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Second Chance Year	By : Spacefille Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 2925 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am making no money off of the following work of fiction.

Chapter List
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3. Confessions

…

On the third week back, notices began to go up about Quidditch tryouts. Harry had nearly forgotten in the year he had been gone and stared at the notice with awe. He wondered how that had managed to slip his mind. It was Quidditch, he loved Quidditch! And… would he even have time for it with both his studies and teaching? He frowned.

To make matters worse, as he stood there with his mouth open, Draco chose to walk by. For a fleeting moment Harry thought he was going to keep on going to whatever class he had now, but then he stopped, turned, walked back to where Harry stood and looked up at the poster as well.

“Ah,” he said with a bit of distain in his voice. “Repaired the pitch did they?”

Harry glanced at him. “Yeah, must have,” he said. “You’ll be playing right?” he asked a bit hopefully. If Draco could fit in Quidditch, perhaps he could too.

Draco gave him a look like he was mad. “I haven’t played Quidditch in two years,” Draco said slowly, like he was a stupid child would should understand this.

Harry flushed. “Oh,” he muttered, and now Draco gave him a particular look.

“Aren’t you going to play, Potter?” he asked.

Harry shrugged. “Not sure,” he said. “Bit busy this year… and I’m out of practice. Didn’t get to play last year,” he said with a bit of a wistful smile.

Draco gave him a sidelong glance from under his hair. “You should play, Potter,” he said. “It’s one of the only things you seem to be good at. Well that and not dying. Pity.” With that he turned heel and walked off.

Harry glared after him, anger bubbling up inside, but before he could retort with anything Draco had disappeared back into the mill of students.

.

Later that night found Harry sneaking out of the Gryffindor tower, heading towards the Quidditch pitch. He wanted to go flying, just for a bit, see if it still had the same sort of spark to it that it had for him before.

He saw it from far away, before he was anywhere near the pitch. A boy, riding on a broom, circling high above the grounds. Harry recognized him even from a distance, and mostly because of the very recognizable white-blond hair on his head.

Draco! Harry grinned. If Draco was practicing there was a chance he’d be trying out for Quidditch after all!

Harry even thought, for half a second, that maybe he could convince Draco to let him practice with him. Then as he watched, Draco flew out of the pitch, zipping over the grounds and Harry realized that he may have just been flying about for the fun of it. Especially since Draco just finished pulling off a rapid set of complicated dives and turns.

It happened so fast that Harry hadn’t even time to see it coming, let alone get his wand out to prevent it. One moment Draco was circling, swooping and diving, looking like he was enjoying himself, and the next a flash of red hit Draco. It was a curse or hex from a wand, and it had come from the grounds below him. Both Draco and his broom dropped from the sky like a pair of stones, disappearing out of sight.

Harry let out a yell and broke into a run.

As he crested the hill and looked down on the Quidditch grounds he could see several shadowy figures hovering over what could only be Draco. It looked like they were kicking him, and beside them something was on fire… it looked like it was his broom…

An icy chill went through Harry. “Draco!” he shouted. He drew his wand and let out a couple hexes, while he ran towards the crowd as fast as he could.

Before he could reach them, however, Draco’s attackers took off, all at once, towards the greenhouses, leaving Draco in a crumpled heap on the ground. A couple turned back just enough to shoot counter spells towards him and Harry had to duck to avoid them, and let out a couple more of his own as he straightened and continued to run forwards. He neared Draco and for a split second Harry stopped. He wanted to keep going but he had no idea how seriously Draco had been hurt…

Harry raised his wand up, then higher, ready to shoot at the greenhouses to drive them back towards either him or the school, damage to school property be damned...

“No!” Draco’s voice stilled his hand. “Stop!”

The last of the shadowy figures disappeared behind the greenhouses, escaping. Harry stared after them, aghast, then slowly lowered his wand. He turned back. Draco was lying on his side, gasping for breath, his mouth screwed up in pain as he held his leg to his chest. Harry went to him, but Draco waved him away and sat up.

“Who was it?” Harry breathed angrily as he stood over Draco. “Who were they?”

Draco looked up at him, his eyes wide in the moonlight. For a fleeting moment he looked incredibly young and frightened. Then the look disappeared as he scowled. He dropped his eyes as Harry crouched down beside him. “It’s none of your business, Potter,” he replied, his voice clipped and condescending.

