Harry Potter and all associated characters are the property of JK Rowling.

This story belongs to MinaandChao. I make no claim to ownership.

Chapter 4

"Hullo, Harry," Blaise greeted as Harry entered the Slytherin car of the Hogwarts Express.

"'lo Blaise. Good summer?"

"Alright. Went to Sweden with my mum and her new fiance. Swedish witches are on point."

Harry returned Blaise's impish grin as he moved through the aisle, looking in various compartments for Pansy. He cringed when he passed one with the shade down and obvious sounds coming from it. He kicked the door. "Cast a silencing charm, won't you?" Seconds later the sounds were gone.

Advancing down the line Harry finally found the small four square of seats Pansy had procured and waved. She waved back and patted the seat next to her. Across from her was another girl. Harry was sure he had seen her around, but he couldn't place her name. She was stocky and round-faced with hard brown eyes and curly, dark hair. He nodded to her in greeting and she grunted.

"This is Millicent," Pansy introduced. "Everywhere else was full, unless you wanted to sit in the Hufflepuff car. Or sit with the firsties."

Harry shrugged. "This is fine."

"Where's Draco?"

Harry looked at Pansy as he tugged a book from his bag. The day before they had returned to Diagon Alley for any last minute things. It had been an utter madhouse. Still, Harry had purchased some books, some of which were written by Shakespeare - "honestly, you think that man was a Muggle" Draco had proclaimed with an eye roll - and some by Wizarding authors. "Last I saw he was talking to Flint about signing up for Quidditch. He said he'd join us after he saw Crabbe and Goyle."

Pansy nodded her head and opened her copy of Magical Me. Harry did his best not to roll his eyes at Lockhart's preening, winking photo. Instead he opened his copy of Hamlet.

A few minutes later, Draco made his way in, closing the door behind him with a decisive click. He was smirking big enough to split his face in two, and plopped down beside Millicent with a considering glance, before labeling her as mostly inconsequential and nodding slightly. Millicent blinked back and seemed to decide the same thing, before turning her gaze out the window.

From where he was sprawled regally, Draco tilted his head slightly in anticipation. Harry rolled his eyes over the cover of his play, but obliged. "What did Flint say, Draco?" He asked, voice ever so slightly theatrical.

"I talked to him about the Chaser position, and told him about my Father's offer." Draco paused dramatically. "He said he'd be looking for me, and he sounded very interested indeed." The blonde preened, and Pansy gave him a distracted smile before turning back to Lockhart's 'adventures'. Millicent grunted.

Harry, however, frowned. "What offer?"

An eyebrow was arched in his direction. "My Father offered to buy the entire team Nimbus 2001s if he put me on the team." Harry's face blanked slightly, and Draco waved a hand at him. "Don't worry, you can still use your broom. It was a present after all."

Shaking his head, Harry responded, "No, that's not it. Well, yes, I will be using my Nimbus, but..." He paused for a few moments. "I just think I would hate it if I got on the team just because my dad bought me on. I'd want to get the position because I'm the best."

Draco snorted, sounding vaguely insulted. "Oh, come off it. I'm simply using all the resources at my disposal."

Okay, he'd tried to nice way. "Oh, okay. I just thought you'd want to show how a Malfoy handles himself on a broom. If you just buy your way on, then everyone will think that's why you made the team, and that your talent wasn't enough. I guess even a Malfoy can't be the best at everything."

The Malfoy heir said nothing in response to that, but crossed his arms and stared out the window for a while. Harry went back to his play, and silence filled the compartment for a time.

Finally, Draco broke. "Would you like to play some chess?" He pointed to Harry's bag, which had the chess set they'd packed in it. Shrugging, Harry put down Hamlet and pulled out the board to set it up.

For a while they played in silence, before Draco murmured, "I don't understand you."

Harry glanced up at him, confusion on his face. "What's to understand?"

"You do all these stupid Gryffindor stunts, like the stuff with the Stone last year, or the way you fly a broom, but then you do something Slytherin, like that speech before. I don't get how you can switch between the two like that."

