~~~Draco's POV~~~

Draco was lying in his bed, looking up into the roof. Everyone else were asleep, but as so many times before, he wasn't. He just wanted to sleep, but his emotions at rest. Put them to rest... Put... Me... To rest... he thought to himself. He shivered. It wasn't like he hadn't been thinking about suicide, but he knew it wasn't an option either. It would only help him to get rid of his emotions and the horrible future he knew was waiting for him with even more pain, but it would also kill his parents.

He loved Lucius and Narcissa, even if they hadn't been the best parents. They had rised him to be a judgemental bitch, he knew that. But he could understand them better now. He understood things better now.

What he couldn't understand though, was the look Potter had in his eyes. First it was this fierce hatred, the only thing Draco could understand, since he had been a git. But then the golden oh so famous boy had smiled at him, and he had been looking at him, observing him. Observing people was Draco's thing! And then... When Potter said he sort of understood Draco, he had seemed sad... Sad for what Draco had to be, what he had to do. Like he really knew how much pain Draco felt.

That stupid Potter! He was one of the reasons Draco couldn't sleep at night anymore. Well, of course his mind was busy dealing with the fact that he had to become a death eater and a killer... No, he already was a death eater, he even had the dark mark. But why did Potter pop up in his mind every so often? He had been thinking about what he did to the stupid boy on the train. Why did he do that? Well, Draco obviously had some anger issues, but who could blame him? But still, it was a little harsh maybe to leave the other boy paralyzed with a broken nose... Potter hadn't even been mean to him from the beginning, it was Draco all the time, trying to get his attention. Draco knew he was jealous at Potter, but still.

He just wished he could let his emotions rest, just for a while, he needed some sleep desperately.

~~~Harry's POV~~~

Sectum Sempra the two words from the curse still echoed in his head. Why had he even thought about it? He didn't even know what that god damn curse would do to anyone! He was happy he hadn't used it, but it frightened him that he had even been thinking about it. He could have injured Draco, badly.

Draco... Why was he thinking about that git anyway? He remembered his silver eyes, searching over his face. The insecurity he obviously felt back then was pretty cute. Cute? Did I just say that Draco Malfoy was CUTE? Harry cursed himself for even thinking the thought.

That bloke was a death eater anyway! And if he wasn't yet, he would soon be. Why did he care about Malfoy? Here he was, in the gryffindor's common room, in the middle of the night, wide awake, thinking about Malfoy. That boy had tortured him ever since they started Hogwarts, hell, he had even broke Harry's nose, just a few weeks ago. It still hurt a little, and he had some awful cuts in his forehead from Malfoy's shoe. He sighed and touched his scar, like he checked if any new cut had made it even worse.

"Why are you awake?" a familiar voice said behind him. He jumped and turned around, a little blush from not being prepared on his cheeks.

"Hermoine? What are you doing here?" Harry asked and looked at Hermoine who sat down in the couch beside him.

"As you remember, I'm a gryffindor." she teased and smiled. She looked at his face, and obviously she noticed that Harry's smile was fake, because she frowned.

"Harry, please tell me what's wrong." she demanded and touched his shoulder. "Are you and Ginny fighting?"

"What? No, she isn't really mine anyway... But well uhm..." Harry blushed. Why did he blush? There was nothing to be ashamed of. And he knew Hermoine wasn't the judgemental of his friends.

"But..?" she asked, wanting him to keep talking. Harry sighed.

"You remember I followed Malfoy, right?"

"Yes. What about him?"

"Well hmm... Please Hermoine, don't judge me, you know I have too much to think fo already."

"I would never even dream about it Harry." she said and smiled. "Just tell me what's wrong."

"Well, he went to the boys' bathroom and when I found him there, he was leaning over a sink, and he, he... He was crying Hermoine. Have you ever seen Malfoy cry? Or show any REAL emotion at all?"

Hermoine thought about it a little.

"No, no I haven't. What happened more?"

"I had my wand lifted at him, you know, it felt like my body was onn fire with all hate I felt for him, but when I saw him, I couldn't do anything. And you know that stupid potion book? I found a curse in there which I had on the tip of my tongue, and that scares me too."

"Would you have used it at him? An unknown curse Harry?" Hermoine sounded a little upset about Harry even considering using the curse.

"I don't know, it freaks me out! But I didn't."

"I feel like there's more of this story." Hermoine said and waited. Harry sighed again.

"Yeah... He told me that... He told me that... He, he just wanted someone to understand him, you know, like you're sitting here listening to me right now. I couldn't help but listen to his problems. I know I owe him nothing, because he has been a git, but I couldn't help it."

"Well of course, you're kind-hearted lad..."

"You know I told you after the labyrinth that his father was a death eater as we had suspected?"

"Yes." she nodded slightly, a very serious expression on her face.

"Well, he said that he couldn't tell even if he wanted to, the only thing he said was that he had no choice. You know eyes aren't lying, that bloke truly is under a lot of pressure. And he seems thinner than before, you know?"

"It sounds like you took a good look at him."

"He is a fine looking bloke..." Harry whispered and looked away, blushing again.

"Harry..." Hermoine whispered and took Harry's hand in hers.

"What?" he looked up at him, and she had a sad smile on her lips.

"Remember it's Draco Malfoy we're talking about, a real bully. Maybe he has no choice and everything, but he's arrogant and mean..."

"I know Hermoine, I don't even know why I thought all of that..." She hugged him when she noticed the tear that rolled down his cheek.

"But there's a very fine line between love and hate." She whispered to him. He nodded and blushed again.

Love... Was he in love with Draco Malfoy?