AN: so I'm off on vacation starting tomorrow morning but here are two long(ish) chapters for you to enjoy! Please review, it makes my day! :)
When Harry walked into the classroom he noticed something strange, Hermione was sitting in her usual spot, and staring at him and Ron reproachfully, but two (empty) seats farther was Draco Malfoy who normally sat in the very back. Next to him were Blaise and Pansy who were innocently taking notes. But Harry swore that Blaise winked at him. Normally Ernie Macmillan and Susan Bones sat there but Harry could just see them in the back glaring at the Slytherins.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley sit down and we will talk after class." McGonagall might be headmistress but she still taught N.E.W.T. level transfiguration and was as strict as ever. She was frowning at Harry.
"Bloody hell, I am not sitting next to Malfoy!" Ron muttered semi-quietly so half the class laughed. Draco didn't look up but he flushed slightly and pretended to be taking notes when Harry sat down next to him. Harry glanced at him as he set his notes on the table and met the grey eyes. Draco dropped his gaze and wordlessly slid his notes closer to Harry so Harry could read them. Harry scooted his chair closer to Draco's and quickly copied his notes on conjuring apples.
As he finished he realized that Ron had been staring at him and he noticed that he had been leaning ever closer to Draco and was now definitely in the latter's personal space. He quickly moved back into his normal spot and avoided Ron's confused gaze.
"Now to practice, the spell is Malus Conjurus which is accompanied with a swishing motion. Go ahead."
"Malus Conjurus!" Rang throughout the classroom.
"Remember to focus clearly on a picture of an apple in your head!" McGonagall reminded them.
Harry tried to picture a yummy, sweet, red apple. On his third try he managed to conjure one out of thin air; it was pink and looked absolutely edible.
"A Pink Lady, how fitting!" Blaise smirked from Draco's left. Draco too looked at Harry's apple and raised an eyebrow as he bit into a green apple.
Harry ignored them both and bit into his apple, he spit it back out right after; the outside had looked tempting but the inside was sandy. Harry continued to spit out all the sand, nearly choking.
"Potter!" McGonagall said, obviously annoyed at the mess he had just made.
"Sorry." Harry said blushing as he vanished the mess while Blaise and Pansy laughed. Harry looked at Draco who surprisingly wasn't laughing at him but was concentrating on eating his apple to hide his smirk. Harry raised his eyebrows and looked at him pointedly which made Draco crack and start laughing. Harry had to admit that he had a nice laugh and he joined in.
"What the heck is this? Is this an apple? Or a pear?" Ron asked as he held up a brown fruit that resembled a large apple.
Hermione leaned over, "It's an Asian pear, they taste like an apple and a pear combined. It's very good."
Ron examined the Asian pear doubtfully but then bit into it while Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Pansy watched with bated breath, and sure enough; "What the hell is this?!" Ron asked and spit like crazy; Ron's Asian pear had been full of maggots. "I need to scrub my mouth out!" Ron said while wiping his mouth on his sleeve and looking utterly disgusted. Meanwhile Blaise and Pansy were nearly doubled over in laughter.
"The Gryffindor's manners were always first class." Pansy said mock-disdainfully and continued to giggle.
"Please concentrate Miss Parkinson." McGonagall said.
"Malus Conjurus!" Pansy managed between giggles. What appeared was a pineapple which only made her laugh even more.
"Malus Conjurus!" Another Pink Lady apple appeared in front of Harry. "Diffindo" Harry muttered which turned out to be a good idea because as his apple split, another load of sand fell out.
"Malus Conjurus!" A perfect Royal Gala apple appeared in front of Blaise which he picked up and showed to Harry. "Now that's a real apple!"
By the end of class most students had a whole basket full of apples, and various other fruit, each. Most of which wasn't edible. Harry hadn't managed to conjure up a single edible apple during the whole class. As the bell rang and everyone gathered up their fruit and bags Draco handed Harry a perfect Granny Smith apple with a small smile and turned to leave when Harry reached out and held him back.
"Wait!" When Draco stopped and turned back at him, Harry continued, "I-er-well…I'm Harry Potter and it's a pleasure to meet you." He said while holding out his right hand.
Draco stared at his hand for a good ten seconds before shaking it, "Draco Malfoy, the pleasure is all mine." He smiled and held onto Harry's hand for slightly longer than necessary before finally walking away. Harry watched him go feeling slightly relieved, maybe befriending Draco wouldn't be all that hard.
Ron had obviously missed the exchange between Harry and Draco, "I would like this spell a lot more if I could actually do it." Ron muttered as he gathered up his various fruit; somehow he had conjured up two bananas, one pineapple, three Asian pears, half an apple, and four apple cores. Nothing edible either.
"Practice makes perfect!" Hermione responded but patted her boyfriend consolingly on the arm all the same.
Harry and Ron went to Professor McGonagall's desk to accept the speech about tardiness and punishment they were both about to receive.
"You boys know my rules, I detest tardiness; what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"We're sorry, professor."
"Yeah, it won't happen again."
"Yes it will Mr. Weasley, we both know that, but for now I'll just give you a warning but next time it's detention."
