Lines of Love and Hate

And now for one of my favorite HP/DM Drabbles!


"Down Played"

Their rivalry was legendary. They were the main reason that the rift between Gryffindor and Slytherin was so vast. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin Prince, and Harry Potter, the Gryffindor Golden Boy. They had been fierce rivals since they were eleven. They fought, insulted, and generally tried to kill each other or at least cause each other as much pain as humanly possible. And to think, it all started when Harry had refused Draco's hand in a robe shop when they were eleven.

Harry had been new to the Wizarding World and Draco had reminded him of Dudley... end of story... only not really.

You see, Draco had never been refused anything before, much less someone's friendship, and to find out that he had been turned down in favor of a Weasley and a Mudblood... well tat was unforgivable. So if he couldn't be Harry's friend, he'd be his enemy, his rival in Everything.

Though their interests were very alike, something that didn't go unnoticed by a certain Hermione Granger and Pansy Parkinson, their temperaments were polar opposite.

Draco, nicknamed the 'Ice Prince' by the student body, was cold, cutting, and practically unreachable in his emotions. To some he was cold, nasty, and cruel, while to others he was polite and aloof. From an early age, he had several carefully constructed masks to hide his true personality. Very few people knew him well and if you weren't one of those people, all you saw was a high- class, aristocratic, indifferent, young pureblood. Nothing more, nothing less.

But he wasn't really those things, he didn't mind the other Houses and he was content to “mingle” in his overly confident, cock- sure way. Until, that is, the Golden Trio was in his presence, or more precisely, the Golden Boy... the others he could ignore. Weasly was a pureblood... poor, but pure. Granger was incredibly smart, at the top of their class, and disturbingly cunning... a bit of a know-it-all, but certainly worth a civil respect. But Potter... Potter rubbed Draco the wrong way.

Draco only became cruel around Harry. But Harry wasn't much better. The barbs that went flying toward Draco were just as sharp as the ones Draco sent toward Harry.

While Harry lacked the cocky confidence Draco had, Harry had a subtle confidence nonetheless. Harry's confidence came from knowing exactly who he was and being excepted and liked for who he was.

He had a warm, caring personality; overly trusting to everyone he met. His emotions were never covered or masked and his trust in the human race never wavered, even when perhaps it should have. Often times, this was mistaken for innocence and naiveness, but Harry was neither of those things. He knew what people were like, how they could be, but he still gave them all his faith and a second chance.

Harry wasn't one to hate people, so why then would you say he found a rival in Draco? Well, just as Harry rubbed Draco the wrong way, Draco struck a nerve deep inside Harry. Harry could crack Draco's cool, but Draco could sweep Harry into a burning rage. They were the only ones that could get that reaction from each other. No one else had even come close. This cause their fights to be intense and passionate as they pushed each other's limits until one, or both, of them snapped.

They were polar opposite in looks also. They were same height, but that's where the similarities ended. Where Harry was broader in the shoulders, Draco was leaner with a lithe, swimmer's build.

Harry had all the charm and charisma of the boy-next-door or class- president. He was a natural leader and speaker, someone you felt comfortable talking to. His casual appearance certainly helped. He was most comfortable in casual, loose muggle jeans and a cotton t-shirt. His messy; they really gave him that-just-been-shagged look; raven locks in combination with his golden skin, glittering emerald eyes, and bright flashing smile had you literally melting at the knees. His subtle confidence was both alluring and attractive, as he could most often just flash that boyish grin and have even his stern head-of-house relent.

Draco on the other hand, had all the sexiness of the typical bad boy. He didn't make the girls and boys melt, he made them swoon. He constantly tested authority in subtle ways that made people gasp at the audacity he showed. A smirk and a saucy wink and he could get almost anything he wanted. He had upper- class breeding and money and it showed. Dressed to impress every second of every day, he never had a bad physical appearance. His platinum blond tresses were just long enough to hang in his silver eyes, but too short to be tucked behind his ear. His pale skin was both flawless and perfect and his hands were elegant. He carried with him an air of importance that made you sit up and take notice. And his smirk, playful or naughty, always won a blush from its recipient.

