Demons » Drarry

20 | Friendship

Chapter 20: Friendship

After a quick breakfast, Harry and Draco made their way towards the dungeons for their first class of the day. They were among the last few students to arrive outside of the Potions classroom, and Harry could feel the eyes of their peers watching the pair in fascination. He edged closer to the blonde so he could press their hands together without it being visible.

Everyone is staring at us.

I know.

What do we do? Harry shifted anxiously.

Well, how much do you care about our friendship being a secret? Draco responded gently, while maintaining his demeanour of cool indifference.

To be completely honest, I don't care. People have already noticed we've been spending more time together, I just can't let anybody know that we're bonded because that would give away my inheritance. What about you? Won't I ruin your reputation or something? I doubt your father would be happy to find out you've befriended The Golden Boy.

I've always wanted to be your friend, Harry, even my father knows that. I'm not ashamed to be seen with you, although, we will likely be questioned.

So, we just... Act like friends? Harry suggested a little uncertainly.

And if anybody questions why, we tell them we settled our differences and realized we had more in common than we thought, Draco finished decisively.

As if some higher being was privy to their silent communications, they were presented with their first trial as new 'friends'. Just then, Crabbe and Goyle rounded the corner, laughter rumbling quietly as they approached their blonde ringleader.

"Oi, something reeks," Goyle broadcasted, dramatically fanning the air near his face.

"Malfoy, want me and Goyle to take out the trash?" Crabbe asked, his face contorting with disgust in Harry's direction. Goyle shot Draco a devious smirk.

"I don't know what trash you're talking about. But did you forget to shower again, Crabbe? You really do reek," The blonde retorted, easily deflecting the comments away from the former Gryffindor.

Harry had to suppress his laughter at the matching looks of pure astonishment on the boys' faces. Confounded as they were, the Slytherin cronies knew better than to test their luck against Draco, and so the subject was dropped. Scanning the collection of students in the corridor, Harry read thinly-veiled bewilderment on most of the Slytherins' faces, and completely unmasked shock from most of the Hufflepuffs. Thankfully, the less-than-subtle elbow-prodding and hushed whispering between pairs of friends was interrupted by the door to the Potions classroom swinging open.

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The rest of the day passed relatively uneventfully, save an awkwardly quiet few minutes in the dormitory, while the five Slytherin boys gathered their supplies for Astronomy that evening. Surprisingly, Crabbe and Goyle were the first to depart for class, leaving Harry, Draco, and Blaise in their room together.

"So much for keeping things secret, you two," Blaise prodded once the three of them were alone.

"People are allowed to know that we're friends," Harry replied firmly.

"Friends that share the bed?" The dark-skinned boy questioned with a knowing smirk.

"As long as you keep your mouth shut, Zabini, nobody else will know about us sharing the bed," Draco shot Blaise a stern look. "And if it means anything, it was not what it looked like."

"Like I said, I won't go blathering. Whether or not you two are intimate really doesn't concern me; I'd be a hypocrite if it did," Blaise spoke diplomatically, before he picked up his bag and strode out of the room.

Draco rolled his eyes. "What a bloody wanker."

"I thought you liked Zabini," Harry responded, eyebrows slightly furrowed in confusion.

"Of course I like Zabini, he's like a brother to me," the blonde insisted, with a hint of amusement. "Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that he's an insufferable prat,"

"Slytherins still confuse me sometimes," the shorter boy concluded, his befuddled expression softened by the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Don't worry love, I know I have much to teach you," Draco chastised affectionately. "Do you have all of your things? We'd better head to the tower soon or else we'll be late for Astronomy."

"Then people would really start asking questions," Harry mused, eliciting a snorted laugh from the blonde as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

The boys discussed the upcoming Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as they made the trek from the dungeons up to the Astronomy tower. Draco favoured Ravenclaw for the win, but Harry insisted Hufflepuff would be a bigger threat than the previous years, which might catch Ravenclaw by surprise. As they climbed the final flight of stairs in the tower, they heard the chattering of students waiting for class to begin.

"Hi Harry," Hermione smiled as he came into view in the dark tower. She shot Ron a pointed look before approaching the pair of Slytherins, Ron begrudgingly in tow.

"Hey 'Mione, Ron," Harry greeted his friends in turn. "How are things in Gryffindor?"

"It's been much less interesting without you around. I'm beginning to understand the appeal of gossip; turns out you've just got to be so bored that any excitement in anyone's life becomes interesting," Hermione answered with an expression of resignation.

"Who are you and what have you done with the real Hermione? I thought you had all your books to keep you occupied," Harry responded, his tone playfully suspicious.

"It's 'cause she's read through the whole bloody library," Ron snorted, although he kept his eyes averted.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't get through it sooner, Granger," Draco added, a cautious smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Hermione gave the blonde a look of curious amusement before responding. "Well, if I hadn't been so busy making sure these two didn't get themselves killed, I probably would have." This comment prompted all of the boys to exhale sharply in laughter.

"So, Draco and I were just discussing the next Quidditch game, who are you betting on, Ron?" Harry prodded, hoping to shift the topic of discussion to something the redhead cared about.

"Ravenclaw, obviously. With Davies as Captain and Cho as Seeker, Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance. Not that Hufflepuff has ever been much of a threat, but especially now since they lost Cedric..." Ron trailed off, unsure of how sensitive Harry would be at the mention of Cedric.

"That's exactly what he said," Harry shot the blonde a deliberate look. "I really think Hufflepuff stands a chance."

"Great, now you're telling me I agree with the bloody ponce," Ron mumbled bitterly, earning him a sharp elbow to the ribs from his remaining Gryffindor friend.

Harry felt his eyes flicker, his scales bristling under his skin and threatening to erupt. Sensing the silent thrum of the inheritance magic awakening, Draco instinctively reached for the shorter boy's hand.

Calm, Potter. He's not hurting me.

Harry took a shaky breath, latching onto the blonde's words in his mind to quell the surge of magic that was attempting to break loose. Right. Thanks Draco.

Satisfied that Harry wasn't about to give away his all-important secret, blonde released his grip on Harry's hand... But not before catching the quizzical look on Hermione's face as she glanced between the two boys.

Fuck.

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Author's Note:

omg the DRAMA:0

hopefully you guys enjoy the chapter!! i appreciate all of your votes & comments so much, it's honestly what's keeping me motivated to finish this story, so thank you guys for being awesome<3 see y'all soon for the next chap