CHAPTER TWO
Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D
A/N: Ta-da! I figured since after only 1 day I had 33 visitors to this story (and yet only one review…but I won't complain) I would post the next chapter instead of finishing my "DNA Testing on Rhinoceros Horn Products" essay. Be grateful.
His chance came within the week when he found himself paired with Malfoy once again, searching for an obscure creature that most likely had never heard of Hogwarts, much less set foot on the grounds. Harry had been chewing ferociously on his bottom lip the entire time, his nerves getting the better of him. He didn't know how to ask Malfoy for anything…their exchanges were usually limited to curses, hexes, jinxes and even childish name-calling. He sighed.
'Erm, Malfoy?'
'What is it Potter?' Draco sneered, whirling to face Harry.
Later he would deny to himself that he was distracted by Harry's swollen lip and the sneer almost dropped.
'Can I…ask you a favor?' Harry had noticed the falter in his sneer.
Draco's face split into an evil grin as his hand hovered near where Harry knew his wand was, fingers twitching eagerly.
'If you would like me to hurt you again you don't have to ask.'
'Um…no.' Harry muttered, considering it. 'I was…well, you are the best at potions, right? Right, of course you are. And I'm…well…not so good.'
At this Draco snorted, though he felt slightly uncomfortable at what he thought Harry was going to say next. Harry decided to just get it over with.
'Anyway… I was wondering if maybe you'd tutor me.'
Draco looked incredulously at Harry. Clearly he has lost his mind, he thought.
'No. Absolutely not.'
Harry's facial expression didn't change but Draco saw panic flicker in his eyes.
'If you don't help me I'll fail.'
There was no pleading, simply that all too true statement. Draco looked witheringly at Harry.
'What makes you think I would care? Get that mudblood friend of yours to help.'
'Don't call her that. She can't anyway.'
'Aw, too busy to help Potter? After all you've done for them?'
Harry felt ill for Draco was saying exactly what he had been thinking; by the small self-satisfied smirk on Draco's face he knew it, too.
'Fine,' he hissed. 'I knew you wouldn't help. It was a stupid idea anyway. Let's just go back to Hagrid and tell him we couldn't find whatever the fuck it is we're looking for.'
Harry stormed off, robes billowing around him. He could feel the disappointment already, hear it ringing in his ears. He wanted to throw himself into the lake.
--
Days later Draco sat in potions staring (along with the rest of the class) at the back of Harry's head as the boy stared in dismay at the greenish ooze quickly spreading over the table. Draco knew for a fact that the potion was supposed to be purple, and it most definitely was not supposed to be oozing everywhere. Draco sneered but again he had that strange feeling. What is that? he thought. Harry looked up miserably as Snape screeched at him and found himself hating Hermione just a little bit. If only she'd help him. He felt her touch his hand beneath the table and pulled away.
'I'm sorry Professor.' He mumbled.
'I'm giving you one last chance Potter, though Merlin knows you've had more than enough. One more mishap and you're out of here.'
'You can't!' Harry cried, louder than he'd intended.
'Oh, but I can. Now clean up this mess. And I want a 6-foot essay on what went wrong this time. Due tomorrow.'
Tears sprang into Harry's eyes as he struggled to clean the mess. Draco sighed heavily, completing his own potion. As the class left Harry felt an icy hand in his but when he looked around he saw no one, there was only the parchment that had been left in his hand.
'Harry?' Hermione asked.
'Leave me alone.' Harry whispered, stalking away.
He went out to the Quidditch stands, again ignoring the snowfall, ignoring the fact that he had another class to be in. Ah, blessed solitude. Only then did he read the note, eyes widening in surprise.
Fine. You really are pathetic. Meet me in the astronomy tower tonight. Don't play dumb…I know you can get there.
--
Harry had managed to avoid his friends for the remainder of the day, largely due to the fact that he had fallen asleep in the snow. But now, shivering immensely, he crept to the common room, hoping to get in, change, and get out again without being noticed. Unfortunately both Hermione and Ron were waiting for him, as he should've known they would be.
'What the hell is your problem Harry?' Hermione asked.
'I…'
'Don't answer. I don't even want to know.'
She turned and stalked up to her room. Harry squirmed under Ron's gaze.
'I don't get it Harry. You end things with Ginny. You ignore me and M'ione. Why are you cutting us all out of your life?'
'I…I'm under a lot of pressure Ron. And right now I need to change and then go to the library and write this paper for Snape. And maybe study so I don't get kicked out of the class. And maybe, in between all that, I'll sleep. Or not.'
Harry stalked past Ron. He didn't feel too bad for saying that to him, maybe now they would try to understand. Or maybe not… he thought as, after changing, he found himself glared at as he left. Harry sighed heavily, throwing the invisibility cloak over himself and heading to the Astronomy Tower.
--
Draco looked up, sure that someone had entered but not seeing them.
'Take that stupid cloak off Potter.' He snarled.
Harry appeared in the doorway, nervously chewing his bottom lip. He thought, perhaps, this was a joke, and looked around, waiting to be jumped by other Slytherin's.
'No one's here.' Draco said.
Harry stared, amazed that he was so readable. Draco scoffed.
'Do you want my help or not?'
Harry thought for a moment. It was a more difficult question than Draco realized.
'It's more…I need your help.' Harry whispered.
'Well sit down then.'
Harry sat quickly on the opposite side of the room to Draco, who sneered at him.
'I don't know why I bothered. You're pathetic Potter, you really are.' He said, moving to leave.
'No, wait Malfoy. I'll…I'll do what you want. I can't fail. I just…can't.'
Draco sat back down and Harry scrambled to sit opposite him on the same table. Draco noticed Harry's shivering and without thinking whispered a heating spell. Harry raised his eyebrows but said nothing. As Draco spoke to him about the potion from today Harry felt his eyes growing heavier.
'Potter! Are you falling asleep?'
'Uh…no…' Harry responded, shaking his head.
'Maybe we should stop.'
'No! He'll kick me out! I have to finish this paper and research tomorrow's potion.'
'It's 3am Potter.'
Harry moaned softly. Where had the time gone? He could feel his life slipping out from under him. Draco felt that twinge again and sighed.
'Alright. I'll help you finish the paper. But then I'm going to bed. But first…'
Harry looked at Draco as he struggled to find the right words. He wasn't used to talking to Harry in this manner, or at all, really.
'What is the feeling where your stomach is all twisted and you feel like you've done something wrong, even if you haven't?'
Harry raised his eyebrows. What the hell?
'That…that's guilt, Malfoy.'
'Guilt.' Draco repeated softly.