It's really long but I think you'll enjoy it. It was pretty fun to write. Criticism is welcome but don't be too harsh. I'm out of practice.
I don't own anything. It's sad, but it's true.
"Don't you dare try to blame this all on me, Potter. This is definitely not my fault." Draco yelled furiously.
"Oh. So that was the other Draco Malfoy whose badly aimed curse destroyed the exit and made the room trap us in here." Harry shouted back at the arrogant prick. What, oh Merlin, what had he done to get himself to find himself in this mess.
'That egotistical bastard" Draco thought.
"I wouldn't have had a reason to curse anything if you hadn't been stalking me like pathetic freak you are." Draco didn't know why in the name of all that is holy that he was stuck in the Room of Requirement with Harry "I will save the entire wizarding world with my own meddlesome hands" Potter. He did not, did not, need this, not ever but especially not know.
"Yeah? Well if you weren't doing something that you wanted to hide you wouldn't have told the room to lock you in here if someone was coming. Obviously you were up to something bad. What was I supposed to do? Let sneak around an...
"You were supposed to mind your own damned business and… You know what, Potter? No. No, I'm going to sit here and argue with you like a child because I have serious things to do and I do not have time play your silly little good guy/bad guy game. Obviously, you think you know what going on and maybe you do so you're either going to do something about or not. If you make a move, I'll be ready for you. If not, I suggest you shut up until someone comes to get us." Draco turned from the other boy and sat down on the floor facing the wall.
Harry was surprise to hear his rival say this. To hear the truth, the finality of these words and to sense the hopelessness and desperation in the other boy's voice really made him step back and look at what had changed over the past few years.
Whenever he and Malfoy had fought in the hallways or in the classrooms, Harry had always seen himself as being in the right. Like he was the good guy and Malfoy was just some annoying pest. Looking back, Harry saw that those times members had become something of a routine, almost a game like Malfoy had said. But the time for playing was over.
Now that he was really looking, Harry saw the emptiness in Draco's expression, the thinness of his face and the grayish tinge of his complexion. Harry had seen all these things before. Members of the Order had taken on this appearance when the war started. He had seen them progress into the sullen state that occurs when you do something as draining as participating in a war.
All of the suddenly Harry felt ashamed. He realized that Draco was right. All this time the war had been going on and he'd never really grasped the severity of it. Snooping around playing detective wasn't helping anybody. He wasn't and auror. Hell, he wasn't even a full grown wizard yet. All this time he'd wasted he could have been explaining what he'd seen to Dumbledore or training or something besides playing quidditch and letting Snape's bitching get to him. But from now on it would be different, and since he had technically to some degree gotten himself into this he would at least make the best of it.
"You know, you're actually right, Malfoy. This isn't the time for games. We both know that this war is happening and we've both decided to take a part in it. I know it seems like there's nothing you can do but follow Voldemort. He's very powerful and he doesn't take kindly to opposition. He may have even promised you some place of glory or something when the war's over. But if you know anything at all about Voldemort, it's that he doesn't share power and he doesn't show mercy. He will use you as his pawn until you serve your purpose or until you die. He doesn't care how young you are. If one little thing goes wrong, he won't ask questions before he kills you. Is that really worth what you're putting yourself through?" Harry appealed to Draco's back which was still turned to him.
Draco had thought all of Potter's talk about knowing what he was up to had been a big bluff, but if it was, then how is it that he'd just voiced all the fears that had been tormenting Draco since he'd been assign his mission. Then again, what would Potter know of suffering? Everyone thought he was a hero. Nobody expected him to prove himself. If it was that simple then Draco would have killed himself a long time ago rather than face all this pain and fear. But it wasn't that simple, he had his mother and his friends to think of. They would receive a fate worse than death if he failed. Indeed, Potter did know anything. Where the hell did he get off telling Draco about his situation?
"So I guess you've got it all figured out then, Potter?" Draco spat bitterly, "You've got all the answers so I should just listen to you and become that fool Dumbledore's pet and then all will be well? You don't know anything about me, so just shut your fucking mouth. You don't know anything about me, so just shut your fucking mouth. You have no idea what I'm going through." Draco screamed. He had now risen from the floor and was advancing at Harry, his wand pointed directly and the other boy's throat."
