Things had gone from bad to worse for Harry; no one would speak to him, everyone was talking about him, he didn't have any friends anymore, Draco was still being a prick to him and he now found out that his first challenge was a dragon. How the hell was he meant to fight a bloody dragon? Hogwarts was meant to be his home but this year he felt more alone than ever, he was miserable and he hated every second of school. The dreams at night weren't helping matters either, the same nightmare over and over again about Lord Voldemort and he was terrified that it wasn't just a dream but that something was being planned, some plot was being made against him. He knew he should have been thinking of a way to battle the dragon but in truth it was one of the last things on his mind; he found he couldn't stop thinking of Malfoy. Why would the other boy say he believed him but still make fun of him? He couldn't understand him and he didn't know what game he was playing but it was starting to get to him.

Black shoes stomped hard on the ground as he made his way through the corridor, it was free period so the place was packed and he struggled to get through the crowds of children gathered. Then he noticed them, people wearing badges that said 'Potter Stinks' and to be honest he wasn't surprised at this, he knew everyone hated him and he was sure something like this would happen sooner or later. Pushing through the crowd and ignoring their insults and nasty remarks he made his way into the courtyard, taking a quick glance around he saw Cedric and quickly made his way over to him.

"Can I have a word?" He asked moving his head over to side indicating he wanted to talk to the older boy in private.

Cedric obliged and the two walked away from the group of Hufflepuff's who were mocking Harry. "What's up?"

"Dragon's; that's the first challenge." Harry whispered making sure no one would hear them.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah they have one for each of us. I just thought you should know." Harry smiled fondly at the taller boy.

Before Harry could walk away Cedric leaned close to him and whispered in his ear. "Thanks for the tip. I'll try to get them to stop wearing the badges."

Harry just gave him a weak smile before heading in the opposite direction. He liked to treat people the way he wanted to be treated and he would like to think that if Cedric knew about the challenge that he would tell him. Little did he know someone was watching him with envious grey eyes, Draco sat in the large tree in the courtyard watching the younger boy walk around with a pathetic look on his upset face, he had seen him talk to Cedric and when that the Hufflepuff leaned into his ear he was suddenly filled with jealously, not that he would ever admit that or show it. He continued to watch the dark haired boy as he walked over to Ron and shoved him, the two obviously still fighting and he couldn't help but feel sorry for Harry, he knew he was obviously having a hard time and he wanted to go over and comfort him but he knew he couldn't; he had a reputation to live up to and that meant him being the nasty little shit he always had been.

Ron knocked hard into his shoulder as he stormed off; Harry had just had a go at him for not telling him about the dragons. He couldn't believe his so called best friend hadn't tipped him off and he was pissed off, probably the most angry he had ever been in his life. Letting out a long sigh he decided to make his way to the library and do some research on dragon's, maybe they had some sort of weakness he could focus on and that would help him get past the first challenge.

"Look, if it isn't little Potter. Why so tense?" Malfoy called from the tree he sat in. Harry stopped and turned to face the older boy who jumped elegantly down from the tree and swaggered towards him, his little gang right behind him, all of them wearing the Potter stinks badge apart from Draco. "My father and I have a bet, I don't think you'll last ten minutes in this contest but he thinks you won't last five." He and his friends all laughed cruelly at Harry.

Harry was furious. How dare this dickhead think he can get away with this? To tell him he believed him, to purposely flirt with him and then to try and humiliate him in front of his pathetic friends? Harry marched over to him and pushed Draco hard in the chest causing the blonde haired boy to stumble backwards.

"I don't give a damn about you and your fucking father Malfoy." He snarled as he pushed him hard again causing Draco to slip on the leaves beneath his feet and nearly fall. "He is cruel and you are just pathetic." He growled through gritted teeth before turning on his heels and stalking away.

"Pathetic? I'll show you pathetic!" Draco mumbled gruffly as he reached into his robe, pulling out his wand he pointed it at the Gryffindor's back.

"Oh no you don't." Before anyone knew what had happened Draco had been transformed into a white ferret and was being bounced off the ground roughly. Moody had seen him about to attack Harry and came to the boy's aid. A large circle had formed around the teacher and ferret, Harry right at the front laughing loudly as the ferret squeaked in protest as its back hit off the ground with a sickening thud. "I'll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned you coward." Moody shouted as he flicked his wand and the defenceless ferret went flying to the air and back to the ground once again.

