Close Enough

Ch 27 Yes, I know.

Lucas and Loki stood from the table first, claiming that they wanted to go to the room to do some research on hair dying before Saturday. Harry had advised them on which book to look in, having found a spell that worked well for him in it. When they left, Harry briefly opened his eyes and smiled at them, before resting his head back on Cord’s shoulder and closing them again. He could hear Dex and Cord speaking around him, but Harry himself felt as though he was somewhere else. He felt as if he was still outside sitting on his rock, he felt distant, separated from everything around him.
Harry knew that this was a bad sign, every time something bothered him he felt like this, sad and separated from everything around him. He knew what it meant, it meant that he needed to step out of the world and find his center again. Harry sighed softly before opening his eyes looking at the chatting couple next to him. Cord was excited that Cloe was coming to their show on Saturday, Dex was equally happy about her arrival due to the fact that once she was nearby Harry would break out of his funk, he always did when Cloe was around.
Where Cord and Harry had common ground of Creature blood and the need for closeness of a kind, Cloe and Harry had a great understanding of each other. The traumas, though more extreme than Cloe’s, were something that they shared. This caused them to have a deep understanding of each other, and to be sympathetic with each other’s tendencies and needs. Cord could feel that Harry needed more than just to be close to someone at that moment, she could sense that he needed help that she could not provide. She began to ponder if she should send an owl to Cloe and see if she could come earlier than that weekend. She didn’t want Harry to fall back into old habits because he needed something that she couldn’t provide for him.
“Harry, come on.” Dex said as he stood from the table. “Let’s head back to your common room, I know that you have homework to do for tomorrow.” Cord wrapped her arm around Harry’s waist as they both stood and left the Great Hall. Cord held Harry close to her as they walked through the halls toward Harry’s common room. Dex spent the journey stealing sidelong glances at Harry all the way.

Draco watched as the twins left the table. He saw that Harry kept his head resting on Cord’s shoulder with his eyes closed. Draco began to wonder about this action, why was he being like that? And where had Harry gone when he left earlier? Sudden movement from Harry’s table caught Draco’s attention, pulling him out of his thoughts. Draco growled softly as Cord wrapped her arm around Harry’s waist before the trio left the hall together. Without a second thought, Draco stood and followed them, after a short goodbye to his friends. He stayed far enough behind them to not be noticed, but close enough to keep a close eye on them as they made their way through the halls.
Draco was irked to say the least. He could feel the comfort that Harry was getting from the close proximity that Cord shared with him, he could sense it though the bond that he felt safe when she was close. And those glances that Dex was directing at Harry were right pissing him off. ‘Stop looking at my mate like that! I’ve warned you to keep your hands off of what isn’t yours, you really should listen you arrogant little…’ Draco actually growled when Dex took Harry’s hand, holding it in his as they walked down the last corridor before the common room.

