Harry never understood how hate could turn into love. On sight, he could tell that Draco was changed. Second year, Harry was accused of a lot of things. He himself started to believe that he was evil, that he really was the Heir of Slytherin. Why else would Voldemort come after a toddler?
Harry avoided everyone's eyes lately. He didn't want to see the fury, the anger, the fear in them. He was used to being bullied, but when his own friends started to doubt him? That was too much. So he decided to skip History of Magic, and when he got to his common room, he just buried his head in his knees. The only student whotreated him like a regular person was Malfoy, and even that was peculiar.
Draco always treated him with scorn, yes, but this…every time he insulted Harry, or smirked smugly at him, it now seemed half-hearted. Like he almost didn't want to, but had to.
Harry had shaken his head at that idea and simply fell asleep.
But now Harry was 13. He would think about this maturely..welll, as maturely as he could, being a teenager. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath so as to clear his mind. Draco..so different, so changed that it scared Harry. What happened to him? The unsults had stopped. The smirks and glares were lazy. Draco seemed…wistful…whenever he looked at Harry, when he thought Harry didn't see.
Harry sighed. Wishful thinking…again. It was second year when Harry started loving Draco. Harry had finally admitted that he loved Draco at the end of first year.
"I believe this calls for a slight change in decoraations." Harry stood up in indignation. Slytherin had won fair and square. All eyes had turned to look at Harry, all in curiosity. Harry had looked sadly over at Draco, but Draco didn't notice. Did he actually care about what the Slytherin thought?
Remembering that day, Harry sighed in exasperation. It was his third year, and people STILL wouldn't let that incident go. He stood up and walked out of the common room, ignoring his friends worried calls. He needed time to think. That meant one thing.
Flying.
Harry grabbed his broom and sprinted out the portrait door. After turning a few corners, he stopped at the sight before him.
A few of his housemates were picking on a Slytherin. Five to one. Harry huffed in annoyance and set his broom against the eall. "Serpensortia!" Harry whispered, and a snake flew from his wand.
Smiling at the snake, Harry hissed, Follow me, little snake. He waited until the snake hissed an okay before leading her to the group. Looking back on life, Harry deducted that that probably wasn't the best choise hes ever made. "HEY!" Harry yelled, trying yo make himself look intimidating. "Leave him alone!" Go on, little snake. Don't bite them, just scare them. Harry didn't stop laughing at that memory until he was 36.
And scare them she did. Lunging at them with her fangs and tongue showing menacingly, the five Gryffindor bullies ran off quicker than you could say "Python".
Harry grinned in triumph before turning back to Slytherin, where his smile quickly faded.
Draco looked up to see his savior (damn Gryffindors-couldn't they just leave him alone?) and he looked into the brightest green eyes he's ever seen. Harry tilted his head. "Malfoy? You okay?"
Draco blushed, murmuring a faint "Yes, Potter, I'm fine." Under his breath. Out loud he asked, "What are you doing in the corridors, anyway? Shouldn't you be in your common room with the other cowardly lions? Draco tried to insult him, but failed miserably at it.
Without meaning to, Harry let out a small smile. "I still have an hour before curfew. I was just going to fly, my friends are being bloody annoying." Harry's smile fell and was replaces with a sad frown. "Damn Chamber of Secrets…the bloody thing willl haunt me for the rest of my life." Wait…were he and Draco actually having a conversation?!
Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?" slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it. Shit, Harry will think he's acting extremely odd, and then he'll find out his secret, and then he'll laugh, and then Draco's life will be over. But would it be so bad if he found out?
Harry did look shocked for a moment, but got over it in another second. He half smiled and said, "Oh, they still won't leave the whole 'Heir of Slytherin' thing alone. And they're bringing up things I did in my first year, saying I acted weirdly. Which is absolutely…" Ridiculous, Harry was going to say, but that wasn't the truth now, was it? The more he tried to hide, the more obvious his secret became. "Anyway, I should go. Er…d-do you wanna come with?" Good job, Harry, now he'll think you're insane.
"Um…sure…" Draco said, shocked at Harry's invitation. "Er…I'll go grab my broom then. Um, wait here." With that, he walked calmly around the corner before throwing a fist into the air with a silent, "YES!"
Harry blushed once Draco had gone. He actually accepted! Was it possible…? No, Harry, he probably just thinks that he's in debt to you. Don't get so excited. But It was an enthusiastic Draco who returned. Harry smiled and said, "Ready?"
Draco nodded. "Yeah…let's go."
As they walked out, Harry turned to look at Draco. "Um…not that I'm objecting, but why did you accept?" Harry cocked an eyebrow. "I'm not holding you to a debt, if that's what it is." Harry dare not admit it, but he desperately hoped he wasn't only here for repayment.
Draco laughed once. I came here because…" I love you… "...Well, I don't know why. Just 'cause I wanted to." Draco smirked. "Problem, Potter?"
"No. Just curious." Harry replied, and the boys fell into silence. Harry snuck a glance at Draco. He seemed content, but why? Draco was supposed to hate him. Not that he was complaining…