Author's Note: This is a repost of the first chapter under its new name Only You. Frankly I don't find it much of an improvement myself, but after a lot of thought I found that it was the only thing that really worked for the story. It will tie into it in later chapters. Once again I would like to say that updates for this story will be far between. Over the summer I will predict either bi-monthly or monthly, but after school starts once again I really have no clue how things willl work out. What I would like to say is that I enjoy this story immensely and I enjoy writing, so the chances of me getting bored and dropping it are slim to none. I assure you I will always have an explanation for my rare updates, even if they are as mundane as 'I had writer's block'. In total I'm predicting this story to have ten chapters, all of the same or greater length than this one.

The romance in this fic is a bit hard for me to explain without giving away the ending. I will say that the main pairings will be Harry/Ginny and Draco/Pansy/OC. The reason for the slash warning is because of the current of attraction felt about each other by both Harry and Draco. Don't expect much to happen between them in this fic. I doubt they will ever 'hope into bed' and seeing that I already revealed that I know how I am ending this, well, you should get the picture. Okay, only one more thing left before the story. This story does not and will not ever, no matter how much anyone begs, have a happy ending. Sorry, that's just not my style when it comes to Harry.

Only You

Nic the Nefarious

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters are the property of J.K. Rowling. No money is being made off this work.

Part the First

The common room felt stuffy and constricting as he sat there with his two best friends. They were arguing, but this was nothing new to him, and he was only thankful that they had stopped trying to interrogate him after his talk with the Headmaster. He really did not want to discuss their meeting. No matter how close he was to his friends.

He stood up and slowly walked away from the pair. They didn't even look in his direction. Yes, they were some friends all right, he though with a mental sigh. He climbed out the portrait hole and started off down the corridor.

Portraits glanced at him as he walked but he didn't pay them any attention. He was already well aware that they would run off and alert the Headmaster of his position soon. That was their job after all, and they did it well. The time was at least an hour after curfew but he wasn't all that worried. Detentions and house points didn't bother him anymore. He had bigger things to think about.

The air outside the castle was cool for early spring but the skies above were clear and the moon was half full. As soon as he left the shelter of the castle and felt the cool breeze on his skin, he felt liberated. It was a wonderful thing not to have eyes and whispers following him at all times. Even he needed time to think and relax sometimes, he couldn't be everyone's hero all the time.

The lake was glistening in the moonlight and he fancied that he could just see the giant squid wallowing in the distance. He threw himself down by the waterside with his back against a tree. The breeze blew up again and tugged on his robes. The movement of the wind seemed to jog something in his memory and he reached into his robes and pulled out a pack of muggle cigarettes.

He had his cousin to thank for this and he reminded himself to blame him if he ever got lung cancer. The idiot had made him hide them so his parents wouldn't find them. Needless to say he never got them back. He turned the pack over in his hands and pulled one out, lighting it with his wand and replacing the pack in his pocket.

He took a long drag and blew the smoke out to be carried away by the wind. Already he could feel his frazzled nerves settling down and his worries fading. He smoked in silence, his thoughts lingering on his earlier conversation with the Headmaster. It was just another discussion of fulfilling the prophecy and even more lessons on the Dark Arts and ways to defeat them. He never thought he would have to learn the Dark Arts, and he had certainly never thought Albus Dumbledore would be his teacher.

He was just about to light his second cigarette when the sounds of approaching footsteps reached his ears. His body tensed in preparation for a potential fight only to freeze in surprise when a stunned voice met his ears and a head of blond hair appeared against the relative darkness.

"Potter!"

His body relaxed slightly. Malfoy might be a complete prick but he was relatively harmless if Snape's words could be believed and he was sure that in this matter they could. He lit his cigarette and stared up at his childhood rival.

"Malfoy," he replied in an uncaring tone.

The blond smirked at him and said eagerly, "Just wait Potter, when this gets out you will in so much trouble."