Professor McGonagall had heard the commotion and came running over, her face dropped in horror as she saw the white ferret fall to the ground once again. "Professor Moody what are you doing?" She demanded.

"Teaching."

"Is that a pupil?" Her voice was high from shock. Pulling out her own wand she flicked her wrist and the ferret transformed into Draco once again.

His blonde hair was now a mess, sitting in every which way direction, his face was covered in dirt and his uniform was muddled. Standing up he looked around in shock, his grey eyes landing on Harry for a moment as the boy continued to laugh hysterically. Seeing Moody he slipped back and held onto the tree. "My father will hear about this." He threatened.

"Is that a threat?" Moody shouted before he limped after the terrified boy causing Draco to give a yelp of fear and run away as fast he could. After Moody received a firm talking to by McGonagall he turned to Harry and told him to follow him.


He was now a lot more confident in his ability to battle the dragon, Moody had given him some great tips and he was now sure he would be able to beat the dragon once he got his broom. He didn't even think that he would be allowed to use his broom but now he knew that it wasn't against the rules and he was a great flyer, hopefully it would work and he would pass the first challenge, if not, well he didn't want to think about that. Today had turned out better than he was expecting, he now knew what to do and he had seen Malfoy get what he deserved, a small smile took over his face he remembered his face when he was transformed back into himself, the older boy got what was coming to him and that made Harry very happy, especially because of how he had treated him.

Turning the corner of the corridor he was suddenly greeted by a very angry looking Draco. "Bet you thought that was funny Potter?" He barked as he marched over to the younger boy.

Harry felt his legs turn to jelly and his breath hitched in his throat. What was Malfoy doing around here? Even more surprising was that the older boy was by himself, he was never seen without his bodyguards. "Thought what was funny?" Harry licked his dry lips and tried to control his breathing.

"Oh don't play coy with me, I saw you laughing away when that nutter transformed me." He sneered stopping inches away from the smaller boy, their noses almost touching.

Harry had to fight the urge to burst into laughter, it was rather funny. Biting his bottom lip he stood to his full height, he wasn't going to back down. "That's because it was funny, couldn't have happened to a better person if you ask me."

"We'll see who's laughing in the end." Draco grabbed the other boy by his robe and pulled him forward so their noses were actually touching, they could feel each other's breath on their faces and suddenly the atmosphere changed. Grey eyes connected with grey neither boy looked away, their breathing was heavy and it was all they could hear. Licking the inside of his mouth Draco allowed the tiniest smile to play on his lips before he let go of Harry's robe and took a step back.

Harry swallowed hard, his heart was pounding so hard it actually hurt his chest and his stomach was summersaulting so much he felt as though he was going to be sick. "Why are you such a dick to me?" He whispered before he could stop himself.

That took Draco by surprise, the older boy's head flinched back and his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Harry pursed his lips, folding his arms over his chest he shrugged. "Why tell me you believe me about putting my name in the goblet but still try to humiliate me in front of everyone?"

Draco stuffed his hands inside his trouser pockets and looked down at the ground, he wasn't expecting this question and in truth he didn't have an answer for it. "I don't know." He mumbled looking down at his feet as he kicked one against the hard ground.

The two stood in silence, neither boy looking at the other. There was so much they wanted to say, so much they needed to say but they couldn't, they didn't know what the other was thinking and they knew it would be dangerous to say what they were feeling. Draco never realised that he was actually upsetting or annoying the other boy by the way he was acting, he was sure that Harry knew that's the way he was and didn't think any of it but obviously he was wrong. Harry couldn't understand Draco, as much as he tried to think of an explanation he just couldn't think of one that made sense and he just couldn't comprehend how someone can act so differently all of the time.

Realising there was nothing more to say Draco looked up and smiled at the younger boy, it was a soft smile, a genuine smile; something that Draco very rarely did. "Good luck in the tournament."

With that said he walked past the boy and around the corner out of sight. Harry let out a huff of breath he had been holding in and fell against the wall closest to him. He could no longer deny the fact he had feelings for Malfoy and if he wasn't mistaken he was sure that Malfoy had feelings for him as well.