A/N: Hai guys! Sorry this took so long. Hopefully it wont take me so long next time. I'm sort of just figuring out where I want to go with this story. But yeah I hope you like it! oh and leave me constructive criticism kay? thanks :D

DISCLAIMER: i DON'T OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT THE PLOT :) THE REST OF THE CREDIT GOES TO J.K. ROWLING:)

CHAPTER TWO

Figuring Out Why

Harry started awake in the early morning hours to the sounds of Ron's snores and the blizzard that was raging outside. He tried desperately to remember what his dream had been about but then the pale face of the blonde Slytherin popped into his head and Harry shook his head willing the image to fling itself away. He then attempted to fall back asleep but every time he closed his eyes he saw the sliver ones of Draco Malfoy. With an exasperated sigh he opened his drawer to his bed side table and pulled the locket from its box. Classes had been in session for nearly two weeks now and he still neglected to wear it. Which happened to make Pansy furious but Harry had the tendency to flat out ignore her. But he wasn't so successful on one certain occasion. He was walking out of the dungeons one Tuesday morning after a double round of potions with the Slytherin's and she managed to drag him into a secluded broom closet down the hall.

"What the bloody hell Pansy!" Harry angrily tried shoving her away to get out of the cramped closet.

"No you listen to me Potter. Why haven't you been wearing it?" She growled pointing at his chest.

"Wearing what?" Harry asked his brain unwilling to keep up and actually focus after the potions round he had just dealt through.

"The fucking necklace you prick!" Pansy shouted and Harry briefly wondered if anyone could hear what was going on in here from out in the corridor.

"Oh that." Truth be told he had honestly forgotten about it. It wasn't like it meant anything to him so it was still in his nightstand drawer where it belonged. In all truth Harry hadn't even thought about Draco Malfoy much in the past two weeks. After his friends returned it was time for studying gossip and quidditch. "I'm sorry, I just forgot about it. I've been too busy worrying about other things than the fact that a spoiled rich arsehole is in love with me." The words had barley left his mouth and Pansy's hand came across hard on his face.

"Potter you're the spoiled rich areshole." And with that she stalked out of the closet looking defeated and Harry wasn't quite sure but he had thought he saw tears in the dark haired girls' eyes. But then again he wouldn't be about to ever ask her for fear she may rip his head off.

Great. Harry sighed and stepped out of the broom closet rubbing his face, which he was sure had a bright red mark across it. Divination was next and he didn't much fancy dealing with crystal balls and tea cups, so instead of traipsing up stair after stair he headed towards Gryffindor tower. At the portrait of the fat lady he had to stop and wait for her to return from wherever she had gotten off to. She scowled at him disapprovingly, knowing he was ditching classes but let him through anyway. He flung his bag atop his trunk and flopped down on his bed. He decided a small nap couldn't hurt anything and closed his eyes.

"Potter what do you think you're doing?" Professor Moody snapped at him from the doorway of the dormitory. Harry snapped up in bed his mind swirling in fogginess from at least 6 hours of sleep.

"Huh?" Harry asked unintelligently trying to figure out how in the hell he had slept so bloody long. But before he could figure out much of anything Moody had the front of his shirt and was yanking him to his feet and down the stone steps to the common room. "He-hey professor!" Harry complained as the light from the common room hit him and illuminated the faces of all his other house mates.

"Shut your trap Potter you're coming with me whether you like it or not." Moody growled. Harry looked frantically around the room for Ron and Hermione, they may be mad at him for skipping lessons but surly they would try and intervene whatever crazy plan Moody had come up with. He quickly found Ron standing in a corner with Seamus and Dean.

"Help." Harry silently mouthed to him but Ron just shrugged and shook his head.

By that time Moody had successfully managed to drag Harry through to portrait hole despite the fat lady's protest.

"Now Potter, are you going to walk or do I have to drag you the entire way to my office?" Moody let go of Harry's shirt and continued on down the corridor.

"Professor? Um could I by any chance ask what this is about?" Harry asked catching up.

"You'll find out soon enough. But do you think it wise to be skipping my classes Potter?"

"No sir. I just didn't feel good today professor." Harry said keeping confidence in his lie plastered on his face knowing that Moody could see what he was doing behind his back.

"Well perhaps you should go to Madam Pomfery. Because after this you may very well be sicker than ever."

"Professor what do yo-" He was cut off by Moody shoving him through the door to McGonagall's classroom. Inside were four people clearly waiting for his arrival. Cedric Diggory, Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, Snape were all standing around McGonagall's desk.

