Play The Game

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"Malfoy," he said in a low tone to Hermione. "He's just really annoying me at the moment." His eyes refused to look away from the silver dragon which reminded him of Draco's eyes. "I hate him so much." He clenched his hands into fists, hoping that Hermione wouldn't notice that he did, in fact, not hate Draco.

Harry did not give Hermione very much credit in his hopes. She widened her eyes and sighed worriedly.

"What's been happening between you two?" she asked.

"It's... hard to explain." Harry furrowed his eyebrows as they turned the corner onto the corridor outside the Potions Dungeon. "Things are calm at the moment. We're not fighting anymore. At least, I don't think we are."

He looked past Ron at the people already outside the Potions Dungeon and his eyes locked with a familiar pair of grey eyes.

A million things that Draco could have said scrolled in front of his eyes. 'Oh look, it's Potter; Good morning Potty; How are you feeling? Dorky? Excellent; My, you're looking particularly ugly this morning; How's your scar?; Are you losing hair from all the worry about whether you'll see Ol' Dark Lord soon?; I miss you like hell; Meet me in Hogsmeade; I love you.' As it was, he stayed silent, just staring at Harry while his brain ran over what he should do or say.

Finally, Harry looked away and at the floor, suddenly looking completely washed out and depressed. Draco didn't really love him, it had probably been another thing the Slytherin would use to torment him with, and Draco's silence had proved it for Harry.

"You forgot your glasses," Draco said eventually, looking at the spellotaped pair Harry wore today.

Harry blinked. "What glasses, Malfoy?" 'Oh well, gotta keep up appearances...'

Neville stopped, just outside the classroom where everyone had filed in, save for himself, Harry and Draco. "You coming Harry?"

Harry shook his head slowly, studying Draco's face intently. "I'll be there in a second."

This seemed to satisfy Neville, who walked into the Dungeon.

"Your glasses," Draco expanded unhelpfully.

Harry lifted his hand to the pair of glasses he was wearing then frowned slightly. "I'm wearing my glasses."

Draco's eyes hardened. He took the glasses Dumbledore had created for Harry from his pocket and held them out, gripped gently between thumb and forefinger. With a sneering look at Harry to check that he was watching, Draco dropped the glasses. They cracked as they hit the floor and Draco put his booted foot over them, slowly and deliberately turning his foot to crush the glasses into the ground. When he stepped back all that was left were the twisted wire frames and a sparkling white powder.

Harry looked down at the glasses then up at Draco slowly, fear in his eyes. "Another beautiful thing that must die?" he asked quietly.

"Yet another," Draco said with a cold smile. "The list is endless."

"I don't want you to die." Then, "Oh shit, I didn't just say that aloud did I?"

"I'm afraid you did," Draco said icily. "It's a shame that our agendas don't match."

Harry's face darkened. "You can't die. You won't die. I... I don't know," he replied forcefully, although his words were confused. "You're going to have to wake up one of these days and see that there are people out there who don't want you to die, and won't let you."

Draco looked horrified at what Harry was saying to him.

"Potter, you're delirious," he snapped. "What the hell are you talking about." 'We're in a corridor. Anyone could come through.'

"Good, because I would only do this if I was delirious." He closed the remaining distance between them, leaned down and kissed Draco softly, one hand moving to tilt Draco's head up slightly.

Draco froze, his heart feeling as though Harry had reached within his chest and was crushing it in his hand. 'It's wrong, wrong, wrong...'

"What the fuck are you doing, Potter?" he shouted, wrenching his fist up to strike Harry away. The back of his hand met the Gryffindor's jaw and knocked him back and away.

Draco's entire being screamed against what he had done. His blood turned to ice in his veins and he began to hate himself more than he had ever hated anyone or anything.

"Oh god," he breathed, eyes blurring out of focus. His head dropped forwards and he stared at the undulating floor in blinking disbelief, mouthing silently. "Oh god..."

Harry stumbled back, green eyes burning furiously, hurt showing in every way that was possible, from his withdrawn face, from the way his hands were shaking and how he suddenly seemed to close up.

Voldemort's voice, the one from his dream. Harry turned to look at Draco stonily, suddenly hiding everything from view. Even his eyes, which usually were open and showed everything that he was feeling, were unreadable as he held his bag strap so hard it hurt. He turned away from Draco and walked into the Potions Dungeon, not looking back.

Draco stared after him, eyes so wide that the muscles holding them began to ache, tremble, jarring the tears from his soul and pouring molten lead down the surface of his skin. The floor gave an almighty lurch and Draco lost his footing, crashing to the ground.

The crash as Draco fell to the floor caught the attention of many of the students in the classroom. Harry turned around and walked back out. He dropped to his knees and checked for Draco's vitals, still wearing the mask as the rest of the class rushed out to see what had happened.

"Mr. Potter,"

"Oh shit," Harry breathed, hurriedly standing up and moving away from Draco's body to stand next to Ron.

"So I arrive late to find my class in shambles and you having knocked out Draco. I am not amused." Snape pushed his way to the front of the crowd and next to Draco.

