A/N: I'm bad and I'm sorry, I brought extra cookies! Does that help? *waves a big basket of cookies*

I'm sorry for taking so long to post, my life currently has no routine, hence I am finding it difficult to make time to post (never mind write - so be glad this story is finished and not waiting to be written :P).

As usual I would like to thank all my very lovely reviewers, I hope you're enjoying your cookies!

Enjoy!

*** Chapter 6

Half way through the next week, Draco was surprised to be asked to stay after a Transfiguration lesson.

"Mr Malfoy, I've heard you've been tutoring Mr Potter quite successfully in Potions," Professor McGonagall noted pleasantly.

"Yes, Professor Snape asked me to help him."

"I've also noticed his manners improve."

"Did you have a specific request, professor?" Draco asked, his voice calm and polite.

"Not a request, Mr Malfoy as you would not be required to accept it. No, I merely wished to inquire how you have been making such good progress."

"We've been spending many hours studying, professor."

"So you have," She said thoughtfully. "He is smart if he applies himself, the right kind of help and encouragement does wonders for him. Wouldn't it be quite an achievement to be responsible for Harry Potter receiving an Outstanding in every subject? Imagine what it could do to that person's reputation..." She trailed off.

Draco clenched his hands into fists in annoyance. He had nearly laughed at her reference to the right kind of encouragement, wondering what she'd say if she knew his methods. But now he was angry. She'd said the only thing that would make him even consider what she was asking for. "Would that be all, professor?"

She could see the impact her words had and smiled kindly, yet knowingly. "Yes, Mr Malfoy, you may go now."

Draco didn't speak to Harry for two days.

"Malfoy!" Harry called after Draco, when he saw him on his own in a corridor probably on his way to his next lesson. "Damn it, Malfoy, stop!"

Draco swung around angrily. "What do you want?"

Harry was taken aback by the reaction and faltered. "I... You... why are you avoiding me? Did I do something?" He asked worriedly.

"Why does the world always revolve around you, Potter?"

"I did do something then..." Harry sighed and hung his head, unsure what it was he'd done. "Would it be enough if I said I was sorry?"

"Oh for Merlin's sake. You didn't do anything."

"Then why are you avoiding me?"

"Because your Head of House wants me to tutor you in every damn subject."

"Oh... really?"

"Yes, really," Draco hissed.

"And... uhm... will you?" Harry asked carefully.

"I don't bloody know!"

"Oh... right." Harry wasn't sure how to deal with Malfoy when he was angry but not at him. Yet, he knew that without their regular study session he'd be falling behind again in no time. "So... why might you not do it?"

"I've been spending every possible waking hour with you as it is Potter. I just got you to the point where we could have cut down on lessons so I can get on with my life. Now we're going to have the increase the lessons even more. You're behind in every subject. The sheer amount I would need to teach you...! It's mind boggling."

"I'm not really that bad."

"Then why aren't you achieving Exceed Expectation or at least Outstanding in every subject on your own?"

"I don't like studying. It's boring. It's..." Harry trailed off. He'd been about to say useless but remembered the last time he'd used that word around Malfoy and didn't particularly want to risk another punishment.

"You're just a lazy fool and I'm supposed to whip you into shape! Who am I? The world's whip master?"

Harry chuckled. "Possibly not far off."

"Oh shut up!"

Harry did, biting his lip as he went, worried at Draco's bad mood. "But I need you..." Harry said quietly.

Draco laughed. "You think you need me? All you want is more rewards, well you can't have them without the pain! Now leave me alone." Draco added before hurrying off.

Harry watched him go with a sinking heart. Draco's mood worried him and he knew that without his help he'd be back to square one in Potions in no time.

The days passed and even though Harry tried to talk to Draco he was rebuffed every time. He tried studying on his own but without someone to answer the questions he had it was no use.

He also spent a lot of time thinking about what Draco had said. Did he really want the rewards so much? What did it mean that he could only have them with the pain? Did Draco mean the punishments?

None of it made much sense to Harry but still he kept going over it wondering what it meant, trying to understand it all. In fact he had all weekend to try and work it out as Draco was ignoring him.

Yet by Monday morning he was more confused than ever. When it was time for potions class he did know however that if he didn't work with Malfoy there'd be hell to pay from Snape. So bracing himself for any reaction he carefully made his way to the blond, who was already readying his work station.

"What do you want, Potter?"

"I'm supposed to work with you. If I don't, Snape will crucify me," Harry said carefully, setting up his own instruments next to Draco's, ignoring the glare he received as best he could.

"You had better have prepared for this because if you mess up..."

"I did as much as I could on my own," Harry replied calmly, or as calmly as he could at least.

Draco sneered and turned away, ignoring Harry.

"What are you doing?" Draco yelped, half way through the lesson, jumping back from the bubbling cauldron and drawing his wand, quickly freezing the potion.

"I... but..." Harry stuttered in confusion. He done exactly what he was supposed to, he was certain of it.

