The hallway
It’s 8:30 am. When Harry woke up he saw Malfoy sleeping, his stupid white-blonde hair was shining under the sunlight. It was a bit messy, it was also the first time that Harry had seen it like that, because Malfoy always makes sure it’s perfectly combed. Idiot. It looked softer like that.
With his eyes closed and without hearing his voice Malfoy looked like a little child, hugging his pillow.
It was getting a little late, so Harry went to the bathroom to take a bath and get dressed.
When he got out of the bathroom Malfoy was still sleeping. They had the same class and they were going to be late. Harry didn’t know if wake him was the best idea, maybe Malfoy would hex him for interrupting his sleep. Whatever.
“Malfoy” Harry stared at the sleepy boy.
“Hmm?” Malfoy hummed in response.
Interesting, Harry always imagined Malfoy as a morning person.
“Sorry for waking you, but you’re going to be late.”
Malfoy blinked, trying to keep himself awake.
“Umm, alright. Thanks.”
Harry was playing with the sleeve of his robe.
“Err, yeah. Sure.” Why was it so awkward?
“Umm, bye.” Harry left without looking back.
Harry wasn’t good with words, he knew that. But this time it was different. It was something else. Probably the fact that Malfoy haven’t tried to kill him yet surprised him a lot.
Harry kept walking alone until he got into the Potions classroom.
“Harry. Where have you been? Why are you late?” Hermione whispered.
“I’m sorry ‘Mione. I overslept again.”
Hermione rolled her eyes.
“Well, be careful the next time. You know Snape gets really angry when someone is late.”
“Yeah. Umm, alright.”
“And have you seen Ron?” Hermione asked.
“Ron? Actually, I haven’t. I came here as soon as I woke up. Didn’t talk to anyone.”
Hermione frowned a little, she is going to get wrinkles if she keeps worrying like that.
“Look, speaking of the devil.” Harry smiled.
“Ronald Weasley. Ten points will be taken from Gryffindor because of you. Try not to be so late for the next class.” Snape said.
“Ughh. I hate Snape. Every time he has the opportunity to take points from us he does. It’s annoying really, I think he has something against us.” Ron said while he seated between Hermione and Harry.
“Well, then do not give him the opportunity Ronald. Why are you late?” Hermione is not very good hiding her emotions. Every time she is concerned about someone she tries to hide it acting like she is angry. But we all know she is worried.
“I overslept, but really, it’s not my fault he hates us.” Ron looked offended.
Hermione just looked away to keep working on her potion.
“What do you think mate? Why does Snape hates Gryffindor?” Ron rolled his eyes.
“I don’t know Ron. But I think we should start working on our potions.” Harry gave him a small smile.
“Yeah, sure.”
They were all distracted when they heard the door cracking a little too loud. Harry saw Malfoy, but now his hair was combed, his uniform was perfectly clean, with no wrinkles and his eyes were opened.
He definitely seems more mature when he isn’t hugging his pillow like a child.
“My apologies for being late, profesor.” Malfoy looked at his feet.
“Mr Malfoy, this must be the last time you are late, take a seat.” Snape said.
“Rubbish. When I’m late you take ten points from Gryffindor, but when he’s late nothing happens? That’s not fair.” Ron stood up with a furious look on his face.
“Shut up Ron, you’re only making it worse.” Hermione whispered. “Sit down.”
“Weasley, fifty points will be taken today. For yelling at me and complaining in my class.” Snape said.
Ron looked at him with disbelief.
“But—I- you’re being unfair.”
“Do I hear you want me to take more points from Gryffindor?”
“Ronald sit down this instant.” Hermione grabbed him by his arm and pulled him down.
Ron obeyed.
“Now let’s finish with the class. Everyone open your books in page 234.” Snape turned to take his own ingredients for the potion.
“Ronald.” Hermione hit him in his arm with her book. “Why did you do that?!”
“What? Someone needed to tell the truth. He never takes points from Slytherin, it’s ridiculous.”
“He’s right Hermione. It was unfair.” Harry said.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
“See! Somebody finally agrees with me!” Ron smiled.
“Oh stop being stupid guys. If you keep acting like that Gryffindor will end up with cero points. We already lost 60 thanks to Ronald, and the day hasn’t even started.” Unbelievable, Hermione thought.
“Whatever Hermione. Ugh, I hate Snape and I hate Malfoy even more. He’s such an idiot, he thinks that he can be late whenever he wants because he’s a fucking snake and while Snape is in charge of Slytherin they won’t have consequences.” Ron was furious.
“You know I hate him too Ronald, but you just said it. While Snape is in charge there’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry.” Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder.
“I guess you’re right Hermione. You always are.” Ron gave her a weak smile.
Harry placed his hand on Ron’s arm too and gave him a small smile.
“Let’s keep working guys. One hour more until the class is over.” Hermione said.
And they did, they worked a lot on their potions. The class felt like eternity, like it was never going to end. When it finally did, it was such a relief.
