For all of his life, Draco knew that he'd been nothing more than a simple pawn. His father was the master of that chess board for many years. Now, of course, with the Dark Lord in the picture...his father had been reduced to little more than a rook. It was funny, really. Many students had Draco pegged as one of the luckiest kids in school, what with all that money and status. But that couldn't have been farther from the truth. Oh, if they only knew! But if they did know...there was a fairly good chance that they would pity him. And he hated to be pitied. Perhaps it was best that they remain ignorant.

So, Harry believed this was all a pissing contest between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, hmm? Draco wasn't quite so sure. The Dark Lord was understandably wary of Dumbledore and would like nothing more than to put him out of his misery. But as the years passed--this was something his father shared with him in passing--the Dark Lord's focus slowly began shifting from using Harry Potter to take down Dumbledore to using Dumbledore to take down Harry Potter. Harry was a threat, growing ever-stronger under Dumbledore's watchful gaze.

The blonde stared intently at the back of Harry's head, gaze fixed on his tousled brown hair. He was so stricken by the other's words that he was rendered speechless. He opened his mouth and then shut it a mere moment later, jaw set as he watched the Gryffindor quickly take a corner, apparently eager to escape the situation. What would have become of them had Harry clasped his hand in his own that day was something that Draco often fretted about. He even had the occasional dream about the various different scenarios. But...the fact remained that Harry rejected him that day, and it affected him deeply. More deeply than even he himself realized.

This year, the Malfoy heir's loneliness was beginning to get to him. His father's apparent animosity toward him must have increased tenfold since the return of the Dark Lord. His mother never stepped in. Whether she thought the constant arguing and physical altercations were beneficial to him in some way or she was just too frightened of Lucius and the Dark Lord to get in the way was of little importance--she couldn't bring herself to stand up for her own son. At least, not yet anyway. His mother was really the only person who cared about Draco himself, and not just Draco Malfoy. She wanted him to be happy. His father wanted him to be a perfect, obedient poster child--an ambassador to the Malfoy name. And though he wasn't aware of what it was just yet, he was sure that the Dark Lord had his own private agenda for him. He wasn't an idiot--he knew that the moment he was born, his father practically sold him to Lord Voldemort. He was destined to become a Death Eater, whether he wanted that or not.

And now, after so many years of wanting that...his conviction was starting to waver. Was that really what he wanted? Or was it what everyone else simply expected of him?

He could feel an emotional explosion coming on. Rapidly, Draco forced that well-rehearsed mask back into place, strolling through the dungeon corridors with his head held high. Thankfully, he didn't run into any other students, even Slytherins. They were probably outside, enjoying the last few days of warm weather before autumn truly set in. At his quick pace, it didn't take him long at all to reach the common room. After sweeping the room with his silvery eyes and determining that it seemed empty at first glance, the blonde stormed in, heading straight for his favorite nook far away from the nearest fireplace. He didn't bother sitting down in the cushy, comfortable couch there. Instead he paced around the two couches and the coffee table, hands folded behind his back and eyebrows furrowed. He grumbled unintelligibly to himself, occasionally stopping to scuff his shoes against the hard stone floor below.

Was he sulking? Perhaps. But after a conversation with his supposed enemy as awkward as that one, didn't he have a right to brood?

"Hm?" Kate silently looked up taking in the fact someone else walked in, she wondered who would be in the common room at this time; keeping her thoughts focused on relaxing she realized it was none other than Draco. She never did call him by his last night, probably why they got along better than most. Pacing. Draco was pacing, that was new to her "Draco?" Kate asked looking up wondering if she was dreaming, though she wasn't sure why she would be dreaming of him to begin with, then again they saw each other almost every single day anyways. Once you would see someone or something each day for long periods of time you would eventually get it stuck in your head and even dream of it or them. Kate now had her brown hair covering both shoulders with a blanket she used magic to conjure to keep her comfortable in the chair while reading next to the small lit fire in the stone fireplace.

Harry lay back against the bed forgetting something, free period was almost over, and he had already forgotten about his detention with Umbridge. The day before he had chosen to speak out against her saying the dark lord was back and tried to explain the events of why he believed that. No one believed him, others went up against him, his fellow students, and Ron didn't know who to speak up for. Though he did stand up for Harry, it was debatable what Ron really thought on the matter since Harry mainly ignored him anyways. "Bloody hell" he stood up quickly running back to the school avoiding the swinging tree that woke up in a fuss and once he got back into the halls of the school he put his invisibility cloak away. He wasn't in the mood to deal with this strange new 'teacher' who thought he wasn't anything compared to her or anyone else.

Umbridge was sitting her new office which she was about to have some tea that just finished heating up. Scooping in one spoon of pink sugar crystals until she reached the number of three, she stirred her tea in it's small tea cup waiting for the arrival of Harry Potter. The boy who lived and the boy who dared to disobey her in her own classroom frightening her. There was no way that the dark lord would come back and he hadn't shown himself after all this time. Now she had to deal with Potter to prove to him that lying is a terrible habit. Bringing the pink tea cup to her lips taking a bit of a sip from it, there was a knock from the door as she set her cup gently back down upon the matching small saucer. A small wooden pencil barely moved was slightly out of place as she fixed it "Come in" Umbridge watched the door open to reveal Harry Potter himself standing in the doorway.

"Good Evening, Mr. Potter" Umbridge spoke with her voice calm as she could make it, Harry wondered what this detention was going to be like as he looked over at her when she spoke "Sit" nicely, well as nice as it seemed to come from her. Shutting the door behind him, Harry walked over to take his seat hearing Umbridge speak up once more "You're going to be doing some lines for me today, Mr. Potter" Harry looked at his bag moving to take his quill out until she added "No, not with your quill. You're going to be using a rather special one of mine" Umbridge stands up with a smile on her face walking over to him and laying one down in front of him. Harry just looked at her and then back at the quill, what was so special about this one?

"Now I want you to write 'I. Must. Not. Tell. Lies.'" Umbridge spoke not as smoothly as she would have if she was a bit...calmer. He thought about arguing with her, but knew it wouldn't get him no way except in a worse detention than he already was. "How many times?" he forced out, but not loudly to sound rude. "Let's say for as long as it takes for the message to sink in" she was smiling, he could tell in her voice even though he wasn't looking at her "You haven't given me any ink" Harry spoke up turning slightly behind him as she responded "You won't need any ink" Harry begins to write as he feels a pain in his hand, grunting silently he looks over, the words he wrote on the paper from the quill she gave to him to use was being etched into his skin. Walking over looking at him she gave a look of Keep going "Yes?" she asked "Nothing" he said after a moment of silence, what could he say against her, she was the new teacher to enforce the new rules. "Because you know deep down you deserve to be punished. Don't you Mr. Potter?" Harry didn't respond as he continued with his detention ignoring the pain the best he could.

The Malfoy heir jumped nearly half of his height into the air, startled by the sudden intrusion into his inner musing and pacing. He whipped around, steely eyes narrowed and searching for the culprit. They eventually honed in and settled on the brown-haired girl on the other side of the Slytherin common room, looking quite comfortable and snug in front of the fire. For a long moment, he just stood there, torn between snapping at her for disturbing him and demanding to know just how she'd managed to be so quiet, so inconspicuous, that he missed her while entering the room. Then, with a haughty huff, Draco plopped down onto one of the cushy leather couches, deliberately facing away from Kate.

"What?" He was ordinarily somewhat cross and distant with all of his housemates (though on some occasions, he could be seen being nice to Crabbe and Goyle)...but never outright mean. Today he behaved differently--his voice dripped with venom, and he refused to meet her eye. "What do you want? If you haven't noticed...I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, and I'd rather not be interrupted. Unless it's something of the utmost importance, of course. Which I highly doubt it is."

Draco often hid behind rage and his sharp silver tongue when he was feeling emotionally jumbled or depressed. He had to keep his mask up around the other Slytherins. He couldn't trust them. Slytherins were not great friendship material--always out for themselves, far too cunning for their own good, willing to compromise the well-being of even people they cared about to get ahead. He tried to distance himself as much as he possibly could from them without ostracizing himself completely, while still maintaining a casual acquaintanceship with all of them. The vast majority of them only gravitated around him because he was a Malfoy--he came from a powerful and prominent family of Death Eaters, of masters of the Dark Arts. He strove to earn and keep their respect. He didn't want anything more than that.

...Not from the Slytherins, anyway. Of course, if any of them could manage to pry his skull open and take a gander at the traitorous thoughts pulsing through his mind, they would surely think that he'd finally lost it. That desperate, mutinous shred of determined resistance lodged in the back of his mind...it was already plotting. Perhaps he couldn't escape his ultimate fate, his birthright...but he had to do something. Draco wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. There. He admitted it to himself, in a full sentence for the first time! He'd always assumed that there was no way out of it, and even now, he believed there was no way for him to completely escape his fate.

If he had any chance of separating himself from his father and the Dark Lord...that chance rested with Harry Potter. He wouldn't stoop so low as to go to someone like Dumbledore (whom Draco still hated), and he certainly wouldn't beg for help. But maybe, just maybe, if he could find a way to ally himself with Harry without alerting his father, any of the Death Eaters, or Lord Voldemort himself...if he could just find a way to strengthen Harry so that the Dark Lord didn't stand a chance against him...there was a chance.

The Dark Lord was the main issue here. Though he would miss his mother, Draco would abandon his family namesake if he could. His father would be infuriated, and surely the man would try to hunt him down...but he could deal with Lucius. However...his eternal servitude and loyalty to Lord Voldemort had been promised without his consent long ago, mere days after his birth. If Draco left now...that man--that creature--would exact revenge on his entire family. Both his mother and his father would be killed, and then the Dark Lord would surely turn his attention to the single remaining Malfoy. He couldn't bear to see them pay the ultimate price for something he himself brought on. Draco himself stood no chance against a wizard as powerful as that, even with his many years of private instruction in the Dark Arts. He'd be slaughtered in an instant.

But Harry...Harry could do it. He was certain of it!

Keeping her amusement from seeing Draco jump from being startled, Kate sighed through a huff knowing something was up, she may not have been most knowledge in useless things such as Granger was, but she did know when something was wrong with her house mate. "Alright, Draco. What's wrong? You rarely give me an attitude unless there is a one or more people in the room. Seeing as the portraits don't come into this room for any reasons or the ghosts, there is no reason to be harsh" and she wasn't in the mood honestly to deal with anyone to begin with since she was overly tired as well. Moving her blanket from her lap while putting her book down that she marked with her favorite non-wilting flower, Kate stood up without her dress shoes on; she hated those dress shoes wanting to either go barefoot through the school or wear flats or boots.

