Chapter Text
Harry Potter had been looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures all week. Mostly because Hagrid was teaching it.
Care of Magical Creatures also involved going outside, which was much better than sitting in a classroom listening to Professor Binns explain something that had happened four hundred years ago. Harry was going to enjoy the class, despite the fact that Dracena Malfoy, and many of her Slytherin classmates shared the class with him.
"Potter."
Harry turned.
"Malfoy."
Dracena stood with Pansy Parkinson and two other Slytherin girls. Her pale hair was tied back with a dark green ribbon, and she was looking at Harry with the expression she reserved for things she found beneath her dignity.
Which was most things.
"Looking forward to spending the afternoon with your enormous friend?" She said, icily.
Harry smiled. "Yes, actually."
"How charming. I do hope he remembers to wash his hands before touching anything."
"Don't worry. I'll remind him to keep them away from you."
Dracena's eyes narrowed. "Meaning?"
"Wouldn't want him catching anything."
Ron snorted.
Dracena glared at Harry. "You're revolting."
"Morning to you too."
She swept past. Harry watched her go.
Ron shook his head. "Honestly, why do you bother?"
Harry shrugged. "She started it."
"She always starts it."
"Well, somebody has to finish it."
Hermione, walking beside them, sighed. "You're both ridiculous."
There was something about Hermione's tone he didn't quite follow.
Hagrid was waiting beside a fenced enclosure at the edge of the grounds. Behind him stood several enormous creatures.
Harry stopped. "Blimey."
Ron stared. "What are those?"
Hermione was already reaching for her textbook. "Uh, according to my copy of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' that's a Hippogriff."
They were magnificent. Each had the body and hindquarters of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a great bird of prey. Their feathers shone in the afternoon sunlight, and their enormous claws dug into the earth as they moved.
One was particularly striking. Sparkling feathers that reminded Harry of burnished steel. A pale head with bright orange eyes. Harry couldn't stop looking at him.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" Hagrid said proudly.
Harry nodded.
Dracena, standing several feet away, said nothing.
Harry glanced at her. She was staring at the creatures.
"What's wrong, Malfoy?"
"Nothing." She gave him a poisonous look.
Harry grinned back at her. Dracena rolled her eyes.
Hagrid clapped his enormous hands. "Right! Gather round!"
Most of the students moved closer. Dracena did not.
"Now, these here are hippogriffs. Very proud creatures. Very intelligent. An' very particular about manners."
Dracena perked up slightly at that.
Hagrid continued. "Yeh mustn't insult ‘em. Never approach one with anger or malice in yer heart. They can sense it, see? An' they won't tolerate disrespect."
Dracena frowned. "How does one insult a hippogriff?"
Hagrid looked at her. "Same way yeh insult anyone else, Miss Malfoy."
Ron coughed. Harry looked at the ground. Dracena glared at both of them.
Hagrid continued. "Yeh need ter approach slowly. Look 'em in the eye. Bow. Then wait fer them ter bow back."
"And if they don't?" Hermione asked.
"Yeh back away. Slowly. Don't turn yer back. Now, who wants ter try?"
Nobody moved. Hagrid looked around.
"Harry?"
Harry swallowed. "Me?"
"Go on. Yeh'll be fine."
Harry looked at the enormous claws and blinked. Hagrid was smiling at him. Harry stepped forward, slowly.
"This one's name is Buckbeak." Hagrid said.
Dracena watched, wide eyed.
Harry approached the steel grey hippogriff. He bowed, not taking his eyes off the creature.
It stared at him
Harry waited, then, slowly, the hippogriff lowered its head.
Hagrid beamed. "Excellent, Harry!"
The class applauded. Harry exhaled. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. Hagrid encouraged him to approach and stroke the creature's neck.
The feathers were surprisingly soft. He smiled at the creature.
"Hello, Buckbeak."
Behind him, Dracena continued staring. "I was positive Potter was about to get eaten." she said to a Slytherin girl next to her.
The other students began taking turns. Hermione managed beautifully, of course. Ron took a little longer, but eventually Buckbeak bowed to him too. Even Neville, after considerable encouragement, managed a nervous bow and received one in return.
Dracena watched, cautiously. She wasn't afraid of animals. There were horses at the Manor. She'd had equestrian lessons for as long as she could remember. Equestrian lessons didn't prepare her for "horses" with huge beaks. Or horses with claws. Or wings.
