I know a lot of people are mad because of what happened in the last chapter, but my philosophy is that spice makes the dish, so plot twists must make for an interesting story, right? Well anyway, I hope you enjoy this update!

It had been a week since Elena had been attacked, so much had happened since then. Elena had started hanging out by the black lake, Harry went with her most of the time, and he and Luna were the only one of her old friends still talking to her. Elena couldn't stand the girls that were in her dorm, they were just so vapid and cruel, so she had been taking refuge in the Room of Requirement. No one knew she had been doing this; in fact, it was as if she didn't even exist. She avoided going to meals, and the common room, and she even avoided the library. Before the year had started, Elena had made a list of things she had wanted to accomplish, things that might help them in the future. She didn't care that they weren't talking to her; she'd try and help her friends win the war no matter what.

She had already started working on a few of the things that were on her list, using the Room of Requirement as her refuge. She knew that people were talking; she knew that they had noticed her absence, but she couldn't be bothered to care. She had become a shell of old self, a much damaged shell.

Elena had been avoiding Blaise and Draco, playing it off as if she's too busy with school work. They seemed to accept the answers she threw their way. She was content for now, she had her best friend, and she had a goal. What more would she need?

Elena had been so deep in thought, splayed out under the willow tree by the lake, that she didn't notice when Harry joined her. He sat with his back against the base of the tree, and pulled her frame against his. Elena let out a sigh as he started playing with her hair.

"It's okay. You don't have to worry. After all, I'm here for you" Harry gave Elena a dazzling smile, hoping to quell the tears that were forming in her eyes. Elena nodded to show that she had been listening to him.

"You do that a lot these days, cry I mean." He let out a nervous chuckle; he didn't like it when girls cried. Elena sniffed and cocked her head thoughtfully, before deciding on a response.

"Well, wouldn't you? I had been lied to for most of my life, and my friends aren't my friends anymore. I don't know what to do with myself but cry."

"Elena, where have you been? I don't see you at meals anymore. You're looking so thin. You look like you might break in half if I accidentally jostle you. You haven't been in the library either."

"I've been spending some time in the Room of Requirement; I can't be in my dorm. I can't stand the people."

"You mean you haven't been sleeping in the Slytherin dorms?"

"It's not like I can sleep anyway."

"What they did was awful, they know it too. They haven't said they regret it, but after I told McGonagall it was them, I'd be surprised if they ever see the light of day."

"They shouldn't. I thought they were my friends. It trusted them and they…They broke me; broke me as if I was a porcelain doll."

"You're anything but fragile, Elena. In fact, you're stronger than most people; probably even stronger than me. You have a lot to deal with; a lot of things have been dumped onto your shoulders. I have your back, I know you're "fine" but I want you to be more than that. I want you to be happy."

Elena leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek, holding him close to her. She had never had a friend so close to her heart.

"You're a good friend, Harry. And I want to repay you."

The pair was broken apart by a rustling in the bushed behind them. Elena grabbed her wand, and Harry stepped in front of her trying to protect her from any possible danger.

"Relax, it's only me."

Draco, rough and rumpled, emerged from the bushes with a scowl on his face.

"Potter, I wish to speak to Elena alone" After seeing the look on Elena's face at his rudeness, he added a gruff please. It was evident that Harry didn't want to leave Elena alone with Draco, but he went anyway; Draco didn't like the way Harry's hand lingered on Elena's, only dropping it when he was too far away to hold onto her delicate hand any longer. All the while, Harry's gaze didn't leave Elena's tumultuous, enrapturing eyes. Draco couldn't stand the look he was giving her, it physically pained him. It was apologetic, possessive, caring, and worse, lustful. Draco didn't understand how someone could convey all of those emotions into a single, searing gaze. Yet Harry's emerald eyes were incandescent, heavy with such emotions. Draco couldn't take it any longer, seeing them stare at each other, so he grabbed Elena's arm and led her closer to the lake.

"Pansy told me you haven't been sleeping in the Girls dorm. You don't come to meals. You don't go to the library anymore, and you hardly even raise your hand in class! What's gotten into you? What's wrong Elena?"

"Nothing Draco, I've just found somewhere else to sleep, eat and study."

"You mean like Potters bed?" Draco regretted it as soon as he had said it, but he was just to overcome with anger to voice his regret, so he kept his gaze hard.

"And I was just starting to trust you… maybe even like you. Well, when I've lost almost everyone I love, what's one more?" With that, Elena stalked away leaving a dumbfounded Draco. He felt the overwhelming urge to run after her, to apologize and explain himself; but frankly, he's not even sure why he did it. He turned to run after Elena, but was instead treated with a view of Elena with her arms wrapped tightly around Harry, with her face buried into his chest.

'I just can't win with her can I, but I need to do something to get her back on my good side. I'd do anything at all to make her my friend again, not that I even care."