“And my name’s Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” the beauty before him held out his hand. He never saw someone look so beautiful. The white hair that looks like the full moon, pale, smooth skin that shows the aristocratic life the young boy has, and the bluish-grey eyes that reflect like an alexandrite .
But then he remembers how this beauty teases and being mean to Ron. His only friend. And his first reaction,obviously, is to just ignore the hand that he wanted to touch for at least three seconds, or more. But he rather wants to stand up for someone. He will stand up for Ron, his friend.
He went back to his cabin with Ron and Ron thanked him for standing up for him, he smiled at his pal.
He didn’t notice how stunned the boy that he just ignored. He didn’t notice how the spark on the young boy’s eyes dimmed. He didn’t notice.
+++++++++++
Sirius came back to the 12 Grimmauld Place with such a gloomy aura surrounding him. “I did it. I killed the last horcrux.” Sirius softly said, almost whispering, as he started to go up the stairs. “I’m gonna rest for a night or two. The fight was taking a toll on my body.” he said as his voice cracked at his last sentence. Nobody said anything, and Sirius took that as a sign of agreement and started to go to his room.
It was supposed to be a red flag when Sirius didn’t come down for three days. He is not touching any of his food that Molly sent to him. He also didn’t notice the sob of despair coming from Sirius’ room.
+++++++++++
“Scared, Potter?” Malfoy provoked him with that smirk. He bit his lip, trying to stop himself from hexing Malfoy.
“You wish.” He said, as he looked at those silver eyes.
This duel will probably shut Malfoy up for the rest of the year. But, bloody Merlin, Malfoy did stop but everyone including his own house started to ignore him since rumours started to spread that he was apparently the Slytherin heir just because he knew how to talk to snakes.
So when Hermione thought that they should polyjuice some of the Slytherin house to know who could potentially be the real Sytherin heir, he thought it's a good idea. He will clear his name and probably look at the Malfoy heir that had been staring at such time of the day . The polyjuice potion tastes like crap. You can ask Ron for validation and Ron will definitely agree with him.
However, the Polyjuice Potion is indeed amazing. Him turning to Goyle while Ron turned to Crabbe. You won’t know who is who. Definitely worth it for drinking that crap.
He expected that Malfoy would be more arrogant inside of his own house. But he didn’t expect the Prince to be sitting next to the fire and reading an old looking book. When the Prince notices their existence he looks up from his book and gestures for the both of them to sit down.
Draco squinted his eyes on Goyle-Harry, “Why are you wearing glasses?” the Prince asked. Harry stiffed, “Uh, they, uh, for reading.” he said as he took off his glasses. Draco raised one of his eyebrows, “I didn’t know you could read.” he wondered, “However, why are the two of you late? The prefect Peter, something Weasley could have caught you.” he added.
“Percy.” Crabbe-Ron gritted. “Whatever.” Malfoy rolled his eyes.
“Why did you call us, again?” Harry started, the two of them have their own mission, to know if Malfoy is the heir or he knows the heir.
“It’s about Potter, obviously. Everyone thought that he is the heir, I’m pretty sure that he is not because he would rather pluck his eyes out than do anything to those filthy mudbloods.”Draco started. Harry felt his heart jump from such a concrete statement from Malfoy, it may not be kind but him believing that he will never hurt those muggleborns is something Harry needed. He didn’t even notice the slur that Malfoy just casually throw. “I don’t want Potter to be sent to Azkaban.”
“Azkaban?” Goyle-Potter asked, as he had never heard Azkaban before.
"Azkaban - the wizard prison, Goyle," Draco said in disbelief. “Honestly, Goyle. If you were any slower, you'd be going backwards.” Malfoy amused.
“Why wouldn't you want H-Potter to go to Azkaban?” Crabbe-Ron asked, confused as to how Draco wouldn’t want Harry to go to Azkaban, it could be the easiest way to get rid of Harry.
“Really, Crabbe?” Draco just chuckled but didn’t answer. “Just go to bed. We have an early herbology.” Draco told them as the Prince went back to reading the old book.
Harry didn’t notice that the book that Draco was reading was called, “The Boy Who Lived.”
+++++++++++++
Harry couldn’t stop thinking about his godfather. Sirius didn’t come out of his room but he at least ate a bite or two with the help from Professor Lupin to convince him. This has been going on for two weeks and Harry couldn’t stop himself but to barge inside of Sirius’ room. He found his godfather bundled in the blankets, hair is worse than a bird’s nest and eyes are puffy and red.
“Sirius, are you okay?” Harry asked, voice full of worry.