Shrugging, Harry moved his knight, only for Draco to take it. He suppressed a wince, and then replied, "Maybe I"m both."

He moved his pawn forward a space. "I don't think people can be both. They're so opposite. That's what the rivalry is about, in the end. Gryffindors and Slytherins just don't see eye to eye. That and they're irritating little sods."

"Well, clearly people can be. Besides, it's not like Potter here is unfamiliar with the impossible." Millicent spoke up, startling both boys. In all honesty, with the quiet still way she held herself, they had forgotten her.

She might have planned it that way too, judging by the interested way she was looking at them.

Draco frowned at her, disliking the way she forced her way into the conversation. "So you say, Bulstrode."

A snort was his answer, and she turned her attention back to the window. Harry glanced back at Pansy, and caught her ducking back behind her book, the ghost of a smirk on her face. Harry rolled his eyes at her, and all of Slytherin in general, before turning back to Draco. "She's basically right. I seem to do what people least expect, from Voldemort's attack," he paused for the children to shudder, "To being sorted into our House, to how I react in bad situations." He shrugged.

"Well, we'll just have to train the Gryffindor out of you." Draco declared, tossing his head, before he grinned at Harry.
Harry simply rolled his eyes again. "I have no doubt that you will, Draco. No doubt in the least." That got a choked off laugh from behind him, and he smirked at the Malfoy heir, he gave him a bland stare in return.

They continued playing chess for a while longer, and then branched out into other games once they pried Pansy from her book and ignored the slightly glassy look to her eyes. After that first incident, they kept carefully aware of Millicent's presence and made sure not to let their words slip. Finally, they arrived at Hogwarts, and though this time he had the Malfoy Manor to compare it to, and he didn't get the awe inspiring view from the lake like the first years, he still thought it was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen.

The rest of the night was fairly familiar. Harry found it easy to fall into his Hogwarts routine. Excitement buzzed around him and by the time they had passed through the archway with the password - Mordred - he was practically vibrating. The Manor was superb and he was so grateful for all they had done for them, but the common room and the dorms of Slytherin had been his first welcome home after Privet Drive. They held a special place in his heart. Taking a seat near the long, narrow windows looking out into the Black Lake, Harry peered out into the dark water. Every so often a flicker of silvery fish would dart by and he would smile.

"We should go over some spells!" Pansy dropped into a chair across from Harry, quickly followed by Draco, Blaise and Millicent. Harry wasn't sure what to think of the newest addition to their pack, but if she was fine by the rest of them, she was fine by him. Besides, she stood up for him. Kind of.

Millicent pulled out her wand, it was long and it was a light coloured wood, maybe birch, and knotted. It looked ancient and ominous. Harry found it suited her. She swirled her wand before pointing it up. "Verdimillius."

Green sparks shot out of the tip of her wand in a high arc before slowly falling back to the table where they fizzled out harmlessly. Blaise clapped politely before taking up his own wand. He tapped it against his chin, thinking.

"I know one." Pansy shifted excitedly in her chair. "My cousin from America taught me this one!" She brandished her wand and traced it in a circle. "Avis!"

A flock of blue and white twittering birds shot with a crack out of Pansy's wand and flew about in a circle over their table. Draco eyed it approvingly, nodding his head and looked to Pansy with a smile.

"That's a completely useless spell, you realize that?"

"Apparently there's a way to make them attack, I just don't know how." Pansy crossed her arms with a huff before drawing her wand again. "Finite." Pansy looked at Draco, annoyed. "Let's see you do something better, then."

Draco smirked haughtily and pushed up the sleeves of his robe. "Prepare to be wowed, Parkinson." Draco reached into his pockets and pulled out a box of chocolate frogs from his robe and set it on the table. Taking a deep breath, Draco help up his wand and shut his eyes, he swished and directed his wand at the box. "Depulso."

The box shook a moment before there was a sucking noise and pop and then it was gone. Pansy gaped and then looked at Draco. Then at the spot again. Her eyebrows did some spectacular aerobics moving up and down as she made a quiet wheezing noise before slumping back in her chair.