"You're right again. I don't know what you're going through. But since we'll probably be here for a while maybe you could tell me about it." Harry said calmly and innocently as if there wasn't a very angry boy pointing a wand at his neck.
Draco gaped at him like he'd grown cabbages for ears. True, Draco could understand why Potter would want to get him talking about his past. He was looking for information to feed back to Dumbledore's precious Order. Well, that wasn't going to happen but why shouldn't Draco humor him, there was no harm in discussing what Potter already knew. After all, Potter always got his way and who was he to stop him. Still, it was odd for Potter to be so obvious.
"Alright, fine, Potter, we can talk if you want to talk. It's not as if I don't know what you're playing at but whatever. I wouldn't want to deny you the treat of knowing exactly how pathetic I am." Draco said dully.
"It isn't like that. I can understand how you could come to the conclusion that I would try to manipulate you for information but that's not what I'm trying to do. I just thought it might help to talk about some things, but if you don't feel like it that's fine. Just do what you think is best, Draco.
Draco whipped his head around to stare at the boy who had obviously lost his mind. In all their years a Hogwarts they had never called each other by the first names.
Harry just looked politely back at Draco as if he had not just broken the most sacred unspoken agreement of their rivalry.
Draco shrugged. Potter really was making a show of this I'm here for you bit.
"Ok fine," Draco paused awkwardly, "Harry; let's start at the beginning shall we?"
Harry smiled at hearing Draco call him by his first name.
Draco was extremely discomfited by how comfortable that smile made him feel. Maybe this was a bad idea.
Harry noticed the unsure look on Draco's face.
"Maybe I should start out by telling you some about myself." He said.
Harry wasn't altogether sure to tell his life story to the boy he'd hated his entire life as a wizard. Even so, he could see that Draco was uncertain and scared. Harry thought maybe if he could gain the other boy's trust Draco would see that he did have other options besides working for Voldemort. If there was one thing Harry had learned from his life, it was that things are not always as they appear, and everyone, almost everyone, deserves a second chance.
And that's how it came to be that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy sat on the floor of the ruined Room of Requirement telling each other about some of the defining points in their lives. It was awkward at first. As it always is when you start trying to have polite conversation with someone you usually refer to as 'wanker' or 'git'. But still, the boys kept surprising each other. How intently Draco listen as Harry recalled his worries of first coming to Hogwarts. The understanding in Harry's voice when he commented on how Draco always felt he could never trust people to be his true friends because it always seemed that they wanted something from him. But most of all, the boys were startled by how much they had in common. They bother felt the same boundless elation of getting on a broomstick and knowing that if you wanted to, you could go anywhere. They both felt that Hogwarts was their only true home, the only place they really belonged. As Draco and Harry began to feel more and more comfortable with each other, you would never know that just hours ago they were sworn enemies. In fact they, themselves, actually forgot. They told each other things they'd only told they very best friends. Some of the things they said they'd never shared with anyone before. Harry told Draco the terrible fear he had of facing Voldemort that final time and knowing that eventually he would have to kill or be killed. He also told him of the sadness and guilt he'd felt when Sirius died. Draco told Harry about the pressure his father had always put on him to follow the Malfoy tradition and become a dark wizard. He told Harry the sadness he had felt when Voldemort had returned and the dread that had consumed him when he realize that everyone was looking to him to become a Death Eater. The whole time Draco never said he had actually confirmed or denied becoming a follower of Voldemort, nor had Harry asked. It seem to Harry that Draco very much wanted to tell him but could not. If that was the case, Harry had to assume the worst.
Even though Harry and Draco had just revealed some of their deepest fears to each other, they did not feel sad or scared anymore. Draco noted that Harry had been right and that he did feel better after talking to someone who would actually listen to him. In just under five hours the boys had gained a friendship that they would have no reason to doubt would last for a very long time. At least they wouldn't have reason to doubt this were it not for the war. Despite this, Draco and Harry had a really good time together, talking and joking occasionally entertaining themselves with a mock fight. In fact, they had the best time that it was possible to have when you are cold and hungry and trapped in a room indefinitely.
