*Third person p.o.v*

"So you're saying.. You think he might be nice?"

Harry looked up at the ceiling of the Gryffindor common room, "Merlin, 'Mione, you make it sound like i'm completely wrong."

"I'm not saying that." Said Hermione quickly from the red couch opposite Harry. "I think you're right, actually."

Harry had never looked at someone so fast before, "What?"

"Yeah, what?" Repeated Ron, looking at Hermione in incredulity.

Hermione send them a half-hearted smile. "I mean.. Based off what's Harry's told us.. I think he can't be.. Entirely bad, looking past what he's done before."

"Hermione, this is Malfoy we're talking about." Said Ron then. Harry didn't blame him, especially not with all the comments Malfoy had made about his family prior to now.

"I know. And he's done and said some absolutely unforgivable things, but.." Hermione looked around the common room in thought. "I just can't help but think of how easy he's made it for Harry the past 9 days. With the deal and not—"

"—Or maybe he just needs a quickie. Malfoy's gay, remember?"

Harry unintentionally squeaked beside Ron.

..He'd never looked at it like that before.

He thought he and Malfoy had had a.. Well, a something this morning, and then suddenly he just pushed him away again. Like he'd done all the previous times something had happened between them.

And.. Oh, Harry prayed Ron was wrong.

"I don't think.." Said Harry, but trailed off. He didn't know Malfoy well enough to be entirely sure.

His stomach hurt slightly at the thought. It had felt so genuine and caring when Malfoy had run his fingers through his hair and held him during the night.

"I don't think so either." Said Hermione then, interrupting his thoughts. "It could be a possibility, but I think he seems too genuine for that. And since when has Malfoy ever intentionally been nice to anyone because he's wanted something? I highly doubt he'd ask nicely."

"Malfoy? Ask nicely?" Ron's eyebrows were raised.

"Exactly. According to his previous actions I think he'd threaten Harry instead of asking nicely, if he was being intentionally nice to.. Well, use him." Said Hermione, making Ron look as if in thought.

Harry almost breathed out of relief. Hermione always knows best, so there was nothing to worry about.

..Right?

"I'm not saying that he's not genuine. I'm just saying we shouldn't start trusting him too much only based off of what's happened lately." Said Ron, rubbing his hands together as he spoke.

"I far from trust him," Said Hermione, "I'm pondering whether or not he's been suffering from a lack of insults recently."

Ron snorted at that, and Hermione send him a small smile.

"Harry, what do you think about him?"

He's hot. And knows how to make a guy turned on, that's for sure.

The blush on Harry's face was so noticeable both Hermione and Ron seemed to be studying him. "..He's still Malfoy."

Which was partly true, but Harry definitely saw him totally differently now.

He was still Malfoy, yes, but Malfoy who had really hot hands, and nice hair, and a very hot voice, and.. Was kind of good to Harry. Sometimes.

"You.. I know I've asked you this once before, but.. You know what, actually, let me rephrase this question." Said Hermione, and Harry leaned back against the couch nervously. "Are you attracted to Malfoy?"

Oh.

That question.

Harry felt another wave of heat hit him, and looked around them hesitantly. It was pretty common that no one were around in the common room this late, but Harry couldn't help but check. He was brought back to the conversation when he felt a calming warm hand on his back.

"Malfoy's a git, yes, but he's.. He is fairly attractive. Everybody knows that." Said Ron to Harry, as if trying to get him to repeat after him.

"I mean.." Said Harry lowly, trying to focus on Ron's reassuring hand. "Maybe a little."

Hermione nodded slowly, Ron's hand running up and down his back encouragingly.

"—Do you know something I don't?" Asked Harry then, looking between them. They were being awfully quiet and supportive.

Hermione shifted in her seat, "You see," She began, and Harry pressed his lips together. "We did some research."

Ron's hand left his back, much to Harry's dismay because it made him much calmer, but quickly adverted his attention back to Hermione.

"It's.. It's just that.. You're not supposed to be attracted to him after you've done.. You know, after you've fulfilled.. Your needs." Said Hermione.

Harry's face heated up. Oh no.

"Mate, really. It's fine." Came Ron's voice from beside him. "You know we don't have a problem with it."

"A.. A problem with what?" Asked Harry, stumbling over his own words.

"That you're into men." Said Hermione quickly, and Harry almost choked on the air.

"..I.."

Ron gave him a small smile, "You know you can tell us anything. Or me, anyway." Ron chuckled, and the sound made Harry relatively more relaxed.

He had told Ron everything since they were little. The thought made him feel reassured; Ron had never judged anything he'd said before.

"..Yeah.. I am. Er.. You know," Said Harry, looking between Ron and Hermione, his face still flaming.

