Work Text:
; MALFOYS POV
Stepping onto the express made Malfoy's stomach turn after the events that had happened previously. Students who had fought and lost their lives in the wars ghosts creeping around his conscious.
Draco traipsed to his usual seat, spotting Blaise and Pansy silently and awkwardly tapping their feet, staring forward.
As he sat, nothing made his way out of his mouth. Condolences he gave to others were received with a frown and a scoff, no matter how hard he tried to get any vindication.
Blaise finally spoke up, blinking at Draco. "How've you been, mate?"
.... How have I been? Really, Blaise. Let's see. My father, who has tortured and abused me my entire life is in jail, thank Merlin. My mother is on house arrest and barely speaks to me, and I have no friends who I can trust to tell this too. Oh, and to add to the mix, I am toting around a Dark Mark on my arm everyday.
Pansy lets out a fake, silence breaking cough. Draco wakes from deep thought, staring daggers into Blaises eyes.
"How do you think, Blaise?"
"I was just asking."
"You should have thought before speaking."
"Well, don't get bloody-"
Pansy nudges Blaise roughly, acting like Draco couldn't see the two of them concealing emotions towards him.
"Blaise, quit. Leave Draco off, okay?" Pansy gives a nod toward Draco, who simply looks off to the window. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, messing with his left sleeve.
Pansy speaks up. "Draco." Theres a longing silence between the two as eye contact has yet to arrive. "Draco."
Pansy gains an irritating urgency to her voice, and he rolls his eyes into her gaze. "What, Pansy? Need to ask me how I am doing as-well?"
"Don't give me that Draco. Nobody is well off. Let me worry about you."
"Fuck you."
...
Blaise stares awkwardly at the two Slytherins, debating on stepping in. But as the silence deepens, he decides to shut his trap.
; TIME SKIP ; ARRIVAL.
There is something hanging around the air in the Great Hall. It feels like walking into a trap, one you can't get out of. He is in a room of people who hate him, his family, and everything surrounding him.
The small group of them sit, farther off from the students. As he sets his arm down to lean his head on, he catches sight of a certain trio.
"Fucking Potter."
Pansy looks to where Dracos eyes lay, and scoffs. "Do not tell me you're still hooked on him, Draco. Even after the war, you two won't make amends."
"I don't WANT to make amends, Pansy. I want him to stop taunting me with his presence." Draco stares at him as he sits, seeing the boys hair grown out and a combed mess.
Beside Potter sits Granger, and Ron, who are awfully close. The brunettes curly hair covers the blushing gingers shoulder, her head resting on his shoulder.
Fucking disgusting.
"Welcome, everyone. To another year at Hogwarts. Obviously, you all know the.. incident regarding this place. The.. war." Mcgonagall stepped up to the large podium in front of the tables. Giving stares to Potter, throughout her words.
"It is in deep and great sadness I say we lost many beloved faculty members and students. But, as times pass, we gain new ones. Please treat them respectfully, as you would yourself."
Draco scoffs at that, quickly looking down at the plate in front of him.
As I would myself. Yeah, right.
The headmaster stares intently, looking at the first years excitedly bouncing up and down in the presence.
Excitement.
He sneers at them, covering his face quickly with a hand.
"Now, we must begin the sorting ceremony. Please, come near now. First.. We have-"
Draco drowns her out quite easily, as he usually did that either way. He turns his head and glances at Potter, who is silent and watching his friends.
He stares longer, plucking out faults in Potter's appearance. Draco stops when he realizes Potter looked back, giving him a distasteful glare.
Fuck you then, bastard.
Potters hair had grown down to his neck, roughly brushed through but clearly not well taken care of. He had a stubble growing, which Draco stared at in repugnance. The glasses that were almost falling off his face were too big, but at-least they weren't broken. In all honesty, Malfoy wished he didn't care as much as Potter doesn't. The color of his eyes darkened the complexion in comparison to his bright red and gold tie. The green was a .. nice color, and Draco was definitely not against the color green. A chill went down his spine when Potter gazed across the entire room and almost caught his stare.
He didn't understand why he got so scared.
Once the sorting finished, Mcgonagall ran her mouth for another few minutes, then summoned a large meal at each table.
