Chapter 4
The ride to school was a quiet one in some ways. The carriage Draco had followed Blaise into contained his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, and the person he wanted to see least of all at the moment, Pansy Parkinson. He couldn't stand her; she hung on him like a leech. Sometimes Draco just wanted nothing more than to feed her to the Giant Squid. It wasn't that he hated her exactly, he'd known her since they were little children and they'd played together, but as they got into school and became older, Draco saw how vain, needy, clingy, and bossy she was.
Pansy laughed at something Blaise said and Draco was forcibly reminded of just why he disliked Pansy Parkinson most of all. Not only did she look like a pug, looks could be changed and taken care of (there were spells for that). No, Draco disliked Pansy for her laugh, her god-awful laugh; it was high-pitched and far too girly. Sometimes Draco thought of a braying ass whenever Pansy laughed, it grated on Draco's nerves so much he often had the desire to slap her; but Lucius has taught him you never hit girls… or at least not until they were your wife and even then only if they needed to be reminded of their place.
Draco did his best to block out the other occupants in the carriage as he became lost in his thoughts again. Had Harry reconised him? Did Harry really hate him? He continued to think and wonder until a shrill voice broke into his thoughts.
'Drakie-poo? Are you in there?' asked the shrill, girlish voice of Pansy Parkinson. Sometimes Draco thought her voice had become worse than Umbridge's, who it was no doubt modeled after.
'What?' Draco snapped.
'Where were you after the prefects meeting, Drakie? You just disappeared, I looked everywhere for you.' Pansy simpered.
'None of your business, and don't call me that!' Draco said irritably.
'But Drakie…' Pansy said in a voice that was really starting to make Draco sick from the sweetness of it.
'Don't call me that, Parkinson.' Draco growled, using her last name and making her cower.
Blaise watched this little exchange with mild amusement. It was about time Draco put Pansy in her place. He really thought she should be silenced or, better yet, put in a muzzle. Blaise often thought Pansy was the most annoying creature he'd ever met, and that included his mother, Elyse, who he simply couldn't stand.
After Draco's bite at Pansy, the carriage was silent. Draco got out of the suffocating carriage as soon as it stopped. Pansy climbed out and looked as though she was going to take his arms, but at the scathing look he sent her, she skipped off to find her best friend Millicent Bulstrode.
Draco and Blaise made their way up the steps of the entrance hall with Crabbe and Goyle lagging a few paces behind. They made their way into the Great Hall after a few second year Hufflepuffs, who seemed to want to get out of Draco and Blaise's way as fast as possible. Draco had to resist the urge to roll his eyes as they scampered away. As he made his way over to the Slytherin table he chanced a glance over at the Gryffindors, where he saw Harry Potter scanning the opposite side of the Hall, the Slytherin table to be exact, clearly looking for something or someone. Butterflies moved in Draco's stomach as he began wishing it was he the green-eyed boy was searching for. The butterflies died away, however, as Harry turned and began talking to as tall black boy who was sitting across from him when Draco took a seat next to Blaise and, unfortunately, near Pansy Parkinson who seemed to have forgotten Draco's out burst and was trying to get his attention.
Draco stared down at his empty plate, doing his best to ignore Pansy and he one again began to think of Harry when he felt someone's gaze on him. It took all of Draco's self control not to look up and see who was staring at him, so he could tell them to sod off. Just when he felt himself about to give in, he was spared as Professor McGonagall walked through the doors of the Great Hall with the first years in tow. He felt the eyes leave him as she placed the Sorting Hat on the stool and he thought it safe to turn his attention towards it as it began to sing of the four houses and school unity. Draco clapped half-heartedly when it was finished. He watched with disinterest as 'Austin, Ashley' was sorted into Gryffindor. He then felt those same eyes from earlier back on him as he watched the sorting. He ignored them and clapped whenever the Hat shouted Slytherin until he couldn't stand it anymore and turned his head ever so slightly, so to anyone else it would look as though Draco was still watching the sorting and using his peripheral vision, he saw Harry Potter staring at him. Draco's jaw almost dropped, but luckily 'West, Madeline' was sorted into Slytherin and Professor Dumbledore rose to speak to the student body, therefore no one noticed the blond's shock… or so he thought, as Professor McGonagall carried the stool and hat away.
