Chapter 7

A/N: I'm posting a One-shot along with this chapter called "Harry's 'Saving People' Thing." Harry overhears Snape asking Draco Malfoy if he's ready for the dark mark, but Draco doesn't seem happy about it. Can Harry save Draco from his father, and Voldemort? Pre-HBP

It's a Harry/Draco story. Take a look in my bio or on my Yahoo! Groups page to read it.

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Disclaimer: Harry & Co. belong to J.K. Rowling, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc, etc…

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We'd face the fighting with a smile - or so we said
If only we had known what danger lay ahead

Bryan Adams – Remembrance Day

The next evening Harry walked into the library, and saw that Malfoy was sitting the same spot over in the corner.

He walked over and Malfoy said, "Back again I see. Well since I can't seem to get rid of you, you may as well sit down."

Harry figured that from a Malfoy this was almost an invitation. He pulled out his books and stacked them on the table by his elbow. Starting with potions to get the worst over with he turned to the page that held tomorrow's potion. Frowning he tried to go through all the steps, making notes as he went on.

"That's wrong." He heard from across from him.

Looking up he asked, "What's wrong?"

Malfoy pointed at Harry's notes. "Here where you have the bicorn horn. You need to grate it directly into the potion after boiling for five minutes."

"But it doesn't say anything about grating it right in," said Harry confused.

"Right here in the book it says enter freshly ground powder counterclockwise around the outer edge of the cauldron, one turn. Honestly Potter, don't' you know anything?"

Harry looked up. "But how do you know…"

"It's a talent," said Malfoy, and smiled across the table. It was a genuine smile that very few people had seen. The dark corner they sat in seemed to brighten, and Harry couldn't help but smile right back.

"Thank you," he whispered. He looked down at his notes feeling himself blush. He wondered why Draco Malfoy of all people would cause this kind of reaction.

"Potter, I could help you with that," Malfoy offered, mentally cursing himself for suggesting such a thing. Especially for the Boy who Lived to Make His Life Miserable.

"Why?"

"Well, you clearly need the help, and you can help me with DADA in exchange."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You must be joking. You're one of the best students in our year. You don't need my help in anything."

Draco sat back in his chair surprised once more by this new Harry. He had been under the impression that Harry would Avada Kedavra himself before admitting Draco was good at anything.

"Why are you here?" he asked suddenly suspicious.

"I told you yesterday, I'm here to study."

"No, I mean why did you choose to sit here? To annoy me? There are a dozen other tables around you."

"Maybe I just like the company."

Draco stared and then snorted. "Yeah, right. Like I believe that Scarhead."

He found that Harry wasn't completely hopeless. He was smart, but he simply didn't understand the clues in the directions given, or why things like order or length of time mattered. He found himself going over the basics and Harry improved tremendously.

Draco thought that he was probably right when he said that Snape needed to go into more detail when he taught. His hand brushed Harry's when he went to point out a section in the Potions book, and a burst of heat ran through him. Ignoring the implications he simply went on to the next part of the potion.

Harry switched to his next assignment. The two of them had been leaning over the potions book for over an hour and his neck was starting to hurt. He had never spent so much time close to Malfoy without an argument before. It had almost been pleasant. The other boy had been patient when going over the information, despite the snide comments he had made. Harry thought Malfoy might simply be afraid of letting down his guard.

"Why do you have the first year, and second year charms books Potter? Going to rewrite all the essays you skipped so you can raise your grade?" he sneered.

"Actually I just wanted to refresh my memory on a few things."

Harry lowered his head back to his first year charms book. He was going to go through them in order, and hopefully they would help out with his private studying. He smiled a secret hidden smile.

Draco raised an eyebrow at the look on Harry's face and then turned back to his own books.

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Harry walked into the common room to find it empty except for a very upset Ron and Hermione.

"Harry, what am I doing wrong? This just isn't working, and Ron's not doing any better."

"Yeah, Mate I thought my head would explode after sitting there trying to medit for an hour. Plus my legs are completely numb. I mean I can't feel them at all. How can you stand sitting like that?"

"Meditate, Ron. You won't be able to manage it in just one day guys. Keep trying, and don't force it. Just relax and let the tranquility flow over you. Oh and Ron, just sit however you're most comfortable."

"Any information on that personal project you're working on?" Hermione hinted.

"Not much, although I'm making progress. The only thing I know for sure so far is that he isn't one of them…yet. He seemed upset when I hinted in that direction."

"Yet?"

"Yeah it looks like Malfoy's headed in that direction, and fast. Should we let him go, or try and get him to switch sides? He'd be a powerful ally if we could trust him."

"You've got to be kidding!" Ron shouted angrily. "There's no way he'd every join us. He wants to be You Know Who's little servant! And there's no way we could ever trust a Malfoy. They're all dark."

"I don't think he wants to, Ron. I think he feels there's no other option. We can give him other options." Harry didn't know why he felt so strongly about this, but he did. He couldn't bear to see Malfoy fall into Voldemort's hands.

"You can't possibly know that for sure, Harry. He's a very good at hiding his true feelings," said Hermione.

"How do you know that? Have you been staring at Malfoy?" asked Ron jealously, concerned that his girlfriend might like the Prince of Slytherin.

"Honestly, we've ALL been watching him, if you'll remember," Hermione rolled her eyes. "He goes through the day wearing that scornful look and cold eyes. He barely ever lets it drop, and that's only with people he trusts more than anyone, like Blaise and Pansy."

"Any ideas on what to do next?" asked Harry.

"Let's try to keep going the way we are, and see what happens. Harry if you can manage it, talk to him about Lucius and the Death Eaters."

Harry grinned, "'Lucius and the Death Eaters," sounds like a bad band name. I'll try but it won't be easy to get him to do it. I might end up with boils or purple hair."

"Better study up on protection charms then."

Harry laughed and went upstairs to bed.

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