry’s thoughts, using the tone he usually reserved for Neville, Seamus and other potions airheads.

Snape had wrapped his arm around Draco’s shoulder, which would have looked like a comforting gesture under different circumstances.

Harry watched distantly as Draco allowed himself to be dragged away, his face etched with shock and embarrassment. Embarrassment at being caught with Harry. Snape and Draco rounded around the corner and out of sight. 

The happiness he had earlier felt was now a distant memory as he slowly ascended the Gryffindor tower. 

The way he had left from Ron and Hermione earlier came back to him now and he winced perceptibly. He wasn’t sure he could confront them in his present state.

The Common Room was empty, tired students retiring early. He tiptoed into the dorm, hoping with all his heart that Ron and Neville would be asleep.

His hopes were dashed brutally when he caught sight of Ron sitting tersely on his bed with Hermione. If Ron and Neville was bad, Ron and Hermione was ten times worse.

He attempted at a feeble smile. “Hi guys.”

 Ron and Hermione looked up and Harry felt a deep pang of guilt as he noted Hermione’s red-rimmed eyes.

Hermione advanced angrily and Harry was sure he was going to be slapped, the same way Draco had been in third year. He didn’t bother stopping her. He deserved it. To his utmost surprise, he was wrapped in a bone-crushing hug. But it didn’t last long as Harry had to wince when Hermione began her tirade of scolding.

“Where have you been? We’ve been so worried, Harry. You just disappeared in the morning with a note telling us not to worry. Do you think it isn’t worrying that you haven’t returned by nightfall? Mine and Ron’s parents wanted to go to McGonagall! You’re lucky we stopped that.”

Harry gave them another feeble smile and attempted at a cheerful mood. “I didn’t mean to worry you guys. Forget it, I’m back. How was your day?”

Ron, who had never really bothered him the way Hermione did spoke up. “No, mate. You’re going to have to talk to us. We know that Family Day was really hard for you but you’re never going to come to terms with things if you don’t talk.”

He wasn’t obligated to tell them everything! He had a few choice words in mind to tell them to keep their nose out of his business but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. They were his best friends and he missed their company greatly. Plus, if Draco Malfoy the Slytherin had enough courage to tell his story to Harry then he, the bloody Gryffindor must be able to do the same.

“Fine.” Harry said, perching himself on the edge of his bed, trying his best to not look like a rabbit about to scamper away.

“Wha- ok,” Ron said, looking remarkably stunned that Harry had actually bothered to listen to him.

His hands picked at his bedcovers, an outlet for nerves. He tried his best to keep his eyes locked with theirs.

“Ever since the Final Battle, I haven’t been doing very well” he began. “There was too much causality in the battle and my conscience started gnawing at me, convincing me that it was my fault.”

Hermione started madly. “How can you say that, Harry? You saved all of us. You’re-“

Harry cut her off midway. “Now I know it wasn’t my fault, someone made me realise.”

Harry could tell Hermione was itching to know who but kept quiet for the sake of his story.

“When we came back on the first day, all I could see was the bloodiness of the battle. And then in the dorm, there were”- Harry swallowed hard- “Dean and Seamus’ empty beds and I just couldn’t stand being there. I went to the Forbidden Forest and I met Malfoy.”

He wasn’t sure he was ready to tell Ron and Hermione of what had transpired between him and Draco.

“He had come to the Forbidden Forest in his wheelchair. At the time, I didn’t know he was paralyzed. He had fallen over a branch and I helped him back. I had hoped it would help compensate for the pain I had caused.” he said, his eyes filled with anguish.

“While coming back, we had to pass Hagrid’s hut.” The image of his bumbling half-giant friend imprinted on the back of his eyes and Harry had to pause then, his eyes prickling uncomfortably.

He cleared his throat, not meeting either of his friends’ eyes as he continued. “Anyways, I came back to the dorm and was looking through the photo album Hagrid had given me when you guys came. You know what happened next.” He looked sheepishly at them and continued before either of them could tell him it wasn’t his fault for snapping at them for urging him to eat. “I know I acted like an idiot that day and that you were only telling me to eat for my good. But I haven’t been able to eat properly after the war, my conscience again I guess.”

He smiled wanly at them. “You know of the infamous puking incident. I punched the mirror because I was so frustrated. I was sick of the demons feeding on me, slowly draining the life out of me.”

“I really appreciate that you healed me even though it didn’t seem so.” he said to Hermione, who in return squeezed his arm comfortingly.

He had to tell them of his nightmares. It wasn’t fair that they were so pure and honest and understanding to him when he was deceiving them every night.

“I’ve been having nightmares every night.” he blurted out before his nerve could fail him.

