"Time to visit an old friend at last, Severus. Lucius leaned lazily on the sofa with a happy look in his eyes." How about a glass of red wine?”
Snape pushed away the cup he had offered and said impatiently,"All right, Lucius, I didn't come here for a drink.”
Looking at his serious expression, Lucius put down his glass." Well then, tell me, what made you abandon that pile of potions and come to me?”
Snape glanced at Draco, who was sitting quietly on the sofa, and motioned him out.
"Don't worry, I'm going to let him learn Occlumency this summer.”Lucius waved his hand." By the way, you're an expert in this area. Do you mind guiding him?”
Snape looked disapproving."I don't think he could have mastered such advanced magic at his age.”
Lucius raised his eyebrows and smiled." We learned it when we were his age."”
Snape frowned. He was about to retort that it was because things were different during the war, but he suddenly remembered his purpose for coming. He sighed slightly and reluctantly agreed.”
Lucius's expression grew serious."So, what brings you here today?”
"You must have heard a lot of rumors, right?”asked Snape.
Lucius nodded and said with a fake smile,""Yes, great savior Harry? Potter, once again defeated the Dark Lord and saved the world.”
Snape smiled bitterly." Lucius, he's still alive.”
"I know," Lucius said indifferently.”
Snape looked at him hesitantly." Then your position..."
"I told you," said Lucius calmly,"that if he hadn't returned, the Malfoys would have remained neutral between the Order and the Death Eaters and tried to control the Ministry. If he returns, I will continue to follow him for the safety of Narcissa and Draco.”
Draco shuddered slightly.
Snape's eyes were pained.”
Lucius sighed."Seaver, I know you-Dumbledore wouldn't trust a Slytherin so easily-"
"I don't need his trust." Snape stared at his hand in a daze. In front of his only reliable friend, he finally took off his cold mask and revealed a painful expression that had been suppressed for a long time." I just want to atone for my sins..."
Draco raised an eyebrow on the sofa and said nothing.
Lucius had a hint of pity in his eyes." Perhaps you can tell me about that. I've heard several different versions of the rumors, but I still haven't figured out which one is true.”
Snape breathed out, calming down."It was just a trap-Dumbledore got it from Nicole? Flamel had borrowed a half-completed Sorcerer's Stone, sent word that the Dark Lord had been lured to Hogwarts, and asked all the professors to set up checkpoints to protect the Stone.”
Lucius smiled faintly." That old lunatic. Isn't he afraid of shooting himself in the foot?"”
" His goal was not the Dark Lord, but to lure Potter to discover the truth step by step, until he finally confronted the man to protect the broken stone," Snape sneered." In fact, if he hadn't stood by and watched, the Dark Lord would have died at Hogwarts. Would you believe it? Dumbledore had gone to so much trouble, not even killing the Dark Lord, just to build up the courage of an eleven-year-old!”
Draco gasped, his hands unconsciously clenching on the armrests of the sofa. Lucius's stunned expression flashed. After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled." I think I know why.”
Draco and Snape were both staring at him.
Lucius rapped on the table."I vaguely heard that man mention Horcruxes before.”
The two people in front of him did not react to what he wanted to say at first. Lucius waited patiently for a few seconds, only to see their faces suddenly turn pale and their eyes filled with fear.
"Are you saying-" said Snape with difficulty, feeling terribly cold-"that Dumbledore didn't kill the Dark Lord because he knew he had made Horcruxes and that killing him now would be pointless?!”
"Obviously." Lucius sighed." Otherwise, why would he let go of such a good opportunity? If the Dark Lord died, the boy's courage would not matter. To tell you the truth, I admire Dumbledore for being able to find out about something that happened so many years ago-I don't know how many laws he broke to get this information.”
Draco asked, his voice trembling slightly."But, Father, what does this have to do with-Potter?”