“Y-yeah, I am.” Sirius croaked out. His voice is so hoarse.
“Yeah, sure. And I hate you.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Is it because of the last horcrux?” Harry carefully asked, and based on how Sirius' lips wobbled, he hit the target.
“He is so young, so, so young. And I killed him, Harry.” Sirius sobbed. Harry was taken aback. He never saw his godfather wail this much. But who is the last horcrux? “He was like Reg, you know. He doesn’t have a choice, I wish I could give him a choice, like how your father gave me one.” he wept.
Harry couldn’t do anything but to hug his godfather. He wished he knew more about comforting the elderly but he didn't know.
Sirius' cries calmed down as he kept whispering, “He’s so young.”
Harry didn’t notice Sirius’ silent cries for Regulus' and his nephew, Draco’s forgiveness.
+++++++++++++++
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle.
"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron, whose jaw was clenched. "Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?" Malfoy continue, however there is something different from his voice asking that to Ron. When Malfoy asked him if he fainted, it sounded so genuine. Harry shook his head. No, Malfoy would never ask how he's been.
Before the two go on and have a fistfight again, Professor Lupin comes and meditates the situation. Ron has been muttering insults about Malfoy until Professor McGonagall came to put Harry to Madam Pomfrey. And after some time he forgot how Malfoy asked him how he was.
He didn’t notice the genuine worry that Malfoy had when he asked Harry if he fainted. Because he knows how dementors could be.
+++++++++++++++
“I dunno mate. Sirius has been really depressed. It was about the last horcrux.” Harry told Ron. Hermione sat down after hearing what Harry just said.
“It’s a horcrux. It was meant to be destroyed, even if it is dear to his heart.” Hermione expressed. While that is so true it is really hard to even comprehend that Sirius killed someone.
Harry sighed, “The thing is it’s not an object.” he pointed out. Whoever it is, really did a damage to Sirius’ mental state.
“What do you mean, mate?” Ron asked, confused. Mad Eye said that the last horcrux is probably the easiest to destroy. With Voldemort being detained with little to no strength and impossible for him to protect the last horcrux.
“It’s a wizard. A young wizard.” Harry muttered.
“A wizard?!” Hermione and Ron screamed. They heard of Nagini but they didn’t think that the dark lord would actually use a wizard to just protect himself from dying.
“It seems like whoever that wizard is really close to his heart. I couldn’t think of who it could be.” Harry explained.
“The dark lord is such a despicable dark wizard. How could he do that to a poor wizard?” Hermione sympathised.
“Sirius has been apologising non-stop.”
“Do you think it’s a family?” Harry shook his head. He knows that Sirius doesn't have anyone aside from Nyphamphadora and Teddy.
Harry didn’t notice that Sirius had been holding on to a locket that has passed from three generations, from Pollux to Cygnus to Narcissa and was supposed to be passed with Draco. The one thing that Narcissa gave to him after he told her what happened to her loving son.
++++++++++++++
"I don't think you're gonna last 10 minutes in this tournament. He disagrees. He thinks you won't last 5." Draco taunts him again.
Malfoy is on his insulting spree but Harry couldn’t take his eyes away from the blonde. It seems like Malfoy grows more beautiful as years pass by. His facial structure has gone sharper but instead of being more muscular after all Quidditch training, Malfoy is on a leaner side. The smirk he always had has always been that cute? He doesn’t know when he finds Malfoy so endearing that he will be willing to be Malfoy’s servant just to see his face everyday.
He doesn’t know how to properly respond to Malfoy and thank Merlin, Hagrid came to him or else he will be nothing but a laughing stock to the Slytherin for a whole week.
He doesn’t notice the blush Draco had after realising Harry has been staring at his face for roughly five minutes.
++++++++++++++
After a month of Sirius holing up in his room, he finally came out, fresh and a little bit malnourished but nevertheless he stopped crying.
“Sirius, welcome back to the land of living.” Remus jokes, making Sirius smile a little.
“I thought that the Wizarding World needs the presence of the beauty of a Black.”
Everyone laughed.
The day passed so quickly when Sirius was making a joke here and there. But they haven’t addressed the elephant in the room. Who is the last horcrux?
++++++++++++++
“Sectumsempra!” Harry shouted, making Draco stumbled on the ground, bleeding over.
Harry didn’t know what that spell was supposed to do. He just read it in a textbook but he never really dwells on how the spell could be life threatening. But now, with Malfoy on the floor, bathing in his own blood, makes Harry’s mind go haywire. He didn’t even feel it when Professor Snape shoved him to go and try to heal Malfoy.
