Stupid Bogarts
"Right, so let me get this straight," Ron stared at Harry, dumbfounded, as they walked down the corridors. "Malfoy, the Malfoy who is a git to us everyday, went to you for help yesterday?!"
Harry nodded with a frown, "Yeah, and he was totally strange about it, too."
Hermione's face was one of deep contemplation, "Do you think something happened with him and his father then? If he suddenly seems so concerned with his father's actions,"
Harry shrugged, "Maybe, he wouldn't tell me."
Ron shook is head,"Yeah but, what if he's not concerned, he's interested? Like, he wants to learn more about his father because he wants to follow in his footsteps or something. I mean, it's on brand for a Malfoy prat like him,"
"I mean I'd have thought that too," Harry stated with consideration, "But, it's not just that. He's been acting strange, less prat-y"
Hermione frowned at him, "Prat-y is not a word,"
"Whatever, the point still stands," Harry assured, "He's been different. Like, when I confronted him after class yesterday, I even pulled my wand out on him and everything-
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed with exasperation, "Do you know how much trouble-"
"But he didn't do anything!" Harry interrupted Hermione's warning. Honestly, at this point, he didn't understand why she still concerned herself with school rules. They'd made it this far without caring. "He just, walked away. Didn't start a fight or anything."
Ron furrowed his brows, "A git like Malfoy, refusing a fight? Never thought I'd see the day."
"Exactly! Me neither!" Harry agreed enthusiastically. In fact, that very reasoning had consumed his thoughts all night.
Hermione hummed in agreement, "That is strange...maybe he's just being more mature for once," She gave a pointed look at both Harry and Ron as if to say Maybe you should try that.
No thanks, Harry thought. Maturity can wait. Harry was perfectly fine being as petty as he wanted.
"I don't think Malfoys ever actually gain maturity," Ron muttered.
"There's a first for everything, I suppose," Hermione shrugged. The three were steadily approaching the transfiguration classroom. "Anyway, do you both have your transfiguration homework?"
Harry's eyes momentarily widened, enough for Hermione to notice and sigh at him. Oops. He'd completely forgotten about that, and he seriously doubted that after the events of yesterday Malfoy would still have followed through on their deal-
As if on cue, a roll of parchment was shoved into his hands. The transfiguration homework. It happened so fast Harry almost didn't have time to comprehend it, until he looked up, his gaze falling on the Slytherin in front of them, with stupidly perfect hair, rushing off around the corner. Harry's mouth half open, his eyes rested on the space where Draco had just been.
The others had obviously seen, too, Ron breaking their stunned silence, "Well, that was bloody weird."
Harry didn't look back at Ron. He continued to stare in the distance, as if he'd be able to see through the wall with x-ray vision if he concentrated hard enough.
Bloody stupid Draco Malfoy. Harry surely wouldn't be able to concentrate on transfiguration now.
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Potter had been staring at him all day, and Draco began to grow tired of suspicious green eyes watching his every move. Granger and Weasley seemed to follow suite as well, to Draco's great annoyance. Honestly, was Potter that stupid? They'd had a deal, Draco had to do his transfiguration homework. He didn't know why Potter and his goons seemed to be so surprised.
Crowding inside the DA classroom, Draco gave Potter one last glare as he felt narrowed eyes burn holes through his head. Shouldn't Potter just be thankful for Draco's transfiguration help and be done with it?
Of course not, because Potter is notoriously nosey, and has obviously taken this as Malfoy's next attack or something just as idiotic.
"Where the hell are all the desks?" Theo muttered from next to him.
Draco looked up at his surroundings. He'd been too busy cursing Potter in his head to notice that Theo was right; the desks had all been pushed to the side of the classroom, leaving an old-looking dark wood wardrobe at the front of the room. A rattling wardrobe.
An instant feeling of unease settled in Draco's chest, yet he ignored it.
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Bogarts.
