love is natural and kind but not for such as you and i, my love
“Take a wild guess, Malfoy. Does it look like I’m okay?” Harry’s sarcasm falls flat as he lets out a sob. This is the second time Malfoy has had to witness him cry. In the past week.
“No, I guess not,” Malfoy chuckles. He sits down where Ginny was sitting just two minutes ago. Harry swallows around the lump in his throat.
“Gonna tell me what happened, Harry?”
There it is again. Harry. Why has Malfoy recently taken to calling him by his first name? What changed? Why is Malfoy being so nice to him? A tiny voice in Harry’s mind wants to say it’s because Malfoy loves him, too. Harry blocks out that part of him. He can’t bring his own hopes up. Not when his hopes are as likely as a human flying. Nothing is impossible. Harry shakes his head. “Why would I tell you, Malfoy?” Harry sneers, tears still streaming down his face. He hasn’t tried to hide his face from Malfoy. Why hasn’t he? Any normal person would tell their enemy to fuck off in this situation. However, Harry isn’t a normal person.
“Problems in paradise? I saw Ginny storm out,” Malfoy asks, leaning forward to rest his head in his hand on the table. Harry groans. “Since you’re not going to go away, I’ll tell you,” Harry mutters. “I broke up with her.”
Malfoy falls silent.
“Before you even ask, no, I didn’t play her. I thought I liked her and-” Harry’s eyes go wide and he clamps his mouth shut. Malfoy smirks and his eyebrows raise, “That mean you like someone else, Harry?”
Harry flushes. Why is Malfoy cocky, and why is Harry so attracted to it? Malfoy picks up on Harry’s lack of answer, “Is Harry Potter scared to tell me who he has a crush on?” He’s still smirking. Harry wants to wipe that stupid smirk off his face…with his lips, preferably. Harry’s not super picky, though.
“I’m not scared, I just don’t want to. With our history, I think I’m all set. Thanks,” Harry grits out through his teeth. Malfoy chuckles, “That’s understandable.”
They both fall silent.
“Listen-” Malfy starts, and Harry thinks for a second that Malfoy is nervous, “I’ve wanted to apologise to you for the longest time. I wish that I wasn’t such a prick to you that first day, because now that we’re older, I’ve noticed that I was blinded by jealousy. If we had met later on, who knows? Maybe we could have been friends, or more.”
More? What does he mean by more?
“More?” Harry asks into the now quiet room. Malfoy shrugs, “I mean who knows?”
Harry feels too vulnerable as he speaks, “When you were in the infirmary with me, I was so happy that someone stayed for me. I should thank you, for being there, by the way.”
Harry sees Malfoy turn pink, “It wasn’t a problem, honestly.”
Harry hums. “Ron said you looked worried about me. Were you? Or was Ron trying to get a rise out of me?”
Malfoy lets out a breath, “He was telling the truth. For all my talk, I don’t think you’re that bad of a person, Harry.” Harry snorts, “Wow, thanks.”
They both chuckle. Harry realises he’s not crying anymore.
“She was really pissed, wasn’t she? What did you tell the poor girl?” Malfy inquires, referring to Ginny. Harry groans.
“I told her I didn’t have feelings for her, and she assumed I had been dating her to control her. I wasn’t, I swear, I was just trying to figure myself out, you know? I didn’t even know I didn’t have feelings for her until like, last week, and broke it off with her as soon as I could. I feel fucking terrible, even though I know I did the right thing. I don’t know, I guess I feel like it was selfish of me.” Harry feels tears swell in his eyes again. How many times is he going to cry in front of Malfoy?
Malfoy’s expression softens, “You weren’t being selfish, Harry. You can’t live in a relationship based on a lie. It would’ve all exploded in your face eventually anyway.”
Harry nods, “Thanks, Malfoy.”
Malfoy hums.
“Harry?”
Harry looks at Malfoy expectantly.
“Stop calling me Malfoy, for fucks sake! I’ve been calling you Harry. You can call me by my first name, too.”
Harry laughs, shaking his head, “Duly noted, Draco.” Draco seems satisfied now, Harry notices. He grins.
“Does this mean we’ve come to a truce?” Harry asks, trying to contain his giggles. He sees Draco roll his eyes, “Yes, you fucking dunce. How clear does a man need to get now?”
Harry sighs happily, “Good. I’ve always thought you were kind of cute, you know.”
Draco sputters, “Excuse me? You thought I was cute? Have you seen yourself?”
“I’m familiar with my own face, Draco.”
A comfortable silence falls between them. Harry could sit in this moment forever, but his curiosities get the best of him.
“Who would have thought we would end up here? Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy calling a truce? The school will have a field day with this.” Harry’s grin hasn’t left his face. He’s so happy he could scream.
“Don’t forget, you said I’m cute. You have to include that.”
“You’re so fucking full of yourself, Draco. You called me cute, too, by the way.”
Harry groans. Draco raises his right eyebrow at him.
“I broke up with Ginny,” He says. Draco nods.
“She probably told Ron. And when Ron finds out why, and he finds out we’re friends, I probably won’t have a best friend anymore. I’ll be fucking screwed. Kinda wish I didn’t break up with her and accept the fact that I’d be unhappy forever.”
Draco adjusts himself so that he’s closer to Harry, “You know why no one hangs out with me?” Harry shakes his head.
“I told one of my friends that I liked guys,” Harry’s mouth falls open; he knows where this is going, “And she told everyone she could talk to about it. I’m surprised you didn’t use it as a weapon against me, to be honest. I thought the whole school knew and considered me a pervert, so I isolated myself. I understand what it’s like to not really have friends, and I know we hated each other an hour ago,” Harry chuckles. He’s not wrong. “But, just know, I’ll be here for you if you need me.”
Harry’s eyes are watery and his voice breaks as he speaks, “Thanks, Draco, I appreciate it. I’m sorry for dumping all of this on you; we barely even know each other, despite hating each other.”
Draco smiles. “I get it, Harry. If Ron dumps you or won’t talk to you, you can always talk to me.”
“Thanks, Draco.”
Then it hits Harry like a truck.
“For the record, I would never make fun of you for who you like. Even if I ‘hated’ you an hour ago, I wouldn't go that far.”