[2]
. . .
Hogwarts was supposed to be home, but with mixed reactions from his Housemates on the events concerning Cedric Diggory's death, and with the inclusion of Umbridge among the staff, Harry couldn't quite find that peace he had been craving for. He sighed as Neville's snores filled the dark room, sitting up and grabbing the Map and his Cloak.
It took him a few minutes to wander over to the Astronomy Tower, checking the map every now and then to make sure he didn't bump into a professor, or worse, Filch. He must have missed it on the Map, his eyesight not improving at all as the years went by, as he spotted a cloaked figure sitting by the open window of the tower.
He thanked Merlin he was still under the Cloak as he prepared to move away. However, it was the soft sniffles that echoed through the darkness that made him pause. Curse his bleeding heart, really.
Before he could do anything though, the figure turned around, and in the moonlight, he could clearly see Camille Diggory, looking absolutely miserable as she sat on the ledge of the tower's window. Clutched in her hands was a photo of her and Cedric in their Hogwarts robes, the former scowling as the latter tried to make her laugh by making funny faces.
He didn't think she was one to break curfew, but he supposed she needed this, and he sincerely hoped it helped lessen her pain somewhat. Briefly, he worried about how she would make the journey back unnoticed.
He lowered his gaze to give her some semblance of privacy, pivoting on his heel to leave but the sound of approaching footsteps made him pause in alarm. He shuffled towards a dark corner, watching Camille with concern. She wasn't moving, though, unbothered by the thought of being caught and sentenced to detention or a loss of House points. He supposed, in her situation, he wouldn't really care either.
Harry was relieved for her when the footsteps were revealed to belong to Draco Malfoy, pale blonde hair shimmering into a snow-like hue under the moonlight.
"Here again," he stated quietly as he approached her, standing in front of her and leaning on the cold, brick wall. "You shouldn't keep staying in one place."
"Umbridge still excited to catch me, then?" she said with a dry chuckle.
"She's been dying to get you in trouble ever since The Prophet's article on Potter. Snape would be understanding—", Harry held back a snort at Snape of all people being uncharacteristically kind but also wondered about how his involvement with The Prophet translated to Umbridge's seeming vendetta against Camille, "— but we both know Umbridge wants a reason to punish you."
Harry's eyes widened. Although he really shouldn't be listening, moving might alert either Camille or Draco, and frankly, while eavesdropping on the private conversation made him feel mildly disrespectful, he couldn't beleive what he was hearing. Umbridge had always seemed partial to the Slytherins, never docking House points from them and always making sure to praise them in class. It was like Snape but a Snape that favored both pink and the Ministry, and looked distinctly toad-like. A terrible image to think of, in his opinion, but there was no other way to put it.
"Do you figure it's really because of The Prophet, or is she simply on a roll targeting students from the Light faction because their parents voted against her latest creatures bill?"
Draco snorted. "Even Father's against it. He hates creatures, no doubt about that, but shackling them and further restricting their movements and opportunities will just make things worse for us in the long run, so no, I don't think it's purely because of your family's alignment."
"...Cedric, then?" Harry heard her voice stutter slightly as she said her brother's name, but he admired her for having the courage to do so anyways. He couldn't even say the word 'Diggory' out loud because it always took him back to that night, when he made him take the Cup with him. Why did he have to be so noble at the worst of times? If only—
"—and Father at least respects Amos Diggory. Looks down on him for being Light, of course, but 'Puffs usually are. Umbridge, on the other hand..."
"Draco, your father supports her placement here."
"Only to annoy Dumbledore," Draco waved a hand. "Otherwise, he wouldn't go within ten feet of her."
"And you?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Hearing Draco and Camille converse made Draco Malfoy seem more human to Harry, someone more than a schoolyard rival. Draco Malfoy was a pompous brat who felt like he could get everything he wanted because his 'Father would hear about it!' otherwise. He was the Slytherin prince, if rumors were to be believed, so he was the one responsible for allowing Slytherins to get away with calling Muggleborns that foul word. Draco Malfoy had always been somewhat of a thorn on his side every single year at Hogwarts, but looking at the boy's concern-laden eyes, Harry wondered if this was the Draco he could have known if he hadn't refused his offer of friendship.
