Alone Together (drarry)

chapter 2

"Make way, Potter!" Draco spat as he walked past Harry and his two friends. The train had stopped, arriving at the school, and they were all dragging their heavy luggage to the castle just when they met the Slytherin trio.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry retorted while shooting daggers his way. He heard him snicker, his two companions joining him, and grew more furious with each passing second. By the time the Slytherins were distanced enough for his liking, he started complaining.

"Bloody hell! Why does he have to piss me off every time!" Ron and Hermione exchanged glances next to him. "Calm down, Harry," Ron said, worried for his friend who was about to explode. "Don't let him get into your head." Harry gritted his teeth and continued walking, trying not to think about the Slytherin.

Once they arrived at their destination, watched the first years get sorted into houses and unpacked their suitcases, it was nighttime. The Gryffindors quickly ate dinner in the Great Hall and made their way to their Common room.

Along the way, to their luck, they came across a group of students dressed in black and green robes. Immediately, Harry recognized one of them.

Draco Malfoy.

Laughing and talking with that smug face without a care in the world. Just the sight of him made Harry's blood boil. When their eyes met, Draco smirked mockingly, making Harry glare at him. Before Malfoy walked past he swore he saw him genuinely laugh which very much surprised him.

"Good night," Ron whispered before turning in his bed. "Night," the raven answered and closed his eyes, ready for sleep to take over. However, it took him longer than expected to fall asleep as his mind kept wandering back to Malfoy, his enemy.

***

"You're doing it wrong, Potter! Look, let me!" Draco grumbled, obviously irritated by Harry's incompetence. Potions was Harry's least favorite class as he wasn't the most talented in it.

The two had been paired by Professor Snape and although they complained at the beginning there was no way to change Snape's decision, so they soon gave up their futile efforts.

"Why does it work when you do it?" Harry asked, astonished at the Slytherin's talent for brewing potions. "Because you're helpless when it comes to potions. And I'm obviously better in everything," the blond added, proud of himself. Harry rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.

The class ended and the boys successfully brewed their potion, handing it over to Snape who nodded, seeming satisfied. For the first time in his life Harry felt like he had fun in potions. With Malfoy!

Grabbing his books, the raven Gryffindor was about to exit the classroom when a certain someone stopped him. "Wait, Potter!" Confused, he turned around and waited. Draco seemed to be finding the words to the sentence that followed. "Yeah?"

"I just... if you ever want help with... potions, you can..." he paused, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

Harry was left speechless as the blond hurried past him. The Gryffindor was collecting his thoughts and with time, pieces and pieces came together. Was he just about to offer him... help? No way, right? Harry shook his head in denial and proceeded to leave the room, on his way to his next class.

At lunch, Harry sat with his friends who he didn't see in a long time and had a lot to catch up with. Especially Neville was very talkative. Every once in a while Harry would glance towards the Slytherin table and watch Malfoy, making sure not to get caught. He couldn't forget the conversation they shared and he was curious as to what his enemy was really about to tell him.

"Harry!" Hermione repeated, worried for her best friend. "Huh? What did you say?" He blinked a few times, composing himself. "What were you thinking about?" she asked, forcing him to avoid her gaze. "Nothing, really," he replied, picking up his fork and bringing the piece of meat to his mouth, devouring it hungrily.

"It was Malfoy, no?" Harry almost choked on his food at her guess. How'd she now? "You have to stop thinking about him, mate!" the ginger joined. "This isn't the first time you've spaced out like this."

"I'm fine, guys." He wiped his mouth. "I just think that he's planning something." That was a lie, but he couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth - he himself didn't know it.

His friends sighed and let him be, proceeding to finish eating their own food.

***

After classes, Harry found himself wandering to the boys bathroom he rarely used. The Gryffindor didn't know why he was headed that way, but he knew he wasn't in any mood to meet people, especially his friends. This bathroom was known for being abandoned, not many students frequented this place, for it was known for many strange stories.

Finishing all his classes for today, the raven was exhausted and planned to spend some time alone before dinner. He entered the bathroom, the door closing after him. Making his way into one of the toilet stalls, he sat down and sighed while burying his face into the palm of his hands.

Taking a few deep breaths and letting his mind rest from thinking, deciding he was ready to go out, he stood up and just when he was about to open the door he heard footsteps. They echoed through the quiet room, coming to a halt at the sink.

Harry hurriedly curled into a ball on the toilet seat and listened closely for any more movements, careful not take make a single sound.

But what came next surprised him.

He heard sobs. Someone was crying, leaning against the sink. Harry's eyes widened at the sudden action of the stranger and his heart ached. Who could be crying here? Since when do students come here to cry their hearts out?

Waiting and listening for a while longer, Harry felt a wave of guilt, fidgeting nervously. He shouldn't be witnessing this stranger's private moment. And he wondered for how much longer this would go on. He feared for his stomach to rumble, exposing him, as he was growing hungry with time.

Once 15 minutes passed, the person seemed to walk towards the door, probably planning to leave. Feeling relieved, a slight smile appeared on Harry's face and just when he was about to put his feet back down on the floor, the thing he feared most happened.

His stomach growled. Loud and clear enough for the stranger to hear.

Harry's body tensed as he gritted his teeth nervously. Did he hear? Would he find him?

The steps stopped and Harry unconsciously covered his mouth with one hand to make sure he stayed silent.

"Who's there?" the voice asked, making Harry's eyes widen with horror, but also surprise as he recognized it. Probably giving up, the unknown student opened the door and the raven boy heard the steps fade.

He couldn't mutter a single word, left speechless due to what he just witnessed.

Malfoy. Crying in the bathroom.