for the dancing and the dreaming

chapter 2 - no scorching sun nor freezing cold

Draco was almost completely sure this wasn't supposed to happen. From what Karkaroff had told them, there was strictly one champion per school and from the silence in the Great Hall, no one had expected Harry Potter's name coming out of the Goblet.

Now that Draco thought about it, he had almost forgotten about Harry Potter. He scanned the room, searching for the boy who lived, until he saw movement at his side.

Harold was standing up. Cautiously, nervously, but standing nothenless.

He brushed his hair out of his face, probably a nervous tic, and for the first time, his forehead was visible. On the middle of his forehead, snaking from his hairline to the bridge of his nose, was a small scar in the shape of lighting, now exposed.

Draco's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. By the time his brain had connected the dots, Harold had already stumbled down the aisle, past the whispers and the stares, and stepped inside the chamber. Or should he say Harry.

Draco couldn't believe the fool he'd been, wondering about Potter when he had been by his side all along. If only he had just put his pride aside and asked for Harol- Harry's name. He thought back to the comment he had made about Krum and Harry being alike. Of course one of the most famous wizards alive wouldn't have wanted his fame brought up.

He wondered if it had been better that way. Being friends with Krum, Draco knew how annoyed his friend could feel with the treatment he received. People stopping in the street for autographs, the constant stares and invasion of privacy. Maybe Harry appreciated being treated as someone besides the boy who lived.

He figured he had more pressing problems to worry about now than the fact that his friend (were they friends?) was apparently one of the most famous wizards in history. Like the fact that Harry's name had been picked out of the hat, when he was underage and hadn't put his name in the first place.

He turned to ask Ron and Hermione. Hermione simply looked puzzled, while Ron looked... something else. His napkin was clenched in his hand, his fist pale, a sure indication that he was squeezing it harder than he should be.

"What happened?" Draco asked them.

"I'm... not sure." Hermione stuttered.

"Well, that's a first." Ron said through clenched teeth.

"What's the matter with you?" Hermione turned to him. "Don't tell me you're jealous. Can't you see Harry didn't want this?"

Draco decided to slink away, melting into the crowd before he got caught up in their argument.

Now he was alone.

Krum was the champion, which meant he was in the chamber along with Harry, the only person who he could count as an aquanticance. Hermione and Ron, the only other two people who knew he existed, were too wrapped up in their growing argument to acknowledge his presence. Draco quietly left the Great Hall both relieved and a bit hurt that nobody seemed to notice his absence.

He roamed the chilly halls of Hogwarts, too submerged in his own thoughts to mind where he was going. It wasn't difficult to picture Father's disappointment, as it had become a constant throughout his life. Draco was never good enough.

His father always looked down on him. When he did something right, he would find some tiny, miniscule flaw in his almost impeccable work. When Draco messed up, he would never let him forget it.

He just wanted to be good enough.

"Draco?" he heard his name being called softly.

It was Harry.

He slowly turned around to see the dark haired boy walking calmly in his direction. He tried his best to conjure a small smile, but he knew it was insincere at best, forced at worst.

"Congratulations," he wished, once Harry was close enough.

The Potter gave him a half smile, visibly uncomfortable.

"Thanks, I guess," Harry looked at his shoes.

A pause.

"You didn't put your name in the Goblet of Fire, right?" Draco dared to ask what had been on his mind since he heard the boy's name being called.

"No, I didn't," Harry looked up, and his eyes seemed full of sadness, which made Draco unhappy. It shouldn't have, considering the short amount of time he had known the other boy, but it did. "But I doubt anyone believes that."

Draco watched the boy's emerald eyes flick, this time with more than simple sadness. They were filled with turmoil, with emotions he didn't quite comprehend. But he guessed the Potter wasn't feeling that excited with his current situation.

"Well, I do." Draco said, mustering confidence the best he could.

Harry looked him in the eyes, seeming a bit surprised. "Really?" His voice was hopeful.

"I don't see a reason to not believe you, and I'm sure your friends will know you didn't put your name in the cup, along with me."

"I know that Hermione will, but I'm not quite sure about Ron."

"Why?" Draco asked, confused. From what he had observed, Ron and Harry seemed closer than Hermione and Ron. And what kind of best friend wouldn't believe him?

"Ron's always been a bit..." Harry searched for the right word, "Jealous, I guess."

They fell silent.

"I'm sorry your name wasn't called," Harry spoke up moments later. It was tinged with desperation, clearly a last-ditch attempt to keep the conversation alive.

Draco sighed and rubbed his temple, his forgotten frustration suddenly coming back.

"To be honest, I should have known better than to expect to be chosen," He uttered with crude sincerity. He saw Harry's face lightly scrunch up with his comment, and Draco bit back a smile at his adorable expression. "I just don't think I'm capable of seeing Krum's face at the moment."

"Oh..." Harry's voice died as he hesitated to finish his sentence. "You could sleep at the Gryffindor dormitory tonight."

Draco's eyes widened a bit with the invitation, his ears turning a light pink.

"If it wouldn't cause any disrupti-" Draco was interrupted.

"Of course not!" Draco was caught by surprise when the normally soft-spoken boy raised his voice. "There would be no problem with that, I mean." He said quieter.

Draco chuckled quietly, "Okay then."