Chapter 2
Monday finally came. Draco, as usual, went to school in high spirits. He was a good student, after all. He made his way to class when a high-pitched voice rang through the hallway, calling out his name.
“Draco!”
A hand was thrown over his shoulder, and Draco rolled his eyes as soon as his eyes met the other. “Good morning to you, too, Theo.”
The boy laughed, “Always so bright. " He pinched Draco’s cheek, much to his chagrin.
Draco swatted the boy's hand away. “What do you want, Theodore?"
“I am glad you asked, Draco," The boy grinned. "You know you're the top student alongside Granger. And you're at the top of all boys' records for every term, but did you know there was another student who would beat you?"
Draco frowned. It was true that both Granger and he were the top students for combined records, which meant that they were automatically the top students for both girls' and boys' records. Draco wasn't sure about Granger, but he'd always kept track of who was listed in the top ten.
He pursed his lips in thought, “Well, isn’t the second one in the boy's record Edward Westbrook?”
Draco wasn't sure if he liked how Theo's eyes shone with mischief or how he grinned maniacally as he said, "I'll be damn, you did pay attention to your surroundings."
“Shut up, Theo," scoffed Draco, digging his sharp elbow into the boy's side. He was satisfied when he heard a yelp. "Anyway, was Edward Westbrook the one you're talking about?”
Theo nodded, "Rumour has it, he was this close to beating your record." The boy joined his thumb and forefinger, leaving a millimetre gap.
Draco blinked at the fingers, knitting his brows together. “How did you know that?" asked Draco, but Theo only grinned, shrugging his shoulders—the nincompoop. He rolled his eyes at the boy and frowned, tapping his chin. "But come to think of it, I’ve never seen this guy,”
“Well, you're so focused on replacing the teachers that you don't even look around you.” Theo cackled as Draco nudged his ribs hard.
“Funny, Pansy said the same thing too.”
“Right? Draco, you should have to take a break from this tutoring thing. You won’t get laid by this point—not that anyone wants to lay you, but—ouch! Oi, You know what I mean! Draco!” Theo laughed as he followed the other boy, who quickly stepped toward their classroom.
Draco took his usual seat and sighed. Edward Westbrook... Hmm, I guess I’m extremely busy with my tutoring schedule that I didn’t manage to take care of my grade.
"Hey, Draco!"
Draco snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at the boy beside him, “Oh, Neville.”
The other boy gave him a warm smile, “How are you? You looked so deep in your thoughts.”
“Ah, it's nothing. Just about this upcoming test.”
“You should stop thinking about studying every second you're breathing, or you’ll get old much quicker than most of us,” Neville cooed, pinching Draco’s cheek.
“Hey!" Draco pouted, rubbing his sore cheek. "That's disrespectful!"
"Draco Malfoy! What did you do to him?”
They looked up to see Ron and Theo trailing behind him, almost dying with laughter. Draco rolled his eyes. “Nothing. He told me I won’t get laid if I keep tutoring.”
“Which is true,” came the answer from Ron, Theo, and Neville.
He glared at the three of them—traitors, all of them. Ron gave Neville a bro fist before the boy left them, claiming that Hannah Abbott from the next class needed help with her plant.
“So," chirped Ron, wiggling his brows. "How was the tutor session with my dear captain, Harry Potter?” he asked, smirking mischievously.
Right. Ronald Weasley, resident prat, also known as his cousin, was in Potter’s team. He was Potter's most trusted right man. Only, the day Draco met Potter in their meeting room, Ron was not there—stomachache, he reasoned. And, of course, he knew about Draco and Potter's tutoring session. The team spread rumours just like girls, especially when they were about their so-hot captain.
“Why should you know?” Draco narrowed his eyes, and Ron laughed out loud, “Something happened, right?”
In Draco's opinion, he wiggled his brows very disgustedly (he was just annoyed).
“No!”
