As the Ice Thaws

After...that...

Harry's POV:

Since the...incident, Draco kept his distance.He didn't go near Harry or even say anything. Harry only told Ron and Hermione what happened. It was crazy, but he figured it didn't need to be school gossip.

One day after Christmas break had ended, Harry was walking in the corridors and heard two voices arguing. Him being the nosy person that he was, pressed his ear up against the door & listened. He heard two familiar voices on the other side.

"What are you going to do?Just because Potter hasn't said anything yet doesn't mean he won't!" It was Pansy Parkinson's voice.

"Don't you think I know that?I'm trying to deal with it!" Harry gave a small gasp when he heard Draco's voice shouting in turn.

"By doing what?! You haven't talked to him at all!" Pansy yelled at him.

"Of course I haven't talked to him! What would I say? Sorry I kissed you but I like you? Oh, and you hate me but please don't tell my Father or he'll take his anger out on me?"

"Even that would be better than risking him telling the whole school!" Pansy said exasperatedly.

"I can't, Pansy!" Draco said. His voice sounded tired.

"If your father beats the shit out of you, and we all know he will if he finds out, it'll be on you because you couldn't get a grip enough to tell Potter to keep his mouth shut!"

"Pansy! I've tried going near him and he just tends to walk faster. I can't go near him enough to whisper without him probably screaming his bloody head off! I can't just walk up to him!" Pansy groaned.

"This is why you were supposed to obliviate him! We wouldn't even be in this position if you had done it!"

Draco sighed. "I-I messed up! I-" "You're damn right you messed up! You couldn't be in more trouble Draco. When your father finds out, there's nothing we can do. That's why you need to do this now, talk to him now, before your father finds out." Draco was quiet for a moment.

"I'll try and talk to him again. But you know that it's an equal risk if I do, right?"

"I know it's a risk. But a way smaller one than just hoping for the best. When has hoping ever worked out for you?" "Shut it Pansy." Pansy gave a small chuckle.

Harry pulled away from the door and ran. He didn't even know where he was going but he ran. He finally stopped in an empty classroom. He slid down the wall and held his head in his hands.

What do I do? I didn't want to tell anyone but now I know that I can't or else Malfoy might get hurt. Not might. Will. Why do I care about Malfoy? He's a horrible person. But a horrible person with a more horrible life. He doesn't deserve to be hurt. He wants to talk to me.I don't want to talk to him. I don't even want to be near him. But I know he has to. He can't know that I heard. I wish I hadn't heard...

After a while, Harry got up, brushed off his trousers, and left the classroom. As soon as he walked out, he ran into Ron. Literally.

"What the hell was-oh. Harry. What's wrong? You're white as a sheet." Harry caught his reflection in the window and saw that Ron was right.

"Oh. Nothing. I just got up to fast." Ron raised an eyebrow. "Okay...what were you doing in there?"

Harry started fiddling with his hands nervously.

"Er...looking for a quill. Yeah. Looking for a quill. I lost one around here the other day and thought it might have ended up in there." Ron seemed to think for a moment then let the matter go.

"It's time for lunch. Want to come with me?" Harry sighed in relief. "Sure."

During the entire walk back to the Great Hall, Harry's head was reeling from what he had just heard.