Pen Pal (Drarry) HIATUS

8

First thing the next day, Harry decided to talk to McGonagall. He'd avoided Malfoy and Hermione both as he wasn't in the mood for them right now. He wasn't sure he wanted to see them the rest of the year really, he was pissed.

"Mr. Potter, how can I help you?" McGonagall said as Harry entered her office. "I want a new pen pal," he said bitterly, his fists clenched together at his sides.

McGonagall tilted her head to the side, "and why is that Mr. Potter?" She asked calmly, gesturing to the chair in-front of her desk. Harry took the hint and sat, sighing heavily.

"Malfoy is my pen pal, and I'm not sure how long but him and Hermione KNEW it was me. They didn't say anything and let me continue to talk about my trauma," Harry took a few breaths, trying to keep himself calm. It wasn't McGonagalls fault.

McGonagall put her hand to her chest, "oh Mr. Potter I can't imagine the betrayal you feel. The pen pal assignment was supposed to help, not hurt. If you don't want another Pen Pal I completely understand. I will have a talk with Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger as well."

Harry nodded, "honestly I'm done trying to open up. If you give me a new one I'll talk to them but I won't talk about anything that has to do with me or my traumatic background. I'm over that."

"I understand, I won't even bother assigning you to someone else. I will speak to both of them at once, thank you for coming and telling me Harry," she smiled at him softly. She hadn't meant to cause the boy anymore distress.

If she was being honest with herself, she only created the project to help Harry. She knew the boy wasn't doing well before he came back, she had checked up on him often. She was hoping this was a way for him to open up, and maybe even push Harry and Draco into the friendship they should've had from the beginning.

When Harry left she looked at Albus' portrait, "you meddle way smoother than I do sir," she said playfully shaking her head.

"I knew that wasn't going to end well," Snapes portrait called out, earning a glare from Minerva and a slight chuckle from Albus.

-

"Okay so Harry knows?" Draco asked, pacing back and forth in the library. "Yes and he's very unhappy," Hermione sighed, running her hands through her hair.

She hadn't meant to lie so horribly, but it was Harry. It was hard to lie to your bestfriend, let alone someone you've spent massive amounts of time with.

"So what do we do?" Draco asked, finally sitting down. Before Hermione could answer though, a cat appeared in front of them. McGonagalls patronus.

"Mr Malfoy, you and Ms. Granger need to find me in my office as soon as possible. Thank you," McGonagalls voice belted through the patronus. Hermione and Draco looked at each other with a sigh.

Silently they got up and made their way to the headmistress's office. When they entered, she wasn't at her desk so they sat down quietly.

"You're in for it now Mr. Malfoy," Snapes portrait sneered out. Draco turned and scoffed, "oh stay out of it Uncle Sev, you're wall art."

Both Hermione and Draco snapped their head to attention at the snort they heard at the top of the stairwell. "Well I have heard Severus be coined as many things, but wall art may just be my favorite."

Both of the teens held their breath, not often being sent to trouble. Draco tried to crack a friendly smile, but it was a lopsided nervous fail.

"Relax, you're not here because you're being expelled. Just a simple detention, and I want to speak with you both regarding Harry," she sighed, hoping she didn't regret this.

"It's come to my attention that he is not in the best head space, I'm not going to be pairing him up with another pen pal so I need you two to grovel so you can watch over him."

"Professor, with all due respect, I don't think we should meddle in Harry's business anymore. If I've learned anything in my nearly eight years of being his best-friend, he doesn't trust very easy. If you push he will push back until you're so far away you can't reach him," Hermione said slowly, not wanting to earn anymore detention.

"I'm well aware of how Mr. Potter is Ms. Granger, I didn't say to get into his business per-say. Just watch over him, if you notice anything concerning let me know. If he opens up to you anymore, be there for him. Don't be fools and wreck his privacy again."

Draco didn't say much, because to him it felt like McGonagall wanted them to break Harry's privacy but not get caught. He sighed out loud, earning a look from the professor, "something you'd like to say Mr. Malfoy."

"I'm not going to intrude on Harry anymore than I already have. I shouldn't have in the first place, I for certain won't be bringing anything I've noticed back to you. That would end with Harry hating me, which is what I'm attempting not to do," he took a deep breath before continuing.

"I don't want to do anything else that will make him uncomfortable. He took a chance on me, becoming my friend, speaking at my trial. He didn't have to do any of it, but he did. If or when I can get him to forgive me, I'm not going to ruin it again."

Minerva smiled, nodding, "very well Mr. Malfoy, I'll keep an eye out myself. In the meantime at least be there for him yourself. Your detention will be served tomorrow evening with Filch. Head out."

As the two begun heading towards the common room, they discussed how they were going to get Harry to forgive them.

When suddenly an idea hit Draco, "I don't know about you, but I have the perfect plan. Catch you later, curls," Draco shouted as he took off.

"Don't call me curls Malfoy!" Hermione groaned, smiling as she watched her friend run off. This was making for an interesting year. She knew just what to do to make Harry forgive her as well.

-

A/N chapter 8 woo hoo, half of this was written after I took a Benadryl so if there's an error my bad.

Hope you enjoyed loves.

Much love,

-H🫶🏼