AN: An little bit early for an update, I know, but I just can't help it! This story is working so well for me, and I want to get it all down before I lose it! Please don't murder me.. Hehe.. And, by the way, I have a songfic Drarry coming up in the next couple of weeks, so watch out for that! I am going to stop rambling and let you read the story! =D
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. Rights go to JK Rowling. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Warnings: More heated D/M, some kissing (^-^), Ron/Hermione bashing, and utter adorable cute feelings from Draco.
Thank you to my wonderful reviewer, Denacitarii! She is actually why I wrote this early. Please check out her fics, too, they are amazing! =D

After about ten minutes, Draco had calmed down, well at least stopped sobbing, and he looked at Harry with a grateful look. "Thanks, Harry.. You didn't have to do this, you know. Come find me in my sorry state." Draco said, staring at the floor, cursing himself for not being smart enough to lock the compartment door. But, he was secretly glad had come for him, he got the one hug he'd be longing for seven long, and for him, emotionally painful, years.

"Erm, it's fine. I mean, what are friends for?" Harry replied, then taking a quick double take in his mind. Did I really just call him a friend? After calling him all the things I did, and I suddenly have the right to say he's a friend? Real smooth. Harry always cursed the stupid thoughts he always thought that changed the way he looked at things, and some for the good, so for the not-so-good. And today he was thinking a absurd amount of thoughts. Well, anyone would, after just being told a mere hour ago that your biggest school enemy, from the rival House, no less, has been in love with you since first year.

Draco heard that friend remark, too. His grey eyes flashed with hope, and he looked at Harry. "You mean.. You mean we could be possibly be friends?"

Harry smiled, which bought a nice, soft pink color to the others cheeks, and nodded. "Yes, I suppose we could give it a try. But, try anything, and I won't be afraid to hex and curse you of the face of this planet." Harry's eyes darken into a deeper emerald and narrowed. He knew it wasn't going to be some sort of ploy, but he just wanted him to make sure he means what he says.

Draco raised his hands up in surrender. "I promise I won't try anything, and I completely allow you to curse me all you want if I do try anything." He and Harry both shared a chuckle, then it got quiet again. A little too quiet for both of the boys' liking.

Harry noticed the outside scenery was changing from lesser and lesser forest, and he knew that they would be there any minute now. "Um, I better go.. Ron and Hermione are probably wondering when in the world I snuck off to for over an hour." he laughed a little, straightening his shirt a little as he stood up from the seat. "I know this is probably a really idiotic question, but do you want to come with me?"

Draco wanted to say yes. He really, really did. But, he knew how the two thirds of Harry's trio would react if he saw him walking in with the only other best friend. "No.. I'd think it be safer for the both of us if I just stayed here. That Weasel has one of the biggest tempers I've ever seen." Draco said, a bite of venom in his voice.

"Draco, come on, he's not that bad. It's just the war and everything..." Harry shrugged a little. "He'll come around. So, I'll see ya. And if you ever need anything, just come find me. I'd be happy to talk to you." He smiled a little before walking out the compartment door, quietly shutting it behind him, as if to not draw any attention to himself. He silently walked down the narrow hallway, and entered the compartment that he, Ron, and Hermione had been sitting in. That's strange... Harry thought, eyes widening as he noticed they were both gone. Probably went looking for me.. Man, I WAS gone a long time. He sighed and took this time to get his school robes on. He picked up the book he was reading before Draco took him into the hall, and began to read. Why waste time just worrying about where they were?

Ron and Hermione had about a second to jump out of the way before Harry spotted them. They had seen Harry sneaking out of the compartment, getting the hint that Harry thought they were too into what they were talking about to notice that he had left. The silently followed him, their ears pressed to the door as they heard everything; Harry's insults, Draco's sobs, Harry's comforting words, and Draco's worried tone as he asked Harry if he was okay with him being gay.

"'Mione! Did you hear that?" Ron hissed, looking like he could spit fire. His face was about the color of his hair at this point, he was so angry. "The git's gay! And in love with our best mate! How could he? And Harry saying he'd be friends with him!"

Hermione gave Ron a stern look. "Now, Ronald, let's not get all homophobic." she said, and then kept going Ron could object. "I mean, it's Harry's life. We should let him do what he wants and not intrude. If he wants to be friends with Dra-Malfoy, then let him be friends with the annoying git." Hermione quickly changed Draco's first name to his last after seeing the glare sent from Ron.

"Still! That's not the point! The point is that Harry is making a huge mistake that he's going to regret later! Malfoy's just using him to clear his name, seeing after everything happened!" Ron spat out at her, making her take a step back. "He's being as big a git as Malfoy!"

"Ronald!" Hermione gasped, putting her hand to her cheek, her eyes wide. "What is wrong with you? Betraying Harry like that, talking behind his back! If that's the kinda friend you are, then I don't know I wanna even be friends with you.. Or more then that." She flushed. She was actually planning on asking Ron to become her boyfriend once they got to Hogwarts, but now she was second guessing herself.

Ron was now in a furious rage, his hands balled into such tight fists at his sides that his knuckles were paper white. "What do mean betrayal? If anything, HE'S betraying US! By becoming friends with that blonde ferret! And what do you mean more then friends..?" Ron's eyes narrowed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, I'm waiting."

