Harry and Malfoy spent the day in the edges of the forbidden forest, just far enough in that they could both fit behind a tree comfortably. They didn't speak much, Harry seemed in permanent shock at Hermione's reaction and Malfoy chose to sit as a silent comfort, attending to homework and other personal reading.
They waited until sunset to make their way back up to the castle skipping task prep that day. Harry was still barely verbal, and was nowhere close to a proper mindset for casting. The courtyard was empty luckily and they didn't have to part until the Great Hall. Malfoy had been uncharacteristically quiet the whole afternoon but as Harry slowly made his way up the first few steps Malfoy put a hand on his arm.
"If those Gryffindors give you shit or try to beat up on you, either get a Professor or get to the classroom. No one will bother you if you lock the door." Malfoy spoke in an even tone but his eyes showed his concern. Harry gave him a quick fake smile, the only thing he could manage and nodded.
Malfoy sighed, "It's going to be okay Potter they'll probably just ignore you." He offered one final attempt at making Harry feel better. Harry sighed furrowing his brow, "You're right." He offered Malfoy a final small real smile in return before gently taking the other boy's hand off his arm.
Malfoy blushed, "Ah sorry, yes I suppose we both need to go now. Stay safe, I'll see you tomorrow." The boy seemed to have spoken before thinking and as the words 'stay safe' fell out of his mouth he turned an even deeper shade of crimson that reminded Harry of the jumper Molly had given Ron last christmas. Harry turned to save Malfoy some embarrassment muttering, "You too." Before quickly climbing up the stairs starting his death march to gryffindor tower.
Ron seemed to have taken full advantage of the situation.
Harry had sighed with relief when he found the common room mostly empty only to take it all back when he found the boys dorm was full. Every gryffindor in their year was packed into the tight quarters, apparently discussing Harry. At least that's what he gathered from the sudden silence that fell over them as he opened the door..
"Aw man if I had known there was a party I would've shown up a lot earlier." Harry spoke without thinking, regretting it at the reaction. He received some of the deadliest glares he had seen most of his peers ever muster. What a warm response from what was supposedly his 'Hogwarts family'. At least that was the only response until Ron pushed his way to the front of the group.
"So are you turning over to their side?"
A bit of a loaded question to start off with, Harry felt uncomfortable as he faced Ron for the first time in almost a month. "There aren't any sides here Ron."
"Of course there is! He's a pure-blood, a dark wizard!" Ron wasn't going to listen, Harry knew he wasn't going to listen.
"Yeah well you're a pure-blood too!" Harry yelled back, feeling sick to his stomach when his peers stepped back in fear. "Look I know he's a dick but he's been less of a dick recently. Less of a dick than you!"
That's when Hermione pushed her way to the front of the crowd, "The difference is Malfoy is a purest and the only reason he doesn't call you a filthy half-blood is because you're the famous Harry Potter. He's using you, and the fact that you are actually falling for him is appalling."
Harry blushed, "He and Neville are the only ones who even talk to me! Everyone hates me and it's for something I didn't even do!"
Ron scoffed, "Getting Malfoy to put your name in the goblet doesn't count you didn't want to deal with the consequences you shouldn't have sold your soul to that weasel." Parvati and Lavender tittered at Ron's pun and Harry blushed harder. That whole incident had been right after he was chosen, it was before he and Malfoy had become friends…
Harry looked around quickly to see if he could spot Neville, unsuccessful he sighed turning to leave- he had nothing more to say. "Don't you turn your back on me." Ron grabbed Harry's arm and forced him to turn back. Harry felt pure horror, the way Ron looked at him with nothing but hatred. Harry had had nightmares about Ron looking at him that way, it was unnerving to see it in real life.
"Potter, this is your only warning stay away from that prat or you are a fucking traitor. Do you really want to be on my bad side?"
Harry's eyes widened. Ron was talking about Sirius, it was the only thing he could be talking about. Harry walked backwards, stumbling and falling. He pushed himself back with his feet and reached up to use the door as leverage to get up and ran from the dorms down the stairs and out of the common room.
He raced first to the library, it was almost closed but a few students were left. Unfortunately not the one he was looking for. Harry turned tail and sprinted to the Herbology greenhouses. He tried to take the stairs three at a time but tripped and ended up falling down a good set of them. He curled up to try and protect himself and when he stopped falling it took a moment for him to relax.
"Mr. Potter! Are you okay?"
Harry unfurled and felt the gentle hand of Professor Sprout on his back. She got on her knees next to him and looked him over. "A bit bruised but you seem okay. Where in the world are you headed in such a rush?"
Harry huffed, "To… See… You… Actually." He took a big gulp of air and tried to catch his breath. "Have you seen Neville?"
Sprout frowned, "He went back to Gryffindor common room. It's nearly lights out you know, you ought to head back there too." Harry's eyes went wide again as he slowly backed up taking in the information and trying to coordinate a plan.
"Mr. Potter, are you okay? I didn't see you in class today, and well, you seem a bit distressed." She moved towards him and Harry jumped to his feet. "Had a migraine is all! Realized we have a project for potions due! Me and Neville are partners! Well we better get started it is due tomorrow." Harry lied and started running again, this time in the direction of the dungeons. "Have a good night professor!" He called sprinting as fast as he could to the Slytherin common room.
He remembered the hallway but couldn't quite remember which part of the wall. So he did what any panicked 14 year old would do, he started yelling."Look I don't know which one of you lets me in, but I need to see Draco Malfoy and the only password I know is Pureblood. So let me into the Slytherin common room!"
Nothing happened, not a sound was made and Harry huffed pacing back and forth furious. "Fine okay whatever don't let me in. I'll just knock until someone does." Harry started at the beginning of the hallway and worked his way down slamming his fist on one wall and then the other. By the end of the first round his fist was swollen and red by the fourth the skin was just starting to crack and flake, but it wasn't until the seventh round that the entrance finally opened.
A boy Harry didn't recognize but suspected to be one of the Prefects stuck his head out. "Potter? What do you want? It's nearly lights out, go to bed." The Prefect seemed to already be turning to leave but Harry stuck out his foot to stop the door from closing.
"I need to talk with Malfoy, it's an emergency."
The Prefect and Harry kept eye contact for a moment before they sighed. "Fine wait here and I'll get him."
Harry moved out of the way, he pushed down his sweater sleeve to hide his hand and sat on the dungeon floor praying the Prefect wasn't lying. It took a moment and Harry had almost gotten to knocking again when a disheveled Malfoy arrived, obviously woken from a nap.
"Thank you," Harry had to actively stop himself from hugging the Prefect who shrugged and went back into the common room.
"What's up Potter?"
"Ron is - It's complicated but I need your help. We have to do something because-" Harry caught himself several times realizing it wasn't safe to talk where they were. Harry sighed, "Can we go somewhere private?"
Malfoy looked from side to side in the empty hallway, "Is this not private enough?" Harry shook his head and thought for a moment. He grabbed Malfoy by the hand and dragged him to the most secluded place in Hogwarts.
