Hearing Damage
⁂✒♞𝕯𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖔⁂✒♞
It had been two weeks since Draco had talked to Harry. The only comfort he had was Potions, where he saw the brunette. He could barely get enough of the messy brown hair and the gentle dusting of freckles on that wonderfully holdable face.
Draco had thought a lot about that night. Not only about the looks of fear and anger on Harry's face, but also what he had said. Was Draco truly a horrible person? Could he fix that about himself? Was he always this way, or was he doomed to a fate of a heathen because of his family? It wasn't like Harry was the only one who treated him like the enemy. By now the whole school did, except for the few friends Draco kept in his own House.
What had Harry meant when he said he couldn't fix him? Does this mean the end of Draco and Harry's relationship? Had they even had one to begin with? That night, he and the Gryffindor snuck out and looked up at the stars played repeatedly in Malfoy's head. Didn't that mean a thing? That kiss they shared felt so real.. but was that only true for Draco?
Then there was the time Harry caught Draco talking to his father in the Forbidden Forest. He should be more worried about that, not if Harry returned his feelings. He needed to speak to his father again soon to see what he should do about it. Even now, he needed instruction from Lucius.
--
Draco walked down the hall in his quidditch uniform, broom in hand. Today he had practice with the team before the game, which was the talk of the school because it was between Slytherin and Gryffindor, the houses with the biggest rivalry. Malfoy had been practicing a lot in the summer and was productive during practices. Even though this game would be against Harry, he still wanted to be the best on the field.
He greeted his team once he made it and looked out to the sky, watching dark clouds roll in.
"Think they'll cancel the match?" Urquhart asked.
"Have they ever?" Marcus replied. "Even if there's a storm, nothing cancels a Slytherin and Gryffindor match."
The team's attention was turned towards the Gryffindor team making their way onto the field.
"Again?" Marcus remarked with a click of his tongue, annoyance evident in his voice. "It's not like this is the first time this has happened. We'll just have to tell them off." He said, standing up straight as the opposing team walked towards him.
"Marcus," Oliver addressed the other captain, holding his broom tightly in his fist. "Last I checked, it was our time to practice before the game. Is Slytherin back to their old tricks again, or have you forgotten?" He spoke calmly, though anyone could see in his mannerisms that he felt quite the opposite.
Draco turned his head back and forth in search of a head of fluffy brown hair, eyes trained on the chocolate locks of Harry Potter. He didn't seem to be looking for Malfoy as he was Harry. Instead, the Gryffindor looked rightfully pissed off at the Slytherins, one brow lifted and the corners of his mouth dipping to form a frown. He wasn't wearing his glasses, Draco thought. He looked different, more like a young man without the round frames. Even with them, Harry looked smart, but now he looked mature.
"Well, well, a typical Gryffindor on his high horse trying to boss us lot around, I see. I ought to knock you down a few pegs with my broom." Marcus crossed his arms and earned a few side chuckles from his team.
Oliver's eyes narrowed, the corner of his mouth twitching into a frown. Draco could tell that he was contemplating whether he should keep arguing or give in and be the bigger person.
"We'll come back later then. The game doesn't start until after dinner." Oliver said above the grumbles and groans of protest from the other Gryffindor boys. Malfoy could hear Harry sighing and he watched the brunette roll his eyes and put a hand on his hip. The Gryffindor met Draco's eyes and it felt like a flash of lightning, and suddenly Malfoy couldn't breathe, like Harry had stolen it away. The blonde let out a shaky breath as he watched Potter look away, his expression never changing throughout the interaction.
Oliver made one motion with his hand and the opposing team left with him. Draco watched Harry's movements as he walked away, how his wavy hair bounced as he walked, and the gentle ruffle of his cloak in the breeze. "Malfoy," His name was called by Marcus. "Let's get to it. We don't want the Gryffindors interrupting again before we're finished."
---
The darkness of night began to fall over Hogwarts, stars dotting the sky. The moon was round and full, giving students enough light through the clouds to make their way down to the field for the much anticipated game. All four field houses were filled with the students from each House, rowdy and loud with cheers for Slytherin or Gryffindor. Ravenclaw had taken the side of Slytherin, while Hufflepuff had chosen Gryffindor.
Draco looked out at the field, lit with large spotlights.
"Muggle inventions are useful at times." Headmistress McGonagall had said when questioned about them.
"Nervous?" Marcus put a hand on Draco's shoulder. The blonde turned to the captain, shaking his head.