Lucius gave him a bland look."The Order needs a hero, I think, Harry? Potter's their mascot, I suppose..."and he laughed to himself." See, the Boy Who Lived's got a lot of popularity again, hasn't he?”
Draco's eyes darkened.
Snape shook his head."Dumbledore has high hopes for Potter, you know, the prophecy"-his face twisted-"we don't know the whole story.”
"Unless the second half of that damned prophecy explicitly states that Potter is the only one who can kill the Dark Lord," said Lucius disapprovingly,"what's a child worth-" He paused, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Both Snape and Draco's faces changed.
――――――――――――――――――
In the large manor, a small boy holding a rabbit, innocently stuffing steak into its mouth, his mother summoning the house-elf, throwing him a few carrots, and then continuing to sit on the sofa in a daze... The first time he saw his father, the boy was sent flying all over the room by his Levitation Charm, giggling happily... On his fifth birthday, the family of three drank Polyjuice Potion, changed into strange clothes, and went to the Muggle amusement park...
“?！”
Draco fell to his knees, his knees stinging.
Snape shook his head."I told you, clear your mind and try to resist the invasion. Right now, your brain is like an unguarded room. Anyone can enter.”
Draco wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tried not to think about anything.”
Snape stared into his eyes, and he felt the room vanish, and familiar images reappear before his eyes.
He saw himself gnashing his teeth and casting the Cruciatus Curse on a few white mice, seeing them twitch and roll on the ground, and running to the side to vomit... Being severely reprimanded for not meeting the standards set by his father during the day, hiding in bed and crying secretly... Practicing the curse under his father's guidance, he was knocked down again and again...
Snape picked him up from the ground again. Occlumency is still too much for you at your age, Lucius and I will-"
Draco pursed his lips and shook off his hand stubbornly." I can do it.”
Snape let go of his hand and said, slightly appreciatively,"Alright then. We'll continue tomorrow.”
"Godfather," Draco said wearily, sitting on the sofa and rubbing his head that looked as if it had been cut open,"what if-and I mean what if-I didn't learn it this summer?”
Snape glanced at him."Lucius won't punish you for this.”
"I mean," said Draco hesitantly,"what I've heard-"
Snape sneered." You don't have to worry about that. Do you think it'll be troublesome to cast a 'Forget All' spell?”
Make him forget?
Forget what Harry was about to face?!
Draco sprang to his feet.”
Snape frowned at him."Your condition..."
"I'm fine," interrupted Draco quickly."Just clearing my mind of anything?" Godfather, let's try again."
Snape shook his head at his eagerness and stood in front of him.
Draco faced the black eyes and tried to clear his mind.
The room warped, and another image appeared before him, of him receiving his admission notice and directing Dobby to pack a large bundle of luggage.... He had seen Harry for the first time in Madam Malkin's robes shop in Diagon Alley...
No! This was the only thing that could not be done!
With a sudden jolt of strength, Draco jerked back.
"Not bad this time," said Snape, raising an eyebrow in surprise."But your enemy won't give you time to prepare. Alright, you mustn't practice anymore today, or your brain won't be able to take it.”
Draco rose to his feet, pale and slightly relieved to see that Snape's expression was normal.
――――――――――――――――――
Draco called out from the corridor,"Pansy, what do you think of Lockhart's lessons?”
said Pansy sweetly,"I think Professor Lockhart is so handsome... he's done so many great things, he's a brave man.”
"Brave? Is it stupid?" Draco looked around and snickered at her."I heard him telling someone else yesterday that Peeves was so annoying that he was going to kick him out of school when he had the chance.”
"Really?" Pansy gasped, covering her mouth dramatically."Doesn't he fear Peeves 'revenge?”
"He said that he has already dealt with countless ghosts that only know how to cause trouble.”said Draco scornfully."He must be bluffing, I suppose.”
Pansy said anxiously,"I hope Peeves doesn't hear about this, or the Professor'll be in trouble.”
A pearl-white, translucent object flew past their heads, and they smiled at each other.