"You think the professors will believe your word over mine?" he asked with fake curiosity. Really he was wondering if he would ever be allowed more than half an hour's peace.

Malfoy glared at him but he could tell that the hate behind it was faked. Their petty rivalry was unimportant with a war going on, but after six years there wasn't much else between them and they were content to insult each other for the peace of mind of the student body. After all, if Potter and Malfoy hate each other all was right with the world.

"Sit down Malfoy," he said suddenly. There was no one around to see them and what went on when the lights were out was nobody's business but their own.

Malfoy looked down at him with a masked expression. His whole body was glowing under the moonlight and his hair looked almost silver. He found it strange that Malfoy looked like an angel and was thought of as a demon, where as he, with his dark hair and eyes, looked like a demon but was seen as an angel. In all actuality he was probably a pleasant mix of the two, they both were.

"Why would I want to do that?" Malfoy's reply was scathing but, again, he sensed the actual question behind the sarcasm.

He sighed and took another drag of his cigarette. Finally he asked, "Are you as tired of this as I am Malfoy?"

"What are you talking about Potter?" He could tell that Malfoy was very confused by his previous statement and the situation in general. The level of animosity he was projecting had rapidly decreased.

"This stupid rivalry thing we have going. I'm tired of it. You're tired of it. Doesn't that mean we can stop?" he asked. He ground his cigarette out and resisted the urge to light another one. Instead he settled for fiddling with the package.

"I have no idea what you're going on about Potter. I hate you." Malfoy stated with much more confidence that he felt.

He sighed and gazed up at the blond staring down at him. "Just drop it Malfoy," he said in a cold tone that was enough to remind Malfoy that Potter had stood up to the Dark Lord and lived to tell the tale, and do it again, and again.

Several minutes passed in silence and Malfoy continued to stare down at him and he continued to fiddle with his cigarette pack and stare out over the lake. He turned to the blond and gave him an appraising look before asking, or ordering, again, "Sit down Malfoy."

This time, Malfoy actually sat down. His body looked as if it were on autopilot until he shifted uncomfortable on the hard ground and looked out over the lake refusing to meet his eyes. He looked to be in deep thought about what had just happened between them and not sure quite how to take it.

"What are you doing out here Potter?" Malfoy finally asked and he cracked a slight smile.

He leaned back against the tree and stared up into its branches. "Trying to relax, I suppose," he replied, not knowing quite how to word it.

"Smoking?" He could almost sense Malfoy's smirk but the tone was almost humorous instead of biting.

"I may be the Savior of the Known Universe but even I can't be perfect," he replied with a smirk of his own. That should give him something to think about.

"You do a good job of fooling everyone then," Malfoy said with contempt once again coloring his voice.

Harry scoffed and replied, "Let them believe what they want. Me correcting them will only feed the press. That's the last thing I need."

"When did you get so smart Potter?" Malfoy asked with a raised eyebrow in Harry's direction.

He laughed lightly and shook his head causing his messy hair falling around his ears and into his eyes. He had learned that even growing it out didn't stop it from becoming a mess. "Last year. Around the time Dumbledore started tutoring me."

"So that's where you've been disappearing to!" he cried in astonishment. All signs of his normal mask were forgotten and he was pleased to see it. For once Harry didn't feel as if he was playing a role and he knew that Malfoy felt the same.

"You noticed?" he asked in mild disbelief.

Malfoy gave him a look that conveyed his answer plainly. "No shit I've noticed. I'm not as idiotic as you Gryffindor prats make me out to be."

He started laughing again at this and took a minute to calm himself before replying, "You're one of few. Ron didn't notice until Hermione pointed it out, and it took her at least a month and a half."

"Mudblood must be losing her touch," he said in a hateful tone that would be expected of him.

"Or I've just gotten better at hiding things," Harry countered with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Not going to yell at me for calling her a Mudblood Potter?" Malfoy asked and he could once again sense the mild disbelief in his tone.