"Your turn, Harry."

Harry shifted uncomfortably. He still had years to catch up with his magic. True the others probably bent the rules living in all magic families, but that didn't seem fair to Harry. Not to mention he hadn't had that advantage. He tried to think of of spells he had seen over the summer, or ones he had read about. Most of them seemed mild in comparison. Or dangerous, in the case of the ones he had learned from the Duel.

Finally his mind settled on one and he pulled out a piece of parchment. Harry stared at it for a long moment before tapping against it with his wand. "Lapifors."

The parchment twitched and rustled. Slowly it folded itself up and after a long moment, turned white, then grew in size. Before long a full bodied, live rabbit was twitching it's nose at the five Slytherins.

Millicent applauded. "That's a very advanced spell, Harry. You've even given it a spot on it's back, look," she pointed at the rabbit, which hopped at the movement, "excellent work."

Harry cleared his throat and flushed a little at the praise. He had found it in an old spell book in the Malfoy library. It had seemed silly, but to learn it was advanced made his heart soar. He watched as his little creation hopped about on the table before moving to Blaise who offered it a Every Flavour Bean. As the rabbit ate it, Blaise tapped on the rabbit's back and seconds later it was parchment again.

"Well, I think that's enough excitement for me," Millicent announced, standing from the table. "I'll see you all at breakfast."

They bade her goodnight and Harry stood not long after. "I'm headed to bed too. Night."

Harry walked down to his dorm. Nott was already in bed, his curtains drawn, snoring loudly. Draco and Blaise's beds were obviously empty. Harry nodded to Crabbe, who was hunched over a parchment, scribbling away. Harry changed quickly and climbed into his bed. He placed his glasses aside and turned the sprocket on the lamp before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

The next morning came too early for most of the students, who were still on summer time and thus blinked and stumbled on their way to breakfast. Harry, on the other had, was wide awake and ready for the day.

He informed a still groggy Pansy and Draco that he'd be in the Great Hall, and made his way out the passageway. Before he could get far, he spotted Professor Snape standing in his office door. The man eyed him for a moment, eyes flickering up and down his body as though searching for something, and then invited him in with a side nod.

Harry followed him into the room, eyeing him with mixed trepidation and pleasure. He'd missed the sessions with the man during the summer, but he also knew why he was here. No doubt the professor wanted to know about the Dursleys.

His normal seat was arranged, minus the usual potions supplies, and Harry sat down at it, kicking his feet awkwardly. A cup of tea was set down in front of him, and after a cautious moment Harry took a sip. Chai tea, just like the last time the professor had wanted to deal with him relations.

Chai tea was beginning to be his least favorite.

Snape knelt down in front of him, gazing at his face as Harry sipped. The scrutiny was awkward as well, and the boy averted his eyes after a moment. "Thank you for the birthday present, sir." Harry finally said, if only to avoid the inevitable.

"You are welcome. I understand you've been practicing." Snape replied, still watching him closely.

Nodding, Harry gave a small smile. "Yes sir. You saw some of the results. Your analysis was helpful."

Instead of replying, one spidery hand crept up and pressed gently on the side of Harry's face, where the bruise had been. His grin slipped and transformed into a slight scowl. Clearly one of the Malfoys - probably Narcissa - had felt the need to inform him of the damage he'd taken. Before he could protest, the hand slid down with professional pressure, pressing down ever so slightly on Harry's ribs.

"I'm fine, sir." Harry finally said, voice flat. Snape's dark eyes darted up to meet his, and finally nodded and backed off.

Once the man was a good distance apart, he pointed to Harry's bag. "This Saturday, bring the book I sent you at the normal time. We will begin using potions from that, instead of letting you brew the curriculum ahead of time."

Harry's grin was just ever so slightly impish. "That's a bit of a disappointment, sir."

A level look was shot his way, and Harry clicked his mouth shut, but didn't stop grinning. "Alright, off with you, brat. I have classes to prepare for."

Harry made his way to the door, waving. "See you Wednesday, Professor." Snape grumbled at him as he slipped out the door.