He hastened to explain before Ron and Hermione came to their conclusions. "I used Silencing Charms so there was nothing you could have done.” he assured them, knowing they would find some way to blame themselves for not helping him. “The nightmares, in a way were the worst part of the day. All the things I wanted to forget usually surfaced in the night.”

Hermione spoke up in a small voice, “What do you dream about, Harry?”

He had expected this question but it was always hard to speak about the people they had lost. But then, there were no better people to understand; they had accompanied him on the whole journey in search of Horcruxes and seen both his best and worst then. Certainly they wouldn’t think of him any worse. Another comfort was that he had already recounted his dreams to Draco and he had not said a bad word against him. Thinking about Draco made him think of their interrupted kiss and he had to shove it away. Now was the time for his friends.

“I dream of the ones we lost.” Harry said, trying of keep the bitterness out of his voice. “Cedric, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Collin, Dean, Seamus, Hagrid, Fred, my parents; all of them blame me for their demise. A murderer, that’s what they call me. Or they keep falling before my eyes, betrayal in their eyes as I am unable to save them.”

His eyes felt hot and fiery, filled with suppressed tears. The world had become a blur and he couldn’t even make out the figures of Ron and Hermione.

And then, there were two pairs of arms soothing him and pulling him into a hug. Tears were falling down his cheeks unchecked but he felt giddy on happiness. ‘So this was how it felt to be held by someone you loved’ he thought.

But there was still one thing separating them- he had avoided mentioning his encounters with Draco so far. How did one tell their best friends that they were suddenly finding great company in the boy who had endlessly tormented them in their school days?

Harry drew back lightly, his hands still dabbing at his cheeks. “I have just one more secret left. Promise me you have to listen fully before judging.”

Ron and Hermione eyed him with similar expressions before nodding slowly. “I’ve been hanging out with someone recently. They’ve had their own set of problems and somehow we kept talking and it helped. I’ve been meeting with Draco Malfoy.”

Ron and Hermione let out synchronized gasps, more of shock than horror though Ron’s expression was absolutely horrified. “Malfoy? You’ve disliked him from the first time you met, mate. Has he confounded you somehow with some Dark Magic?”

Ron made forward as though to check but was stopped by Hermione who had her eyes fixed on Harry. “Are you happy?”

Unable to get out any words, Harry nodded mutely. A smile broke across Hermione’s face and her shoulders relaxed. “Tell me more about this ‘friendly’ Malfoy.”

And just like that the conversation flowed on, Ron joining in later after overcoming his shock and Harry let himself relax, knowing that he had his friends back.

*-*-*-*

Draco shouldn’t have let his godfather drag him away. But at that point of time, everything seemed to fade away and all he could see was Severus’ livid face. Would Severus still be mad enough to ignore him the way he had since the morning? More importantly, was he going to be punished for being seen with Harry? Draco peeked a glance at Severus’ face and had to look away when the coal black eyes still blazing dangerously.

They entered the dungeons where Draco was pushed into Snape’s quarters. Why was his godfather acting so madly just because he was caught kissing someone? Was it because that person was Harry?

Snape bolted the door behind them and horrendous images played before his eyes. He couldn’t bear the thought that maybe, perhaps he had lost the last person who loved him.

“I’m so sorry Severus,” he pleaded. “It was so stupid of me to meet with Potter. It won’t happen again, I promise! Just don’t leave me!”

Snape’s expression of anger melted into confusion.

“Draco, what are you talking about?” Snape asked slowly, though dangerously. “I was worried about you. By the time I was done talking to the Parkinsons, you had run away somewhere. Do you know how many times I searched the castle, pestering all the teachers and ghosts? But none of that matters to you, does it? I get it that this is hard but you can’t keep acting out. I can’t believe you’re using Potter as a distraction!” Snape’s voice rose dramatically with each line.

Draco stood there dumbly. In his stupor, all he had been able to make out was that Snape had actually bothered to search for him,

“You looked for me.” Draco whispered. “You looked for me.” He repeated louder. Harry had assured him that Snape loved him earlier but he hadn’t realised he wanted to learn it from Snape himself.

His godfather’s eyebrows knitted and Draco had to smile despite everything. “Of course I searched for you Draco. You’re my godson.” 

Draco had to pause at the ‘godson’ part. If Snape considered Draco as his godson, why had he ignored him on Family Day? 

“Why did you ignore me on Family Day?” he asked quietly, his throat thick with emotion as he remembered the dejection he had felt that time at the Great Hall.

Snape sighed resignedly. “I-I want you to believe me when I say I’m new at this. I keep on thinking I’ll mess up things with you. I got so nervous about today that I ended up trying to avoid you. Which I realise now was an extremely bad decision.

