"Watch where your going" Harry grumbled regaining his balence. Malfoy put his hand to his chest looking offended "Watch where I'm going, excuse me you ran into me" He sneered. "What're are you even doing Malfoy" Harry asked rolling his eyes. "I'm teaching Potter, it's my job" he paused for a moment "And I thought it was yours too". "What do you mean by that" he snapped back glaring. Malfoy's face made a condisending scrunch "Oh I don't know" he shook his head side to side like a ballencer. "You keep following me around causing problems, I'd think that'd mean your classes are suffering a little with the way you keep spending your time" Malfoy barked back. Harry was left dumbfounded "Y-you" he stuttered. "Yes of course I know it's you, you bumbling idiot your so lazy it amazes me you use to be an auror" Malfoy exclaimed. "But how" Harry asked in shock "they were so childish". "And also very hard for a student to pull off Potter" Draco replied "Especially since all of the teaching equipment is guarded with counter jinxes" Malfoy narrowed his eyes "the only one I could believe was pulled by a student is the itching powder but even then I don't believe any students other then the Weasly's or Granger when they went here could or would enchant it so I was the only one effected" Malfoy explained. Harry felt like an idiot. "Also It doesn't help that your always staring at me for no reason" he smirked. "Oh don't flatter yourself" Harry rolled his eyes snarling. "When you stop stalking me maybe" Draco replied. "Draco I also have a class to teach, why would I be stalking you". "I don't know that's why I'm asking" Malfoy rolled his eyes "haven't I made it clear already. You aren't as clever as you think you are Potter" He stated sounding bored. "Or maybe your hiding something and are just paranoid". Malfoy did not look impressed "Oh grow up Potter". Harry returned the look "Perhaps of you didn't refer to everyone by there last names like a playground insult". Draco decideded to argue "Oh I'm sorry would you like me to start calling the Headmistress Minerva then" he did a flourish with his hand. "Why not, she called Dumbledore Albus and all the other teachers by their first names" Harry pointed out. "All the other teachers except Me, You and Longbottom" Malfoy countered. "Well your not Mcgonagall are you we aren't their equals but we are eq-"
This argument was incredibly petty and students were beginning to stare. Professor Potter and Professor Malfoy never interacted with eachother publicly. In fact the only time the two of them were ever seen together at all was during events teachers had to be at. Not including quidditch games but they sat in separate stands. At meals they sat a good bit apart from each other and didn't communicate at all. So them bickering in the hallway in front of everyone was likely to be school wide gossip. Everyone knew that the two teachers didn't get along when they were school. If anything they made the already bad rivalry between them sound somehow worse. Don't ask me how I honestly don't know. So them avoiding each other seemed natrual. But again lots of gossip about how they couldn't stand each other. Though up until now it'd mostly died down with their lack of interaction. But oh boy they'd most definitely be revived now..
The two teachers kept getting louder and louder. Responses getting pettier and dumber. Soon enough though Headmistress Mcgonagall came swaying down the hallway to break the two apart like they were children once more. "Why is it that even now I always have to come and break you two up. You are both Teachers for crying out loud, act like it!" She scolded in front of all the eavesdropping students. Harry's cheeks went pink and Malfoy's Ears were a flaming red. They were both incredibly embarrassed. " Now if the two of you can't learn to get along thsi establishment may very well be seeing two new teachers next year instead. Do I make my self clear" she whispered to them. "Yes professor" they said in Unison. "Good then" she turned to all of the on looking children and said "If you students would please carry on with your day that would be excellent, carry on before one of you gets turned into a coocoo clock" she mildly treated to the more reluctant students. Mcgonagall sighed glaring at the two professors. Signaling that they should leave as well before she strangled the both of them.
Harry and Malfoy quickly hurried down the hall with each other. "Where are we going" Harry asked "in not sure" Malfoy responded "but you are more then welcome to drop out whenever you'd like". "Like I'd leave you to wonder by yourself" Harry wasn't going to let Malfoy get away so easily. "I hate to break it to you Potter, but when you're busy avoiding me I kind of have no choice" he stated getting on Harry's nerves. "Well I'm not avoiding you you now" Harry said matching Malfoy's quick stride. Malfoy simply rolled his eyes "Could you honestly be anymore childish". Harry was grinding his teeth. He let out a very audible sigh "Listen to Mcgonagall" he reminded himself.