Walking over to him she sat down on the floor with a look that proved she knew something was up, but her body refused to move too much farther than it did. The floor to her was comfortable almost as much as the chair she was cuddled into was. "I know more than the others do Draco, we said we were friends after we met having an understanding with each other the last time those years ago. What is wrong?" she had a back up plan if she didn't get him to answer her even slightly. She knew even though they probably weren't friends, they were closer than they would have been with anyone else, sort of like brother and sister that is. "And by the way blondie, this is important" she could tell that much, she was quite skilled at understanding others through their emotions. Probably because of the way she was raised and then her family name was unknown, yet she had the same level as the Malfoys did. No one understood why she never stated her family name and not even Draco knew it. No one, except herself well that is for now. She had a planned time to tell everyone at once, but it was still a year or so away. Hopefully. The only way Kate ever got away with talking to Draco like a child was because he was the main Slytherin she spoke to, not that he was the only person out of the school, but he was easier to listen and speak to.

After the detention with Umbridge Harry left trying to seem casual as he didn't bring any attention to himself. Umbridge explained to him before he left that there was only one spell that could heal something such as from her quill and not a single student would know it. Not even Granger since it was a particularly dark spell, but that didn't mean anything to him. He ignored anyone who tried to talk to him, he wanted to get back to try an easing pain spell, unsure if that would even work since this was due to Umbridge's quill. She probably thought about every option someone would try in order to feel better after using it. Once into the Gryffindor common room he was bombarded with Hermione and Ron asking about how the detention worked.

"It was just like any other detention, just had to write "I will not tell lies" about well like a million times" he had sarcasm in his voice and he wasn't about to explain anything else about what happened to him in there. "I'm going to bed, I'll see you guys in the morning" he left them sitting on the couch as he went straight for his room, not running, but not too slow either. Once alone he pulled his sleeves back, all over both arms were etched out lines 'I will not tell lies' even though he was against what he wrote, he felt it was against him too as the pain began to worsen. Every time he thought about how wrong it was for him to be punished for telling the truth, his cuts would make him feel the pain all over again, and it wasn't going away any time soon. What was he supposed to do? If he felt like he deserved it, would the pain stop? Would it fade away on his arms and go away completely? Or would it try to return? He didn't know much about that quill, but he hated every minute of that detention. "I would rather have detention with Snape than her again" Harry said to himself in a low whisper knowing that meant something in the long run.

In an instant, the blonde ceased pacing, grinding to a halt and staring odiously at the Slytherin girl, pale lips set in a firm line. Regardless of what several of the Slytherins claimed (Pansy and Blaise in particular were quick to proudly proclaim to anyone who would listen that they were Draco's best friends in the whole wide world), Draco had no true friends within his own house. He'd acquired plenty of tools over the past few years, with Crabbe and Goyle being the most useful of the bunch. A sparse few Slytherins were lucky enough for the blonde to consider them as acquaintances--Kate and Blaise Zabini were just a couple of them. These acquaintances had to meet certain standards. They had to have no direct ties to the Dark Lord, for one. For another...he had to research their family histories extensively to make absolutely sure that none of their family members closer than a first cousin had become Death Eaters, or had expressed a vivid interest in the Dark Arts.

After all...he simply couldn't risk any information he deemed appropriate for an acquaintance but inappropriate for a tool to land in the wrong hands. Mainly, the hands of his father, or (perhaps even worse) the hands of Lord Voldemort.

His acquaintances had the rare liberty of indulging in more than small talk with the reclusive Malfoy heir, especially if no one else was around and about. They were by far the closest things Draco had to friends, though he absolutely refused to share anything more than simple, trivial concerns and some of his more lighthearted worries with them. He couldn't trust someone like Crabbe or Goyle with this sort of information--after all, if his confidence wavered even the slightest bit, they would be rather quick to leap upon it, deeming it as little more than weakness. Expressing one's emotions freely was looked down upon in Slytherin House. Why would anyone want to do that, anyway? Didn't that just make it easier for your enemies to prey upon you, utilizing the various chinks in your armor?

"Why do you even care?" He practically spat those words, shoulders raised. He was looking much like an infuriated cat, all puffed up like that. "It's none of your business either way." Uncharacteristically, Draco seemed to be having a rather difficult time covering up his emotions with anger while, at the same time, retaining most of his practiced poise and grace.

As if he'd suddenly noticed that he stopped pacing, the blonde started up again, though this time at a noticeably more hurried pace. "We are not friends. We were children back then, innocent and foolhardy." A cheeky voice lingering somewhere in his traitorous brain was quick to point out that, for all intensive purposes, they were still children...but that voice was rapidly quashed by the fury pulsing through his veins and radiating from his body in waves. No. He didn't have the liberty of behaving like a child anymore. His childhood wasn't a happy one by any means...but oh, what he would give to go back! To be free of most of his responsibilities! To have a perfectly valid excuse to flee to his mother whenever he was angry or sad and cry it out in her warm arms! To not have to walk through these halls every day, knowing that these wretched excuses for people probably wouldn't give a damn if he suddenly disappeared off the face of the Earth one day, especially not that infuriating, perfect little Harry Potter--

A raw surge of emotion rushed through Draco--his hands immediately flew upward and he clasped the sides of his head, eyes squeezed shut. "Why?!" His voice was tinged with a desperate sort of anger...the kind of anger that wasn't actually anger, but something else in disguise. "Why are you in my head, you wretched, Mudblood-loving, attention-seeking, disturbed, window-faced fool?! Why can't you just save your ridiculous little hero complex for someone who wouldn't rip your head off on a good day?!" For a few long moments, Draco continued to pace, muttering under his breath. And then, all of a sudden, he stopped cold, what little color his pallid skin held rushing from his face.

He said that all out loud...hadn't he he?

Without another word, the blonde turned and stalked away, heading straight for the Slytherin boys' dormitories, his fists clenched and a vein on his neck throbbing with rage. How could he have been so stupid, letting all that out in front of another Slytherin?! He could only hope that she hadn't picked up on the obvious hints--window-faced, a common insult for someone who wore glasses...Mudblood-loving, because he spent so much of his time around Hermione Granger...and, of course, a hero complex combined with the outright fact that Draco hated this person's guts.

