Chapter Text
A few weeks had passed since the winter ball, and life at Hogwarts had returned to its usual routine. Despite the absurdity of the whole situation, there seemed to be an unspoken truce between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. They didn't suddenly become best friends, but there was a sense of mutual respect, or at least, a newfound understanding. The rivalry had lost its sharp edge, and for the most part, they left each other alone. Whenever they did speak, it was always civil.
However, Draco, never one to be satisfied with a quiet existence, decided that it was time to extend his efforts toward another target: Ron Weasley.
It was just before Potions class, and the students were filing in, taking their seats at their cauldrons. Harry and Ron sat together, while Hermione busily organized her materials. Draco, with his usual smirk firmly in place, sauntered into the classroom, his eyes zeroing in on Ron.
He had a plan, and it was going to be even more entertaining than the Trelawney rumor he made up about Potter. Draco slid into his seat at the Slytherin table but quickly stood up again and walked over to where Ron was sitting. Harry noticed Draco's approach and raised an eyebrow, instantly suspicious. Ron, oblivious to what was coming, was more focused on setting up his cauldron.
Draco stopped in front of Ron's desk, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"Weasley," he began, his voice smooth and disarming, getting the other boy's attention. "I've been thinking…maybe it's time to bury the hatchet. After all, Potter and I have made peace," he continued, gesturing casually to Harry. "It only seems fair to extend the same courtesy to you, Weasley."
Ron blinked, caught off guard by Draco's sudden attempt at civility. He exchanged a wary glance with Harry before turning back to Draco.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
Draco held up his hands in mock innocence.
"Peace offering," he began. "I know that weasels love nuts, so I was thinking…would you accept my nuts?"
There was a moment of stunned silence as Ron processed what Draco had just said. The entire class seemed to pause, all eyes turning toward the exchange. Even Hermione, who had been deeply focused on her notes, froze and looked up, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
Ron's face turned beet red, caught between anger and embarrassment.
"What did you just say?"
Draco's smirk widened.
"My nuts." Draco then reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small bag. He opened it, revealing a handful of roasted cashews. He held the bag out for Ron to take. "I would like you to eat my nuts."
For a split second, Ron was too stunned to respond, his ears practically glowing red. Then, without missing a beat, he shot back,
"Malfoy, if you want to keep your nuts intact, I suggest you walk away right now."
The class erupted into laughter, the tension broken by Ron's retort. Even Harry, who had been trying to stifle his amusement, couldn't hold back a snicker. Hermione, though clearly exasperated, rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile. Draco, still smirking, gave a curt nod.
"Fair enough, Weasley. But the offer stands."
Before Ron could react, Professor Snape swept into the classroom, his robes billowing behind him as he commanded silence. The laughter quickly died down as Snape began barking instructions for the day's potion, but the amused glances between the students lingered. As Draco returned to his seat, he shot a quick glance at Ron, who was still fuming but also grinning slightly, realizing that this was just another one of Malfoy's ridiculous attempts to get under his skin.
Throughout the rest of the class, Harry leaned over to Ron, whispering,
"I can't believe he actually said that."
"Yeah, well, if he tries it again, he might not be so lucky." Ron chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.
Hermione, overhearing the exchange, muttered, "Honestly, boys."
But even she couldn't deny the fact that Draco's antics had added a bit of humor to an otherwise dull Potions lesson. While Draco's "peace offering" of nuts hadn't exactly gone as planned, it had, in its own way, worked. The tension was more playful than serious.
Once class was over and the students poured out of the Potions classroom, Draco, ever persistent, spotted Harry walking beside Ron and Hermione. With a mischievous grin plastered on his face, Draco quickened his pace to catch up. Hermione was rolling her eyes in anticipation, but Harry looked vaguely amused, already sensing that Draco had more nonsense in store.
"Potter," Draco called out as he approached, his tone light and teasing. "I've been thinking."
Harry raised his eyebrows. That was never a good sign.
"Your friend Weasley is going to be difficult to get through to, isn't he?" Draco continued, throwing a glance over at Ron, who was still grumbling about Malfoy's earlier 'peace offering'. "What a grumpy weasel."
Harry couldn't help but laugh, though he quickly shot a glance at Ron, who was too busy muttering to himself to catch the comment. Draco shook his head, as though genuinely baffled by Ron's stubbornness. "I can't believe he turned down the generous offer of my nuts. I mean, really, since when does a weasel not want some nice nuts to chew on?
Harry snorted, trying to keep his face straight but failing.
"Maybe he's just not in the mood for your nuts, Malfoy."
