Talk to me!

„…ry? Harry? Hey, are you listening?»
Harry startled when Hermione's voice brought him back to reality. He reluctantly removed his gaze from the Slytherin table.
«I am sorry Mione. I just thought about something.
With a deep sigh she took a sip from her pumpkin juice.
«Yeah. Obviously.»
What’sh up wish wuo?», Ron asked, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. Hermione looked at him in disgust.
«Ron, do you have to speak with your mouth full?»
«Showwy!» The redhead swallowed his food and then continued "This isn't about Malfoy again, is it?"
Harry eyed them both briefly, then shrugged. "Possibly. Would that be so bad?"
Ron shook his head. "I thought your obsession was finally over, mate."
"I'm not obsessed with Malfoy," Harry replied, visibly annoyed. "I just want to talk to him."
More than a year had passed since the war. During this time, Harry had a lot to work through. The loss of so many people, the near-death experiences and, last but not least, his childhood with the Dursleys. In order to come to terms with Snape's death, he had repeatedly visited the Shrieking Shack, which the former potions teacher now haunted as a ghost. Talking to him actually helped Harry draw a line there.
He now wanted to do exactly the same with Draco Malfoy. The years of enmity between them had to come to an end.
And since he, like Malfoy, was repeating his school year, this was also the perfect opportunity to talk to him. "Talk to him? But he's a Death-" Harry interrupted Ron immediately.
"He was a Death Eater, and not even by choice. I think both Malfoy and I would feel better after that. Remember Snape. It was very helpful to talk about our problems."
"I think Harry is right," Hermione now commented as well. "I think it's good that you're trying to end the enmity." Ron snorted slightly, but then shrugged.
"Okay buddy. If you think it's the right thing to do, you should do it."
"Thanks guys. Your support really means a lot to me."
Harry got lost in his thoughts again. To be honest, he still didn't know how to achieve his goal. Talking to Snape was one thing, but to Malfoy?
No one was hanging around the Shrieking Shack, but at Hogwarts it would be difficult to meet him alone.
And he was sure that his nemesis would hate it as much as Harry to have such an intimate conversation in public.
And if he asked him in front of other students if they could talk privately, there would certainly be a lot of rumors afterwards.
Because after the war, even more people were watching him than before.
So if he were to address Malfoy in the middle of the hallway, for example, there would probably be more than enough people watching. And that was exactly what he wanted to avoid.
But what could he do instead?
He looked at Malfoy for a while. How had he approached him back in sixth year?
Wait a minute! The Marauder's Map!
Harry's expression brightened as this thought occurred to him. That would make things much easier.
Satisfied, he now began to eat as well and mentally prepared himself for the upcoming conversation.
A few days later, he got the first opportunity to put his plan into action. Harry had studied the map extensively and discovered that there were several places on the Hogwarts grounds that the Ice Prince of Slytherin visited alone. Mostly at the same time every day.
Nervous, but in a visibly good mood, Harry left the castle after breakfast on Saturday morning. He went to the large lake where Malfoy was supposed to be, according to his observations.
It was a beautiful day. The still dewy grass shimmered in the sunlight as he walked the meadow toward the lake. The surface of the lake looked bright blue, almost like the sea in Muggle travel magazines.
Harry wondered if he should bring his bathing suit next time to swim a few laps. The water seemed warm enough and
His therapist advised him to do some physical activity to clear his head at night.
"Swimming or jogging might be just the thing for you," he recalled Dr. Blackstone's words.
Probably the latter was right. but Harry was too busy to follow that advice.
The seventh grade was very tiring even for Hermione, who normally had no problems with classes or studying.
She was already panicking about the final exams in a few months.
He, on the other hand, was sure that she would get an Outstandig in almost all school subjects. She remained simply the smartest witch he knew.
Harry finally reached the lake. A familiar, slender silhouette stood on the shore and looked into the water. The light flattered the blond hair and made Malfoy look like an angel for a brief moment. Peaceful, almost innocent.
Immediately Harry let go of the thought. Malfoy and innocent? Never!
Taking a deep breath, he stopped a few meters away and tried to remember what he wanted to tell him. But with every second that passed, he lost more and more courage.
Potter, pull yourself together, he said to himself and clenched one hand into a fist.
It's now or never!
Harry was about to start talking when suddenly a group of young witches came up to him, screeching his name. "Harry Potter! Ahhhh!"
"I'm such a big fan! Can I have your autograph?!"
One of the witches even grabbed his arm. "I heard you broke up with that little Weasley girl, let's go on a date together!"
Wait a minute, how did she know about Ginny?
But before he could say anything in response, Malfoy turned abruptly to face them, eyeing the group with disgust.
"Now I feel sick, thank you Potter. You better put a leash on your dogs, some of them definitely drool too much."
With a nasty grin, he walked away.