Heylo all, I have returned from the dead! ::sweatdrop:: I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I just finished school, then was ill for three weeks, then had my computer crash and lose the chapter after I just wrote it and had not had a chance to save it, so it's taken me some time to get this chapter put together. ::sigh:: But I promise I will get the next chapter out sooner! Also, the song used in this chapter is "Counting on Me" by KoRn, and all my review replies are at the end of the chapter. (Lyrics)

Enjoy!

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Worse than expected, Ron and Hermione were awaiting Harry's arrival -outside- the common room in the hallway, much to an annoyed Fat Lady's displeasure.

As Harry and Draco came around the corner, his step faltered imperceptibly and he glanced briefly over at the blonde with a look that clearly said 'let's turn around'. However, the Slytherin shook his head in dissension and slowed so that he was walking behind him.

"Harry! What happened in Dumbledore's off- what is HE doing with you?" Ron said disdainfully, his ears beginning to turn red as he stared over his shoulder at Draco.

"Malfoy's the prefect on duty, he was walking with me from Dumbledore's office since it's after curfew," Harry replied coolly, not even registering how easy it was to lie to his supposed best friends. "Besides, why would I tell you two anything after I've been trying to get you to speak to me since we were in Diagon Alley? I got not a single word until something happened and you wanted to be privy to all the details."

"You made Hermione cry!"

"I only told her what she asked to hear and she couldn't handle it!"

Ron jabbed a finger in Draco's direction. "And what about you getting all friendly with -him- all of a sudden?"

"What about you two getting all overly friendly with each other?" Harry shot back, his precarious temper getting the better of him. "You accuse me of keeping secrets, so just when were you going to let me in on things everyone else in the Wizarding World but me already knew? Do you really think I'm that dense that I couldn't see anything?"

(Why can't you ever back down?)

(Why can't you just shut your face?)

(Oh god the feelings I feel)

(Would get me thrown in a cage)

(You're the one who's always screaming at me)

(I'm the one that keeps your lives so carefree)

(What the fuck more do you want me to be?)

(Why must you do this to me?)

(Run away, I can't see)

(Lead the way, make them pay)

Hermione was now as red as Ron was. "We were going to tell you, but ever since we came and got you from your relatives' house you've been in nothing but a foul mood, and the crap you've been pulling doesn't help much either."

"The crap -I've- been pulling? As far as I can tell, I have done NOTHING! You asked what was wrong and I told you exactly what you wanted to hear, but you can't handle it can you? You won't ever understand what it feels like-" Harry winced as a stabbing pain shot through his head.

Draco, who had been watching their tirade in growing disgust, stepped forward and finally spoke up as the Gryffindor visibly jerked. "Potter, are you all right?"

(Counting, on me)

(Always hoping I'll be)

(There for all of your problems)

(And in turn you're never there for me)

(You sucked the life out of me)

(You hate everything you see)

(I can't take this anymore)

(I always stay when I should leave)

(You see the pain in my face)

(While you keep putting me down)

(Inside the rage starts to build)

(You push me I won't go down)

"Don't you talk to Harry like you're his best mate or something," Ron retorted furiously, glancing over at the raven-haired teen.

"I've been a better friend to him than you two have for the past few weeks," Draco replied calmly before walking up and placing his uninjured hand on Harry's shoulder. "Come on, you should be getting sleep right now, not arguing with people who aren't worth wasting your breath over. Especially not with what happened earlier."

He gritted his teeth and massaged his temples. "Yeah, I know."

"What do you mean? What happened earlier?" Hermione asked curiously, her anger momentarily forgotten.

"Oh, bugger off Granger. Your only thought is 'Merlin forbid that anything keep our Golden Boy from continually saving our asses'," the Slytherin remarked scornfully.

She puffed up indignantly. "That is utter rubbish! Harry's my best friend! I don't know where -you- get off telling us what we think, you're just being chummy so you can take him to You-Know-Who!"

"Will you all just shut the fuck up?!" Harry exploded.

(You're the one who's always screaming at me)

(I'm the one that keeps your lives so carefree)

(What the fuck more do you want me to be?)

(Why must you do this to me?)

(Run away, I can't see)

(Lead the way, make them pay)

(You sucked the life out of me)

(You hate everything you see)

(I can't take this anymore)

(I always stay when I should leave)

The pain jabbed at him worse than before and he felt like he was going to pass out again.

All he wanted to do was go lay in his bed and sleep away everything that occurred over the past few hours...hell, maybe even everything that had occurred since the minute that he had been brought to the Wizarding world. Right about now, he really didn't give a damn anymore.

