The Noctis Codex | DRARRY

THIRTY-NINE

With a violent gasp, Harry woke up, his heart racing, his body drenched in sweat. The terror of the dream still gripped him, and he bolted upright, barely able to steady his breathing. His legs felt unsteady as he swung them off the bed, but he forced himself up, heart pounding wildly. He couldn't waste another second.

He threw open his door, stumbling through the dark corridors of the castle, not caring about anything but getting to Draco. His feet carried him with a speed he didn't know he had, and within moments he was bursting into the man's room. His eyes flew to the bed.

There he was, lying still, asleep and unaware. Relief hit him, almost making him collapse, but instead, he rushed over, his breath ragged and desperate as he leaned over Draco, who still hadn't stirred. Fear clawed at him again, threatening to overwhelm him, as he gripped the blond's shoulders, shaking him, his voice breaking.

"Draco, wake up! Please!" He shook him harder, his voice cracking as he felt the rising panic all over again. When Draco didn't stir, Harry's panic only grew. He couldn't take it. "Draco!" he yelled, climbing onto the bed, straddling him and gripping his face with both hands. "Don't you dare do this to me, don't you dare!"

He clutched Draco's face, his fingers digging in, desperate for any sign of life, his mind spiraling with terror. When nothing happened, he let out a choked sob, his head dropping onto the Slytherin's chest. His fingers curled into Draco's shoulders, gripping so tightly his knuckles turned white, his body trembling from the sheer weight of his emotions.

The pain surged through him, so intense it almost stole his breath. He could barely think, barely breathe, as he wrapped his arms around Draco, clutching him in a desperate embrace, tears streaming down his face as he pressed closer, feeling the depth of his loss more acutely than he ever thought possible.

Through his tears, his voice came out in a strangled whisper, each word filled with raw, aching honesty. "Why would you leave me? You... you promised we'd figure this out together..." He clung to Draco, his face buried in his shoulder, and in a moment of pure, unfiltered vulnerability, he murmured against him.

"I think... I love you, Draco. You bloody Slytherin. I love you."

His body shook with silent sobs, his heart breaking as he held Draco close, unable to let go. In that moment, all he knew was the depth of his grief, the aching emptiness, and the love he'd tried so hard to deny—but now felt with a clarity that left him shattered.

The door to Draco's room stood wide open, and the weight of Harry's desperate sobs filled the dim space when suddenly, footsteps echoed in the corridor. Snape appeared in the doorway, his dark robes billowing as he took in the scene with one horrified glance. His normally cold, composed face paled at the sight of Draco, lying motionless and pale. His breath caught audibly, but he recovered swiftly, rushing to Harry's side.

"Potter, move aside," Snape commanded, his voice tense, reaching to pull the Gryffindor away from Draco's body. But Harry yanked his arm free with a fierce shake, clinging to the blond's lifeless form, unwilling to let go. Panic and grief radiated off him, his grip on the man only tightening, as if he could will him back to life by sheer force.

"Get off him, Potter—he's—" Snape tried again, pulling more forcefully, but then—

A sudden gasp filled the room, sharp and gasping like a lungful of air after drowning.

"I love you too!"

The voice, hoarse and weak, cut through the room like a knife. Every inch of Harry froze, Snape's hand on his shoulder still, even his breaths caught mid-air. It was like time had fractured, every second drawn out in disbelief.