Harry Potter: A New Path


Warning slight M for future chapters as far as language goes, also a warning this is a boys love story written between two HP canon characters that might fall in love with each other.

Mira-Charma13 & Immy

Summary:

Harry had started doubting himself lately, everything he was doing everyone he was friends with, and he was afraid to see the end result of the future. Will he live? Will Voldemort? Will Malfoy or his friends? Who else would die before this battle really began? So many questions were swirling around in his head until one day he notices something out of the ordinary by accident. How will he react when it has to do with Malfoy of all people?

- - - - - Chapter One - - - - -

Harry had been over thinking things lately. He couldn't figure out why but it all started after realizing Malfoy had been acting a bit...strange. Lately his rival hadn't bothered to go out of his way, not even while passing in the hallway to insult him, or try to use magic against him. He didn't understand things, but he wanted to know what was with Malfoy and why no one else seemed to care. Hermione brushed it off as the weasel was up to something and Ron just kept insulting him as if it wasn't anything new.

He had been glad when he would be able to go without his two friends, Hermione and Ron, to Hogsmeade and a few other stores. He wanted to get some books and snacks to keep in his room late at night. To give himself something to do instead of focus on his thoughts and his enemy. 'Why are we even enemies? All we do is insult each other every day. Well, that is until recently. Malfoy hasn't been acting like his usual self' Harry was getting lost in his thoughts while wandering around. looking at the stores, he heard something that piqued his interest wondering what it was he began looking for the source.

Turning a corner where no one seemed to be around very much at all, he heard Malfoy's voice. Two of them. 'What's going on?' he saw Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, and Draco himself in a dark alley talking. No it looked more like a heated argument. Over what though? What were they trying hide? Was it over the fact the Dark Lord wanted them to do more and Draco didn't seem to want to? Harry had learned to pick up on things while eavesdropping and hoped if he got caught that someone would walk by, preferably a female so he could make it look like they were just talking or something. He peered around the corner staying hidden, his invisible cloak, he brought it with him and knew he could use it. Why didn't he think of it earlier.

Making sure no one was looking he threw it over his head glad it was long enough to hide his feet completely from view. Harry was starting to let his mind wander then thought it was a bad idea if he got caught he wouldn't be able to come up with a good excuse. Waiting to hear what they were going to say he stood by the side away from anyone who could bump into him and hid.

Lucius Malfoy was getting more furious by the moment, that's probably why they were in a place like this to not be seen, or heard by anyone. Though he kept it quiet he was yelling at Draco for being a failure to The Dark Lord and not being able to do anything right to please their master. "Why can't you just do a simple task he asks of you, boy! If we don't do exactly what he says when he says it, we all will die. Do you want that to happen to your mother and I?"

To say the all-important Draco Malfoy had simply been acting strange as of late was a massive understatement.

Oh, the first few days of school carried on as they typically did. The infamous Malfoy heir was never seen without his two beefy bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle, flanking him like large, rather dim-looking knights. He spouted off insults left and right. For some unfathomable reason, Ron seemed to be his favorite target this year, and Draco never passed up an opportunity to jeer about his portly mother and demand to know how much property the Weasleys had to sell to buy those new robes of his. The other Slytherins, particularly the girls, crowded around him like buzzing bees surrounding their queen, often mirroring his insults and laughing hysterically whenever he pantomimed particularly amusing moments from the previous years. He took great pleasure in yanking his robes up and over his head whenever Harry drew too close and making spooky sounds, imitating a Dementor.

But then, inexplicably, something...changed.

The first major change, a highly noticeable one, was that Draco was beginning to isolate himself from his fellow Slytherins. Ordinarily, he was surrounded by Slytherins in the hallway, and Crabbe and Goyle were never far from his side. Now he stormed on ahead of them, leaving them in the dust. When they did draw too close, he lashed out at them verbally with that poisonous silver tongue of his. Now that he spent more time on his lonesome, some of the more boisterous Gryffindors (mainly the mischievous Weasley twins) singled him out for their hi-jinks. The other Slytherins went out of their way to defend Draco...but from a distance. Otherwise, he would lash out at them as well.

He no longer held his head high and pranced about the corridors like an over-preened rooster. Instead he shuffled along moodily, shoulders up, head down, and steel irises darting around nervously. He even snapped at teachers, which of course resulted in him losing a great deal of points for Slytherin on a regular basis. Even Professor Snape was forced to take points when during a Potions class, Draco just sat there doing absolutely nothing, poking at his cauldron sullenly. The blonde also developed a tendency to be easily startled, to the delight of Fred and George Weasley. He jumped at small noises, even. The impish twins merrily decided that Draco Malfoy was their new test subject, and they often tested out new prank items on him.

Understandably, by the time the weekend rolled around, the normally pompous blonde was in a particularly foul mood. He instantly jumped at the chance to escape to Hogsmeade. For the first hour, he kept to himself as usual...but his mood improved dramatically. By the second hour, he had actually started socializing with some Slytherins.

But those good moments weren't meant to last. Halfway through the second hour, an owl dashed into the picturesque town, dropping an urgent letter right into Draco's lap. His mood immediately nosedived, even before he carefully tore the letter open. It only soured further as his eyes skimmed the letter. He excused himself curtly and headed straight toward the meeting place mentioned in the letter, knowing what he would find there but dreading it anyway.

Lucius and his dear son had no clue whatsoever that they were being watched in this secluded place, but not because they were inattentive--Lucius seemed terribly nervous, and he kept craning his neck, peering around, and looking over his shoulder. He was farther away from their unseen audience, and his voice could only be heard when he raised it into a shout. Draco was much closer, wisely keeping a slight bit of distance between himself and his father. The muscles in his legs were tense. His body wanted to escape, but he willed it to stay.

"No!" His voice had raised now, as well. "I just...it's too soon to be making preparations like that! I have schoolwork...I have to get as many O.W.L.s as I can--"

Lucius cut him off here, his voice low but his face twisted with anger. They argued quietly now, but fiercely, if their stances were anything to go by. After a few minutes, Draco apparently snapped back a surly, defiant response, because Lucius strode toward him, his arm swung back--Draco flinched like a terrified child, arms flying up and over his head. The older blonde stopped himself just before striking him, looking nervous. No. It wouldn't do to have his child return to Hogwarts with such obvious marks. Instead, his hand snapped itself around Draco's throat--he lifted the struggling Slytherin right off the ground, their noses practically touching. What he said couldn't be heard...but whatever it was, Draco's legs started to shake before Lucius finally dropped him. He stalked away, fury rolling off of him in waves.

Draco leaned heavily against the wall of the alley, rubbing his throat insistently. He said nothing. Even from a distance, it was obvious that he was trembling like a leaf in a twister.

Harry stood there unable to move while he watched the events go about; he had his wand in his hand under his invisibility cloak ready to pull it out if needed. Once Lucius Malfoy looked like he was about to strike Draco, Harry almost revealed himself to both of them, however he stayed hidden. Harry felt a swelling pain in his chest when Lucius grabbed Draco by the throat 'How can he do that to him? Draco's his son!' Harry thought not realizing he used his enemy's first name for once, even if it was just in thought.

Harry knew he grew up without his father, but even so father's were supposed to love their children. Care for them, raise them, and even help them when the time called for it. Not hurt their own children, what was Lucius Malfoy thinking when he dared to do that, what made him think he would get away with that?

Once Lucius left Harry remembered where he was standing watching this all happen. Pulling his cloak off and turning it around as if he was using it as a regular cloak so people could now see him. He ran over to Draco making sure that his father was truly gone while speaking to him. "Malfoy, are you alright?" he wanted to ask what that was all about, but this wasn't the place nor the time for it. Harry placed his invisibility cloak around Draco's shoulders not to be invisible, however Harry felt the need to help Malfoy.

He didn't understand why he had wanted to help him, but lately watching people become scared of him and even play tricks on him at the school. Harry had wanted do more, all he could do was tell the twins to knock it off, but they didn't listen to him. Harry, unlike Draco, wasn't a threat to anyone. He didn't have a bad vibe rolling off of him and whenever he did people tried to help even when he didn't want their help.

This was quite an isolated location, mercifully, at the literal edge of Hogsmeade. This was an area where students rarely dared to tread. Some even spread rumors about something nasty lurking in this part of town--but the ones spreading the rumors couldn't seem to decide whether it was a werewolf or vampire. Draco was well aware of the reputation of this place, and so was his father, so it was an ideal meeting spot to discuss sensitive things. Things that could be otherwise intercepted via owl post. It was also a perfect spot for Draco to linger despite what just happened. He was clearly beside himself, and it would take some time for him to regain his bearings.

Unfortunately...it looked as if this deserted little nook wasn't quite as deserted as the Malfoys realized.

Draco leaped about a foot into the air when Harry's voice pierced the otherwise still air, and without thinking about it, he whipped around, arms shooting up into what looked like a well-practiced boxer's stance. Somehow, he must have been so distressed that he'd forgotten about his own wand, tucked away beneath his robes. The blonde looked anything but fierce, however. His entire face was a peculiar shade of rose, his normally slicked, perfect hair was mussed, he shook wildly, his steel gray eyes were wide as dinner plates, and--perhaps most startling of all--hot, thick, fresh tears streamed down his pale face.

The second he realized who was speaking to him, Draco took a step backwards, but kept his fighting stance up. His expression twisted into an infuriated one, as it usually did whenever Harry Potter drew too close to him. No matter what he did, though...he just couldn't stop the deluge of tears. This seemed to enrage him even more, because his expression twisted further, eerily resembling the angry visage of his bastard of a father.