But there was a reason Slytherins were known as being cunning. If she was a Slytherin worth her salt, it probably wouldn't take her very long to venture an educated guess as to whom his outburst concerned...

~~~~~~~~~~

Breakfast was a noisy affair, as it always was. A couple of mischievous seventh year Ravenclaws made the entire Great Hall howl with laughter after they charmed a massive swarm of badly-folded paper swans to swarm the High Table and dive-bomb both Professor Umbridge and Professor Snape while shouting obscenities about both of their mothers. No one, save for the students (and perhaps even the Headmaster himself, who sipped his pumpkin juice with an impish twinkle in his eyes) knew where the swans came from, but both Snape and Umbridge swore vehemently that they would find the culprits and punish them accordingly.

It seemed that even the studious, normally rule-abiding Ravenclaws didn't much care for Umbridge, either. As for Snape...well, nobody but the Slytherins really liked Snape.

Draco did not join in on the merriment, whereas most of his housemates shrieked with laughter. He instead prodded at his scrambled eggs absently, the fingers of his free hand drumming against the table. He seemed intent upon ignoring the other Slytherins today, though Crabbe and Goyle dutifully took their places by his side anyway. The blonde purposely lingered at the table, along with a handful of other students who were blessed enough to have a free period this morning. After a while, Crabbe and Goyle reluctantly rose from their seats. Draco waited with an air of impatience for them to finally disappear before he at last rose from his seat. He stalked straight past the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, head held high, and completely disregarded the foul stares many of the Gryffindors fixed upon him as he walked along the length of their table, stormy eyes honing in on their target.

"Potter."

His voice sounded cutting and contemptuous, as usual. Quite unlike the tone of voice he used when it was just the two of them, alone in that isolated room. Appearances had to be kept, after all, especially in front of these chatty Gryffindors--oh, the sudden interest flashing in that gossip whore Finnigan's eyes didn't escape him. He stood tall, not even flinching or budging an inch under the practically malicious glares (the worst of which came from Ron Weasley) that fixed on his figure after he had the nerve to approach their table and so flippantly address Harry--their hero, their precious little idol! "I do believe we have a Potions project to work on." Draco made a point of looking almost nauseated by that fact. "I'd like to get this done and dusted as quickly as possible." Predictably, a sneer curled those angular features of his. "After all, I'm sure dear Saint Potter has some disgustingly heroic feats that need tending to. Kittens to be rescued from trees and whatnot."

Kate sat there watching Draco with interest in what was happening to her friend, well that she considered a friend. She might have had a few others if she would have just tried to make friends, but knowing her family bloodline. They would just end up abandoning her like her mother did those many years ago when she was born. So she saw no absolute point unless they met her really high standards. "Why do I care?" Kate thought out loud monotone like wondering about the little question that everyone always asked in the school. Standing up she watched him start to freak out then took off to the boys room upstairs. She would have followed, but she didn't even know a spell to use to break the gender spell between the boys and girls stairs to begin with. She was more powerful with magic than bright, but she had her moments.

Kate sighed magically making her book and blanket go upstairs as she conjured up her paper 'n quill. Writing down magically knowing only he could read it [I care because I care. You're my friend whether you like it or not] and then she sent the note sealed to his room on his nightstand for him to see whenever he would get around to reading it. "Why does everyone always ask why someone cares? I mean come on is it really that hard to..." Kate stopped in her words noticing she wasn't alone as Pansy stood there looking concerned at the stairs Draco disappeared into. "What all did you hear, Pansy?" Kate asked the short, dark haired girl. "Is he going to be alright?" Pansy wanted to go ask Draco himself, but the spells were intact. "Pansy, come here, I'll let you in on a little secret" Kate said waving the girl over slightly thinking that Draco didn't need anyone to know about what just happened, especially not Pansy who stood there like a love struck fool. In any case to Kate, she was one; Pansy walked over "Yes?" looking up eagerly at Kate since she loved secrets to no end.

Kate stepped back a bit and looked serious rather than caring if this would hurt the other girl or not. Kate actually didn't like the girl, but hurting another for any reason was below her, and she never wanted to stoop to that level. As long as her friends, father, or the ones she crushed upon were not hurt. Then she wouldn't dare go that low, hopefully she would never have to even think about it. "Obliviate" Kate said without using the wand she didn't own, other students often wondered how she did magic, but she stuck to the traditional way of doing things. The spell was active as Pansy blinked confused "You were going upstairs to bed to get a good night's sleep and you decided you didn't want to bother Draco for a few days. So go on now, off to bed child." Kate spoke as she helped Pansy to her room while filling her head with the current scenery and that nothing was wrong to begin with. Kate too went to bed thinking about what just happened and knew who Draco was talking about. Lately there had only been one person she could guess that could anger him deeply like this.

That actually angered Kate slightly, she didn't like Harry Potter from day one, never did, and she gained the reputation of...well it wasn't a good one until she made herself appear more mature around everyone. She was in the wrong house having to always hide her emotions, wouldn't she love to let everything out like Draco did, and she was glad it was only her that got to see that side of Draco. Pansy wouldn't ever remember it with how strong Kate's magic was since it was natural based.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry hadn't said a word hardly to anyone as he ate his biscuits and gravy with bacon on the side. His pumpkin juice hardly was touched and his food he was playing with more than eating. Ron didn't care to take notice in Harry's lack of appetite while he flirted with some other girls. Hermione on the other hand automatically knew something was wrong. She tried all morning to get Harry to talk to her, but he got upset with her in the end and quit speaking. Usually Harry would laugh with the commotion, but this morning wasn't a pleasant one for him.

Harry looked up at Malfoy figuring this was about the project...hoping it was only about the project. He wasn't in the mood for a fight or argument today for anything. Hermione stood up "Harry isn't going with you today, Malfoy. So back off, he isn't feeling that-" Harry caught the brunette off guard "I'm feeling thank you Hermione, I have a project to do excuse me" this made Ron want to stand up to make a scene, but his twin brothers stopped him from doing anything stupid in front of the adults.

"And shove off, Malfoy. Let's just get this over with." Harry was irritated as he stood up leaving his untouched food and his surprised friends at the table storming out of the breakfast room. Dumbledore ignored this and passed it off as mood swings. Harry walked the way Malfoy had shown him the day before at a decent to quick pace wanting to get this over with. However, he didn't want to bother with his classes either after his detention with Umbridge yesterday. "Let's just get this over with, I already looked up where to find the ingredients, and how to get to them." In fact he decided to do the full research and to prove his point he handed the couple of nicely done research papers to Malfoy before getting to the room.

When the Granger girl suddenly stood up and deigned to speak in Harry's place, Draco's eyes burned with a silvery fire and his lips curled in that trademark Malfoy sneer. "I don't recall asking you anything, Granger," he shot back, his words as mean-spirited as ever. Surprisingly enough, the blonde regarded Hermione with the utmost revulsion, his stance rigid and his tone far more hostile than it had been just moments earlier while addressing Harry. "I suppose Potter has to ask for your permission now before making even the most insignificant of decisions?" That familiar condescending laugh bubbled forth from his lips. "What are you, Granger, his surrogate mother?"

At this, Ron practically leaped from his seat at the Gryffindor table--thankfully, Fred and George had enough sense to keep him reigned in. From the high table, both Professor Umbridge and Professor Snape watched the scene with deceptively innocent interest and a flat warning glance respectively. Surely, if one of the Gryffindors started a fight with Draco Malfoy, the two of them would be up in an instant, ready to dock points and start handing out detentions.

"Piss off, Malfoy." The deceptively calm voice of Fred attracted the attention of a few of the Gryffindors, who were looking rather concerned. "You're in enemy territory." His grip, at the very least, had already begun to loosen. He was awfully close to just releasing Ron and letting his brother have at it. What he wouldn't give to see Malfoy beaten to a bloody pulp!

"You think you're really threatening, don't you?" As he spoke, Draco was already moving away, following after Harry with a slight spring in his step. It always felt good to insult the Weasleys, particularly Ron (who always provided him with a great show thanks to his horrid temper). "As if anyone from a family of filthy blood traitors like yours could ever be threatening to me." The blonde left the Great Hall at precisely the right time--now poor George, assisted by a few of the beefier-looking seventh year Gryffindors, was left to restrain both Ron and his own now-enraged twin. "Come on! Knock it off! That stupid prat isn't worth our time!" "I swear to god, George, if you don't let me go...!" Fred bellowed furiously. "Get off! Lemme beat five shades of blue into his pointy little face, just this once!" Ron roared right after him. A short ways down the table, Ginny just sighed, dropping her head down onto the table and muttering something about being the only truly level-headed one in the family.

Apparently quite pleased with himself for inciting such chaos at the Gryffindor table, Draco now walked with a noticeable spring in his step as he jogged along, intent on keeping up with Harry. Once he did catch up with the brunette, he opened his mouth, intent on finding out what had his rival so ruffled this fine morning...but Harry chose this time to speak. The Malfoy heir blinked, keeping pace with the other boy. "Oh you have, have you?" He accepted Harry's research notes without a single protest. As they walked along, Draco flipped through the notes quietly, steely eyes narrowed into a thoughtful squint. He said nothing during the final leg of their journey, and he was still silently poring over the notes as they entered the abandoned classroom. As soon as he took his seat on the window sill, the blonde finally piped up.

"Efficient notes, Potter. You're missing a single ingredient, I see. Understandable." He shrugged. "This is a seventh year potion, not a fifth year one. I'll owl Father when I have a chance. He'll be able to pick this up for us easily." He fingered a few words on the papers in his hands, still thinking quite deeply if his expression was anything to go by. "He has to drop by Knockturn Alley soon anyway. It shouldn't be too much trouble for him to grab a couple of these...we should have them in a few days' time. We can start work on the potion once we've got them. It should take..." Draco glanced up, finally meeting Harry's gaze. "A week, I believe, to complete. We'll have to follow the directions precisely so we don't muck it up. And we're using my cauldron, by the way." Better safe than sorry. His cauldron was a much pricier, more high-end model, after all.

He leaned back against the stone frame of the window, sneaking a peek outside. The air had grown frigid over the past few days...Draco was hoping it would snow soon. He did so like snow.

Hermione turned slightly red with anger, she didn't like the way Malfoy spoke to her, but he didn't take anything to heart either. She knew how he acted and how he would speak to her before he had chosen to do so. Though when Harry griped at her she felt hurt, as if someone just literally attacked her, but she knew she didn't have to go and speak for her friend. Though she still felt like someone should have to Malfoy. Watching the Weasley brothers all in action made her wonder if a fight would break out soon as the boys left before anything could be done.

Kate on the other hand listened to everything that was going on while she watched it with a concerned interest. If anyone went up against Malfoy and tried to harm him. Well she would get involved and it wouldn't be a very pretty sight. She wasn't very good at being patient even though it may seem like she was and she hated people going after her friends as well. Her friends were here family and very rarely chosen to be such. Standing up alerting her Head House leader, Professor Snape that is, Kate moved to the other side of the table in an instant. This caused people to look at her wondering if she was going to follow after the boys, but her mind was set on something else and in her eyes it could be seen.

Some of the Slytherins etched away a bit, the last time she did anything against the rules, or even being mean to others so far to get the teachers involved...it was her first year there several years ago. Kate already noticed with the other students that Fred already managed to get away to the middle of the aisle to follow after them before she stood up. Kate turned to face Fred Weasley, she had looked up to the twins for years for their knowledge and pranks; now she was wondering where all that admiration really came from. "Enough!" Kate spoke up with annoyance in her voice quieting the Slytherin table and making the Gryffindors begin to whisper amongst each other. No one spoke up about anything as the teachers watched the events unfold. Seeing as Kate was the quiet Slytherin who kept to herself and didn't get involved in anything that meant drama or annoyance to her.

Fred looked at her wondering what she was up to "What do you want?" he asked with disinterest as he was distracted from following the two already out of sight and too far away for him to follow now. However, there was other ways to get back at the Malfoy heir. "You know, for some stupid bloody reason I looked up to and your brother George. Now Ron there is just an idiot altogether, however Granger put up with him bewilders me after all these years." Kate spoke not wasting a moment to take a break "You on the other hand I looked up to the most, I thought you were kind or had enough self respect not to speak like a Slytherin. I don't know why I ever thought I liked you to begin with anymore. You're just another egotistical, hot headed Gryffindor thinking you can do whatever the hell you want." Kate was fumed with anger now this was just upsetting her causing her anxiety to speed up not helping her mood.

Fred was the one to speak up next "If you looked up to us so much, then why did you tell the bloody sorting hat to put you in Slytherin when it gave you a choice!?" now the argument would begin "Because I follow in my father's footsteps and I would have told you sooner, but I doubt you would have the courage to follow for a Slytherin at all." Kate then raised her hand, not to cast a spell, though her actions made Professor Snape stand up as well as McGonagall, what she did was far worse in front of a crowd of people. Kate slapped him, hard across the cheek knowing not once had she ever hit or slapped anyone before in her life. "You're just another scumbag in this world of horrid people, you're turning out no better than any of the Slytherin family names their selves. And you, if you don't watch your back you're going to deal with me. That's not a threat, it's a definate promise!" Kate yelled at Ron at the last instant and stormed off without a word not caring to listen if anyone called out to her. Pansy Parkinson kept her distance, for once not following the auburn haired witch, and letting her be.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harry shrugged when Malfoy said he took efficient notes and wondered when he could leave the room. "What else is there to talk about so we can get this all over with? I don't want to be in here bothered by you any longer than deems necessary." Harry spouted out while flipping open to the book page the potion was on, though he didn't sit down, he really just wanted to leave the room. His mind wandered to his cuts 'I didn't deserve to be punished for speaking the truth' he thought to himself as his arms both burned, but he ignored them as he sat down.

