Part 5

Draco stopped in his tracks. Without turning, he said quietly, "What did you say?"

"Don't go," said Harry, just as softly.

Draco turned around lowly and stared at Harry. "You want me to stay?"

Harry nodded slowly, but he didn't speak.

"Why?"

Harry stepped a little bit out of the moonlight, letting the beam from the window hit Draco instead. "I don't really know."

Draco nodded. "Ah." He looked around the room, taking in the tapestry behind him, and the bare stone walls around them. There was only just the one window, the one Harry had been standing at when Draco arrived. The room was completely cylindrical. Just a few feet above his and Harry's heads, the ceiling started spiraling in, creating a point in the very center. "What is this place?" Draco wondered aloud.

"I don't know what it is officially," said Harry, breaking into Draco's thoughts, "but it's where I always come to think."

Draco nodded slowly. "D'you mind if I-" He pointed to the window.

Harry backed away, further into the dark shadows. "Go right ahead. I've been monopolizing it anyway."

Draco nodded his thanks and walked to the window. When he looked out, the view took his breath away. He could see just about everything on the grounds. Hagrid's cottage, the lake, the Forbidden Forest… Draco even saw the edge of the greenhouses off to the left, almost out of view. Everything was bathed in the soft white light of the moon, making the whole world outside look totally at peace. It was the exact opposite of how Draco was feeling at the moment, but somehow, this view calmed him. "It's- Merlin, it's beautiful," he murmered.

"Why do you think I come here?" asked the shadows.

Draco turned again, staring into the shadows and hunting for Harry. Harry must have seen Draco squinting around in his direction because he stepped back into the moonlight.

"Oh, there you are," Draco said, mostly to himself. A bit louder, he said, "I understand completely. Don't worry, though, I don't think I'll ever find this place again, so you've no need to worry about me disturbing you again."

Harry stepped a bit closer to Draco. "I wasn't worried. And if you'd like, I'll show you the way here so you can find it again."

"But this is your place, Potter. I- I couldn't intrude…"

Harry shook his head. "You're not intruding. It's-" Harry bit his lip, as though he wasn't sure whether or not he should say what he started.

"It's what?" probed Draco, curious.

"It's better when you're here," Harry finished, speaking so softly that Draco almost didn't catch the words.

But he did. And he was rendered speechless. All Draco could do was gape. Harry, fortunately, had another idea of how to spend the time, rather than follow Draco's lead.

Harry was still advancing on Draco. Before Draco knew what was coming, Harry was standing right before him, his face inches from Draco's. "I said we'd have to do it again sometime," Harry whispered, closing the distance. "I just didn't know I'd have the pleasure so soon…"

Then the space between them was closed. And then Draco was filled with a warmth he'd never felt before…