Draco Get's His

Chapter 3

Hermione was scribbling away at her notes pre-lecture, copying the inane mutterings Professor Binns had put on the board and trying like mad to stay busy. She couldn’t say that it really helped but it at least diverted her focus from other thoughts. She turned her head slightly to see Ron sitting one seat over from her. She raised her eyebrow at him considering Harry was on her other side but he just guiltily looked at his hands.

Needless to say she nearly jumped out of her seat and fled when Draco bloody Malfoy sat down very slowly next to her with a slight wince. Her eyes widening, she shot a look to Ron who looked even more guilty and scrunched down into his chair. Oh, that redhead was dead, dead, DEAD. What kind of dirt could Malfoy possibly have on him? Her eyes caught Pansy nibbling on her lower lip and sitting on the Slytherin side. Ah, blackmail, now it made sense.

Sighing deeply, deciding to head this nightmare off,” What do you want, Malfoy?”

Draco didn’t jump or cringe or start in with his incessant harassment. In fact all he did was slide her a slip of parchment silently across the shared desk and turn his attention to pulling out blank paper and a quill, watching Binns with grim determination. She did, however, catch the light tinge on his cheeks and realized he was blushing. Raising an eyebrow, she glanced down at the note and silently debated the possibilities that it had been hexed.

Shrugging with a devil may care attitude...or a death wish...she carefully opened the slip and stared at the contents:

I’m sorry.

Hermione blinked twice before glancing back at the embarrassed blond. Her brown eyes swung to Harry who was frowning silently in question. Okay, so this hadn’t been his prompting. And Malfoy had obviously black-mailed Ron into switching spots so he could give her the note. Interesting. Could he really mean it was the question? Still, even if this might be a set up, Malfoy had never apologized for anything. He was the way that he was and either you accepted it or you didn’t. But this...this was almost legend making.

She pursed her lips in thought for half a moment before carefully and deliberately sliding the note into her pocket as obvious acceptance. She detected the barest of breaths from him and realized he’d been holding it all this time. Whispering softly,” What are you up to, Malfoy?”

Face forward but talking just as quietly,” Draco...nothing.”

Blinking once before frowning,” Why are you suddenly...nice?”

She smirked slightly when he seemed to cringe from the word but he held his tongue about it. She turned her attention to the History of Magic professor, yet through the entire class she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips...the first one there in two months.

***

Draco nearly yelped in terror when he felt a firm hand on his bicep. It had been a big gamble and he knew it. Trying to confront the Lioness on Gryffindor turf. Still he couldn’t help the almost silent squeak that only the person holding his arm heard as he was skillfully herded past the departing students. Not wanting to cause a scene because thank you very much but his reputation was already in tatters, he didn’t protest the manhandling and grunted when he was lightly shoved at a wall.

He caught himself and spun around, hands up in protest,” I’m not harassing her!”

Harry crossed his arms and scowled,” Then what are you up to, Malfoy? A plot to humiliate her...I won’t allow it.”

The only reason Potter couldn’t see that he was shaking was the fact that he was pressed tightly against the wall...well, his back was anyway,” I’m not trying to-“

Sighing,” Malfoy, whatever it is that your plotting stops right now. I guarantee you will regret it if you don’t back off.” Harry could and would do it again.

Draco couldn’t help gulping but he did straighten his spine just a bit. He was Draco Malfoy. He was not some weak little first year Hufflepuff. If he was going down in flames yet again there was no way he was going to be meek about it. No matter what Potter did to him he was not just going to accept it like a recalcitrant child. Had he deserved what Potter had given him, maybe. Would he accept it if he earned it a second time, possibly under heavy protest. Would he turn into some pathetic little Longbottom from every threat when he wasn’t even deserving, hell no,” Enjoy yourself too much, Potter? Can’t wait for another time at my ass, you pervert?”

Harry narrowed his eyes for half a moment before sighing to himself. No, he didn’t enjoy anyone’s pain, even the pain in the ass in front of him. Deciding to talk around this mess and get right to the point,” No one suddenly changes their mind in one day. You hated her yesterday and today you want to be friends? Forgive me if I find that just a little suspicious.”

Hitting the wall with his fist, refusing to flinch. Shit! He had to stop hitting the castle with his body,” I never hated her!” His eyes widened and he slapped both hands over his mouth. He had not just said that. Okay, it was true but he really hadn’t just said that out loud to someone. Right? Judging by the stunned expression on Potter’s face he had and he slumped. So it was out. Best to just get it over with and be done with it. Tempted to run his hands through his hair and muss up his style considering the way his week was heading, he sighed softly instead and mumbled,” I was... curious...”

Eyebrows rising in even more surprise,” Curious?”

It was very tempting to retort. Even more so to start acting his part as the Slytherin git that Potter and everyone else was familiar with but the truth was he’d been tired of that persona years ago. It was useful in Slytherin House. No one, save his bitchy friends Milli and Pansy, dared to mess with him. Still, if this was going to work he’d have to lower his guard just a bit. Grinding his teeth together but not about to start a fight he knew he was going to lose,” Look, Potter, you Gryffindors have never been all that welcoming to Slytherins unless you want to either fuck, or fuck over, one of us...what did you expect?”

Harry tilted his head, trying to follow where that statement had come from before his eyes slowly widened in understand. Now, it made sense. The teasing and the badgering, years of it and most of it either focused on him, the boy that had apparently wronged him in another life, or Hermione that merely existed at his school and in his presence. He’d never suspected that Draco’s persistent pursuit had been an effort to tag along, if the only way that he as a Malfoy and a Slytherin could. Still, he felt it was his duty to say something, if for no other reason than to keep the Slytherin on his toes,” Alright, Malfoy...Draco...” The blond’s head shot up in surprise,” I’ll back off but only if you’re sincere. She just lost her parents a couple months ago so you’d better watch yourself...if you hurt her all of Gryffindor will get a shot at you.”

Draco’s eyes widened in horror and he tried to stutter out a response but Harry had already turned and stalked off down the hall, heading for his next class. Slowly, Draco let himself slip to the floor, wincing as he sat a bit too heavily and leaned back against the wall. He blinked slowly in reflection before glancing over in the direction that Potter had walked off and smirked to himself. Potter was cooperating with his plans beautifully, if unknowingly

Phase one was complete. He was in..