Change My Mind

“Where are you taking me?” Harry asked as he followed the blonde through the Forbidden Forest.

Draco smiled, turning over his shoulder to see the Gryffindor. He continued tugging Harry along by his wrist. “Just shut up and follow me.”

Pushing past ruffled leaves and low hanging branches, Harry reluctantly obeyed as Draco pulled him through the trees. The sun, not as high in the sky as it was before, peaked through the trees as they walked.

They came to a clearing within the tall oaks, small patches of moss and tiny flowers scattered across the dirt floor.

Harry couldn’t see anything special around them, and was confused as to why they had come out here. That was until he caught eye of his old fire bolt lying in the middle of the clearing.

He couldn’t have.

Draco would know better than to even suggest the idea. Harry’s heart was in his throat, his stomach tying and untying itself with every step.

He began to drag himself back as Draco tugged him. He knew why Harry was doing this, yet he continued onward.

Harry wriggled out of Draco’s grip and stopped dead in his tracks. The blonde turned with a light pleading look upon his face.

“No.”

“But Harry-“No. You can’t force me to get on a goddamn broom, you know I don’t-“I know, I know, but you’ve got to try, this fear is holding you back.”

Draco held his hand out to Harry, who was trembling. He took a frantic step back and shook his head.

“I-I won’t do it, you can’t make me!” He shuddered, his arms wrapped tightly around his chest.

Draco sighed, taking a seat on the grassy blanket below. He put his legs criss-cross-applesauce style and patted the spot in front of him, signaling Harry to join him.

Hesitantly, Harry followed, matching Draco’s legs in the pretzel like pattern. He cowered when Draco reached behind him, grabbing the broom and placing it in his lap.

He chuckled, almost broken-heartedly, “I had thought this would’ve been destroyed during the war, yet I found it almost completely unharmed.”

Harry felt a tug at his throat. He’d never expected Draco to find it, let alone have his broom be untouched by the battle he was thrown into. He swallowed the feeling of tears as Draco went on.

“I know I can’t force you, and I won’t try to. But Harry, I’ve never seen you happier than when you were on a broom. I can’t tell you how bright your damn smile was when I flew next to you, when we used to fight for that stupid snitch. You were Hogwarts’ best quidditch player. And your star broom is still in mint condition, it’s only fitting you give it one more go.”

Harry shook his head, unable to speak as he didn’t trust his voice not to falter.

The worst part? The worst part was not knowing how this fear had arisen in the first place. He had only flown on his broom during the war to save Draco, and even yet he’d made it out almost completely unharmed. There was no reason Harry should feel so petrified of flying, yet it terrified him nonetheless.

“I’ll fly with you.. if it would help,” Draco offered, a reassurance smile glowing on his delicate face. Harry paused.

“Your dark mark. How did you remove it?”

Now it was Draco’s turn to be unable to speak. He winced at the question, his gaze immediately caught somewhere, anywhere else besides Harry. He quivered as he glanced at his forearm, the scars faint in the light of the slowly setting sun.

“It took months to get rid of,” Draco stammered, “It was quite painful too. But my mother promised if I kept trying, I would be rid of it.” His words soften, more confidence gained. He wasn’t ashamed of it now.

Harry frowned. He was the first to believe Draco was a death eater, he was the first to question him. His eyes scanned the warm spring trees around them as Draco’s confession settled into his mind.

“It’s a great day for flying, Harry,” Draco smiled softly, “I’m sad to know you’ll miss it.” And with that, the Slytherin took his broom and rode up into the sky. Harry watched him hang upside down before soaring higher up. He followed him with his eyes, half squinting because of the sun.

‘Go.’ His mind told him.

No, I cant.

‘Join him.’

He was fighting with his head, his legs shaking. Was he really about to do this?

“Draco, wait!”

Within moments the Slytherin was hovering next to Harry, an ‘I told you so’ look smeared on his gorgeous face. ‘Jesus Potter, get a hold of yourself,’ Harry thought.

Without giving himself a chance to back out, he climbed onto the broom. The moment it flew off the ground, Harry frantically wrapped his arms around Draco’s waist. He could feel his cheeks burn through his embarrassment.

Draco chuckled, “Hang on tight.” Harry did as he was told. Within seconds Draco was flying them faster than he ever used to during their old Quidditch tournaments.

