Close Enough

Ch 8 Draco’s Useful Discovery

After dinner and a long talk with his friends, Draco took a long walk around the castle. Partially due to his head boy duties, and partially because he needed to clear his head about what he was going to do. All he knew was that he wanted to be with Harry, he wanted Harry to be happy, and to be the one to make him happy. Well that and he needed to be with Harry. He needed Harry to complete his soul, he needed his magical blood to sustain his life, and he needed to mate, damn it. The only part of the plan that Draco didn’t know how he was going to work out, was the getting close to one of Harry’s friends part. How do you get close to someone you know nothing about except the fact that they don’t go to school at Hogwarts and that they know Harry? It seemed almost like an impossible feet, but Draco knew that there had to be a way.
Heaving a heavy sigh, Draco turned around the last corner on his rounds only to run smack into someone. Draco stumbled slightly, but the other person fell hard on the ground. At the moment of impact Draco began sputtering his apologies as the same instant that the other person did. When Draco came out of the momentary daze from being run in to, he recognized the fallen body. It was the tall sandy haired boy. Draco offered him a hand up, which he took. Once they were both on their feet again, “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” Draco apologized once again thinking, ‘this is so perfect! Now I just have to make nice.’
The other boy gave a small half smile, something that Harry was famous for, “hey it’s alright, man. I’m not hurt or anything. No need to fall all over yourself apologizing to me over something so stupid of us running into eachother in the hall.” He paused for a second. Then stretched out his hand, “I’m Dex by the way.”
Draco shook his hand, “Draco, Draco Malfoy.” He paused as their hands separated. “Hey don’t you know Potter?” Draco watched as the boy raised a pierced eyebrow at him and seemed to be trying to figure out why Draco was asking.
“HJ? Yea, he’s my bud. Why?” Dex asked curiously.
“Just remembered seeing you guys together is all. The whole school seems to be asking where you all are from, and why you are here.” It was a question without a question, Draco hoped he would get the boy to divulge some information without even trying.
The boy chuckled deep in his throat smiling softly, “Oh, I bet they are. I bet everyone here is trying to figure us ‘freaks’ out.” Dex looked at his watch, “Shit. It was nice meeting you, Draco. But I’ve got to be going or I’ll be late. The mate’s are expecting me.” Dex chuckled again as he walked past Draco, “I’ll be seeing you around I’m sure.”
Draco looked a little confused but then smiled at the retreating figure calling after him, “It was nice meeting you too. And yes I’m sure you will.” He continued to watch as Dex walked away thinking to himself, ‘Well that isn’t that just perfect. I have now made first contact with one of them, on extremely civil terms. Now all I need to do is try to get him to spend time with me.’
As Draco finished this thought the door right in front of him opened and two people walked out of it, one calling behind them in a soft voice, “I’ll come see you again soon. I would really like if you and I could be closer, it has been far too long.” Draco observed that it was the girl that was speaking, and she happened to be holding the hand of none other than his Harry. He immediately was slightly upset by the constant intimate contact that he has noticed between these two, but was thrown out of this thought by what came next. Draco watched as his godfather stepped out of the door smiling, “I’d like that, and I agree that it has been far too long. You can come here anytime you like.” Severus moved forward and tucked some hair behind the girl’s ear, revealing a number of piercing there, before turning to Harry. “Thank you for coming Harry.” Harry just smiled and gave a small wave with his free hand.
Before the pair walked away, now with the girls arm around Harry’s shoulders while Harry snaked his arm around her waist both pulling close together. Harry nearly rested his head on the girls shoulder. Draco couldn’t help being upset by this, ‘why is this other Vampire so close to my Harry! Would she please stop touching him like that!!!’ Shifting his eyes to his godfather, who also stood watching the pair walk away, Draco began to wonder why they had been there. After a moment of pause Draco moved forward a little.