The Great Hall was just beginning to fill up when Harry arrived, and even with his delay he still beat his friends there. They ate breakfast in relative silence, as neither Pansy nor Draco were especially morning people. The food seemed to transform them into human beings, however, and by the time the trio were heading off to Charms they were lively.

Before they made it, Lockhart seemed to appear out of the walls of the castle. "Harry, my boy! Could I have a word?"

Temptation to simply tell the man 'no' and walk off crept up in Harry, but finding out what he wanted seemed like the smarter move. "Alright," He agreed, traces of reluctance colouring his words. Draco glanced at him warily, but Pansy only had eyes for the professor.

"Excellent, excellent." Lockhart grabbed his arm and dragged him into a nearby classroom. Before they slipped through the door, Harry mouthed to Draco to inform Flitwick of the reason for his tardiness.

Once in, Lockhart eyed Harry with clear speculation, and Harry became faintly nervous. After all, he was in an abandoned room all alone with a man he didn't really know. But the man simply gave him the dazzling smile and opened his mouth. Any impressions Harry had that he was sinister vanished at that point. "You've been thinking about it, haven't you? One might say you've caught it, even."

Harry frowned at him. "Caught what, sir?"

"Why the fame bug, of course!" The look Lockhart gave him made it look like Harry was playing a very childish game. "That picture with me brought it out - it always does. It's my natural charisma, I'm sorry to say. Now, if you were a Gryffindor or some nonsense like that I'd have my worries that you'd do something stupid about it, but you're a Slytherin. You've got cunning. You even got a great start." He gestured to Harry's scar, and he had to fight the urge to cover it with his bangs. "All that business with You-Know-Who is a good place to begin. But if you want to go far, you're going to need guidance. A mentor, if you will. Someone who can raise you to the utmost potential. Some who has, say, won Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times running." Lockhart chuckled warmly, and Harry fought to keep from rolling his eyes.

Getting his reactions under control, Harry answered, "That's a very nice offer, sir. But I don't think I'll get much applause for failing Charms. If I could be going." Irritation rose further in him, and Harry could feel something in him hardening. This man was going to keep up this nonsense, wasn't he?

Lockhart nodded, like it had been his idea. "Wonderful, wonderful. Keeping other people expectations in mind already? I do have an eye for potential, don't I?"

No, we was not. Harry was going to have to deal with him.

Finally, Harry was released from the man's clutches, and as soon as he was out of view began running towards Charms, hoping he would make it and not have his association with the man become well known.

He wanted to keep as far from Lockhart from possible, so that no one would know it was him when he exposed him.

Luckily Harry made it to Charms right on time and slumped into his seat next to Draco. They had gone over the previous years spells and Professor Flitwick had collected their homework for the summer before launching into a new lesson; changing the proprieties of an object - size and colour, specifically. After Charms, Harry snarked at Draco about the thing with Lockhart and the two of them mocked him, ducking any time Pansy swung at them for berating Lockhart's name. She knew he was probably all hot air too, but there was some strange schoolgirl thrall that she had fallen under.

Harry didn't see it. Then again, Harry found most things girls did weird.

They made their way into the - hem hem - "Defense Against The Dark Arts" classroom in a pile of snickers. A few other students glanced their way and the three of them shared looks as they fell silent before cracking up again as they made their way towards the back of the room. They dropped into their respective seats at the desk and pulled out their quills and ink and set their wands aside. Aside from Ravenclaws, Slytherins were noted for their preparedness and scholarly leanings.

Lockhart was sweeping across the front of the class room, talking about a variety of stupid things. Harry groaned and rested his chin in his palm, watching Lockhart with a mixture of revulsion and amusement. Finally parchments were passed around and Harry sat up straighter and looked down at their assignment. His brows rose in abject horror. 54 in depth questions to Gilderoy Lockhart. What kind of questions were these? 27. What was the name of Lockhart's first pet Kneazle?

"Is he serious?" Draco asked, leaning over to look at Harry, who was still gaping at the page in shock.