The trio left together; the second they were out of the classroom, Ron said "Now explain why you're being so friendly with the Snakes!"
Harry sighed. This wouldn't be easy. "We've called a truce."
"You mean you called a truce." Hermione interjected.
Harry nodded.
"But why?" Ron complained. "We've hated them for years; it's easier."
"Easier maybe but aren't you tired of all the fights and insults?"
"I haven't forgotten the 'Weasley is our King' song." Ron growled.
"Neither have I both we've done some bad things to them too…."
"No we haven't!" Ron said annoyed.
"Well…we…er…" Harry stammered as he tried to remember when he had ever started a fight with the Snakes.
"Well Harry did nearly kill Malfoy." Hermione said truthfully but upon seeing Harry's expression she quickly added, "On accident! And I'm sure he's forgiven you by now."
"I doubt it; he's like the King of Grudges. He probably still hates Harry and is waiting for Harry to let down his guard so he can do something evil."
"Honestly Ronald, you are too fond of conspiracy theories. Harry and Malfoy have a lot of history that got especially complicated during the war. And if they are willing to put aside their differences then…" Hermione smiled at Harry.
"Wait when did they do that?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come one or we'll be late to charms."
The rest of the school day passed smoothly and without any more interaction with the Slytherins, for which Harry was grateful, there may be a truce but it most definitely was still far from friendship.
After dinner Ron and Hermione decided to take a walk and Harry knew they wanted some alone time. The two tried to minimize the PDA around Harry but he still felt slightly alone now that he wasn't with Ginny. But he was happy that they were happy with each other. So he headed to the library to work on his homework.
Harry knew he had another potions essay he needed to work on plus practice the apple conjuring. He wandered into the potions area of the library which was in the darkest corner of the library and was looking for a book when he heard movement on the other side of the bookshelf. He walked to the other side and saw Draco flipping through a book.
"Oh, er, hi." Harry said awkwardly.
Draco turned, "Are you following me Potter?"
"No." Harry said defiantly. Both were quiet and stared at each other. Harry was desparate to break the silence but Draco spoke first, "Well if you don't mind I'm going to work now." And he brushed by Harry and headed into the corner where a little window let in minimal light but two cozy armchairs were placed by it. Harry followed him and dropped into one armchair while Draco sat in the other. Harry looked around; he had never been in this part of the library before.
"Why did you follow me?"
"Well…I was wondering if you would help me with potions."
Draco looked surprised but nodded and moved his armchair closer and pulled out his potions notes. Like Hermione, Draco wouldn't let him copy but he explained everything to Harry much better than Snape did or even Slughorn, who Harry never went to for help because it would mean admitting that he had had Snape's old book two years ago. After Harry was done with his essay, Draco even checked it for him. Harry started practicing the apple conjuring again.
"Malus Conjurus!" A Pink Lady apple appeared with a perfect exterior but completely sand on the inside.
"Why don't you try imagining the taste of the apple while you conjure and not just what the apple should look like?" Draco suggested while pulling a green apple from his bag and biting into it.
Harry closed his eyes and imaged biting into an apple like Draco was doing and tasting the juicy fruit. The apple should be crisp and a bit sweet. "Malus Conjurus!" A perfect Fuji apple appeared before him. He stared at it longingly.
"Well don't just stare at it. Take a bite!" Draco said who had finished his apple and vanished the core.
Harry picked up the apple; it looked perfect, red with a little yellow. He took a tiny bite.
"No sand?" Draco asked.
"No sand!" Harry said joyfully and took a much bigger bite.
"What is this? No food is allowed in the library! OUT!" Madam Pince had appeared before them.
"We're leaving right now!" Draco said while hurriedly grabbing his things before rushing out of the library with Harry close behind him. Once out of the library both boys started laughing but the laughter wasn't long lived and an awkward silence returned.
"Thanks Draco for helping me out, you're a good teacher." Harry said.
Draco nodded and turned and left.
Harry sighed, "Did I do something wrong again?"
"No Potter this time you didn't." Came a voice behind him. Harry turned around to see Snape slinking off through the portraits in the direction Draco had gone. Harry headed alone to the common room.
"Where were you?" Hermione asked him once he joined her and Ron who quickly moved a foot apart when he sat down across from them.
"Were you with some Snakes again?" Ron asked.
"Sort of."
"Where is Draco?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know where he went."
"Did you guys fight?" Hermione asked while Ron muttered, "It was bound to have happened sooner or later."
"No. We were actually having a decent time, he helped me with potions and that stupid apple conjuring spell and then we got kicked out of the library and then we were laughing and then he just went back to being…Malfoy." Harry said disappointedly.
"Ah." Said Hermione while staring at Harry knowingly with a little smile on her face.
"That's your only comment? I thought you could help me figure out what happened like you always do."
"Sorry Harry but I don't know. Anyway I'm off to bed; make sure Ron does his Charms homework." Ron started complaining but Harry tuned him out as he reflected on what had happened that day, it had been a busy one.
"You look horrible mate." Ron said.
"Thanks Ron. Alright let's do Charms." And he tried to focus on his homework but it was hard since his thoughts kept straying to green apples and grey eyes.