call me by your name ✔

chapter fourteen

Potions that day was an awkward hell.

Harry ended up being late to class having had spent lunch in the library, trying to finish some homework last minute.

Ron and Hermione were already in class, seated next to each other and everywhere else seemed to be full.

Except for the one by Malfoy.

"Harry, my boy, do take a seat," Slughorn said, beaming at him. The old man turned to the class. "I'm going to get some supplies from the cupboard, while I'm doing that please take out your homework!"

The minute he left, Pansy Parkinson stood up from where she was sitting next to Blaise Zabini and sat down by Malfoy, giving Harry a pointed look.

Thanking his lucky stars, Harry went to the back of the class to sit by the other Slytherin boy hurriedly, breathing out a sigh of relief.

"Potter," Zabini acknowledged.

"Zabini," Harry replied absentmindedly as he rummaged through his bag for his essay.

"You did an essay?" Zabini snorted, raising an amused eyebrow.

"Well no shit, Sherlock," Harry replied.

"Who's Sherlock?" the other boy asked, furrowing his brow. He shook his head. "Whatever. Anyways, the homework was to write a comparison between the Draught of Living Death and Dreamless Sleep, not a whole essay on Moonstone and its properties!"

Harry blanched. "Sorry, what?"

"'Merlin, Potter, you cannot be helped," Zabini said, getting his quill out quickly and writing something onto his own parchment. "Here."

Confused, Harry took Blaise's homework to find the tall boy had crossed out his own name and written Harry's instead.

"Oh no," Harry chuckled, giving it back. "Absolutely not."

Zabini was already reaching for Harry's essay and writing his own name in. "And why not?"

"Because I don't know you, and I'm not some charity case," Harry said, rolling his eyes. He got his quill out from his robes to change it but was shocked when both their parchments flew away, along with everyone else's.

"Very good, everyone!" Slughorn said happily, looking through the homework. He paused.

"Blaise, I do remember saying a comparison and not an essay," the Potion Master said, seeming amused. "Had a lapse in memory, have you?"

"It appears so, Professor," Zabini replied smoothly. "I am very sorry."

"That's quite alright," Slughorn waved a hand. "You're one of my best students, after all!"

While Blaise was extremely smart, the implication of Slughorn's words was different. What he meant was:

"You're in my Slug Club, after all!"

Blaise gave him a sweet smile.

"Well done for the homework, all!" Slughorn said happily as he placed them all on his desk. "Now, for today's lesson..."

***

Harry sprinted out after Zabini as soon as class left, spinning him around roughly after latching onto his arm.

"Potter," Zabini said, almost bored.

Harry was determined, however. "Why did you do that?"

"Take pity on you?" the tall boy raised an amused eyebrow. "Doesn't take 'Sherlock' to figure that out, Potter."

How did he even understand that reference without having any prior knowledge in the span of an hour with no extra research? Harry was baffled.

"Don't think too much of it, Potter," Blaise carried on. "Wouldn't want your to head get bigger than it is."

Affronted, Harry replied. "I am not bloody big-headed. Zabini!"

"I doubt that," said a high-pitched voice from behind him. Harry turned to see Pansy Parkinson walking towards them with a smirk.

"Not arguing I hope, boys?" she asked.

"What's it to you, Professor?" Harry retorted.

Pansy rolled her eyes before turning to Blaise. "Why are you talking to this imbecile?"

"He's not one," Zabini said coolly. "He and Draco are both idiots, is all."

"I'm right here," Harry said, anger bubbling.

Parkinson ignored him. "Draco is our friend, not Potter. Don't do anything foolish!"

"I won't!" the relaxed facade snapped and a hint of irritation broke through on his face. "Get lost, Parkinson."

Scoffing, she walked away without another word.

Suddenly, Blaise turned to Harry again. "Nott never had feelings for you."

"What?!" Harry furrowed his brows. "Of course he-"

"Didn't," Zabini cut him off, looking tired. "And neither does Draco for Astoria."

Harry laughed at this. "You think I haven't seen them wound around each other like a sick pair of eels? Come off it, Zabini."

Turning away, Blaise sighed. "Pansy was righr; you really are an imbecile."

"That's unfair and you know it!" Harry shouted.

Zabini spun around furious. "How so, Potter? Damien told you that you wouldn't like what you'd meet when you met him, and look what happened! Don't come crying now that you've ruined everything!"

"My God you're really making him a victim?!" Harry said hysterically. "You can both go shove it!"

"Just ask Weasley," Blaise said, before striding away with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Instantly, Harry got out his phone.

harry
ron, what do you know?

ron
about?

harry
what's going on with draco

ron
thought you didn't want to hear about him?

harry
ron...

ron
fine. i'll tell you.

harry
go on.

ron
when i went to go find him yesterday, i ran into zabini instead and he told me everything.

harry
ron would you fucking elaborate for once

ron
calm down, mate, i'm getting there
he said that what greengrass and malfoy have going on was just an act. astoria's parents want them to get married to carry on the pureblood line, malfoy's parents couldn't care less anymore apparently
she asked him for help for the time-being until she found someone or something. if she makes her parents unpleased they'll cut her off financially.
all the lovey-dovey stuff they've been doing gets reported to her parents by some weirdo slytherin who gets paid to watch them.

harry
and he never thought to fucking tell me this?

ron
he tried to

harry
yeah, way too fucking late!
why didn't YOU say anything

ron
i didn't think you'd believe me, to be honest
you'd just say i was an idiot for trusting zabini

harry
for fuck's sake, ron!
my god

ron
harry i'm sorry

harry
honestly? get stuffed.

***

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