School had begun and nothing had changed. Hermione kept a closer watch on Ginny for some reason. Ron seemed to be getting more and more agitated by their quarreling, constantly begging Harry to put a stop to their bickering, occasionally reminding him that it was HIS fault they started to argue in the first place. Draco, of course, had gone back to being a git. Hiding behind Crabbe and Goyle , marking cruel remarks about Harry and taunting him relentlessly. It made Harry sick, to think he had been so nice to Draco Malfoy and didn't give it a second thought. But he felt right about Draco, it was an instinct deep down in his gut. Small, but it was there. No way logical and in every sense flaky, but it was there, nagging Harry to keep his cool and treat Draco fairly.
It had put Harry behind a dangerous barrier from his friends that couldn't be crossed, that tingled with tension and the inevitability of an explosion. Time could only tell when the explosion would occur, but the clock was ticking and his friends' patience was plummeting.
"What do you mean he didn't mean that? How thick are you?" Ron growled as he and Harry were walking from lunch to Transfiguration, already three weeks into January.
The month was drawing to a close and there was a Quidditch game against Slytherin that Saturday. Harry had done his best to try and ignore Ron's growing annoyance with Draco's behavior and the continuous 'I told you so' looks from Hermione. It was almost beginning to be too much.
Ron, further infuriated with Harry's silence, went on," I'll bet you ANYTHING Malfoy set you up JUST to make a fool out of you. And you fell for it! He probably knew you'd act the hero as usual and quickly comfort him in a time of need. I bet he's having a hearty laugh with the Slytherin house right now! I bet-"
"Oh GOD, would you shut UP!" Harry blurted out. His cheeks were prickling with anger as he pushed past Ron and the bewildered class into the classroom. He picked a seat in the back beside a Slytherin boy, who looked both shocked and appalled that Harry Potter chose to sit next to him.
Harry's temper gradually subsided as the class filled in. It wasn't enough that he felt foolish for treating Draco so nicely during break, his best friend had to rub it in. Suddenly, the boy next to him jumped a bit and quickly left his seat, allowing Draco to take his place.
Harry looked over at him frowning as Draco produced a folded piece of paper and slide it to him on the tabletop. Harry took it and opened it up slowly, realizing it was the front page of the Daily Prophet. The headline stated in its usual bold, black letters 'THIRD DISAPPEARANCE IN A SERIES LEAVE OFFICALS EVEN MORE BAFFLED: CITIZENS OUTRAGED'.
Harry frowned harder, fervently reading the article below to himself. His breath caught in his throat as he read the name of the victim slowly," Pansy Parkinson."
Harry quickly looked up at Draco, who was watching him in turn, "Yeah...a Hogwarts student...Keep reading."
Harry flicked his eyes back and forth, mumbling his reading under his breath," Parkinson, who had last been seen visiting the Malfoy's, had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday. Her visit to the Malfoy's had apparently been to see her long time boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, for her joyous day. Needless to say, she didn't end up celebrating anything since quickly after, she disappeared. Her parents report they had not seen head nor hair of their sixteen year old since the alleged visit. Sources prove Lucius Malfoy, once a great influence in the wizarding world, had been in ties with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Given this fact, it is to be concluded that dear, young Pansy Parkinson is likely to turn up dead rather than alive, giving more reason for Ministry Officials to intensify their onslaught of hunting Death Eaters."
Harry took a ragged breath in. This was too close, FAR too close...
"I know what you're thinking," Draco softly drawled." I thought the same thing.But it was inevitable...first my mother, now Pansy. Granted, we weren't going out, but still...He's getting closer. His victims are getting more personal.Who knows who could be next."
Harry looked into Draco's slate gray eyes, searching them. Draco faltered briefly, not used to being probed by such an intense green stare. A shiver coursed through him.
" I'll find him...He won't get away with this..." Harry mumbled.
Draco nodded, finding his breath again," I hoped you'd say that...So, I'm only gonna do this because I want that bastard brought down for what he did to my mother..."
Harry blinked as Draco reached out and firmly took his hand in his own," I'll stand behind you , Harry Potter. Till the death."
//------------
"So, what made you walk towards me anyway?"
Harry glanced sideways at Draco, squinting from the glare of the sun. Leaning back on his palms, he grasped lightly at the grass beneath him. It was an oddly bright day for late January, though there wasn't much warmth with the cold wind nipping their bare skin. Harry wiggled his head further beneath his red and gold scarf," Just an intuition, I guess."