"I know first hand that being lectured by those who have no right to do so is not an enjoyable experience," Harry said. He could feel anger brewing in his chest and took a breath to calm it. He could no longer afford to let his emotions rule his decisions.

"I guess you would know about that," Malfoy said distantly. He looked to be lost in thought and was once again staring out over the lake.

Harry nodded, although he knew Malfoy couldn't see him. "Of course, I am Dumbledore's pawn."

"You and Dumbledore aren't as close as everyone says are you?" Malfoy asked, turning toward him and arching an eyebrow. "You have too many secrets." he decided.

"Probably," he agreed to Malfoy's last statement with a hint of a smile, "We're closer actually, but our different view points get in the way a lot. We can never agree on any course of action."

"Is this why everything seems to be standing still right now? Nothing is happening, not even raids or murders," he mused to himself and Harry could tell that he was desperate for answers. It was strange to realize that no matter how few answers he had, the other students had even less.

"Yeah, I suppose. Me, Dumbledore, Voldemort, and the Ministry are all planning . . . something. We're not even sure what it is," he cut himself off. He couldn't even explain what was happening, or what was going to happen. There weren't words for it.

Malfoy looked at him curiously and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

"It isn't as if I've said anything of importance, or at least nothing usable in the war. Besides," he paused to stare at his childhood rival, "you won't tell anyone anyway." he said with perfect conviction.

"How do you do that?" Malfoy snapped suddenly. "Say things like that. You've so sure of yourself that, now, even if I wanted to tell anyone I don't think I would be able to." He sounded frustrated and Harry really couldn't blame him.

"I don't know how I do it. There's a lot of things about myself that I don't understand," he said. Harry licked his lips and began to fiddle with his cigarettes again.

"Now that I can believe," Malfoy replied with a derisive snort.

Harry smiled at him and Malfoy shook his head. "So Potter," he began, "what does this make us?"

"What do you mean?" he asked in return.

"Well, we've just held a conversation without insulting each other," he clarified. "What does that make us? Friends? Allies? Or just insane?"

"According to the rest of the student body it's the third option, but you're asking me and I say it's closer to the second one." Harry said with a nod in Malfoy's direction.

"So we're still not friends, eh?" he asked with a shrug. Harry resisted the urge to smile.

"I don't think we've quite reached that level Malfoy," he agreed.

Malfoy sighed and stared out at the lake again. "All right. I suppose I can live with that."

"What's your deal Malfoy?" Harry said, voicing the question that had been nagging at him since the beginning of the year. "I mean, whose side are you on?"

"Publicly or privately?" he asked in return and Harry rolled his eyes.

"I am already aware of your public views," he snapped. The entire school knew Malfoy's public views on the war, but he of all people knew that appearances could be deceiving.

"I'm on my own side," he said after a while.

Harry nodded in understanding. "Neutral then. You know that isn't going to last for long right?"

Malfoy paused before answering slowly, "I almost took the Dark Mark over the summer."

"What stopped you?" Harry asked, not really expecting an answer, but getting one nevertheless.

"I asked my father what I would have to do to join. Initiation I suppose," he paused and stared down at the ground. When he spoke again, his voice was laced with disgust. "He told me I would have to kill my mother since she was a liability. I told him I wouldn't be able to. I said that I didn't think I could handle a year of school bearing the Mark."

"Smart excuse," Harry mumbled. He was leaning back against the tree with his face turned up and his eyes closed, letting Malfoy's words wash over him.

"I suppose. She died anyway. My father killed her," he said in an offhand manner, but there was still pain behind those words. He could tell. It was easy to see his own grief reflected in Malfoy's eyes.

"Sorry," Harry said without infliction. It was a worn in statement that had lost all sincerity through too much use.

"It isn't like there is anything you could have done," he said in dismissal.

Harry shrugged, "Maybe not, but the whole war is my fault. I just apologize to everyone now."

"That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard you say Potter," Malfoy said in detached amusement.

"No, not really," he said with a shake of his head. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies."

