Harry shivered as he saw the approaching entryway, within a cave underneath the castle. An enormous statue of Cerberus, pet of Hades and guardian of the underworld, sat at the center of the waterway; its fangs were silver as were its claws, and its eyes were glowing with what seemed like diamonds shining from its inner depths.

"Wow…" Harry stared at the breathtaking statue in awe, and as he looked at it he could've sworn he saw the eyes on Cerberus blink for a millisecond. He shook his head and looked again and saw nothing else.

"Harry, pay attention." Draco Malfoy whispered to Harry as he tried to see if the dog would blink once again.

"Sorry…" Harry turned back to looking straight ahead of the small boat they were in. he sighed and had to admit this was taking way too long for such a distance. He looked at the other boy who was in their boat; he was dark skinned and had black hair pulled back in a small ponytail.

Harry coughed to get the boys attention and gasped as he saw the other side of his face.

"Scary isn't it?" the boy said, his face had a long scar stretching down from his eye to his jaw. His one eye was a white while the other was a deep chocolate brown. He smiled a grim smile, "Name's Blaise Zabini."

"Harry Potter," he extended a hand towards Zabini, expecting it to be shook.

"Don't shake hands with him, Harry, your father wouldn't like it." Draco said while looking at Zabini.

"And here I hoped Potter would be able to make his own decisions despite what his father would want." Zabini smirked and shook the offered hand, before Harry would consider pulling back his hand.

"My life is my own, not my father's." Harry said and smiled at Zabini.

Zabini returned the smile with a curious look, "I think we'll get along nicely, Potter."

"Harry," Harry smiled even wider, "Call me Harry."

Zabini smiled a small smile, "Ok then Harry, and call me Blaise."

"Of course, Blaise." Harry said smiling; he then turned to look at Draco. He was glaring fiercely at Blaise. Blaise realized this and was making an even bigger effort at making him annoyed.

Blaise, knowing he was the reason for Draco's annoyance, grabbed Harry's hand and lifted it to the scar on his face, "It didn't hurt. My mother gave it to me when she realized I was special."

Harry tilted his head curiously and looked at the scar with apprehension, "Special?"

"You'll find out soon," Blaise winked, "Draco did, and now look at him." Blaise smirked and looked over at Draco glaring at him.

Draco huffed and looked away from the duo, "Harry, you'll regret becoming a friend of his."

"Oh really?" Harry said dangerously low, "Will I regret becoming your friend too…?" he turned away to face Blaise and looked down at the water.

Draco quickly snapped his head to look at Harry, "Harry…" his face look hurt, "I-I didn't mean it like that, I ju-"

"Just what?" Harry said with venom, "Are you saying that I can't make friends, or is it I just have a bad taste for them?!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco snarled.

"You said I shouldn't be friends with him, are you saying that I have to have my approved by you?!" Harry turned towards him, his mystic greens eyes narrowed in warning.

"No!" Draco got closer to Harry and took one of his hands. At Harry's disgusted look he shushed him, "Let me speak. I grew up with Blaise, ok? I'm just making sure you know what you're getting yourself into." Draco lowered his eyes from Harry's, "I just want to make sure you won't get hurt."

Harry blinked. And again. "Oh." He said quietly, and then he smiled softly and lifted Draco's head up to look him in the eyes, "Thank you, but I need to learn who is a good friend and who will not."

Draco nodded his head, "Ok."

"As touching as this is," drawled Severus Snape from the dock where he was waiting, "we need you out of the boats. Now..." he turned and led the group of first years up the stairs, leading up to the Great Hall entrance.

Harry looked around and realized they were the last boat that still had students inside.

Blaise got up and out of the boat and extended a hand towards to Harry to help him out of the boat, "Here, my sister fell out of the boats her first year and was terribly embarrassed."

Harry laughed and took the offered hand, "Thanks, I would hate to fall into that nasty water!" he looked back at the water and shivered at the darkness it reflected from its inner nadir.

"And I would hate to see you wet," he laughed, "but then again, I think it would be cute seeing you look like a wet puppy with those big green eyes you have there." he smirked and pulled Harry out onto the dock.

Draco got out with smooth grace and grabbed Harry and pushed him towards the staircase where the others had gone so he could have a word with Blaise without Harry hearing.

"I'm watching you, Zabini," Draco Malfoy said in a threatening tone, "don't make him suffer."

Blaise smirked simply, "I think it's his decision, no?"

Draco ignored the tone of playfulness, "I don't care."

End Chapter V…

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