Tiredly making his way up the wooden stairs, Harry grips his hand lightly as if to alleviate some of the pain that he is feeling. Most of the bleeding has stopped by this point; however, the blood quill wound is still open and threatens to start again with even the slightest temptation.
Harry always found the astronomy tower a soothing place, ever since he first went up there when he was eleven. However, there is always some sort of class going on which prevents him from fully relaxing. In order to enjoy the peace he needed to be there when it is neither break nor class time and since the astronomy classes run until midnight it is almost impossible to get up there while it is quiet. ‘Now though’ Harry thinks, ‘Now is the perfect chance.’ Since detentions with the toad have lasted until well after midnight, and because Harry has too erratic of a mind right now, it is the perfect moment for some peace and quiet.
Rounding the corner to reach the main expanse of the astronomy tower, a rush of cold air hits Harry causing him to clutch his robes tighter around his body. Then he catches something.
In the right-hand corner of the room, Harry glimpses a flash of bright hair. Slowly stepping closer he identifies the individual who is sitting, leaned against the stone wall with his legs dangling in between the holes in the fencing.
‘What is Malfoy doing here at this time?’ Harry thinks to himself as he creeps closer, allowing himself to hide in the shadows of the unlit room. ‘Up to no good, no doubt. As always.’
As his foot hits a line of metal on the floor it makes a high-pitched clunking sound causing the once relaxed, taller boy to spin around to face where the noise came from. Without knowing where the situation is going to lead him, Harry tenses preparing himself to grab his wand if he is about to be attacked by the blond. Instead, Malfoy releases a breath and hardens his face causing wrinkles to form on his forehead.
“Come to preach about the dark lord again Potter? I’d have thought that after DADA you'd have learned it gets you nowhere. Of course, you don’t have the brain capacity to learn anything though, do you Potter?” A sneer is plastered on his face, his arm is tensed mirroring Harry’s.
“Trust me Malfoy, the last thing I want right now is your company.”
“Then please, feel free to leave, Potter, and stop disturbing me.” Spits the older boy, turning slightly back to the sight of Hogwarts however not completely taking his eyes off of Harry.
“Yeah no. I didn’t walk up all those stairs just to turn around and go back down them. If you want to leave then go right ahead but I ain’t going nowhere!” The Gryffindor then turns and stalks forward towards one of the other sections in the area, this one facing out towards the mountains. He then falls to the ground, quite dramatically, and makes a point out of getting comfortable where he is sitting.
From what he can hear, Malfoy mumbles an array of swear words at the sight and then shuffles before returning to silence again. Trying not to let Malfoy ruin the one moment of peace that Harry has this week, he takes a deep breath and runs his hand through his bird’s nest hair. Despite this, Harry finds it incredibly hard to relax when his rival is sitting right behind him and he has his back turned to him. Just as he is about to get up and leave, he is interrupted.
“I’m guessing you’re not up here to do some stargazing.” Malfoy comments randomly causing Harry to lift an eyebrow and turn his head to face the other teen.
“No shit sherlock. Why, are you?” Harry jokes however Malfoy shrugs and makes an affirmative sound. Harry recoils slightly, eyebrows knitting.
“Wait, really?”
Malfoy takes on a defensive tone. “What of it? You did come into the astronomy tower Potter, don’t be surprised when you find someone using it for its intended purpose.” He shoots a glare at Harry however it does not look the same as he is used to. It has the narrowed eyes and the disgusted lips however in his eyes there is something else that Harry can’t quite identify.
“I’m just surprised, I know you’re taking astronomy but I didn’t expect you to take any actual interest in it.” The raven-haired boy stands and steps closer to the blond eventually ending stood to his left, gazing downwards at the sitting teen. Instead of meeting his eyes, he looks up at the stars the moonlight shining on his face and making his hair even more ethereal than before.
“It’s a core subject in the curriculum, I’ve done the exact same with the other main subjects as well.”
Harry hums in response, turning his head to stare at the sky as well. “Do you know any of the names?”
Malfoy looks at him quizzically, “What?”
“The names of the stars, or constellations, or whatever.”
The taller teen exhales through his nose which Harry is unsure whether it is from exasperation or just thought, despite this he moves to stand, hand placed on the stone wall to steady himself. He slides slightly closer to Harry’s side and lifts an arm to point at a cluster of stars in the sky, tilting his head towards his rival’s.
“That one there, the one that looks like the letter ‘M’, is called Cassiopeia.” Draco states.
Harry squints at the sky and tilts his head to mirror Malfoy's, following his finger to multiple mismatched stars in the sky.
“Oh, I see it! What’s that one called, it’s really pretty?” Harry exclaims pointing to a star just Northwest of the ones before. This is the most relaxed he has felt in a while and it's with his enemy of all things. Next thing he knows he’d be having a picnic with Voldemort. Maybe, doing Zumba classes with Bellatrix Lestrange.
“Hmm, I’m pretty sure the one you’re pointing at is-” He cuts off suddenly. Harry turns to look at him and notices that his face has gone pale as he stares off to the distance. When he follows where he's looking Harry notices that he's looking at the long trail of blood that's running down the side of Harry’s hand. ‘I guess the cut on my hands opened again.’ he thinks as he pulls his hand back towards himself hiding it in his robes.
Malfoy grabs his arm and pulls his hand back out again with surprising force and glances between the injury and Harry’s face.
“’I must not tell lies.’” Draco reads, “How did this happen?”
Harry turns his sight to the floor “Turns out Umbridge isn't as innocent and caring as the ministry thinks she is. She doesn’t give a shit about how this school is run as long as it doesn’t affect her.”
