When class ended and Potter nor Madame Hood had returned, the group of First Years slowly dispersed to head back to their respective common rooms or the library or the owlery or whatever. Draco found himself heading to the astronomy tower to think and mope. He didn't want to be the reason someone was expelled, even if it was Potter. The thought of being unable to become a healer made Draco's stomach roll and what if Potter couldn't become what he wanted to be because of him. Draco wouldn't be able to stand it.

Hours passed and he only left when it was officially time for supper. His legs hurt and pins and needles began as he moved for the first time in three hours.

At dinner his friends kept giving him strange, worrying looks as he ate less than usual.

"Draco?"

"Not now." There. There he was.

Draco never knew relief could feel as good as it did when he saw Potter walk into the Great Hall. He stood and his friends shot him knowing looks. Crabbe and Goyle looked hesitant to leave their platefuls of food but nonetheless stood to follow Draco. He noticed the Weasley twins step away from the famous boy and he walked haughtily up to the Gryffindor table, ignoring the venomous glares.

"Having a last meal, Potter?" There goes his mouth again. "When are you getting on the train back to the muggles?" Draco crossed his arms, accidentally digging the nails into his palms.

Potter shot him a look that could freeze ice in Hell. "You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you." His voice was calm and collected but Draco could almost see a vein about to pop on his neck. He could feel the unapproving eyes of his Godfather on his back. Draco swallowed as he felt a bruise forming over his pride.

"No one disrespects the Malfoy name."

"I'll take you on anytime on my own," He struggled to keep his voice steady and arrogant. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only, no contact." He knew Crabbe and Goyle were giving him shocked looks to match the ones on Weasley and Potter's faces. "What's the matter?" He swallowed thickly. "Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?" That was unfair of Draco, he knew Harry had grown up with muggles.

"Of course he has!" Weasley interjected and stood to face him. "I'm his second, who's yours?" Draco was actually surprised but he did quick to steel the look over as he swallowed again.

Potter was watching him too close for comfort.

The blonde turned to look both his companions up and down, sizing up their skills and abilities.

"Crabbe." Goyle was more muscle than magic, Crabbe at least knew how to hold his wand. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked." He only knew that because he tended to hide there when Pansy was becoming too clingy and making him uncomfortable. They nodded and the three Slytherins walked back to their table.

"What were you thinking?!" Pansy had all but shrieked at him when they told her.

"I don't know."

"Were you even thinking at all?!"

"I don't know."

"Are you even going to go?!"

"I don't know..."

"Pansy," Blaise put a calming hand on the fuming girl's shoulders. "Calm down before you draw more attention to us." Slowly Pansy stopped foaming at the mouth and sat back in her seat. "Draco," he turned to his friend. "You can't go. Do you know how many points you'll lose Slytherin if you guys are caught?"

"I know," Draco mumbles quietly and pokes at his plate of food.

"We aren't letting you go."

"Kinda figured..."

Not long after dinner, news began spreading like wildfire about Harry's new position and Draco felt angry and...jealous? Was he really jealous of Potter of all people? Dammit all to hell.

Harry bloody Potter had become Gryffindor's new seeker! The youngest one in a century, in fact!

Draco felt green with envy. A Malfoy should never feel envy. It was unheard of, but Draco felt it.

This is how he came to find himself ranting to Pansy and Blaise as they sat in the Slytherin commons after dinner. He just went on and on and on about Harry. About how much he hated him, about how unfair it was for him to be allowed to play Quidditch. About anything in the world that was somehow connected to the darker haired boy. His friends just let him rant though, never interrupting and listening intently til he ran out of breath and panted quietly for a few minutes.

They were good friends.

The news of Gryffindor's seeker made Draco want to leave for the duel more than ever though, but his friends wouldn't even let him out of his dormitory to face Potter.

When eleven rolled around, Draco had to be forced to his bed and Pansy had performed that bloody full body bind on him. The nerve!

"Now I'll lift the curse at midnight, there's no way he's waiting around for you for an hour."

"Pansy!"

"Hush, Draco."

And, true to her word, she didn't let him go till midnight. Draco felt angry at her but could only glare at the girl the whole time he was bound.

As Draco finally allowed himself to sleep that night he could feel the watchful eyes of his dorm mates and the dread the Harry might have been caught and expelled.

Why should he care though?

He hated Harry Bloody Potter...

...or did he?