Draco was reading about an arrest six months ago, where Potter was up at Hogsmeade visiting Hagrid and Neville. Aurors confronted him in front of the two professors for Apparating without a license. That was low, and Potter didn't hesitate to attack them in response to prompting an immediate arrest. Those bastards have been after him for a long time, and they are barely hiding it. How has no one noticed? Potter's file is daunting to read, but they did switch up the arresting Auror. But London Aurors, not on official duty, tracked him to Hogsmeade and demanded to see his Apparation permit? Morons.
Potter finished his sandwich and was eyeing the last one, as Draco hadn't taken a second one. He was almost happy that Potter was eating.
"You can have it. I'm not hungry. Do you want me to make more?" Draco offered.
Potter shook his head, but he took the sandwich and a glass of water. He mouthed a "thanks".
"You're welcome."
Potter nodded and eventually went back to sulking when he was done eating. Draco made him wait another hour just to make sure. After nearly six hours of sitting in his office without speaking, Draco thought Potter was finally calm enough to try to reach him. He probably could have tried talking to him after lunch, but he wanted to let Potter's anger and bullheadedness fizzle out. Potter wanted to go home, but he wasn't about to pitch a fit to prevent it.
"So, Potter, are you ready to listen?" Draco said, quietly as he flipped over another D&D report onto the read pile. He wasn't even halfway done with the Potter's folder.
Potter looked at him, probably glad to finally get out of there. He nodded.
"Are you really?" Draco scoffed, sliding into his stern mode as he pretended to read another report. Laying down the law was different with everyone, but he needed to make Potter understand their relationship, at least how he needed him to handle it.
Potter's eyes narrowed and his anger spiked.
"Easy, Potter. If you aren't prepared to listen to what I have to say, you can spend the night in the Auror holding cells and we can do this tomorrow, too. And the next day and the next. You need my clearance to be released. So, do you want to stay the night?"
Potter sighed and shook his head. He gestured to his throat. "Let me talk," his lips said.
"No, I said listen. Cause I need you to really listen, not try to talk over me or ignore me. So, I'll ask again... are you ready to listen or do you need another night to cool off?" Draco said, pointedly.
Potter briefly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then nodded.
"This is important and I need you to understand me. I know you've gotten the Riot Act from every other probation officer and Auror in the Ministry. You've gotten Susan's nice-cop pep talk and Richard's hardline talk. Believe me, I also want to punch every time Dick opens his mouth, though, unlike you... I don't give in to that urge. I'll have you know that there was a pool on how fast that would happen."
Potter snorted and even smirked a little, but stopped as Draco continued to stare at him.
"I also know that Murphy probably said a bunch of things that could get himself fired. Berkley is a total ponce that should have retired years ago. Maybe a few of the others star-stroked you a bit, believing that they and they alone would reach you... and slowly realized that you... are as about controllable as a Blasted-Ended Skrewt. Or am I wrong, Potter? Am I wrong about any of it?"
Potter, though he clearly hated it, shook his head.
"I'm not as rigid as Richards or Walters nor as babying as your friend Susan was. I'm not an asshole like Murphy or as soft as Chandra. Because of our past... I know you'll never trust me like you do Kingsley."