Draco is silent for a beat before turning and shouting a “Wait here.” and runs off towards the stares leaving Harry to stare back in confusion.
Around ten minutes later, after debating whether Malfoy is even coming back multiple times, Harry hears the telltale sound of footsteps running upstairs. Draco darts around the corner, sweaty and breathing heavily while clutching a jar and bowl closely to his chest.
“Oh, thank God, you’ve not left. Sorry, that took a while, I didn't realise how big this school is.” He says while approaching Harry and placing the bowl on the floor, afterwards he forces open the jar of strangely coloured liquid and pours it into the bowl.
“What is that exactly?” Harry disgustedly looks down at the liquid before sitting next to Draco on the floor.
“This is Murtlap essence, it helps with healing and slowing bleeding.” Draco closes the jar, places it beside him and then puts his hands back behind him to support his body weight as he leans back into them.
“Annnnd where did you get it from?”
“I didn’t steal it if that's what you're asking.” At Harrys incredulous look he shrugs and continues, “Well not exactly. Severus lets me take potions ingredients from time to time and I leave a note telling him what I took and thanking him.”
Harry’s head snaps up to stare at Draco from wheref he was looking at the Murtlap.
“Severus? As in Severus Snape?” Draco chuckles at this and nods.
“He’s my godfather actually.” he says causing Harry’s already shocked expression to just get even more dramatic.
“Your godfather!?”
Draco huffs amusedly and gestures to the bowl in front of him.
“Just put your hand in the Murtlap essence Potter, dear Merlin.”
Harry sighs and shoves his hand in the concoction, making sure not to spill any, watching as the wound on his hand begins to knit together only leaving a white line behind.
“Thank you for this Malfoy.” He says as he begrudgingly looks at the floor, his face feeling oddly hot all of a sudden.
“You do know that a blood quill is illegal, right Potter?” This causing Harry to slightly gasp, which he is unsure of whether it's because of the information he just gathered or the concerned look on Draco’s face. Wait, when did he become Draco?
“Wait, really? Then how come she's using it?”
“Because she's a psychotic bitch?” Draco asks sarcastically.
Harry laughs under his breath and moves back over to sit back near the railings, his legs slipping in between the bars and swings his legs back and forth. Draco pours the liquid back into the jar and brings it and the bowl over to sit next to Harry, placing them next to him after.
“I’m guessing she’s the reason you came up here then?” Draco asks as Harry leans his head against the cold bar in front of him.
“Yeah, I just finished detention and didn’t want to go to the dorm rooms yet. I noticed that astronomy classes would be finished with, so I decided that this was the perfect place to go to clear my head.” Harry sighs and looks towards Draco, whose head is tilted to face Harry as he listens.
After a moment of silence Draco says, “I didn’t actually come up here to look at the stars you know? I came up here to forget about life too.”
“What from exactly?” Harry inquires.
“My father, he wants me to accept the dark mark sometime soon. Maybe in the next few years.” Draco looks away after seeing Harrys sympathetic eyes.
“Do you think he’d force you to take it if you declined?”
Draco nods before stating, “It doesn’t matter what I want, if I run away then I’ll be endangering my family but If I accept it then...”
Harry is silent for a moment. He understands how it is to have a fate lined up for you which you don’t want. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity, he could be to Draco what he had always wanted in his life. Somebody to protect him, even if it's only from the shadows.
“How about this.” He turns his body to face Draco, crossing his legs, “If you protect me from Umbridge and the other likely dangerous individuals in the school, not obviously, just like distracting them if you think she is going to give me detention again, then I’ll do everything in my ability to protect you from Voldemort and your father. I might not be able to do anything if you are on your own, but I’ll fill you in on his plans to do with you if I find them out.”
Draco looks at Harry as if he was an angel that just fell from heaven. There's a slight sliver of doubt in his eyes however he resembles a stray dog that's clinging on to that last bit of hope.
“Yes. I’ll do it! Just how do I know you won’t be lying and use me for your own good?” Asks Draco worriedly. Harry thinks for a moment before deciding.
“Okay, I’ll tell you something about me that no one knows and you do the same. Something that, if it got out, would ruin us. That way we both have something to stop us from breaking the promise as we could reveal that information to the public.”
Draco nods at the that, “Sure, good idea. How about I go first since I already know about the whole Umbridge thing?” At Harry’s nod he starts speaking. “How about the fact that I am gay, my father doesn't approve and doesn't want anybody to know about it.” He pauses for a moment, “You are okay with that right?”
Harry is surprised for a moment however quickly recovers and replies, “Of course I am, I don't get why anybody cares who it is that others are dating as long as they're both consenting and of a similar age.” Draco quite obviously shows his relief, even though it is likely unintentionally shown. “My secret, hmm... My relatives hate me and show it very obviously through their actions. No do not ask any further questions Malfoy, I’m too tired for that right now.” Harry cuts Draco off before he can ask.
Instead, Draco just looked like his world had been tipped on edge but nods at the exchange of information.
“You should go to bed then Harry, you’ve got dark circles forming.” Draco chuckles at Harry’s growingly red face. “I hope you can now sleep peacefully?”
Harry nods in thanks and goes to stand up. “I think I can now, thanks. Will you be here again tomorrow night by any chance?”
“Sure will, I come here almost every night.”
“God no wonder you always look like a walking corpse.”
“Okay, it's time for bed now.”
Draco cuffs Harry lightly on the back of the head jokingly as Harry stumbles off towards the exit. Just as he is about to pass through the threshold, he gets interrupted.
“Oy Potter!”
Harry turns.
“That constellation you said was pretty, it's the constellation for Draco.” A cheeky smirk appears on Draco’s face as Harry flushes and stutters.
“Prat.”