Envy (H/D, PG)

[sesheta66]

Title: Envy
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 692
Challenges: Originally written (without the prologue) for dracoharry100's prompt #84 - envy.
Summary: It's return to school time. Headmistress McGonagall is encouraging house unity by having the eighth years disclose a little something about themselves to another student, from another house.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.


Envy

Prologue:

The eighth years gathered in the Great Hall listening to Headmistress McGonagall drone on about inter-house unity. Draco Malfoy stood alone — Vince was dead, Greg was at Durmstrang, Pansy didn't dare show her face at Hogwarts, Blaise was taking some time to find himself courtesy of his mother's money, and no other Slytherins would risk being associated with him — questioning his own sanity at returning.

"The current task I am assigning you," she said, looking as though she herself doubted its success, "is to disclose something you envy the other person for. The purpose of this exercise is for you to show each other that everyone has something other people want"—Draco snorted involuntarily, knowing he had nothing left but money for anyone to envy—"and that even those who seem to have everything can long for something they don't have."

The fates were clearly out to punish Draco. Well, honestly, when weren't they? Naturally, he was teamed up with the Boy Who Wouldn't Die Already and Leave Him the Fuck Alone. Like he could envy anything anyone else had. Draco learned recently that Potter even had money. Life just wasn't fair!

~*~*~

Potter,

Before I begin this ridiculous "getting to know each other" task, I want to remind you of McGonagall's instructions. Discuss this with no one. Ever. I will know if you talk. I am a Slytherin; I have ways of finding these things out. Now that's out of the way ...

I envy you your ability to act, and to just get on with the task at hand without over-thinking things. Of course, you do it without thinking at all, and bollocks things up often enough, but still. Sometimes I would like to be able to just ... do.

Malfoy

~*~*~

Malfoy,

First of all, I'm more than capable of keeping my mouth shut. I realise you are a Slytherin, which likely means you have ways of not only finding things out, but strategically letting things out. Rest assured, I have a few tricks up my own sleeves.

You envy my ability to run in headstrong and bollocks things up? I suppose you expect me to thank you now.

I envy your ability to stay calm, cool, collected. My emotions are as plain as day on my face. Sometimes I would like to hide them and keep things to myself.

Potter

~*~*~

Potter,

Of course you should thank me. It was, after all, a compliment. If you weren't like that, you would never have defeated the Dark Lord. Anyone in their right mind, after analysing the situation from all angles, would have run away screaming. But not you. Instead, you ran in, fool that you are, and saved the entire wizarding world. Bloody hero.

And the Fiendfyre. Once again, instead of thinking things through, you acted the hero and saved Greg and me. Every once in a while, it would be nice to do the right thing because it comes naturally.

Malfoy

~*~*~

Malfoy,

Thank you. In your own twisted and insulting way, you're alright.

My ability to run in without thinking has its down side too. I'm sure you know all about the Department of Mysteries. Had I not run in, had I taken the time to think things through, my godfather would still be alive.

Speaking of which, now that I've thought about this more, I think what I envy you most for is your family. No, I'm not joking. You have family. You have parents who love you and are there for you. That would be nice to have.

Potter

~*~*~

"Malfoy!"

Draco stopped in his tracks. "Potter?"

"Wait up!"

"Whatever for?"

"I want to talk to you."

Draco raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and waited for Boy Wonder to catch up.

"I know that exercise, writing to each other, was ..."

"McGonagall's pathetic attempt at bringing about inter-house unity?"

"Something like that." Potter smiled. "I started thinking—"

"Always dangerous."

Potter smiled again, and held out his hand. "Maybe it's worth a try."

Draco looked at the offered hand, thinking of how much he envied Weasley, of all people, because of Potter's friendship. He returned Potter's smile and took his hand.

.

Comments

[thrnbrooke.livejournal.com]

Oh very nice!!!!

[prettyhairs.livejournal.com]

Good thing Draco wasn't partnered with Ron then, eh?=)

Very nice:)

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Ah, I love this version even more!

[sisika.livejournal.com]

Sequel! Sequel! *chants till you have to give in*

:D

[goddessriss.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I love the back-handed compliments and the truth at the heart of the letters. Wonderful stuff.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely set of steps towards healing, on every side. Yay Prof McG!

[tomatoe18.livejournal.com]

Lovely! Tough exercise, but I'm glad the boys pull through. Love the handshake at the end!

[hapendfro.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I had been missing your fics here recently. Hope we get to see more of them soon.

[lire-casander.livejournal.com]

I was wondering that, if Draco would have been teamed up with Ron, he would have envied Ron's friendship with Harry!

I really liked this, it was good!

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Great to read you again! I really enjoyed this and I'd love to see you continue it, even though it's lovely as it is.

[lunakat.livejournal.com]

I so enjoyed this...lovely

[envious-ema.livejournal.com]

oooh! very nicely done! enjoyed every word of it <3

[materia-indigo.livejournal.com]

That was loverly, and so very in character. It's perfect as a stand-alone piece, although I would love to read more if you're ever inspired to continue it.

[sassy-cissa.livejournal.com]

That was delightful. I love the snark between them and the ending is perfect. ♥

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

Lovely! You give them a new beginning. Now... anything can happen!

[jennybliss.livejournal.com]

Oh that was so nice!!

[beatnikspinster.livejournal.com]

I love this! Their voices are just perfect! I loved hearing them banter. :)

[lisbet.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I loved how vulnerable they seemed, and yet still very much in character.

[enablelove.livejournal.com]

Awww yay :)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

You're writing again! *\o/*

This was very sweet.

I envy your ability to stay calm, cool, collected.

LOL! Harry is clearly smitten! :D

[magicallioness.livejournal.com]

Most original way of them burying the hatchet I've come across so far. *applauds*

[alaana-fair.livejournal.com]

Awww.... that was wonderful, hon! *sighs happily*

[tray-la-la.livejournal.com]

mcgonagall's a crafty one!

that was so sweet, i love when the boys exchange notes and letters.

[replays.livejournal.com]

That was cute! I loved it. =] Perfect.

[kaykayen.livejournal.com]

Love how Draco's compliments are immediately followed by a scathing remark! And, of course, Harry's reaction at the end just embodies his "running in head first" trait! Awesome!