16 days under the influence (Draco x Harry)

Chapter 36:

*Third person p.o.v*

Harry ended up staying awake most of that night too.

He wasn't really in the mood for nightmares, and he had too much on his mind to be able to sleep.

He couldn't believe that Malfoy had told everyone.

Harry whole-heartedly hoped, prayed, that it somehow wasn't Malfoy. Even though it was beyond unlikely. If it had been him, then surely all they'd done, what he'd said, how he'd made Harry feel, had meant nothing to him.

He hadn't seen Malfoy properly or spoken to him at all for three days, and Malfoy had done a pretty good job at pretending Harry was a stranger to him whilst. And now, he'd run along and begun telling everyone that Harry was bisexual even when he knew Harry didn't want the attention that would come with it?

Harry couldn't believe it. He just couldn't comprehend how Malfoy could be like this after everything that had happened between them.

Had it meant much more to Harry than it had to him?

Because now it seemed all Malfoy had been doing was pretending to care for him only to be able to hurt him whilst Harry had been too busy feeling as though all his problems faded into nothing when he looked at him. How could he have been so stupid?

"You're awake?"

Harry turned his head, snapping out of his train of thought, and found Ron laying on his side, looking at him from his own bed.

"Yeah," Harry breathed shortly, turning to face Ron properly.

Ron cast a quick look at the other boys in the dorm; Dean was sleeping seemingly peacefully, Seamus had his mouth open, most certainly drooling, and Neville was snoring.

"Is it.." Started Ron, looking back at Harry. "You know, him?" He gave Harry a careful look. "..Keeping you awake?"

Harry sighed, pulling the duvet up to cover his shoulders as well. "Yeah," He said. "I just really hope he hasn't.. That he didn't.."

Ron nodded along, understanding. He seemed to be studying Harry, "I know you do." Said Ron simply, making Harry's gaze shift from the other boy to his own hand on the sheets. "I hope he hasn't done it. For his own sake. Hermione will.. Actually kill him."

Harry scoffed, a small smile making its way to his lips. "Yeah," He repeated, Ron already smiling at him.

There was a short silence, only Neville's snoring and Dean and Seamus low breathing to be heard in the dorm.

Ron was the one to break the comfortable silence, clearing his throat. "Can I ask you something?" He sounded slightly hesitant.

"Of course." Harry answered, finally looking up from his own hand and back to Ron again.

"What—" Ron seemed to think about how to word whatever he was about to say. "What was he.. Like, when he was with you? I mean, did he really treat you as nicely as.. You know, me and Hermione had seen and figured?"

Harry found himself frowning at Ron.

Malfoy didn't make any sense.

He'd treated Harry so well, adored him, cared about him, to the point were Harry was almost sure Malfoy liked him back. He had been so genuine and caring and nearly careful with him, and had really made an effort making sure Harry didn't feel used.

Harry understood now why Malfoy hadn't decided to go all the way with him. What he'd meant when he said he couldn't, just couldn't because it wouldn't be fair to Harry. Harry sort of wasn't in his right mind then.