Pansy Parkinson stopped Draco in the hallway. "Draco, is it true what they're saying? Did you really save Potter from a dragon?"
'Great,' Draco thought, 'already?' "Yes, Pansy, I did. What of it?" he asked defiantly.
Pansy's eyes widened. "What of it? This is Potter, Draco! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Draco sighed. "I assure you that I'm just fine. I'm just having an off day. Isn't that allowed?"
"You should've let the thing trample him! That would have been brilliant! No more Potter! What were you thinking?"
"Listen, you little twit, I made one mistake. Get over it. Just leave me the fuck alone." Draco walked away from her, her mouth gaping wide open.
~~~~~~
'Damn it, Malfoy, what the hell *were* you thinking?' The voice was back again. 'When the rest of your House finds out about this, you've had it!' Draco made his way back outside and found a tree to sit under. He sank to the ground and put his head in his hands. No. What would they do? The whole house feared the Malfoy name, something Draco used to his advantage on more than one occasion. But then, he'd never done anything like this, either. A vision appeared in his head of himself hanging upside down, naked and some awful music coming from somewhere. He shook his head. 'What the hell is happening to me? I'm not moving until it's time to meet Snape.' Leaning back against the tree, Draco touched something next to him. He looked down to find a Transfigurations book. He opened the book to check the inside cover. "Fuck," he muttered. THIS BOOK BELONGS TO: HJP. "I give up." Draco threw the book aside. He tilted his head to the sky and closed his eyes.
~~~~~~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had Transfigurations next. "Well," Ron wondered, "It's been a pretty interesting day so far. Do you think something will happen to cut McGonagall's class short?"
Harry snickered. "You never know, mate. I just hope-- bugger!" Harry dug frantically through his bag.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"My Transfigurations book is missing. I think I may have left it by that tree outside. I'll catch up with you." He sprinted off to find his book.
"But Harry, you'll be late!" Hermione called after him.
"Wouldn't be the first time!" he called back.
Ron laughed. "You worry too much, Hermione." Hermione just shrugged in response.
~~~~~~
A shadow cast across Draco's face. He opened his eyes to see Greg Goyle standing over him. "What happened with you and Potter?" he asked, his eyes flashing.
Draco sighed. It had been a long time since he had really spoken to either him or Crabbe. They had both decided that since he didn't enjoy tormenting the Gryffindors anymore, he had gotten rather boring. "If anything did happen between Potter and me, why is it your concern, Goyle?"
Goyle cracked his knuckles. "I'm just asking a question, Malfoy. So, is it true that you saved his life or not?"
"Who cares? Why is this such a big deal to everyone?"
"You need to get your priorities in order. Are you forgetting what happens next summer?" Goyle spoke of the ceremony when the new Death Eaters would receive the Dark Mark.
Draco sneered. "'Priorities', Goyle? That's an awfully big word for you to be using, isn't it? Are you sure you know the meaning of it? And as far as next summer goes, I haven't forgotten about it. So just sod off, already."
"Just what in the hell is your problem, Malfoy?"
Draco stood up and looked Goyle straight in the--chest. He tilted his head up. "My problem is stupid gits like you who just can't seem to interpret a simple little phrase such as 'sod off'! You need to mind your own affairs! Or lack thereof."
Goyle grabbed Draco by the robes. "Now you listen here, Malfoy. . . ."
Draco glared. "I don't believe putting your hands on me is a very good idea, Goyle. I think you'd better let go. Now."
"Or what? It seems to me you've gone soft. I don't think you have the-"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Goyle suddenly stiffened and fell flat on his back. Harry approached, putting his wand away.
"Potter, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Draco shouted. "Do you have any idea how pissed off he'll be when he wakes up?"
"I came back to get my book, and it seemed to me that you could use a little help." Harry seemed to be blushing. "And I don't really care how pissed off the stupid oaf will be."
"I don't need your help. I had everything under control without your interference," he spat, trying to keep his pulse under control.
