Breakfast in the Great Hall was as tense as ever. Harry sat between Hermione and Ron, half-listening to Ron complain about homework while his eyes flicked -against his better judgment - to the Slytherin table.
And there he was. Draco Malfoy, smirk already in place, looking as if he owned the room. His grey eyes met Harry's for a heartbeat too long, then Draco tilted his head just slightly and gave that infuriating little sneer.
Harry's fists clenched around his toast. "Ugh," he muttered, mostly for show.
Hermione sighed. "Ignore him, Harry."
But ignoring Malfoy had never been his strong suit.
When the Slytherins passed by on their way out, Draco slowed just enough to let his shoulder collide with Harry's.
"Watch it, Scarface," Draco said smoothly, loud enough for their Houses to hear. His smirk widened when Ron jumped up.
Harry bit back the instinct to fight. He had to. They both did. Because when the sun set and the castle was quiet, everything shifted.
That night, when most students were asleep, Harry slipped out under the invisibility cloak. He knew where Draco would be. The disused classroom on the fourth floor.
Sure enough, Draco was leaning against the desk, waiting. No sneer now. No audience. Just a boy who looked a little less sharp around the edges.
"You took your time," Draco said, but the words lacked their usual sting.
Harry pulled the cloak off and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Had to keep up appearances."
Their eyes met in the dim glow of the lantern Draco had lit. For the first time all day, Harry felt the knot in his chest loosen. Here, in the quiet, they didn't have to be enemies.
Here, they could just… be.