I Don't Care

Chapter 9

Draco couldn't stop replaying their last conversation in his head. Why did they always have to find something to fight about? He was hurt, and he was projecting while Harry was only trying to help.

He couldn't sleep that night, and had resolved to apologizing to Harry again in the morning. Draco needed to stop running from his problems, because his problems had started chasing him back.

That morning never came. Harry was nowhere to be found. Draco checked the common room, the hospital wing, even the secret passage and the shrieking shack. No Harry.

The same thing on Friday. Whispers had started, and the chatter only grew when Harry hadn't reappeared by Saturday. All Draco was doing was replaying their last conversation in the shrieking shack.

"I'm wondering what would happen if I just left Hogwarts one day and didn't go back," Harry had said.

Had Draco pushed him to this point? Ron and Hermione also seemed worried, which didn't help Draco feel better. If Potter had disappeared without even telling his best friends... that couldn't be good.

Sunday came and went, and by Monday morning he had accepted that Harry wouldn't be back. That Sunday, Luna had told him that Harry was fine as she passed him in the hallway. It wasn't very comforting.

Draco was waiting on the couch in the common room Monday morning as Hermione collected her notes she had shared to prepare for their upcoming exam. You can imagine his shock when the portrait hole opened, and Harry appeared from underneath his cloak, looking... different.

"Harry! Where have you been?!," Hermione demanded, dropping the papers. "We were worried sick!"

"Around," he replied with a shrug.

"We're your best friends, how could you leave like that?!"

"Oh, are we best friends? That's news to me. Especially when you've replaced me with Malfoy," Harry drawled, seemingly ignoring his presence.

"Come on mate-"

"No, I don't think I will. I'm only your best friend when it's convenient for you, and I'm tired of it. I respect your relationship, but you don't respect our friendship. You didn't even see that I needed help, you didn't listen when I tried talking to you about it. So, I left. Didn't think you'd notice honestly. Enjoy your breakfast," Harry ended cheerily, going back upstairs to his room.

"Have we really been neglecting him?," Hermione asked Ron.

"You have been spending a lot of time with me," Draco replied carefully. "He probably felt pushed out."

"Why didn't he say anything?"

"When has he ever expressed his feelings until he was on the verge of exploding?," Draco deadpanned.

"Shit," Ron muttered.

"Let's go to breakfast," Hermione replied with a sigh.

"I'll meet you there."

"Malfoy," Ron cautioned, warning in his voice.

"It's fine. Go."

"Your funeral," Ron muttered, throwing an arm over Hermione's shoulders.

As expected, when Draco opened his door, Harry's door creaked open enough for him to peek out.

"Storing your art supplies in my room now?," Harry asked, opening the door all the way when he confirmed it was just Draco.

"You weren't using it," Draco replied with a shrug.

"What's your deal Malfoy?"

"I... am sorry."