✍︎︎13✍︎︎

"So it's that one not this one, understand?"

Dylan and Harry were sat in the library, the Slytherin explaining the second chapter to Harry. The smaller boy was starting to understand but he was getting really tired.

"I guess...I'm really tired, Dylan," he rubbed his eyes and when he opened them again the other boy was admiring him. Harry blushed.

"What?" He smiled nervously.

"It's weird why you'd what you be my friend, I mean I'm a Slytherin, my parents fought with You-know-who and I'm not the nicest person when it comes to things I want," Dylan fiddled with his fingers. His eyes flickered up and down Harry's body.

"I think you're a good person. I mean, you're helping me with homework even though you weren't forced to," Harry smiled at him.

"Well I should get going, Ron's going to be wondering where I am," Harry stood up, picking up his books and putting them in his back. Dylan followed him and they walked out of the library together.

"Well we're going the same way, I'll walk you to your dorm room if you really want to?" Dylan winked, it took Harry a second before he realised.

"W-what? I-"

"I'm joking Harry!" Dylan laughed while Harry pouted and shoved him lightly.

Dylan pushed back causing Harry to push him again before running off down the hall, laughing hysterically.

They proceeded to run to the stair leading to the Gryffindor quarters. Harry stopped, resting against the wall and breathing heavy. Dylan came running up to him a few seconds later.

"I won."

"Whatever, Potter," Dylan grinned as Harry swatted his shoulder. Harry stuck his tongue out at him before turning completely to him.

"Goodnight, Dylan," Harry held out his hand to the taller boy. The Slytherin gabbed it firmly after he smirked and leaned closer to Harry's ear.

He whisper, "Goodnight, Harry."

Before leaving, he placed a delicate kiss to Harry's cheek. As the Slytherin ascended the stairs, Harry ran his fingers over his cheeks, blushing and smiling.

-

Very quickly the days became weeks and the weeks became a month before Draco realised it was December. Snow was beginning fall as the temperatures dropped drastically, dusting the fields with delicate layers of snowflakes.

It was the last class on the last day of the week, almost every students eager to go outside and play in the snow.

Even Pansy and Blaise were fidgeting in their seats; Pansy was continuously bouncing her right leg as she hardly focussed on the lesson and only the window while Blaise was annoyingly tapping his fingers on the wooden desk.

Personally, Draco thought it was pathetic and childish to throw powdered ice at each other and roll snow into balls to make a snowman. Obviously, as a child, he had done this before but he was young then and thought the world was all cupcakes and rainbows.

He rolled his eyes, resting his head in his left hand. All he wanted to do was to go get a hot chocolate from the kitchen elves and put on some fluffy slippers, that he definitely did not own.

"Alright, class dismissed."

Suddenly it was like a rampage - all the students got up immediately and rushed to the door. Girls giggled, boys cheered and others sprinted to their dorms to change.

"This is pathetic," Draco grimaced, catching up to his friends. He rolled his eyes as he saw a group of first years already in snow gear.

"No Dray, you're just boring," Pansy sighed.

"Pansy is correct, Draco but I have to go do...something. Bye!" Blaise said quickly before throwing his signature smile and running off somewhere - probably someone's dorm room.

"Just please come out for an hour? We don't even have to play in the snow," Pansy pleaded, not caring about Blaise's disappearance.

They approached the eighth year tower, saying the password to the painting and walking inside.

"You're exhausting," Draco huffed, "but fine. If I must."

"You're the best! Wrap up warm!" She looked pointedly at him before jogging up the stairs to the girl quarters.

Draco shook his head at himself, 'Why do I do this to myself?' He sighed and continued on to his room.

-

"Dylan!"

Harry squealed and laughed as the Slytherin spun around with the boy on his back. Dylan grinned and chuckled as Harry gripped tighter to his shoulders.

"Okay okay! Put me down!" Harry continued laughing once Dylan set him down. Before Dylan could turn around, Harry grabbed some snow, putting it in Dylan's hood and lifting over his head.

