Chapter two
He burst out of the portrait hole, letting an indignant fat lady hit the wall.
He had to find Malfoy. Because that good-looking boy knew. He knew something.
Wait. Harry froze. I didn't think that. Of course I didn't… uh….
'I know I'm just a painting, but I'm not going to get a tan staring at the wall.'
Harry realised he'd been standing still, when Neville rushed out of the portrait hole and crashed into him.
With a yelp they both fell into a heap.
'Sorry Harry!' Neville squeaked. 'I'm late for Herbology!'
Harry groaned and disentangled himself from Neville.
'It's okay,' said Harry, helping him up. Come tomorrow it's not as if it would matter.
When Harry finally got to potions with Hermione and Ron panting behind him, it didn't seem as if he was any earlier than yesterday.
Maybe its my destiny to be late to potions and be tortured for the rest of my mortal days he thought glumly.
It was only after he'd tuned Hermione out as she spoke about Dragon's blood being used as a stimulant and how he should really try it, a thought struck him.
Can I die? he wondered. Will I grow old and continue to attend potions with a beard while my classmates wonder why Harry's aging in one day?
Will Malfoy age with me?!
Harry blinked as Malfoy's face was in front of him. Apparently he'd been tuning him out as well.
'Potter,' he hissed. 'Looking rather slow today, I see? Exactly like yesterday and before.'
Hermione was ready as a cat. 'Care to insult while Crabbe and Goyle aren't warming your shoulders? Never too cocky when they're about.'
With a pleasant smirk in Hermione's direction and a quick, but meaningful glance at Harry, he mooched off and followed the students into the potions classroom.
Hermione frowned, shook her head and followed him after a little hesitation.
Harry was still confused and finally realised he should follow her and entered and took his seat.
Furthest away from the Slytherin's as possible.
Malfoy lazing in his chair at ease, and Blaise Zabini was flirting with Pansy Parkinson. Millicent Bulstrode was picking a fight with Goyle.
'Settle down, settle down!' ordered Snape, like he did at the beginning of every lesson.
'Today we'll be concocting a Polyjuice potion-'
Harry's eyes opened wider. Not at Snape's old announcement, but a final thought at what Malfoy had said.
Was that a hint?
'Mr Potter!' said Snape coldly. 'Five points from Gryffindor! You are not kind enough to present an appropriate appearance by brushing your hair, but at least pay attention! What is the use of the Polyjuice potion?'
I hadn't even spoken!
Hermione's hand shot up.
Harry knew the answer of course, but still he sighed inwardly. Maybe he should just skip lessons tomorrow.
It's not as if anyone would remember.
Harry shook his heads to clear his thoughts. Knowing his luck, the world would probably right itself again and he'd end up with a month worth of detentions.
'Uh, to ah, change ones... appearance.'
Snape looked as if he wasn't even listening. But that was only because Harry happened to be correct. Again.
'I hope you've correctly prepared your potion ingredients over the past months, or you will fail this assignment. I have assigned you partners.' He motioned to the board. 'Begin!'
Harry didn't have to look at the board to know he was with Malfoy. He had been last lesson. And the lesson before.
Harry threw his bag into a chair, knowing his ingredients would be purposely refilled. He unzipped it slowly, revealing full containers like when he'd - well, Hermione - had packed them. (He couldn't seem to make them all fit).
And everything was there.
He didn't know what was going on, but silently placed his ingredients on the table, just like he had done yesterday.
'Knife, Potter?' asked Malfoy, holding it up.
'No,' said Harry coolly. 'Why don't you slice it up for today.'
He shot him an incredulous look.
'When fermented rat's spleens fly.'
'Work, Potter! What are you doing?'
'Uh, uh. Nothing professor.' Harry pushed Malfoy's hand away that was brandishing the knife at him boldly.
'Potter has refused to participate in the assignment. Sir.'
'That's not-!'
'Is that right,' Snape interrupted. 'Well Mr Potter, you will be receiving a zero, then. I fail to understand why you were even allowed in this class in the first place.'
As Snape walked away with a billowing of his robes, Harry's fury mounted.
Come tomorrow, it's not as if it would matter…
What would happen if Harry just… walked out? Could it be done?
Harry glared at Malfoy, smirking and twisting the sharp knife in his hands, then at Snape's greasy back.
Could he?
Malfoy seemed to be watching him with intruding grey eyes expectantly, and his mouth curled into a delicious smirk.
Did I say delcious?!
Harry forgot his bag and fled the room, pushing past Malfoy and taking the stairs with pounding feet and towards the lake.
I didn't say it. Harry decided. I only thought it.
Finally coming to a halt, Harry leant against a silver birch tree and caught his breath.
In which way does that make me feel better?!
'Oi!'
Harry whipped around at Malfoy's call. The Slytherin was walking across the damp grass towards Harry, his silver hair always catching the light from the morning sun.
'I understand how tempting it is to ignore me Potter, but correct me if I'm wrong in saying you did not take off like that yesterday.'
Harry glared at him. 'What have you done to me?'
His eyes narrowed. 'Tell me why I would want to repeat the same damn day over, and over, and over again?'
Harry felt something like fury rise inside of him. Was Malfoy denying it? And what was this strange sensation in his stomach?!
Harry dismissed it as nerves.
Malfoy was still drawing closer, and the sensation intensified.
'I don't know,' Harry finally admitted helplessly. 'But its not like I chose to wake up everyday with a bucketful of cold water being thrown over me!'
Malfoy didn't look like he was trying too hard to suppress a snicker as he came closer.
'And now I'm stuck for eternity being tortured by a bloody immortal Snape!'
Malfoy stopped in front of Harry so close they were almost touching.
What is he doing?! Stomach you better behave! Stupid…
Malfoy was still that little bit taller.
'I didn't think you were,' Malfoy drawled, his breath hot on Harry's lips. 'At first, but then you took so long to get the hint…'
Harry studied him with peircing green eyes.
'But I didn't go around making it obvious, trying to get one over on Ron.'
'It's a pity he won't remember that.' Malfoy chuckled.
WHY THE HELL DID I SHIVER!
Malfoy smirked. 'But I can remember a lot of things...' And it seemed both of them leaned in closer, and maybe their lips might have touched… Maybe.
There was a slam of a green house door.
'HARRY!' Ron shouted about to brake into a sprint.
'MR WEASLEY!' another distant voice scolded in shock. 'Come back at once! Those are not you're earmuffs!'
But the redhead could not hear, albiet he probably wouldn't obey anyway.
'Get your stinking hands off him Malfoy!'
Malfoy slipped the smirk back on his lips and turned to Ron in an almost lazy manner.
'Though regrettably, my hands were not touching him,' he drawled, slowly raising them. 'A little defensive, aren't we?'
'GET AWAY! DON'T TOUCH HIM!' Ron roared, slowing his pace as he came closer. Harry watched them both with stunned horror.
'It didn't look as if Potter wanted that. In fact…'
Ron ripped the earmuffs from his head. 'What did you say?!'
Malfoy shook his head as if to clear it. 'I said you couldn't be poorer unless the ministry started charging people for being a waste of space.'
And Malfoy strode off with a swish of his expensive cloak leaving Harry pondering while he scolded his shiveirng.
a/n: Soooooooooo. If anyone likes it, I'll write some more. I guess that was kind of boring, so I put some slash in it. Tell me if you want me to continue, if not, I will.... ummmm. DO EVIL THINGS! Uh, yeah. Reviews appreciated and welcomed.
