Yeah, I'm still new to the whole FF thing, but, I'm going to give it a try. Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does. I do own this plot, though.

Any who, it's year six and emotions are running high. Warning! Harry-Draco pairing. If you don't like it, don't read it. (No flaming!) Enjoy.

.x. Late Night Encounter .x.

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I'm falling into a place unknown,

Where justice is blind and tales unfold.

Lies are weaved and faults are shown,

Hurting several innocent souls.

Life is bleak, yet it goes on,

Endless…like a love song.

It was nearing midnight, and I still wasn't finished with my homework! Potions, Divination, D.A.D.A.… I sighed, dropping my quill onto the table and rubbing my temples. This…this all was too much. Lately my mind had been elsewhere, thinking about… About what? How my life sucked? How it still sucks? How I feel I'm growing further apart from my friends than I remembered.

Everyday is different, I find; another "Morning, Harry," or "Alright, Potter?" Occasionally a worried look from a friend or a glare of disgust from an enemy. And everyday I felt detached from school and caught up in something bigger, more dangerous, but I don't know what.

"Harry?"

I looked up. Hermione stood at the entrance of the common room. A worried expression rested on her round, thoughtful face. I smiled at her, even though I was exhausted. "It's alright, just some last minute work." I chuckled, "I'll get to bed when I finish, don't worry."

"That's not what I'm worried about…" I heard her mutter, but she quickly shook her head when I gave her a puzzled look. A sigh escaped her lips as she slowly made her way over to where I sat, taking a seat next to me. We fell silent, staring into the roaring fireplace, its flames entrancing. My thoughts wandered of to…

"Harry?" Hermione never took her eyes off the fireplace, and her voice was so soft I hardly heard her.

"What is it?"

"I'm, well… I'm kind of worried about you. You've been acting very strange lately, like your mind's somewhere else. Is something bothering you?"

Like what, Lord Voldemort perhaps? These posers and wanna-be's who keep talking trash about me behind my back? Yeah, one can only imagine how tolerant I am about the whole situation… "I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind right now." I could tell she wasn't buying it. Anyone could see I was unbelievably pissed at the current chain of events taking place in my life. Sirius gone, the Ministry watching my every move, treating me like some sort of criminal, and not to mention the pressures of school.

Hermione nodded slowly and rose from her seat. "Don't stay up too late; we still have classes tomorrow."

A sudden thought struck me as I took hold of her arm. "Why are you up so late, then?"

"Oh! Um, I was just—" She blushed, avoiding my eye, and then snatched her arm away and hurried off, calling over her shoulder, "Shouldn't you finish your homework? Don't want to hold you up! Night, Harry!"

I watched her rush up to the girls' dorms, smiling slightly. What was she up to now? Lingering on that thought for a second longer, I stared back at my half written report for Potions. I'm already failing; one assignment won't make a difference, I thought, tossing the assignment aside on the table and standing up, stretching.

I need a walk that's all. A nice, long walk. Anything to help shake the feeling of…whatever it was.

-----

"What's the boy doing up this late?"

"Maybe he's off sneaking around again. What do you think it is this time?"

"Off to bed with you, Potter!"

"Hush up," I managed to mutter to each portrait that glanced my way. They were always so nosy.

What did I hope to accomplish anyway? What was this feeling? Loneliness, fear, or sadness? I don't think there is a name for how I was feeling. I sighed once more, keeping my eyes glued to my feet as I walked, the only sound being that of my footsteps…and someone else's…

I looked up, stopped for a moment, strained my ears to figure out who else was nearby. They were heading my way, from the sounds of it, stepping lightly and slowly. For a moment, I thought I was just hearing things, but soon the tall, pale figure of none other than Malfoy appeared out of the darkness.

He stopped every so slightly, shocked to find me in the corridor, but kept on coming my way, a small smirk on his lips. I glared at him, unmoving.

"Potter."

"Malfoy."

He stopped short of me, his playful smirk still planted on his face. Why are you so nervous all of a sudden? I suddenly felt anxious, but why? Malfoy must have noticed, because his smirk widened. "Up so late, Potter? Not trying to sneak out or anything, eh?"

"None of your business…"

"Why so glum? Still thinking of that mangy godfather of yours? Sad, isn't it? I bet you miss the little 'godfather to godson' bonding, if you know what I mean?"

Before either of us knew it, I had my wand out, my free hand pinning Malfoy up against the wall. He only laughed, staring down at me with those cool, blue eyes of his. "What are you gonna do, Potter, take me on like you did Lestrange a while back?"

How…how did he know what happened at the Ministry? "Shut the hell up, Malfoy!"

"Or else what?" In a flash, he knocked my wand out of my hand and threw me against the other wall. He had me pinned this time… "What're you gonna do, Potter?" he whispered quietly into my ear, making my flinch slightly. He used his free hand to tilt my head upward, staring me directly in the eye. His hand was cold…yet very soft… What the hell?

"What's really the matter, Potter?" he whispered again, his expression shifting from playful to… Was that compassion or just pure curiosity?

I was speechless, my eyes wide, confused. He chuckled, lifted his hand to take my glasses off, but I turned my head before he could do so. Why was he doing this?

"Harry…"

Enough… I pushed him away, never making eye contact. I turned to leave, to head back for the common room, but he caught hold of my arm. I froze, scared for a moment. He placed something in my hand. A second look at it, and I realized it was my fallen wand. I looked back at him, stunned, but he merely glared back.

"Off with you, Potter, before we both get in trouble."

I lingered there for a moment longer before turning and heading back to the common room. Maybe I could finish my homework…