Draco snorted lightly, and a tear found its way down his cheeks. “You can say that again”

Severus’ expression turned serious again and he placed his hand on Draco’s shoulder. “I am so sorry for avoiding you today, Draco. I promise I will always stick by you no matter what happens. Happy Family Day, Draco.”

Unable to stay strong any longer, Draco crumpled into Snape’s arms, sobbing. He folded into Snape who stiffened for a minute before engulfing him in a hug. Even if it was just for a moment, he was able to forget the lingering effects of Voldemort’s torture, his paralysis, the abuse from students he had faced, the carved section in his heart where his parents should have been and his confused feelings for Harry Potter.

“What do I do about Harry, Severus?” he asked wistfully, his voice muffled by Snape’s robes.

“You’re asking me for relationship advice?” Snape replied, a hint of mock amusement in his tone.

Draco didn’t have the energy to roll his eyes at his godfather. “You said I was using him. We both know that I’m not.”

Snape exhaled heavily. “That comment I made was completely uncalled for. I saw you two the other day and also today. It’s obvious you care for him. And that’s not wrong Draco. You can’t choose who fall in love with. Nor can you change it. I’ve noticed that Potter has been down in the dumps the whole year, before you started exchanging words with each other. He clearly is infatuated with you, whether your self-depreciating brain accepts it or not.”

Draco pulled himself away from Snape lightly to look into Snape’s face.

“But how can someone like him like someone like me?” he questioned fiercely. “He’s the Savior of the World! The Chosen One! He freaking defeated Voldemort. How can someone as painfully good as him be in love with me? I was a Death Eater, for Merlin’s sake!”

Draco scrubbed at his eyes, feeling utterly defeated. He didn’t deserve love; he should have never hoped in the first place.

“I’m going to bed.” Draco said quietly and wheeled his way past Severus and towards his bed. He got into bed, carefully lifting his immobile legs. He managed to lie down, though not very comfortably but stayed that way, not willing to ask Severus for help.

He was sick of being a burden to everyone, having to ask for help for the simplest of tasks. He wondered when Snape would get sick of taking care of him and shun him away.

“Never,” Snape said firmly, hovering over his bed and Draco realised he had said the last statement aloud. “You are more than just your paralysis Draco. There are still remnants of the person you used to be inside you. You just have to know where to look. Think about it Draco. We’ll talk in the morning.”

With that Snape disappeared and Draco was left to muse with his thoughts. 

*-*-*-*

Harry had looked everywhere for Draco; he was missing at breakfast but Harry didn’t find that odd- he was probably eating in Snape’s quarters. But when Draco was missing for Charms, Harry began to worry. Was it possible something had happened to him? 

Ron and Hermione kept assuring him it was probably nothing but he wasn’t satisfied. He had told them everything that had happened between him and Draco, leaving out Draco’s secrets and the crying scene in Snape’s office when Draco had comforted him. It felt too personal and intimate to share with his friends. After Ron and Hermione had heard of their stolen kiss, they had both come to the conclusion that he had to ask Draco out. An extra comment was added that it was obvious since sixth year than Harry was a little too obsessed with Draco. Of course, the conversation ended with Harry smacked the two of them with a pillow.

Back to present, the bell rang dimly and there was the general chatter of students shuffling out of the class. Just then, Harry spotted Professor Snape striding across the corridor and muttered a garbled excuse to his friends and dashed after him.

“Professor Snape!” Harry called, and the professor turned around and stopped resignedly, almost as though he knew Harry wouldn’t let him go until he got what he wanted. “I was wondering if you knew where Draco was. You see, he didn’t attend breakfast or Charms and I-“

“I can assure you, Mister Potter that Draco is well-taken care of and in my quarters. He pulled a muscle last night from continuously staying in an uncomfortable position and is confined to bed rest for the day.”

Snape said all this in a factual tone but his eyes held a touch of approval. Was Snape satisfied that Harry was asking about Draco? He hadn’t seemed very satisfied last night when he had caught them kissing.

“Umm sir, about last night I just wanted to tell-“

Snape quelled him quickly. “Whatever you have to say, say it to Draco.” He moved a little closer, and in a chilling whisper. “Don’t you dare hurt him.”

Snape flourished away, extra-dramatic as usual. Harry was left rooted there, smiling dumbly. Coming from Snape, the final threat was basically him giving them his blessing.

But he had to visit Draco. It was good fortune that Snape had let it slip that Draco was being kept in Snape’s quarters and not the Hospital Wing. But then, knowing Snape had probably given away that information on purpose. 

Harry had Divination now, but decided that it didn’t matter whether he attended that class or not. He skived off, heading towards the dungeons instead of the North Tower. 

Harry was clueless of what to expect. The term ‘muscle pull’ was very vague and didn’t explain the severity of the situation. Harry was familiar with Snape’s person room from the numerous Occlumency lessons and more recently, his crying session.

