Just Some... Help

Chapter 17

[Note - I'm so sorry for leaving you like that lmao I forgot all about this and hopefully you still like me enough to keep reading <3]

Draco should never have gone to Potter. He knew this would happen. He knew the dangers of getting attached and yet he still managed to fuck this all up.
He sat on the bathroom floor, uncaring about the germs. Silent tears dripped off his face as his words from the hallway rang in his ears, the parchment he held ripping as he clenched his hands subconsciously.
“I don’t care for you Potter. I don’t even like you, I don’t know why you’re trying to fool yourself.”
Harry’s lost and confused expression had been mixed with hurt, real and raw, evident in his eyes as Draco looked into them for the last time.

Last night they had been fine, Harry was sure of it. Nothing had seemed off as they left the Room of Requirement, Draco being his usual snappy, sarcastic self, but still throwing Harry a smile as they separated.
But then, this morning... The words Draco had spat at him in the empty hallway echoed in Harry’s mind. He didn’t care for him, had just been playing some sick game this whole time. And Harry had fallen for it.
He wandered around feeling lost for the rest of the day, oblivious to the concerned glances Ron and Hermione shared. The common room emptied around Harry as he stared into the fire, bright in the dimly lit room.
“Harry” Hermione’s voice started him out of his thoughts and he looked around, surprised to see the windows showing the black sky outside and the common room empty of Gryffindor students.
“Oh” Harry said. “I should go to bed I guess.”
“Well actually Harry, we wanted to talk to you.” Hermione said, her words careful and laced with concern.
Harry sighed, his shoulders slumping. He could read the tone of Hermione’s voice well enough and knew there was no getting out of this conversation.
“I- well I haven’t told you guys because he didn’t want me to tell anyone, and I know- I know that I can trust you, but I didn’t want to betray his trust.” Harry stopped, realising he was rambling and pulled his knees to his chest on the couch.
“Harry, who are you talking about?” Ron said, startled at Harry’s sudden outburst. Harry closed his eyes before answering.
“Dra- Malfoy.” Neither Ron or Hermione answered, and he opened his eyes warily to wide eyes and open mouths. Hurrying to fill the silence, he started rambling again. “I really am sorry I didn’t tell you but I- it doesn’t matter anyway because it’s all over and he doesn’t actually like me he was just fucking with me it was- it was some sort of game or something he enjoyed because of his twisted mind. Well, not the part where he’s really on our side because I- because I still believe him about that.” At this his voice went soft. “I really do believe that he’s good, and I don’t know why he said that because did he really mean it? I thought he didn’t but then he sent me that text and I can’t be sure…” he trailed off.
“Harry,” he heard, Hermione seemingly finding her voice. “What exactly happened between you and Malfoy?”
“I- we kissed.” Harry felt the heat blooming in his cheeks at this but continued. “We went on a date, and it was the best time of my life, and he was so beautiful, cheeks flushed from the cold, sitting on the ground.” A shadow of a smile ghosted across his lips before it was replaced by a frown. He brought his thumb to his lips, biting on the nail without ripping it. “And then a few days later, we were alone, and he said that he doesn’t- he didn’t like me, that it was a joke the whole time.” He said, now rubbing his thumb along the side of his thigh.
He heard Ron’s sharp intake of breath, Hermione’s soft sigh. “Oh Harry.”
“We’re here for you mate, you know. And I will happily kick Malfoy’s arse for you if you’d like.” Ron said, halfway off his seat as if he would track down Draco and do it right then and there.
Harry smiled gratefully at them, at the fact that they weren’t angry at him for lying, for liking a boy, and Draco Malfoy of all people. “Thank you.” The words were barely more than a whisper, slipping out through the sudden wave of love he felt for his two best friends.

…

A soft voice filled the quiet of the bathroom.

“Incendio.” The parchment crumbled and turned to ash in his fingers, the tips tingling from the heat of the spell where he had missed. I deserve it anyway, he thought, his mind going back to that moment with Harry, the moment in the empty hallway, the sour words leaving his mouth, hitting Harry square in the chest. The moment where he had hurt Harry, destroyed all chances of their relationship. No. Where you set him free. Yes, that was the truth. Harry would be better off without him, because he was just a burden.

The truth didn’t stop the pang that went through his chest every time he thought of Harry, couldn’t stop the heat that prickled behind his eyes when he saw him in the hallway. He knew he shouldn’t feel these things, knew that it was wrong, but then again, he had always been a disappointment.

Had always and would always be ugly, his skin scarred and his heart bitter. The letter his Father had sent him had simply reminded him of this. Behind the usual words of life at the Manor and meaningless drivel about the peacocks was the heavy promise of punishment, a fate Draco was used to.

But it was the truth, and so Draco had done what needed to be done.