Chapter Two

"What!?" Hermione's glass slipped from her hand as she looked across the table in pure amazement, "And Malfoy went all quiet?! I cant believe Harry managed to talk to Malfoy?"

"Alright, alright, keep your voice down. People might suspect something and that's the last thing we need" Ron whispered, hinting Harry's arrival.

"Hey guys," Harry smiled as he sat down next to Ron and opposite Hermione at the Gryffindor table. They returned his smile, but both looked slightly uneasy. "What?" Harry demanded, "What are you smirking at?" he turned to Ron who in reply burst out laughing,

"Got yourself a boyfriend Harry?" he mocked, unable to contain himself. Hermione instantly turned to look at him, amazed at his words seeing as he was just telling her to be quiet! but Harry's face looked puzzled. "I'd say Malfoy has a bit of a thing for you!" Ron continued but Hermione interrupted with a sigh, "Malfoy never drops his guard, especially to his enemies, Ron says he was acting a bit weird, when you spoke to him last night.."

"What? Oh right yeah." Harry began to follow the conversation, "He went a bit quiet, yeah." He frowned at Ron, about to question why exactly that had called for such an odd taunt when Dumbledore stood and the great hall fell into a respectful silence. "As we all know," the headmaster began, "it is that time of year once again..." but as Harry listened, he felt a harsh jab in his side. Without turning, he heard Ron mutter,

"Looks like you've got an admirer..." Harry followed Ron's gaze to find Malfoy gazing at him from across the room. He sharply turned back to face Ron who was now trying to control his laughter. What was wrong with Malfoy? There must have been something... maybe he wanted to tell Harry something... Maybe he was staring at someone else... Maybe he was staring at Hermione... But as Harry looked up he found Hermione picking her teeth. It was as if her hand couldn't fit any further down her throat, yet she still managed to fit her fist inside her mouth to get that last bit of breakfast from the back of her wisdom teeth. No, Harry thought, it would be surprising if that was what Malfoy was gazing at. Still, Malfoy's choices weren't always the best... not that there was anything wrong with Hermione. No, Hermione was one of Harry's best friends, but somehow, the Malfoy's accepting the Grangers as equals... no way.


Oh no, was I staring at Harry? Draco thought nervously. I think he saw me. He scoffed, redirecting his gaze back to the headmaster. What am I thinking? Who cares if that stupid scar head saw me looking at him. I can look at who I like. Just to clarify the situation, Draco took one last look at Harry, glaring at him with as much disgust as he could manage. Harry didn't turn around again. Draco sighed in annoyance. Stupid Potter.
"Mr Malfoy, you look awful," a deep and powerful voice came from behind him. It was professor Snape.

"I'm fine." Draco snapped. His eyes were sore and his cheeks were red. The truth was, he wasn't fine. He hadn't had a good night sleep for weeks. He'd been too worried to sleep, he was worrying what his father would think if he found out what had happened last night. Worried his father might find out that he had talked to Harry. Harry Potter.

"You don't look fine. Best you get yourself and your attitude sorted before first lesson. First lesson is Potions." Snape, as always, showed no emotion and left sharply, exiting out of the great hall. His coat blew powerfully behind him, as it always did. Draco watched him leave, taking a large gulp of his pumpkin juice and quickly leaving the hall himself.


As Harry entered his first lesson, Potions, he couldn't help but notice Malfoy. He hadn't ever really noticed him before, but because of all the recent commotion, he couldn't help but wonder what the blonde haired boy was thinking as he sat there looking at Snape. Just then Snape looked up at Malfoy and smiled. It wasn't a particularly pretty smile, but still, it was a smile all the same. Before Harry could think much of it his thoughts were interrupted. "Shit! Harry... Oi! Harry..." Ron whispered franticly. Harry looked over at his friend. "I can't find my ingredients! I haven't got them! I'm so screwed! Snape's going to kill me!" Ron's face was full of an unmistakable fear. Snape was quite possibly the worst teacher to get on the wrong side of. Harry himself had always been on the wrong side of Snape. Snape, being head of the Slytherin house, had always hated Harry.

"Here, have mine..." Harry pushed his ingredients towards Ron,

"But Harry, no-" Ron began, but was interrupted by a hearty cough from Snape,

"Something you wish to share with the class Potter?" Snape almost bellowed. Harry suddenly, before thinking what he was doing, found himself giving a pleading look, to none other than Malfoy.

"Sir..." Malfoy's voice suddenly broke the harsh silence. Snape turned sharply, almost jumping in surprise at the sound of the blonds unmistakable voice.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape's voice softened slightly. Harry was confused, but at the same time relieved. He kept his eyes pinned on Malfoy. What was he doing? Was he going to stick up for him? Malfoy was looking deep into Snape's eyes, as if willing him to know what he was thinking. The professor turned away and proceeded forward to his desk, without another word on the subject. The Potions lesson went on as normal and no one dared talk. But Harry dared to look in Malfoy's direction, their eye's met, but Malfoy quickly looked away. There was something definitely wrong. He was hiding something.


When the lesson was over, Draco was one of the last to leave the room. He hadn't wanted to stay behind, but he hadn't finished packing his things away yet. He looked over his shoulder glumly as he watched the Finnigan boy, thinking he was the last one out, shut the door behind him. He had hoped he could have talked to Harry and arranged a meeting time, so they could talk. The more he had thought about the meeting, the more he had wanted it to happen. He couldn't explain why, he just knew it was what he wanted.

He picked up the last of his ingredients and walked across the room to place the bottle of newt eyes in the cupboard. Suddenly he felt a shadow fill the shelves before him. He turned to find Snape standing right behind him. "So, Draco dear, are you going to explain to me your sudden bravery in today's class?" Snape said in his usual tone. Draco hated it when the professor used his first name. He much preferred it in class, when he referred to him as Malfoy.

"What?" Draco shrugged as he pushed past the professor, trying not to show a weakness.

"You know exactly what I mean Draco..." The professor placed a cold hand on the boy's hip. Draco shivered in disgust. He hated it when Snape got like this. But there was nothing he could do about it.

"I umm... I just-"

"You just what, Draco? Thought you'd interfere? Thought you'd interfere with the way I teach my class? Did you? Huh?" Snape pressed the boy right up to the cupboard by his robes, "You know what this means, don't you Draco?" the professor breathed heavily into the boy's ear as he struggled to make his hand find the bottom of Draco's robes. When the professor's hand found its destination, he ran his fingers up the inside of Draco's thigh. Draco did nothing; he just turned to face the other away. He could feel Snape's breathing getting heavier on his neck. He began to feel sick as he remembered how he had felt at breakfast, when Snape had talked to him. Suddenly, just as Snape's hand found its way to the zip on Draco's trousers, the dungeon door opened. Draco's eyes met Harry's whose face was shocked. Snape jumped off and Harry sharply exited.

"Go and sort him out Malfoy..." The professor pushed the blonde haired boy away in disgust. "You dare tell him anything about what really happened and you know the consequences, you understand me?" Draco nodded in response, quickly grabbed his things and left.

As soon as the cool air of the corridors hit his face he began to cry.