In the days that followed Harry spent most of his waking moments with Ginny, much to her delight. Surprising her with romantic and often rather public gestures. His friends were thrilled to see this, speculating when he would make things more "permanent". His peers, females in particular looked on with envy. And Ginny herself could not have been happier. But when Harry went to bed at night, he could not help but feel like the loneliest man in the world. Meanwhile in another part of the castle Harry's actions were also inspiring emotions, but of a slightly different variety.
With these spectacles all being rather public Draco of course took notice. And each time a pang of anger and jealousy rippled through him. Harry had been his nemesis for years. It was what he was raised to feel and for many years that had suited him just fine.
The change had happened gradually and mostly unbeknownst to himself. Though perhaps looking back Draco had just been too proud to admit what was happening, perhaps even too scared. Once upon a time merely taking a glance at Potter was enough to get his blood boiling, often times for no reason at all other than his simple existence. But then one day he witnessed several of his Slytherin classmates ganging up on Harry in the hall and something shifted within Draco. Something seemingly small at the time but had unwittingly grown since.
After that day Draco began looking at Harry in a softer light. Rather than noticing what had once infuriated him, slowly he began to see what those who loved Harry had seen all along. The "Boy Who Lived" persona plagued Harry, and he was noticeably bothered by the attention it garnered him, by the admiration it caused. But Draco began to see that some of that attention was rightfully deserved. He began to notice the loyalty he had to his friends, the genuine attitude, and the up beat demeanor he somehow maintained on the castles darkest days. And after his eyes opened to this new world, try as he might there was no turning back.
Draco had been raised to be proud and strong, he was a Malfoy after all. But having the upbringing he did, love was not something that came easily to him. Affection was not an feeling that came easily. He found it difficult to possess the tender emotions he had never witnessed in life. That had never been extended to him. Thus him approaching Harry took time, and every ounce of courage he could muster.
It had taken several months for Draco to work up the courage it took to approach Harry after potions. And after all the work and build up the gesture took, he was understandably stung by Harry's seemingly disinterested response. And his blatant flaunting of the Weasley girl did little to help. But through all of Harry's parading and showmanship, occasionally his eyes would lock with Draco's. It was for but an instant but in that moment there was a flicker of undecipherable emotion, an emotion that left Draco's stomach in flurries. Although Draco was still tinged with hurt from Harry's dismissal, he knew what needed to come next.