"But you're not gay?" Asked Hermione. She was leaning closer and closer to him in interest and Harry wondered if she would fall off the couch soon.

"No. I'm interested in both girls and boys." Harry tried to ignore how his face felt entirely too hot.

Hermione gave him a soft smile, "Harry, you're out of your mind."

Harry would've usually thought that was an insult, but the caring tone made him rethink it.

"If you thought for one second that we would judge you, you don't seem to know us at all." Said Hermione and Harry fiddled with his hands, feeling shy.

Now that who he was attracted to was the subject, could he just say how badly he wanted to be snogged by Malfoy right now?

Harry nodded, "Thank you. Really."

* * * * * *

Harry had went up to his dorm and gotten his invisibility cloak for him to put on as he walked down to the Slytherin dungeons. When he reached the portrait and started to wait for hopefully a Slytherin to show up and walk in, he wondered whether or not he should consider asking Malfoy for the password, though, Harry was almost entirely sure Malfoy wouldn't give it to him.

He had figured that Malfoy probably wouldn't be waiting for him, it was only about 10 minutes till curfew anyway.

Luckily, Harry was let in by two second year Slytherin boys, who was seemingly bickering about who was better at exploding snap as Harry followed them through the portrait.

When he opened the door, he found Malfoy on his bed, fully dressed, fast asleep.

Harry, despite himself, smiled at the sight. It was obvious that he'd come in and just fallen asleep immediately. It kind of reminded him of Ron, Ron had a knack for falling asleep fully dressed.

Malfoy's one arm was laying along the pillow, almost as if inviting Harry to come and lay there.

..Maybe If he was careful enough, Malfoy wouldn't wake up if Harry laid down next to him.

Malfoy didn't seem to mind cuddling with him so much yesterday, if you asked Harry he seemed almost as if he enjoyed it as much as Harry, so he supposed Malfoy wouldn't have a problem with him just sleeping next to him.

Harry took the invisibility cloak off, folding it and placing it on his own bed, and then went over to Malfoy's.

He slowly, and carefully got on the bed, making sure to watch Malfoy's face, seeing if his facial expressions changed.

It was the potion making him do this.

Yes, Harry couldn't sleep properly without being held, but he wouldn't actually ever get onto Malfoy's bed willingly, trying not to wake him.

Definitely the potion.

Harry wasn't delusional.

Malfoy stirred, and his arm stretched, giving Harry just a good view of his muscles for a hot second.

He rested his head on Malfoy's arm, using it as a pillow, and turned his back to him.

He grabbed the duvet, which Malfoy had simply just pushed to the side, and covered the both of them with it.

Harry loved being this close to someone. And.. Well.. He kind of enjoyed being this close to Malfoy. Just kind of.

Malfoy made him feel so protected, and so secure.

When Harry had closed his eyes, Malfoy suddenly sighed from behind him, and Harry felt him turn over.

Malfoy's arm wrapped around his waist, and then Harry's face grew way too hot again.

Malfoy rested his head on top of Harry's, "Missed me, Potter?"

Harry was slightly surprised at how careless Malfoy seemed to be about the fact that Harry had chosen not to go over to his own bed, but Malfoy's instead. Nonetheless, Harry was blushing hard at the thought of Malfoy actually wanting to cuddle with him.

"The closeness helps.. With, you know, the potion." Harry lied. He cringed at how unsure he sounded, he hadn't ever been known to be a good liar.

"I'm sure it does." Said Malfoy, Harry burying his face in his arm, embarrassed.

Malfoy merely held him tighter, forcing Harry close to him, and Harry was surprised once more when he felt Malfoy take his hand in his own.

Harry loved holding hands, and Malfoy's hand was big, veiny and.. Delectable. So that was no exception.

Malfoy ran his thumb over the back of his hand like he'd done the previous night, and Harry felt his heart beat faster.

Harry then remembered what Ron had said earlier, about Malfoy only 'being nice' to use him.

It was a ridiculous thought, really. What would Malfoy get out of this? What would Malfoy get out of holding him like this besides.. Well, helping Harry sleep.

Harry then found himself wondering why Malfoy seemed to like this so much; He didn't really get anything out of it.

Harry felt Malfoy bury his face in his hair, "If it really helps you that much we could do this more frequently." He whispered, almost so low that Harry couldn't hear it.

Harry was afraid of himself. The amount of butterflies that set themselves free in his stomach because of that sentence almost made him wanna cough them all up.

"It really helps," Said Harry then, trying not to sound all too desperate.

Truth was, when he felt protected, he didn't have nightmares. And when Malfoy had gotten into his bed yesterday night.. Well, Harry had never slept better.

"Yeah? It helps me too." Said Malfoy, and his hold on Harry tightened.

A party was hosted in Harry's stomach. "How?" Asked Harry, not being able to stop himself.

