Obsession is Bliss

    Obsession: a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety; a persistant disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling. An attraction, compulsion, consumption, craze, fetish, passion, crush. That sounded about right. There was nothing else to explain it, really. He had to accept it someday, and why wait until he was so deep down into this craze, that he'd end up going insane? At least now he knew what was wrong with him. He had an obsession. An unwanted obsession, one in which he had no idea existed until the beginning of this year.

    This wasn't a normal obsession, if you could call any of them normal. It wasn't the run-of-the-mill type, where you were obsessed with watching television, or eating without rest, or where you were sure that you were in love with a celebrity, and that they'd soon fall in love with you. No, it wasn't that, it was-- wait, a celebrity? That did sound dreadfully familiar. Maybe this was a run-of-the-mill obsession? After all, Harry James Potter was certainly considered a celebrity among all of the students here at Hogwarts. In fact, the entire wizarding world knew about the scarred boy and his great feat of surviving Voldemort.

    Ha. That was interesting. Draco Malfoy was obsessed with Harry James Potter; in love with a celebrity. How nice.

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    Classes had started off the same as any other year. He pleased the professors; he recieved good marks. He finished all his work, managed to stay a step behind the smartest witch in the school; Hermione Granger, and finally managed to land on McGonagall's good side. Snape, it seemed, favored him over all the others still, and he was rather thankful for that advantage. However, that didn't seem to make much of a difference; he was fantastic in Potions anyway. So what was there to worry about? He would pass sixth year as easily as he could slice a knife through butter. Except... there was one small problem.

    His fixation with Harry bloody Potter.

    It was Double Potions at the moment, and he was lucky enough to have this class with the Gryffindors, like usual. Right after breakfast too; when he felt like he would burst from all the food he had decided to eat. Not that he normally ate this much; he had just been especially hungry this certain morning. Or, maybe it had been because he was trying to get the horrible taste of Pansy out of his mouth? It wasn't often that she jumped on him, absolutely desperate for any human contact that deemed possible at the time. He growled, just thinking of last night. He even took the time to glance to the side of him, where she was sitting in a desk next to Blaise, looking pouty about something. An icy glare was sent her way, and she pouted even more before he turned back to concentrate his gaze on Snape.

    Yes, Snape was the same as every other year too. His greasy black hair, his long nose, his pale features, his obvious dislike for everyone who wasn't in his house. It was the good days again. If only the bloody git would treat Harry better. If he was correct in his assuming, he would swear that the professor had some sort of unbeknownst grudge on Harry, which seemed to mean more than the boy just being a celebrity. Maybe Snape needed to sort out some of his inner problems.

    Speaking of Harry, Draco thought, he's looking awfully good today. Well, as good as he looks every day. That'll never change. Right now, his eyes were focused on the back of the room, where Harry was chatting idly with his two Gryffindor pals, Granger and Weasley. He could just smack those smug and happy looks from their faces. It was supposed to be him who was making Harry smile like that. Why the hell was he smiling in Potions class anyway? Wasn't that prohibited by the Professor himself?

    "Mr. Malfoy, if you could turn your attention back to the lesson, please? Or is there something more interesting than the workings of a Truth Serum?" Draco turned around quickly to see the long nosed Professor standing over him, his dark eyes narrowed into slits. He knew that the man spotted him sneaking a glance towards the back of the class. "Perhaps we should use you as an example to the effects of a Truth Serum? I'm sure the class would love to know what's more important than paying attention in class."

    Had he gone mad? Draco thought that he was favored in Snape's eyes; he was supposed to be able to get away with things. "No, it's alright Professor. I'm listening now." His hands were brought to rest in front of him, lying on the desk, and his eyes snapped back to the front of the room. He could sense that Harry's grin had grown wider. If only the Gryffindor knew that he was the cause of Draco's lack of attention.

    Snape's lips formed into a thin line as he marched back to the front of the room to continue the lecture about the Truth Serum. They were to begin this potion brewing sometime during this period, and Draco honestly wasn't in the mood today. Especially now. He was only just scolded by his favorite Head of House, and Harry was back there laughing at him. A Truth Serum didn't matter when these things were being worried over. Sighing inwardly, he tried his best to keep his attention on the lecture. It was quite difficult when he could still sense the lingering smile on Harry's face behind him, and so he distracted himself from his thoughts by tapping his thin fingers against the desk. Silently, of course.

    "Now, as this Potion will take up the time of the next ten Potion classes, I'll be assigning you homework each Friday, so that you'll have plenty to do over the weekend. If it is not completed, you will recieve a lower grade on the final product of your serum, as well as getting points taken off for your inability to finish homework in the proper amount of time." Snape glanced around the classroom, eyeing the few students he was inclined to see fail and lose points. Those small few being Weasley, Longbottom, and hopefully Potter. However, it was only hope on Harry's behalf. His black eyes went back to observing the entire class. "I will be assigning partners, and I assure you that if any misbehavior disrupts the class, there will be more points taken." Walking smoothly, or maybe it was more like greasily, Snape retrieved a piece of parchment from his desk to read off the names of the lucky pairs.

    There was no doubting that there were going to be some unhappy Slytherins and Gryffindors this period.

    "Parkinson and Weasley."

    There was an obvious groan from across the room, and he couldn't tell if it was Weasley or Pansy. It could've been a combination. Draco stole a look backwards to see that Harry was giving his best mate a sympathetic look, and Granger was looking quite... jealous. He smirked to himself.

