The Hardships of Being Draco Malfoy
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters originally penned by J K Rawlings, don't even own the computer this is being typed on. But a girl can wish can't she?
Pairings: Not yet but will be Draco/Potter eventually (getting closer!)
Warnings: Whiny Draco ahead, not to mention some probable OOC-ness to be had by all. But what can I say, first time Harry Potter writer.
Authors Note: First things first, sorry to have taken so very long to update, life reared it's ugly head and giggled at my attempts to move on in spite of everything. Something I forgot to add last time around, A big thanks goes to my roommate, friend, and resident bio-chemist, J-Lo. For it was she who helped me sort out the whole bit on making the potion. That and had a hand in picking out the ingredients. Thanks Hon! Ok, sorry to all those out there looking for more comedy but don't worry we will be getting back to it all, in good time, just have to clear the air of some of this depressing angsty stuff. That and I need to snap Draco out of his set little mind frame. Shouldn't take that much longer though. Cheers to all who have read and a special thanks to those that reviewed!
Gilaine - Thank ya kindly! Though I know that the premise is nothing new, I am glad that people are enjoying it nonetheless.
The Lady Wolfshead - You were right, in part, you just had convinced yourself other wise, my dear. Just in case - it is the contents of the letter Harry receives with his Invisibility Cloak after it was forgotten in the tower during that 'Norbert gets away, and oops we just got caught' bit. The second part was just before it. Written in narrow, loopy writing he had never seen before were the following words: This part is from When Harry had fist received his Cloak and is the description of the note found with it. So being as they were such obscure lines, I think you really did quite well! Also I agree, Draco needs some lovin'.
nightwing - Thank You! I shall valiantly continue onwards! For I too am hoping for some answers on what Harry is about. (Unfortunately the only person in this story I am sure of is Draco, everyone else just kind of has a 'do as you will' policy.)
Shinku - Ah, I do apologize! My language can be a bit, strange at times, I am trying not to sound too odd though. It is just a problem I have when writing. I am glad however that you are enjoying the fic! Hope it continues to keep you interested!
So in this part, we have one chapter almost entirely devoted to Draco and Harry, (Almost) but there will be appearances (brief or otherwise) by the following. Filch, Hermione, and even Dumbledore might pop in for a moment! (Maybe more!) Also, what was that pink thing that was tossed into the Cauldron to make it explode? You'll find out here!
And now, Finally,
Part 9
Something was bothering Draco.
Actually something had been bothering Draco for a while now. Ever since leaving potions class it had been nagging at him. As he gathered books for his comparative research on Protection spells and charms, it was floating at the back of his mind. How was such a controlled reaction from the potion achieved?
Make no mistake about it, the explosion had been very carefully planned. The only person who could have gotten hurt from the explosion was Draco, Potter had been moving his equipment back to his own table when that strange pink ball had landed in the potion. The radius of the blast was so minimal as to suggest that someone who knew what they were doing was responsible, but no one in Slytherin appeared smart enough to get that type of reaction, besides they would have wanted to catch Potter in the blast as well. On the other hand, no one knew what potion they would be working on today, but Snape probably informed the other Slytherins about it, so they could get a jump-start on reading up on it. However the sheer amount of research and study time involved in something like that would have put a Slytherin off immediately. Still there was the possibility.
Hypothetically it could have been a Ravenclaw, but those bookworms were not known for their sense of humour, nor for their desire for revenge. Still odder things had been known to happen. He didn't even consider anyone Hufflepuff worth his time to consider, which left Gryffindor. There was one person in Gryffindor that he could see doing something like that.
"Malfoy." Draco's head snapped up and through his bangs he saw Hermione Granger walking towards him. She glanced around quickly making sure that no one could see them. Draco rolled his eyes, due to the feast aside from Madam Prince they were the only other two people amongst the dusty tomes of the library.
"Granger." He replied, as he gathered the few books he had found and carried them to a little used table near the back of the library. He had actually only found three books that looked like they would be of any use to him. They were 'Spells for Protecting Yourself From...' 'Wards and When to Use Them' and of course the classic 'What's Mine is Mine, What's Yours is Yours, and How to Keep it That Way.' He set the books down, knowing that they would still be there come tomorrow when he could get back to them, and shoved his hair out of his face. He would probably be able to find better books tomorrow also. Right now however he wanted to make a hasty retreat before that filthy Mudblood got it into her head to have a conversation with him.
