Harry sat shivering on the floor of an abandoned classroom, attempting to register what had happened. He had touched him. He had touched Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy had touched him. He choked in a deep breath, trying to relax himself. He... he hadn't been touched since the final battle with Voldemort, when Bellatrix Lestrange broke his wand arm thinking it would stop him from killing her master.
He felt so... odd now. The hand that Draco had touched tingled horribly. The feeling of Draco's hand and handkerchief touching him was still there. Speaking of the handkerchief... Harry looked down into his hands. The handkerchief. He would need to return it.
However, the handkerchief did not look as nice as it should have. The lovely, silken silver-gray cloth was stained with his blood. It was not a very lovely sight to see. It did amaze him though, how red his blood still was after everything.
Harry sucked in a deep breath and folded up the handkerchief. He got up from his position on the floor and began to walk silently through the unoccupied halls. There wasn't much of a distance between the dungeons and the kitchens, that was for sure. When he reached the portrait, he delicately reached out a pale finger and barely tickled the pear. The portrait swung open with a giggle and he was instantly bombarded with Dobby's thin arms wrapping around his left leg. Harry put a hand on his head between the large ears and pat the skin gently. "How can Dobby help Harry Potter sir?"
Harry pulled out Draco's handkerchief. Dobby's eyes widened and he squealed, taking the cloth. "Dobby will get Harry Potter's handkerchief as good as new. Just wait, Harry Potter, Dobby will come back with it cleaned." Dobby rushed off, his mismatched socks making him slip at turns and disappeared within the mass of house elves. Harry stood there for not even a moment before Dobby returned, beaming, with the handkerchief unstained by his blood. Harry gently grabbed it, patting Dobby on the head again. Dobby beamed more, eyes watering. "Come and visit Dobby, Harry Potter, sir." Harry nodded, the corners of his lips twitching as if to go into a smile. As he turned and left, Dobby began to cry.
Once class was finished, Draco stayed behind and hurried to Snape. "Severus! I didn't know Potter had this class too."
Snape arched an elegantly slanted brow. "Surely you were seeing things Draco. Potter's not been in any class of mine since the beginning of last year." The Potions Master began to sift through the vials placed on his desk, rearranging them by house and name.
"I was sitting next to him. He cut his finger while cutting daisy roots." Draco shivered despite himself and thickly swallowed, remembering the look of fascination on Potter's face as his wide, blank green eyes stared at the blood. "Ran away when I tried to clean the cut. Took my handkerchief with him."
Snape gave him a look, searching him carefully. Draco stood motionlessly, waiting. Snape removed his gaze and continued rearranging the vials on his desk. Draco sighed and turned on his heels, walking out before his godfather could even turn around.
Harry sat on his bed, Whisper curled in his lap, contently sleeping on his back. He lightly rubbed the soft pink belly as he stared at the silvery square before him. A frown curved his mouth and his nose wrinkled in thought. How in the world was he supposed to return the handkerchief?
Just waltz in through the great hall doors in the middle of dinner, walk over to the Slytherin table and hand it to him? Find a school owl and send it back anonymously? Though it wouldn't be anonymous. Who the hell else would have the bloody handkerchief. Unless Malfoy had more than one... Harry rolled his eyes. He wouldn't be surprised. Malfoy wouldn't have been so at ease letting him run off with it otherwise. Not that he had let him have much of a choice... If there was one thing Harry was good and proud of, it was his running skills. That and hiding.
Whisper moved harshly against him, abruptly waking up and stretching. Harry watched carefully as he pranced over to the handkerchief, took it into his mouth and carried it back to Harry's lap, curling up with it and falling back asleep. Harry frowned, reaching down slowly in attempt to pull the cloth away. Whisper opened a brilliant golden eye and glared in a way that distinctly reminded him of Malfoy in first year.
A small smile crept on to his face as amusement filled him. All he could see now was young Malfoy's pale eyes glaring at him beneath cute pair of fluffy grey ears and a thin white-tipped tail whipping behind him. Almost like the Polyjuice accident in second year. The cat version of Her-- Harry stopped and choked. Whisper instantly perked up, blearily looking around. Harry took in a slow breath and sank back into his bed, curling himself around the kitten. Whisper easily readjusted, fitting his head in the hollow of Harry's neck as he lay there silently.
