Chapter 1
Harry had been dwelling on that fucking origami bird for two days now. Where its little wing kept opening at one side and he could see it had something written. He thought giving it back to Malfoy was the right thing to do, but when he reached him yesterday before supper to do so, the blond git looked at it in his hands and just turned away, and Harry right then was sure it was meant to be his.
They both crashed into one another while going for breakfast at the Grand Hall in the beginning of the week, dropping every single thing Malfoy held in his hands. And when Harry`s attempt on helping was rudely ignored, the bird was left behind, only for Harry to keep it.
He now stared at it, sitting majestically at his desk. Ron was fast asleep and was sure that Harry had an unknown ability to create figures with paper. Only it wasn't Harry`s, it was Draco`s. And he was decided it was sent to torment him.
Why in the name of Merlin himself would Malfoy do this for him?
Maybe he was getting a little ahead of himself for thinking that way, but when had he not? He was always getting ahead of himself when it came to Malfoy and the little obsession he had over the boy, that one that had been going on for two years and just flourished more now that they all came back to school after the war.
He shook this particular thought away. Draco barely paid a thought to him anymore, which was weird given he used to look at him all the time. It was almost comforting knowing that they had that bickery to rely on, to come back now that a lot had changed. And for so long, since the beginning of term, he thought that had changed too, for good this time.
And now there is this bird, mocking him from across the table.
He could see the black ink permanently marking the parchment in some folds that were fighting to stay put, and yet... He couldn't for his life gather up the courage to open it up.
Shit.
He checked Ron’s sleep before he snatched the bird from its place on the table, putting his feet on the chair he positioned himself on to cover up the origami with his knees. Fuck it, he could open it, couldn't he?
Who did Malfoy think he was to be sending him little birds like that?
He unfolded the paper, words slowly appearing, the fire of the candles lightening the room being the only noise filling the air.
"I was hoping to bump into you, otherwise this wouldn't ever be in your hands."
Harry got even more confused than he was before, his breath catching in his throat. Was this even Malfoy? And when the last corner of the paper was flattened, he read:
"Keep looking at me, Potter."