A/N: I just realized I haven't included Sirius in the story, but I did make a small mention in one of the chapters about Sirius lying low, at least I thought I did. I can't find it now. Anyway, Sirius had to go into hiding to ensure his safety, so that's why he wasn't there and Mundungus was able to steal artifacts, and why Remus gave Harry pictures and some of his possessions. Also, Harry is Kreacher's master since Sirius left. Sorry, I hope that clears things up.

Also, I'd appreciate feedback and observations. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Also, please review if you are reading this story. Reviews warm my heart and inspire me to write and update. Reviewer Aiiimy, you made me glow. It really made me happy. Please continue to review!

Chapter Ten: Opposites Attract

Two weeks later, Monday morning found Harry sitting down to breakfast and seeing Ginny and Neville sitting together. He thought nothing of this until he saw how they looked at each other.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Are congratulations in order?"

Ginny blushed and Neville grinned at him, then her, his grin becoming sappy.

Harry laughed. "Congratulations, then. I wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks, Harry." Neville turned his smile on him once more.

Ginny smiled and nodded her agreement, then added, "Don't worry, Harry, I'm sure there'll be someone for you too."

Harry frowned. He couldn't quite tell if she meant it or was trying to hurt him. But no, she wouldn't hurt him, and he regretted his even thinking it was a possibility. "Thank you."

Potions class did not go well, as he felt uncertain and lonely.

"What's wrong, Potter? You're not up to par," Draco's voice was quiet.

"I'm not sure," he lied, whispering. "Sorry."

"If you don't feel well you should go to see Madame Pomfrey."

"No, I'm fine."

"Alright, if you say so. But if you continue to feel off do something about it."

"Of course." Harry's lips quirked ever so slightly. Then he felt Ron's eyes on him, and he purposely dropped too much fairy dust into the cauldron, causing the potion to congeal.

"Ugh, Potter! Can't you do anything right?" Draco exclaimed, curling his lip.

Slughorn hurried over. "What happened here, boys?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak but Draco interrupted, "Potter here messed up again. He can't seem to do anything right," he sneered. "Like he got Cedric killed in the Triwizard Tournament."

Harry was sincerely hurt and slightly angry. "Oh, but your father was arrested, wasn't he, just a few months ago?"

"Shut your mouth," Draco snarled.

"How eloquent, Malfoy."

"That's enough! Detention, the both of you! Tonight, after dinner."

The boys glared at each other.

It wasn't long until class was over and they parted, after agreeing under the guise of whispered volleys, to meet during their free period.

That night they reported to Slughorn's office.

"You will clean the cauldrons, tables, and the floor without wands. Give them to me." The professor held out his hand.

Harry handed his over, but Draco gasped and glared at the man, gripping his tightly.

"Now."

With a growl, Draco thrust his wand into Slughorn's hand.

"After you are finished, come to me." Slughorn left them standing there.

Draco's eyes blazed. "This is work for house-elves!"

"Shut it." Harry growled. "Stop being such a spoiled ponce. I thought you'd grown up." He strode over to the door, pulled it open and headed for the classroom.

Draco glared but his anger melted away to abasement. "Yeah." He walked after the other boy.

"What you said about Cedric really did hurt." They were in the classroom now, facing each other.

"I'm sorry. I did have to make it look realistic though."

"I know," Harry nodded. "But it still hurt."

"Toughen up! You're supposed to be the Boy-Who-Lived, and the Chosen One. You've faced the Dark Lord and survived."

Harry scoffed. "Mostly through luck and speed."

Draco shook his head then picked up a sponge. "What'm I supposed to do?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "This." He took the other sponge and dunked it into the bucket filled with soapy water and wrung it out a bit then moved it across the table up and down.

"What? This is so simple."

"Isn't that good?"

"Yes, but aren't there better ways?"

"Muggles don't have magic. They have to make do."

"Thank Merlin I'm not a Muggle." He shuddered. "Or a Squib."

"Think how Filch must feel."

Draco looked at Harry incredulously. "Filch? Why do you care?"

Harry shrugged. "He has to do this all of the time. And he knows about magic. That's even worse than being a Muggle- knowing about all this but not being able to do magic or really be part of this world. No wonder he seems to hate students so much."

"Seems to?"

Harry folded his arms. "Don't you have any sympathy?"

Draco seemed to shrink a little. "Well, uh, I... Yeah, I s'pose."

Harry huffed in amusement at seeing Draco stammer. "Back to work."

They worked together in silence for a while before Draco spoke. "How do you deal with this every summer?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm used to it, and it's not so horrible after you get used to it."

They fell into silence again until they were done approximately forty-five minutes later.

After they fetched Slughorn he inspected the room.

"Well done. Just one last thing. Label and sort those potions." He gestured to the storeroom. "Use the books for reference if needed."

Draco burst out, "Why? Surely you know all of them, sir?"

"Certainly. However, it makes it quicker having them labeled and sorted. Also, some of them are for Madame Pomfrey." He looked at the blonde coolly before retreating to his office once more.

"I really think you shouldn't antagonize him," Harry said quietly.

"I'm not!"

"I thought you were supposed to be a Slytherin," he scoffed. "Controlled, refined. Clever."