Ron, finally catching on to the tail end of the conversation, turned toward Draco with an irritated expression. "Are you still going on about your bloody nuts?"
Harry stifled a laugh, but Draco, never one to back down, just shrugged.
"I'm just saying, Weasley, maybe you should have given them a try. My nuts could've been the highlight of your day."
Ron's eyes narrowed, but before he could fire back, Harry quickly intervened, clapping a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Come on, Ron. Let's just leave Malfoy to...enjoy his own nuts."
Draco, still grinning, wished them farewell.
"Always a pleasure, Potter. Weasley. Granger."
As they headed off down the corridor, Ron muttered under his breath, "I swear, that git is never going to stop, is he?"
"Probably not." Harry agreed. "But at least he's not trying to hex us anymore. I'd call that progress."
After Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended later that afternoon, Draco approached Harry again, a scheming grin on his face as they made their way through the courtyards. Harry, having already grown used to Draco's odd sense of humor and ridiculous suggestions, sighed heavily, waiting for whatever Malfoy had up his sleeve this time.
“Potter,” Draco began, his tone unusually serious despite the mischievous glint in his eyes. “I've come to realize that If I’m ever going to get Weasley to make peace with me, I need to do something…big.”
“What do you mean by ‘big,’ Malfoy?" Harry gave him a cautious look. "Something crazy, I assume?”
“Exactly." Draco nodded, clearly having given this some thought. "Something so monumental that he’ll have no choice. Like saving his life, for example.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Saving his life? And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
Draco grinned, leaning in slightly as if sharing a brilliant secret. “I’ve got it all worked out. Next time we’re flying, maybe during Quidditch practice, you’ll give him a little nudge. Knock him off his broom.”
Harry blinked, his jaw slightly dropping.
“Knock him off his broom? Are you insane?”
“Just hear me out,” Draco continued, unfazed. “Once he’s falling, I’ll swoop in, catch him right before he hits the ground, and voilà! Instant hero. He’ll have no choice but to be grateful. Maybe even indebted to me.”
“Malfoy..." Harry stared at Draco, completely speechless for a moment, before finally continuing. "That’s…probably the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.”
Draco’s smirk faltered.
“What? It’s brilliant! He’d see me in a new light! The guy who saved him from certain doom.”
“You want me to knock Ron off his broom so you can catch him and look like the hero?” Harry shook his head in disbelief.
Draco crossed his arms, frowning slightly.
“I don’t see the problem. You’ll just give him a little push, nothing too dangerous, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process the absurdity of the plan. “First of all, I’m not knocking Ron off his broom. That’s insane. Second, what if you miss and he actually crashes? You want me to be responsible for that?”
“Please, Potter." Draco scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "I’ve got excellent reflexes. I wouldn’t miss. And besides, I’d save him just in time. He’d owe me big after that.”
Harry sighed, clearly not getting through to Draco.
“Look, I get that you want to make up with Ron, but maybe try something a little less…life-threatening? You could, I don’t know, apologize? Be nice to him?”
"Nice?" Draco asked, the concept seeming foreign to him. "A heroic rescue sounds much more dramatic, don’t you think?”
Harry gave him a expressionless look.
“Or you could not try to orchestrate an accident to make yourself look good.”
Draco sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes.
“Fine, fine. I suppose you have a point. But mark my words, Potter, one day I’ll find a way to get Weasley to bury the hatchet. He can’t hold a grudge forever.”
"Well, good luck with that."
The next day in Potions class, the usual pre-class murmur filled the air as students prepared their ingredients and whispered about the latest school gossip. Ron took his seat, grumbling about having to endure yet another Potions lesson with Snape. Harry was quietly relieved that Draco hadn’t caused any trouble so far, but that peace didn’t last long.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed Draco stand up from his seat at the Slytherin table. A familiar smirk danced on Draco’s lips as he sauntered over to where Ron and Harry were seated. Harry immediately tensed, bracing himself for whatever Draco had planned this time. Draco cleared his throat theatrically, drawing the attention of the class, and then fixed his gaze on Ron.
“Weasley,” Draco began, loud enough for everyone to hear, “I’ve been trying to think of ways to, you know, make peace with you." He then gestured to Harry. "Potter here even suggested knocking you off your broom the next time you’re flying, and I could catch you and be the big hero.”
The class collectively paused, and Harry’s eyes widened in shock. His jaw dropped as he turned to Draco, unable to believe that he’d just blurted that out.
Ron’s eyes shot over to Harry, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.
“Are you serious? You actually suggested that?” His voice was incredulous, and there was a hint of accusation there, as though Ron couldn’t quite believe his best friend would even consider such a scheme.