"You're welcome, Malfoy. I'll just take my book and get to class." Harry bent to pick up his book. "You could be a little more grateful, you know." Harry turned to walk away.
Draco grabbed Harry's arm and Harry sucked in his breath. Draco leaned toward him until their faces almost touched. "I told you, Potter, I don't need your help. I've had quite enough trouble today because of you. I could've handled Goyle if it were necessary."
"Whatever, Draco." Harry jerked his arm out of Draco's grip and backed up a few steps. Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the use of his first name. "Next time, you can bloody well take care of yourself. We're even now. Ta." Harry turned and ran as fast as he could back inside, his heart racing. It took all the strength he had not to knock Draco to the ground and ravish his pouty mouth. 'Oh yes, that mouth,' he thought. Definitely.
Draco nudged Goyle's still form with his foot. "Sure, Potter, we're even. Just wait until this git wakes up." Of course, Draco knew that Goyle wouldn't stand a chance against Harry. Draco smirked at the petrified body and strolled away towards the castle.
~~~~~
By dinnertime the story of Draco's heroics had gotten all over school. Harry could hear whispers as he passed by the students at the Gryffindor table.
"Is it true?"
"Yes! Draco Malfoy saved Harry from a herd of wild hippogriffs!"
"No way! I heard it was an angry centaur that wandered out of the forest!"
"No, no, it was a pair of dragons!"
Harry shook his head. At least one of them had it close. If they were gossiping this bad at the Gryffindor table, he hated to hear what was going on at the other tables. He sat down with Ron and Hermione, who had started eating, and filled his plate. "Do you hear all this nonsense?" he asked them.
Hermione sighed. "I'm surprised word hasn't gotten out about the incident with Goyle." Harry had told his friends about Goyle after Transfigurations.
"I don't think anyone was really outside at that time but the three of us," Harry replied. "And I don't Draco would want the school to know about it on top of the dragon incident. But there is something I suppose I should tell you."
Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. "What would that be?" Ron asked.
"I know that Draco would never let Goyle intimidate him. If I hadn't come along, he would have taken care of him on his own. One thing about Draco, no one messes with him in that house. I don't know what it is, maybe it has to do with his father. They may not show it, but the whole Slytherin house is afraid of him. They know not to push him. And after seven years of seeing how he handles those prats, I know that he would have had Goyle begging for mercy. I just came upon the situation and decided to make my presence known."
"So what you're saying is. . . ." Ron began.
"I just did it for him to pay some attention to me. I told him we were even." Harry grinned.
"So, you decided to get the ball rolling, then?" Hermione asked.
"I suppose so. Why not? If there is a chance, I'm going to take it."
"But what about Goyle when he wakes up? He's not going to be very happy with you, Harry." Hermione's brow furrowed.
Harry waved his hand in dismissal. "Do you really think I'm afraid of Goyle?"
"Well, you've got a point there. But I've got to know, mate, when did you start using the name 'Draco'?" Ron teased.
Harry blushed. "Well, I figured I might as well get used to calling him by his first name if . . . well, you know. . . . " his voice trailed off.
"Harry, I really hope you're not setting yourself up for a disappointment," Hermione carefully stated. "I mean, we don't know anything for sure. . . ."
"Hermione, you two are the ones that are so sure he returns my feelings. Besides, I'm not getting my hopes up." Harry popped a cube of cheese into his mouth. "Not very much, anyway." He smiled.
"Well, we just want you to be careful, mate," Ron added. "We don't want you to get hurt."
"Come on, Ron, I can deal with this. I'm a lot tougher than you think. I'll just have to see what happens."
"I just hope you know what you're doing." Hermione patted his shoulder.
Harry smiled. "You worry too much." And with that, he playfully tousled her hair.
"Hey!" She ducked. "At least you're in a better mood now." She sighed.
