Blurred Lines DM

Brooms and Differences

"I — thank you so much Professor!"

I awoke the next morning from a dreamless sleep. The evening before, after we exited the forbidden corridor, we headed straight to sleep. Sitting up and removing the silver blankets from my body, I yawned; stretching all my limbs. As I inspected the dorm, I came to the realization that everyone was still sleeping, so I quietly hopped off the bed and exited my room, making sure not to awake anyone from their slumber.

It was only six thirty in the morning, so as I entered the common room, I expected it to be the void of life. "Morning," a voice said, making my heart leap from my chest.

I turned around and saw Draco sitting on the couch with a smile on his face.

"I swear you're bipolar," I said with a light smirk as I approached the boy.

He furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?" He asked, eyeing me as I laid on the couch and placed my feet on his lap.

"I mean, you constantly go from being a pain in the arse to tolerable. Even nice. Your personality is always changing."

He frowned, turning sour again. "I'm not bipolar! That's just how I am!"

"There it goes again."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes, yet I swear I saw a tint of red appear onto his cheeks. Though, it could've been the lighting.

We stayed silent, watching the fire drift back and forth. My mind filled with thoughts of why Draco and I always argued and honestly, I couldn't find one.

"Why do we always argue?" He asked, as if reading my mind.

I thought for a moment, my eyes still focused on the fire. "I dunno," I said after a few seconds. "Maybe because our personalities are so similar they tend to clash. Or, because they may be so different that we never see eye to eye."

He nodded and for the for the next few moments, silence fell once more. "I think I know why," he said causing me to face him; curious.

"And why's that?"

"Because you're a Potter and I'm a Malfoy..." He took a deep breath and began explaining. "I was raised against the Potters, always told they were evil. And for a while, I believed that to be true."

"I remember that in the beginning of the year, my father had demanded I befriend your brother because he was important for something... never told me why, though. Obviously I listened, at least I tried. But, when he turned me down, my father was extremely disappointed in me and told me that both Potters were evil, and told me to stay away from you both."

"But when he learned of you being placed in Slytherin, he told me to befriend you. I tried, and succeeded for the most part, so when I told him, he was very proud. I wasn't keen on being your friend at first since I didn't really know you, and frankly; didn't care to."

I frowned, beginning to think he'd been faking being our friend all this time. Yet he turned to me and chuckled, still wearing his famous Draco Malfoy smirk. "But, after a while, I realized that I really did want to be your friend. You're cool, and somehow always optimistic which—confuses me..."

"Why did it confuse you?"

"Well, all these bad things have happened to you. Your parents died, you were separated from your brother, you were raised by people who didn't care about you—yet—you're still happy! How did you stay happy after going through all that? I know I would've turned into a depressed jerk."

I laughed, looking towards the ground and shaking my head. He is a depressed jerk, but I decided against pointing that out right now. "Well, when I lived with the Rose's, I did focus on the bad. I always thought of the what ifs and how my life could've been different. Better. But when I began Hogwarts, I met people who actually did care for me! And I realized that focusing on the good things in life is better then dwelling in the negative." I paused for a moment, thinking.

"I don't mean to be all intuitive, but I believe that people grow comfortable in their own pain. We find comfort in the darkness of our minds and many succumb to the wreck less loop of depression and suffering if that makes sense. I used to be in that loop, and I know I'm young, but I've experienced what most eleven year olds shouldn't have experienced. But in order to escape that loop of pain and suffering, you need to step out of your comfort. You must chose the light. No matter what."

Draco smiled. A real genuine smile, making me smile as well. "Thank you." He scratched the back of his head. "I was just curious."

In all honesty, Draco wasn't that bad.

—

Entering the Great Hall with Leah, Harry ran up to us with a smile embroidered onto his face. "Hey Ava, Snape wants to see you in his office. Bring Malfoy with you." The last part was said with distaste, but other than that, he seemed really excited.

I raised my eyebrows. "Why?"

"You'll see." He wiggled his eyebrows, chuckled, then ran away.

"Well that was definitely something," Leah said making me laugh. "What do you think he wants?"

I shrugged, not caring to much. "Don't know—hey Draco!" I called Draco, grabbing his attention. He turned towards me, mouth full of porridge and mouthed what from the Slytherin table. "Snape wants us both in his office!"

I could see the strain on Draco's face as he reluctantly placed down his breakfast and sulked over to me.

"The both of you," Leah started, pointing towards us. "If you're in trouble I'm gonna kill you."

I gulped. Leah is normally quite passive, so seeing her act serious makes me believe her. We nodded, not wanting to piss her off anymore. Leah grinned, bearing all her teeth then joined Blaise, melting into conversation.

Me and Draco exited the Great Hall, eagerly heading towards Snape's office. "Do you know what he wants?" Draco asked.

I shrugged once more. "No clue, but it can't be that bad. My brother ran up to me with a smile on his face."

I could see Draco's jaw visibly clench. "Pottah," he spat, causing me to smack his arm.

When we arrived at Snape's office, I knocked on the wooden door three times. "Come in," Snape said in his usual monotonous tone.

I turned the brass doorknob and opened the door, creaks filling the silence. The first thing that caught my eye were two extremely oblong packages placed on his desk, oddly representing the shape of a broomstick.

"Sit," he said, glancing down at two chairs opposite of his desk. Draco and I shared a glance before promptly following orders. "As you are both aware, you've shown exceptional skills on a broom," he stated. I smiled, knowing it's not everyday that Snape compliments a student.

"Because of this, you both have been accepted onto the Slytherin Quidditch team. Potter; as the seeker, and Malfoy; as a chaser. Now, these packages are your brooms, so be careful. I will not accept and foolish broom riding for I refuse to spend any more of my precious galleons on play things."

My ears couldn't believe what they just heard. I was definitely not expecting this. "I—thank you so much Professor!" I said, overjoyed.

Draco seemed to be just as excited, but hid it in a more efficient manor. He simply nodded his head in thanks.

"You are both welcome, but I advise you head back to the Great Hall and finish breakfast. Eat with the little time you have left. In the meantime, I will see these packages delivered safely to your dorms..."

Draco and I nodded and left Snape's office, heading towards the Great Hall once more.

——

*edited 2/25/2023