Harry immediately raised his hands defensively while shaking his head.
“No! Absolutely not! That was his idea,” he said, pointing directly at Draco, who seemed entirely unfazed by the growing tension.
Draco shrugged, enjoying the chaos he’d stirred up.
“Well, Potter did consider it for a second,” he added with a sly grin, though it was clear he was just trying to needle Harry. “But I said no way. What if I miss? You’ve got to admit though, it would’ve been quite the spectacle. Potter gives you a little shove, I heroically swoop in, save the day. Instant peace treaty.”
Ron crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.
“Yeah, instant trip to St. Mungo’s is more like it.”
“Look,” Harry said quickly, trying to calm the situation. “Malfoy’s just messing around. I would never, ever, agree to something like that. You know me better than that.”
Draco, undeterred, reached into his bag with a dramatic flourish, trying to extend an olive branch.
"I've brought you something, Weasley."
"Yeah?" Ron looked suspicious, his face still flushed with anger. "And what makes you think I'd ever accept anything from you?"
"I'm glad you asked, Weasley. I've come prepared." With a mischievous gleam in his eye, he set a mug down on Ron's desk, sliding it over slowly as if it were some grand gesture of diplomacy. The mug was bright red, that to everyone’s amusement, was also emblazoned with bold white letters that read;
"Don't Make This Ginger Snap!"
For a moment, the entire class was silent, absorbing the sight of the ridiculous mug, the message clearly directed at Ron’s temper. Then, muffled snickers began to echo around the room. Even Harry had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Hermione’s lips twitched, but she wisely kept quiet.
Ron stared at the mug, his expression a mixture of outrage and disbelief. The fingers of his right hand twitched ever so slightly, as though contemplating whether to pick up the mug and throw it directly at Malfoy’s head.
“You’ve got to be joking,” Ron finally muttered, his voice strained as he fought to keep his temper in check.
“It’s a peace offering, Weasley." Draco's smirk only grew wider. "Consider it a token of my goodwill. No hard feelings, right?”
Harry, sensing that Ron was two seconds away from losing it, tried to intervene.
“Malfoy, seriously. This isn’t helping.”
Draco however, only seemed more amused by the rising tension.
“Come on, Potter. You’ve got to admit it’s funny. I’ve been trying to be civil here, and I thought Weasley would appreciate the gesture.”
Ron’s face had gone from pink to deep red. He was clearly struggling not to explode, and Harry quickly grabbed his arm before he could launch the mug across the room, or Malfoy.
“Let it go, Ron,” Harry whispered urgently. “He’s just winding you up.”
Ron took a deep breath, though it was clear he was moments away from telling Malfoy exactly where he could shove his ‘gesture.’
“I don’t need your stupid mug, Malfoy,” Ron growled through gritted teeth, his hands gripping the edge of the desk so tightly his knuckles turned white. “And I definitely don’t need your goodwill.”
Draco placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. “You wound me, Weasley. I’m just trying to turn over a new leaf.”
Ron muttered something unintelligible, but he managed to hold back from lashing out, thanks largely to Harry’s grip on his arm.
Hermione, ever the voice of reason, rolled her eyes.
“Honestly, Malfoy, if you’re so desperate to make peace with Ron, maybe try apologizing like a normal person instead of, I don’t know, mocking him with cheap gifts.”
“You might be right, Granger." Draco shrugged, his smirk softening slightly. "But where’s the fun in that?”
Before anyone could respond, the door to the classroom swung open, and Snape entered, his sharp gaze immediately scanning the room. The class fell into an uncomfortable silence, all eyes shifting back to their desks as if nothing had happened.
“Take your seats,” Snape barked, his eyes lingering on Draco for a moment, though he said nothing.
Draco winked at Ron, who was still fuming but thankfully had calmed down enough to keep his wand in his pocket. As Draco sauntered back to his seat, Harry sighed in relief, hoping that this ridiculous ‘peace offering’ would be the last of Malfoy’s antics. At least for today.
Ron, however, wasn’t done. He glanced at the mug sitting on his desk, then leaned over to Harry and whispered, “I swear, I was a second away from throwing this thing at his head.”
“At least you didn’t snap…this time.” Harry chuckled quietly.
Ron shot him a glare but couldn’t help the faint smile creeping onto his face.
“Yeah, well, next time I might not be so nice.”
