As winter finally drew into spring, Hogwarts was peaceful once again. The Great War had ended and its wounds had healed and, for the first time in years, everything was back to normal. Actually, it was better than normal. Hogwarts had never looked more cheerful. The buildings had been repaired and everyone was happy again. Harry, Ron, Hermione and the other students had come back to Hogwarts to repeat the year they had missed.
Harry yawned: the lesson he was in couldn't have possibly go more boring if it tried. After running round finding horcruxes and plotting war strategies, the new found normalcy was dull, not that Harry or anyone else would ever want to do that again. Harry was just struggling to get interested in school work again. He glanced around the classroom, his eyes crossing over his friends who looked just as bored as he felt. Ron was pushing his wand back and forth on the table, Seamus was doodling in the corner of his parchment, and Neville's head was getting closer and closer to the desk every second. Hermione, he saw, was sitting bolt upright and drinking in every word McGonagall said. He smiled to himself, Hermione was a lot less bossy these days, but she still nagged Ron and Harry to pay attention in lessons. As he thought this, Hermione turned round and gave him a hard look. Harry stuck his tongue out her and laughed to himself. She grinned at him and turned back round.
Harry's broad smile slipped away as he spotted a blond haired boy in front of him. The Gryffindors now, unfortunately, shared their lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy had come back to Hogwarts with his tail between his legs. He'd apologized to everyone and was lying low for the first time in his life. He and Harry no longer hated each other but things weren't exactly pleasant between them either. Harry sighed quietly and closed his eyes, allowing the noise of the room to subside to a gentle hum.
An impatient cough broke through his thoughts. Harry opened his eyes to see Malfoy standing over him. Harry started slightly but soon composed himself.
"What is it, Malfoy?" he said in a jaded tone.
"McGonagall said you have the book I need and seeing as you're not using it, I'm having it."
"No, you are not! It's my book, get your own." Malfoy ignored him and reached out to take the book but before he could so much as touch it, Harry grabbed his wrist roughly.
"Get off me, Potter!" Malfoy said angrily, pulling his arm away.
"Boys! Seeing as everyone had paired up already while you were squabbling over a book, I'll have to put you two together!" Harry swore to himself. He'd forgotten all about the project McGonagall had told them they had to do. It was a long project and counted heavily towards their N.E.W.T.s. And he was stuck partnered up with Malfoy. A glance at the Slytherin told him that he wasn't at all pleased at this either.
"But Professor..." he started.
"You two are working together and that's final. Maybe next time you'll think about it a little more before you disrupt my class with your silly squabbles." She walked away and began to talk to another student, making it perfectly clear that the matter was closed.
Harry grunted and turned to Malfoy. He opened his mouth to speak but Malfoy cut him off.
"Don't talk to me, Potter." He sauntered off leaving Harry, who groaned and let his head fall onto the desk with a dull thunk. This was going to be a long couple of weeks.
Harry sat down heavily onto the sofa in the common room after supper in a foul mood. Ron and Hermione cautiously sat down next to him, exchanging glances.
"Why did McGonagall have to put us together? Surely, she knows what an ill-mannered, uncooperative git Malfoy is! It's as if she wants us to kill each other."
"Maybe she just thinks that making you work together will help you resolve your differences. And besides, you did ask for it." Harry groaned loudly. Normally he would agree with Hermione but he was simply too angry to care that she was probably right.
"Shut up, Hermione! The man has enough to worry about without you blaming him." Harry was grateful of Ron being on his side. Hermione elbowed Ron and he grinned at her before turning back to Harry. "It's alright, mate, you'll think of something."
"He's right, Harry. It'll be okay."
"'He's right', I'll never get tired of hearing that!" Ron laughed. Harry tuned out at that point, leaving Ron and Hermione to bicker light-heartedly. He didn't know how he was going to cope spending so much time with Malfoy.
The next morning Harry woke up late. He sleepily padded to the showers and to his dismay found that the hot water had already been used up. Unfortunately, the heating charms only lasted so long without Dumbledore to maintain them. As he shivered under the lukewarm water, he thought about his transfiguration lesson that morning. He was dreading it and would much rather crawl back into his warm bed and stay there until lunchtime but he knew he couldn't. For a start, he'd never hear the end of Hermione's nagging and besides, he was the Gryffindor in this, if he didn't show up Malfoy may think he chickened out. Malfoy getting one over on him was something Harry couldn't contemplate. Groaning loudly for the millionth time in the past two days, he got dressed and went down stairs into the common room.
Ginny met him just before he left to go to breakfast and welcomed him with a warm smile that gave him butterflies.
"Hi Harry," she said, winding her arm around his waist, "Hermione told me what happened with Malfoy. Bad luck." Harry smiled back at her and put his arm around her shoulders. Seeing her had lifted his mood slightly. He was so glad he now had the time to spend with Ginny rather than being distracted from their relationship by the war. They left the common room and went to the Great Hall, chatting all the way. By the time they reached the Gryffindor table, Harry was almost feeling optimistic about the day that lay before him.
