The Noctis Codex | DRARRY

THIRTY-SIX

After Ron and Hermione slipped out, the quiet that filled Harry's room was different—almost charged, but not tense. The boys sat side by side on his bed, shoulders touching, both leaning back against the headboard. It felt strangely easy, the silence that stretched between them, comfortable and almost natural, as though some invisible barrier had finally given way.

They started talking without any specific direction, letting the conversation drift from one topic to the next, laughing quietly, sometimes more than they should. Draco rolled his eyes, smirking, as he reminisced about their first year. "You know, Potter, that was a real blow to my self-esteem, you turning down my hand like that. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"

"Oh, come off it, Malfoy. Like you were genuinely heartbroken by the loss of my friendship." The Gryffindor stifled a laugh, feigning innocence.

As Draco placed a hand dramatically over his heart, he gave him a mock-wounded look. "Are you kidding? Absolutely shattered. I had to go recruit Crabbe and Goyle just to fill the gaping void you left." He leaned in. "Trust me, I knew right then, you were going to be nothing but trouble."

"Oh, right," Harry chuckled, rolling his eyes. "That's rich coming from you, Mr. 'Slytherin Prince.'"

Those words caused the blond to look mock-offended. "I prefer the term 'heir to greatness.' And to be fair, I couldn't exactly show weakness. Imagine the damage to my reputation if people knew I'd actually wanted to befriend the 'Boy Who Lived.'"

They both laughed, the sound ringing around the room and softening the shadows that gathered in the corners. Harry looked over at the other, noting the light in his eyes—so different from the last few days. They'd been through so much together already, enough for a lifetime, but seeing Draco like this, open and laughing, felt like he was catching a glimpse of who he might have been all along.

"Fine, fine," Draco said, still smirking. "And what about you, Potter? Did it ever occur to you to take me up on that offer, or was I always just a no-go?"

Harry leaned his head back against the headboard, giving Draco a sidelong glance. "You know, I did think about it for a second." He shrugged, a small, rueful smile pulling at his lips. "But you were so... smug. I didn't think I'd survive a year if I actually let you know I'd even considered it."

Rolling his eyes, the blond muttered, "As if I'd have held that over your head for long." But he grinned, and Harry could tell he knew it was true.

"Anyway, it's not like we were ever going to be normal friends, were we?"

Draco nodded, a faint frown appearing between his brows. "Maybe not normal," he admitted, his voice quieter now, almost wistful. "But I don't think that would've been so bad, after all."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, neither of them needing to fill the silence that settled over them again. Their shoulders were still pressed together, and Harry felt the warmth of Draco's arm against his own, something grounding in that closeness. It was almost strange, how easily they fit together now—so many years of rivalry melting away into something that felt... safe.

Without really meaning to, Harry asked, "Do you ever wonder how different things would be if we hadn't... been like this all those years?"

"Sometimes," the other admitted. "But, then again, maybe this is how it was meant to go all along."

While nodding, Harry felt that same pull in his chest he had every time they were close like this, the undeniable sense that there was some truth to Draco's words.

Without another thought, Harry leaned in, his lips meeting the blond's in a gentle, yet passionate kiss. It was as if he was already missing the feeling of their last time, craving the warmth and intimacy it brought.