Harry looked around the Potions room, a mantra in his head replaying the phrase "Please, no Draco… Please, no Draco…" Draco could be anywhere but here, and Harry wouldn't care. Anywhere but the Potions classroom.
Harry put his head on the desk a little too loudly, and Ron gave him a puzzled look.
"Where'd you
go during breakfast today?"
"You noticed? I'm
surprised you could see anything with Hermione plastered to your
face… And I went to finish the Potions homework." Harry
mumbled.
"You really need a girlfriend, Harry."
"Shove
off, Ron."
Harry heard the classroom door slam open, and he expected to see Snape- class should have begun a few minutes ago; and Snape was not one to be late.
Instead he saw Draco, clearly angry, gliding into the classroom. He sat down next to Pansy, who batted her eyelashes and place her hand on his arm. He shrugged off her hand, and she turned away, miffed.
Seconds later Snape walked in hurriedly, clearly aware of his lateness.
"You can all thank Mr. Malfoy for my tardiness. Apparently he decided it was time to hex a Hufflepuff. Detention, Malfoy."
Draco raised his lip is disproval, never shedding his Malfoy air of superiority and dignity.
"Pay attention. I'm assigning partners today- a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. There will be no whining about who you are paired with. Your task is to concoct any of the potions we've studied in the past week, without notes or books, using only the memory of your partner and yourself. I do hope you paid attention."
Ron groaned.
"Weasley. Since you seem so eager to begin, I will assign you first." He scanned the room, obviously wanting to torture Ron, but not one of his precious Slytherins. He sneered and said, "Weasley. Work with Pansy." Pansy tore her eyes away from Draco to stare at Snape, full of hate.
XXXXX
Snape was assigning partners. Draco would be stuck with Harry, of course. He always was. Snape liked to torture The Boy Who Lived. He had hated his father, Draco knew that. Apparently, Snape didn't mind torturing Draco in the process.
"Granger and Zabini."
Draco sneered. The mudblood couldn't help but be attracted to Blaise, even if he was a Slytherin.
"Goyle and Longbottom."
Hurry up, Snape.
Normally Draco liked the man, but he was mad at him fro giving him detention. The Hufflepuff was a first year, he was in the way, and Draco was in a bad mood. Why shouldn't he hex him?
And Potter was ignoring Draco. Of course, why shouldn't he be? Draco did initiate what had happened this morning, Harry had been apologizing.
Potter. Potter had been apologizing. He refused to call the Gryffindor by his first name.
"Potter," Snape spat, "work with Malfoy."
Draco sneered. Of course.
XXXXX
"Potter."
Harry snapped his head up to look at Snape.
"Work with Malfoy."
Of-fucking-course. Snape always stuck him with that bastard. Why should today be any bloody different?
Snape finished pairing everyone up and sent them to work. Harry decided to at least try to work with Malfoy. He needed to pretend nothing was different to keep his plan in action. However, this was becoming increasingly difficult. Harry couldn't help but think about that morning, and a quick glance at Malfoy's crotch told Harry that he couldn't either. Harry cleared his throat.
"What potion do you want to m—"
"I know
what potion we're making. I remember it perfectly, and
you're horrendous at Potions. So just leave it to
me."
Harry nodded curtly, and the boys got to work.
XXXXX
Draco was careful not to make any contact with Harry, not even when passing ingredients. The boys barely spoke, and when they did it was just a simple "hold this."
And Harry was acting strangely… normal.
XXXXX
"Take this."
Harry looked at Draco and noted for the first time since that morning that he made eye contact. Draco raised his eyebrows and nodded as if to say 'Take it, what are you waiting for?' But there was something else.
Harry reached out to take the jar that Malfoy handed him, but instead he placed his hand on Draco's, never breaking their eye contact.
And at that moment, Harry realized that this wasn't about revenge anymore.
And now he was angry. He didn't understand why he felt the things he felt, especially not towards Draco. And when had Harry started calling him 'Draco' and not 'Malfoy?'
And then Harry knocked the jar out of Draco's hand and onto the floor. He watched it shatter, imagining it was his heart, because he knew his feelings were not mutual.
XXXXX
Draco stared at the shattered jar. He opened his mouth, but couldn't find words.
"Potter!"
Draco looked up to see Snape staring down on them.
"You will join Mr. Malfoy in detention tonight. 50 points from Gryffindor for destroying supplies. The two of you come back here at 8:00 this evening. Do not be late."
XXXXX
Fuck.
Why did Harry have to get so angry? It wasn't helping things, and how he had detention with Draco.
Harry looked up to see the class leaving. Snape was gone, and Hermione and Ron waved at Harry and left quickly, probably to go snog between classes. Blaise was the last one out, and he let the door fall closed behind him. He was totally and completely alone with Draco Malfoy.
The boys stood up slowly. And suddenly Harry shoved Malfoy into the potions table. He was still angry. The chair fell over, and Draco caught his balance. He stared at Harry before he swiftly moved towards him and punched him square in the jaw.
XXXXX
Harry reached up and touched his lip. It was bleeding.
And he didn't do anything about it.
Harry turned towards the door and left. But Draco caught him and wrestled him to the ground, pinning him down. Harry could have thrown him off easily, but he just didn't care anymore.
XXXXX
Draco was furious. No one walked out on a Malfoy, not even Harry Fucking Potter. Draco wrestled him to the ground and pinned him down. Harry didn't even fight back anymore. Draco had wanted to hit him, but…
But instead he kissed him. He kissed Harry full on the mouth, tasting the blood he had spilt from Harry's lip. He felt Harry kissing back, their anger and passion one in the same.
XXXXX
Confused, angry, sad, hopeful, and about 67 other undefinable things, Harry broke the kiss. He gripped Draco's jaw and looked him straight in the eye.
He spoke, his voice wounded and unstable, and Draco stilled above him.
"Draco. I don't know what you want from me. No matter what it is, we can't be caught like this. I'm way too unstable right now to be in this tango. I know I started it, but I need you to finish it."
With that, Harry slid out from underneath the Slytherin and got to his feet. He brushed off his robes, a pained look in his eyes, and moved towards the door.
"I'll see you in detention."
With that, he was gone.
XXXXX
Draco rolled onto his back, his heart racing. He needed to find Harry. He needed to talk to him about this, about everything. It didn't matter that they hated each other. It didn't matter that Harry was a Gryffindor and he was a Slytherin. Hell, it didn't matter that Harry was The Boy Who Lived and Draco was about to become a full-fledged Death Eater.
Harry had called it a tango. He had never agreed with him more. It was a dance. And it was full of passion and hatred.
Draco threw himself to his feet and raced out the door to the dungeons. He spun on his heel and looked every which way, frantic and driven. But the only person in the hallway was a first year, who, upon seeing Draco, turned and ran the other way. Draco smoothed out his robes and began his walk to the Common Room. He had never been more confused in his life. He was so sure that he knew what he wanted and what was best. But somehow, he felt completely contradicted.
xXXXXXXx