He turned and started to walk past her, making sure to no longer acknowledge her. "Malfoy, wait," she said as he passed, stilling him by grabbing his arm. Draco scowled darkly as he looked down at the offending hand. What was with these damned Gryffindors and being so touchy feely? At least he could understand Weasley's motivation, but this was just getting old.
He yanked his arm out of her grasp before saying coldly, "I have a detention to get to."
"Please," she said, her voice sounded almost pleading, "just listen to me for a moment."
Draco made a big show of looking at a clock before saying clearly, "you have one minute." Then crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch the clock, pointedly ignoring her.
"First I wanted to say how sorry I am for what Ron did, I was absolutely furious when he told me last Sunday," She circled around to see Draco's face and tried to gauge his reactions, while he practiced his little used 'bored as hell' expression. "Harry overheard what Ron said and was also quite upset, although he didn't say anything to either of us," at this her eyes became extremely shiny and she began blinking rapidly as she averted her face. In a cracking voice she continued, "Harry hasn't said more then a few words to Ron and I since the summer hols, you have no idea how hard it has been on us all."
"Time's up, I have to go," he said disgusted at how emotional she was being, must be some sort of hormonal imbalance. Or as Draco liked to phrase it 'that time of the month.'
Granger moved quicker then Draco would have given her credit for, and she proved to be quite a deterrent from leaving the library as she blocked the doorway, and pointed her wand in his face in a quite threatening manner. Where was the librarian when he needed her, or a teacher, or Filch, or even his fleabag of a cat, Mrs. Norris? Why did they never show up when one of the Gryffindors were breaking rules? At least she wasn't taller then he was, he grinned slightly at that fact. Before having the grin wiped off by an evil scowl from Granger.
"Listen you insufferable little prick! Something is wrong with Harry and he isn't willing to talk with any of his friends or with the teachers about it. But for some unknown reason he feels like he can talk to you. That conversation you had with him in the hallway, it was the first time Harry has voluntarily spoken with anyone in months. I thought that maybe since you seemed to be having similar problems, that you could maybe help him while you helped yourself, but I underestimated how much of a complete git you are!" Her hand trembled slightly as she seemed to lose what little control on her anger she had. "Sometimes I wish I could just... If it wouldn't get me expelled I would so love to... How could Harry even think..."
With that she shoved her wand back in her pocket and stormed off in what appeared to be some sort of righteous fury, muttering what sounded like a grievance for the end of all stupid men. Draco trembled slightly as he collapsed against one of the bookcases close to him. A hormonal Mudblood was defiantly scarier then a furious Weasley. How he had managed to not break down and plead for his life was a huge mystery. Taking a deep breath Draco looked at the clock on the wall. Shit, he was going to be late for his detention with Filch!
Mysteries were going to have to wait. He took off out of the library at a dead run, knowing that there was a possible second detention in his future if he was more then two minutes late. Anything less then that could be explained away as the result of a moving staircase. He could only hope that he wouldn't actually get caught on one. On the up side if he did get another detention it would be blissfully Potter-free.
Draco made it to the ground floor of the castle and was heading towards Filch's office when a gentle hand on his shoulder effectively stopped him. "Ah Mr. Malfoy, just the person I was looking for."
Draco, who had only just managed to keep from making an undignified noise at being stopped so suddenly, could only stair blankly at his Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, as the wizened old man smiled down at him. Draco was thrown for a loop, the headmaster hardly ever sought out someone personally. Usually notes were issued if he wanted to see you saying when to meet him, and then usually it was never good news. At least it never was good when a Slytherin went to see him, usually it was something about a family member no longer being around. Draco felt a knot form in his stomach. This didn't bode well.
"I was wondering if you would mind coming with me to my office, Mr. Malfoy?" The old man said his smile somehow getting brighter after he had spoken. He gestured in the direction that Draco had just come from.
His office?! Draco was really panicking internally now, usually such meetings were held with the Head of house in their office. Dumbledore turned him carefully and began guiding Draco towards said office with a gently pushing hand placed between his shoulder blades. This was defiantly going to be bad. Draco didn't actually know what was going to be said, but he defiantly didn't want to hear it.
