A/N: I retyped it everyone! Yayyy! It's a good thing I have a photographic memory, or it would have been trouble. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, this story will be over in five more chapters then a closing one. So, I hope you're enjoying yourself!
Couples: HP/DM, RW/HG. And, who else you say? Well, you'll just have to find out by reading don't cha.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Have fun!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
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"What they were doing was wrong." Neville kept his eyes trained on his clasped hands as he fidgeted in the chair.
"Ron's just gotten worse over the years and now he's no better than," His eyes flicked over to Draco before he realized what he did, then they flashed back to their previous point of interest, "just some people that weren't to kind." Harry and Draco exchanged a look before turning back to the young man before them.
"That was a very kind thing to do," Harry started with Draco throwing in a few lines,
"Very Gryffindor,"
"Yes, Ron-"
"Weasel" Harry glared at Draco who glared right back.
Harry cleared his throat and began again, "That was a very kind and brave thing to do Neville. Yes, Ron's gotten worse hasn't he?" He sighed, "Whatever did happen to him? Fred and George aren't like that . . . " Harry stared at the far wall, a crease marring his pale brow.
"Longbottom." Draco sighed, this was difficult but Longbottom had shown potential, and he had risked his skin for him. "Maybe I had you pegged wrong, maybe. And with that said," Draco averted his eyes, "thanks."
Harry mocked a gasp, "The Great Draco Malfoy thanking somebody? My heart beat still!" He put a hand over his heart as an addition to the sentiment.
"Bugger off, Potter." Draco grumbled glaring at Harry.
"You know, I'm just kidding." Harry grinned slightly.
Draco continued to glare, but it seemed to soften- or was it the light? Neville watched them in veiled fascination, could these two really have been enemies not too long ago?
Neville cleared his throat, "We should be heading to bed now . . . I mean, we do have classes in the morning." Harry and Draco reluctantly nodded, but didn't move to leave. Neville grinned nervously at the two then stood, casting one more shaky glance he left.
Not long after Neville left, Harry and Draco stood to leave. Outside of the classroom it seemed to grow colder and the two huddled together to stay warm. "I should be going," Harry said reluctant to head back to the tower.
"I should be going too."
They nodded at each other and went to cross over each other to go towards their rightful common room. Harry's hand brushed Draco's a little longer than needed, but neither of them noticed. When each one of them reached the end of the hallway they stopped and waved at each other almost cheerfully.
For some reason Draco couldn't find it in himself to turn away from Harry. Mentally hitting himself he nodded once more and turned on his heel down to the dungeons. Harry watched him go, and only when Draco had turned down another hallway did Harry take his leave as well.
After cleaning himself up, Harry put his toiletries back into his truck and crawled into his bed. Closing the curtains, the green-eyed boy leaned back against the soft plush of the bed and started to close his eyes.
'Well, today was certainly something.' A frown marred his features when a snore sounded from the bed across from his- Ron's snore. And then he tugged off his glasses and placed them on the bedside table.
As an old habit, Harry placed his wand under his pillow after casting alarms and wards over his bed. Closing his eyes on final time. Harry fell into a deep and lulling sleep.
The next morning Harry awoke to the sounds of somebody slamming the door behind them. Taking out his wand he performed his morning ritual of scans for hexes and jinxes before finally opening his curtains. Swinging his feet over the side of the bed, Harry let out a low his as his feet hit the cold floor. "I never seem to remember to wear socks to bed. Pity."
He shook his head and used a banister to swing himself up to a standing position. The room swam in his vision, as it often did when one stood up too fast. Harry clutched his head trying to remain steady, and when the vertigo finally passed he looked around the room.
Neville was sitting on his bed, fully clothed and cheerfully reading a new herbology tomb. "Morning Nev'." He yawned. Neville nodded to him before continuing with his morning task. Yawning once more, Harry set about gathering his toiletries and headed for the bathroom.
Once refreshed, Harry dressed and silently headed down the stairs, Neville appearing by his side, silent as well. They walked in a harmonic silence. Upon reaching the great hall, the pair stopped as Draco came towards them from the opposing direction, two people at his back.
"Potter, Longbottom." He acknowledged. "Let me make known to you, Millicent Bulstrode and Blaise Zabini." Each nodded when their name was presented. Millicent was a solidly built stocky woman. Harry saw that as she stood she had a fair balance and was more steady than muscular. Her skin was a tan one got from desert ancestry and she had the dark brown wayward hair to match. Her mouth was full, but with deep-set brown eyes and a man's broad jaw she wasn't what anyone would call exceedingly attractive.
Blaise Zabini seemed to be an opposite counter part. His chocolate brown skin melted into fairly light hair from someone of African decent, and he was a pretty thing. High cheek bones and a sloping curve to his jaw bones gave him a slightly girlish face, and his willowy body almost seemed to sway back and forth, as if moved by a non existent wind. A trim nose and fair eyes with long lashes seemed to almost draw Harry in, but he resisted.
"In return, let me introduce Neville Longbottom." Neville held out a shaky hand and both Slytherins eyed it wearily before clasping it for a firm shake. Neville seemed to twist a smile at the two. "And, I'm Harry." Harry introduced himself without need, but out of a polite gesture. He too shook hands, firm shake for firm shake.
The five now eyed the doors of the Great Hall wearily. "When we step through there, we'll be public enemy number one." Millicent said first, in a deceivingly clear voice. The rest nodded. A light bulb seemed to form over Neville's head, "Hey, Harry." He said tugging Harry's sleeve, before bending down to whisper in the slightly shorter boy's ear. Harry's eyes lightened, and he nodded readily.
After Neville released him, Harry stepped back from the group, and called out clearly. "Dobby. Could you please come here for a moment?" A moment later there was a crack, and the estranged brightly coloured house elf appeared infront of them.
"What can Dobby do for Master Harry Potter. Anything, Dobby will do for Master Harry." He said enthusiastically hopping from one foot to the other. Smiling, Harry crouched down to Dobby's height and whispered something into Dobby's big leathery ears. Immediately Dobby starting nodding and jumping up and down. "Yes, anything for Master Harry Potter, sir!"
Harry nodded, not unkindly and said, "Just remember, exactly like the others." Dobby continued to nod and jump from one foot to the other. "Dobby, stop and look at me." He stopped and stared at Harry with adoring eyes, "Just as every other one." He said firmly and Dobby's ears dropped, but he nodded.
"Yes, sir." He sighed, then brightened, "Anything for Master Harry Potter, sir! Dobby will get right on it, he will." Then, with a crack he was gone.
"Potter, what did you tell the little thing?" Draco asked uncertainly. "Nothing too outrageous, I hope."
"You'll see, you'll see." Harry grinned and moved forward to open the doors to the Great Hall.
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R&R every one!