Potter! Who Gave You Permission to Get Hurt?!

The next day.

"Miss, Potter is in that Empty Classroom."

After speaking, Goyle glanced at Malfoy's expression and hurriedly added, "He already went to the Hospital Wing this morning. Weasley said there's nothing wrong with him anymore."

Malfoy's grip on her textbook loosened a little.

"Who asked?" The girl raised her chin. "I'm only checking whether he's forgotten about our duel."

Crabbe nodded very earnestly. "He probably hasn't. He even brought his wand."

Malfoy's gaze immediately shifted toward him. "He brought his wand?"

"And a book." Crabbe thought for a moment. "The one you gave Potter."

"I didn't ask!"

The girl turned and headed for the other end of the corridor.

Goyle looked at Crabbe, unsure whether that last remark had been the right thing to say or the wrong one.

Inside the Empty Classroom, Harry was organizing his practice notes.

The bandages on his left arm had been changed, and the wound barely hurt anymore. It only tugged a little now and then when he reached out.

He spread the book open on the desk and held a quill in his right hand, noting down the things he hadn't understood on parchment, one by one.

When he visited Professor Flitwick over the weekend, he couldn't very well bring nothing but, "Professor, I want to fight with magic!"

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Harry looked up and saw a distinctly displeased face.

"Miss Malfoy?"

At that form of address, the girl's already unhappy expression darkened further.

Miss Malfoy? Why was it Miss Malfoy again?!

He'd already called her by her name before!

Why had he gone back to that now?

The girl pressed her lips together in displeasure.

Hmph! That idiot Potter!

Did she really have to teach him how to address her herself?!

Of course, she wasn't going to say that aloud.

Wouldn't that make it seem as though she cared a great deal?

So Malfoy merely gave a cold snort. The girl walked over to the desk, glanced at his left arm, then looked at the wand lying beside the book.

"Potter! Who gave you permission to come practice spells while you're injured?!"

Harry paused, then lowered his head to look at the quill in his hand. "I'm taking notes."

"Madam Pomfrey only said last night-"

"That's why I went to see her this morning." Harry moved the paper aside. "She said the wound was healing well. I'm not casting anything right now, just reading."

"Er... the book you gave me."

The girl paused briefly, but refused to let her imposing air retreat along with it.

"I can see that perfectly well."

"Right." Harry nodded and reached for the book on the other side.

The moment he extended his left arm, the wound gave a slight tug, and his movement stopped.

Another hand picked up the book.

Malfoy set it down beside his right hand, her brows knitting again. "Can't you use your other hand?"

Harry looked at the book, then at her. This time, he didn't smile and explain. "All right."

Only then did the girl withdraw her hand.

She stood beside him, but her gaze remained on the bandages.

"Malfoy, I really am fine now," Harry said.

"I heard you!"

The girl answered a little too quickly, then shifted her gaze to the parchment on the desk. "Besides, who said that's why I came?"

"Then why?"

"For... the duel, of course." Malfoy raised her chin, finally recovering a little of her familiar tone. "Yes! The duel!"

"What if you stay injured and then claim your arm was giving you trouble when you lose?"

The corners of Harry's mouth slowly lifted.

"So Miss Malfoy plans to wait until I'm better before we compete?"

"Of course I wouldn't take advantage of you like that!" The girl gave a little snort. "I'll make you accept your defeat wholeheartedly, then give me a proper apology."

"I remember." Harry closed the book and pushed it a little to the side. "Still, you really were a great help last night."

Malfoy abruptly went still. "What?"

"Nothing." Harry smiled.

Both of them fell quiet for a while.

Students' voices drifted in from the corridor. Several people passed the doorway, then quickly walked away.

Malfoy lowered her head and reached up to straighten the Silver Snake Brooch on her robe collar, then suddenly spoke.

"Why did you come over yesterday?"

Harry looked up, momentarily taken aback.

"Because you..."

At those words, the girl's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

But Harry quickly followed with his next sentence.

"And Hermione hadn't come back. I didn't know whether you'd run into danger."

Malfoy froze slightly.

She blinked rapidly, and her raised head gradually lowered.

Her long platinum hair fell along her cheeks, neatly concealing her expression.

The girl said nothing, merely continuing to fiddle with her brooch.

So...

It was because she and Granger hadn't come back.

She pressed her lips together.

She couldn't say why, but she suddenly felt just a little disappointed.

"If you run into trouble next time, you can come to me too," Harry continued.

"I know," Malfoy answered immediately, then glanced at his left arm again. "The same goes for you."

"Hm?"

"You can call on me too." The girl raised her chin a little higher. "So you don't end up like this again."

Harry looked at her and nodded. "All right. I'll call you next time."

Malfoy's fingers finally loosened their hold on the brooch.

She was just about to change the subject when her gaze fell on those sheets of practice notes.

"Why are all these notes about practicing against targets?"

"I'm mainly correcting my movements."

"Targets won't dodge on their own, or hit you while you're saying an incantation."

Malfoy picked up the top sheet and scanned a few lines. "When I practice at home, I don't only work with things that can't move."

At that, she deliberately paused.

Then the girl lifted her chin slightly, her lovely gray-green eyes glancing almost imperceptibly toward Harry.

Once.

Twice.

