C̤̈ḧ̤ä̤n̤̈g̤̈ï̤n̤̈g̤̈ p̤̈ë̤r̤̈s̤̈p̤̈ë̤c̤̈ẗ̤ï̤v̤̈ë̤s̤̈~D̤̈r̤̈ä̤r̤̈r̤̈ÿ̤

Chapter 3~

Harry was not liking today, Everyone seemed to be more appreciative of him now that it was his birthday, wherever he went there was someone there wanting to give him a present, he politely told them to put in his dormitory and kept walking to his classes, he used to wish someone would care about his birthday but now he didn't, it was too much attention for him so when lunch came, he gladly went to the Library, it has now been a week since he saw Malfoy, Harry guessed the guy didn't know how to respond to their last conversation not that he cared that much but he sort of missed the bloke's company.

The library was disserted as it was every day he came, nice and peaceful like Harry liked it, he even picked out a book to read, he was glad to have avoided everyone, that was until he saw a figure approaching him, He looked up to see Malfoy,

"Shouldn't you be enjoying your Birthday?" Malfoy asked, Harry shook his head as he set his book down,

"I don't like the attention, I mean I used to hope and dream someone would care I was born but now, I like the quiet," Harry shrugged, "Never thought I'd say that,"

"Did your muggle family treat you that badly?" Malfoy somewhat whispered as he sat across from him tentatively,

"They kept me under a cupboard, They could care less about me and the day I was born, If it were up to them, I wouldn't have been born," Harry shook his head,

"Does the school know of this?" Harry could see that Malfoy's fists were clenched,

"Well, My approval letter said 'To the cupboard under the stairs, I'm guessing they don't care," Harry told him, "But the good thing is that most times the Weasley's kidnap me and feed me and make sure I'm not starved," Harry gave a weak smile,

"Where does the Muggles live? I want to hex them." Malfoy gritted his teeth, Harry chuckled,

"Don't waste your time, Ron tried five times but I stopped him, I mean yeah, I want them to pay and all but they are family," Harry explained but Malfoy just looked more pissed,

"Potter, They starved and neglected you, they are lucky all I want to do is hex them," Malfoy shook his head,

"Gee, Who knew you'd be so invested in my troubles," Harry chuckled, "It's fine, Malfoy, It's in the past, I'm over it,"

"Bullshit, That shit will be eating at you forever," Malfoy shook his head,

"It will, But I'm not going to hurt them, How will that make me any better?" Harry asked, "It will change nothing about how I feel about how they treated me,"

Malfoy sat there saying nothing, Harry sighed as he opened his book, letting Malfoy collect his thoughts or whatever he was doing, Harry saw Malfoy going into his bag, Harry set his book back down and looked at what Malfoy was doing,

"I know you have dozens of gifts already but, I have something you can actually use," Malfoy placed a bottle of sorts on the table and slid it over to him, Harry lifted it, "It's a dreamless potion, So you can sleep with no nightmares,"

Harry looked at the potion bottle and smiled, "Well, Thanks Malfoy, I appreciate this, This is the nicest thing you've done for me, Nice," Harry glanced up to Malfoy who was scratching the back of his head,

"Don't lose your head, Potter, It's nothing, You look like shit since you have been back, I'm just doing Hogwarts a favour," Malfoy scoffed, Harry shook his head at Malfoy's attempt to avoid that he was being nice,

"Oh, Whatever, Malfoy," Harry shrugged, "But still, Thanks, Ron has been questioning me all week, I swear he is soon going to spell me to sleep,"

"Are the dreams that bad?" Malfoy asked, Harry shrugged,

"I just don't want Ron worried, I don't trust myself not to have a nightmare," Harry explained, "Also, I'm assuming you have been making these for yourself?" Harry gestured to the potion, Malfoy shook his head,

"Nope, Unlike you, I deserve to relive the war," Malfoy had his gaze down, "I have done terrible things, I want to suffer through it,"

"No one deserves it, You were forced, Malfoy, It isn't entirely on you," Harry shook his head, "You deserve sleep, Don't listen to what others say,"

Malfoy seemed speechless as he stared wide-eyed at him, "It's impossible not to listen, Potter, No matter where I go, People love to remind me that I am a death eater and that I am a disgrace to Hogwarts,"

Harry stayed silent for a moment, he felt bad that Malfoy was getting a hard time since the war ended,

"Tell em' to screw off, And continue to come here during lunch, People love to avoid this place," Harry told him, "Not many people like to read," Harry told Malfoy who chuckled,

"I guess that is true," Malfoy snickered, "How about we go to the bar for your birthday?" Malfoy asked and Harry met his eyes, "I doubt you have ever been to one, Today is the perfect opportunity,"

"Who would have thought you would be offering to go to a bar with me?" Harry teased, "But, Yeah, Let's go," Harry agreed as they got up to leave to the common area of the library.

~

As they walked through the corridor Harry could see everyone's eyes on him all because he was beside Malfoy and no one expected it, Harry did his best to avoid the prying eyes but noticed that his friends were coming towards them,

"Harry!" Hermione yelled after him and Harry reluctantly stopped in his tracks he could see that Malfoy had tensed,

"Oh, Hey Hermione," Harry waved, "Hey Ron," Harry said to Ron, They both looked confused,

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked, "We were all going to find you and celebrate your Birthday," Hermione explained,

"Yeah mate," Ron told him, "What are you doing here with a ferret?" Ron finally acknowledged Malfoy's presence,

"Ron," Harry shook his head, "Don't call him that, We are busy, I'll make it up to you guys, promise," Harry smiled,

"You haven't spoken to us barely since we have been back and now you are suddenly disappearing with Malfoy?" Hermione shook her head, "What is going on with you?" She looked worried,

"Nothing is going on," Harry told them, "It shouldn't matter who I hang out with, We are not in first-quarter anymore, time to let grudges go," Harry explained and Ron scoffed, "We have to go, See you guys," Harry waved as he grabbed Malfoys wrist and went out of Hogwarts.