Why Have a Friend When You Can Have Sworn Enemies

6. More Nightmares To Add To Draco's Living One

He was right. Draco was completely right about one thing. The nightmares were back. They were as detailed and gruesome as they were when they first started a few nights after the War. They had been happen for weeks. This was the third week they had occurred, but this time, he thrashed in his sleep, and Harry watched him from across the room.

Harry was never awake for these episodes, but he could tell they happened, with the bruises on Draco's arms and legs being the biggest tells. From what he could see, Draco was thrashing against the posts on his bed, which caused those marks to appear. Harry couldn't help but feel terrible for him. Harry understood just how much Draco had been through.

Harry hesitated a bit before quietly running across the room to check on Draco. Even though they weren't all that close yet, he worried about him. Harry knelt by Draco's bed, nearly getting hit in the face with the blonde's flailing arms. Without thinking, Harry gently placed his hand on Draco's cheek, which seemed to slow down the thrashing.

"Hey. Draco. It's okay, you're here. Nothing bad is happening. Please wake up." Harry was whispering loud enough that Draco could hear him through his nightmare.

Draco gasped and fell into Harry's arms. Having just woken up from the night terror, he wasn't fully aware of what he was doing. Harry hadn't registered what was going on either. Draco had pulled Harry closer to him, but the position they were in became uncomfortable quickly, so Harry took initiative. Harry gently stood up and brought his arm underneath Draco's legs and around his waist, hoisting Draco onto his lap while he was sitting down on Draco's bed. It was so late that Harry was doing this on instinct.

"Potter," Draco whispered through his sleepiness. "Harry, are you alright?"

"Draco, why would you be asking me that?? You were the one having the nightmare," Harry whispered back.

"Oh. Right. You can go back to your bed if you want to..."

"It's up to you, Draco."

Draco curled up closer to Harry, hugging around his waist. "Don't go."

Harry couldn't respond. If he had, he'd be a stuttering mess.

All Harry could do for the time being was gently bring his fingers through Draco's hair. Harry had never been this close to Draco. They had hardly ever touched now that he thought about it. Harry had to keep himself from scrambling out of the bed and running away. There was some little voice in his head that stopped him from leaving Draco. It told him that Draco needed him to stay and make him feel safe.

A few minutes had passed, and Draco was snoring softly. Harry looked out the dorm window and realized that the sun was already rising. The gentle hues of the early morning were brushed against Draco's pale face. In his sleep, he looked so young. Harry didn't realize how mature and weathered looking he was when he was awake, but when he looked down he noticed how much Draco's features had softened.

Looking down at Draco, Harry had the sudden urge to do something rash. That something rash being kissing his friend's forehead. Between saving the wizarding world, and school, he'd never had the chance to really experience the way a real, love-filled kiss felt. So, in turn, he bent over his sleeping friend and planted a small kiss on his temple. Harry's face heated up intensely.

"Mm, thanks Harry," said Draco, who was hardly conscious.

Harry felt like he was making this all up. Although it had already been three weeks since their official friendship had taken root, he was not used to this affectionate side of Draco. Did he do this to Crabbe and Goyle? He was convinced this had to be completely platonic on Draco's end. Everything that Harry did tonight was because he knew he had feelings for Draco. Did Draco feel the same?