“Oh yes, something did.” Theo got into the picture, claiming Neville's seat earlier and throwing a knowing look at Draco, “Pansy told me, you know.”
Right, he also forgot that this oaf of a buffoon was Pansy's boyfriend. How they met was beyond him.
Draco glared at him as Ron clapped his hand excitedly like a stupid seal, “Tell me, T! What happened?”
“Nothing happened!” Draco yelled.
However, Theo just grinned like crazy, and Ron continued being way too curious. Draco stood up from his seat and stormed out of the classroom, much to the amusement of both boys.
・・・
“So, do you understand now?” Draco asked the boy in front of him.
“Hm, no.”
“What?” Draco widened his eyes, “Are you telling me that I’m wasting my time trying to make you understand, and you don’t?!”
Draco was aware that he had lost his composure and forced himself to calm down. Trust Potter to make him lose his professionalism.
“Relax, geez,” grinned Potter, waving his hand, motioning for Draco not to worry. “You do know that you’re a distraction, right? I wonder how people can focus when you’re the one teaching them. I get this image about you—”
“S–Shut up!” Draco said, holding his hand up in front of Potter to stop him from spurting further nonsense.
Potter smirked. "I hadn't finished speaking."
"I don't need to hear nonsense from your mouth," Draco stated.
"I never speak nonsense."
"I beg to differ." he rolled his eyes.
Potter laughed, leaning forward eagerly. "How'd you know I speak nonsense?"
"Your hair says so," said Draco with a straight-faced, gesturing to the nest of hair, hoping that perhaps Potter would stop being a prat if he was being rude, but the cretin just ran his fingers through those unruly hairs of his and winked.
"You're going to have a soft spot for this hair soon."
"Not even when the world comes to an end."
Goodness, he was never this rude, but Potter was impossible. Week three was in, and he did not manage to show any progress. Let's not forget about those loose mouths of his, always spoke gibberish, and his wandering hands—he slapped those naughty hands that tried to sneak a touch of his hand—always had excuses to touch his person.
He slapped Potter's hand again when they tried to feel his skin and gave the grinning boy a death glare.
"Stop that!" scolded Draco when Potter tried another attempt to feel him.
"I just wanted to hold your hand." pouted Potter.
"I'll have you know, Potter," said Draco with narrowed eyes. "None of the students I've been tutoring were as atrocious as you are."
Potter snapped his finger, "You're meant to say none of the students you've been tutoring were as fun as I am."
Draco sighed, rubbing his temple. "Potter, you will have a promising future if you put effort into your academics just as much as you did in your co-curricular. So, I beg you. Please, stop playing around."
Potter's grin faded as he heard Draco’s words. The boy stared at him for a few moments before he started to dig through the desk with his finger and a dejected face. "Studying is boring, though. I am not interested in my studies, and I don't even have enough motivation to study." His lips turned downwards, eyebrows scrunched together.
Those expressions stupidly tugged Draco’s heart. "Ugh, fine!"
Potter looked up at him—and what was that, a puppy face?
"If I let you hold my hand, would you promise to start to pay attention?"
Potter wasted no time as he immediately took a secure hold of his hand, lacing their finger with a handsome grin. "I promise!"
Draco fought an incoming smile, seeing the other boy's face. He looked so happy it was ridiculous. "Great, now—"
"Harry!"
They both turned to the classroom door, which Ron opened. Their eyes quickly caught sight of their tangled hands.
"Oho, what's this?" asked Ron with gleaming eyes.
"A motivation," declared Potter, proud.
"You're impossible," said Draco, shaking his head. He glanced at his watch and raised a brow. Their session had ended ten minutes ago, and he didn't notice. He usually was aware of his time. Huh.
"Well," said Draco then, intervening in the other two boys' conversation. "We're done for today, Potter. I'll see you in the next two days?"
"What, that's too long!" protested Potter. "I need to see you every day!"
