To Dare You

Chapter Sixteen

"Well... that was... awkward." Draco mumbled as they sat on the couch in their common room.

Professor Dumbledore had explained that the teachers were placing bets on if and how long it would take for the pair to get together, as a couple. They both thought it unsure and hid from themselves they were wondering as well. Turns out someone had walked into the pair cuddling together in their sleep, in their own dorm. That explained the stares after everyone knew about their hand-holding-fiesta.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, replaying the conversation in his head too many times.

"Just because we were 'cuddling' doesn't mean we like each other," He told him.

Harry just stared at him blankly. "Yeah, because thats what friends do... and also I have nightmares and I always have a friends near me and you are the only one near so I subconsciously hug you and shit," He blurted suddenly in one breath.

"Oh, I never knew, I'm sorry. I assumed you hugged me for a reason, but I never knew why." He smiled sadly.

"It's okay."

"What are they about?" He asked, regretting right after.

Harry cried too much, and for some reason almost always in front of his crush. But he always cried for reasons. And Draco had just asked for one, the worst one. "My-" He chocked on his tears.

"Harry- no, I'm sorry- I shouldn't have asked!" Draco jumped as Harry silently cried.

"M- My parents," He managed to choke out. Harry himself thought he was a crybaby, and no one could argue, but Draco, sweet, nice, cute Draco didn't even insult him, just hugged him closely, again. "No-" Harry pushed the taller boy away. "N- no, I don't deserve this. Leave me alone." He sobbed, getting as far away from Draco as possible.

"Harry." Draco said sternly, frowning when he didn't look up. "Harry!" He gently grabbed Harry's chin and tilted it up so he looked at Draco. "Harry James Potter, It's I who doesn't deserve you. You deserve more than me, Harry. I'm here for you, I understand what it feels like. Please, just talk to me," He pleaded.

Harry nodded between violent sobs as Draco hugged him again. He sobbed into his shoulder, wetting it. "I- I just keep seeing- I saw the green- my mom f- fell- my dad-"

Draco traced shapes on Harry's back. "Shh," He cooed as Harry let out a heartbreaking whimper before crying even more. "Sometimes," He whispered, being more supportive and caring than anyone would ever expect. "Sometimes crying, crying it all out helps."

Harry nodded, having cried enough for a living nesting his head in Draco's shoulder, nuzzling it cutely.

Draco blushed and kept on clutching onto Harry, not daring nor wanting to let go.

"I guess crying does help," Harry smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I told you Potter."

"Thanks Dray," He laughed as Draco glared at the name. "How long was I out for?" He asked, removing his head and drying Draco's shoulder with a flick of his wand, and laying down, head on his lap.

"Not long," He played with Harry's brunette curls. "A couple of hours."

"Oh." He thought out loud. "Not too bad." Then he shot up, running up the stairs with Draco close behind.

"Harry?" Draco called, staring.

"Sorry," He ran back back down with a parchment and quill, laying both himself and parchment onto the ground. "I've got to write to Hermione and Ron! They are probably worried sick!"

"Yeah," Draco agreed as he got pulled onto the ground.

He wrote on the parchment.

Hey Ron, Hermione,

Sorry I couldn't see you today. I assure you I am okay and well. I will be skipping classes for a week, so you won't see me, unless at meals. I hope you guys are doing well.

Draco is taking care of me!

- Harry J. P.

Harry smiled when he finished writing. He sealed it in an envelope and handed it to Hedwig, who happily nipped his finger and flew out of an open window which looked out onto grassy plains, Hogsmeade, the shrieking shack.

"Taking care of you?" Draco asked, eyebrows raised as Harry pulled them both onto the couch and curled into a ball next to him.

"Maybe not yet, but you will, my love Dray!" He giggled as Draco glared again. He shut his eyes, resting against Draco's warm lap.

* * *

"Haz, wake up!" Draco shook the sleeping brunette. "Dinner."

"Okay," Harry sat up, rubbing both eyes with one hand. "Do we have to go?" He asked, clutching onto Draco's shirt as he stood. "I want to stay here, with you."

"Yes, Harry, we have to go. And you're eating." He said sternly, cleaning Harry up with a flick of his wand, his shirt tucking into his pants, messy bed-hair styled to look fluffy, and wrinkles on his clothes gone.

"Okay mother," Harry followed Draco out the door, not that he had a choice. As the pair walked into the hall, Harry leaning against Draco, all of the professors smirked, making side glances to the betters that they wouldn't get together. Luckily - not many students were at dinner, most late, or not bothering to come. Hermione and Ron WERNT to be spotted, so they trudged over to the Slytherins.

"Hey," Draco greeted to Blaise. "Where's Pans?"

"I dunno, went somewhere with Granger and Weasley," He shrugged, loading his plate with food as Draco loaded Harry's.

A/N: Mentions of eating disorders, vomiting, sickness, self harm.

"Okay." Draco sighed. "Harry.Eat." He ordered as Harry moved the food around his plate. "Please?" He added, pouting as Harry whined at the food.

Harry took a small bite of the steak and whimpered again as he chewed the horrible food.

"What's wrong mate?" Blaise asked as Harry made the sounds.

"I-" Harry squeezed Draco's hand hard and ran out of the hall and into the bathroom, puking as he reached the toilet.

"Harry I'm sorry," Draco whispered as he retched again. He held back Harry's hair with his free hand. He let go of his hair and knelt next to him, rubbing his back gently as Harry shook. "When was the last time you ate, Haz?"

"I-" Harry began weakly. "A week ago I think." 

"Harry! Why! What's wrong?" He asked a bit harshly.

"I- I don't know." He gagged.

"Harry?" Draco stoped rubbing his back and pulled the sleeve of Harrys sweatshirt up. He gasped as it revealed cuts, some quite deep. And some, some looked too recent.

A/N: I'm sorry for ending it this way, ahh! I'm sorry that Harry is like crying so much into Draco, but it completes this... expect more... (let me know if you want me to stop!)