Sleepwalker [discontinued]

Chapter 1

*Draco's POV*

Draco paced back and forth three times in front of the Room of Requirement. He turned to see a door materialize.

Pushing open the door, he walked in.

The items piling up everywhere was strangely comforting. Draco sat in the pathway, putting his head in his hands.

He glanced up at a picture of Harry kissing Cho... then it turned to him kissing Ginny... after staring at it for several minutes, he glanced away in disgust.

A stack of cups toppled over, and Draco jerked his head upwards. Seeing no one there, he sneered. "Potter."

No response. Then the air rippled, and the cloak slid off a disgruntled Harry.

"Why are you staring at the picture?" Harry said bluntly.

Draco was tempted to hex him but instead said, "It's the opposite of the Mirror of Erised. It shows the thing you hate the most."

Harry looked tempted to look in it, but instead glanced away, taking a cautious seat beside Draco.

Draco wanted to walk away but found himself glued to the place. He wrapped his hands around his knees.

"Funny how all of this built up, huh?" Harry said, a slight smile on his face. "After it burned, during the war."

They sat in a moment of silence, each recounting memories.

"I'm sorry."

Draco's voice echoed around the room.

Harry looked up, surprised. "For what?" he asked.

"For everything," Draco said bitterly. "In First Year... I did ask you... I offered you... You..." Draco glanced away, not saying anything.

Harry realized what Draco was trying to say. "I didn't realize you took it that hard."

Draco felt like screaming at Potter. His refusal broke him.

When Draco met Harry in Madam Malkin's, he was instantly attracted to the shy boy. He didn't remember exactly what he had said, but the boy had hated him.

When Draco found out it was Harry Potter, well, that was a downside. But he had tried. He extended his friendship, to the first person ever.

He refused.

Draco had settled for hate on the Boy Who Lived, but there was that lingering crush...

Then, the question insolent Potter had asked. Bloody boy.

"Why didn't you tell them? Bellatrix. You knew it was me. Didn't say."

Draco had wanted to yell, "Because I love you! Can't you see? There's a thin line between hate and love..."

But he couldn't. Crabbe, Goyle... they couldn't know. No one could.

Draco waited in the shadows for a while. After Harry had left, Draco paced in front of the hallway.

I want to see the Mirror of Erised... I want to see the Mirror of Erised... I want to see the Mirror of Erised...

Draco looked up. The doorway shimmered into place.

Draco entered, cautiously. The room was empty, much different to the room he was just in.

But in the center was a mirror. Oh, the mirror.

Draco approached it cautiously, as if he was approaching a venomous snake that he needed for a potion.

When Draco approached it, he watched the scene he had always seen, a vision of his father accepting Draco, change to... something different.

Draco collapsed onto his knees. Of course. Of bloody course.

Draco cried. For the first time in almost three years, Draco cried. And no one there to see, this time.