"I say, Draco," Pansy whispered in his ear,"are you angry that he's upset someone with his nonsense, or that he wants to talk to someone alone?"”
Draco's face turned slightly red, and he glared at her before leaving with a cold snort.
" You're still so cute…" Pan Xi chuckled behind him.
――――――――――――――――――
In the Slytherin Quidditch locker room, Flint was tugging at Pucey's collar and cursing. You know, Gryffindor made the first move today. As long as the dean is here, it won't be a problem to deduct a few hundred points from them…"
The other team members only looked at Pusey coldly, without any intention of persuading him. Slytherin had really lost miserably this time, letting those stupid lions watch a joke for nothing.
Draco listened absentmindedly, his spirits sinking.
He'd only wanted to play Quidditch with Harry, how could this have happened? When the word "Mudblood" came out of his mouth, he clearly saw that Harry's eyes had turned cold, and there was no longer the gentle tolerance that he had seen when he had quarreled with Weasley.
Draco felt wronged. He didn't mean to say that. Who told that mud…Miss Know-it-all to slander him in public? Though he had indeed gotten into the team on a broomstick his father had given him, he was as good as Harry, and Quidditch was his favorite sport!
" Flint," said Draco lazily. The noise in his ears made him even more annoyed." It's already like this. It's useless to scold him. Don't delay our dinner because of this."”
"The rest of you can dismiss. Pusey, stay behind to clean up the locker room.”Flint glared at Pucey again and left the locker room.
Pusey's face was still a little pale. He stood where he was and muttered softly,"It's that Potter's fault for protecting him," His tone was filled with hatred and a trace of fear.
Draco narrowed his eyes. Seeing that everyone else had left, he frowned and asked,"What's wrong with you today? He's actually so impulsive."
Pucey said gloomily,"Who told that Mudblood to laugh so arrogantly? I just wanted to teach him a lesson. It won't be a big problem. And Harry? Potter-"He paused, looking as though he did not know where to begin.
Draco rested his chin on his hand and asked casually,"What happened to him?"
Pusey looked at him and said with a puzzled expression,"" I don't know. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. He looked at me when he knocked my wand away. I felt-" He trembled and his face turned a little pale again." It felt terrible. It was like seeing the Bloody Baron. I felt cold all over.”
"Perhaps your eyes are playing tricks on you.”said Draco quietly, his eyes downcast.
" Yeah, that Potter is famous for his good temper…" Pusey scratched his head and turned around to clean up the mess that the others had deliberately thrown around.
Suddenly, a clear voice came from behind him,"
"Forget everything!"
――――――――――――――――――
Although Draco reacted quickly, he was still somewhat suspicious of Pucey's words. After all these days, he hadn't seen what was so scary about Harry at all.
Look, that stinky kid called Colin followed him every day, and he still smiled and greeted that stinky kid again and again. Everyone in Gryffindor knew that if they had any questions they didn't understand, they could ask Harry and he would answer them patiently, never impatiently. The Squib cat was petrified, and Harry was the only one who, despite his past, ran up to comfort him, only to be taken away by Dumbledore. Rumor had it that he and Granger had even set up a Defense Society to help those Gryffindor idiots learn Defense Against the Dark Arts, and had spent so much time preparing materials that Madam Pince in the library had praised them several times.
Well, my Harry is a good boy. That Pucey must be seeing things.
But Harry's been so cold to him lately... he's not even smiling in his eyes...
"Draco," Pansy told him, trying not to laugh,"when you're done with your daydreaming, remember to drop by the dean's office.”
Draco looked around the deserted common room and asked curiously,"It's so late already? You want me to go over?"
"Yes, Uncle Lucius was there.”said Pansy.
Could it be because of the incident at Valentine's Day?
Thinking of the strange atmosphere in Hogwarts, especially in Slytherin, Draco immediately stood up and left in a hurry.
――――――――――――――――――
"Draco, has anyone been behaving strangely in the House these days?”said Snape, frowning.