Malfoy was very noticeably annoyed by the fact that Harry was going to be following him. Not even in secret this time. "Well if you are insistent on following me, then Potter you must be expected to work" Malfoy said and Harry was confused.
Malfoy led them outside the castle and to the green houses. "What are we doing here" Harry asked " I need some plants for my class" Malfoy answered. "And you Potter are going to get them" he looked at Harry "I've already cleared thing with Longbottom so it should be no trouble" he explained as if that'd was what Harry was going to ask about. "Why can't you get it" Harry asked accusingly glaring at Malfoy. Malfoy tensed up ever so slightly moving his left arm. "Because Potter" He started "this is a small revenge for you making it hard to do my job. It's your fault I need to resupply what I was going to use for a lesson" He answered. Harry rolled his eyes grumbling quietly to himself. "Fine" he reluctantly agreed " what do you need".
Malfoy gave Harry a list and a brief description of what was needed. Harry went into the green house and found everything rather quickly. He exited covered in dirt Malfoy smirking at him smugly. "Why was that plant trying to strangle me" Harry said trying to catch his breath. Malfoy raised an eyebrow "Did you ask nicely" Harry let out a very exaggerated puff of air "No I did not ask the plant if I could pick walk by it nicely". "Then there's your answer" Malfoy tipped his head to one side.
"Oh whatever" Harry was very agitated "let's just go put this up in your supply room" [ ;)]. He went to walk past Malfoy but was stopped. "Oh no, no, no Potter, this isn't for my class this is for Madan Pomfry I already replaced everything that you destroyed. Typically she'd just send a house elf to get it. But I did offer to help her out earlier and well you just so happened to volunteer your services" Malfoy looked so proud of himself Harry wanted to punch him.
"I really hate you" Harry glared. "Oh believe me Potter the feeling is mutual" Draco put his hand on his chest. "Now come along" he turned "Mrs Pomfry will want to perserve that as soon as possible" he began to walk off Harry running slowly behind him.
When they arrived at Madan Pomfry's she was tending to a student. Who Miraculously somehow managed to get themselves frozen. Literally frozen. Duels are scary guys. I try to tell them but they just don't listen. Right sorry back to the story. When she saw that Malfoy had once again entered the infirmary she marched over to see him. "I swear to Merlin of you've come on here with another bloody injury" she sounded tired of him. Malfoy held his hands up in a casual defense "There's no need for violence or curses Mrs Pomfry, I've only come bearing herbs" he was laying the charm on thick flashing his teeth. Mrs Pomfry let out a puff "hmph" she still didn't look happy with him at all. "Right well don't forget to check in with me every now and then" she pursed her lips. Malfoy's smile faltered a little at her comment "Right, best be going now, come on Potter" He said walking out the door. Harry glance to Malfoy's left arm and then back at Madam Pomfry "After the greenhouse I'm not going anywhere with you Malfoy". With that Malfoy left the infirmary leaving Harry along with Madame Pomfry and the injured student. "Well, what is it Potter I haven't got all day" Madam Pomfry snapped at him. Harry jumped "I-I don't know what you mean" Madam Pomfry rolled her eyes "Don't play dumb Potter, it was never a good look on you". She rolled her eyes "I haven't got all day" she motioned to the student on the bed. "Umm, well" he started "I was wondering why Malfoy's been in here so much lately" he sounded embarrassed. "Sorry patient confidentiality" she answered quickly. "Can't you tell me something" Harry pleaded with his eyes. "No Potter I cannot, now if you'll excuse me I have a patient to attend to" she turned her head and walked off rather abrasivally. Harry had gotten nowhere and was very frustrated. He walked out of the infirmary muttering to himself. "How in the world am I going to figure any of this out" he thought to himself" he whispers out loud. His brain was figuratively swelling from all of his scheming and trying to outsmart both Malfoy aswell as Mcgonagall. Both of then alone are pretty difficult to. But don't you dare tell ethier of them I said that. Seriously I'll die.
The following week Harry thought relentlessly trying to come up with a new way to get information. He could never think of anything and it continued to drive him crazy. Despite what you might think his class's curriculum did not begin to slack. No matter what Malfoy said or chose to believe. In fact it had done the exact opposite. His students were learning more and more and even better then before. Even if what he taught them wasn't really anything they would use in the real world. It's what Harry knew though, and the spells were a lot of fun. His more advanced students got to learn how to cast Patronus'. As I said they typically wouldn't use much of what he taught them. His experience was teaching an army. He hadn't tried to learn much else. On the bright side Harry knew mostly defensive spells. So the next generation of Hogwarts graduates weren't going to grow up knowing the spells of a terrorist. At least if they do, Harry didn't teach them.