"What do y-you want, P-Potter?" His voice sounded unsteady. Disturbing finger-shaped marks were already beginning to crop up on his neck, red at first, but quickly darkening and purpling, morphing into bruises. "M-my well-being is none of your b-business! Keep your filthy nose o-out of it!"

His voice lost strength as he kept speaking, quavering even more, but he refused to back down, and judging by the ashamed, embarrassed, and furious glint in his eyes, he would most definitely go hands-on and brawl with the darker-haired boy if he dared to take another step toward him.

Harry hated when anyone was bullied by others, that's why he never got along with Malfoy or others like him, but now seeing Malfoy this way wasn't a change or anything. He hated that this all happened the way it did and that nothing would be done about it. He wanted to yell back and bring his anger forth. However, what good would that bring any of this? Malfoy was already a mess and he wasn't going to make things worse by using anger or force.

"I uh...thought you could...I saw..." Harry didn't know how to say it, if this was Hermione or his other friends he would have walked up and comforted or hugged them, but this wasn't his usual friend. In fact Malfoy wasn't his friend at all. So what was he doing standing here trying to comfort him? His mind said to stay back, however he didn't want to this time. Even if it meant being spelled off his feet by his enemy. That's the problem, after seeing what happened Harry couldn't keep out of it, not after what he saw; Harry knew that not even Malfoy...Draco didn't deserve this.

"Fine, I won't get involved in whatever is going on between you and your family. But what you should do is first calm down, you're going to make a scene this way if anyone walks by" Harry said knowing he wouldn't be able to get any closer to the blonde without getting decked probably. Harry pulled out his wand as his eyes showed sympathy, something he couldn't possibly hide in this situation "I doubt you want anyone to know that we were even talking on any terms. Even if this doesn't count as talking. I didn't meant to walk by when I did." Harry knew that being friends with Hermione had it's perks, she had taught him so many spells that would be helpful to him, and he paid attention to majority of them that she casted.

"Episkey" Harry said calmly watching the marks fade away, Episkey was a spell to treat mild to moderate injuries including split lips and broken noses among other things. He figured it could heal the marks to at least hide them from everyone's eyes who would eventually notice them. "I learned that spell from a friend, you might wish to cover your neck in ice later otherwise it won't stop hurting, and I'm not sure if it would take the bruised feeling away or not. But at least's it's hidden from sight" Harry couldn't get any closer so he turned to walk away to head back to one of the stores before going back to the castle knowing he left his invisibility cloak with Malfoy.

Harry figured he could sneak back in later and grab it or somehow else get it from Malfoy. Though he wasn't sure how that was going to go as he stared up at the sky while the snow was gently beginning to fall and the air was growing slightly colder than it was. Harry caught up with Hermione seeing she was getting upset with Ron and storming off. Ron was on the ground like he was knocked down, Hermione must have done that, and his brothers were just laughing. They must have recorded it so he started walking with Luna to ask what had happened as they made their way back.

"Thought I could what?" The fury returned full force. As well...the angrier he became with Harry, the easier it was to forget that his own father just throttled him yet again, and the steadier his voice became. Of course, there was no need for Potter to know that what he just witnessed was rather tame for Lucius Malfoy. "You think you need to comfort me like I'm some simpering, pathetic little child? Who do you think you're speaking to, Potter?!" Pity would get Harry nowhere, even if he had good intentions. There was very little that Draco Malfoy hated more than being pitied, which was why he was often at odds with the mother he loved so dearly.

Teeth clenched together, the blonde tried his best to keep his breathing steady and even. As much as he hated to admit it, the other boy was right. The more noise they made, the more likely it was that someone else would stumble across them, perhaps thinking they were in need of assistance. When Harry revealed his wand, it was as if a light went on behind Draco's eyes, and he scrambled for his own wand, which he had out in an instant and pointed, at the ready, toward his rival. He was gearing up for a showdown, it seemed.

But the attack he'd been anticipating never came. Instead, a warmth that wasn't entirely unpleasant spread across his neck, and the bruises gradually began fading away. The throbbing pain, however, lingered on. A thought of icing the injuries later on was already passing through his mind when Harry suggested doing so. His posture was still hostile, like that of a particularly angry golden cat with its fluffy fur standing on end. His eyes seemed to have lost some of their iciness, but not nearly enough for his gaze to be considered a neutral one, let alone a friendly one. He was too riddled with rage and shame to think rationally.

He visibly slumped against the nearest wall when the brown-haired boy finally took his leave, eyes squeezed shut and fingers clamped hard around his wand. For several minutes he stood there, shivering and trying his best to regulate his breathing. He looked forward to coming to Hogwarts specifically to get away from his father. They were similar people, yes...but the few things that did make them different were stark and often caused squabbles. The biggest difference was that Draco was more focused on his schoolwork than his father's work (his real occupation, that was...not the one he took to avoid suspicious scrutiny from the Ministry), and that infuriated the man.

Was it so utterly blasphemous, so wrong, that he wanted to complete his schooling with relatively high marks, enjoy his teen years like a regular wizard, and have a little fun and time to himself before getting involved with The Dark Lord's business? Apparently so.

It was nearly a half hour before Draco moved again. He left the area without grabbing the cloak Harry left behind initially...but he returned a couple of minutes later, bent down, and scooped it up before continuing on his way once more. He hid it beneath his robes. He didn't want anyone knowing he'd acquired something of Potter's and was actually intending to return it rather than tamper with it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Monday dragged on sluggishly, at least for Draco. He seemed to be forcing himself back into his old role, though he still treated Crabbe and Goyle (as well as a couple of the pushier Slytherin girls) coldly. He managed to get revenge on the Weasley twins early in the morning, noticing them following him while he was on his way to History of Magic. After turning a sharp corner, he used a useful spell he picked up from a seventh-year Slytherin to cover the floor in marbles. The poor Weasleys never knew what hit them, and they ended up in the Hospital Wing with severe bruising (Fred managed to sprain his right arm). Even some of the Gryffindors admitted, though grudgingly, that they had it coming to them after targeting Malfoy so extensively.

He took careful pains to avoid Harry in the only class they shared together that day, Care of Magical Creatures. He was still reeling from what took place the previous day, and he was in neither the mood nor the mental shape to speak with him.

Tuesday was different. Potions was Draco's favorite class. Not only did he enjoy it profusely, but Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin House, taught the class. He didn't seem particularly interested in Potions today, however. He played with the lip of an empty vial in front of him, just barely listening to the Professor's quiet monotone...

Until, of course, the words 'group project' broke through the haze.

Draco sat up a little straighter, eyes narrowed. Both Crabbe and Goyle were not in Potions today. Taken down by a bout of influenza that had already run its course through most of the students. As such, Snape had decided to pair the two of them together and would compile instructions in a packet bound for the Hospital Wing. He went about choosing pairs carefully, tactfully separating friends (he knew they never worked well together). A funny feeling had started to brew in Draco's gut. Almost as if he somehow knew what was coming. And sure enough...

"Potter. You will be paired with Mr. Malfoy."

Draco gritted his teeth together, uncharacteristically fixing Snape with the filthiest of looks. He wanted to say something, of course...but the dark-haired Professor was already impatient with him for his lack of effort the past week, and he didn't want lose any more points for Slytherin. So he kept quiet, sullenly moving his bag of supplies and his cauldron (which was a large, high-end model he bullied his parents into purchasing for him) to the spot Snape designated. Satisfied with his selections, Snape bustled about the room, handing out a list of ingredients and a few of the more uncommon ingredients the students didn't possess out.

"You will start with these," he explained, sounding almost bored with it all. "The rest can be found on the grounds, and in the shops at Hogsmeade. If you happen to find yourself lost..." He stared particularly hard at accident-prone Neville Longbottom, who shriveled under his gaze. "The gamekeeper may be able to provide some assistance. The paper will be due in a month's time. You will work on it outside of class."

Draco gritted his teeth even more, his jaw clenched. Great. Just great. Now he would have to be seen with Potter outside of class, too!

Harry listened to Luna ramble on "Well Ron was trying to be nice to her..." apparently Ron insulted Hermione which involved being surrounded by a group of people at the same time. Ron had then made her mad enough to actually 'punch' him square in the face knocking him out. Normally Harry would have stayed with Ron, to help him and make sure he was alright, or even follow Hermione. However, what Harry had learned in school was, never get in the middle of an argument he knew nothing about without first trying to figure out what was going on. And never cross a girl of any age while in a really foul mood.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry wasn't in his cheerful mood as usual when Ginny walked over to explain to the trio (who wasn't talking since Ron's stupid motive the day before occurred) what happened with her brothers. Of course Ron spit back that Malfoy was behind it and just as bad as the lowly death eaters themselves. Harry kept quiet with this insult, he didn't know very much about Malfoy, but what came to mind was the first day he came to Hogwarts. Then it faded almost in an instant when Ginny was accidentally pushed closer to him with their shoulders touching. Harry distracted the conversation by saying something about what was going on in the newspaper.

Harry did his best not to look at Malfoy, but he kept trying to see if the other wizard put ice on his neck or not. It would be obvious if he didn't, but it looked like he had listened. Or maybe Malfoy had that intention otherwise. He was beginning to wonder just how many times did something like that happen. It sickened him to where he stayed quiet unless spoken to.

Harry was staring at a spell book while Ron whispered to Hermione trying to apologize still 'Man girls can hold a grudge' Harry thought silently to himself still ignoring his potions teacher which he did all the time even though he was good at potions surprisingly.

------

Harry blinked, they had only been paired up once before and that was during their first year as wizards. "Uh sir, I don't think it's a good idea to-" however, Harry was interupted by Snape's glare saying "If you can't work together to do one project for thirty days, how are you ever going to survive longer than your parents" now that was an insult Harry glared at, that actually felt more like a stab in the heart, but only Harry and those close could have heard that insult making him go silent.

