Harry

I've been pacing back and forth for what, four hours now? I hadn't bothered to check the time when I came storming into the dormitory, but Hermione's worried glance informs me I've been here for at least a few hours. It hadn't taken me long to explain to them what had went on in the bathroom with Malfoy, but even still they had no idea what I was going through right now.

I nearly killed him tonight.

I nearly killed him.

He would have died by my wand had it not been for Snape, and the way he looked at me...it was a look of terror. He was afraid of me. You'd think that might be a good thing, and a few years ago it would have been, but now it was the worst thing I could have happen. I didn't want him to be afraid of me, I had just wanted answers. In my head I already knew the answers, the fact that he was a Death Eater and all this misfortune was pointing to him, but he had been crying that night...he looked so unbelievably broken, and I couldn't, even for a second, hate him for it.

It was clear to me then, that this was not what he had wanted. No one wants that kind of evil power then cries like that about it. I had wanted to say something, reach out and stop that haunted look on his face, but all that came out were harsh words, and suddenly we were hexing one another. And I nearly killed him.

"It's only Malfoy," Ron mumbled watching me pace in front of the fireplace. "No big deal,"

"No big deal?" I shouted. "Ron I almost killed him! That is a big deal, no matter who it is!"

"Well he hexed you first didn't he?"

"So he deserves to die?"

"I agree with Ron," Hermione said. "Malfoy has done some awful things, maybe it was time for payback after all these years."

"So you think I should be happy that he nearly died?"

"No I..." Hermione hesitated. "Not death, maybe, but he needed to be scared."

"You didn't see him Hermione. He was tortured, broken. He looked like he'd seen the face of death and knew it was coming for him. He looked like..." I broke away.

He looked like me, whenever no one was around, he looked like I felt. How could I see that and not feel changed?

"I'm just saying mate, that if it were the other way around right now, Malfoy wouldn't be here beating himself up about it he'd be celebrating with his minions," Ron said.

I sighed. "You just don't get it." I muttered. "I'm going to bed."

I couldn't get hardly any sleep last night, Malfoy's terrified face kept filling my mind, his sobs were all I kept thinking about, my guilt eating away at me. Needless to say Ron had to wake me from nightmares that night.

Malfoy didn't come to class that day. Or the next day. Or the next. To say I was worried would be an understatement. Had I actually killed him? Had Snape been too late? Sitting in Potions without him felt...odd. I shifted in my seat to look back at his friends.

"Oi Parkinson," I said.

The girl gave me a look that would curdle milk. "What Potter?" she snapped.

"Where's Malfoy?"

She arched an eyebrow, much like Malfoy himself did. Must be a Slytherin thing.

"You mean before or after you sliced him up?" she said icily.

I felt the guilt stab at me again, harder this time.

"He would have done the same if given the chance," Ron snorted.

Parkinson simply ignored Ron. "The last time I heard, he was unconscious. And he hasn't...woken."

This was the first time I'd ever heard emotion enter Pansy Parkinson's voice. Still unconscious? Why wouldn't he wake up? Something was wrong. The class ended and I immediately began running to the Hospital Wing.

"Harry what are you doing?" Ron called after me.

"I'm going to see Malfoy, don't wait up this could take a while." I said, leaping up the stairs two at a time.

When I got there, huffing and puffing, Madame Pompfrey looked at me with what looked like disappointment tinged with relief.

"I assume you want to see Mr Malfoy. He's in the bed at the end," she said pointing.

I went, and I sat by the bed. Parkinson had been right. It was like he were dead. If not for the shallow rise and fall of his chest I'd believe he was. And I'd done this to him. This was my fault.

"Hey Malfoy," I said, clearing my throat, feeling a little awkward. "Don't know if you can hear me but it's Potter. I came to see how you were. Not so good by the look of it." I attempted a chuckle but it failed. "I'm sorry I put you in here. I really am. I had no idea what that spell would do, I wouldn't have tried it had I known."

I sighed. "I wish I knew some spell that would wake you up. I feel terrible for doing this to you, I wish you'd wake up, even just to yell at me. You can even have a free go if you like, just don't die. If you don't want to hold on, then I can't really blame you, but if you do and you come back, I promise we won't be like we were. I want to help this time, really help. I promise that if you wake up I'll do everything I can to make whatever you're going through better." I smiled grimly. "I was trying to do that before, but you hexed me after my mouth betrayed me and said those things. I have to get to class now...but I'll come see you again. Okay? It's not like you can protest anyway,"

I got up and left, glancing back at him as I went. If I didn't know better I'd think he was sleeping, but I knew it was far worse than that. He just had to wake up, he had to.

Draco

Ugh. My chest. Why does it feel like it's on fire? I glanced down, but no nothing's wrong with it. Must have been that strange dream I had. Wait, what was that strange dream? I remember...

