Back On Track?
Draco POV
Soon after the meeting with his Papa, Draco was let out of the hospital wing.
The day he had been dismissed, Draco nearly whooped with joy... nearly because "Malfoys do not whoop! And if I have to remind you that one more time, I will whoop your bottom young man!"
Draco shook his head chuckling slightly. His father, Lucius Malfoy, was rather hysterical when he was brought to meet his son. Partially because he was missing one of the ministry's most prestigious galas, and partly because goddamnit his son had been attacked by the heathens that were running rampant through the halls! Draco sighed as he pulled his back straighter.
"Turn right" came the call of his voice guide and he obeyed, turning right shivering as the memory of the last time he unknowingly turned a corner assaulted him. And just like before, he bumped into someone.
Draco's heart began to race; stumbling backwards, he reaching for anything that would ensure that he would not be dragged down again.
"Hey, hey" came a soft, gentle voice, that Draco instantly recognized as Ha-Potter's.
"P-p-potter?" Draco asked attempting to ensure that it was indeed the savior of the wizarding world.
"Yes. Draco-Malfoy-can I call you Draco?"
Draco nodded absently, now reaching forward to find his companion. He heard Potter step forward and into his arms. Draco sighed in relief as he felt the Gryffindor crest alongside the captain's badge that rested atop Potter's robes. Potter's arms came around to his shoulders to give him support.
"Thanks, Draco. Um... I was just heading down to dinner, how 'bout you?" Draco cringed slightly at his cutting of the word about but concluded that not all humans could be as cultured and proper as he, and oh he would just have to deal with it.
"As am I Potter. I would request you to accompany me, but my friends will soon be arriving, and I do not wish to think of the consequences that I will surely reap for being seen standing with you."
"Oh, Of course. Yes, you are right of course. Um... I think that I will take my leave now Draco. I...um... s-see you in potions I suppose?"
Draco nodded, as the stabilizing hands left his shoulders and a sense of coldness replaced them. He heard Harry retreating as the sound of his footsteps became softer till it was gone. Not two minutes later a set of thundering footsteps, that could only be Crabbe and Goyle approached Draco who was still standing where Harry had left him.
"Draco! Mate!" came the call, and Draco spun to meet his friends.
"Crabbe Goyle, who else is with the two of you?"
"Oh uh, Blaise Pansy, and Theo, Draco."
Draco nodded, "very well. Come, we will leave for dinner."
"Of course Draco," the voice of Pansy. And so they headed down to the Great Hall.
Harry POV
Harry trudged down to the Great Hall rather disappointed that Malfoy did join him.
Draco probably wanted to spend time with his friends over the "Gryffindor Golden Boy."
In all honesty, it was a perfectly acceptable wish. When Draco had been out in the Hospital wing from the first day of school, he must have wanted to catch up with his friends more so than the person who nursed him back to health. But still, Harry felt just a touch of sadness from Draco's rejection. Sitting silently in his seat at the Gryffindor table, Harry waited for the food to appear. When it did, he took a few pieces of chicken and began to eat, keeping his eye on the double doors at the entrance of the Great Hall ignoring his friend's nagging attempting to pull him into a conversation.
His vigilance paid off, however, because not a few moments later, Draco came striding in, holding onto Blaise Zabini. Trailing behind them were Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Theodore Nott. Blaise walked Draco over to the Slytherin table while Theodore walked over to Harry. Harry turned around fully to face Theodore.
"Potter,"
His voice was soft, but traveled loudly throughout the now silent hall, "Thank you for taking care of him. You are now one of us. You have most likely been let in on secrets that the Slytherin house does not wish to be let out. You will come to be bonded tonight and become an honorary Slytherin. From my house to yours, we extend our welcome and our gratitude for protecting our king. We shall assist you when you need it."
Harry's eyes widened, but he quickly remembered his manners and responded,
"Thank you for your extension of service. I will arrive at the given time to be bound. And you have my word as heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Black and Potter that I have not spilled and will not spill any secrets that I have learned prior to my bonding."
Theodore bowed at the waist before nodding and returning to his spot beside Draco. Harry sighed and turned back to the children and staff in the Great Hall,
"You all bear witness to my oath. Now move along with your day. Nothing left to see. Return to your gossip." With that, he turned back around and began to eat his food, completely ignoring his housemates.