Harry Potter - Fanfiction

Year 1 - Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

In the weeks that pass, the homework starts piling up from the teachers due to the upcoming exams. I am spending most of my time up in the Astronomy tower to get peace and quiet while studying.

One particular Sunday afternoon, I am up there studying Defence Against the Dark Arts when I hear a light set of footsteps coming up the stairs. I wait a moment intensely watching the door.

As it opens, I see Draco step through. Pausing slightly in his tracks. "Oh, hello."

Without answering I return my gaze to my book; I thought I told him not to invade this space of mine. Draco walks over and sits down beside me, leaning over to look at the book I'm reading. He then notices the study schedule lying at my feet.

He speaks softly, "glad I'm not the only one who has started studying."

I glance up slightly. "Hmm..." I notice his eyes on my study schedule. "Oh, it's my sister. She really loves drawing up study schedules for the exams, so I let her do mine as well."

I re-adjust my sitting position and move my book up slightly, causing a piece of paper to fall out from the front, landing in front of Draco.

He picks it up looking at the Thestral that I have sketched. Within a matter of seconds, the Thestral begins to move and fly around on the page. He jumps slightly. "That's amazing!"

I look over to see what he is holding, realizing that it is my drawing, I snatch it back. My chest tightening slightly, I nervously place a lock of hair behind my ear. "It's nothing."

"What do you mean it's nothing. Your drawing is really cool!" Draco's breath catches in his throat. "Err..."

Was that a compliment instead of an insult for a change?

Some awkwardness begins to creep up between us, probably due to the fact that that is the nicest thing he has said to me since we began school. I begin to hear my own unsettling heartbeat, so I try change the subject to avoid the awkward air. "How come you're here? I thought I told you to leave this space alone and you promised."

Draco stumbles slightly, "err... well... I just figured..."

"Figured what?" I ask a little annoyed.

"Well... It was nice. Up here. The last time... I liked it," he says nervously.

My eyes widen a little. Liked it in what way I wander. Liked it as in sitting with me making small talk, or liked it as in the view, or just having someone near that didn't actually just be there because it's him? 

"Uhm... I think we should just continue with our studies," I say avoiding his gaze. Changing the subject did not help rid the awkwardness. 

"Right, yeah. My father will kill me if I slack academically," responds Draco as he rubs the back of his neck.

I didn't realize until now that he didn't bring any study material with him, so I hesitantly scooch over to him and share my notes with him.

A week has passed since that awkward encounter with Draco up in the Astronomy Tower. We continued studying after our conversation, although I could barely hear myself think against my blood that was rushing loudly through my ears.

I don't understand why it became so awkward, usually it's always just a bunch of snarky remarks between us and then we go on our own merry way. Don't get me wrong, I hate the snarky personality that he shows to everyone, but there have only been a few rare occasions where we were surprisingly nice to each other, as though we've completely forgotten that we sit on two opposite ends of the table.