tags: eighth year, drarry, fluff, swearing, drama, melodrama, angst
suggested rating: teen and up, for heavy themes
Seven Steps on AO3 || Seven Steps on Wattpad
- Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 Ā - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 Ā - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 -
Draco corked the last two vials and put them into the box with the others, checking that the cushioning charms were still intact before latching it closed. He carried the cauldron to the sink and filled it with water and soap, rinsing it three times and thoroughly hand drying it before setting it back on the table and putting the cloth back over it.
The door opened, and Potter stepped inside, āI still stink,ā he muttered peevishly.
āOh yes, it gets into the skin. It should be mostly gone by tomorrow,ā Draco said, āI assumed you left.ā
āThought about it,ā Potter said.
Draco pulled his cloak on and picked up the box, āIāve already finished.ā
Potter grimaced, āI wasnāt much help tonight.ā
āYou were highly entertaining though,ā Draco said.
Draco shrugged annoyingly.
Potter looked away with a huff, āYouāre extremely frustrating.ā
āThatās what you wanted, Potter,ā Draco said, searching Potterās expression.
āI donāt know whatā¦,ā Potter said so quietly Draco didnāt fully make it out. He took a deep breath and looked at Draco, āWhat do you do after this?ā
Draco hesitated then looked down at the box, āI go to the owlery.ā
āYou send the whole thing?ā Potter asked. āI figured itād be lots of little packages.ā
āI send it to the manor, and the elves apparate the potion to each house. Itās more efficient, they can ignore wards, and canāt be tracked by the ministry.ā He walked over to the door, āYou might as well go back to your dorm for the night.ā He shifted the box to one arm and grabbed the doorknob. He cleared his throat meaningfully at Potter.
āRight, sorry,ā Potter said, quickly following Draco out into the hall.
Draco pulled the door closed.
āWhat?ā Draco said, his hand frozen on the knob.
āGoing to the owlery, I can help so you donāt get caught,ā Potter said, pulling his invisibility cloak out of his robes.
Draco allowed himself to consider it for just a second then shook his head, āNo. Iāve never had any problems. Thereās a reason they donāt teach disillusionment until seventh year.ā
āOur professors can spot disillusionment spells, or a prefect might be patrolling, and thereās Ms Norris,ā Potter said.
Draco rolled his eyes, āAs I said, Iāve never had any problems. Filch never comes into the dungeons.ā
Potter pulled an elaborately folded piece of parchment from his pocket and pressed his wand to it, murmuring something under his breath that caused the parchment to bloom with writing and that was replaced with a map of the entire castle drawn in painstaking detail.
Draco shifted closer, trying to peer closer while Potter was engrossed. He soon saw why, there were little names on the map, a name for everyone, including his and Potterās, down in the depths of the castle.
āā¦that explains a lot,ā Draco said faintly.
Potter glanced over his shoulder at Draco, looking embarrassed, āIt was my dadās, he and his friends made it when they were in school.ā
āI see,ā Draco said. He looked away and pulled his hood over his hair, āIām going.ā
āWait,ā Potter said. He walked over and pinned the map between his knees, shaking out his invisibility cloak. He swung it around Dracoās shoulders, grinned nervously, and let the front of the hood fall to shroud Dracoās face, āItās always a bit strange seeing someone else in the cloak.ā
It was like looking through a silvery veil. When Draco looked down at himself nothing was there at all unlike the subtle waver in the air left by disillusionment charms. āYou canāt see me at all?ā Draco asked.
āI can still hear you but no, completely gone,ā He paused and gave a faint pained smile, āhidden from even death itself.ā
Draco raised an eyebrow, āThat seems unnecessarily dramatic.ā
Potter lifted his map, āLetās go; Iāll keep watch for anyone headed towards us.ā
Draco let Potter lead the way, somewhat hopeful that heād trip with the way he kept staring at his map. Something occurred to him once they reached the main floor, āWait, were you referring to the tale of three brothers?ā
Potter managed to pull his face out of his map, āYeah?ā
āThatās rather clever,ā Draco conceded.
Potter glared in his general direction, āI suppose you just needed to say it like that.ā
āLike what?ā Draco asked.
āLike Iām a dog thatās done a trick,ā Potter said.
āWell,ā Draco said smirking to himself, āYou certainly arenāt a dog.ā
Potter rolled his eyes with an exasperated sigh, āBut it was a clever trick. Right. Could you be any more of a little shit?ā He glanced down at the map.
āfuck-ā Potter hissed, quickly folding the map and shoving it in a pocket, āwhere are you?ā
Draco opened the cloak with his free hand, and Potter rushed to him, grabbed his wrist and pulling him to the wall, in the shadow of a suit of armour. He pinned the edges of the cloak against the wall and his back, hiding them both inside.
The small box Draco was tightly grasping in both hands was the only thing separating them from one another. Potter froze as they heard the clipped footsteps of whoever was coming, peering past Dracoās shoulder to get a look at them.
Draco was desperately trying not to lean forward and bury his nose in Potters hair which was close enough to brush his cheek. It was surprisingly soft and smooth, smelling faintly of lavender and something else, mingling inoffensively with the rich earthy smell of the potion. It was pure torture and completely unfair as far as Draco was concerned.
The footsteps drew closer, and they sounded alarmingly like the Headmistressā. Draco felt Potterās hand curl around his wrist again, in warning or support, he didnāt know. Potterās hand was warm and gentle, and Draco felt like he was dreaming again.
They both held their breath as McGonagall strode briskly past them, her footsteps leading her past the stairs and away from them.
āā¦I can, in fact, be more of a little shit,ā Draco said quietly to break the tense silence.
He expected Potter to smile or laugh or at least insult him, not tighten his grip on Dracoās wrist and blurt out, āYou and Parkinson are dating?ā
Draco blinked, āPansy and I-?ā He frowned, Ā his nose crinkling in disgust at the thought, āMerlin no. Absolutely not.ā
āYouāre always together,ā Potter said.
āSheās my friend,ā Draco said,
Potter worried his bottom lip, āThe two of you seem so close is all.ā
āSheās the only person talks to me in this school and at great cost to herself,ā Draco said.
Potterās brow furrowed.
Draco sighed, āBeing seen with me is social poison. She would have a lot more opportunities if she left me behind.ā
Potterās grip loosened, āShe must care about you a lot.ā
āWell sheās better than whatever youāve decided she is in your head,ā Draco said. He gathered what little nerve he had and managed to say, āPotter. Iām gay and she- well, Iām not her type.ā
āI- Right,ā Potter said in a strangled tone. He quickly let go of Dracoās wrist and fumbled his way out of the cloak, walking back to the centre of the hall as he pulled out his map. āIt should be clear now.ā
āLead the way,ā Draco said and followed him up the stairs.
- Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 Ā - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 Ā - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 -
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