Harry had his mind on trying not to get himself caught in detention as everyone was told to sit next to their partners. Harry stood up moving to the seat next to Malfoy leaving plenty of room between them as he was deciding on another move. Maybe he could walk out, there was no way the two of them could get along with each other, not even for a month. "You better not be planning to make me do all the work, Malfoy" Harry sounded upset, but it wasn't as threatening as it would have been if it was directed solely at Malfoy instead of where Harry's gaze lingered on their potions teacher.

Luna was paired up with Neville as Ron was paired up with Bane who wasn't too bad, at least they both would have to do fair share of the work. Hermione was paired up with a girl named Kate that was a Slytherin, and hardly anyone knew anything about. It was better than Ron...probably better for all of them if Ron and Hermione were farther apart.

Professor Snape made them open their books "Start studying about your potions while there is still time left. You may talk, but keep quiet" and he sat back down at his desk going through some papers from last week that he didn't get around to right off he bat.

Draco made a point of avoiding direct eye contact with Harry, something that he normally had no problem with, as the other student came shuffling over, looking just about as eager as he did about this whole 'month-long group project' business. He used unwavering direct eye contact to unnerve people, and to display his overwhelming degree of confidence. So...that must have meant that he wasn't feeling quite that confident right now, and he had no current desire to unnerve Harry. Odd, really. Rather than treating Harry like utter garbage, as he was so fond of doing...Draco simply ignored him, as if he was nothing more than an insignificant fixture in the background.

He was actually surprised when Professor Snape warned and insulted the Gryffindor instead of docking points. He must have been in a particularly good mood this Tuesday afternoon.

The blonde bristled, visibly uncomfortable as Harry took the seat beside him, though mercifully the other young man had enough sense to leave a respectable amount of space between them. He made a condescending clicking sound with his tongue when Harry finally addressed him, rolling those sharp steel-hued eyes of his. "Shut your mouth, Potter." His voice noticeably lacked its usual venom, but his rigid posture and pursed lips indicated that he wasn't happy in the slightest. "I don't like this any more than you do. I think I'd be better off working with a chimpanzee."

Another pair of students, one a Slytherin girl and the other a sixth year Slytherin boy (he must have been in remedial Potions, because he was in amongst the fifth years), caught those last few words and began snickering. Professor Snape, just passing by their work table, idly kicked one of the table's legs. "No more giggling. I will take points away next time."

Eager to avoid speaking to Harry as much as he possibly could, Draco busied himself with his textbook, flipping through pages until he found the correct potion and burying his face into it. He wasn't keen on making nice with the brunette. This was simply a project for Potions, nothing more. He took a few notes as he read, rolling his pricey golden eagle feather quill around in his fingers and occasionally squinting hard at a specific passage.

He looked rather funny when he was thinking hard about something.

After a few minutes of pretending that his arch-enemy wasn't seated beside him, and ignoring the fact that they would be stuck together for the next month or so, the blonde shifted unexpectedly in his seat, hands beneath his robes. He eventually unearthed the silky, silvery cloak Harry so carelessly left behind in Hogsmeade. Draco kicked Harry's foot none-too-gently underneath their work table to get his attention and then gracelessly tossed the cloak onto his lap.

He said nothing. There was really no excuse he could have given as to why he was returning this silly thing in perfect condition.

Harry ignored his potions teacher, the last thing he needed to do would be getting detention over something he couldn't explain to anyone, or at least to anyone who would care. He started wondering why he had to bother explaining anything to anyone; he may have been the chosen one, but he never acted like it. He looked up the potion ingredients making a list of what was needed while keeping the silence between the two of them. If they started talking then people would assume they were being nice or something to each other and that would be the wrong vibe to give off.

"At least you're not the one stuck with..." Harry stopped his insult and shook his head "Never mind" luckily most of these were pretty easy to come by, but the few he noticed that wasn't easy to get. Well, that would involve team work between the two of them since there was only one place to get it from. It wasn't worth to make an insult and not getting any of the project done. Sure, Harry didn't like Malfoy, but they did have to work with each other for a month, and the work was more important to him than some random argument that couldn't be sparked later if needed be.

Kate was working well with Hermione which was surprising seeing as Kate didn't get along with anyone. No one knew anything about her, except she kept to herself, and threatened anyone who came near her. She had turned down anyone who approached her, friendship or more, and she was fine with it. She became one of the top students in the potions class, it seemed to be something she was naturally skilled at, but Harry wondered about why he didn't like her. What was it that seemed familiar to want to trust a Slytherin like Kate or Malfoy? Not the other Slytherins, just the two of them, and one more than the other. Apparently they had chosen a highly difficult potion that could be fatal if done even the slightest wrong, but he wasn't going to tell them otherwise. Two out of three of his top students, not best, but top students should be able to pull it off easily.

Snape walked by Granger's table taking notice that the two of them were working remarkably well without complaints. Though he was interested in knowing which potion they had chosen to do, everyone had the choice of their own potion in order to make it more fair...more like he wanted to see the end results of each potion. Hopefully Longbottom wouldn't screw this one up either.

Harry glanced over at Malfoy taking in the appearance of how busy he was and for some reason he couldn't look away. It wasn't that he was surprised to see Malfoy working so hard, but so intently focused on trying not to talk to him or make insults towards him. Maybe the both of them thought the same way and just wanted to get this all over with. If they did it quick enough maybe they wouldn't have to worry about having contact for the rest of the time.

Harry glanced over instead of looking up and then over at him seeing something being handed to him after being kicked slightly. It was his cloak...the invisible one that he hadn't even yet thought about going to get from Malfoy. Not that he could probably find it in the other's room, figuring Malfoy would hide it from everyone else; nothing was wrong with it, in fact he couldn't spot any changes in it either. Harry stared at the cloak for a moment then remembered something as he slid a small parchment paper folded up across the bench next to Malfoy's side and going back to stare at his book with his notes. What was written was...

Sorry about yesterday, shouldn't have been there. No one else knows

though it was small lettering to keep it hidden from any wandering eyes and if he spelled it, then Snape would find out.

"Oh, no..." The expression on the Malfoy heir's face was almost too malicious, even for him. He leaned ever so slightly toward Harry, eyes glinting dangerously. "Do finish, Potter. I want to hear exactly what you were going to say about me!" Just then, Professor Snape glided by again, and he listlessly tapped the pompous blonde on the back of his head. "Five points from Slytherin. Lower your voice, Mr. Malfoy." A note of warning hung on his voice--his patience had obviously run out with Draco. "And get to work." From a table on the other end of the room, Ron tried his very best to stifle his snickers, obviously thrilled to bits that Malfoy was finally on the wrong end of Snape's hand. Especially after what he did to Fred and George.

Draco hung his head, his murderous gaze momentarily fixated on the Head of Slytherin. By the look of it, he might have wanted to stand right up and start throwing punches. He also seemed to have less and less patience over the past few days. More than likely, this had something to do with his father, and what his father was plotting. His caustic behavior and inattentiveness during classes meant that he'd already lost upwards of fifty points for his own house. Though he wouldn't mind the chance to sock Snape...he didn't want to lose any more points. So he buried himself in his book once again.

Most of the pairs of students were chatting, murmuring under their breath and trying to come up with a plan. Mainly, they discussed dates and times where they could get together in the library and start work on penning their essay. Others discussed the list of missing ingredients and pondered where to find them, often referencing their textbooks. Ron and Bane were among the most productive, apparently wanting to get things done and dusted so that they wouldn't have to associate with each other any more.

But Draco seemed intent on ignoring his partner altogether, which simply wouldn't do. The longer they ignored each other, the longer it would take them to finish this ridiculous project. He was being childish, really. He wasn't beyond throwing tantrums like a toddler...but he would wait until he was in private to do that. The last thing he wanted to do was have what appeared to be a mental breakdown in front of all of these other students.

The blonde was just getting back into his reading and note-taking when something brushed him on the side--he glanced over idly and then sat up straighter, noticing it was a bit of parchment. He wisely waited until Professor Snape passed by again. Once the brooding, dark-haired Professor swept by with a swish of his cloak, his back to them, Draco reached out and snatched up the parchment, whipping it open with one hand. He had to squint to read the lettering. For a few moments, he just stared at the words...

...And then he folded it back up and set it down, flashing Harry an indignant stare. Potter would regret it if he ever revealed to anyone, anyone, what he saw in Hogsmeade. Because Draco wouldn't just jinx or curse him...

He would seriously maim him.

For the longest time, Draco ignored the folded-up bit of parchment. When only ten minutes of Potions class remained, he snatched it up again and unfolded it. He scribbled something in quite minuscule script before slapping it back down on the seat between them. Just in time, too--Snape was just passing by, scrutinizing the amount of work the two of them had completed before moving on to another table.

The response was simple.

I will kill you if you flap your gums.

Obviously, he felt threatened. Harry knew, or at least suspected, that the abuse that occurred just a couple of days prior wasn't a one-time thing. The last thing he needed, especially after the piss-poor week he'd already had, was for Potter to air his dirty laundry all throughout the school.

Luckily Harry was able to take note of where such ingredients were, though he could go them himself later, but it would take two in order to do things correctly. Harry rolled his eyes at Malfoy until Snape had apparently caught him saying something to him and wished to say a remark back, but Kate had already stood up to do so. 'What is she doing?' Harry thought while she got a bit of attention saying "I do believe we're supposed to work with our partners, that includes speaking Professor" she had a slightly English accent that sounded natural and different from her usual accent (which was less English sounding). Hermione tried to get her partner to sit down and stay quiet, but it didn't seem like that was going to happen.