Harry was wondering if he was harming himself on purpose of if he should just play along with her little game in order to subside the pain until it healed. However, would it even heal all the way or keep coming back every time he said something that she didn't like.

At the Gryffindor table, many of them winced when Fred was slapped, but other than that they didn't pay the scene much attention, instead turning back to the remainder of their breakfasts. Ron was busy grumbling to George, who seemed more cheerful all of a sudden--apparently, he'd be making fun of Fred for quite some time after this. At the other end of the table, Seamus Finnigan was muttering something to Dean Thomas and Ginny Weasley under his breath. "Methinks that crazy chick doth protest too much," he declared under his breath in that thick Irish accent, a practically wicked smirk on his lips. "Pretty sure she's got a hankerin' for some Malfoy goodies." Dean began to laugh. Ginny pantomimed puking into her goblet. "What?" Seamus pouted, much like a toddler being denied a treat. "What's the issue? You can't deny he's a beautiful man--you know he's even got a secret fan club, right?"

"Let me guess..." Ginny still looked like she was going to be sick. "That stalker Parkinson's the mastermind behind that one. Seems like the type that'd collect his nail clippings and keep them in a jar." Seamus clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers together. "Bingo!" A couple of Gryffindors, Ginny included, stared at him as if he'd suddenly sprouted another head. "What's a bingo...?"

Draco made a distinct clicking noise with his tongue in the back of his throat. "Bit touchy today, aren't you, Potter?" A hint of warning edged into his tone. He wasn't in a particularly pleasant mood today, either, and if Harry pushed him too far...well, he wasn't adverse to a good bit of pugilism. "Whatever could be the matter?" The blonde leaned forward ever so slightly, his movements slow and calculated...like a predator stalking his prey. "Have another little lover's quarrel with Cho Chang?" Yet another plus to Pansy Parkinson constantly hanging off of him wherever he went--the girl was a goldmine for gossip, and currently, Harry Potter and Cho Chang being a reluctant-somewhat-but-not-really couple was one of her favorite topics. She was aghast, really--Cho was actually a pretty girl...so what could she possibly want with disheveled, scraggly Potter?

The Malfoy heir rose from his seat, Harry's notes in hand. Shockingly enough, he seemed to be treating them with some degree of gentility, making sure he didn't crinkle the paper or smudge any ink. He began striding toward the Gryffindor, looking perfectly content. "We'll have to get together again, you know. I'm stuck with you for a month, Potter, and you're stuck with me. I'm past the point of whining and complaining about it--nothing I do or say will change Snape's mind." He shrugged nonchalantly, offering the carefully-stacked notes back to his project partner. Really, he wanted to get this over with as quickly as Harry did...but at the same time, he didn't want to rush.

It wasn't because he wanted to spend even more time with someone like Potter. No! Absolutely not! It was because he didn't want to rush things and end up with a poorly-written paper, or an incorrectly-mixed potion! Yes! That was it! That had to be it!

Draco shook his hand a bit, insisting without words that Harry retrieve his notes before he shoved them into his bespectacled face. "I say we store our essay supplies here somewhere, out of sight. That way...whenever one of us has a free period, or both of us have one, we can come here and work on the essay in our spare time. Once Father sends Vega back with the missing ingredient, we can get started on the potion. Oh, yes...Vega is my owl." Draco's massive Eurasian Eagle Owl was quite a sight to see when the owl post arrived in the morning, more than twice as large as the average owl and three times as menacing. He often bowled over smaller owls in his rush to reach his master, shrieking to intimidate them. "I suppose my cauldron will be safe in here, once we get started on the potion..." Sharp gray eyes swept around the place. "No one ever comes in here. And we'll lock up when we leave. If it gets nicked, I'll just have my parents purchase another one for me."

He shrugged, nonchalant once again. He spoke of his parents so casually, as if they were just there to service him. Then again, if Lucius always treated his son the way he did that day in Hogsmeade...it was really no wonder why.

Harry didn't speak about anything against what Malfoy was saying, in fact he was clearly ignoring the blonde not even taking the papers handed to him in return after talking for a moment. Harry's anger flared up, why did Malfoy bring her up? Lately Cho hadn't even been speaking to him and to make things worse it hardly bothered him. Honestly he didn't understand why, maybe because the girl was annoying like most others were, or maybe he just got tired of being ignored after all this time. "Leave Cho out of this" Harry spoke, annoyance in his voice. "At least I have a regular quarrel with my friends and family, you can't seem to even talk to your father without him trying to beat the pulp out of you" Harry stood up this time knowing he had gone too far, but the pain and anger that built up since yesterday's detention was finally about to reveal the power it held behind it.

"Just because this bloody project lasts for a month, doesn't mean we have to spend every waking moment of our free time together while waiting for supplies." Harry was beyond talking right now as he was dead serious on starting something with the blonde. Maybe if they got into an actual fight, maybe Snape would have to change their partners so they wouldn't have to work together. At first Harry was fine with the choice, but then it wound up going sour. As for the rest of what Malfoy said, he ignored it without a care in the world.

"Since there is nothing left to do, why don't you go visit your father, and get the supplies. I doubt you'd have any sense to get them for yourself and do the labor work on our own. You always have to run to your father for every little thing." Harry was now beginning a battle that would be ended in that room sooner or later. Standing up leaving his things he moved to the door just to leave, though he didn't know what to do after all this occurred. "I don't have time for this, when you actually need something, then find me, Malfoy" Harry spoke finally, the venom in his voice made him appear as if he was mocking Malfoy and saying he was higher than Malfoy was.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fred stood there as none of the teachers moved, but Professor Snape knew he would have to talk to his student later about her outburst. "Wow, that girl does have a hidden fire" Fred whispered solely to himself as he paid no attention to anyone else while sitting down next to George again. Hermione was fuming though it seemed like she was trying to stay calm and not cry around anyone. Luckily she was able to talk to Ginny who was comforting her about the ordeal.

Fred grins at Seamus "Oooh someone sounds jealous to me. Does that mean you have a crush on the blonde heir of the Malfoy line too?" Fred was able to get George in on the game to make him forget what he saw there, however no one was going to forget soon what just happened. Though it was amusing to see others act differently this year than normally. Glancing over at Umbridge who looked displeased, Fred did a single nod to George as the twins seem to be able to understand each other better than others.

Though Draco himself rarely got into fistfights with Harry, he was often on the receiving end of Ron's unbridled anger. Ron had no problem beating the snot out of the arrogant Malfoy heir when he really deserved it, and sometimes even when he didn't. Draco usually provoked the fights by prodding at the volatile beast that was Ron Weasley's quick, violent temper, but he rarely--if ever--threw the first punch. No, he had more class than that. His parents certainly wouldn't appreciate receiving an owl stating that their little poster child had been starting fights--he might get punished for that.

So, of course, it was to be expected when the blonde simply smirked at Harry's initial temperamental outburst, knowing he hit a nerve when he mentioned Cho. His smirk wavered somewhat when the brunette continued, his silvery eyes darkening to a dull slate gray when his father's abuse was brought up. Draco's expression continued to darken, his eyes slowly morphing into an eerie swirl of ghostly silver strands and stone gray flecks. At first, it looked like he wasn't going to bother wasting his time and pursuing Harry...

But that last comment was the final straw. It was almost as if a loud audible SNAP! pierced the musty air around them. One second, Draco was still seated on the window sill, fury rolling off of him in massive cresting waves. The next second, the blonde was mere inches away from Harry, stomping toward him like a tiger about to pounce on its hapless prey.

"You shut your mouth about my family, Potter!" His arm shot out, his fingers clasping around one of Harry's forearms in an absurdly tight death grip. He leaned forward menacingly, baring his teeth like an infuriated predator. "At least I have a family!" he spat, figurative hackles raised, squeezing the flesh caught between his strong fingers. "All you've got are bunch of senseless, inferior Muggles and the blood traitor Weasleys!" Draco leaned forward even farther, so close now that their noses were nearly touching. If looks could kill...Harry would have dropped dead right then.

"And who are you to insult my father, Potter?" This time, his voice was deathly calm. "You, spawn of a filthy Mudblood and a Mudblood-loving blood traitor--a repulsive pair of nitwits who were somehow stupid enough to get on the bad side of the most powerful Dark Wizard in the world?" A cold laugh escaped him--unnerving though it was, that single laugh made him sound more like Lucius than his own derogatory words did. He shook Harry's arm threateningly. "If I had parents like that, dead or alive...I'd be too ashamed to even show my face in public. I might even be happy to see them dead and buried!"

The relationship between Draco and Lucius was a peculiar one. They fought often, and violently to boot. They never seemed to agree on anything in private--yet, Draco was much like a carbon copy of him when they were together in a public place. Draco never spoke ill of him despite their apparent differences, and if someone insulted him, he would defend him ruthlessly. The Malfoy family was a complicated one, indeed, and quite puzzling to most outsiders.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you kidding?" The cheekiest of grins split its way across Seamus' face. "Guaranteed, there's not a single girl of guy of the proper inclination in this school who'd turn down a genuine chance of getting in Draco Malfoy's pants! He's one o' the hottest guys in Hogwarts, and he's super-smart, and he's rich--blimey, you blind, Fred? Even if it's just a one-night stand, I'd jump at the chance!"

Now it was Ron's turn to stat gagging. He rose from his seat, brushing himself off. "Right, that does it--this conversation's going south real quick. I'm off. Got some last-minute Charms homework to do. Wanna come with, Hermione? I could use the help. Dunno what the hell Flitwick assigned us, but whatever it is, it's giving me a lot of trouble."

Harry turned when when Malfoy grabbed his arm gripping it really hard making him wince in pain. He never expected Malfoy to grab his arms, punch him yes, but not go for the main source of his pain. Pain shot out making him remember in an instant how he came across it and then it burned worse when he refused to admit he was lying. Since he wasn't. Not responding back to Malfoy's comments since he was quite distracted with more than one thing right now. Harry tried to get Malfoy to loosen his grip or to let go "Let me go, Malfoy" Harry tried to push the blonde back, but it didn't work. The pain was stronger than his own strength showed to be and that was his downfall. His anger was gone now.

When Malfoy shook his arm increasing the pain, Harry dropped to his knees clenching the fist of the arm that was being held with a death grip, and held onto his arm with the other hand. Something hit the floor of the dusty old with a small little plop that would be had to hear, and it was...soft. A single tear slid off Harry's face falling to the old floor followed by another one. He tried saying "L-l-let g-g-go" again, but it was almost muffled to where it couldn't hardly be heard. The first thing that he could say loud enough was "I'm sorry" though it may off come off as a quiet two words...he just wanted Malfoy to let go so the pain would stop, except after a surge of pain afterwards that would make his arm throb even more. Harry would rather have been punched, this was far worse, and he could even feel ever cut that was etched into him over and over again.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Not blind, Mate. Just not gay" Fred laughed leaving with his brother George at the sight of Ron rising from his seat. Since it was only a day or two since the incident at Hogsmeade he wondered how Hermione would act towards the younger boy. "Sorry Ron, but I have to find Kate and get started on our project, we haven't gotten much farther to go, and I want to get started on it as soon as I can." however, Hermione dragged Ginny with her while leaving which meant she didn't want to start on her project right then and there.

Pansey magically wrote up a note since she didn't remember anything from the night before and made it appear right before Ron Weasley could leave. It read [I can help with your Charms homework if you want. -P.P] Pansey didn't understand why she wanted to help him, but it was that or find someone else to follow around. Malfoy was busy. Kate was already gone. What else was she going to do.

"And why should I, Potter?" Ordinarily quite observant, Draco was so blinded by his anger and his instinctual need to defend his family's honor that he didn't realize it wasn't his words that were hurting and intimidating Harry, but the vice-like grip he had on the Gryffindor's injured arm. He wasn't expecting Harry to suddenly drop to his knees--the blonde blinked a few times, expression blank and silver eyes as wide as an owl's. Those words further shocked him--for a moment, he simply gaped open-mouthed, resembling a fish out of water, at the other boy, not imagining in his wildest dreams that he'd ever manage to break Harry Potter down this far, to subjugate him to the point that he immediately started apologizing and shedding tears!

...Something wasn't right.

"Why on earth are you crying?" Though his grip was still tight on Harry's arm, Draco's fingers no longer held it in a death grip. He stared profusely at Harry, confusion etched on every inch of his pale, handsome face. "I didn't even strike you!" Had the poor little Golden Boy finally cracked under the pressure now that the Dark Lord was alive and well, and apparently out for blood? Was he having some sort of mental breakdown? No...that couldn't be it. Did the comments about his parents affect him more than he was letting on? No...surely Harry would have socked him for those words--in fact, he'd almost been expecting it.

"...Wait a moment."

Those sharp metallic eyes darted down to the now-limp arm caught in his grip. For a moment, all he did was glower at the limb, as if willing it to unveil its secrets to him. And then...

The blonde moved rapidly again, so quickly that he was almost a blur. He dropped down to Harry's level, kneeling on the floor. His other arm shot out, gripping Harry's arm just below the shoulder. The other kept a firm, but not tight grip on his forearm. "Don't you dare move, Potter." Draco's tone was flat. Rather serious. "Or I might actually throttle you." Quite ready to pin Harry down to the dusty classroom floor if he had to, the blonde gradually released his grip on the Gryffindor's forearm. Instead, those long, slender fingers--a pianist's fingers, really--carefully worked at the sleeve of his robe, furling it upward. Something must have been wrong with Harry's arm, and it was simply a stroke of bad (or was it good...?) luck that it was the arm he happened to snatch up in his swelling fit of rage. Now all there was left to do was figure out what the issue was!

