My Snake Charmer | Harry Potter x Draco Malfoy |

3%

D.M.'s pov

With my thumb, I press down on his lower lip, opening his mouth. His eyes flutter shut, and I lean in, still holding his face. 

I shove the piece of chocolate I broke in half into his gaping mouth, trailing my thumb from his lip to his chin, pushing it up and closing his mouth.  "Chew.' I order. He obeys. It took a moment for him to finish it, taking his time chewing while he stared, with those mesmerizing green eyes, into my own eyes. Butterflies swarmed my intestines, swirling and flipping and causing a stir; God, the way he makes me feel when he looks at me like that..

"Why'd you help me, Malfoy? How is it that all of a sudden you care for me?" A choked voice whispered. "You've made my life a living hell, why the change? Why now?"

 It felt like a punch in the gut, but it reminds me that I'm a Malfoy, the  Draco Malfoy, with no need for silly feelings or desperate dreams of fake friendships. I make a point to distance myself from Harry, even if I was his only support, I move away from him. "Who says I fucking care about you, Potter? I'm just doing my part in making sure that the Golden Boy doesn't kill himself, for the Wizard community only." Add in a scoff or two to make it believable, now I'm sure a rift has been clearly made between us. "It's not my job to babysit you, you annoying little freak."

It hurts. I don't want these walls anymore. I don't want to be strong anymore. I just want him.

But it's over. It's for the best. 

H.P.'s pov

A cold shock ran down my spine, paralyzing my entire body. To think I actually believed? How could I be so naïve, so stupid...

"How do you do that?" 

A wave of confusion washes over his pale face as his lips part slightly, "How do I do what?" Bitter response; as expected.

"Pretend you are okay."

"I'm not pretending, Potter." His voice quivers slightly, confirming my thoughts. 

"Yes you are, I can see it, you pretend every single day and it breaks my heart Draco."

 My legs swing over the edge of the bed as I reposition myself closer to him, a hesitant hand slowly lands on his shoulder, testing the waters. 

"What makes you think you know me, huh? How do you know what's going on with me?"

 I knew he was hurting, his eyes confess an untold story, a story I knew all too well. An abrupt realization sprung up as thoughts raced through my mind: my episode is over. I'm no longer freaking out, anxious or panicking, my head is clear and my tears are dry. No relapse either.

A milestone. All thanks to him. 

"I know that look on your face, in your eyes. The feeling of being worthless, of being useless, feeling like there's nothing in the world that matters, feeling like if you disappeared the world would be better. You've got walls, and you're not letting yourself live or be happy. Sound familiar? "

A single tear rolls down his cheek. "I..." His voice cracks as he trails off, his walls finally crumble. "You're right."

We're cut from the same cloth. How ironic.

D.M.'s pov

Fuck. 

Why does it feel like my stomach is such an empty void? My heart is pounding out of my chest; with each heartbeat I can sense waves of heat rising to my face. Was it because someone finally called out my bullshit? Finally saw through me? And that someone being Potter of all people, I just could not believe that out of everyone that's ever been around me, he's the only one who saw through my facade. 

My masks are useless around him. Bloody hell, I hadn't realized how tensed up my muscles got, lost in my own thoughts of self pity. Teeth grinding, brows furrowed, breathing shakily but heavy.  The streams of tears running down my cheeks dripping onto my hands jolt me back to reality, where piercing emerald eyes met mine. Upon locking eyes with those beckoning yet exhausted  eyes, my shoulders just dropped, and I let all the tension in my body go. It felt good to let everything go. 

Finally. 

"Pott- um.." No, that's not right, "Harry...I'm so tired. Of everything." The corner of his mouth tilts, a timid smirk. "All I wanna do is sleep now. Forget about the world and just let it all go..."

"Then... let's forget about the world together, okay?" He draws in a shaky breath, still holding up that little side smile of his. "We can face all this one step at a time, side by side. " 

Those words cut me deep. Those simple words, like a flaming arrow unlatched from Cupid's own bow, pierced my heart and gut. Is this..

What it feels to love?