Nocturne
Harry Potter liked to roam Hogwarts castle at night. He had become accustomed to the corridors and staircases, the secret rooms, the paintings on the third floor corridor that would not stop talking to you, dirty unused classrooms and the many students you could find hiding behind statues and tapestries for secret rendezvous'.
The invisibility cloak was draped over his head and shoulders, falling just past his feet. He had to pick it up at the front to make sure he didn't trip and become seen. A detention was the last thing he needed.
Snape had become even more vindictive this year. Professor McGonagall seemed to think it was necessary to talk Snape into allowing Harry and Ron in to his potions class with only receiving Exceeds Expectations in their OWLs.
Harry had received four detentions already from him and it was only three weeks into the school year… he only deserved one of them.
He crept past the astronomy tower and heard the usual bangings and whisperings from some of the older students. He shook his head and walked off before grinning - Seamus had told him he was off to see a Ravenclaw fifth year tonight.
Harry decided to call it a night. He didn't like to stay up after two in the morning; it left him acting like a zombie the next day. On his way down to the common room he spotted Malfoy lurking outside the old charms classroom. Curiosity took over. He walked closer to him in an attempt to scare him, god knows he deserves it.
Malfoy suddenly clutched his arm and let out a small gasp of agony. He silently slid down the wall onto the floor and hid his face in his lap. Harry was shocked but couldn't walk away. Even if it was Malfoy, he couldn't leave him like this. Harry has a hero complex as many of his friends and even enemies have told him, he wasn't sure if it should be classed as an insult or compliment.
Harry took the cloak off and sat opposite Malfoy.
"Malfoy?" He asked quietly. Malfoy looked up and his expression turned from hurt to livid in less than a second.
"What the fuck do you want Potter?" He spat, "get the hell out of here you half-blood scum." Harry stood up and glared down at Malfoy.
"Why do I even bother? You'll never change." He spoke forcefully. Malfoy just glared as Harry started to walk away only changing expression to a look of shock when Harry suddenly disappeared out of thin air.
Did I imagine that whole thing? He thought.
As Harry lay in bed half an hour later he mulled over what had happened in the corridor. Malfoy had grabbed his left arm? Harry had already guessed he was a Deatheater since the incident on the train where he overheard most of his conversation to Blaise and Pansy and since his trip to Madam Malkins in Diagon Alley. Harry knew Malfoy would be first into Voldemort's ranks out of the students he had grown up with; it was only a matter of time so this information tonight wasn't much of a shock to him.
Harry felt nauseous. Malfoy was the same age as him. Harry had gone through so much in such little time. Fighting Voldemort every year, seeing death and destruction and losing the people he loved. Harry missed Sirius more than anything; he was the only father he had ever known and Harry was going to stay with him at 12 Grimmauld Place until he was found innocent by the Ministry. Was Malfoy going through as much pain as him?
He had been branded by Voldemort so that meant he had met him. What had been running through Malfoy's mind when he saw those vivid red eyes and that disgusting snake-like face?
It was such a short time ago when they were children. When harry was only worried about his next potions class or the upcoming Quidditch match and Malfoy was a smug little brat who would flaunt his money and superiority around the castle and make up jokes about Harry, Ron and Hermione. He hadn't done much of that this year.
Harry didn't hate Malfoy anymore. Harry had too much of his hatred focused on Voldemort to really consider hating anyone else.
