Really sorry for the major delay on this, but I can't control when my inspiration hits. And of course, I got it at like one in the morning. While I was trying to sleep. So all day, I've been itching to finally write it. So here we go!

Draco sat on a window ledge in the owlry, staring over the grounds. A light snow had begun to fall and was slowly coating the ground. Draco had been here all day, watching students go to and from Hogsmeade. He didn't feel like going, but he didn't feel like sitting in the Slytherin common room either.

He took a bite of his apple and watched as the snow began to fall harder. Owls ruffled their feathers all around him, creating soft noises. In a way, it was peaceful. He had been at Hogwarts for about two months now. He had never left the castle except for Care of Magical Creatures Class. For some reason, he felt safer in the halls at Hogwarts. He constantly felt as if danger was waiting for him in the outside world. For all he cared, he would never have to leave the castle again. He could be the potions professor until he died. It sounded perfect to Draco.

Draco didn't talk to anyone much but Blaise. But he didn't even talk to him much either. He preferred to be alone. Always alone.

His own owl had abandoned him for its nest a couple hours ago. It had sat with him when he first got there until it had grown bored. It was probably beyond bored sitting in the owlry all day. It's not like Draco ever got any mail. Or sent it.

He heard a flutter of wings as a snowy white owl landed next to him on the ledge. Draco looked down at it.

"Hello there, Hedwig," Draco murmured, offering her a piece of his apple, which she took happily.

He took another bite, and they sat together in silence for a while. She nipped at the hand the held the apple gently, signally she wanted more. Draco laughed quietly and handed her another piece.

"She likes you," someone said, making Draco jump.

Draco turned his head to see Harry standing there, a small smile on his face.

"How long have you been there?" Draco demanded.

"Just a couple minutes."

"Why aren't you with Weasel and Granger at Hogsmeade?"

Ignoring the names, Harry said, "Why aren't you at Hogsmeade?"

"I asked you first," Draco grumbled, turning away from Harry and taking another bite of his apple.

Harry walked over to the ledge and sat. Hedwig remained between the two boys, still wanting more apple. Draco gave her another bite. The two boys sat in silence for a few moments, before Harry broke it.

"Game tomorrow for you, right?" he asked, looking at Draco.

Draco hesitated before nodding. "Against Ravenclaw," he added after a moment.

Harry nodded. "Should be a good game."

Draco shrugged, taking another bite of his apple.

"How...how are you doing?" Harry asked, petting Hedwig, but keeping his eyes on Draco.

Draco rose an eyebrow at him. "Why do you care?"

"Well... I saw you that day on the train...you looked, well...miserable. And I saw the newspaper...and...and...and, well-"

"You never were very good with words," Draco muttered, rolled his eyes, and took another bite of his apple.

"I'm trying to be nice!" Harry exclaimed.

"I know," Draco said after a moment. "But I don't need your sympathy, okay?"

"It's just-"

"I get it, Potter. I really do. Helping people is like second nature to you. But sometimes, you need to understand that not everyone wants to be helped."

Harry was quiet for a few minutes, watching Draco as he stared out across the grounds again, his gray eyes matching the color of the sky.

"Sometimes..." Harry began. "People don't realize they need help."

Draco's icy eyes were on him instantly. "I don't need help, Potter! Especially from you."

Draco set the apple core on the ledge for Hedwig to finish and stood. He straightened his robes and prepared to walk away, but Harry wasn't done.

"Draco, wait!" Harry exclaimed hopping to his feet and blocking the door.

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "It's Malfoy, to you, Potter. Now, move out of the way."

"I thought you didn't want to be a Malfoy anymore?" Harry asked. "That's why I called you Draco."

"I can't control what my name is," Draco snapped. "Now, will you and your big head move out of my way?"

"No!" Harry exclaimed. "Not until we talk."

"About what?" Draco cried, becoming very frustrated.

"I want to know what really happened."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, taking a couple steps back.

"I want to know what happened between you, your father, and Voldemort. I want to know-"

"It's none of your business!" Draco snapped.

"Listen, Draco," Harry said softly. "Everyone knows you have the dark mark. Everyone knows that your father followed Voldemort from the very beginning. And everyone knows that Voldemort favored you, and asked you to kill Dumbledore. Everyone knows. What I want to know, is why didn't you kill Dumbledore? Why didn't you fight on Voldemort's side during the battle? What made you change sides?"

"You don't get it, do you?" Draco exclaimed. "I was never on Voldemort's side! I've been protecting you ever since you denied my friendship on the train first year!"

"Protecting me? How the hell does bullying me protect me?"

"My first mission wasn't to kill Dumbledore, Harry. It was to become friends with you."

"I...I don't understand."

"Right before we started our first year, my father told me I must become friends with Harry Potter. I didn't understand at first. Then I heard him and my mother talking. If you and I were to become friends, Harry, I would have been Voldemort's one way ticket straight to you. You would have trusted me."

"You mean...you acted like...like you hated me, on purpose?" Harry asked, eyes wide.

"There were times where I thought I might hate you," Draco admitted. "But then I realized I didn't hate you, just envied you."

"You? Envy me?" Harry couldn't stop himself from laughing slightly. "How? Why? You got everything you could ask for, had both of your parents-"

"You mean the woman who was never around and the father who followed Voldemort? Yeah, sounds like the perfect parents to me. At least you had friends who cared about you. At least you, were happy."

"What about Crabbe and Goyle?" Harry asked weakly.

Draco snorted and rolled his eyes. "Those two brick heads? Yeah, right. They were merely company. Their father's were friend's with my father. We had known each other forever, but we were never truly friends. We never did anything for each other or ever actually trusted each other."

"What about Pansy? You dated her, right?"

"It was arranged by our parents," Draco said. "Both our families were pureblood. Our fathers agreed that we were perfect for each other. We were to be married once Voldemort had risen to full power. But neither of us wanted it. Sure, Pansy and I were definitely close. But she will never have been more than a friend to me."

Harry stared at him.

"Now, will you let me go?" Draco demanded, eyes narrowed.

"I...I didn't know-"

"You weren't supposed to. That would have ruined everything, now wouldn't it? If you knew I was faking the whole time, you might have actually tired to be my friend, and everything today would be different. You would probably be dead, and Voldemort would be in power."

"We might have been friends," Harry said, turning as Draco pushed past him and started to head down the stairs.

Harry followed him. "Draco, wait!"

"What now, Potter?" Draco snapped, rounding on him.

"What about now?" Harry asked, standing in front of him.

"What do you mean?"

"Could we...ever be friends... now?"

"I don't think Granger and Weasel would approve," Draco said, looking past Harry.

Harry turned to see Hermione and Ron making their way towards them. Ron was glaring at Draco. Hermione looked confused.

"I don't care-" Harry began, turning back to Draco only to see him walking away in the opposite direction.

phew. well, interesting chapter, eh? I hope you liked it :) and yes, I know that technically, Hedwig died, but not in my story! sooo yeahh! Review and you get a cookie :) ...or redvines...(Tori) :)