Transition

When he reached the classroom, Malfoy wasn’t there. Harry shrugged and dumped his bag of goodies on one side of the table. He propped up his bag on the same side and got out his writing materials and his Potions books. A deep hoot echoed loudly in the classroom.

Hedwig glided in gracefully and perched on the back of the chair. She looked hopefully at her owner. He grinned and fished a small brown bag from his pack of goodies.

He had not been able to find her in the Owlery when the students returned from their Hogsmeade trip, but he had known somehow that she would be up here. He hadn’t forgotten to get her some treats, and he sat on the chair backwards and began to feed her. His snowy owl vibrated continuously, and when she was full, she ruffled her feathers and gave him a penetrating look. It was her sign that she wanted to be petted and Harry obliged her.

His owl was the first to notice the newcomer standing by the door. She didn’t give any indication and her owner was unaware of Hedwig’s unblinking stare. She let out a low rumble and nipped his thumb affectionately before flying up to perch on a beam, probably to nap. His heart jumped wildly in his chest when he saw Draco, half-hidden by the shadows.

“Let’s start,” the Slytherin said, and assumed a business-like demeanor.

Draco watched Harry as the Gryffindor stood up to take a breather by the window. He lifted his hand and ran his fingers through his silky hair, smoothing it back. Sometimes, it was irritating when it always got into his eyes at the worst possible moments, like when Flitwick was instructing them about a new shielding charm. He rather liked the smoothness when he touched the thin strands.

By Salazar’s own hand, Draco bit his lip. He’s so confident of himself now.

He sat back in his chair while he considered the raven-haired wizard’s profile. He had been having strange feelings; at first, he had thought they were because of Voldemort or similar unpleasantness, but as he grew up, he realized that they seemed to be centered about the Gryffindor across from him.

He sighed pensively but made sure that it was too soft for Harry to take note of. Now, he was confused. I should have fought with Snape a little bit more about being a tutor. He toyed with his quill as he mused. Or was my lack of resistance due to the prospect that I’m being paid? His eyes followed the way Harry shifted slightly on his feet and the way the Seeker leaned forward, closing his eyes and feeling the cool breeze on his face.

Draco froze. Am I … becoming enamored? With Harry? He gulped, emptied his mind and questioned his heart. Was he attracted to the Gryffindor? Yes, the small voice in the back of his mind replied.

No, it can’t be, the Slytherin denied. I hated him.

However, as much as he tried to brush it away, it was obvious that he enjoyed being in Harry’s calm presence, now that the teenager wasn’t acting rashly. And of course, the dark-haired wizardling was terribly dashing, and he, who loved and appreciated beauty, noticed it when the Gryffindor started gaining height, more muscles and more experience in the matters of magic.

Even Pansy wasn’t unaffected by his looks, Draco thought with amusement as he recalled happening to overhear her gossiping with Millicent. He stopped playing with his writing utensil and stood up to walk around the room in the hope that his actions would calm him, but he was troubled by further thoughts.

He examined his memories of their tutoring sessions for the past four weeks and was surprised with the subtle changes that had occurred. During the first week, Harry had barely uttered a few words. The second week, he was more vocal and the class was livelier in a way. By the fourth week, Draco was already seeing Harry the way he saw Blaise.

I expect that Harry will attempt to ask something private to close the gap, he thought sarcastically, then nearly bit his tongue when the other wizard spoke.

“So, how were you able to drink so much of the stuff?”

“That would be telling, Gryffindor,” he replied automatically. Just because Harry did attempt to make conversation, it did not mean he would cooperate by giving answers. He walked back to the table and sat on it, casually picking up Harry’s bag of sweets. He rummaged around until he found something that felt like licorice wand. He peeled the wrapper off and started sucking on it.

“It would have been nicer if you had asked for permission first, Draco,” Harry said with a small frown.

Draco raised an eyebrow at the gentle rebuke. “You were planning on sharing, weren’t you?” Harry nodded hesitantly. “So why waste the time asking for it?”

The Gryffindor sighed and purloined some of the treats in the bag. As Draco reached the final bit of his sweet, he wondered if Harry was aware of the meaning of his question. Close friends usually didn’t waste their time offering their share; it would be so taken for granted to share their bounty that they would simply forget to ask.

Draco groaned silently. He predicted that he would no longer have headaches when he tried to plan the tutoring classes. He knew that they would be replaced by something bigger and more tangible, and his own increasing awareness that Harry looked as if he was meant to be hugged at that particular moment.

Two hours later, the two students took another break and Draco went off in search of a bathroom. There was one just around the corner, and only a few minutes had passed before he returned to the classroom.

He found Harry looking out the window again, and, to his horror, he found himself being pulled by temptation. One moment he was standing in the doorway, the next he was right behind Harry, his arms snaking to hold the Gryffindor’s waist. Since Draco was taller than the raven-haired teenager, he was able to rest his chin on Harry’s shoulder.

