Spellbound Heart

“Harry! Harry wake up!“ A frantic voice echoed through his head merging with the scene playing out in his dreams.

Bloody vision after bloody death swam across his vision in a never ending stream of crimson. He was always too late to save them. Glowing red eyes and flashes of green, another friend lay dead at his feet.

“You’re having a nightmare, wake up Harry!” He felt strong hands on his shoulders shaking him violently.

His eyes snapped open and he only had one thought. I must protect myself from whoever is holding me down. Half crazed and delirious, mind still muddled with the fear and death from his dreams his magic acted of its own accord. Suddenly the grip on his shoulders disappeared and a loud thud could be heard hitting the wall followed by a groan. Without even thinking he lunged for his wand and raised it towards the noise.

“Hey it’s just me Harry! Calm down everything is okay, you’re safe it was just a dream!” Draco yelled frantically still in a heap on the floor. Panic was written all over his face eyes wide and voice layered with fear. Suddenly realizing what was happening and where he was as the horror of what he did began to sink in. He slowly lowered his wand onto his bed, as everything clicked into place.

“D…Draco? What…. Are you Okay? I’m so sorry I… I didn’t realize...” His words trailed off as he just stared down at Draco.

How could he have been so stupid to forget to put a silencing spell around the bed? He knew it had been a while since he needed to after living alone for a few months, still it was practically second nature to do so at school. He sat in bed lost in thought, internally struggling with himself at his own stupidity. The room felt like it was closing in and he couldn’t get enough air. He didn’t even notice Draco slowly getting up off the floor and timidly making his way over to the bed. He couldn’t breath. He was struggling to pull in air, gulping for breath and still he felt like he was suffocating.

“Hey everything is okay. You’re going to be alright.” Suddenly cold hands were on either side of his face. Smoothing his hair out of his eye and forcing him to meet the silver eyes looking straight into his own.

“Just breathe Harry you’re safe.” He let out a choked sob as tears started streaming down his face as his body was wracked with violent trembling.

Draco was still speaking but he couldn’t even hear or understand what was being said anymore. Without even realizing it Draco had him pressed up against his chest so he could hear the others heartbeat. It was a calming noise slow, steady and strong. It started to make his breathing easier the tears and trembling slowly stopped. That’s when he noticed how he was being held and more importantly who was comforting him. Of all people he never expected this from Draco. It seemed almost absentmindedly but Draco’s hand was running down the length of his back and surprisingly he liked it, it was soothing. He vaguely recognize the soft words being murmured as French or Italian. Of course Draco would know more than one language being a pureblood and all. Sadly he knew that he could not stay like this in Draco’s arms. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves he pulled away from Draco’s chest. He moved to lean against the headboard of his bed moving over slightly so Draco could do the same.

“Hey are you feeling better?” Draco looked over at him a kindness and softness he had never seen before graced his face. The look made a lump rise in his throat threatening tears to spill yet again. He wanted to speak but afraid his voice would betray him he only nodded back at the blonde boy. They sat on the bed in silence for a few moments before Draco spoke again.

“I’m sorry if I crossed a line….. I heard you screaming in your sleep and well it’s okay. I get them too sometimes.” This took him by surprise. But before he could get a word out Draco continued on.

“My mother used to read me that poem when I’d get them and well I just didn’t know what else to do. You started having a panic attack so I said it to you.”

“Huh? Is that what you were saying in Italian?” Intrigued he turned to fully look at Draco. His pale blonde hair was sticking up in every direction the sight of It made a small smile play on the corner of his lips.

“It was actually French. Hey what are you grinning at scar head?”

“Wow rude much ferret.” At this they both broke out into laughter. It wasn’t the normal faked happiness or reserved laughter he usually dished out for the benefit of his friends. This felt genuine. He was gasping for breath in no time and his side hurt from laughing so hard. To his surprise Draco’s head ended up resting on his shoulder, still silently shaking from his own fit.

“You know something Draco. This is just so weird. Who would have thought that we could have a conversation that wouldn’t end in us attempting to fight each other.”

“Like I said before, I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone anymore. In the end I was doing what I thought would make my family proud of me and I was blind. I acted like a fool and I’m sorry for the things I did, I felt like there was so many things out of my control. I was just a puppet to my fathers whims and for that I’m sorry.” Draco spoke with so much sincerity and regret it took him by surprise. Draco wasn’t finished though and he was still struggling to wrap his head around he was saying.

“I realized too late where I went wrong, and by then there was nothing for me to do anything about it. I couldn’t see a way out without endangering my mother so I did what I had to do. I’m not going to stop until I’m able to prove to everyone I’m not my father. I used to want to be like him so bad I was blinded by my loyalty, I didn’t see him for who he truly was until it was to late.” Draco was hanging his head in disappointment and he understood why.

