Meow //Drarry\\

Chapter Twenty-Two

*unedited!

"Leave off, Potter." The blond teased, halfheartedly tugging his wrist away from Harry's nervous grip. "I'm the one who should be worrying so much here, not you. The train hasn't even stopped yet."

"I can't help it." Harry grumbled. His stomach tightened with anticipation and he clutched his bag and Draco's thin wrist tighter as the train slowed, the engine rumbling louder and the wheels screeching as they pulled into the station, steam billowing across the windows. With the thick grey substance blocking his view of he platform his throat clogged, hands jittery and knees a little weak.

"Harry." Draco murmured, and the tone of voice made the raven-haired boy half turn towards him, only to be greeting by a swift kiss to the corner of his mouth. "It'll all be fine, okay?" When Harry didn't answer, he pressed forward with a hand on the back of Harry's neck. "Okay?"

Harry eventually nodded, eyes downcast like a child in trouble before they lightened a little at the small kiss Draco left on his forehead, just next to his scar.

The doors opened.

Draco hissed in surprise and Harry leaped forwards, the two racing off the train ahead of the crowds and trough the thick, warm steam with their bags in tow. A flash of silvery-blond hair was all he saw of his mother, and Harry had to tug on his hand to get him to keep moving. "C'mon Draco, please!" The panic in Harry's voice made his knees unlock and he pushed forward again, to where a single red-headed man stood with an outstretched hand and a Portkey in the other.

Draco went to reach for it before he tugged his hand away. "Wait, wait, Father isn't here yet!" He realized, ignoring Harry's strangled, muffled huff of anguish as he dropped his bag and pulled away. Narcissa's shocked face came into view and he ignored the strange looks he got from the few people already gathered at the station as he powered towards her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders when he reached her and stuffing his face into her shoulder.

"I'll see you soon, Mum." He whispered, ignoring the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

"Stay safe, won't you?" Narcissa murmured, her hands curling into fists on Draco's previously unwrinkled shirt. It took a moment before they each pulled away, Narcissa's worried expression matching Draco's impeccably. She pushed at his shoulders, turning him around. "Go. Go!"

Draco didn't ask for any other encouragement, biting his bottom lip as he raced back towards Harry. A brief thought entered his mind as his lithe fingers wrapped around his bag and his other hand reached for the Portkey -- there's no backing out now.

The thought disappeared with the unfamiliar tug behind his navel, wrinkling his expression and closing his eyes as imagery blurred around him; it came to an abrupt stop when it suddenly stopped moving and he fell to the ground, nearly crushing Harry in the process. He blinked a few times to gather his wits about it.

"Ah, sorry Harry." He quickly amended, rushing to get out of the half-crouch, half-laying position as he scrambled for his bag and stood up, looking nervous and jittery. Harry shook his head and smiled weakly as the lanky blond held out a shaking hand to help him of the ground, but once they were both back on their feet neither of them were willing to let go. Arthur Weasley, who had landed on his feet, silently handed them their trunks.

"Everybody alright?" The redhead father asked as he glanced at the two boy's shaken expression; then his eyes focused on Draco.

Grey eyes rimmed with a swollen red, the usually perfect blond hair a ruffled mess - he truly looked a sight. Harry followed Arthur's gaze and his own expression softened, lithe fingers squeezing around a pale hand to offer what little comfort he could provide. "... Everybody's alright."

The Burrow loomed in front of them, the trees surrounding it coated in fiery hues of red and orange, dying autumn leaves littering the fading green grass and shifting loudly with the slightest of wind. Draco shivered. As the rest of the Weasleys' had not been in as much of a rush to depart, they would arrive much later, so Arthur took it upon his awkward self to lead the anxious students inside.

Draco clutched at Harry's hand as hard as he gripped the bag handle, seeking firm reassurance he knew he would not receive until he and Harry were alone. Arthur hovered in the kitchen.

"Tea?" He asked hesitantly, worrying his bottom lip in a way so very much like him. Harry felt his mate's trembling begin, what with the Slytherin pressed so insistently into his side, and ended up answering for the both of them.

"Two, please. Milk and a sugar for both, thank you." His voice was quieter than he'd been expecting - being so closely tied was twining his and his mate's emotions together. It could be useful one day, but Harry needed to keep himself together to help Draco. Arthur nodded and disappeared in the kitchen quietly.

Draco's eyes were half shut as the ravenette lead him to the worn couch and gently took his trunk, leaving all of them by the stairs. Harry was thrown off; Draco was so ridiculously out of character than what he'd seen over the five years he'd developed a thin immunity to. Leaving Draco curled up awkwardly on the couch, his long legs folded underneath him like a deer faun and hands twisting together, fingers rubbing over knuckles and between each other and never releasing the white-knuckle grip on himself. Harry sighed inwardly and turned to Arthur, thanking him for the two mugs of tea he was handed before he responded weakly to the soft smile he was given.

Turning back to Draco, he made his way over carefully and passed him the mug, whose purpose, it seemed, would be more just something to hold on rather than the tea itself. Draco didn't speak when Harry sat close beside him, instead shifting so much closer that he was almost on the tanned male's lap. Harry nuzzled into his hair and let out a deep breath, eyes closing and the lump in hi throat growing thick. He knew that in this state neither Draco nor himself would be able to help anybody at all, let along each other, so he let him be and wrapped his hands around the heated ceramic cup. Neither of them moved, or spoke, or thought; dwelling on empty minds and half-full cups when the rare times they moved were only to absentmindedly sip at the tea they held. After a while Harry opened his eyes and noticed that Draco's empty mug was hanging barely on the end of his fingers, so he reached forward slowly and gently pulled it from his grasp, setting it down and frowning a little when Draco whined in his sleep. He stopped when Harry stopped moving and the Gryffindor's lips quirked into a tiny smile, slowly shifting into a more comfortable position after he knew the mugs wouldn't be knocked over. Draco slipped and Harry moved the unconscious boy onto his lap, half-asleep himself. Draco curled into him as much as he could on the small couch, soft huffs leaving his partly open mouth every now and then. Harry frowned at the worry lines burrowing into the other's forehead and his hand came up to card through the soft blond hair. The lines eased a little and Harry continued, waiting until his expression became peaceful and relaxed and only then did he let himself slip off the edge of consciousness as well. Neither of them had got much sleep the night before and the rest on the train was fitful and restless, so the sleep was welcomed with open arms.