Close Enough

Ch 11 Used to be Friends

When Draco woke the next morning he found Harry’s bed empty. With a small, sad sigh he began to get ready for his day. After getting dressed and grabbing the book he was reading the night before, Draco went to get his back pack and leave for the day. However on his bag was a note.

Mr. Draco,
Sorry I missed seeing you this morning. Just wanted to say thank you for letting me be there for Harry, I know he will thank you for it some day. Hope you slept well.

Good day,
Cord

He smiled softly. ‘She’s so sweet.’ At this he folded the note again and put it in his bag with his books and supplies for the day. It was now Friday, Draco had decided that during his free period in the morning he was going to go talk to Severus. He wanted to thank him for getting Cord to meet with him. Arriving at breakfast he sat with Pansy to discuss the plan for the day, potions this afternoon would prove to be very interesting if the little trio had anything to do with it.

Harry was having a pretty good day. He had a free period right after breakfast and spent that time in the library studying with his friends. A small smile graced his face as he looked around the table at his friends; they didn’t need to be here, or attend class with him, or help him study, but here they were doing so just because they wanted to. After the free period he had Herbology, which was also a very extraordinary class. This year each student had an independent study to do for the class. Harry got to laugh at the face Professor Sprout made when he said he would be doing his on Succiweed, for that is the main ingredient in the potion that Sev makes for him. But she okayed the project anyway even without Harry being able to explain his reasoning beyond, “It’s interesting.”
When Harry made it to lunch, the group said that they would be gone that afternoon, they were going to see about a gig that they might have the next weekend if everything worked out. He was a little sad that they would be gone again, but Cord assured Harry that they would be back before dinner. So he made his way to potions alone that day, a little sad and feeling alone again.

Draco saw Harry come into class, eyes lowered with a small frown pulling at his lips. The moment that Harry placed his bag down on the front table, Severus came into the room in a swirl of black. Once at the front of the room Sev began to speak.
“Today, you begin a project.” Unrolling a parchment onto his desk, “Partners are listed here. Once you are seated with your partner pick a potion from page 492, and write a proposal to be turned in at the end of the day today.”
When he sat in his chair behind his desk, everyone else in the room immediately stood and moved towards the list of partners. The only people left to see the list were Harry and Draco. Draco winked at Severus over Harry’s shoulder and moved forward toward the list. When Harry reached the list he bent forward slightly at the waist running his eyes over the list, the last pair read: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
When Harry leaned forward slightly Draco leaned with him looking over his shoulder. He could feel the heat radiating off of Harry’s body, so he leaned forward a little more brushing his chest against Harry’s back. Now in such close proximity to Harry’s exposed neck Draco took slow deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment bathing in the bliss of the scent. After only a moment to immerse himself in it, he breathed softly, “Looks like it’s just us left, Harry.” As quickly as the words left his mouth, Draco moved from behind Harry.
Harry shivered as an energy pressed up against him from behind. His eyes closed as a breath ghosted across his neck and low words hit his ears. And as suddenly as it was there the person was gone. He opened his eyes to see Severus with a small smile tugging at his lips eyes shining softly. Severus leaned forward and took the list rolling it back up, “He’s waiting for you, Harry.”
Draco had already moved his things to the seat next to Harry’s with his potions book open looking up at Harry waiting patiently. Harry made his way slowly back to his seat, sat gracefully, and looked askance at Draco who was now looking at him. Draco slid the book closer in between them,
“What potion do you want to make, Harry?” Draco asked softly looking down at the book pointing at one of them. “What about a blood replenishing potion? It’s advanced and useful.” Harry looked down at the book scanning the page quickly and then looked up at Draco.
“sure.” Harry replied with a shrug.
“Is there another one that you would rather do? That was just my idea, I am open to others.” Draco said smiling softly. “There are a lot of good ones in here.”
At this Harry chuckled softly, “Yea, there are. But your choice is fine.” Harry and Draco spent the next few minutes discussing the proposal, and then the next ten writing it. Apparently they were the first to finish because when they turned theirs in everyone else was still bent over a piece of parchment or arguing with their partner.
Severus stood, “It might be good to meet up with your partner sometime between now and next class to work on the written portion of the project. Once I have approved your project you may leave.” With that he read Harry and Draco’s proposal, looked up at them and then nodded. Harry immediately began packing his books away and stood to leave, only stopped when Draco gently touched his arm.
“Harry, do you want to meet me in the library later to work on this?” he paused to try to gauge the reaction on Harry’s face, seeing none he continued, “so we don’t have to worry about it over the weekend.” At this Harry smiled and nodded.
“Sure. I’m heading up there anyway. Just meet me when you can.” And Harry left the room without looking back at any of his classmates. Once he had disappeared from sight Draco turned to look at Severus with a wicked smile on his face. Severus winked quickly and then busied himself reading. Draco soon left to go meet with Harry in the library.
Draco made it to the entrance hall before he heard angry voices.
“If it isn’t the wonder-boy.” A small scuffling sound.
“All alone are you, Potty?” another scuffling sound.
“Bet you wish your new friends were here now don’t you?”
Draco moved quickly toward the voices, he made it half a flight up the stairs before he saw them. Granger, Thomas, and Finnegan watching as an already slightly bloodied Harry Potter was being punched in the ribs by the Weasel himself. This caused Harry to over balance and tip down the stairs. Thumps and cracks sounded as he hit the steps on the way down, when he stopped on the landing just in front of Draco, the Weasel said, “You should have died, not them. Go back to hell where you belong.”
The frail boy didn’t move, didn’t make a sound, he didn’t do anything. Draco rushed up to him kneeling, “Harry? Harry?? Can you hear me?” Draco asked as he rolled him onto his back. Draco could tell he was breathing, but he didn’t respond. Looking around and seeing nobody nearby, Draco picked Harry up and ran as fast as he could to the hospital wing.
Bursting through the doors, cradling Harry in his arms gently, Draco called, “Help! I need help!” Madam Pomfrey came out of her office in a snap.
“Mr. Malfoy! What is the meaning of this?!” as she approached however the expression on he face changed from one of annoyance to one of the deepest concern. “Oh my gods! What happened to him?” at this she motioned for Draco to lay Harry on the nearest infirmary bed, once that was done she looked up at Draco again. “I need you to tell me what happened.”
“I was going to meet him in the library to work on a potions project for Professor Snape. When I was going up the stairs I heard yelling and saw Weasley punch him and then push him down the stairs.” While he spoke the Madam Pomfrey took out her wand and began casting charms to check Harry’s injuries. “Is he going to be okay??”
“He has some broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and quite a few bumps and bruises. It won’t take a lot to fix him up, but he’ll be sore for a few days.” After she finished casting her charms she handed Draco a vile. “I need you to stay with him. When he wakes give him this. I wouldn’t leave him alone tonight, either. He can go back to the dorm whenever he is ready after he takes the potion. If he starts feeling dizzy please bring him back.” After Draco nodded, she went back into her office again muttering under her breath, “I’m going to have to talk to Albus about this. It’s been a year and those kids are still after him.”
Draco looked down at Harry and grimaced, ‘This has happened before? They have hurt my Harry before! How dare they! They were his friends, and now… and now…’ he sat in a chair by Harry’s bed and watched Harry’s chest rise and fall slowly. ‘No more… no more pain for you.’ He smiled softly at Harry’s sleeping form. ‘I will see to that, my sweet intended.’