The very creatures with the ability to expose his deepest fears to his entire class.
Bloody typical. What else did he need today?
Draco wasn't even entirely sure what his greatest fear even was. He used to be scared of the dark, when he was younger. He'd more or less grown out of that, though by habit he still slept with a night light. Embarrassing or not, Draco hoped the Bogart would show something as simple as the dark when it came to his turn.
He doubted It'd be that simple though. Last year, maybe. But this year?
Flashes of his father, the summer, tears, blood, shattered glass and hearts, jumped forward within his mind. He grimaced, eyes darting to the door.
The laughs of the class seemed muffled as Draco's stomach twisted.
"Draco, you okay?" Theo looked him in the eye.
Draco stared back for just a second, before blinking away the nerves and nodding, "Fine,"
Theo stared at him curiously, before accepting defeat and joining the rest of the class as they formed a queue in front of the wardrobe. Draco begrudgingly joined the line. He watched as student by student, his turn approached.
"Malfoy," A voice from behind him spoke.
Draco inwardly groaned.
He turned around coldly, staring Harry Potter in his stupidly green eyes, "What, Potter?"
Potter did not break the eye contact. In fact he held it, his gaze intense and curious. Draco had been expecting to find distain in those eyes of his, though he realised with bewilderment that there was nothing hateful about the way Potter was looking at him. Not like usual at least. It was...alien. But...not quite unpleasant.
Harry started, "Why did you-"
"Draco, you're up," Theo nudged him, gesturing to the foreboding wardrobe.
Tearing his gaze from Potter, Draco spun around with wide eyes.
His turn.
His mouth went dry as he slowly approached the bogart.
Please be the dark, please be the dark-
It transformed.
And before him, stood a mirror.
A mirror?
Draco stared at it inquisitively. Since when was he afraid of mirrors?-
Only then did he notice.
His reflection was not his own.
Lucius Malfoy stared back at him. Those cold cruel eyes, were now Draco's.
He stared, and it felt like the world disappeared around him. Because, there was the truth. Right in front of him. Something he'd been trying to ignore.
Hand shaking, Draco lifted his wand. Now was not the time to freeze up, not whilst the whole class were watching.
Yet, to his horror, Draco's mind was completely blank. He could not conjure an image to make this scene humours. So he stood, eyes prickling, doing absolutely nothing .
Suddenly, he was aware of a figure beside him, and the Bogart transformed yet again, into a glowing orb.
Draco looked up with misted eyes, to see Professor Lupin stood in front of him. Brought back to reality, Draco shakily looked around at the class; to his relief, his stutter seemingly went unnoticed, students still animatedly chatting amongst themselves. A wave of gratitude struck him as he looked back at him Professor, who was currently using Riddikulus charm on his own Bogart.
Sighing, he turned back around. Potter was staring right at him, eyes intensely bewildered. Draco froze as their eyes met, for a miniscule moment, before Draco ran out of the classroom, without looking back.
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There are lots of hiding spots in Hogwarts, thanks to the billions of tapestries hung throughout the school. As soon as Draco vacated the classroom, he headed directly to the tapestry opposite the door, where there was a small alcove hidden behind it. Hidden from the stares of his peers, Draco sat, his head in his knees, arms wrapped around himself, attempting to control his breathing and will away the tears.
Too much. Too many feelings to endure being around people, being stared down by Potter.
After a while, he heard the class be dismissed, students emptying the classroom. Draco still didn't dare exit his hiding space- a Malfoy, cowering in a corner? Not exactly great for hua image. So, when a head peaked around the tapestry, Draco's eyes widened, and he froze, staring at the intruder.
Professor Lupin caught sight of him, and smiled softly, sitting down next to draco.
"This is my hiding place," he said with a smile. Draco stared at him, not sure if he should be scared or angry at the intrusion. But, there was something about Lupin that eased Draco's fears slightly. Maybe it was the fact that he had taken over the bogart before Draco embarrassed himself in front of the entire class, or maybe it was his soft gaze. Either way, Draco let his guard down slightly. Very slightly.