~~~~~~
Finally. The day ended. Draco sprawled on his sofa and breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that tomorrow would be Saturday, and there would be no classes. He and Pansy had finished their detention in silence, and he'd managed to avoid any of his other housemates. For the time being, anyway. 'There's always tomorrow.' That bloody voice was back again. 'Go away,' he thought. 'I'll just hole myself up here for the weekend.' Then he wouldn't have to worry about seeing *anyone*.
No, he wouldn't hide like a bloody coward. Draco had already been accused of being a coward too many times by Potter. He would face this head on. 'Maybe it's time to show Potter I'm not what he thinks I am.'
Draco leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His thoughts drifted to earlier in the afternoon when Potter butted in on his confrontation with Goyle. He could have taken Goyle if he had to. He might have been a big bloke, but he couldn't curse his way out of a first year's cauldron. Draco snorted at this thought. 'Right, he'll make a fine Death Eater some day.' Suddenly, a realization struck him. "HEY!" He sprang off the couch to a standing position. Potter *knew*. Draco would bet Potter knew him better than anyone else. Draco certainly knew everything about *him*. "Know thine enemy", isn't that the saying? Potter knew Draco could take care of himself. Then why . . . he flopped onto the couch again. "I don't know," he said aloud, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming. One thing he knew, something had to be done about Potter very soon. Draco couldn't handle anymore days like this; he'd go completely mad. 'Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow this ends,' he thought with his best smirk. 'Or, I may find myself in even more trouble.' He sighed.
~~~~~~
Harry sat alone in the common room and stared into the fire. Ron and Hermione had long since gone to bed, and Harry was enjoying his time alone. He had a lot to think about. Now that his friends knew about his feelings for Malfoy and supported him, he had to figure out what to do about it. He had to do something that would take Draco completely off guard. Something he would never suspect. Malfoy already thought Harry was just a soft nancy boy. Harry had to prove to him that he was more than that. It was time to take control. A smile spread across Harry's face. 'Perfect,' he thought. 'He won't know what hit him.' Harry made his way up the stairs to the dorms, satisfied that he would get his man.
'Great,' Draco thought, 'already?' "Yes, Pansy, I did. What of it?" he asked defiantly.
Pansy's eyes widened. "What of it? This is Potter, Draco! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Draco sighed. "I assure you that I'm just fine. I'm just having an off day. Isn't that allowed?"
"You should've let the thing trample him! That would have been brilliant! No more Potter! What were you thinking?"
"Listen, you little twit, I made one mistake. Get over it. Just leave me the fuck alone." Draco walked away from her, her mouth gaping wide open.
~~~~~~
'Damn it, Malfoy, what the hell *were* you thinking?' The voice was back again. 'When the rest of your House finds out about this, you've had it!' Draco made his way back outside and found a tree to sit under. He sank to the ground and put his head in his hands. No. What would they do? The whole house feared the Malfoy name, something Draco used to his advantage on more than one occasion. But then, he'd never done anything like this, either. A vision appeared in his head of himself hanging upside down, naked and some awful music coming from somewhere. He shook his head. 'What the hell is happening to me? I'm not moving until it's time to meet Snape.' Leaning back against the tree, Draco touched something next to him. He looked down to find a Transfigurations book. He opened the book to check the inside cover. "Fuck," he muttered. THIS BOOK BELONGS TO: HJP. "I give up." Draco threw the book aside. He tilted his head to the sky and closed his eyes.
~~~~~~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had Transfigurations next. "Well," Ron wondered, "It's been a pretty interesting day so far. Do you think something will happen to cut McGonagall's class short?"
Harry snickered. "You never know, mate. I just hope-- bugger!" Harry dug frantically through his bag.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"My Transfigurations book is missing. I think I may have left it by that tree outside. I'll catch up with you." He sprinted off to find his book.
"But Harry, you'll be late!" Hermione called after him.
"Wouldn't be the first time!" he called back.
Ron laughed. "You worry too much, Hermione." Hermione just shrugged in response.
