After the Quidditch match, the Potters finally realized that they had completely misjudged the person due to their own prejudice.
"Who would doubt Professor Quirrell with his stutter? He seems so kind and approachable to his students," Potter told him.
In the empty stands, Potter and Weasley came specifically to apologize to Draco, who was standing near the stands.
"It is not our fault. Who told Professor Snape to always fly around like a giant bat, indiscriminately attacking all non Slytherin students with his harsh words?" Weasley said rather rudely.
"If you used your brains instead of your mouths when you made potions, Professor Snape might not have had any reason to speak so harshly to you," Draco finally stopped being distracted and stopped thinking about other things. Instead, he faced the two boys who had come to provoke him and began to retort.
Weasley was furious, but could not utter a single word in rebuttal.
"Fine, I have already won. I will not bother arguing with you." After holding it in for a while, Weasley said unprompted.
That hurts. Weasley really knows how to hurt. Draco gave them a cold look and walked away haughtily.
That red haired brat! A brain is a good thing, but unfortunately he only has a mouth.
Rolling his eyes, Draco headed toward the castle in a foul mood. He was quite certain that he still did not have a good impression of the Weasley boy.
Potter hurried to catch up with him. "Wait, Draco! I truly am grateful. You helped clear Professor Snape's name, and more importantly, you helped save my life."
Draco slowed his pace but did not stop entirely. "I merely pointed out what was obvious. Anyone with half a brain could have deduced it was Quirrell."
"But we did not," Potter said honestly, falling into step beside him. "We were too caught up in our own biases. Hermione told us how you worked it all out, how you had a plan during the match. That took real courage, standing up to investigate both professors."
Courage. Draco almost laughed at the word. What I did was calculated self preservation, not Gryffindor bravery.
"I did what needed to be done," Draco said stiffly. "Nothing more."
"Still," Potter persisted, and Draco could hear genuine warmth in his voice, "I wanted you to know that I appreciate it. And I wanted to ask, do you think Professor Quirrell will try again? To get whatever the three headed dog is guarding?"
Draco paused mid stride, considering his response carefully. How much should I tell them? How much can I tell them without revealing too much about what I know?
"The school year is not over yet," Draco said slowly. "If someone wants something badly enough, they will not give up after one failed attempt. Especially if they are desperate."
"That is what Hermione said too," Potter admitted. "She thinks we should keep watching Quirrell. Maybe even tell Professor Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore already knows," Draco said with more certainty than he intended. He caught himself and added, "He must know. He is the Headmaster. Nothing happens in this castle without his knowledge."
Dumbledore knows everything. He has always known. This is his test for Potter, his trial. And I am merely... what? A variable he did not account for? Or another piece in his grand design?
Potter looked thoughtful. "You know, you are not what I expected, Draco Malfoy."
"What did you expect?" Draco asked, unable to help his curiosity.
"Someone more like..." Potter hesitated, clearly trying to find diplomatic words.
"Like my father?" Draco supplied coolly.
"I suppose," Potter admitted. "But you are different. You think for yourself. You do not just accept what others tell you is true."
If only you knew how much I have learned to question everything, Potter. If only you knew what I have seen, what I have lived through. You would understand that thinking for oneself is not a luxury but a necessity for survival.
"We are all different from our parents, Potter," Draco said quietly. "For better or worse."
Weasley had caught up to them now, looking sullen but somewhat less hostile. "Look, Malfoy, I am sorry for what I said. About the match and all. That was not fair."
Draco regarded the red haired boy for a long moment. An apology from a Weasley. In my previous life, I would have sneered at it. But now...
"Accepted," Draco said curtly. "Though I maintain that if you paid more attention in Potions class, you would have less reason to complain about Professor Snape's teaching methods."
Weasley's ears turned red, but he managed a reluctant nod. "Maybe. But he could also try being less terrifying."
"Where would be the fun in that?" Draco said, and to his own surprise, he felt the corner of his mouth twitch upward slightly.
Potter grinned. "See? You can smile. Hermione said you did, once or twice, but I was beginning to think she was making it up."
Hermione talks about me? About my smiles?
The thought sent an odd sensation through Draco's chest, like the flutter of wings.
"Granger talks too much," Draco said, but there was no real bite in his words.
"She does," Weasley agreed readily, then seemed to realize what he had said. "But in a good way! She is brilliant, really. Even if she is a bit of a know it all."
"She is the best thing that ever happened to you two," Draco said sharply. "And if you do not realize that, you are even more foolish than I thought."
Potter and Weasley exchanged surprised glances.
"We know," Potter said softly. "We really do know. We would be completely lost without her."
Good, Draco thought with satisfaction. At least they appreciate her, even if they do not always show it properly.
"Well then," Draco said, straightening his robes with an air of finality, "if you are quite finished with your apologies and revelations, I have studying to do. Unlike some people, I do not rely on last minute cramming before examinations."
"Right," Potter said, still grinning. "Thanks again, Draco. For everything."
As Draco walked away toward the castle, he heard Weasley mutter to Potter, "He is not so bad, is he? For a Slytherin."
"Not bad at all," Potter agreed.
Draco did not look back, but something warm settled in his chest. Not bad at all. It was not much, but it was a start.
----------------------
Harry's Perspective
Harry had always owed Draco a Sorry.
When he first met Draco, he had followed Hagrid's wisdom that one should not judge a person by their appearance.
What had he done? Because of Professor Snape's sharp tongue and meanness, he had pinned all the terrible things on him. Harry was extremely ashamed.
In fact, according to Hermione, when Professor Quirrell was casting a curse at him, it was probably Professor Snape's counter curse that saved him from falling off that wildly flying broom.
Thanks to Draco's reminder, they had not wrongly accused an innocent person.
Speaking of Draco, although this person often had an arrogant, mysterious and aloof demeanor, he always lent a helping hand when it mattered.
He was always ashamed to admit he had done good deeds and kept them secret. Harry simply did not understand it.
The people of Slytherin are all so awkward.
Professor Snape might just be Draco grown up. The thought sent a chill down Harry's spine.
Oh goodness, I hope Draco does not turn into that greasy haired person.
However, even if Professor Snape continued to mock him in the next Potions class, he would not be too angry about it.
It was not that he felt much agreement with Professor Snape. He still could not stand Professor Snape's blatant favoritism toward Slytherin students.
It was because this biased professor had tried to save him, had he not?
This harsh professor still had some kindness in him, did he not?