Dracos eyes ran over everything, only getting a roll and some fish.
If he was to eat, might as well make it good.
He drank his water through small sips, whilst eating his fish slowly. His eyes never met anyone else's, as he focused steadily on finishing his food.
A good 30 minutes pass of Dracos thoughts ruining his meal. Though, he did finish, just with a bad taste in his mouth.
Mcgonagall steps to the podium, talking about the prefects of each house. "Eighth years, stay behind while the underclassmen make their way to the common rooms."
Draco watches everyone step out, leaving a good group of people still sitting in their seats.
"You will still be in your houses common room, but you have your own room for privacy. Many people did not return, as expected, so please, be responsible of your rooms. You will have maids coming every so often."
As she finishes speaking, Draco watches Blaise and Pansy getting up as the rest of the people do. He simply follows their lead, quickly walking with them.
Please let it be a nice room. Maybe the bed will have a good mattress, and I can finally rest without waking up feeling like a fucking boulder hit me.
"Draco!" Blaises voice kills Dracos thoughts.
"What, Blaise?" Draco watches Pansy go through to the girls rooms, and he sees her leave out of sight.
"We won't be sharing a room this year."
"Yeah..So...?"
"I don't know, I just thought it would be different. Maybe she would want people together after the... War. I don't necessarily want to be alone."
"Blaise.. We have classes with each other, and our rooms are right by one another's by the looks of it." Draco walks up to his door, labelled with his full name on a tile on the door. The door beside says Blaises full name. "Calm yourself."
Blaise smiles at him softly, a more conformed sense of friendship growing.
"Night, Draco."
Draco nods and opens the door, locking it behind him. He notices another door, then checks it quickly. A bathroom.
When he finishes putting his stuff away, and making everything just feel..
Cozier?...
He grabs his wand, using it to quickly turn off the lights before placing it on the mahogany nightstand.
; TIME SKIP ; THE MORNING.
Draco wakes up begrudgingly, shoving his hand aggressively towards the nightstand beside him to turn off the alarm clock.
I hate it here.
He gets up, forcing the fluffy comforter off him. As he approaches the bathroom door, theres a knock at his bedroom door.
Blaise.
He walks over, grabbing sweatpants to throw on to cover his boxers. Just incase.
Draco flings the door open, revealing Pansy's smiling face, and Blaise next to her. Pansy is wearing her uniform, and Blaise is wearing pajamas.
"What.." Draco yawns through his words, "Do you.. two want?"
Pansy lets her smile drop into a pout, messing around with Draco. He is not in the mood, he never is. But, for the sake of Pansy's soul, she can try.
"Draco, get dressed. We are gonna go to the common room and watch the first years flail around."
Draco scoffs at her comment and shrugs, closing the door. Hearing another knock and yell behind it, he laughs.
Not an actual laugh, a Malfoy family laugh. Like forced laughter.
"Let me get ready, Pansy." He yells back and hears footsteps recede. Finally, Draco goes to the bathroom and starts a hot shower.
Grabbing clothes, he waits for the water thats roughly beating down on the tub to heat up for him.
; TIME SKIP ; BREAKFAST.
"That was bloody hilarious." Blaise looks at Draco from wherever he was staring, and snaps in his ear.
"Merlin! What? What was hilarious, Blaise?" He scowls at Blaise, who seems overjoyed at whatever happened.
"Potter fucking ate the Great Halls floor trying to run and tell Granger something. Must've been worth it though, look." Draco quickly brings his glare to Granger and Potter, who seems to be chattier today. The Weasels there, but busy shoving food into his mouth to add anything useful to the conversation at hand.
I wonder what they're talking about. Probably something stupid.
Potter meets Draco's eye and pauses speaking, then continues when Granger asks seemingly him what's wrong.
He watches Potter shrug it off, then drink some water. But, he inevitably looks back to see Draco still looking.
This causes Draco to stop, and then causes Granger to start.
Bloody dominoes.
Draco sniffles, his nose running. Pansy notices, who has been silent this entire time, and hands him some napkins. He nods, as if he was forced too, and blows his nose away from the table.
"Are you sick, Draco?" Pansy puts her fork down, staring at him in.. some weird type of worry. Not necessarily what it should look like, but definitely for her.
