Unmasked

Slamming on their dormitory door startled the boys awake. “You’re going to be late!” Hermione’s voice bellowed. “There’s only twenty minutes left of breakfast, and knowing you five, you won’t be ready in time!”  

The group of boys groaned at the rude awakening, but knew she was right. Harry rolled out of bed with a thud, missing his landing. He stumbled to his feet and rubbed an eye, reaching for his glasses with his free hand. “It’s too early for this,” he grumbled.

“Didn’t you sleep?” Ron asked. 

Harry shook his head and muttered, “Not well. I tossed and turned for most of the night.” There had been too much on his mind. 

“Maybe you can take a nap first period,” Ron chuckled, pulling on his trousers. “SLughorn never seems to pay much attention to what we do anyways.”

Harry rolled his eyes, tossing his shirt over his head. Seamus and Dean slammed out of the room. “What do you reckon we’re doing today, anyways? In potions.”

Ron fumbled with his tie. “Not sure,” he mumbled without looking up. “He didn’t tell us what his plan was for after Christmas.” 

Neville didn’t bother tying his shoes and bolted out of the door. Harry pulled on his sweater, then his robe. “I forgot about that. Hopefully it’s nothing too hard.” 

Ron smiled sheepishly. “You can say that again.” 

*

Hermione stopped them at the door, frowning. “Look,” she hissed, peering around the doorframe. “He’s changed all of our seats.” 

“What?” Ron faltered. 

Harry peered around the doorframe as Hermione had, spotting several groups of two long tables. Each group sat four. He didn’t see Hermione’s concern at first, until he saw Lavender Brown sitting across from Pansy Parkinson. Both girls were frowning. Harry drew his head back. “This may be a problem.”

Ron sighed. “No use in delaying the inevitable then, yeah?” With that, he strode proudly into the classroom and towards Professor Slughorn. “Mornin’, Sir.”

“Good morning, Wollamby,” he smiled. “Harry. Ms. Granger. Did you all have a nice Christmas holiday?” They all nodded affirmatively. “Splendid! As did I, as did I… As you can see I’ve changed the seating arrangements.”

“Uh, sir,” Harry winced. “If you don’t mind me asking… why?” 

Slughorn’s tongue popped out from between his lips in a cheesy grin. He leaned closer to the three of them. “To be completely honest, Harry - I’ve been sensing some interhouse hostility.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes, but quickly wiped her face clean of emotion. “So you thought having us all sit together would have a chance at fixing the problem?”

“Precisely,” he whispered, grinning. He stood tall once more, speaking in his normal, jolly voice. “Now, Hermione. You’ll be sitting on my right at this group. Please join Lavender and Pansy.” Hermione nodded politely, however the boys saw her eyes roll back as she turned around. They both had to suppress a laugh. “As for you both, you’ll be sitting in this middle group on the left. Please join Seamus while we wait for the rest of your classmates.”

The boys both nodded at Slughorn, then hurried to their tables. Harry and Ron sat down with their backs to Slughorn’s desk, facing Seamus who sat on the left, in front of Ron. More and more students trickled into class, each one looking equally as confused and displeased as they had. After a few moments, Katie joined Lavender, Pansy, and Hermione. Slughorn didn’t seem to have done such a great job at mixing many of the tables -- most were three from one house and one from the other, and most were single gendered. Maybe it was just a starting point? Harry wondered. 

Blaise strolled in a moment later, followed by Draco. There were only two seats left in the class, one in front of Harry, and one beside Neville. The three Gryffindors at his table eyed each other warily. The Slytherin boys spoke to SLughorn, then turned back towards the two empty desks across the aisle from each other. A white-blond head sat down in front of Harry wordlessly, not making eye-contact. Draco kept his head down. Ron glanced sideways at Harry, followed by Seamus; Harry shrugged. 

Harry started as Slughorn bellowed, starting the lesson promptly. Today they were learning about healing potions. What they are, how they’re used, and how to make them. The whole class scribbled their notes furiously to keep up with their quick professor. 

“Does everyone understand?” Slughorn asked, finally taking a breath after his spiel. The class nodded in unison. He clapped his hands together. “Alright, then get to work!” 

Harry stood from the table, volunteering to get everyone’s materials. Sweeping away from the boys, he waited patiently by the storage cupboard. Once Neville had vacated the space it was Harry’s turn. He plucked them from their respective places, gathering them in his arms, and headed back towards his table. Ron and Seamus were sniggering under their breath, whereas Draco sat with his head down, twiddling his thumbs as a distraction. Scowling, Harry placed the ingredients in front of Ron and Seamus, then handed them to Draco. 

