The Darkness Within

I think I am, Draco, I think I am.

"Harry?" Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face "You look dead, honestly, did you even sleep last night?" Hermione asked him, worried.

"Yeah, I just-" Harry thought of last night and smiled to himself "I was very tired," he said without looking at either Ron or Hermione, who were both staring at him as if he ate their Halloween candy. 

"Well, someone's being sneaky," Hermione said and looked away, Harry could feel the curiosity oozing from her eyes, even though she wasn't looking at him anymore.

"Okay, fine"  Harry finally gave in "I kissed someone last night"

"WHO?" Ron and Hermione both squealed at the same time 

"I don't think I should tell you who it was, just yet, we haven't made anything official yet, we didn't get to talk much" Harry admitted. They were both looking at each other as if talking through their eyes. 

"Is there something you guys want to say to me?" Harry finally asked

"Um, mate, you know with the "chosen one" and stuff, there would be many people who would try to get to know you," Ron said, slowly as if he expected Harry to lash out at him any moment, and he was fair to be scared Harry did treat his two best friends unfairly last year.

"Trust me, guys," Harry said to both of them "I know what I am doing, there is just something about this that feels right, it makes me feel...almost happy"

"What do you mean almost happy?" Ron asked, as Hermione just smiled at both of them "Oh, Ronald leave him be"

As chatted about their classes ahead, both of them efficiently dodging the subject of Sirius and the ministry, Harry's eyes were transfixed on the entrance of the Great Hall, waiting for Draco to show up, he almost jumped out of his seat on the sight of Blaise and Parkinson but was disheartened to see that they were not accompanied by Draco. 

 After a while, Harry finally gave up and accompanied Ron and Hermione to their first lesson.

They had potions, and Harry almost jumped at the thought that Draco was going to be there as well. Harry was well aware that they would no longer be taught by Snape, and was he happy about it? He did not know just yet, but anyone was better than Snape.

 Harry was now positioned on his usual seat, in between Ron and Hermione, and on the other side of the classroom sat Draco Malfoy, who as a matter of fact would not look at Harry. Harry was confused and hurt, maybe Ron was right, after all, maybe Draco kissed Harry because he wanted Harry to tell him everything that the Death Eaters wanted to know. These thoughts filled Harry with anger and sadness, and maybe it was just a kiss. but to Harry, it had meant more it was the first time Harry had opened up to someone outside his comfort zone since Sirius died, it was the first time he had felt light and happy, and now by the looks of it, he wondered if he had just imagined it, maybe they didn't kiss at all, maybe Harry was under some kind of enchantment.

"Did you hear a word of what Professor Slughorn said, Harry?" Hermione nudged him from his side.

"Er, I got carried away" Harry admitted, he had been staring at Draco without meaning to, again.

"Understandable," Hermione said, casting a curious glance at Draco, before finally looking at Prof. Slughorn.

Doing splendidly in the Potions class, and also achieving a tiny bottle of Felix Felicis did cheer Harry up a bit, but he could not take his mind of Draco. So he decided to corner him after class, knowing that it could mean a broken nose for Hermione to fix.

He told Hermione and Ron to go on, while he waited for Draco to come out of the classroom, Hermione protested as it would mean he would be late for DADA which would give Snape another reason to torture Harry, but Harry simply did not care. 'I wouldn't be able to focus on the lesson anyway' he told himself as Ron and Hermione walked away.

After what seemed like forever, Draco finally came out of the room, and Harry noticed that there were dark circles under his eyes as well and that he looked, sharper and more annoyed.

As Draco attempted to leave without being noticed, Harry quickly put his arm on the wall beside Draco and blocked his path before he could leave, he was now eye to eye with Draco, and his perfect grey eyes looked weighed down. For a moment, Draco looked at Harry as if, he knew what Harry was thinking as if he knew that Harry wanted answers as if he might kiss Harry again. but only for a moment. The look was gone so soon, and if was replaced by a cruel and contorted snout.

"Are you out of your mind, Potter?" Draco snapped at once and pushed Harry's hand away turned and left Harry standing alone in a bustling hallway.

For a moment Harry felt as though he might throw up, but the next he was sure that nothing could ever come out of his throat again, there was a huge lump forming in his chest, and he felt as if he were being suffocated. Without another thought, he turned on his heels and ran for his DADA class.