He was back on track, after he had received his O.W.L results he was sure his dream of becoming an Auror was over, but fate had intervened. Harry was not thrilled when he heard that Snape was teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, in fact he was furious to say the least. However, this did mean that he could now do Potions as Slughorn was happy to take students who received Exceeds Expectations, now Harry could work towards becoming an Auror like he always wanted. Harry hadn't seen much of Malfoy since their run in on the train; this made Harry even more suspicious than usual. Normally Malfoy would go out of his way to find Harry and annoy him but this year he was keeping his distance; it was particularly strange that even when they had class together Malfoy still chose to ignore Harry, he didn't even give him a second look. He was, without a doubt, up to something and Harry was going to find out what.

Harry and Ron made their way towards the first Potions class of the semester; Harry was more than nervous as he walked down the hall. Dumbledore had made it very clear that Harry had to 'let Slughorn collect him' and that meant impressing him. Harry had been hopeless at Potions previously, although he blamed the majority of his failings on Snape, he was still nervous that he wouldn't be good enough to impress Slughorn. Making his way into the room he smiled at Hermione, who beamed happily when she saw her two friends enter, looking around he was more than happy with the students he would be with this year. Well almost all of them, in the corner, looking rather sulky, was none other than Malfoy. The blond rolled his eyes dramatically when he saw Harry enter and his back hunched further.

"Ah Harry, I was worried you wouldn't make it! Come in, come in. I was just about to tell the class what their first task would be." Slughorn's fat face lit up the second he saw Harry, he paid no attention to Ron.

"Actually sir, Neither Ron nor I have the textbooks or equipment; you see we only found out at the start of the term we were able to take potions." Harry explained as he tried to blank Ron's disgruntled groan at being ignored.

Slughorn's face didn't falter; he simply smiled brighter and waved his hand towards the old storage room. "Oh never worry yourself, feel free to take whatever you need from the store, but be quick, I can't hold the lesson just for you."

Harry and Ron hurried into the store, grabbing a cauldron and some vials each, they then looked around for the 'Advanced Potion Making' textbooks. Ron was the first to notice the only two left and made a dive at them, Harry, who wasn't sure why Ron was so eager to grab one, had to hold back his curse when he saw the book he had been left with. It looked ancient! The binding was coming apart, the cover was torn and the paper was turning yellow.

Hearing Ron snigger Harry pushed him. "Shut up you prick." He hissed before he stomped out of the store room and made his way towards the desk Hermione was standing at, making sure to slam his book on the it when he saw the very pleased look on his so-called best friend's face.

"Now, as I was saying." Slughorn looked at Harry for a moment, he seemed annoyed Harry had made so much noise but quickly continued on as if nothing had happened. "This curious potion is none other than Felix Felicis, or otherwise known as…"

"Liquid Luck." Hermione interrupted Slughorn without realising.

Looking rather impressed Slughorn grinned, "Yes Miss Granger, Liquid Luck. One drink of this and all your endeavours will succeed. Well, at least until the effects wear off."

For the first time since the class had started, Malfoy had suddenly stood up straight. His face turning greedy and his grey eyes becoming wide and bright as he eyed the bottle hungrily. This didn't go unnoticed by Harry who was now watching him with a curious eyebrow raised.

"This is what I offer to each of you today. The student who produces the best Draught of Living Death will win this tiny bottle of Felix Felicis. You have one hour, you may begin now." Slughorn announced happily.

There was a mad scramble as everyone practically ran to get the ingredients required. Once he had gathered his needed materials, Harry opened his crappy textbook; he raised a bemused eyebrow when he read on the title page 'This book is the property of the Half Blood Prince.' Cursing under his breath he was now was even more annoyed when he saw that Prince person, that idiotic jerk, had scribbled all over the margins. Finding the right chapter his brow furrowed when he saw the Prince had circled the instructions in the textbook and modified them. Glancing at Hermione he had to hide his smirk when he saw her struggle to cut the beans, her hair was becoming bushier as her face turned a steady shade of red as her frustration grew.

Deciding he had nothing to lose, Harry did as the Prince had instructed and crushed the beans instead of cutting them. To his great and utter astonishment it had worked! He felt his spirits rise as he continued to crush the beans; it seemed this Prince was a genius.

"How did you do that?!" Hermione demanded as she was still attempting to cut her first bean.

"Crush them, don't cut them." Harry explained as he continued to read the instructions scribbled in the margin of the book, he completely ignored the actually textbooks instructions.

"No. No the instructions specifically say to cut." Hermione scowled, ignoring Harry's smug look she continued on with her work.

After an hour of work on their Draught, Slughorn was more than impressed with Harry's potion and promptly named him the winner. Harry had never won anything in Potions, he had always been bottom of the class when Snape was teaching it and he couldn't help the feeling of smugness that quickly took over him, especially when he saw the look on Malfoy's face. Hermione was less than pleased with Harry and continued to berate him for cheating as they made their way for lunch.

"You should have told him about that book being written in. You cheated to win, and you don't even know who this so-called Prince is! I'm telling you Harry, if you have any self-respect you will hand that book in at once." The girl said as she tried to take the book from him once again, Harry then quickly put it in his bag.

"That's not likely; he is top of the class Hermione." Ron chipped in, although he had been annoyed at Harry's book when he found out, he now found the whole situation kind of funny. "He is even better than you." The tall boy teased.

Hermione's face turned a dangerous shade of red and her eyes narrowed. Harry spoke before she could though; he was tired of this conversation. "Look this book came in handy! I stopped Malfoy from getting his hands on the Liquid Luck. Don't you understanding how great that is?"

Harry's smile dropped when Ron and Hermione exchanged an exasperated look with each other. "Harry we need to stage an intervention."

