i just read this post about draco being so scared of voldemortâs hug and i suddenly had this hc that he must have been so scared of anyone hugging him after that.
he never actually says it. because who the hell gets scared of hugs? he just tenses up whenever someone, usually his mother, takes him into their arms, but he forces himself to relax so no one would notice, because this isnât the dark lord, this is his mother who gives out the best hugs- and he still knows they still are, even if he canât fully enjoy them anymore.
but harry sees it. he doesnât let draco know that he knows though, because he knows draco hates weakness, especially when it comes from him. so he makes sure to be careful. he tries his best to smoothly discourage other people from hugging draco, like distracting them or some other stuff, but when he canât, he cracks a joke about being jealous or something, so people will back off.
but one night, draco wakes up from a nightmare, and harry, panicking, does what he usually does with his friends without thinking it through. he wraps his hands around draco, and he curses himself as soon as he feels draco tensing up, because damn it all to hell he just ruined all the progress heâs made with the elusive slytherin, but slowly, so slowly, he feels draco relaxing into his arms, and gradually letting his own arms encircle harryâs waist.
harry tells draco he doesnât have to do it, that if draco isnât comfortable with it he can just tell harry, because he should know that harry will understand, because he knows more than anyone the damage that voldemort could do just by being close.
but draco shakes his head, takes a deep breath for courage, and says heâs grateful for this. because somehow, being in harryâs arms didnât make him remember voldemort.
they were warm, for one. and whereas being in voldemortâs arms terrified him so much, harryâs made him feel safe and protected. heâs never really been a tactile person, even before voldemort, and heâs never seen the point of hugs when it comes to lovers, because, well, kissing.
it kind of becomes their little thing. whenever harry sees draco feeling sad or frustrated or exhausted, he just wordlessly opens his arms and draco would smile gratefully and fall into them, nuzzling his nose on harryâs shoulder and inhaling his comforting scent.
and after that, draco slowly replaces the memory of voldemortâs arms in his head with that of harryâs undoubtedly more comforting hugs.
and he just smiles to himself when he finally finds it in himself to genuinely enjoy his motherâs hugs again, because of course harry potter would be the one to outrank his mother when it comes to giving the best hugs.