~~~~~~
A shadow cast across Draco's face. He opened his eyes to see Greg Goyle standing over him. "What happened with you and Potter?" he asked, his eyes flashing.
Draco sighed. It had been a long time since he had really spoken to either him or Crabbe. They had both decided that since he didn't enjoy tormenting the Gryffindors anymore, he had gotten rather boring. "If anything did happen between Potter and me, why is it your concern, Goyle?"
Goyle cracked his knuckles. "I'm just asking a question, Malfoy. So, is it true that you saved his life or not?"
"Who cares? Why is this such a big deal to everyone?"
"You need to get your priorities in order. Are you forgetting what happens next summer?" Goyle spoke of the ceremony when the new Death Eaters would receive the Dark Mark.
Draco sneered. "'Priorities', Goyle? That's an awfully big word for you to be using, isn't it? Are you sure you know the meaning of it? And as far as next summer goes, I haven't forgotten about it. So just sod off, already."
"Just what in the hell is your problem, Malfoy?"
Draco stood up and looked Goyle straight in the--chest. He tilted his head up. "My problem is stupid gits like you who just can't seem to interpret a simple little phrase such as 'sod off'! You need to mind your own affairs! Or lack thereof."
Goyle grabbed Draco by the robes. "Now you listen here, Malfoy. . . ."
Draco glared. "I don't believe putting your hands on me is a very good idea, Goyle. I think you'd better let go. Now."
"Or what? It seems to me you've gone soft. I don't think you have the-"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Goyle suddenly stiffened and fell flat on his back. Harry approached, putting his wand away.
"Potter, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Draco shouted. "Do you have any idea how pissed off he'll be when he wakes up?"
"I came back to get my book, and it seemed to me that you could use a little help." Harry seemed to be blushing. "And I don't really care how pissed off the stupid oaf will be."
"I don't need your help. I had everything under control without your interference," he spat, trying to keep his pulse under control.
"You're welcome, Malfoy. I'll just take my book and get to class." Harry bent to pick up his book. "You could be a little more grateful, you know." Harry turned to walk away.
Draco grabbed Harry's arm and Harry sucked in his breath. Draco leaned toward him until their faces almost touched. "I told you, Potter, I don't need your help. I've had quite enough trouble today because of you. I could've handled Goyle if it were necessary."
"Whatever, Draco." Harry jerked his arm out of Draco's grip and backed up a few steps. Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the use of his first name. "Next time, you can bloody well take care of yourself. We're even now. Ta." Harry turned and ran as fast as he could back inside, his heart racing. It took all the strength he had not to knock Draco to the ground and ravish his pouty mouth. 'Oh yes, that mouth,' he thought. Definitely.
Draco nudged Goyle's still form with his foot. "Sure, Potter, we're even. Just wait until this git wakes up." Of course, Draco knew that Goyle wouldn't stand a chance against Harry. Draco smirked at the petrified body and strolled away towards the castle.
~~~~~
By dinnertime the story of Draco's heroics had gotten all over school. Harry could hear whispers as he passed by the students at the Gryffindor table.
"Is it true?"
"Yes! Draco Malfoy saved Harry from a herd of wild hippogriffs!"
"No way! I heard it was an angry centaur that wandered out of the forest!"
"No, no, it was a pair of dragons!"
Harry shook his head. At least one of them had it close. If they were gossiping this bad at the Gryffindor table, he hated to hear what was going on at the other tables. He sat down with Ron and Hermione, who had started eating, and filled his plate. "Do you hear all this nonsense?" he asked them.
Hermione sighed. "I'm surprised word hasn't gotten out about the incident with Goyle." Harry had told his friends about Goyle after Transfigurations.
"I don't think anyone was really outside at that time but the three of us," Harry replied. "And I don't Draco would want the school to know about it on top of the dragon incident. But there is something I suppose I should tell you."
Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. "What would that be?" Ron asked.