Snape glared at her "Fifty points-" before he could finish she spoke up "I'm getting punished for stating the fact which is a rule in doing a project with another? Oh yes, that will go lovely along the lines of any rumors later. Imagine that." she seemed like she was spaced out when she said that. Sometimes Harry thought she could be related to Luna Lovegood, but more...outspoken and sane. For some reason Harry thought she might lose a lot of points by speaking like that to a teacher. Though she wasn't being rude, just honest, and...well Hermione like. Hermione stood up before Professor Snape could speak to retaliate against Kate. "Ronald Weasely keep your magic hands to yourself" Hermione exclaimed confusing everyone in the room, it seemed like this time class was getting interesting, and Ron hadn't actually done a thing to her. Though Professor Snape wouldn't know this since his focus went from Malfoy to Kate in almost an instant when she spoke up.

"Twenty-five points from Gryffindor and yourself Mr. Weasely. Keep your hands to yourself and everyone get back to work." Professor Snape made his way back to his desk in a huff unhappy about the events that just unfolded. He was surprised Kate spoke up, she kept quiet about everything and never even spoke to the teachers. He was starting to wonder what brought this all up of a sudden. Keeping an eye on Granger and Kate he realized they were both smiling as if having a good time while working together. That was odd. A Slytherin and Gryffindor having a good time, let alone in school during his class?

Harry read the note sighing, everything was just so tense lately, and he wished to get away from it. Looking over at Malfoy he shrugged and gave a look 'Who would I tell?' actually there were alot of people he could tell, but the question would be. Why? He didn't want to be the cause of anyone's stress especially after what he witnessed yesterday and maybe it was his good nature that gave him the feeling to want to step in. "What was that all about?" he asked mostly to himself not caring if anyone heard, the bell rung for them to go their next destination.

Harry started to wonder if someone was placing spells on others in the school. Malfoy acting strange, Hermione lying about something Ron did, and a Gryffindor sticking up for a Slytherin to keep them out of trouble as well as giggling in class together. Something surely was up and he wasn't the only one who noticed it. It wasn't like the world was ending, but you almost would laugh at that thought seeing how disordered the school was now. Hermione left while talking to Kate about where to find their ingredients; Neville and Luna already snuck out first in case there was another uproar. Ron sat there confused at how he got points taken away and realized he had no proof or anything that could be pinned to Hermione. He was so going to get her back for losing house points and his points while in Potions. "Am I the only one who thought that was out of whack?" Harry asked looking around and back at Malfoy, he didn't know why, but probably because he was the closest.

Now ordinarily, Gryffindors and Slytherins of any age and in any year could never get along--the two warring Houses were like oil and water, unable to mix. Today, right this moment...was a very rare sight indeed. All of the students, Slytherins and Gryffindors alike, watched the scene unfold with practically gleeful expressions. Though Professor Snape was the Head of Slytherin House, the Slytherins themselves always enjoyed seeing a teacher--any teacher--receive a heaping helping of humble pie. It was especially sweet for the Slytherins who usually crowded around Draco Malfoy, as Snape and the blonde hadn't been on the best of terms lately.

The Slytherins all laughed hysterically in unison when Hermione joined the fray, perhaps to shield her partner from any point loss. Even Draco, who seemed fairly miserable as of late, managed to laugh, though his laughter was barely more than a chuckle. He cracked up further when another Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson, sitting just a short distance away mouthed 'Magic hands' to him, unable to speak because she was laughing so hard. He stuck his hands out in front of him and shook them, spouting off some made-up (but admittedly magical-sounding) words, which brought on another roar of side-splitting laughter from the nearest Slytherins. Some of the Gryffindors snickered, but the majority of them seemed puzzled by Hermione's actions. None more so than Ron, of course, who, in his confused and humiliated daze, uncharacteristically lagged behind Harry after the bell sounded, indicating the end of class.

With Gryffindors and Slytherins being forced to mix because of this godforsaken project...Severus Snape had unwittingly created a monster. Who had ever heard of a Slytherin getting along with a Gryffindor?

When the bell initially sounded, Draco at first hung back with a group of Slytherins, most of whom were still trying to contain peals of laughter. Hermione's single hilarious statement would be forever ingrained in their memories. After a few moments, however...he excused himself and strode out of the room, craning his neck and carefully scanning the crowded corridor (apparently, many students had a free period after Potions, and they were all lingering and socializing before moving on).

"And where do you think you're going, Potter?"

Draco didn't sound at all friendly...but on the flip side, his voice wasn't openly hostile, either. "We aren't finished yet. Get back here before I drag you back myself. I want to get the details for this project settled, and then get the whole thing over with. The less I see of your face, the better."

Ron turned around in an instant, his face still flushed an angry beet red after enduring the taunts from the Slytherins and the scattered giggles from members of his own house. "Shove off, Malfoy! Harry isn't one of your stupid household servants!" He flexed his muscles, obviously gearing up for a brawl. He was just dying to get his hands on Malfoy this year, after the blonde apparently decided this was Ron's year to be humiliated rather than Harry's.

"Oh?" Draco arched a pale eyebrow, not bothering to fall for the redhead's tricks. He wouldn't throw the first punch. "I suppose you're speaking for Potter now, Weasley? Probably makes you feel quite important, acting as Potter's figurative secretary." The two of them were worse off than ever, bickering every chance they got and insulting each other left and right. Sooner or later, Ron's quick temper would get the better of him and he'd end up doing exactly what Draco wanted him to do--which was start a fight and land himself in hot water.

Hermione looked at Kate "Since we're doing the 'Fire Protection Potion' we should probably look at the ingredients needed. I believe we will need..." Hermione had her book in her arms opened to the page that was bookmarked, but before she could speak "Bursting mushrooms, Salamander blood, and Wartcap powder. However, I do believe there are a few things we might change to make this more effective and stronger" Kate stated as she walked talking with Granger about the different effects it could have on the user. Hermione and Kate ignored the boys as they walked while speaking to each other. What was the point of making this difficult, it was better to get it done and over with, and without any other trouble.

Bane had already picked out the potion they were going to do the 'Forgetfulness Potion' which was just like Bane to pick out something that would make it seem like they never did the work in the first place and get away with it. However, the effects could last longer than anyone would hope to think, and it could become worse than just forgetting one thing. "Come on, Weasly let's just get you out of here" Bane tried to get him to walk away, however, Malfoy started up something and Weasly wasn't backing down.

Harry sighed he didn't think Ron would actually...oh wait, he did know Ron would spout off about something or anything Malfoy said "Ron calm down, calm down" Harry tried to get the red head boy's attention to relax more, but he couldn't. Harry was about to say something to Malfoy to try and make light of this conversation even though he wasn't happy how Malfoy was talking to Ron. Though it wasn't any different than usual really, but he was cut off by Ron telling him "No. You can't just let him walk all over you Harry, if you let him slide once he will just keep it up, and make things worse." Ron's voice was loud enough that Snape seemed to have gotten up from his desk seeing as this was causing a commotion and he hated all the noise that was being caused.

Harry looked at the girls as they passed, however Kate was keeping Hermione preoccupied which wasn't helping in his aid. Fred and George passing by wouldn't help very much either. That is, until Professor Snape walked up making it seem awkward, but the tension just grew more and more. Harry wished he could send a thought towards the girls to get them to intervene, but it looked like it was going to have to be him to do something. "Alright, fine" Harry grabbed Malfoy's arm and pulled him away from the students surrounding them as Ron tried to follow even with Fred 'n George trying to keep him back somewhat. Kate stepped up as well as Pansey, which caused quite a scene considering Kate really hated Parkinson to no end for no reason; glaring at the Weasley "Back off Weasly" though her threat was distracted by the twins watching behind their younger brother.

Kate began to form magic slightly around her hand hardly visible, though she could feel every bit of it. "Just go back before you get points docked for both sides" Hermione stood on the side lines not getting involved this time since class was over, she wasn't about to have anything bad on her report or house for getting into something that didn't truly involve her this time. Hermione was thinking she should stop listening to Kate's advice on meditating and trying new spells that the school didn't know about yet. So far things were getting out of hand. Hermione walked over to Ron with Ginny in tow moving the boy away from the crowd "This is not what we need right now, Ronald" Hermione whispered in a low upset tone.

Kate took a glance at Fred until he caught her and she turned walking away taking Pansey with her. Once out of sight she let go of the other girl's arm "I don't like you, you don't like me, but if that Weasly boy does anything to harm one of our own. I will group up with you ONLY once to take him out and be warned I don't need a curse to do that." Pansey seemed to agree with her "Alright, if he over steps his boundaries, we will put that Weasly in his place" Pansey's lips curled into a smile as she had a gleam in her eye. Kate walked away without trying to speak to Hermione again so she could go back and do her other homework first. Mainly she wanted to get away from the situation and calm her nerves.

"Malfoy, did you have to start something like that right after class" Harry hissed at the blonde while walking away, they weren't best friends or friends to begin with, but it caused a bit of a commotion. Harry thought maybe Malfoy wanted attention like Kate and Hermione had caused a scene earlier, if so that was not the best way to go, but no one ever said Slytherins were bright. Then Harry remembered the magic sorting hat said he could be in either house and probably do better in Slytherin. He wondered why since both of his parents were Gryffindors. Would it make any difference for him to be in a different house other than the influences.

Fred looked at his brother as the twins thoughts seemed to click in unison "Did that Slytherin just?" George asked as Fred nodded "I do believe so, we're going to have fun with this one won't we?" they both snickered disappearing as Professor Snape made sure everyone left the hallway without lingering around or he was going to dock points alone for that.

