Chapter Sixteen: Gentle Scrunity

Days passed by, and Harry found himself enjoying the cool weather that came with it. Hogwarts continued with its busy pace, but by then they had all gotten used to it.

He found himself searching, aware of the glimpses of pale blond hair and those beautiful eyes that drew him in. There was something about Draco Malfoy that kept him up, like a warmth that he could never get. But lately Draco was strained, his face paller than he had ever seen.

Dammit, why are you so obsessed with him, Harry?

He shook his head. Again, he had consumed his mind, causing him to think of nothing but him.

But this...this was wrong, this obsession with Malfoy, stupid Malfoy and his gentle scrunity and white mask, him and his facade to hide his weaknesses only made him yearn to pull it off, to see what he really looked like.

You and him aren't meant to be-

He gave a silent gasp. Why did his heart so much when he think of that? The two of them live in parallel universe, a black hole of endless turns. Draco would never want someone like him, someone as broken and dark like him-

Because no one would willingly pick up someone else's pieces.

Nobody.

Not when Harry Potter himself was unwilling to do anything for his own sake.

That's right, he loathed himself, how he was tainted with darkness too many times that he had became numb. He thought he had gotten used to it, but looking in his clear eyes, it only reminded him..

How disgusting he was, to live in this rocky world maintained by parts of his sanity.

Taking a deep breath, he shoved everything back into his own little corner. No one must know, how much he was struggling.

Subconsciously, he traced the lines around his upper wrist hidden by his sleeve.

Shaking his head, he went to the portrait and tickled the little pear. The portrait opened up to show a door, an entrance to Hogwart's kitchen.

Suddenly, he had found himself wanting a butterbeer.

Immediately, he found himself surrounded by tons of house elves looking at him with awestruck faces.

"Its Harry Potter!"

"We are honored to be in your presence!"

"Is there anything we can do for Harry Potter?"

Harry gave a small smile. "Not really, I just wanted-

"Or perhaps Harry Potter is here to announce a great news?!"

"No, nothing like that at all-

"Is Harry Potter getting MARRIED?" A female house elf gushed before wailing, "but Pinny haven't even proclaimed her love for Harry Potter-

"I swear, its nothing like that-" Harry fought the urge to facepalm his forehead as he denied everything they said.

But by then, it was too late as everyone swarmed even more towards him, eagerly squeaking.

............................

Heaving a relief sigh, he finally managed to convince them that he only came to get a butter beer, and that no, he was not getting married-for heaven's sake it was too early for that-and his robes were now soggy after trying to comfort the house elf Pinny as she blew her nose into his clothes.

But still, this place was one of his favorites in Hogwarts, a comforting aura that allowed him to relax almost immediately.

Sipping his butter beer, he gazed distantly into somewhere, mulling his thoughts in a blank space when a tug on his robes pulled him back into focus.

Twitching slightly, he gave a dark look that halted when he realized it was Winky, looking at him with a slightly fearful expression. Softening his glare, he asked her gently.

"Did something happened, Winky?"

She fidgeted slightly before answering him with a quivering tone.

"You see, Mr.Potter, there's another person here before you, he seemed awfully sad about something but none of us could comfort him, so Winky wondered maybe, Harry Potter, the savior of the wizarding world could help!" The last like came out excitingly as Harry grinned at her wearily.

A realization seemed to struck her as she yelped and twisted her ears. "He told us not to tell anyone he was here, bad Winky, bad Winky!" A pull from Harry stopped her as he grimaced at her actions. He thought that she had already quitted the habit since staying in Hogwarts for the last few years, but it looks like bad habits die hard.

"It's alright, Winky. Thank you for telling me." He gave her a warm smile that brightened the whole surrounding.

Silence passed for a few minutes before Harry realized Winky was not responding. Looking down, he gazed with confusion at the house elf that was currently completely zoned out.

"Uh..did I do something?" He asked haltingly.

Winky blinked once, twice, before saying dazedly. "Harry Potter's smile..is so..beautiful.."

"Huh?"

..............................

Lead by a dazed Winky, she disappeared as soon as they reached the corner. He realized too late that he should have asked who it was-

His breath caught as he looked at the pale blonde haired boy, curled up in the seat close to the fireplace, his eyes shut. His long lashes moved along with his breathing, stirring gently, a stark contrast between black and white, light and dark.

Harry found himself taking one step forward, and almost achingly, another step, and another. His eyes were glued to the art in front of him. Was the reason he curled up so tightly even when no one was there a self conscious movement to protect himself? Or had it always been like this?

Too soon, too fast, Harry found himself right in front of Draco Malfoy. He looked so peaceful, but why was he twitching slightly in his dreams? Why was his eyebrows knitted so tightly as if he was in pain?

Or perhaps, he was drowning in a nightmare he called a dream?

He reached out, ever so slightly, ever so tenderly, and began to trace his jawline, his face, as if his touch could somehow brush away the thoughts that haunted the boy. Kneeling down, his hand reached his hair, and started to comb it through softly.

Again, and again, he repeated until Draco was lulled away from his nightmares, visible from the way he finally relaxed.

But still, Harry didn't stop, gently combing his fingers through his soft hair, relishing every stolen moment of it.

The crackle of the fire at the nearby fireplace and its flames casted their surroundings in a warm dull red.

He wanted to touch him so badly, it was like he couldn't stop.

Brushing his face, he came to a complete halt when Draco's eyes fluttered.

And opened.

"Harry?" A sleepy voice greeted him.

The fire blazed into a great height in the fireplace before resuming its original crackling.

So, I've decided to refurnished Tainted Frost a little! I've been adding some banners here and there in the chapters because why not :D

Btw I added a Part I in front of the prologue, if you haven't check it out do read it. Yes, the story is now divided into parts.

Sorry for the wait everyone, just finished my tests/exams/doomsdays so I was finally free!

What do you think? :))