Confisio Suprema

To nourish a viper on your bosom, or maybe even a dragon?

Harry would never admit it, but he was looking forward to Malfoy's arrival. After all, it will relieve him of the burning pain, he tried to rationalise. Nothing else is required of him. But still – Harry enjoyed his smile, he enjoyed listening to the stories about the patients for whom he prepared potions, Draco's concern made him feel good. I'm alone here all day, Malfoy is the only one who talks to me, so it's only logical that I put up with him, Harry muttered to himself in order to maintain his Gryffindor dignity. Draco had been holding his hands for almost two hours now, and neither dared to say what would happen next. He's not going to leave, Harry thought. I hope he doesn't want to sleep here again. That's out of the question.

"Do you want me to stay here?" Draco asked directly.

Harry tried to be tactful. "I know you mean well, but I... I just don't want to be so close to you. It is inappropriate."

"I expected you to reject me," Draco said with a sad smile. "It would be good for your hands."

Yeah, but it would not be good for the rest of my body, Harry thought, but he couldn't say that out loud.

"I'll see you in the morning," Harry said flatly, indicating that Draco should leave. Draco just reluctantly got up. He did not want to interrupt such a successful treatment. A perfect plan hatched in his head. Later that night, when Harry was fast asleep, he crept into Harry's bedroom and took Harry's hands in his. Nothing more. He had no ulterior motives. He just wanted to heal the stubborn Gryffindor he still couldn't find a way to. Why am I actually helping him? Is it even worth it? Sure, he wants to eliminate the pain, but that's about it. He is willing to endure my presence only because he has hope. In fact, Potter hates me, or he finds me obnoxious. The thought disheartened Draco. He wished so much that Harry would forgive him! He might have at least a little sympathy for Draco if he could heal him.

---

So far, Draco's plan has been working without the slightest flaw. Night visits benefited Harry but had a devastating effect on Draco. While Harry could now move the fingers on his right hand, Draco was starting to feel quite exhausted from lack of sleep. After all, he didn't sleep more than four hours a day.

Harry noticed that he looked pale and had dark circles under his eyes but assumed that Draco was working on potions at night. He certainly didn't suspect him to come to his place every night and hold his hands from midnight to four in the morning. However, the fatigue took its toll, and Draco fell asleep with his head on Harry's chest – and woke up in the same position in the morning. Rather, he was woken up by a terrified Potter, who acted like he'd found an acromantula in his bed.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"You had bad dreams last night, and you called me by a locket, remember?" Draco said so convincingly that Harry wasn't sure what the truth was for a moment.

"Bullshit," he concluded his insight. "I don't know what you mean by that, but I don't want you walking into my bedroom without my knowledge. I'll throw in some securing charms here."

"Only if you can do it wandless," snapped Draco.

Harry raised his right hand triumphantly and held out all his fingers. "I can handle it."

"Do you realise that you wouldn't even move that hand if I didn't come to you at night?" Draco said reproachfully.

Harry was torn between conflicting feelings. On the one hand, he felt anger at being cheated like this, on the other hand, gratitude.

"Why do you care about me so much?" he asked directly.

"I just want you to forgive me," Draco replied. "I've wanted to be your friend all my life since the first day you came to Hogwarts, but you rejected me, and you preferred Weasley." Draco remembered the humiliation and defeat when Harry refused to accept his friendship and handshake. A poor, confused little boy who became an aggressor out of sheer desperation. And now here he is, awkwardly begging for forgiveness...

A slightly blackened hand appeared in front of Draco, offering him friendship. Draco squeezed her tightly. He was unable to speak. He looked into Harry's eyes but quickly lowered them so that Gryffindor wouldn't notice tears of emotion glistening in them.