The day passed slowly for Draco. He was distracted, though he tried to hide it. There was no point in letting the world know he was looking for the now mysterious Harry Potter. Who had either developed the ability to become invisible or hadn't shown up to any other classes that day. Draco had tried to entertain the thought of Potions being Potter's only class but... it just wasn't possible.
By the time dinner came around, Draco had all but given up on seeing Potter again. Perhaps it had been his imagination? He took a bite of roast and chewed thoughtfully. Why his mind would supply a lame, shadow of the Harry Potter he knew, he couldn't figure out. Nothing about Potions today made sense. That was the one thing he was sure about. Taking another bite of his meal, Draco ordered himself to stop thinking of it.
With a slight shake of his head, he focused on eating and looking properly stoic while maintaining the air of arrogance. And he would have managed it, honestly he would have, if it hadn't been for the great hall doors silently opening. He looked up from his dinner as they did and curiously frowned as every house table began to twit and squeak. Sighing and rolling his eyes, he took another bite.
"Draco, look." Pansy nudged him discreetly in the side.
"What, Pansy. Can't you see I'm eating?" He looked up at her anyways and instantly frowned. Resting in between his, Pansy's and Blaise's plates was a small grey kitten with large gold eyes. And beneath its pink nose, secured tightly in its mouth was his handkerchief. Holding out his hand he said, "Give it here, you ball of fluff."
The kitten turned and spotted his plate. Its tail raised and whipped playfully to and fro. Draco looked at his plate and back at the kitten. The kitten walked over and sat with its paws on the edge of his plate. Draco rolled his eyes and ripped a piece of chicken for it, holding it out. The kitten sniffed it curiously and dropped his handkerchief, taking the piece. Pansy let out a soft giggle and something that sounded like, "Who said cats had to belong to Gryffindor."
Draco picked up his handkerchief and unrolled it. There wasn't any blood on it. Had Potter cleaned it? Why hadn't Potter just came in and returned it in person? He went wide eyed. Was the kitten Potter? He turned to look at it but instead came across a small folded piece of parchment. Making sure everyone's attention was on the Potter-perhaps-kitten, he unfolded it. Inside was a smooth, tidy scrawl that said; Thank you. I cleaned it.
In the very corner was a small, H.P. Draco pulled out his wand and duplicated the message. This would prove to Severus that Potter had been in there. He turned to Pansy, flipping over the real note. "Do you have a quill?"
Pansy rolled her eyes at him and pulled one out of her bag. "You need to stop borrowing my quills Draco. I'll run out."
Draco grasped it and quickly wrote out his message. Folding it up he pulled on a loose thread from his cloak and tied it to the kitten's black collar. Potter's kitten looked at him curiously and licked his finger. He shivered at the feel of the sandpaper tongue but gently pat the feline on the head. Potter's kitten snuck another piece of chicken before walking over to Blaise and jumping down. Draco watched it move along until it disappeared through a crack in the great hall doors. Through the crack he could see something odd. Narrowing his eyes and focusing on it, his eyes went wide in surprise. The doors shut but the image was burned in his mind. Harry Potter kneeling on the floor, the kitten snuggled tightly in his arms.
Back in his room, Harry attempted to calm his breathing. All would have been perfect if Draco bloody Malfoy had acted like he should have. But no, he had to act different and send a note back with Whisper. Harry crumpled the parchment up and tossed it away. Whisper purred in his sleep, contently curled at the foot of Harry's bed. Harry frowned at him. The little traitor ate off of Malfoy's plate.
Rolling his eyes, Harry reached over and plopped Whisper into his lap. The kitten readjusted himself, curling up a little more. Harry fell back into his pillows and closed his eyes tight. He did not know what to do. Opening his eyes again, he mutely summoned the crumpled note and read it again. Thank you, Harry, it said for returning my handkerchief. Next time you borrow something, however, please return it in person. Rather than sending your cat. I'll see you in Potions. -Draco.
