Getting Closer

One

It was the beginning of 6th year, Harry , Ron and Hermione were settling in on the train, anxious for this year after last years events. Sirius had been killed, so Harry was living with the Weasley's over the summer. He hardly ever went to the Dursley's at all anymore. The summer was solemn, and quiet, everyone was hurting, everyone had lost something, whether It be a friend, father figure, or their own innocence. Harry was oddly quiet on this train ride, but soon enough his friends started a conversation.
"What classes did you two sign up for this year? I'm taking advanced potions, though most of my classes this year are advanced." Hermione looked between the two boys who gave her blank stares."I'm only taking what's required." Ron gave a heavy sigh. "Same." Harry gave a weak smile and leaned his head on the window.
Soon the train arrived at the castle and the kids all crowded into the carriages.
In the great hall everyone sat at there respective tables while the sorting commenced. After that Dumbledore stood to make a speech. "Welcome students. To another year at Hogwarts! Id like to remind you all that there is now a curfew in effect. All students must be in their dorms by 9pm. If any student is caught out of bed there will be heavy consequence. With that being said let the feast commence!"
Food appeared on the tables, and everyone began to eat. Harry couldn't help but notice a certain blond staring at him. " what are you looking at Harry?" Hermione turned around and looked towards the slytherin table. "Nothing". Hermione and Ron exchanged confused looks and then went back to eating.

It was around 3am  when Harry awoke from a nightmare, which were becoming all to familiar to him these days. He decided after about an hour that he wasn't going to get anymore sleep, so he slipped on some slippers and a hoodie, grabbed his invisibility cloak and made his way up to the astronomy tower. Sometimes when he had nights like these the cool autumn air calmed his nerves. Once he was there he pulled off his cloak when he noticed Draco leaning against the railing, looking off onto the castle grounds, Draco hearing Harry's footsteps drew his wand and pointed it at Harry defensively. " woah woah!! Malfoy what the bloody hell!" Harry raised his hands in the air. Draco, seeing who was there lowered his wand slowly. " what are you doing up here potter." Draco's tone was cold and distant. " I come up here when I can't sleep. You?" Harry walked to where he was and leaned on the railing next to him. " I do the same." Draco had dark circles under his eyes , implying he hadn't slept much recently. Harry for some reason wanted to ask if he was okay, and what was wrong, which made a odd feeling bubble in his chest. ' am I really concerned for him right now? He's done nothing but torment us these last few years.' Harry didn't know what to think about that feeling, but the silence between them was almost peaceful which was something neither of them seemed to know well.

After a few minutes Harry sighed and sat down on the floor. Draco looked down at him confused "what are you doing potter." Draco's question took a second to register to Harry " sitting down? What else would I be doing" Draco scoffed and stood away from the railing. "I wonder why they decided to have us travel on a Friday this year. We have a whole weekend before classes." Harry looked up at Draco who had a blank expression on his face. "What?" Draco was confused on why potter what even making conversation, much less a boring one like this, seemed almost pathetic. " just making conversation Draco. Not that I should even be trying when you so clearly couldn't care less."
'Did he just called me Draco?' Draco's eyes widened a bit and Harry noticed what he had just called him. Harry quickly stood up and grabbed his cloak. " well I'm gonna try and get some sleep before school. You should too." Harry said this under his breath and walked off back to the Gryffindor dorms.

Draco was now more confused than ever. Why had Harry spoken to him that way, without hate in his voice? Harry had never been like that around Draco before. It felt nice. Draco's chest was a bit tight with anxiety. The summer's events were traumatizing. Draco had hardly slept in weeks since he defied the dark lords orders, causing him to be disowned from his family. Voldemort wanted Draco to be initiated as a death eater. But to do that, he would have to kill someone. Which he refused. That resulted in a long beating from his father, which his mother could only watch in horror. His father had also used Crucio to make his point more heard. even after all the torture Draco stuck by his decision. He'd been living at the leaky cauldron for the last month, his mother sending him a letter and money by owl. Now having been back at school he knew he'd be safe from the torture of that life , at least for a little while.

It was close to 6 am now and Draco needed to start getting ready for the day. He decided to take a cold shower to try and wake himself up a bit. He entered the boys showers and stripped clean of his clothes, as the cold water hit his skin he let out a sigh of relief. His aching skin sorely needed this, he was pretty badly beaten, scars were beginning to form and the bruises were slowly healing. One had begun bleeding early that night, Draco only noticed as the dried blood washed down his back and into the shower drain.

Harry was laying in his bed still unable to sleep. 'Thank god for the weekend.' It was maybe 6:30 in the morning and breakfast started at 7. Harry decided he wanted to be early as to not run into people. He threw on a pair on jeans, a grey long sleeve shirt and a flannel. He reached down to tie his shoes, grabbed his wand and he was off to breakfast. As he walked he got lost in thought about the nights events at the astronomy tower. Why had Draco been up there all alone? Why did he seem so lonely, and why had he not been sleeping. All these thoughts were cut short as he slammed into a hard chest in front of him. " hey watch- Potter?" Draco backed up a bit as he noticed Harry, who had just slammed into him, while not watching where he was going. " shit sorry dra-Malfoy." Harry backed up a bit as Draco was a few inches taller than him, when he made eye contact Draco had a look that made Harry confused. Was it .... No no. "Next time quit day dreaming and watch where you're walking Harry." Draco walked away but stopped for a moment realizing he had just called Harry by his first name. " did you just?" Harry was stunned to say the least. But before he got an answer Draco was gone. Shrugging it off on his lack of sleep Harry made his way to the great hall for breakfast.