Cheers, Potter.

You wish.

Draco's POV

I had all manners of questions buzzing around in my head at his last statement and all I could focus on was Potter's moronic expression of surprise at his own outburst. I loathed that face; it filled me with irritation because I knew he was smarter than playing the idiot all the time. Merlin knew he had to be to accomplish what he had in his lifetime (although I suspected that a lot of it was luck and owed to surrounding himself with uniquely intelligent and capable people).

"What could you possibly have for me, Potter?" I sneered, silently pleading that this wasn't a trick.

"You know, you could be nicer to me."

"I'll take it under advisement" I said, more sarcastically than I intended to.

"Right, well," he took a deep breath like he was nervous.

"Spit it out, Potter," Why did I say that?

"I have your wand," he mumbled, tentatively. He reached into his robes and handed it over. My wand that I hadn't seen in months, that I thought had been broken or lost. It was here, in my hand again.

After a excruciating period of awkward silence I finally found the words to say, "Thank you, I thought I'd never get it back."

"Well, it's actually not that easy."

"What do you mean?" I asked, already expecting that he'd want something in return. He must have seen the nerves on my face, because he was quick to clarify.

"You have to win it from me," he started, "Olivander said that when I disarmed you at the Manor, it aligned itself with me. I think you'll have to win it back for it to work for you again properly."

"Why didn't you say so?" I smirked half-heartedly, "I'd love to put you on your arse again."

"Um, I'm not sure again is the right word,"

"I'm absolutely certain it is." I replied facetiously, and it almost felt like we were friends.

He smiled and then seemed to remember who he was talking to.

"So I was thinking a duel? For old times' sake," he suggested, "but probably best we don't start a fight in the library, Pince's head might explode."

I did my utmost not to laugh at that, because really, it wasn't that funny. I just hadn't laughed a real, belly laugh in a long time.

"After classes then? In the Room of Requirement? I don't particularly want any of your groupies ganging up on me if we get caught."

"Deal, see you then,"

I walked away without another word. I just wanted to get away from him by that point. He'd been far too friendly and it had really made me quite uncomfortable.

~Ж~

That evening I managed to dodge the first years by telling them I was going to the library to study for NEWTS, needless to say, they were falling asleep before I even finished my sentence.

I found myself pacing, waiting for the ever-tardy Potter to eventually grace me with his irritating presence. I was nervous, which was ridiculous, Potter had suggested the duel so it couldn't be likely that I'd be on the receiving end of any substantial punishment. And yet, as time went on my mind began working against me and my anxiety grew.

I'm on probation, I thought, I can't get caught duelling with Harry Potter!

The Room will stop anyone else from coming in, the more devil-may-care side of my brain reasoned.

Just then I was interrupted by the sound of someone entering, I whirled, fretfully hoping something I never thought I would; that it was Potter walking in and no one else, and thankfully, it was.

"Okay, Malfoy," he began rolling up his sleeves, "prepare to be embarrassed,"

"Oh, please," I snorted, "Actually... I was thinking maybe this isn't the best idea."

"What do you mean?"

"If I get caught using magic for a duel, or anyone thinks I even might be back to my old ways, they could break my wand. It'd be far easier if I just disarmed you."

"Aw, what's the matter?" he goaded, "Scared, Malfoy?"

I couldn't help myself, I really wanted to hex him in the face, "You wish," I grinned, slipping my mother's wand out of my sleeve, "Expelliarmus!"

Perhaps slightly smugly, I caught my wand in one hand and threw my mother's at Harry.

"Oi!" He shouted, catching it, "That wasn't fair, I wasn't ready!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise I was dealing with a five year old."

"Alright, Malfoy, is that how it is?" He threw a stinging jinx at me which I easily deflected, relishing in the feeling of having a wand that understood me again, that knew what I was going to do before I did.

This was going to be fun.