"Get back into class, the lot of you. Now. Mr. Potter, please remain here."

There was a rush as everyone piled back into the classroom and Harry stared at Snape, the unconscious form of Draco being the only thing which separated them.

"What have you done to Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked, peering down at Harry.

Harry stared back defiantly. "I haven't done anything."

"What were you doing next to him then?"

"I was checking he was alive!" Harry protested, though the mask never slipped, betraying how worried and angry he was.

"A likely story," Snape drawled.

"IT'S THE TRUTH!" Harry roared. "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"

"I believe that quite a few Slytherins are willing to prove you wrong." Snape pulled his wand out of a robed pocket.

"You bastard," Harry spat. "I wouldn't touch him."

"Mr. Potter!" Snape shouted, appalled.

"Stuff you," Harry said darkly, stressing each word. "I'm leaving. I don't give a damn what you think but I would never, ever harm Draco." And then he was gone, in the direction of the Great Hall.

Harry walked along the familiar passages in the Dungeons that twisted and crossed over in so many places that you could follow one path and end up further away than you had started. Absently, Harry allowed his feet to take him in the direction they wished, so long as they took him away and out. He hadn't lied when he had told Snape that he was leaving. There was no point in him staying at Hogwarts, people would only get hurt, more hurt than they already were. He didn't want Voldemort to come to Hogwarts and destroy everyone to find Harry, he didn't want Voldemort to use his feelings for every other student in the school against him. Staying in Hogwarts would only seal the fates of everyone else, something Harry did not want to do. And if leaving meant that everyone would be safe, then he would leave the only home he ever knew to save them.

He placed a hand on the Great Hall doors and pushed them open, stepping out and shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun by putting his arm up. Someone should have come after him if they wanted him to stay, but obviously, Dumbledore agreed with them and was letting Harry go and sacrifice himself for the greater good. His feet felt heavy as he walked away from the steps and across the freshly cut lawn. Ron, Hermione, he wanted to tell them that he was scared and that he didn't want to go but he had to go. Dumbledore wouldn't stop him, even though he didn't want to go. And finally, his thoughts landed on the one person he didn't know what he wanted to say to.

"I'm sorry Draco," he said quietly as he continued to walk in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, he could get lost in there, and no one could ever find him again, just what he wanted. "You wouldn't agree with me Sirius, I'm sorry, but I have to go." 'Draco...' Harry pushed a bush out of his way and disappeared into the thick undergrowth, branches scratching at his face and uniform. 'Let me get away... please... Draco...'

There was something following him, something big, heavy, fast. As he turned, the something struck him in the back of the head and he crumpled forwards onto the grass in the darkness that was the Forbidden Forest.

"Don't stop loving me," he whispered, and then everything went black.

***

"Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore said quietly. He folded Harry's smashed glasses, wiping some mud from the lens with an embroidered hanky. He set them carefully on the edge of his desk. "Mr. Potter, are you awake yet?"

Harry shot awake and looked around blearily. "Oh no, I'm still here," he muttered quietly as he realised that he was in Dumbledore's office.

"Oh no?" Dumbledore asked curiously. "Professor Snape did mention that you said you were leaving."

"Let me go," Harry replied quietly.

"Mr. Potter, I think it would be best if you stayed here until you have finished your education."

"There's no point, Voldemort's after me and by staying here I'm only endangering everyone else." Harry stared at the floor, unable to see Dumbledore, as his glasses were missing.

"Voldemort cannot come here," Dumbledore assured Harry. He repaired Harry's glasses with a tap of his wand and passed them to the boy.

"He already is," Harry replied as he slipped his glasses on. "He's in my dreams."

"And you think that you can get away from that?" Dumbledore asked, sounding genuinely curious. "Is it being here that makes you dream?"

"Yes. Because Voldemort knows that if I get close to someone he will be able to use them against me. I can't get close to anyone," Harry replied bitterly

"Is there anyone in particular?" Dumbledore asked, peering over his glasses.

"You know everything, you tell me." Harry scowled, scuffing his trainer on the floor.

"I don't know everything," Dumbledore said with a sigh.

"Then I won't tell you."

"All right," Dumbledore shrugged, walking up into the section of his office that was surrounded by books. He took one from the shelf and sat in an armchair to read it.

Harry sighed, "Draco Malfoy."

"I thought so," Dumbledore said, putting the book down. "Is there anything I need to know? Is he trying to hurt you?"

"I don't know." Harry sighed and stood up to walk over to the baby Fawkes that was stood on the perch. He reached out a hand and began to stroke the magic bird. "I don't want to hurt him."

"You two have made friends, then?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes - No - We were. I don't know where we stand."

"You made friends and now you have fallen out," the headmaster surmised.

He walked over to where Harry stood stroking Fawkes.

"Mind if I use him quickly?" he asked, lifting the young bird from its perch and whispering something to him. Fawkes took off and flew through the wall in a burst of flame.

Harry shrugged, "You used him anyway, no point in asking me really."

"Not really, but it was quite important."

