A Reminder - Part 5 of A Different View
Title: A Reminder (5/? of A Different View)
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 552
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco
Challenges: AWDT's prompt of "Sitting on Santa's Knee" and my GJ 100_prompts entry #055 - "Solitary".
Summary: Harry opens up just a little more.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
To see all parts of A Different View, click here.
A week had passed since Draco had found that letter of Harry's, but it felt like much longer. They had, in that week, become almost inseparable. For Draco, Harry felt sure it was the fact that Harry was the only relief to his solitary moments, the only person who was nice to him. Sure, other people were tolerant, almost pleasant, but Harry strongly suspected that it was his own presence that encouraged that.
For Harry, it was something else. A kink had appeared in the armour Harry had so carefully constructed around his feelings, and somehow Draco had manoeuvred his way in. Not that Harry was complaining. It was actually quite refreshing to talk to Draco. Perhaps because he didn't look up to or down upon Harry. He was Harry's equal, and Draco didn't expect anything from him, nor would he tolerate any bullshit. As strange as it sounded after only a week, he considered Draco a friend now.
Harry had always hated the reaction he got when people found out about his childhood; he loathed pity. Draco's reaction had been a look of pain mingled with guilt, but not pity. Never that. They hadn't spoken about the letter, which suited Harry fine.
Tonight the group had decided to grab a pint, and Harry had managed to convince Draco to come along. As he approached the table on his way back from the washroom, he sensed that perhaps that hadn't been such a good idea.
Harry had thought everyone was starting to relax around Draco, but the laughter coming from the table, accompanied by Draco's red face and shaking arm (Harry was sure he was only just stopping himself from pulling out his wand) told another story.
"What did I miss?" Harry asked, looking anything but amused. Silence hung in the air until Draco broke it.
"I'm leaving, Harry."
"Sounds good. I'll come with you."
"Don't bother. You stay here with your friends," he all but spat out.
Looking around at the guilty faces, some of which were clearly suppressing laughter, Harry said, "I think I'd rather head out with you, if it's all the same."
Draco looked ready to argue, but a look from Harry stopped him saying any more, and he nodded, got up and headed outside. In silence, they walked to the Apparition point, where Harry grabbed onto Draco's arm and Apparated them both to Grimmauld Place.
"What happened tonight, Draco?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"But --"
"Why did you keep that letter?"
Harry knew it was a challenge. Draco wouldn't talk unless Harry did. "I think I just kept it as a reminder --"
"Surely you didn't need a reminder of how horrible those Muggles were to you!"
"No, it's not that. I remember watching children sitting on Santa's knee, asking for things that I knew wouldn't come, at least not for me. I suppose it was a reminder that I shouldn't count on anyone else for anything."
"You didn't have to leave with me tonight, you know."
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
"I remember someone telling me years ago that I shouldn't make friends with the wrong sort. I sensed that they weren't the sort I wanted to be with."
The smile Harry got in return convinced him he'd made the right choice.
Part 6 - Kicked Out
.
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 552
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco
Challenges: AWDT's prompt of "Sitting on Santa's Knee" and my GJ 100_prompts entry #055 - "Solitary".
Summary: Harry opens up just a little more.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
To see all parts of A Different View, click here.
A week had passed since Draco had found that letter of Harry's, but it felt like much longer. They had, in that week, become almost inseparable. For Draco, Harry felt sure it was the fact that Harry was the only relief to his solitary moments, the only person who was nice to him. Sure, other people were tolerant, almost pleasant, but Harry strongly suspected that it was his own presence that encouraged that.
For Harry, it was something else. A kink had appeared in the armour Harry had so carefully constructed around his feelings, and somehow Draco had manoeuvred his way in. Not that Harry was complaining. It was actually quite refreshing to talk to Draco. Perhaps because he didn't look up to or down upon Harry. He was Harry's equal, and Draco didn't expect anything from him, nor would he tolerate any bullshit. As strange as it sounded after only a week, he considered Draco a friend now.
Harry had always hated the reaction he got when people found out about his childhood; he loathed pity. Draco's reaction had been a look of pain mingled with guilt, but not pity. Never that. They hadn't spoken about the letter, which suited Harry fine.
Tonight the group had decided to grab a pint, and Harry had managed to convince Draco to come along. As he approached the table on his way back from the washroom, he sensed that perhaps that hadn't been such a good idea.
Harry had thought everyone was starting to relax around Draco, but the laughter coming from the table, accompanied by Draco's red face and shaking arm (Harry was sure he was only just stopping himself from pulling out his wand) told another story.
"What did I miss?" Harry asked, looking anything but amused. Silence hung in the air until Draco broke it.
"I'm leaving, Harry."
"Sounds good. I'll come with you."
"Don't bother. You stay here with your friends," he all but spat out.
Looking around at the guilty faces, some of which were clearly suppressing laughter, Harry said, "I think I'd rather head out with you, if it's all the same."
Draco looked ready to argue, but a look from Harry stopped him saying any more, and he nodded, got up and headed outside. In silence, they walked to the Apparition point, where Harry grabbed onto Draco's arm and Apparated them both to Grimmauld Place.
"What happened tonight, Draco?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"But --"
"Why did you keep that letter?"
Harry knew it was a challenge. Draco wouldn't talk unless Harry did. "I think I just kept it as a reminder --"
"Surely you didn't need a reminder of how horrible those Muggles were to you!"
"No, it's not that. I remember watching children sitting on Santa's knee, asking for things that I knew wouldn't come, at least not for me. I suppose it was a reminder that I shouldn't count on anyone else for anything."
"You didn't have to leave with me tonight, you know."
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
"I remember someone telling me years ago that I shouldn't make friends with the wrong sort. I sensed that they weren't the sort I wanted to be with."
The smile Harry got in return convinced him he'd made the right choice.
Part 6 - Kicked Out
.