AN: Thanks so much for all the positive messages! Here's a new chapter which I hope you enjoy and please take the time and review.
When Harry entered the common room, his eyes fell on Ginny who was sitting with Hermione by the fire. He sighed but walked over to them since he knew that Ginny had come to talk to him and he knew Hermione was right in that he had to sort things out with Ginny. Ginny looked up as he approached while Hermione jumped up and disappeared out the door. Harry sat down across from Ginny and stared at his hands. He wasn't sure anymore what he wanted; he just knew that he couldn't stand the fights.
For a while they both remained silent, and then Ginny reached forward and lightly took Harry's hands in her own.
"Look...we've been through a lot and with recent developments...I just think we would be better off being friends. I know you're thinking the same thing but you're just hopeless with showing your feelings."
Harry looked up, a bit surprised, with his heart much lighter than before.
Ginny stood up and pulled Harry with her. "We should go to breakfast and break the news that the 'Savior' is back on the market!" Harry shuddered at the thought of girls trying to smuggle him love potions again. At least when Ginny had been his girlfriend, other girls stayed away because of Ginny's reputation with the bat-bogey hex.
As they were leaving the common room, Harry noticed a very tired looking Draco Malfoy rising from an armchair in the shadows.
"Were you spying on us?" Harry spat at him, not sure why he was suddenly so angry at Malfoy.
"Your failed love life is no interest of mine." Malfoy said smoothly while pushing past Harry and Ginny.
"Just ignore him Harry; he's just starting to get back to his old cocky self again, the bastard. Harry?" Harry's eyes had lingered on Malfoy a little longer than normal.
Harry snapped back into focus, wrapped his arm around Ginny's slim shoulders and they headed to the Great Hall, chatting idly.
Ron looked surprised as Harry and Ginny sat down opposite him, looking happier than ever. Hermione beamed. "Er...what's going on?" Ron asked awkwardly.
"Oh Harry and Ginny decided to just be friends since they are best friends but the romantic spark is missing." Luna said matter-of-factly, appearing next to Ginny.
Within a few minutes all of Hogwarts seemed to know that Harry Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World, was single once more. When Harry walked towards first hour double potions he could feel the eyes of nearly every girl in school, and quite a few blokes, eyeing him hopefully. But Harry ignored and chatted with Ron and Hermione. His good mood lasted until he entered potions and glimpsed a familiar shock of white-blonde hair. He had forgotten that they were stuck working in teams for the rest of the school year. Ron didn't look too unhappy but then again, his partner was busy rereading the textbook faster than even Hermione could. Hermione herself was trying, once again and to no avail, to engage Zabini in conversation.
Harry dropped his schoolbag on the ground and slid his stool as far away from Malfoy as was possible. He thought he saw Malfoy smirk slightly but it was hard to tell because the latter had his head bowed over the textbook.
"Good morning students! I hope you've had a good weekend. Today you will be brewing an Enhancer of Emotion. When brewed properly this will increase the emotion the drinker is currently feeling. You will test it on your partner when you have finished. The recipe is on page 127 in your textbook. You have one hour so there is time left for testing after brewing. Begin."
Harry flipped listlessly through the textbook while Malfoy got the ingredients. Harry could tell that this was a finicky potion with ingredients having to be chopped in precise shapes and sizes. He began by crushing the valerian roots but wasn't really paying attention, choosing to reflect on the dream he had had the night before when slender fingers closed tightly on his wrist.
"Pay attention Potter! It says to cut the roots, not crush them." Harry just gave Malfoy a blank look. Malfoy took the roots and knife out of Harry's hands and muttered what sounded like "hopeless" under his breath. At the station next to theirs, Hermione and Zabini seemed to have put their differences aside and were working together. Their potion was already emitting orange bubbles which was described as the ideal halfway stage.
"Potter." Malfoy tried in vain to get Harry's attention and finally settled for waving a hand in front of Harry's face.
Due to trained quidditch reflexes, Harry grabbed Malfoy's thin wrist sharply which caused Malfoy to lose his balance and slip off the stool he had been sitting on. The bottle of euphoria Malfoy had been holding over the cauldron dropped into the cauldron with a clunk; the cauldron promptly exploded showering half the class in a bright yellow liquid.
Harry and Malfoy had both gotten some of the potion in their mouths since they had been shouting angrily at each other. Harry tasted liquid sunshine and an intense happiness flowed through him. Harry caught Malfoy's eye and both started laughing hysterically. Harry wasn't sure why but everything just seemed happy and funny at the moment. He didn't even notice the class gaping at them both.
Slughorn sighed and rummaged in his bag for a small vial before walking towards the two boys that were holding on to each other while still laughing uncontrollably. He poured two drops of a black liquid into each of their open mouths.
Again, Harry felt the immediate effect of the potion, a harsh return to reality. The grins immediately faded and Harry let go of Malfoy who was still doubled over but the exuberant expression had vanished off his face too. Harry himself was sure his mouth was still open in shock at having just laughed with Malfoy, even under the influence of a badly brewed potion. The room was completely silent and the awkwardness between Harry and Malfoy had monumentally increased and they were both avoiding looking at each other.
"Right...now that you boys are back to normal, you can spend the rest of the hour cleaning the room; without magic Mr. Malfoy. And you will both stay after class."