Rivals Not Enemies (Drarry Slowburn)

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

A/N: Another insanely long chapter. Whoops.

Sunday was slightly overcast, but it made the unusual heat bearable. Draco, Harry, and Deja tried not to break a sweat as they hiked across the grounds of Hogwarts—heading to beyond the boundaries that disabled students from Apparating‭. ‬

Draco remembered exactly where the protective wards ended and where they began‭; ‬it was something he learned while doing Voldemort's bidding‭. ‬Deja didn't question his odd knowledge‭, ‬however‭, ‬as she knew nothing of the wizarding world's past or‭, ‬possibly‭, ‬that it ever had a war at all‭. ‬Not even History of Magic classes taught things such as that‭, ‬for it was far‭ ‬too recent‭. ‬Maybe‭, ‬years from now‭, ‬Harry's name might show up in textbooks‭, ‬but that era of time was not now‭.‬

Deja‭, ‬though she had no idea where she was going‭, ‬took the lead enthusiastically‭. ‬She put quite a bit of distance between herself and her companions‭.‬

Harry whispered to Draco‭, ‬certain that Deja couldn't hear him‭, ‬"When are you going to tell her‭?‬"

Draco only slightly acknowledged the nosy Gryffindor beside him with a side glare‭. ‬"About what‭?‬"

"Maybe—I don't know—the fact that you worked under Voldemort‭?‬"

Draco frowned‭, ‬"I'll tell her when she asks‭! ‬Until then‭, ‬I'd like to enjoy her not being afraid of me‭, ‬thank you very much‭.‬"

"Don't you think it's wrong‭, ‬keeping something like that from her‭?‬"‭ ‬Harry whispered‭, trying desperately to break through to him.

Draco visibly recoiled from Harry's question‭, ‬"Of course I hate it‭, ‬but that kind of information isn't something you can just drop out of nowhere‭!‬"

"You need to stop running away from your problems‭,"‭ ‬Harry urged‭, ‬"That's not going to help you fix them‭.‬"

Draco growled‭, ‬"I don't need a lecture from the hero‭.‬"‭ ‬Harry stopped in his tracks‭, ‬unsure of how to respond‭, ‬as Draco furiously stormed off ahead of him‭. ‬

The magical wards shifted like oil swirling iridescently upon water‭. ‬The protective barrier surrounding Hogwarts allowed Deja‭, ‬Harry‭, ‬and Draco through‭, ‬glowing blue around the perimeters that grazed them‭.‬

"Have you ever done Side-Along Apparition before‭?‬"‭ ‬Draco asked Deja‭, ‬doing his best to give Harry the silent treatment, even as he joined the group‭.‬

"Uh . . . sorry‭. ‬What is that‭?‬"‭ ‬Deja asked him bashfully‭.‬

"I guess that's a no‭,"‭ ‬Harry said‭, ‬ignoring Draco's ignoring of him‭. ‬"It's going to feel weird‭. ‬Really weird‭.‬"

Deja looked concerned but remained stoic‭. ‬"Will it kill me‭?‬"

Draco snorted‭, ‬and Harry glared at him for it‭. ‬Of‭ ‬course‭ she was concerned—she went her whole life thinking witches and wizards were mythical things from fairy tales‭. ‬Draco could never understand how big‭ ‬of a pill this world was to swallow‭. ‬The fear attached was a whole different hurdle to overcome‭. ‬

Harry didn't want to lie or say the truth that might've validated Deja's fears‭. ‬Memories flooded back to him of Malfoy Manor—Bellatrix—her dagger—holding the corpse of Dobby in his arms‭.‬

"Harry‭?‬"‭ ‬Deja asked again‭.‬
He must have looked hesitant because Deja's voice sounded more frightened than the first time she asked‭. ‬