“None of my…” Harry shook, indignant and angry beyond belief. “They just tried to kill you, Malfoy.”

Draco snorted and focused his attention on his leg. He began peeling his pants back from the cuff, using his wand to slice the fabric, so that he could get a look at it. “Your… concern is unwarranted,” he said as he did so.

Harry's mouth fell open. “I can’t believe you,” he reached out and grabbed him by his upper arms. “They cursed you off a broom and then they--”

Draco let out one brief sharp cry of pain, dropped his wand. He flinched back from Harry, his teeth clenched, then reacted. “Get AWAY from me,” he spat, pushing him away violently, and Harry let him go and fell back, landing on his rear on the grass.

He sat there, staring in disbelief, and Draco continued to glare back at him, breathing heavily as he recovered, his face twisted with anger. He finally looked away from Harry and returning his attention to his leg. Harry watched as Draco picked up his wand with a slightly shaking hand then, gripping it tightly, brought his other hand up to hold the leg into place. He drew his wand down over it as he whispered spells under his breath, so quietly that Harry couldn’t make them out.

“Tell me who they were,” Harry asked again, this time less forcefully.

Draco didn’t even look up at him, but he had dropped the leg and gone onto an arm, shrugging off his robes and peeling back his shirt to inspect it. “No,” he replied, as he ran his wand up and down that arm. His BARE arm, Harry noted yet again. “Let it go, Potter,” Draco added, a warning note in his voice.

Harry let out a little huff of frustration as he watched Draco work. Then he got to his feet again suddenly to take a couple steps back towards Malfoy and crouch down in front of him. Draco looked up at him, startled, then miraculously held still as he took Malfoy’s wrist in his hand.

And then the whole world seemed to slow down. Harry frowned, concentrating as he ran his hand up the side of Draco’s arm where the Dark Mark would have been months before. The skin was a pale white in the moonlight and completely unblemished. He traced his way up the arm, pausing in the hollow of his arm… everything felt fine, whatever damage had been done the spell Draco had used obviously worked to fix it…

“Satisfied?” Harry look up suddenly to see Draco was sneering at him. At the same time Harry realized exactly how close to Draco he was and how he was holding his arm. He jerked away from him quickly, dropping his arm as he fell back, staring at Draco as he flushed despite himself.

Draco looked back at him, the expression on his face guarded as he pulled down his shirt sleeve over the non-existent mark then reached out to gather up his robe.

“Right,” Harry climbed back to his feet, wiping suddenly sweaty palms on his pants. “I…” he spotted something that could help him change the subject. “Your broom,” he said with dismay, looking at the charred remains.

Draco got to his feet as well. He studied him silently for a bit longer, enough that Harry started to shuffle about awkwardly, then shrugged and let out a loud, exasperated sigh. “It's just a BROOM, Potter. I’ll get another one.” As if deciding that it wasn’t worth it to be around Harry any longer, Draco started off, away from Harry and towards the school. Harry could see he was limping, though he was trying his best not to show it. He also realized, feeling nausea grip him suddenly, that the leg must have been broken or at least near to it from the fall. If he was still limping after putting a couple healing spells on his leg…

Anger surged in him again and Harry jogged to catch up with Malfoy, snagging his shirt sleeve and turning around to face him. “Your leg... they really hurt you,” he said furiously, making a hand motion down to Draco's leg.

Malfoy jerked away from him, and Harry grabbed him again. They wrestled for a moment until Draco won his freedom and let out a hollow laugh as he stumbled back from Harry. “Really Potter?” Draco drawled in an amused tone of voice, and Harry looked at him, surprised. “Hurt? You think they actually hurt me?” Draco’s eyes flashed. “This, Potter? A couple scratches?” He let out another mocking chuckle. “This is nothing. You have NO IDEA what I’ve been through. I think I can handle THIS,” with that he turned towards the school and started off again with determination.

Harry shut his mouth from where it had been hanging open and swallowed. “I do actually,” he called out before Draco could get very far.

Draco froze.