Draco shook his head. Although everyone was very excited about the secret chamber, no one acted abnormally.”He looked at Snape with some surprise."Godfather, you suspect our House did it? I can guarantee that no one will be absent on Valentine's Day. Everyone will be in the dining hall.”
"I know." Snape's face was still a little dark."Have you ever seen a black diary with anyone?”
A black diary?
"No, I haven't."
Draco glanced at his father and saw a rare look of embarrassment on his face.
Lucius cleared his throat."I say, Severus, that diary might not have been the Dark Lord's Horcrux.”
Draco's eyes widened, and he cried out in alarm. You gave the Dark Lord's Horcrux to Weasley?!”
This…this was too exaggerated, right?
Draco suddenly felt helpless. How could his wise and mighty father make such a terrible mistake?
Lucius coughed violently." Well... Severus..."
Snape looked at him coldly."You'd be stupid enough to set someone up with something like that, and you'd take Draco with you?”
Lucius's innocent face made Draco roll his eyes." That diary was indeed given to me by the Dark Lord, but after so many years, I have never found anything wrong with it. I just think Dumbledore's going to find out sooner or later that it's in Weasley's hands, and he might be able to figure something out.”
Snape snorted."I suppose you're feeling uneasy with that thing? This was great. The girl had never seen the diary before, and no one knew which idiot had it. How could there be such a coincidence? The moment the item was thrown away, the secret chamber was opened.”
"Why do you think the opening of the Chamber has something to do with the Dark Lord?”interrupted Draco, puzzled.
Lucius said,"It was the Dark Lord who opened the Chamber fifty years ago, and a student died.”
Snape looked at him mockingly."So your brain still remembers something. Why didn't you just destroy the diary?”
said Lucius helplessly." If I could destroy it, I would have destroyed it long ago. Do you think I want to keep it like this in fear? Besides, who would have thought it could be a Horcrux? With that person's personality, how could he be at ease to leave such an important thing to someone else for safekeeping?”
Draco said hesitantly,"Unless, he did more than one?”
The office was silent for a moment because of his speculation. Snape said wearily,"Alright, stop guessing. Lucius, think about what I'm going to tell Dumbledore.”
"Just say it." At the mention of the old fox, Lucius's face darkened and he said indifferently,"Malfoy used a magical item left behind by the Dark Lord to frame Weasley, and it disappeared." Said you accidentally learned this news from me and suspected it had something to do with the Chamber of Secrets.”
Draco looked left and right, and suddenly felt that his father and godfather were living very hard lives. She sighed at the thought that she had just been distressed by Harry's indifference to her.
――――――――――――――――――
"Godfather, who put the curse on the Bludger?”Draco frowned and said hatefully," This is simply framing our team!”
said Snape coolly."We don't know yet. McGonagall thinks it was the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets.”
"That person hasn't been found yet?" Draco looked at him disappointedly.
Snape frowned."Not yet. There were absentees, latecomers, and early leavers on the day, and it was difficult to check the list without alerting the students. Moreover, the portraits near the scene of the accident had been confounded, so no one knew who did it.”
Draco lowered his head to hide the worry in his eyes.
――――――――――――――――――
"Malfoy, I heard you signed your name on the list?”
"Master Malfoy, if you don't want to go back to those boring banquets, you can come to my house to relax.”
"Draco, you're really not going back for Christmas? Did you break up with your parents?”
……
Annoying!
Who said Slytherin students were elegant and calm? When it came to gossip, it was not inferior to the Gryffindors at all.
"Draco..." Pansy ran up to him in a drawling voice."I heard..."
"Yes, yes. I plan to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Does Miss Buffett have any objections?”said Draco, looking bored.