“Thanks,” he murmered, silver eyes momentarily meeting green. 

“Oi,” Ron interjected. He flicked his head at Draco. “What’s wrong with you? No sarcastic quips?” 

Draco shrugged. “”M just tired.” 

“Yeah, alright,” replied Seamus. He started adding his potion ingredients, turning his attention to Harry. “You ready for this week’s game, Harry?”

He smiled. “You bet. Can’t wait.”

“You never can for Quidditch can you?” Ron laughed. 

Harry snorted. “Nah. I guess not.” 

“What do you say to some flying tonight? Just for fun,” Ron chirped, stirring the murky liquid in his cauldron. 

“Maybe not tonight, mate,” he eyed Draco subtly. “Too much homework, I think.”

“Harry are you feeling alright?” Seamus joked. “You never say no to flying.” 

Harry shrugged. “Like I said, I think I’ll have too much homework. Don’t need Snape or McGonagall up my arse, do I?” The group chuckled at that, even Draco.

“Say, Ron” Seamus piped up. He glanced up from his stirring, eyebrows raised. “Why do you like flying so much?”

Ron chuckled. “I’ve seen all my siblings do it my entire life. I’ve always wanted to live up to that. Plus, it’s fun.” He points his stir-stick pointedly at Seamus. “That’s always a bonus, yeah? What about you, Harry?”

“It’s exhilarating. I belong in the air--flying, I think. It’s in my blood. It’s just…” Harry pauses, glancing around at them. “Therapy for me, I guess. If that makes sense.” They nod. “What about you, Draco?”

Immediately three pairs of eyebrows shot up. Draco’s eyes widen, startled. Then they soften as he said, “Freedom. Its freedom for me. The only chance I get.” The three boys stare at him, and he smiles back, as if he knows he shouldn’t have admitted as much as he did. Maybe it will get them to lay off. Although, then again, maybe they’d spread it. He dropped his gaze back to his potion, secretly grateful that Harry tried to engage him in their conversation. 

The boys worked silently for a few moments, each adding ingredients, stirring, and, if you’re Seamus, glaring at the lumpy liquid churning in his cauldron. Cautiously, Draco leant over to Seamus, pointing at his pile of lionfish spines. “You need to add another one,” he whispered.

Seamus’ head whipped around, shocked. “Another one?”

“Yeah,” Draco replied. He pointed at the cauldron. “See how lumpy it is? It means you need to add another.”

“Okay…” Seamus grasped the lionfish spine, tugging at it. 

Draco’s eyes widened. “No, no, no! Be gentle so it doesn’t shatter… Here, can I see it?”

He passed it over to Draco, who gingerly pried it apart. Draco handed it back. “Thanks,” Seamus murmured. 

“No problem,” Draco nodded. “Stir twice more counterclockwise and then you should be fine to add your next ingredient.”

Seamus nodded without looking up. His brows knit together in confusion, as did Ron’s. Harry was pleasantly surprised. 

Within twenty minutes, Slughorn had collected their potions in viles and set them back on his desk, releasing the class for lunch. Draco rose, swiping his books into his bag. “See you later.” Then he was gone. 

Seamus and Ron shook their heads. “Who is  that?” Ron exclaimed. 

Harry shrugged. “That’s Draco. Not Malfoy, I guess.” Ron eyed him as Seamus left, still befuddled. “Or maybe he’s just too tired to put up with our shit.” 

Ron laughed as they headed out the door. “Yeah, maybe.”

Hermione rolled her eyes as she caught up with them. “Or maybe he’s not always a prick.”

“Come on Hermione,” Ron groaned. “You don’t really think that, do you?”

“So what if I do? You don’t really know him, Ron,” she scolded. 

He pouted as he sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. “I guess so. What do you think, Harry?”

“I agree with, ‘Mione,” he stated. “That guy wasn’t the Malfoy we know. Like I said, that was Draco. Not Malfoy.”

“Exactly,” Hermione replied. “I’m starting to think the same of Pansy. She’s not so bad, really. She’s actually quite funny.”

“Oh, here we go,” Ron laughed. “Fine, fine. I’ll play nice too, I guess.”

“Maybe you won’t have to play after a while. Maybe they’ll grow on you,” Harry chuckled. 

Ron rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right!”

Harry laughed again, his eyes wandering to the Slytherin table. Draco looked to be having a similar conversation with his friends. His eyes met Harry’s and he rolled them dramatically. Harry suppressed a grin, nodding ever so slightly. Draco smirked. 

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.