On the Tightrope 12/48
Title: On The Tightrope ~ One Step Closer (12/48)
Author: Lire lire_casander
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Rating: PG this chapter. NC-17 overall.
Word Count: 1694
Beta: Lovely gurliemoviegeek. Any mistakes left are my own fault.
Disclaimer: I do not own in any form or shape these characters, JK Rowling does. Just playing with them for my own amusement and yours.
Summary: Harry Potter has saved the world, and now the world has left him out. When desperation becomes too much to bear, he finds solace in an unexpected act of salvation committed by an unexpected hero.
Warnings (overall): Angst. Intents of suicide. Dark themes. Fluff. DH-compliant, including epilogue. Takes place between the final chapter and the epilogue.
Warnings of this chapter: Angst. And Quidditch!
Author's Note: Written for 100quills's prompt table using prompt 37. Whisper.
Harry noticed a velvety texture in the way Malfoy shook his hand, and a thrill of magic coursing through his body when their skins touched. Confused, Harry looked back and forth from their joined hands to Draco's grey eyes, only to find the same gaze staring back at him, as the magic washed over them.
"I... ehm... I should go to the Quidditch pitch," he stammered, letting go of Malfoy's fingers. "You know... I have to supervise a... uh... a session."
"In fact," Draco said, and Harry grew suddenly jealous of the blond's self-control. "I was thinking of going to that session. See if I'm still able to fight for a Seeker position."
"Fine. Then let's go."
They climbed down the stairs to the hall, where they could spy a couple of students betting about the Quidditch training session. At the door, Draco marched forward leaving Harry behind, so they wouldn't reach the pitch at the same time. Harry wondered whether the blond was ashamed of their newly-born acquaintance or if he didn't want to be seen with the Saviour. Whatever the reason, Harry reached the Quidditch pitch moments after Malfoy; he watched agape the massive meeting that seemed to have been formed there. Maybe it was just an exaggeration, but Harry thought he could count at least a hundred people, not including the ones who were clearly just going to be an audience. He cleared his throat to make his presence known among the throng of students congregated there - he reckoned he would have to watch aspirant after aspirant for hours until he found the perfect team to coach. He spotted Ron near the three-loop base, and waved his hand; Ron ran to him with a small smile on his lips.
"This is insane, isn't it?" the redhead greeted him.
"You know you don't have to fight for a place in the new team, right? You're our Keeper!"
"Of course I know!" Ron laughed. "I was just looking out the window when I saw the rabble congregating here, and thought you'd use a bit of help. Hermione should be here any second now to bring a bit of order too."
Harry thanked him with a smile and a nod; when he was about to say something else, an authoritarian voice behind him overpowered his. "Now, everyone, get over here in order, a single row please, and write down your name and the place you're aiming for oin our list, or else you won't be tested today."
Harry turned around in time to watch as Hermione put down her wand from her own throat to produce a quill, ink and a piece of parchment. "Thanks," he mouthed; his reward was a smile and a shrug that he understood as surrendering - Hermione had never liked Quidditch that much.
Surprisingly, in less than a quarter of hour everything was organized and everyone was ready to start. There had been a few gasps and murmurs when Malfoy had signed up for the test, but Hermione had silenced them all by professionally noting his name and place in the game with the same gentle smile and firm voice she had used with everyone else.
"We will no longer be enemies," Harry whispered to Ron. "Malfoy and me, I mean. We've decided on a truce."
"Does that mean that you are friends, now?" Ron asked back, biting his lip as he saw one of the First Years jumping onto a broom and falling.
"I don't think so." Harry sighed. "I guess we're not friends, but we are not on opposed sides in a war. Besides, I hurt him back in our first year; it was time that I asked for forgiveness."
Ron shook his head. "Don't try to explain it because you know I won't understand your reasons. But you saved us all, and you're our leader."
"Try to feed me that bullshit one more time and I swear I'll hex you," Harry menaced, only half joking. "I'm not asking you to be his friend. I'm just telling you that, from now on, you don't have to think he's going to hex me every time you see us talking."
Ron nodded shortly, curtly, his lips a thin line, as if he were pondering the advantages and disadvantages of the new situation. "Let's get to the session, okay? I'll think about this later, Harry. But for now, all I want to do is get up there and save as many Quaffles as possible."
"Huh?"
"You'll need a Keeper to test the Chaser, right?"
"Erm... yes?"
