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#*# 1. Accidental Meeting #*#
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Draco
"Watch it, Potter," I sneered as I ran into the scruffy, black-haired hero. He thinks he's so perfect with all of his saving the world. Now that the Dark Lord is dead, everyone celebrates his disgusting life.
"Sorry, Draco. Didn't mean it." He ducked his head and shuffled down the corridor in embarrassment. Good. But I couldn't help but feel a weird tug at the back of my stomach at the sound of my first name rolling off his tongue. I shoved the feeling aside, ignoring any thoughts related to Potter.
I had decided to come back to school and finish my seventh year, knowing that either way I would be hated. What I hadn't thought of was Potter returning as well. Kingsley had basically handed him an Auror position on a silver platter, but he had rejected it. It was all over the Daily Prophet.
I made my way to the Great Hall for dinner. As I walked in, I looked over at the Gryffindor table, expecting to see the Golden Trio sitting there, but it was just Potter. Odd. I made my way to my own table and took a seat next to my best mate, Blaise.
"Hey, mate, one hell of a year, huh?" I looked over and nodded, my right hand moving over to the permanent mark on my forearm. Part of my wanted to erase it and forget it ever happened, but the other part was proud.
"Yeah, hey, do you know why the Golden Trio isn't here?" I asked, venom dripping from every word, as I nodded towards the lone hero.
"Not a clue, but what does it matter?" He clapped a hand on my back, making me lower my eyes from Potter's face to the food in front of me.
Harry
My mind was still on the run-in in the corridor. I really hadn't meant to bump into him. I was just trying to get back to the Room of Requirement before dinner. Once the war was over and we were allowed to come back, I didn't hesitate. I made up a permanent residence in the Room of Requirement since the only other close friend I had here was Ginny, and she was Head Girl. Hermione and Ron had stayed behind to take care of their first child.
Ginny and I had had a falling out once the letters from Hogwarts had come with our schedules and lists of supplies. She said it brought back bad memories, being with me, so we ended it. I smiled, knowing she still loved me, at least as a brother. Family was one thing I could really use here.
I felt my eyes drifting around the Great Hall, noticing the lack of students, before resting on a pale, cloudy-eyed boy across from me. My chest tightened, not understanding the reason behind it.
"Hey, Harry, what are you staring at?" Ginny's friendly voice snapped me back to reality. I felt a blush creep up my face and I vigorously shook my head.
"Nothing, Gin, just looking around," I grinned at her and focused back on my meal. I heard her chuckle and mutter something about me being a horrid liar. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like someone was watching me. I flicked my eyes and saw Draco staring at me. I dropped my gaze, avoiding eye contact. Soon the feeling started to get under my skin when, suddenly, it was gone. I chanced a glance up, and sure enough, he wasn't looking at me anymore. Now was my chance to escape.
"Hey, Ginny, cover for me?" I whispered across the table to her. She nodded in acknowledgement and I knew she would follow through. I couldn't get out of the hall fast enough. I found myself running to my safe haven and as soon as I saw the door, I let out the breath I didn't know I had been holding and escaped from the real world.
I took my map out and checked which people were near. One was Draco Malfoy, and he was close.