"Intuition, eh?" Draco scoffed, flicking bits of grass from his black slacks." So, you approached a mortal enemy JUST on intuition? I find that hard to believe."
Harry chuckled and laid back tucking his arms under his head. The wind made soft whistling sounds as it whirled through Harry's hair, tousling it," Do you now? Is it so hard to believe that I could act on my gut instinct rather than six years of hatred for you?"
Draco looked down at him, cocking his eyebrow," Well, since its YOU, no. Not hard at all. You were always something of a goody-goody, Saint Potter."
Harry laughed just as a snowball came whizzing past his nose. He jolted up to see Crabbe and Goyle stalking towards their spot by the lake. Harry's stomach gave a lurch. Draco had the same sensation.
"Quick, "Draco said hastily, getting up and dusting himself off." Try and look like we just had a go at it."
Harry frowned at him, but decided against arguing. He rumpled his hair some more and messed up his robes. He withdrew his wand and scrambled a few feet away from Draco's position by the tree.
"Think they saw us laughing?"
Draco turned his back to Harry, muttering," No...the tree blocked your face from view. We can only hope they think we fought...I don't know WHAT my father would do if he found out I was friends with you..."
Harry got to his feet, gripping his wand tightly in his grasp. Draco thought they were friends. Boy, if Ron were here, he'd be bouncing to the moon, Harry commented to himself.
"'EY! Want us to finish him up, Draco?" Goyle asked as he flanked Malfoy's side as usual.
"Nobody's around, they wouldn't stop us until he's good and hurt," Crabbe offered with a sneer.
Draco glanced back at Harry, then looked to his henchmen, "No, I'm done here...Potter's not worth anymore of my time...lets go."
Then the three of them walked away as Draco called out," See you at the match, Potter!"
//------------
Harry hastily spiraled down as a bludger and a Slytherin chaser came barreling at him. He exhaled loudly, narrowing missing the Bludger by inches. He swooped up higher, regaining his perch atop the game and kept an eye out for any hint of gold. A rush of robes made him look over and see Draco not too far away.
"What is it with everyone following me and not looking for themselves?" Harry asked exasperated.
Draco hid a chuckle and forced a sneer back on his face," Because, we're lazy. Its just easier to let you do all the work."
Harry scoffed and settled grumpily onto his broom, doing a slow circle of the field. Not a second later, he caught sight of the glistening flicker and shot off like a bullet. Malfoy quickly gave chase, easily catching up. Riding his elbow, Malfoy stayed parallel with Harry as they tailed the flittering Snitch all around the pitch.
"I know very well that you could easily speed up on that broom," Harry strained, reaching out his fingers towards the golden ball.
"It may come as a shock to you, but I'm not good at steering when I go too fast," Draco remarked, stretching out his hand just as Harry's.
The two Seekers strained themselves to reach, each building up more and more speed.
"Its going to look odd if I catch the Snitch," Draco remarked, noticing Harry slow down a bit.
"I know," Harry replied, reluctantly speeding up.
Their speed grew immensely, Harry growing more and more wary since Draco's comment about his lack of skill at high speeds. The Snitch seemed to be beckoning them faster, flitting this way and that, always teasing them with the flutter of its wings just beyond their fingertips before taking off much faster. Harry's hair was whipping his face violently, his robes occasionally getting tangled with Draco's. His eyes watered with the cold air of their velocity, and his fingers started to cramp up around his broom.
Suddenly, a zooming grumble shot past them, nicking the handle of Draco's broom in a blur of reddish-brown. Before Harry knew what had happened, Draco was whirling towards the ground, his broom fluttering uselessly a few feet away. Harry completely forgot the Snitch and sped off towards Draco. He quickly dipped underneath him and safely guided him to mount Harry's broom infront of him. Harry clamped his arms securely around Draco's waist, feeling how badly he was shaking, and flew him to the ground .
Once upon the grass, Harry barely noticed the mixture of shock and triumphant cheering coming from the crowd. The two turned in a slow circle, seeing the confused looks upon most of the spectators.
"And WHAT an unexpected save made by Harry Potter!'" Lee Jordan screamed into the speakerphone." It seems not even a git like Malfoy could upset this virtuous and fair player-"
"Stick to neutral announcing, Mr. Jordan!"