"Shouldn't be." He doesn't look at her, more-so focusing on the tie on his neck, which is digging into his neck.
"Well, just go to Madam Pomfrey if you are." Pansy shrugs, then continues eating.
"No shit." Draco fixes his tie while speaking, and Blaise snorts. Pansy rolls her eyes and keeps finishing her eggs.
"Whatever. Shove off, Draco. Smite me for being worried."
Blaise nudges her, coughing his words out. "Don't tempt him, Pans."
"What the bloody hell is Pans, Blaise? I am NOT cookware."
" ... Maybe. You could be."
Pansy closes her eyes and takes one of the deepest breaths Draco has ever witnessed. He smirks, shoving toast in his mouth and watching Pansy.
She lets go of a deep breath and sighs. "Blaise. What."
Blaise shrugs and chews on his french toast sticks, which are soaked in syrup. Draco looks at it in disgust. He shivers at the sight and return to eating his toast, staring at the otherwise empty plate.
The bell-rings, and he forces himself up. "Do you guys have.. potions first?" Draco stares at Pansy and Blaise, watching Blaise shake his head.
"Sorry Draco. I have Transfiguration." He groans at Blaises answer and turn to Pansy hopefully.
"Yea, I do. Come on Dray."
"Dray?"
"Yeah. Since you're starting to be nice to us now."
".. Whatever. Don't call me that Pansy."
"But Blaise can call me Pans and you let it slide?"
"Maybe you should defend yourself."
"Maybe you should defend your friends."
"He was just messing with you. Don't be sensitive, Pansy."
"Merlin." She shakes her head in defeat and her fists ball up, in anger. But she lets it go, as she always does. As Draco knows she always will.
They walk to class together, and walk in to see the new potions teacher. He was a short man, with ginger hair that was very light. Almost blonde. Nobody recognizes him, and honestly, Draco doesn't care to learn who he is.
He scans the room, looking at the seating chart assigned.
Draco stared along the names, finding his in the back row.
Longbottom ... Parkinson ... Greengrass ... Potter ... Malfoy ... Granger ... Thomas ...
Put a wand to my head and say those two words.
As the class filled up, he saw both Potters and Grangers face change to a sense of uncertainty and discomfort.
Oh Merlin.
He sank in his seat, still keeping a mask taped onto his face. Though, behind it, he was truly terrified of being around them. Them, meaning Granger. She terrified Draco, truly.
Wow. She will murder me if I make one wrong move.
On his entire body, he felt her icy cold glare the entire class.
; TIME SKIP ; CLASS END.
When class came to an end, a long, long, painful end, Draco quickly went to get up. As he did, however, his foot met a book-bag. So, he tripped straight onto the wooden floors of the potions class.
There was a few snorts behind him, a few chuckles, silent giggles and about two "Are you okay?!" Which were both consisted of the professor and Pansy helping him up. Or, not, helping him up, as Draco insisted of letting himself get up.
"Potter." He spit in his direction, as he saw the boy pick up the book-bag of which he tripped on. "Watch it." Malfoy was full of ineffable anger, his eyes slinking into lines at Potter.
Watch yourself, blood—
No, we don't say that anymore. Not since the war.
Not stopping me from teasing him though.
"Malfoy, don't be a prick. I'm sorry," Potter spoke quietly. When Draco makes eye-contact with him, he speaks again. "— Sorry that you don't look where you're going. Stop being self-absorbed for once."
Dracos irascibility made it hard to not answer to Potters desperate pleas to be absolutely torn apart with words. "Listen, Potter, just because you lived twice, which you-"
He was pulled away by Pansy, who grabbed him by his shoulder and pulled him to her with a whisper.
"Don't. Let it be. One more year and you'll never have to see the arse again." She pats his shoulder and he huffs.
Potter rolls his eyes and watches Draco as he fixes his robe. Draco looks back at him with a truculent look in his eyes. His eyes are practically torn off him after making it to the door.
Pansy walks beside him, tugging his bag while walking in an attempt to get him to talk. "What a bitch."
"Yeah. I just wish.."
Pansy blinks at him, waiting for a continuation of his words. Draco just shrugs it off, and she steps a bit farther from his side so she isn't rubbing on him.