Most horses generally didn't stare at you as though deciding which part to eat first.
"Miss Malfoy?" Dracena jumped.
Hagrid smiled, oblivious. "Yer turn."
She looked at Buckbeak. "No, thank you."
Pansy stared. "Dracena!?"
Dracena immediately regretted speaking. "I mean, I don't see the point."
Hagrid frowned. "Point's ter learn how ter handle magical creatures."
"Yes, well, I already understand the instructions."
"Then give it a try."
Dracena glanced toward Harry. He was watching. Of course he was watching. He had that stupid little smile on his face.
Her face turned hot
"Come on, Malfoy." Harry called. "It's easy."
That did it. Dracena straightened. "Of course it's easy, Potter." She stepped forward. Buckbeak raised his head, quickly, sharply. Dracena stopped. He was enormous. He looked far larger than any horse she'd ever seen in her life. She could see the sharp edges of his beak. She glanced quickly at his claws, and looked away quickly.
Her stomach tightened. She took another step.
Buckbeak watched her.
"Bow, Miss Malfoy!" Hagrid instructed, excitedly.
Dracena did. Barely. Just a tiny inclination of her head.
Buckbeak didn't move. She frowned.
"Well?"
"Wait." Hagrid said.
Buckbeak continued staring. His head raised higher.
Dracena could hear people behind her. She felt her face getting hotter.
"Honestly." she muttered. Buckbeak shifted, his clawed foot pawing at the ground. Dracena jumped. Someone laughed. She turned redder.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, you oversized chicken."
Hagrid's expression changed. "Miss Malfoy..." Hagrid said, cautiously.
Dracena took another step toward Buckbeak. "Come on, you stupid chicken. I've bowed, haven't I?" Buckbeak's wings spread. Dracena froze. "Back away." Hagrid said sharply.
Dracena's eyes opened wide. She couldn't move.. The enormous wings filled her vision. The creature shrieked. Dracena screamed in response.
Everything seemed to happen at once.
The beast's steel gray feathers blurred as it moved. Dracena was aware of claws flashing past her vision, then pain. As something struck her arm, she fell backward.
Hagrid shouted at Buckbeak, who moved back slightly.
Students screamed.
Dracena Malfoy, who had spent thirteen years learning how to look composed under any circumstances, curled into a ball on the grass and sobbed.
The injury to her arm wasn't particularly serious. That was what Madam Pomfrey said. Three deep scratches along Dracena's forearm, some bruising, and a great deal of shock. There would be no permanent damage.
"I could have been killed!" Dracena shrieked.
Madam Pomfrey applied another dressing. "Well. You weren't."
"It attacked me!"
"Yes, dear."
"That creature is dangerous!"
"Most magical creatures are dangerous if mishandled. That's part of why we have these classes."
Dracena stared at her. "Are you suggesting this was my fault?"
Madam Pomfrey looked at her over her spectacles. "I'm suggesting you rest your arm."
Dracena lay back against her pillows. Her face was pale. Her eyes were red. Worst of all, Harry Potter had seen everything.
She could still hear the laughter. Not that anyone had really laughed after Buckbeak attacked, but before. They'd laughed before.
And Potter had been watching. Dracena swallowed. "Wait until my father hears about this." she said.
Her father heard about it. Dracena sent him a lengthy owl about the incident. Dracena's owl described an enormous, vicious creature that had attacked her without warning during a dangerously mismanaged lesson conducted by an incompetent groundskeeper.
Lucius Malfoy was furious. Within days, owls arrived at Hogwarts.
Ministry officials quickly followed.
Hagrid was temporarily removed from teaching while the incident was investigated. Dracena received an owl from her father assuring her that the matter would be handled appropriately.
She read it three times. It made her feel considerably better. That was, until Harry Potter found her in the corridor.
"Malfoy."
Dracena turned. "Potter."
Harry looked at her bandaged arm. "How's the terrible injury?"
Dracena lifted her chin.
"Painful."
"Really?"
"Excruciating."
"That's funny."
"What is?"
"Madam Pomfrey said you'd be fine in a few days."
Dracena glared. "Madam Pomfrey is not the one who was nearly torn apart by a vicious monster."
Harry folded his arms. "Funny. I thought Buckbeak was rather nice."