"No," said Pansy, blinking."Didn't you read the notice? The school is starting a Dueling Club, and we Slytherins are in it with Gryffindor. Honey, you have to work hard…"
It was indeed good to have the opportunity to spend more time with Harry, but Draco began to feel depressed again when he saw Gryffindor and the others making eyes at each other. He did not even have the interest to look at a certain idiot who was stupid enough to challenge the Godfather's patience and fell in front of him.
That damned peacock had made him and Harry fight like clowns?
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry dodged his attack quickly, spun around, and threw a Disarming Charm at him as well.
"Expelliarmus!"
Draco felt a pain in his right hand, and his wand flew away.
Although it was just a simple incantation, it felt nothing special even when he practiced it with his father. Harry... his magic was strong, and he had controlled it perfectly...
Looking at his empty right hand, Draco suddenly began to question his previous decision. That boy not only had an enviable talent, but he was also quite diligent and studious. Even if he had learned this knowledge a few years earlier than him, he would still be able to catch up quickly, right? Harry? Potter, did he really need protection?
Looking up in confusion, Harry was summoning his wand back with a familiar Summoning Charm and tossing it to him.
Draco felt a sudden surge of anger at Harry's nonchalant look.
He knew nothing! No matter what you did for him, he would only have eyes for those barbaric and foolish Gryffindors. He would never spare you a second glance. What are you still hoping for? She doesn't need you at all!
He raised his wand and cast a spell without thinking.
"Black Dragon Comes Out of the Cave!"
Draco felt a chill run down his spine as he faced the cold gaze.
It turned out that Pusey really wasn't lying…
He pursed his lips and glared back stubbornly. Her hands, however, were trembling in her sleeves, and she could barely hold her wand.
Harry, who had finished off the black snake with ease to the cheers of the crowd, turned around with an innocent look on his face.
"Professor, Malfoy attacked me with Dark Magic.”
Black magic…attack…
Realizing what he had just done, Draco's face slowly turned white. Even when Snape took him into his office, he still felt cold, as if he were alone in a cold ice field.
He's screwed up all the same, Harry, must hate him even more now?
――――――――――――――――――
Snape swept into the office like a tornado, threw Draco onto the sofa, and angrily hurled a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace.
"Lucius? Malfoy, get your ass over here!"
Gritting his teeth, he paced up and down the office."Very well, it seems your brain has been assimilated by those stupid Gryffindors, and you dare to use Dark Magic against Harry in front of all these people at Hogwarts?" Potter? What do we usually tell you? In school, you just have to perform slightly better than your peers. You…"
He stopped and looked at the boy who was curled up on the sofa and trembling slightly. He could not help but soften his tone." Draco, what are you thinking? Why are you so impulsive?”
"I like him."
A thin, weak voice rang out in the office, the gloom and despair in it causing Snape's eyes to widen.
This was the first time he had shown such a shocked expression in his life. He asked with some uncertainty,"What…what did you just say?"
"I like Harry," Draco raised his head, his eyes empty, and a bitter smile hung on his lips." Godfather, what should I do? I like him…"
Even being struck by lightning was not enough to describe Snape's current mood. He stood rooted to the ground for a long time before asking bitterly,"Then why did you…"
Draco looked a little amused."I just can't accept it... What have those Gryffindors done for him besides giving him trouble? He smiled at them, tutored them, and made snacks for them…I studied so hard, hoping that one day when he was in danger, I could be by his side to protect him, but he always treated me so casually, never giving me a second look…"
Snape sat down next to him, put his arm around him, and said quietly,"It's impossible for you guys. You'd better give up.”
Draco sobbed against his chest."But I really... I like it, what can I do..."
Lucius, who had just stepped out of the fireplace, petrified magnificently.
――――――――――――――――――
"So, you've taken a fancy to that Potter?”Lucius elegantly leaned back on the sofa. After listening to Draco's stuttering explanation, his calm face no longer showed the shocked expression of losing his composure.
"Yes." Draco's head hung low, his stomach contracting in nervousness, and he felt as if something was about to come out of his throat.
