002 Middles - Support
Title: Support
Characters/Pairing: Harry/Draco
Prompt: 002 Middles
Word Count: 988
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Disregards HBP
Author's Notes: Links to all parts can be found here at my slashfic40 prompt table index.
Coming away from breakfast, Harry made his way towards the lake. It was one of his favourite places to go when he wanted to be alone and to think. The warmth of the sun made it all the more inviting and he wanted to lie down at the water’s edge and relax for a while. Finding a comfy spot on the ground, he spread out on his back, hands behind his head.
His talk with Draco had gone better than expected. Harry had been fully prepared for the other man to shun him and tell him that all of the animosity they had shared over the years had been his fault. After all, Harry had been the one to turn down a possible friendship between them, not the other way around. The fact that Draco was so welcoming before he had even said what he wanted to talk about was a surprise in itself.
Thinking about it, Harry realised that everyone had grown up within the past year. Even people such as Lavender who had always seemed insufferably silly and had been walking around with their head in the clouds had been brought sharply down to earth by the events that led up to the final battle and the end of the war. Making peace with those who fought on his own side was something that he should have done earlier, but thankfully he had not left it too late. Harry had meant what he said; he really did want to get to know Draco and even become friends with him. He had seen another side to the man recently, a side that had not been present during the days when they gave in to childish taunts and baited each other. The blond was intelligent and witty and more grounded than a lot of people he knew. Harry only hoped that Draco was as willing to get to know him as he was to get to know Draco.
***
It was almost afternoon by the time that Harry returned to the castle. It might be near to the end of the year, but he still had a lot of work to do. Of course, some staff gave them more than others. Nobody was surprised that Snape was working them harder than ever. He had complained about people who ‘rested on their laurels’ and was constantly springing surprise tests on them.
Harry was slightly shocked to realise that he didn’t begrudge the man any more. Again, he realised that he had matured a lot. Whilst he would probably never pass more than civilities with him, he knew what vital and dangerous work he had done for their side. The Potions Master was definitely entitled to his bitter attitude at times.
As he made his way back to his room, Harry wondered what was going to happen. He had made a toast with Draco to new beginnings, but in reality it felt as if they were in the middle of things. Yes, the war had come to an end, as was his time in Scotland, but it was not a true closing to that chapter of his life. He would constantly be using his education and his experience as he continued to live his life in the outside world. Things were simply progressing.
“How did it go?” Hermione asked as he walked into the common room.
He gave her a smile. Harry had not told her what he was going to do but, as always, she seemed to know everything that was going on. “It went well,” he told her. “Draco actually heard me out and didn’t refuse to listen to me. I apologised to him and we agreed to start afresh.”
It was Hermione’s turn to smile. “That’s great!” She enthused. “It’s nice to hear the two of you on first name terms for a change.”
“Yeah.”
“So?” she prodded.
“What?”
“Are you going to try to get to know him better?”
“I hope so,” Harry told her. “I told him that I’d like to get to know him, and maybe even to become friends with him. All this time I thought I knew exactly who he was, but seeing him during the past year … I realised that I didn’t know him at all. I want to get to know the real Draco, not the mask that he had put on for so long.”
She nodded her understanding. “You know that we’ll support you all the way.”
“Support what?” Ron asked as he came down the stairs, yawning widely.
Hermione rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t be tired if you hadn’t refused to go to bed at a decent hour.” Ron pulled a face at her. “Harry has made peace with Draco Malfoy. He wants to get to know him better. I said that we’d support him all the way.”
Ron nodded, giving Harry his second surprise of the day. When they were younger, it was often Ron who instigated his fights with Draco and he had expected more than quiet submission from the red head. “You’re alright with this?” he questioned.
Ron gave him a funny look. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m pretty sure that everyone is over the past. None of us hate each other, and he seems to be a pretty decent guy from where I’m standing.”
Harry was completely floored, but nodded. “Um, thanks then.”
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m going to the library,” she told them. “Are you coming?”
“No,” Harry told her. “I think I’ll stay here for a while.”
She nodded and led Ron out of the common room. Harry couldn’t help but smile. He knew that Ron would want nothing more than to go to the Great Hall to get something to eat, but Hermione really did have him wrapped around her little finger. Shaking his head, he mounted the stairs to his room, mind filled with thoughts for the future.