"What the hell was that?" Malfoy demanded as soon as Harry had finished. Harry cracked an eye open and looked at Malfoy with an unreadable expression.

"The first part of a prophesy about me and Voldemort. You would have learned of it if you had joined the Death Eaters anyway. The full prophecy remains a mystery although both me and Dumbledore know it," Harry explained and Malfoy nodded.

"So you really are the Chosen One then?" he said and Harry could sense the twisted amusement he was getting out of this.

"Unfortunately," Harry replied in dislike. "Damn papers," he added to himself.

"We both have class tomorrow," Malfoy observed, looking up at the setting moon. "Potions will be fun first thing," he said sarcastically.

"Lucky you. I have a private session with Dumbledore and with how tired I'll be I'd almost rather have Snape," Harry replied with a tired sigh.

Malfoy chuckled and said in explanation, "You preferring Snape to Dumbledore. That's something I never thought I would hear."

Harry smiled at him. "I come around here any evening I can. Just in case you want a reason to get me into trouble, or if you want to talk."

He stood up and Malfoy followed suit. "I'll think about it Potter," he promised and Harry nodded his head in reply.

.x.

"Harry, where were you last night!" Hermione asked in a tone that was demanding and tinged with worry.

This happened every time but Harry continued to hold onto the hope that someday his best friends would get it into their heads that they didn't need to know every detail of his personal life. Or know where he was at all hours of the day.

"I told you Hermione. I was taking a walk. I had things to think about and I needed to relax without hearing you and Ron shouting at each other," he replied shortly and saw that the two had the decency to blush.

It had been eight days since he had had his chat with Malfoy by the lake and during normal school hours nothing had changed between them but privately they both held each other in a different light. Harry had been back to the lake twice in that time but hadn't met up with Malfoy. They both had busy schedules and he knew it would have been a miracle for them both to get away at the same time.

Besides, Harry didn't really mind that they hadn't spoken with each other. It was enough for him to know that Malfoy was staying neutral in the war, or at least that he was trying to. Tonight he was heading down to the lake after his occumency lessons with Snape, which started in about ten minutes.

"Look, Hermione. I know you care about me and want me to be safe, but I need my space. Okay? I have lessons to get to," he said before standing up and heading out of the common room and toward the dungeons.

When he arrived outside the door of Snape's office his temper toward his friends had diminished, but he was desperately wishing that he didn't have to have his lesson that day. All he really wanted was some time to himself. Harry raised his hand and knocked on the door three times in a row and waited, knowing that he probably would never have time to just think. At least, not while Voldemort was still alive in this world.

He waited about a minute before pushing the door open and walking into the room. He didn't have any time to waste and he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. He dropped his bag and looked up toward Snape's desk only to find that he wasn't the one in the room. A very familiar blond was standing next to Snape's desk looking nervous.

"Hey Malfoy," he greeted with a hint of a smirk. Finally, after eight days, they were alone together.

Malfoy looked surprised to see him. Much like he was the last time they met. "What are you doing here Potter?"

"You think Dumbledore's the only one giving me lessons?" he asked in mild amusement. This thing he had with Malfoy was proving to be more entertaining than he thought it would be.

"You mean, you and Professor Snape!" he exclaimed and Harry watched as his face was overcome with disbelief and a certain amount of irritation. "You hate each other."

"I never said we didn't hate each other," Harry said with traces of amusement still present in his voice. "We've just found a better way to channel it."

Malfoy fixed him with a questioning stare that made Harry want to burst out laughing. "And what would that be Potter?"

"Quite simple really," he replied promptly. "Hexing the living daylights out of each other."

Harry finally allowed himself to laugh when he saw the dry look Malfoy was giving him. "Figures," he heard the blond mutter under his breath.

After several more minutes of laughter Harry recovered enough to ask the question he had been wondering about since finding Malfoy there. "Why are you here Malfoy?"