~~~~~~~~~~

"Still mad at him, huh?" Ginny sounded almost sympathetic as she walked along with Hermione, a wry smile on her face. "Yeah, I know. He can be annoying. But he's my brother, and if I don't love him, who will?" After a pregnant paused, the redheaded girl reached out and placed a hand on Hermione's arm. "You okay, there, Hermione? Anything you want to talk about? We've got time, you know."

Ron ground to a halt as a strange note suddenly materialized in front of him. The gangling redhead squinted at it, eyes scanning the contents. Then he scoffed and shook his head, looking slightly flattered by the idea that the most popular girl in Slytherin wanted to help him with his Charms homework but disgusted because it was a Slytherin girl making the move. He peered around the Great Hall until he caught Pansy's eye, smiling almost sympathetically and shaking his head. Gryffindors just didn't hang around Slytherins. That was how it had to be. Just as he was about to exit the Great Hall, a bouncing, bubbly Seamus, accompanied by a sulking Dean, caught up with him. Ron seemed totally oblivious to the spring in Seamus' step when he spoke to him, but Dean certainly wasn't--he was looking more and more sullen by the second.

Harry flinched slightly when Malfoy moved after loosening his grip unsure what to expect. The pain was really strong as he could feel the heat building up, blood throbbing through his arm, and now it was starting to feel worse as the fabric of his robes scratched very lightly against his skin. The slightest brush would make him cringe at the sight. Harry heard Malfoy say not to move and all he could do was nod. He was actually listening to the blonde boy for once rather than making any remark. Then again in this state, this invulnerable state, why would anyone choose to do anything else.

If Harry would have chosen to move at that time and another event would play out. He feared the pain would increase being worse than what he had just felt and wasn't sure if he could handle something like that all at once in the same day. Let alone the last few minutes that played out. When the sleeve of the robe was moved to reveal his arms the very small letters [I Will Not Tell Lies] was etched into his fore arm. They weren't just small though, they were deep, and looked quite painfully red. This didn't include the red arm mark that now appeared because of the grip Malfoy had on it leaving a hand print. "It's not...what...it looks like..." Harry managed to say, but didn't continue. He didn't continue if he did then he would probably start crying up again seeing as that was the only way he was keeping as composed as he was.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yea, but I'm not focused on him anymore. I'm just tired of his stupid act he put on all these years. I thought he was cute at first and I could look past things. But, this year seems to be showing everyone's real colors." Plus her mind lately had been on trying to find someone else's attention, though things weren't going easy these last couple of weeks. She hadn't known why, but her knew crush involved someone else of another house so she didn't know how it would work out if it did happen. "Have you ever liked someone that you didn't think you could be with socially?" Hermione asked her friend Ginny.

"So what sort of charms homework do you need help with, matey?" Seamus asked keeping his usual, bubbly appearance unsure of what was with Dean at the moment. He glanced over wondering if the boy was going through one of those emotional changes teenagers were going through normally on a day to day basis. Seamus was quite glad that he hit those a long time ago and not as bad as some of the students.

The expression on Draco's face was absolutely unreadable as those ethereal eyes ghosted over the minuscule words etched into Harry's sun-kissed skin. It was often difficult for the average person to tell what the blonde was thinking, especially if he didn't want anyone knowing (which was the case right this moment). He just continued to kneel there, one hand grasping the Gryffindor's arm just beneath his shoulder and the other practically cradling the underside of his forearm, now, while he scrutinized the painful red marks carved into the back of his hand and the top side of his forearm. Something about this seemed vaguely familiar...but for the life of him, he couldn't imagine why.

At once, when the dark-haired boy spoke, silvery eyes snapped up to meet verdant emerald eyes. Draco's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "Oh?" Now he sounded angry again. But...it was a different sort of anger. The blonde sounded torn, stricken. He didn't seem to be angry at Harry himself. Rather, he was infuriated with this entire situation. "Then what is it? Explain!" He demanded, tightening his grip with the hand that wasn't clutching wound-ridden flesh, just below Harry's shoulder. "You better not have done this to yourself, Potter. Self-mutilation is below someone like you."

Oh, he was already well-aware that these weren't self-inflicted wounds. Harry was right-handed, and these marks were on the back of his right hand--that simply didn't make sense. Which could only mean...that someone else was the cause of these wounds. A gradual change came over Draco. Every muscle in his body was riddled with tension. His jaw clenched. His eyes flashed with something akin to...sympathy, perhaps? He knew what it was like to suffer immeasurably at the hands of another. To feel utterly helpless. To walk around in pain for days afterward.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yeah, of course. Harry." Ginny's response was so quick, so immediate, that she was quick to feel bad. Obviously, this was a difficult subject for Hermione to talk about--whoever she fancied must have really been forbidden fruit. "Ron might have killed Harry if him and I got together--he's too overprotective of me. And, well...I mean...Harry's like an untouchable force, too. I'm not surprised things aren't working out with Cho. It's like...trying to date a god or something. I gave up a while ago. I think...it's going to take a very special kind of person to handle Harry, really. I hope he's happy in the end!"

Ginny took a quick detour, heading for the nearest courtyard. Hopefully, everyone would be getting some extra sleep or doing homework, and the courtyard would be mostly deserted. If Hermione had something private she needed to discuss, it would be much better to discuss it in a mostly private place.

"Summoning Charms." Ron seemed like he was in a huff, shoulders slumped and teeth worrying his bottom lip. "I've always been rubbish with those, but I have to get the hang of it somehow. O.W.L.s are this year. Hermione tried to help me out, and I was doing really well for a while...but then, well...we had a row. And she's still not talking to me. And now I'm stumped."

Harry was glad that Malfoy didn't harm either of his arms now, seeing as it was on both of them, and they hurt...well his right arm hurt worse. He was going to say it was nothing, but eventually it would have to be said. Wouldn't it? Harry took a small breath of relief with lesser pain being inflicted upon himself by his stupid actions once again. "Remember I had detention with Umbridge after the incident in class...well this is the result of her detention. Some special quill she uses painfully write what you write on paper into your skin...I was supposed to write it until it sunk it for...well two hours." Harry managed to say to the blonde Slytherin boy that hadn't yet striked him which he was quite relieved.

Harry had thought about self harm before, but never had the time to focus on that thought no matter how bad his life was to get, and he was wondering so many times before why didn't he. Eventually his mind was over run by things that had to be done before this so called war or fight was to happen. Eventually there would be one. "Don't tell anyone, okay? Just don't" he had no venom in his voice, just hope that no one would find out. Once someone would, it would be all over school, and it would make him look weaker than ever.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Harry isn't a god Ginny. If anything he's just another boy like you and I or Ron or so" except Ron was an idiot "Maybe one day he will be happy, but lately I've taken a liking to someone else. Someone I can't have and doesn't like me or anyone like myself." someone who found her annoying and she thought it was...interesting, charming...it got her attention. The little smartest witch at hogwarts who had her nose in her books or always chasing after harry or ron in trouble.

"Girls are trouble, give her another week and she'll be yours again so mate" Seamus spoke looking to Dean next "Why so sour Deany boy?" Seamus asked his accent showing through more thane ever now.

As Harry went on to explain how he acquired these wounds, the sinking feeling in Draco's gut intensified until he felt like his stomach would drop right down and out of his body entirely. Now he knew exactly why these wounds looked so familiar, even if it only happened once. It was a vivid memory in his mind--a fresh, but entirely unwelcome change in the routine. "It's a black quill, isn't it?" The words escaped him before he could even think of stopping them, his voice dull and forcibly devoid of emotion. "A black quill that doesn't require any ink--rather, it uses the blood of its intended victim. Well?" He arched a pale eyebrow. "Am I wrong?"

So...there was a reason his father wanted to use him as a one-time guinea pig for that ridiculous quill this summer. He remembered it vividly--his mother was out of town that week, and he and Lucius had another vicious row. This time, they actually managed to get into it, brutally fist-fighting one another for upwards of fifteen minutes. When Lucius finally managed to get the upper hand and pin him, he'd received one of the absolute worst rounds of punishment he'd ever had to endure--they lasted for a full week's time. A full six hours of writing with a similar black quill was part of that punishment. He'd served his purpose, obviously--now that quill was ready to be used on students this year, and Harry had been its first registered victim.

Suddenly wrenched from his own thoughts by the Gryffindor's next words, Draco blinked a couple of times...and then he growled, releasing his hold on the other's arm and practically jumping his feet. "Why in the hell aren't you in the Hospital Wing, Potter?" He turned and stalked back toward the window sill, where he'd left most of his supplies. "Don't want to seem weak, do you?" The blonde seemed to be rifling through his various potion ingredients, but he paused to peer over his shoulder, looking...impressed, perhaps? "Well, good. The last thing that disgusting toad needs is to know that she's getting to you. Father says she's the most passive-aggressive, childish, self-serving cow in the entire Ministry. A perfect fit for her intended role here, of course."

The blonde Slytherin had his back turned to Harry for a while, but it seemed as if he was mixing a few ingredients together in the medium-sized shallow bowl he ordinarily used to crush dry ingredients together in Potions class. When he finally whirled around, he strode to the desk Harry seated himself at the previous day and set the bowl down there. It was filled with a thick yellowish substance, which had a sickeningly sweet smell. "There. Soak your hands in that first. Should help heal the cuts. Careful you don't slop it around if you decide to dunk your arms in there--murtlap essence isn't a simple ingredient to find."

