AN: Sorry for the long gaps between updates, I really will try to update more often from now on, but I didn't have much time to write, and I am also a very lazy person… (:

Chapter 10- Of Lies and Glacio Snakes

Harry's POV

It was Tuesday, and to Harry that meant Quidditch trial day. You'd think that following the recent events Quidditch wouldn't be as important to him, but he couldn't ignore the upcoming match against Slytherin that was approaching them in a month.

"Alright everybody," Harry called at the end of the practice as they all landed, "All in all we were very good, you really improved from the last time, I'd say we're ready for the match." He said, and everybody cheered.

At the changing room Ron approached him, "Have you visited Hermione today?" he asked Harry. Ever since the accident in potions Hermione has been in the Hospital Wing.

"Yeah, before the practice, she's much better actually, Madam Pomfrey says she should be out in a few days." Harry replied as they left the changing room and started walking towards the castle.

"Good, I'll probably go visit her later." Ron said, then added after a few seconds, "Have you seen Malfoy anywhere lately?"

"As a matter of fact I didn't" Harry said, he hasn't seen Malfoy the whole since the accident in potion.

"Me neither, he's probably planning his next scheme." Ron said hatefully and Harry just nodded. He still wasn't sure about Malfoy lying to them. Even after what happened in potions, he thought Malfoy might be telling the truth, he did say it was an accident. He didn't know where this surprising change of heart came from, not too long ago he still hated Malfoy. When he told this to Hermione this morning in the Hospital wing he received the usual lecture of "You seriously buy that farfetched story of his? He clearly made it up" and "It's Malfoy, the same Malfoy that we hated for the last seven year, the ferret, the deatheater, do you truly believed he's changed?"

But still, there were holes in what Hermione said, holes Harry couldn't just ignore. How did he know about Dumbledore and Snape's plan, and why would he purposely hurt Hermione if he wanted to gain their trust because he's working for Voldemort. But Harry knew that he would get the same lecture about Malfoy from Ron if he said any of that, so he just nodded.

"You guys, wait up!" they heard Ginny calling from behind them.

They waited for her then walked together to the castle. When they reached the entrance the said goodbye to Ron, who was headed to the Hospital Wing, and they made their way to the Gryffindor tower.

"You know, I never really understood how the three of you can be such close friends." Ginny started saying all of a sudden when they were walking. Harry didn't know where she was going with that so he let her keep talking. "You shared all those adventures and secrets and you were so close it seemed as though nothing could ever tare you apart. You were in such a strong friendship that I often looked at you and got so jealous of your friendship, wishing I could be a part of it. Even during my fifth year, when we started dating, and I got closer to you, I was never really a part of your small trio. I knew you wouldn't completely let me in because it was too dangerous with Voldemort during the war." She stopped for a second.

"And then this year started, you said that you'd come back to Hogwarts for another year, and I thought, 'great, now I finally get a chance to truly be their friend, the danger is finally over and they don't need to protect me anymore'."

"I have a feeling you're going somewhere with this." Harry responded.

"What I'm trying to say is that, I know I haven't spent that much time with you lately because of head duty and pressure at school, but I still want us to be friends. But this year you have to tell me the whole truth, you can't cut me out again. It's over, Voldemort's gone, so there shouldn't be any secrets now. So I'm going to ask you something, Harry, and I want you to tell me the truth, is there something going on with Malfoy that I should know about?"

He didn't expect this. He didn't know what he expected, but it wasn't this.

"What do you mean?" he asked her, trying not to show any emotions.

"Well, I remember that in our first week we caught him in a hallway on the second floor talking to himself and I always hear the you, Ron, and Hermione mentioning his name, and today after the practice I heard Ron saying it again. So tell me honestly, is there something going on, or am I just being paranoid?" she asked.

For a fraction of a second Harry considered telling Ginny the whole truth, about the poem, about the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff, about Malfoy's story, about everything. Then he looked in her face, and felt the same thing as he did whenever he looked at her. What she said about Voldemort being dead was not completely true, not if they were right about the object mentioned in the poem. And he'll never forgive himself if anything happens to her.

"Nothing is going on Gin, I promise." He lied. She smiled in relief and kissed him gently on the lips he kissed her back, feeling horrible guilt. But he had to lie to her. It was the only way of keeping her safe.

Hermione's POV

"Don't move" Madam Pomfrey told Hermione as she spread the ointment on her hand, "The pain will be gone in a few moments."

Hermione closed her eyes and tried to breathe slowly and ignore her arm that now seemed to be on fire. The good thing though is that her hand looked normal, no scars or anything, but the potion spilled on her still affected her underneath her skin, so she had to put on this burning ointment for a few more days, then she'll be free to go.