Malfoy's handwriting was so beautiful compared to his ugly scratches. Frowning, Harry traced the words with a finger, amazed at the smoothness of letters. How many years of penmanship tutoring had he gone through to achieve it? Or perhaps having Malfoy blood just made you perfect? He shook his head. He didn't understand this Malfoy. It wasn't the Malfoy he knew. Perhaps.... was this Draco? Not the snotty Malfoy exterior, but the real person behind the mask?
Shivering, he crumpled it up again. The ball of parchment stayed in his hand this time however. He didn't want to think about it anymore. It pained him to think about all of this. He didn't want Draco to start caring. He wanted Malfoy brat back. He would have to put distance between them instantly and nip whatever feeling the Slytherin had about him before it got worse. Whether it was curiosity or disgust, it wouldn't matter. A determined frown quirked his mouth slightly down.
He would start tomorrow, by skipping Potions. Or maybe even all of his classes. He could spend time with Dobby in the kitchens. The idea sounded perfect. Harry hadn't seen Dobby much lately except to get the handkerchief cleaned. Visiting would make up for all the lost time. He was sure Dobby would love it too. Feeling satisfied with his plan, he turned off his bedroom light, crawled under the covers and curled up around Whisper, falling asleep easily. The ball of parchment still tucked firmly in his hand.
The moment Severus left the great hall, Draco gracefully finished off his plate in around six seconds before excusing himself and following the Potions Master out. He didn't really know why, but proving Potter's presence in Potions just seemed so important. More important than maintaining proper appearances. Severus would not be pleased when he saw him flushed and out of breath standing in his doorway.
Draco stopped abruptly, took a deep breath and then began again, walking casually toward the dungeons with only a hint of urgency in his steps. He made perfect time, fast but not in a rush. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he knocked three times. Shoving his hands into his pocket, he felt his handkerchief and the note quickly to reassure they remained where they were and then made to look nonchalant.
Severus opened the door and motioned him in. Draco smirked casually and said, "Good evening, Severus. I trust dinner was good?" Severus rolled his eyes and motioned Draco to take a seat while he shut the door.
"You can stop Draco. I've known you since before you were born." Severus gave him a look as he made his way to his kitchenette and fixed a cup of tea for him.
"You know that isn't possible, Severus." Draco gave him a look.
"It is possible because I say so." Severus came over with his own tea and held out Draco's cup. Draco gladly took it and took one long sip. "Now," Severus sat down. "if you would care to tell me why you are here? I'm positive that however delightful you find my company, this isn't a social visit."
Draco sat his tea down. "No, it isn't." Reaching into his robe pocket, he pulled out the two items. "Remember what I was saying earlier?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "That supposedly one Harry Potter ran off with your handkerchief in my class? Yes. I remember."
"I've got proof now, Severus." Draco unfolded the note, "Potter wrote a note when he returned it." Severus thrust his hand out for it. Draco met his reach and released his grasp. Severus leant back and read the tidy scrawl quickly.
"It is similar to his writing style, I will admit." Severus glanced up at him. "There is no signature, however."
"Look in the very corner. His initials are there." Draco pointed to the corner and took a drink of tea. Severus looked closely in the said corner and frowned. There was a small HP. Narrowing his eyes he tried to find the X's. Potter developed the habit of dotting his initials with an X during the harshest times of the war. Severus' eyes widened once he found them, it was indeed, Potter. The signature of initials was too familiar to his eyes to be mistaken.
"I will admit just this once, that I was wrong." He handed the note back and downed all of his tea. How could he not have noticed? He had been a spy for Merlin's sake. How could he not notice Harry bloody Potter in his own damn class room. He scowled into the empty tea cup.
"I wrote a note back to him," Draco commented offhandedly. "But I'm unsure how he'll react." Severus looked up and raised an eyebrow in question. Draco looked uncomfortable. "I said if he borrows something again he has to return it in person and that I'd see him in class tomorrow."
Severus looked up to the ceiling and then moved his gaze back to Draco. "We'll just have to wait and see how it turns out, won't we."
Draco nodded and stood. "I should get to the common room. Pansy and Blaise will want to be filled in."
Severus nodded and waved a hand out carelessly. "Go." Draco smiled and escorted himself out, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Inside, Severus sighed and went to find his scotch. Outside, Draco sighed and began to head to the Slytherin common room, one mysterious ex-Gryffindor on his mind.