Set in Hogwarts years, before and after.

Harry thinks if rejecting Draco's friendship was the best idea.

-A bit of Drarry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly.

This interaction kept Harry Potter up for the better half of the first night at Hogwarts. Before they, the new years, entered, Draco Malfoy had offered his friendship, even though he didn't say it directly. Harry, stupid old Harry, in the excitement of making his first friend, turned down the offer and at the same time humiliated him. Even though Malfoy reminded him a bit (okay, a lot) of Dudley, but that didn't mean should have been mean back to him!

Harry saw what his response had done to him. Because of living with the Dursleys, he could read people very well. He saw the flash of hurt in his eyes and his stance faltering before it was hidden with a wall. He had hurt Draco and it just wasn't sitting with him. Though before he could do anything, he was moved to the Great Hall and when it was time to leave, Slytherin and Gryffindor went in opposite directions. Sure, he insulted Ron, but after hearing the red-head rant about him and his family, Harry could guess they traded insults often.

Harry groaned. Why was he in Gryffindor? Oh yeah, because he was too much of a coward to go into the same house as the blond. Plus because of all the stories from Hagrid and Ron he heard. They said Slytherin was a bad house and that's where all the dark wizards came from. That he shouldn't trust anyone from that house.

He suddenly sat up. What was wrong with him? Since when did he start thinking like this and taking other people's opinion? Why was he throwing his trust into people he had barely known, something he had never done before. He knew better than to rely on someone, his life with the Dursleys made sure of it. What happened to him? He had to snap out of it. This isn't the way he behaved; he calculated his every move and for him to be acting like this was unacceptable.

Harry laid back down. He had to talk to the blond. He had to apologize. He also had to make sure he never made the same mistake again.

***

The next morning was hectic. As soon as Harry stepped out, people started whispering and pointing. Some crossed him multiple times, while others rounded back just to get another look at him. He hated this. Then there was Ron next to him and he seemed to be enjoying the attention. Harry would rather hang out with quiet Neville- if he'd let him- than this loud redhead. No offense to him, of course. It's just that Harry wasn't used to all this noise. Besides, the castle was so big it was hard to keep track of everything. Harry just decided to follow an older year to get around.

When he finally made it to the Great Hall, the blond was already there, talking to some of his friends. Harry stared at him for a while, wondering how was it possible for someone to have that blond hair. Unfortunately, this was no place to talk to him, and the teachers were already handing out the schedules. However, as Draco was passing Harry, the raven quietly slipped a note into his robe pockets. Hopefully, his idea would work.

***

Draco Malfoy turned a corner, looking for a specific place. This morning, when he was taking out a quill from his pocket, he found a note by none other than Harry Potter himself. What could he possibly want from him? The note said Harry wanted to meet him after classes ended for some time. Since they weren't used to the castle yet, he suggested they meet in the Great Hall. It was unlikely anyone was going to be there. At first Draco was hesitant, anger boiling up inside him. He rejected his friendship, and now he wanted to meet up? What was wrong with this boy? But after reading the parchment again, Draco decided to see what he wanted to "talk" about. Besides, the Great Hall was an open place, so if he tried anything, he would be in trouble. Not that Draco wouldn't deal with him first.

When he reached the Hall, he saw Harry sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table, reading a book. There were hardly any people around, giving the boys their privacy.

Draco slowly walked up to him and coughed. Harry's head immediately shot up. He closed the book once he saw who was here and put it in his robes.

"Um, hello."

'Potter, why have you called me here?" Draco replied, not bothering with the greetings.

"Wow, not even a hi?"

"I don't waste time with such uselessness. Get to the point."

"Okay then. .... Look...I, well...,"

"Well," Draco snapped.

"I wanted to apologize yesterday for my behavior. It was rude of me to turn down your hand like that."

This surprised Draco. He did not expect Harry to apologize to him. He admitted that the way he interacted wasn't the best way. But this...

"Guess you aren't as arrogant as you seem." Draco said haughtily.

Harry sighed, frustrated. "Look, when I met you, you reminded me a lot of my muggle cousin, still do. I-"

"You dare to compare me to some nasty muggle?"

"You got the nasty part right," Harry muttered quietly. Louder, he said, "You didn't let me finish. My cousin is a spoiled brat, and that's what you acted like. We don't like each other a lot. So, I thought you were another Dudley." He didn't mention what Hagrid and Ron told him, because that would be plain embarrassing.

"I am not spoiled!"

"Oh really? "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms." and "I'll bully Father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow." If that's not being spoiled then what is?"

Draco flushed and scowled. "It is unfair that first years can't bring their own broom. And how much does a measly broom cost? I still don't see why you would think I am like the muggle."

Harry thought about what to say. "He...was a bully. I didn't want to become friends with a bully. I apologize for judging you so quickly."

Draco softened a bit at this. He had forgotten in the whole dilemma of the Harry Potter mayhem that Harry was around his age. That meant that all of the books about him were probably not true, since they never mentioned a cousin, let alone a bully one. In fact, he didn't seem at all at what the books described him as.

"I suppose I can accept this, since you came to your senses. Gryffindors are known to be brash and stupid. But you may be an exception."

"But you aren't any better. Another reason I rejected you was because of your interaction skills. You drew attention to us, and at the end you insulted a lot of people."

Draco sniffed. "I thrive to be in the spotlight." He faltered a bit. "But how about we just start over? All this talking will get us nowhere."

"Glad we're on the same page."

"Hello, I am Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He extended his hand. Harry could see the nervousness as well as the fear.

"Nice to meet you, I am Harry." He extended his own arm and shook it with the blond's.