When Harry showed no response, she lightly waved the wand in her hand.

Her meaning couldn't have been clearer.

Well, Potter?

If you begged sincerely enough, she could reluctantly agree to practice with you.

Harry, however, merely nodded thoughtfully.

"I see. No wonder you have so much practical combat experience."

Malfoy: "..."

The girl's fingers tightened slightly around her wand.

Looking at her, Harry suddenly couldn't help laughing. "Then shall we practice together from now on?"

Malfoy blinked rapidly, wondering whether she'd misheard.

"What did you say?"

"We could practice here for a while after class." Harry pointed at the open space. "Having someone help check my movements, or switching to a moving target, would be more useful than always facing a wall."

The girl hurriedly pressed her lips together and raised her chin with affected reserve.

"Hmph. You want me to teach you?"

Harry smiled. "Well, Draco's dueling skills really are impressive."

At those words, Malfoy's mood immediately brightened further.

But...

She wasn't considering agreeing because of this fellow!

Absolutely not!

The girl earnestly began finding reasons for herself.

First, practicing magic together would let her observe up close exactly how Potter had managed to turn Lumos into that monstrous thing in such a short time.

Second, she could also learn whatever Professor Flitwick taught him along the way.

Most importantly...

Know yourself and your enemy, and you could win a hundred battles!

Once she figured out which spells Potter had mastered, wouldn't beating him in their next duel be even easier?

At that thought, Malfoy suddenly felt this was simply a perfect plan!

Exactly!

She didn't want to practice with this annoying fellow!

It was only so she could defeat him fair and square next time!

Besides...

The girl stole a glance at Harry.

This fellow had already begged her so sincerely.

As the noble young Miss of the Malfoy family, surely it was only right to show a little magnanimity?

"Hmph!"

The girl finally nodded with feigned reluctance.

"Since you've asked so sincerely..."

"I suppose I'll reluctantly agree!"

Seeing the girl working so hard to maintain her haughty air, Harry couldn't help chuckling. "Understood, understood."

Only then did Malfoy feel a little satisfied.

She adjusted her robe sleeves with affected reserve, then raised her chin and turned toward the classroom door.

But just then...

"Thank you, Draco."

The girl's steps paused.

Harry was still sitting at the desk, the smile on his face a little gentler than usual.

"Thank you for coming especially to see me," he added.

Malfoy froze slightly, a faint blush unknowingly spreading over her fair ears.

Th-this idiot! What nonsense was he spouting?!

Who had come especially to see him?!

She'd clearly only been passing by!

"Who came especially to see you?!" She immediately raised her chin. "Don't flatter yourself! Idiot Potter!"

With that, she quickly turned and left the classroom without looking back.

Her long platinum hair swayed lightly with her steps and soon disappeared beyond the doorway.

Yet, however one looked at her slightly hurried retreat, there was something of a rout about it.

The classroom fell quiet again.

Harry gazed in the direction where the girl had disappeared, but the smile lingered on his lips.

"She really is a haughty young Miss who won't admit her feelings..."

But...

Harry suddenly realized that something seemed a little off with him too.

Why had he specifically called out to Draco just now?

He had already thanked her earlier.

And when he saw the girl leave with reddened ears, he had inexplicably felt a little happy.

That feeling seemed somewhat different from when he used to deliberately tease her into bristling.

Before, he had merely thought this young Miss was amusing.

But now...

The image of the girl looking back just then rose unbidden in Harry's mind.

The smile on his lips unconsciously deepened a little more.

Wait!

Harry suddenly snapped out of it.

Why am I thinking about her again?

Harry shook his head, trying to shake out all those jumbled thoughts.

Forget it. Better practice magic.

After all, women will only slow down my wand draw!

He picked up his wand again, but before he could utter a spell, the girl's embarrassed, annoyed expression flashed through his mind once more.

Harry fell silent for two seconds.

Then he let out a long sigh and muttered under his breath.

"Draco Malfoy..."

"You really are a troublesome young Miss."

Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa was reading the letter the two sisters had sent. Once she confirmed that her daughter was safe and sound, her heart finally settled back into place.

"She actually went back of her own accord to save a child..."

Narcissa sighed softly, her eyes filled with pride and relief.

"Darling, I'm so proud of her."

At that, she suddenly raised her head and looked at her husband sitting opposite her, a teasing smile appearing on her lips.

"Thank goodness our daughter didn't take after you, Lucius."

"If it had been you, you probably would have left at the first opportunity, wouldn't you?"

Yet, unexpectedly, Lucius did not argue. He did not even frown.

He merely sat there quietly, his slender fingers lightly pressing down on one corner of the letter, his gaze fixed on one particular name.

Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop.

He said nothing.

Narcissa glanced at her husband. Seeing that he was still lost in his own thoughts, she did not tease him any further.

She picked up her quill again and began writing to her daughter.

This time, the first thing she wanted to tell Draco was this.

Her mother was truly proud of her.

As for what came afterward... the corners of Narcissa's lips quietly lifted.

Of course, she also had to ask after that brave Mr. Potter while she was at it.

(Come back to life!!! My editor rescued me. I honestly wish I could give you all ten chapters!!)

(But I deleted the plot developments for the next dozen or so chapters... the author is working hard to recall the details...)

(Lastly, thank you all again! Please keep reading!)