A/N: For anyone curious, the scene in The Order of the Phoenix where Harry beats up Draco is not in the movies, but it is in chapter 19, pages 412-414. Draco is throwing insults after a Quidditch match and being an ass to the Weasleys, as usual. Personally, I think he was targeting Ron, Fred, and George specifically because he knew it would anger Harry the most, and it does; Harry throws the first punch. Harry and Draco are both 15 at the time. To say the least:
Movie Draco>Book Draco.
Harry had not expected Malfoy to walk in the same direction as he made his way to Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid that Friday. He jeered at Malfoy, "You think we're going to the same class?"
Draco responded tersely, "Doubtful."
"No it isn't." Harry nagged, "You just want it to be."
"No matter." Draco dismissed, "I won't be walking there with you."
Harry pestered, "Aw, come on! I'm not that intolerable, am I?"
Draco turned a corner at this remark, passing Harry a fleeting glance that retorted without words, "Do you really want to know my answer to that?"
All different walks of life congregated at the edge of the Dark Forest for Care of Magical Creatures. Much to Harry's surprise, Malfoy did have the same class as him. He stood passively beside a dark-skinned Hufflepuff girl whose eyes were magnified in gold-rimmed spectacles. She looked awe-inspired at the scene around her.
"Draco!" She tugged on his robes, "What is that?"
She was American, and her absence of a British accent became more and more apparent every time Draco spoke. He relayed to the whimsied girl that the twinkling patch of lights in the distance were not fireflies, but fairies. She jumped up with a thrill. Harry walked up to the pair, keeping Malfoy's request in mind—to treat each other as strangers while in public.
"Malfoy."
Draco looked around for the beckoning call until his eyes landed on Harry. "Oh, hey." He had a warmth to his voice that almost threw Harry off balance.
The Hufflepuff girl looked back and forth at the two. "Are you two friends?" she asked sweetly. Harry was waiting for Draco to laugh, to cackle, but in the moment he must have forgotten their strangers rule.
Draco only narrowed his eyes with a slight grimace, "Sort of."
Harry was astonished that he would admit that much.
"Harry,"—he stiffened at the sound of Draco using his name, genuinely wondering if he had forgotten the rule—"this is Deja Delamere." He introduced, "Deja, this is Harry Potter."
Deja shook Harry's hand with vigor and enthusiasm. "It's so nice to meet you, Harry!" She leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice, "Sorry if I ask too many questions. I'm a muddleborn."
Draco corrected her in a strained tone as if he had done so before, "Muggleborn."
"Yeah . . . what he said."
Harry chuckled lightly, "One of my best friends is Muggleborn. There's no need to apologize."
"I feel obligated. . ." Deja blushed.
"Quite a culture shock, isn't it?" Harry laughed, remembering his first trip to Diagon Alley.
Deja bashfully recalled the difficulties she had recently encountered, "It's hard being so far from home and not being able to call my mom." She sighed, "The owl deliveries freak her out"—the ounce of upset she had displayed shifted into eagerness—"but other than that, it's exciting! All these things muddles"—Draco corrected again, "Muggles" as she giggled—"er . . . things Muggles think are mythical are completely logical in this world! It's insanely confusing, but fun to figure out."
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Rivals Not Enemies (Drarry Slowburn)
FanfictionComedy/Drama/Fantasy/Romance/Wholesome Because of the academic interruption caused by the Second Wizarding War, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco return to Hogwarts to finish their final year. When Harry revisits the Chamber of Secrets, he starts to s...
