Nightmare Pining

1

When Draco used to walk into the room, Harry would always hear him before he saw him. The soft footfalls always two steps ahead of the thudding walk of Goyle, and the brisk tap of Blaise Zambini. They must've been his friends, but to Harry, Dracos friends always looked more like a survival instinct than anything. But after hearing Dracos testimony against everyone but his mother in court? Harry rarely heard Draco anymore. Now whenever Draco walked into the room, his feet shuffling, breath shallow, his eyes deep in their sockets, no one behind him, so Harry usually saw him before he heard him. He rarely saw Draco anyways, it seemed as if nobody did. Draco would sit in the back of the room, Blaise next to him, always taking notes for Draco. Draco would doodle on his arms, and itch at his dark mark, ink over it, until his whole forearm was a deep black color. Well, that or fall asleep, his head on Blaises shoulder.

Eighth year was going exactly how anyone would've guessed. Harry was idolized (he hated it). Hermione was carrying hers, Harrys, and Rons academic success on her shoulders (unnecessary but kind as always). And Ron? Well, that in love school boy was just as dense as ever. The only issue was with the castle being destroyed, the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws needed to find somewhere else to sleep. The Hufflepuffs welcomed the Ravenclaws into their hobbit hole as it was soon deemed by Luna with open arms. It's a shame I can't say the same for the Gryffindors.

With all the resentment over the war (an understandably so), the two houses where often at odds. So, that was a bit of an issue. Another thing that was an issue? Good GOD was Draco gay, and having Harry SODDING Potter as a roommate? Not Helping. Yes the capital letters are necessary. Because how was Draco supposed to sleep with Harry moaning and whimpering in his sleep, and not only that, but Harry, dear god, Harry seemed to dream exclusively in parseltounge of all things.

The nights when Draco slept, those where the nights where his room felt like his room again. When Potters heavy breaths didn't fill the room, when the nights weren't nights, they where the weekends when everyone went into town. Blaise drew the curtains shut when he left. Blaise had always been delicate with him, and while he hadn't always felt that way, for that Draco was now grateful. Augthough tonight, was sadly not one of those nights. The breathing of seven boys hung heavy in the air.

'Potter,' Draco thought 'Potter's still awake.'

Heart beating, he slowed his breaths in unison with the boy sleeping next to him, Draco didn't know who slept in Crabbes old bed, frankly he didn't care. All that mattered was that Harry didn't know he was awake. Potters breathing evened out and soon he was muttering in his sleep again.

'God, I wish I could call you Harry, just for once in my god danmed life I wish he would see me as anything other than a pitifully broken human who hates him. God, I don't hate you Potter, I could never hate you. I could never do anything other than love you, you dense idiot. You look so much younger when you sleep. When you sleep you look how you did when the Dark Lord brought you to the crowds.' Draco shuddered at the thought of Harry dead and bit his lip. Harry said something and Draco bit his lip so hard it bled.

"Ron? You up?" Harry wispered

"Just me Potter" Dracos response was monotone.

"Goodnight Malfoy"

"Mmmhmm, night"
He wanted to add 'sleep well,' but he didn't. He never did.

Draco didn't hear Harrys breathing quiet. The two stared at the ceiling in silence, their beds where across from each other. Harry muttered something about nightmares and rolled over.

"M-my mom used to say that if you whispered your nightmares into your pillow and flipped it over, you wouldn't have anymore."

"Thanks Malfoy. But it's not that kind of nightmare."

"Oh?"

"It's-its someone I care about, it's kind of recurring. This person, they die, and it's because of my stupidity, I let Voldemort get to them."

"Oh shit. That- sucks."

Harry hummed his response.

Draco was awake until after dawn. Harry fell asleep shortly after their conversation. Draco heard him dreaming.