He had never hated his own powerlessness more than he did now. If his father had insisted, if he had simply transferred him, if a Memory Charm had made him forget everything about Harry...
"Who else knows?"
"Well, Pansy," said Draco, after a moment's hesitation, remembering Dumbledore's inquisitive eyes when they met outside the infirmary at the end of the term."Dumbledore probably guessed something.”
Lucius and Snape exchanged a look, their faces tinged with slight annoyance, and they frowned in thought.
Draco felt his heart beating faster and faster, and the silence in the office almost suffocated him.
"Draco, I once told you-"
Lucius slowly stood up and walked to him. He clenched his fists and raised his head with a determined expression. He looked into a pair of indifferent grayish-blue eyes.
"If you want something, go and fight for it.”Lucius looked at his son who suddenly widened his eyes and snorted." I won't object, and I will never help. You deal with it yourself. But don't forget your identity, Draco. If you do anything shocking for this, I don't mind helping you solve this problem."”
Draco breathed a sigh of relief and bowed his head obediently."Yes, Father."
Looking at the figure walking towards the fireplace, he lowered his eyes apologetically.
There were some things that he had never thought of before, or subconsciously did not want to think about. The Malfoys had maintained a dangerous balance between the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters all these years. Was he going to destroy it all because of him?
It was late when they returned to the common room, and Pansy was sitting drowsily by the fireplace waiting for him when Draco pushed her.”
"Draco?" Pan Xi rubbed his eyes." Are you alright?”
Draco sat down beside her, closed his eyes, and said wearily,"I'm fine."
Pan Xi looked at his tear-stained robe and said hesitantly,""You…the dean knows?"
"Yes, my father knows about it too.”Draco leaned back heavily on the sofa and smiled wryly."He said he wouldn't interfere.”
Pansy was silent for a moment, then sighed."You had a good father, Draco.”
That's why I feel even more guilty.
Although he didn't say it, Pan Xi still sensed it. She patted his shoulder and whispered,""There's nothing wrong with liking someone. Whether you choose to give up or persist, I'll support you.”
" Pan Xi..." Draco leaned over weakly, and a smile that was uglier than crying appeared on his face." Thank you..."
――――――――――――――――――
Draco stood in front of the window, staring blankly in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.
Harry had not been in the dining room all winter except for the Christmas party. According to Madam Pince, he had borrowed a lot of books and would only go to the library to return them.
Those damned Gryffindors, how could they leave Harry at school for the holidays when they knew he had nowhere else to go?! The thought of Harry sitting alone in the Gryffindor common room, reading a book with no one to talk to, filled him with pain and irritation.
There were soft footsteps behind him, and he looked back, surprised to see Harry slowly approaching.
"Potter, what brings you out of your nest today?”
Harry looked well, though a little thin. Why hadn't the house-elves fattened him up a bit in all his time at Hogwarts?
"I'm going to the library. Why are you here alone? Where's Crabbe and Goyle?"
" They're in the lounge-" This was the first time they had such a casual conversation. Draco answered him, suddenly uneasy."Why-why do you ask?”
Remembering Harry's icy expression during the duel, he subconsciously reached into his pocket with his right hand, only to find that he had not brought his wand with him.
Harry had obviously noticed this as well, and his gentle smile had gone cold.
"What do you think? He had used the 'Black Dragon Comes Out of the Cave' very well last time! How about you teach me?"
Draco looked at the boy in front of him in disbelief. Even though he knew that he was not as gentle and harmless as he usually appeared, he never thought that one day, he would expose his cold side to deal with him.
"When did Gryffindor become so ungentlemanly, attacking people when they don't have their wands?”
"Why should I talk about manners with someone like you who sneaked up on me from behind?”
The cold and disdainful tone made him involuntarily take a few steps back. As he watched Harry approach, toying with his wand, he suddenly felt that all of this was absurdly ridiculous.
