The Journey

18. Feelings

A week had gone by, and when the owl eventually showed up with a reply from Potter, Draco was ecstatic.  He took the letter, rushed to his room and ripped open the envelope.  The more he read, the more he blushed.  The more he blushed, the more tears formed in his eyes.  And the more tears formed in his eyes, the more his vision became blurry.  He couldn't believe what he was reading.  

Pott-no Harry - had called him beautiful.  He knew he was, but to hear it from the savior's mouth!  Well in his letter, but tomato, tomahto.  Harry had been watching him since fifth year?  And it was true, he had always seen the golden boy stare at him relentlessly.  He often wondered what that was about, and now it seemed he had his answer.  How could he think he was offending him.  If anything, he was complimenting him, and it felt awesome.

He read the letter again and again, trying to comprehend what his reply was going to be.  He had left the others in the common room again, and ignored their whistles when the letter had arrived.  Should he tell them, or did they already know?  They at least suspected, surely?  Draco had never been excited at receiving letters before, so they must know something was up.  Weighing his options, he thought that he would keep this information to himself a little while longer.

Embracing your feelings was tiresome, but also freeing in a way.  Harry had said his heart was heavy, and so decided to speak about it.  Draco felt the same, but he didn't want Harry to think he was just saying things to mirror him.  He would love to shout it out to the world about how he felt about him.  Those eyes, those damn eyes that would stare at him from across a room.  Those big strong hands that he wished would hold him, and wrap around his throat.  Those adorable lips that were plump and pink, ready to be kissed.  

His muscles, his biceps, that arse.  Gods, that muscular arse, he wanted to grip it while Harry pinned him down.  His voice had always been sultry, imagine what it sounded like when he was fucking him?  Christ, he was so horny, and although he was on cloud nine that Harry felt the same as he did, he wanted more reassurance.  He wouldn't go into this half arsed, because he was not a one time thing.  He was a Malfoy, and he wanted more.

He fell asleep soon after, his head swirling with thoughts of Harry and finally knowing how he felt.  He didn't hear the conversation that was going on in the common room, because if he had, he would have blushed non stop.

Pansy, Blaise, Ron, Hermoine, Dean, Seamus, Luna, Neville, Theo, Gregory, Hannah, and Anthony were talking among themselves about Draco.  Specifically about the letters that Draco keeps receiving, and why wasn't he telling anyone about them?  Also, his reaction to them.  They had to be from Potter, because he was never this happy when his mother wrote to him.  They were intrigued to say the least.

"Wonder what Potter is telling him, and why does he hurry away every time, like it's private?", asked Gregory.

"Because it is private you prat", answered Neville.  "If Draco wants us to know, then he will tell us.  Until then, we need to value their privacy", he said.

The others nodded although they too were at a loss.  What was Potter saying in his letters to their blond friend.  It had to be extremely personal if Draco rushed away to read them all the time.  Hermoine knew how Harry felt, he had confided in her, and she hoped that Draco would be honest with himself first.  He used to stare at Harry too, so perhaps there was a chance that he would give in to his feelings and tell Harry how he really felt.

Snape had gone back to Mcgonagall, telling her why he had been summoned.  One does not just summon Severus Snape, but he had given his word and pledged his allegiance to Potter, and so did what he could.  He spoke of how Harry was trembling at holding his magic in that had come to the forefront because of his anger and disgust.  He told her how he had been neglecting to eat, just so that he could be done with his journey.  

And then he told her about Draco.  Mcgonagall nodded through everything, realizing that what she had seen all these years was not hate.  It was passion.  Draco Malfoy was used to getting what he wanted, but did he want Potter?  It came as no surprise that Harry had asked his forgiveness first, and that alone would pave the way for him to be productive in his future, perhaps even changing it.

She smiled when Snape had finished telling his story, and felt a warmth surround her.  "Potter is very magically gifted Severus.  He is learning to control it, which is a good thing for others, but not so good for him", she said.

"I know Minerva.  I also know firsthand that after what happened with Fudge, he will be able to control it more, and channel it in a good way.  He has always been hot tempered, but his anger dissipates when he thinks of his friends and of Draco", he smiled.

Harry was feeling excited.  He had forgiven most of the wrongs that had been caused, but knew he had a long way to go.  But with the way his heart felt lighter, he knew it would be over soon.  Receiving letters from Draco made his heart swell, and as he lay back on his bed, with his hands behind his head, he recalled the last letter he had sent, and hoped that Draco was safe, and had accepted his words.

The ring on Harry's finger felt the change in him, and started to hiss.  You are in love hatchling!

Harry almost jumped off the bed from fright, and laughed at himself.  Yes I am, he replied.

Then everything is as it should be, hissed the snake.  Although it did take you a while.

What are you talking about?, asked Harry nervously.

You have had feelings for the Malfoy heir for a long time, and now I can rest easy.  And with that he curled tighter around Harry's finger and went back to sleep, peaceful in the knowledge that his new master and the Malfoy boy would find each other, and he would belong again.