"Of course you did."
"He liked Hermione too."
"How wonderful for Granger."
"And Ron."
"Congratulations to Weasley."
"And Neville."
Dracena's eyes narrowed. Harry smiled in response.
"Even Neville. Your point, Potter?" Dracena said, icily.
Harry's smile faded. "My point is that Buckbeak didn't attack anyone else."
Dracena went still. "Excuse me?"
"Everyone else followed Hagrid's instructions."
"I followed his instructions!"
"You called Buckbeak stupid."
"He was being stupid!"
"You called him an oversized chicken."
"Well, he looks like one!"
Harry stared at her.
Her face went red.
Harry sighed. "Dracena."
She froze.
"Hagrid told you not to insult him."
"I know what Hagrid said!"
"Then why did you do it?"
Dracena opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
Harry waited. She looked away.
"I don't have to explain myself to you."
"No. I guess you don't." Harry continued. "But Hagrid might lose his job because of this."
Dracena's expression hardened. "Then perhaps he shouldn't have brought dangerous animals into a classroom."
"He's teaching Care of Magical Creatures!"
"That doesn't mean he should allow students to be attacked!"
"He didn't!"
Dracena recoiled slightly.
Harry took a breath. "He told you exactly what to do. You didn't listen."
Dracena's eyes filled with angry tears.
She hated that. She hated crying, especially in front of Potter.
"You weren't the one who got hurt!"
"No." Harry admitted.
"Then you don't know what you're talking about!"
Harry looked at her. For a moment he seemed about to say something else, but stopped.
"Father is going to make certain that creature is destroyed."
Harry's expression changed. "Destroyed?"
"Yes."
"You mean killed."
Dracena hesitated. "That's generally what "destroyed" means, Potter."
Harry stared at her. "Because you were embarrassed?"
Dracena went scarlet. "How dare you!"
Harry shook his head. "You're unbelievable."
He turned and walked away. Dracena watched him go.
Her heart was hammering.
Somewhere beneath the anger, she remembered what Harry had said. She remembered Hagrid's voice.
"Back away, Miss Malfoy."
She hadn't.
I called him stupid.
Her face burned.
Potter was right. Again. And again, she absolutely hated him for it.
The investigation continued for several weeks. Dracena's injury healed, but her bandage did not disappear. In fact, it became considerably larger.
She was excused from Care of Magical Creatures, then from certain activities in Potions. Then, somehow, from helping clean up after a Charms lesson.
Professor Flitwick seemed rather puzzled by this.
"Your arm is still troubling you, Miss Malfoy?"
"Terribly, Professor."
"Oh, dear."
Dracena sighed theatrically. "I'm managing. Somehow."
Pansy carried her books. Another Slytherin opened doors for her. Dracena discovered that an injured arm was remarkably convenient. She also discovered that people were less inclined to give her chores or tasks when she looked tragically wounded. There were advantages to suffering. Especially when one had suffered so terribly.
Then Harry caught her.
It happened on a Tuesday afternoon. Nothing important should happen on a Tuesday. Harry was leaving the library when he heard a familiar voice.
"Honestly, Pansy, I can manage." Dracena stood near a window, rearranging several books in her bag. Her bandaged arm was hanging at her side.
Her other hand was occupied, so she used the supposedly injured one to lift a heavy textbook. Then reached up and adjusted her hair.
Harry stopped, watched her, and smiled. "Oh, that's miraculous."
Dracena jumped. The book in her bandaged arm almost fell on the ground.
"Potter!"
Harry looked at her arm, then at the heavy book in her bandaged arm, then back at her.
"Madam Pomfrey must be a genius."
Dracena's expression went blank. "What?"
"Your arm." She looked down, then quickly tucked her arm against her chest.
Harry grinned. "Remarkable recovery."
Dracena narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not." Harry said, smiling.
"It's still injured."
"Naturally."
"Some movements are less painful than others."
"Like lifting enormous textbooks?"
Dracena flushed. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Or fixing your hair?"
"Potter!"
Harry laughed.
Dracena glared at him, turning red. "You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
"You're a horrible person."
"Horrible people generally fake injuries to get out of classes."
Harry leaned against the wall.
"So, how long are you planning to keep this up?"
"Keep what up?"
"The tragic suffering."