The door was slightly ajar and Harry peeped in. He was invited by the sight of Draco laying delicately on his bed, a book propped in his hands. When Harry entered, he looked up and offered him a delighted smile and folded up his book.

“Harry,” he said conversationally. “Are you here for Snape? He’s probably at class though you could possibly intercept him. Is it about the homework? You can look in staff roo-“

“I came to see you Draco.” Harry cut in, knowing that this sort of rambling would never end. Hermione had a very bad case of rambling, usually when she was nervous. But it wasn’t possible that the Slytherin could actually be nervous, right? “I heard you were injured. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

Draco looked so surprised it was almost insulting. “You came to see me?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?” Harry enquired, half-amused, half-saddened by Draco’s low self-appreciation.

“What happened to you? How did you end up like-“he gestured to Draco’s legs that were encased in metal braces-“this?” 

Draco sighed. “Let’s just say I slept in quite a painful position and these are the after-effects. Snape gave me a few potions and Madame Pomfrey did a bit of stitching up. These braces will be gone tomorrow.”

“So, it’s nothing serious right?” Harry asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

Draco snorted magnificently. “Of course it’s not serious. You sound worried .” He said, mocking him with the last statement.

But it wasn’t funny; Harry had been genuinely worried about Draco. Thinking back, the entering smile Draco had flashed at him seemed fake and covering and his jolly tone too. He had to make a move, he was sure he would go mad if all this tension continued.

He had been dropping hints to Draco the whole year but Draco had been completely oblivious to it all. Deep down, he knew Draco liked him too- he had contributed equally to the kiss.

Harry took a seat at a wooden chair near Draco’s bed. Draco was watching him with unreadable eyes. It made him feel uncannily like a bug under a microscope, being assessed from every direction.

“Look, Draco, I wanted to talk to you about the kiss last night.” Harry said, noting the slight flinch Draco had emitted. “I wanted to tell you that I really wanted to do that all year and maybe even fantasied it for a few years before. I can tell you that it was a great shock to see you in a wheelchair and all subdued. Though I can’t say I was any better myself.” Harry let out a bark of laughter. “You helped me pick up the pieces of me I had lost on the way. I’m sure I wouldn’t be this content right now if it weren’t for you. I know we both hated each other before but I think it was what we were conditioned and expected to do. Both of us were playing into the hands of someone else- me, Dumbledore and you, Voldemort. They say it takes passion both to love and to hate and that’s why the two are not very different. Now that all the strings that oppressed us are cut,”- he moved closer towards Draco, bending but not quite on his knees. “Will you be my boyfriend Draco Malfoy?”

*-*-*-*

If what he had felt earlier was nervousness, he had now entered a new realm of anxiety. From the morning, he had refused to budge from the bed even though the Healers had deemed him ready to use his wheelchair and move around, if he used his braces. Going out meant meeting Potter which he wasn’t ready to do yet. His brain still didn’t acknowledge the fact that what they had experienced the day before was merely a kiss and didn’t mean anything. The treacherous thing still fed him false hope and deep down, made him want Harry to visit him. He had picked out a book, in hopes of blocking out his thoughts but ending up staring at the pages blankly, flipping them uselessly. So when the messy haired, green eyed man that dwelt in his thoughts showed up at the door, Draco couldn’t help but tense up and jump to a state of acute anxiety. Under usual circumstances, he would have used his poshest Malfoy voice and play it off. But now, his Malfoy tone had deserted him and he managed to get something out to Potter, his voice sounding nothing like his own.

Next came the rambling and Draco couldn’t feel more embarrassed when Harry had cut him off with a quite knowing look. But what happened next stole his breath.

Harry began to confess all the ways Draco had helped him and made him happy and Draco had listened in a state of disbelief. Slowly as Harry kept talking Draco’s turned into a wider and wider smile, finally acknowledging all that was being said. 

When Harry asked him to be his boyfriend in such an eloquent manner, Draco was sure he had reached the peak of the Ecstasy Mountain. He threw himself into Harry’s arms, a firm “yes” playing on his mouth. He had denied the facts thrown at his face for long enough; if he continued any longer, it would only be stupidity on his part.

Unable to hold back any longer, Draco leaned forward and planted a kiss on Harry’s lips who to his credit, kissed back just as fiercely. It was perfect- Harry’s arms around him, his hands exploring Harry’s untidy hair he had always wanted to touch and most importantly, no interruptions.

They slowly pulled apart a good time later, gasping for breath and rushing with adrenaline. 

The two of them had never really agreed on much but the way Harry was telling with his eyes how much he had loved it, Draco couldn’t help but agree.

A few days ago, Draco had compared Harry’s eye colour to trampled grass but now it, more aptly, resembled morning blades of leaves, young and shining beautifully with droplets of dew. 