They were the most eligible bachelors in England. Any woman or man would be incredibly lucky to capture one of them. Too bad they only had eyes for each other, huh? Because they were fierce rivals, and focused solely on drawing the most passionate reaction, their attention was rarely off of the other. When they weren't fighting, they were obsessed with what “plot” the other was “planning” against them.

So imagine everyone surprise when one day, out-of-the-blue, the two rival's were seen striding together down the corridor to the Great Hall.

Harry was smiling widely and talking animatedly, while gesturing wildly with his arms. Draco walked beside him listening avidly, his hands in his trouser pockets in a casualness no one had ever seen from him. He had a small, amused smirk on his lips as he kept his attentive eyes on the Gryffindor next to him. Every once in awhile, Draco would make a sarcastic comment to something Harry had said and in response, Harry would let out a chiming laugh.

Younger years stopped and stared, halting everything as they watched the infamous rivals companionably stride past them into the Great Hall, still chatting as if they were old friends. The students ceased all noise as they too stared wide-eyed, minds boggling, at what they were seeing.

A loud clatter and a thump was heard moments later as Ronald Weasley fell off the Gryffindor bench in a dead faint. Hermione Granger only looked on amused. The rivals parted; Harry with a large, flashing smile, and Draco with a playful smirk.

Harry took a seat opposite of Hermione, who had a clear view of Harry's “rival”, while stepping over Ron in the process. Hermione looked up casually from her breakfasts and addressed Harry in her usual, slightly accusing, matter-of-fact tone.

“Harry, you know this isn't fair right?” Harry raised an eyebrow in her direction as he took a bite out of the crisp apple in his hand.

“Not only did you ruin someone else's chance to snag one of the hottest blokes in the Wizarding World, you also sabotaged any chance of anyone holding your attention for longer than a glance.”

Harry only smirked at her, shrugged, and took another bite. Hermione looked thoughtful for a second, clearly pondering something, as a low moan alerted everyone to Ron's newly regained consciousness. As the redhead unsteadily braced himself on the wooden bench, Hermione shrugged herself out of her reverie.

“At least you two look hot together, it won't take much to imagine how the sex is.” Instantaneously, the clatter of silverware, the shatter of a plate, and another loud thud was heard. Harry worriedly glanced down at his unconscious best- mate.

“Is he going to keep doing that?” Hermione raised herself from her seat slightly and peered over the table down at Ron before sitting again and shrugging.

“Probably.”

~~~

The Slytherin table had slightly less drama. As Draco sat, his back to the Gryffindor table, Pansy Parkinson, as casually as Hermione had, inquired on Draco's health.

“I see you've snagged the Golden Boy... How's the sex?”

The rest of the Slytherin's were oddly unsurprised at Pansy's blunt and rather forward comment. Draco only smirked at his friend and said nothing.

“You'll let me watch?” Of coarse, this wasn't a question... no, from Pansy this was a polite order. Draco only raised an eyebrow and set down his pumpkin juice.

“I'm hardly the exhibitionist between the two of us.” Pansy just raised an eyebrow in return and glanced around her blond friend in time to see Weasley faint for the second time, his best friends only sparing him a glance.

“He'll let me watch.” Pansy said confidently, eying up the Golden Boy from across the room.

They were both gorgeous specimen. Both opposite, but instead of clashing, they just fit. They weren't meant to blend in, they were meant to stand out. And they would always look better next to each other.

The Wizarding World's most eligible, powerful young wizards were taken by the only other person that could truthfully match their pride, power, and passion.

After all... opposites attract and the line is very thin between love and hate.

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Like I said, this is one of my favorites! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Review and tell me what you think!