the chariot 12-20

19

He woke up about six o' clock in the morning. His neck felt stiff and he felt all headachy and fluey. He stretched out. His layers of clothes bunched up awkwardly around him and he sat up. He undid his robes and kicked off his shoes. He pulled back his covers and got under them.

Draco.

His last thought of the night and the first thought of the morning.

He wondered if he could stay in bed all day. If that was even possible. But it wouldn't be. He would cause alarm and questions would ensue. No, he would have to get up eventually. He was dreading going downstairs. What if Draco had told people by now? Because clearly he hadn't up till last night. There was no way the Slytherins would have been able to keep such a delicious secret to themselves and not taunt Harry with it somehow. He was quite certain that Draco hadn't told them anything as yet – but he was going to.

Now that it was over.

It would be so much fun for Draco to hurt Harry yet further at this stage. Add insult to injury. Dumping him and then telling the whole school about it. Harry could see it now; a huge banner across the Great Hall that read:

''Harry Potter is gay! And he is a shit kisser'', in neon letters.

He had avoided dinner last night but how long could he avoid venturing outside the dorm? Draco was very popular amongst the Slytherin crowd and when he would tell of his conquest; the news would spread like wildfire. It wouldn't matter if Harry was hibernating in his room. His friends, the whole school would hear of it, whether he was there or not.

He lay huddled under the blankets feeling wretched. What was he going to do about it anyway? Corner Draco before he opened his mouth and tell him not to say anything? Hex him? Blackmail him? There would be no point. It would get out eventually – and Harry's attempts to stop it would be futile.

He would just have to let it happen and then deal with it. He would have to face it, like it or lump it. He didn't have a choice.

He lay listening to the others still sleeping. One thing was for sure, when Draco opened his mouth, Harry was not going to take it lying. He was not going to let Draco walk all over him. If Draco meant to drag Harry down, then he was coming right down with him. Harry would make sure of it. He would tell everyone that Draco had enjoyed every minute of their fake relationship and that he was gay too.

...

He might have rejoiced in his avenging spirit had he not felt so low. But at the moment, he couldn't muster up any sort of bitter enthusiasm for his hypothetical retribution.

He continued to lie there. He had not moved out of his bed in over twelve hours.

'Harry?' Ron's voice called out some time later.

'Yeah?'

'How are you feeling?'

'Fine thanks.'

'Are you coming to breakfast?'

'Uhh...' he would have to get up in due course. 'Yeah I am, you go ahead. I'll see you down there.'

He heard Ron heave a sigh and the others moved around, as they got dressed.

Harry waited till everyone had left and then sat up. He did not want to go down at all. He felt so terrible.

He had this sudden insane urge to run and find Draco and bury himself in his arms. Feel Draco's hands stroke his back soothingly. Have Draco kiss him and make him feel better. Funny the way the mind worked. The only one who he wanted to find comfort in was the one who had scorched him in the first place.