Dracena looked offended. "I nearly lost my arm!"
Harry stared at her. "Madam Pomfrey said you had three scratches."
"Deep scratches."
"Right." Harry said, sarcastically.
"Extremely deep."
"Practically down to the bone, I'm sure."
Dracena lifted her chin.
"You're mocking a wounded girl."
Harry grinned. "You're using your injury to get out of homework."
"I am not!"
"And carrying books."
"I have a medical exemption!"
"And Care of Magical Creatures."
That did it. Dracena's smile vanished. Harry didn't notice immediately.
"Honestly, Malfoy, Buckbeak probably remembers you as the girl who called him a chicken."
Dracena went very still. Harry continued.
"I bet if you went back and apologized, he'd..."
"Stop."
Harry blinked.
"What?"
"Stop."
Dracena started shaking. Harry straightened. Dracena was staring past him. Her fingers had curled against her chest. She started breathing heavier
Harry frowned. "Dracena?"
She didn't answer. Her eyes were wide.
Harry suddenly remembered the enormous wings. Buckbeak's shriek. His claws. Dracena falling, then screaming. He remembered how she'd curled into a ball on the grass. How she'd cried.
"Dracena?"
She flinched.
Harry stopped moving. "Hey."
Her breathing was coming too quickly.
"It's all right."
She shook her head. "Don't."
Harry looked around. The corridor was empty. Pansy had disappeared, gone ahead at some point.
Harry stepped slightly closer. Dracena recoiled. He stopped immediately.
"All right. I won't."
She stared at him, eyes bulging in terror.
Harry lowered his voice. "You're at Hogwarts. You're in the corridor outside the library."
Her eyes blinked slowly, then turned toward Harry
"There's no hippogriff here."
Dracena swallowed.
Harry waited. He didn't know what else to do. For once, when dealing with Dracena, no clever remark came to his mind. He just stood there, watching her.
Dracena's breathing began to slow.
Her eyes filled.
"I hate that thing." She said, voice twittering on the edge of crying.
Harry nodded. "Yeah."
"I hate it." Dracena wiped a tear away from her eye.
"I know."
Harry looked down at her hands. They were shaking.
Harry's stomach tightened. He'd thought she was simply being dramatic. And she was, But...
But not about everything.
"Come on." he said quietly.
Dracena looked up. "What?"
"There's a bench around the corner, outside"
"I don't need..."
"I know." He smiled faintly. "But I'm going to sit down for a minute. You can come if you want."
He started walking. A moment later, he heard footsteps behind him.
The bench overlooked one of the smaller courtyards.
Harry sat at one end, Dracena sat at the other.
They sat, neither of them speaking. Dracena stared at her shoes. Harry watched a bird hopping along.
Dracena said, "You're not going to tell anyone?"
Harry looked at her. "Tell them what?"
She gestured vaguely. "About that."
Harry considered. "No."
Dracena looked suspicious. "Really?"
"Really."
"Not even Weasley?"
"No."
"Or Granger?"
"No."
She studied him. Harry shrugged. "It's not their business."
Dracena looked away. "I wasn't afraid." Dracena said, unconvincingly.
Harry turned to look at her.
Dracena was staring straight ahead. "I wasn't."
Harry considered his answer. "All right."
She looked at him sharply. "You don't believe me."
"No." Harry said, neutrally.
Her mouth fell open indignantly.
Harry smiled slightly. "Dracena, you were terrified."
She went red. "How dare you..."
"It's all right."
She stopped.
"It's all right to be scared." Harry said, softly.
Dracena stared at him, and she gave a short, bitter laugh. "Easy for you to say."
Harry frowned. "Why?"
"Because you're never scared."
Harry blinked. "What?"
Dracena looked genuinely irritated. "Oh, come on, Potter."
"What?"
"Everyone knows." she said, bitterly.
"Knows what?"
"You're Harry Potter."
Harry sighed. "Here we go."
"You do ridiculous things all the time. You fight monsters. You fly around on broomsticks chasing who knows what. You go running toward danger like some sort of lunatic."
Harry grinned. "Thanks."
"And you're never afraid."
Harry stopped smiling. "That's not true."
Dracena looked at him.
"Really?"
"Really." Harry said.
She seemed unconvinced.
Harry leaned back. "Buckbeak scared the hell out of me."
