Paper Cranes || Drarry

7. The Nargle Inspection

Harry was sometimes a downright idiot, but in his defence, it sometimes couldn't be helped. Which was why, when Malfoy confronted him in the hallway the next morning, Harry backed him up against the wall and began what would become an unstoppable, downhill race.

"What are you intentions, cornering me by myself in a dark hallway?" Harry asked, watching Malfoy through his lashes.

Malfoy continued to step back until his back hit the stone wall, hands scrabbling for purchase.

"You were saying something about getting me back?" Harry said.

Malfoy simply stared down at him, eyes wide and cheeks a full blown red. If Harry was being honest, he didn't know what he was doing, and his intentions in the beginning were innocent, except that Malfoy hadn't been hindered by a small grin like he was usually. So, Harry had found himself upping the dose.

"Malfoy..." He crooned, not receiving an answer.

"Po-Potter," he stuttered. Harry made sure to tilt his head attentively. "You keep getting away."

The question was why Malfoy was so insistent upon getting revenge. It wasn't like he had actually done anything at the lake other than defend himself.

"That was Brosnya's fault," Harry said.

Malfoy straightened his back and glared. "You had a part in dirtying my robes. Don't think being saved by some monster in the lake makes you so much better than the rest of us."

Malfoy's outrage seemed to have pulled him out of his flustered state and back into his pompous and pureblood self.

"You're the one that provoked us!"

"I was the one provoked by your barbaric splashing in the lake!" Malfoy snarled, shoving Harry and pushing himself off of the wall. Harry could feel the itch of a fight under his skin, thrumming with anticipation. He had to get this situation under control before it escalated, ruining his progress.

"Look, Malfoy," he said, leaning into his space, "I'm glad we were able to settle this, but I have to get to Ron and Hermione before they start worrying about me."

He turned on his heel attempting a hasty get away, but his shoe dug into a crack in the stone floor, dragging him to the ground. In an attempt to catch himself, Harry grappled for something- anything to stop his plummet towards the stone. Unfortunately, that object ended up being Malfoy's arm.

Caught off guard, Malfoy went down with Harry, ending up in a heap together on the floor. Harry's elbow and side ached, having absorbed the shock of his fall, but that was the least of his problems.

Malfoy was draped over his side, hissing in pain.

"What the hell, Potter?"

Guilty, Harry bit his lip and tried not to let his mind wander to the warmth of Malfoy's body in contrast to the cold floor, how his smell was surprisingly pleasant. He tried not to move, unsure of what to do.

Malfoy shifted above him, and Harry also moved in an effort to untangle himself from this situation sooner, but only ended up knocking his arm into Malfoy's, causing him to fall back into Harry with a yelp.

Harry could feel his face beginning to heat at the prolonged proximity. The compromising position of being under Malfoy's weight was beginning to be too much, and in their slight scuffle, he had ended up on his back with Malfoy looming over him.

They locked eyes for a moment, air thick with tension. Harry had no idea how he had even gotten himself here, under Malfoy in such an awkward position, and was unable to do anything but stare.