"Potter!" Draco hissed angrily, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

"Mr Malfoy, what is the meaning of this?"

"I'm sorry, professor. My lessons must have been less memorable than I thought." Draco tried to explain, glaring at Harry all the while. "May I take, Potter outside for 2 minutes?"

"If that stops him doing more harm, go ahead," Snape commented, smirking at Harry as though he knew what was about to happen.

Draco grabbed Harry's wrist in a vice-like grip and dragged him out of the class room, ignoring the looks they were getting. Once outside he closed the door and cast a silencing charm. "Hold out your hands, palm up," he then commanded authoritatively.

Harry was about to protest but found his voice gone, due to the silencing charm. He glared at Draco but when he only got a raised eye brow he sighed. If he resisted, Draco would make it worse for him in the end so he resigned and lifted his hands.

Draco had meanwhile conjured a bamboo stick and used it to beat Harry's hands. He could see Harry screaming with every blow and yet no sounds could be heard, Draco was thankful for that. He knew if it came down to it Snape would back him up, yet he didn't actually want to have to explain his teaching methods.

When Harry had tears streaming down his face, Draco stopped, vanishing the stick. Then he covered the outside of Harry's hands with his own. "If you disappoint me you get punished. I am extremely disappointed right now. Not only did you not prepare yourself properly for class, you forgot two things I have spend hours teaching you. Not only how to peel and cut that bloody root but how volatile it is and how it needs to be added to any potion. We've discussed it on several different days. And you completely forgot; even after your error you couldn't figure out what was wrong and you couldn't react. I taught you how to stop a potion from exploding. You did nothing." Draco explained, trying to be calm and yet feeling his anger flaring.

Harry just hung his head, trying to stop his tears by blinking rapidly. His hands stung badly and if Draco didn't heal them he wasn't sure how he would do anything with them for hours. Yet, he still had no voice. He could neither defend himself nor beg for forgiveness.

"Tell me honestly did you prepare for this lesson?"

Harry nodded vigorously.

"One hour?"

Another vigorous nod.

"Three hours?"

Still a nod but less enthusiastic.

"Four hours?"

Harry hung his head.

"So you spend barely three hours preparing. If I do that it is plenty, if you do that it is nothing Harry. You're nowhere near proficient enough. Why didn't you spend more time on it?"

Harry opened his mouth but as no sound came out he closed it again.

"It's because I wasn't forcing you, isn't it?"

Harry shrugged.

"You're going to destroy my sanity one of these days." Draco sighed heavily. Then he let go of Harry's left hand and instead took out his wand again. A few waves later and the wounds on Harry's hands where healed. There was still some pain and his palms remained slightly pink. Harry knew it would serve as a reminder for what he'd done. Next, Draco waved his wand to dry away Harry's tears and make him look more presentable again. Then he gave him his voice back. "You will not tell a soul."

Harry shook his head.

"Good. Now we'll go back in and you'll focus on what you're doing, understood?"

Harry nodded.

Draco opened the door and shooed Harry back inside before following him to their workstation. Neither man spoke, even when Draco received an inquisitive eyebrow from Snape he said nothing. Draco noticed both Weasley and Granger looking at Harry worriedly, more so when he ignored them. But that was of no concern to him. Harry couldn't tell them what had taken place as he was still under a wizard's oath.

Draco smirked to himself, feeling pleased. He also had a feeling Harry wouldn't be messing up again so easily. And he was to be proven right as Harry made every effort to please Draco and not mess up again. He didn't even complain when he was charged with cleaning up their instruments while Draco finished the brewing. Having to salvage a nearly ruined potion took some effort and they both stayed long after the lesson was finished and every other student had left already. Draco had merely made a small request to Snape and been granted additional time to hand in the potion. Harry knew for certain the same exception would not have been made for anyone else.

Yet, it didn't matter, if only Draco stopped being mad at him. And there was only one way to find out if he still was, as they had exchanged no more than a few words regarding the potion since his punishment.

"Draco?" He asked carefully after their potion had been handed in and they were nearly finished cleaning.

"What?"

"I really am sorry. I tried, I honestly did but I need your help."

Draco remained silent looking at Harry curiously. "Can you accept the pain?"

Harry frowned at that question. Was he being given a chance?

"I have to be your tutor for Potions, I've no choice in that matter. If you truly want my help, you get it for every lesson. But... you have to be able to accept the pain."

"I... I'm not sure I understand."

"Then I guess you aren't ready." Draco made to turn away but was stopped by Harry's hand on his arm.

"Please, Draco."

Draco chuckled. "Begging?" He asked with a raised eye-brow and a smirk.

"Yes, if that's what it takes," Harry answered meekly.

"Fine. Meet me after dinner as usual."

Harry smiled in relief. "Thank you."

Draco sneered. "Don't be so hasty with thanking me. Just be there."

Wondering what Draco meant kept Harry busy for some time but he knew he'd be there in any case.