I Think I Like Him

26. Firebolts & Other Such Gryffindor Nonsence.

A/N- Whoops I got the order of the Quidditch Matches wrong so that's been changed (30-6-24)

Word Count: 1254

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Draco mirrored the frown deepset in Harry's face as the Gryffindor read the letter. He could still feel his lips tingling from the kiss only a few minutes previous, but everything else hurt just looking at Harry. It was clear that the raven's good, Christmas-y mood had been ruined by whatever was in that letter. Draco startled when Harry suddenly gasped -standing and diving for his broom just as the door swung open with a bang.

McGonagall, severe look on her face, marched forward, standing dangerously over the pair.
"Please don't take it!" Harry ground out forcefully, clutching the firebolt like a lifeline.

Draco, still sat on his cushion below them, had no idea what was happening, still far too preoccupied in his confusion of how Hedwig managed to get all the way through the castle with Harry's letter- and how McGonagall had found them? To even begin to question that they were talking about.

"I'm sorry Potter but I have no choice. Honestly, it was foolish of you to have not brought it to me as soon as you received it" She looked down sternly at the raven, who backed away slowly. "And rode it no less!" She added, tutting.

"I didn't have any reason to think it was from him- why would someone who wants to kill me buy me a Christmas present?" Harry's back hit the wall of the classroom.

"Because it is more than likely cursed!" She said, grabbing it and pulling it out of his grip. "I'll implore Professor Flitwicks help in unraveling the charmwork. If all is normal, then you may have it back" She said in her usual, clipped tone.

"How long will that take?" He looked at his broomstick in despair, at the terrifying mention of unraveling the charmwork.

"No longer than a month, I assure you, Potter" She turned to leave.

"A MONTH?! A month without Quidditch!" Harry looked dejected, which Draco found extra awful with the added fact that the Gryffindor had been grinning from ear to ear not ten minutes ago.

"The school broomsticks are still quite in working order"

"I'd go faster if I ran around the bottom of the pitch holding a bloody tree branch!" Harry whined, but their Professor had already left. The raven sat down in a slump, fist holding up his head from where his scowl stood stark on his features. "S'not fair" he muttered childishly.

"What.. erm." Draco wasn't really sure what to make of the situation. Harry sighed and wordlessly tossed him the letter he had received from Granger.

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8 Heathgate
Hampstead Garden Suburb
London

Harry,

While I am incredibly happy that you have finally begun moving on from what you heard at Hogsmeade, I don't think that you should completely forget about the information either. Sirius Black now has multiple reasons for wanting you dead, and you said you don't know who gave you that extremely expensive firebolt? The exact one you have been obsessing about since the start of the year? It's a little too perfect. A murderer isn't likely to be above stalking, is he?

I'm telling Hedwig to deliver a letter to McGonagall before you. I'm sorry but there is no sense in risking your life over a broomstick! Though I know you'll disagree.

Hermione

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He looked up at Harry who was still sulking.

"You.. you'll get your broom back soon Harry? You'll have it by the next match. Against.." Draco thought to the match dates last year. So.. "Ravenclaw? We played them a few weeks ago. We won, of course- but Chang was good." He looked up at the raven, "Imagine their faces when you come out with a Firebolt. They've already lost" Harry still wasn't smiling.

"Hey-" Draco sat in front of him, and Harry looked up with shiny, angry eyes. "You haven't opened my present yet" and he dug around in his pockets for the shrunken box as Harry looked at him in disbelief.

"You got me a.. I didn't get you anything." The raven muttered dejectedly. "I couldn't get anyone anything because I couldn't go on the Hogsmeade trips. And the one that I did go on.." they both knew he didn't need to elaborate.

"I know you used to think I was oh so spoilt and everything.."

"Who says that changed?" Harry smirked.

"But" He said pointedly, rolling his eyes, "Believe it or not, I don't buy gifts expecting something in return" He handed Harry the newly un-shrunken box. Draco watched as the Gryffindor cautiously lifted the shimmery golden lid off of the gift box, to find a set of clothes inside. Harry furrowed his brows, picking up the simple muggle clothing. 

It was with distaste that Draco had gone inside a muggle style clothing store in Hogsmeade, following his bouquet spree for Pansy. Why anyone would ever choose eyesores like what those poor mannequins were wearing was beyond Draco. Even they didn't seem to like them- constantly shaking their bald, white heads and looking longingly at the robe shops across the street. But alas, he had gone and found him something that wasn't completely awful, and then gone to have it drenched in every preserving charm under the sun so that all of his efforts wouldn't be for naught.

"Just because you hang around with Weasley doesn't mean that you have to dress like you're homeless" He said. It was a bit of a nasty thing to say about Harry's best friend, but it was better than the truth.

The truth being that reading Harry's Journal meant that he knew the boy didn't wear such old, oversized clothes for style. He wore them because all he had were hand-me-downs from his cousin. Maybe he thought that making Harry dress better would make it less of a blow to his reputation, should their friendship be found out. Or maybe he didn't want Harry wearing a constant reminder of the Dursleys abuse, even while in the safety of Hogwarts.

Both had truth to them.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well there's no way you're getting a thank you, now!" he continued inspecting the clothing as Draco gaped.

"I'll have you know, Potter, that despite them looking like normal, ugly muggle clothes; I only got them like that because I know you're weird enough to prefer geans-"  he was certain he pronounced that wrong but continued regardless "-over robes. And I also took the time to have them installed with a million protection charms and re-sizing charms because you're a Gryffindor and so by right of passage you are bound to attempt to destroy them by way of dragon slaying or other such nonsense-"

He broke off to find Harry chuckling, "Okay, okay. Thank you, Draco. Really." He smoothed his hand over the fabric of the shirt. "I've never owned my own clothes before. Apart from the uniform and Mollys Christmas Jumpers but they-" Harry seemed to realise what he had let slip, and glanced warily at Draco before continuing, "They don't.. really count." He coughed and put the lid sharply on the box.

"But no more comments about Ron" He said sternly, crossing his arms for effect. This was followed by a sharp gasp and, "Ron!" Harry slumped again, "Ron's not going to see my Firebolt for ages"

Draco watched, almost whiplashed by Harry's sudden return to his bad mood.

Oh dear.