Ah, sorry it took this long! But no more exams!
Oh, and I found out that one of my fics has been totally flamed on one of this communities on Livejournal(some people who are Canon-shippers) and I was kinda feeling down, and then I came and saw the reviews for the last chapter and I was like- Screw canon, I'm more than happy with Slash! So a BIG thank you to everyone who read and/or reviewed last time! You people are awesome!
Enough talk, lets get on with the fic.
Disclaimer- Instead of thinking up a witty disclaimer, I spent that time on the fic!
Harry didn't notice any difference in Draco Malfoy, he was still surrounded by his cronies, still perfect in appearance, nothing to show that he had been the least affected by last night's events. Unlike Harry who suffered from a massive headache. He made a mental note to go to the Infirmary before lessons started.
Harry massaged his temple wearily, excusing himself from the table.
Dumbledore watched Harry leave and then turned his gaze on Draco whose eyes were also trailing Harry. He frowned, trouble was brewing.
"Blaise," Draco said, eyes following Harry out of the Hall, "I feel like my head's about to explode. I'm skipping out on lessons today"
"All?" Blaise was surprised, Draco would attend always attend Potions if nothing else.
Draco nodded, "Yes, even Potions. And gah! I'm going to the infirmary to get myself a potion. See you later, Blaise, Pansy." He gave a curt nod to the others and made his way to the hospital wing.
Harry gratefully gulped down the contents of the goblet Poppy handed to him. He breathed a sigh of relief when his headache receded.
"Madam Pomfrey," said a voice that could make Harry's headache return back twofold, "I'd like that potion too." Without further ado, he proceeded to pluck the bottle from her hands, poured himself a goblet, drank it and marched out.
And he didn't even glance in Harry's direction.
"Poppy, give me some more…"
Draco went and locked himself in his room.
He hated Harry.
But he hated it even more that he knew he was lying when he stated that.
He remembered the previous two teachers, ignorant old geysers, both of them. He himself could've taught better than them. They taught obsolete stuff, that wouldn't work against a baby. But Harry was different, he had this inexplicable charm around him. He was almost perfect! A brilliant teacher, a successful Auror. He was liked by the other professors and the students practically worshipped him.
Draco was jealous.
He had started with every intention of kicking Harry out but he never realized when it had transgressed to getting his attention. He wanted Harry to recognize him for what he was.
Draco was desperate.
He was now coming to terms with the facts that he actually liked Harry's lessons and his way of teaching. That he actually wanted to prove himself to someone. He had never done that, had never needed to.
And now, he was clueless as to what to do. He wasn't going to make life miserable for Harry. He could barely look him in the eyes and he was pretty sure Harry didn't want him to work on that research.
Draco sighed in frustration, for the first time, he was admitting defeat.
Harry hadn't seen Draco after the morning incident. He wasn't there at lunch either.
"Harry, would you happen to have any idea as to where Draco might be?" Dumbledore asked him then.
"Wh-what?" Harry panicked slightly, wondering what Dumbledore knew.
"He hasn't attended any of the lectures since morning, not even Severus'. And that's never happened." Dumbledore regarded him through his half moon glasses, "And well, its common knowledge that you and he aren't on the best of terms."
Harry blinked rapidly before his Auror training kicked in and he looked back at Dumbledore steadily, "No sir, I don't. But what makes you think I might have something to do with it?"
Harry tried not to flinch when blue eyes pierced through him, "Well Harry, I know you quite well and when I said I'd hired you because you'd be able to handle Draco, I meant it. But you have to know where to draw the line…"
"I'm in trouble aren't I?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "Not yet, Harry. You're an excellent teacher and Draco's behaviour is only proof of it. But he's only seventeen and that's why I say you should know where to draw the line…"
Harry just nodded dejectedly, returning back to his food.
Harry didn't have class immediately after lunch, but he was hounded by Terry Boot regarding some doubts in Healing spells for the Dark Arts.
"Refer to these books from the library for additional help." Harry handed him a note, "I have your class now, right?"
Terry nodded, "Yes, sir."
Harry smiled, "Well, lets get going then."
Draco was heading towards the kitchen to sneak out something to eat at that time-
"Thanks very much for this, sir."
"Oh, its nothing Terry. I'm always glad to help out."