“Can-can I touch your hair?” Harry stuttered, sounding very little like the person who had just delivered an entire speech with no tremors.

Draco never really let anyone touch his hair; it was a symbol of his pride and the prestigious image he presented to the world. 

Letting Harry touch his hair was basically giving away all his heart irrevocably and entirely to him. But he had already given it away.

“Okay,” he said demurely, completely unprepared for the soft groan of pleasure forced out of him as Harry’s fingers delved into his straight rows of hair. It was intoxicating- Harry gently playing his hair and slowly disheveling it until it was reduced to a state of morning bed hair. His parents would have been disappointed with him for allowing his hair to turn into such disarray in the presence of another but Draco was too high on exhilaration to think about what other people would think. Why hadn’t he let anyone toy with his hair before? Though, on another note, it was perfect that his first experience was with Harry. 

“How is your hair so soft?” Harry mumbled and Draco had to turn away to hide a smirk and also a very flushed face. If anyone had entered now, Draco was sure they would not be able to recognise him.

“Proper care, of course. Clearly no one was introduced you to that term.” Draco said, eyeing Harry’s hair.

“Prat,” Harry declared though he had still not removed his hand from Draco’s blond locks. “Are we going to tell anyone about this? The relationship, I mean.” he asked softly.

Draco had run the thought through his head plenty of times in his fantasies but it had always ended at this point. As much as Draco loved the idea of parading around the school together, flaunting their relationship he couldn’t bear doing that to Harry. Harry had a reputation to hold up and it most absolutely didn’t include courting ex- Death Eaters. He couldn’t force Harry to give up everything for him.

“I don’t think so,” he treaded carefully. “People probably wouldn’t be very supportive.”

Harry looked mildly hurt as though he had expected this answer. “Would it be better if it was anyone else? A Slytherin? Anyone besides the Boy Who Lived? Trust me, that status has done me more harm than good. I wish-“

“This has nothing to do with you, Harry! Can you let me explain?” Draco interrupted, unable to listen to Harry blame himself any longer. “How would it look if someone like you were seen with someone with me? Imagine all the theories they would come up with, they’ll probably accuse me of spiking you with a love potion or something. Secrecy is just easier for both of us.”

Harry paled as he considered the love potion scenario. “But how long can we keep it a secret? I just wanted something normal for once! Turns out I can’t even have an ordinary relationship.”

Harry looked so forlorn Draco had to sidle closer to him and throw an arm around him. Something Snape had told him kept nagging at his mind. Something about bringing back parts of the previous him. What would the before-the-war Draco do in this situation? His best skills earlier were his Slytherin traits, his ability to achieve anything he set his sights to, even if it took a little bit of deceiving and cunning. A plan was formulating in his head and it took all his self-control to keep his face impassive. 

“Look Harry, I promise you we can have all the time alone you want, but I’m not ready to face the public again yet. There are already enough rumours running around about me. They’ve just died down a bit.” He left the last “Do you want them to start again?” out of his speech, knowing Harry would fill it in himself. 

“Merlin, I hadn’t thought of that! We’ll work it out soon; we can’t keep fearing all those nosy people. Can I tell Ron and Hermione for now? They’ll be really happy.”

He had now efficiently made Harry feel guilty for pressurizing him and Draco felt a spark of satisfaction as his plan rolled into action. 

“Yeah, you can tell those two as long as they can keep it a secret. Anything for my boyfriend.” He added slyly, greatly enjoying the way Harry’s face turned tomato red. 

Harry leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Draco’s cheek before getting up and making for the door, a flustered mess. Draco watched him, utterly bemused as he hurried out of the room, muttering about some class.

Once Harry was out of sight, Draco flung himself down on the bed, feeling happier than he had in ages. Now that he had a goal in his head, it felt more like there was some purpose in his life.

*-*-*-*

True to his word, Draco met with Harry in all their free time. Their main hideouts were the Room of Requirement, the hidden alcove on the sixth floor, the Astronomy Tower, the Gryffindor dorm and the passage to Hogsmeade. They had never been caught by anyone, excluding a very traumatic experience when Ron had walked in on them snogging in the dorm. At the moment, it had been completely mortifying then, but thinking about it now, the way Ron was ‘scarred for life’ was hilarious. 

The main thing Draco had managed to do over the past days was nicking Harry’s galleon. No, he wasn’t stealing Harry’s gold; it was the special DADA galleon that was used to communicate with the members. When Harry had mentioned it to him a few days ago, he knew that the coin was the missing slot in his masterplan. He needed it form a crowd of trusted people and what better way? It hadn’t been that hard to steal; with their lips locked, Draco’s hand snuck behind Harry and pulled it from his trunk. 