"Do you think anything would be different if you and Potter.. I don't know.. Forgave each-other?"
"I did nothing to him." Pansy laughs at this, leaving Draco to glare at her and push fallen hair back onto his held back hair. "Ok. I did some stuff. But, regardless.."
"You do no wrong. I apologize."
"Exactly."
The bell rings, and Draco shows Pansy his schedule to assure they aren't in it together. He nods at her, and she walks off.
A Potter and a Malfoy. Friends.
Funny.
He chuckles internally, acting like it would be a crime against humanity. Going to the next class, he sees Potter walk in.
Is he fucking obsessed with me? Merlin.
In all his favor, the seating chart was free. Draco picked a far seat in the back to make sure of work done and to just.. be quiet.
Potter.
He glances over at him, and he is tapping his fingers on the desk whilst staring at a moving painting used to decorate the dull History of Magic class.
As he watched, he thought back to Pansy.
Atone.
Internally, he felt his gut being stabbed over and over again imagining a conversation more than 5 words with Potter, and as he did, Potter looked at him.
Fuck.
All he did was look away for the rest of class. Who wouldn't? Draco had been caught staring too much. Potter was becoming a celebrity of Dracos own imagination.
The lecture was insipid. So tiresome that Draco almost fell asleep. Recently, nothing enthralled him due to the war. He had no fun, ever. If you looked up boring in a dictionary a picture of Draco would be printed there.
"Malfoy."
He turned apprehensively, due to the tap on his shoulder. When he did, he saw an empty classroom.
"Potter."
Draco scoffed and got up, grabbing his bag and books.
"You do realize you leave when class ends, right?"
"You are the worst."
"As you tell me every-time I see you."
"It never changes."
"Good to know."
The silence grows awkward and Draco walks out, carrying himself higher and trying to avoid anymore conversation.
; TIME SKIP ; LUNCH BREAK
; POTTERS POV
"Maybe he just needs a friend, Harry."
Harry stares at Hermione, tapping his feet on the floor and biting his lip.
"Yeah right. He would rather jump off a tower than be friends with me. And honestly, I would not wanna be his friend."
"I don't like him either. I just mean, maybe, you should invest in helping him make a friend."
Harry pushes his plate forward, and leans his arms on the table.
"How?"
"Never-mind. Maybe change isn't something he needs, since clearly he hasn't."
"He has yet to call you a.. y'know . Or me, a blood traitor."
"Might've forgot."
"Maybe."
The silence is so deafening that Harry cracks his knuckles.
"Maybe normalcy is what everyone needs."
Hermione shrugs and drinks her tea, closing her eyes calmly.
"Yea. I don't need anything different, already weird enough that you and Ron are together."
Ron chortled through his chewing and smiled. Harry gave him a quizzical look then decided to bring Ron into the conversation.
"What do you think of Malfoy?"
"He's a bloody dickhead."
All three of them give an assuming laugh and Harry brushes off his answer.
"Would you ever be friends with him?"
Without any response, he starts snickering. Hermiones rolls her eyes and hits his arm which is going for another chicken leg. "Ron, be serious."
"What? That was my response. Give me a chicken leg, 'Mione."
She rolls her eyes and tosses one onto his plate carelessly.
As he finishes eating, Harry looks over at the Slytherin table to see Malfoy, Zabini and Parkinson chattering away.
He watches them carefully, trying to read Malfoy's body language, but nothing helpful comes out of it. The Slytherin was obviously very fenced off, but also.. alluring?
That's wild. Never think that again Harry.
He had light blonde hair that was swept carefully with soft gel, definitely a lot less glued than the past years. When he turned, Harry got a good look into his eyes. They were a soft blue, with a hint of silver in them. If be looked into them, it felt like his whole body got frozen in time. Malfoy was wearing his school clothes, just without the covering robe. The Slytherin silver and green helped his fair skin, which was clearer than Harrys would ever be in his lifetime.
He actually doesn't look.. bad this year. Not that he ever has. Well, sort of. Whatever. Bloody hell.
Lunch ended, and reminded Harry he had class, which made him want to bash his head on the wall. He could not get through this year like this.
