Draco was late for Transfiguration. If Harry thought about it, Malfoy had been late quite frequently since the school year stared. Weird, seemed he was either creepy-punctual minding seconds or twenty minutes to half an hour late.

An idea popped inside of his head. Maybe he has a girlfriend or a boyfriend?... that's a good thing. Right? He didn't want to get in to why the thought didn't feel like a good thing.

When Malfoy finally entered the room McGonagall looked at him disapprovingly, but he just sat down without apologizing and she continued the lesson.

"Where have you been?" Harry leaned over and asked quietly as they were in the first row.

"I had something to take care of. What are we talking about?"

Harry raised his eyebrows at the abrupt subject change, but didn't press.

After the lesson ended they exited the classroom together walking behind Ron and Hermione. Malfoy was in a bad mood as he had missed the beginning of the lesson and Harry wasn't any good at explaining things even if he wasn't too horrible at doing them.

"Honestly, what's wrong with you today? You're acting like you just got dumped or something," Harry exclaimed hoping to discover whether that was what had happened.

At that proclamation Malfoy laughed a bitter, but amused laugh.

"Like there was anyone who would even be remotely acceptable in this school. Truly, Potter, how naive can you be?"

"Whatever." So he had been wrong.

At that moment another student was shoved in to Harry and he tripped, Malfoy tried to catch him, but some kid got in the way and Harry ended up falling and hitting his head on the wall.

Everything was dark he felt a cold stone ground and even colder wall behind him. His head hurt sharply, his palm felt bruised and his bottom didn't feel great either as he had landed on it. After his head subsided a little he sat up his back pushed against the cold stone wall trying to understand where he was. All he could hear was blood rushing through his body, ears seemed to be filled with wool.

He heard murmurs of distant voices and lifted his head turning in the direction he thought they came from. Suddenly there were voices all around but he couldn't understand what they were saying. He remembered his eyes and opened them, bright light blinding him for a moment. He pushed his face down and put it between his knees, concentrating on his breathing.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, after a moment to calm himself he lifted his head. Then everything felt like in fast forward. People moved further away and it became quieter.

It was Ron, Hermione standing looking worried behind him, and on the other side Malfoy was crouched down as well.

Their voices came in to focus with a blow.

"- you okay? Harry? Can you hear me? Harry?"

"Yes, yes. I am fine." Harry moved to get up, but Ron didn't lift his hand and Malfoy also pushed him against the wall. Harry's heart was beating fast.

"Your head is bleeding," Ron said hastily.

"Oh." Harry lifted his hand to touch his buzzing forehead, but bumped in to his nose. What? How did that get there? he felt slightly floating.

"Okay, that settles it – he is going to the hospital wing." Malfoy watched as the boy grinned dumbly at his hand that he was moving around in front of his face.

Somebody had thrown a stink bomb in a bunch of girls and they had fled from the stench like ants from fire. With the hallway so crowded it wasn't a big surprise that they knocked over other people. Then somebody fell on Harry who knocked his head pretty bad. Hermione had assured other students that they would take care of Harry and students reluctantly had returned to their amends. Ron had seen the stink-bomb-thrower and told Hermione who had sentenced him to detention.

Students were emptying the hallway and fleeing to the great hall for lunch. Everyone was staring at the three Gryffindors and Malfoy, most of them didn't stop but they seemed to whisper and already start gossiping about what had happened.

"Yes," Ron agreed harshly. "Harry, get up, mate." He took him by his arm and helped him up.

Harry felt the earth rock and shift beneath him as he rose, he stood still for a moment, but then Ron released his shoulder and stepped forward. Harry lifted his leg to follow, but the world turned and he couldn't sense where the ground was anymore. He threw his arms up in an effort to keep his balance, but it was already too late he was falling up or side-ways… why not down? Until Malfoy caught him and harshly pushed Harry the right way up.

"Wow! Magic!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

"Wow, Potter! You're nuts!" Malfoy answered in the same tone and with an exaggerated smile. But his hand was firm under Harry's arms.

"Malfoy! Be nice," Hermione said frowning.

"Why? It's true," Malfoy said, putting Harry's arm on his shoulders so it would be easier to hoist him on the way.

"That's not the point. Let's get him to the hospital wing in one piece," Hermione puffed and set off in the direction of the hospital wing.

Ron put aside thoughts of the lunch he was missing and followed Malfoy who was steering Harry in the right way.

