I do not own Harry Potter, sadly.

I have exams this week; I don't have one Friday, so hopefully I'll be able to write then! However, I may not be able to, because I'm moving, and my HP books might get packed DX Anyway, I wanted to get a chapter out, so here you go!

I'd like to thank Slytherin Princezz1992, Canadafangirl11, ambertink, and Lena Brown for favoriting; nativewonder, Shadow Stalker7, AlwaysLaughing1, tam418, Jasmine Indigo Sappihhra, potterjay99, Insane Worm, and writinchic for favoriting this story; potterjay99 for favoriting ME, and for the following reviewers:

shugocharxxx: I hope you like their progression! I didn't want them going too fast. I HATE stories where Ron is a git. Thank you!

Canadafangirl11: Thank you! Here's the next ^^

MirrorFlower and DarkWind: Thank you!

tam418: Thank you! Here ya go! ;)

potterjay99: Thank you!

Supernatural Princess14: Aw, you're welcome! Here you go!

Lena Brown: Hope this was quick enough for you! Thank you!

Read on, minions!

Harry, of course, got off—Dumbledore apparently showed up to help him. As the summer passed, the book lists for Hogwarts came—and so did a few other surprises.

Draco, Ron, and Hermione were made prefects. Mrs. Weasley immediately wanted to buy prizes for the three; for Ron, a Cleansweep, for Hermione, an owl (she desperately needed one), and for Draco, well, he wouldn't let her. He used the excuse, "I'm a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor."

In reality, it was because they had no money and he didn't want to seem like he relied on the Weasleys.

He watched Harry throughout the celebratory party. He looked upset, but he brightened when he was told his dad wasn't a prefect. Draco made the decision to buy Harry something; he needed cheering up.

He worried when Mad-Eye gave Harry a photograph and Harry paled. Harry was saved by Sirius, and dashed out of the room. Draco excused himself to Ron and Hermione (who Ron had told while Harry was at the Ministry) and quickly followed him to see Harry staring at his dead body and a sobbing Mrs. Weasley. Draco paled, and, shaking, muttered, "Riddikulus."

The Boggart disappeared, and Harry gave a start and turned to see Draco. "Malfoy?"

Mrs. Weasley looked up, and hiccupped. "Oh, thank you, Draco. I'm sorry, Harry—you must think I'm silly—"

"Don't be stupid. Go to bed," he smiled, gently taking her arm. Mrs. Wealsey smiled at the both of them, and she allowed Harry to lead her to her and Arthur's room. Draco watched them and made his way to their room, not in the mood to go back down to the party, and resolved to make breakfast by himself the next morning.

He had his eyes closed, trying to figure out what to do next, when Harry came in the room. "Why were you upstairs?"

He didn't open his eyes as he answered, "I noticed you looked distraught, so I wanted to make sure you didn't do anything foolish."

"Why haven't you gone back?"

"Why should I?"

"It's your party."

"It's only my party because of Mrs. Weasley. No one likes me here, except for a few people. I'd be shunned."

Harry grunted. "Thank you."

At this, Draco raised an eyebrow and opened his eyes to fully look at Harry. "For?"

"Getting rid of the Boggart."

"It's nothing. I care about her, too, you know."

Harry just nodded. Draco thought for a moment, and before he could stop himself, he found himself asking, "Do you want to help me make breakfast tomorrow?"

Harry looked at him, wariness in his eyes. After a couple moments, it went away, and he replied, "Sure. She needs a break."

HD

Draco and Harry traveled with Mrs. Weasley and Tonks (and Sirius in dog form) to King's Cross. The two had become much closer since the night of the party, much to Draco's happiness, and they were almost attached at the hip, much to the visible annoyance of Ginny. They played with Sirius while waiting for Mad-Eye with the luggage, Mr. Weasley with Ron and Hermione, and Lupin with Fred, George, and Ginny.

They all gave their goodbyes, and got on the train. Draco vaguely wondered what Crabbe and Goyle would be doing without him. He was sure they'd learned of his abandoning the Death Eaters. He watched as Sirius followed the train, watching Harry and he the entire time. Soon, though, he was gone as the train left the station. Hermione fretted about how Sirius should never have come, and Ron defended him. Everyone went their own ways, and Draco unwillingly left Harry to join the other prefects in the prefect carriage, and socialized with Ron and Hermione, trying to avoid a conversation with Pansy. The moment he could, Draco disappeared, wanting to get back to Harry.

As he was making his way through the train, he ran into Crabbe and Goyle and—"

"Nott?"

Theodore Nott, the stringiest Slytherin in his year, smirked at him. "Ah, Malfoy. Who'd have thought you'd have shown your face at Hogwarts this year?"

