A New Chapter at Hogwarts [Drarry]

Chapter 13: Unveiling Truths

The Hogwarts library stood as a majestic monument to centuries of accumulated wisdom, its towering shelves lined with countless volumes bound in leather and faded cloth. Shafts of soft, golden light streamed through the arched windows, casting long shadows that shifted with the movement of the clouds. The scent of aged parchment, ink, and a faint whiff of old wood filled the air, creating an atmosphere of quiet reverence. There was something deeply soothing about the stillness, broken only by the occasional rustling of a page or the soft footfalls of Madam Pince as she floated between the rows, keeping watch over her domain.

Harry Potter sat at one of the large tables near the Restricted Section, surrounded by books on magical theory. His notes sprawled across several pieces of parchment as he worked on preparing his upcoming lesson. His black hair, as unkempt as ever, fell into his eyes as he scribbled down ideas, absently pushing his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. Every now and then, he muttered to himself, jotting down potential explanations and crossing others out. His lesson plan for the week was coming together, but it was the details that were proving tricky.

The stillness was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps, familiar and measured. Harry looked up to see Draco Malfoy entering the library, his expression as composed as ever, a stack of heavy tomes cradled in his arms. The soft light from the windows illuminated his platinum blond hair, lending it a silvery sheen. His dark robes, tailored and immaculate, swept around him as he moved with quiet precision.

"Potter," Draco greeted, his voice low, yet it carried effortlessly in the hushed atmosphere of the library. He set the books down on the table with a soft thud, his cool grey eyes meeting Harry's with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Working hard, I see."

Harry leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Trying to, at least. I'm finalizing my lesson plans for the fifth years, and I thought the library would be a good place to work without distractions. And you?"

Draco sat across from him, his fingers idly arranging the books into a neat stack. "Same. I've been revising some of the more advanced potion-making techniques for my NEWT students. Thought I'd take the opportunity to brush up on a few obscure spells while I'm at it. No point in letting them get too comfortable with the basics."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, appreciating Draco's dedication. "Good plan," he agreed. "I think they like it when we push them a bit. Makes them feel like they're really learning something important."

Draco gave a small smirk, a glimmer of the old arrogance in his expression, though it was softened by the years that had passed. "Naturally. We wouldn't want to churn out mediocrity, would we?"

Harry laughed, the sound warm and genuine, breaking the usual reserve between them. "No, I suppose not. Speaking of pushing students, I've been working on my fourth-year lesson plans, and I've hit a bit of a snag."

Draco raised a curious eyebrow, leaning forward slightly as his fingers traced absent patterns on the table. "What's the problem?" he asked, his voice suddenly more serious.

Harry rifled through his stack of notes, pulling out a piece of parchment that had been troubling him. "It's the Disillusionment Charm. I've been trying to come up with a way to teach it that's both practical and engaging, but I'm struggling with how to make it stick with the students. It's such a subtle spell, and if they don't grasp it, the lesson could fall flat."

Draco's eyes brightened with interest, his lips curving into a slight smile as he considered Harry's dilemma. "The Disillusionment Charm can be tricky. It requires finesse. The problem is, students often think they can simply cast it and be invisible. They don't understand the nuance—the way it bends light around them rather than rendering them truly invisible."