"Sorry, Professor. But you got to admit, that was PRETTY unusual!"
Harry gulped, knowing only too late that his helping Draco was more than suspicious. He reached out and quickly snatched Draco's broom from its slow descent towards them. He thrust it at Malfoy's chest, mounted his broom and took off.
Around thirty minutes later Madam Hooch's shrill whistle broke the cheering and booing momentarily as she yelled," GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
Harry accepted his hugs and pats from fellow Gryffindors and his team mates before disappearing towards the locker room a few minutes later. But before he could reach the door, an angry hand grabbed his arm and yanked him around the wall.
"Why did you save me!?" Draco growled, his gray eyes teeming with anger.
"I'm SORRY, it was instinct!" Harry shot back, jerking his arm out of Malfoy's grasp.
"Instinct! What's with your instinct!? You should tell your instinct to shut the hell up before it gets the BOTH of us killed! Do you have ANY idea what my father would do to us if he finds out about that stunt you just pulled!?? What VOLDEMORT would do??! That was reckless! That was STUPID!" Draco spat, gripping his broom so tightly his already pale hands were turning whiter.
"I SAID I was sorry! What else do you want me to say!?" Harry shouted back, letting his broom drop from his trembling hands.
"Well...I..." Draco sputtered, unable to come up with any words to describe the conflicting emotions running through his veins.
Harry took a deep breath, letting his anger simmer then fizz away," You're welcome.."
Draco sighed and let the grateful side win out," Thank you...Though you KNOW you're an idiot."
Harry smiled a little as they walked towards the locker rooms, "Yeah, but that's what makes me special."
//------------
A few hours later, Harry found himself sitting in the back of the library with Draco , again chattering relentlessly about Voldemort, their friends and their own building friendship.
"You know, you can't keep treating me like some ugly girl you like," Harry commented, scribbling a few paragraphs for his Potions essay on the uses of wolfsbane in medieval times.
" PLEASE don't relate yourself to my love life. Its just disturbing," Draco pleaded, closing his Defending Against Darker Forces book.
Harry smirked and checked his textbook for further references to Wolfsbane," You know what I mean."
"Yeah, well, if it wasn't for your constant need to help everyone, we'd be OK. But nooooo, you HAVE to be a bloody hero," Draco grumbled, thumbing through his books for some inspiration for an extra credit essay.
"Would you of rather been a likeness to a Cauldron Cake?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows.
"That's completely irrelevant."
Harry laughed," Riiight. Admit it, Draco. You're grateful I saved your arse and just bothered that I wasn't the one who fell off his broom."
Draco looked wistfully up at the ceiling," Tables turned: Malfoy saves Potter's sorry bum...Yeah,that has a nice ring to it."
They both laughed and continued with their homework.
"You know, I never would've guessed you a nice guy," Harry commented as he rolled up his parchment for Potions.
"I'm not usually." Draco replied, scanning a book quickly." My father forced me to be cruel, said it was the only way people respected you. But, since my mother died...The last thing I want to do is continue advice from him...Besides...Neither Crabbe or Goyle would've comforted me like you did. They would've made some remark about how she had it coming or how I cared too much...I actually hated you for being so nice. I kind of didn't want to be in your debt."
Harry didn't know exactly how to take this , "Er..."
"Nah, its ok. Just know that I AM grateful you helped me out and I WILL be behind you one-hundred percent when it comes down to killing Voldemort."
Harry smiled a little and nodded, finding a newfound faith in Draco. Harry quickly reached up and tugged something from his finger, holding it out to Draco.
Malfoy looked over, stunned. In Harry's palm was a silver ring, two hands holding a heart with a crown atop it
"Here," Harry said, smiling.
Draco reached out bemused, gingerly picking up the ring from Harry's hand." Why Harry, this is all so sudden. Don't you think we should move in together first?"
"Don't be a git. I found it when I was about six. I wore it on a chain until my finger grew big enough to where I could wear it. I always kind of thought it was my good luck charm since I started to get out of ALOT of beatings from my cousin Dudley and his friends. Later, I realized it was only my powers growing, but still... I checked it out at a pawn shop and its Irish...called a Cladaugh. Stands for friendships."
Draco stared at it dumbfounded, not being able to force his voice to return. 'Is this what friends do? Do friends give you meaningful stuff right from their own finger? 'Malfoy asked himself.