"Well, it is my school, thank you," Draco snarled. "Besides, wouldn't want to miss my chance being a prefect."

"Lovely," Nott sneered. "Well, seeing as how you left us, Crabbe and Goyle needed someone new, and I fit the description perfectly."

"I wasn't expecting them to want to come back to Hogwarts with me."

"Especially after you left the Dark Lord."

"I don't have time to deal with you lot, so if you'll excuse me—"

Goyle blocked the way, and Crabbe came up behind him. "Now, boys, do you want me to give you a detention?" Goyle looked unsure, but Crabbe just stalked closer and reached out at Draco.

"Stupefy!"

Draco leapt at Goyle so not to be crushed by Crabbe. Nott, furious, turned on Ron, who had his wand out and pointed at Crabbe, and Hermione, who coolly said, "Detention for the three of you. Come, Draco."

He gratefully followed the two, muttering a thanks. Hermione just smiled at him.

They arrived at the carriage, and Draco ignored the terrified look Long—Neville gave him. Harry looked at Ron, Hermione, then saw Draco. "Draco, what happened?"

Draco jumped. "Why? What's wrong?"

"You… You look terrified. You're unhealthily pale." Harry pulled Draco closer and made him sit down next to him. "Tell me. Now."

"Ran into Crabbe and Goyle. They're following Nott now, and are angry I left You-Know-Who." Draco realized he was shaking. "Pretty sure I wouldn't have made it to Hogwarts if Ron and Hermione hadn't shown up."

Hermione pulled Draco into a hug and just stroked his hair soothingly as Ron told Harry, "Don't worry, Mione gave the lot of them detention."

"What's life going to be like for you in the Slytherin common room?" Harry asked. "I mean, everyone in Slytherin knows you've abandoned your family now."

"Whoa, what?" Neville stared at Draco. "You're serious?"

Ron explained everything (except for the Harry bit) to Neville while Ginny came over and rested her hand on Draco's knee.

He was thankful for the girls' comfort, he really was, but he just wanted to be able to give Harry his gift.

Draco realized Harry had brought up a point that he hadn't thought about. What was he going to do when he was forced to live with the Slytherins? Almost all, if not all, supported and knew You-Know-Who was back, and that meant they would know that Draco had left the Malfoy family and the Dark Arts behind. This year looked like it was going to be hell.

He heard Ron's joke about Goyle writing lines, and started laughing, but was startled when he heard the blonde girl in the room. He had no idea who she was, but she really, really liked Ron's joke, apparently. He watched as Harry read The Quibbler, listened as Hermione dissed it and as the blonde girl revealed she was Luna Lovegood.

Too soon, it was time to change into their robes, and Draco took this opportunity to give Harry his gift. Pulling Harry into the corridor, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something tiny. He quickly cast Engorgio to reveal they were deep red dress robes with gold trim. "Consider them a very late birthday present. And to make up for the fact that you're not a Prefect," Draco said as he gave them to him.

Harry just stared at them in awe. "They're so high-end! Where did you get them?"

"Twilfitt and Tattings. Had to special-order them, since that's where my parents go," Draco replied, grinning. Thank god they turned out so well. "Well, go on, try them on."

Harry hurriedly put them on, and (thankfully) they were a perfect fit. "How'd you manage to get my size?"

"Stole your dress robes from last year and sent them. You have them, don't worry," Draco smirked. "Come on, we need to go actually get into our school robes. I need to patrol."

He was surprised by the hug Harry gave him. "Thanks, Draco."

"No problem," he smiled, hugging him back.

Making a promise to see each other before they went to dinner to Harry, Draco left to patrol with Ron and Hermione, chatting amicably.

"Harry has never hugged me. Ever," Ron was saying. Well, of course, that just put Draco on Cloud Nine, and telling Pansy off for being a bitch to a first-year. "Can I give a prefect detention?" he murmured to Hermione as the girl with a pug-nose stalked off.

"Wait until she does more," was her advice.

They managed to meet Harry just before the coach. Harry tried to get Ron to see the thestrals that were carrying the carriages, but Draco deduced Ron had never seen death.

"Shall we get in, then?" Ron asked, staring at Harry worriedly.

"Yeah. Yeah, go on…"

"It's all right," Luna reassured Harry. "You're not going mad or anything. I can see them, too."

"Can you?" Harry asked, relieved.

"Oh yes. I've been able to see them ever since my first day here. They've always pulled the carriages. Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am."

Seeing Harry wasn't happy by that last phrase, Draco murmured in his ear, "They appear to people who've seen death. You're sane, don't worry." He then proceeded to go into the carriage and gave Harry a hand in. The two then settled in and prepared for the ride.