Look, this is the man you've been trying so hard to protect. In his eyes, you're nothing but a despicable Slytherin, an eyesore.
That's good too. She should have given up long ago, shouldn't she? He clearly knew that it was impossible, but he still had to persist?
"Alright, I won't play with you anymore. I still have to return the book.”
What was that?
Draco watched blankly as he put away his wand and walked around him down the stairs, his shoulders shrugging as though he were smirking.
With a sudden relief, and a sudden, indescribable irritation, Draco caught up with Harry and, tugging at his sleeve, bellowed," You…You tricked me?!"
"I'm showing off our Gryffindor grace!”
"But…but you just…"
Draco's hands trembled uncontrollably. He recalled his state of mind that was close to despair just now. His eyes were hot, and he felt wronged and angry in his heart. He wished he could pick this hateful guy up and beat him up.
"Didn't you scare me once? Now we're even. But you're really timid. Do you think I'll dare to kill you in school? "Scared like that..." Harry wrenched his hand away, shaking his head and rambling on, as if they were on good terms and had just been making a harmless joke.
"You…"
Draco left in a fit of rage, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at Harry's distant mutterings of discontent.
Harry? Potter! You idiot!
――――――――――――――――――
The overt hinting, the coquettish coquettishness, finally persuaded the godfather to agree to be in the same group as Harry in class. It seemed that there were benefits to exposing the matter…
Draco looked at Harry, who was stirring the potion seriously, and glanced at the miserable Gryffindors with a hint of complacency.
Although the peacock had been sent to the infirmary for the extra dinner, the godfather was still in a bad mood. Poor little teardrop. What could he and that Weasley do without Harry's help? He was really looking forward to it…
Quietly cutting the daisy roots, he looked up from time to time across the desk. Harry's large green eyes were staring at the crucible, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he looked very serious. When he reached out and took the materials that he had cut, he did not have to check them again like when he was with the little teardrop. Instead, he poured them directly into the crucible. Draco couldn't help but smile proudly. Pansy winked at him from the side with a mischievous smile on his lips. He blushed slightly and turned his attention back to the cauldron.
With their tacit cooperation, today's homework was successfully handed to Snape.
"Very well, ten points for Slytherin.”
Draco looked nervously at Snape. Harry had done most of the work on the bottle of Enhancer, and if it was just for his own House, would Harry...
Snape gave him a cold look and dragged his voice reluctantly."Gryffindor-ten points.”
Godfather! I really love you to death!
Draco cheered inwardly, pleased to see Harry giggling with his hand over his mouth, his green eyes beaming with delight.
She really hoped that he could continue to be happy like this.
Harry looked around and saw him, his smile suddenly fading and his brow furrowing slightly.
Draco's heart sank, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. For a moment, he felt dizzy.
"What happened to your hand?" A voice of concern rang in his ear, and Draco's heart still palpitated as Harry dragged him out of the classroom.
He had thought that Harry really hated him and didn't want to see him at all, but it turned out that it was only because he had been poisoned.
Hmm? Poisoned?
Draco's eyes flashed strangely at Harry's worried expression.
――――――――――――――――――
"Darling, are you okay?" Pan Xi sat down beside the bed and looked at him sadly." I was so worried.”
Draco shook off the goosebumps on his body and gave a fake smile."Thank you for your concern, Pansy,"
Madam Pomfrey said kindly,"Malfoy needs his rest, Parkinson, don't stay too long.”
"Yes, Madam."
After the door was closed, Pan Xi looked at him with a teasing expression." How do you feel?”
"Not bad, Madam Pomfrey says she'll be discharged tomorrow.”Draco smiled brightly.
"Why are you pretending?" Pan Xi glanced at him." I heard that you were carried into the infirmary by someone-"
Draco's pale face was stained with two thin blushes. He coughed and turned his face away in embarrassment." I... I was poisoned. I couldn't stand properly..."
"Oh-" Pansy looked enlightened."So you can't stand properly-"
"Pansy!"
