Opposites - a Drarry Story

Opposites- Ch. 5

Harry sat himself and his materials in the chair farthest from Malfoy at the table. He opened his textbook to the right page and risked a glance at Draco.

Expecting to see an indignant pout, Draco seemed a little bit more nervous than anything, which made Harry nervous.

I'm just as thrilled about this as you are, Harry thought to himself, although he wasn't sure how true that was, whether sarcastic or not.

"Well," remarked Draco suddenly, causing Harry to jump slightly. "Let's get on with it, then. Aren't you the one who's supposed to be so bloody good at potions?" Draco's arms were folded defensively over his chest. He seemed slightly more confident than he did a few minutes ago, he was apparently now comfortable enough to be taking shots at Harry; but he noticed that blond boy gripped his wand tightly in one hand.

Harry chose to ignore the condescending tone. "Alright,"He began, clearing his throat. He wasn't going to let Malfoy get to him, and he was determined to be the bigger person here. "The first ingredient for calming draught is two spoonfuls of essence of comfrey."

Draco walked over to the shelf of potion ingredients and returned with a small glass vial of the essence of comfrey. Malfoy poured the thick liquid into a measuring spoon and into his cauldron. Harry took note of the way Malfoy was carefully handling the supplies, almost as though he were trying to steady his hands from shaking.

"So pointless." Draco mumbled under his breath while reading the instructions in his textbook. "Having us do this simple apothecary rubbish when we're all practically adults. I don't why I ever bothered to return to this damn school..."

Harry blinked, unsure if he was supposed to respond to this, or if Malfoy was just complaining to himself. He figured it to be quite absurd a thought that he would actually try to make almost civil conversation with him, so he assumed the latter and said nothing.

Harry glanced across the room and saw Hermione working with some Slytherin girl, who looked a little more than pleased to be matched up with a partner who would do most of the work for her. Harry ended up catching her eye, and Hermione raised her eyebrows quickly at the sight of him and Draco.

This little exchange, apparently, did not go unnoticed by Malfoy, who leaned back in his seat with his arms folded and tilted his chin up, looking at Harry. Harry looked back.

"Still running about with that mudblood and Weasley, eh Potter?" He drawled. Whatever nervousness the boy might have had earlier had obviously melted away.

Harry gritted his teeth at the Draco's casual insulting of Hermione. Some things clearly don't change, Harry thought, but was determined not to lose his temper; the way Malfoy's cold eyes were unerringly on his was making something in his stomach knot.

"I reckon so, Malfoy. Are you still a horrible prejudiced git?"

The smug looking boy ignored the insult.

"Mm. That's interesting Potter, I almost would've expected you to find a little more sophisticated company."

This conversation was starting to feel quite familiar.

"And who did you have in mind, exactly?" Harry remarked. "Looking to set me up with a few of your ex-death-eater mates, are you?"

Draco shrugged indifferently, arching a very amused brow. "You're already the most famous teenager ever to walk these halls for god's sake, don't act like you haven't known that for years; and that was before you defeated the dark lord."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Point, please?"

"So why did you come back here?"

"Potter, Malfoy!" Professor Slughorn shouted across the room. "Less chatting, more brewing!"

"I suppose I could ask the same of you," said Harry heatedly, now speaking in a hushed voice. "Shouldn't you be off in hiding somewhere, mourning the death of your precious 'dark lord'? I'm sure you miss being his slave, don't you?"

Draco's face drained, and Harry sat back with satisfaction. This comment had apparently struck a chord with Malfoy.

There was a tense pause.

"It's not like that..." he stared at his lap, face pale. "It was never like that."

"Alright, everyone," said Slughorn to the class, clapping his hands together. "We haven't much time left, so let's all be wrapping up our draughts, I'll be going around to check on everyone's shortly!"

Harry gulped. After all this time letting Draco distract him, they weren't close to finishing their potion. all they had in the cauldron was a few stirred ingredients.

But Slughorn's inevitable disappointment slipped away from Harry's mind when class was dismissed early and a small scrap of paper was slid across the table toward Harry. He looked up, confused, but saw only the hem of Draco's robe as he swept himself out of the room and up the dungeon stairs.

Perplexed, Harry unfolded the small slip of parchment.

Astronomy tower, tonight, 9:00.

Don't ask questions and tell no one.

Draco