——————————————————
Malfoy was sitting between Crabbe and Goyle in the Great Hall. It was almost dinner time, you could see the beautiful sunset through the windows.
“I need to grab some books from the library. I’ll be here for dinner, see you later.” Draco stood up and walked to the door.
Harry looked at him and for some reason something inside him told him to follow Malfoy, so he did. He stood up as well and told Hermione an excuse and that he’ll come back later.
Malfoy was walking really fast, he was probably in the library when Harry was just leaving the Great Hall.
“Where’s that book?” Malfoy whispered to himself while he was looking for a potions book in the forbidden section.
“Got it!” Then he grabbed the pile of books and left the library. He couldn’t see very well, since he had five books covering his face.
The only thing he saw was a group of Gryffindors chatting, pretty normal.
But then he felt that someone pushed him. The books were too heavy so he lost balance, he tripped and — ouch. His face hit the floor, his nose started to bleed a lot.
“Oh look! The idiot’s bleeding.” A Gryffindor said while his friends were laughing.
Ron was there, laughing as well. “You deserved that Malfoy. What are you going to do now? Go to cry to Snape?” He chuckled.
Harry saw it, all of it. It had been Ron who pushed Malfoy.
“What’s your problem Weasley?” Malfoy said while he was picking up the books in the floor.
“What’s MY problem? The problem is that you’re a fucking snake and Snape it’s being unfair with us.”
Ron rolled his eyes.
“But that’s not my fault. What do I have to do with that?” Malfoy looked like he was going to cry, his nose still bleeding.
“You’re an idiot. You Slytherins think you’re so superior, but the truth is you’re all just pathetic and vile.”
Malfoy frowned.
“What are you talking about idiot?”
Ron grabbed him by the neck of his shirt, his hand turned into a fist, ready to punch Malfoy in the face.
“Stop it!” Harry shouted. He had enough watching.
“Harry?” Ron frowned, lowering his hand.
“Stop it Ron.” Harry grabbed his shoulder. “It’s not worth it. Everyone go away.”
Malfoy just stared at him. Harry stared back. Then, Malfoy picked up his books and left the hallway as fast as he could. His nose was still bleeding.
“But— Harry-”
“Enough Ron. You know Malfoy, whatever he did to provoke you it’s not worth it. Let him go.”
“Fine.” Ron rolled his eyes.
“Go to the Great Hall, it’s almost dinner time. I’ll catch up with you later.” Harry smiled.
“Alright mate. See ya.” Ron smiled too.
Harry wanted to see Malfoy, he was probably in their room, so that’s where he went first. And he was right. When he opened the door he saw Malfoy standing in the bathroom, cleaning his nose.
“Umm, are you okay?” Harry asked shyly.
Malfoy looked at him with disbelief. Is he stupid or what? He thought.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He said coldly.
“You sure?”
“Hmm” Malfoy nodded in response.
And then they went to an awkward silence, the only sound was the water from the sink.
Harry was the first one to break the silence.
“I— I saw when he pushed you.” He placed his hand behind his neck.
Malfoy didn’t know what to answer, he opened his mouth but he closed it again.
“I’m sorry.” Harry stepped a bit closer.
“Not your fault.” Malfoy said, but it was like he didn’t mean it. His tone was emotionless.
“I mean it Malfoy.”
“Alright, but you don’t have to apologize when you did nothing wrong.” His nose was still bleeding, his hand had a bit of blood. He ran his hand through his cheek and it got stained with blood. Harry chuckled a bit.
“What?” Malfoy frowned. “Do I have something on my face?”
Harry smiled. “Actually you do.” He stepped closer again. Malfoy noticed this and he stepped back.
“Let me.”
Harry picked up the wet towel that Malfoy was using to clean his blood and he started rubbing it against Malfoy’s soft cheeks. Malfoy blushed a little. He hoped Harry didn’t notice (of course he did.)
Harry looked at his soft cheeks, then he looked into his eyes. They were really pretty actually, Malfoy had grey eyes, but under sunlight they looked a bit blue. Then, he looked at Malfoy’s lips, they were so different from his, Malfoy’s lips were really pink, they were a bit bigger and the upper lip was like heart shaped. Malfoy noticed that Harry was looking so he quickly blushed and stepped back.
“Umm, thanks, Potter.” He grabbed the wet towel from Harry’s hand.
Harry blushed a bit too. “Yeah, sure.”
What the hell did just happen? “And again, I’m really sorry. Does it hurt a lot?” He seemed worried.
“What?” Malfoy frowned. He was lost in his own thoughts when he realized Harry was talking to him.
“Your nose. Does it hurt?”
“Oh, right” He smiled a bit. “Just a little. Nothing I can’t take.”
“You should go to the hospital wing then.”
“I’m fine Potter. There’s no need to do that.”
“If you say so.” Harry stepped back. “Umm— I’ll go to the Great Hall. I—umm…see you there I guess.”
“Errr, yeah. Bye, thanks again.” Malfoy nodded. Why was it so awkward?