Dracena blinked. "What?"
"Buckbeak."
"But you walked straight up to him like it was nothing!"
"Yeah."
"And bowed!"
"Yeah."
"And touched him!"
"Yeah."
"Then you weren't afraid!"
Harry laughed. "Dracena, have you seen the size of his claws?"
She hesitated. "Yes."
"Well, so have I."
She stared..
"The thought HAD occurred to me that he might bite my head off."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Because Hagrid told me how." he said.
Dracena frowned.
Harry shrugged. "I trust Hagrid. He knows animals. He told me what to do, so I did it."
She considered this. "You weren't frightened?"
"I just told you I was."
"But you didn't look frightened."
Harry thought about that. "Well, I was."
Dracena looked down.
Harry watched her for a moment. "I'm scared all the time."
She looked up. "You're joking."
"No."
Harry leaned forward. "When those Hogwarts letters started coming, I was scared."
Dracena frowned. "Of letters?"
"Not the letters themselves." He smiled faintly. "My aunt and uncle went completely mad. They wouldn't let me read them. They started moving us around. We ended up in this horrible little hut on a rock in the sea."
Dracena stared.
"Then Hagrid turned up." Harry smiled. "He broke the door down."
Dracena blinked. "Really?"
"Really."
Harry looked out into the courtyard. "Suddenly this enormous stranger was telling me I was a wizard, and that my parents were wizards, and that everything my aunt and uncle had told me was a lie."
Dracena was silent.
"I was terrified."
"But you went with him."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Harry thought. "Because I wanted to know."
Dracena watched him.
"And because staying with the Dursleys was worse." Harry looked at Dracena. "Not that I knew what would happen. I didn't."
Dracena looked at him.
"Then there was King's Cross."
"The station?"
"Yeah."
Harry laughed. "I had to run straight at a brick wall."
Dracena smiled despite herself. "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."
"Exactly."
"You didn't know how to get through?"
"No."
"Oh, Potter."
Harry grinned. "Go on. Laugh."
Dracena laughed. Harry liked hearing it. It was different from the sharp, snobbish laugh she usually gave him. He found himself smiling too.
"Anyway." he continued, "I thought I was going to smash my face into the wall."
"But you did it."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because Ron's family told me how."
Dracena's smile faded slightly.
Harry noticed. He continued before she could say anything. "And I trusted them."
She looked down.
"I suppose that's the thing." Harry said, thoughtfully.
"What?"
"Being scared doesn't always mean you shouldn't do something."
Dracena frowned. "That sounds stupid."
"Probably." Harry shrugged. "But sometimes being scared tells you something matters."
She looked at him.
Harry searched for the words. He wasn't very good at this. Not like Hermione. "Sometimes I'm scared because something's dangerous. And that's useful. It makes me pay attention."
Dracena listened.
"Sometimes I'm scared because I don't know what's going to happen." He thought about Hagrid. The letters. The train. The Sorting Hat. "And sometimes I'm scared because if I don't do something, I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what would've happened if I had."
Dracena was very quiet.
"Sometimes I run toward what scares me because I'm afraid that if I stop and think too long, I might freeze."
He looked at her. "That doesn't mean I'm not frightened."
Dracena stared at him. "I froze."
Harry nodded.
"I couldn't move."
"Yeah."
"Hagrid told me to back away."
Harry said nothing, looking at her, listening.
"I heard him." She swallowed. "I knew what he was saying, but I couldn't..." Her voice cracked. "I couldn't make my legs move."
Harry felt something twist inside his chest. He'd never heard Dracena sound like this.
She looked down at her arm. "I thought it was going to kill me."
Harry spoke quietly. "I'm sorry."
Dracena looked up.
"I shouldn't have made fun of you for being scared."
She stared at him.
Harry shrugged. "I didn't know."
Her eyes filled again. She blinked furiously.
"Well."
Harry waited.
Dracena cleared her throat. "Thank you."
Harry smiled. "You're welcome."
They sat in silence.
"But Hagrid still didn't do anything wrong." Harry said.
Dracena stiffened.
Harry continued. "And Buckbeak doesn't deserve to die."
She looked away. "...yeah."
Harry looked at her.
She swallowed. "I shouldn't have called him stupid."
Harry said nothing.
"I was frightened. And everyone was watching. And you made it look so easy."