"I know that Draco would never let Goyle intimidate him. If I hadn't come along, he would have taken care of him on his own. One thing about Draco, no one messes with him in that house. I don't know what it is, maybe it has to do with his father. They may not show it, but the whole Slytherin house is afraid of him. They know not to push him. And after seven years of seeing how he handles those prats, I know that he would have had Goyle begging for mercy. I just came upon the situation and decided to make my presence known."
"So what you're saying is. . . ." Ron began.
"I just did it for him to pay some attention to me. I told him we were even." Harry grinned.
"So, you decided to get the ball rolling, then?" Hermione asked.
"I suppose so. Why not? If there is a chance, I'm going to take it."
"But what about Goyle when he wakes up? He's not going to be very happy with you, Harry." Hermione's brow furrowed.
Harry waved his hand in dismissal. "Do you really think I'm afraid of Goyle?"
"Well, you've got a point there. But I've got to know, mate, when did you start using the name 'Draco'?" Ron teased.
Harry blushed. "Well, I figured I might as well get used to calling him by his first name if . . . well, you know. . . . " his voice trailed off.
"Harry, I really hope you're not setting yourself up for a disappointment," Hermione carefully stated. "I mean, we don't know anything for sure. . . ."
"Hermione, you two are the ones that are so sure he returns my feelings. Besides, I'm not getting my hopes up." Harry popped a cube of cheese into his mouth. "Not very much, anyway." He smiled.
"Well, we just want you to be careful, mate," Ron added. "We don't want you to get hurt."
"Come on, Ron, I can deal with this. I'm a lot tougher than you think. I'll just have to see what happens."
"I just hope you know what you're doing." Hermione patted his shoulder.
Harry smiled. "You worry too much." And with that, he playfully tousled her hair.
"Hey!" She ducked. "At least you're in a better mood now." She sighed.
~~~~~~
Finally. The day ended. Draco sprawled on his sofa and breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that tomorrow would be Saturday, and there would be no classes. He and Pansy had finished their detention in silence, and he'd managed to avoid any of his other housemates. For the time being, anyway. 'There's always tomorrow.' That bloody voice was back again. 'Go away,' he thought. 'I'll just hole myself up here for the weekend.' Then he wouldn't have to worry about seeing *anyone*.
No, he wouldn't hide like a bloody coward. Draco had already been accused of being a coward too many times by Potter. He would face this head on. 'Maybe it's time to show Potter I'm not what he thinks I am.'
Draco leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His thoughts drifted to earlier in the afternoon when Potter butted in on his confrontation with Goyle. He could have taken Goyle if he had to. He might have been a big bloke, but he couldn't curse his way out of a first year's cauldron. Draco snorted at this thought. 'Right, he'll make a fine Death Eater some day.' Suddenly, a realization struck him. "HEY!" He sprang off the couch to a standing position. Potter *knew*. Draco would bet Potter knew him better than anyone else. Draco certainly knew everything about *him*. "Know thine enemy", isn't that the saying? Potter knew Draco could take care of himself. Then why . . . he flopped onto the couch again. "I don't know," he said aloud, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming. One thing he knew, something had to be done about Potter very soon. Draco couldn't handle anymore days like this; he'd go completely mad. 'Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow this ends,' he thought with his best smirk. 'Or, I may find myself in even more trouble.' He sighed.
~~~~~~
Harry sat alone in the common room and stared into the fire. Ron and Hermione had long since gone to bed, and Harry was enjoying his time alone. He had a lot to think about. Now that his friends knew about his feelings for Malfoy and supported him, he had to figure out what to do about it. He had to do something that would take Draco completely off guard. Something he would never suspect. Malfoy already thought Harry was just a soft nancy boy. Harry had to prove to him that he was more than that. It was time to take control. A smile spread across Harry's face. 'Perfect,' he thought. 'He won't know what hit him.' Harry made his way up the stairs to the dorms, satisfied that he would get his man.