“Hey don’t be hard on yourself Draco. You’ve changed since we first met and I won’t lie to you. You’ve made some terrible mistakes but that’s what they were, mistakes. The important thing is you realized that you were wrong and in the end you tried to make up for it and even risked your own life in the end. That’s something I won’t ever forget and was part of the reason I spoke up for you at your trial.” At this they both sat in silence, it seemed Draco was attempting to wrap his head around what was just said. He didn’t know how long they sat there but he was starting to see faint traces of the rising sun peaking through the windows in their room. It wouldn’t be long now until they would have to get ready and head down for breakfast. Draco realized this also and was already moving to get off the bed. Without even thinking he grabbed his arm and turned Draco to face him, he had one last thing to ask him.

“Will you sit with me and my friends at breakfast?” The shocked and unsure look on Draco’s face was unmistakable. But what better way would he have to prove to people he was trying to change? It wouldn’t be easy but he believed in him. All Draco would have to do was show people this side of him instead of the mask he put on daily.

“Are you sure? It’s not like your friends like me, especially Weasley. But I guess I’ll give it a shot.”

“Great, I’ll see you in the common room then?” He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. It seemed like Draco was really going to try and make an effort here. Maybe everything was going to change this year. He only hoped his friends would be able to give him a shot.

While he was lost in thought Draco was making his way back over to his own bed. Grabbing an outrages amount shower supplies before heading into the bathroom. This was the perfect time to seek out Hermione and Ron so they wouldn’t be shocked at breakfast. With a groan he made is way to the edge of his bed so he could reach down and dig through his trunk at the end of the bed. He would need his satchel for classes today and his robes.

As he made his way down to the common room he noticed Ron walking out his dorm. His school robes a mess as usual, tie draped over his shoulders without a care for his appearance.

“Hey Ron, wait up for me.” At this Ron turned to see him running over to catch up with his friend. He seemed startled at being yelled at but quickly got over at once he realized who was calling for him.

“Glad to see you’re still alive Harry. Was about to meet up with Mione downstairs, gonna join us for breakfast.”

“Umm yeah I have to talk to you guys about something first. Just promise me you won’t overreact like you normally do, okay?” Ron gave him an amused if not sarcastic smile at this but nodded slightly in response. They finished the walk to the common room in silence Ron kept giving him questioning looks from the corner of his eye but otherwise didn’t say anything.

Hermione was already waiting for them. She was seated in front of the fireplace sorting through her bag. What surprised him was pansy was sitting with her chatting away while hermione nodded every once in a while. A amused smile played on her face. They were to far away to hear what was being said but from the looks of the two girls it seemed to be a harmless and even friendly interaction. A lot has already changed in one night it seemed, the old slytherin students were integrating seamlessly with the other classmates.

“Merlin I forgot about her. Can’t believe she thinks she has the right to even try to be friendly to Mione.” They must have been close enough for Pansy to hear because she gave a low growl and stormed away before Hermione’s could stop her.

“Really Ron why do you have to be like that. She’s actually very funny and nice if not a little overbearing at first. We’re supposed to showing house unity and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.” Ron looked taken aback by Hermione’s sudden burst. But in all fairness she was correct it seemed like she was on the same page as he was about giving them second chances the only problem would be convincing Ron.

“ umm guys so I have a favor to ask. Please Ron like I said before please don’t overreact. I invited Draco to sit with us a breakfast.” Hermione didn’t seem surprised at all but Ron on the other hand look like he had been betrayed. He stood their mouth wide open and eyes bugging out if his head. He didn’t even say a word just turned around walked away from the both of them. Hermione made to reach out and grab him but before she could even take a step Pansy spoke out of nowhere.

“Let him go, he’s going to need to think things over for a while it won’t help if you keep trying to force things on him without letting him decide for himself.” Hermione looked betrayed but let him go like Pansy suggested.

“You girls go ahead for breakfast I’ll catch up to you in a few minutes okay? I’m going to check on Draco.”

“Whatever you say golden boy. Come on hermione I think I saw Blaise leave already and I’m starving.” With that they left leaving him standing by himself. He was hurt at Ron’s reaction but it could have been worse. He just hoped that he’d be able to get over his anger and see that Draco was trying to change. It wouldn’t be easy but hopefully over time things would work out. He was lost in thought he hadn’t even noticed Draco standing at the foot of the stairs to the dorms. It was only when he cleared his thought did he notice the blond boy standing there.

“Ready for breakfast?” Draco said and fidgeted in place clearly looking uncomfortable. But he didn’t say anything else just looked over to the door with an uneasy expression.

He nodded and they made their way out the door towards the dinning hall. This had already been a very long day and breakfast hadn’t even started yet let alone classes.