"Harry!" Ron seemed scandalized. "You've only spent a couple of minutes in Malfoy's presence and you already have his conversational skills when it comes to Gryffindors? Bloody interhouse unity..."
Harry accepted his friend's surrender as it was - an attempt to accept the new world they all lived in. It was more than the brunet had asked for, and it was all he was willing to take from Ron. "Okay, everyone!" he shouted.; Hermione came by his side and aimed her wand at his throat, muttering a soft Sonorus under her breath. "We'll start off with the Chasers. You'll try to get the Quaffle past the hoops where Gryffindor's Keeper will be waiting."
Ron climbed on his broom and flew towards the loops, positioning himself between them and hawking at the Chasers that tried to slip the Quaffle past his vigilant stance. Harry was flying around them on his broom, taking notes with a Quick-Quotes Quill while watching the game unfolding before his eyes. After tiring himself watching the Chasers, the Keepers and the Beaters competing for their places, Harry decided it was time for a break and then he would test the Seekers. The Quidditch pitch was sensibly less crowded, and the people sat on the stands were already waiting for the main attraction of the afternoon.
Harry landed near Hermione and snatched the list from her hands. "Delawney, Krispen, Jagger and Malfoy. Why isn't Ginny on this list?" Harry looked around. "Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her here..."
"She is not going to come," Hermione confessed. "I told her not to. She is really hurt by the way you broke up with her, even though she hasn't said anything specific, and you still refuse to explain the new situation to anyone. Harry, Ginny believes you have left her because you're becoming mad. I guess she's just deeply hurt; but this was not her place to be. She cannot compete against you in a match, Harry. If she had been chosen as Seeker for this team, you two would have had to play against each other sometime in the near future. I don't know what could have come out of that."
"Why? Ginny is perfectly capable to separate our break-up from a match."
"Don't ever underestimate the power of an indignant woman, Harry," Hermione said cryptically.
Harry wisely decided not to ask anymore, instead turning towards the four aspirants and telling them to get on their brooms. "You will be playing a one on one, well, more likely a four on four, since you all will be looking for the Snitch at the same time." Harry closed his fingers around the golden Snitch, the only one still trapped in the trunk, freeing it and whispering to it. "Are you ready? Get set. Go!" he said, letting go of the Snitch and watching as all the Seekers but Malfoy hurrying up after the winged ball.
The blond wizard just stood still in his broom, attentive to any sound it seemed. Harry looked at him curiously, wondering why he had not taken after the Snitch, when all of a sudden Malfoy gripped the wooden length underneath his body and took off in exactly the opposite direction of the other Seekers, who were still flying in circles pursuing something invisible. Harry watched as Malfoy elegantly flew around the loops, drawing a graceful circle around them with his hand stretched out in an impossible angle, as the blond's pale fingers closed around something as invisible as the ball the others were still searching for.
Harry knew he had found his perfect Seeker the moment Malfoy landed with the Snitch in his hand and another true smile on his face. "I got it," he stated simply.
"Yes, you got it," Harry smiled back. "You should be proud."
"You know what this means, right?" Draco whispered leaning closer to Harry, pretending to be giving the brunet the ball. "This means I haven't lost everything yet... I still have my ability to fly... I'm not a failure..."
"You never were," Harry whispered back, taking the golden ball from Malfoy's fingers and feeling the warmth sweeping through them once again. "I will announce the new team tomorrow morning after breakfast," he said aloud. "Thanks to everyone for coming and participating, and to our audience for cheering as if this was a real Quidditch match."
With that, he dismissed the crowd around them and busied himself with the task of gathering all the balls. Hermione and Ron helped him until it was time for dinner, and then they went together to the Great Hall. Malfoy was sitting alone in a corner of Gryffindor table, already tossing his food around the plate. "Let's sit over there," Hermione suggested, pointing towards the spot where Draco sat, looking lonely.
Harry would never forget the surprised look in Draco's grey eyes when he realized that the Golden Trio was actually sitting beside him and trying to make small talk, even if it was to praise his performance on the pitch.
When, a couple of hours later, everyone was gathering their things to go to bed, Ron stood up and talked to Malfoy. The rest of Gryffindor Tower could only gape at him, including Harry. No one had ever thought Ron could ever say those words.
"Malfoy, there are a couple of beds unoccupied up at the bedroom. Just pick one to sleep from now on, or you’ll risk having a stiff neck for the rest of the year!"
The Gryffindors were more than shocked when Malfoy stood up as well and accepted the invitation.