"In case any of you lot have forgotten..." Draco's voice had dropped back down to its usual uninterested drawl--the same exact drawl that his father, Lucius, typically spoke in. Sad thought it may be...he was the spitting image of his father. The blonde shifted his weight from one leg to the other. His long, slender fingers toyed with a particularly shiny, gleaming badge pinned on his robes. "I do happen to be a Slytherin Prefect this year." He spoke those words perhaps a little too proudly. "And, like a good Prefect, I certainly wouldn't mind handing out a few well-deserved detentions to a bunch of wayward students such as yourselves, loitering about in the dungeons after class. Disturbing Professor Snape's peace and quiet."

Predictably, a few students were eager to shuffle along and get out of the way once Snape was brought into the picture. Though Draco and the female Slytherin Prefect, Pansy Parkinson, were both known to heavily abuse their shiny new powers as Prefects...they weren't nearly as horrific a threat as Snape was. Even more quickly went on their way as Snape actually deigned to emerge from his classroom, his dark, abysmal eyes sweeping over the remaining students. His irritated expression suggested that he was very close to docking points and handing out detentions by the handful. Of course...as he drew closer, he did catch that his favorite student was actually making an attempt to temporarily put his differences with Harry Potter aside for the sake of the project...

How interesting. Perhaps they wouldn't fail after all. He wasn't about to dock points from the few stray students lingered behind to briefly discuss details about their projects, but anyone lingering for the sake of lingering (that is, the vast majority of this crowd) was walking a fine line, and points would be taken within the minute if they did not wise up and leave. And he did tell them so, looking pleased when they started clearing out. Though some of the Gryffindors certainly didn't mind having to be seen with a Slytherin in a public place if it was for the sake of getting a wonderful grade (Hermione, for example), no true Slytherin in their right mind would want such a thing (Draco, a prime example). Draco was particularly hostile toward Gryffindors, much more so than most of the other Slytherins. And that was certainly saying something--just look at Pansy Parkinson!

Apparently, only Snape saw through Draco's admittedly feeble attempt at both resolving the situation and further insulting the already-agitated Weasley boy. Trying to avoid a fight while still actively provoking one? Unusual for the blonde Malfoy. He did notice that while Draco directed his annoyance toward the redhead, the entirety of his focus was undeniably on Potter.

...Hm...perhaps...no, would such a ludicrous idea even work? Seemingly distracted, Snape turned, his long black cloak sweeping across the floor as he strode down the hallway. Perhaps he would consult Dumbledore privately about this matter...surely, if he thought the idea was beneficial to both Harry and Draco (for a long time, both Snape and Dumbledore grimly agreed that the esteemed Malfoy heir might be a lost cause), it was an idea worth pursuing...?

Predictably, Draco recoiled when a foreign hand clasped itself around his arm. Strangely, however, the tips of his ears began flooding with quite an unusual color--the exact hue of young pink roses in full bloom. "Get your filthy fingers off of me, Potter!" Despite the slight and almost unnoticeable flushing, nothing more than shock, malice, and slight disgust saturated the blonde's voice. This time, at the very least, his disdain had nothing to do with Harry personally. Draco never did like to be touched. He always reacted violently when someone intentionally or unintentionally laid a hand upon him. Why, just last week Draco sicced Crabbe and Goyle on a poor, unsuspecting second year student for accidentally toppling him over in a desperate attempt to reach his class on time. He never allowed anyone to touch him in public, the exceptions being the occasional spot of hand-holding between himself and Pansy...and the few rare occasions when his parents deigned to touch him.

Despite his words, he made no attempt to yank his own arm away--he, too, was eager to get away from the crowding throng of students, and he hurriedly stomped down the hallway.

Ron grumbled when Hermione whispered those words in his ears, but refused to settle down until Harry and Draco were out of sight. When they were finally gone, he hung his head, somehow managing to look enraged and defeated all at the same time. "I can't believe Harry has to work with that--" He spared a quick look down the hallway, just to make sure that Snape was actually gone before he started spouting out obscenities. "...That git! For a month! We've got to get him out of it somehow! They'll end up strangling each other, and you know it!"

Draco huffed as they walked along. Eventually, he did wrench his arm out of Harry's firm grip, surpassing the raven-haired boy to take the lead. "I know you've got a free period now, Potter. But I'd rather not be seen with the likes of you in a public place." His nose wrinkled up slightly. It wasn't because he himself would be mortified if anyone knew he'd spent even the slightest amount of time in amicable company with Dumbledore's little Golden Boy. No, it was the astoundingly speedy manner in which gossip spread throughout the school that he was concerned about. If his father even suspected he was trying to play nice with The Boy Who Lived--..he shuddered to think of what would become of him then.

"There's an abandoned classroom nearby. We can discuss this further in private once we're there." He peered over his shoulder, fixing those silvery gray eyes on orbs of emerald green, that trademark sneer twisting his handsome facial features. "Well, Weasley had to go and open that big fat mouth of his. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered wasting my time and energy on him." Even Harry would have to admit that was true. Ron did have a big mouth, and he didn't really know when to shut it up.

Draco took two right turns, one straight pathway, and a single left turn before coming to a halt. He whipped out his wand to launch a quick "Alohomora!" at the door, which dutifully opened afterward. The room was nearly empty, save for a couple of rickety desks and a few spindly chairs. The blonde stepped in immediately, slipping his wand back into his robes. "Well?" He arched a single eyebrow. "In, Potter. I haven't got all day."

Harry let go after awhile of getting away from the crowd which made more whispers appear than he ever expected. Actually Harry didn't think any of this through today, he was certainly ready for bed tonight, but not to deal with Ron. On the other hand Harry was actually smiling at the event that just took place, he knew everyone saw him and Ron as best friends so he figured he had to help Ron out, and they all knew he would. He couldn't help, but enjoy someone mouthing back to Ron in one of his moods. He knew the Weasly had a big mouth, sometimes it got him in trouble, and anyone around with Ron.

"Will you stop it Ronald Weasly! I understand you're frustrated and that no one likes Malfoy, especially you. But you almost made us lose points and now I have to go off to find my research partner in this large school." Hermione was upset that she could have gotten started on her work sooner, but Ron just seemed to had to have done something in order to take away from that. Another thing Hermione couldn't stand about Ron "You're not Harry, Ronald. It's not our problem as long as no one tries to actually 'Kill' each other" Hermione sighed shaking her head, Ginny stood next to her agreeing "She's right Ron, you had no right to start a fight like that. Mum won't be happy to hear if you get kicked out of school or get detention for something so trivial. We deal with Malfoy every day, what made any difference today?" Ginny sounded concerned and disappointed.

Hermione wasn't going to edge this on saying it would be quieter if Malfoy was strangled by Harry or anyone, but fueling the fire right now wasn't what was needed. The two girls at least had a level head on their shoulders giving them more to think about before shouting off nonsense. "Hermione, if you need to find Kate I do believe Fred and George can help with that. I just know she likes to go to places where she can be alone without anyone near her. Usually the dungeon, but if you get caught down there it wouldn't be very good. So you might wish to ask them." Ginny turned on her heel to leave.

"I have to find my partner and start the project, Ron I would suggest doing the same after you calm down and you're right, he is a git. But he isn't our problem right now" the project was just about everything for the grade, if anyone skipped out on it they would have to re-do the entire class again the next year and not pass even with an average. Professor Snape made that clear hoping it would get everyone into doing the project and you and you had to at least 'Try' on it in order to get that far.

Harry looked to Draco "After all that I don't think I'd want to be caught up in the open with you either" he rolled his eyes, this wasn't going to help, but what else was the boy to say to his enemy after all this time about being seen in public together. His messy raven dark hair covered his scar as he used his free hand to run through it smoothing it out a bit. A migraine was starting to take place which meant he would be easily distracted for awhile until he took care of it. Maybe some tea later he thought to himself as he followed Malfoy keeping an eye out in case this wound up being some sort of trap.

Speaking in almost a whisper to himself he agreed "Ron does have a big mouth, that's for sure" seeing the wand Harry almost went on defense until he realized Malfoy was only unlocking the door and he relaxed only a small bit. "You know, no one is around you don't have to keep acting like a..." Harry couldn't think of the right word "Never mind" he stepped inside to find a place to sit down at with his books "Let's just get this over with, free period is only two hours long" Harry sounded like it would be quick, but had a feeling it would feel like the complete opposite. "Which one were we doing?" Harry was just changing the subject the best he could to focus more on their project.

Even without him saying much on the matter, Draco's bunched muscles, rather high shoulders, and forcibly stony expression spoke volumes about his view on the whole event. He didn't know whether to applaud himself for once again turning Weasley into the very likeness of a raging red-haired bull or throttle himself for not having the good sense to catch Harry's attention in a more subtle manner. Whenever the blonde made a public spectacle of himself, in a negative or a positive way, it wouldn't be very long before the gossip bled through the school, and eventually, his father would get his conniving hands on that juicy bit of information. And what would he say about all this, then?

'Indeed, son...' A perfect rendition of his father's drawling voice, so very similar to his own, rang out within his skull. 'It may be quite amusing to ruffle the feathers of a Weasley--I know this firsthand. But I already advised you to steer clear of the Potter boy. Now that the Dark Lord is alive and well...Potter is little more than a marked man. He is no longer yours to toy with. He belongs solely to The Dark Lord.'

Idly, Draco wondered if Harry would feel frightened, knowing that Voldemort had advised his loyal following of Death Eaters not to slaughter him if they managed to get their hands on him...simply because he wanted to do the deed himself. He had yet to lay his own eyes on the man--could he even really be called a man anymore...?--but, rest assured, his father claimed that aforementioned meeting was not far off. He should have been thrilled, knowing he was to follow in his father's footsteps and make his family proud. But was he?