"Either of you have Charms next?" He looks at them both in anticipation, then lets out a deep breath when he sees a shared look between the couple.
"Never mind. See you."
He got up, grabbing his stuff and heading to his class, slowly. He really truly dreaded class everyday. Why wouldn't he? Hermione and Ron desperately begged him to come back, and he didn't wanna let them down after everything they did together.
Harry wasn't paying attention to where he was going, and almost ran into Malfoy. Luckily, he didn't notice. But, he caught his intense smell.
How much cologne can one man wear?
It was a heavy pine scent, with a hint of smells Harry couldn't place. It was quite large, cause even as Malfoy walked farther it lingered. There was a smell that caught him off guard, which was more on the fruity side. Apple. It worked with him, and he didn't hate it.
If you're gonna have a large ego, might as-well have an even larger scent.
Malfoy walked into Charms, and Harry actually recoiled at it. But, regardless, he hadn't any choice.
As he walked in, the seating chart was displayed, and he walked right to his seat in the front.
When he sat down, he recognized what he was smelling. Pine. Strong, masculine pine.
I hate my life.
"Seem to love being around me, Potter."
"Did you make your schedule exactly the same as mine to stalk me, Malfoy?"
Malfoy sneers at him, dropping his bag and sitting down. "Why would I willingly do that?"
"Who knows. Make my life worse?"
"Can't get worse than it already is, from what I can tell."
"Bug off."
"I was just stating what everyone knows."
"And your life is perfect?"
"Better than yours."
"Yeah, right. Don't act like you have a better life than me."
"Shut your mouth Potter."
"Fine."
They scoot their chairs far apart, but due to the other seats being filled they could not get away.
As class goes on, they are back and forth pretty much the whole time. Even the professor had to get onto them.
The bell rings, after what Harry felt like was years.
Thank Merlin.
As Harry packs up, he looks over to Malfoy. He seemed worried about something as he went over his next class on his schedule.
"Maybe he just needs a friend, Harry."
Fuck.
"Whats your next class, Malfoy?"
"Are you obsessed with me today Potter?"
"No."
He keeps packing up, and yet Malfoy doesn't respond. So Harry keeps pestering him.
So bloody closed off, for what?
"I have Defense against the Dark Arts."
Malfoy shrugs and throws his bag on, shoving his wand in his pocket. His ring glistened as he did, showing a light green on the silver as-well.
"Of course you do. Because I have it too."
"Great. Maybe you will finally be useful."
"Be quiet Potter. Who taught you how to speak to others?"
"Myself."
"Clearly."
Malfoy turns and walks with no hesitation, leaving Harry to follow.
Why do I do this to myself? He can stay alone.
But something couldn't let Harry stop. He kept going, basically running after Malfoy.
As Harry approached the blonde, he gave him a quick look then rolled his eyes.
"You're making me vexed, Potter." Malfoy looks ahead, still walking. Harry shrugs and moves away, trying to hold his walking pace.
"How?"
Stupid question.
"Well, I hate you, and you hate me. Why are you trying to walk me to class like I am a little old lady in need? Do I look old to you, Potter?"
"A bit."
"Oh fuck you."
Harry laughs and Malfoy stops in his steps.
"I'm serious, Scar-head. Quit it."
"I wanna make amends. Hermione suggested it."
"Following the muggle-borns lead, as always?"
"You aren't calling her bad names now, are you, Malfoy?"
"I can."
"Not anymore."
"I..-"
"Exactly. Shake my hand."
Harry holds his hand out, offering his hand out to him. There was a bit of dirt under Harrys nails, which obviously bothered Malfoy.
Prick.
"Fine."
He grabbed and shook Harrys hand, and gave a stare into his eyes. Both of the boys paused.
Malfoy's hand was cold, and very slim. It was soft, even around a scar he had on the inside of his hand. When Harry looked into his eyes, there was a bit of a change in the world around him. It slightly froze, and he felt colder than usual.
Malfoy pulled away from the grip, rubbing his hand on his robes. With a cough to clear his throat, Harry nodded.
"Right. Off to class."
"Yeah.."
Harry rushed off, defending himself of any thoughts that could come.
Hermione will be glad.
I'm not.