    "Zabini and Longbottom."

    "Goyle and Brown."

    "Nott and Patil."

    "Crabbe and Finnigan."

    The rest of the names being called were blocked from his mind. He'd only listen for his own name, and possibly Harry's. He was desperate to find out who the Gryffindor would be paired with, seeing as Snape was pairing up Slytherins and Gryffindors. Maybe it'd be him? Or maybe it'd be Bulstrode? Ugh, he hated to think of that. At the current moment, he was smirking at Pansy from where she had joined the disgruntled redhead.

    "Bulstrode and Thomas..."

    "Malfoy and Potter..."

    "Larson and Granger..."

    Wait, had he heard correctly? Was his luck really starting to earn up to it's rightful place?! He was paired with Potter! Harry bloody Potter! If he had been out of his right mind, he would've jumped into the air with absolute joy. The only thing stopping him was the other Slytherins watching him carefully, the Gryffindors doing the same, and Snape keeping a watchful eye. Oh, and there was his own reputation of keeping sane. Draco looked over at the Professor to make sure he was correct in his hearing, and was pleased to see the usual smug smirk on Snape's face; the one that was loving the idea of torturing Harry by putting him with Draco. After all, it was only a legend of how Malfoy and Potter were blood enemies.

    Resisting the urge to grin like a madman, he looked back at Potter and saw the obvious frown of displeasure on his face. As much as it hurt to see it; it still didn't dampen his mood. How could he expect Potter to be ecstatic about being paired with him for the next ten Potions classes?

    Right. Okay, I can certainly do this. Standing next to Potter for long periods of time and being able to talk to him throughout that time should be easy. As long as I can keep my hands off him, and try not to say anything that would throw him off guard. Yes, this is possible. Act normal.

    Draco was a bit paranoid over this whole affair; he was probably overreacting about something so simple, but he couldn't help it. Thankfully, his skills at hiding emotions and acting like his git self would cover up for any other feeling. Scowling, he stood up from his desk, his chair scraping across the floor loudly, and started making his way over to Potter as if he'd rather scrub the dungeon floors than be with him. Behind him, Snape looked cheerful.

    "Potter." He greeted the boy flatly as he sat down in the empty seat next to the Gryffindor. Harry, if anything, looked ready to kill himself. His head was slumped in one propped elbow, looking at Draco with so much hatred that it was almost contagious.

    "Malfoy," he responded dully, his bright emerald eyes not so bright anymore. Draco knew that Harry was cursing Snape to no end inside of that mind of his. Well, at least Snape was getting what he wanted. So was Draco.

    "I suppose we should stop staring at eachother and get to collecting those ingredients. The procedure is written on the board, if you hadn't noticed yet." Draco eyed him carefully, making sure to keep up the hateful stare. Couldn't have Harry becoming curious, could he?

    "Of course. Go collect them, then."

    "I'm sure that I can do more use than collecting ingredients. I'll be the one working on the Potion, after all. You probably don't know the difference between slicing and crushing." Draco smirked. Harry looked bored.

    "I know how to do much more than what your stupid friends know how to do. So you go get the ingredients for once in your life. Or shall I summon a house elf to do it for us?" Draco laughed derisively, his hands clasped on the desk in front of him, keeping his grey eyes on Harry.

    "You are the house elf, Potter. Now go."

    There was a frustrated sigh before Harry stood up; so suddenly that the chair bounced backwards and made Draco jump. Before he could shoot back some sort of snide remark, Harry was already marching towards the supply cabinet, where everyone else had already gathered their parts. On his way back, the Gryffindor was careful to let everything drop onto the desk in front of Draco's hands. He scowled, dropping roughly back into his seat, his eyes angry. "There, are you happy? I thought that maybe you'd come over here, acting a bit decent as it seems we'll be working together for a while, but I guess I was just getting my hopes up. Did you want me to serve you the correct amounts of ingredients on a platter, your majesty?"

    Draco was surprised at first. He didn't expect Harry to react like this. He always acted sarcastic and quite bossy around Harry; the boy couldn't be getting tired of him, could he? Instead of shooting insults, Harry sounded exasperated that he even had to speak to the Slytherin. It was the exasperation of someone who was tired of being treated the way he was, tired of needing to respond in defense every time he was in Draco's presence, and someone who really hated the person they happened to be paired with. Draco's heart sank, but he kept up his habitual Malfoy attitude anyway.

    "Since you asked, would you be as kind to do so?" His eyes glittered dangerously, his guilt of having to act this way turned into anger that only had to do with the way Harry was treating him; as if he had something better to do.

    "No, I wouldn't," Harry snapped.

    "Do you have something against me, Potter?" His tone was delightful sarcasm.

    "Only anything and everything that has to do with you."

    "Ouch, that hurt. My feelings have been shattered by your cruelty."

    Harry's head whipped around to glare at him. Strangely enough, they had both taken a part of the ingredients Harry had gathered, and were starting to slice and dice accordingly. Neither of them had noticed. Now they were merely talking to eachother as they did the job.

    "I'm going to shatter your face if you keep up that fucking sarcasm."

    That's a first. The Boy-Who-Lived just said fuck? I'm learning new things every day.

    And so, Draco dropped the sarcasm, and only delighted in the fact that he was standing next to Harry without needing an excuse. They stopped talking for a while, knowing that if they started arguing about the Potion again, they'd get a bad grade from Snape. Well, Harry would, in any case.

    God, even though Harry hated him, could Potions class get any better?