With that over and done with, Draco promptly retreated back to the window sill, pointedly avoiding Harry's gaze. He seemed to have withdrawn into his own psyche, and he was now very much focused on peering out of the window, his eyes following the sharp angles of Hogwarts Castle.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes, but do you realize how much pressure it must be, to be the girlfriend of someone like Harry? It must be maddening!" Ginny exclaimed, suddenly very glad that she'd never truly pursued her own feelings for Harry. Sure, she liked him--he was a great guy. She just...wasn't sure if it was the right fit. She flashed a charming smile at the older girl just as they reached the courtyard--it was mercifully deserted, save for a couple of seemingly lovestruck Hufflepuffs in the far corner. Ginny took a seat on one of the benches, stretching her legs out comfortably before her.

"You don't have to tell me who he is if you don't want to, Hermione." Though, of course, she was just dying to know. "How do you know he doesn't like you, and that you can't have him? Have you talked to him?"

"Yeah, I wonder about that..." Ron suddenly fell silent, lost in his own conflicting thoughts. Dean, lagging behind the pair, seemed mildly interested in their conversation...but the moment Seamus turned back around, he started scowling again. Dean and Seamus were a volatile pair, always on and off with both their relationship and their friendship...but they always seemed to make up in the end. "I'm good, Seamus."

Harry listened as he sat on the floor waiting for something to happen "You know of it?" Harry asked nodding when Malfoy described the quill in a bit of detail showing that he knew what that horrid thing was. "Yes it was, she call it her special quill. Why would anyone make anything like that?" to use a student none the less. "Why should I go there? To do what? Try to explain to them it isn't self harm when they would jump to the conclusion thinking less of me? It's bad enough people don't think very much of me to begin with" even though he was wrong, people thought about him, just not always in a good way.

Harry wanted to ask Malfoy what he would do if it happened to him, would he go to the infirmary and worry everyone, and get judged for something they see as trivial. Harry blinked, did he just give him a...slight compliment? No, that isn't right, that wouldn't be very Malfoy like of him to do or say. "I can believe that, she's very odd" he rolled his eyes glad the pain was subsiding a bit. Harry watched what Malfoy was doing which intrigued him to wonder more, but his mind wasn't focused on thinking currently. Standing up he moved to the desk he had chosen the day before and did as he was told...slowly at first applying it to the cuts, it was cool which was refreshing to him since the pain was a burning sensation he wanted nothing with.

He was drawn to being focused on applying the murtlap while wondering why was he being nice to him like this. Maybe he just didn't want to see someone suffer...no that couldn't be right. Maybe he saw the quill in action... "I hope no one else has to use that quill for detention..." he could imagine the many parents wanting to sue for using a harmful action against their child in the school that was supposed to protect them. Harry finished up covering the cuts "Not to be sappy or anything, but thanks" he was glad the pain dulled down now.

~~~~~~~~~~

"True, well I haven't spoken to him yet. He has no idea about how I feel and I haven't thought about telling him. I didn't think it would be a good idea" Hermione spoke sitting down looking up at the sky her thoughts freely wandering around in her intelligent little mind. Hermione's hair glowed a bit golden brown in the sun that was shining down upon them this morning, she was glad she didn't have to jump right into her classes so soon.

"You could say that." A rather grave expression crawled its way onto Draco's face. It was only broken when Harry went and called it her 'special quill'--a strange sputtering sound escaped him, but he quickly turned away, his lips pressed together to prevent too much noise from escaping. Was he...was he laughing? And it didn't sound like that average condescending laughter, either. "Mm-hm. Yes. Well..." He cleared his throat--the corners of his mouth were twitching uncontrollably. "Don't ever say that again." This time some unrestrained mirth broke loose in his voice. "It doesn't sound right."

Draco leaned heavily against the embellished double-pane window, watching idly as a couple of owls whizzed right on by. Now that he wasn't distracted by the sight of Harry, or the uncomfortably stifling scent of the other boy when they were so close together, several thoughts ran amok in his head. For one...he would definitely get back at Dolores Umbridge for this little incident. And how would he go about doing that? He wasn't entirely sure. He couldn't let his father know--he was supportive of her, seeing as she was the Ministry of Magic's pawn, Cornelius Fudge's flabby puppet, and the Ministry still blissfully refused to believe that the Dark Lord was alive and well again.

"It's an instrument of torture, Potter. My god. You're far too innocent for your own good." He spared a brief glance at Harry, those eyes (much like glinting shreds of steel) locking with his own before he turned them back toward the window. "I suppose you don't realize just how much torturing goes on at the Ministry and at Azkaban, hm? It's a useful tactic for extracting information from prisoners. Of course, it'd be much easier for them to just use the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses...but oh no--ethics this and morals that." He gave a small shrug of his shoulder. "Idiots, the lot of them. They don't realize that some people will never give up information without the proper...provocation. I suppose that nifty quill is just another tactic they've started using."

A noncommittal sound escaped Draco. He closed his eyes, reclining his head on the stone window frame. "Oh, she'll use it on other students. Be sure of that. Anyone who sticks up for you, of course. Or for Dumbledore. Or anyone who starts claiming the Dark Lord has actually risen. Best to keep your big mouth shut around Umbridge, Potter. The direct approach will never work on someone like her. If you're wanting to knock her off her as-of-yet nonexistent thrones...you'll have to go about it another way." Subtlety was the key. Harry didn't know it yet, of course...but Draco knew that eventually, Umbridge would manage to wrestle control of the school from Dumbledore (how that would come to be, he wasn't certain...but his father assured him of it). She was a force to be reckoned with, even if she didn't quite look the part.

Predictably, an almost offended expression twisted Draco's attractive features when Harry thanked him. He grunted, bowing his head slightly and trying to hide the slight rose-hued flush to his pale cheeks with his even paler hair (which, obviously, wasn't working). "Keep the worst of the cuts fully submerged in the bowl for a while," he muttered instead, his voice low and gruff. "They'll heal quickly."

Was the unshakable Draco Malfoy embarrassed?

~~~~~~~~~~

For a few agonizingly long moments, Ginny said nothing. It wasn't that she didn't have anything to say, nor was it because she was thinking deeply about Hermione's words. No, she was just flat-out staring at the older girl, eyes wide as saucers. Tactful as ever, the redhead quickly regained her bearings, shaking off the momentary trance.

"Well, then!" she chirped, sounding quite excited. "How about you write him an anonymous love letter? Disguise your handwriting with a few quick spells? You could send it to him through one of the school's owls. Maybe spray it with some perfume and such. Tell him what you like about him, and how he'd complement you in all the right ways. Just don't tell him who you are. If he reacts positively and starts looking around for the sender...maybe he's interested. Then it would be safe to approach him in private later on...wouldn't it?"

Subtle, yet bold! If that didn't catch this mysterious boy's attention, nothing would.

"Sorry I didn't think about it being used in Azkaban since it was used on me here to prove a useless point that was false" Harry knew how he reacted to the quill and didn't want to imagine this detention again. They still shouldn't use the quill on students at the very least, what was that going to prove? That the ministry had power over everyone? That wouldn't make sense seeing as wizards could be far more powerful and you would have to be cooperative too.

"Not innocent really, I just didn't think about the other uses" he did just go through quite a painful moment and what was worse was Malfoy saw every part of it. Harry wondered how they were gong to get her out of the way if they couldn't use the direct approach, then again there were other approaches, and he wanted to ask Malfoy his opinion. However, he didn't ask him like he wanted to, but maybe he could look up some information on what the best way would be.

Harry glanced over seeing the change in skin tone on the Slytherin's face and figured he was still mad over having to deal with his enemy's little moment that just occurred. He figured if he apologized for having Malfoy deal with him just then that it might not go well so he glanced back at the bowl doing as he was told. "How do you know so much about healing cuts like these?" maybe he just studied it, but for what reason? Curiosity? Though Harry couldn't help while looking at the bowl smiling a heart warming smile that he was getting a bit of help to ease the pain.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione blinked, unexpectedly she didn't think about that, and figured it would be embarrassing if she was caught. Looking at Ginny she said "You're not serious are you...wait, that would be a wonderful idea. Secretive and assertive if I write it correctly." with the idea set in mind she hugged Ginny then stopped for a moment "Well I've never written one before" then she sat back down trying to think of a good way to do so.

"Oh, no. It's innocence. Don't try to sugarcoat it, Potter. You claimed you don't know why someone would create an object as horrible as that quill--that alone speaks volumes about your level of innocence." Draco's voice sounded a bit dull and toneless...but at least it lacked the usual scathing, haughty tone. "But that's beside the point, I suppose." Harry never did seem like the type to see the worst in things. Yet another area where they differed. Draco was a pessimist, through and through. His violent and tumultuous upbringing made him cold and distant, unwilling to open up and unwilling to trust other people. He was quick to pick up on the worst qualities of the people around them and latch onto them--this was what made him such a successful bully.

Harry's question caught the blonde off-guard. He did not turn to face the Gryffindor--rather, the blonde only swiveled a bit in his seat and turned an unblinking sideways stare on him. His expression was carefully guarded. "The properties of murtlap tentacles were covered briefly in both Potions and Care of Magical Creatures." A hint of wariness infused itself into his voice. It was likely a futile effort, he knew. After all, he greatly doubted that Harry had forgotten the scene he stumbled upon in Hogsmeade. The Malfoy heir seemed to have taken a turn for the worse in terms of friendliness--he was so open just moments before. And now...the intimidating wall of ice encasing Draco Malfoy, which had already begun to melt in this abandoned classroom, was starting to freeze over again.

He didn't even know what he wanted anymore. Why was he even here, helping his own worst enemy lick the wounds he received because he had to be a dolt and open his big mouth in front of a Ministry puppet? It was as if some invisible force willed him to stay. He couldn't budge an inch, even if he wanted to put as much distance between himself and Harry as humanly possible. He had enough problems to worry about without adding this awkward encounter to the list. Perhaps...in the long run, it would be more prudent to have Harry as a reluctant ally rather than a stone-faced enemy. But for god's sake, how did he even go about doing such a thing? Him, a disturbed, friendless, and admittedly mean-spirited son of a Death Eater--befriend Harry Potter? How ludicrous.

Where would he even begin...? God, he hoped his confusion didn't show on his face...

~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny's face split wide open in a smile. She eagerly shuffled forward to accept and heartily return Hermione's hug...but that smile dissipated some once the brunette pulled away from the embrace. Her slightly downtrodden expression only lasted for a few seconds before flip-flopping completely. "Really?" She sounded incredulous. "You've really never written a love letter before? Never actually fancied someone as much as you fancy this guy?" Ginny chuckled good-naturedly and patted Hermione on the arm. "That's okay. I've written a few, myself." She suddenly paused, and then she hastily added, "Don't tell Ron." Ron was far too overprotective for his own good. Putting Ron out of her mind, Ginny rose from her seat, brushing her robes off. "We should go to the library together after all of our classes are done. I'll help you write the perfect love letter!"

