The Tragic Tale of the Boy Who Lived and the Boy Who Wanted to Die [ON HIATUS]

Draco couldn’t handle seeing Flint after that, so he prolonged his hospital wing stay for as long as he could.

Soon, however, Madame Pomfrey got sick of it, and kicked him out. He walked around the castle for a while, and spent most of the rest of that day in the library reading, but even Madam Pince cast him out eventually.

Students everywhere seemed ecstatic about Gryffindors win, other than the Slytherins. Blaise and Ginny had been in to visit him in the hospital wing, and while they said they didn’t blame him at all for Slytherin’s loss, Flint was not as kind about it.

Luckily, exams were soon to be upon them, and since Flint was to be taking his NEWT’s, there was very little time for scolding. He did give Draco some nasty looks when he thought he wasn’t looking, but said nothing. Draco was quite grateful for this.

Draco found that he was well prepared for the exams when the professors started handing out study guides for students who asked.

“I think I have everything I’ll need,” he told Theo one night.

“Good, then you can stop worrying us all by doing nothing but reading.”

He wasn’t wrong. Draco was still sleeping horribly, but something changed after the match.

No matter how many books he read, or how hard he studied, he couldn’t stop thinking about him. During meals, he looked towards the Gryffindors so often Pansy and Daphne were back on their Draco-has-a-crush-on-Potter thing. They would tease him every chance they got.

“Oh come on Draco, you're totally into him. Save us all the trouble and make a move already!” Pansy would say before falling into hysterical laughter.

“Draco wouldn’t do that, he’d wait for Potter to make the first move.” Theo chimed in.

Draco couldn’t believe it. They got Theo too? Since when? Hearing the words come out of his best friend's mouth made him think of it in a whole new light. What if?- No. It wouldn’t happen. Never. Potter wouldn’t like him back, not in a million years. Not even if Draco did like him. The card and the money were probably out of guilt for what happened (both of which were currently residing in his nightstand drawer).

Draco attempted to banish the thought, but it kept coming back. What if? It was such an innocent question, but every time it popped into his head he felt like everybody could see right through him. He had to convince himself that Potter would not and could not use Legilimency to learn about what Draco thought, and that nobody else would either.

Flurry seemed to know something was up, as she left her normal spot next to Theo to sit with Draco. Neither of them minded much, and Draco appreciated the extra company, even if it was just a cat.

He still hated Care of Magical Creatures, and was pretty sure he would drop it next year, but he did his best studying for the exam. Maybe Hagrid would hate him less if he passed the exam well.

Potions was improving slightly, Snape seemed to have moved on or forgotten about the boggart situation, so it was much easier to focus without Snape scolding the Gryffindors every 10 seconds. He was still avoidant of Snape, but was now more focused on passing than learning new material from Snape.

Exams came closer and closer, and no matter how prepared Draco thought he was, nothing could prepare him for what he knew would happen on his final day of exams.

There was no saving Buckbeak now.