4
"Are all of the presents on the table?" Hermione asked, and Harry nodded shortly. He hadn't been very talkative since their shopping day, and both Hermione and Draco were beginning to worry about him.
All of their friends knew that they had to be careful around him when he was like this. His PTSD and trauma from the war still remained thick over his head. It still remained over all of their heads, but with it being so close to a year, he'd been a mess lately.
"You need to go talk to him. Let him know you're there." Pansy whispered to Draco, and this time, instead of arguing Draco nodded. He wasn't all that worried anymore, if they fell apart they did. He wasn't going to deny himself a good friendship over something small like fear.
"Harry." Draco spoke softly, causing him to look up. He hummed in response, maintaining eye contact. Draco waved him off to the side, "are you alright?" He asked slowly, trying to be gentle with Harry's emotions.
Something inside Harry cracked, and he shook his head, tears welling in his green eyes. Draco nodded in understanding, pulling him out to the back yard away from everyone. He opened his arms.
Harry practically jumped in them, holding Draco close and beginning to cry. "It's alright darling, I'm right here, you're okay." Draco whispered, rubbing circles on Harry's back.
"It's Ron's first birthday without Fred and I just.. it's hard." He sobbed.
Draco flinched, but nodded holding him close. "Fred was amazing. It's okay for it to be hard, you're allowed to cry."
"I'm supposed to be the strong one. I'm supposed to comfort Ron, but there's more than fifty dead and I can't help but be haunted by them." Harry only spoke his truth, he felt like every single person who died was his fault.
Draco didn't add much on, just a simple "it was never your fault." He held the crying man in his arms, whispering sweet comfort words in his ear.
~
"You alright mate I was worried for ya." Ron said as Harry came back in from outside, eyes red and puffy.
"I'm better now thanks to the wannabe Barbie." Harry said sniffling. Maybe he liked Draco now but that would never end their banter.
Draco scoffed offended, "alright you untamed lion." Everyone looked at them and then broke out in laughter, "you two friendly fighting is so weird still." Pansy said baffled by how close they'd gotten and how much progress they'd made.
"He's my favorite prat." Harry said with a cheesy smile while wrapping his arm around Draco's waist.
"Get off of me Potty you'll wrinkle my shirt." Draco scoffed but wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder. Ginny and Hermione shared a knowing look. Even Ron was amused.
"Why are you guys looking at us like that?" Harry asked completely clueless.
Ron just shrugged, "nothing mate, let's party."
So party they did.
~
It occurred to Hermione how well Draco being around was helping Harry. At Ron's party they hit it off well and got along the whole time. Joking and laughing at each other.
If only she saw them at midnight.
On their porch, where they were currently. This time around cuddled up to stay warm. "We should really get a warmer hangout." Draco said hoarsely. He hadn't been feeling the best.
Harry stood, grabbing Draco and pulling him up. He could've cast a heat charm but decided he didn't want a cigarette tonight, maybe he'd end the nasty habit once in for all.
So instead, he pulled Draco to the couch and pushing him onto it handing him a few blankets. "Better?" Harry asked in a soft tone. Draco shrugged, "I suppose, would probably be warmer with someone next to me. Plus my head hurts."
Harry raised an eyebrow in amusement, because Draco Malfoy was secretly a closet softy. He loved affection and cuddles. He surprisingly loved having his hair played with as well, even though he'd never say it out loud.
These are just a few things Harry had learned over the last few months. So Harry grabbed water for them both, turned on a new film 'American pie' and pulled Draco into his side.
He started softly playing with his hair and smiled to himself. He thought his days of pining over Draco were over, but the blonde always found a way to get him interested all over again.
"Thank you for proving me wrong." Draco whispered softly, cuddling more into Harry's side and humming in content.
"What do you mean?" Harry responded, feeling the strong urge to kiss Draco's head. He decided against it.
Draco looked up at Harry with tired eyes, blushing red cheeks, and a shy smile. "You're the best friend I could've ever asked for, and you're changing my views on a lot of things. Thank you for proving me wrong. I never thought we'd work as friends but I think it was written in the stars that it's our time now."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle, "well as long as Mars stays dim I think we'll be alright." Draco laughed softly and laid down on Harry's lap.
Harry subconsciously took Draco's hand and kissing his knuckles softly, "I'm glad we're friends too by the way." Draco heard Harry whisper as he started to doze off.