Refraction

Refraction: Round 4

'As if doing the work of servants wasn't enough, I have to do it with you,' Draco sneered as he closed the door of the Trophy Room.

'Not my choice, Malfoy.' Harry didn't even look up from the trophy he was polishing. Draco walked over to him and looked over Harry's shoulder.

'Nice work, Potter. Looks like you've found your niche in life.'

'Well at least my niche is worthwhile.'

'Yes, cleaning up other people's mess seems to suit you,' Draco said as he walked around the trophy stand to look at Harry.

'What's that supposed to mean?' Harry straightened up to face Draco.

'What it means is that you shouldn't always see your world so clearly, Potter, you shouldn't always know your place so well. All you are doing is exactly what others want of you.'

'I don't.'

'Really?' Draco drawled. 'So hunting down the Dark Lord was your idea, was it? Dumbledore sets you the task and away you go, the eternal hero. Hmmmm... Methinks Dumbledore has pulled the cloak over your eyes, Potter. You do exactly what he wants. And you can't even see how he has manipulated you, can you? Too desperate for what you don't have, perhaps... like a father?'

Harry threw down the cloth he was clutching in his fist and moved towards Draco, who stepped backwards slightly.

Come and get me, Potter.

'And what of you and your father, Malfoy, do you have matching tattoos yet?' Harry shot back. 'Earned your mark yet?'

Draco yanked up his sleeve and shoved his arm in Harry's face.

'I am unmarked, Potter, unlike yourself.' Draco reached out to touch Harry's forehead. Harry grabbed his arm. Draco thrilled at the touch.

'Don't touch me. Don't you ever touch me,' Harry growled.

'Oh, yes, Perfect Potter, can't be touched by the likes of me. It might tarnish you.' Draco moved away from Harry, turning his back and walking around the room as he spoke, his heart pounding in his chest. 'So, who touches you, then, Potter? Don't tell me,' he drawled as he faced Harry, 'it's the Weaselette. Yes, she is always panting after you, isn't she? Is it true that she's a red-head all the way down?'

Harry grabbed Draco by his collar and threw him up against a large trophy stand. Trophies clattered loudly to the floor. Draco snatched at Harry's sleeve, but Harry knocked him away. Draco swung his arm and punched Harry's nose. Pain shot down his arm. Something crunched. Blood spurted over his face.

'If that's what you want,' Harry said as he aimed his fist to Draco's face.

It's not enough to make the tears run dry.

Lightning flashed in Draco's eyes as Harry's fist connected.

'You have no idea what I want,' Draco returned.

'So what do you want, Malfoy?'

Now!

'I want to feel!' Draco yelled, as he pushed Harry upwards. Harry's grip slipped on Draco's collar. He shoved Harry across the floor, punching him again and again. Sweat was dripping down his face. His heart pounding so hard, he could barely hear Harry shouting.

'I want you to feel!' Draco continued to pummel Harry's body, moving forward, forcing Harry backwards.

Enough!

'You wander these halls like a fucking ghost! Is there anyone in there, Potter?'

'Does this help you sleep at night?'

I never really sleep anymore

'Does it help you, Potter? Do you sleep better at night?'

Harry hesitated.

Draco shoved Harry backwards again. Harry stumbled. Draco grabbed him by the front of his shirt and threw him up against a glass cabinet.

Should I?

A loud crack and the sound of shattering glass. Draco watched the glass fall as if time itself had slowed. He could see the candlelight glinting off each shard as it rained about them, felt the cut on his arm as a piece sliced past, heard each fragment clink as it fell against the next. A thousand tiny rainbows battered his sight.

He heard his name whispered. He looked down, straight into confused eyes. He felt his entire body harden...

Yes.

He pulled Harry towards him. Draco paused as he felt Harry's breath on his own mouth, then whispered, 'Gotcha.'

And forced his lips onto Harry's.

Harry made a slight noise of protestation, but this only served to spur Draco on. He pulled Harry closer. He could feel Harry's body hard against his own.

'Get off,' Harry growled, as he shoved at Draco.

Draco grabbed Harry by the hair and stared into his eyes.

'Tell me you don't feel anything, Potter.'

Harry moved so swiftly that Draco barely had time to draw breath before he found himself leaning backwards into the broken cabinet. Shards of glass pressed into his back. Harry held him down by the throat. He reached up to grab Harry again, but was stopped by a large fragment of broken glass slicing into his hand. Blood dripped onto Draco's chest.

'Touch me again, Malfoy, and this goes into your face.' Harry glanced up and paused, confused.

Draco turned to see what Harry was staring at. He could see Harry's face distorted in the reflection of a trophy, the blood-stained face, the shard in his hand, poised like a knife.

'No. It won't be this way,' Harry muttered. He looked down at Draco.

Draco tried to read Harry's eyes, unsuccessfully. Harry seemed confused, lost, and muttering to himself. Draco saw emotions flashing and shifting within, but couldn't catch a single one of them.

Harry moved away. He let go of Draco so suddenly that Draco slid to the floor, and landed propped up against the bottom of the cabinet. Harry muttered indistinctly, turning away.

Confusion filled Draco. He heard Harry mutter 'I didn't see it' and 'can't do this now'. He clambered his way off the floor. Harry was walking towards the door. Draco felt his heart hammer in his chest, and knew he couldn't just let Harry walk out this time.

'Potter, wait...'

Harry turned around, his eyes blazing with anger.

'What do you want from me, Malfoy?' Harry yelled.

'I...'

'No, don't bother. You're just fucking with me, aren't you? Coming onto me is just some big joke for you, isn't it?' Harry strode towards Draco, shouting. 'Well it's not a fucking joke to me! This is not a game, and I won't be played by you!'

And I gotta wonder what it means

Draco couldn't move. He thought that if he even breathed, Harry would stop speaking.

'Just go, Malfoy. Leave me alone.'

'Potter...'

Draco stood, trying to form the words, trying to tell Harry... something, anything that would stop him from having to leave.

And if I could only find a voice, I would speak.

'Fuck... off,' Harry said through gritted teeth, glaring at Draco.

Draco turned away.

And I used to get everything I went after.