Another time

Sleep did not come easily. Of course it didn't normally when he was in Grimmuald Place, surrounded by dust and nightmares, but this was a new difficulty.
People would not shut up.

Ron had tried to get Harry to join in on the party as soon as he walked into the room. He very quickly declined after seeing the terrible makeshift decorations and eyed the colourful drinks suspiciously. He found out there was a room per student, meaning they were a lot smaller but he was overjoyed at the privacy he would get. The stairs leading to his room were steep but short, meaning he could still hear the racket from the common room. 
He wasn't surprised when the Slytherins declined as well, even if they weren't invited. 

Malfoy had followed him up the stairs, his room was opposite Harry's. 

"Didn't fancy a party celebrating our great Saviour did you?"  Harry snorted. 

"I'm sure the 'Great Saviour' is actually a prick." 

"That's something we can agree on." There was no malice in his voice, no hatred in his eyes. It surprised Harry a lot less than it should have done.

"Night Malfoy."

"Good night Potter." 

Harry tried everything possible to get to sleep. From blocking his ears, shoving a pillow over his head, trying to knock himself out, to counting sheep. 
He was about to go down there and yell at them to shut up, when it hit him. 

Malfoy was right. He was definitely not meant for Ravenclaw. 

Silence filled the room as he put his wand down, smiling to himself. It only took an hour to remember he was a wizard. A new record. 

"Harry. Harry. Harry! Come on! You're going to make us late. Harry Potter!" He rolled his eyes and dragged himself up, pulling on a shirt before opening the door.

"My first lesson is in two hours, I'm not going to be late Hermione." 

"Not for lessons Harry! I know your schedule." She shook her head at him. Ron, behind her, looked like he was going to collapse at any moment. "Breakfast is in ten minutes." 

"Oh. I'm not going, I can get something from the kitchens later." Her shoulders dropped slightly. "But thank you for coming to get me." 

"Yeah." She looked up at him with raised eyebrows, reminding him of Molly. "You will get something won't you?" 

He nodded and smiled. She gave him a disapproving look before dragging a pale faced Ron down the stairs.

There was no point in going back to bed so he decided to read at the small desk for a while. The lighting coming from the window opposite landed perfectly on his book. 

Not even 10 pages in, another knock sounded at his door. This time, no one was calling his name. Out of curiosity and slight annoyance, he opened it.

"Malfoy?" 

The blonde held out a plate of pancakes with honey drizzled over them. At that moment, Harry's stomach decided to rumble. He raised an eyebrow and pushed the plate closer. 

"Thanks..."

"I heard your interaction with Granger. As loud as she was, I'm surprised the entire year didn't hear it." He sighed, turning around to his door. 

"Eat with me?" Once again, both boy's were surprised at the words. 

"If you insist." He turned back, walking past Harry without looking at him. 

Harry sat at the desk whilst Draco perched on the edge of the bed. 

"You're not gonna eat?" He offered his plate.

"I already ate. Thank you." 

"You went to the Great Hall?" Harry's eyes widened. Malfoy was braver than he thought.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'd be slaughtered the moment I step through the door." He looked out the window. "I went with Blaise and ate. You were an afterthought. He suggested that I should bring something back. You don't need to thank him. He's probably forgotten."

Harry snorted at that. He'd always known Malfoy was a bad liar, just not that bad.

"Right. Well, thanks anyway."

"Ew, Potter. Don't talk with your mouth full. Honestly, did your parents not teach you manners." He scowled before freezing. 

"I mean they might have done, but my brain wasn't even a quarter developed back then." Harry smiled and carried on eating.

"Right." Draco remained rigid, acting as though he would break Harry if he moved. 

For a while, there was nothing but awkward silence between them.

"Malfoy. " He paused, it probably wouldn't make a difference by saying he didn't mind. So he tried something different. "What lessons have you got?"

"Uh. What?" The Slytherin seemed to relax slightly, with a confused look plastered on his face. "Today?"

"No Draco, next year." 

"Very funny. Eat alone." 

"No okay, yes today. The whole year, whatever." Harry laughed at his pouty look.

"Potions, obviously. Defence, with a hopefully competent professor. Transfiguration, Charms and Ancient Runes." 

"Runes?"

"Yes."

"Didn't take you as someone who'd be interested in them." 

"Well, there's a lot you don't know about me Potter."

"I'd like to get to know you." 

Malfoy made a non-committal sound before directing the question back at him.

"Defence, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology and, reluctantly, potions." He finished off his breakfast, putting the plate behind him.

"You? Potions?" Malfoy leant forward slightly.

"McGonagall said I could take four subjects as people are likely to hire me for just being me and won't actually look at my grades, but that didn't feel right. And potions is the only other subject I'm able to take." 

Malfoy coughed into his hand and shut his eyes. He nodded after Harry stopped speaking. The blonde didn't move his hand away from his mouth and began to shake.

"Draco? Are you-" Harry narrowed his eyes. "You're laughing at me." 

There was a second of silence before Malfoy gave in and laughed loudly, wiping a tear from his eye. 

"You're shit at potions! And that's being nice. You excelled the other year because of a modified book not because of your skill in the subject." Harry glared at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You could at least pretend to be supportive. Perhaps even offer help." 

"I will do no such thing! You will not be anywhere near me when it comes to potions. You'll kill us. Or worse, drag my grade down." He shook his head and composed himself. "All I can do is say good luck and watch from afar as you fail." 

"Yeah don't sugar coat it." Harry looked away.

"I didn't intend to." He smiled when he noticed the Gryffindor sulking. "You are such a child. Get ready, we have defence in ten minutes." 

Harry was taken aback, he had nearly two hours until class a moment ago. 

"I'll see you there, you take forever to get ready." Malfoy left, meaning Harry had to get ready and run to class alone.