Damp

He came to choking, gasping for air. Strong hands turned him onto his side, and he expelled the water that had been waiting in his lungs.

Clarity returned slowly, the sound of voices, high in pitch and excited, the smell of lake water and wet clothing, the feeling of deck below him, and the taste sour taste of bile in his throat.

He opened his eyes, and tried to sit up. The worried faces of his house came into focus as well as the concerned looks coming form the others on the boat. Crap. He was either in hell or someone had actually come to his rescue.

He realized he was resting against something warm and human, his savior? And that one face in the crowd was showing guilt, rather then concern.

He rubbed a damp hand over his damp face, and wondered why no one had thought to cast a drying charm on him, or the equally damp person behind him.

He patted him self, pointedly ignoring the silent crowd, pulled out his want and cast the charm first on himself, then turned to cast it on his backrest.

He wasn´t really surprised when he saw who it was, a little shocked, but this boy saved absolutely everyone, so why not him as well. He shot the other boy a thankful smile and cast the charm, and the smile was returned.

The other boy stood up and held out a hand to help him up, he thought for a moment of refusing it, but decided not to, as leaving behind their childhood grudge would be the least he could do for the other boy, seeing as he saved his life.

Upon standing, he acknowledged the assembled, with a look, "I´m alive, no need to worry." He then turned and headed below deck.

~~~

After that day he couldn´t seem to get rid of Harry Potter. When he was partnered in potions, it was with Harry, during Quidditch practice Harry was watching, in Care of Magical Creatures, Harry was always around to keep him from trouble. He should have minded, but he didn´t.

~~~

One of his favourite places to be was the top of the Astronomy Tower. Not for any real reason except that he loved the feeling of leaning over the edge, it was a rush. Beside he always had his wand in hand; ready to cast a levitation charm if he did happen to fall. But it hadn´t happened yet.

This night he watched the waxing moon rise over the Forbidden Forest revelling in the silence. He had been sitting for half an hour when he noticed a lone figure flying around the Quidditch pitch. Harry of course. He wondered if he should ignore the other boy and enjoy his time alone, or to call him over and learn a little about the boy who was no longer his enemy.

He decided on the latter and stood up, "Oi! Potter!" He waved an arm for good measure, letting the other boy see where he was. Sure enough Harry headed over.

The dark haired boy sped up a little as he got closer, and Draco wondered why. His unspoken question was answered a moment later when Harry crashed into him, dragging him away from the edge.

He stared into wide green eyes indignant. "Potter you idiot, I wasn´t about to call you over and then jump to my death, that would be stupid, and you´d end up well-" He glanced at Harry´s forehead. "Scarred for life." Harry scowled, then smirked and pushed himself off of Draco. "Sorry for not wanting you to die." Draco snorted and also sat up, "Potter you´re a Gryffindor, you don´t want anyone to die." Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, and then nodded. "You´re right. Death is bad." Harry´s simple statement made Draco smile; the boy was so innocent, yet so world-weary.

He decided to go with his original plan to make conversation. "So, what are you doing up past curfew?" Potter laughed, a free clear sound, it made him shiver.

"I don´t know Draco, why are you out so late?"

"I asked first."

"So?"

"Well, it would be polite to answer my question before asking another."

"And when have I ever been accused of being polite?"

"All the teachers actually, and my mother thought you were a `polite young man´, not to mention all of the shopkeepers down in Hogsmeade, and-"

"I get the point, but when have you accused me of being polite?"

"Touché."

"Come on Harry-"

"Harry?"

"That´s your name isn´t it?"

"Yes, but you´ve never called me by my given name before."

"It doesn´t mean I didn´t know it." Perhaps he had made a mistake by calling Harry by his first name, but that´s how he thought of him, and he didn´t want to lie when finally beginning the friendship that had been delayed for so long. His worries disappeared when he looked at Harry and saw the sunny smile the boy sported.

"You´re right. I couldn´t sleep, I´m an insomniac you see, haven´t had a full night´s sleep in two years."

"Oh," It took him a moment but it realized Harry was answering his question. Now he had to reciprocate. Damn.

"I need the quiet, it´s just so noisy inside, and I need to get away."

"Noisy, do your roommates snore?"

"No."

"I don´t want to know, do I?"

"No."

They sat in silence.

~~~

People started to whisper. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, friends, the world must be coming to an end wasn´t it? There was talk of the Weasley/Malfoy grudge being buried as well. It was unheard of. But Harry Potter was always breaking the rules wasn´t he? The whispers quieted, and quickly died out.

~~~

He didn´t know why he bothered, even though he told Pansy he wasn´t interested, she insisted only hanging on to him. It was so damn noisy, and she was too damned close.

