Harry didn't know if Malfoy now doing his very best to ignore him was a good thing or a bad thing, all events considered. True, he didn't have to look at his stupid pointy face anymore, which helped a lot for not getting agitated. However, that end was being achieved regardless by the fact Malfoy seemed to now be in a constant state of low level rage after their argument.
In hindsight, mentioning Azkaban to Draco Malfoy in the middle of an argument hadn't been Harry's best idea. He didn't know whether to feel guilty or pleased; on one hand he had won the argument and got Malfoy to bugger off, but on the other hand he felt a little guilty about what he'd said.
Three whole days of carrying around a link weighted down by an angry Malfoy…it had been nothing short of bloody hard work. His performance in lessons had been abysmal, his interactions with his friends; shocking. He'd not even spoken to Ginny since his fall-out with Malfoy, though that was tabbed on both his pro and con list.
Harry stared down at his untouched meal, sat alone at the Gryffindor table. He could only be glad of three things right now: firstly that Ron and Hermione had been so helpful and supportive about the whole thing, secondly that the link seemed to shut down whilst he was asleep, and lastly that it was Friday, and almost the weekend.
tables complete eight…
The weekend. It was like a shining beacon of hope, calling out to him and nearly within his reach. The weekend meant sleep, no lessons, and therefore no bloody running commentary on Potions or Arithmancy. Trust Malfoy to like Arithmancy, which in Harry's opinion was pointless and as boring as a wingless Snitch.
He jumped a mile as a hand clapped down on his shoulder and an unfairly cheerful voice called out next to him.
"Still brooding about the Ferret, mate?" Ron asked heartily as he sat down next to him at the lunch table.
Harry grunted in response and Ron chuckled. "Can't be that bad- Hermione said it was easing off?"
"Yeah," Harry said, running a hand over the back of his head. "Still a pain though. It's not gone completely-"
Cunt!
Harry broke off with a wince and Ron paused, looking at him expectantly.
"Christ he's got a mouth on him," Harry said ruefully, shaking his head experimentally as if he were trying to rid his ears of water. "And I mostly get stuff when he's mad so it's all swear words and stuff-"
"I'll bet he's mad," Ron said conversationally, buttering bread with enthusiasm. "After what you said-"
"Well, what would you have said, Ron?" Harry interjected, nettled.
Ron merely shrugged. "Well I might have been a bit more tactful," he said thoughtfully, munching on his bread as Harry gaped incredulously. "Definitely wouldn't have mentioned Azkaban. Or the life-debt."
"He was working my last nerve!" Harry protested. "No way would have you kept your cool."
Calm bloody now down
"Hmm, probably not," Ron conceded. "Especially if it sounds like him too, now-"
"Yeah it does and can we drop it because you're stressing me out and that's stressing him out and then I get more swear words and he's giving me a headache-"
"Okay, okay," Ron said, holding his hands up and looking alarmed. "Breathe."
Breathe
Harry took a breath, and then laughed weakly at the echo of Ron's earthy voice in that stuck-up drawl he was becoming oh-so-familiar with.