“Hey Sev.” Draco called as he walked closer. Severus turned toward him still smiling, but didn’t speak so Draco continued, “What were they doing here?” he asked and glanced down the hall to where the pair had been to emphasize who he was talking about. “And why, pray tell, is that girl hanging all over my intended?”
Draco watched the smile on his godfather’s face fade and his lips purse and his brow furrowed a little, “Draco would you please come in with me for a minute, so that we may discuss this in private?” Severus asked as he stepped back through the open door. Draco followed closely behind him. “I mean you know that Harry is my mate, Severus, how can you watch someone hang all off of him like that and not do anything??”
Severus looked at Draco and stated flatly, “It is not my place to stop Harry of anything that he wants to do, Draco. The situation has nothing to do with me. As for his and Cordalina’s friendship and closeness, it is just that, friendship. There are no romantic feelings between the two of them, they are very close friends. Yes it almost seems that they are intimate on occasion, but that is because Harry and Cord have that kind of relationship. Harry needs that, and Cord understands.”
“Severus! She is a Vampire! She flashed me her fangs when she saw me the first time!” Draco bellowed at the man standing only a few feet in front of him in a rage.
“Draco, I am well aware that she is a Vampire.” Severus said with a heavy sigh as he sat in one of the wingback chairs, motioning for Draco to sit on the couch opposite him. When he had, Severus continued. “But her being one is no threat to you and your status as Harry’s mate.”
“How can you say that!? I saw them in the hall Severus! That kind of action between two people is not just friendly touching! That is intimate touching! Something lovers do!”
Severus sighed leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “Draco I want you to listen to me, and listen to me very closely okay. Cord is not a threat to you, or your future with Harry. She is a Vampire, yes. However she is also bonded to her own, her name is Cloe, and they have already completed their bond. Thus Cord will not make a move on Harry, nor had she before hand, nor would Harry let her anyway. Even before this summer when Harry came into his inheritance he knew that he had no sexual attraction to women, his few extremely short relationships with them ended with one kiss.” Severus paused as if thinking of how to finish, “Harry knew that something was missing, as though something wasn’t there. It seems that that something was a bond with you, but he didn’t know that at the time, nor does it appear that he is aware of it now. The relationship between Harry and Cord is one of a very intimate friendship; they have a very close understanding of each other. There are things about Harry’s inheritance that Cord seems to understand even if Harry doesn’t do so himself. I believe it has a lot to do with his life outside of school, but I myself am not sure. Just understand Draco that she has no intentions towards him other than to be there for him, to be his close friend. You will find that Harry, as I found out this evening on questioning them myself, has always enjoyed touch and closeness of another person. Cord being who she to him and Harry’s unique blend of Creature, Harry now needs the touch. She is there to give him what he needs, because you are not ready to give it to him.”
“He would not accept it from me now Sev! He would not understand!!” Severus silenced him with a wave of his hand.
“Look Draco, you need to talk to Cord. I can arrange that for you. She can explain this much better than I can. Harry talks to her, he trusts her. As much as he trusts me, it would be better for her to vouch for you than for me. I am to… close to the situation if you will. They are friends, and he will trust her to know if your intentions are not true, also she will be able to help you approach the situation. I’ll talk to her tomorrow about meeting with you, okay?” Severus leaned back in his chair again.
“I guess that sounds okay with me. If you think she can help, then I will talk to her. I need him Sev.” Draco stood adjusting his clothing slightly.
“I know, Draco, I know. Now go back to your dorm. You’ve got homework to do.” Severus stood himself and walked Draco to the door. “I’ll set up a meeting for tomorrow if I can orchestrate it.” And nearly shoved Draco out of the door.

Draco was back at the dorm for an hour working on his school work before he heard the door to the common room open, and voices fill the hall. He smiled to himself knowing that it had to be Harry coming back for the night, the other boys had been back and in their room doing homework for hours now. The voices got closer and the sound of laughter coming closer, and then the door opened to reveal not only Harry, but Dex also. Dex smiled at Harry handing him the guitar case off his back as he walked through the door.