“If you are done Mr. Potter, go to your room.” Professor Snape hissed at him as he gently carried Malfoy probably to Madam Pomfrey.
He doesn’t know how he got back to his dorm. His mind was still picturing the image of Draco bathing in his own blood. He can’t believe he almost killed Malfoy.
Hermione and Ron were in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione was at the “I told you so” lecture while Ron was asking why he had blood on his robes. His mouth runs before his mind still comprehends what happened. He doesn’t know what will happen next.
He didn’t notice how hard Draco cried in the arms of his godfather. Does Potter really hate him so much that he could kill him but can’t use a Cruciatus Curse on his Auntie Bellatrix, who torture witches and wizards for her own entertainment? He cries and cries until there are no tears left to cry and exhaustion finally gets him.
+++++++++++++++
“Sirius, we need to address what happened that day.”
Sirius smiled sadly, “I can’t really escape, huh.” he chuckled. “The last horcrux is Draco. Yes, the heir Malfoy.” he added. There is a pregnant pause, he chuckled, he hoped he could take a photo of this moment, it’s just priceless.
“WHAT?!” Everyone shouted.
“Is that why he suddenly went missing after the sixth year?” Hermione mumbled.
“Is he really that huge of a git?” Ron gritted.
“Probably, he was commanded by his father.” Fred interjects.
“Or he just hated everyone and decided to become a living horcrux.” George added.
“But why are you grieving so much? You don’t even know the git.” Harry pointed out. Sirius sighed as he shook his head. “What can I say? Blood is still blood you know. And I kinda can see Reg in him.” Sirius murmured.
“What do you mean by blood?” Harry asked. What blood? All he has right now is Nymohadora and Teddy.
Sirius lowered his head, letting his hair cover his face and sighed. “Draco is my nephew. Narcissa and I were cousins.” he put his hair behind his ear and looked up.
“The git has always been selfish. You don’t know how much he tortures Harry, Sirius.” Ron said, thinking that maybe if they show to Sirius how such a dick Malfoy is to Harry, Sirius will start to think that Malfoy doesn’t deserve Sirius’ tears.
Sirius smiled somberly, “Draco is surely selfish, after all his mother is Narcissa. But also Narcissa is hard on the outside but soft on the inside. And that trait was one of the greatest things Draco inherited from her. He would rather be the one to suffer, instead of his friends.”he said as he remembered those times where he had to knock at Narcissa’s room because he got scared, Narcissa would yell at him but also make some space for him to lie down.
“You are telling me… Malfoy actually cares for someone that is not him?” Ron gasped. He can’t imagine how Malfoy would look like being so caring with anyone, even with his loyal servants Slytherins.
“I guess we don’t know who Malfoy is.” Hermione sighed. “Malfoy is always a git to us, but we all saw how his face lightened up every time he saw his Father.” she added.
“But why are you so quiet now, Sirius?” Remus asked him.
Sirius looked at his friend, “Draco has last words, but not for me.” he explained.
“Is that why you look so problematic?” Remus asked. Sirius nodded. “Draco has a last wish before he dies. It’s kind of impossible though.”
“Of course, it’s impossible. It’s Malfoy we're talking about.” Ron grumbled.
“What is it, Sirius?” Remus asked.
“It's about telling someone that he was telling him that he loves him on the train.”
“What?” Harry snapped to his long thought.
“Draco… is telling someone that he loves them?” Sirius tried to explain as best he could but that’s all he could do.
Silence reigned for a couple minutes before Harry got up from his chair and got out of the house.
“Harry? Mate? Are you alright?” Ron asked his friend, looking worried.
“HARRY!” Sirius yelled but Harry ignored them as he went straight to the door.
++++++++++
He remembered it! It was the time when the train was about to arrive. Ron and him were talking about the latest news about quidditch and he felt someone was looking at him.
Bluish-grey eyes are looking at him. He smiled, not his usual smirk and sneer, but a smile full of mixed emotions. He was about to call him but the train arrived with such a loud rail squeal, he opened his mouth, he said something but he couldn’t make something out of it.
And that was the last time he saw Draco Malfoy.
Malfoy loves him?!
That is impossible!
The git was nothing but horrible to him!
But was he really?
A voice suddenly stopped him from thinking.
Malfoy is always there. Sure to mock him but the words travel from mouth to mouth. He listened to some of them but he didn’t listen to the rest because it was rude to eavesdrop. But remember some Slytherin in the halls about Malfoy. But what do they say about Malfoy again?
He needs answers.