Slowly. . . {DRARRY FANFIC}

Alive but not

Draco sat at yet another lunch, just staring at the endless amount of food plattered in front of him. He never grabbed a bite to eat. He just stared. He swallowed hard, pushing back vomit as he tries to keep himself together. He's become mute. He never talks anymore. He's no one to talk to. The only noise he makes now are his cries in the abandoned bathroom. He zones out while staring at the fruits. Apples. They used to be his favorite. Now he can't even take a bite of them without throwing up. Unknowingly, there was someone watching his behavior from the Gryffindor table. The eyes of emerald sheen starring holes into the side of his head. But he couldn't notice. He was lost. Lost in his own mind. Drowning. Gasping. Without second chance, his vision blurred and he fell. His head throbbed and he was dizzy. Before everything blacked, he heard the familiar voice cry out in the distance.

'Draco!'

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Dracos' eyelids were heavy and his head was throbbing. His entire body was cold except for his hand. He attempted to open his eyes, blinded by the light in the room. He groaned, trying to adjust to the brightness. There was movement beside him and the warmth left his hand for a few seconds before returning. 

"Dra..." A voice wavered in the near distance. "Dr..co.." He tried focusing on his surroundings. "Draco." The voice called to him. He looked over to see madam pomfrey. He frowned while squinting his eyes in confusion. Looking around, he could now see he was in the hospital wing. What had happened? He asked himself. "Draco, dear, are you alright?" The nurse helped Draco sit up and lean against the uncomfortable hospital cots pillow. He made a strained sigh, closing his eyes to make the room stop from spinning. When he opened them again, at the foot of his bed, there was a vase with lavenders and white roses. Below was a note folded neatly in a tent shape. The nurse saw what he was staring at and reached over, handing him the note. 

Draco,
I've noticed you haven't been eating. I know why... And I'm sorry. I get that your dad was sent to Azkaban, and that you were only following your family. But that mark on your arm. That is not who you are. You define yourself. Now will you please smile. Believe it or not, I miss your smile for some odd reason. I hope you at least take this in mind.

- HP

Draco was nearly brought to tears. He couldn't believe what he was reading. It wasn't real, he must have been dreaming. He bit the side of his hand, nearly drawing blood, staring at the bite marks afterwards. Okay, so not a dream. He looked at Madam Pomfrey, gulping hard. "C-can you get H-harry Potter here p-please?" His voice was croak from lack of speaking in weeks. She looked at him in pity and only nodded. When she left, Draco stared at the note, reading it over and over. His lips cracked in a small smile that appeared lopsided. Harry Potter cared... He did notice. And he is helping. Draco was relieved but reluctant. Harry hated him... Why was he doing this. His mind clouded in thought staring at one spot of the note. Lost in his own mind. Again. A figure ran into the room, panting. Draco looked over and through his blurred vision he saw emerald sheen eyes. 

"Draco.." The voice breathed, moving closer. "Thank god you're alright.." He was embraced. Draco didn't take the effort to embrace back. He just leaned into the touch. Taking in the scent of his love. He smelled of treacle tarts and leather. To Draco, it was the best scent in the world, not because of the pleasing aesthetic, but the person it belonged to. The figure was now holding him at arm length by his shoulders. The face was becoming a bit clearer. The messy Black hair. The emerald eyes. The crooked glasses. The scar. "I was so worried when I noticed you weren't eating, and- and when you just collapsed like that in the great hall I was so afraid you pushed yourself past the limit." Harry rambled. Draco stared at him through eyes clouded over and emotionless. Harry had never seen him like this. There was always this light in him that only seemed to fuel by their interactions over the years, but now it was blocked. He couldn't see anything but the hollow, empty shell of Draco Malfoy. So when he spoke it caught him off guard.

"Why..." Draco's voice came out raspy and low. As if he hadn't talked in a year. In all reality, It was kind of true. 

"I-i'm sorry?" Harry stared at Draco, his throat dry and mind yearning to help in any way possible, but what could he do? Draco would never accept his help...

"Why do you care?" Draco said with a little voice crack, indicating he was breaking. "I'm... I'm a monster. The bad guy. You are supposed to defeat me." He started to tremble. Harry watched, feeling helpless in the situation, but put himself together. Draco was hurting. He had to do something.

"Draco. This..." Harry grabbed Draco's hand, delicately caressing his mark. "This does not make you a bad person." He looked the pale Slytherin in the eyes. "It just makes you different. Just like this." Harry pointed to his scar with his free hand. "I had evil inside me for so long, but I never gave up. I strived to be good cause I knew it was the right thing. All that matters is you are willing to be good. So please, Draco. Don't you give up." Harry's little heroic speech left Draco breathless. His eyes glazed over with tears and he threw his arms around Harry's neck, allowing all of them to spill. Harry hugged back gently, rubbing Draco's back in comfort. He whispered quiet little nothings of 'im sorry', or 'i understand'. Draco cried until he couldn't any longer and the room went into a deafening silence. But Harry stayed. Even though it was getting late, he sat beside Draco on his bed. Trying to put him at rest, he casted 'caelo stelle' which made the starry sky appear on the ceiling. Sure enough, both of the boys fell asleep side by side that night. Awaiting the morning break.