"I meant," said Hermione, giving a very exasperated sigh, looking him dead straight in the eye, her usually soft brown eyes crackling in anger. "I was planning on asking you to be my boyfriend, until you decided to be a rude prat just over someone's preferences and their friends." she finished, crossing her arms.

"I DON'T WANT HIM RUBBING OFF ON HARRY! Malfoy's a f-!" Before Ron got to finish his sentence, he felt a sharp sting of pain strike his left cheek, and then he realized that Hermione had just slapped him. Hard.

"RONALD WEASLEY! Draco might not be all that nice to people, but he has feelings, too! Sometimes you are such.. Such an ass!" Hermione yelled, not caring that some people were opening their compartment doors to see what the commotion was about, including Draco.

Draco had only heard a few parts, but couldn't place the voices until he opened the door. His cold grey eyes were wide as he saw Hermione standing there, blushing a pink as soft as dawn. "Well, thank you, Granger, for your deep concern. And Weasely, being a little homophobic, are we today? Well, no matter. We could just alert the media that Granger here slapped her future husband. How.. Amazing." Draco drawled, his arms also crossed across his check, keeping his 'no emotion' mask on, but deep down, he wanted to burst into tears. And have Harry there to comfort him. Man, I really hope I don't have to keep running to Harry.. Draco thought. But then again, it gives me amazing excuses to see him, so maybe it's not such a bad thing..

Ron looked like he could spit. "Just go away, Malfoy. And if you think you're going to be taking Harry away from us, you're sadly mistaken, Gay Boy." Ron spat at the blonde Slytherin, who, after hearing those words, wanted to be in Harry's arms more then anything.

"RONALD!" Hermione bellowed, and to Ron, Draco, and everyone in the narrow hall; which included about five very confused first years, two fifth year Hufflepuffs, and a sixth year Slytherin, she walked over to Draco and hugged him tightly. "Don't listen to him, Draco. He's just a prat." She threw Ron a look that was full of hate and betrayal, and turned so she could talk to Draco face-to-face. "Go to our compartment, it's ten doors down." she whispered, trying not to draw more attention to herself that she already had. "Harry will be there. You can talk to him there. And I am really sorry.. I really am." she looked very embarrassed and kind of frighten of what Draco would say next.

"Well, that's Grang- erm, Hermione, I really appreciate it. I'm glad that some people can put the past behind them and not judge people so quickly." he shot a wicked glance at Ron, and everyone started to mumble, then walk back into their compartments. Draco walked down the hall, to the compartment he was just about two hours before, and walked in. Harry seemed to be absorbed into his book, because he didn't noticed the boy walk into the compartment.

"If I would've known I would've seen you so much today, Harry, I would've done my hair better." Draco smirked as the Gryffindor boy jumped almost a foot in the air, finally noticing Draco.

"How?-When?-Where?" he sputtered rapidly, trying to get his heart to beat at it's regular pace.

Draco placed a warm hand on his arm. "I just got here.. Weasel.." he took in a sharp breath, closing his eyes, knowing that since it was just Harry there that he would be safe crying. He tried to get Ron's words out of his head, 'Malfoy is just using him to clear his name.. He's a f-!, He's being as big a git as Malfoy!', but without too much success. The blonde, who felt so small, feared opening his eyes again, knowing that tears would spill out if he did.

Harry was sensing that something clearly wasn't right. Draco was hardly ever this quiet, and he was getting worried. Almost as if it was natural, he puts his arms around the boy, keeping a audible whisper, "Tragedy is striking your self esteem.. Looking for an ending. Draco, you're stronger then that. I may have just become your friend, I may have just made amends with you, but I know you can be stronger then Ron. Do you hear me? You have been though so much shit in your life to worry about this.. Just calm down and breathe.."

Draco's eyes opened, their grey so much lighter then usual, and they were tear filled; giving him the resemblance to a small child. But, the way he felt, being kicked down so hard and being wrapped up in Harry's strong and warm embrace, he felt like a small child. "You know, I fake it oh-so-well, that God himself can't tell what I mean.. I always fake it, but I can't keep doing that.. I can't keep faking it. Not alone. Not anymore." Draco didn't try to stop the tears streaming in tiny rivers down his pale cheeks. Well, there goes what was left of my Malfoy reputation.

Harry gently lifted Draco's chin with his first two fingers, taking his fingers and gently wiping his tears from under his eyes. "What do you need to help? Maybe I could.."

Draco turned as red as the scarlet part of Harry's Gryffindor crest on his robes. "I don't think you can exactly help.." he answered, looking down at the seat.

Harry smiled a little at Draco. "Oh maybe I possibly could."

"Well, it isn't exactly a thing.. It's more like a person. I need a person to help."

"Well, go on, then. Who?"

"Harry, I need you. I need you."

AN2: So, what do you guys think..? Please don't murder me for making Ron a jerk, but I think this is how he would ACTUALLY react.. And yes, another sob moment for Draco. Boo-hoo, pity, pity. And yes, A CLIFFHANGER! I tried this one and I actually like it. It's perfect! Anyway, please review! =D
-Regan3