His optimism died quickly when he went into transfiguration and saw Malfoy's scowling face however, and all of the worries seeped back. Malfoy saw him and glared. It was obvious he thought it was Harry's fault they were in this mess. Harry sat down at his desk and McGonagall called for quiet.
"Now, you all have your partners, I trust, so we will begin. Each pair will get a subject and you will work on perfecting that form of transformation together." she looked pointedly at Harry and Malfoy in turn before continuing. "This will be the subject in which you are tested on mainly for your N.E.W.T.s so it would do you well to get it right. The project consists of ten hours to be spent in lessons and thirty to be spent in your own time. It would be wise to do it in hour blocks as homework. Now, pair up." Harry shot a look at Malfoy who simply glared back at him. Harry beckoned for Malfoy to come over but the Slytherin made it clear that he had no intention of moving. Harry wasn't in the mood to dispute and gave in without much argument. He stood up and made his way slowly to Malfoy's desk.
"Go away, Potter." Harry stood awkwardly at Malfoy's desk, hating him for making this even more difficult than it already was.
"I hate to spoil your brilliant mood, Malfoy, but, because of you, we have to work together," Harry said coldly.
"Oh, so it's my fault? It's my fault that you wouldn't give me that damn book so now we're in this mess? Go away," Malfoy spat before looking back down at the book he was reading. Harry followed his eyes for a moment before snatching the book from under his nose. Malfoy protested loudly. "Give that back, Potter!" Malfoy stood up and tried to grab the book back, but, being the better seeker, Harry's reflexes were quicker. Harry moved out of the way and Malfoy overbalanced and had to clutch onto Harry to stop himself falling to the floor. Harry pushed him away roughly.
"Get off, Malfoy!" Harry felt ruffled. Malfoy had grabbed onto the front of his jumper and hit his head on Harry's chest. Harry righted himself and glanced around. McGonagall was looking unimpressed and half the room was silent. Harry slunk back to his desk, angrily throwing Malfoy's book onto the table. McGonagall sighed and left them too it. She would talk to them at the end of the lesson.
Harry spent the lesson ignoring the book and glaring at Malfoy.
"Potter, Malfoy, stay behind please. The rest of you may leave." Everyone else shuffled around and got their things together and left.
"Hang in there, mate," Ron said sympathetically as he passed. "We'll see you later." He left with Hermione so it was only Harry, Malfoy and McGonagall left in the room.
"Boys, come here please." Harry stayed in his seat, not wanting to be the first one to rise and walk up to the front. Malfoy apparently had the same idea and stayed where he was. Harry shot him a glare and Malfoy returned it instantly. "Stop it, both of you. Come to the front. Now."
Harry rose and almost smiled as Malfoy quickly followed. They both wove their way between the desks and stood at McGonagall's desk. She looked at them both.
"Why can't you two just get on?" she asked them. He eyes almost had humour in them but her face was drawn.
"Well if Malfoy would stop being so arrogant it would help..."
"Me! If you'd stop being so damn saintly we might get along better!"
"Both of you be quiet!" McGonagall looked disappointed. Harry stayed quiet. He hated to disappoint McGonagall, especially as she'd been so supportive in the Great War.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry mumbled, looking at the floor.
"Maybe if you could put all this energy into working together instead of bickering you might get something done, once in a while." Merlin, Harry hated when adults said that. It reminded him of being ten again. It seemed to be better fitting when teachers told him off for arguing with Dudley and other students rather than being scolded for snapping at an ignorant Death-Eater who had tormented him all his life. He didn't verbalise his thoughts though, mainly because he wanted to stay on the right side of McGonagall and, even though it was only Malfoy, bringing up the other boy's painful past seemed a little cruel. Harry knew Malfoy was ashamed of his past and dragging up that subject was bound to end badly, with them both being sent to Madam Pomfrey. Harry knew all too well that Malfoy was more than capable of breaking bones even without the aid of a wand.
By the time they were let out, most people had already left the Great Hall and were in the common rooms or soaking up the weak spring sun. Harry was happy to see that his friends had waited for him and were still sat at the Gryffindor table. He smiled and greeted them and sat down between Ginny and Neville. As he buttered a slice of bread and poured himself a goblet of juice he tried to join in with the others' conversation. He made an attempt to focus on their argument about Quidditch but was soon lost in thought.
Harry's mind ticked over. He was desperately trying to think up a way to get through the next few weeks and he could almost hear his brain whirring with the effort. He sighed to himself. There was only one way to solve this. He would have to be nice to Malfoy.
Harry knew that would be much more difficult than it initially seemed but it was the only truly realistic option. Although, Harry thought, maybe realistic wasn't exactly the right word to use. It was certainly more realistic than trying to do a paired project without actually talking to your partner, however. Harry looked across at the blond haired Slytherin, who was just leaving, and grumbled inwardly. It was going to be tough, but he honestly had no other choice. He decided he'd talk to Malfoy after supper that evening.