Love For Blood

Chapter Twenty-Three

Harry followed Draco through the door of the RoR. The room was similar to the room they usually had. Comfortable furniture, warm colors, and a cozy fireplace. However, dressers accompanied a large bed pressed against the back of the room.

It was covered in a large quilt, a light green one. Harry was fine with the slight color bias. It looked so soft and he wanted nothing more than to curl up in it.

Slight panic fluttered through him at the thought of what the bed was going to be used for.

"Don't worry, we're just sleeping tonight," Draco said softly, rubbing Harry's shoulder. Harry let out an involuntary sigh. After everything that happened today, he wasn't sure he was ready for something like that.

Harry frowned before turning around and burrowing into Draco's arms. Draco quickly wrapped his arms around Harry, pulling him closer.

"Why her? She didn't deserve this..." Harry trailed off. Draco frowned, running his hands through the Gryffindor's hair.

"I don't know, Harry. I really don't."

When Harry woke up the next morning, he felt surprisingly at ease. He was wrapped in warmth, being held in a firm grip.

His eyes fluttered open to see the face of Draco Malfoy. His face was completely relaxed and his lips were parted slightly. Harry smiled at the calm radiating off of the blond. He subconsciously nuzzled closer, carefully trying to avoid walking up the Slytherin.

However, Draco stirred awake anyway. His stormy grey eyes revealed themselves slowly.

"Harry?" Draco whispered out groggily, his voice hoarse from sleep. He smiled when he caught the Gryffindor's emerald eyes.

"Just a few minutes, " Harry whispered, leaning up to place a light kiss to Draco's lips.

"Yeah, just a few, " Draco smiled against Harry's pale pink lips.

"Hermione, it's past eight and he still isn't back!" Ron ranted worriedly for the thousandth time.

"Yes, I know, Ron!" Hermione snapped, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips as she ran her fingers through her thick brown hair.

"Merlin, what if something happened to him?" Ron frowned, his eyes fearful. Someone had almost died just yesterday. Harry wasn't known to stay out of trouble.

They had, despite Harry telling them not to, stayed up the whole night waiting for him to return. Harry had always like taking midnight walks to clear his mind, but he always came back long before sunrise. He'd been out so long that they had slept in shifts.

Yet, it was almost nine o'clock in the morning and Harry had yet to return. Most Gryffindors had filtered out of the dorms to go to breakfast. Of course, there was always a handful of students who couldn't care to wake up before twelve.

Hermione felt awful for what she said. She couldn't get over the heartbreak in his eyes. She really was the wor-

Just then, in stumbled the raven-haired Gryffindor, his glasses slightly crooked. He had his invisibility cloak and map folded underneath his arm.

"Harry!" the duo shouted in unison, relieved smiles covering their faces.

"Merlin, it's too early for all that. Did y'all stay up even though I told you not to?" Harry groaned, observing the dark circles underneath their eyes.

Hermione left the question unanswered, choosing to instead run forward and embrace the Gryffindor. He let out a small "oof" as she ran into him.

"I'm so sorry, Harry! I-I promise I hadn't meant to say that! I-"