"Just thought since I never gave you a Christmas present, this would be just as good." Harry finished, grinning.
Draco stuttered, then slide the ring onto his thumb, it being just slightly too big. He looked up at Harry, finally managing an astonished smile," T-thank you..."
Harry smiled bigger and they returned to their homework.
It had put Harry behind a dangerous barrier from his friends that couldn't be crossed, that tingled with tension and the inevitability of an explosion. Time could only tell when the explosion would occur, but the clock was ticking and his friends' patience was plummeting.
"What do you mean he didn't mean that? How thick are you?" Ron growled as he and Harry were walking from lunch to Transfiguration, already three weeks into January.
The month was drawing to a close and there was a Quidditch game against Slytherin that Saturday. Harry had done his best to try and ignore Ron's growing annoyance with Draco's behavior and the continuous 'I told you so' looks from Hermione. It was almost beginning to be too much.
Ron, further infuriated with Harry's silence, went on," I'll bet you ANYTHING Malfoy set you up JUST to make a fool out of you. And you fell for it! He probably knew you'd act the hero as usual and quickly comfort him in a time of need. I bet he's having a hearty laugh with the Slytherin house right now! I bet-"
"Oh GOD, would you shut UP!" Harry blurted out. His cheeks were prickling with anger as he pushed past Ron and the bewildered class into the classroom. He picked a seat in the back beside a Slytherin boy, who looked both shocked and appalled that Harry Potter chose to sit next to him.
Harry's temper gradually subsided as the class filled in. It wasn't enough that he felt foolish for treating Draco so nicely during break, his best friend had to rub it in. Suddenly, the boy next to him jumped a bit and quickly left his seat, allowing Draco to take his place.
Harry looked over at him frowning as Draco produced a folded piece of paper and slide it to him on the tabletop. Harry took it and opened it up slowly, realizing it was the front page of the Daily Prophet. The headline stated in its usual bold, black letters 'THIRD DISAPPEARANCE IN A SERIES LEAVE OFFICALS EVEN MORE BAFFLED: CITIZENS OUTRAGED'.
Harry frowned harder, fervently reading the article below to himself. His breath caught in his throat as he read the name of the victim slowly," Pansy Parkinson."
Harry quickly looked up at Draco, who was watching him in turn, "Yeah...a Hogwarts student...Keep reading."
Harry flicked his eyes back and forth, mumbling his reading under his breath," Parkinson, who had last been seen visiting the Malfoy's, had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday. Her visit to the Malfoy's had apparently been to see her long time boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, for her joyous day. Needless to say, she didn't end up celebrating anything since quickly after, she disappeared. Her parents report they had not seen head nor hair of their sixteen year old since the alleged visit. Sources prove Lucius Malfoy, once a great influence in the wizarding world, had been in ties with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Given this fact, it is to be concluded that dear, young Pansy Parkinson is likely to turn up dead rather than alive, giving more reason for Ministry Officials to intensify their onslaught of hunting Death Eaters."
Harry took a ragged breath in. This was too close, FAR too close...
"I know what you're thinking," Draco softly drawled." I thought the same thing.But it was inevitable...first my mother, now Pansy. Granted, we weren't going out, but still...He's getting closer. His victims are getting more personal.Who knows who could be next."
Harry looked into Draco's slate gray eyes, searching them. Draco faltered briefly, not used to being probed by such an intense green stare. A shiver coursed through him.
" I'll find him...He won't get away with this..." Harry mumbled.
Draco nodded, finding his breath again," I hoped you'd say that...So, I'm only gonna do this because I want that bastard brought down for what he did to my mother..."
Harry blinked as Draco reached out and firmly took his hand in his own," I'll stand behind you , Harry Potter. Till the death."
//------------
"So, what made you walk towards me anyway?"
Harry glanced sideways at Draco, squinting from the glare of the sun. Leaning back on his palms, he grasped lightly at the grass beneath him. It was an oddly bright day for late January, though there wasn't much warmth with the cold wind nipping their bare skin. Harry wiggled his head further beneath his red and gold scarf," Just an intuition, I guess."
"Intuition, eh?" Draco scoffed, flicking bits of grass from his black slacks." So, you approached a mortal enemy JUST on intuition? I find that hard to believe."