"You're right." For a moment, this admission attracted shocked stares from the few students walking both in front and behind of the trio. Ron, admitting that Hermione was right for a change? Ginny certainly seemed impressed...that is, until Ron continued. "Nobody does like Malfoy," he spat out savagely, burying his hands deeply within his pockets. They felt useless right about now, seeing as they weren't being put to good use pummeling the tar out of Draco Malfoy. Several people snickered. Ginny just rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly. No one could really blame Ron for jumping at the chance to give that arrogant little Slytherin his well-deserved comeuppance--after all, for some inexplicable reason, Draco seemed to be picking on Ron more than anyone else this year, even more than Harry!

After being dismissed as such, the gangling redhead trudged his way through the crowd, nearly bowling over a couple of Hufflepuff first years in his wake. The crowd parted for him, as if the students could sense that he was smack-dab in the middle of a violent strop. No one in their right mind would bother Ronald Weasley for the rest of the day. Although...eventually, he would have to put his hatred for Draco to the side. Harry was stuck with the blonde prat for a month. Which, inevitably, meant that both Ron and Hermione might be stuck with him as well...and Bane and Kate would also be stuck with the Dream Team (as Malfoy so liked to call them) for the next month. This project was turning out to be a massive undertaking, indeed...and they had Professor Snape to thank for it.

Draco managed to catch that soft, whispered agreement to his words--he hid his face from the other boy, but a devilish smirk curled his lips. He didn't bother taking a seat in one of those ancient-looking chairs...they looked as if they'd crumble away into nothing but dust if he would try to sit on one of them. Instead, he headed straight for the only window in the room, whipping out his wand again and muttering something under his breath. The dust caking the window and the hefty stone ledge underneath it vanished into thin air. Draco took a seat on the small ledge there, folding one leg over the other.

"Like a what, Potter?" Those stormy gray eyes narrowed into suspicious, minuscule slits. He wasn't about to let the Gryffindor get away with that one. For a few moments, even after Harry inquired about the potion he'd chosen for their project (he was, after all, the top student in the class...it was only natural that he would choose), Draco said nothing, instead sweeping those silvery eyes over Harry's expression, looking for a chink in his armor...anything that would tell him what the other was actually thinking. When he finally did speak, he sounded bored, almost uninterested.

"Gregory's Unctuous Unction." Having said this, Draco retrieved his well-worn Potions book, flipping through the pages rapidly. The potion he mentioned must have been one that would normally be far too advanced for a fifth year to attempt, as he clearly surpassed the list of standard fifth year potions in the textbook. "Page 656," he finally declared, attentively studying the page. Now that he was more focused on schoolwork, all traces of his usual egotistical aura seemed to have...vanished, almost. He spoke calmly and politely, though he sounded decidedly bored. He wasn't even obsessively blurting out Harry's surname anymore. "It's an advanced potion. Too advanced for most fifth years. But I--" he indicated to himself with one long finger, a smug grin stretched across his face, "--Draco Malfoy, am quite skilled when it comes to potions. I can make it, as long as I can find the proper ingredients."

Hermione stood there lingering a second until Ron explained why he thought she was right. Then she turned on her heel and stormed off with Ginny to find her twin brothers that could help locate her partner for the project. This was going to be a long year...more like a long month to start off with and Hermione was already focusing on everyone else so she wouldn't have to focus on herself. In time they found the two boys whispering about some new teacher that was soon to come to the school for some odd reason. However, they have yet to figure out if that was a good thing or not. "I'll see you later 'Mione" Ginny walked off on her own way to get back to her classes she still had, after this current class for her she would be on free period for the rest of the evening luckily.

"Heeey" Hermione sounded a bit uncertain about going to the two trickster Weasly's to locate someone in another house. The boys looked up "Mind helping me find my lab partner? I don't like the idea of running around the dungeon during free period just to find her." The boys looked at each other and looked intrigued "You mean the Slytherin?" George asked "Yes, her name is Kate. Ginny said you could help me find her, please" Neither boy seemed interested in this matter until she said "I'll owe you one" then they smiled in unison, they loved it when people owed them favors, especially when the favor was left unsaid. The twins didn't know much about this Slytherin, well Fred knew more than George however he was unwilling to share anything with anyone.

Kate herself was sitting under one of the trees in the courtyard looking relaxed with her legs stretched out and crossed over each other as she read a book that didn't look like it belonged in the school's library. Well not unless it was in the forbidden section, but it wasn't. It was her own book and she loved it alot, it was about a girl who found out she was a witch and everyone was out to get her. However, there was more to the storyline than just that; her long brown hair laid across her shoulders instead of it's usual high ponytail as her emerald eyes scanned the pages. Speed reading. That was what she was known for, reading faster than anyone else as well as remembering it all. So she only read books once. Never more than that for any reasons as she never thought about why she would need or want to. After a few moments she seemed to have drifted off into a little nap as everyone stayed away from her.

"Like a spoiled brat" Harry was going to say something more...insulting, but that was what he resorted to in the end "Let's not get into any fights, the project won't complete itself." he stated while taking a glimpse at Malfoy wondering what the blonde slytherin was thinking. Looking back to his book to flip to the correct page, he already had heard of this spell before...somewhere, though he couldn't remember where right off hand. Harry looked confused after finding the spell he was looking for on page six-fifty-six in his old, hardly touched potions book. "Why would you want to make a friendship potion?" Harry had finally calmed down from earlier glad the affect from earlier's little outbursts between everyone didn't last too long. How would a friendship potion make it so they can explain why to keep it as a useful spell.

Then it made sense to him, if people became friends more often it would be less of a hassle to bother with and less negativity to start fights and such. On the other hand turning someone into your friend that would be your enemy normally would...well work more in your favor. Now the only thing they had to do was work on the ingredients and write out the report. Two hours to sit in this old, dusty room that was falling apart; Harry was starting to wonder how Malfoy hung out in here, but the creaking shack was probably about the same as far as the shape it was in.

Draco instantly snorted after Harry revealed what he was going to say. "Seriously? The great Harry Potter can't come up with anything better than that old line?" He rolled those steel-hued eyes. "Oh, that is rich." He put a particular rolling emphasis on the 'r' in rich. Sure. He was a spoiled brat--he'd admit that much. The Malfoys were a fabulously wealthy family. His parents spoiled him terribly as a child. Whatever their perfect son wanted, their perfect son got. Of course...it wasn't all sunshine and daisies. There were dire consequences and strict stipulations that came with being born into the Malfoy name.

Draco liked to refer to them as the Ten Commandments of Malfoy. But, of course, he certainly wasn't willing to discuss them with Harry Potter, of all people.

"Offering me the figurative olive branch, there, Potter?" Draco briefly glanced up from his book of potions, sharp silver eyes meeting Harry's greener gaze. His voice sounded...strange. It was a clear mixture of his average condescending drawl and a softer, much less harsh monotone. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head somewhat as he returned to poring over his work. "How very noble of you," he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Isn't that just like a Gryffindor, always wanting to play the role of the good guy--wanting to make peace with the enemy." Draco scoffed, the muscles in his arms tensing up. "I swear, you lot have such a repulsive hero complex. It's enough to make me gag." His words lacked the usual dosage of venom. Instead, they almost sounded...forced. He didn't want things to get too friendly between them. If that happened...that nosy Potter just might think he had the right to ask about the scene was unfortunate enough to witness in Hogsmeade.

And he couldn't have that. Some secrets were meant to be kept. Meant to be buried deep beneath the earth, where no one would ever be able to find them.

The Malfoy heir perked up somewhat when Harry piped up again, though his expression was quick to sour. "Don't get the wrong idea, Potter." He practically spat Harry's surname through his clenched teeth. After a moment, the sourness faded away, and those pale features of Draco's softened, smoothed out. It was an atypical sight, to be sure--Draco Malfoy without one of his trademark smirks or signature sneers slapped on his face? What was the world coming to?

And just like before...when that condescending shield of an expression dropped away, Draco kept his gaze focused on the book clutched in his hands. The last thing he wanted was for someone to see through him, see him for what he really was--a broken man. So he wisely avoided Harry's gaze.

"It could prove to be useful in the workplace." Strife between co-workers was a common cause of job loss, after all. If everyone working in the same place could get along just swimmingly, even for just a couple of days...surely they would be able to see the benefits of working together just as well without ingesting the potion? "And in the Ministry," he continued, absently twirling his Prefect badge around in his free hand. Squabbles in the Ministry's different branches were commonplace, and they often resulted in different witches and wizards being shuttled around the entire Ministry until they found a group that they could work with seamlessly. "And..." Draco's voice regained some of its prior coldness. "To settle long-standing rivalries, of course."

Those stormy eyes darted up to meet Harry's. And there it was. For a split second--just a second--the powerful icy armor that concealed Draco Malfoy's emotions from the rest of the world cracked. Sadness, helplessness, fury, loneliness--those were the only emotions that had time to flash in those eyes before that invisible icy shield repaired itself, and the blonde immediately glanced back downward, that well-rehearsed mask right back in place.

Harry wasn't going to elaborate on anything especially since the two of them would just fight and this report would get no where. He wasn't going to have just one of them do all the work, though if anyone did see them right now they would probably die of shock. Why was it so hard to believe two people could get along even if they weren't friends in...well high school pretty much. Harry heard what Malfoy said as he said something else "Just because I'm not trying to fight with you right now, doesn't mean I like you at all, I still hate you, but this grade is more important than some giant ego either of us have" Harry knew how he thought around people thinking some were...well not everyone was above him.