He didn't speak when Malfoy stated the basic facts in front of him. He was the chosen one, but never cared to expand that knowledge in order to get better at it. He didn't want to be the chosen one to begin with and maybe one day he wouldn't have to be. "Guess I need to pay more attention in potions then" he seemed to be caught glaring at Snape or Malfoy half of the time. He wondered what it would be like to be one of the top students if he even tried and would that seem odd to everyone? He would be willing to try it if he could get away from Hermione and Ron for a few days.

"I think we have what we need right?" Harry asked after about fifteen minutes of some what silence and keeping his arms covered a decent amount with the murtlap he covered his arms back with his sleeves again. Guess he was too stubborn to give up sooner and admit defeat, but was it really such a bad thing to not want to seem weak? "Before we start acting like we're besties, I'm going to head to my first class if it's alright with you." Harry spoke hoping Malfoy wouldn't mention anything to anyone about everything. He kept quiet about what happened in that ally way and he wanted to apologize using that against him. Though he didn't.

What would happen if he, the famous Harry Potter also known as the boy who lived, decided to denounce the path he was given on the day of his parent's deaths. He was originally doing this because he believed his parents wanted him to, but did it matter on what he wanted?

~~~~~~~~~~

"That would be perfect and no I won't tell Ron, I doubt I'll be talking to him much. It's actually a relief not to and to have more girl time." Hermione smiled this was less stressful and more fun than hauling Ron around or chasing after him. And did she get tired of always doing the chasing, she wasn't going to leave room for him to chase either; her new crush was better than him, but he couldn't be compared to this new crush. "Thank you Ginny, thank you" Hermione smiled hugging Ginny happily again.

When Kate first joined onto the school she was able to pass her transfiguration class with ease along with potions. Her potions letter to her guardians would say Exceeds expectations however, she never gave it to her guardian since she passed away early. Well that is until she became a ghost to live forever with Kate until the young wizard could become old enough to be on her own. Though Kate has the issue of liking others and becoming too independent on them when the time comes. That would be her downfall, her emotions, and she knew this very well.

"You're not half bad at Potions." The words escaped Draco before he could stop himself. With his jaw set, he felt it would be better to continue rather than leave that single awkward statement hanging around in the air. "If you'd just apply yourself instead of giving Professor Snape and I the evil eye all through class..." A mischievous glint flashed in those steel-hued eyes, "...perhaps your grades would improve accordingly." Draco wasn't Snape's favorite student simply because he was a Slytherin (as well as being Lucius Malfoy's child). He was at the top of the fifth year class in Potions--he was even better than some of the seventh years! Slender hands folded together and rested lightly on his lap. "I could always tutor you. In private, of course. Surely, you wouldn't want anyone knowing you need help, or that I'd be tutoring you. And, naturally, I wouldn't want anyone knowing I agreed to such a thing." A gust of air rushed past his lips, temporarily blowing his bangs out of his face. "They'd think I'd gone barking mad."

The Malfoy heir actually seemed to be enjoying the silence. His eyes were closed again, and he was now resting his cheek against the cool glass window. The longer the silence stretched on, the more peaceful the blonde appeared. It wasn't often that Draco let his guard down like this, especially with someone else still in the room with him. Oddly enough, the silence served to relax him more than the semi-friendly interactions with Harry. It was more than enough that he was managing to let loose and be calm in Harry's presence.

Startled by the sudden noise, the blonde sat straight up, wringing his hands in his lap. He slowly rose from his seat, gathering up the few potion ingredients he purposely brought with him this morning. These were actually last-minute grabs--after all, he hadn't exactly been expecting to mix any ingredients today. Well, lucky him...because he did actually need these today to help ease Harry's suffering. "Fine." Draco didn't protest the parting too much. At this point in time, spending too much of their free time with each other was just plain awkward. "I'd advise stashing some stray ingredients in this room, here...it's been empty for as long as we've been at Hogwarts. It should be secure." As if bolstering his own theory, he began stowing away the remaining ingredients in an old cabinet. He reached over once Harry rose, as well, and snatched up the bowl of murtlap essence. With a simple tap of his wand, the liquid vanished, leaving a clean bowl behind. He stored this with the rest of his supplies.

"Let's try to meet at least once a day, shall we?" Draco's tone held no hint of animosity. "That way, we'll get this done quickly." With his textbook tucked under his arm, the blonde made for the door. "See you in Transfiguration, Potter."

Transfiguration was dull today. McGonagall seemed to have contracted some sort of head cold, which was good news for her students. She didn't push them very hard today, instead assigning a bit of light reading and a short paper on the reading material. Draco didn't even bother with the reading--that way, he would have something to do tonight. Instead, the blonde made use of his time by doodling aimlessly on the back of some Arithmancy notes and occasionally kicking the chair of the person who sat in front of him, who was thankfully the mostly level-headed Seamus Finnigan (in fact, he might have been secretly elated by the special attention).

Care of Magical Creatures was even worse. That lumbering oaf Hagrid had them fruitlessly trying to lure a group of incredibly wary Porlocks out from some heavy cover on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. For this class, Draco distracted himself with the partially unwanted attentions of Pansy Parkinson. She was in a talkative mood today. Specifically, she wanted to know why he and Harry hadn't beat each other into a bloody pulp yet. "I can't imagine being forced to work with that scarhead!" she exclaimed loudly. Perhaps a little too loudly--Ron peered over his shoulder angrily. "Isn't he really bad with potions? Ugh! I bet he's making you do all the work, isn't he, Drake-y?"

A collective snicker traveled through the Gryffindors. Draco's cheeks were pink until class ended.

Dinner was relatively calm and quiet. The Gryffindors were boisterous this evening--apparently, Fred and George were showing off one of their newest inventions to a group of eager second and third years. At the other end of the Great Hall, Draco had once again forsaken his plate of food and was instead working on some Charms homework. Though only a tiny handful of the other Slytherins had noticed (typical, of course), Draco hadn't been eating very well. He barely ate any breakfast this morning save for a couple of mouthfuls of scrambled eggs and a piece of toast with jam. This evening, it looked like he wouldn't be having anything else aside from a single buttered dinner roll and half a bowl of mashed potatoes. Partway through dinner, a few owls swept into the Great Hall, most with letters but a select few with packages. Draco, who wasn't expecting anything, paid them no mind. Pansy got a letter from her mother, which she pored over expectantly. At the Gryffindor table, Ron was sulking over a letter from his mother, warning him that if he got himself into any more fights this year that she heard about, he'd be getting a Howler next time. Fred and George actually received a Howler, which contained a short but booming message from their mother: "IF I GET ANY MORE OWLS FROM THE SCHOOL ABOUT YOU FORCE-FEEDING FIRST YEARS EXPERIMENTAL JOKE SHOP RUBBISH, I SWEAR!" Naturally, the entire hall, along with the Weasley twins, erupted into a brief spat of laughter.

Harry gathered his things up into his bag while rolling his eyes, though he knew the other boy was right, Harry had never applied himself to potions because of the two people mainly in there. That and every time he got paired with Hermione she tried doing all the work to show how good and knowledgeable she was. Harry was going to ask why Malfoy would want to help him, but this would be a good opportunity for him to grab onto. "Alright, but as long as we keep it quiet not that I think I have to tell you that." seeing as it was Malfoy's idea to keep it on the down low.

"This room would probably be the best place seeing as we are the two that know about it" Harry spoke glad for that reason, if anyone did catch the two of them being well not mean to each other it would ruin both of their reputations. Harry couldn't help but stare, maybe it was because it was quieter this time while being in the same room with Malfoy. His cuts weren't healed yet, but they did feel alot better than earlier. "What happened in here that people don't use this room anymore?" he wondered if it was just an old room or not. "Yea, see you Malfoy" Harry spoke watching the blonde leave the room before him.

Harry sat at his desk taking notes, it didn't seem like Malfoy was taking the notes down...wait why did he care if he did the work or not. He probably passed Transfiguration with ease like Harry himself was already doing. Today this subject was on the "Doubling Charm" it was the second chapter in the book seeing as McGonagall didn't advance them today. The history of the subject was as followed, he began to read it to himself silently in his mind.

[The Doubling Charm was invented by a pair of reclusive twin witches, Helixa and Syna Hyslop, who used it to create duplicates of every item inside their mansion, in which they lived together their whole lives. After their deaths, their relatives finally learned of this practice, discovering two, duplicated sets of hand-written instructions for the spell, one left by each twin.

The effects were described as followed: There was much debate over whether a copy created with the Gemino Curse held the same value as the original, as the two items were impossible to tell apart at first, being identical to one another. However, over time, the copy tended to rot or tarnish more quickly than the original, making it possible to identify eventually. Because of this, the replicas created through this charm are considered to have no value or worth. It is also unknown as to whether or not the Gemino Curse can duplicate living or sentient beings, or if it is able to replicate an object's magical properties.

An odd characteristic of the spell, for which a solution was never found, was that only the original caster could stop the multiplication of the object. If for some reason the caster was interrupted in his/her casting, the object would continue multiplying for hours or even days, stopping only when the copies began to break down. As such, it can be presumed that the Doubling Charm may produce both a single copy, or multiple, depending on the caster's intentions. This indefinite replication property could apparently be harnessed as a security measure, with this spell causing valuable objects to begin multiplying out of control when touched by an intruder or potential thief, thus quickly filling up the space with worthless copies of the original object, and trapping or crushing the trespassers.]

Harry figured it was best to start stepping up his game in his classes so that he could appear better later after the war for a decent job. He wasn't sure what he would do or if he would try to become a teacher at Hogwarts. He knew enough about the school and learned more each day he was there. His blue eyes stared at the context in the book while his brown hair slightly covered his eyes, the night before his detention he cut it a bit with a haircut charm Hermione had performed for him so he wouldn't do it wrong, and glad he didn't long Ron do it. Hermione herself said it would be A complete disaster

Harry paid attention in Care Of Magical Creatures, it always fascinated him with creatures he had never seen before outside of the muggle world, and he couldn't help, but seem like a child today in awe fascination. Kate on the other hand was silent until Pansy spoke up "Great, now she's back to normal" Kate would have to remember to try that spell again later, she knew another one which would involve a siren call, but she hadn't mastered it yet to do it on a student. Though Parkinson would be easy enough to use it on. How did such a cute younger girl years ago from an innocent age to...well this today. It made her want to gag seeing as she used to get along with Parkinson until that summer where she changed. Rolling her eyes she sent a note to Seamus making a bit of a joke out of something. "I heard Parkinson was seen snogging Ron Weasley earlier, you didn't hear it from me" it was so whispered that only Seamus could hear. This was a rumor and not true obviously, but Kate in the end did like torturing someone the way they did others.

