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“Harry,” Hermione seethes. “I swear to Merlin, if you fail one more exam because you were too busy following Malfoy around to study, I will hex your bollocks off!”
Ron grimaces in sympathy, but he nods. “Really mate, the ferret isn’t up to anything. I think he’s the most eager of us to put the war behind us. He’s even apologized to me.”
“It’s not that.” Harry says.
If he’s quite honest, the only reason he keeps following Malfoy around is because he’s worried about him. He barely eats, he doesn’t talk, and he’s always alone, even if Parkinson and Zabini keep trying to talk to him.
Honestly, it’s almost as bad as Sixth year, and Harry doesn’t want a repeat of that, ever.
“Then what is it?” Hermione demands. “Are you in love with him? Do you want to shag him? Whatever it is, I don’t care. Either talk to him and get it out of your system or pay some bloody attention to our classes, because if you fail agian I will make good on my threat.”
Harry grimaces. “Yeah, okay. Yeah. I’ll talk to him.”
He doesn’t. Two weeks pass - and he does study more, because friend or not, he doesn’t doubt Hermione will make good on her threat - and Harry keeps checking the Marauders map and following Malfoy around underneath the invisibility cape.
It doesn’t really do any good. Malfoy still doesn’t eat, and even when other people talk to him, he rarely says more than two words.
Another two weeks pass before Harry just can’t take it anymore.
“Eat.” He snaps, shoving a plate full of food underneath Malfoy’s nose.
He’s sitting in front of the Black Lake reading, and he looks up, surprised.
“What?” He asks.
“Eat.” Harry repeats. He sits down beside him. “You weren’t at Lunch today. Or any other day, on every other meal.”
“I’m not-” Malfoy begins, but Harry glares at him with his best ‘I-killed-the-Dark-Lord-fear-me’ look.
“Eat.” He says again. “And then you’re going to go talk to Parkinson and Zabini because Merlin knows they’ve been trying to talk to you and you keep blowing them off.”
The corners of Malfoy’s lips quirk lightly. “I assure you, Potter, I’ve never blown Blaise. Or Pansy, for that matter.”
Harry glares until Malfoy sighs.
“Why do you care if I eat?” He asks. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” Harry says. “And Merlin help me, if I have to feed you myself I will.”
That seems to convince Malfoy, because he takes a bite of the bagel Harry’d put on the plate.
“You still haven’t answered why you care.” Malfoy says after he swallows.
Harry waits until he takes another bite to answer.
“The war is over.” he says. “We all deserve some peace.”
“I think you of all people, Potter, know why I don’t.” Malfoy says.
Harry shakes his head. “We were children. All of us. I don’t want to - I can’t let it keep haunting us. Any of us. We don’t deserve it.”
“You don’t.” Malfoy agrees. “Some of us… we made our choices. We had our part in it, and we deserve to live with the knowledge, even if we’re different people now.”
Harry purses his lips.
“Hi.” He says. “I’m Harry Potter.”
Malfoy looks at him confused.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
“Like you said, we’re different people.” Harry says. “So hello. I don’t believe we’ve met before. I’m Harry Potter.”
The shadow of a smile begins to grace Malfoy’s lips.
“Hi.” He says. “I’m Draco Malfoy.”
Harry grins. “Would you like to be my friend?”
Malfoy’s smile widens. “Yes. Yes, I would.”