“So… HJ… this is where you live huh?” Dex asked as he looked up at Draco sitting on his bed with a book resting on his lap before looking back at Harry who was putting the guitar case in the closet along with the one off of his back. When Harry turned back around his eyes shifted directly to Dex.
“Yup. Nice eh?” Harry then looked to Draco and quirked a half smile, “Could use better company though.” And with that he looked back at Dex and smiled broadly. “Dex, this is..”
“Draco Malfoy, I know, we’ve met.” Harry raised his pierced eyebrow and Dex continued, “We kind of ran into each other this afternoon, literally.” With that Dex looked to Draco smiling softly, “Good to see you again.” He paused and smirked, “Now I know why you were interested in HJ earlier, you’ve got to live with him.”
Draco looked shell shocked at the comment and shifted his gaze to Harry, who’s other eyebrow had now risen to meet the first as he spoke, “Really? How unlike you to be curious about me.” Harry commented dryly as he sat on the end of his bed removing his shoes and socks, setting his shoes together and aside at the end of his bed and throwing his socking in the hamper near the closet door.
Dex chuckled at the look on Draco’s face, “Yea, he asked if I knew you.” Harry gave a wicked grin and stood up walking toward the door where Dex stood. Once Harry got closer he placed a hand tenderly in the middle of Dex’s chest and went up on his tip toes whispering (still loud enough for Draco to hear) into Dex’s ear.
“Oh I know you alright.” With that Harry picked up a stack of pajamas off of the chair by the door sliding his hand gently off of Dex’s chest letting his fingertips linger around his side and walked across the hall to the bathroom giggling.
When Dex looked up Draco’s eyes were narrowed and there was a heavy scowl on his face, Dex thought it looked as though Draco was debating whether to kill him now or wait until later so he asked, “Draco, you alright there man? You look like someone just made out with your partner or something…”
Draco’s eyes narrowed even more as he slid off of his bed and stalked toward the boy near the door way, “And have you?”
Dex stepped back a little when Draco kept advancing on him, “Did I what?” he asked confusedly.
“Did you make out with my partner?” Draco asked pointedly as he stopped two feet away from Dex.
“Umm… considering I just got here, and the only person that I have met from your school is you… I’m going to go with no.” Dex stated in a matter of fact tone. But Draco took one more step closer becoming very much so in Dex’s personal space.
“Oh but you have met someone else from my school, you have met Harry…” Draco let the statement hang in the air watching Dex shift his eyes from Draco over his shoulder to the closed bathroom door. When Dex’s eyes were back on him again Draco nodded once and continued, “so have you?”
Dex looked a little taken aback, “I don’t know what you are on about. Harry doesn’t have anyone that he is seeing, and I’m sure if he was seeing you and by some chance you ended up rooming together he would have said something. Besides, if he had someone he wouldn’t have missed us so quickly.” With that he stepped to the side and out the door. “Tell HJ that I’ll see him tomorrow. I’m out.” And Dex walked off down the hall and out the portrait hole.
Draco ran his hands over his face and sighed heavily as he leaned back against one of the posts of his bed, “Fuck.” He muttered under his breath. Closing his eyes he tilted his head back until it too rested on the post, he rapped his head on the post a few times thinking about how horrible what just happened would be when Harry found out when a voice broke his reverie.
“Malfoy, what are you doing?” Harry asked standing in the door. He moved into the room throwing his clothes into the hamper and turned back to where Draco stood now looking at him mouth slightly slack open after a few seconds of looking at each other, “What?”
Draco shook his head a little not taking his eyes off of Harry for a second, “Nothing, just thinking I guess.” Draco watched as Harry moved to his back pack , his lounge pants riding low on his hips, almost covering all of his bare feet. Tank top slightly wet in the back from his still damp hair. Harry removed a notebook and moved to his bed climbing onto it gracefully, settling down resting against the head board. After a moment Harry looked up at Draco again to find him still looking at him.
