Empty Spaces

Chapter 25

The moment Holmberg dismissed class, Draco took off for Arithmancy. Just get through the day. Then you can go back and see Narcissa's response... just get through the damn day. You can make it that far. You've done it for years. Walls up, head up, make it through the damn day...

Finally, Draco opened the door to his flat and flicked his wand at the window, sending a blast of cold air into the room. To his relief, Merlin swooped in with the wind; Draco held out his arm, welcoming his owl... but...

Nothing. No letter, no response.

Fuck. Fuck. Of course it's not going to be that easy. The world was moving too slow and too fast all at once, and Draco felt infuriatingly stupid for thinking he could just go waltz around Hogsmeade doing whatever the fuck he wanted and not get some sort of retaliation from Lucius. Sooner or later. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

The sound of something breaking forced him back to reality, and the next thing he knew, he was accepting a piece of chocolate from Potter.

"Eat," Potter instructed as he flicked his wand at the window, closing it.

"The fuck are you doing in my room, Potter?" Draco asked. Sorry Potter. I'm being an ass and I know it...

"You left the door open, idiot," Potter said, now flicking his wand to the open door, closing it. "When are you going to tell me what's going on? Are you okay? Did someone do something? Did I do something?"

Not really wanting to answer any of these questions, Draco settled for nibbling on the corner of Potter's chocolate.

"Right," Potter said, matter-of-factly, "Now will you tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Draco lied.

"Nothing's wrong, my ass," Potter dismissed. "And keep eating your chocolate."

"What the fuck...?"

"Just eat the damn chocolate," Potter insisted. "And then you can tell me what's going on."

Draco's first response was to tell Potter to fuck off, but it was as if Potter's stupid chocolate kept the words from leaving his mouth. Alone. Alone is better. Alone means nobody gets hurt... well... nobody who matters anyway... I can handle Lucius. But can you, Potter?

Potter took him in his arms, warm and comforting, so different from the cold isolation that was Draco's entire world.

"Why are you here?" Draco murmured into Potter's hair, slowly giving in. Fucking chocolate. Fucking Potter.

"Because I– I... I'm your friend," Potter said, and Draco suddenly wished he knew what Potter had originally planned on saying before opting for the safer route. "I've known you for ages, Malfoy, you're not hiding anything from me. What happened, what's wrong?"

Fuck.

"I told you this would end up a mess," Draco deferred.

"And I told you I didn't care," Potter replied.

"You don't want to get involved..."

"Too late."

"It would be easier just to leave..." Draco felt his stubbornness waning.

"Yeah, well, since when has anything ever been easy for either you or me? Some things are worth fighting for, Draco... this... this is worth it... you're worth it..."

Draco sighed and gave in. Potter had hit a spot, someplace deep inside... He pulled out of Potter's arms and headed over to the table where Lucius' letter lay, mocking him and cursing him.