After -Drarry COMPLETE

Chapter 43

—5 days later—

—Draco POV—

I turned around in bed, seeing Harry asleep beside me. He looked peaceful, happy. He had a good nights sleep. That's his third in a row. I leaned up, and gave him a soft kiss.

"Good morning." I whispered, before placing a peck in his forehead. He began to stir, and I moved out of the way to let him stretch.

"Hi." He said, leaning over to the nightstand to grab his glasses and put them on. I smirked.

"Harry, I can't believe you."

"What?" He said in confusion.

"Come here." I said, leaning in to give him another kiss. Moving on top of him. He kissed back, and we continued like that for a few seconds. It was slow. I wanted more. He pushed away gently.

"Is that all?" He asked with a smirk. I laid back down beside him.

"Maybe. How did you sleep?" I asked.

"I slept well." He said.

"Good." I replied, before returning for a passionate kiss, he kissed back slightly, pushing me off him again.

"I can't right now." Harry claimed. I looked at him, my eyes squinting in confusion.

"Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Because," He let out a sigh. "Everything. And on top of that, Hermione makes me think."

"Are you serious, Harry? What is it that makes you not want to snog for an entire week?" I said, frustrated.

"She keeps asking about how this happened. I mean, how you, and I... basically, how did we skip just being civil? I always thought you had just, caught me. Maybe though, maybe when you caught me I was so desperate for help that I didn't care it was you... and then, I don't know what happened after that..." his voice trailed. His eyes were full of thought yet his facial expression was vacant.

"Excuse me?" I said, resting my head on my hand, propped up by my elbow, eyeing Harry with a look that said you better save yourself from this one.

He looked at me, eyes widening. "N-no! Not like that, not-" he sighed, sitting up. "It's not that I don't-"

"So let me help guide you through this..." I said, cutting him off, and contrasting is panicked tone with one slow, and low. "You didn't care that it was me, because you needed help. From anyone. So, is that all this is? Just you needing help? Nothing more?" I'll admit it was difficult to keep my composure, and feelings of anger and suspicion were bubbling, but I hid them. Knowing, hoping, that Harry would have a response. He looked down at his lap, then snapped his head in my direction.

"N-no! Not at all, it's not like th-" he sighed, looking around, and I could see he was shaking slightly. I stayed put, raising a single eyebrow.

"I-" he swallowed. "I mean, on that day, my thoughts were consistently about finding a way to not have to talk to you about what you were seeing. Knowing that you realized something was wrong since the day we met in the bathroom at the market was scary." He let out a shaky sigh again, voice still alert. I sat up, so we could see eye-to-eye.

"I- you-" another sigh, he was growing increasingly uncomfortable, scared. "You have to understand I don't like talking to anybody. And you just, saw me, there, and, I thought there was no way out. I guess the better part of me took over and I, told you... but-"

"Okay, breathe, listen. I understand that." I told him. I thought to hold his hands but I didn't. "Listen. I want to know, if that's still what this is..." He could tell my voice had a dangerous undertone. Saying the wrong thing could turn into an argument. One that I was giving him the chance to keep away. I could immediately jump in, accusingly, with 'so that's what this is to you? You don't really care?' But I'm not doing that.

"N-no. It's not! I l- I care about you, tremendously. I like you a lot." He seemed to calm down, looking defeated. I took his hands. I wouldn't show it, but I was relieved. Relieved because everything that has happened recently seemed to revolve around two things. Harry's mental health, and our mysterious, and deep, sudden liking to one another.

"I just- I don't know how it happened... I don't know how circumstances forcing me to open up, turned into feelings, and I don't understand..." he said, stumbling over his words.

"That's okay." I whispered, before clearing my throat, speaking normally. "It doesn't matter how it happened, or what clicked in your brain... who cares that Hermione doesn't understand, or that none of us do? Who cares? Because it's here, and it's real. You've just proven that." I said as we stared into each other's eyes intently. "We don't need to understand everything..." we stayed still for a few seconds, and I broke the silence. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Y-yes. I'm okay. I just kind of, I-" he was thinking of a way to say it, I knew because his face was scrunched in concentration as he looked into his own mind for the right words. "You're intimidating, sometimes... I-I don't know..." he said, that last part rather quickly.

"I get that. Don't worry. I wouldn't hurt you even if I was mad. And yes, I was a bit worried of your answer, but it's okay. Besides," I swallowed, knowing the next part would give Harry a freedom he deserves, one that I almost didn't want him to have. Because I'm possessive. And because I want him to be with me, not anyone else. "Besides, you have a right to your own opinion. You can make your own decisions and choices. If you had said you didn't care in the way that you do, then I can't do anything about that. You deserve to be with and care about whoever you want." My throat was dry by the end of my explanation, and swallowing didn't do anything to aid that. But I told the truth, as much as I disagree.

"But I do care about you. And I want to be with you." He whispered. I fought back a smile, successfully. I thought to reply, but I didn't. Instead I leaned in and gave him a slow, simple, emotional kiss, which he returned. It felt amazing to be able to do this without every doubt clouding your mind. Knowing that you both care just as much as the other.