A Work of Heart

A Work of Heart

Jada Rene

Draco was sitting under a tall tree, fitted in shade, as he sketched out his heart's desire. Harry came upon him quietly, determined to see the object of Draco's concentration. He deftly plucked the paper out of Draco's fingers before the boy could launch a protest. What Harry saw surprised him.

In fact, the exquisite sketch took his breath away. In plain pencil there were Harry and Draco, foreheads resting together, lips close enough to kiss, and yet not. The simple portrayal showed love, and longing, and want. It tugged at Harry's heart and when he looked at Draco's dark scowl, his mouth was gaping.

"You drew this?"

He didn't react when Draco snatched the page back, muttering, "So what?"

"It's very good," Harry said sincerely, sitting down beside Draco.

"I really like your picture," Harry said, studying it more from where Draco held it. "You're very talented."

Draco sat up abruptly. "Shut up."

"What? I can't say you're talented?"

"Its nothing remarkable," Draco sighed, folding up the paper.

"It is so," Harry said, jutting his chin out defiantly. "It's much better than I could do."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Don't mock me."

"I'm not!" Harry said. "You have a gift. Hasn't anyone ever told you that?"

Draco stared at him, a frown on his handsome face. "No. I'm telling you, it isn't special. Everyone in my family can draw."

"Well, that's amazing," Harry said. "A whole family of Picassos."

Draco only shrugged. Harry went on to ask shyly, "Um...would you mind if I kept it?"

Draco looked candidly surprised, but slowly handed over the little scrap of paper. Harry opened it and looked at it thoughtfully. "Have you any more?"

Draco nodded as if it pained him to admit it. Harry smiled warmly. "Will you show me?"

The blond hesitated for a moment, then stood up. He offered Harry a hand up and together they walked down to the Slytherin dorms. Draco gave him a sharp look at the entrance to his house. "Cover your ears and hum."

"What?" Harry said.

"You heard me! I'm not giving out the password to any Gryffindors," Draco said purposefully.

Feeling like an idiot, Harry did as Draco bid, putting his hands over his ears and humming a snatch of a Weird Sisters song. Draco gave the password and the portrait opened. Harry took his hands away and followed Draco across the common room, ignoring the stares they were attracting from Draco's fellow housemates.

Harry sat on Draco's bed while Draco opened his trunk and took out a notebook. He shut the lid and held the sheaf of papers to his chest for a moment. Harry considered shouting "wingardium leviosa!" but decided it would be better if Draco showed him the sketches of his own accord. So he waited quietly while Draco looked at him.

Finally Draco came around and sat on the edge of the bed with him. He thrust the book into Harry's hands and stared morosely out the window as though Harry were a museum curator about to criticize every mark. Harry opened the book gingerly and examined each picture slowly, wanting to catch as many details of each as possible. He turned through the first few pencil sketches and then-

Harry sucked in a breath.

There they were. He and Draco, mapped out in rich color, Draco's grey eyes looking into his own...was it possible that Harry's eyes were really that shade of emerald? Harry risked a glance at Draco and found him staring sullenly forward.

"I told you they weren't remarkable," Draco said, moving to take back the sketch pad.

Harry held it out of reach, awe in his voice when he spoke, "No, Draco, you're wrong. It's incredible. I...I love them."

"Yeah? Well, they're also very personal," Draco mumbled so quietly that Harry couldn't be sure that he had heard properly.

Harry carefully set the sketches aside and brought his hand to Draco's cheek. Turning Draco's face toward his, Harry gently put his lips to the other boy's. Draco sighed softly into Harry's mouth, letting Harry's fingers tangle into his platinum hair. Harry kissed him tenderly, trying to express himself through touch. Draco was a willing partner, letting Harry pull at the threads of his cloak. Harry pushed the fabric aside before tracing a finger along Draco's jawline. Draco looked into Harry's eyes, his fingers coming up to play in Harry's black hair, brush his cheek.

"Sometimes I think we're a puzzle," Draco said unexpectedly, his voice low and intimate.

"Yeah?" Harry said, shifting his body closer to trickle kisses down the other boy's throat.

"Yes," Draco spoke softly. "Like we're a broken jumble of colors..."

"We're broken?" Harry asked, his lips fluttering over Draco's ear. Draco shivered involuntarily and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck, drawing him in for a deep kiss.

Draco's kisses were causing Harry's capacity for thought to disintegrate. When they parted, Draco said, "We're splashed across each other, and I can't see what the picture is supposed to look like because there are too many little pieces."

"I want us to be real," Harry said. "I want to put us together."

Draco wanted to believe him. "Sometimes I just think we've hurt each other too much."

"I think I hurt you worse," Harry confessed.

"Why would you think that?" Draco asked.

Harry looked into his eyes, pushing a stray lock of hair away from Draco's stormy orbs. "Because...I knew better."

Harry started to pull away, but Draco held him fast. "I don't want us to be broken."

"Me either," Harry said, and kissed him. Draco held him tightly as their tongues mingled together. "Tell me what you see...and I'll make it so."

Draco screwed his eyes shut. "I see you... vibrant you... so rich and warm... and me, hard lines and angles..."

"And what color are you?" Harry breathed, his lips touching Draco's softly.

Draco opened his eyes and shook his head so that his lips brushed gently against Harry's. "I don't know."

His eyes were full of an unspeakable pain, as though he thought himself unworthy of any hue. Harry could almost feel what Draco was feeling. He knew what Draco meant about them being broken. Harry by the Dursley's, Draco by his father's choices. An ugly reality was tearing them up, but somehow Harry had learned the lesson of love. Draco was only beginning to feel this tender sensation. He was scared. Harry smiled at him then.

"I know," Harry said. "The colors I see in you...evanescent though they may be in your eyes...are bright and vivid..."

Draco looked at Harry, his eyes starting to blur with tears. Harry understood. Draco kissed him, putting every emotion he had into that kiss, making it soft and pleasing and perfect.

"Tell me," Draco whispered when they parted.

Harry looked at him and said softly, "You shame the spectrum."

Draco smiled at him then, the simple act replete with beauty. Harry returned the gesture. Draco embraced him, holding him close. "It's all just a reflection of what I feel. It's what I feel when I'm thinking of you."

"Then let me show you what I feel." Harry kissed the breath out of Draco, pressing close enough for their souls to blend.

Draco opened his eyes and looked at Harry, and said just two words: "I'm glad."

And Harry, realizing that he felt the exact same way, said the first thing that came to mind. "Me, too."

End.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed Don't Let Go , especially: laliagariv for working so hard, M. Ollivander, Mini, Dracel13, Draco'sRavenGurl, DrEaMiNgOfYoU, Kill Bellatrix, Veritaserum85, MrsDracoMalfoy, hogwarts hun, MandaCo, and cutie draco84 for kind words. I really appreciate it!