"Harry" The woman called out as she walked into the common room and spotted him sitting in a corner, alone. Immediately, his eyes hardened, and he stood to make his way back to his room. Riddle called out again, walking fast enough that she barely intercepted him, grabbing his arm even as he reached the doorway to the boy's hallway. "Harry, wait."
"Let. Go."
It was harsh enough that she did so without hesitation, even glancing down as if she could see whether she had squeezed too hard again. "Harry, you know this wasn't meant to be cruel."
He turned, eyes a cross between blazing fury and icy callousness. "Yes, it was."
"No, it was to protect you. Dumbledore and I don't want you anywhere near Hogsmeade."
"But its fine if the other students go?"
Her eyes narrowed, "Considering your history of putting yourself in danger? Yes, it is. We know they won't go looking for a fight. It's for your own good Harry."
"No, it isn't, and I know it isn't because of the way you did it. You didn't say 'only students fourth year and older' can sign up, you didn't tell each professor to nominate someone. No, you made an announcement in front of the entire group that Wizards are not allowed. A group where I am the only boy. You humiliated me. You got exactly what you wanted from me the other night and now you don't…"
Her hands went to his face, and despite trying to move away she held him firm, staring into his eyes, "You know that isn't true, you know I would never take advantage of you like that, never treat you like that. I know it doesn't seem fair Harry but we are only doing this to try and protect you. Maybe it wasn't the right way, maybe we should have thought it through a little more but in the end its for your safety, I promise."
The boy stared back at her in defiance before letting out a sigh, allowing her to breathe again, "Fine, but you're sleeping on the couch for now." Grace opened her mouth to retort, but instead smiled and nodded her head in defeat.
****
"Maybe they're right?"
Amaryllis almost sunk back in her chair at the glares she received from both Harry and Hermione and continued to explain herself. "I mean to protect you." She rushed out, earning a slight huff from the bookworm, a slight smile from her sister, and a roll of her brother's eyes. "Every year you do something that is dangerous. You already had one this year, why can't you just… let someone else handle this?"
"The same reason I couldn't just 'let someone else handle it' the other times. There was no one else. The ministry hasn't done anything and letting a sixth- or seventh-year students go isn't any safer, at least I can protect myself if something were to happen."
"But you shouldn't have to." Harriet chimed in quietly, shifting attention to herself and sinking down into her robes as if to hide, "I mean… no one should be going, it should be the Aurors or the adults but… I don't want to see you hurt again."
Hermione Granger nodded, "She's right Harry. It might have been the wrong way to do it, it might have been horribly sexist and terrible and both professor Riddle and Headmistress Dumbledore should be ashamed of themselves for doing it in this fashion, but I think they were, deep down, doing it for the right reasons."
"Yeah, I understand that part, I do, I just don't agree with it."
****
Harry wasn't quite sure what to expect on his date with the youngest Malfoy. Would she wave around her wealth? Act like an arrogant stuck-up bitch? Line every conversation with thinly veiled insults? Or maybe she would just make the entire thing out to be a joke, laugh in his face, or play some stupid prank as a petty act of revenge against his sisters.
Either way, he wasn't exactly happy on his trip to where they had decided to meet, an alcove near the Great Hall and was practically jittery with annoyance when he saw her.
Then it all sort of fizzled out because she was fidgeting.
In that moment Dumbledore's words from before he even started school came back, about not judging those based upon what his versions had been like. The Draco Malfoy from where he had come from was an arrogant, bigoted prick who needed a good ass kicking, or five. This one, while still stuck up and arrogant, didn't seem to have the same issues.
Hell, she had even shown a softer side of herself the year before when his own sister had been attacked.
Anger draining from his body, the body cleared his throat before stepping in to get a closer look. "You're early."
She quickly nodded, a sort of nervous energy filling her that he didn't expect. "Yes, uhm well not really early just, you know, wanted to make sure everything was ready."
It was the equivalent of a teenage boy on his first date, and Harry felt sympathy replacing whatever void had been left in him. "So, where are we going?"
The blonde gestured before quickly walking to a nearby, closed, door and holding it open for him. "Gents first."
Rolling his eyes, Harry walked in, eyes widening almost immediately at the scene before him. The room was well furnished, with a large table, complete with a cloth covering and sets of fine dinnerware all flanked by two chairs.
It was... nice, and far fancier than he would have expected of not just the occasion but someone of Cleo's age in general.
He sure as hell wouldn't have thought this far ahead on a date in his fifth year, much less third. Glancing over to the other girl, and noticing the nervous look on her face, he gave her a smile, "This is really nice."
"Really?"
He nodded, and it seemed to help restore her confidence as she quickly walked over to pull his chair back. Staring for a second, he quickly realized the situation and suppressed a laugh before walking over and allowing her to 'seat him'. Returning to the opposing side, Cleopatra sat down before a House Elf, unfortunately not Dobby, appeared with a tray and food and they were served.
It wasn't anything he expected to find at Hogwarts, far fancier with garnish artfully arranged. There was even a sweeter juice, though he didn't taste any alcohol, accompanying it. Still, conversation was sparse, and the girl didn't quite seem to know where to begin, so he opted to take further initiative.
"You've been practicing flying."
She looked up, clearly a bit surprised, before nodding vehemently. "Yes, yes, I have. First and second years mostly but also during the summer when I could find the time."
"You have busy summers then I take it? Vacations with family?"
"Catching up on course work and future studies mostly. Mother cannot afford to take too long from work with all she is involved in."
Harry didn't know what to make of that, didn't know what the Malfoy's had been involved in the first time around, much less in this new world. "But she does take a few days off here and there, right? Maybe a weekend with you and… Pandora."
He held back a flinch at the girl's name, a gesture that went unnoticed by the opposing blonde who immediately began to talk about a few days her family had gone to Paris and all the sights she had seen, subtly bragging the entire time in true Malfoy fashion.
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