"Ahh awakened from your nap Harry?" Dumbledore smiled at Harry with his eyes sparkling. McGonagall glared silently in Dumbledore's direction before turning to Harry.

"Sit Potter we have things to discuss." Her mouth formed a tight line as she took her seat behind her desk. Harry immediately looked to Dumbledore figuring this had to be about his skipping classes today.

"Look professors I…" for about the third time that day Harry had been interrupted mid-sentence.

"Harry calm down my boy, this is not about what you think it is, however I'm sure when we're done here me and the rest of your professors would love to hear why you skipped classes today." Harry felt his face go red and immediately turned his attention to his hands, in which he noticed he had grabbed the locket when Moody had dragged him from his bed. He quickly wrapped the chain around his wrist so it stayed in place and pulled his sleeve over it hoping the no one else in the room had seen it.

"Potter obviously you know that Mr. Diggory here was chosen to represent Hogwarts in the triwizard tournament." McGonagall started staring at them both intently.

"Yes." Harry answered now utterly confused as to what this was about.

"Well in the last event Mr. Diggory is allowed one person to help him complete this task. And he has decided, that this person is you." Dumbledore finished explaining. Harry didn't know what to do so instead he opted for staring at Cedric with utter shock painted all over his face. He had only met Cedric once and that was at the Quidditch world cup and even then he didn't really talk to him. Sure he knew he was a Hufflepuff and was dating Cho Chang but other than that he didn't really know much else about the guy.

"Really?" Harry asked dumbfounded.

"Yes really." Cedric answered a smile creeping at the corners of his mouth. Harry looked back to McGonagall not quite believing his ears. She just nodded at him a sad smile across her mouth.

"Mr. Diggory you may go now. Now that we know Potter isn't going to flip his lip." Snape drawled sneering at Harry. Harry narrowed his eyes debating whether or not it would be worth it to flip Snape across the room with his wand. He decided against it though seeing as how many teachers were present and he didn't feel like spending the next three years in detention. Cedric got up and turned to leave but Harry made a grab for his sleeve.

"How am I supposed to help you in all this?" Harry asked, not believing that they would leave him with so little information.

"I guess we'll see on the day of the task." Cedric turned and this time Harry let him go. He was alamost to the door when another question occurred to Harry.

"What is the last task?" Harry asked spinning in his chair to look at Cedric.

"A maze." With that Cedric opened the door and was gone. Harry sat staring at the door like an idiot for a whole two minutes before Snape spoke again.

"Maybe we should get him something for shock Professor." Snape said to Dumbledore.

"Are you sure you don't need some as well Severus? As I recall your class is the only one Mr. Potter here attended today." Dumbledore smiled and Snape shut up and glared at Harry.

"As it may be Potter I would love to hear your reasoning as to why you thought it would be okay to skip the rest of our classes." McGonagall asked her voice stern and Harry knew he was in for it no matter what excuse he used.

"I haven't been sleeping well Professor. I went back to my dormitory and finally got some sleep." Harry managed to mumble out.

"And still you have not slept well telling by those bags under your eyes." Dumbledore stated causing everyone to look towards him. "How about we let young Harry here get back to his cozy bed in Gryffindor tower shall we?" He gave a meaningful stare to every teacher in the room. "Go on Harry, we will see you back in classes tomorrow yes?"

"yes sir." Harry nodded rising from his chair.

"Hold on a minute there Potter." Moody said emerging from his spot in the corner of the room. "You'll be receiving three days of detention from me starting tomorrow night."

"yes sir." Harry looked to the ground and shuffled out of the room. As soon as he was out of earshot of the room Harry started to curse Moody and his bloody detentions. Harry was pretty sure some of the paintings would go and tell Moody everything he had just said but at this point Harry was far from caring. All he wanted was a simple fucking life with no one nosing around in it. Just for once. He was fourteen for gods sakes! He was supposed to be out looking at girls and enjoying laughs with Ron and Hermione. Not walled up in detentions worrying about some hell bent dark lord and a spoiled rich prat that was obviously playing some sick joke on him. With that thought he remembered the locket that was attached to his wrist. Because he was angry he tried yanking the chain from his arm with enough force to knock Ron out for a day and a half. But to Harry's dismay the chain wouldn't budge.

"The bloody hell?" Harry stood in the corridor shaking his arm vigorously trying to get the stupid chain to unhook itself. Harry then resorted to his ward. Pointing it at the chain he said the first damaging spell that came to his mind.

