Draco and Harry returned to the castle and strolled in the direction of Slytherin's Chamber. The hallways were desolate—everyone else was probably in their common rooms, intending to abide by the 9pm curfew rule. The only person they even encountered was on the first floor landing. It was Slughorn, and he had a parcel in his hands.
"Harry!" he cheered, fumbling with the package as he handed it to his star pupil, "I was just on my way to the owlery—here are the ingredients you requested."
Harry took the parcel graciously, "Thank you, sir."
"You saved me a trip!" Slughorn said with an oily grin. He turned to Draco, who stood quietly with a fake smile.
"A friend of Harry's is a friend of mine," Slughorn guffawed. "I'm happy to help in any way I can. Just say the word."
Draco pretended not to be perturbed by Slughorn's demeanor and spoke in a kind of tender voice that Harry had never heard from him before, "I would've never guessed people could be so kind . . . Forgive me, sir. Death Eaters are not the friendliest people—I'm sure you can assume that much."
Harry tried not to laugh at Draco's display of fakery. It was painfully obvious in his eyes, though Slughorn believed it to be genuine.
The professor cooed, "Of course, but I'm well-acquainted with the knowledge of your noble severance. We Slytherins have a bad reputation because of You-Know-Who—I think it's high time for that to change."
Draco nodded solemnly, "I plan on it, Professor."
Slughorn, seeing a gap in the conversation, meekly brought up the subject of borrowing Experiments of the Sullen Wizard from them.
Draco fawned, "Of course, sir, I'll bring it to your office tonight."
He started to walk up the next flight of stairs to the second floor. Harry hiked up a couple more steps before Slughorn stopped him, sensing mischief afoot. As the Slytherin's Head of House, the potions professor knew that Draco was heading in the opposite direction of his common room.
"But where are you boys running off to at this hour?" Slughorn inquired.
Harry spoke quickly, as to not arouse suspicion, "We're meeting with a study group." He looked to Draco, trying to communicate with his eyes for him to play along. He had no issue, doing so. He put on a very convincing act.
"I'm lucky they even invited me!" he feigned humility, "I don't want to risk being late. . ."
"See you around, Professor," Harry said eagerly, following Draco as he walked further and further away. They heard Slughorn bid them farewell as he departed, downstairs. Once he was out of earshot, Harry and Draco darted to Myrtle's bathroom on the second floor.
"Myrtle?" Draco beckoned. No reply came from the stalls. "Where's she gone off to?"
Harry shrugged, inferring that she was probably in the prefect's bathroom, complaining about misery and suffering to someone else for the night. They were a little glad.
Harry led them both into the grand study, and Draco hooked his quarter-full cauldron over the low fire. He cracked open the two Ashwinder eggs from Slughorn's parcel and poured the raw contents into the simmering green potion. He set his granite cutting board upon the Floo mantle and got to work.
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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...
