Transition

Harry sneezed as he walked down the stairs and nodded a greeting at Susan Bones, who smiled and waved at him. The Entrance Hall was crowded with students, and cheerful murmurs and episodes of laughter filled the area. Harry slowed his pace to enjoy the contrast; it hadn’t been that long ago when the Entrance Hall was filled with screams of pain. He shook his musings aside and listened closely to the chattering of the students of the four Houses. Soon it became clear to him why they all appeared excited and restless: they would be visiting Hogsmeade tomorrow.

Is it confirmed? Harry’s face lit up with hopefulness. It would be great to see something else other than books or castle walls!

“Good flying, Harry,” said a voice from behind him. He turned around to see who it was and smiled when he recognized the witch.

“Hey, Luna,” he acknowledged and hugged her. She in turn stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Didn’t know that you were watching us practice. Did Hermione drag you along?” Harry heard some hushed whispers and he smiled faintly. Few knew that he and Luna had dated before. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work out too well for them so they parted ways, but became rather close friends after that.

She smiled. “You know her too well. I was bored though, and I’d rather watch Quidditch than figure out how else you can improve the Wolfsbane Potion.” The Ravenclaw made a face. “There are times I wish Hermione could Polyjuice into me and deal with Snape’s essay.”

“You’d better not be caught by Snape and if you are listening to Hermione’s ramblings, just make sure whatever you write down doesn’t sound like her,” he warned her quickly. “Snape took twenty points from me at the very first essay he gave us this year when he noticed there was something very Hermione-ish about the work I handed in.” Then he smiled inwardly. Now, with his double coaching from Hermione and Draco, he had managed to answer Snape’s latest essay without being too dependent on his brilliant friend.

“Huh.” Luna looked at him shrewdly. “You know, I half-expected him to unbend some, but I guess that was just too much to hope for.”

“Well, at least he never pretended to be anything else but a very thorough Potions Master,” Harry replied as they both entered the Great Hall, only to notice that Draco Malfoy was blocking their way.

“You go ahead,” he said to the witch in an undertone. “I think he wants to see me.”

“What on earth for?” she asked in surprise. Harry shook his head, giving her a look that said he would tell her about it later.

The raven-haired wizard slowly walked up to Draco. There was something unnerving about the way the Slytherin looked at him, now that he had stopped sneering at Harry whenever they crossed paths.

“Yes?” Harry finally spoke, not looking at his tutor but rather at the tiny knot of Gryffindors watching them.

“We’re going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. Do you still want to go for the tutoring session or would you rather have it some other day?” the Slytherin asked.

Harry’s eyes widened at Draco’s politeness. The silver-eyed teenager appeared to have taken note of his reaction and smiled faintly. Is he in a good mood or something? Harry thought in puzzlement.

“We’ll be back by sundown. I don’t see why I should not go for tutoring unless you think you’d be tired after the outing?” Harry replied.

Draco gave him a rather intense look and nodded. Harry made a move to go, but then the Slytherin took a step forward, scowling at him. Evidently, he hadn’t finished what he wanted to say.

“Now that our sessions are on par with Snape’s lessons, we’ll be doing a little revision on the things he taught last month. Light stuff. I don’t think I can handle anything heavily mental tomorrow.”

“All right. See you tomorrow then.”

“I’ll see you at Rosmerta’s,” Draco said softly.

Harry pivoted and looked sharply at the Slytherin’s back, wondering if he had misheard Draco’s words. Then he gave a visible shrug and joined his friends at the table. He bore their inquisitive gazes quite well but he did not like the look Remus gave him, all the way from the teachers’ table. Bloody hell. Even Snape looks suspicious.

He looked at his friends and wondered how he should explain about the encounter with Draco when Hermione took the initiative away from him.

“Harry, we have all noticed that you’re meeting up with Malfoy after school hours. Actually, I saw you going up to the Ravenclaw tower once, but the portraits gossiped.” She looked demandingly at him. Ron was scowling darkly, both at Harry and at the Slytherins.

Ah. Might as well blurt out the truth. He squared his shoulders and with his most serious expression, he answered, “Draco and I are going out together. I think we were planning on some heavy-duty experiments when you saw us.”

He pressed his lips firmly together to keep himself from laughing at their reactions. Damn, but I don’t think I’ve seen Ginny so stunned before. “I was joking. Snape appointed him as my tutor for Potions,” he said in a choking voice.

Hermione was the first one to recover. “That certainly explains your notes,” she said with approval.

“Hermione!” Ron protested. “It’s Malfoy we’re talking about here!”

“Seriously, Ron. I couldn’t care less if he is Voldemort himself. Draco knows potions, and who better to help Harry? Being Harry’s friend, I thought you’d be happy that he is working hard for the NEWTs,” she said hotly.

“He has you!”

Before the squabbling could get out of hand, Neville stepped in almost diffidently. “Ron, I think you’re fighting a battle in which you are bound to lose. It was Snape’s decision after all.”

“Come on, you two. Kiss and make up! We’re going to Hogsmeade tomorrow and I’d rather all of us be happy,” Ginny said.

“Okay. Okay.” Ron threw up his hands in defeat.