8th year cuddling in the common room late at night? yes please
The common room was empty when Harry woke up. The fireplace was the only source of light and it was cold enough that Harry didn’t want to leave the immediate warmth the fire offered. He did not bother to look up when he heard someone coming down the stairs.
“Of course, you’re still down here,” Draco said, his voice still gravelly with sleep.
Instead of sitting next to Harry on the sofa, Draco took a seat in the armchair just out of arm’s reach. Harry reached out a hand to him. Draco, barely able to reach him, took it for a few seconds before brushing his thumb over Harry’s knuckles and pulling away. Harry sighed.
“I don’t want to make things awkward.”
“You’ve made many things very awkward for a very long time.”
“Really, though,” Draco said, returning the conversation to a more serious tone.
Harry thought for a minute, considering how to explain himself without doing so at the expense of Draco’s feelings. “You pull away from me, sometimes almost immediately. Sometimes I miss you and you’re right there. I don’t want to push you into anything that isn’t okay with you, but…well, I touch Ron more than I touch you.”
“Now you’re just trying to make me jealous,” Draco said. He said it with a smile but not a convincing one.
“Tell me to stop and I’ll stop.”
“I don’t want you to stop. It’s not that I don’t want you to touch me,” Draco paused, then mumbled something Harry could not make out.
Draco sighed and looked away. He seemed to shrink into the chair. “I don’t want you to think I’m clingy. Pansy said people hate that.”
“So, you’re secretly a snuggle-bug? I’m into it,” Harry said.
“Stop being stupid and come here,” Harry said. After an uncomfortable silence, Harry realized Draco wasn’t going to move. He settled back into the sofa. “It’s okay,” he whispered. When he heard Draco get up, Harry sighed again expecting Draco to leave him alone in the common room.
“You’re sure you’re into it?” Draco asked, standing next to the sofa.
“You wouldn’t, I don’t know, you wouldn’t mind if…well, I wouldn’t call it snuggling.”
Harry reached out to Draco again. Draco all but fell onto Harry. By the time they stopped moving, rearranging, adjusting, Draco was settled between Harry’s legs and laying on him. Harry held him tightly to his chest, convinced Draco would change his mind and pull away. With Draco’s head on his shoulder, arms wrapped around each other, Harry felt…safe. Happy.
Harry tucked Draco’s hair behind his ear and continued to run his fingers through his hair. It was so soft. Harry leaned in and rested his mouth against Draco’s hair, not in a kiss, just indulging the impulse of feeling that soft hair against his lips. He took a deep breath and allowed himself to relax.
“Did you just sniff my hair?”
“I didn’t make a conscious decision to do so if that’s what you’re asking,” he said, self-consciously returning both hands to Draco’s back.
Harry felt more than heard when Draco laughed.
He didn’t notice when he started rubbing Draco’s back in a lazy repetitive motion. The motion became as much a comfort to him as he hoped it was for Draco. The fabric of Draco’s shirt had long since given the palm of his hand a tingly feeling that anchored him in that moment. Harry could not imagine stopping. He smiled when Draco nuzzled his cheek onto his shoulder, a sleepy moan escaped Draco. With that, Harry knew he’d fallen.
“Hey,” someone whispered. “Hey. Harry.”
“Harry, wake up,” Draco said.
Harry, forgetting where he was, looked around fighting off panic.
“You’re fine. We fell asleep,” Draco said. “It’s three in the morning. Maybe we should go to bed.”
Harry nodded in agreement but, with some reluctance, let go of Draco. As Draco sat up, Harry felt his absence, his body feeling the cold most acutely where Draco had been.
“How big is your bed?” Draco asked.
“Come on, we’ll get better sleep in a bed. I’ll even let you be the little spoon,” Draco said, getting to his feet.
“You’ll let me?” Harry said, trying to hide a smile.
Draco reached a hand out for him, “Come on. I’m tired.”
Of course, Harry took Draco’s hand. How could he not?