'Welcome,' Dumbledore said and Draco breathed a sigh of relief as he felt Harry's eyes leave him. He was sure he would have turned and looked at the Gryffindor had he not been saved. 'Another year of learning is about to commence, but until after our feast I see no reason to depress you all with it now.' Dumbledore continued as he waved his hands allowing the golden dishes to fill as he sat down.
Draco piled food on his plate, though the butterflies were making it impossible to eat. He stared down at the food wondering why Harry Potter would be staring at him as he felt those eyes once again on him.
Draco didn't notice Blaise glance over at Harry and see him staring at his best friend. Nor did Draco see Blaise's smirk, having caught Granger looking at Draco after following Potter's gaze. How long before she figures it out? Blaise wondered to himself as he resumed his conversation with Theodore Nott.
After the meal was half over Draco felt Harry's gaze drop and couldn't help but look up. He saw that Harry hadn't eaten much, just pretended, as he had. Draco really wanted to know why Harry hadn't even looked at him when he had gone into their compartment. He was so absorbed in thinking about Harry he didn't realise that one Hermione Granger was watching him stare at Harry.
When the golden dishes had cleared, the Headmaster stood again breaking Draco out of his revere. 'Now that we are all fed I would like to make a few announcements: To all first years and some others, the Forbidden Forest is off limits and you would do well to remember that.' Dumbledore said, his gaze lingering on the Gryffindor table causing, Draco to smirk. 'Weasley Wizard Wheezes products are not permitted along with numerous other things, a full list of which can be found on the door of Mr. Filch's, if you wish to check.
'Again we would like to welcome a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Flynn, who has stated she could use a little danger and likes the odds of her survival.' Draco looked up and saw a woman who didn't seem to be but a few years older than himself, twenty perhaps? She was average height, 5'8", with tan skin, dark green eyes. Not nearly as pretty as Harry's, Draco thought, but close. And longish black hair that made Draco wonder for a moment if she and Harry were related.
'Well, I believe that's everything important, prefects please escort the first years to their respective houses, goodnight.'
Draco stood with the rest of the students but didn't go to gather the first years; he'd let someone else deal with them. He looked over and saw Weasley and Granger gathering the Gryffindor first years and Harry standing ever so slowly from the bench. Draco's mind told him to look away as he saw the Gryffindor step back from his seat as he reached his full height, but no matter what his mind told him Draco couldn't tear his eyes off the boy. He saw Harry's eyes begin to scan the Slytherin table again as his mind screamed at him to run, look away, do something, anything, but Draco was rooted to the spot and suddenly emerald and silver clashed. Harry's eyes seemingly boring into Draco's soul the longer he looked. Draco felt naked and exposed, like Harry could see his every thought and feeling, and yet, somehow, Draco liked it, he liked that Harry could see through his icy mask, like no one, not even his parents, could. (A/N: That sentence had 9 of them. I WIN MESSR OBESSED WITH SMALL DOTS!)
Draco was lost in a sea of emerald as Harry's eyes roamed down his body, coming once again to rest and lock with silver. A bubble of hope erupted in Draco's chest at the look in Harry's eyes, there was no hatred, no malice, not even dislike, there was… hopefulness, longing perhaps? Was Harry experiencing those same emotions that Draco, himself, had felt on the train just a few hours ago? Draco knew he must be imagining it, Harry couldn't feel the same way, it was impossible.
Draco continued to look into Harry's eyes until the Gryffindor suddenly looked panicked and broke eye contact and practically bolted from the Great Hall, leaving a hurt, very confused, and slightly frustrated Slytherin behind. He knew must have imagined it. How on earth could Harry bloody Potter feel something for Draco Malfoy, an arrogant, stuck up, self-centred prick?
Draco slowly made his way out of the Great Hall when he realised he'd been there so long everyone else had left and he was alone. He made his way down to the entrance of the Slytherin common room and muttered the password at the stretch of wall that concealed it. Draco walked in through the empty common room to the dorm he shared with Blaise, as Salazar had made sure the dungeons were very roomy with extra privileges for the older students. He changed into his pyjamas and climbed into bed, putting up locking and silencing charms, as was his custom. Draco lay awake waiting for sleep to claim him, not noticing the lone tear that made its way down his cheek as he drifted off thinking he was such a fool for thinking Harry could ever like him and feel the same way he felt.