Breaking Reality (Draco x Harry)

A Morning Without Familiarity

​"Sweetie? Did you sleep okay?"
168:00:00
"My name is Draco Malfoy"
"167:59:59"

***

At some point, Harry had fallen asleep. He'd drifted into the land of the unconscious and peaceful. Only he was not. He quivered and shook and turned with ever second. Each second of dreams were far from peaceful. Guilt filled him from head to toe. He had undone so much.  Shivers went down his spine, as he wrecked the bed sheets with constant movement in the process of trying to save himself from his horrifying mind. He'd just broken the reality he had managed to create, one where he lived through the years - though the constant looming death. His own death.
And here he was. Back at square one. So many lives restored, and so many lives shattered. So many, once more, he'd have to watch suffer.

***

The green canopy overhead was strange, but welcoming in an unusual sort of way - like they'd been waiting all of time and space to great him. And, somehow, with the thoughts clogging his brain and the hair in his eyes, this made a tiny smile work its way onto his face. The glimmering lake above created a kaleidoscope effect upon the dorm, scattered light illuminating everything a gorgeous shade of turquoise.  Gently, Harry sat up, trying to disregard all the thoughts and emotions running around his mind, crossing his legs as he gawped at the fish swimming above him creating shadows his mind calm. With a distant smile crumpling on his lips, gently he brushed the fingerprints from his glasses with his sleeve. It must have been about time to wake up, it must have - though no one else seemed to be -

"You should probably be getting ready - everyone will be up soon - the bathroom will be blocked something awful." Harry knew the voice, but something about it felt different.  Looking over, with just a sliding glance, the tension in his chest loosened. It was only Blaise, though for the first time in Harry's life, he had a quaint smile playing his lips in a similar way that Harry's own did. It was silent for a moment, before Harry realised what he'd said, "oh, yes, I'll-" he murmured, sliding from the sheets and towards the door across from where he'd entered the night before, stuffing the notes he'd written into his dressing gown pocket. 

He was brushing his teeth by the time the other first year boys were walking in, each a different stage of ruffled messiness. Whilst in Gryffindor the boys may have ran through the shower if you were lucky, so many of these boys took pride and care in their appearance. When Harry and Ron would have once just changed and maybe brushed their teeth, Malfoy and Blaise dipped between waxes and gels and various creams that Harry din't even know existed. Except, for one. The glass container was strangely familiar, as the platinum haired boy slavered it into his hair, flattening all the curls and waves. 

"Do you want to use any, Potter?" The other boy enquired as Harry finally realised what it was. How could he have been so stupid? 'Sleekeazy's', the exact same thing that Hermione had used for yule Ball - the exact same product that had made the family fortune. With the grin returning, he whispered to himself, "Fleamont potter sleekeazy's," meeting Malfoy's eyes he finally spoke to him, "my grandfather invented that, y'know." But, rather than look impressed, Draco looked slightly amused, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as a quizzical look washed over him, "of course - along with just about every other member of the wizarding society. Dear god, growing up with muggles really did meddle with you're brain. My mother-" Of course Malfoy carried on speaking, but Harry had zoned out - who knew a few floors distance in the castle could change so much? 

Exiting the dungeons with a gaggle of other boys, dimly lit corridors were more welcoming than ever before. The chills washing down them and the tall shadows in the firelight now became comforting - something inside of Harry was beginning to accept where he was, as they slowly trudged upwards towards the main hall for breakfast.