“Malfoy, look, would you please stop staring? Can’t you just go back to ignoring me like normal? I mean, if you can’t do that maybe I should ask one of the other guys to switch with me.” Harry narrowed his eyes a little, “is this going to be a problem? Or are you going to be a big boy and deal with living here with me?”
Draco at that moment closed his eyes for a second and said, “Your friend said he’d see you tomorrow.” And Draco climbed into his own bed, settling for a second before opening his book to the correct page again. After a few moments he heard the scratching of a quill on paper and tried to concentrate on this book. But he found that all he was doing was staring at the page while thinking, ‘had they been together? His Harry and that boy, Dex? What kind of name is Dex anyway? Had his Harry been tainted by someone else before his inheritance would stop him? Sev doesn’t know everything, Harry probably wouldn’t tell him that sort of thing.’ Draco shuddered slightly at the thought. He looked over at Harry out of the corner of his eye, watching him as he concentrated on what he was doing. There was the slightest furrow in his brow as though he was thinking hard. His eyes were focused as though he was trying to burrow through the notebook with his mind. He watched as Harry reached up and pushed some of his hair behind his ear, and then quickly went back to holding the notebook in place. Draco marveled at the way the light hit Harry’s piercing. They were beautiful in a way. He recognized the balls of stone on the ends of his utility piercing to be hematite, and smiled to himself.
Without looking up Harry asked, “What is it Malfoy? You keep looking at me, is there something you need? Just tell me because I can’t deal with you staring at me it is breaking my concentration.”
Draco considered asking what he really wanted to know, ‘have you slept with anyone? Did you date Dex?’ But instead he settled for trying to have a conversation, “What are you working on?” It was an honest question, and he was curious, so it worked out.
Harry paused not looking up, but looking askance at Draco, “I don’t think that is any of your business.” Harry said in a flat, hard voice.
“Look Potter, you said yourself, we have to live together. We might as well be able to hold a decent and civil conversation. I was just curious what you are doing is all.” Draco now looked at Harry full on, taking in how tense he seemed to be suddenly.
“It’s nothing Malfoy. Just a little hobby of mine.” When Draco kept staring at him he continued with a sigh. “I’m writing, okay?”
Draco smirked over at him for getting his question answered and then rolled his eyes, “And what are you writing?”
Harry looked as though he was ready to spit a nasty comment at him but all he did was sigh and finally look up at Draco completely, “a song.” Draco noted the way Harry’s eyes almost seemed to glow in the torchlight of the room, he also noted that now that the stare was directed at him there was a lot going on behind those eyes, as though Harry’s mind was a spin dryer full of emotions, thoughts and feelings, all mixed into one.
Draco offered a genuine smile for the answer, “Do you write a lot?”
“When I have free time I try to. Keeps me organized.” Harry looked back at the notebook with a sigh and closed it. Placing the quill on top of it he set the notebook on the table next to his bed, before gracefully sliding off of his bed and moving over to his back pack again.
“Can I read something you wrote?” Draco felt as though a balloon was filling him, the more he and Harry talked, no matter how strained it was, the happier he felt.
Harry froze at the question. Watching Draco carefully he stepped back over to the table, snatched up the note book, “No.” turned and put it in his pack before removing a potions book and closing the bag securely. Harry climbed back on his bed.
Draco pouted a little, “why not?”
Harry shifted into a more comfortable position on his bed opening the book flipping through its pages. “Because it’s private.”
Draco sighed and let it drop. The two boys sat in silence for the next hour reading, when Draco finally decided it was time for him to get some sleep Harry went out to finish reading in the common room. Draco fell asleep wondering how he was ever going to get close to Harry if he kept being so closed about everything. At which point he reminded himself, “we have been back for 2 days now, it is going to take a lot more time than that to get him to trust me enough for things.” And with that thought he fell asleep.