Two
He first noticed two weeks later. It was breakfast time and the Great Hall was full of noise. However, Draco always knew where Potter and his friends were sitting.
At first it was only Granger, eating a sausage without tearing his eyes from the book she was reading. A few minutes later Potter and Weasley made their way into the room and sat by her. They began having breakfast while talking loudly and animatedly about Quidditch.
Then Weasley sister came and sat next to Potter. She was carrying a basket of muffins and she offered them to the trio. Potter went to grab a random one but the redhead stopped him, grabbing him by the wrist.
“On no, Harry” she said “I made this one specially for you”
She handed him one decorated with red icing. Granger had the same suspicious glare Draco was having at that moment, but Potter shrugged and took it with the hand he had free. He took a bite and his whole demeanor seemed to change in the span of 15 seconds. He slipped his wrist from the girl’s hold but intertwined their fingers
“Thanks Ginny” he said, giving her hand a squeeze “it tastes pretty good”
She smiled and snuggled into him. They resumed with their breakfast and the Quidditch talk
“Hey, Draco. Are you okay?” Theo asked him, bringing him back to the Slytherin table
He could see Pansy looking at him with concerned eyes and Blaise trying to conceal an amused smile. He snorted
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?” the platinum blond replied
“I don’t know. You look like you just tasted something very bitter” he shrugged
“You know what? You’re right. I don’t feel like having breakfast anymore”
He got up from the table and began to make his way out of the Great Hall. He could feel Potter’s eyes burning at the back of his head.
He decided to go on a walk around the school grounds. He stopped by the black lake, found a nice tree and rested his back against it. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sun and the silence
A while later he sensed a shadow over him. He opened his eyes and faced directly with Potter’s green ones. Draco’s lips twitched
“What do you want, Potter? You’re covering the sun” he said in a funny voice
The boy in front of him frowned and crouched. With this position they were at the same height, eye to eye
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I’ll stop you” the black-haired boy said, determined
“I’m not planning anything, Potter, i promise”
“ How come?”
Potter sat right next to him, shoulders touching slightly. The Gryffindor looked confused. Draco pondered for a moment. It was the perfect opportunity for him to vent. And he didn’t even know if the other would believe him
“I don't think that killing muggles and mud-... muggle-borns is the right move” he began “Hell, I don’t think i believe in pureblood supremacy anymore, after all, Granger is the cleverest witch our age. I just…” he took a breath “My father forced all that crap into my brain since I was a toddler. He agrees with all the nonsense the Dark Lord says and my mum just goes along with it. But I don't wanna do that. I don’t want to become a murderer. But right now my house is the death eaters headquarters. My father wanted the Lord to mark me but I refused. I was willing to die before taking the mark. Luckily he thought I was too young and he didn’t. The first day of school Dumbledoor talked to me and my mum. He offered us a safe place to escape if things got too bad. So I guess I’m a member of the order now? More like I spy for them. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the old man either but I guess that’s the safest choice”
Harry went silent for a couple of seconds, just green looking into gray intensely. Then he got up and offered his hand to Draco. He recognized the gesture. With the tiniest bit of hesitation he took the hand in front of him and shook it firmly. Potter pulled him up so now the both boys were standing. Draco stood a couple inches taller than Potter
“If you dare say a word about this I promise I’ll hex you, Potter” he threatened
“You can call me Harry now if you want” smiled the dark-haired boy
“Oh, shut up. Go back to your girlfriend”
Two days later, Ginevra Weasley and Harry Potter announced they had just started dating