Stay With Me

Chapter 3

***

That afternoon on the sofa, Harry was flicking through his workbooks when he heard the door close and saw Malfoy appear by the living room doorway. He looked exhausted, his eyes pink and drained of any life. He was walking funny too, he looked stiffer and slower to react.

Malfoy froze at the sight of him, "Why aren't you at work, Potter?"

"It's an admin day. I'm still studying to work my way up the ranks." Harry explained, returning to his paper.

"Right." Malfoy turned on his heel to leave

"Wait," Harry cut in, putting down his quill, "I wanted to speak to you about something."

Draco felt himself clam up, nerves sunk through him and he swallowed, still lingering in the doorway.

"So, I'm just gonna come out and say it... I saw the magazine under your pillow." Harry grimaced

Draco's heart dropped, he didn't know what to expect but it certainly wasn't that. "W-what?"

"It was an accident, I swear, I just went into your room-"

"Why were you in my room?!"

"To bring you clean bedding!" Harry raised his hands in defence, "I didn't mean to see it! But it was poking out and-"

"So you went snooping around my things?!" Draco scorned, anger fuelled him but he wanted to cry with embarrassment.

"I wasn't snooping!"

"Fucking sounds like it!"

"I swear, Malfoy! Curiosity got to me and I thought it was another intellectual book or something I didn't realise until I opened it that it was... porn."

"Oh fuck you, Potter." Malfoy growled, shaking his head in dismay

"Why did you bring that with you? You had barely anything in your bag when you arrived, was a dirty magazine really that much of a priority for you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise, as a grown adult, I wasn't allowed to read material like that. It's alright for you to bring random men home to shag but I'm not allowed one moment of pleasure in my otherwise painfully bleak and miserable life? Got it. Thanks."

Malfoy stormed off up the stairs as Harry dropped his quill and chased after him, he caught him just on the landing and pulled him back by the wrist but Malfoy jerked as Harry touched him and he drew back in anger. "Leave me alone!"

"I just thought you should know--"

"Why? So you can ridicule me? Bet you're loving this, aren't you?" he kept himself firm, desperate not to let his voice crack. His wrist began throbbing from where Harry had grabbed him.

"I'm not judging you Malfoy! I just... didn't realise..."

There was a brief moment of silence as Harry tried to convey what he was suggesting. Malfoy glared at him, his cheeks so red against his white hair, his heart pounding.

"You know... there were women and men in the pages..."

"Meaning?"

"Well... um... so... are you... into both?"

Malfoy moved in closer, pointing his finger forcefully into Harry's chest. "My personal life is none of your damn business. Whatever I do during my time is private and does not or will not ever concern you so do me a favour and leave me. the fuck. alone."

"Fine," Harry snapped. "I'll leave you alone. Conversation over. Hide away like you always do and sulk like a fucking child."

"Fuck off, Potter!" Draco's eyes stung and his face raged hot with anger. He slammed his bedroom door as loudly as he could, sending a shudder across the walls, and flopped onto his bed, burying his face in the pillow. "Fuck off."