Still, Draco had been quite rude to Ron, so Harry wouldn't regret defending his first friend in Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry," Camille suddenly stood up, looking around with mild alarm. "We shouldn't have... we shouldn't be talking about these in public. This is my fault—"
"Crabbe and Goyle are guarding both entrances. If there was anyone else here, they would have to be flying out the window," Draco said, leaning over slightly and smirking, "and obviously, there aren't any. I am careful, Camille."
With that, Draco turned back to her and gave her a stern look. "Look, no one's going to stop you from grieving, not even Parkinson, but at least take care of yourself."
"I am—"
"Crabbe and Goyle said otherwise."
"..."
"Don't try to make excuses, I know. They appreciated your attempts at sneaking them more food, but they're more concerned about your health."
"That's sweet of them," she smiled softly as she gazed at the gray clouds drifting by. It was a chilly evening, and the night breeze gently passed through the window, making her hair flutter behind her.
"Eat properly starting tomorrow."
"Mhm."
"Camille."
She turned bashful eyes at Draco, hazel meeting gray, and she smiled again, nodding. "Okay. I promise."
"Good. We're heading back to the dorms now, you hear me? We have a big day tomorrow," Draco said, unfastening the acromantula silk cloak that rested on his shoulders before wrapping it around the smaller girl. "And wear thicker clothes next time. It's freezing out here."
"Then keep your cloak."
He rolled his eyes at her before tugging her hand and leading her down the dark tower steps as they descended back to the dungeons.
Harry waited a few minutes before making sure no one was there as he made his way back to the common room. He had a lot to think about.
As promised, Camille ate properly the next morning under Draco's watchful eye. Roast beef, boiled potatoes, and chamomile tea made their way into her grateful stomach, and she gave it a small, satisfied pat.
"I'm full."
"As you should be," Draco said sternly as he nibbled on a cupcake with vanilla frosting. "Keep this up for a week then I'll stop hovering."
"Please do," Pansy Parkinson begged from three seats away, miserable at Draco's lack of attention on her; not that Draco ever willingly gave her any attention, but she could have scored a reply or two from him had he not been laser-focused on Camille's eating habits.
"Now, come, we have double Potions," Draco continued, cupcake consumed as he tugged Camille out of her seat. Pansy scrambled to follow them.
When they made it to the dungeons, Draco and Camille settled into their usual table, with a pouting Pansy sitting in front of them. The classroom started to slowly fill up as the minutes ticked by.
Camille and Draco spent their time playing Quidditch on a spare piece of parchment, a little Charms trick Cedric had taught her years ago. She was watching her team's Chaser preparing to score a goal when a loud bang made her flinch in surprise. Her gaze swept towards the door, which had swung open from the force of a surprisingly lively Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
"Gryffindors truly have no manners," Draco sneered as he made his Seeker fly up. "You'd think they'd mature as they aged."
Camille nodded absentmindedly as she observed Harry Potter. He had never been a lively one outside of Quidditch and Christmas, especially not when bad things kept happening to him every year. She had never been one to worry about the events surrounding his life, but seeing him in a lighter mood made her relieved for him.
He was the Boy Who Lived, someone destined for so much greatness and power and— and he was just a fifteen year old boy, wasn't he?
The upcoming war shouldn't have to be his problem, and that was one thing she and her father frequently rowed about. He liked bringing up the issue of whether or not the Boy Who Lived would be their model for the war across the horizon, but Camille always felt annoyed. Why should a mere student have to fight the adults' war for them? It was disgusting and cruel.
She watched him laugh at something Weasley said, and she felt her lips tug into a small smile.
"What are you so happy about? Look at the score," Draco looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
She focused back on the parchment. 120-50 in Draco's favor. "It's not over until it's over."
Three Chasers showdowns, two narrowly escaped Bludgers, and one Seeker race to the Snitch later and the game concluded wifh 210-170 in Camille's favor, much to her amusement.
"I'd still win in real life," Draco grumbled without any heat, making Camille laugh and pat his head in amusement.
"Good match, Draco."
"Whatever."
That was when Professor Snape chose to enter, cloak gliding by as he walked to the front and began discussing their Potion for the day. Camille had been diligently taking notes when he ended with, "—to prevent more accidents in this classroom, there has been a... decree mandating that a decent student be placed next to a dunderhead to minimze collateral damange."
Camille's eyebrows furrowed. If he meant what she thought he meant, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? Placing a Slytherin and a Gryffindor together...
"As I am very much aware of House rivalries, rest assured these pairings were conducted with much thought," Professor Snape continued. "Now, then. Avery and Patil."