Draco froze, he hazarded a guess that they were just around the corner, heading to the corridor that led to the Defence classroom. He waited till he couldn't hear the voices anymore and then continued towards the kitchen.
He's got that Boot to do the research now most probably, Draco thought, scowling to himself. He felt his insides clench strangely, a feeling he couldn't place. Snapping at the elves to get him something, he carried it back to his room. But left it unfinished anyway, he didn't have much of an appetite.
"Hey…"
Draco gave a start, "Oh, hey Blaise."
"Here's today's notes," Blaise placed a stack of parchments on the table, "What're you reading?"
"Oh this? Some book on Transfiguration…"
"I see. So, coming for dinner?"
Draco averted his eyes and didn't reply.
"Draco," Blaise sat down next to him, "What's wrong?"
"I- I do not know…"
Few more minutes of silence.
"Its about Potter, isn't it?"
Draco breathed in deeply, "I never thought I'd be affected by what someone says about me. Especially him! He made me doubt myself! My life's been perfect for seventeen years and then he comes along and makes it all to be nothing! I've never been this affected by others' opinion of me so much before!"
"Hey hey hey," Blaise said softly, "Calm down now."
"I wish I could Blaise! See what he's done to me!-" Draco stopped when Blaise chuckled, "What!? What's funny!?"
"You are! You're acting like some teenage girl with-"
"I do not!"
Blaise just started laughing even harder and even Draco found himself smiling a little(although he was annoyed at the simile)
"Listen, Draco. Running away isn't going to solve anything," Blaise said patiently after his laughing fit was over, "I know you're all worked up about it, but you have better things to concentrate about, your NEWTs for instance. Put Potter out of your mind for some time. We're not bothering ourselves with him anymore, none of the Slytherins are. Also, Quidditch is starting, you're gonna lead us to victory again this year."
"You're right, Blaise," Draco stood up, "No more Potter. Anyway, lets get down to dinner shall we?"
Blaise nodded, "Yeah sure."
As Draco and Blaise descended the stairs, Draco massed as much pride as he could to make himself not bother about Harry. It was a pity that Harry himself had shattered it so badly…
Despite what Blaise had said about running away, Draco didn't attend the next three Defence classes. He claimed that he wasn't running away, just that he had more important things to do, like chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Qudditch game against Gryffindor.
Harry's eyes roved over to Draco's empty place the first thing when he entered the classroom. This was the third lecture that he had missed and although Harry was pretty sure he was up to date on the syllabus, classes just weren't the same without him. The first day Harry had involuntarily directed a question at Draco and it struck him half a second later that he wasn't there. He had more careful later but teaching was increasing dull without having someone trying to outwit your each and every sentence.
Plus, the rest of the Slytherins' attitude towards him had changed. There was absolutely no chaos in his classroom. There were some minor ripples, but nothing serious. Frankly, Harry was bored.
Whoever said you never miss something until its gone sure knew what he was talking about.
"Oh-kay" Harry said, "if you'd please hand in your essays….thank you. Right, today's lesson, what can you tell me about curses that affect the sensory organs? Yes, Hermione…"
As Harry listened to the well rehearsed, straight out of the textbook and hence extremely unexciting answer, he knew he needed to do some damage control. Draco was obviously not going to do anything and didn't seem to care about it, so Harry would just have to do it himself. He couldn't believe he was about to admit defeat to Draco Malfoy…
That evening, around half an hour before curfew, Harry sent an origami aeroplane to Draco.
Draco looked up from the book he was reading when the paper plane flew into his room through the window.
Draco,
I think we need to talk. If you'd please come by to my office during your rounds, we could sort things out. I hope you do.
Harry.
Draco crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. Sort things out, he snorted, really now!
Around twenty minutes after curfew, there was a knock on Harry's door.
"Enter…"
Draco and Harry finally confront each other! Stay tuned for the next chapter of Crossing the Line!
-gulps at the guns and knives pointed at her- Okay yeah, that was lame. But at least now I know what I'm writing in the next chapter! So it'll be a quick update…
Oh btw, Draco can miss classes and stuff because Lucius is on the Board of Governors and hence Draco acts like he owns the place. Of course, Dumbledore would've interfered had Draco's grades not been top notch.
Random fact- 23rd January 2008 was when I wrote my first HPDM fanfic Shampoo. One year of HarryxDraco. Wow!
Reviews are loved and will be replied to happily!