Pan Xi smiled and stood up." Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Since you're fine, I'll leave first.”
She suddenly leaned closer and whispered ambiguously into his ear," Enjoy the aftertaste…"
"Get lost!" Draco threw the pillow at her angrily, and she jumped away, giggling.
Draco recalled the pillow, leaned back against the bed, and closed his eyes, as though he heard Harry whisper in his ear again,
"Alright, just one bite, be good-"
He sank his head into the pillow to hide his reddening face, feeling as cheerful as a broomstick.
――――――――――――――――――
"Lovegood opened the Chamber of Secrets?”Draco found it incredible that the eccentric Ravenclaw could pass off as the Heir of Slytherin.
Snape snorted."Yeah, hiding the Ravenclaw crown, that stupid girl almost had her soul devoured.”
Draco hesitated for a moment, and finally could not help but ask,"Godfather, did the headmaster say that the crown might-"
"Dumbledore said it was just a powerful Dark object.”said Snape coldly, his eyes full of undisguised sarcasm."You think that old fox would tell anyone about the Horcrux so easily?”
Draco said nothing more when he saw his gloomy face.
Remembering the thoughtful look in Harry's eyes when he had looked at the girl in the ward, he was slightly dazed.
Had Harry known something before? Also, he seemed to have changed into a different person these few days. He felt indescribably strange.
He laughed and shook his head. If even Gryffindor, who was with him every day, did not notice anything wrong, then he had been too worried recently.
The only regret was that they were going to have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next year. Thinking of the curse described in the newspaper, he could not help but feel glad that his godfather had never successfully applied for this position.
――――――――――――――――――
Back at Malfoy Manor over the summer, neither Draco nor Lucius mentioned Harry again. Draco hesitated for a long time, knowing what his father had talked to Dumbledore about before the holidays, but he gave up the idea of asking.
Reading books, doing homework, practicing spells, doing agility training, concocting potions... all his time was packed, and he was busier than he was at Hogwarts.
Occasionally, when he rested, he would think of the one and only time he had had close contact with Harry. He pressed his long fingers on his shoulder, his warm breath blowing into his ear, and gently advised him to drink the medicine.
He knew that the boy was sometimes hopelessly soft-hearted. He just wanted to use some small tricks to close the distance between the two of them, but because of this scene, he did not dare to talk to Harry.
He would never admit that he was shy. Damn it, he had long thrown that emotion into the trash can.
Draco grimaced, telling himself solemnly that he was playing hard to get-and if one did not look at his blushing cheeks, it would have been quite believable.
The bad news that came one after another disrupted his good mood.
Black had escaped-though Father doubted the truth, the guy had come for Hogwarts anyway. Almost all the parents of the students were strongly opposed to the Ministry of Magic's decision to send dementors to guard Hogwarts, but the decision was passed in the end. Because of the attitude of the godfather, his father remained silent about it. Draco could only rejoice that he had learned the Patronus Charm in advance.
Most surprising of all, Harry had gotten into trouble because of his magic. Draco's heart ached so much that he could hardly say anything after reading the report of the team that had reversed the accident. Did that boy with a quiet smile and a gentle demeanor really grow up in such an environment? His childhood could be said to be beautiful in comparison.
It turned out that the rumors back then were not exaggerated. The thought that all Harry had been getting from his only kin was unfeeling abuse and censure made him feel a real urge to practice Death Curses on Muggles.
Draco grew more and more anxious as the start of the term drew nearer.
Had Harry heard from anyone else that his parents had been killed because of the betrayal of his friends? There were many people who knew about this, though no one had ever mentioned it to Harry before, but would they tell him about Black's escape?
Although he knew that Harry would find out the truth sooner or later, he still hoped that it would be a little later. She really didn't want to see hatred in those beautiful green eyes. She didn't want that boy to put himself in danger for revenge.
Draco frowned deeply, the parchment in his hand crumpled into a ball.
——
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