Besides what if one of his housemates saw him with Dumbledore? Oh Shit! They would think he was a turncoat! Especially if it got out that he went to the Headmaster's office! If he thought things were bad in his dorm now, that would be nothing if they were suddenly really out for his blood! He had to get away from Dumbledore, quick. "I... I... Have a detention to get to sir." He said, hating how weak he sounded.
"Ah yes your detention with Mr. Filch," Dumbledore said cheerily, not even pausing in guiding Draco. "Not to worry, this wont take long, and I will explain everything to Argus."
Uneasily, Draco resigned himself to whatever forms of torture his housemates would put him through, it was not like he could run from the headmaster, there was no place he could go. He was so dead.
Dumbledore stopped in front of a gargoyle and said something, which made the thing jump aside showing a doorway. Normally Draco would have committed the password to memory, but he actually hadn't even realized that he was now on a moving staircase, which stopped in front of another doorway. He was softly pushed inside and guided to a chair in front of a large desk filled with all sorts of intriguing artifacts. Unfortunately Draco was far to preoccupied imagining way that he was going to meet his now inevitable demise, to see them, or even to sit down.
"Mr. Malfoy, you appear rather distracted, can I get you something?" Draco focused on the old man as he seated himself behind the desk.
"I'm sorry sir, I was just worried about my detention. I was hoping that the sooner I got there the sooner it would be over," he said thinking quickly.
"Ah yes, your detention, not to worry. I am sure Mr. Filch will quite understand as to why you were late. Please sit down Mr. Malfoy." Draco nodded and did as he was asked. "If I remember correctly, you are going to be sharing your detention tonight with Harry Potter, is that correct Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco bristled quietly, what was with the never-ending concern everyone seemed to have for perfect Potter? "Yes Sir," he said tightly, not even bothering to hide his annoyance. Here he had been worried that this was going to be one of those by the way your mother just died, and with your father in jail, your going to have to go and live with some distant relatives, things. Instead it was another, Harry Potter thing. Draco ground his teeth together holding back the angry and bitter words that were rising like bile in his throat.
"It has been brought to my attention that the two of you have not been engaged in your usual antics this year, dare I say it, but it has been reported that you are even close to almost being friendly." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily at the word 'friends,' and Draco fought the urge to scream.
"We're not actively trying to kill each other, if that is what you mean, Sir."
"Good, good, I think that having you for a friend will do a world of good for Mr. Potter, it is a wonderful thing to see that the two of you have given up such childish squabbles. I was quite certain that you would both spend your lives basing your friends on silly childhood misunderstandings." Dumbledore smiled brightly, clearly ignoring the hostility that Draco was openly showing more clearly then a movie theatre projection. Dumbledore stood and shuffled through some bags and papers in a drawer for a moment. "Now I will write a note for you, and you can move along to your detention. Oh, I almost forgot, would you like a gumball?"
A brown paper bag was dropped onto the desk in front of Draco, tipping over and sending an array of multi coloured balls rolling. One fell off the desk and came to a stop at Draco's foot. It looked exactly the same as the ball that was thrown into his cauldron to cause the explosion. "What did you say this was?"
Dumbledore looked up from what he was writing. "It is a muggle candy, not unlike Drooble's best blowing Gum, only not magically enhanced. It is not something I normally would have but Professor Snape gave them to me, I believe that he said he confiscated them from Hermione Granger, I just haven't gotten around to returning them yet. I don't believe that she'll miss one"
Draco hadn't thought that his anger could get much worse, not only was everyone on about talking to him about Harry Potter, Weasley and Granger were both threatening him, but also Granger was actively trying to kill him. Draco slipped the little ball into his pocket as Dumbledore handed him the note. "Have fun in detention tonight Draco, and remember what I said, a world of good will come of Harry having you for a friend." The old man guided the scowling boy to the door and gave him instructions as to where he would find Filch to begin his Detention, and sent him on his way.
Filch was, predictably, highly irritated that Draco was late, though with the note there was nothing to be done about it. He confiscated Draco's wand to make sure that tonight's work would be done without magic, and to 'make sure you little brats don't hex yourselves to oblivion, not that I would mind.' As he distinctly put it.
