Again, I watched Harry's retreating figure head toward the pitch and couldn't help but try to swallow my heart back down out of my throat. With a hearty cough, I headed to my dorm.
Hell, I was following his lead on ignoring how others treat me! How could he be insecure, of all people? It doesn't make any sense. He doesn't want special treatment, but neither do I! It's a completely different 'special' treatment, of course, but I- My steps faltered as the next thought occurred. I think I do understand him better than anyone else. Bloody hell.
My legs carried me all the way up to my room without a thought for the students I'd passed. Deftly, I changed into my pajamas as my thoughts trailed on. Anger and regret seemed to be the central themes. Anger at the falling of chips that had left us both predominantly judged by things out of our control, and regret for my behavior earlier, and for the situations that had kept us apart for so long when we were so similar. It's not fair, I decided.
Glancing at the clock, I was suddenly distracted with thoughts of Harry at tryouts. I hope the other students don't give him a hard time, and that Hooch makes good on her word and judges them all fairly. Habitually, my nails found my Dark Mark to worry the freshly healing scars there. The pain my first scratch caused brought me back to the present, and I forced myself to stop.
This won't help anything, you're just anxious, I told myself as my right hand balled into a fist at my side.
Tryouts were much like I remembered them, and I easily won back my place as Seeker. No surprise there. Disappointed crumpled my brow as I stood under the hot shower afterward, silently cursing myself for hoping I'd have some competition this year. Was everyone capable of beating me too intimidated to try? Dammit, I'm not some enlightened genius! Were the others even trying?
I forced a deep breath in and out in an effort to calm myself as I toweled myself dry. After all, the happiness and relief I felt earning Seeker again was only slightly hampered by my suspicions. As I wrapped my towel around my waist and headed back to the lockers, a group of Hufflepuff boys who'd made their team confronted me.
Oh Jesus, now what?
"Shouldn't you be playing for Slytherin?" The foremost one asked, arms crossed and still in his Quidditch kit. "We all know what team you play for."
A few of the others who'd gathered snickered at this, but I only rolled my eyes.
"They should be so lucky, but last time I checked, I'm still a Gryffindor."
"Heard the Sorting Hat wanted to put him in Slytherin, too," another from the back commented. I casually started redressing, having reached my locker.
I bit my lip against a grin that fought to overtake my face as the retort well, I have been IN a Slytherin wanted to form on my tongue.
"What can I say? I'm as cunning as I am courageous. Not everyone fits into the little boxes you like to prescribe, you know."
Quite a crowd had gathered as I shoved my legs into my trousers. Mostly nervous onlookers, but some sharing the same defiant judgement.
"Why even play this year? Still got something to prove?" At this point, I didn't bother trying to identify whose voice spoke, as I zipped and buttoned my trousers around my waist.
"I enjoy playing. Why? Do you all have something to prove?"
It was a rhetorical question, but the silence that yawned after was answer enough. A scoff broke on my lips as I withdrew my uniform shirt and shoved my arms into the sleeves.
"This is good, though. I know what McGonagall said about us all getting along and singing Kumbayah together this year, but Quidditch is where a bit of house rivalry can really play a part."
I met everyone's eyes individually as I buttoned up my shirt.
"I look forward to an interesting Quidditch season with you all. Feel free to cheat, too! You all know how I've handled that in the past."
A grimace stole into my face as the smugness in my tone registered in my own ears. This is exactly what I didn't want, why am I encouraging it?
"There'll be no cheating. Just simple, fair, Gryffindor defeat." That was the foremost Hufflepuff boy again. My competitive nature lifted my eyes intensely.
"Have a right go then, mate," I threatened as I stepped up to him. "I guarantee my being involved with another man won't affect my game, at all."
The Hufflepuff in question shied away from my gaze predictably, but he didn't yield. Rage bubbled in my chest at the supposed threat, and I found myself earnestly hoping he'd prove a worthy opponent. He must be their Seeker, I realized. He hastily recomposed himself before retorting.
"We'll settle this on the pitch, then."
"Don't disappoint me now," I requested honestly. A moment of intense eye contact later, the crowd dispersed.
Now if I can only get the Gryffindor team to relax around me.
Hours later, I was lounging in the eighth year common room on the couch facing the fireplace. The warmth from the fire was almost warming my feet enough that I could fall asleep, but every time I nearly dozed off, I startled, clutching the Dreamless Sleep in my pocket. He'd better show up soon.