Back | Next
Author: Lire lire_casander
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Rating: PG this chapter. NC-17 overall.
Word Count: 1694
Beta: Lovely gurliemoviegeek. Any mistakes left are my own fault.
Disclaimer: I do not own in any form or shape these characters, JK Rowling does. Just playing with them for my own amusement and yours.
Summary: Harry Potter has saved the world, and now the world has left him out. When desperation becomes too much to bear, he finds solace in an unexpected act of salvation committed by an unexpected hero.
Warnings (overall): Angst. Intents of suicide. Dark themes. Fluff. DH-compliant, including epilogue. Takes place between the final chapter and the epilogue.
Warnings of this chapter: Angst. And Quidditch!
Author's Note: Written for 100quills's prompt table using prompt 37. Whisper.
Harry noticed a velvety texture in the way Malfoy shook his hand, and a thrill of magic coursing through his body when their skins touched. Confused, Harry looked back and forth from their joined hands to Draco's grey eyes, only to find the same gaze staring back at him, as the magic washed over them.
"I... ehm... I should go to the Quidditch pitch," he stammered, letting go of Malfoy's fingers. "You know... I have to supervise a... uh... a session."
"In fact," Draco said, and Harry grew suddenly jealous of the blond's self-control. "I was thinking of going to that session. See if I'm still able to fight for a Seeker position."
"Fine. Then let's go."
They climbed down the stairs to the hall, where they could spy a couple of students betting about the Quidditch training session. At the door, Draco marched forward leaving Harry behind, so they wouldn't reach the pitch at the same time. Harry wondered whether the blond was ashamed of their newly-born acquaintance or if he didn't want to be seen with the Saviour. Whatever the reason, Harry reached the Quidditch pitch moments after Malfoy; he watched agape the massive meeting that seemed to have been formed there. Maybe it was just an exaggeration, but Harry thought he could count at least a hundred people, not including the ones who were clearly just going to be an audience. He cleared his throat to make his presence known among the throng of students congregated there - he reckoned he would have to watch aspirant after aspirant for hours until he found the perfect team to coach. He spotted Ron near the three-loop base, and waved his hand; Ron ran to him with a small smile on his lips.
"This is insane, isn't it?" the redhead greeted him.
"You know you don't have to fight for a place in the new team, right? You're our Keeper!"
"Of course I know!" Ron laughed. "I was just looking out the window when I saw the rabble congregating here, and thought you'd use a bit of help. Hermione should be here any second now to bring a bit of order too."
Harry thanked him with a smile and a nod; when he was about to say something else, an authoritarian voice behind him overpowered his. "Now, everyone, get over here in order, a single row please, and write down your name and the place you're aiming for oin our list, or else you won't be tested today."
Harry turned around in time to watch as Hermione put down her wand from her own throat to produce a quill, ink and a piece of parchment. "Thanks," he mouthed; his reward was a smile and a shrug that he understood as surrendering - Hermione had never liked Quidditch that much.
Surprisingly, in less than a quarter of hour everything was organized and everyone was ready to start. There had been a few gasps and murmurs when Malfoy had signed up for the test, but Hermione had silenced them all by professionally noting his name and place in the game with the same gentle smile and firm voice she had used with everyone else.
"We will no longer be enemies," Harry whispered to Ron. "Malfoy and me, I mean. We've decided on a truce."
"Does that mean that you are friends, now?" Ron asked back, biting his lip as he saw one of the First Years jumping onto a broom and falling.
"I don't think so." Harry sighed. "I guess we're not friends, but we are not on opposed sides in a war. Besides, I hurt him back in our first year; it was time that I asked for forgiveness."
Ron shook his head. "Don't try to explain it because you know I won't understand your reasons. But you saved us all, and you're our leader."
"Try to feed me that bullshit one more time and I swear I'll hex you," Harry menaced, only half joking. "I'm not asking you to be his friend. I'm just telling you that, from now on, you don't have to think he's going to hex me every time you see us talking."
Ron nodded shortly, curtly, his lips a thin line, as if he were pondering the advantages and disadvantages of the new situation. "Let's get to the session, okay? I'll think about this later, Harry. But for now, all I want to do is get up there and save as many Quaffles as possible."
"Huh?"
"You'll need a Keeper to test the Chaser, right?"
"Erm... yes?"