He had later asked Hermione on how it worked and had been impressed by the ingenuity though he would never admit it to her. The first thing he had done after he had gotten out of bed was apologize to Ron and Hermione for his behavior over the years. They had accepted his apologies readily, Hermione more than Ron. 

He had also confided his plans in them and they had agreed to help him, although a little reluctantly.

Draco was now standing on the seventh floor, right before the tapestry that he had crossed plenty of times, mainly in the sixth year. But now he was brought there for entirely different reasons. He looked down at his palm where the DADA galleon lay. Once he called a meeting, there would be no turning back. Everything would change for either the better or the worse. 

He lifting the coin with shaking hands and worked on the date engraved on it, knowing that all the members would now feel a galleon heated up in their pocket.

*-*-*-*

For some reason, the Room of Requirement had decided that the ideal room for him was an auditorium with a podium at the front and identical chairs lined up in neat rows before it.

He would have changed it to a design less professional looking if a stream of people hadn’t erupted into the room at that very moment, each of them coated with perplexed expressions.

Hermione and Ron. Anthony Goldstein. Neville Longbottom. Luna Lovegood. Terry Boot. Parvati Patel. Susan Bones. Ernie Macmillan. Padma Patel. Ginny Weasley. Hannah Abbott. Dennis Creevey. Justin Finch-Fletchey. Zacharias Smith. So many people, the list went on and on. These were the people Harry loved and trusted. 

All of them were speaking over each other, their voices a bundle as they all enquired to each other of why they were assembled there and where Harry was. 

Deciding he had better come out of the shadows, Draco pushed his wheelchair up the ramp and onto the podium, drawing everyone’s attention.

The effect was instantaneous- all of them pulled out their wands in a synchronized fashion, excluding Ron and Hermione who were standing separately at the corner.

Spells flew towards him and he was thankful for the Shield Charm he had cast prior to their arrival.  

Everyone was watching him with suspicious and curious eyes. He moved with deliberate slowness and raised his hands in a surrendering motion as he dropped his wand on the floor. 

“I’m unarmed now. I didn’t come here to attack you. I just want to talk.”

To their credit, not one of them wavered or showed any signs of lowering their wands. Draco had expected to turn angry but all he felt was sadness as he realised what the war had done to them. Innocent children were forced to grow up too fast and be wary and suspicious of everything.

“Give him a chance” came Hermione’s sturdy voice from the corner. She strode towards the chairs and sat down in the front row, Ron beside her. Taking her lead, the other members carefully sat down too, keeping their eyes trained on his every motion. 

“Where is Harry, may I ask?” Justin’s voice asked from the crowd.

Draco glanced at Ron who gave him a small nod. If everything had gone right, Harry was now asleep in the Gryffindor dorm, drugged with a Sleeping Potion in his juice.

“You needn’t worry yourself, he is alright.” was all he said aloud. 

“I didn’t summon you here for dallying uselessly. I know I’m not the most trustworthy person, but you’re going to have to trust me and stay seated for a few minutes, preferably without pointing all the wands at me. I’m disarmed.” He said, nodding towards his hawthorn wand lying on the floor.

All of them tucked their wands into their pockets, though with skeptic expressions. Many of them had been on speaking terms with him, but that was before he had taken sides. “What are you here for?” Anthony questioned without making eye contact, as though Draco would curse him with his eyes if he looked directly.

“To talk.” Draco announced, taking authority. “I understand I deserve all the mistrust you keep directing at me but every story has two sides and I think you deserve to hear my side too. Anyone who doesn’t want to stay here can feel free to leave now, no hard feelings.” he added at the end.

The room was dead silent, not a single scraping of chair and footsteps out of the door.

Draco let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding.

“I suppose I should start from my injury.” he began, gesturing to his wheelchair. “The school has come up with some wild conclusions though I can assure you my legs haven’t been crushed under a falling wall of the castle or that the whole thing is simply a ploy for sympathy.”

“I am paralyzed; I can’t feel my legs, much less move them. I wouldn’t even be able to move around the school if it weren’t for the wheelchair.” It hurt him to speak of his condition so directly, without any cushioning.

“I had incurred the injury in the war. It wasn’t your people who were the cause; it was Voldemort himself.”

There were gasps and shrieks as he used You-Know-Who’s name. The war was over but the fear of the name hadn’t gone yet. Another set of gasps and muttering arose as they acknowledged the fact that Voldemort was responsible for his paralysis. Draco hated talking so blunt and sharp about his own life but it was necessary they understood that the ‘Light’ wasn’t the only side affected by Voldemort’s actions.

“The Death Eaters had assembled in the Forbidden Forest after Voldemort had ordered you to deliver Potter. Voldemort was furious that you had thwarted his capture of the school. He needed to punish someone and he had picked Snape as he was the only one at Hogwarts at the time.”