They reached the hospital wing and Hermione opened the door, while Ron and Malfoy with combined efforts made Harry go inside. Dark-haired Gryffindor himself was distracted by any little thing – an owl flying by the windows, painting of an old man and even Malfoy's face and still blue hair, the latter had summoned a shove from the Slytherin because he found Harry's stare unnerving.

"Mr Malfoy! Why are you here again? I just saw you."

"Madam Pomfrey, Harry hit his head," Hermione intervened and turned the mediwitch's attention to the boy sitting on the bed, swinging his legs and humming.

"Mr Potter? Another head trauma? What happened?"

"Well - " Hermione started, but Harry's voice made her stop.

"What do you mean?" his voice was strained and his face was turned downwards, his hands in fists on his knees.

"I'm sorry?"

"Why was Malfoy here?"

"None of your business, Potter!"

Harry lifted his eyes sharply and looked at Malfoy with wide eyes.

"Calm down!" Madam Pomfrey ordered sternly.

"Malfoy! Quit bothering him!" Ron stepped forward.

"Really. Would it kill you to be nice once in a while?" Hermione asked irritated by his attitude. It was quite clear Harry liked Malfoy and sometimes for a second she thought Malfoy liked him too.

"That's it! Leave if you have no injuries," Madam Pomfrey said in a voice – calm, but which wouldn't tolerate any arguments.

Hermione and Ron tried to protest but Malfoy simply left the room and started towards the great hall.

Harry was left confused, in a fog of confusing facts. Malfoy hates me. Why? My head hurts. Why? My friends died? I just saw them? Sirius? Remus? Ron? Fred? Ginny? Hermione? He clenched his hands over his head in an effort to protect himself, but it was no use.

After what felt like hours of never ending confusing thoughts – they dissipated, the fog of not-understanding was gone in a blink.

He opened his eyes and looked at Madam Pomfrey.

"How are you feeling?"

"I… I'm fine." He let out a breath and relaxed his body.

"Please, try to protect your head from any further traumas. It can lead to permanent damage."

"Of course. Thank you." He got up and took a piece of chocolate from the smiling witch. He opened his mouth preparing to battle for the reason Malfoy had been here, but was stopped with a motion of the mediwitch's hand.

"As for Malfoy… he was here because of a curse."

"What?"

"Yes, and not only him, quite many students have come in with sprained ankles and that sort of things. Gashly business. I was wondering if you could put a word in against that sort of behaviour. It's unacceptable."

Harry stared, and there he had thought people had stopped, but apparently they just now were careful to not be seen by Harry.

"Potter? I have mentioned it to Minerva, but she is so busy, it would be great help."

"Of course. I will do what I can."

"Well then, thank you. But go if you want to catch the last minute of lunch."

Harry thanked her and left. He had hit his head and jumped right in to being the same confused thing he was after the confusion. That was bad. He had to be careful now. Those were the thoughts in the back of his mind, but the main part of his brain was trying to work out how to stop the violence against the Slytherins. And Malfoy. To be honest, he mainly thought about the blond – who was blue for the moment.

Why didn't he tell me? Doesn't he trust me?

Harry kept rethinking possible explanations and the next seemed to be more depressing than the previous one. He reached the hall, Ron and Hermione were still at the table, they greeted him happily. Harry sat down but couldn't make himself focus on whatever the other two were talking about.

"Why are people still fighting?" he finally asked tiredly.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at the sudden interruption.

"Well, Harry, this school is full of teenagers and children with little what to put energy in except for each other. So they just discharge on others, besides too many lost people during the war and now has issues that in my opinion are highly unaddressed."

"Oho, you actually gave me an answer."

"Of course, I'm glad you asked. I have been thinking, and actually I might have an idea…"

They talked some more and Harry left the great hall in much improved mood than when he had entered. What Hermione had suggested was an idea and not a horrible one, though it would require McGonagall's approval.

They hurried to the next classes and made it just in time. Harry slouched in his chair content with life, his eyes wondered around the class automatically.

"Where do you think is Malfoy?" he asked Ron as the Slytherin was absent.

"Mate. It's history of Magic." Red-head looked at him incredulous. "With Hufflepuffs."

"Oh." Harry flushed at the stupid question. "Right."

He was silent for the rest of the lesson.

"– Harry. Harry! What's with you lately?" Ron apparently had been trying to get his attention for some time. They were walking to their next lesson.

"Nothing. Sorry, I –"

"Nothing my ass! It's like sixth year all over again." He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to Harry. "You're obsessed with Malfoy! And I'm pretty sure it's not because he might be up to something."

