Pillow (Drarry)

Chapter 3- Partners

Chapter 3: Partners

September 9, 1998

Harry found himself in a bad mood at lunch, because when he'd arrived at his dorm and tried to resume writing, he couldn't find his first page. After all that hard work, trying to remember details from seven years ago, and he'd just lost it! He made his way back to the library and looked all around. When he finally came to the conclusion that it was gone, he sighed heavily and went down to the Great Hall a bit early for lunch.

He only sat and stared at his empty plate for a long while, angry at himself for losing his work. 

Twenty minutes into lunch, Harry was resigned to the fact that he was going to have to start over. That was when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Figuring it was a fellow Gryffindor, he turned in anger and raised his voice slightly,"What have I told you ab--" He stopped mid-sentence as his eyes caught sight of a startled Draco Malfoy. "Er, sorry, I thought you were someone else."

Draco recollected himself and disregarded Harry's apology,"Whatever, Potter, I wanted to make this quick. You left this in the library earlier, and I found in my heart to return it. You're welcome."

Harry caught the paper before it floated to the ground and thought how snobbish Draco always was,"Prat," he grumbled, but his mood was significantly lifted at not having to redo his work. He heard the Hermione in him tell him that he should thank Draco for not burning it or something equally dramatic. He sighed as he knew she was right even though she never really said it, and decided to get it over with on his way out of the Great Hall. Choosing not to eat, he finished his dull conversation with Seamus and Dean, who hadn't said anything but were most definitely together.

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Draco's lunch was not particularly interesting. As usual, he spent the majority of it scowling in the general direction of all Gryffindors, but more specifically, Harry Potter. It was a habit now, he didn't even have a real reason to sneer at them today. He pondered what he'd learned from reading the page of Potter's book. Had he really lived in a cupboard? For eleven years? He couldn't imagine how terrible those Muggles had been. How had Harry turned out so well? Other than always being exceptionally skinny, Potter really did entirely fit the bill as "Golden Boy". 

As he stood to leave, he noticed said Golden Boy headed his way. He arched a brow in curiosity and waited for Potter to reach him. Once he did, he simply said, "Thanks for returning my work."

Draco was hardly surprised by this, as Potter was a Gryffindor, after all. Draco simply nodded and turned to say goodbye to Pansy and Blaise. Potter unsurely turned away but figured he had done well enough, and walked away briskly, so as not to be late to his next class, Double Potions. After the war, Slughorn retired again, because he was,"too old and tired to deal with any more annual Hogwarts fiascos."

The new Potions professor, Professor Yerticland, was unbelievably peppy and overly nice. He felt a bit guilty hoping that she would leave soon, but her constant happy attitude gave him a headache. She had even told them that calling her Professor was too formal and they could call her Miss Yerti. She was American, that must have been why. Still, none of her students actually called her that other than Luna, which surprised no one. 

Harry made his way down to the dungeon classroom slowly and was the first to enter the door. "Harry! Good to see you here early! I wanted to talk about your grade and now I won't have to keep you after class!" Harry groaned inwardly, he knew what must be coming, "Now, you're not exactly failing, but you do have a P. We're doing partners for the rest of the year, and I have decided to pair you with Draco Malfoy for the time being." This time Harry groaned aloud.