Lupin spoke up again, raising his brow, "As cosy as this place is, I say we move to my office. There'll be chocolate,"
Draco looked at him decidedly for a moment, before nodding slightly and following him out of the alcove, looking side to side to check if anyone was watching, before joining him in his office.
"Now. Isn't this better." Lupin smiled, as tye two sat down at his desk. He pulled out a bar of chocolate, offering a piece to Draco. He eyed it suspiciously for a moment. Lupin chuckled, "I promise it's not poisoned." Draco gave in and took a piece. He'd always had something of a sweet tooth.
Draco looked up at his professor, eyes unsure, "I'll practice my spellwork. I'll be better next time, I-"
Lupin laughed again, shaking his head, "I'm sure you will, Mr Malfoy. However, your wand work is not why I asked you to join me here."
Draco frowned, his stomach dropping, eyes going to his feet as he mumbled, "What, then, sir?"
Nothing was said for a moment, and Draco looked up to see Lupin staring at Draco, almost studying him, with a strangely distant look on his face. Eventually, the man shook his head with a small smile, "Your father..."
Draco just stared back, eyes narrowed slightly, not saying a word. There was no way in hell he'd be intiating a conversation about the fact that Lupin had clearly seen Draco's Bogart. That was not a conversation he enjoyed the thought of. Especially when he hardly knew the man who sat in front of him, whether he'd keep it a secret or embarass Draco even more.
Eventually, Lupin seemingly realised Draco's reluctantance to speak, and sighed. "You don't need to be afraid of becoming him, Draco. You're not him."
Draco glared at him, speaking icily. "You don't know a thing about me or my father."
Lupin frowned, and shrugged, "I know a few things about your father. But as for you...you're right. I don't know much about you." He looked at Draco then, eyes softening, "I bet that's how you like it, right? Hidden?"
Draco continued to glare, though his eyes flicked with slight curiosity. Lupin smiled, "Well. I know a thing or two about hiding, and let me tell you, it gets lonely. So," he gave a deep exhale, standing from his desk and moving to his shelf, "If you should find yourself to tire of hiding," He turned around again, looking Draco in the eyes, "You can come right here. Talk, or don't talk. Everything would stay in this room."
Brows furrowed, Draco stared at Lupin, who had turned back around, rummaging through his shelves. It was an entirely strange situation, yet to his own surprised, Draco found that he was considering Lupin's proposition. After a few moments, Draco spoke up, louder this time. "Why? Why...help me?"
Lupin chuckled slightly. "Well, for a start, I am your teacher, and you- my student- ran out of my lesson crying-"
Draco's eyes widened, "I was not crying!-"
"Regardless," Lupin smiled at him, interupting, "It would be unprofessional for me to disregard that. But..." He sighed, not quite looking at Draco anymore, his eyes holding that same distant look as before, "Truthfully, you remind me of a person I used to know. His family...well, they weren't kind people. Not to him, or anyone. I know how lonely he felt in that family." Lupin looked at Draco again, with a sad smile, "Well, I suppose I would hate for you to feel the same."
"....oh." Draco stared at him again. Truthfully, he wasn't sure if he even could be open with another living being about his life, his real life. But, Merlin, was it lonely.
With a small aha, Lupin grabbed something from his shelf and held it out to Draco with a smile. It was a bar of honeydukes chocolate. Draco fought a smile and took it cautiously.
"Just, have a think about it. My door is always open. How about we say...every Friday? After dinner?"
Draco stared at the bar of chocolate, and then back at the scarred man in front of him, with an unsure frown. "Okay." He said, so quiet he wasn't even sure if he'd heard himself say it, yet Lupin smiled kindly.
"Great. Now, off to your lunch. I wouldn't want you to miss out."