If Harry had been told that the cover of the Daily Prophet featuring Lockhart would bring him a huge number of supporters, he would never have believed it, especially since he could see from miles away how useless the guy was. A braggart, a liar whose only skill was keeping up appearances, an art that Harry was beginning to master.
Not only was Lockhart the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, replacing Quirrell after his... accident, but the guy was also extremely popular with the girls despite being a world-class playboy. Draco said the guy was just a liar, that he couldn't find anything special about him, and that for a Ravenclaw he was about as smart as Crabbe, but then again, there was no way they could all fit in so well in their houses.
In the first class alone, the new teacher had shown how inept he was, not only in magical ability, but in knowledge. Hermione and Harry himself had had to clean up the mess the teacher had made when he had let some doxies loose in the classroom. Draco could have done something, but instead he laughed at the misery of others openly, sitting at his desk, watching the chaos around him without flinching while Harry petrified the creatures with the help of Granger, saving the backsides of some Ravenclaws who had earned Harry's respect. Of course Lockhart (as in everything he did) had taken advantage of the situation, claiming that this was exactly what he expected, to identify the most capable students and was glad that Harry was among them.
Ravenclaw gained points, Slytherin too, Harry gained a new advantage and Draco a new headache that eventually became unbearable.
Fixing what Lockhart screwed up was the best publicity Harry had ever received, and rumours of his newfound magical abilities and his ability to excel in class—even Snape's—were already beginning to spread through the corridors. Students from all grades approached him for academic help or just a photograph that Colin Creevey, apparently his new number one admirer, was only too happy to take.
It seemed like everyone in Slytherin was amazed at the way their new prince was taking charge, not only leading the snakes, but also influencing the lions, the eagles, and the badgers. All the Slytherins except Draco, who was more than delighted with how things were going, seemed annoyed.
It seemed that Harry had learned, after his slip in first year, to accept that his place was and always would be among snakes. The brunette was extremely impressed by the way his classmates seemed to easily accept his leadership. He was a second year student who had a lot to learn and he suspected that the main reason he was at the top was Draco and only Draco. The blond did not seem interested in being the leader, he seemed more interested in Harry being one and the enchanted green-eyed man taking the reins, after all, he had never been given such an important responsibility in his life and he wanted to prove that he was worth it, that he could be a great leader, that he could be the prince of Slytherin and of Hogwarts.
Everything he had he owed to his best friend and Harry had believed that having control in such a subtle way would make him happy, that he would be proud to see that he had learned well and that he continued learning, that he was capable of achieving the union of the four houses in his favor and only being twelve years old. But the desired effect was the opposite, Draco was irritated all the time and isolated, as if he didn't care about being part of what they had started to build together the previous year. And Harry was really confused, because he thought he was doing perfectly well, maybe it was that he had acted without consulting him, maybe it was that now surrounded by so many people he felt displaced. Whatever it was, Malfoy was not happy and he made sure to show it every time he could.
He arrived at the dorm late at night, when Harry was already asleep and got up before the sun, disappearing from sight. In the classes in which they had previously been a couple, Draco had replaced him with Pansy and although Harry had plenty of people willing to be part of his team, it hurt him to see himself displaced in such an obvious way. The contrast was so clear that it burned; the rest of the school adored him for having shown solidarity with all the houses, for having shown that he was not only Harry Potter because of the stupid scar on his forehead, but that he was Harry Potter because of his abilities, because of his skills and that Draco Malfoy gave himself the luxury of ignoring him as if he had not worked hard to get what he had made him feel angry.
Ron told him he should face it, Hermione told him he should ask for a chance to talk, Cedric had even suggested he write to him expressing what he felt, but Harry knew perfectly well how his best friend's mind worked, who besides being a Slytherin was also a Malfoy, and that wasn't going to work. Draco had to let it go of his own free will, Harry just had to be alert when that little crack appeared before him.
However, as the days went by, Draco was not only more distant with him, but with everyone in general, even Parkinson and Zabini were worried. Over time, Malfoy stopped attending breakfasts, dinners and lunches and no one had proof that he was even trying anything. Harry left him some portions that he took from the dining room on the desk, but the food remained untouched on the furniture and there were so few times that he saw his face that he began to really worry.
In Slytherin, the talk was of the boy who had naturally taken the lead of his people the year before and who had now stepped aside and made way for Potter without a fight. And although it was a matter of honour and dignity, Malfoy did not react to the comments.
Sometimes he was seen completely alone in the gardens, with his diary in his hands, writing frantically. Sometimes he would just do it during classes, not caring about being reprimanded. And it was then that Harry began to believe that maybe it wasn't that Draco was angry with him, maybe it was that he was simply up to something. He began to glimpse the idea that Malfoy had stepped aside just so Harry could take control of Slytherin, that sounded like something the blond would do, after all, he had already made it clear to him on a few occasions that he didn't need glory. However, he didn't see the point in cutting ties with everyone around him. Draco knew the importance of alliances and he was letting them all go.