Harry chuckled and laid back tucking his arms under his head. The wind made soft whistling sounds as it whirled through Harry's hair, tousling it," Do you now? Is it so hard to believe that I could act on my gut instinct rather than six years of hatred for you?"
Draco looked down at him, cocking his eyebrow," Well, since its YOU, no. Not hard at all. You were always something of a goody-goody, Saint Potter."
Harry laughed just as a snowball came whizzing past his nose. He jolted up to see Crabbe and Goyle stalking towards their spot by the lake. Harry's stomach gave a lurch. Draco had the same sensation.
"Quick, "Draco said hastily, getting up and dusting himself off." Try and look like we just had a go at it."
Harry frowned at him, but decided against arguing. He rumpled his hair some more and messed up his robes. He withdrew his wand and scrambled a few feet away from Draco's position by the tree.
"Think they saw us laughing?"
Draco turned his back to Harry, muttering," No...the tree blocked your face from view. We can only hope they think we fought...I don't know WHAT my father would do if he found out I was friends with you..."
Harry got to his feet, gripping his wand tightly in his grasp. Draco thought they were friends. Boy, if Ron were here, he'd be bouncing to the moon, Harry commented to himself.
"'EY! Want us to finish him up, Draco?" Goyle asked as he flanked Malfoy's side as usual.
"Nobody's around, they wouldn't stop us until he's good and hurt," Crabbe offered with a sneer.
Draco glanced back at Harry, then looked to his henchmen, "No, I'm done here...Potter's not worth anymore of my time...lets go."
Then the three of them walked away as Draco called out," See you at the match, Potter!"
//------------
Harry hastily spiraled down as a bludger and a Slytherin chaser came barreling at him. He exhaled loudly, narrowing missing the Bludger by inches. He swooped up higher, regaining his perch atop the game and kept an eye out for any hint of gold. A rush of robes made him look over and see Draco not too far away.
"What is it with everyone following me and not looking for themselves?" Harry asked exasperated.
Draco hid a chuckle and forced a sneer back on his face," Because, we're lazy. Its just easier to let you do all the work."
Harry scoffed and settled grumpily onto his broom, doing a slow circle of the field. Not a second later, he caught sight of the glistening flicker and shot off like a bullet. Malfoy quickly gave chase, easily catching up. Riding his elbow, Malfoy stayed parallel with Harry as they tailed the flittering Snitch all around the pitch.
"I know very well that you could easily speed up on that broom," Harry strained, reaching out his fingers towards the golden ball.
"It may come as a shock to you, but I'm not good at steering when I go too fast," Draco remarked, stretching out his hand just as Harry's.
The two Seekers strained themselves to reach, each building up more and more speed.
"Its going to look odd if I catch the Snitch," Draco remarked, noticing Harry slow down a bit.
"I know," Harry replied, reluctantly speeding up.
Their speed grew immensely, Harry growing more and more wary since Draco's comment about his lack of skill at high speeds. The Snitch seemed to be beckoning them faster, flitting this way and that, always teasing them with the flutter of its wings just beyond their fingertips before taking off much faster. Harry's hair was whipping his face violently, his robes occasionally getting tangled with Draco's. His eyes watered with the cold air of their velocity, and his fingers started to cramp up around his broom.
Suddenly, a zooming grumble shot past them, nicking the handle of Draco's broom in a blur of reddish-brown. Before Harry knew what had happened, Draco was whirling towards the ground, his broom fluttering uselessly a few feet away. Harry completely forgot the Snitch and sped off towards Draco. He quickly dipped underneath him and safely guided him to mount Harry's broom infront of him. Harry clamped his arms securely around Draco's waist, feeling how badly he was shaking, and flew him to the ground .
Once upon the grass, Harry barely noticed the mixture of shock and triumphant cheering coming from the crowd. The two turned in a slow circle, seeing the confused looks upon most of the spectators.
"And WHAT an unexpected save made by Harry Potter!'" Lee Jordan screamed into the speakerphone." It seems not even a git like Malfoy could upset this virtuous and fair player-"
"Stick to neutral announcing, Mr. Jordan!"
"Sorry, Professor. But you got to admit, that was PRETTY unusual!"
Harry gulped, knowing only too late that his helping Draco was more than suspicious. He reached out and quickly snatched Draco's broom from its slow descent towards them. He thrust it at Malfoy's chest, mounted his broom and took off.