By the fourth or fifth time this happened, I finally stood up to pace. Isn't he taking far too long? It's almost nine. Curfew is at nine thirty. Where could he be?
By nine ten, he'd strode through the double doors. My heart lodged itself in my throat again as my eyes found his grinning face.
"Looks like some Hufflepuffs are ready to put up a real fight this year." The common room was deserted except for us as he strode up to me, a duffel bag slung around his torso. My surprise at seeing him broke suddenly as he reached me and leaned in to press a kiss to my lips. Warmth flooded my cheeks.
"Is that so?" I asked once he broke off our mouths. The excitement in his face was evident, but also slightly angry, and I wondered what had happened.
"They don't stand a chance, but they talk big. Let me get changed, I'll be right back."
He nearly sprinted up the stairs to his dorm to change, and I slumped down onto the couch to calm my pulse.
Now Hufflepuffs are giving him shit? Is there no end to teenage bravado?
I hadn't sat but a moment when Harry reappeared in the same pajama pants I'd previously seen him in, but a different crew neck shirt. My eyebrow quirked at him unintentionally.
"What?" He asked, glancing down at himself.
"Nothing. Shall we?"
As we left the Room of Requirement, Harry surprised me again by looping his arm through mine. He's in a good mood, I thought curiously. Once in the hallway, he made the three-pass turn to change the Room's design. The large double-doors rearranged themselves into a single door as I watched, and he turned a grin back toward me. A surprisingly good mood. Didn't he just get harassed?
Harry swung the door open, still grinning at me.
"After you," he invited.
A flush stole into my cheeks as I stepped past him to enter the room he'd designed. This flush deepened as I took in my surroundings. An enormous, four-poster bed dominated the room, but besides that, there was a roaring hearth with two chairs facing it, a liquor cabinet, several trunks, and every wall was lined with windows revealing the night sky. Other than the fire illuminating the room, the full moon streamed into the windows and graced over half the room.
"Oh," slipped from my lips before I could think better.
"You like it?" Harry asked from behind me as I heard the door click shut.
"Um…" I swallowed involuntarily. "Y-yeah… It's…" My suddenly dry mouth couldn't find the words to describe the environment accurately. "I-I could use a drink."
"Say no more." Harry confidently strode to the liquor cabinet, swung open the glass doors, and stared. "I… Have no idea how to make drinks."
A chuckle escaped my lips as I joined him.
"Allow me, then."
I'd garnered enough experience growing up with an alcoholic father to make us some simple drinks, and I'd even made them for him a few times. Decidedly not making what my father drank, I whipped us up a couple of cocktails.
"Color me impressed," Harry assented as he accepted the glass I'd offered him. We clinked our glasses before sipping what I hoped was an acceptable martini. His face twisted at the taste, and I laughed.
"Sorry. You… Didn't really imagine any mixers when you pictured a liquor cabinet."
My own drink slid down my throat warmly, tickling the back of my throat.
"I've never had a drink in my life, so naturally, this is something I'm bad at."
We laughed together before taking a second sip of our drinks. His expression contorted again, and I snickered.
"So some Hufflepuffs gave you a hard time, did they?" I asked as I stepped around Harry to sit in one of the chairs facing the fireplace.
"They certainly tried," he laughed as he joined me, eyeing his drink suspiciously. "They asked why I wasn't playing for Slytherin." He snorted and my eyebrows raised. "Inventive, but somehow still lazy."
We laughed together again as I realized his good mood was because someone had treated him like an equal. I smiled, but it suddenly faltered as I realized I wish it had been me.
Harry took another grudging sip of his martini, his face remaining somewhat neutral this time. I followed suit, studying him carefully. I know the liquor was my idea, but we do have our Herbology presentation tomorrow…
Following a hard swallow, I finally voiced my earlier realization.
"So, I… Realize, I might have… Been projecting onto you the very thing I hate being projected onto me."
He turned a quizzical expression up from his drink to my face.
"Oh?"
"Well, I… People want to assume the worst of me, based on my past, but it was all actions I didn't choose. I did what I had to. And you did what you had to." Here, I broke eye contact with him, blushing down into my drink. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I do get you, and I was a fucking idiot to assume we weren't equals."
A silence long enough that I eventually glanced up at Harry followed my statement. What I found was such a joyful expression, my hot face warmed further into my ears, and I sought refuge back in my drink. This silence lasted long enough for me to frown down at my drink, and throw the rest of it back unflinchingly.
"Draco…" Swallowing the mouthful I'd forced, my eyes hesitantly returned to Harry's.