I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Draco tried with all he had to not let such a stupid bitch fight get to his head, but he couldn't help it. Every time he passed Harry in the hallway, he fought the urge to pull him to the side and apologize. It took all he had to not turn to him in Potions and simply ask how he was doing, or what it was he had wanted to talk about that day.

Finally, Draco decided to say something to Harry. He walked all over the castle the next day looking for him, but no one had seen him. Draco decided to give up on his search and, instead, retreated to the library. As soon as he sat down, however, he felt someone tap him on his shoulder. He turned around and, to his great surprise, he saw Harry standing just inches from him.

"What is it, Potter?" Draco sneered. His own words came out as a surprise to even him...All he had intended to say was 'hello'.

"You've been avoiding me." Harry said simply.

"So? Why does it make any difference to you?"

"Well, it doesn't really. I was just wondering why you've stopped being such an obnoxious bitch lately."

Draco turned back to his book, and laughed. "Missed me, have you?"

He was shocked to hear Harry laugh. The greatest surprise, however, came when Harry joined him at his table. "Yeah, I guess I have. It's just different not having to defend myself every time I come around a corner. Everything's changed so much since..."

Draco shut his book and finished the sentence for him "The third task."

"Well, yeah. I mean, everything was so...normal...before that. Well, normal for me anyway. Now everyone treats me like a damn porcelain doll. They seem to think that the smallest amount of abnormality might break me. It's just funny...None of them seem to realize the change they've all forced on me is the thing that bothers me the most."

Draco wasn't sure why Harry was telling him (of all people) all of this, but he was enjoying it. He wasn't quite sure what to say. He knew he had been acting different toward Harry for some time now, but the trauma he had been through was only part of the reason.

"Well, Harry...I guess it's just because of Diggory. Everyone knows you blame his death on yourself, and we're all afraid to approach you. It's been nearly two years since it all happened. I guess everyone was expecting you to get over it a lot quicker after all that's happened to you before this. Even Cho Chang was half expecting you to ask her out, though I'm really not sure if she actually wanted you to."

"She didn't. I know she expected it after some time passed, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, you know? Not many people believe it, but she really did love him. It's hard to lose someone you love...I know I could never compare to Diggory as far as she's concerned, so why would I even try?"

Harry sighed, and Draco knew that the conversation was (as far as Harry was concerned) over. They looked at each other, and smiled. Draco tried to register what could be going through Harry's head, but it was almost impossible to read him sometimes. Though he knew he really shouldn't say anything else, Draco cleared his throat and looked meaningfully at Harry.

"What you did was really brave you know."

Harry laughed and shook his head. "Bravery. Such a load of bullshit."

Harry scooted his chair back, and said goodbye to Draco. And as Draco watched him walk away, he couldn't help feeling that he had just accomplished something he wouldn't have dreamed of even attempting a year ago.