However, aside from that, things were going well for Potter, his name was heard in every corner and unlike the previous year it was for positive things. Of course there were always those who didn't want to see him shine and they didn't waste any opportunity to tarnish his image with unintelligent comments that most ignored because nobody wanted to hear that the hero of the magical world probably wasn't perfect. Those comments generally said that Potter, besides being manipulative, was extremely hypocritical. Harry would have responded that he considered himself a selective strategist but there was no point in listening to the minority and wearing himself out, after all, his allies defended him tooth and nail whenever they could and Harry only had to smile widely pretending to be grateful.
His little reign that had just begun was reinforced by being the star Quidditch player of Slytherin. Marcus Flint, the captain and a good friend of his, had started training before any of the team, just to show off his seeker in front of the other things and Harry suspected to intimidate them as well.
There was no better Seeker at Hogwarts than him, but feigning modesty always brought him more followers and he gladly gave in to their requests. Cedric Diggory gave him advice that Harry knew he didn't need. Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker, came to see him at practice and always ended up giving him some constructive comment, and Nancy Dyler, the Gryffindor Seeker, although she had never approached him directly, seemed to genuinely admire him.
That morning Harry woke up very early for his training, it was Saturday and he was about to leave, the dark-haired boy looked at Draco's bed expecting to see him there, it was so early that not even he would have gotten up to avoid him. The blond was still sleeping, his face looked exhausted, as if he had barely slept a couple of hours, his straight hair on the pillow, perfectly arranged and his mouth slightly open, pale as a dead person. Harry had to admit that it was the first time in weeks that he saw him closely and the truth is that he looked slightly sick. He approached the bed and gently moved a lock of hair from his face, afraid of waking him. However, Malfoy did not move even a little and he did not like that; unlike him, Draco usually had a fairly light sleep.
He looked at the nightstand next to his best friend's bed, where his diary rested. The dark-haired boy reached out to take it but stopped almost immediately, not sure he wanted to invade his privacy. However, that thought was overshadowed by a rather strange magical sensation, the notebook no longer emanated that unusual magic that Harry had felt at first. It seemed that now the only magic that resided in him was Draco's, the boy supposed it was because of the amount of time the blond spent glued to him.
Ignoring that fact, Harry looked back at his friend, wondering if it would be a good idea to wake him up for training. He remembered Flint's threat the week before when Draco hadn't shown up even once, and if he missed another one he would be out of the team.
"Draco..." she said softly, shaking him lightly. "Draco..." she called out to him again and he made a grimace of disgust as he shifted in his bed and turned around to face her. "Come on Draco, we have training and I don't think I can cover for you again, Flint will be furious."
But Draco, instead of answering, just covered his head with the blanket and curled up in place. Harry frowned, thinking that his friend was definitely not doing well; after all, Malfoy would never have allowed himself to be kicked off the team, he enjoyed Quidditch and being the youngest chaser in the history of Hogwarts too much. The brunette then used his wand to make the blanket disappear, leaving the blonde completely uncovered.
Draco reacted by sitting up straight on the mattress and taking his wand from under his pillow. He pointed it at her silently for a moment, looking tired and somewhat disoriented. It took him a few seconds to react and when he did he simply huffed and stood up, heading for the shower.
Harry stood there, his expression calm but extremely angry, he didn't think he could bear much more of the indifference of the man who had become his best friend. Then it occurred to him that maybe he could do something, something he hadn't tried until that moment. Draco was a Black and Harry had waited for his forgiveness silently as anyone who had learned enough about the surname would do. But he was also a Malfoy and a spoiled boy. Potter smiled and bit his lower lip, took his wand and waved it simply. Draco's bed made itself and immediately his Quidditch uniform came out of the closet and settled on the mattress perfectly. With one more movement of his wand the blond's broom was placed next to the bed and a chocolate frog shot out of the boy's desk to end up on the uniform.
The sound of the shower stopped in the bathroom and Harry looked around, wondering if there wasanythingelse he could offer him. He finally grabbed one of his towels and waited firmly by the bathroom door, which soon opened. Draco emerged soaked and with a slightly composed expression. He was wrapped in a green bathrobe that contrasted with his pale skin and thin body. Without looking at his roommate, he walked to his bed and raised an eyebrow when he saw his Quidditch gear neatly laid out on his already made bed. However, he didn't turn to look at Harry, instead he got rid of his robe, revealing a pair of dark boxers that quickly disappeared under the fabric of his uniform pants.