The detention was to clean a room per Dumbledore's instructions. Draco scoffed, how bad could it be? Dust some shelves, sweep some floors, shove Potter's head into a wall, clean up the blood afterwards, how hard is that? His scowl remained firmly in place even after being shown the room. Because there was Potter. He was struggling with a rolled up rug at least twice as long as he was tall. Aside from a few other rugs the room was piled with furniture of all description. Chairs, sofa's, desks, and other things were literally everywhere.
"Everything not broken, ripped, stained, or otherwise rendered useless, goes in one corner, everything else goes in the box near the door." Filch said pointing to said box. It hardly looked bigger then the trunk that he used to hold his cloths. "Don't worry if something looks to big, just set it on top of the box, and it'll get sucked inside, to some sort of furniture limbo. Unfortunately it only will suck up inanimate objects, so don't even try shovin' Potter in. Since both of you are having a joint detention, we're trying out a new moniterin' system. If it is found that one of you is slakin' off, you'll get another detention tomorrow. I've given him the same warnings. I expect the walls to be scrubbed, the floor to be polished, and all the useable furniture, and rugs to be set up in an orderly manner. The door wont open until everything is done, if you have to use the bathroom, there is one behind the door on the far wall, which also should be cleaned before you leave." And with that Filch left the boys to their task, and went to patrol the halls for students that were breaking rules.
Draco glared at Potter for a good five minutes as he continued to struggle with the large rug, trying to get it to the 'keeping' corner. If it weren't for the threat of getting another detention he would have made Potter do everything. Damn that stupid Filch had thought out this detention far to well. No wands. No way out. No way to force one person to do all the work. And he was supposed to be working with Potter. Life sucked so badly.
Draco walked over and grabbed the opposite end of the rug and shoved hard, practically knocking Potter off his feet. It was vaguely satisfying. Once out of the way Draco dropped the rug and went to the pile and began sorting though it. As before, when they were working on the potion together, Draco and Potter worked quietly and efficiently, and for the most part separately. It was only when moving a heavier piece of furniture that they would help the other out, Draco was constantly entertaining thoughts of throwing a heavy something at Potter, or shoving the piece of furniture in his arms on top of Potter's head, then when he fell over jumping up and down on him.
No words were spoken for the sorting and moving period of the punishment. All in all, of the unbroken pieces of furniture, there were four desks complete with matching straight-backed chairs, a sofa, three cushy armchairs (with tons of fluffy pillows) and a variety of different sized rugs. Thankfully the sofa, pillows, and armchairs all had working spells on them that repelled dust and creature infestations, otherwise they might have never finished cleaning the furniture.
Finally, when they were beginning to scrub the walls, Potter spoke. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Draco gritted his teeth and applied more pressure to his scrubbing. He could feel Potter's eyes on him, following his every move. Strangely enough it was almost comforting in a way. "What do you mean?" he said in a rough voice, refusing to look at the other boy for fear he would do something he would really regret.
"Do you want to talk about it? You know, whatever is bothering you?" Draco Felt rather then heard Potter inch closer, and the way he had said that was that concern?
Draco swallowed down his angry retort, he was getting good at that, and tightened his grip on his scrub brush, wishing that it was Potter's throat his hand was squeezing. "There's nothing to talk about, Potter." He was quite proud of how calm his voice sounded.
"Come off it, Malfoy," the other boy said putting an extra emphasis on his last name. Potter rested his shoulder against the wall next to the circle Draco was continually making with his brush. The blond coolly ignored the other, as the dark haired boy looked from the wall where Draco was scrubbing to run over Draco's tense body and then back to the wall. "You know if you grip the brush much harder it might splinter." Potter said gently covering Draco's hands with one of his own.
"Fuck, Potter!" Draco yelled yanking his hands away from Potter and flinging the brush away, all traces of his composure gone. "What the Hell is up with everyone? Haven't you, or any of your Shit-head friends, ever heard of Fucking, personal space?" He stepped forward till there was only a decametre between them. He slightly tilted his head upwards to look Potter in the face, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "Anyway there is nothing wrong with me, you dumb Bastard, cause if there was something wrong, then one of the asshole teachers at this, fine facility, would have fucking said something! Wouldn't they?" Draco put his hand on his chest in dramatic sarcasm. "I mean Harry Fucking Potter the Boy Who Fucking Lived, has a slight problem, and suddenly it is all anybody can talk about!"