There was silence for a while, then a quiet knock on the door.

"Come in," Dumbledore called, knitting his fingers together as he sat behind his desk.

Draco pushed the door open reluctantly, eyes fixed firmly on the floor. A long red cut ran over his left brow, crossed like a train track with white plaster strips. His hair was slicked back with water and an angry bruise was rising on his right cheekbone all the way down to his jaw.

"You wanted to see me, headmaster?" he mumbled, flicking his grey eyes up only once before returning them to studying the carpet.

"Yes, I did," Albus nodded, offering a brief smile. "Please sit down." He gestured to two chairs before his desk, indicating that Harry should sit too.

Draco nodded and walked over to the chair to the left, pulling it right up against the wall, as far away as possible from the two other people in the room.

Harry all but fell into his seat with a small groan as he refused to look at Draco and stared at Dumbledore

Seeing Harry and Draco's expressions, Dumbledore considered not asking what he had brought them here to ask, but he steeled himself. This was clearly important.

"What happened, boys?" he asked, looking intently at them both. "You will both speak eventually, so you may as well start now instead of sitting in silence."

Harry shrugged, picking at the fabric on his pants with a grim expression. "Ask him, he's the one who wants to die."

"And he's the one who won't let me," Draco said in a hoarse voice, rubbing his fingers over a cut on his knuckle.

Dumbledore looked enquiringly at the two boys. "Won't let you?"

"He told me that I have to stop destroying beautiful things," Draco croaked, tipping his head back.

"Beautiful things are all we have." Harry looked up at Dumbledore.

"But you have to make sacrifices," Draco said to the ceiling.

"I seem to have missed out a lot, here," the headmaster said sincerely, looking slightly puzzled.

"Then I'm making a sacrifice to save something beautiful," Harry ground out. "I'm sacrificing myself by leaving so you won't get hurt."

"But I'm willing," Draco protested flatly. "I'm sacrificing you and me for everyone else."

He stood up and walked to the back of the office.

"If you die then I die, and if I die then Voldemort wins." Harry crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why do you die?" Draco asked.

Harry shrugged. "If you don't know then I won't tell you."

"But that's not fair!" Draco shouted, throwing his arms wide.

"Neither is killing beautiful things."

"Fuck off!" Draco snapped. "Would you shut up about that? It doesn't work. So you'll only kill ugly things? What if I smashed my face? Would you let me die then? I'm doing this for you but you don't understand!"

Professor Dumbledore tried to look like he had not heard. Slowly, he tried to piece together what had been going on. Evidently, a lot more than he expected.

"Everything starts off beautiful!" Harry shouted back at Draco, still not looking. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Even you. Even Voldemort. Everyone."

"So what about you?" Draco asked quietly. "Why won't you give yourself a second chance?"

"What?" Harry turned around slowly to look at Draco, "what do you mean?"

"You gave up on yourself a long time ago, I think," Draco mused, looking out of a window. "You decided that you'd never have your parents, you'd never find anyone who really loved you and if you did you'd have to betray them or they'd betray you - either by dying or lying. You decided that all that you had left was to win this fight and hoped that that would make everything okay. After you win, you'll get your parents and Black back and people will love you unconditionally and you'll be able to love them. In your intense belief of this, you've pushed everyone away."

He paused, turning to look at Harry.

"Except for me."

"You're wrong. My parents, Sirius, they'll never come back. They're gone. Everyone I've ever loved has died." Harry closed his eyes, "Which is why you can't die. I don't want someone else to die because of me." Harry stood up and walked over to Fawkes again who had settled on the perch. He turned to look at Dumbledore. "Now you know why I have to leave."

"You're not an affliction, Harry," Draco whispered, but he didn't think Harry would hear him.

"Harry, if you are serious about leaving, I'll have to ask you to return to your aunt's house," Dumbledore said heavily. "It's the only place other than here where you'll be safe. Would you like us to get you there?"

"I'll make my own way on the Knight Bus from Hogsmeade," Harry said quietly as he turned from Dumbledore, fixed his eyes on the ground and began his walk to the door.

"You know that by leaving you're just proving me right," Draco called, his voice filled with pain. "You're leaving because you're worried that I'll die on you because you tried to love me. You're pushing me away and you're not giving yourself a chance."

"You pushed me away first, Harry replied as he stepped out of the door. "You punched me and pushed me away." He shut the door behind him, walked down the winding staircase and collapsed against the wall at the bottom, forehead relieved by the coldness that was the stone wall.

Draco shook his head and closed his eyes, their first ever day at Hogwarts playing over in his mind.

Dumbledore rose to his feet and left the room briskly, running down the moving staircase to where Harry was slumped.

"If we give you your own quarters, excuse you from lessons, have the house elves bring you food so you don't have to see anyone, will you stay?" Dumbledore asked, on the verge of pleading.

"You only had to offer me the room," Harry replied as he turned around. "But I agree to the food as well."

"And the missing of lessons, presumably," Dumbledore said, smiling in relief. "Let's go and see about a set of rooms."