A Dangerous Game (Harry's POV)
Harry sat at his desk in the Potions classroom, glancing nervously at the front of the room where Professor Snape was handing out the pairs for the new project. The class was buzzing with anticipation, and Harry felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. He could only imagine who he might end up paired with.
“Please don’t be Malfoy, please don’t be Malfoy,” he muttered under his breath, desperately hoping for a partner who wouldn’t drive him mad.
“Potter! Malfoy!” Snape’s voice cut through the chatter, and Harry felt his heart drop. He met Draco’s icy gaze across the room, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. A thrill ran through him, mingled with frustration.
“Of course,” he muttered, rolling his eyes as Draco sauntered over with a smug look on his face. “Just my luck.”
“Try not to embarrass yourself this time, Potter,” Draco said with a smirk, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Harry shot him a glare. “I’m not the one who nearly blew up the classroom last time.”
“Blame it on the inferior ingredients, as usual,” Draco retorted, already pulling out the necessary supplies with an air of superiority.
As they began their work, the tension was palpable. They bickered over measurements, each trying to assert their dominance in the lab. Harry focused on his task, but he could feel Draco’s presence beside him, a constant distraction that made it hard to concentrate.
“Honestly, can you even follow a simple recipe?” Draco teased, his tone condescending as he stirred his potion with exaggerated flair.
“I can follow it just fine. I just don’t need your condescending comments,” Harry shot back, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Maybe if you weren’t such a know-it-all, we’d get more done.”
Draco’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Oh, I see. So it’s my fault we’re not making progress? Classic Potter.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. “You know what? If you think you can do better, why don’t you lead?”
“Fine, I will,” Draco replied, his voice low and dangerous. He leaned closer, the scent of his cologne filling the air between them. Harry felt his breath hitch as their faces were mere inches apart. “Just try not to mess everything up.” “Right back at you,” Harry shot back, his voice sharper than intended.
As they continued to work, the potions in front of them bubbled and hissed, but the real chemistry was between them. Harry could feel the heat radiating from Draco, a magnetic pull that sent shivers down his spine. It was both thrilling and infuriating, and he hated how much he wanted to lean in closer.
“Careful, you almost spilled that,” Draco warned, pointing at the potion that had begun to froth dangerously.
“Shut up,” Harry said, more flustered than annoyed. He focused intently on the cauldron, but Draco’s presence lingered like a shadow.
“Just trying to help, Potter,” Draco said with mock innocence, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Harry rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto his lips. “Your idea of help is just making things worse.”
Draco leaned back slightly, the playful banter easing into a comfortable silence. For a brief moment, they worked side by side, the tension between them simmering just beneath the surface.
Then it happened—an accidental bump of shoulders as Draco reached for a flask of ingredients. The collision caused Harry to jolt, sending his potion splashing over the table.
“Great, now look at what you’ve done!” Harry exclaimed, glaring at Draco, who was stifling a laugh.
“Maybe you should pay attention, Potter,” Draco said, his voice low and teasing. “Or are you too distracted by my dazzling charm?”
Harry felt his cheeks flush, and for a moment, the air grew thick with something unspoken. They locked eyes, and the world around them faded. Harry’s heart raced as he registered the spark in Draco’s gaze, something that hinted at an attraction neither of them was ready to acknowledge.
“Let’s just finish this before Snape notices,” Harry said, breaking the spell and looking away, his pulse still racing.
“Agreed,” Draco replied, though the teasing lilt in his voice remained. “But just know, this could have gone much smoother if you weren’t such a klutz.”
“Right,” Harry shot back, his voice steadier now. “Let’s get on with it.”
As they resumed their work, the air between them crackled with tension, a mixture of rivalry and something deeper that neither of them could deny. And as much as Harry tried to fight it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a dangerous game.