Near the end of the week during dinner. Harry thought of an idea. If Malfoy only wore long sleeve shirts. Then the only thing he must of packed in his trunk had to be long sleeve shirts. He could ask Kreacher to do something. He'd ask not order. But as he began to think on it he didn't like the idea. It could potentially get him in trouble and Harry didn't want that. So scrap that idea. But then he began thinking about it more. He could sneak into Malfoy's room. He could wear his cloak. Then no matter what he couldn't be seen. He could take one of Malfoy's shirts and find out how to adjust them into short sleeves. Then he'd use a duplication spell once he'd returned to Malfoy's room. After he'd disposed of his other clothes of course. Because this definitely the logical solution to all of this. Definitely. Harry's not going mildly crazy. He's not becoming obsessed again. No definitely not. He's fine.
It was late at night and Harry had snuck into Malfoy's. Surprisingly Malfoy hadn't returned yet. Honestly that worried Harry more then anything else. He'd been expecting to find Malfoy asleep. When he saw he wasn't there he refused to leave until he returned. Because Harry's a creep.
When Malfoy did show up Harry was hiding in the corner next to the window. Malfoy entered the room and sighed. He was messing with the cuffs of his sleeves. He walked over to the standing mirror he had. Harry had noticed and assumed it was so Malfoy used it to fix his hair. Because you definitely can't do that with a hand mirror. Malfoy ran his fingers the his hair. He adjusted the collar of his shirt shortly before he began unbuttoning it from the top down. Harry's cheeks grew a light pink as more of Malfoy's chest was revealed.
Harry could once again see the white scars splayed across his chest. Malfoy removed his shirt putting it into a hamper. He looked at himself in the mirror once more, and scowled. He clearly didn't like what he saw in the mirror. Harry would typically say something like "I wouldn't blame him if I looked like that or if" and if something. But Malfoy seemed to have such a disgust in his glare. A glare Harry'd been on the other end of many times before. Honestly he could give Mcgonagall a run for her money if he kept teaching. Malfoy held up his left arm in front of him. He was turning it over slightly just staring at it. "What does that old bat know" he began to unwrap the medical gauze. It was new gauze too, as if it'd only just been applied that night. Harry quietly walked closer to see better. Malfoy unwrapped it more and more. Madame Pomfrey had clerarly expected him to try this. Malfoy let out a frustrated growl he grabbed as he began un wrapping even faster reluctantly trying to yank it off. Harry wanted to help but wasn't sure how, maybe if he had a pair of scissors. But apparently Malfoy already had those, because he walked over to his bedside table arn pulled a pair out. "Magic isn't everything" he slid the sharp end under the bandage cold blade grazing his skin. He cut the gauze of slowly wincing slightly as he moved further up his fore arm. He cut all the way up to his wrist and the bandage fell to the floor. Malfoy's forearm was finally revealed. If Harry thought that the scars on Malfoy's chest were ugly. The giant gash on his arm made the other absolutely gorgeous.
His left fore arm had the the dark mark on it. Harry had seen it on his arm before when he had tried to kill Dumbledore. Harry was finding himself very dumb right now for not thinking of that. But what was shocking about the black tattoo that was on Malfoy's arm. Was that it had a long red ugly slash down it. As if he had tried to cut it out.
The wound was self inflicted.
It was definitely going leave a nasty scar if he ever let it heal.
Harry had never been overly sympathetic towards Malfoy in the past. Or ever really. But looking at the ugly slice of his arm. Harry really wanted to say something. Do something. But he didn't know what. He felt incredibly guilty for messing with him over the past several weeks. Making life very difficult for him he was sure. Though Malfoy seemed to like making himself suffer. Like he deserved. He'd never actually reported him to Mcgonagall for tampering with his classroom. He also never would have brought up the fact that Harry'd been doing anything of he hadn't mentioned it himself. Harry bit his lip guilt growing stronger. Harry made a swift movement towards the door. Draco exhaled loudly as air swept over his open wound causing it to sting. Harry froze glancing over once more. He carefully creaked out the door pulling his cloak tight to him.
Once outside he still felt like he wanted to help. He folded up his cloak as small as he could make it and hid it within his normal robes. He straightened his posture and glasses before knocking on the door.