“Slow down! Slow down!” Harry panicked, squeezing the life out of Draco. The broom came to a slow halt, the wind rustling Draco’s hair out of his face.

“Sorry Har, that was probably too fast for a start, huh?” He turned over his shoulder, an apologetic look on his face.

Har? That was new. But it was cute, Harry could admit that. He shook his head at the blonde, a bit annoyed, but gave him the okay to keep going slowly.

Draco swooped them higher till they could touch the clouds. Harry tried desperately to ignore the shaking of his entire body. He was sure Draco could barely breath from how tight his arm were around him.

“Okay, I think I’m done now,” Harry yelled over the rapid wind. “Bring me back down and-“No way, we’re just getting started! Aren’t Gryffindors supposed to be brave?”

“Shut the hell up!” Harry shouted, squeezing Draco tighter. He got a face full of a peppermint scent from the blonde, mixed with a strong smell of pine trees and sour apples. It send a chill down Harry’s spine.

They soared over dozens of tree tops, Harry opening his eyes here and there. The further they went, the tighter Harry hugged Draco.

“Check this out,” The blonde chuckled, before sliding Harry’s arms off himself, wrapping his legs tightly around the broom and hanging upside down.

Gripping the broom now that his usual hand holds went missing, Harry shouted. “Jesus, stop! You’re going to kill yourself!”

He could barely hear Draco’s laugh over the wind, “Worried about me, Harry? How lovely.”

Blush rose on Harry’s cheeks. The Slytherin was so attractive like this. He’d never seen Draco so carefree.

He was acting like a Gryffindor.

It was refreshing to see a boy who Harry had known to have terrible expectations over his head at all times act so alive, so free.

Draco let his arms dangle over the trees, laughing and smiling. “You’ve got to try this!”

“No fucking way,” Harry yelled, holding onto the broom tighter than before. “You’re freaking me out, get back up here!”

Draco has one more bit of fun before listening to the brunette. “As you wish,” He grins.

Harry’s arms around immediately wrapped around his torso once more, the Gryffindor hiding the blush on his face in Draco’s shoulder. “Missed me that much?”

“Fuck off!”

“Cmon Harry, this isn’t fun for you at all?” Draco asked.

“Keep your eyes ahead of you, I don’t want us to crash,” Harry shouted, his hands squeezing the material of Draco’s shirt.

“Into what, a cloud? Relax Potter.”

The flew further and Harry clutched onto Draco tighter as he dipped the nose of the broom towards the ground. The trees became clearer and closer as they flew.

Harry felt safe to look at the ground, watching as they passed over meadows and brooks.

“Stop.”

Draco halted the broom quickly. “What is it?”

He turned over his shoulder to see the Gryffindor deeply focused on something below.

Assuming he wanted to be on the ground now, Draco obliged. They landed in the middle of the forbidden forest, in an area Draco was unfamiliar of.

Harry was slow to climb off the broom, it seemed he was cautious on where to step. They were surrounded by dark trees, the sun had begun to set and the air became cold.

Draco shivered, holding onto Harry’s broom with one hand, his other deep in his jacket pocket.

A small pond sat in front of them. Harry stood facing it, it was hard to tell whether he was still with Draco or completely checked out.

“Harry,” Draco called, “It’s almost nightfall, we have to head back soon.” The wind nipped his nose, if they spent any longer out here they were sure to catch a cold.

Draco was going to call Harry again, only to see the Gryffindor was kneeling in front of the water.

“I saved Sirius here.”

The Slytherin stepped closer, “What did you say?”

“I saved my godfather here.”

Draco swallowed, he felt guilty for accidentally triggering another locked up part of trauma Harry carried around with him. “I.. I’m sorry, Harry.”

The Gryffindor was quiet, he stared into the icy water. Draco was worried he’d cry, it would only strengthen his chance of becoming ill.

But he didn’t.

“Let’s just go back to the castle,” Harry mumbled, standing up quickly and keeping a focused eye on the ground. The walk to Hogwarts was close enough, and Draco knew Harry knew how to apparate, even if it wasn’t allowed on school grounds.

He would have asked to fly them back, saving them the walk, but he knew asking Harry to fly with him would only make things worse.

He kept his mouth shut as he followed the Gryffindor through the woods.