"I... I guess." Harry's brow creased. "Maybe it's a test to see our information gathering techniques. A know your enemy kind of thing?"

"Then I'm telling you, I've failed this one." Draco looked over at Pansy who was hurriedly scribbling down her answers. "Hey, let me see your parchment."

Pansy smacked Draco's hand away, not even looking up or pausing in her writing. "Quiet! I'm almost done."

Draco shot Harry a look and the two of them shrugged. Draco spent his time answering the questions with the most sarcastic, rude answers he could come up with while Harry didn't even bother. Instead he drew a picture of a Flobberworm with an arrow pointing to it, naming said Flobberworm, Gilderoy.

"Time's up!" Lockhart collected the parchments with a flick of his wand and picked up a quill and garishly pink ink, before beginning to mark. As he moved through the work, his smile drooped further and further and at one point he actually scoffed and turned an interesting shade of red. "Well..." Lockhart announced, breaking the silence. "I am frightfully disappointed with the lot of you. Only two people here knew all the correct answers - Ms. Parkinson." Lockhart motioned to her and she bounced out of her seat and waved. "And..." Lockhart consulted his papers again, "a Mr. Zabini."

As one the class moved, turning, standing or stretching to look at Blaise, who groaned and sunk low into his seat, practically sliding onto the floor. Nott, who was sitting next to Blaise, prodded him with a laugh. Blaise smacked his hand away. "It's my mum," he practically screeched, "she's obsessed with him!"

Curiosity sated for the time being, most people returned to their seats without a fuss. Pansy, however, was watching as Blaise slumped against the window and kicked at Nott's stool with a viciousness, with hearts in her eyes. She sank down into her seat slowly, sighing happily.

"He's perfect."

Harry snorted. "Yeah, Lockhart's a real laugh."

Pansy looked over at Harry, her lips pursed. "You're just jealous. He's a heartthrob of so many witches - and a few wizards - but you're not."

"Well good," Harry snapped, kicking his feet on top of the desk with little care as he crossed his arms. "I don't want to be."

As Harry rocked his stool back on two legs, Pansy kicked at it, causing him to topple backwards onto the floor with a loud cry. Lying sprawled out on the floor, Harry stayed there, wondering if he could spent the rest of the class looking up at the ceiling. It was, in his mind, far more educational and interesting than Lockhart. Of course, Lockhart would have none of that and soon his face invaded Harry's view.

"Good lord, are you alright? You must be suffering from some severe inner ear trouble if sitting straight on a stool made you topple over, Mr. Potter. I can mend that right quick!"

"No!" Harry sat up sharply and pushed Lockhart away. "No, no. That's quite alright. I'm perfectly fine. Poor center of gravity you see. Sometimes I fall over when I'm standing. Nothing to worry about." Harry pushed at Lockhart lightly, feeling faintly pleased when his dust covered hands smudged over the cream coloured robes Lockhart was wearing. "On with the lesson," Harry gritted his teeth, "Professor."

Lockhart nodded. "Very well." Lockhart righted Harry's stool and dusted it off. He watched as Harry sat down and nodded, feeling satisfied. He made his way up to the front of the classroom. "In my book Holidays with Hags I aim to prove that the hag is not as horrible as she has been portrayed in the media. True, hags are a nasty piece of work and particularly ugly, and they do have a penchant for eating small children, my aim of the book was to show that a true relationship could be bridged between Hags and Wizarding kind. If you turn to page 17, you'll see that the first Hag that I spoke with - name withheld - explains her want to integrate quite eloquently."

Harry pulled out a quill as Lockhart droned on and on. Stupefy me now.

Draco took the parchment when it was slid over to him and his eyes slowly turned down to the page. He scribbled something down before sliding it back over. Harry grinned at the reply. We need to learn an untraceable muting jinx.

Harry was poised to write his reply when the bell sounded loudly. Standing in place, Harry shoved the parchment into his bag and watched as Pansy elbowed her way through a group of people to go talk to Blaise. He shook his head.

"Come on, let's get out of here before he corners me to start talking again."

