Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
December 12
Draco is sitting with his three friends in the library preparing for their Charms and Transfigurations practicals. They were all extremely tired as it was, after what potion Sev had them brew that afternoon, he was pretty sure neither Flitwick nor McGonagall could come up with something more cruel. He was almost done with his preparations. As far as practicals were concerned he could only do so much preparation because after all how difficult or easy it will be depends on how generous the Professor is feeling that day. It has been almost three weeks since the Incident as Draco calls it in his mind and he can feel green eyes boring into him from behind.
Thankfully, Sixth years have as much workload as Seventh years and the midterms exam has occupied everyone enough that his concerned(nosy) friends have not been able to pay much attention to him and Potter. Not that there is a him and Potter , Draco has just been unable to stop thinking about the fearful look on Potter’s face. Not that he cares if his mortal enemy is scared of the dark. No, he doesn’t care. He has far more better things to worry about , like what he wants to with his life, now that he doesn’t have to take his father’s former position. Nevermind the fact that his mother will still insist he take on some powerful position, he has always been able to convince her to see things his way.
“Everything alright, Dray?” Theo asks across from him.
“Yeah, I am all done. How about you?”
“I just have to go through the wand movements for transfigurations is all” Blaise answers him and Pansy snorts.
“What?” he asks her pointedly.
“Nothing, my dear. Anyways, I told Ash I’d help her with Astronomy tonight.”
“Yes, of course. What are we for now that Astoria’s here.” Theo says in a mock hurt tone.
Pansy just raises her eyebrow and says, “Jealous Theo?”
“Wouldn’t you like that.”
Draco and Blaise watch as the scene unfolds but looks like Blaise is not in the mood as he quickly cuts Pansy off and makes his case that they head to bed. Draco himself could use a good night's sleep, away from Potter’s prying eyes.
“Yeah, Merlin knows I still need to pack and -- Draco is anything the matter, you seem preoccupied?” Theo asks. The three of them are looking at him expectantly and well, he can’t tell them about Potter, can he? So he goes with the next thing that has been bothering him since it occurred to him that he wasn’t bound anymore.
“Well, do you remember our talk about the future from back in,eh, fourth year?”
“Oh, how could one forget. You had told us that we will most likely end up marrying whoever our parents chose and hold a powerful but miserable job until we decide to off ourselves.”Pansy replied , quite surprised that he brought it up.
“Yeah, but we don’t have to any more and I have been thinking that I want to do something related to research?”
“Research,like potions? You have always been quite interested in that.” Blaise suggests.
“Sure, but not limited to potions,but research in general, the Department of Mysteries,perhaps?”
“How long have you been thinking about this?” Theo asks.
“A little over a week, I suppose.”
“Well, we have the remaining of this year and the next, before we have to make any hard decisions . I think I want to study law, though.”Pansy answers.
“I have been thinking about journalism but the thing is, I haven’t been thinking about it for even as long as either of you have.” Theo says and for some reason Draco finds that reassuring.
“Maybe we can make up our minds by the end of the year, can’t we? Besides, Draco you really can’t be taking seven subjects for NEWTs, right?”
“You’d be surprised to know that I very much intend to take seven subjects for NEWTs, Blaise, but you are right about at least waiting until the end of the year before thinking anything of it.”
“Narcissa will have a fit when she learns about your plans for the future.”Pansy says matter-of-factly and earns a laugh from the three of them.
“If everybody is done studying, then, shall we make our way down?” Blaise asks with an exaggerated yawn and Draco and Theo roll their eyes in pure exasperation.
“Sure let's go”Pansy says as she stuffs all her things carelessly into her bag. Once they are all up,Draco removes the silencing charm on their table and they make their way out of the library.
They are walking down the corridor yet to reach the staircases and Draco feels a constant urge to look over his shoulder. He is pretty sure something is wrong.
“Hey, three of you go ahead. I will join you later.”
“What happened all of a sudden?”
“Nothing, I just want to check something.”
“If you are sure.”
____________
Harry is walking up to the library. Last he checked Malfoy was there with his cohort. He has been thoroughly reading the Prophet weeks but there seems to be no article about the Detention incident. But Harry will not let himself lax. It is every bit like Malfoy to let Harry think that he is safe only to find the article the next day. After all Malfoy has sold bullshit to the papers about him once before. He can already read the headlines.
‘The Saviour’s fear for small spaces.’
‘The Chosen One’s biggest fear revealed’
He doesn't really know what he is doing after all but maybe he needs to have a chat with Hermione and then see what is going on in his mind and--“ Harry, are you heading to the library?”
“Yes.” He replied not knowing what else to say. Hermione was standing there with red and puffy eyes. Her hair is messier than usual and although barely visible, there are tear-streaks on her cheeks.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all.”
They enter the library together and sit down across from each other. Back of Malfoy's head clearly visible to Harry over her shoulder. He and his minions are most likely studying for charms and transfiguration. Harry knows he should also follow Hermione's example and do the same but he cannot stop staring at Malfoy. Something about that enigmatic arsehole makes his stomach lurch.