Draco seemed to pout moodily before striding over to the door and entering the storeroom.

There were many vials on the tables, and Draco groaned.

Harry sighed in resignation and opened the rather large Potions tome and took some purple vials. "Alright. This is the Draught of Enlightenment. Hm. Sounds interesting. I quote, 'This potion is used to enlighten the user to what is within, makes them see. It shows inner truths.' Hmm..."

"Let's try it!"

"No, we shouldn't."

"Golden Boy. Loosen up! Sounds quite useful."

"It could have unexpected results. We could learn some odd things, or be taken by surprise."

"I don't care."

"Really, Draco. You're not being the Slytherin." He smirked. "Why such interest anyway?"

"I want to see myself, I want to know myself completely. I want to see what I can do, my potential... And if I'm filthy on the inside."

Harry frowned at that last part. He sighed. Fine, Draco needed to stop thinking he was tainted. "Fine. Later." He set one of the vials down, separate from all the others.

Draco smirked in triumph and Harry rolled his eyes, then returned to labeling and sorting with Draco's help. There were the usual potions like Pepper-Up, Dreamless Sleep, Skele-Gro, among others, with rarer ones like Elixir of Euphoria and Felix Felicis and rather strong pain potions that were powerful enough to alleviate the pain of the Cruciatus. And there were nerve-restoring potions.

"I wouldn't have expected some of those potions." Draco stared at the vials.

"Me either."

Then a sly smile crept onto Draco's face, and Harry felt apprehensive. What's Draco thinking now? Not another idea to do with those potions?

"Why don't we try some of those? Elixir of Euphoria for instance."

"What? No."

"We'll both need them. Me after my meetings and raids... You after your dreams..."

Harry hadn't told him that his dreams had stopped. "Well... That is true." He deliberated. "But stealing?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Come on, Harry. You don't have a problem drinking at school."

"That's different. I bought the Firewhisky."

"Let's just take some and we'll brew some more."

Harry sighed in exasperation. "Oh, alright. Fine."

Draco grinned and pocketed four, then gave four to Harry, who slowly pocketed them.

"Now, the Draught of Enlightenment!" Draco swiftly took the vial and swallowed it, closing his eyes. After a bit, he opened them. "Wow..." He breathed. "I feel much more aware and alert, and I can feel my magic more deeply, like I've tapped into its full potential. I also feel a lot of inner strength and determination, more than ever. And like I can do this, I can be a Death Eater and still survive, still me, at least for the most part."

"Good," Harry smiled.

"What about you? You should try it." Draco got a vial and handed it out.

After a brief hesitation, Harry uncorked it and swallowed...

Slowly, he felt like doors were being opened, and knowledge and wisdom were rising up. And his magic- he could feel it coursing through him, steadily gaining strength, from a river to an ocean, with mighty waves that roared. For an instant his magic felt wild and like it could get out of control, then the feeling dissipated, and it was thundering all throughout his body, albeit controlled.

"Wow! I can feel my magic too. It's like an ocean, immense and powerful. And..." He closed his eyes and approached the doors in his mind.

Incredible inner strength, fighting spirit and perseveration. The second door held wisdom and truth. The third contained wandless magic and other powers such as wish magic and the power of the Seer. Wish magic meant if he believed and desired it strongly enough, he could do incredible things.

He was surprised at his power and what he could do, but since the Potter line was ancient and powerful, it made sense.

They talked more about their enlightenment and other things then told Slughorn they were done and went to their dormitories.

The next day Ron was acting oddly with Hermione, and Harry thought it might have to do with his liking her.

He was alternately friendly and snappish with her, and they had a row then refused to speak to each other.

This put Harry in an awkward position as he was friends with both of them, and Ron would get angry if he sided with Hermione, as he wanted to.

After a while, he confronted Ron. "Why are you doing this to her? This isn't going to help anything."

Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry. "What do you know? Nothing, you don't know how I feel!"

"No, I don't, but this is not helping. It's making it worse!"

"Right, I'm screwing up again, yeah? Never can do anything right-"

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Harry began.

"Shut it!" Ron snarled and stormed out of the common room.

Harry became aware of all the stares, and he squirmed. He'd known they were there but had hoped Ron would be calmer with people around, less likely to erupt. Well, that'd backfired and maybe it'd made it worse for Ron.

He sighed, then left the common room, not willing to be scrutinized or talked about or asked anything.

Out in the corridor, he was unsure where to go, but then he reckoned he had best go to the library, as Hermione would very likely be there.

He located her at the back. "Hey, Hermione." He sat down.

"Hello," she replied, not looking up at first. Then she set her quill down and met his eyes. "What is it, Harry?"

"Ahh... Well, Ron and I had a row in the common room. I tried to make him see sense, see that what he was doing wasn't helping- just the opposite. He said I didn't know how he felt and after I said it was making it worse, he got angrier. Said, 'Right, I'm screwing up again, Yeah? Never can do anything right.' I interrupted, trying to tell him that wasn't what I meant, but he told me to shut it and left."

Hermione said nothing for a few seconds then sighed. "Thank you, Harry, for trying to help."

"I'm sorry."

"Your intentions were good." She took his hand and squeezed it briefly before withdrawing her hand.