They had almost made it out the door when Lockhart swooped in. "Ah, so glad I caught you, Harry. Remember what I was saying earlier, about mentoring. Well, I'm offering my services to you. Meet me here on Wednesday and we can -"

"I'm sorry sir, I have potions training on Wednesday."

Lockhart looked taken aback and his mouth twisted. "Very well. We will figure out a better time a week from today."

As soon as Lockhart released Harry one of Draco's hands clamped onto his arm and he was being dragged out of the classroom at a merciless pace that wasn't quite fast enough for Harry's liking.

Things quickly settled into the normal Hogwarts routine. Quidditch tryouts came and went, and Draco managed to get the chaser position on at least mostly his own merit - Flint no doubt still remembered what Draco had said to him on the train. But after his performance, no one could claim that he didn't have the talent to make it anyway.

Nott, however, did not make the beater position - likely, he just wasn't old enough to have the proper upper body strength for it, and didn't have the sort of teamwork the Weasley twins had to make up for it. He had spent the last two weeks sneering at the two of them, his expressions only getting worse with time. Instead the position had gone to Millicent Bulstrode, who had more than enough of any kind of strength. The fact that she was the first girl on the team in nearly a century meant that many of the female Slytherins seemed to now think much more highly of her, where before they had been dismissive of her based on her appearance.

Another problem was that a few days after tryouts, Harry came back to his dorm to find his things moved. It wasn't a lot - a cracked trunk and a few things twisted around - but it was enough to make him feel paranoia creeping up in him. Harry hadn't noticed anything missing, but he couldn't help the feeling that he was forgetting something.

But at the present moment, Harry didn't mind that. He was walking side by side with Draco as they made their way to the pitch, preparing for the first day of training for the two new recruits. Nott tagged along behind them, scuffing his feet and looking dark in general. He had taken to following the team around, as if simply seeing him all the time would make the team forget that he wasn't actually one of them. Harry and Draco had taken to ignoring him - when they did it seemed to minimize his bad mood and the likelihood that he would keep quiet.

When they arrived at the pitch, they found the Gryffindor team already set up. When their Captain, a fellow by the name of Wood, which Harry really only remembered because of the jokes people made, spotted them, his eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical anger. The rest of his team tensed, ready for a fight.

"We booked the field!" He cried, pointing at them. "I booked it!"

Flint's eyes were just a bit too pleased as he whipped out a note from his robe pockets. "I've got special permission from Snape. We've got to train up our new recruits, don't we?"

That got Wood's attention. "New recruits? Who, then?"

The sea of green parted to let Draco and Millicent through. There were murmurings among the Gryffindors, and a few distinct cries of 'bribery', but Draco was able to hold his head high. A shot of pride ran through Harry, and he grinned fiercely.

Harry noticed some movement at the base of the stands, and say Ron, Hermione and Neville slip out onto the field. He figured the redhead had probably come to support his brothers and feed his well known Quidditch addiction, and the other two had come for him. The latest Weasley student - a girl, but Harry had forgotten her name - was absent, but maybe she was more like her brother Percy and didn't approve of the sport.

"What're they doing here?" Ron asked. He nodded at Harry, but glared fiercely at the rest of the team like a pit bull defending it's territory. "More importantly, why is he doing here?" Harry resisted the urge to sigh. Really, was it too much to ask for them to get along?

Apparently so, because Draco couldn't resist rising to that bait. "I'm the new Chaser, Weasley. Or are the basic rules of Quidditch beyond you?" An elbow to the side shut him up, but by then everyone was on edge.

A snort from Hermione dragged everyone's attention to her. "Oh, please. I'm sure it was ever so difficult to get on this team. Two second years got on? I don't even follow the sport and to me that seems like anyone with half a brain could get on."

The entirety of the Slytherin Quidditch team, Harry included, bristled at her words, but none more than Nott, who surged forward angrily. "Like anyone cares what the Mudblood has to say! Go back to your filthy tower where you belong!"