Draco and Harry had just finished laughing uncontrollably about a conversation they'd had while they were trying to determine what foreplay would be like between Madame Pince and Filch, when Draco stood up and said
"I'm hungry and if I don't get something to eat in the next ten minutes I'll be forced to eat you."
Harry chuckled, "I was just thinking the same thing, minus the eating you."
"Well, what do you think we should do?"
"I don't know. We've already tried summoning Dobby and Kreacher, and transfiguring something into food won't work."
"I don't need to know what won't work, I need something to eat, I need a fire, I need to use the fucking john!!!"
It happen in the blink eye. One second there was no fire burning in the fireplace, there wasn't a cot or blankets on the floor, there wasn't a large plate of sandwiches on a small table or a door that said toilet on it. The next second there was.
Draco bolted for the for the door and slammed it shut behind himself. Harry went to the fire to get warm. As he sat on the cot before the crackling flame, Harry noticed a piece of parchment on the mantelpiece. Harry got up and retrieved the note which read:
Current Inhabitant of the Room of Requirement,
The room is has sustained severe damage as of late and will be providing only the most basic needs until it has repaired itself. This means several requests that the room deems unnecessary will be denied until that time. The Room of Requirement greatly regrets any inconvenience it has caused.
-The Hogwarts Castle
Draco exited the john drying his hands with a towel. He walked over to the cot, sat down beside Harry, and grabbed a sandwich. Harry finished reading the note and extended his hand to give it to Draco he wasn't paying attention. He was in the middle of trying to stuff a whole sandwich into his mouth. Harry took in the unusual sight and stifled a laugh.
"What?!" asked Draco after he managed to choke down the gargantuan bite of sandwich.
"Nothing, nothing. I'm just not used to the famed Malfoy table manners is all." said Harry, snickering.
" Shut up, Potter." said Draco before he took a indignant and slightly more elegant bite of his sandwich.
Harry tried to look remorseful but continued to laugh as he picked up a sandwich for himself. "Here, this" he said before biting of a large chunk of sandwich.
Draco took the bit of parchment and read it. He read it quickly and took an appraising look about the room.
"It isn't so bad. I suppose it'll do until tomorrow. Hopefully the room will be fixed by then." he said.
Harry nodded slowly and continued to eat his sandwich. He wasn't so sure but he didn't want to worry Draco.
While they ate their sandwiches Harry and Draco talked some more. About their favorite foods, the best quidditch strategies, and about girls. Cute girls, annoying girls, annoyingly cute girls. The topic lasted quite a while because girls, after all, were very complicated.
Another two hours had passed and now both boys were very sleepy. Draco was lying back on the cot and Harry was lying on the floor with his legs on cot. He was using a wadded up blanket as a pillow and had another one over himself. He smiled thinking of how much things could change in a day.
"Well, I pretty drained so I think I'll go to sleep now. G'night, Draco." Harry said, then he chuckled because it was one of the oddest things he'd ever uttered.
"What are you doing? asked Draco.
"Oh." said Harry still smiling, "I was just thinking how weird it is for me to be saying goodnight to you."
Now Draco laughed. "That is pretty strange, but that's not what I meant. I was trying to say what are you doing on the floor."
"I just told you; going to sleep."
"Not on the floor you're not. Hold on."
It was quiet for a moment.
"What exactly am I supposed to be holding on for? Harry asked sarcastically. It was late, he was tired, and he wasn't in the mood.
"I forgot that the room was saving it's strength, I tried to get it to summon you a cot too but it won't." Draco pulled his blanket around him an slid of the makeshift bed. "You take this" Draco said motioning to the newly abandoned cot "and I'll have the floor."
"I not going to make you sleep on the floor, Draco" Harry said quietly. Draco's act of kindness had chased away any annoyance Harry had felt at being kept up.
"Why not! You were going to sleep on the floor. Why shouldn't ?" Draco said indignantly.
"I just wouldn't feel right sleeping on that while you were on the floor."
"So you're going to make me be the selfish one!? Well, I won't." Draco rolled over on the floor so that he wasn't facing the cot or Harry and spoke no more.
After a few seconds of staring at Draco's back and trying to think of a convincing argument of why Draco shouldn't be on the floor. After deciding there was nothing he could say that Draco wouldn't counter, he too rolled over and tried to fall asleep.