Chapter Text
Allies and Enemies: A Great Hall Confrontation
Chapter One:
“Where have you been?” Ron was on Harry as soon as they entered the massive dining hall. Ron’s whining voice echoed throughout, turning each head of the student body.
“I had detention.” Harry said defensively. An oily sick feeling crawled over his skin at the line he was toeing with the truth.
“He was with me.” Draco spoke up. Harry could not help but feel rescued. Ron’s face did not bode well, it turned red then mottled purple, a clear indication he was about to explode.
“Please Ron, I’m hungry.” Harry urged with a whisper. Hoping against hope his friend would drop the dramatics. A confrontation was low on Harry’s list of priorities.
“Harry!” Ron yelled. “You’re injured!” as if he were unaware. His friend thoughtlessly grabbed the bandaged hand. Harry could no hold back the pained gasp which morphed into an embarrassingly loud squeak when a certain blonde Slytherin reached around Harry, squeezing Ron’s arm right above the wrist until Harry was free. Then somehow Harry was twirled around to find himself staring at Draco’s broad shoulders. When did they get so large? Harry thought, luckily not letting the words spill out of his lips.
“What the hell, Malfoy?” Ron yelled again, ignoring the hastily approaching Professor McGonagall in favor of causing an even bigger scene, complete with Professor Umbridge squawking from her perch at the Head Table.
Draco, for his part, did not bother to argue with Ron. Instead, he concentrated on keeping one Gryffindor from the other. Harry did not mind one whit. The pain had been breathtaking enough to make him dizzy. And he was struggling to keep the words inside his head and not lingering on the air.
Snape’s advice of avoidance was turning out to be sound reasoning. So, Harry leaned his head against the tense spine in front of him. He was not hiding so much as he was being prudent. To evade not tearing into Ronald Weasley. As much as he wanted to, Harry was sure this would solve nothing, only create more problems.
“What is happening here?” Professor McGonagall’s thick brogue queried.
Before Ron could erupt again, Harry peaked around the unmoving Draco. “I’m really, very hungry.” he blurted out, enjoying the way his head of house’s mouth hung slack and surprised. Harry, as close as he was, felt more than heard Draco huff out a laugh. Harry caught sight of his friend and went back to the position between Draco’s shoulder blades. Ron’s angry face was just too much to bear. Harry recognized the stubborn, unreasonable freckled set of features having seen them far too often. Once again, Harry had somehow betrayed his friend.
“Harry would like to sit with the Slytherins today.” Draco announced smoothly. Not that it was unheard of for one house to sit with another. But Harry Potter sitting with the Slytherins was another matter entirely. Harry was not paying any attention to the uproar Draco’s announcement caused, instead, he was comparing the memories of the scathingly judgmental Draco of the past to the more confident and soothing sounds of his voice today. Harry sighed. His world had, once again, tilted on its axis.
“Harry.” Ron bit out. “can speak for himself.”
“Yes Ron,” Harry stressed the name, not bothering to lift his swirling head. “I can. I’m going to sit with Malfoy and the Slytherins.”
“But… why?” Professor McGonagall asked with pure confusion. She seemed to be the only one not upset, just perplexed.
“Professor Snape gave Harry and I a project to work on. For extra credit.” Draco lied.
“Is this true, Harry?” Professor McGonagall’s voice quavered in a strange, strangled way. Harry focused on his perspective, trying to outwit the Unburdening. The goal was to get his weight up. The instructions had come from Lady Malfoy. But… Snape was there. And… Draco was aware. His former nemesis was already invoking a truce by helping him dress and not taking advantage of Harry’s weakened state. Sure, there was no grade involved. Harry would end up with better health. Which could theoretically help him concentrate on his classes thus raising his grades. The conundrum, Draco had nothing to gain.
“I believe it is.” Professor Snape’s dark voice joined in. Harry let out his pent-up breath. “You two better get started.” He said to the boys. “Perhaps, Mr. Weasley could explain his objections.” Ron visibly swallowed, shaking his head ‘no’. “No objections he mumbled to the stone floor before taking his abandoned seat between Dean and Seamus.
Soon, Harry found himself seated at the farthest table amid a sea of green insignia and suspicious yet blank faces. He could also feel the heavy stares from the Gryfindor table and the ever-watchful eyes of Head Table.
Draco, true to his word, had not abandoned Harry. He had even come to his defense with a new calmer approach. Completely different then just a few hours earlier. It was mind boggling. Just as watching Draco build Harry a plate of food was outside of the realm of reasonable possibilities. The world had become even stranger than when Harry had been told he was a wizard. Harry, in a moment of insight, decided everyone else could go stuff it. Draco was way more interesting than the nosy student body and the ominous teaching staff. Even when he was being bossy.
“Eat, Potter.” Draco ordered.
“Yes Sir.” Harry sassed.
“Don’t tempt me.” Draco groaned. The intonation of sound unfamiliar to Harry. Draco refused to explain anything, effectively changing the subject with a terse “You need to be careful around the… er… Weasley.”
Harry agreed. The time had come to recognize, Ron was not a very good friend.