Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Written for OTP Boot Camp Challenge [Breathless]
And Diagon Alley Challenge [Madam Pimpernelle's Beautifying Potions]
Breathless
He did not know what about Harry that left him breathless every time.
Every time the other boy glanced at him with those beautiful eyes or smiled at anyone even if it was not him or any time he simply tossed his head back and laughed joyously Tom found his breath catching in his throat at the sight.
The other boy was perfect but he never paid attention to him.
He could not understand why.
He was the top student in their year, even surpassing Harry's friend Hermione. He was the Heir of Slytherin, he was popular too.
Harry was popular because he cared for the other students. He was friends with almost everyone including some of the Slytherins despite coming from Gryffindor House, the rivals of Slytherin. Tom was sure that some of the Slytherins would even defend Harry against him if they ever got into an argument and ended up fighting.
But how could he get into a fight with the other boy if he could barely even speak when he was in his presence?
Then there had been that one Potions class that had started it all. That told Tom that had did indeed know of his existence and never paid attention to him anyway.
Tom had been expecting to complete the potion alone again, like he usually did whenever they had a potion assigned to them during class that required them to work in pairs.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" Harry had asked to his surprise. He hadn't even noticed the other boy cross the potions classroom and come to stand near him.
"Why would you want to do that?" He had asked, wincing internally at how that had ended up sounding. "I mean, you're a Gryffindor and I'm a Slytherin."
Harry had tilted his head slightly. "I don't see what difference it makes if we are in different houses," he had said lightly.
Tom conceded and had moved his spread out items into his bag.
Harry had smiled at him brightly before seating himself on the now free seat beside the Heir of Slytherin.
"Why are you never paired with anyone? You seem to be popular in Slytherin," Harry asked once they had begun the potion they were meant to be preparing.
"I prefer to work alone," Tom had answered curtly, not exactly enjoying the conversation with the Gryffindor something he now wished he had done differently.
Harry had blinked in surprise. "Then why did you let me pair with you?"
"You did not really give me a choice there did you?"
Harry winced. "Touché, I won't do that again then," he promised.
Harry stayed true to his word and never even asked Tom if they could partner again even if everyone else in the classroom already had a partner, he would work alone. Tom had noticed that he had partnered with a couple of other Slytherins after him and had often partnered with them more than once, not being chased away by the other Slytherins as he had with him.
Tom wanted Harry to break his word and join him during the Potions lesson again but knew he would not. Gryffindors stayed true to their word as that was their honor.
So Tom would have to make his move. He would have to join Harry on the Gryffindor side of the classroom.
Tom only hoped that Harry had not already arranged to partner with someone else already as he had heard the Gryffindors often did with their weaker students.
He also hoped that he did not make a fool of himself when he felt his breathlessness return.