"I could say the same for you, just like a Slytherin to always pick the fights" and never finish them, though Harry thought that last part not saying it for it would probably be the end of free period for this project duo. "The potion being used for ministry uses, like every other out there would have side affects probably. However, if someone goes under cover to find an enemy they're trailing, they could use Polyjuice to temporarily look like someone else to get them to take Gregory's Unctuous Unction potion so they could become 'friends' and get the information needed to take down the real person behind everything." Harry hadn't realized how odd that seemed would be true if he used it to get closer to the dark lord, but Harry wouldn't do that alone it would be suicidal if he did. Though he wondered why no one else had thought about that or brought it to attention.

When Harry heard Malfoy state 'To settle long-standing rivalries' it made him wonder more about the choice of this potion but ignored it. There was no way this project duo could ever become friends or even near it. They were doing a project for a month together, however out in the open it would appear they hated each other and after the month was over they wouldn't have to see each other again. Harry started taking notes on what they were talking about just in case he might forget about it later.

"There she is mate, we heard her talking to Parkinson about wanting some peace and quiet. This is the only place during daylight hours you can truly find her during free period since she sits in the dungeons later in the evening. See you later, 'mione" George spoke as he dragged his brother away from the girls to get started on their next big idea for a prank item for their future shop they wanted to set up.

"Good. The last thing I want is you liking me."

Those words definitely sounded forced. The subtle change in Draco's stance and demeanor after Harry refused to take the bait about the 'ending long-standing rivalries' essay point would surely go unnoticed by all but the most observant of people. His fingers tightened their grip on his universal book of potions, which was surprisingly well-worn--it was unlike a Malfoy to hold on to something that looked so decidedly shabby when another could be easily purchased at any given time. His knuckles even turned white. Now he wouldn't even grace his darker-haired companion with his silver gaze at all, instead keeping those luminous eyes glued to the fraying pages. His legs slowly uncrossed themselves and he planted his feet silently on the floor, back slightly hunched and shoulders steadily, but sluggishly, rising.

In truth, the Malfoy heir hadn't meant to let that little snippet of information slip past his lips. That was a purely private thought, lingering in the darkest corners of his tortured subconscious. Draco wasn't entirely sure how it managed to worm its way out into the open. Even less comprehensible was the reaction Harry's complete disregard for the statement garnered from his own body, his own innards. His heart thumped painfully against his rib cage three powerful times, his toes curled in his shoes, he suddenly felt rather feverish...and, to his absolute disgust, his eyes and the flesh surrounding them grew inexplicably hot--a familiar feeling that often heralded the arrival of tears.

And that wouldn't do. Malfoys weren't allowed to cry, especially not in front of other people.

He supposed it was his mutinous subconscious again. A part of him did want help. What kind of help he desired was unknown even to him. Of course, there was no way Draco would outright ask someone else for help. He had far too much pride, far too much face to lose! It mystified him--it truly did--why these forbidden sentiments were cropping up now, of all times...and in such unsavory company, to boot. After all...why would Harry Potter, enemy to the Dark Lord and the opposite of everything the Dark Lord stood for, want anything to do with helping the pompous, spoiled, hostile son of a Death Eater? Potter made it clear from the beginning that he wanted nothing to do with the snobbish Malfoy heir--he refused a simple handshake when they first met, an honest offer of friendship.

True friendship...that was something that Malfoys rarely offered to anyone, even those in their own social circle. Draco himself wasn't even sure of what friendship really was.

"The effects of the Polyjuice Potion only last for an hour. The effects of Gregory's Unctuous Unction can last for two days or more, depending on how much is consumed." And now he was back to being cold and distant again, refusing to meet Harry's gaze. "The ingredients for both are difficult to obtain. The potion-making process for Polyjuice Potion takes upwards of a month. Both have pungent and easily recognizable scents. It can be done, mind you...but the combination isn't exactly practical. Especially if you're talking about a particularly long-term mission."

Idly, Draco settled back against the window, peering outside at the scenery. He seemed to be making a great effort to avoid making eye contact with Harry, something he never had an issue with before now.

Harry could tell that something was off with Malfoy, but he couldn't put his finger on it exactly. Lately the blonde seemed to be off in his own sulky world unless he was griping at someone to leave him be. Lately he hadn't even noticed him talking to Parkinson as he normally did whenever she tried to cling onto him throughout the day. Glancing up Harry looked at Malfoy once taking a few notes in, he wanted to ask what was going on, but it wasn't his place. There wasn't any room to make side conversations currently as he went back to taking notes and writing down where to find their ingredients.

"However, you only need to take that appearance long enough to get that person to drink it. I would advise waiting until that hour is a minute or so from being over with just about and have the person drink it then. In tea would probably would be the best way to go or just by the bottle itself having a stronger effect on the drinker." by the time the person would drink it, the one who gave the potion out would have turned back. Then it would work out, but would have to be planned exactly just right to do.

Harry looked over at Malfoy watching how the light seemed to shine through the glass making his blonde hair look whiter than it probably was. The Malfoys definitely had looks down when it came to the family gene. Light blonde hair that would wind up looking white later making for a magical look or one of wisdom and their eyes usually were silver or blue. A single solid color to give a suave look, even the females in their family had the looks as well, but he wondered what the cost was for that. Harry almost used Malfoy's last name again in order to speak to him, but no one was around so what was the point with that. Looking away back to the book Harry asked out loud for only the other to hear in a regular tone "Why did you try to be-friend me those many years back?" why not talk about something else, he couldn't think of other uses for the potion right at that moment.

----

Hermione walked over to Kate wondering if she should wake her up or not, that is until a familiar voice spoke making Hermione jump a little"I know you're there Gryffindor, what do you want" Kate didn't sound too pleased, but it was probably from being woken up from her nap. "Oh sorry, I was just...do you have to say it like that?" Hermione asked her project partner "Like what? By which house we're in? Yes" Kate still didn't open her eyes as she took notice that Hermione sat down with her books in her arms placing them on the ground.

"How did you know it was me anyways?" Hermione wondered out loud. "Simple, Gryffindors aren't very...uh elegant when they walk. They walk with pride and sense of ownership over something so it's heavier footsteps. A Slytherin walks in grace and elegance making lighter foot steps even when upset at another or themselves. A Hufflepuff walks with a sense of feeling popular since they're very friendly to just about everyone out there. As well as they can't help but to stop a lot for different people to talk to them making their movements slower. Ravenclaws walk with power, intelligence since that's what they're all about. You can tell how quickly they're trying to get to their next place so they can keep learning. I try to keep an eye on things when I'm in this school, not only are there pranksters, but you never know what could happen." Kate thought about danger, but it wasn't the danger that made her stay up on her toes, it was the other students that did.

"Wow, I never thought about that before. I guess it would come in handy if you're patient enough to listen. Well, anyways we need to focus on the project." Hermione stated not knowing that patience was the last thing Kate had with anyone. Earlier was a prime example of her patience when she stood between Draco and Weasley to keep anything from happening to her fellow Slytherin.

Draco only took a few sparse notes on a spare sheet of parchment, silvery irises darting between the open page of his book of potions and his own elegant script. The blonde had beautiful, absolutely flawless penmanship--the kind most girls would kill to have. It was the sort of handwriting that girls often used while writing sappy, heartfelt love notes. Having excellent penmanship was something Draco learned early on from his patient mother, long before he even received his own Hogwarts acceptance letter. His father taught him proper manners and how to obedient (i.e., the Ten Commandments of Malfoy), as well as the odd spot of Dark Arts. His mother acted as a governess, teaching him how to be polite in the presence of elders, how inject a bit of elegance into everything he did, and proper life skills. She was the one who taught him how to cook, for example.

...Come to think of it...he didn't speak about his mother often. It was common knowledge that she sent him amazing care packages every week--hand-woven baskets stuffed full of extra spending money, new school supplies, various books, expensive candies, homemade cupcakes, and the finest white chocolate. The other students often eyed him enviously when his weekly parcel arrived. But other than that...Draco acted as if she didn't even exist while he was here, at Hogwarts. On the other hand, he mentioned his father relatively often, usually right before or after threatening another person.

"I suppose if one could manage to time it just right...the combination could prove to be useful." He spoke slowly, voice as level as could be. "But in the very likely instance that their timing is off, even by just a couple of seconds...the results could be disastrous. Gregory's Unctuous Unction works partially on the visual image alone. Therefore, if the one who offered them the potion were to suddenly change forms after it's already taken full effect...it would be rendered useless." The combination of the two potions was a volatile one, at best. Aurors, especially in this day and age, could make full use of that strategy! As long as they were well-versed in potion-making, of course.

Harry's question visibly surprised the Malfoy heir--he blinked those steely eyes of his and then turned them slowly on the other boy. "Why?" He echoed, eyebrows furrowing together. "Why not? Lord, Potter, you can be so dense! Who in their right mind wouldn't have wanted to associate themselves with the Boy Who Lived back then? Most people would have killed for the chance to say they were on good, friendly terms with Harry Potter!" He leaned back against the stacked stone that framed the window, twirling his golden eagle feather quill around in his deft fingers. "Father was convinced that you were an amazingly talented Dark Wizard--having been able to best the Dark Lord and all. He advised me to keep a close eye on you. I offered my hand in friendship." Something in those stormy eyes flashed. "Of course, you were rather quick to turn that down. And I resented you for that, having the gall to turn down a rare handshake from a Malfoy. I still do."

Draco averted his gaze, peering out of the window absently. Judging by the look on his face, he was in the middle of some rather deep thinking. "I don't even know why I'm bothering telling you this," he huffed. "It isn't like any of that matters, now." ...So...if Harry would have taken his hand on that day, would Draco have bothered sparking up such a powerful rivalry between them? Probably not. He was a spoiled child, always used to things going his way and getting what he wanted. Back then, he wanted Harry's friendship, and when the dark-haired boy turned him down, it an insult of the worst variety.