"Of course not," Draco said, but he lied. He was incredibly nervous, but not for the reason the rest of his team was. He had to face Harry in a few minutes. After the fight they had, Malfoy thought about it over and over. What came over him to have yanked and pulled at Harry, to have left a bruise on his lower neck from gripping it? Maybe Draco really was born to be a Death Eater? Maybe he had always been violent. If he wanted anything to happen tonight, besides winning the match, of course, it was to get a chance to talk to Harry.
Malfoy flinched at the sound of the loudspeakers announcing the beginning of the match. One name at a time, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was called out onto the field to wave and settle at their spots in the sky. Draco watched each member grip their brooms and race off, though only looked out for one of them. He heard the name, Harry Potter over the speakers and the intense sound of clapping from the Gryffindor house. He eyed the brunette that walked onto the field and made sure to take a mental picture of the excitement on Harry's face. Potter's hair was slightly windblown and the light from the spotlights made his strong jaw and lovely emerald eyes appear to have a glow to them. Harry Potter really did look like he was born to be a hero.
"Come on," Marcus called the team over to get ready for their name calling. Marcus was first since he was captain, then the chasers, then the seeker, when Draco went out, then the beaters.
Draco straddled his broom and pushed snowy hair from his eyes. It felt windy out, so he would need to pay more attention to the game than he usually did. He was sure Harry only improved since last year, which was a challenge all on its own.
The Slytherin took to the air with his fellow seekers. Here he could get a good view of the Gryffindor team. Oliver looked fierce and Malfoy was sure it was because of the disagreement earlier that day. Draco looked from boy to girl until he finally spotted him. Harry was talking to another Gryffindor, and Draco believed her name was Angelina, a chaser. Harry had a gentle smile on his lips, and his eyes closed in a hearty laugh. What could they be talking about? Draco had to wonder.
The teams started at their positions, and tension began to fill the air. Down below, the crowds could be heard cheering for the respective teams. Draco anticipated the start of the match, for the golden snitch to be released. He could see that in his own team and in Gryffindor. Both of them leaned forward on their brooms, eyes wide and hands gripping the handle of their brooms tightly. Everything was quiet for just a moment as a boy, wearing gloves stood, holding the box that the snitch lay in. Everyone, including the watching students, was silent as the box was opened and the golden snitch flew out into the field, signaling the beginning of the game.
Draco raced forwards towards the snitch, only to be cut off by a Gryffindor keeper. He growled softly, pushed silver hair out of his face, and looked around the glowing orb in the darkness. He spotted the snitch one more, higher in the sky, and made his way towards it, hand outstretched to grab it. He gasped as a flash of red and gold ran across his sight, making him stop in his place. Harry Potter had spotted the snitch at the same time as Draco did. Potter was a slick motherfucker, Malfoy could give him that. Draco couldn't help but scoff. Harry was popular for a reason, he reminded himself.
"Come on, Malfoy!" He could hear Marcus from across the field. It was only then that Draco noticed that he had been sitting there this whole time, watching Harry chase after the snitch with the wind blowing his hair. He'd forever be surprised that Harry didn't have a girlfriend yet. Didn't that Weasly girl have a thing for him? Oh, right, the game.
Draco rushed through the sky and turned quickly, trying to match the snitch's change of direction. He heard a clap of thunder but paid it no mind. He laughed in excitement as he started to gain on the snitch, turning when it turned, dipping down in the air when it did. He didn't have time to look around to see if Harry was following him, but he was sure the fast seeker was right on his tail. He shook his head with a smirk at the sound of a frustrated growl behind him. 'There he is,' Draco thought.
The Slytherin seeker gasped once the snitch suddenly stopped. 'This is my chance!' Draco grinned, hand going to catch the golden snitch in his palm. But suddenly, the snitch went right under Malfoy's broom and appeared behind Harry. "Yes!" Harry exclaimed as he tightly turned his broom and went for the snitch. Malfoy's jaw dropped in shock. 'Are you kidding me?' He thought to himself, following Potter close behind. Harry kept pushing to go faster. His broom looked like it was about to give up. Just a little more and he'd have it, Draco thought. Malfoy turned to fly right beside Potter, much to the brunette's surprise. "Malfoy!" He said breathily.
"What? Did you really think I'd let you win this to make up for the other day? I adore you, Harry, but not enough to let you catch the snitch." Draco said with pride in his chest. He turned back towards the golden snitch and reached forward, hips moving off the broom. This was beyond dangerous, but his fingertips just barely grazed the snitch as he did. 'A little more,' He groaned in his head. Harry was doing the same as him now, barely holding onto his broom to reach for the snitch. Malfoy could just barely hear the roar of the student sections below. His eyes widened as he felt the cold metal in his hand. He let out a victorious laugh, cut short by Harry. "Draco!" He yelled, reaching for the Slytherin with eyes full of terror. Draco was no longer on his broom. He was plummeting several hundred feet toward the ground.
