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“Potter!” Draco hisses across the aisle. “Potter!” Harry turns around and sees Malfoy leaning toward him. The blond glances briefly at Ron before looking at Harry again. “Is it true you fainted?” Harry sees the genuine concern in his face before the Slytherin next to him sighs dramatically. Once he does, Draco’s look of fear is quickly masked by a teasing smile. “I mean, you actually fainted?”
“Shove off, Malfoy.” Ron turns Harry around, keeping their backs to the Slytherin table for the rest of dinner.
“Hey Harry, Seamus got some sweets from America. We were going to try them in the dorm, want to come?” Harry glances at Dean then to Ron and Seamus, who are waiting by the stairs leading to the boy's dormitory.
“Sorry, I already have plans tonight. Maybe another time?” Without waiting for an answer, Harry leaves the common room, exiting through the portrait.
Harry glances around the corner, making sure no one’s behind him. Adjusting the bag on his shoulder, he continues on. With one more look around, Harry reaches for the handle of the door and pushes it open.
The room is large. The walls are a rich red with gold accents and the furniture is black. There’s a lit fireplace in the wall across from a long leather couch and behind the couch, on the other side of the room, is a large bed.
Stretched out on the couch, basking in the warmth from the fire, is just the man Harry had come to see. He drops his bag on the ground next to the door as the blond turns to look at him.
“About time.” Draco gets up, starting to make his way to the other boy. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.” Harry smiles as Draco finally reaches him.
“And miss out on time with you?” Draco snorts. “No way.” The blond wraps his arms around Harry’s waist, the shorter of the two leaning into his chest.
“Come here.” Draco pulls away, leading Harry to the couch by his hand. They lay down with Harry on top of Draco. “This is new.” He comments, making Harry blush and smack his arm.
“Shut up.” Draco laughs and gently pushes Harry’s head to his chest, keeping his hand threaded through his hair.
“Are you okay?” Draco asks after a few minutes of silence. “I really did hear about you fainting on the train, are you alright?” Harry sighs softly.
“Yeah.”
“You know I can tell when you’re lying, right?” Harry huffs a laugh and rolls his eyes.
“I know.”
“I honestly don’t know why you try anymore. You know I can see right through you.” Harry laughs again, with Draco this time. It falls quiet for a few moments, the only sound being the beating of their hearts and the crackling of the fireplace.
“I heard something.” Harry admits quietly. “I heard…someone scream.”
“Who was it?” Draco asks when Harry pauses long enough for him to realize he won’t continue without prompting.
“I dunno. It was a woman but I don’t know who.” Draco’s fingers begin running through the strands. Harry sniffs and pauses for a few seconds. “I think-” He swallows around the lump in his throat and clears it. “Nevermind.”
“What? No, come on Harry. What were you going to say?” He shakes his head. “Please? Now I’m curious.” Harry chews his lip for a moment before sitting up and facing Draco, the blond doing the same.
“I know how this is going to sound. Believe me. But I just…I have this feeling you know?” Draco stares at him. “Like-like I know but…because there’s no way for me to actually know…I don’t really know.” Draco’s face becomes progressively more confused as Harry trails off.
“You’re not making any sense, Harry.” Harry sighs and looks down at the leather between them.
“It…the scream it…sounded like, my mother.” He admits hesitantly. Draco’s face softens and his hands reach for Harry’s.
“I understand. And, for the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.” A teasing smile makes its way to Harry’s lips.
“I never said I was crazy.” Draco shrugs, threading their fingers together.
“Maybe not. But you thought it.” Harry’s smile turns fonder and he squeezes Draco’s hand.
“I really don’t like how well you know me.” Draco huffs a laugh. “Why do you know me so well?”
“It’s not that hard, if you know what you’re looking for, that is.”
“And what do you look for?” Draco smiles and scooches forward. Reaching out, he puts his palm on Harry’s cheek and gently rubs his cheekbone.
“When you lie, you scrunch your nose up a bit.” Draco’s voice has grown softer, just above a whisper. “And, when you’re nervous,” he returns to Harry’s hands, “you pick your nails or the skin around them, which I really wish you’d stop doing.” The last statement is made pointedly, making Harry blush and drop his eyes. “And when you think about your parents you get this look in your eyes.” He furrows his eyebrows and looks up at Draco. “It’s the same look you get when talking about quidditch or your friends, or-” Draco cuts himself off and swallows. “It’s a fond, happy, look with a bit of sadness.” Draco glances between Harry’s eyes. “The only thing I don’t know is why you seem sad when you talk about the things you love.” Harry smiles softly at his boyfriend. He squeezes Draco’s hands.
“What were you going to say?” He asks gently. “After my friends, what were you going to say?” Draco blushes and shakes his head. “Come on Dray, I had to tell you about my mother, it’s only fair.” He shakes his head again, causing a small smile to form on Harry’s face. “You were going to say yourself, weren't you? Whenever I talk about you, I get that look in my eye?” Draco blushes harder, answering Harry’s question loud and clear. “It’s true.” Draco’s head snaps up. “I do love you.” His eyes go wide, making Harry chuckle a bit.
“I love you too.” Harry motions to the redness covering Draco’s face, making its way down his neck.
“I know.” He says with a small smirk. It makes Draco blush more. “But you’re wrong.” A look of confusion crosses Draco’s face. “It’s not sadness. It’s gratefulness. I can’t believe I get to know you, Ron, Hermione. I get to play quidditch. My parents loved me so much, they died for me. I’m grateful I didn’t die that day.” Draco’s face morphs into a fond look as he reaches out to cup Harry’s cheek.
“I am too.” He presses their lips together gently. “So grateful.”