Harry looked at him, realizing that he had never seen him in so little clothing, which was strange for having shared a room for a whole year. He thought that Draco was very thin, but that his skin was also so perfect that he didn't show a single mole.
When the blond finally finished putting on his pants, Harry walked over to him and subtly placed the towel on his head. He began to dry his hair, slowly, rubbing the cloth against those golden locks of hair darkened by the water. At first Draco seemed really tense, as if he wanted to drive away Unforgivable Curses, but the fact that he didn't was motivation enough for Harry to continue with his work. Draco relaxed for a moment and when Harry finished his task he found his best friend looking at him with a frown.
Malfoy put on his shirt and then his robes, sat on the edge of the bed to put on his shoes. Harry looked at him patiently, his green eyes insistently on the grey orbs that for the first time in days were looking at him, really looking at him, although what they expressed was not exactly forgiveness. He tilted his head then and gave him a small smile before finally kneeling in front of him and putting on his right shoe. Draco raised both eyebrows, giving the prince of snakes an expression of genuine astonishment. Harry smiled as he tied the laces and put on his left shoe. When he finished he stood up and said:
—I'll bring you something light for breakfast —and he left the room.
A bit nervous, he headed to the kitchens, it was too early for someone to scold him for walking in the corridors. He hoped that Draco understood the intentions behind his actions, those that screamed that he was important to Harry, his right hand and that just as Malfoy looked after him, he would reciprocate. He knew that it was too much of a Slytherin trick and that he was playing more than he had because Draco was different from the rest, he was observant and always managed to find people's ulterior motives and if he believed, even for a second, that Harry was not sincere, not only would he not be his best friend again, but he would also lose the strongest alliance he had at school. Draco Lucius Malfoy was the big fish, he could fool Ron, Hermione, and even some of the teachers, but Harry knew, nobody screwed with Draco Malfoy.
He arrived at the kitchens and the elves, flattered by his presence, offered him a complete and healthy breakfast before training. He returned to the dungeons forgetting his nervousness. Draco must not see him insecure or he would think he was weak and reject him.
He entered the room in a silence that he tried to make seem pleasant. He placed the breakfast on his companion's desk and looked at him. Draco was completely ready to go out into the field, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding an empty box of chocolate frogs, with the card in his right hand.
Harry was about to offer him juice when the blond showed him the card and said:
—"Harry J. Potter, born July 31, 1980, son of Lily and James Potter. Also known as the Boy Who Lived and the Chosen One. He defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, freeing the wizarding community from his dictatorship." —Harry looked at him with a frown, an amused expression, he had no idea he was in the cards— Here he forgot to add that he is also a first-class manipulator —and that was when Harry burst out laughing.
—In my defense, —he replied—, it has all been with the genuine intention of regaining your friendship.
—Very intelligent, very Slytherin, yes... —he answered standing up—. It is obvious that with your attitude the members ofourhouse accept you as a leader... however,Harry, you have a lot to learn —he stood in front of him, facing him— And I am no longer willing to teach you.
"Why are you so angry?" she asked him then, directly and without flinching. Draco let out a wry chuckle.
—Do you really belong here? —he asked sarcastically—. Since we met I've done nothing but give you a hand, be your best friend and every chance you get you slap me. You go around making new "friends", enjoying the pictures Colin takes of you, the presence of Ginevra Weasley every second of the day. But the worst, Potter, the worst is the way you kicked me out of this, stealing the respect I worked so hard to earn in first year, you let them talk about me and I stood aside believing that it was for the best, that maybe you would understand that it is thanks to me that you have this. But I was wrong and I don't need an ungrateful pupil, I need someone who gives me what belongs to me —he smiled—. You took that last lesson very seriously, you took what you wanted at my expense, very Malfoy, not Black, you lack style and elegance, so you will never be anything more than an arrogant good-for-nothing and believe me, I will rejoice the day you realize that I was important.
He crumpled Harry's card in his hands and dropped it on the floor. The dark-haired boy watched him leave the room while the blond's magic vibrated furiously through the room. He didn't understand how Draco had come to such a foolish conclusion. Harry had never wanted to push him aside. Harry understood the importance Malfoy had in his present and future. For him, that fury was completely unjustified. He was about to go after him to explain everything when a strange voice stopped him:
—Come... come to me... Let me tear you apart... Let me rip you apart... Let me kill you... —he said, very softly, chillingly.
Harry felt his scar burn and suddenly the feeling that something bad was happening made him run after his friend who should be alone, wandering the halls. Draco was nowhere to be seen and the voice had disappeared. When he reached the field everyone was there, including Malfoy, standing apart from the rest, as if he wanted to be alone, his face contorted in an uncomfortable gesture, then the blond simply vanished onto the grass. Harry ran to him, he was burning with fever.