Harry smiled when Dex took his hand. The gentle pressure of Dex’s grasp and Cord’s hold around his waist were causing him to feel relaxed again. When they reached the common room, Cord hugged Harry and told him she’d be right back; claiming that she needed something from her quarters. So it was Dex and Harry who entered the quiet common room alone.
“What homework do you have for tomorrow Harry?” Dex asked when Harry returned to the common room with his back pack.
“Herbology, I have to work on my individual project. An essay for Care of Magical Creatures. And the Potions project I have with… Draco.” This statement started cheerfully enough, but as Harry reached the end of it his face had fallen slightly.
“You alright, HJ?” Dex asked, looking at his friend curiously.
“Yea, I’m fine.” Harry smiled softly, in an attempt to convince Dex as well as himself that he was in fact fine. Dex went to get a book from the case near the fireplace, as Harry pulled out the materials that he would need for researching his Herbology project. Dex had just sat back down when the portrait swung open; he turned around expecting to see Cord returning, only to find that it was Draco standing there. Dex decided that if looks could kill, the glare that Draco was sending at him would have meant that he would be killed a thousand times over. Harry, currently reading a large tome a good ways across the room, didn’t notice the intrusion and thus didn’t look up from his reading.
“Evening Draco.” Dex greeted brightly. Draco stalked closer to the sandy haired boy, snarling.
“What have I told you, Dex, stay away from what isn’t yours.” Draco hissed through gritted teeth, just loud enough for Dex to hear.
“Draco,” Dex threw his hands up in a defensive gesture, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I didn’t do anything.” At this statement Draco growled, looking ready to kill. Dex turned toward where Harry was sitting, completely oblivious to the situation behind him. “HJ, I’ve got to go. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, ‘ight?” Harry still didn’t look up, but he waved his hand over his shoulder.
“Okay. You coming to Magical Creatures with me tomorrow?” Harry asked scribbling something on the parchment next to his book.
A quick glance to his left, finding Draco, gave Dex his answer, “Um.. probably not. I’m helping the twins with the prep for the gig on Saturday.” Dex watched as Harry nodded slowly, writing down something else.
“Oh, alright. I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch then.” Harry said with another wave over his now slightly slumped shoulders. Draco nodded curtly at Dex as he moved out the door. Once he was out of sight Draco moved closer to where Harry sat.
“Hey Harry. We should work on our potions tonight if we don’t want to be behind in class tomorrow.” Draco said gracefully sliding into the chair next to his mate. Draco watched as Harry’s eyes scanned the page, widening slightly when he landed on the information that he was looking for. He smiled at the way Harry’s fingers delicately held his quill as he wrote down a quick note, before laying the quill down altogether and looking up from the book to Draco for the first time.
“Draco, I would really appreciate it if you would not threaten my friends.” Harry said seriously. Draco’s eyes widened in surprise, not knowing how it was possible that Harry had heard him. Harry rolled his eyes and began packing away his Herbology project. “Yes, I heard you, never mind how, but I did. Dex is not a threat to you in any way, so there is no need for you to act all mad and possessive.” He continued in a calm, hard tone. “As you said, normal rules don’t apply to us.” Looking back at Draco again, “Even if I wanted to pick someone else and leave, I can’t. And you being the dominant in this little connection of ours, you damn well know that.” Harry’s eyes narrowed angrily, “He is no threat to your standing as my mate, Draco. And I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to intimidate him. There is no need, and it makes you look like an arse.”
“But Harry, he wants you! I can smell it on him, I can smell his arousal when he is around you! I don’t want him near you, it makes me uneasy.” Draco protested angrily. Harry turned in his chair so that he was facing Draco.
“Draco, you are my mate. The bond put you inside my head. I spent all of dinner with him, did the bond tell you that I was turned on at any point during that time?” Harry didn’t wait for an answer. “It didn’t, and I know it didn’t. Because I am not attracted to Dex. Yes he is very attractive, but he is not really my type. He is just a good friend of mine. The fact that he is attracted to me has been dealt with already and you don’t need to worry about it.” Harry sighed, “You are just going to have to trust me, Draco. I have no intention, or desire to do anything to disrupt the bond.” Harry turned back around putting his project in his bag and standing up. “I may not love you yet, Draco, but I know that I need you. There isn’t any need for you to worry about anyone else taking me away.” The last part was said in a soft whisper. Harry cleared his throat pulling the bag onto his shoulder, “I’ll be right back, the books for our project are in our room.” Without looking at Draco, Harry left the common room.
Draco sat, unmoving, looking at the place where his mate had just sat moments before. He could feel a muted version of Harry’s feelings pulsing through the bond as Harry gave his little speech. Anger. Concern. Protectiveness. Helplessness. Loneliness. Distress. He didn’t know what to make of it, ‘Why would he be feeling like that?’ Draco wondered. Before he knew it Harry was back, minus back pack, plus three large books and some parchment. Harry set down the lot on the table before beginning to separate the books and parchments into small stacks, not looking at Draco once since he reentered the room.
“Do you want some tea?” Harry asked softly, still shifting through the stack of parchment.
“Not really.” Draco replied, slightly confused at the sudden friendly question. Harry just nodded and snapped the fingers of his left hand.
Dobby appeared with a pop. “Mr. Harry Potter, sir, what is it Dobby can be doing for you?” The house elf asked with a wide grin. Harry merely looked at the house elf and smiled. “Ah, Harry Potter is wanting his tea!” Dobby clapped his hands together once and nodded, disappearing in a pop. Before Draco could even open his mouth to ask, Dobby popped back into the room, tea tray in hand. “Your tea, Harry Potter, sir. Winky insisted upon the sweets.” Dobby said, sliding the tray onto the table next to the stacks of parchment.
“She always does Dobby. Thank you, and do pass my thanks to Winky as well. The sweets are always wonderful.” Dobby clapped his hands together happily, grinning.
“You are welcome, Dobby is always happy to help Harry Potter.” Dobby bowed his head slightly and popped back out of the room again. Draco watched as Harry stirred two tablespoons of sugar in to what his senses told him was strong peppermint tea.
“Harry, do you take tea privately often?” Draco asked, slightly awed by the fact that Harry would do something quite that arrogant. Harry sat, cradling the tea cup in both of his hands, holding it close to his face. Draco suddenly knew why Harry took tea privately. He watched as Harry held the cup close to his face, closed his eyes inhaling deeply before he took a drink. As Harry did this, the bond sent Draco the sensations of pleasure, relaxation, and peace. After two sips of his tea Harry set down the cup, and pulled one of the stacks close to him.
“Yes, I take this tea privately often.” Draco was surprised he didn’t think Harry was going to answer the question, so when Harry continued he made sure to pay attention. “Peppermint, sugar, and other sweets help my Creature stay neutral inside. Severus worked out with Dobby that I would take tea when I needed it, with sugar, instead of having to take a myriad of potions when I find control hard to come by.” When Harry stopped talking he began to flip through the book in front of him, pausing once he reached the page he wanted and looked up at Draco. “That one,” Harry pointed to the book and stack of parchment closest to Draco, “should interest you. It’s on the Vampiric blood loss restoration potions.” Harry smiled softly, picked up his tea, and began reading the book in front of him.
Draco watched Harry for a long moment, before he pulled the stack towards himself and began looking through it. Harry was right, Draco did find the information very interesting. He found the many different potions that were used for Vampiric blood loss fascinating, each one had a different reason; depending on the amount taken, where the bite was, how old the drainee is, there is even one especially for a Vampire’s mate (consistent drainings.) Draco found this very intriguing, because this same essay told of many ways to change the taste of the blood to be taken. After reading this, Draco raised an eyebrow, looking up at Harry.
“Yes, I know.” Harry said without looking up, taking another sip of his tea. “We were made for each other.” He added with a small quirked smile.