“Snape was the only person, other than family that I could really talk to and who cared about me.” It was atypical to be talking about Snape to a bunch of people who disliked him.

“In a moment of spontaneity, I threw myself in the path of the curse and was hit by the Cruciatus Curse.”

Longbottom, Neville he corrected himself, gave a chocked noise and stared at him with horrified eyes. Draco knew Neville’s parents had been tortured to insanity by his Aunt Bellatrix and he decided to keep his descriptions to minimal.

“He targeted my legs mainly, held the curse for only a few minutes. That was when you guys invaded the forest.” he said, making eye contact with each and every one of them.

Hannah Abbott had clapped a hand over her mouth, Parvati and Padma wearing identical looks of shock and Luna Lovegood was regarding him with wide eyes, looking more earthed than she had ever been seen.

Hermione had turned an odd shade of green and was clasping Ron’s hand in hers. He had never told them the full story till then and they had never demanded it.

He wished Harry was there to guide him and hold his hand the way Ron was holding Hermione’s. Instead he grasped at the snitch pendant on his necklace, a gift from Harry. It shined brightly, under the lights and it was almost as though Harry was right next to him.

He continued his voice stronger than he could have mustered alone. “At the final moment, Voldemort directed a final wave and I was sure I felt my bones shatter before losing consciousness.”

“When I woke up, I found myself at Snape’s house. Turned out he took me there just when the fighting started.”

He had to tell them about his parents, mainly his mother. He wasn’t the only Death Eater who had lost his life to the Dark Lord. 

“You probably know my parents died in the Final Battle.” He tried hard to mask the hoarseness in his voice but must have failed miserably for everyone’s expression softened lightly. “My mother”- he took a deep breath- “killed herself because she had nothing left to live for. Everyone had thought that I had died, except for Snape who actually bothered to take me to his house. When my father was struck dead by a curse, all her family was taken away from her.”

A small smile played Draco’s lips. “My mother had always been one for theatrics. My mother had somehow come to find Voldemort’s wand and she must have found the situation funny- the person who they had pledged their alliance to, had taken both her husband and son to their death. It was only fair that he had to be responsible for her death too. She cast a Killing Curse on herself using Voldemort’s wand.”

He was met with silence; they were all absorbed in their own thoughts. Everyone had a different expression on their face as compared to when they came in. Some were looking at him appraisingly, others with pity and a few more uncomprehendingly.

The red-headed girl Weasley, Ginny stood up. “Why are you telling us your story?”

Draco had to curse her perceptiveness. He had not arrived at the ‘dating Harry Potter’ part and he had originally planned to leave that out and simply let them figure out later. It was as much as Harry’s story to tell as his. 

But that wasn’t the only reason he had called the meeting, right? It was just as much as to tell his story as it was to tell Harry’s. And there was still one aspect of his life he had left out. One had not told anyone yet.

“If I told you it was to make you understand me and clear my conscience, I would be lying. In fact, I wouldn’t have even had the courage to tell you all of this if it hadn’t been for one person. The only reason I’m telling you this story is because of him.”

“Who-“Terry began to ask before Draco cut him off with a quick “The name doesn’t matter.”

“I know I was a Death Eater. I have the Dark Mark to say so.” he began slowly, putting force behind each of his words. “But I’m not sure I liked being one.”

“For one, I hated the Dark Lord.” All he could see were faces imprinted with confusion but he didn’t bother explaining himself. He was too far lost in his story and it was more like he was talking to himself.

“In my sixth year, the year I became a Death Eater, I was given the task of killing Dumbledore. It was impossible, I knew it. If Voldemort himself couldn’t kill Dumbledore, how could I?”

“I personally apologized to Katie Bell and Madame Rosmerta this year for my actions that year. I never had a choice; he had threatened to kill my parents if I failed. He did that in the end anyway.” He added with a mirthless laugh.

No one interrupted him or requested him to stop so he rolled on. “It was a few small incidents after that, which made me realise that the side I was fighting on wasn’t worth fighting for. I wanted to run away but I feared for my life, rightfully so.”

“I wanted to join you guys.” he admitted and the murmuring from the crowd was a distant sound. “I wanted to join the Order.” He repeated.

“But I was too cowardly. I knew that if you didn’t let me join you or if Voldemort found me, he would kill me instantly. It wouldn’t be just me, he would kill my family.”

“So I kept quiet and pretended to be a faithful Death Eater. But I hated every minute of it- the sounds of tortured screams from the dungeons and the raids which involved killing Muggles.”

Draco took in a ragged breath. “Sometimes I wonder if maybe I had joined the Order and maybe persuaded my parents to do so too, I would be in a better state today- walking and living happily with my parents.”