Slowly, the pain in her hand stopped and she smiled with relief.

"I'll get you some pumpkin juice." Madam Pomfrey offered happily.

Just as she left the room Ron came in.

"Hey" Hermione said, smiling, "How was your practice?"

"Good, we're going to kick some Slytherin butts this match." He said

Hermione rolled her eyes. Boys…

"So, how are you feeling?"

"Better, I really wish I could get out of here though, I'm sick of this place."

"Maybe we can arrange that."

"What do you mean by-" she started, but Ron cut her when Madam Pomfrey came in.

"Hello Madam Pomfrey." Ron said cheerfully.

"Good evening Mr. Weasley." She said.

"Any chance I can borrow your patience for a couple of hours?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm not sure if she's strong enough to get out of the Hospital yet." She said.

"I certainly am, I feel really well," Hermione assured her, "and you said for yourself that I'm pretty healthy, I just need to take the medicine."

She thought for a few moments, sighed, and then said, "I assume it's alright, but just for a couple of hours, then you come back for the night."

"Thank you so much!" Hermione said, and jumped out of the bed.

"Let's go" Ron told her, and they left the Hospital Wings.

They went out of the castle to the green lawn when evening began to fall.

"So what have you been doing in those last two days?" Ron asked her as they walked.

"Nothing much, really"

"So you haven't been doing homework and memorizing spell book?" he said jokingly

"No" she said laughing, and gave him a slap on his head.

They both laughed and she said, "Thanks for this, Ron, I really needed to get out of there."

The continued walking, holding hands. All of a sudden Ron stopped, "Look who's there."

Hermione looked and saw Malfoy walking near the forbidden forest. He noticed them and walked towards them.

"What do you want?" Ron asked angrily.

"Calm down Weasley, I just wanted to apologize." He started, "Granger I really am so-"

"I don't want apologies from you, Malfoy." Hermione shot at him.

"I get it, you still don't trust me but-" he started and all of a sudden he sopped, and stared at something behind them as though he was seeing a ghost.

Hermione looked behind her and saw nothing. "What is it?" she asked annoyed.

"Don't move" Malfoy whispered not moving his lips, taking his wand out.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ron screamed, taking his wand out as well.

"Stop moving! On the ground!"

Hermione looked at the grass, and almost laughed in scorn.

"It's just a lizard" she said with contempt, looking at the tiny blue lizard with black stripes across it.

"It's a Glacio Snake." Malfoy said, still pointing his wand on the lizard, which was coming near Hermione's foot.

He waved his wand without making a sound and a flash of blue light was shot from it. As the spell shot the lizard a blue fog came from its direction which caused the three of them to cough. When the fog faded the lizard lied dead on the ground.

"What the hell?" Ron said angrily.

"That was a Glacio Snake, it must have come out of the forbidden forest. I know a thing or two about them because my dad used to have one at our house. It was kept in a cage, and for a reason. If one of those bites you then, well, you freeze over. You'd actually turn into a chunk of ice. And there's no way back if that happens. So basically I just saved your life." He said, and a silence took over.

"You're welcomed" he said, and walked away.

After he was gone Ron said, "Do you think he was telling the truth?"

"There's only one way to find out." She said, then started running, Ron following her.

She led him to the library, and he sat on one of the chairs, and watched her looking for a book. She came to the table a few moments later with a big green books that was names, Snakes from A to Z.

She went through the pages for a minute or so until she stopped on a page with a picture of the lizard they'd just seen. Ron came near her and they read together.

The Glacio Snake

This snake, found mostly in the area of trees, has a very irregular poison, and is amongst the most dangerous of magical snakes. It's between five to ten inches, and is blue with black stripes. It looks like a lizard, but it got its name for his poison, and the affect it brings. Its food is mostly insects in its surroundings. A bite of the Glacio Snake will not kill a man, but it will turn him into a lump of ice. Such effects are irreversible.

They finished reading and looked at each other.

"Malfoy just saved our lives." Hermione said.

And that's what they told Harry that evening in the common room.

"So, do we consider him trustworthy now?" Harry asked confusedly.

"I don't know, but I think it's worth a shot to try and work together with him. He might be able to help us." Hermione said.

"Alright, I guess we talk to him tomorrow."

"Hey, Ron, isn't that Errol outside the window?" Hermione called suddenly in surprise.

"What's that bloody bird doing in here?"

"It's probably a letter from your parents." Harry said.

They let Errol in, and he landed on a table, carrying a letter. Ron took it and opened it, reading it with Harry and Hermione.

Dear Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione

I hope you all are having a nice time at Hogwarts. We have some good news. George has come back home, and he's not alone… it's too complicated to explain in a letter, but you all will see when you come home for Christmas. We are looking forward to see you!

Love,

Molly.