An owl landed down in front of Malfoy at the Slytherin table, this owl wasn't anyone in particular's, just an extra to use if someone didn't have one as long as it was nicely taken care of that is. A note was attached that was written and note spoken out loud. Harry glanced up about the time the owl reached the table seeing as he was reading an alchemy book he knew more about than potions. Unable to help laughing a bit from the howler they got, the Gryffindor twins just shrugged while grinning, so they had a talent and got in trouble for it. They knew it would happen one day or another. Kate was there having a glass of hot chamomile tea mixed with lavender, after her boring day she had, and already did up her half of the potions work. All they had to do was get the ingredients she put away for later, and write down what happened each time describing their work. Once it was done they wouldn't have to worry about each other again.

The letter that Malfoy received was a soft base cream color stationary, very expensive to buy so it wasn't something a commoner could get so easily. The ink was a natural black color that balanced out quite well with the beautiful scripture hand writing the letter was written in. Even today's date was on top of the right hand corner of the letter to show when it was very well written out and the letter itself smelled of roses seeing as the ink itself was the source.

[Draco,

I have laid awake many sleepless nights trying to compose words that might adequately describe the feelings of my heart. But every time I have made the attempt, I have failed miserably. Please forgive my poor effort and try to understand that I have deeply fallen for you. I first fell in love with many years ago when we first met, at first it didn't go so well, but it didn't seem to bother me as much anymore. Ever since I realized my feelings for you, I have felt happier than I ever did before, and I can't seem to imagine you not by my side. I understand the world isn't perfect, well I may not be, but I know you are very well so. It just seems so nice how complete you make me feel, you're the other side of me I never knew I had, and you bring out the best in me at times.

We may not have had the best moments, but I do believe we were meant to turn out this way. I couldn't speak to you directly with that other girl near you all the time without being called out, so I hope you do not believe I am being a coward, and this was the easiest way without allowing everyone to know at once. In classes I glance over taking in the beauty you shine out upon the class and the students within. Others just don't see the handsome gentlemen I see each day, they just see a high powered wizard, and not the man I see trying his best. You make me go weak at the knees and swoon every time you pass me by even though I try to hide it to my best.

You're very intelligent in potions, I know that is the reason you are the top student, however I wonder if there is more to you than meets the eye. I wish to know more about you, but only when you are truly ready to seek me out. If you wish that is, I simply wanted to convey my feelings for you secretly as such in order to know truly how you feel, and I do hope you believe me on what I say here in this letter. I almost couldn't think of what to write, for hours to took me to write something so little as this seeing as I have written more in the same amount of time; I dream of one day being as high as you are on the social level so I can make you proud to have me by your side. To give you a hint of who I may be, I have dark hair and gentle eyes, that is the most I can write to explain who I may be, and this to go oh so well.

Not a trophy to show off, but a jewel that no one else can have. Though if I had you right now with me, I would be gleaming with pride for you are that jewel in my eyes. Not for your social level or family name, but for what makes you...you within this school. I may seem innocent as far as the eyes can see, but some things are unknown even to my closest friends. I do hope you consider finding me in order for me to say this publicly only to you and no one else. Have a lovely night filled with endless dreams of a world of love and peace within your body as well as your soul.

~ Sincerely,

Your Secret Admirer]

The roses on the stationary were done in a three-dimensional affect giving off a more secret love interest only the reader it was meant to read could see. It was nicely scented and the ink was invisible only for a moment then it revealed to whoever the reader might allow it.

Hermione kept her attention Ginny talking about how much she really enjoyed having her as a best friend and how much fun they would have watching whoever it was to keep an eye out for the girl that wrote the note. Though it wasn't too hard if someone so close to Hermione saw who she really liked since she snuck a glance then made it seem like someone did something they weren't supposed to or how she carried her gaze over to Harry telling him to eat more.

Harry sighed, Hermione seemed more like an overbearing mother lately rather than an actual friend that was supposed to be helping him take down the dark lord. Not distracting him from his studies which normally she was against distractions on studies. Ron's grades the last two days hadn't been too bad, he had help from Seamus and a few others that was willing to do so without getting a death glare from Hermione that is.

Well...this had been a rather interesting day, hadn't it? Oh, what the general Hogwarts population would say if they knew that Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were now on slightly good terms, and that the high and mighty Malfoy heir deigned to take Harry under his wing and properly tutor him in Potions. The blonde suggested once they were both free of the room that, no matter how awkward it looked, Harry should insist upon being partnered with him every Potions class. If he was going to help Harry concentrate and develop a knack for potion-making, he had to be close by and he had to have a genuine reason to speak to him (after all, neither of them wanted to ruin their images by being friendly with one another in public). Oh, Professor Snape would certainly be suspicious of this at first...but if he saw Harry doing most of the work while Draco sat on the sidelines, and doing the work well, he would eventually (though grudgingly) realize that Draco had good intentions...

About halfway through the day, the blonde's own thoughts turned toward his future--he was so utterly bored in Herbology, which the Slytherins had with the Ravenclaws, after having finished his project two days earlier than everyone else. It was no surprise, really, what his future was destined to be like. Once both his father and the Dark Lord deemed him old enough, mature enough, and strong enough, he would be branded with the Dark Mark, whether he wanted that or not. Years ago, he would have killed for the chance to receive that most esteemed tattoo. Now, though...the very thought of being branded like that sickened him. It was a mark of slavery. It would mean that Lord Voldemort owned him, every inch of him, just like a rancher owned each head of his cattle.

He suspected that his own parents weren't even fond of the idea anymore. They fought violently, now, and every once in a while when Draco passed the tightly-locked door of his father's study, he could hear one or both of them in there weeping. Which was terribly awkward--Lucius Malfoy only cried when he was having a breakdown. Hearing such a thing wasn't quite as rare as seeing it--he could only remember seeing his father cry three times in his entire life. Perhaps they were under the blissfully ignorant impression that the Dark Lord would never rise again. He knew his mother likely thought that way. Lucius was always harder to read. He was disgustingly hard on his son for a variety of reasons. He was raised that way, for one. But...Draco always had a feeling that the man was trying to quash all weakness from him and make him a cold, emotionless shell on his own before Lord Voldemort had a chance to do it.

If he had no one to care about and nothing to lose...that would make him a perfect pawn for the Dark Lord. A perfect servant. And that was what he was meant to be. Why he was born in the first place. There was no escaping that fate. Of course...just like his father, he would have to have some kind of cover story--a puppet job, so to speak. It would probably be in the Ministry. Maybe he'd even aim for the job of Minister of Magic once he was old enough. With his aristocratic family name and vast cornucopia of knowledge, it wouldn't take much for him to land the job.

If it was even possible, the Gryffindors perked up even more after Fred and George received that Howler, chatting animatedly amongst themselves. They were by far the loudest house in the entire Great Hall, laughing merrily, telling jokes, and spreading gossip far and wide. Lee Jordan cost Gryffindor ten house points after he chucked a gravy-soaked pork chop across the table and accidentally whacked an unfortunate first year girl with it (he'd been surreptitiously aiming for George's head). All in all, they seemed to be in a great mood.

"Oi. Oi, Ron!" Seamus leaned forward a bit--he was two seats away from Ron. "Hmmph?" The redhead didn't even bother glancing in his direction. He was far too busy shoveling piles upon piles of food down his throat. "Hungry, aren't ya?" At this, Ron stopped chewing his food and stared odiously in Seamus' direction, amusingly enough resembling a freckled chipmunk with puffed-out cheeks. He recognized that tone, and that shit-eating grin on the Irish student's face. A feeling of foreboding fell over him. "Hey. A confidential informant told me that your hands and your lips've been wandering in places they ought not to be."

Ron nearly choked on his food--several other Gryffindors, including his twin brothers, laughed at his expense. Fred was happy enough to slap him on the back a few times to prevent him from actually choking, though. Once free of food blockages, Ron huffed, glowering at Seamus. "What're you implying? That I've been snogging someone I shouldn't have been?" "Oh, yes!" Seamus chirped, swinging his legs around underneath the table. "My very reliable and anonymous source said they saw ya snogging a certain Slytherin." Dean nearly spewed his drink out all over a reproachful-looking Ginny. "You should've told us that you've got the hots for Pansy Parkinson, mate."

Predictably, the first two to react were the twins, howling with laughter as Ron's face flooded a peculiar mauve color. "What?! No...n-no! I haven't been snogging Pansy!" he cried, eyes wide and almost fearful. "What the hell! She's not even good-looking! And besides, she's Malfoy's property!" Seamus tutted, shaking his head. "Ron, Ron, Ron. You're even denser than you look, mate. Malfoy doesn't even like her. They've never been an item. Actually, I think she kinda annoys him."

Draco almost jumped right out of his seat when that owl landed in front of him. His steely eyes narrowed as he reached out, untying the note from around the bird's leg. "Next time, don't land on my homework, you stupid bird!" With a dismissive hand motion, he shooed the school owl. He ran his finger over the parchment, squinting slightly. It felt expensive, and at first he thought it might be from one of his parents, so he took great care in unfolding it. When the blast of perfume hit him, though, he leaned back a bit, eyebrows raised. And then...he shook his head, a wickedly amused grin curling his lips.

Really? This was the second one this week. Draco Malfoy was one of the most handsome boys in school, so it wasn't absurd, really, that he received a few love notes here and there. Though he had to admit, whoever took the time to get their hands on such pricey parchment and saturate with perfume that admittedly didn't smell too bad put a lot of thought and effort into this...so he might as well give it a read. The last one he found unceremoniously crammed underneath the door of the Slytherin boys' dormitories. He figured it was probably the work of Pansy, Millicent, or Astoria. The three girls didn't always get along...but when they were together, all they discussed was Draco.

The blonde propped his elbows up on the table, whistling a little ditty to himself, and carefully scrutinized the letter. It was the usual sappy stuff, of course, though he had to admit the bits about his intelligence were flattering--no other admirer mentioned that before. It was only when his eyes skimmed over a certain line and then did a double-take that a sort of sinking feeling enveloped his stomach. I have dark hair and gentle eyes. Instinctively, his eyes snapped up and settled on Harry, far on the opposite side of the room. Merely a second later, Draco cursed himself. What in the holy hell made him immediately think that Potter penned this?! No...no, that couldn't be. The perfume, the fancy script...this had to be a girl. Yes. It couldn't be Potter.

...Could it?

Shut up! Shut up, you traitorous voice in my head!

The Malfoy heir gritted his teeth together. For a few long moments, he just sat there, seemingly frozen in place...and then he rose from his seat, making his way down the length of the Slytherin table. He surreptitious tapped Kate on the shoulder as he walked by, heading straight for the doors of the Great Hall. She was perhaps the only girl in Slytherin who didn't fawn over him like he was the most gorgeous man to ever touch down on the Earth (well, he was...but that was beside the point!). She wouldn't lose her marbles over him getting a love note...maybe she'd be able to figure out who wrote it. He wasn't good with things like this...