He looks away briefly to find Hermione's eyes on him. She looks better than she did half an hour ago but Harry wants to know what happened but she hasn't spoken a word since they came here so Harry finally decides to ask.
“'Mione, are you alright?”
“Yes.” She replies and looks down at her books and he wonders why she resorted to a single word answer. It is unlike her to use one word when she can use twenty.
“ Hermione, what happened?”
“I.. nothing. It's Ron, we had a fight.”
Harry remains silent in hope that she will continue speaking and she does.
“It's just ever since we got together, he wants me to ignore my studies and my ambition and spend my time snogging him. He just doesn't understand, Harry.” She was clearly exasperated. He knew he hasn't been a good friend lately but he knows he should have noticed.
“Did you talk to him about this? Maybe he doesn't understand half the things you say half the time. I know that I don't. And you know how he gets when there is something he can't understand.” He doesn't know what he was trying to tell her but as they say ,few words to wise . Her face lightened up with realization.
“Yeah, you are right Harry we haven't exactly talked about these things. Maybe it's best I go find him.”
She gathers her stuff and gets up to leave, giving him a small smile which he returns. He hopes that they can figure out whatever it is. He wants his friends to be happy,but ever since that have gotten together he has started to feel like he is intruding even though they insist that he isn't. He doesn't get much time to muse over this because he notices Malfoy leaving and makes move to follow him. He knows there is no point, he is with his friends after all but he can't help himself. He pulls out his invisibility cloak as soon as he is out of the library and starts following them.
They have made it to the end of the corridor and Malfoy has been looking over his shoulder ever since they left the library. For a second he suspects that he may have been caught but he is under the invisibility cloak and he knows he cannot be seen so he wills himself to relax. Malfoy says something to Nott, Parkinson and Zabini and the three of them go away. Harry doesn't know why, but he is almost glad that he has Malfoy to himself even though it shouldn't be that way. Malfoy turns around and looks at his general direction.
“Come on out now, Potty. I know you are here.”he drawls.
But Harry doesn't move. He waits for a minute before taking his wand and casting a revelio. But Harry has nothing worry about as he is within the invisibility cloak. Malfoy waves his wand again and says a spell Harry doesn't recognize. And before he knows it, strong winds are blowing across the corridor. Harry realizes too late that it was a very strong cooling charm with strong winds, winds strong enough to make the invisibility cloak fly off. He clutches the cloak as hard as he can but when Malfoy flicks his wrist again, the wind speed increases and the cloak flies off him. Malfoy ends whatever spell he used and Harry is left feeling hot even though it is December. He bends to retrieve the cloak and by the time he is halfway up Malfoy is standing in front of him.
“What do you want , Potter?” he sneers.
Harry tries to reach for his wand but Malfoy grabs his arm and pushes him against the wall, pinning both of his hands over his head with one hand, long elegant fingers curling around his wrist definitely leaving bruises.
“ Cat got your tongue, Potter?”
It may very well have because Harry is unable to make a single sound. This close, Harry is very well aware of their height difference, Malfoy is looking down at him like a predator would look at it's prey. His eyes are looking both stormy grey and like molten silver. His perfect hairdo shone in the moonlight is casting a Halo around him. Malfoy’s hand tightens around his wrists and his anger and impatience is almost tangible.Their proximity is driving Harry insane.
And insane doesn’t even begin to explain what he does next. He is pretty sure that he has left his brain back in the dorms because this is the last thing he would have done if he was really thinking . One minute Malfoy is pinning him against a wall and next, Harry’s leaning in. The moment their lips meet a fire ignites in Harry, a fire that was never there when he kissed Cho. Malfoy stills in surprise but a moment later, he is kissing Harry back. Their lips dance in the moonlight and Malfoy deepens the kiss. The fact is that they are in public and can be caught by anybody and Harry can’t be bothered because right now with Malfoy’s lips on his, his tongue exploring Harry’s mouth feels perfect, it feels right. Harry realizes with a start that he is hard.
Harry has no idea how long they are in that cold corridor, he doesn’t even know when it started snowing. All he knows is Malfoy’s hands pinning him , his body heat warming Harry. They break the kiss, panting and completely breathless. Malfoy is looking down at Harry , his face expressionless as ever but there is something indescribable in his eyes which quickly melts into rage from before. Harry hasn’t even been able to collect his thoughts when Malfoy releases his wrists only to punch him hard square in the stomach. Harry staggers and falls down. For a moment it looks as if Malfoy will break his nose again. Harry relaxes as Malfoy retreats and makes his way down the corridor. Harry puts his cloak back on thankful that no one had witnessed this spectacle.
He mindlessly makes his way to the Gryffindor tower under the safety of his cloak . He is unable to think clearly as he is still hard despite the pain in his lower abdomen. He enters to find Ron and Hermione curled up near the fireplace, Ron’s arm around her and a book open in front of them. Harry makes a beeline to his dorm room and only takes off his cloak once he has made sure that he is alone except for a sleeping Neville. He closes the curtains around his bed and casts a strong silencing spell and takes care of his problem. And if he thinks of his most recent kiss, then it's nobody’s business but his own.