He felt so tired, too drained. His relationship was just another secret. Why not spill that too?

“I mentioned a person who helped me recover but never gave a name.  He isn’t here today; things would have been many times better if he was. You all know him, he is-“

Suddenly, the doors banged open heavily and a figure fell inside. All heads snapped the other way. 

“-here.” Harry Potter completed his sentence.

*-*-*-*

Draco froze, unable to move even when Harry joined him on the stage. Chatter had broken among the assembled crowd and neither he nor Harry did anything to stop it. 

They were both frozen for different reasons- Harry longingly gazing at his friends, adding an amicable wave of the hand while Draco had absolutely no idea of what to do.

Then Ron and Hermione were on the stage, moving their hands vigorously while ordering the others to quiet down. Draco would be forever grateful for their intervention even though his thoughts were more along the lines of ‘How did Harry evade Ron’s drugging?’.

“I have known for weeks that you have been planning something, Draco, but I just didn’t know what.” Harry began when the room was silent enough for his voice to be heard. “When you stole my DADA galleon, it was obvious the plan was coming into fruition. My suspicions were confirmed when Ron gave me that juice ‘Mum has made particularly for you’. A simple spell test, you had laced the juice with sleeping potion. At the time, I had acted like I drank it and fell asleep while in reality, I poured it down a plant. It was easy after that- following Ron and Hermione as they led me right to the Room of Requirement.”

Harry turned away from the watchful eyes of his allies and was facing a white-faced Draco. “I heard the whole thing.” he said and Draco stared at him uncomprehendingly. Harry heard . “You wanted to join the Order. You weren’t a faithful Death Eater.”

“But I didn’t.” Draco replied automatically. “I didn’t join you guys.”

“You had no choice Draco.” Harry said softly. The whole world had faded away and Harry was the only person he had eyes for. “It isn’t wise to betray Voldemort, you were right to be afraid for your life.”

Draco wanted to believe him so badly. It wouldn’t correct all his decisions, but acceptance was the first step to forgiving himself. And if Harry Potter could forgive him, he could do the same himself.

He turned to the crowd, all of Harry’s friends and allies. Who more did he need to prove himself to? As long as Harry was happy with regained friends and a new boyfriend, it was enough for him. 

“I’m dating Harry Potter. And no, he isn’t Confunded, drugged on a Love Potion, or any other possibilities. We have reconciled over the year and we would appreciate it if you accepted us as a couple.”

Draco exhaled heavily. “I know I’m not your favourite person, not even sure I am my own.” he said, earning a few crooked smiles. “But I want you to give me another chance. I promise I won’t let you down.”

He had managed to silence the room, not for the first time today. The first person who got up was Susan Bones. 

“How long have you been together?” she asked, eagerly leaning forward, looking remarkably like a fangirl.

“Umm, about a week,” Draco admitted. It felt odd discussing his love life with other people.

Zacharias Smith rose from his chair. “Are you two really friends now? This is some prank you’re playing on Draco, right Harry? Yeah, make him believe you’re in love with him and then watch him make a fool out of himself like how he did now. Well it worked perfectly.” he finished, with a chuckle that was clearly meant to be joined in by others, though all he was met by was stony silence.

Draco’s hands trembled with anger. How dare he say those things in front of Harry himself? In the past, he might have let one petty comment get to him but those days were long gone. 

Oh, he knew how to get back at Smith the right way. He pushed his way across the stage and towards Harry who wore a wide-eyed expression of confusion as Draco approached him.  

In his wheelchair, there was a great difference in their heights even though Draco was taller in reality. 

“Kiss me,” Draco whispered, his voice husky.

Harry wasted no time on questions, immediately swooping in to grasp Draco’s face in his hands, none too gently. It was almost as though time had stopped, the moment lasting forever as they were connected- mouth against mouth, memorizing the feeling of each other. 

When they finally broke apart, it was not due to anything but lack of breath. Draco was painfully aware of the stares from their audience and also the reddening state of Harry’s face.. 

He smirked at Smith who looked stupefied. “Is that enough of an answer for you Smith?”

And just like that hell broke loose- Everyone yelling in joy, with the exception of Smith who was quickly thrown out of the room. Luna was doing a dance of some sort with Neville and Ginny, Ron and Hermione were onlooking him and Harry like proud parents and Susan and Cho giggling and shrieking in a way only fangirls could.

But Draco only had eyes for the person in front of him. Some place in his brain was acknowledging the fact that his plan had worked properly but the rest of it was telling him to save that for later. Harry was what mattered now.

“I love you,” he said, his voice strained with emotion. 

Arms pulled him closer and his head rested on Harry’s chest as he was wrapped in a hug. “I love you too.” came the words from above him.

All was well.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*