Harry almost smiled. "So you called him a chicken?"
Dracena's face reddened. "Don't."
"Sorry."
She looked at him. For a moment she thought he might laugh, but he didn't.
She sighed. "It was a very stupid thing to do."
Harry nodded. "Yeah."
She glared. "You don't have to agree so enthusiastically."
Harry grinned.
"Sorry."
Dracena's mouth twitched. She looked down again. "Father doesn't know."
Harry frowned. "Doesn't know what?"
"That I insulted Buckbeak."
"Oh."
"He thinks it attacked me for no reason."
Harry considered. "Are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know."
Harry nodded. "All right."
She looked at him.
"You're not going to tell me I have to?"
Harry shrugged. "He's your father."
Dracena seemed surprised.
Harry continued. "But Hagrid might lose his job."
She looked down.
"And Buckbeak might be killed."
"I know."
Harry waited.
Dracena sighed. "I'll think about it."
Harry nodded. "All right."
She looked at him suspiciously.
"That's it?"
"What?"
"You're not going to lecture me?"
Harry smiled. "Would it help?"
"No." She smiled, despite herself.
"Then no."
Dracena stared at him. She suddenly noticed how green his eyes were. She'd noticed before, of course. In Madam Malkin's. On the train. In corridors. In classrooms.
She had always thought Potter had unusually green eyes. But now? Now he was sitting beside her, looking at her without laughing, without mocking, without expecting anything.
He'd seen her frightened.
He'd seen her cry.
He'd heard her admit she was wrong.
And he hadn't used any of it against her.
He was being nice.
Genuinely nice. To her. Dracena felt her stomach do something peculiar.
Harry smiled. "You all right?"
She stared at him. His hair was sticking up. As usual.
His glasses were slightly crooked. As usual.
He looked ridiculous.
And...
Oh. Oh, no.
Dracena looked away so quickly she nearly hurt her neck.
Harry frowned.
"Dracena?"
Her face was burning. This was intolerable. Absolutely intolerable.
Harry leaned forward. "Are you feeling sick?"
That made it worse. He was worried about her.
Oh, for Merlin's sake.
Dracena stood abruptly.
Harry blinked. "What?"
She straightened her robes.
"Well." she said, sourly.
Harry looked up at her. "Well what?"
"I suppose you've enjoyed yourself."
Harry frowned. "What?"
"Having a good laugh at my expense."
Harry stared. "Dracena, I wasn't..."
"'Poor little Malfoy. Frightened of a bird. How terribly amusing.'"
Harry stood. "I didn't say that!"
"Of course not." Her voice sharpened. Something changed in Dracena, like a light went out. "You simply decided to take pity on me."
Harry looked genuinely confused. "Pity?"
"Yes, Potter. Pity."
"I wasn't pitying you!" Harry responded, confused. Lost.
"Then what were you doing?"
Harry opened his mouth, but no words came out. He'd seen someone frightened. He'd wanted to help. That was all. Wasn't it?
"I was trying to be nice."
Dracena's stomach twisted. That was somehow worse. "Well, don't."
Harry stared. "What?"
"I don't need your charity."
"Charity?"
"Or your sympathy."
Harry's expression changed. "Dracena..."
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself."
"I didn't say you weren't." Harry said.
"I don't need Harry Potter rescuing me from my own feelings."
Harry took a step back. "Fine."
Dracena felt a sudden, horrible pang. She wanted to take it back. She was so confused. She was angry at Harry, and angry at herself at the same time.
Harry folded his arms. "Fine, Malfoy."
The name stung. She'd gotten used to him calling her Dracena. Only for a few minutes. But she'd liked it. More than she wanted to admit.
"Good." she said.
"Brilliant."
"Wonderful."
"Anything else?"
Dracena lifted her chin.
"Yes."
Harry waited.
"Your hair is still ridiculous."
Harry stared at her, then he gave a short, humorless laugh. "Okay?"
Dracena turned and started walking. For one terrible moment she wanted to turn around, but she didn't.
"Goodbye, Potter." she said over her shoulder.
Harry looked at her.
"Bye, Malfoy."
She walked away. Quickly, before he could see her crying.
Harry stood beside the bench. He watched Dracena disappear around the corner. He sat down after she receded from view.
"What was THAT all about?" he asked nobody in particular.
