Do Slytherins daydream?
Harry and Draco are forced to sit in silence as they 'get along'.
Which translates to both of them sulking as far away from each other as they could physically go in the little compartment. Each boy settled down in their ´own´ little corner of it, refusing to even look at each other because that would mean to acknowledge them. They're keeping to themselves with set jaws and furrowed brows, just stewing in silence as they start to regret getting each other into trouble.
What were they fighting about in the first place?
'No matter, it is Potter's fault anyway.'
'It's Malfoy's fault we're in this shit.'
After what feels like an eternity, Harry realizes he has nothing on him except his wand. Not even a book or that coursework for potions that he wanted to finish during the train ride. There was nothing to occupy the time until they arrived.
"Will you stop your groaning, Potter? It is bad enough; we are trapped in this tiny compartment...together." Draco's voice is tight, as if he had to physically restrain himself from gagging. "Please at least *try* to behave and refrain from this unnecessary waste of air."
"Why do you always have to be such a prick, Malfoy? Does it hurt to be nice?"
"One does not achieve anything by being nice. You might like to be a pushover to your friends; however, I do not."
Harry rolled his eyes and let out another groan, eliciting a cold glare from the blonde. This time, he easily ignores the moody Slytherin. If the past years at Hogwarts have taught him anything, it's how to deal with Malfoy's mood swings...most of the time. The other times they both end up in detention; unfortunately, that happens way more than actually dealing with each other in a somewhat peaceful manner.
"You know, you can just talk like any normal human being, right? Just because you stop doing that whole obnoxious tone and manner stuff doesn't mean you'll summon your father. At Hogwarts, you can just be like any normal kid without being scared of him."
"Why don't you keep your mouth shut if all that's going to come out of it is derogatory? You have no idea what you are talking about, so try to refrain from slandering my family and our name."
Flinching startled Harry holds his hands up in mock surrender; he knows fully well that family is a sore topic for Malfoy...which is the sole motivation to bring it up every single time. It's always fun to rile up the uptight Slytherin.
It's his personal goal to see how fast he can get the Slytherin's mask to slip and show Malfoy's true emotions behind it. Usually just to unnerve the collected and composed Slytherin. There is a reason, after all, why most students call him the (ice) prince of Slytherin.
Which is so corny. Harry and Ron had laughed themselves silly until both of them were curled up on the floor, just gasping for air while tears streamed down their faces, absolutely wheezing.
The ice prince of Slytherin.
The Slytherin prince.
The ice prince.
Merlin it's so fitting, but so ridiculous.
Just when they had calmed down, Seamus blurted out whether or not Malfoy had been the one to spread the rumor himself. By the time Neville came back from the greenhouse, they were once again rolling on the floor, laughing loudly until their stomachs hurt.
"Yeah, whatever... you do know that people call you the "Ice Prince" or "Prince of Slytherin" because of that whole royalty manner thing you got going on, right? Did you spread that rumor? Because that's totally like a you thing..."
His ´nemesis´ (because teenagers definitely have a nemesis) glares at him with furious eyes while clenching his jaw; if looks could kill, Potter would not make it off the train.
"If you must know, not that it's any of your business, I did not spread that rumor, nor do I entertain it. There is an aspect of politics, which is why I tolerate its existence. Don't be ridiculous; I am already a Malfoy; why would I want to be a prince?"
For a moment, Harry debated whether or not the other was joking because who wouldn't want to be royalty? But no, Malfoy is most certainly not joking. His expression is calm, and his eyes sparkle in the light, making them look almost gray whenever the light hits them just right. Harry definitely recognizes it as a challenge.
Being the Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy was enough for the younger Malfoy; he genuinely didn't want to be royalty. Which does kind of baffle him, but at the same time doesn't surprise Harry at all; he was talking to Malfoy after all.
"Huh...I see." Harry mumbles, still very distracted by his current train of thought, that he should put a little bit more effort into answering.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Unsurprisingly, Draco took offense to that. Feeling like he should hold Harry's full attention whenever they were talking...or doing anything else since talking was rarely something they actually did. At least without insulting or taunting each other until someone pulls their wand to hex the other.
"Nothing; it's admirable, I guess."
Harry shrugs, not really minding that he basically just paid Malfoy a compliment, which seems to floor the blonde more than Harry.
"I know everyone gives you shit for always talking about your father, but at least he's got your back most of the time, right? I mean, you're a right git, and the things you use your father's support for are definitely questionable more often than not. However, he still comes to your defense, so yeah, it's a little admirable or something. Maybe if you squint reallyy hard, there is some good in some Slytherins..."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?! Just because you lot are judging us every chance you get-"
In a very typical Malfoy manner, he starts ranting and rambling; that's just how he gets whenever the teen is either flustered or worked up about something. Sometimes Harry can't help but wonder what the other would look like when he is genuinely angry about something; he cannot decide if he wants to see it...or not.
"Relax, Malfoy, no need to get your knickers in a twist...I didn't even mean anything by it."
This answer earns him another glare before Draco sits back down and stares out of the window with a tight-lipped expression, effectively shutting up.
Silence settles over the compartment again.
For a very short moment, Harry thought they might actually get along for a little, even if it was just to fight their shared boredom together.
On the other hand, Malfoy doesn't look particularly bored. His face looks calm, and his body looks relaxed; he doesn't look the slightest bit unsettled. If he had to describe it, he would almost say it looks as if Malfoy is mediating or... daydreaming.
"Do Slytherins daydream?"
In a very Harry-like fashion, he blurts out the thought without any hesitation.
"You do know we are just Wixen too, right?"
Draco sounds almost tired as he rubs his forehead and brushes a strand of stray hair behind his ear again. His hair had grown over the summer break, and Harry thought he looked rather handsome without his gelled-down helmet of hair. It's almost a little curly at the ends. It's probably just his imagination, though; Malfoy's parents didn't have curly hair after all.
"We know you like to villainize us every chance you get...but we are just wixen too."
Those words unsettle Harry deeply; he couldn't put a finger on what exactly makes him so uncomfortable, but something does. Before he gets the chance to actually figure it out by himself or annoy Malfoy into answering him, the door opens, and Snape returns with a calculating expression. His eyes roamed over both boys as if to check for something, probably injuries.
"You may return to collect your trunks...we will be arriving shortly."
Without hesitating even for a second, Malfoy is out of the door, leaving behind a very confused and unsettled Potter.
"Today, if you will, Mister Potter."