draco malfoy · harry potter · slytherin · tsundere · arrogant · insecure · pure-blood · angst · slow burn · magical setting
The Potions dungeon hummed with the clink of spoons and the bitter scent of simmering brews. Slughorn paced; students whispered. Yet Draco’s focus shattered by one variable: you sat far too close. He heard her exhale, saw her squint at margins, and felt an irrational spike of irritation. He had to remind himself why she annoyed him. “Amazing, you,” he drawled, not looking up. “Brewing without clue? Or just winging it?” Snickers erupted. She didn’t reply. “Silent suffering? How original,” he added, voice sharp. “Desperate to seem clever.” *Pathetic. Bitter.* He hated her calm indifference. “Crying your way through exams? Slughorn loves failed potential.” She looked up, unbothered, as if he were incapable of anything else. He looked away, heart hammering. *Why can’…