He could feel the Gryffindor tense with his touch, but Harry did not push him aside. Instead, he felt Harry relax and this invited Draco to move even closer, so that every part of him was in contact with the wizard. It was strangely comforting to Draco as he held Harry in his arms, and he could not help but feel secure. The other wizard felt like an ancient, reassuring oak tree and the energy from him seeped into Draco, renewing the Slytherin’s strength.

A tentative touch to his hand brought him to his senses. He became aware that Harry was leaning back on him and was caressing his hands gently. The Gryffindor’s eyes were closed, and again Draco was overwhelmed by his personality. Then he started to feel guilty.

He reluctantly pulled away from Harry, who slowly turned to face him, an unspoken question lingering in his emerald eyes.

“I’m sorry – I didn’t mean – I acted impulsively. I’m sorry, Harry,” he said quickly and fled.

He skidded as he turned into a corner and hurried down the stairs. Stupid, stupid Slytherin! Why do you have to complicate things? he asked himself.

Harry stared at the doorway and figured that it would not solve the problem if he stood there with his mouth gaping. His hands were shaking and he quickly sat down on a chair, feeling as though he was going to collapse at any moment.

Merlin. He let out a shaky breath. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to joke about Draco. Hedwig came down from her perch and Harry held her close to his chest. Okay, don’t panic; let’s take things slow. Let’s see what happens on Wednesday.

He got to his feet and lifted his owl to perch on his shoulder, the same one where Draco had rested his chin. Then he gathered his things and walked out of the classroom almost drunkenly – his legs seemed to be wobbly. As he made his way back to the Gryffindor Tower, he wondered if it would be possible to remain in his dormitory all day long. He really felt drained.

I’m not sure how I would react if I saw my tutor at breakfast. Then he mentally shook himself. Sleep. I should get some sleep.

Three weeks later, Harry felt like a bundle of nerves as he paced in the classroom, reading his Charms textbook while on his feet. He was nervous, but not because of his peer-tutor, the Slytherin Draco Malfoy. He would be having a Charms test – both practical and theory – next week and he had the feeling that he was ill prepared for them. Occasionally, he sent a brief prayer of thanks to the heavens that Draco had been relatively quiet, and was really like his normal self for the weeks following the peculiar incident.

A noise made him swivel, and he felt immensely cheered when he saw that the silver-haired wizard was finally there, because Harry wanted their session to be postponed until after the Charms test. His heart pounded with relief, and he took great steps and reached the surprised Slytherin in mere seconds.

Harry did not know what he thought he was doing, but he had flung himself on the prefect and had pulled Draco’s head down for a deep kiss. You can not outdo a Gryffindor in terms of impulsiveness, Harry thought absently even as he savored the taste of pumpkin juice that lingered in the Slytherin’s mouth. He was grinning slightly as he let Draco sample some things he had learnt from the previous Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. He pulled away and smirked in satisfaction when the taller boy appeared dazed.

Draco pulled himself together and exclaimed, “Bloody hell, Potter! Are you mad?” The Slytherin was more surprised than scandalized and Harry thought that it was all for the good.

“Well, perhaps. Maybe not mad, Draco but I’m somewhat in the throes of…” he trailed off, tilting his head to one side, considering his shocked tutor. He cleared his throat. “I think I’m having a case of anxiety attacks,” he added mildly.

Shocked quickly transited into relief and it was Harry’s turn to be surprised.

“Oh … because of Charms?” Draco asked, a little hesitantly. Harry nodded fervently. “I see….” He looked pointedly down at graceful, tanned hands on his shoulders and Harry quickly withdrew his arms, smiling sheepishly at the Slytherin. His tutor gazed at him with an unreadable expression. “You could have told me sooner. I would have gotten my books.”

“You mean – you don’t mind not studying Potions?” Harry asked, his voice sounding dubious.

Draco snorted and drew out his wand from a side-pocket on his right leg. “I hate to admit it, Harry, but I hadn’t been paying attention during Flitwick’s lessons as I should have,” he said somberly. “I guess I am in need of a little tutoring myself.” Then Harry squirmed as the other wizard looked at him from head to toe. “Are you up to it?”

“Huh, I doubt I’m any worse than you. I’m all right with the charm work, but theory-wise…” Harry shrugged.

“All right. I’ll help you with what’s in the books, and you’ll help me with casting the spells. I’m sure you won’t have any problems instructing me, given that you had some tutoring experience before,” Draco said, a little sardonically.

So, he knew about the real purpose of the DA meetings.

Draco reached for his arm and pulled him closer gently. Harry’s body tingled with excitement as the Slytherin kissed him, without the fierceness he had been subjected to earlier.

“Deal?” the silver-haired wizard murmured softly.

If Harry could have melted, he would have. I’m supposed to be concentrating on schoolwork, not about how his arms feel around me.

“Deal,” Harry answered just as softly.

While Draco summoned his textbooks, Harry leafed through his, trying to make a decision on which charm he should start. I don’t think Ron’s going to be very happy when he gets wind of this little pact of mine.