Hello, loves! This chapter is dedicated to who was nice enough to give my muse a swift kick in the butt. Here is an update for you! Enjoy.
Characters belong to JKR
Chapter Two : Surprises
Draco made no move to cover himself. He was comfortable in his own skin and had confidence to spare, but the invasion of privacy grated on his nerves. He glared at the boy standing on the other side of the door.
"When you're quite finished gawking at me, would you be kind enough to shut the door?" Draco asked in an icy tone.
Harry's expression had gone from bleary-eyed and tired, to shocked and embarrassed, the moment he opened that door. His eyes couldn't help to glance over the blonde's body as it lay bared to him. He felt his cock twitch with interest. Harry was horrified. He hurriedly slammed the door shut.
Draco huffed, turning to dry his body off. Leave it to the other boy to piss him off their first morning as roommates. He gathered his things together, and shut the light off, heading through the door adjoining his room. He couldn't help but recall the blush that had tinged Harry's cheeks, however.
How interesting...
A polite knock came from behind the door to Harry's room. He groaned into his pillow. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to the Slytherin bastard after what happened.
"It's open," he called.
Draco walked in, a lecture already poised on his tongue, but it was lost the moment he stepped into the room. He recalled the chaos of Harry's room he had seen the night before, with red and gold vomited over everything. There had been piles and stacks of books, clothes, and parchment, everywhere. He couldn't believe he was in the same room.
The bed was still a four-post, but was magnificent with elegant celtic designs carved into the wood, by hand, if his guess was correct. The same graced the inset of the chest of drawers, the desk, the window seat, and the wardrobe. The wood had been stained a deep cherry color which offset the pale cream fabric that covered the walls.
The linens on the bed were pale green, bringing a light, airy feeling to the space. The window seat had been piled with large, comfortable-looking cushions. However, the part of the room he couldn't stop looking at, was the ceiling. Harry had managed to charm it to look like the sky, just like in the Great Hall. It was an impressive show of magic. Draco found himself breathless as he watched a flock of geese fly overhead. A team of powerful wizards should be required to make it work, particularly in such a short amount of time.
When he had heard the door open, but minutes passed before a word was said, Harry glanced up from the bed he hadn't left since his humiliation earlier that morning. He was surprised, and suspicious, by the awe on the blonde's face.
"Did you do this...?" Draco asked, transfixed.
Harry cleared his throat, awkwardly.
"Er, yeah... Couldn't sleep," he replied, his eyes glued to Draco's face.
Hearing his voice seemed to bring Draco from his stupor. That open, awed look melded back into the usual icy stare the blonde reserved for him alone.
"Just had to show off, eh, Golden Boy?" he asked with a sneer. "Oh, and knock next time. I don't feel like fueling your sick little fantasies."
Draco smirked at him before walking from the room. He hoped Harry didn't notice the last glance towards the ceiling before he crossed the threshold.
It was as if a switch had been flipped, and it took Harry a moment to catch up. When he did, he was fuming.
"Why don't you learn what a lock is, Malfoy! And don't think for one second that I'd want anything to do with you, naked or otherwise! Get out of my room," he demanded, jumping out of bed to slam the door behind the sneering blonde.
"Naked?" Ron snorted, trying to concentrate on the bird he was trying to transfigure into a teacup.
His kept sprouting wings and trying to fly away. Hermione had cast a bubble charm over his desk so he wouldn't lose it. Harry grimaced as he nodded. He jabbed his own feather-covered teacup, which still had a beak, with his wand. His teacup snapped at him and he winced as it drew a drop of blood.
"Honestly, you two. It's a swift down, then swish motion. Were you paying attention at all?" Hermione huffed, as she changed both of their cups back to disgruntled looking birds.
She smiled proudly at her own cup, which had a delicate china pattern, and a scalloped edge, around the rim. She set to transfiguring the birdcage into a matching teapot for extra credit. Both boys rolled their eyes and set to work again.
"I was paying attention, 'Mione! Paying attention to the fact that our best mate saw our evil nemesis NAKED this morning!" Ron exclaimed.
He said the word 'naked' so loud that the room erupted in a fit of giggles. Ron's ears turned almost as red as his hair as he blushed.
"Mr. Weasley!" Professor McGonegal exclaimed. "Fifteen points from Gryffindor! Do try to keep your inappropriate conversations from entering my classroom."
"Sir, yes, sir! I mean, ma'am! I mean..."
If possible, Ron's face turned even more red as he stumbled over his response. Professor McGonegal rolled her eyes and turned to Neville, who with an overdramatic flourish, had transfigured his bird into a toaster which kept popping slices of toast into students' laps.
Harry had managed a passable teacup, at this point. The china still had a feathery pattern, but he figured that was as good as he was going to get. Ron's was almost a pretty as Hermione's, but was still standing on two little bird feet. He shrugged, deciding that was good enough.
"So what happened after that?" Ron demanded, his attention back on Harry.
"I don't really know. He came to my room, but was acting really strange. He just kind of walked in, stood around for a minute, got huffy, then left."
"That's all well and good, Harry," Hermione said as she set her completed teapot next to her cup, "But how he was acting isn't the important bit. I just want to know one thing."
She picked up her wand, fixing the china pattern's colors which were approximately two shades off a perfect match. She grinned, pleased with her work, before turning her attention to the two boys beside her, both of which were staring at her expectantly. She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"How big was it?
"Hermione!" rang two appalled voices.
"Honestly, Potter, stop staring at your feet. We round together so neither of us misses anything. I'm not doing this for my health," Draco growled.
That broke Harry out of his reverie.
"Right, sorry. Just thinking."
"Well, I know that is an alien concept to your pathetic little brain, but please try to save it for a time that doesn't leave all the work to me," Draco hissed, lengthening his stride to force Harry to speed up.
He stopped when he noticed Harry was no longer next to him.
"Now what?" he demanded, exasperated.
"Why do you do that?" Harry asked.
"Do what, Potter? And be quick. I'd like to get some sleep at some point tonight."
"That. We finally have a chance to try to... Well, if not be friends, then at least be civil. I can't damn well live like this for a whole year. I'm trying, Malfoy! Why the hell can't you do the same?" Harry seethed.
That pulled Draco up short. Why did he insist on pushing Harry's buttons? Was it habit? They had always been fierce enemies. It had been a rivalry from the very beginning, and then Voldemort had pitted him against Harry when he was in his service. Though, the war was over. Voldemort was gone. Harry himself had testified on behalf of his family. Could they set aside seven years of hostility? With that, he made up his mind, reaching forward with his right hand, extending it like he had over seven years ago.
"You're right, Potter. I suppose it is time we grew up a bit."
Harry glanced at his hand, cautiously. For a brief flash, he saw an eleven-year-old Draco, with an age-old sneer, and that same hand extended. It was stronger, now. Certainly, larger. But the nails were still perfectly manicured, and the Malfoy family crest still adorned the ring on his ring finger. He stared at it, wondering, as he did seven years ago, if it was a good idea to trust the blonde.
Draco eyed him wearily. He had taken the first step. Would it be rejected, as it was all that time ago? Could he handle it if so? Harry took a step forward...
...and clasped Draco's hand, shaking it, firmly.
"Call me Harry."
There you have it! How long do you think this shaky truce will last?
Read and review, loves!
x Sweetie x