“I know what you’ve been through,” Harry added, studying the rigid backside. “And I’m…”

That was enough. Draco rounded on him, his eyes flashing in rage and his voice low and dangerous. “How? How could you POSSIBLY know? You’ve been crucio-ed what, once, TWICE? Tell me, Potter, did he torture you before he tried to kill you? Made you watch as he tortured others? Made YOU torture them?” His mouth twisted as he stared at Harry with his cold grey eyes. “No? Because let me tell you, Potter. That loopy Lovegood girl sure does have a set of lungs on her. You should hear her scream.”

Harry reacted before he could stop or even think about it really, lunging at Malfoy and sacking him. They both went down, struggling for the upper hand, until Malfoy let out a bitten off cry of pain and stopped. Harry stopped as well from where he was on top of him, his shirt clenched in his fists. They glared at each other, and Harry had to work to keep down his anger and not hit him. He breathed in deeply and let it go again. He had to do it again before he could trust himself to speak. “If you’re trying to provoke me into attacking you like they did,” and Harry jerked his head back towards the greenhouses. “It’s not going to work,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m not going to make you pay for something you were forced to do against your will.” He had to take another breath to stop himself from doing just that. He got back up, and jerked Malfoy back to his feet as well.

Draco shrugged him off, backing up a couple steps, breathing hard with his eyes narrowed into slits as he brushed invisible grass from his shirt. “What if I wanted to do it?” he asked in a low taunting voice and again Harry had to visibly fight to stop himself from slamming his fist into his face.

Harry grit his teeth and refused to take out his wand either, even though his hand went to his side. Someone had just tried to kill Draco, and he meant it, he wasn't going to be the next. Maybe. “Alright Malfoy,” he said in a low dangerous voice. “Did you?”

Draco’s ugly look grew and Harry watched as he shut his eyes and opened them again. Harry steeled himself, preparing for something along the lines of ‘of COURSE I did, Potter,' but it didn't come. Instead Draco looked at him with eyes full of absolutely loathing and something else Harry couldn’t quite place and replied in a strangled voice.

“No.”

Harry relaxed, tension leaving him as quickly as it came. He felt relieved. “Then why did you--”.

Draco exploded suddenly, taking Harry completely by surprise. “You FOOL,” he snarled, stalking - or rather limping - back towards Harry, getting right up into his face. “You actually think I would have wanted that, Potter? That I find torturing people a FUN and EXCITING activity? That I wanted to see people DIE?” he was seething, eyes flashing. “DO YOU THINK I WOULD HAVE COME BACK HERE IF I DID?” his chest was heaving and suddenly Harry was afraid that he was going to pass out. He stepped forwards and caught Draco by the arms, expecting Draco to jerk away from him again. Instead Draco seemed to slump in his grasp, his eyes glazing over a bit as he got his breathing under control.

“Granger…” Draco began in a quiet voice once he regained his breath somewhat.

“Hermoine?” Harry asked gently, puzzled. “What about her?”

Draco shook his head and straightened a bit. “Nothing. Nevermind.”

Harry was confused, until it occurred to him, in a flash of insight, that Hermione was one of the people Draco had seen tortured during the war. Harry had to swallow back the bad taste in his throat and changed the subject back to the present. “Who attacked you?” Harry asked again, very quietly.

Draco looked at him, his eyes clearing completely and the expression on his face turning slightly desperate. “I can't...”

“Malfoy,” Harry began, and Draco's eyes darted up to his face before looking away again.

“Slytherins,” he said finally as if it was the hardest thing he had ever had to say.

Harry dropped his hold on Draco, shocked. “... what?” he exclaimed, not sure if he heard him correctly.

Draco made a dismissive hand motion and half turned away. He stood for a long moment, collecting himself. “They lost their parents,” he said finally, his voice full of loathing. “And they heard your stupid story about my mother.”

“But there's...” Harry stammered, not knowing what to say and completely confused. “I'm the one who killed...”

Draco shook his head. “Doesn't matter.” he replied and now he sounded slightly tired. “My family is disgraced, Potter, you of all people should know that.”

“I-” Harry stepped forwards, a determined look on his face. “I'm going to...”

“Do nothing, Potter,” Draco interrupted him, giving him a sharp look. “You do ANYTHING to those children,” he ground out the last word. “And someone a lot more powerful will go after my family. I will NOT let that happen again,” he made a sharp cutting motion with his hand. “You. Will. Do. NOTHING.” he repeated.