“No worries.” Harry smiled, he closed the door and then he was gone.
Malfoy stood there for a few minutes, trying to understand what the hell happened. Why was Potter looking at his lips? Why did he help him? Does Potter pity him? Ughhh. Then his nose started bleeding again.
“Shit. Not again.” Malfoy rolled his eyes. Why was it bleeding so much?
————————————————
Meanwhile, Harry was walking to the Great Hall, trying to understand as well. Why was he helping Malfoy? Malfoy the idiot. Malfoy the selfish one. Malfoy the snake. Malfoy, the same git who technically bullied him for the last two years. Arsehole.
“Harry!! You came.” Hermione smiled.
“Umm, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Err, I dunno. I thought something was bothering you and that’s why you left.” Hermione gave him a weak smile.
“No, don’t worry. I told you I had to do something.”
Hermione opened her mouth, but she closed it again. “Yeah, sure. Well, we were waiting for you. Let’s eat, I’m starving.” She chuckled.
“Yeah, me too.” Harry smiled.
The dinner was nice, he talked with Hermione and his friends, he even drank pumpkin juice, his favorite. However, his mind was thinking of Malfoy. He said he would be there for dinner, but he wasn’t. What if something happened to him? Harry stared at the empty spot across the Great Hall. His Slytherin friends seemed alright. How could they not worry?
The dinner ended. It was time to go to bed, Harry felt a bit angry and frustrated, Malfoy lied, but it’s not like he could do something about it. Ugh.
Harry opened the door of their room, the first thing he noticed was that Draco was sitting in the desk writing on a notebook. He was also surrounded by four piles of books.
“What are you doing?” Harry asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Malfoy replied coldly.
“Ha ha. I mean, what are you writing?”
“It’s none of your business Potter.” He closed the notebook. “Now if you don’t mind, could you please make silence? I have to study.”
“For what? Exams are weeks away.” Harry frowned.
“If I want to be good I have to study all the time, not just for exams.” He smiled sarcastically.
“Well now you just sounded like Hermione.” Harry raised his eyebrows.
Malfoy chuckled softly. “I know she’s the best student. I won’t beat her, but I’m the second best, did you know?“
“I didn’t know.” Harry smiled. “You see, I don’t really pay attention to anything related to class.”
“That’s why you’re failing almost every class, Potter.”
“Not funny. I’m not that bad.” Harry felt offended.
“If you say so Potter.” Malfoy smiled and turned back to his books.
“Hey! I see what you’re doing.”
“And what am I doing?” Malfoy looked at him again.
“You’re distracting me. You haven’t answered my question. What were you writing?”
“I did answer. I said it was none of your business.”
“Hmm. Fine then, don’t tell me.”
“Okay.” Malfoy turned to look to his book again.
Is he kidding? Harry thought. “Are you seriously not going to tell me?”
“But you just said—”
“Ignore what I said!”
“Alright. I was just taking some notes, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Hmmm.”
“What now Potter?”
“I don’t trust you. I think you’re lying to me.”
“Yeah, because I’m a Slytherin and we always lie.” Malfoy scoffed. “We can’t be trusted.”
“That’s not what I meant Malfoy.”
“Yeah, sure.” Malfoy rolled his eyes.
“You know what? Just forget it, I’m sorry for bothering you. You can keep studying if you like, I’ll go.”
“Where are you going? It’s bed time you idiot.”
“None of your business.” Harry opened the door.
“Potter wait—” But before Malfoy could finish Harry slammed the door.
Shit.
Malfoy thought he should go after Potter, but no.
He had other things to do, besides, who cares if Potter is mad at him? Whatever.
He sat on his bed, he was trying to read but he couldn’t focus. He doesn’t know how much he stayed like that but he fell asleep.
One hour later Potter came back. He saw Malfoy sleeping with the book on his chest, holding it with his hand.
He was still upset, but he couldn’t help it. He chuckled a bit.
He sat next to him, he lifted Malfoy’s hand carefully, trying to not wake him, Malfoy’s hand was freezing.
Then he took the book and he placed it on the desk. Malfoy started blinking.
“Sorry for waking you.” Harry said softly.
“It’s alright.” Malfoy said with his sleepy voice. “Where’s my book?”
“I put it on the desk, I didn’t want to wake you, even though I just did.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
“Sure.” Harry said. “Umm, I—I’ll go to the bathroom.”
“Wait, Potter.” Malfoy grabbed his wrist.
“What?” Potter frowned.
“Are you… mad at me?” Malfoy asked innocently.
“Err, I was upset, but not anymore.” Harry smiled softly.
“You sure? Listen, I’m sorry for being rude.”
“It’s fine Malfoy. I mean it.”
“Okay.”
Harry stood up and walked to the bathroom.
“Potter.”
“Yeah?”
“Good night.” Malfoy gave him a weak smile.
“Good night, Malfoy.” Harry smiled too and closed the door.
Malfoy tucked himself in the bed with the green blanket, in less than ten minutos, he was sleeping.