This is what he got for not following the safety guidelines of the brooms. They learned them the first year, and now here Draco was, pulling a Harry Potter and falling to his death. Only this time, Malfoy didn't think he'd be miraculously saved at the last possible moment. He held the snitch to his chest like a life totem. He felt air rushing in his ears and he couldn't bare to keep his eyes open as he fell. It was horrifying to watch the sky get farther and farther away. He held his breath, he wouldn't need it soon anyway. He could hear the students yelling and shouting for someone to catch him, and that's how he knew he was close to the ground.
Everything was completely silent. Was this death? Was Draco dead? If so, then why did he feel so.. warm, and.. why was there still wind in his hair? He certainly didn't think he was going, well.. up, after death for all the shit he's done. But was that it? Was this oddly comforting presence that held him close with a strong arm an angel? Did those even exist? Malfoy opened his eyes slowly, blinking in absolute surprise at what he saw. He was tucked securely in the crook of a neck and he was being flown down to the ground safely. "Malfoy," A familiar, scared sounding voice said. "Malfoy," It said again. Draco fell back onto rough, newly clipped grass. He breathed heavily and looked up from the ground, meeting the gaze of a very worried Harry Potter. "Ugh," Harry whimpered, slumped forward, bangs covering his eyes. "Malfoy," He repeated like a chant, shaking more so than Draco was. "Draco," He looked back up, biting his bottom lip hard enough to draw a dot of blood.
"Harry," Draco finally said, a trembling hand reaching out towards the other boy in front of him. he grazed his thumb on the chapped lower lip of Potter, forcing him to release it from his front teeth. "Don't do that," He said shortly, only for Harry to shake his head and move away, standing and motioning for the other players to come down from the sky, to tell them that Draco was okay. The Slytherin seeker watched his worried teammates drop their brooms and rush over to him, many voices asking if he was okay or if he needed the nurse. He shook his head and lifted his hand to wave it, wanting them to move away.
"Give him space, guys," Marcus said in his loud team captain voice he used in meetings and practices. "Draco, are.. are you okay?" He asked, eyebrows dipped in a look of deep concern.
"Yeah," Draco rubbed his face. "I'm fine.. is the game over?"
"You caught the snitch, didn't you?" Marcus smiled.
Harry was nowhere to be seen.
---
The boys piled into the changing room, even Draco. He managed to shake McGonagall off, not wanting to be sent to the nurse for nothing. He didn't want to look weak after just winning a game. Besides, Harry retained more injuries than he did when he bit his lip. What had that looked on Potter's face meant, or how he kept repeating Draco's name? Did that mean he was.. worried? After the fight they had before? Malfoy wasn't so sure about that.
Draco slipped his jersey off and grabbed his resting clothes out of his locker. He was planning to go right to bed after he was done in there. He didn't even feel like showering, as gross as it was. He would get up early to do so in the morning. After the fall he had a few minutes prior, he doubted anyone would make fun of him for smelling bad, even his closest friends. He took his time today, longer than his other teammates. He thinks they might have hurried up so Malfoy could be alone. It was thoughtful, he supposed, but he didn't need it. He sighed as he slipped his shirt on, pulling himself out of his own head. He seriously needed to have a real talk with Harry.
As Malfoy stepped out of the changing room, he heard a noise. It was from the second boy's locker room, the one meant for the opposing team. He leaned on the wall, listening closely. He could just faintly hear Harry, like he was muttering or whispering. He couldn't hear anything but that, so he assumed that it was Potter in there alone.. Draco turned towards the field. Better now than never, he'd chicken out if he thought about having to talk to Harry too much.
"Are you decent?" Malfoy asked while walking into the locker room. He heard scrambling and the sound of a locker shutting before he stepped out from the corner he waited in. Harry was dressed in only boxers. His hair was wet and dripping, bangs sticking to his forehead. The water from his hair ran down his neck, and he was still without his glasses. His arms were toned, and his chest was strong with soft muscle. Draco didn't let his eyes wander for long, and he bit back a soft growl that threatened to spill over his lips. He so deeply wanted to ravish Harry at that moment, to feel the smooth tan skin under his hands and the plump lips against his own. He felt that way for a long time, and only now did it come all at once.
"You aren't supposed to be in here," Harry said, holding a towel in his arms. His eyebrows were dipped in what should have been an angry expression, but it only looked troubled.
"I know," Draco said, crossing his arms over his chest. Maybe this was a mistake. "I just need to talk to you."
"Right now?" Harry shook his head, shoving the towel down on a bench. "It couldn't wait until I wasn't practically naked?"