Next part
Comments are always welcome!
Characters/Pairing: Harry/Draco
Prompt: 002 Middles
Word Count: 988
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Disregards HBP
Author's Notes: Links to all parts can be found here at my slashfic40 prompt table index.
Coming away from breakfast, Harry made his way towards the lake. It was one of his favourite places to go when he wanted to be alone and to think. The warmth of the sun made it all the more inviting and he wanted to lie down at the water’s edge and relax for a while. Finding a comfy spot on the ground, he spread out on his back, hands behind his head.
His talk with Draco had gone better than expected. Harry had been fully prepared for the other man to shun him and tell him that all of the animosity they had shared over the years had been his fault. After all, Harry had been the one to turn down a possible friendship between them, not the other way around. The fact that Draco was so welcoming before he had even said what he wanted to talk about was a surprise in itself.
Thinking about it, Harry realised that everyone had grown up within the past year. Even people such as Lavender who had always seemed insufferably silly and had been walking around with their head in the clouds had been brought sharply down to earth by the events that led up to the final battle and the end of the war. Making peace with those who fought on his own side was something that he should have done earlier, but thankfully he had not left it too late. Harry had meant what he said; he really did want to get to know Draco and even become friends with him. He had seen another side to the man recently, a side that had not been present during the days when they gave in to childish taunts and baited each other. The blond was intelligent and witty and more grounded than a lot of people he knew. Harry only hoped that Draco was as willing to get to know him as he was to get to know Draco.
***
It was almost afternoon by the time that Harry returned to the castle. It might be near to the end of the year, but he still had a lot of work to do. Of course, some staff gave them more than others. Nobody was surprised that Snape was working them harder than ever. He had complained about people who ‘rested on their laurels’ and was constantly springing surprise tests on them.
Harry was slightly shocked to realise that he didn’t begrudge the man any more. Again, he realised that he had matured a lot. Whilst he would probably never pass more than civilities with him, he knew what vital and dangerous work he had done for their side. The Potions Master was definitely entitled to his bitter attitude at times.
As he made his way back to his room, Harry wondered what was going to happen. He had made a toast with Draco to new beginnings, but in reality it felt as if they were in the middle of things. Yes, the war had come to an end, as was his time in Scotland, but it was not a true closing to that chapter of his life. He would constantly be using his education and his experience as he continued to live his life in the outside world. Things were simply progressing.
“How did it go?” Hermione asked as he walked into the common room.
He gave her a smile. Harry had not told her what he was going to do but, as always, she seemed to know everything that was going on. “It went well,” he told her. “Draco actually heard me out and didn’t refuse to listen to me. I apologised to him and we agreed to start afresh.”
It was Hermione’s turn to smile. “That’s great!” She enthused. “It’s nice to hear the two of you on first name terms for a change.”
“Yeah.”
“So?” she prodded.
“What?”
“Are you going to try to get to know him better?”
“I hope so,” Harry told her. “I told him that I’d like to get to know him, and maybe even to become friends with him. All this time I thought I knew exactly who he was, but seeing him during the past year … I realised that I didn’t know him at all. I want to get to know the real Draco, not the mask that he had put on for so long.”
She nodded her understanding. “You know that we’ll support you all the way.”
“Support what?” Ron asked as he came down the stairs, yawning widely.
Hermione rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t be tired if you hadn’t refused to go to bed at a decent hour.” Ron pulled a face at her. “Harry has made peace with Draco Malfoy. He wants to get to know him better. I said that we’d support him all the way.”
Ron nodded, giving Harry his second surprise of the day. When they were younger, it was often Ron who instigated his fights with Draco and he had expected more than quiet submission from the red head. “You’re alright with this?” he questioned.
Ron gave him a funny look. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m pretty sure that everyone is over the past. None of us hate each other, and he seems to be a pretty decent guy from where I’m standing.”
Harry was completely floored, but nodded. “Um, thanks then.”
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m going to the library,” she told them. “Are you coming?”
“No,” Harry told her. “I think I’ll stay here for a while.”
She nodded and led Ron out of the common room. Harry couldn’t help but smile. He knew that Ron would want nothing more than to go to the Great Hall to get something to eat, but Hermione really did have him wrapped around her little finger. Shaking his head, he mounted the stairs to his room, mind filled with thoughts for the future.
Next part
Comments are always welcome!