"Get off of me."

Watery blue eyes met his. "Why?"

"Because I don´t want you within two meters of me, now get!"

"Draco!"

The girl could whine, he had to give her that. He pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers, breathing slowly. He could do this. He looked up, his icy glaze locking on he blue one.

"Pansy, I will give you ten seconds and after that I will not be responsible for my actions, now leave!"

She left, eyes set upon Blaise Zabini as a more willing victim.

He started as an arm placed itself across his shoulders.

"That wasn´t very nice."

He looked into earnest emerald eyes.

"I know."

"You don´t really care do you?"

"No."

"Too noisy again?"

"Yes."

"Want to go outside?"

He sighed in relief and Harry took that as a yes and steered them outside.

Once in the gardens they sat down on one of the available benches. Draco looked at Harry suspiciously; he had had a date for tonight, hadn´t he. When asking the question out loud, Harry laughed nervously.

"Well, you see, um-"

"Spit it out Potter."

"Potter now is it, you only call me Potter when you want something, don´t think I can´t see your plan Malfoy-"

"Don´t change the subject."

"Touchy tonight are we?"

"Yes."

"Well, Ginny, was upset with my inattention, and- well, she´s kindssnoggingnelliveandorcolin."

"What?"

"Ginny, she´s snogging at least one guy in a dark corner."

That was more then mildly amusing, but Harry didn´t look happy so he wouldn´t laugh.

"You upset?"

"Not really, I didn´t really want to come with her in the first place, but Ron made me, and I´m glad I don´t have to dance, and that she´s happy, but now I´m a little lonely."

Harry looked down and started playing with his fingers. Was this supposed to be a hint of some sort, or just, a comment? He shook his head and responded the safest was he could.

"Don´t have to dance, eh?"

And he then grabbed Harry´s hand lifting them both off the bench, dragging him inside.

The hall was in full swing, and he had never seen such mixing of the houses, Slytherins were dancing with Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs with Gryffindors, and all the other possible combinations. He smiled and continued to drag Harry towards the dance floor. The other boy was not impressed.

"Malfoy what in God´s name do you think you are doing?"

"Making you dance."

"With who?"

"Guess."

Swinging Harry into his arms, he started to move to the beat of the music, enjoying the pole axed expression on the other´s face, and when the green eyed boy relaxed and began to dance as well, he smiled, truly happy.

~~~

Big events happened at the end of the year, Voldemort was finally defeated, and his life the only one lost in the process, until the Ministry moved in. The summer was long, and tense. He wrote long comforting letters to the other from his perch upon the Astronomy Tower, talking of healing hurts both old and new, and how the sunrise looked on early August mornings.

~~~

The words in the textbook before him were starting to spin, and he was pretty sure they weren´t supposed to. He slammed it shut. The other students at the table stared at him. Being who he was, he ignored them and began to pack up.
" Malfoy,"

"Yes." He couldn´t ignore him, no matter how hard he tried.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to my room, I´m too tired to study, it´s only the first week, and anyway how hard will the test be?"

Nods of agreement around the table, all except one but she didn´t count, she probably studied in her sleep. Harry packed up quickly.
" If you wait a moment I´ll come with you. Do you always feel the need to go away on your own?"

Draco just looked at him. The others at the table exchanged glances at the two boys´ exchange and shook their heads. He ignored them.

"Let´s go then." Leaving the rest behind, the two made their way out of the library and into the school proper.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

Draco looked up at that. Harry actually suggesting they do something. That was new. And the boy´s blushing face made him even more curious.

"Sure. Just let me put my stuff in my room and we´ll go."

Within a quarter hour they where walking along the lake´s edge.

"Why the walk?" He knew there was a reason, and he wanted to know.

Harry stared out at the lake, and the stars that reflected off of it, not answering. Fine, he could be that way.

They walked, and spoke of non-consequential things, school, the summer, the teachers, anything but was on both of their minds.

"It´s past curfew."

"I know."

"Still can´t sleep?"

"No."

"Do you know why?"

"Yes."

"Do you need to talk?"

"Perhaps."

Harry stopped walking. Draco was surprised, what could be bothering the other so much? He sat down, and the other followed suite.

"It´s this Draco-"

"You called me Draco."

"It´s your name isn´t it?"

"Yes but-"

"It just took me longer to figure out then you." Figure it out? Oh. He turned at stared into Harry´s eyes.

"Oh."

"Yes." The sable haired boy leaned towards him. Draco couldn´t see any reason not to meet him halfway.

~~~

Harry slept all night long, that night and the one after that. Things were quieter, much quieter. He never regretted making Weasley through him into the lake, he couldn´t swim, never had learned, perhaps he would now.