"What are you talking about?" Harry stopped walking and placed his hands on his hips.

"You are obsessed with Malfoy." Ron stated.

Harry's mouth fell agape, he couldn't believe they had just said this to him. "I'm…..I am…" Harry stammered over his words, pursing his lips he willed himself not to curse. "I am not obsessed with Malfoy." He finally said indignantly.

"Yes you are, every night before bed you look at the Marauders Map trying to find Malfoy and see what he is up to and he is all you talk about." Ron folded his arms over his chest and had a sort of apologetic look on his face.

"He is up to something!" Harry practically shouted. When Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes he felt his blood boil. "I'm telling you right now he is up to something, and damn it, I am going to find out what it is!" Harry turned on his heels and marched away from them.

Harry ignored their calls after him, he was too furious to be near them or anyone else for that matter. Stepping outside into the warm air he felt himself calm down as he breathed in the fresh air, his head was spinning with so many questions and he could feel himself unravelling the more he thought about them. He knew Malfoy was up to something this year, he had heard him say it himself, Voldemort was using the boy for something and Harry had to know. Deciding he wasn't hungry the Gryffindor went for a walk through the castle, he needed to clear his head. There was nothing wrong with wanting to know what his enemy was up to, especially now that he knew Malfoy's father was a death eater, a disgraced one at that and there was no doubt Malfoy would want redemption. What the meant, Harry wasn't sure but he was sure that Malfoy was up to something evil, something that could very well lead to Voldemort winning this war.

Harry continued to walk around the castle, making his way onto the seventh floor he stopped dead in his tracks. Leaning against the wall just up the corridor was none other than that sneaky snake Malfoy. Taking a gulp Harry stormed forwards, he was going to find out what this rat was up to if it killed him.

"Malfoy!" He bellowed down the hall as he continued to make his way towards the taller boy.

Draco looked up from the spot on the ground he had been concentrating on. He felt his heart stop and then beat rapidly when Harry came towards him. Blinking back the tears that had been stinging his eyes he stood up straight and he forced his classic Malfoy scowl on his face. "What do you want Potter?"

Much to Draco's surprise Harry had grabbed his robes and pushed him back against the wall, he stifled his hiss of pain when his back hit against the concrete. "Tell me what you are doing." Harry growled through gritted teeth.

"Well, I was just standing here minding my own business." Draco struggled to keep his voice calm, he could feel his legs shaking and his insides squirming as he looked down at the boy he had loved.

"Don't act smart with me you prick, tell me what you are doing for Voldemort." Harry shook Draco's shoulders until the older boy pushed him hard in the chest causing him to stagger backwards.

Rubbing down his robe Draco's eyes turned icy cold, "don't you dare lay you're hands on me again." He spat as he made sure his hair was still immaculate. "Why do you care? So you can act the hero again and catch the 'bad guy'?"

Now that caught Harry off guard. "What? No…No I don't want to act the hero!" Harry stammered for a second. He had no idea why Malfoy would say that to him.

The two regarded each other for a few seconds before Draco shrugged, "so you don't like what the Wizarding World expects of you either?" His voice was alarmingly soft.

Harry didn't say anything back, he couldn't say anything back. This was the first time Malfoy had ever said anything like this to him, it wasn't an insult and it wasn't some snide remark. It was an honest question, a question Harry didn't know the answer to.

"Funny, I always assumed you loved being the Chosen One." Draco remarked casually when Harry didn't answer him.

"Yeah, well, you don't really know anything about me, do you?" Harry snarled.

That hurt. That hurt Draco more than anything else Harry could possible ever say to him. "No I suppose I don't." Draco mumbled as he looked down at the ground, pain shot through his stomach and chest.

"And what do you mean by 'either'? What does the Wizarding World expect of you?"

A sad smile played on Draco's lips, he had to remain strong, and he couldn't let Harry see him upset. "I'm the son of a known death eater. I think it's very clear what everyone expects of me."

A strange sort of tension filled the air between them, it was a tension Harry had never felt before but it made his insides squirm uncomfortably. "Tell me what you are doing Malfoy, I mean it." Harry pulled out his wand. He was getting sick and tired of this.

"Or you will do what?" The blond raised his eyebrows challengingly.

Harry wasn't going to hex him and Draco knew it, he could tell by the look in his hate filled green eyes. "I will find out what you are doing."

A conceded smile took over Draco's face and he finally took a step towards the smaller boy. "Oh yes you will. So will everyone else in this school. But not until I have done it."

"Done what?" Harry's voice trembled as Malfoy moved closer towards him.

"You'll see, all in good time." Draco whispered, he was now mere inches away from Harry. The last time he was this close to him, he had kissed him. Shaking his head he pushed those thoughts away, he couldn't afford to think like that anymore. He had to make sure Harry kept away from him, he couldn't trust himself around the younger boy. He was doing all of this for Harry after all, not that the other boy would ever find out.

Harry noticed that Malfoy was not looking at him directly in the eyes, he was looking a little to the left, as if he were afraid to meet his gaze. Harry was suddenly grabbed by his jumper and pulled forward, they were nose to nose and the tension was becoming too much to bare.

"Here's a bit of advice, direct from me to you." Draco's voice was low and dangerous; his eyes never met Harry's. "If you know what's good for you. You will stay the fuck away from me."

He dropped Harry's jumper and stormed off. His mouth was bone dry, his arms and legs were shaking so badly he was amazed he could walk and his head was splitting with pain. It was his heart which caused him the most pain though; it ached with sorrow and regret as he continued to walk away from the younger boy. As much as he wanted to let Harry know everything, he knew he couldn't, it wouldn't be safe for him and it definitely wouldn't be safe for Harry. He loved the younger boy too much to put him in anymore danger and that was why he had to keep everything a secret, no matter how much it killed him.