As Snape began his lecture on complex potion ingredients, the mug sat on Ron’s desk, a symbol of Draco’s twisted sense of humor and his bizarre approach to making amends. Later on that evening, the Gryffindor common room was buzzing with the usual post-dinner chatter when a house-elf appeared at the entrance, carrying a large box wrapped in shiny red ribbon. The box, about the size of a small cauldron, was dropped off at the foot of the fireplace before the house-elf promptly disappeared with a pop. The Gryffindor students nearby paused in their conversations to glance at the mysterious package.
Ron, sitting by the fire with Harry and Hermione, stared at it curiously.
“What’s that?”
Seamus, who had been sitting nearby with Dean, hopped up and wandered over to the box, intrigued. “It’s got your name on it, Weasley.”
Harry leaned forward. Oh no, what now?
Seamus lifted the box and brought it over to their table, placing it in front of Ron with a dramatic flourish. “I think it’s from your secret admirer.”
“Please don’t tell me it’s from Malfoy again.” Ron groaned.
Hermione glanced over, frowning. “After that ridiculous mug? I wouldn't put it past him.”
Seamus, grinning like he’d just discovered treasure, yanked off the ribbon and opened the box, revealing several neatly arranged rows of cookies.
Gingerbread man cookies.
They were perfectly shaped and iced with little faces and clothes. They looked absolutely delicious, the smell of warm ginger, cinnamon, and sugar wafting up from the box. Nestled among the cookies was a note, and Seamus quickly snatched it up, reading it aloud.
“Eat Me!" Seamus spoke with a grin, holding up the note, which had a little doodle of a gingerbread man underneath the words. “And it’s signed, wait for it...Your new pal, Draco Malfoy.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before Harry burst out laughing. Ron’s face went bright red, his temper flaring. “I’m not touching those,” he said, shoving the box toward the center of the table. “Malfoy could’ve cursed them or something.”
Hermione sighed, though she had to fight back a small smile.
“Ron, honestly, they’re just cookies. You think he’s gone to the trouble of sending you poisoned baked goods?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Ron muttered, crossing his arms. “After that mug stunt, who knows what he’s planning next.”
Seamus, eyeing the cookies hungrily, grabbed one from the box and inspected it. “I don’t know, mate. They look harmless to me. Smell amazing too.”
Ron shook his head, glaring at the cookies.
“No way. I’m not falling for it.”
Seamus took a careful bite of the gingerbread man, and the room waited with bated breath. After a second, his face lit up. “Blimey, these are good!” He took another bite, his grin widening. “Malfoy’s apparently trying to bribe you into friendship with sugar.”
Harry chuckled, nudging Ron.
“I think Malfoy’s going to make you his friend whether you like it or not.”
Ron groaned again, glaring at the box of cookies like they’d insulted his entire family.
“I’ll never be friends with Malfoy, no matter how many sweets he sends.”
“You have to admit, Ron, it’s… unusual." Hermione stated, taking one of the cookies for herself, inspected it thoughtfully. "Malfoy doesn’t exactly strike me as the type to send gifts like this.”
“Yeah, well, it’s Malfoy." Ron huffed, still determined to stay angry. "There’s always some sort of scheme behind everything he does. I’m not falling for it.”
Seamus, already on his second cookie, gave Ron a playful smirk.
“Come on, Weasley. Just eat one. It won’t kill you.”
“No,” Ron said firmly, though he couldn’t help but glance at the cookies. They really did look good.
Harry leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Well, Malfoy’s persistent, I’ll give him that. First the mug, now cookies. Next, he’ll be sending you love notes.”
Ron paled slightly.
“Merlin, don’t even joke about that.”
“Maybe if you just acknowledged his attempts to make peace, he’d stop. Who knows, it could save you a lot of trouble.” Hermione told him.
“Why’s he gotta pick on me? Can’t he go bother someone else?” Ron slumped in his chair, looking miserable.
Seamus gave a loud laugh. “I think you’re special, mate. Malfoy’s taken a shine to you.”
Ron stared at the box of cookies for a moment longer before pushing it toward Seamus. “Fine. You can have them. I’m not touching anything that bloke sends me.”
Seamus, never one to turn down free food, eagerly accepted, taking another bite of the gingerbread man.
“Suit yourself. More for us.”
As Seamus and Dean dug into the cookies, Ron leaned toward Harry. “You think he’s ever going to stop?”
Harry shrugged, a small grin playing on his lips.
“Knowing Malfoy? Probably not. But look at the bright side. It’s kind of funny, isn’t it?”
Ron scowled.
“Yeah, hilarious.”
Despite his irritation, he couldn’t help but wonder just how far Malfoy was willing to go to get on his good side. While Ron refused to admit it, a small part of him was curious to see what ridiculous stunt Malfoy would pull next.