For Them | Draco Malfoy

Flashback 3 - Year 2

There were few things Esme dreaded more than this year's first Slytherin versus Gryffindor quidditch match. Not because she would be praying for her brother to lose, but because Draco Malfoy was Slytherin's newest seeker, and she knew nothing good ever happened when those two were anywhere near each other.

Insults flew from Draco's mouth like he'd been practicing them all week. "Training for the ballet Potter," was one Esme heard and would be sure to chastise him for later. First, it was sexist and lots of men dance ballet. Second, she knew that Draco bloody Malfoy had better insults in him.

Esme was taken out of her thoughts and onto the quidditch pitch right as Harry fell off his broom. She jumped from her seat and ran down the steps of the stands as quickly as possible. "Harry!"

She first observed if he was alive and breathing, which he was and she could tell by the pain-filled groans he made. Relieved, she met Hermione down where Harry was as Lockhart tried repairing his arm. Esme had to hold back a bit of laughter when she saw Harry's arm wiggle around like a noodle. How could this man, who had apparently done all of these "wonderful adventures" not know how to fix an arm?

A few hours later, she walked over to the Hospital Wing to visit Harry, with a fresh batch of cookies in tow. Ron was the first one to notice her and he immediately eyed the box in her hands.

"The snake comes bearing a present." She joked as she opened up the box of cookies for Harry. Harry and Ron's eyes essentially bug out of their head and grab two cookies each.

"Thank Es! How did you even get these?" Harry asked as he nibbled.

She shrugged, "Curtesy of Mippy and Willow! I let them and a few of the other elves know that you've been hurt and they wanted to do something nice for you," She began to look around Harry's bed and saw a bottle labeled 'Skelegrow,' "Is this what they gave you?"

"Yes and Harry immediately spit it out all over Ron. You should have been here, it was hilarious." Hermione giggled to herself, "Although Madam Pomfrey did mention that a Potter actually created this potion over two centuries ago."

"I always wondered where the money in our vault came from." She laughed. "Are you at least feeling a bit better Harry?"

He nodded, "Yeah, but Pomfrey says I'll be in pain in about another hour or so. It's hard work for a bone to grow back."

"Lockhart is such a knob," Ron said before shoveling his second cookie in his mouth. "I mean really who believes his stories."

"I do," Hermione said, her know-it-all tone poking through.

Ron's face screwed up in disgust, "You only want to believe him because he's handsome."

Hermione tried to protest, but Esme quickly interjected knowing how their arguments get, "Okay okay Harry does not need one of your cat fights while he's trying to heal. Either shut up and get along or leave." Esme glanced at the clock and shot up, "I have to go, McGonagall has Draco and I doing some extra work and I don't want to be late."

"You're going to spend more time with Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Don't worry about me either, Harry. I'm the Potter he actually likes." She winked before walking out of the Hospital Wing.

As she walked over to McGonagall's office, she thought about Draco. His face had matured a little since last year, his face less round and more pointy now and he had grown an inch or two. He'd be very handsome if he just changed his hairstyle. Hold on. Wait a minute. Esme was not allowed, even in her mind, to call Draco handsome. Nope, Harry would disown her or something just as dramatic.