Denied Existence

A frantic, and therefore, nonsensical Madam Pomfrey led the headmaster to the hospital wing, wringing her hands and shaking her head despairingly.

"Severus sent him here, said that the boy had a headache, he seemed fine, but all things are not as they seem, right Albus? Right? What it seems like happened to Malfoy couldn't have happened, could it?"

Having no idea whatsoever what she was babbling about, he opened the door and peeked in, expecting chaos. But all he saw were two boys; one in bed, one kneeling next to it, both asleep.

He gently closed the door and turned to Pomfrey, "Poppy! I didn't know you were homophobic!"

"What are you talking about, Professor? I have nothing against homosexuals...Didn't you see Mr. Malfoy? How he was acting...well, different?" Pomfrey said, apparently confused.

"Potter must have calmed him down. He'll be fine. Good day." And with that, Dumbledore turned and walked away.

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Blink.

Blink.

Harry's eyes slowly opened, his vision blurred. Stretching out his hand, he felt around for his glasses. Finally, his fingers grasped the frame and pushed his glasses onto his nose. It was then that he noticed, rather bemusedly, that another hand was attached to his own. It took a moment or this information to penetrate Harry's half-asleep mind. Then...

"What the-?" he half shrieked, hastily trying to pull his hand out of the firm grip, but it seemed as if Draco didn't want to let go.

Harry looked around furtively, trying not to panic, which was extremely hard, seeing as a bunch of panic-inducing thoughts kept running through his mind.

What if someone saw him holding Draco Malfoy's hand? What would they say? What would they think? They would say and think he was gay, that's what! And everyone would shun him, Ron would be disgusted, Hermione would try to be "understanding" while inside she would also be disgusted, his room mates would probably kick him out of the dormitory, scared he wouldn't be able to "keep his hands to himself".

It would be worse than those times in second and fourth year when everyone had been distrustful and hated him.....

Again, he tried to pull his hand out, but still had no luck. He was about to dump a conveniently placed bucket of ice water over his head when he happened to look at Draco's face. And then he didn't have the heart to wipe that peaceful and beautiful expression on his face.

And, Harry relunctantly admitted, it felt nice, really nice. He sat on the bed, staring down at Draco's face for about two minutes.

He sighed. It didn't matter how nice it felt, or how pretty Draco looked right then. Any moment someone could walk in the door and ruin his life.

Gently, he tried to pry Draco's fingers off, but they just curled back, as tight as ever. Frustrated, Harry ran his free hand through his hair, wondering how he could wake up Draco without being hexed or jinxed.

It was then that he saw the Dark Mark.

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Blink.

Blink.

Draco's eyes slowly opened to look directly into glass-covered green ones alight with fury. He saw that Harry was sitting on his bed, his hand clasped in Draco's.

Draco yawned, closed his eyes.

/What a weird dream.../

Harry's hand reached out and punched Draco on the shoulder.

Draco woke with a start. "It wasn't a dream!" Quickly, he dropped Harry's hand. "Potter! What were you holding my hand for?"

Harry glared and spoke, "You held my hand, not the other way around. I've spent about ten minutes trying to get my hand out of yours. And I've spent the last two wondering WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE A DARK MARK?!" his voice rose unexpectedly, the tone more jolting than the words.

Draco tried to reply coolly," Why not?" But his voice cracked in the middle, totally ruining it and he felt himself wither under Harry's gaze.

"Well, I don't know, because they helped KILL MY FAMILY AND RUINED SO MANY LIVES?"Harry hollered sarcastically.

He continued, his voice rising again,"How could you just sit there like you're proud of it or something-"

Draco interrupted him, heatedly retorting, "I'm not proud of it. It's a necessity I have to live with. I didn't choose to take it, after all!"

"Yes, you did. If you didn't, you wouldn't have it!"

"If I didn't, I probably wouldn't be here! I'd probably be dead, lying in the ditch of some Muggle road, because my parents would've kicked me out--"

"It's better to die than to bring death," Harry said quietly, intently. "You shouldn't be a Death Eater! You could've gone to Dumbledore if your parents kicked you out, if you truly didn't want the Dark Mark!"

Draco scoffed, disdain flashing in his eyes, "Dumbledore? Dumbledore?! How would I have got to him? Huh? Even if somehow he knew I was in trouble, he wouldn't help me! Not even for the sake of his golden boy!"

"Of course he would. Dumbledore would help anyone who needed it," Harry said earnestly.

"And even if he did help me he couldn't! Try as he might the old man can't protect me! I knew it was hopeless--"

"He could've!" Harry said.

"Oh yes, of course, just like he "protected" Sirius!" Draco said sarcastically, knowing instantly he had gone too far a second after he said it.

Harry's eyes widened in surprised hurt, "How did you-where'd you hear-" He seemed to be at a loss for words.

Draco could see the torment and pain in those all-too expressive green eyes. Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, the eyes hardened, and Draco recognized the icy glare they had become.

Draco almost gasped, for he was so used to seeing those eyes only in his mirror, never in someone else's face.

"You know what? Forget it. You don't deserve to exist," Harry said coldly, all trace of emotion wiped out of his voice.

Deliberately casual, Harry turned around and walked out of the hospital wing, leaving Draco staring wide-eyed at the now-empty door.

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