A SLIGHT ANXIETY ATTACK - DO NOT READ IF IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE
Draco couldn't breathe. The noise that was happening around him made him grab hold of his ears as trying to silence his world. He could hear laughter - the type that his Aunt Bellatrix would usually cackle out at other people's discomfort. He could hear the clatter of knives and forks as they pierced the food on the plates.
He could hear moans about students not wanting classes to begin so soon, and couldn't they have just one more day to themselves. He could hear the teachers talking about their different subjects, and when they were going to hand out their time tables, and Draco couldn't breathe.
He heard doors open and bang shut, which to him sounded just like fireworks or a very heavy armed spell that was being chanted. He could hear chairs scraping on the floor, juice being poured into goblets, he could even hear people chewing their food, and he couldn't breathe.
It felt like his lungs were trying to claw their way out of his chest, taking quick gulps of air, as if to appease them, and make them stay where they were in their ribbed cage, hoping to anyone that was listening, that this couldn't be happening. Not now.
His chest heaving, his body shaking, and his eyes closed trying to drown out the craziness of his current situation, because he didn't know for how long he was going to be able to keep it together. He started to rock his body - this was a bad one.
Harry Potter looked across the great hall and knew an anxiety attack when he saw one. He was familiar with the symptoms, and without a second thought, he rose up out of his chair and made his way towards the Slytherin.
Draco's hands were still covering his ears, and thanking all the gods that his chair was slightly pulled away from the table, Harry sat down on his lap with his legs either side of him and facing him, and wrapped his arms around the man. He pulled Draco's face into his chest and started talking softly to him, so as not to make his attack seem worse.
"Shh - It's okay Draco. Just listen to my voice sweetheart - Only my voice", he in a kind whisper. Keeping one very muscular arm around his torso, and the other at the back of his head, he held on tightly, waiting for the episode to end. All the while, talking to his fellow student, trying to calm him down.
"It's okay, I'm here - just keep focusing on my voice. Everything will be all right love - I promise you. Take your time, and when you want to leave, just nod - I'll take you away from here, all right?", he said, hoping that Draco wouldn't be offended that he had offered his help.
The talking in the hall had stopped. Everyone was paying strict attention to the hero, who had walked over and politely sat down on Draco's lap and started hugging him.
Draco needed grounding, and although he hadn't felt immediate calm at the close proximity of the person helping him, his body began to relax, finally letting go of the shakes that had held him prisoner not just minutes ago. He was listening to the husky voice that was talking to him and calling him sweetheart.
It warmed him, and he felt loved, if only for that one moment. He felt his breathing change, and become more even, and Harry felt as his body change from rigid to limp. "That's it love, I'm here for you - always have been - always will be", said the savior.
Draco felt a sting behind his eyes, and he really really didn't want to cry in the great hall, but it would be hard not to. And not out of shame in the sense that everyone was a witness to this, but more of the fact that he had been a prick to Harry, and he was the one helping him. And it wouldn't be a good thing to keep it in, and so he choked out a sob.
Harry knew that was his cue to stand up and escort Draco out of the hall. He didn't care about stares and gossip and the whispers, he was used to it. He didn't want it to affect Draco though, because it could bring on another attack.