"Don't be ridiculous," he said distracted by a blond head further down the hallway.

"You – don't lie to me!"

"I am not. I am not. Come-on, Ron," he said remembering that Malfoy had blue hair now.

"You're always looking in the Slytherins' direction. Even I have noticed!"

"I do not. Ron, come off it." He sighed and finally looked at his friend.

Ron shrugged, not understanding why Harry was so obviously lying but he decided to bug his fellow Gryffindor later.

They entered the common room and Harry immediately noticed a blue-haired Slytherin sitting in the Gryffindor's favourite chair. He looked focused and calm until a couple of eight years messing around almost knocked over his bottle of ink. Then he lashed out at them angrily and they hurriedly left the intimidating Slytherin's sight.

Harry approached and slouched down in a chair next to Malfoy's, Ron grumbled something under his breath, but followed his friend.

"Wanted something, Potter?"

"Well, you are sitting in my favourite chair."

He raised his eyebrows not lifting his eyes from the homework.

"Am I? I hadn't noticed, however, now when you mention it – it does have your Gryffindory stench all over it."

"No matter, it's ruined now anyways after your Slytheriny-highness has sat all over it."

At that Malfoy barely supressed a laugh, though a chuckle still escaped before he could get a grip. Harry gave a brilliant smile.

Malfoy sure looks stunning.

His smile froze.

Oh no. oh no, no. no, no, no, no, no… oh shit… - I have a crush on him.

Oh,

Shit.

His panicked gaze turned from the Slytherin, still smiling contently at his homework, to Hermione, her look was worried and she shifted when her eyes met Harry's panic-realization-horror look. Suddenly it felt like walls were closing in on him and, barely keeping his face in check, he got up hastily and left the common room as inconspicuously as possible.

Heading down the hallway he heard Artemis calling after him but he only waved his hand dismissingly not being able to collect his thoughts enough for a conversation.

It seemed he had two choices – tell Malfoy how he felt and have him hate him forever or never talk to him again or something even worse.

No. Better friends than rivals again.

The other choice was to ignore his feelings and hope they go away. That seems like a good idea, he decided.

In the next week and a half he made sure he was busy at all times – he did his homework till late hours, was first to come and last to leave Quidditch practices. At all times he tried to distract himself from the ache in his heart. He tried to hang with his friends as much as possible and tried to act normal around Malfoy.

In evenings he exhausted collapsed in his bed hoping to fall asleep right away. No such luck – he tossed and turned, thinking about Malfoy and his dammed face, cursed laugh and magnificent arse, how was it even humanly possible to look that good? He wanted to scratch his eyes out sometimes.

When he finally did fall asleep he was met by hordes of nightmares and soon startled awake again sweaty and panting, his brain full of accusing screams and faces.

In addition McGonagall had approved of Hermione's idea and now in every common room hung a poster announcing 'Duelling club' every Saturday. It wasn't mandatory, but most of the school had signed up as it was organised by eight years.

The idea was that the older students would help the younger ones and eight years would give tasks and in all monitor what was happening. And once a month there were going to be adventure games in teams from 4 – each needed to include students from all houses.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and a bunch of other eight years were in charge of all the students who had been divided in five groups. And one teacher and madam Pomfrey was to be available at all times.

First Saturday had went as good as expected, nobody killed or injured anyone. That was thanks to the very harsh suspension rules and also because at least three professors were watching everyone like hawks at all times. It had felt horribly tense and strained.

The great hall had been transformed for this purpose and all the tables were gone. People had been divided in pairs not by their houses but still minding their ages. It had been a huge work and Harry didn't appreciate the many annoyed people coming up to him and trying to change partners as theirs weren't to their taste.

Harry spent the whole day running around and correcting other people's spells and moves. He was surprised himself how easy it was to show how to do things the right way even if he couldn't for the love of it explain the basis of that spell. Hermione called it his natural instinct.

Despite having breaks for lunch and dinner, Harry felt like he had been in a nonstop duel all day. And, oh Merlin, was he exhausted.

Harry being one of the main organizers of the DC, and him being the Quidditch captain, led to him barely getting enough sleep to function properly and he seemed to show up for breakfast later and later with every day. But on the upper hand he was so exhausted that he actually did fall asleep right after closing his eyes, sometimes not in his bed.

Hoi, sorry for the wait

I somehow didn't save the changes and had to re write about a half of it. And the good parts too. Oh well my own fault. Anyways hope you enjoy this one.

Have a great day

R