"Harry!" Ron seemed scandalized. "You've only spent a couple of minutes in Malfoy's presence and you already have his conversational skills when it comes to Gryffindors? Bloody interhouse unity..."
Harry accepted his friend's surrender as it was - an attempt to accept the new world they all lived in. It was more than the brunet had asked for, and it was all he was willing to take from Ron. "Okay, everyone!" he shouted.; Hermione came by his side and aimed her wand at his throat, muttering a soft Sonorus under her breath. "We'll start off with the Chasers. You'll try to get the Quaffle past the hoops where Gryffindor's Keeper will be waiting."
Ron climbed on his broom and flew towards the loops, positioning himself between them and hawking at the Chasers that tried to slip the Quaffle past his vigilant stance. Harry was flying around them on his broom, taking notes with a Quick-Quotes Quill while watching the game unfolding before his eyes. After tiring himself watching the Chasers, the Keepers and the Beaters competing for their places, Harry decided it was time for a break and then he would test the Seekers. The Quidditch pitch was sensibly less crowded, and the people sat on the stands were already waiting for the main attraction of the afternoon.
Harry landed near Hermione and snatched the list from her hands. "Delawney, Krispen, Jagger and Malfoy. Why isn't Ginny on this list?" Harry looked around. "Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her here..."
"She is not going to come," Hermione confessed. "I told her not to. She is really hurt by the way you broke up with her, even though she hasn't said anything specific, and you still refuse to explain the new situation to anyone. Harry, Ginny believes you have left her because you're becoming mad. I guess she's just deeply hurt; but this was not her place to be. She cannot compete against you in a match, Harry. If she had been chosen as Seeker for this team, you two would have had to play against each other sometime in the near future. I don't know what could have come out of that."
"Why? Ginny is perfectly capable to separate our break-up from a match."
"Don't ever underestimate the power of an indignant woman, Harry," Hermione said cryptically.
Harry wisely decided not to ask anymore, instead turning towards the four aspirants and telling them to get on their brooms. "You will be playing a one on one, well, more likely a four on four, since you all will be looking for the Snitch at the same time." Harry closed his fingers around the golden Snitch, the only one still trapped in the trunk, freeing it and whispering to it. "Are you ready? Get set. Go!" he said, letting go of the Snitch and watching as all the Seekers but Malfoy hurrying up after the winged ball.
The blond wizard just stood still in his broom, attentive to any sound it seemed. Harry looked at him curiously, wondering why he had not taken after the Snitch, when all of a sudden Malfoy gripped the wooden length underneath his body and took off in exactly the opposite direction of the other Seekers, who were still flying in circles pursuing something invisible. Harry watched as Malfoy elegantly flew around the loops, drawing a graceful circle around them with his hand stretched out in an impossible angle, as the blond's pale fingers closed around something as invisible as the ball the others were still searching for.
Harry knew he had found his perfect Seeker the moment Malfoy landed with the Snitch in his hand and another true smile on his face. "I got it," he stated simply.
"Yes, you got it," Harry smiled back. "You should be proud."
"You know what this means, right?" Draco whispered leaning closer to Harry, pretending to be giving the brunet the ball. "This means I haven't lost everything yet... I still have my ability to fly... I'm not a failure..."
"You never were," Harry whispered back, taking the golden ball from Malfoy's fingers and feeling the warmth sweeping through them once again. "I will announce the new team tomorrow morning after breakfast," he said aloud. "Thanks to everyone for coming and participating, and to our audience for cheering as if this was a real Quidditch match."
With that, he dismissed the crowd around them and busied himself with the task of gathering all the balls. Hermione and Ron helped him until it was time for dinner, and then they went together to the Great Hall. Malfoy was sitting alone in a corner of Gryffindor table, already tossing his food around the plate. "Let's sit over there," Hermione suggested, pointing towards the spot where Draco sat, looking lonely.
Harry would never forget the surprised look in Draco's grey eyes when he realized that the Golden Trio was actually sitting beside him and trying to make small talk, even if it was to praise his performance on the pitch.
When, a couple of hours later, everyone was gathering their things to go to bed, Ron stood up and talked to Malfoy. The rest of Gryffindor Tower could only gape at him, including Harry. No one had ever thought Ron could ever say those words.
"Malfoy, there are a couple of beds unoccupied up at the bedroom. Just pick one to sleep from now on, or you’ll risk having a stiff neck for the rest of the year!"
The Gryffindors were more than shocked when Malfoy stood up as well and accepted the invitation.
Back | Next