"Incendio! Oh ow fuck!" Harry swatted the fire away. "Aguamenti." Harry nearly yelled pointing his wand at his searing flesh. "God that burns."

"Potter, what do you think you're doing cursing and flinging spells in the corridor?" Harry spun on his heel and shoved his soaked wrist into his pants pocket. Staring steadily into the black eyes of the professor he hated most.

"Nothing Professor." Harry lied horribly and he was sure Snape already knew anyways.

"Show me your arm Potter." Harry glared balefully at the man in front of him but obeyed in order to hopefully evade any more detentions that were thrown his way. Snape grabbed his arm and yanked his sleeve up with harsh fingers. "Well, well Potter. In love with a Slytherin are we?" Snape sneered. "My, now what would your father think of that?"

"Don't even start on my father and I am definitely not in love with any Slytherin. In fact it just so happens to be your favorite little arsehole, Malfoy, that seems to be in love with me according to Pansy, Professor. " Snape glared at Harry for a moment before he spoke in such a low growl Harry wasn't sure Snape could even be human to make that noise.

"That is a love locket Potter, one of the most powerful love objects in our world. It only attaches itself to a person like that if the one who activated it is truly in love with any person who puts it on. And cannot be taken off unless the person who activated it does not love you anymore. Potter I suggest that you take great care of Draco's heart."

"But sir he doesn't even know I have it." Harry was about ready to scream. This couldn't be happening it just couldn't.

"Then I also suggest you speak with Miss. Parkinson and prepare yourself for when he does find out." Snape smirked at Harry before turning on his heel and flowing down the corridor.

"There isn't a counter charm or anything for this professor?" Harry called after Snape.

"Good luck Potter." Snape called back as he rounded a corner. Harry couldn't believe it. His day really couldn't get any worse. First Pansy giving him a headache by slapping him across the face, then being told he had no choice but to participate in the triwizard tournament and now he discovered that Draco Malfoy was in fact in love with him and he wasn't able to get the bloody locket off his arm. All he wanted to do was sleep, but first he decided he would find Hermione and ask her for help about the stupid locket.

"Puffy Pluffykins." Harry stated to the fat lady who was attempting her hand at making a house of cards.

"Really?" She asked looking rather annoyed.

"Yes really, now let me in damn it." Harry said agitation high in his voice.

"Oh alright fine." As she swung open her tower of cards fell flat and Harry almost felt sorry for being so mean but he had more important things to think about at the moment.

"Harry what happened?" Hermione asked as soon as he managed to clamber through the portrait hole.

"C'mon we need to go talk someplace private. Where's Ron?" Harry said in a low voice conscious of all the pairs of eyes hovering on him and Hermione.

"He went off somewhere with Dean and Neville. Harry what's happened to your arm?" Hermione asked worry clear on her brow.

"We have to go." Harry grabbed her arm and tugged her back towards to portrait hole.

"Harry?" Hermione protested as she tried to pull her arm back. "Shush I'll explain when we get to the library." Harry said as he and Hermione got through the hole and into the corridor. He walked briskly and with quick steps he wanted nothing more than to find out how to get this bloody thing off his arm. As the entered the library Harry turned to Hermione who was just a few steps behind. "We have to get it off Hermione." Harry stuck his arm out and pulled up his sleeve revealing the locket and freshly burnt skin. Hermione gasped and reached to take his arm.

"Harry what is it that you have gotten yourself in to time?" She looked to the locket back to Harry's face and back to the locket again.

"Let's move so everyone can't see what we're doing." Harry turned and headed towards one of the more quite areas of the library where it wasn't crowed with studying students. When they found a suitable table Harry seated himself and sigh exasperatedly. "Snape says it's a love locket and can only be removed when bloody Malfoy no longer loves me." Harry stated, he could feel the anger in him rising again at even the mention of the arrogant Slytherin's name. Hermione listened intently as Harry told the story of how he had gotten thee locket and his encounters with pansy and how the bloody thing had come to be attached to his wrist. He left out the part of the triwizarding tournament because he felt he would rather share that when Ron was around.

"Hermione please tell me you know something of what this is and how to get it off my arm. I can't stand the thought of wearing Malfoy's trinket on my arm and having to go to lessons and explain to the rest of Gryffindor house why I wear a Slytherin charm."

"Harry I don't think- I mean I've never even seen… Well I can try and that's all I've got. I'll start finding out as much as I can about it, but for the meantime I think you're either going to have to wear it, or go to Dumbledore."

