Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
Thursday, Nov 21
Harry was sitting across from Ron and Hermione and he could see Malfoy from between their heads. They were having lunch and Harry was glad that he only had two more classes after this, Merlin knows he needs a break before having to go to Snape’s office for detention where he will be subjected to their Potion master’s cruelty. Malfoy as usual is sitting among Zabini, Parkinson and Nott. And Merlin doesn’t Harry hate those three with a passion maybe even more than he hates Malfoy. For the entire week he has been trying to get a rise out of this git and every time Harry comes close, either Parkinson shuts him up or Zabini and Nott drag him away. The worst part is probably that Malfoy has stopped going out at night doing whatever he was doing in the restricted section. Harry has been watching him for 5 almost 6 days now and the git hasn’t bloody left the dungeons at night.The Incident in Muggle Studies Blew up so much that the remaining classes for this term have been canceled. And no, Harry absolutely does not want to think about how the prat sounded when speaking Spanish. Who knew he was capable of speaking in an accent other than his arrogant posh drawl? And he will absolutely not dwell on why he felt butterflies in his stomach hearing that.
Harry knows he is staring, has been all this while but he can’t help himself, even when his gaze meets Malfoy’s and the prat glares daggers at him. He will not be the first one to look away. He doesn’t know why but everything with the git feels like a challenge to Harry and he absolutely will not back down. It seemed that Malfoy was also thinking along the same lines, so the two of them held each other’s gazes for some time. Parkinson says something to Malfoy and he turns away to reply to her. That bitch.
He looks away from the Slytherin table to see that Hermione and Ron have stopped talking long ago and ‘Mione is giving him a knowing look while Ron is stuffing his mouth with food.
Hermione opens her mouth to say something but Harry cuts her off, “Not now. Hermione. Please.”
“Yes, Harry right now. Harry you have to stop. You have been staring at Malfoy ever since the beginning of this year and it is only getting worse. I really don’t know what you are trying to achieve by bumping shoulders and shoving him in corridors but this obsession is unhealthy.”
“I am not obsessed!” if they weren’t in the Great Hall then he very well may have banged the table. How is he supposed to explain something that he himself cannot understand!
“But you are, mate. Ever since ferret has stopped bothering us you have been acting like a kicked puppy. Tell me something, is this because of the Quidditch match?” Trust Ron to make everything about Quidditch. Besides he does not need words of wisdom from Ron of all people.
“No, it is not about Quidditch. I have Divination, I’ll see you both in Herbology” He strode out of the Great Hall while Hermione was calling his name.
_____________
Evening
“But come on Draco, he is good for you.”Pansy told him for the eighth time tonight and as much as he loved Pansy she could drive him up the wall when she starts playing matchmaker.
“I know that Kyle is good and all that but midterms are in three weeks and I do not want the added stress of a boyfriend on top of everything else” Draco really was close to yelling at this point. They were sitting in the common room having this conversation for the better part of an hour.
“ I and Ash also have to write midterms and we are doing just fine, so don’t even give me that reason. Even Blaise asked Daph out.”
“Good for you, Tori and Blaise but I don’t want to do just fine, I want to beat the Know-it-all.”
“Kyle is a Ravenc--”
“For Salazar’s sake! First Archie then Keith and now Kyle. Do you have a list of guys you think I should be dating?!”He said loud enough that some heads turned. Merlin, I am tired of this crap. He got up to leave because he really has better things to do.
“Where are you going? Dinner is in half an hour”
“To get potion ingredients.”
“What for? You are okay right?”she asked, sounding equal parts annoyed and worried.
“Yeah, I am fine. Vince sprained his ankle during practice today. Pomfrey will most likely keep him a night so he asked me to brew him the pain potion and the salve.”
“I thought you kept some ingredients handy in your potions kit.”
“I am out of thrush weed and Bison Horn.”
“Okay , I’ll hold a seat for you.”
Draco was making his way to Sev’s supply closet near his office when he heard glassware clanking. Sev’s probably in there. He thought as he entered only to find the last person he wanted to see.