Anxious hissing filled the field, as everyone reacted to Nott's words. Hermione went utterly white, and a few angry calls made their way out of the Gryffindor player's mouths. The twins made to pounce on Nott, and Flint took a few steps away from him, apparently taking on the policy of 'He's not on my team, he's not my problem.' Nott scrambled back and avoided being flattened, but still ended up staring down the business end of Ron's wand. From up close, Harry could tell the thing was ancient, and small fractures were running up it's sides.

Absolutely furious, Ron more snarled than spoke any sort of spell. "You'll pay for that!" Bubbled out of him, and he jerked his hand. Green colored magic coursed through it, and then lashed out in all directions. Only Ron was close enough to feel any effects, and he bent over at the stomach, an awful noise escaping from him.

A few members of the team laughed, but they quickly fell silent as Harry ran over to Ron, followed by a reluctant Draco. Nott took the opportunity to make his retreat, looking pale and even more furious than ever.

"Are you alright?" Neville asked the redhead softly, rubbing his back soothingly. Ron tried to answer, but when he opened his mouth a mouthful of slugs fell out.

Ignoring the disgusted sounds the other students were making, Harry slipped an arm under Ron, and was quickly joined by Neville. "Let's take him to Hagrid's - it's right over there." The two of them maneuvered Ron between them, trailed by a still shocked Hermione and a somewhat awkward looking Draco.

Flint smacked his broom into the palm of his hands, looking irritated. "Where do you think you're going?" He called.

Green eyes gazed back, clearly irritated. He stared for a moment, letting Flint make a decision. The boy had spent the entirety of last year calling him their 'secret, new weapon'. If he wanted to kick Harry of the team for this, then it was his own loss. And if he didn't get rid of Harry, he certainly couldn't knock off Draco. Finally the older boy growled, but nodded, and Harry turned his back on him and concentrated on getting to Hagrid's.

As they managed to get Ron into Hagrid's and get him bent over a bucket, Harry eased into a seat next to Neville. "I don't think we've been properly introduced." Harry offered his gloved hand. "Harry Potter."

Neville eyed Harry's hand and then looked to Harry's face. Slowly he rose his own hand and closed it around Harry's. "Neville Longbottom."

"Well, now that tha' 's settled, who was Ron tryin' ta curse?"

Harry frowned. "Nott. He..." Harry's mouth twisted up. "He called Hermione something."

"He called Granger a..." Draco hesitated a moment, his voice low. "A Mudblood."

Hermione twitched and her hands wrapped around the large mug of tea Hagrid had placed before her.

"He did no'." Hagrid gaped.

"What's a Mudblood?" Harry asked looking over the room at the solemn faces.

"It means dirtied blood, it's a really foul name for someone who has non-magic parents - like me."

Harry's mouth fell into an "o" and he looked at Draco, who was studying his feet. Draco finally looked up, His mouth was twisted up in thought. "Well... Nott doesn't speak for all of Slytherin. I may not like you very much, but you're a pretty damn good witch."

Hermione blinked at Draco before colour invaded her cheeks. "T-thank you, Malfoy."

Harry felt pride well up in his chest at Draco's actions. That had taken a lot of courage. And while Draco still had a ways to go, this was definitely on the right track. He bumped his shoulder against his friend's and Draco shot him a confused look, before smiling a little sheepishly and shoving him.

"Come off it, Potter."

"I'm proud of you."

"Shut up."

"Never!"

They traded a few light, smacking blows while Neville and Hermione exchanged looks and in the corner near the fire Ron turned green and vomited up slugs.

Harry gave a cry as he hit the floor, Draco kneeing him in the spine and tugging at his hair. He flailed his arm around before managing to slap Draco in the eye. Draco yelped and fell on the floor beside Harry. The two Slytherins stared up at the baffled faces of the other occupants of the hut and grinned.

"Well," Hagrid finally said. "Tell you wot. You lot have advanced Slytherin-Gryffindor relations pretty far forward. An' that's the truth."

Harry beamed upside down at Hagrid. He shifted a little before hitting Draco hard in the gut, giving a satisfied sigh at the groan of pain it earned him.

Pioneers of a new age.