Draco was tired. Tired of fighting the inevitable, tired of trying to figure out a way out of an impossible situation. Tired of denying the way he felt.

The carefully constructed mask he relied on so desperately started to slip, and he opened his mouth slightly, knowing that what he was about to say would change his life - would change him - forever. But the words never left his mouth, because suddenly Harry was there, and Harry was holding him, one arm slipping around Draco's torso, and the other cradling his head. Draco closed his eyes, pushing away the despair he felt, the fear and the ache that it seemed would never cease. He buried his face in the shoulder of his enemy, and simply let himself be held. Slowly, almost as if they had a will of their own, his own arms snaked around Harry's waist and settled there.

Draco had never hugged anyone before. His mother had always been too busy with more important things, and his father didn't believe in such things. Lucius's voice echoed quietly in his son's mind, "A show of affection is a sign of weakness..." but Draco didn't care. He didn't care what his father had said, or what was happening around him. All he knew was that he needed this. Needed someone to care.

Harry's fingers threaded their way through Draco's silken hair, gently kneading his neck and the back of his head. He could feel the Slytherin boy shaking against him, but whether it was through exhaustion or from something else, Harry had no way of knowing. He simply hadn't realised how close to the edge Draco had been, and what was worse, he didn't know how long he had been like this. It could have been for a day, it could have been for a month. Harry just didn't know, and for some reason that tore him up inside. He felt terrible for not having noticed the signs, for not having been there, even though he was the last person anyone would have expected to help Draco Malfoy. Yet that was what he was doing. As small a gesture as a simple hug would seem to anyone else, Harry knew he was aiding Draco in a such a profound way, neither of them might ever understand. What made it even more confusing, however, was how Harry himself wasn't even bothered by this fact. That alone should worry him, but Harry couldn't bring himself to do so.

Draco was trying desperately not to think, and even harder not to feel. He concentrated on the warmth of Harry's arms around him, and the steady calm that emanated from his rival that was starting to subside his shaking. He concentrated on Harry's smell. The Gryffindor boy smelt faintly of soap and a hint of cologne. He smelt of freshly cut grass and the very air itself, a combination of which immediately reminded Draco of Quidditch. Underlying all this was a scent that was uniquely Harry's own, and Draco felt he would become intoxicated by it. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, blocking out everything except Harry. What he felt like. What he smelt like. And what he tasted like.

Harry blinked in surprise when Draco pulled his head up suddenly and kissed him. Shock quickly melted away, and a thousand thoughts raced through Harry's mind, Push him away! Kiss him back! Don't do anything! The kiss was needy and desperate, and Harry felt that this was Draco's single last hope that he clung to so desperately. Without being able to explain how, Harry knew suddenly what he should do. Keeping one hand threaded in Draco's hair, Harry brought the other one up to gently cup his face.

Draco shuddered when Harry broke the kiss, but the other boy just smiled slightly, his gaze slightly questioning before reclaiming Draco's lips once more. The second kiss was completely different to its predecessor. Where Draco's had been desperate, Harry's was gentle. Need was replaced by...affection? Love? Draco didn't know, and he certainly didn't care. Harry's lips were soft beneath his own, and he couldn't resist flicking his tongue out to taste them. Harry welcomed the intrusion, opening his mouth for Draco's tentatively exploring tongue.

Completely surrounded by the warmth of Harry's embrace, and the warmth of his mouth against Draco's own, something seemed to unfurl and melt deep inside Draco's chest. The kiss ended as tenderly as it had begun, and Draco opened his eyes to meet the jade green gaze directly in front of him. He smiled.