Harry Potter didn't deem him worthy of friendship. That hurt Draco's feelings and shook his confidence to its very core. He'd wanted revenge. He wanted to hate Harry, to make him miserable at every chance he got, chipping away at the other's happiness. Deep down, he was truly jealous of Harry. Jealous of his good rapport with almost all of the teachers. Jealous of his adeptness with a broom, and his apparently intrinsic skill for Quidditch--Draco had to buy his way onto the Slytherin Quidditch team, and perfect little Potter landed himself on the Gryffindor team in his first year! Jealous of Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue.

But, most of all...Draco was jealous of the ease with which Harry made good, true friends. He had no one. Crabbe and Goyle were little more than bodyguards. Pansy was the most irritating person in all of Slytherin. The other Slytherins were out for themselves, happy to associate with their house members but unwilling to form true bonds of friendship. So...he was lonely. Terribly so! He had no one to talk to--to speak candidly to. And Harry had a plethora of people willing to listen should he have a problem. Due to his lack of true friends...Draco was forced to put up his usual Malfoy act and tightly bottle his emotions at all times.

Perfect little Potter. He was everything Draco Malfoy strove to be, and more. And it came so effortlessly to him, too! It was infuriating!

"True, not everyone is the same" Harry said agreeing when Malfoy stated the facts on the users would have to be directly on time and how hard it would be to do it all the time. Learning something like that would take alot of time that the ministry wouldn't want to waste on something so...trivial. Harry knew everyone used to think of him as one of the greatest people they would meet, that is until they found out he wasn't as great as all that, and the only thing he had going for him that made him popular was the scar on his forehead.

"Never put much thought into why people wanted to be my friend back then" Now he was starting to wonder who was really his friends and what was their reason. Was it just because he was the famous Potter, the famous 'Boy Who Lived' destined to take down Voldemort once and for all to end the reign of terror that Voldemort created? "So you were only extending that friendship because I was going to be the one who was supposed to be the hero or because your father told you to?" he didn't like the sound of that at all, that wasn't friendship. Friendship was something you built out of a random ordeal, not because someone was popular and it would help you in return; Harry had glanced up to talk then back to his book closing it.

"Rare handshake? So this 'rare handshake' as you call it was your reason to befriend me, correct? See this is why we never would have gotten along even if we 'were' friends Dr-Malfoy" Harry almost slipped up saying the other boy's first name instead which he didn't get why, probably to make sure the other was listening to him. "Suppose I did take your hand back then, would anything be any different from now? I doubt the two of us can get along for any longer than an hour. And I'm guessing I would be just like your two lackies Crabbe and Goyle who follow you around with fear of you hexing them." Harry noticed it had only been forty minutes since they began reading, taking notes, and thinking as well as socializing. As well as talking about things that he didn't expect to talk about at all.

"Yea, I don't know why you are either. You don't have to answer anything I ask and it has nothing to do with the project. Forget I asked anything about it, I'm done for today, we can continue this project tomorrow or something. I'll get started on finding some of the ingredients" Harry stood up taking his books with him to leave the blonde in the room by himself. If he stayed any longer this was going to become a much larger argument than it needed to be and that wouldn't do so well with his mood.

"Of course not, of course not. You were only eleven back then. Hardly old enough to wrap your head around the grand scheme of things." Surprisingly, Draco didn't sound all that condescending about the matter. It explained a lot, really. He knew very little about Harry Potter at that point, other than the basic details, of course. He was a boy his age with a scar shaped like a lightning bolt gouged into his forehead, the very spot where the Dark Lord's killing curse connected with flesh. Somehow, some way, he managed to deflect the curse back at his attacker, and that was why the Dark Lord vanished. It was common knowledge back then that The Boy Who Lived was being raised by Muggles in an undisclosed location...but no one could have known that Harry was raised in complete ignorance of the wizarding community.

"No, no." He shook his head vigorously. "You're missing the point, Potter. Father insisted I keep an eye on you. I was more interested in aligning myself with you. I never did have many people I could call friends. Who better to fit that bill than a potentially powerful Dark Wizard?" When Draco initially went to introduce himself, he assumed that Harry had been brought up knowing about their world, and the most prominent people in it. The Malfoys were a particularly prominent pure-blooded family--had Harry been raised with at least some information about their world siphoned into him, he surely would have known about the Malfoys before he even boarded the Hogwarts Express. Draco banked on Harry already knowing a few things about his infamous family, and he hoped that Harry would jump at the chance to associate himself with such aristocracy. It was ultimately Harry's ignorance and purity of heart (after all, the blonde had been insulting Ron viciously before offering his hand to Harry) that led up to that rejection!

The Malfoy heir's steel gray eyes narrowed when Harry closed his book, noticing the the thick tension filling the room. Oh, he knew where this was headed, all right. Mind you, he wasn't exactly in the proper mood for a bare-knuckle brawl, but he would make do. "Malfoys aren't supposed to offer handshakes as a token of friendship." A hollow expression crept onto his face. "We don't make friends. We acquire tools. And that's what you would have been at the time, Potter, I'll admit that. A useful tool. But..." He paused, fingers clutching his book in a vice-like grip. "...It's not like I'm proud of it or anything, but...the whole 'hero and villain' roles aside, you...and I...are very much alike." Draco's voice cracked on those last few words, as if it pained him to admit that. "People expect certain things from us in turn. Certain behaviors. You're Dumbledore's little Golden Boy, expected to be pure, true, and always-heroic. You're just an idol for them, not a person with real feelings. And myself..." Those shoulders shrugged. "I'm a Malfoy. I'm not meant to be friendly, or well-liked by the general populace. I'm here on this Earth to fulfill a purpose. To bring honor to my family name, and to pass that family name on. Nothing more than a chess piece on my father's board. That's what I'm supposed to be. What I feel doesn't really matter in the end."

At the mention of Crabbe and Goyle, Draco shrugged his shoulders again, carefully snapping his book shut. "Crabbe and Goyle only hang around me because of the relationship between our families. I don't even like them all that much. They're greedy, gluttonous little imbeciles. But they're big, and they're strong. I can use them. As well, my father would have my head if I turned them away. Something about tarnishing family relations and whatnot."

Ooh. It seemed as if he might have pushed Harry a bit too far. Was the truth that vexing to the brunette that he was keen to promptly abandon the situation? If the conversation being cut short bothered Draco, he didn't show it. Instead, he rose from his seat on the window sill, book tucked safely away under his left arm. "Tomorrow morning, then?" Was it any surprise that he knew Harry's daily class schedules by heart? He paid closer attention to Harry than the other boy even knew. "Nine o'clock? We can meet up at breakfast and decide on a quiet, private place to continue working." Strange...he wasn't being arrogant. He wasn't even sneering.

The blonde emerged from the room moments after Harry, though once he got the answer to his question he would veer off into a different hallway. He was off to the Slytherin common room to relax for a bit before heading off to his next class.

Harry stayed quiet while Malfoy talked, the one thing that Harry knew more than anything was that no one really knew him, and that included the two closest to him. Sure they knew almost everything about him in a way, but there were alot of things they didn't know about him. "You're right, we're just pawns on the field" however Harry hadn't planned to stay a pawn forever since Dumbledore kept hiding things from him and no one ever told him things straight out in the open. They would conceal the answers making him have to find a way to look for them himself.

"What's really sad about this whole thing between everyone is its only between two people, it's not even about us" Harry said touching his scar and looking back at Malfoy "It's between Dumbledore and Voldemort no one else. Everyone else including your father, the teachers, those we know..." he almost said friends, but quickly changed his words without a break in his voice "All like you said, pawns in a game" this started because someone wanted more power and couldn't get it with Dumbledore in the way. Harry wasn't going to admit the two of them were similar minus their roles, admitting to something wasn't going to change anything.

"Alright nine o'clock then, guess for the next hour of free period we don't have to rush off so soon. But, before I leave keep this in mind Malfoy, I never wanted to be your enemy." Harry opened the door without turning around to add "And I actually did want to be your friend back then" his blue eyes showing that he was being honest, but then Harry left the room walking down the hallway at a faster than normal speed going around the corner seeing no one there and pulled out his invisibility cloak disappearing off into the dark hallways of the school making his way back to his room.

Once Harry had moved out of the dungeon limits knowing he still had another hour of free period, he went straight for the whomping willow tree to make his way to the shrieking shack. He was glad to know the spell Hermione told him about how to put the tree to sleep was useful as the tree stopped slashing around whenever he came near. Going down the hidden passageway he made his way into the old worn out place and sat down, his invisibility cloak still over his head; Harry's hand flew into the wall with furious anger built up "Argh! Why did I go and say that!?" he questioned himself yelling out as he didn't move sitting on the old bed that sat there. Why would he tell Malfoy, his enemy of all these years something like that, and if Malfoy asked about it later he would just lie saying he never said it.

- - - -

Hermione and Kate worked on their project for an hour then Kate said she had to get going, she had other things to do other than the project and that they would meet up again tomorrow afternoon. "Alright, see you tomorrow Kate" Hermione said walking off towards the Gryffindor common room as Kate took a breath of a relief packing her things up. She wanted to sit here and get a nice nap in, but then Weasley twins and Granger ruined that for her. If she didn't get her regular sleep schedule back she was going to go nuts and that wouldn't be good for anyone since it made her really moody.

Making her way to the common room noticing how empty it was and not a single person was in there. Kate went to her room grabbing a book then made her way back to the large, dark green armchair that was in the room, and plopped down in it. She curled up kicking her shoes off while stretching to get comfortable. Sometimes she seemed more like a cat than a girl with how she liked to relax which is probably why she loved cats and had her own upstairs as well as her second pet was a scorpion she loved since they were really rare. "Finally some time to relax"