“Malfoy!”he was greeted by a surprised voice.
“Potter.” he nodded and went back to taking what he was here for. Draco had no intention of being trapped in a supply closet with Potter for any longer than he needed to but he did want to know why Potter was here.
“Come here to steal Malfoy.” The nerve of that git to accuse Draco of stealing.
“What’s it to you? Besides unlike you at least I would know what to look for, Potty”he sneered. He expected Potter to fight him back but the arrogant prat muttered something that sounded like ‘finally’ under his breath and it made him seethe. Potter had no business being in Sev’s supply closet.
“Wouldn’t Professor Snape love to catch you here, Scarface?”
“Hold your horses Malfoy. I am here for detention unlike you. Besides Snape will not appreciate you stealing even if you are his favorite student, would he?” The git had the nerve to smirk. Smirk.Fuck this. I am out. He thought as he tried to maneuver his way out but when had anything been easy with Potter. The arrogant arse bumped Draco shoulder, a difficult feat considering that Draco at least had four inches over him.
Draco was even angrier now, if that was even possible, he pushed Potter away from him Potter fell upon a couple vials next to the door and as Draco expected, the door started to close. Sev had enchanted the door to trap intruders. Draco himself got caught a couple times before Sev spelled him into the wards but with Potter there he cannot just make his way out.
“No,no,no,no”Potter shouted as he tried in vain to stop the door from closing.This is interesting Draco thought as he waited for Potter to get himself off of the floor but from what little light was making its way into the chamber, he could see Potter curling himself up into a ball. Draco realized that Potter was shivering with fear.
“Scared of the dark, eh? Potter. One must really wonder how you defeated the Dark Lord. Skeeter would love to hear about this.” he sneered even though he knew Potter wouldn’t be able to see his face in the dark. He heard Potter whimper.
“Malfoy, stop. Please,please” Potter pleaded. Draco cast a lumos to see Potter’s face.
The boy in front of him was nothing like The-Boy-who-Lived was supposed to be. Potter was sitting against the wall with his knees drawn up to his chest, he was struggling to breathe and his face was contorted in fear and he looked like he would cry. Looking at Potter like this reminded Draco of himself when his father had locked him up in the Dungeons before beating him up half to death and hexing him for crying. He couldn’t understand what made Potter feel so scared.
He wanted to help Potter up but before he could say anything the door flew open. Sev was standing on the other side clearly confused about what was happening. Potter fled the scene before either of them could open their mouths.
“Draco?” Sev asks after schooling his expression back to neutral.
“Sev.” Draco replies not knowing whether or not he is supposed to explain.
“Why are you here?”
“I needed some ingredients. You told me that i could borrow if I wanted.”
“Hmm. What for?”
“Pain potion.”
“Why?” he asked. The hint of worry unnoticeable to an untrained ear.
“Mishap during Qudditch practice. Nothing to worry about.”
“Got what you needed?”
“Yes.” Sev looked at the mess of broken vials and scattered ingredients. With a wave of his wand he separated the glass pieces, the usable and the unusable ingredients in three separate piles.
“Cast a reparo and store these ingredients in their places while I dispose of this pile. I believe you are familiar with the order of arrangement.”
“Will do.”
By the time Draco had everything back in its place Severus returned. They both cleared the leftover glass pieces and liquid wastes for a while, after most of the mess was cleared Sev said Draco could leave.
“You sure, you don’t need me here?”
“Dinner started 10 minutes ago. I’ll be here once this is done.”
“Okay. Night.” Sev hummed under his breath as Draco made his way up. He was quiet through most of Dinner. Potter came a couple minutes after Draco looking much better than he did before. Draco couldn’t help but glance at Potter throughout dinner which went unnoticed amidst the chatter.
His mind was thankfully much more clear while brewing and he did feel much more relaxed but he still could not forget the look on Potter’s face. He went to bed wondering what had scared Potter so much.