“So where have you been?” Draco glared.
“Piss of Pansy.” She giggled and stood from her lounge chair, setting her homework to the side.
“No need to be so rude.” Draco didn't reply. “Listen, I'm your friend, you can't go missing for hours on end and not tell me who you're snogging.” His face turned bright red.
“I'm not snogging anybody! Not that it's any of your business.” She smirked.
“I bet it's Potter.” His face turned a deeper shade of pink and she screeched. “It is Potter!”
“We're not snogging. Now kindly shut up.” She stuck out her lower lip in a pout but he ignored her and headed to his dorm.
- - -
He couldn't sleep. He'd just been laying in bed, tossing and turning for hours. He'd finally given up near two in the morning, slipping out of bed and started wandering the halls. As he walked he truly let himself think.
He didn't know what he'd do after school, if he made it that far that is. His hand drifted to his dark mark, nails leaving scratch marks and reopening wounds. He'd wanted to be an auror but that was definitely out of the picture, no one would want an ex death eater working at the Ministry.
Passing one of the ghosts they exchanged a polite nod as she drifted through the wall. He doubted anyone else would hire him.
“Malfoy.” He turned, eyebrows furrowed. Harry stood not a dozen paces from him.
“Potter.” Harry glanced down at his arm, small trickles of blood tracing down his hand, then back up at him.
“Let me fix it?” His voice was so gentle it made Draco want to cry. Everything hurt already and seeing Harry, of all people, being so kind made it so much worse. He just nodded and let Harry hold his wrist, healing the wounds quickly.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Draco went to shake his head, then hesitated.
“I… I don't want to. But… I think I probably need to.” Harry nodded.
“Do you want to go somewhere more private than… the hallway?” Draco nodded, letting Harry guide him through the corridors.
- - -
“So where were you last night?” Draco glared across the table at Pansy.
“None of your business.” She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.
“Well, it's about to be my business because Potter appears to be heading right towards you.” He looked up, startled, seeing that she was entirely right. Harry sat next to him and Draco did his best to ignore Pansy's giggling.
“Malfoy.”
“Potter.”
“Are you doing anything at say… 3?”
“Me and Pansy were-” Pansy cut him off.
“Doing nothing so he's totally free.” Draco glared but Harry just smiled.
“Perfect, I needed some help with an assignment. See you in the library?” Pansy snickered.
“I'll send him.” Draco glared but Harry just grinned and scurried off.
- - -
“What was that?” Draco stormed over to Harry who was sitting at a library table, studying.
“What was what?”
“This morning! You just… you can't do that!” Harry frowned.
“It's concern.”
“Well stop it.” He just shook his head slightly.
“No. I'm not letting you tear yourself apart. I care about you and you're just going to have to accept that.”
- - -
“Fancy seeing you here.” Draco turned, once again stalking the halls at night, and saw Harry standing in the corridor.
“Hi.” Harry looked surprised.
“No Potter?” Draco sighed.
“I'm kind of tired of Potter.” His eyebrows shot up.
“Tired of Potter? Who are you and what have you done with Malfoy?” He let out a half laugh.
“Piss off.” Harry's surprise turned to an excited grin.
“I haven't seen you laugh in weeks!”
“Shut it.”
- - -
“Hey Malfoy!” Draco turned, seeing Harry running down the nearly deserted hall after him. Most people were still at lunch but he had left early.
“You don't have to call me that you know.” Harry came even with him and stopped.
“What should I call you then?” He paused.
“Just Draco is fine.” Harry grinned.
“Then call me Harry.” Draco smiled, truly happy for the first time in a long while.
“Well then what's going on Harry?”