Love Lasts

Chapter 23

Draco woke up to a whimpering by his head. He opened his eyes and found the puppy sitting right in front of him, staring him dead in the eye with his little tongue sticking out.

"What do you want?" Draco rolled over and pulled his pillow over his head. He heard a muffled whimper the felt his pillow being pawed at.

"Bloody hell, go away!" He snapped. The puppy slipped off the bed and landed with a soft thud on the floor. Draco huffed out a breath then opened his eyes.

The puppy was sitting on the floor, staring at him with his tongue still stuck out.

"What do you want?" Draco asked again, rubbing sleep from his eyes. The puppy started jumping up and down and wagging his tail.

"Hungry, are you?" Draco pulled on his slippers then shuffled out of bed, the cold air hitting his skin hard.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. So demanding, aren't you?" Draco walked over to the dog bowls and tipped his wand in a pouring movement. Two streams appeared, one pouring water and the other pouring dog food with chunks of meat in it.

"Happy now? Can I go back to sleep?" When Draco turned around, he nearly tripped over Gale. "You've got to be joking..." he muttered.

"What do you want? I plan on going back to bed. You can take care of yourself." Gale started hissing and Draco rolled his eyes and started walking. Before he had gotten far, he noticed a pattern in Gale's hisses.

hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss. hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss. "Are you telling me that it's six o'clock? Why couldn't you have just said that? I really need a new alarm clock..."

Draco hurried back to the bedroom and changed into his school robes. Right when he was pulling on his shoes, he heard the door open and soon a familiar Griffindor was pushing back the curtain. "What is it Potter?" Draco asked.

"I figured I'd stop by and see the puppy. Since I'm the one who brought him in." Draco grabbed his bag.

"Right. Good plan." When he started walking quickly to the door, Harry called him back.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" "I've got to speak with a Professor!" Draco called back. The doors slammed shut behind him.

Harry scratched the puppy's ears and threw the ball for him a few times, passing the time before Elliot showed up.

He didn't have to wait long. The house elf appeared with a crack and smiled at Harry. "Elliot is here to watch the puppy Master. Is there anything else Elliot can do for Master?" Harry shook his head.

"This is great. Thanks Elliot!" Harry grabbed his bag and hurried from the room, the puppy whimpering behind him.

***

The week seemed to pass quickly. Harry was really starting to excel in his school work and he was learning that it was actually quite fun.

During some of his breaks he started having a study ground with some Ravenclaws, a couple Hufflepuffs, and one or two Griffindors. No Slytherins showed up.

Harry was settling into a nice pace now that he was getting back to normal. Well, his new normal.

On the days he didn't have Quidditch practice, he would study or he would grab Dean or Seamus and they would practice charms in an empty classroom.

Harry was quite enjoying his classes and found them much more interesting than he had before.

What felt like all too soon the weekend was here and Harry was left with not much to do. Hogwarts had been snowed in, so no one could step foot outside. Herbology actually had to be moved to a classroom in the castle because of all the constant snow.

Harry stayed busy with studying and playing with the puppy, but he noticed that Draco was very busy and seemed to be avoiding him.

One day when Harry had shown up to the Room of Requirement and Draco hadn't been there, Harry decided to go out looking for him.

The puppy was stowed away in his bag and his Kneazle trotted at his heals. The hallways were crowded as there weren't many places to go. The dormitories and common rooms were getting full and everyone was feeling a little claustrophobic.

Harry hadn't seen Draco since that morning so he decided on checking the Great Hall first. It was busy when he walked in and the chatter of people was almost overwhelming.

Many people were playing games, talking, stacking cards, studying, reading, or snacking. Harry scanned the Hall and was relieved to see Draco at the Slytherin table by himself.

Draco didn't look up from his book as Harry sat down and barely processed that it was him speaking.

"Malfoy? Are you listening to me?" Harry shook Draco's shoulder and he finally focused a glazed stare on Harry.

"What is it Potter?" Draco asked, brushing Harry's hand away.

"What do you mean what is it? You've been avoiding me and I want to know why." Draco scoffed.

"We aren't friends, Potter. We never have been and you're kidding yourself if you think we are." Draco made to stand, but Harry pulled him back down.

"Don't try that again. We are friends, willingly or not. Learn to deal with it. Stop ghosting me and actually talk like a civilized human."

Draco stared at him. "You say we are friends, but you never do anything to show we are." Harry shrugged.

"I brought you a puppy. How is that?" Draco scoffed again.

"You brought me a puppy that you plan to get rid of. Doesn't count." Harry thought.

"I'm nice to you. You're nice to me. You helped me get healthy again. You helped me catch up on school work. Those are friendly things. For Merlin's sake just stop acting like a prick and be nicer."

Harry stood from the table and walked out of the Hall, suddenly irritated.

He walked up several flights of stairs and still kept walking when he thought he was tired.

He finally walked up to the Astronomy Tower, checked that there was no one looking, then hurried up the stairs and to the top. The brisk air was pleasant on his skin and helped clear his mind.

He unzipped the bag and the puppy hopped out, grateful for the freedom. He started running around the tower, zipping in and out of small holes and barking at passing birds. Harry worried someone might hear him but knew it was the first time the dog had been outside and he didn't want to take him back in yet.

Harry leaned over the railing and looked over the grounds. It looked like a fairytale with the frozen lake, snowy trees, and snow covered ground.

Hagrid's cabin was totally snowed in. He had been inside when the snow started and now he and Fang slept in a room in the castle.

Harry breathed in the sweet December air and felt as if his brain was clearing for the first time in a while.

Just when he was starting to think about going inside, he heard the scuff of a shoe and turned around. He was surprised to see Hermione standing there, watching him. "Harry. I wondered if I could talk to you?"