"Stop being ridiculous," said Draco, throwing a sideways look at Ron when the boy cackled. Impossible, both of them. "You've said to yourself that you're busy with practice tomorrow, and we even had to squeeze in some time today before your practice."
"But I just got permission to hold your hand!" said Potter, unsatisfied. He tightened his grip on Draco’s hand as if he was afraid that Draco would pull his hand away.
Draco stared at Potter before he turned to Ron. "Control your friend, please?"
Ron, bless his heart, smacked Potter's head, much to the other boy's annoyance.
"Hey!"
"We're late to practice, mate!" scolded Ron, "And besides," he bent down to whisper something to his team captain.
Draco narrowed his eyes suspiciously when Potter's gloomy face turned bright, a smile decorating his face.
"You're right!" beamed Potter. The two football team members shared a grin, and Potter motioned to Ron, "You go ahead. I'll be right behind you."
"Alright then," nodded Ron, clasping a hand on his team captain's shoulders. He sent a playful smile at Draco, which he replied to with narrowed eyes. You can never trust the Weasleys; they are full of mischief.
Ron laughed and moved towards the exit. "Don't make him mad, Harry. He'll kill you."
Draco scoffed at his cousin's figure disappearing away from his eyes. "Cretin," he mumbled.
A chuckle grabbed his attention, and he turned to see Potter smiling at him, his free hand propping his chin. There was something written all over his face that Draco couldn't put his finger on, but he could tell that they were soft.
"What?" He asked defensively because the other boy's expression made him restless.
"Nothing," smiled Potter.
"Well, you better pack your stuff and hurry up," said Draco. "Wouldn't want your team members to blame me for your tardiness."
"Help me?" Potter asked, batting his long eyelashes and jutting his lower lip. "My hands are rather preoccupied," he continued, raising their joined hands to make his point.
Draco, with an act of sudden courage consuming his person, added to being tormented by Potter for the past weeks; he ought to be a bit mad. He gave Potter a dripping, sweet smile, tugging Potter by their joint hand, and almost had a heart attack when their faces almost collided. Still, he ignored it because Potter's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth hanging open, and Draco wouldn't want that expression gone.
He kept his composure, even as their noses brushed together, and he made a point to drop his eyes to Potter's slack mouth. He held in a laugh when Potter gulped.
"Of course," he purred softly, breathing shyly, kissing Potter's skin. "I would do anything for you."
He pulled away, keeping their hands close as he used one hand to tidy up Potter's books and pencils. He then leaned forward until his neck was presented to Potter to reach out the stupefied team captain's bag that was placed next to him, and he significantly suppressed a shiver when Potter turned his head to bury his nose into his skin. He leaned back when his hand gripped the bag, making sure his eyes were flirting as he stole a glance at Potter and quickly dragged his eyes away and began stuffing the other boy's bag with his things.
He smiled when he was done, batting his eyelashes as he gave Potter his bag. The stupefied boy looked dazed as he watched Draco, his mouth hanging loose. Draco inwardly grinned as he stood, bent down, and whispered in Potter's ear, "It's done."
He'd hoped he didn't take it too far when he turned his head to reach Potter's cheek and paste a chaste kiss over the warm skin, but Potter should have seen it coming. Serve him right for being a prat. He smirked involuntarily when Potter hitched a breath.
He pulled away, stood up straighter, and gathered his things without looking at Potter. When he was done, he looked at Potter to see that he had an awe expression carved upon his face.
He couldn't help but smile. "Potter, close your mouth. You looked ridiculous."
He chuckled when he heard Potter's teeth snap together as he closed his mouth. Honestly, this boy.
"Well, I'll see you soon, then," said Draco, bidding Potter a sweet goodbye as he started to walk towards the door, making sure he put an extra effort into the swing of his hips. He clasped his mouth to prevent the laughter that was about to escape when he heard Potter swear a loud,
"Fuck!"