Letters I Can't Send

34

He sits across the library, jotting things down on parchment, flipping through various books, getting up now and then to look through the isles of the library. Probably preparing for the first task.

I try to ignore him, focusing on my own studies—though I am thankful to not have to worry about a sudden death that could come upon me in a dangerous tournament of deadly games.

I check my watch. The library closes in an hour, so I decide to pack up my things a little early. Just as I stand and start gathering my papers into my bag, Harry is suddenly right in front of my table, fiddling with his fingers.

I look around before looking directly at him. "Hi," I say, since he didn't say anything. "Do you need something?" I hoped it didn't sound rude.

"I—uh, well—hi," I try not to cringe at his awkwardness. "Do you know any...charms that could, uh, I don't know, help me with the first task...?" he stumbles over his words.

I lift an eyebrow. "Assuming that I already know the first task,"

"I, uh, yeah, it's—"

"I know it's dragons," I cut him off to save him the hopeless words about to come out of his mouth.

He gives me an awkward crooked smile. "...I heard you know charms and spells...?"

I stack some more papers on the table to give my hands something to do. "Who told you that?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Well, Malfoy has been getting excellent grades on his past quizzes..." he pauses. "I wanted to know how?" it bothers me how unsure of himself he is.

"I'm his tutor," I clarify, shoving the papers into my bag, getting ready to leave.

"Well could you be my tutor too?" he blurts out, and I cringe internally.

I startle. "Well, um, I don't really think I have the time..." what is up this guy?

"Then right now at least?" he asks. "Just to help me out for the first task?" he's not backing down, so I guess it wouldn't hurt.

I set my bag back on the table. "Fine," I try to smile even though I was looking forward to seeing Quinn and relaxing in the common room for a while.

He gives me a weak smile. "Thanks."

..........

Long story short, I teach the hopeless guy the accio charm—the charm that summons things to the caster.

The whole time, he's watching me like I'm a timepiece. Like I could be easily broken, but a piece of enchanted jewelry in the window of a shop. Admiration that makes me wince.

He looks impressed by how easily I can cast spells and charms, and honestly, I can almost understand why Draco doesn't like him. He's awkward and a little too kind, but at the same time looking at everything like it's some puzzle he needs to figure out. A case to crack.

He doesn't do anything questionable, though, which is good. I was getting the vibe that he could be...shady—but without meaning to.

We part our ways at the end of the night, and by the time I return to the common room, it seems that everyone was looking for me.

"Merlin! Y/n, where have you been?" Quinn comes rushing up to me in the common room, putting her hands on my elbows, steadying herself.

She looks worried. "I'm fine—I was at the library..." I tell her.

"You were gone so long!" she exclaims.

I laugh. "I was at the library—tutoring Harry Potter," I scoff and shake my head.

"What?" I hear a familiarly upset voice. I turn my head and see Draco standing from one of the leather couches. "Tutoring Potter? Are you mad?"

I turn to face him fully. "He needed help with the tournament, I just taught him a simple charm that could help him."

"So you aren't rooting for Cedric like the rest of us?" someone says.

I begin to feel flustered. "Well—he kept asking me if I could help him and I couldn't really decline—" a few people shake their heads, but go back to their tasks in the common room.

Draco is watching me from a few feet away, staring daggers at me. I notice his fists are clenched under the sleeve of his robe.

I roll my eyes. "It's no big deal, guys, really. Let it go," I say and a muscle in Draco's jaw ticks.

Quinn tugs on my hand and I give in, meeting my eyes with Draco's for the first time that night. And I realize how he feels.

a/n: harry is kinda hitting on us a little bit...and in my eyes, harry is really annoying half the time (sorrrrryyyyy) so he's gonna be weird in this fanfiction. Also remember the train compartment scene at the beginning of 4th year..? yeah.