There was a knocking at my door, distracting me from my thoughts. I ignored it, it would only be Pansy. It came again, and growling I got up but still ignored the door. Then again.

"Come on Draco hurry up we'll be late for Quidditch practise!"

I froze. I recognised that voice...but from where...?

"Draco wake up! Wake uuuuuup!"

"I'm awake I'm awake!" I shouted, brushing a hand through my hair and wandering into the bathroom.

With a sudden jolt I looked down at my arm. Nothing. It was clean.

Was...was that the dream I had? I dreamed I'd received the Dark Mark? I shuddered.

I leaned over the sink, feeling a little sick. Okay. So that's that sorted, now if only I could work out where I knew that voice from. Although I didn't need to ponder long, because the person forced the lock on my door and let himself in.

"Come on you, I know you wanna preen yourself for another fifty minutes but we don't have the time."

I looked up, and stared. There before me, dressed in green and black robes, the Slytherin coat of arms on the front, was Harry Potter.

"Potter?" I frowned. What...was going on?

His grin faded and a look of concern washed over his face. "You okay Dray? You haven't called me Potter since first year,"

First year? I looked to the mirror. I recognised the face in there, it was my own, but not. It was younger, less troubled.

"What's the date? The full date?" I asked.

"October 3rd, 1994. Why?" He was frowning at me now.

1994...it was third year. I was back in third year. Why? And why was Potter in Slytherin?

"Dray, are you alright? It looks like you've seen a ghost. Bloody Baron isn't bothering you he is?" it was an attempt at a joke I knew, but I didn't smile.

"I just had...a very scary dream." I muttered.

He came closer to me, and hugged me. Actually hugged me.

"Well, it's alright now. The world's back to normal." he said.

I closed my eyes. This had to be a trick. Some sort of cruel prank. To be in Harry Potter's arms like this, something I'd always dreamed about, this couldn't be real. He pulled away, looking into my eyes.

"You are Draco Lucius Malfoy, I'm Harry James Potter. Best friends and more since the train ride to Hogwarts. Nothing's changed, the world is as normal as it can be with magic. Snape's still a git and Trelawny is still full of shit. So stop looking like you've seen death's grisly face. You're scaring me Draco."

Best friends...and more...?

But...

"In my dream," I began. "I dreamt we were fighting. But, we hated each other. And you nearly killed me. I had the Dark Mark and you had to kill me for something I'd done,"

He frowned in concern. "Hey, that's dark stuff to be dreaming about. I'd never hate you Draco, and you'd never join the Death Eaters. I made a promise didn't I? Remember in second year? I promised to look after you, I won't hurt you. So tell your dreams that."

"I...guess. It just shook me up a little," I finally managed to smile.

"There we go, that's better. Now, get your gorgeous self ready for practise, just because you're Captain doesn't mean you can be late. I'll be waiting in the common room,"

I nodded and he turned to go.

"Oh, and Dray?"

"Yes?" I asked, my mouth going dry whenever he called me that.

He smiled. "I love you."

My heart pounded in my chest, so loud it nearly deafened me.

"I love you too," I barely whispered.

He grinned and left me, and I glanced back in the mirror. A dream. It had all been a horrible dream. I sighed, turning on the tap and splashing water over my face. Thank Merlin it was only a dream. I chuckled at my own stupidity. Why would I think Harry would hate me? My mind did strange things sometimes.

I was ready soon enough, and my heart leapt when he took my hand as we walked.

"So, you think Gryffindor will win our next match?" he asked.

I snorted. "With you as our Seeker? Please. They don't stand a chance."

He chuckled. "You know I heard they got that Ron Wealsey to play Seeker this year."

"My point." I smirked.

He grinned. "But there's no fun in winning without a challenge,"

"You always need a challenge don't you?" I said shaking my head.

"Not always. Sometimes I just need something easy," he said, elbowing me with a coy grin.

"Oi, I am not easy." I sniffed. "And I'm insulted that you'd think so,"

He laughed. "Okay okay, then eager."

"I wasn't the eager one last night I'm sure," I smirked.

"Ouch. Way to kill a guy's ego," He said.

I chuckled. "Harry?" it felt amazing to say his name, and for a moment I wondered why I had thought I said any different.

"Mm?" he asked, looking up at me.

"You look terrible in direct sunlight," I joked.

He stuck out his tongue. "Oh yeah? Well you look terrible even in the dark,"

"Hey!"

He chuckled and ran off down the hill, and I was forced to run after him to catch up. When I caught him I tripped him and tackled him to the ground, and he laughed as he sprawled out under me.

"Hey I'm delicate, be gentle." he giggled.

"I think you mean I'm the delicate one thank you," I said helping him up.

He grinned as we resumed heading for the Quidditch pitch. "I can already tell this is going to be a great day!"