Part One

Harry smiled down at Ginny as she let out a little purr and snuggled against him. It was at times like this that he was reminded why he was with her. With a small snicker he remembered how surprised he had been when she talked to him again let alone went out with him again. He remembered how, despite a small foreboding that his feelings for her weren't quite as strong as they had once been, he had vowed to be the best boyfriends ever. He planned to buy her little gifts every day and treat her like a goddess.

He had done so for several weeks until that girl, Mandy or something, had snuck into his room while Ginny was staying in Hermione's for a little girl talk. After that little night of passion Harry had realized how foolish it was to stay quite so loyal. So while he still treated Ginny as well as she expected there were also times when he was on "business trips" that he found a little discreet pleasure in other places.

"Morning baby." Ginny whispered, sitting up and stretching. Taking a cigarette from the pack on the bedside table, Harry watched her get up and, completely naked, walk to the bathroom.

By the time she had come back and snuggled against him again and then that had turned into a little more than snuggling, they had missed breakfast. They decided to skip breakfast to spend some time together.

"So remind me again why we have to go to Malfoy's for a party?" Ginny groaned.

"Gin, how many times do I have to tell you?" Harry asked, wondering why he was so annoyed even though he knew Ginny was joking around. "The minister asked me as a special favor. She thinks Malfoy has turned evil again and even if he hasn't she wants me to cultivate a friendship with him."

"Is Draco going to be there?" Harry looked up in surprise – not by the bored tone in his girlfriend's voice that everybody now used when refereeing to the Malfoy heir, except Ron, - he hadn't thought of the pale, ghost-like boy in ages. Even when he was tormenting the student, which was hardly any fun but allowed him to relax, he wasn't really thinking of him but of what he used to be.

"I don't know. Why are you asking me?" Harry snapped. Nobody ever reprimanded him for his nastiness towards Malfoy, not even Hermione, but he couldn't help the small feeling of guilt when he thought of his behavior.

"Don't get so defensive!" Ginny snapped back and when Harry sent her an apologetic grin she continued in a softer voice. "Hermione says you're the only one he communicates with."

"Hermione said that?" Harry asked, pulling on some boxers and slipping out of bed to go stand by one of large picture windows out looking the quidditage match. He wondered who had given up this room for him, the boy hero.

"Yeah." Ginny said, already losing interest in the subject as she pulled on her school outfit. Harry didn't have any time to contemplate this statement, he hadn't noticed Malfoy talking to him anymore than anybody else, because his girlfriend had bounded into his arms.

As Harry allowed his girlfriend to sneak her tongue into his mouth, he tried to push away images of Malfoy. What kind of guy thought about their enemy when their beautiful, horny girlfriend was making out with them?

He would never admit it, but he was glad when Ginny abruptly pulled away, saying,

"Sorry Harry, I promised I would talk to Flitwick before class – I got to run." Blowing him a kiss, she dashed out the door.

Harry left some time later. None of his teachers cared if he was late and he was particularly looking forward to potions. For some reason his robes were also particularly bothering him, which was strange because usually Ginny or Hermione had to practically dress him to make sure he looked nice.

Thirty minutes after the first bell rang, Harry slid into his seat – ignoring Slughorn's bowing hello's and the whispers of the other students, except for Ron and Hermione who just waved before going back to what they had been doing – snogging.

Almost unconsciously, Harry allowed his eyes to settle on Malfoy. The teenager was slumped in his seat, his eyes staring vacantly at his desk as he played with his limp, shoulder-length hair. He had gained a little wait since he had started Hogwarts, looking like a skeleton, but Harry still winced in remembered sympathy at the way Malfoy's bones seemed close to ripping through the thin layer of skin covering them.

Abruptly, Malfoy turned to catch Harry staring at him and raised one, still elegant, eyebrow. Flushing angrily at the way that Malfoy could still anger him with some a simple movement, Harry wondered if that was what Hermione had meant by 'communication.' It was true that when Ron was beating up or mocking him he was more like a way statue than boy, while there was always some kind of surprised, if not angry, look on his face when Harry attacked him.

"YES!" Ron pushed a fist into the air as they exited the room "FREE PERIOD:

Almost out of nowhere, Draco appeared, accidentally pushing against Hermione on his way by. In an instant he was pushed against the wall, pinned by one of Ron's huge hands against his neck.

"Watch yourself, Malfoy." Both Harry and Hermione were shocked by the savage tone of Ron's voice. Hermione recovered in an instant, pulling Ron away and screaming at him about what an idiotic, low down thing he had done as she towed him away.

Harry didn't move. He had been wrong about Draco having no expression. For a flicker of a second, while Ron had held him up, cutting off his breath, there had been a small, triumphant grin on his face as is all his wishes were about to come true.

"Excuse me." Malfoy's much disused voice was rusty but still aristocratic Harry noticed. He wondered if this was the first time he had heard the other boy speak since September.

"No." Harry smirked, annoyed with Malfoy with no reason beyond his existence, no matter how quiet he had become.

"Fuck you!" Malfoy muttered, and Harry noticed that there was fear in his voice though it did not seem to be directed at Harry. Before he could say anything, mocking or questioning, Malfoy pushed roughly past him, making Harry fall to his knees, and ran down the hall.