Harry could tell Malfoy wasn't far from falling asleep again from the way he was talking so quietly. "It calms me down. Reminds me that you're here and not anywhere else, you know?" He lowered his head slightly, and Harry could feel his breathing on the back of his neck.

What?

Harry had never been so interested to know what someone meant before. "Anywhere else? Where would I be?"

A few moments passed, and no answer came from Malfoy. Harry was about to question it, but when Malfoy breathed against his ear, he could tell he had fallen asleep.

Harry ignored how the question was bothering him, and simply just snuggled as closely as he could up to Malfoy, making sure that their legs were also entangled.

He loved the closeness; and Malfoy just made him feel so so safe.

* * * * * *

When Harry woke up, he felt cold.

He rubbed his eyes, and automatically reached over for his glasses on the nightstand beside him.

When he'd put on his glasses and opened his eyes, he quickly remembered that he was in Malfoy's bed.

..But where was Malfoy?

Harry sat up in the bed, beginning to feel panicked for some reason.

The room was still dark, so it was still night, and Malfoy was.. Nowhere to be seen.

Was this a nightmare?

Harry doubted if it was, seeing as in his nightmares he usually couldn't move or really think for himself. And they were usually either about Sirius or Ron and Hermione.

But due to the usual alarmed state his body seemed to be in right now, the same distressed feeling he would get when he'd have a nightmare, that was the first thought that entered his mind.

Harry looked at his own bed, gazing at it to see if Malfoy maybe had gotten into that one, but he wasn't there.

Where was Malfoy?

Harry was actually growing anxious.. Because Malfoy was missing.

Well, who wouldn't be anxious if someone they knew suddenly disappeared within in the darks of the night?

What if Malfoy had decided to take a walk in the forbidden forest and then got hurt?

No, there was no way.. Right?

Malfoy wouldn't go for a walk in the middle of the night, especially in the forbidden forest.. Right?

No, Malfoy was definitely too scared. Harry remembered that from the first year.

..But what if he'd been bewitched?

Harry's breathing was increasingly becoming faster and faster, and he was about to stand up when the door was suddenly opened.

Harry's breath hitched, and a very much shirtless Malfoy walked in.

Malfoy went from looking completely neutral, to suddenly looking worried, when he spotted Harry.

"Potter? What's wrong?" He asked hurriedly.

"Is this a nightmare?" Harry asked automatically. The fact that he could ask answered it for him, but he actually couldn't stop himself.

Malfoy closed the door behind him and went over to the bed. "No. What's wrong?" He repeated impatiently.

Harry's breathing thankfully slowed, as Malfoy walked over to the bed; "I.. I just.. I woke up and you weren't there and what if you were.." Harry sucked in a sharp breath, rambling. "I thought it was a nightmare." Harry looked him in the eyes, and Malfoy was looking at him with a frown on his face, now sitting surprisingly close to him.

"..Could you please.. Just.." Said Harry, and waved down at the bed.

"Hm?" Malfoy was still looking at him with such a careful and soft look that it almost didn't even look like him.

"Lay down? Please.. I just want to sleep." Harry ignored how his own pleading tone made him cringe. God, Malfoy would probably make fun of him.

But Malfoy didn't. Harry watched as Malfoy simply just did as asked, laid down properly on the bed, and placed an arm on the pillow, actually waiting for Harry to join him.

And Harry did, having to fight the sudden urge to thank Malfoy. Honestly, what was wrong with him lately?

Instead of having his back to him, Harry buried his face in Malfoy's chest.

Malfoy only pulled the duvet over the both of them, and without another word put an arm around Harry, and Harry felt him draw small soothing circles on his back — Let's ignore what was wrong with Harry, because what was wrong with Malfoy? — though, the action immediately made Harry much calmer. Malfoy's other hand went to his hair, and began running his fingers through it.

Harry's hands were trapped between Malfoy's stomach and his own chest, and he sighed contently as he felt Malfoy stroke his hair.

Harry should force himself away from him if he had just the smallest bit of rationality left, he shouldn't even let Malfoy make him feel so safe and comfortable and he definitely shouldn't have asked Malfoy to hold him.. But Harry was just too tired. And he wanted proper sleep. And he wanted Malfoy to be this close. For some odd reason.

Harry's breathing had calmed, and his body was no longer tensed. All because of stupid ignorant Malfoy.

"Thanks." Harry murmured, deciding to stop fighting the urge.

"Shut up, Potter." Said Malfoy lowly, he sounded somewhat distracted, and then leaned down and did what seemed to be breathing in the scent of Harry's hair. "Sleep."

Harry rolled his eyes, despite Malfoy not being able to see, but couldn't refrain from smiling to himself as he closed his eyes.

* * * * * *

Word count: 2728