Aftermath (Drarry)

Chapter 17: "They Had a Rough History, After All"

A/N: In this house we don't support JK Rowling.

HARRY:

"You should tell McGonagall about Cleveley," Harry told Draco as they left the kitchens, full of sandwiches and pumpkin juice. "She can help you."

"I don't need her help," Draco snapped. "That will just make everything worse. They already think I'm a coward."

They fell silent while Harry tried to think of what to say. Before he had decided, however, Draco spoke again. "Have you heard about all the attacks on pureblood families? The Ministry's trying to hush them all up."

Harry nodded. "I have. Are your family okay?"

"Yes. At least for now. I'm sure it's only a matter of time, though. There are plenty of people who aren't very happy about us not getting Azkaban time."

Harry understood why people thought that: not everyone had seen the way that, in the end, the Malfoys' true loyalty was to each other and not to Voldemort.

As they headed up the stairs, noise from the Entrance Hall gradually became audible – lunch was over. Draco stopped dead and turned to Harry. "You haven't told Weasley and Granger about our meeting in the Room of Requirement, have you?"

"No. If I had they wouldn't have left me alone in there. I think they assume it didn't survive the fire."

"Good," Draco said. He was fiddling with the sleeves of his robes. "Can we keep it a secret, please? I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself at the moment."

"Sure," Harry said. "It's not as though I was planning on holding a school-wide conference to tell everyone about my newfound friendship with a Malfoy." Draco rolled his eyes and smiled.

Harry went to continue up the stairs but stopped when he realised Draco hadn't moved. "Shall I take some shortcuts to potions?"

Draco nodded. "That would be ideal." His hands were still fidgeting and he was looking past Harry and up the stairs. "Thank you."

"No problem," Harry said, turning and heading up the stairs again. "See you later."

Harry could see why Draco didn't want people to know they were spending time together. As far as he could tell, most of the school just ignored Draco and Harry couldn't blame him for wanting it to stay that way. He was glad they were friends now, but he knew it would take a while before things started to be less awkward between them. They had a rough history, after all.

Ron and Hermione were already waiting outside potions when Harry arrived. They were holding hands and stood a little away from the other early-arrivers.

"Where the hell have you been?" Ron demanded as Harry reached them. "Did Bladderwort keep you all lunch?"

"Well, she kept me for a bit and then I went to the kitchens for a quick lunch. Said hello to Kreacher, too."

"What did she want to talk to you about?" Hermione asked. Was it something that will benefit your career because I definitely think having someone like her on your side will be a huge asset?"

"Blimey, Hermione, calm down," Ron said. "It's way too early for all this career talk. It's not even November yet."

Hermione pursed her lips. "It's never too early to think about your future, Ron."

"For you, maybe," he said. "But I just want to enjoy our last year at school and worry about all that stuff later."

As they were talking, Harry saw Draco arrive and join his friends. His eyes met Harry's quickly before he looked away. Harry watched him out of the corner of his eye, taking in his elaborate hand gestures as he spoke to his friends – presumably telling them some lie about where he'd been all of lunch. When Harry brought his attention back to Ron and Hermione, Hermione was talking about one of the books on wizarding law she had read and Ron seemed to be listening appreciatively.