The courtyard offered no explanation. Harry stared at the wall.
He thought about the conversation. She'd been frightened. He'd listened to her.
They'd talked. Actually talked. It had been... Nice. Really nice. Harry frowned. He'd liked hearing her laugh. He'd liked that she'd trusted him enough to admit she was frightened.
He'd liked...
Harry stopped, and thought about how Hermione kept teasing him about how he "liked" Dracena.
No. Absolutely not. This was Malfoy. Dracena Malfoy. The girl who insulted Ron's family. Who called Hermione names. Who treated everyone as though they were beneath her. Dracena, who was currently trying to have Hagrid dismissed and Buckbeak killed.
Harry was supposed to be angry with her. And he was. Obviously. He was furious.
Harry tried to feel furious. It wasn't working particularly well.
Instead he felt... Hurt? That was stupid. Why should he care what Dracena Malfoy thought of him?
Harry stood. "She's horrible." he muttered.
The empty corridor did not disagree. He started toward Gryffindor Tower.
"Completely horrible."
He walked faster.
"Insufferable."
That sounded better.
Dracena made it back to the Slytherin common room before she started crying properly.
She went straight to her dormitory, laid in her bed and buried her face in her pillow.
She was crying because Harry Potter had been kind to her, and she'd punished him for it.
She could still see his face. The confusion, then the hurt.
I was trying to be nice.
Dracena squeezed her eyes shut.
"Idiot." she whispered.
She wasn't entirely sure if she meant him, or herself.
After she stopped crying, she rolled onto her back and stared at the canopy.
Harry had been frightened too. He'd told her that. He'd admitted it without embarrassment, without shame.
Harry acted as though being afraid was simply something people experienced, as though it didn't make you weak. as though you could be afraid and still be brave.
Dracena thought about Buckbeak.
About freezing.
About Hagrid telling her to move.
About Potter bowing to the enormous creature despite being frightened.
And about what he'd said. "Sometimes being scared tells you something matters."
She looked at her arm. The scratches had almost completely healed. She'd been pretending otherwise for weeks.
Perhaps it was time to stop. Dracena sighed.
Tomorrow she'd write to Father. She wasn't sure what she'd say. She wasn't sure she could convince him to stop pursuing Hagrid. She wasn't even sure she wanted to admit everything.
She felt determined to go back to Care of Magical Creatures.
Eventually. Not tomorrow. Absolutely not tomorrow.
But someday.
She turned onto her side. Annoyingly, she thought about Potter again.
His ridiculous hair. His stupid glasses. Those green eyes. The way he'd said her name.
Dracena. She pulled the blanket over her head.
"Oh, shut up." She said to herself.
The matter of Buckbeak was eventually resolved.
The Hogwarts governors reviewed Hagrid's instructions, heard from the students who had witnessed the incident, and concluded that the hippogriff had reacted to provocation despite adequate warnings.
Hagrid was reinstated. Buckbeak was spared. Lucius Malfoy was furious.
Dracena received a lengthy owl expressing his disappointment with the school's judgment.
She read it twice, then put it away. For reasons she didn't entirely understand, she felt relieved.
A week later, Harry encountered her outside the Great Hall.
"Malfoy."
"Potter.
He glanced at her arm. The bandage was gone.
"Miraculous recovery."
Dracena narrowed her eyes. "Don't start."
Harry smiled.
"Going back to Care of Magical Creatures?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
"Eventually."
"Right."
She glared. "Don't look so pleased with yourself."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
They stood there. For a moment neither seemed to know what to say.
Dracena lifted her chin.
"Your tie is crooked."
Harry looked down. "No, it isn't."
"It is."
She stepped forward. Without thinking, she reached up and straightened it.
Harry froze. Her fingers were inches from his face.
She could see his eyes. He could see hers. For one strange second, the corridor seemed very quiet.
Dracena stepped back. "There."
Harry swallowed. "Thanks."
She looked away. "Someone has to make you presentable."
Harry smiled. "Good thing you're here, then."
Dracena's cheeks went pink.
She glared at him. "Don't push it, Potter."
Harry grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it, Malfoy."
She walked away. Harry watched her go. This time, when she reached the corner, she looked back.
Harry was still watching. Dracena smiled. Harry smiled back. Then they both turned away, thoroughly embarrassed.
Neither understood what had just happened.