Draco leaned slightly closer getting a great deal of satisfaction as Potter stepped back. Damn but this felt good! "Suddenly everyone is all concerned about Potter! It is all I ever hear about anymore! Potter this and Harry that, it's fucking worse then all the other years you've been here put together!" With that he shoved the shocked boy hard, and caused him to fall backwards to land awkwardly on one of the rolled up rugs.
He walked to stand next to the other boys reclining form and crouched next to him. "You know Potter," he said in a fairly level tone. "Now that I think of it, maybe it's you who wants to talk about what's 'bugging' them." He looked carefully at Harry's face, noting how pale he was save for twin splotches of red on his cheeks, denoting that the other boy was getting upset. "Too bad Potter, I don't want to talk to you, nor do I want to listen to you. Go find someone who cares."
Draco stood up straight and started to walk to where his scrub brush lay across the room, "For you that should be fairly easy to find, I imagine that here you could talk to anyone else and find that they care." He stooped and picked up the brush before saying in a 'sarcastic as hell ' voice. "Or better yet, why don't you go and start crying in the middle of the great hall during breakfast? That will get you tons of attention!"
Draco looked over at the Boy Who Was Now Standing, his hands were clenched tightly and he was staring at the floor. "It's not like I want the attention, Malfoy! I am not trying for it, I just want to be normal!"
"Normal?" Draco scoffed, "Everything you do each year is designed to make you stand out, and all you want to be is normal? You're going to have to try harder then that!"
"You think I plan things out to get all this attention?" Potter said looking up sharply, a mixture of Shock and anger on his face. "What kind of sick person would I be, to plan the things I have been forced to go through, just to get attention?"
Draco flushed angrily and started speaking before he could stop himself, "You'd be like me Potter! I need the attention! I want the attention! I have to have it to validate my existence! My mum sent me here this year to blend in, not stand out in anyway, and I've done everything I could think of to subtly draw attention to myself, but the more I tried the more people ignored me and paid attention to you, who was acting the exact same way! Do you realize the hell I am going through in my dorms? I..." Draco cut himself off as he realized what he was saying, he swallowed nervously and tried to cover his slip as well as he possibly could. "Oh piss off Potter!" He was obviously loosing it, big time.
Flustered he turned his back on his nemesis and rubbed his face with his hands, oh this was going to be such a long night. "Do me a favour Potter, I know I shouldn't be asking this but just forget about what I said, ok? You conveniently forget what I said and I will conveniently be inspired to finish cleaning the room all by myself while you lounge on the sofa. Sound good?"
The pause while Potter was thinking seemed to stretch out forever. "It might work, if there weren't that detection spell spying on us to see if someone does an unfair amount of work."
Draco's shoulders sagged, "I was hoping that you would forget about that."
"I tell you what Draco, I'll never mention this little talk we had, if you apologize for calling me names, and promise to honour a debt when I ask for it."
"You want an apology and a Favour? That's kind of steep."
"I could always tell Madam Pomfrey that you told me you didn't think you could validate your existence anymore. Sounds awful close to a consideration of suicide." Potter looked slyly over to where Draco stood staring at him, a smirk spreading over the Boy Who Lived's face.
"Alright you bastard, I apologize for anything I have said that would offend your delicate sensibilities, and I will Honour a favour. And take that stupid look off your face, you can't do an evil smirk to save your life."
"The favour will be a specified one Draco, I will tell you specifically that I am calling it in. And I want you to swear that you will honour it." Potter said, crossing his arms over his chest and adopting a 'no nonsense' look.
Draco took a deep breath, bit at his lower lip for a moment before rolling his eyes and nodding. "You have my word as a wizard, I will Honour the asked for favour, when you specifically ask for it."
Potter held out his hand to the other boy. A smile gracing his lips, that was a more familiar look for Harry Potter, Draco thought as he shook his head ruefully before grabbing the other boy's hand for a quick shake.
"Now let's get this room finished, I famished since I missed dinner." Harry said, glancing around the room. Draco scoffed at him pretending that he hadn't missed dinner also. It would have worked too, except that his stomach chose that exact moment to let out a very loud and undignified gurgle.
Stupid stomach.