Harry Potter found it quite annoying that Draco Malfoy wouldn't take his eyes off him. Draco stared at him with the same narrow eyes as ever, without blinking. The tall blond boy sitting at the Slytherin table would not look away. Why? Harry could not find a good answer on that particular question .. He obviously tried to figure out a way of hexing him.
Harry could not help it, he stared back.
"Harry, focus!" said Hermione, who was sitting next to him, trying to help him with his Transfiguration homework

"Sure, Hermione" he said looking down on the book, trying to pay attention to what Hermione explained. But somehow he couldn't get his mind of Malfoy. He looked thinner and more scared than usual. He had changed a lot since they started year six at Hogwarts. He had stopped offending others. It was not like him. But why did Harry even care about how the fool Malfoy had changed? He didnt.. The thought just went through his mind. Nothing else. He couldn't be the only one that noticed Malfoy's changing approach.

"Harry, what's wrong with you today? You seem so distant," said Hermione worried
"Does your scar hurt again?" Ron continued
"No" said Harry simply and turned to leave the great hall. "I just need a bit fresh air"

Harry proceeded out of the hall and down one corridor that led out of school and into a cluster of trees. He sat down under one of them and thought. Thought of the thin line between hate and less hate. Was it possible? Could his hatred towards Malfoy have grown weaker? No! Never! Not possible! Harry talked to himself. I dont care he said repeatedly. I dont..

Hours passed, Harry had no control on how long he had been there. Ron and Hermione came towards him with quick steps.
"Harry, you've been sitting here all day!" said Ron, staring at his best friend.
"Yes, so what?" said Harry evasively.
"Harry, can you tell us what's wrong?" Hermione looked genuinely worried as she stood over him and tilted her head.

"Maybe later, I just want to sleep right now," said Harry in the same evasive tone.

"Come on then mate" said Ron and dragged him off the ground. They went together into the castle and towards the Gryffindor dorms. When they got to the portrait, Ron muttered the password and the three friends parted when Hermione walked up to the girls' dormitory.

The boys went up the stairs and past Neville and Seamus who were fast asleep in their beds.
"What the bloody hell is going on with you!" asked Ron, once again, when Harry went straight into the bedpost.

"Nothing" he muttered. "I'm just tired"

"Well then, get some sleep and stop acting weird" said Ron and drifted off to his own thoughts. Why was Harry acting weird? All he did was to stare at that slimy git Malfoy all day! Ron knew Harry was aware that Malfoy was chosen to do something, the ferret had been acting weird ever since they surprised him outside Madam Malkin's a few months ago. Harry had thought that Malfoy had been marked, that he was now a Death Eater. Ron had tried to get that thought off his mind. And he assured him that Voldemort had no use for an idiot like Malfoy in his ranks, but Harry would not listen to him. He was determined to reveal Malfoy's secret once and for all. It had to be what he was thinking about! What else could it be? Ron didn't find the right answer and fell asleep.

Harry on the other hand was wide awake, and deep into his own line of thoughts. Why did Malfoy stare at him? Was he after something? Harry didn't know. But he knew there were something really odd about Malfoy's behavior! He was a Death-Eater. Harry knew that for sure. His father was allied with Voldemort! He had to be one! And that Malfoy's aunt Bellatrix escaped from Azkaban last year didn't exactly make things easier. Harry wanted to tell someone about his thoughts, but there was no-one to talk to. Sirius had gone beyond the veil last year, Bellatrix killed him.. Harry could still her her high, screaming voice;

"I killed Sirius Black, I killed Sirius Black" over and over and over again. He clenched his fist and tried to think of something else. Anything. He could always talk to Hermione and on, but they already knew what he was thinking and thought he was barking mad. Harry knew something was going on! But what? Before Harry had time to think more he fell asleep. A restless sleep filled with images of Sirius and his parents. Until a dark shadow invaded is dreams.. Harry woke with a groan, drenched in sweat. He reached for his glasses on the nightstand. The world became a bit clearer as he tried to figure out his dream. He thought that the black shadow was fear, and the only thing he really feared was Voldemort. There was nothing new that he dreamed about Voldemort. He did it often. It was just that this dream had been more real. As if Voldemort was near. Or dementors .. He felt lonely and abandoned. As if he would never be happy forced himself to forget this. He closed his eyes and thought of The Burrow. It calmed him down enough to let him sleep. He fell into the same restless sleep but without nightmares this time.