If Only He Knew...

Tell Me Why

Draco awoke to a gentle stream of sunlight making its way through the curtains, signalling the beginning of a new day. Glancing over, they realised the bed was empty. Rolling over, they gazed up at the ceiling, only to sit up as Harry emerged from the shower, still wet and draped in a towel.

Draco immediately turned their face away, burying themselves in the covers. Nevertheless, Harry approached, towel still secure around his waist. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured softly, placing a delicate kiss on Draco's forehead. "Morning," they replied, before immersing themselves in the duvet once again.

Harry removed the bedding from Draco's face, prompting them to shift away. "Look at me, gorgeous," Harry urged, tilting Draco's chin upwards to meet his gaze. But Draco remained obstinate, refusing to meet his stare. "Draco, look at me please," Harry persisted, his voice growing more strained. Draco let out a deep breath and leaned against the pillows, still ignoring him. "Look at me," Harry repeated, now with a hint of irritation in his tone.

Draco was taken aback by Harry's harsh tone of voice and felt a lump forming in their throat. They got up quickly, walking out of the room and slamming the door behind them. They walked downstairs to the kitchen where Molly was finishing up with breakfast. She greeted them with a warm "Good morning" but Draco didn't look at her and pushed past her to get to the garden.

As Draco stepped outside, the cool morning air filled their lungs. They felt a sense of relief wash over them, being away from the tension brewing inside the house. They walked towards the garden, intending to calm their thoughts before returning inside.

Suddenly, someone grabbed their hand, causing them to jump in shock. As they looked up, they saw that it was Harry. "Draco, wait," he said, concern evident in his voice. "I'm sorry for my tone, I didn't mean to come off that way." Draco pulled their hand away, backing away from Harry slowly.

They didn't trust him right now, they haven't been in a stable relationship and they don't know what to believe. Harry took a step towards Draco, reaching out to touch them, but Draco flinched away and shook their head.

"No, Harry, I don't want to talk right now," they said softly, tears starting to form in their eyes. "I just need some space." Harry's face fell at their words, obviously hurt and sad, but he nodded in understanding. "Okay, I'll give you space. Just know that I love you and I'll be here when you're ready to talk." With one last long look, he turned around and walked back inside. Draco stayed outside for a while, letting the fresh air calm their nerves before making their way back inside the house.

Still feeling cold and desolate, Draco sat outside for quite some time, lost in their thoughts and the ever-falling snowflakes that dusted their hair and clothes. The chill had started to get to them and their fingers were beginning to numb when Molly stepped out into the crisp air.

She held out her hand for Draco to take, coaxing them inside. Wordlessly, Draco rose and took her hand, allowing her to lead them inside, into the warm, cosy living room. Molly immediately turned on the heat, ensuring that Draco was comfortable in her home, before heading into the kitchen to make a nice hot drink for her.

Once Molly disappeared into the kitchen, Draco started to roam around the living room, searching for warmth and comfort to ease their frayed nerves. They lay down on the sofa, wrapped in a soft, warm blanket. Pebbles, the Yorkshire Terrier, padded into the room, wagging her tail at the sight of Draco.

Draco picked up Pebbles, setting her in their lap, and the little dog snuggled up against their body, eliciting a small smile from the 18 year old as they stroked the dog's fur.

Finally, Molly came back into the living room with a mug of hot chocolate, holding it out to Draco with a kind smile. "Here you go, dear. This should warm you up a bit," she said, settling down in a chair across from them. Draco gratefully accepted the mug, taking a sip of the rich and creamy cocoa. "Thank you, Molly," Draco said softly, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. "I appreciate everything you and Arthur have done for me." Molly smiled, putting a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Of course, love. You're always welcome in our home, no matter what happens between you and Harry."