He paused and inspected the livid, rebellious expression on Harry's face. “Stop it Potter, the hero act is tiresome,” Draco said with a bit of a lip curl. “They threatened me today, if you must know, I should have known not to go out tonight. Or rather, I should have been more prepared,” he raised his chin and gave a haughty look in the direction of where his attackers had fled.

“This is ridiculous,” Harry declared. “You can’t honestly expect me to—“

“Control yourself? That would be a change for you, wouldn’t it?” Draco looked back at him and the corner of his mouth curved into a smirk as he took in the expression on Harry’s face. “What's wrong, Potter?” he asked. “Did I shatter your quaint little black and white world? Did you really think the war was over when you defeated the Dark Lord?”

Harry’s teeth clenched so hard they hurt. “The war IS over, Malfoy,” he hissed back. “I fought to PREVENT things like this from happening.”

Draco let out a little snort. “What you want and what actually happens are often two different things, Potter,” Draco returned quietly. “The war might be over for you, but it's not for the rest of us,” he turned away again.

Harry reached out and snagged his shirt again, not wanting to let him go. “Draco...” he began.

Draco stopped, his hair hanging loosely over the side of his face so that Harry couldn't see his eyes. He stood there, perfectly still and Harry frowned and reached out. He brushed the bangs back from his eyes and Draco flinched, just a bit. Harry felt embarrassed and quickly pulled his hand away. He expected to be glared at but now Draco was just looking at him, an almost curious expression on his face. “I… we, can protect you,” Harry said finally, feeling himself flush a deeper red. At the same time unbidden memories of Dumbledore’s final conversation with Draco came back to him… he was repeating the Headmaster’s words.

Draco shook his head and let out a little bark of laughter. “You couldn’t protect me last year,” he said finally as if he had read Harry’s thoughts. “And that was when my life was in actual danger.” Something must have showed on Harry’s face… remorse? regret? whatever it was, the expression on Draco’s face softened when he saw it. “Let me go, Potter,” he said without any heat. “If I need your help I’ll ask for it.”

“You wouldn’t ask,” Harry pointed out, but he dropped Draco’s shirt anyway.

Draco shot him an arrogant smirk. “No.” he said. “I wouldn’t.” He turned and began limping back towards the school again with determination.

Harry watched him go, feeling suddenly very very tired and drained.

.

Harry considered going to McGonagall about the attack on Draco, deliberated about it the entire next day while glaring at the Slytherin table, trying to figure out which of them had done it. By the end of the day he had decided, reluctantly, to do as Draco had requested and let it go. For now. But if he ever found out who tried to hurt Draco he wasn’t sure he’d be able to sit idly by…

It was also something that came very hard to him, but Harry had to admit there wasn’t much he could do, if what Draco said was true about his family. Harry was fairly sure Draco would never forgive him if something happened to his parents.

He didn’t have to like it though.

He did go to talk to Luna, however, about what Draco had said.

He found her in a secluded part of the library, which was perfect. She was reading a textbook, upside down of course, but when Harry sat down opposite of her she lowered it and gave him an ethereal smile. “Hullo Harry,” she greeted him.

Harry nodded at her. “Hi,” he said. He shifted a bit uncomfortably in the chair. “Luna can I ask you a question?”

She nodded. “Of course you can,” she replied.

Harry cleared his throat. “Draco…” he lowered his voice and leaned forwards so that she would be the only one to hear him. She leaned forwards as well. “When you were in his cellar with Dean at Malfoy’s house, did he ever do anything to hurt you?”

She processed the question then smiled again. “Of course not,” she said. “Not him. Poor boy, all alone. So very frightened. He brought us food once.” She paused. “It wasn’t very good.” She added, almost as an afterthought.

Harry stared at her with his mouth open. But of course, he realized, shutting his mouth abruptly. He felt angry suddenly that Draco would lie to try to provoke Harry into attacking him. God, he had nearly…

Luna reached forwards and patted him on the knee. “I’m glad he has you as a friend now Harry. That is very nice of you.”

Harry flushed. “Thank you,” was all he managed to get out before he fled the library. They weren’t friends, and weren’t going to be unless…

Harry considered that. He had to find something to keep Draco from driving him away. He just didn’t know what that was going to be yet.

…
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Second Chance Year