Draco Malfoy and his Unknown Fate:
Author's Notes: Okay. Here's the next chapter. I'd like to take the time to thank everyone who reviewed the story. I really appreciate it! So go read!
Warnings for this chapter: None.
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm merely borrowing them for the time being. This will be slash (eventually). Don't like it? Don't read it. Otherwise, enjoy.
The friendly, fun outing they'd shared was the start of the odd camaraderie that cropped up between Draco and his Gryffindor rival. It only increased once Snape assigned his students a long, arduous essay on Veritaserum, insistent that they learn every thing they could about it before he taught them how to brew it. In reality, it was supposed to be seventh year curriculum, but Draco had noticed all the teachers were stuffing them full of advanced lessons, no doubt in preparation for the upcoming battle with You Know Who, and Snape was no different. Considering the fact he was piling work on them, he did allow them to grudgingly work with their partner, though he required that they do their own essays individually and copying each other word for word was not acceptable.
That meant Draco and Potter were forced to arrange time out of their busy schedules to research and the Slytherin found out that he enjoyed the time they spent in the library together. While Potter was not the most eloquent of individuals, he was undeniably charismatic with an inherent power to him that he didn't even realize he had. Occasionally, when they were taking breaks, Draco would engage him in a discussion about Quidditch just so they could spar with words without the danger of offending one another. Draco staunchly favored the Falmouth Falcons, while Potter liked the majority of teams, but mainly supported the Chudley Cannons, or rather the Chubby Canons, as Draco called them.
Even though they were getting along, they still managed to argue passionately about pretty much everything. Half the time, Draco simply played devil's advocate just for the sake of it even if he didn't agree with the position he was defending. Still, they didn't cross the invisible lines they'd silently drawn. Draco didn't say the word Mudblood in Potter's presence or mention his dead parents and Potter refrained from referring to Slytherins as Death Eaters in training. He never mentioned Draco's sexual preferences either, though occasionally he'd make an oblique reference when it was pertinent to their conversation.
Towards the end of their project, when both their papers were almost finished, Draco decided approach Potter about something that had been bothering him for some time. One Thursday afternoon he screwed up his courage enough to broach the subject.
They were sitting at the table farthest from Madam Pince, surrounded by dusty tomes and several stacks of parchment containing their notes (and a few of Granger's that Potter had appropriated for them). It was relatively quiet and still, the library was full of a few seventh year Ravenclaws studying for their N.E.W.T.'s, but beyond that there was almost no one else around. Potter was sitting across from Draco, attempting to balance his chair on its hind legs while they both took a break from their work. The Slytherin silently counted to three and forced himself to speak up, assuming a carefully nonchalant tone of voice. "Potter?"
"Hmm? What is it Malfoy?"
Draco smoothed his hair back a bit and studied his notes, not bothering enough to actually concentrate on the information his eyes were scanning. "I was thinking."
"About what?" Potter asked, the front legs of his chair thumping solidly as he sat up. "You didn't hurt yourself did you?"
"Oh, ha ha. Very witty." Draco rolled his eyes. "No, you moron. I was thinking that well. If you want, you can call me Draco." He suggested it in a very off hand way, watching through his eyelashes as Potter gaped at him from across the table.
He was obviously startled, his bright green eyes were round with surprise and his lips had parted slightly. Draco smothered the urge to kiss him and waited for the Gryffindor's reply. It took a moment. "Are you offering to be my friend?" Potter asked incredulously.
"I suppose one could take it that way." He finally looked up from his parchment and locked eyes with Potter, who was staring at him like he'd never seen the Slytherin before. "Well?" Draco drawled in his most superior tone of voice, wary of endangering his dignity any more than he already had.
Potter blinked, uncertain. "I - I guess… I suppose I could. Hermione and Ron won't like it much, but even they've said that you've been loads better this year. Almost like a real human being." Draco gave him a flat look and Potter had the decency to look sheepish. "Well, you have to admit, you were pretty bad when we were younger. You were like a miniature version of your father."
"That was my goal at the time." Draco said. "And now that I don't have to try and make my father proud… well, it's a lot easier to be Draco Malfoy than it is to be Draco Malfoy the Heir and Scion of the Malfoy Family." Potter was digesting this, obviously taking in this new point of view.
"So, does this mean you're going to start calling me Harry?"
"I might as well. You don't mind, do you?" The other boy flashed him a shy grin.
"No, not really. So, friends then?" The Boy Who Lived stuck out his hand, offering it to Draco in a way that reminded the Slytherin of his own original offer of friendship so many years ago. He only hesitated for a moment at the sight of it. Feeling inexplicably warm of all of a sudden, Draco took the Gryffindor's hand in his own and they shook. Potter's hand was warm and slightly calloused and Draco let it go a moment later with a twinge of reluctance.
"Friends, then. Harry." He tacked on the last word as an afterthought, rolling the unfamiliar syllables around in his mouth like it was a new flavor of some exotic wine he was savoring. Finally having the right to address his former rival by name sent a thrill through him.
Potter sent a bright smile Draco's way which Draco found himself returning it easily. "Let's finish this up. I wouldn't want to give Snape the chance to pick on me any more than he already does."
"Tsk, tsk. You're absolutely no fun."
"Oh, sod off, Draco." Hearing his name from Potter's lips for the first time made Draco flash the other boy a smile so brilliant it was almost blinding. Potter, or Harry rather, grinned back at him, ducking his head once more to focus on his essay.
Yes, Draco could definitely get used to this.
To be Continued
Comments and constructive criticism are more than welcome.