Only you

•Mate•

Not yet a couple
Draco x Harry
Angst
Summary: Draco is a Veela who refuses to confront his mate and Harry is just trying to be a good friend.
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"I don't think I want you to freeze it" Draco said with
a final sigh and a worn down voice . Tears welled at the corners of his eyes yet none of them dared to spill out after all he had a stupid Malfoy reputation to uphold even at this dying and trying time.

"Huh" Harry answered back confused where the state of the silence that held their nervous thoughts had led them to; unable to pinpoint the exact mention of Draco's thoughts.

Harry noticed from the corner of his eyes the slim, bony figure of Draco. He saw Draco pull his legs closer towards his chest and something in Harry's heart warmed up yet he hid it behind a concealed mask like usual and focused on this lingering question that had been passed off as more of a statement but draco didn't bother dwelling on Harry's state of mindlessnesses and confusion. Harry although curious and agitated by the spoken words kept his quiet and gave the boy that occupied his thoughts the needed time.

A passing by stranger would see the silver of the eyes of Draco focused on the shimmering stars but Harry saw the contemplation and hesitation that laid beneath.

A passing by stranger would see Harry admiring Draco from afar, scared his gaze would be caught red handed. The stranger would see his emerald green eyes glittering and glimmering even in the dark stuck on the figure of the gorgeous boy that sat beside him, legs tucked neatly under his chin and  hands that rested on the sides of his knees and just by the quick and simple observation the stranger would know a part of Harry that Draco quite hadn't figured out.

The silence echoed with unspoken words and all that truly laid in front was much different than the voice that spoke out loud. Both boys sat in the starry night afraid of the truth, the truth haunted that them like chewed gum that was stuck to each one by the hip and the bone.

They were unsure of themselves and petrified; confused and in hiding, always in the dark and always unaware or scared of the truth that would help them escape this darkness that crawled in their lives and settled itself in ever since that day they became friends in St. Mungo.

"I think I wanna end it Harry. The trying to freeze this Veela thing I mean." Draco said with a shaky drawl of breath  and for a minute Harry wondered if the second half of the sentence was an added thought and Harry's heart shuddered and shattered with every word that escaped his beloved's pale lips.

Draco was broken and every instinct in Harry screamed to help the younger lad he had been smitten by since first year.

Harry wasn't sure just how broken the Draco sitting beside him was but spending each day and hearing the broken promises, the timid whispers, the denied and begged for requests from the healers all around the world might have broken him just as much.

Yet nothing prepared him for the pain and the twinge he felt in his heart when he heard those words from Draco himself; it was different when he heard those words from healers; like a broken record or a script inscribed to each one of them as they reported back the words that he'd heard play a million times from each one of them who refused to believe that just because a submissive Veela didn't have his mate by his side he wouldn't stand a chance at survival, the people that refused to believe that there was the possibility of a cure to his Draco's woe and just like that all of those healers would just let his precious Draco die like this; be punished for the sins of another.

He couldn't fathom just why Draco would choose his cowardliness and insecurities over their friendship that Harry always wished would one day cross the line to something more but even after all that he heard, he always had the hoax that he and Draco had faith that glowed in the crescent sky,in a dim lit room and it would never fade yet today for the first time he felt the candle of Draco's faith burning out and it seemed irrevocable.

He always knew that they would together work it out but with another goner of a healer it seemed that Draco had let the last bit of faith in him fall, let it lay him crestfallen.

He felt the urge to cry deep inside but he refused to; he couldn't cry not when Draco felt much worse not when he had to be strong for the boy beside him.

He ran a hand through his messy hair in a way of a habit he had found himself to do quite often when he felt anxious or terrified per say a habit he knows he plays out each time he feels either of those emotions cause Draco brought it to life to him one day, brought it to his senses and noticed this peculiar part of him; cause Draco would always notice these smaller details in him, often to read what Harry truly felt, and just like that Harry reminded himself to mask these minor actions that would let Draco figure out what he was currently feeling and what he felt for years beneath.

He wanted to restore the faith in Draco, yearned for him to stay. He couldn't afford to lose him and for the first time he dared to speak out his feeling, get on his knees and beg for Draco to stay with him and not let the weight he carried take him under but that would've been oh so selfish of him so he wouldn't do either but he would utter out a advice, a souvenir of words he carried out from ages, granted to him by someone else but before he could speak Draco broke Harry's unannounced words and continued from where he had last left off of " my mate doesn't want me Harry, there's no point in living, not anymore. I'm tired of this perpetual feeling of hurt and desire. I'm tired of this stupid ache in my chest that won't go away Harry. I want it to go, I want to live life but I can't. It feels like I'm dead already and when it doesn't feel like I'm dead I'm counting days till i am" and for the fist time in Harry's life of 19 years he saw the strong, brave Draco Malfoy cry, sob and let tears freely flow down his porcelain skinned face.

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, cradled him and brushed his hair with the tips of his fingers; a gesture of affection he knew Draco was quite fond of.

He ignored the jab in his heart when Draco mentioned his mate, mentioned someone that probably wasn't Harry; mentioned someone that was probably much more taller, more stronger, more smarter and someone that could actually protect Draco but that didn't matter right now at this moment cause a part of him, a much more selfish and possessive one relished knowing Draco's mate wasn't here with him through this tough and obstacles filled aspect of life but Harry was.