Draco's cool mask slipped to show his concern as the leaden tension beneath his hand suddenly dissolved into nothing. "All right, Potter, no more games. Give your portrait the password and go to bed, now," he commanded, steering him around his two friends with a push.

"What do you think you are? His keeper?"

He narrowed his silver eyes at Ron. "I'm saving your asses. Unless you two want to end up maimed like my wand hand-" he held up his bandaged limb, "- or worse, then I suggest you shut your fat mouth and get him to your dormitory."

The redhead looked fuming mad, but Hermione touched his arm in a placating gesture. "We may not know what happened in Dumbledore's office, but whatever it was has really got Harry upset. He's just not thinking rationally right now, Ron, let's just get him inside and he'll talk to us tomorrow when he's rested and ready," she reasoned.

"Yeah, well, he must've been driven stark nutters to trust this bloody wanker," he muttered darkly.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed in a scandalized tone of voice.

"I didn't expect much gratitude for my help, but honestly," Draco said amusedly.

Harry shot a glare of contempt at the two before turning his gaze back to the blonde. "It's okay, Malfoy, I can get on fine by myself from here," he smiled slightly. "Thanks...again, for everything."

"Not a problem," the Slytherin leaned in so Hermione and Ron couldn't hear him. "And don't forget what I said about the whole friend thing." He squeezed Harry's shoulder as a goodbye and walked back down the corridor.

(Could it really be the day, today?)

(Could this really make the problems go away?)

(I'm going to hurt just not in time)

(Right now)

(I take in all I can now)

(Right now)

(You've torn us all apart)

(Right now)

(There is nothing you can do to stop me)

(Right now)

Maybe he didn't want to forget -everything- about the Wizarding World when he went to sleep. The nicer, humbled Draco, who had somehow become his shoulder to lean on when he needed it, was making it a little bit easier to cope with his problems.

Harry gave the Fat Lady the password and climbed into the Gryffindor common room with Hermione and Ron at his heels.

"Now that the git's gone, are you finally going to talk to us?" Ron demanded.

"Talk to you about what? You're the one who stopped talking to me, just because I 'made Hermione cry'," he quoted shortly. "As I've already told you, neither of you can handle what I have to say, so why bother telling you if you're going to bitch or stop speaking to me all together?"

"Because we want to know."

Harry stared at Hermione incredulously. "That's it? You just want to know," he started chuckling. "You want to know what's going on so you're not left in the dark, that's the way it always is. Well you know what? I think I'm just going to leave you there, because it's none of your business."

"But how will we be able to help if we don't know?" she asked pleadingly.

"Help? So -now- you want to help," Harry laughed again. "That's rich. Where was this help when you came with the Order to get me from the Dursley's? The first chance you got to drop me, you did, but now we're back in school and the middle of the war and suddenly we're all chummy again! I think I'll pass."

"Harry! Wait!"

He ignored them both as he turned around and went up the staircase that led to the boys' dormitory. Kicking off his shoes, Harry didn't even bother to change out of his robes as he flopped onto his bed and shut his curtains with a flick of his wand.

(Counting, on me)

(Always hoping I'll be)

(There for all of your problems)

(And in turn you're never there for me)

(You sucked the life out of me)

(You hate everything you see)

(I can't take this anymore)

(I always stay when I should leave)

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Fun stuff, ne? Next chapter will be out soon!

Reviews:

Sheree: Who doesn't wanna kill Ron and Hermione? I make them rather mean in this story, so I wouldn't be surprised if many didn't like my versions of them. And more will be revealed on Draco's part, his change did not happen like that nor is it too drastic, he still retains many of his former traits. But, as Harry points out in this chapter, he can be nicer, and has definitely been humbled by what's happened around him. Doesn't make him too good, he just got knocked off his high horse, so he's still a rather Dark character, just as Harry is. :) I apologize for taking so long to update!

Ralna Malfoy: Heh, sorry it took so long to update! But yes, Harry little dream sequence is only the tip of the iceberg, the poor boy will be suffering quite horribly by the time I'm done with him. ::sweatdrop:: But yes, Ron and Hermione have gotten their just desserts, and will soon be getting more. :)

Signeus: I'm really sorry for taking so long, I hope this chapter makes up for it! And I promise to get the next chapter out sooner!

Daesereg: No, no, no, Harry burning Draco's hand has nothing to do with the protection Harry has from his mother, that is a completely different thing. What happened, was that Harry's rage made his magic go out of control, so when Draco touched him, the raw magic burned him. You're right, it is important, it's just not the protection thing, it's just Harry's anger.

Liber Creperum-Liber Diabolus: I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I promise to update sooner! :)

Feedback is much appreciated!