As he began calling out pairs, Draco frowned. "I do hope this isn't permanent."
"Same here," Camille grimaced. She had nothing against most Gryffindors, but working with Draco was where she was most comfortable. They worked together like a well-oiled machine, and the nightmare if she ended up with Finnegan or Longbottom had her somewhat worried about her Potions grade.
"Imagine if he gave me Potter."
"He wants minimal accidents, remember? He wouldn't do that."
"He better not. That toad would give him hell for it, too," he scowled. "Who do you think you'll be with?"
"Two Galleons it's not Brown. Professor Snape knows I'll probably hex her at some point."
"Alright. Two Galleons it's Finnegan."
"Oh, dear Merlin, no. I'm his second favorite student. He wouldn't use me as cannon fodder."
"Well—"
"Diggory and... Potter."
Camille internally let out a sigh of relief as Draco stood up from the desk and gathered his potions kit, sending the approaching Potter a warning glare before moving away.
"Hi," Potter said awkwardly as he settled into the seat next to her.
"Hi," she nodded at him, noticing his... quite basic potions kit. It confused her greatly, and although it wasn't her business, she couldn't help but to ask, "Potter, what are you doing with the Muggleborn potions kit?"
"I— huh?" he said unsurely. "What do you mean?"
"Who told you to strictly follow the supplies list?" she wondered out loud. "I mean, that kind of kit is meant for Muggleborns, Potter. You are not a Muggleborn."
"I didn't think you cared about blood status," he said with narrowed eyes, happy demeanor gone as he sat up rigidly.
"Excuse me?"
"I can't believe— if I knew you were just a typical Slytherin—"
"Potter, stop disturbing Diggory and get straight to brewing," Professor Snape said warningly, causing the pair to shut up.
Harry grumpily turned to chopping his pixie wings, oblivious to the flash of hurt and confusion in Camille's eyes.
He knew it was wrong of him to have gotten annoyed with her and for making assumptions, but he felt a sudden spike of irritation at the way she talked about Muggleborns as if they were "others" and not truly the same as her. He just... he thought she was different, and the realization made him feel a little numb.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked him worriedly, turning away from the chess strategy he had been trying out and gazing at him.
Harry continued to lay down on his bed, a frown on his face. "Say, Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"Are there... meant to be differences in our potion kits?"
"What do you mean?"
"This morning, Di— Camille asked why I had a Muggleborn potions kit...?"
"Wait, so you didn't buy one on purpose?"
Ron's tone of shock had Harry sitting up and staring at the ginger on the bed next to his.
"What?"
"I mean... Muggleborn potions kits have little magic in them. It's usually because Muggleborn magic is less dense compared to a pureblood's, or even a halfblood's," Ron explained, "which is why the Apothecary sells different sets. The magic in the ingredients reacts differently based on the purity of your blood, and to help Muggleborns adapt, a different version of the ingredients are made for them. Merlin, mate, I thought it was weird when you showed up with one, but it wasn't really a big deal to me at the time..."
Harry's mouth opened in shock as he processed Ron's explanation. "How'd you know all this?"
Ron's ears tinged pink. "Eh, I mean, it's... well, that's what purebloods are taught early on. This was just one of the things Mum mentioned, and pureblood potion kits are actually much cheaper because changes don't need to be made, so she was pretty happy about that."
"Maybe that's why I've been doing so badly at Potions, then!" Harry concluded. Ron, after all, rarely had mishaps in Potions and did quite decently despite Snape's disdain. Perhaps Harry, too, with the right kit... "I could write the Apothecary for a new kit, can't I?"
"It would be better, yeah," Ron nodded. "Safer for you, too."
"Why's that?"
"Halfblood magic is really dense. If you handled an ingredient wrongly, trust me, it would've blown up," Ron shivered, recalling Seamus' adventures in the dungeon.
Harry mulled over the information as Ron continued to elaborate on what his Mum had told him, growing interested in what he was hearing but also feeling a growing sense of guilt as he recalled how he had automatically assumed the wrong thing and snapped at Camille.
"Hey, Ron, I have another question."
"Yeah?"
"How do I apologize to a girl?"
"You're seriously asking me?"
A/N: Happy New Year! I hope everyone's 2022 will go well and will help you achieve the goals you've set for the year.
Thank you so much for the favorites and follows, along with the first two reviewers! Thank you Ciel0714 and Skittles for finding this interesting and I hope this chapter is to your liking hehe.