Cicatrices- Marks That Remain

Lemon Cake

Happy Sunday, lovely readers! Here is your chapter for the week!

I know we've discussed these things before, but just in case, CW for depictions of PTSD and depictions of panic and of child abuse (among other things. All canon-adjacent.)

Once again, due to the writing burst that has overtaken me and my fantastic alpha-reader as of late, y'all will be receiving a chapter next week as well!

Let me know what y'all think, and, as always...Enjoy!

Once Harry assured Draco he would wait for him, Draco left Harry to seek out the church pastor as soon as the majority of the people had left the chapel.

Then a half-hour passed, and Harry went to see if there was anything left at the dessert table. He found store-bought cookies and ate two. Then he washed it down with apple juice, because that was what they had. It left him with a mild craving for literally any of Draco's homemade sweets. They were infinitely better than the prepackaged cookies and apple juice combination.

Another thirty minutes later, he noticed a thread of loose carpeting on the floor, and sat down to pick at it, not knowing what else to do. He didn't think the conversation would take so long.

Fifteen minutes after that, Draco approached him. He looked like a wet towel that had been wrung out. His eyes were a bit distant and glassy. His posture ever-so-slightly slouched, like he'd just had an excruciatingly long day. Harry scrambled to his feet, his head bursting with questions. He could only really voice one, though.

"How did it go?"

Draco blinked, focusing his gaze towards Harry. "It went well."

Harry waited for Draco to offer something beyond that. He did not. Thankfully, though, it didn't seem to Harry like Draco would be lying. Harry rubbed his palms against his jeans.

"Okay, er- great! I'm glad it went well..." He wanted to hug Draco. He kept his hands firmly to himself. "I'm set to take care of Teddy tomorrow, so I need to stop by the market. Would you like to go with me?"

"Okay," he answered. Harry tilted his head, his brows furrowing slightly. He wished he could understand what Draco was thinking.

They apparated to the nearby market and began their shopping. Harry grabbed apples, carrots, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables. Maybe Teddy would try them. Draco trailed silently behind him, like a shadow- a ghost.

In the cereal section, Harry got another box of O's. Draco was beside him, tense-jawed and rigid, tapping his fingers again. Harry stayed looking at the colourful boxes, pretending to study them more. In reality, he was trying to work up the nerve to take Draco's hand, maybe help calm him down.

And so, emboldened by the boxes in the aisles, softly, tentatively, he did.

Draco flinched, but did not move away. He went even stiffer, and he did not look at Harry. Harry let go. He had not expected that- he wanted to help-

"I wasn't done," Draco said quietly. "I need- I can't stop yet."

Harry bit his lip. So is this an OCD thing, as well? Harry thought to the last time he unwittingly interrupted one of Draco's compulsive cycles. Draco had a rather intense breakdown, that time.

He supposed this was... better? He wasn't sure. Merlin, he really needed to get back to that Penzel book.

Draco continued to tap, and this time, Harry was putting up no pretence. He watched Draco quizzically, trying to figure out exactly what he was seeing. Draco did stop tapping about two minutes later, which was a lot faster than Harry had come to expect with the OCD things. But perhaps Draco had been tapping all throughout the produce section and Harry hadn't seen.