Around thirty minutes later Madam Hooch's shrill whistle broke the cheering and booing momentarily as she yelled," GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
Harry accepted his hugs and pats from fellow Gryffindors and his team mates before disappearing towards the locker room a few minutes later. But before he could reach the door, an angry hand grabbed his arm and yanked him around the wall.
"Why did you save me!?" Draco growled, his gray eyes teeming with anger.
"I'm SORRY, it was instinct!" Harry shot back, jerking his arm out of Malfoy's grasp.
"Instinct! What's with your instinct!? You should tell your instinct to shut the hell up before it gets the BOTH of us killed! Do you have ANY idea what my father would do to us if he finds out about that stunt you just pulled!?? What VOLDEMORT would do??! That was reckless! That was STUPID!" Draco spat, gripping his broom so tightly his already pale hands were turning whiter.
"I SAID I was sorry! What else do you want me to say!?" Harry shouted back, letting his broom drop from his trembling hands.
"Well...I..." Draco sputtered, unable to come up with any words to describe the conflicting emotions running through his veins.
Harry took a deep breath, letting his anger simmer then fizz away," You're welcome.."
Draco sighed and let the grateful side win out," Thank you...Though you KNOW you're an idiot."
Harry smiled a little as they walked towards the locker rooms, "Yeah, but that's what makes me special."
//------------
A few hours later, Harry found himself sitting in the back of the library with Draco , again chattering relentlessly about Voldemort, their friends and their own building friendship.
"You know, you can't keep treating me like some ugly girl you like," Harry commented, scribbling a few paragraphs for his Potions essay on the uses of wolfsbane in medieval times.
" PLEASE don't relate yourself to my love life. Its just disturbing," Draco pleaded, closing his Defending Against Darker Forces book.
Harry smirked and checked his textbook for further references to Wolfsbane," You know what I mean."
"Yeah, well, if it wasn't for your constant need to help everyone, we'd be OK. But nooooo, you HAVE to be a bloody hero," Draco grumbled, thumbing through his books for some inspiration for an extra credit essay.
"Would you of rather been a likeness to a Cauldron Cake?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows.
"That's completely irrelevant."
Harry laughed," Riiight. Admit it, Draco. You're grateful I saved your arse and just bothered that I wasn't the one who fell off his broom."
Draco looked wistfully up at the ceiling," Tables turned: Malfoy saves Potter's sorry bum...Yeah,that has a nice ring to it."
They both laughed and continued with their homework.
"You know, I never would've guessed you a nice guy," Harry commented as he rolled up his parchment for Potions.
"I'm not usually." Draco replied, scanning a book quickly." My father forced me to be cruel, said it was the only way people respected you. But, since my mother died...The last thing I want to do is continue advice from him...Besides...Neither Crabbe or Goyle would've comforted me like you did. They would've made some remark about how she had it coming or how I cared too much...I actually hated you for being so nice. I kind of didn't want to be in your debt."
Harry didn't know exactly how to take this , "Er..."
"Nah, its ok. Just know that I AM grateful you helped me out and I WILL be behind you one-hundred percent when it comes down to killing Voldemort."
Harry smiled a little and nodded, finding a newfound faith in Draco. Harry quickly reached up and tugged something from his finger, holding it out to Draco.
Malfoy looked over, stunned. In Harry's palm was a silver ring, two hands holding a heart with a crown atop it
"Here," Harry said, smiling.
Draco reached out bemused, gingerly picking up the ring from Harry's hand." Why Harry, this is all so sudden. Don't you think we should move in together first?"
"Don't be a git. I found it when I was about six. I wore it on a chain until my finger grew big enough to where I could wear it. I always kind of thought it was my good luck charm since I started to get out of ALOT of beatings from my cousin Dudley and his friends. Later, I realized it was only my powers growing, but still... I checked it out at a pawn shop and its Irish...called a Cladaugh. Stands for friendships."
Draco stared at it dumbfounded, not being able to force his voice to return. 'Is this what friends do? Do friends give you meaningful stuff right from their own finger? 'Malfoy asked himself.
"Just thought since I never gave you a Christmas present, this would be just as good." Harry finished, grinning.
Draco stuttered, then slide the ring onto his thumb, it being just slightly too big. He looked up at Harry, finally managing an astonished smile," T-thank you..."
Harry smiled bigger and they returned to their homework.