tick-tock | a drarry tale

VI.

Luna answered Harry's question when they went on their walk. She explained how Hermione told her that he saw the Thestrals, those skeleton horse-things that pull the carriages up towards the castle, and how you can see them only if you witnessed a death.

Harry understood this, remembering Cedric. Harry still wasn't over witnessing his death. It was always scraping at the back of his mind, always reminding him of the life that instantly left Cedric's eyes.

Luna took him to the Forbidden Forest, even though it was "forbidden", but no one really followed that rule, and showed him the wild Thestrals. She said she could see them, too, and explained her mother's death.

When Harry got back to his dorm, Ron was talking to Seamus and Dean about the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They stopped abruptly, not wanting to talk about it in front of Harry.

"You're fine," Harry said roughly, and made his way to his bed. He changed into his pajamas quickly and sank into his bed. The three continued talking quietly, discussing who's going replace Harry and how they think they're gonna do for the rest of the season. Harry drowned them out after a while with his own thoughts.

Draco.

Harry never thought he would call him by his first name. He never thought they would exchange "sorrys" or go "sneaking around", as Pansy put it.

She never spoke to Harry before, and then all of a sudden, bam. It was almost as if she was happy for Draco. Why would she be happy for him?

We aren't doing anything.

But as he thought this, Harry felt a twinge in his chest.

He was in denial, he knew he was.

He wouldn't accept his feelings, and there was no one he could talk to to get these odd emotions off his chest. Ron and Hermione would judge him, he barely speaks to Ginny, or to any other Gryffindors for that matter.

Harry was just realizing how lonely he actually was. He always had Luna. She always listened, but Harry didn't think he should go to her for advice.

Sleep was taking over him, and for once in a long time, Harry had a good night's rest.

__________

"Wha... what?" Draco stammered, eyeing Pansy as if she had grew a second head.

"You heard me," she smirked, sitting up from Draco's bed. "You're in denial, Draco. For once, let your emotions take control. It'll be good for you."

"What do you mean 'it'll be good for me'?" Draco snapped.

"See!" she exclaimed while rolling her eyes. "Take a chill pill, Draco. If you like Potter, go for it. Even though it is a bit weird... Do what makes you happy. You haven't been happy in a long time, and I would like to see a true smile on your face." She squeezed Draco's shoulder, and then headed out of the room.

"Pansy!" he called out to her. She stopped, hand on the doorknob, and looked back at her friend. "Thank you."

"Anytime." She smiled, and then left the room for Draco to think.

Did he really like Potter? Or as Pansy put it, have the hots for him?

Draco curled his hands into fists, squeezing his sheets.

How could he possibly like Potter?

With those ugly glasses, that ugly hair, the ugly scar...

Okay, take back the hair. It's pretty cute.

But what can he possibly like Potter?

The whole school thinks they despise each other, they can't just go out with each other.