Heart Beats For Love

1

Draco stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he noticed Harry sitting at a dark corner of an abandoned hallway. What was more, on a closer inspection, he could see that he was smoking. Thick puffs of white smoke was coming out of his mouth. Though Draco thought it was rather attractive to watch Harry smoke, he was also aware that it was certainly not a good thing and by the look of it Harry was a regular smoker.

"Just what do you think you are doing?"

Harry looked up with blank eyes. Ever since the war, there has been no life in those eyes. The eyes which was once a canvas of numerous emotions are now completely devoid of anything. The blank stare made Draco almost cringe.

"Smoking."

Draco was startled from his thoughts by the simple one word bland answer.

"Why though?"

"Felt like."

The answers were almost well rehearsed and robotic. War has taken a drastic effect on Harry. Draco owned him two life debts by now. One for saving him in the room of requirements and the other for saving him from the dementors kiss. When Draco had boldly gone to ask him what he wanted in return, he had stared at him for a long time and then said something which both of them knew, he will never be able to give.

"Sirius, Remus and Fred." Harry had said in a cracked voice and apparated away. Draco was annoyed at first but then he started to understand his want. Harry now had no one alive for whom he had once cared for. The rest of them who are alive were far engrossed in their own sorrow to actually look for Harry. He has now become a loner.

"Hey, can I sit down here." Draco asked after a long moment of silence to which Harry only shrugged. Draco sighed and sat down beside Harry.

"I heard that Lucius Malfoy forced you to take the Dark Mark?" Harry asked bluntly but looking forward instead of Draco. Draco tensed but forced himself to calm down.

"Yes. I was threatened." Draco admitted quietly.

"If you were given a chance to get rid of it, what will you do?"

Draco laughed. It was a hilarious thing to ask.

"I would gamble anything to get rid of it." Draco said bitterly. Suddenly, Harry gripped his left arm and enchanted something. Draco whipped around to see what was happening, but whatever it was, it ended too quickly for his comprehension. Just as suddenly his hand was held, it was also left suddenly. Draco stared at Harry as he gritted his teeth and winced as though in some foreign pain.

"Potter, what's happening?"

"N-nothing, leave me alone." Harry nearly yelled at last in pain.

"What did you do?"

"Get lost from here, you death eater scum."

Draco was stunned by the insult. It stung more visciously when it was said by Harry. Suddenly extreme bitterness welled up in him. The bitterness gave rise to angry tears. He abruptly stood up and went away from there.

Draco straight headed towards his own room and locked and warded the door. He straight went for his bed and laid down angrily.

'What was I thinking when I decided it was a good idea to start a conversation with Potter. How stupid can I be?'

With constant mutinous thoughts, Draco went into a restless sleep.

The next morning when he woke up, he was more tired than the night before. With a groan he sat. Checking the time, he went into the bathroom to run his morning routine. After a peaceful hot bath, he came out of the bathroom, and started looking into his trunk.