The Stare

Chapter Three

I do not own Harry Potter and never will. If I did, Drarry would most definitely be canon.

Harry was still in a state of shock.

How was if freaking possible that Draco Malfoy was in the exact place that Harry wanted to go to when he wanted to avoid the blonde who was invading his life. After immediately getting the hell out of the Three Broomsticks as fast as his legs could carry him, he ran back to Gryffindor Tower, panting like a dog. He had caught the attention of Neville and Seamus who both asked if he was okay. He could only respond with a quick "oh yeah, I'm okay!" Before running to his room and collapsing on his bed. Hermione came up and knocked on the door (she had figured out how to bypass the gender restriction a while ago. Brightest witch of her age she definitely was).

"Harry what happened?! You came up panting and back from the Three Broomsticks way earlier than you were expected to!" She thought for a bit "Malfoy?"

Harry jumped up and started pacing. "He was there, and he had that signiture Malfoy smirk on! How could I have stayed there without making a fool of myself! My legs probably would have collapsed and then what would've happened! I swear that boy is gonna make me crawl out of a building one day."

He turned to look at Hermione. "Mione, what should I do? I mean you're with Ron and you two have a stable and good relationship. I, however am completely clueless when it comes to anything remotely resembling a relationship! I mean the little time with Ginny was nothing! She even has a new relationship with Luna! I just don't know!"

"Harry, the first thing you need to do is calm down. Nothing will come out well if you're always this riled up about Malfoy." Hermione patted the spot beside her on Harry's bed. "Sit down and just breathe. Maybe you can just try even harder to control yourself around him during class and things. Then, once you find some sort of calm around him, you can approach him and start talking. It's not like you two are enemies and at each other's throats anymore."

That was true. As soon as Draco and Harry saw each other for the first time at Hogwarts, they had reached an unspoken agreement that they would be civil to each other. Petty feuds don't really matter after a war.

Harry took a couple deep breaths.

"Thanks Hermione. That really helped. I guess I just need to calm down and try and control my brain and body around Draco. I hope I can at least work up the nerve to talk to him eventually."

Hermione smiled. "I'm sure you will Harry. These things just take time. Did you see how long it took for Ron and I to get together? You'll be fine."

At that moment Ron burst in. Out of breath in much the same fashion that Harry was.

"Mate! Merlin's beard you can move fast! I didn't realize why you had run out until I saw Malfoy's hair. Merlin it stands out. I got stopped by a couple of people who were asking about you, so I tried to politely shove them off and followed you. Are you okay?"

Ron finished and looked to Harry, who just smiled.

"Ron, thank you. I'm okay though, Hermione here gave me a little pep talk."

"Oh hello Hermione! I didn't even notice you up here. I swear one of these days you're gonna get caught."

Hermione just laughed. "Somehow Ron, I doubt it. But nonetheless I happen to be pretty tired so I'm going to leave you boys to it. Goodnight!"

Harry and Ron both wished her goodnight, and Ron gave her a peck on the cheek. Once Hermione left they both got ready for bed and crashed, Harry hoping for a better tomorrow.