"Brilliant." Harry scowled unable to even imagine going to Dumbledore about something as idiotic as this. He and Hermione should be able to figure out something on their own. With that Harry stood from the chair he had placed himself in and made to leave.

"I'm sorry Harry." Hermione called after him.

But Harry wasn't listening. He just wanted to as far away from as everyone as he could possibly get. He didn't know where he was going but his feet just sort of carried him. Before he knew it he was out on the grounds heading towards the lake. He realized that he hadn't sat in his tree for a long while and figured t would be a good place to help him sort through some of his thoughts. He sighed deeply as the sent that always seemed to surround the lake. He made his way through the trees and stared up into the branches of his tree. There were still no leaves on it as snow still covered the ground. As Harry made his way up into the taller branches an image flashed before his eyes. He rested his back against a branch and leaned his head back. Willing the image of blonde hair and silver eyes to go away. Maybe coming to the tree wasn't such a good idea after all considering the fact that all his dreams with the blonde had occurred in this very tree. Harry outwardly sighed and closed his eyes. Wishing for one moment that world would disappear and he could just have a few peaceful moments for himself. He found himself playing with the chain of the locket and was suddenly angry at himself for even touching the thing.

"Harry?" Harry almost toppled from the tree as Hagrid came into view around some trees.

"Hello Hagrid." Harry said straightening himself in the tree.

"What're you doin' up there?" Hagrid asked curiously looking at Harry

"Just thinking." Harry replied slipping from his position to drop from the tree.

"It's gettin' dark Harry wouldnt want yer to be caught outside the castle." Hagrid scolded Harry

"Right I'll just be going then. Bye Hagrid." Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and headed back up towards the castle.

"See ya Harry." Harry trudged along unwilling to let his mind wander into thoughts about anything. Even quidditch, because even that brought up the image of Draco Malfoy smirking as he flew around on his fancy broom. Harry scowled at a pile of sand and kicked it as he went by. He finally reached the castle doors and slipped inside just as the final rays of sunlight disappeared from the sky. He made his way back to the common room without being seen by anyone and slipped through the portrait hole only to be greeted by Hermione's smiling face. Harry tried to smile back but it was hard when he felt so miserable.

"Harry I think I may have found something." Harry looked up at her intently waiting for more of an explanation. "The locket is referred to as a verum magicae. There aren't many wizards alive today that know how to create one and even fewer who actually know anything about it. So I was able to find a few books that had some information about it in the ancient magic section." Hermione stated in a rush as if she were scared that Harry would run off again or something.

"That's great Hermione." Harry sighed. "Anything on how to get the bloody thing off?"

"Er- no not yet Harry but I'm working on it." Hermione gave him a sad half smile. Harry knew he would have to wear it to lessons tomorrow and this was all too much for his brain to handle.

"Thanks Hermione. Well I'm going to bed." Sighing heavily Harry trudged up the stairs to his bed, because he was looking down at his feet he ran red first into Ron's chest, who apparently also wasn't paying attention.

"Oh Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "I've been looking all over for you mate. Wanted to know if you would like to play chess with me and Neville?"

"No thanks Ron, I'm heading to bed for the night. You could ask Hermione." Harry suggested to his friend with a half-smile.

" Na I believe she's still cross with me after what happened at the Yule Ball. I've been trying to avoid her." Ron said keeping his voice low and peeking around Harry as if to make sure Hermione wasn't standing behind him ready to jinx the red hair off his head.

"You can't ignore her forever mate, you're going to need help with school work eventually." Harry laughed watched as that realization hit Ron.

"Crap! Harry, I've got a potions essay to finish. I haven't even yet started. Bloody hell, might as well go play kiss up to 'Mione. Ron pouted and Harry laughed as he watched his friend descend the rest of the stone steps.

"Good luck." Harry laughed and climbed the stairs to his nice warm bed. He wanted to go to sleep and not wake up for a week. He figured that would give Hermione a chance to get the locket off of his arm.

So with that thought in his mind Harry crawled into bed and proceeded to be unable to fall asleep. By 1 am Harry was a little more than unhappy. He knew tomorrow was going to be terrible and now on top of it all he couldn't even get a good night's rest in order to have some energy to fight through it all. Plus he had double potions again in the morning and he really didn't want to have to face Malfoy. And to make matters worse he had detention as well which he had almost forgotten about. He would have to be sure and make it to defense lessons from now on. At around 2:30 am Harry finally found himself drifting off to sleep listening to the snore of his sleeping house mates.

Morning would come all too soon for Harry though.