Stuck on You
Neville really had gotten better at controlling his magic. Really. So Harry only smiled at him when Ron and Hermione partnered up and left Harry to partner Neville again. It was going so well, too, until the third time Neville tried the spell and Harry found himself bowled over.
It took a few streams of curses to realize the flailing limbs belonged to Malfoy. He tried to untangle himself and move away but every time he did Malfoy just moved with him.
“Damn it, Potter, stop moving!”
He was surprised to find that he did. Then he felt himself being yanked upward as Malfoy sat up. They were still tangled up but Harry took the moment to look around in bewilderment. The entire class was staring at them, Neville with a look of horror and dread.
“H-Harry. I’m so sorry.”
Harry tried to wave a hand dismissively but it ended up throwing off their balance and they ended up sprawled all over each other on the floor again.
Harry looked up from where his head had landed on Malfoy’s chest to see him glaring resolutely at the ceiling. Since his return after the war Malfoy had been much more reserved, not drawing more attention to himself than necessary, but this situation seemed to be trying his new resolve.
Professor Flitwick descended on them then, tutting good naturedly.
“My, my, what seems to have happened, Mr. Longbottom?”
Harry missed Neville’s stuttered response because Malfoy chose that moment to try and sit up again. They pushed and prodded at one another but with Harry helping the efforts this time they managed to find a relatively stable position that didn’t involve actually sitting on one another’s laps. Though Malfoy’s leg was still threaded through his and he wasn’t sure whose arm was resting on his knee.
Flitwick tried several spells but nothing worked and Neville looked closer to tears than he had since he’d still been taking potions. He kept up a steady stream of ‘sorry’ that Harry hadn’t been able to stop. Malfoy’s glaring probably wasn’t helping Neville retain his composure, either.
“I’m afraid it may be best to let Minerva have a go. But you’ll have to wait until classes are done for the day. Ms.Granger, perhaps you could levitate them to the Hospital wing to wait as I’m sure they aren’t in any condition to make the journey themselves.”
Malfoy groaned, his head flopping down to rest on the back of Harry’s neck momentarily before he stiffened and pulled away sharply.
Hermione stepped forward and in an instant he found himself sitting on nothing but air, floating out the door. Malfoy made a small noise and held on more tightly.
“What’s the matter, Malfoy? You’ve been in the air hundreds of times.” Harry snickered.
Malfoy sniffed haughtily, “Yes, but in case you haven’t noticed there’s no broom this time.”
Harry opened his mouth to respond when Hermione interrupted him, “Harry, you’re going to be stuck all afternoon.”
She didn’t say the rest but she didn’t have to. Fighting would get them nowhere and she had been nagging both him and Ron about overcoming differences and putting the war behind them.
Malfoy gave her a nod of deference, “A truce for the afternoon, then, Potter?”
It still threw him for a loop when Malfoy and Hermione agreed on something. They’d always competed as the smartest students in the year but after the war they both seemed more willing to work together and Hermione had even taken to inviting Malfoy to study with them. She claimed she learned more when she had someone to bounce ideas off of instead of constantly talking down to others. Harry and Ron had been indignant but Hermione had been in a mood so neither dared arguing further.
Harry rolled his eyes but nodded.
Hermione set them down gently on the bed indicated by Madam Pomfrey and left back to class without so much as a ‘good luck’. Madam Pomfrey told them sternly not to get into any trouble then bustled off to the store room. Harry sighed and flopped back on the mattress. Malfoy gave a cry and flailed as he tried to maintain some composure but he still ended up in a heap on top of Harry.
“Was that necessary?”
Harry smiled.
Malfoy lifted his head, resting his chin on Harry’s sternum, and glared, “well, at least one of us is enjoying this.”
Harry’s smile fell, “What?”
Malfoy smirked. Harry was looking down his nose at Malfoy, who was looking up at him from his chest, and suddenly he couldn’t think of anything to say.
Malfoy rolled his eyes but bit his tongue. He just rolled his head over and rested his cheek over Harry’s heart.
“If you want to lie down I’m getting comfortable, too.”
Harry nodded, “whatever, Malfoy.”
He could feel the puff of Malfoy’s laughter through his sweater and it made him want to say something, ease the silence, and maybe get to know something about the boy he knew so well as an enemy but not at all as a person.
“So, who do you fancy for the Quiddich cup this year?”