"How was I supposed to know you were?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did," Harry muttered.
"What?" Malfoy cocked his head to the side. What did Harry mean by that? Did he really think Malfoy was that much of a creep?
"Because you're a creep, that's why." Well, that was quickly confirmed. It really was stupid to come in here. He shouldn't expect Harry to be easy on him after what happened the last time they talked like this. Draco really was rather selfish, and Harry was right when saying he needed to work on himself. This proved it.
"I'll go then, I don't want to fight with you." Draco turned, running a hand through his hair.
"Wait," Harry said frantically, clearing his throat. Draco stopped and turned, a bit stunned.
"I don't want to fight either, but.. I know we have to talk, okay? I know we do, but.. I swear to god if this turns out like last time.." Harry put a hand over his eyes.
Draco felt like he was just stabbed in the heart. Harry was scared of him, he was scared that Draco would hurt him again.
"It won't," Malfoy said in a soft voice. Harry made him soft. "I promise it won't. I didn't mean for it to be like that before, I just.. I don't know what was going on with me. You saw stuff you shouldn't have and I was scared, and.. God, I guess I'm still scared of my father." He rubbed the back of his neck, head falling back.
"I'm not going to forgive you for that. Never," Harry said, starting to gain back the stern sense he had in him, the sternness Draco adored.
"Yeah," Malfoy let out a long sigh. "I wouldn't forgive me either if I were you."
Harry began to smile, and Draco did too. "Did you take my advice, or are you trying to butter me up?" The Gryffindor asked, amusement in his warm eyes.
"I don't know, which would you like better?" Draco asked humorously.
Harry shrugged at this, stepping closer to Malfoy. "I don't know," He mused, eyes meeting Draco's. "I think I deserve some compliments after the shit you put me through all these years."
"Really?" Draco said sarcastically. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, really? Not when you made fun of my parents, taunted my friends, or almost killed a few of our classmates?" Harry said without a smile, and Draco couldn't tell if he was still joking.
"I was shit, wasn't I?" Draco frowned slightly. No one could make him feel bad for his past actions like Harry could.
"Yeah," Harry agreed softly, looking up at Draco without hatred, without the same cautiousness as before. The two stayed still, looking at each other without saying a word.
"Harry," Draco breathed out, watching the brunette look over his body with a subtle hunger. Harry looked back at Malfoy for only a moment before grabbing him by the hair and slamming his lips against Draco's. The blonde grunted at the clash of teeth, and Harry knitted his eyebrows together like he didn't want to appear embarrassed by his crude kissing. Draco tried not to smile. He put a hand on the back of Harry's head, pressing him close. He walked Harry back until he was pressed against lockers, and lifted his leg so that his knee parted Potter's thighs. The brunette groaned sweetly into the kiss, egging Draco on.
He sighed at the gripping of his hair from Potter. Draco pulled back from the kiss, feeling like a fire ignited in his body at the deep whine Harry made when he stopped his kiss. Malfoy's hand gripped Harry's neck, his knee pressing between the boys' thighs. The brunette let out a strangled moan, looking unsure if he wanted to grind against Draco or if that would be too much. "Harry," Draco gave Potter a lustful glare, a deep pang to his voice that made Harry close his eyes and try to shut his thighs together. It was a sight to see. "Do you want me?" Malfoy asked. Was Harry scared? Did he want to get away? Was Draco taking this too far? He couldn't lose Potter, not like this.
Harry watched Draco for a long moment, lips agape. "Yes," Draco moved his hand away from Harry's neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. Malfoy felt both love and lust swell in his chest. He felt like he could burst from it all.
Potter pushed Draco away, and at first, the Slytherin thought he had done something wrong until he was put in the same position as Harry was just moments before. "I fucking want you, Draco," Harry grabbed the blonde's shirt and it wrinkled in his fist. He seemed to know better than to push his lips to Malfoy's so quickly, since this time, he was slower in his approach. Draco could feel Harry's bare arms on his, and he couldn't stop thinking about how all Harry had on were those stupidly tight boxers. He could touch and feel and grab any part of this boy that he pleased.
"I hope you mean this, Harry," Draco whispered, hands gripping Harry's hips hard so the shorter knew Draco wanted him to stay put. "because I don't intend on courting you." He cupped Harry's cheek in one delicate, pale hand, lifting his chin up so he could whisper in the other's ear. "I've wanted you for too long.. I'm going to fuck you." He heard Harry curse.
"Where did you learn to say that shit?" Harry asked him, tanned cheeks tinted with rosy pink.
"Oh, well," Draco rolled his eyes with a smirk. "When you think about your enemy so much, there's bound to be a few sex fantasies here and there."