"Like I'm just going to tell you, Potter!" he snapped. Harry could instantly see it for what it was, a survival reflex but chose not to comment. He merely rolled his eyes and turned toward the door a moment before Professor Snape entered.

It seemed that seeing him and Malfoy in the same room together looking only mildly irritated was enough to confuse Snape into a loss for words. He stopped halfway into the room and froze. Harry smiled a rather wide smile at this, proud of the fact that he had finally gotten one over his former Potions professor. Snape caught sight of his smile and sent a glare toward him.

"Potter! What are you doing?" he snapped in his standard "I'm annoyed with your existence" tone and Harry merely continued to smile. That had stopped working on him months ago.

"Well sir, I do believe that today is a Wednesday and every Wednesday we have lessons to make sure the Dark Lord doesn't puree my arse the next time we happen to meet up," Harry replied sarcastically. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Malfoy's lips twitch from repressing a smile.

Snape's glare intensified and Harry felt a twinge of regret. He would pay for that later. Snape would probably decide he needed a refresher course in the proper way to fight after being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse, or something like that. Harry stared down at his shoes with a groan. Snape brushed past him and over to where Malfoy was standing. They both knew that he didn't have to say anything. His message got across quite clear.

Malfoy and Snape talked in hushed voices that only really served to piss Harry off for trying to keep secrets from him again. He sighed and waited for them to finish talking about whatever it was they were talking about. When they did Malfoy straitened up and walked out of the room as he passed Harry he gave him a nod. "Potter."

"Malfoy," he replied in equally neutral tones before turning to face the menace that was Professor Snape. With a sigh he prepared himself for the worst.

.x.

When Harry finally dragged his sore and sorry self from Professor Snape's office two hours later, he wanted nothing more than to find a comfortable bit of floor and curl up and die. His joints were stiff from being hexed, forced under the Cruciatus, and then made to jump around the dungeon dodging more curses. Then of course he had had another Occulmeny lesson so his head felt like it was full of steel wool or something equally painful.

He definitely didn't want to go back to the tower in this condition. He knew that Ron and Hermione would be waiting for him and if they saw this it would lead to a lot of fussing and awkward questions that he didn't feel like answering. Harry sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. More and more often he got the feeling that the so-called Golden Trio was breaking apart, or at least he was leaving it behind.

His feet carried him along the familiar corridors and twists and turns of the castle. He had always felt he shared a connection with Hogwarts. It was more his home than anything else was. Soon he was out of the entrance hall and on his way down to the lake. It was once again glistening with the light of the moon which was now only three days away from full.

But there was something else that was far more interesting to Harry than the moon. A certain blond in Slytherin robes was already seated in his customary spot by the edge of the lake. Harry shook his head very lightly so as not to make the pounding in his temple worse and walked over to Malfoy. He reflected that he probably looked a lot steadier on his feet than he actually was, but then again that was what his training was for.

He didn't pause for the invitation he knew Malfoy wouldn't offer, and sat down next to him, although they were at least a foot apart. Harry let out a sigh of relief for not having to stand anymore.

"You look like you were hit by a train," Malfoy said in response to his appearance though he didn't bother turning and facing him.

Harry merely glared at him. "You would look the same if you spend two hours dodging the Cruciatus."

"For the supposed good side you're rather reckless when it comes to curses that'll get you a life sentence in Azkaban," Draco drawled and Harry laughed.

"That's what I keep saying, but then again he was really just getting back at me for one upping him in front of you," Harry replied, still with a smile on his face. "Don't know why he cares though."

Malfoy finally turned his attention away from the lake and toward Harry, giving him a slight smirk that was humorous instead of degrading. Harry shifted in his seat and reached into his pockets to pull out his cigarettes. He pulled one out and placed it between his lips before reaching for his wand to light it. Malfoy watched the entire process in slight disgust.

"Why do you smoke Potter? It's such a vile, muggle thing," he spat, turning away from him, looking unsettled.

