December Stories 2020

December 11th

Word Count- 889

Prompt- Hug

HAARY'S POV

Silence fills my ears. Not even my footsteps are echoing off the ground like they usually do. My mind is buzzing. About what, I couldn't say. I can't seem to be able to think properly lately. I'm tired, so very tired of it all. Yet, I can't seem to fall asleep. It's driving me mad. I deep sigh escapes my lips and once again, my footsteps are echoing. My ears prick up as I hear another sound though. I stop dead in my tracks. It's crying. Someone is sobbing. I'll be damned if I don't know crying when I hear it. I quickly rush towards the sound, dashing through the corridor. As I get closer to the sound I realize the crying is coming from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I stop at the door and sure enough, the sobs are echoing behind the door. I slowly open the door, flinching away when it creaks loudly. The wooden door groans as I close it with a quiet click. The sobs immediately quiet down and I feel my heart pang. No one should keep their tears hidden like that.

"Hello?" I call out softly and I hear something crash loudly. I rush around to the stalls to see one of the doors is wide open. What I see surprises me and my eyes widen. Malfoy is sitting down on the ground, tears silently streaming down his face. Based on his expression, I can tell he's trying to keep from crying out. It doesn't work. He brings his legs up into his chest and rests his forehead against his knees. He starts sobbing again.

"H-here to m-make fun of me P-Potter?" Malfoy chokes out, sobs escaping his lips. I detect no hint of malice, but the way he says my name makes me wince. He sounds so broken. Like he's done with this life.

"Quite the opposite actually." I tell him softly. Getting down on the ground right next to him. I lean my body against the wall of the stall opposite of Malfoy, so I can see him and he can see me. I cross my legs and just stare at him. He starts crying even more and I don't know how to help him. Then I get an idea. A stupid, dumb, terrible idea. But it just might work. I quickly maneuver myself next to Draco and easily pull him into my lap, holding him
against me. He tries and pulls away. He's so light and weak that I feel like if I hold him too tightly, he will break in half. "It's okay, just relax. I've got you." I whisper to him quietly, rubbing small circles on his back. Sometimes Ron and Hermione get like this. They cry and nothing seems to be able to help. So one day I decided to try something. After a while, they would quiet down, wipe their tears away, and give me a soft smile. Draco relaxes against me and leans his head into the crook of my neck. His tears fall down his cheeks and onto my shirt. I don't mind, not one bit.

"I-I." Draco stutters, leaning his head up.

"Shhh, just lay here." I tell him, pressing his head back against my shoulder. He nods his head and I hear him take a shaky breath. The tears and sobs start all over again. I start to run my hand though his hair and that makes him relax even more against me. Suddenly the door slams open and someone walks in. Draco flinches and try's to pull away from me. I hold his tighter and he eventually just gives up and stays wrapped up in my arms. I see a mess of curly brown hair bob around the corner. Hermione's eyes widen in surprise and she gasps, her hand shooting to cover her mouth. Her eyes quickly move between the two of us, accessing the situation in front of her. I just shake my head and nod towards the door. I mouth 'leave' to her and she nods her head, slowly walking backwards toward the door.

"Who was it?" Draco mumbles quietly, his voice hoarse from crying so much.

"No one important." I tell him, holding onto him a little tighter. He nuzzles his head against my neck more and that causes me to blush. I see his softly smile and take a deep breath.

"No one has ever held me like this." Draco whispers softly to me, eyes opening slightly.

"Are you comfortable?" I ask him quietly, gazing down into his eyes.

"More than I have been in a very long time." He tells me, those bright silver eyes shining. How have I never noticed how beautiful his eyes are? My cheeks flush with heat and I press his head back against my shoulder. He chuckles lightly then.

"No more fighting, not after this." I whisper to him. He just nods his head.

"Of course, Harry." He says, eyes widening. I don't think he meant to say my name. I like the way he says it, though.

"Let's relax for a bit more, Draco." I say, leaning my head against the back of the stall, not even realizing I just said his name.

This could be interesting, very very interesting.