Draco Malfoy Imagines

Better

Warnings: academic rivalries, fluff, flirting, mutual pining, making out, swearing

Word count: 3.4k

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It all began in Third Year and the set up for exams; professor after professor reiterating in every class about the closeness of the exams, stressing the importance of revision. By the time the exam period was over, and your grades returned, one thing had become evidently clear: you had tied top of the year with Draco Malfoy, and something about that didn't sit right with either of you.

From there, an academic rivalry brewed. Lesson after lesson became filled with taunts that were readily returned; barbed words and tense smiles exchanged over the steam of a boiling cauldron or aged textbook.

Three years later, the advanced classes for NEWT preparation were starting to grate on you slightly; the pressure from professors and friends alike sitting like a weight on your shoulders. However, you refused to cave from it. Instead, you attempted to manage your time well when you weren't caught out by Draco or catching yourself daydreaming about him.

Snapping out of your reverie, you focus back onto Professor Slughorn who circles the classroom, talking animatedly as he describes the process of brewing a successful Wound-Cleaning Potion and the ingredients that would be needed to complete such a feat.

As Slughorn repeats the list of ingredients for the class a second time, you follow the path of his chalk on the board. Simultaneously writing them on a piece of parchment for you to refer to later should anything be forgotten. Turning to Harry, you suggest, "I'll grab the ingredients whilst you set up the cauldron?"

Harry smiles, nodding his agreement before leaving the table to grab a cauldron. You make your way towards the wall lined with ingredients; all labelled and set up in jars, ready to be used at a moment's notice if needed. A smile makes its way across your face at the sight of the neatly lined jars; they held so much power, you thought. Each ingredient here had the power to either accelerate or damage a potion that could potentially save a witch or wizard's life, and truthfully, you could understand Slughorn's love of the subject.

Spying Draco's blonde hair, your smile drops slightly, and you hasten your steps to the ingredients, your list held firm in your fingers as you start to eye the jars you would need. He had a knack for finding the best ingredients out of every jaw that only enhanced his potions; he was naturally gifted at the subject which would only benefit him should he choose to go into a profession such as Healing where his knowledge of the herbs and plants would take him far.

Draco throws you an absent smile as he spies your presence at the jars. The rivalry ran skin deep; words exchanged that could be damaging but it only spurred the both of you on. An odd sort of friendship had formed along with the rivalry; one that developed into a crush on your side.

You swore it was inevitable; the feelings you harboured for Draco Malfoy. The longer you spent competing with him over grades, the more intense your feelings became until sometimes you could barely look in his direction without feeling the need to combust.

Your hands touch as you both reach for the Valerian Sprigs and you berate yourself internally at the butterflies that erupt in your stomach at such a simple touch.

"I believe these three are mine," Draco murmurs; reaching for the jar, plucking out three sprigs.

You scoff, "Why? Are those three going to grant you the top spot of the class?"

He glares at you, but there's no real heat behind it, "Who knows? You certainly won't when I brew this potion perfectly."

You frown; eyebrows furrowing as you open your mouth to throw a retort in his face, but Draco turns, walking away from you before you can. Huffing angrily, you shove your hand into the jar of sprigs, grabbing three and storming back to your seat where Harry waits for you patiently – the cauldron having already reached boiling point.