Harry took a drag of his cigarette and relaxed his shoulders. "It helps me relax. Don't knock it til you've tried it."

"I have no desire to try if that's what you're asking," he replied with a glare.

He shrugged in return and stared out at the lake. "I wasn't asking anything Malfoy."

They fell into silence, though it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as Harry had thought it would be. He continued to smoke, blowing out wisps of velvety smoke over the lake as he did so. He could feel Malfoy watching him out of the corner of his eye, and it was eerie to have those silver eyes on him. They looked much too bright in the light of the moon.

Harry finished up his cigarette and put it out in the grass before turning to look at Malfoy who didn't bother to hide that he had been staring. "Why were you in Snape's office Malfoy?" he asked with a certain intensity in his voice. He wanted to know, badly.

"I've told you already it is none of your business Potter," Malfoy said with irritation entering his voice. Harry sighed, knowing that he probably wasn't going to get information out of him.

"I've told you enough about my own life," Harry muttered with the same amount of irritation, but it was the truth. He wasn't whining, he told himself firmly.

Malfoy smirked, "That's your own choice, foolish Gryffindor."

Harry rolled his eyes at the childish insult before lying back against the ground, trying to soothe his aching muscles. "I really hate the Cruciatus Curse," he remarked as he reached up to rub the back of his neck again.

Malfoy snorted but didn't seem to think his remark warranted a better reply than that. A few minutes passed in silence before Malfoy asked, "Is this going to become a common occurrence?"

"Us meeting?" Harry asked and after receiving a shrug in reply answered, "I suppose so."

"I don't have anyone to talk to in Slytherin," Malfoy remarked. "Pansy fawns all over me because her parents told her I would make a suitable husband." He seemed to shiver at this and Harry didn't blame him. Marrying Pansy Parkinson was not the image of a happy future.

"Then of course there's Blaise and Theodore. Blaise acts all full of himself because his mother is some famous person, and Theodore always has his nose in some book or another even though he is still too thick to understand fifth year material," Malfoy continued in a bored drawl, rolling his eyes at his descriptions of his house mates.

Harry nodded in understanding. He didn't really have anyone in Gryffindor Tower either. It was either hero worship or nagging from his friends and he was sick of it.

"Me and Ginny are dating," he said in response. "I think she'll eventually want to marry me and Ron would kill me if I rejected his baby sister."

"Would you marry her to keep Weasley as your friend?" Malfoy asked dryly and Harry glared.

"Would you marry Pansy to please your parents?" he asked in return.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at him and muttered, "Touche."

"Him and Hermione both seem to think they know what's best for me," he said with a harsh laugh. "They barely even know me anymore."

"I get the feeling nobody knows you, Potter," Malfoy said in response, looking away from him and back out to the lake. Harry gazed up at the stars, giving a heavy sigh and agreeing with Malfoy's statement mentally.

"Transfiguration tomorrow," Harry remarked in an offhand way, bringing them back into safer conversation.

"Never finished my essay on Animagi," he responded with a slight frown as though he was remembering this for the first time since the essay had been assigned.

"Shame," Harry said in an uncaring voice. It wasn't his problem if Malfoy didn't do his homework.

Malfoy turned to him and gave him a long, studying look. "You hardly ever turn in homework."

Harry shrugged, not being able to deny this. It was true that he didn't have to turn in homework because of all the extra lessons he was taking. That and hunting for Voldemort and the Death Eaters, he was stretched too thin as it was.

"Dumbledore decided killing Voldemort and the Death Eaters was more important than schoolwork," Harry said wearily. He was already far too aware of hid childhood slipping away and the fact that he would never be a normal seventeen year old.

"You don't want to do this, do you Potter?" Malfoy asked him in a tone that told Harry he already knew the answer.

"No," he replied, "I'd give anything to have a chance at being a normal kid."

He stood up and dusted off his robes and heard Malfoy do the same behind him. "I'm free Friday evening, past nine," he heard him say and Harry smiled slightly.

"I'll be here."