angst, child abuse, child neglect on draco's part, hogwarts eighth year, hopeful ending, pre-relationship
harry had gotten close with draco and you know that lot but then they hung out in draco's room and harry found a book full of a child's writing while draco was in the bathroom–
dun like, dun read, but enjoy!
previously called Good Child
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A good child does not cry.
First of all, what the fuck? Harry stared at the book with horror. What is this? Is this what Draco's parents had been teaching him? The Gryffindor tried to remember when was the last time Draco had cried. Sixth Year, he realised. Only then.
A good child is not loud.
...
Holy shit. I'm only through with two sentences and I'm ready to punch them. A child is supposed to be loud! Harry gritted his teeth indignantly. They're supposed to be loud and have fun!
Suddenly remembering Teddy, he shuddered at the thought of him ever learning this kind of things growing up.
A good child is polite.
A good child is obedient.
Polite? Harry wondered. Maybe to others that were considered to be his level but never to the Gryffindors. Obedient? Definitely obeyed his family a lot.
A good child does not laugh, they only smile.
"I don't even think I ever saw Draco smile," Harry said to himself, eyebrows furrowed in much concentration. "Much less laugh. Always had that Pureblood mask on him constantly."
A smirk, maybe. Smug grin.
But no genuine smile had ever been carved onto Draco Malfoy's lips.
A good child follows their elder's orders.
Yeah, we know that already. Shut the fuck up, Lucius. Merlin, I hate you so much that you fucked up such a beautiful art.
A good child needs no friends.
...
Hold on–
Did... Did Draco really think that? Harry questioned with a tinge of sadness. Is he still thinking that we're not friends?
"I see you're snooping around my personal belongings again, Potter," Draco stood there with his body leaning against the bathroom door with a frown. Harry didn't look up from the book he was gripping to even bother replying.
Instead, he said, "Am I not your friend?"
The blond blinked with surprise before realising what Harry was reading. "I–" he stopped. Sighing, he sat next to Harry, not even bothering to look at the book. "A good child needs no friends," he recited as if it had been drilled into his mind countless of times. "I'm pretty sure we can summarise that I'm not even a child anymore, much less good."
