Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter and any of its characters and much to my…displeasure…never will. I assure you though, the plot is entirely my own.

If you haven't read first part of this story then you'll need to go to my profile and do so, or this might not make any sense!

Sorry for the delay, my computer crashed and I had to try and get all my stuff back and then decided to save it all on the other computer as well and then my step-dad decided to go and get my computer fixed, not to mention the amount of homework I've had…..so…..anyway, here it is now, the first chapter of part 2!

Chapter 1 – Malfoy's return

"Harry, get up" Hermione called, knocking on his door. She hit the door harder, still calling his name but got no response. She sighed and opened the door slightly.

"Harry" she repeated. Still no reply. She walked over to the bed and was just about to say his name again when she saw the snake running across his chest. Slowly she ran her finger along it and jumped when Harry grabbed her wrist.

"Don't do that" he said before smiling and opening one eye. "It tickles." Hermione smiled too.

"You need to get up. We have to go to breakfast, then we have the prefect meeting and then we have the meeting with Dumbledore"

"Why is it all in one day?"

"How should I know, you still have to get up?" Harry groaned and opened his other eye before smiling again.

"Can I go now? I need to get ready" she asked, trying to pull away. Harry kept a firm grip on her wrist.

"But you're already dressed"

"Yes, but I need to get my books for the day and-" Harry pulled on her arm and she fell on top of him, laughing before he kissed her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back before pulling away and looking at him.

"We have to get ready" she ordered, jumping off the bed. "Now." Harry mumbled under his breath before sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Hermione bit her lip as she looked at the snake again. Harry noticed and stood up.

"Hermione it wasn't your fault. How many times do I have to tell you?" he said. She looked away at the floor.

"I have to go and get ready" Hermione told him, walking out the door before he could argue. Harry sighed and walked over to his trunk.

------------------------------------------------------

"You have a visitor" the portrait of Godric Gryffindor announced. Harry looked up at the portrait.

"Who is it?"

"Ronald Weasley"

"Let him in." The portrait nodded and a second later Ron was entering the room.

"Hey Harry" he said. "Where's Hermione?"

"Still getting ready"

"How long do girls take to get ready?"

"I don't know Ron, why don't you tell us all?" Hermione said, exiting her room. Ron glared at her and Harry laughed.

"Are you ready then?" Ron asked, annoyed. "Can we go?"

"Yes Ronald, of course we can" Hermione replied. Ron rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. Harry and Hermione followed.

"Why do we have this meeting with Dumbledore again?" Ron asked. "Ginny was panicking for hours last night thinking that she'd done something wrong and I couldn't say anything because I didn't know what the meeting was about"

"It's probably about You-Know-Who and the er…the curse" Hermione replied, staring at the ground again as she said the last part. Harry put his arm round her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

------------------------------------------------------

The trio sat down at Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Every other time Harry had, had a confrontation with Voldemort, everyone knew about it and everyone knew what had happened. This time was different. No one knew that Harry had been cursed except his closest friends. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Seamus, Dean and Neville. No one looked at Harry as he walked up to where Ginny was sitting and sat down, for which he was very grateful.

"Hiya Harry" Seamus greeted, sitting next to Hermione. Neville sat next to Ginny and Dean sat next to him.

"What time is Quidditch practise today?" Dean asked, grabbing a piece of toast from the middle of the table. Harry groaned and banged his head on the table.

"I forgot about Quidditch Practise" he moaned before looking up again. "We'll have to do it about 4 o'clock 'cause of all these stupid meetings." Hermione glared at him.

"They are not stupid meetings they are important-"

"I was joking" Harry assured her, although he knew damn well that he wasn't. She turned away and shook her head.

"So, about this Quidditch Practise" Dean said. "What are we going……" his voice trailed off as he turned to look at the person who had entered the Great Hall. Everyone else stopped talking too and looked at the big double doors of the Great Hall.

"Malfoy…" Harry whispered. Draco Malfoy looked at all the faces of the students before clenching his fists and, instead of walking to Slytherin table, walked to Gryffindor table. Hundreds of sets of eyes followed him as he approached Harry, who was glaring at the Slytherin hatefully. Draco finally drew level with The-Boy-Who-Lived and looked down at him.

"I've been told" Malfoy hissed, through gritted teeth. "That I have to" – he took a deep breath – "thank you, for…you-know-what." Harry smirked and Draco leaned forward until their faces were only inches apart.

"But don't think that this changes anything between me and you" he snarled. Harry stared at Draco and he walked back to his own table where he was greeted by the bunch of Slytherins that were his friends. Harry turned back round to face his own friends who were now string at him.

"Well" Ron said, smiling. "It's not everyday you see a Slytherin thank a Gryffindor!" They all laughed.

"Well we have to leave for our prefect meeting" Hermione announced a few minutes later. Harry groaned as she pulled his up.

"Good luck!" Seamus called after them, laughing.