Dylan screeched and jumped about, trying to get rid of the cold substance down his back. Once it was gone, he turned to glare, playfully, at Harry.

"You little-" He launched at Harry - knocking them both over and rolling around in the snowy grass. Harry got snow in his dark hair and lost his glasses - looking magical.

Dylan and Harry finally came to a halt - the Slytherin on top of the Gryffindor. They're eyes locked and continued to explore each other's eyes. Slowly but surely, a smile crept on to Harry's face, Dylan following suit.

"You're so be-"

"Harry Potter!"

Harry grimaced and let his head fall back in to the snow at that voice - an angry Hermione and a fuming Ron behind her. He sighed once he felt Dylan get up but smiled slightly when he offered him a hand. However, it was quickly ripped from his grasp.

"Who do you think you are? What were you going to do to Harry?!" Ron screamed at the boy, grabbing his green scarf and pulling it towards him. Meanwhile, Hermione checked her friend for any injuries.

"Consider yourself lucky it's me and not Hermione," Ron warned, pointy a finger in his face. Dylan seemed sort of amused.

"Yeah, okay," he scoffed, a smirk on his face. This infuriated Ron. He pulled his right arm back, his fist landing on Dylan's cheek.

"Ron stop!" Harry shouted, getting away from Hermione.

"Weasley, he's not worth it."

Suddenly, Draco Malfoy appeared, followed by Pansy. Ron turned to the both of them while Dylan held his cheek, "Oh yeah? Well he just assaulted my best friend."

"No he did not! We were just messing around. We're friends!" Harry shouted, he was furious. Dylan didn't didn't do anything and of course his friends were just jumping to conclusion as usual.

"Harry, he isn't a good person..." Draco began, solemnly.

"How would you know? You probably don't like him because he fucked Astoria after you kissed her, we all know how close you two are," Harry scowled and walked towards Dylan before Draco could respond.

He said, "You okay? Want to go inside?"

Dylan only nodded. His cheeks was now bleeding because of either Ron's nails or a ring he was wearing. He intertwined his and Harry's hand before walking to the castle together.

As they stepped inside, Harry pulled his hand away and rubbed his own together, trying to warm up. He stomped his feet, knocking off the snow he dragged inside. Dylan did the same.

"I'm so cold," Harry laughed nervously, "Hospital wing?"

Dylan said, "No, let's just got to the kitchens and get a hot chocolate."

Harry smiled sweetly at him before they walked off down the hall together.

-

"Draco, what's wrong?"

Draco scoffed, throwing his gloves across his dorm room and unzipping his jacket. Once it was off, he threw it on the floor. After kicking off his shoes, he flopped down on his bed.

"Dray," Pansy said more sternly. It was only a few times she had scene her best friend like this and it was normally after losing a quidditch match to Gryffindor.

"I just... I can't believe Ruíz would even come close to me after what he did," Draco clenched his jaw, "why couldn't he have just died in the war?"

"I wish he was dead too but there's nothing we can do... they closed the case last year," Pansy placed a comforting hand on his shoulder once he sat up.

"Dumbledore didn't even bat an eye," Draco scowled, "he was too focused on Harry-fucking-Potter."

"I didn't happened in school grounds, it happened in her own home, Draco."

"That's the worst part! She didn't deserve it! He doesn't even feel guilty about it! I WISH HE WAS DEAD!" Draco shouted. Tears streamed down his pale cheeks as Pansy pulled him into a hug.

Draco was still so upset about his dad and he'd only been to see his mum a few times since. Now Dylan had stepped out of the shadows and decided to be 'besties' with Harry.

Pansy had tears rolling down her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut, tightly.

"He's going to get what he deserves," Pansy rubbed his back soothingly. She took deep breaths trying to contain herself. She knew how much that girl meant to Draco so she needed to keep it together.

"I promise, Dray."