AN. This chapter is up quicker, isn't it?

I was actually a little disspointed with the last chapters reviews. Maybe it was because
there had been no action that people hadn't replied (cookies for those you did! Thank you
very much! They make my day!) So hopefully this chapter, whilst shorter, has much
more in it as will the next few chapters, hopefully.

I really would like some feedback about this chapter as I wasn't entirely happy with
fight scene. Anyway, I'll stop giving things away and let you read.

Enjoy!


"These things are wickedly clever," Blaise exclaimed, watching the miniature dragons fly around the Slytherin Common Room - they were a sample product that the twins had given them during their Hogsmeade visit the day before.

The rest of the students in the Common Room were in awe. And it wasn't just because of how realistic they look, but by who actually created them. It was all hush-hush though. Slytherins, after all, knew when to save their arses from jealous, angry red-heads.

Blaise glanced at Theo who was sitting, cross-legged on the couch across from Harry, a chess board between them. Harry was losing- badly.

"That's a nice amount of pieces, Harry," Blaise commented sarcastically. Harry looked up at Blaise before looking back down at his measly four remaining chess pieces before looking back up at Blaise.

"Eh, I can't be good at everything," he replied, smiling while shrugging a shoulder. Theo mumbled something under his breath to Harry who immediately smirked. "Why thank you, Theodore."

Blaise looked between them, his right eye brow raised.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," the boys replied simultaneously before looking at each other and laughing. Blaise frowned and turned back to his miniature dragon who was now trying to light a first year's hair. He let out a bark of laughter and watched the young girl struggle for a few moments before summoning the dragon back to him.

"Nifty little creatures," he said to himself, poking the dragon now trying to bite him on the index finger.

"I hope those are non-poisonous," Pansy commented, pointing to the miniature dragons, and Blaise looked up to see a newly arrived Pansy and Draco.

"I think they are," Blaise said, looking at the dragon cynically before looking back up at his friends. "Have a nice study session?" His tone suggested that he really didn't care and Pansy knew that he honestly couldn't see the point of studying so early in the year.

"Why, yes, Blaise. Thank you for asking," Pansy replied politely, ignoring his smart tone.

"I have no idea how you passed your O.W.L's," Draco said, plopping down, gracefully, mind you, on a green leather lounger.

"Yes!" Theo exclaimed and Harry sighed in obvious defeat.

Draco laughed at his friends antics.

"I don't know why you're so happy, Theo. He isn't exactly hard to beat," Draco said with a friendly smirk on his face.

"Hey! I take insult to that!" Harry said exclaimed, looking at Draco, his lips curving into a smile in the corners.

"You were meant to."

Harry rolled his eyes and turned back to Theo who asked him a question with a quirk of his lips,

"Another game to win your pride back?"

Harry chewed his lower lip, having a mental discussion.

"Sorry, no. I have to go back to my own Common Room. I have to spend some time with Wil—" he stopped in his tracks, realising the slip-up he almost made. Fuck! He yelled mentally.

"With who?" Theo asked, leaning forward slightly.

"With Wilson," Harry lied quickly. "He's a first year who isn't afraid of me and need some help with his homework."

Oh, real smooth, Harry.

"Oh, is that that small kid with brown hair who stutters a lot?" Blaise asked, looking over.

"Yes, I think so, but so many younger kids stutter around me so I wouldn't really know," Harry replied knowing the trap that Blaise tried to put him in, but didn't notice his slip up as he had previously said that 'Wilson' wasn't afraid of him. So, if 'Wilson' wasn't afraid of Harry, why would he be stuttering around him? And that was something that Blaise picked up on.

"Oh, okay then."

Draco glanced over to his friend with a look clearly saying, 'Really? That's the best you could come up with?' Blaise shrugged, hid his smirk and turned back to his dragon. He was easily distracted even with the new information of this mysterious 'Wil' person.

Draco turned back to Harry who was saying goodbye to Theo. He watched as Theo, leaning in for a kiss, was disappointed as Harry only stood up quickly and left, brushing down his pants. Theo sat still for a moment in obvious shock before standing up, wide-eyed.

"I'm going to go catch up with him. We can get some food from the kitchens afterwards, if you'd like. Do you want to come?" he asked Draco. The blonde thought for a moment before getting up and brushing down his robes.

"Be careful," Pansy warned without looking up from her latest Witch Weekly magazine.

"Yeah, yeah," Theo said, opening the door.

When outside of the Common Room, they walked briskly to catch up with Harry. Draco slowed for a moment before realising something.

Harry hasn't told Theo about Willow yet. Or anyone else, it seems. Blaise, of course, would have an inkling now that Harry made that little slip up in the Common Room just before, but Draco felt honoured that he knew about Harry's pet snake. He pondered that for a few moments as Theo tapped Harry on the shoulder. He turned around and smiled, but Draco noticed the lights that flew up in Harry's emerald green eyes when he looked back and saw Draco. The blonde tried not to think about that.

"I can't wait to use the twin's pranks on the Gryffindors," Theo said as they walked slowly back up to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Yeah, it should be funny."

"We should definitely start planning. Perhaps we can organise our pranks over a couple of weeks," Draco suggested, looking up to Harry. He got a smirk.

"Definitely. I want to use the To-Tongue toffee's on Ron. Perhaps then we can charm Hermione's cat to bite it. Get it?" Harry said, trying to make a joke about a Muggle Expression. At the slightly bewildered and confused faces he sighed and rubbed his forehead. "It's a Muggle expression- 'Cat got your tongue,' I'm guessing you've both never heard of it? Do you not take Muggle Studies, Draco?"

Draco shook his head exasperatedly. "Yes. But we don't learn silly expressions like that." He sighed heavily. "Sometimes I forget you were raised by awful Muggles."

"Do you not notice what I wear every day, Draco?" Harry asked. Draco rolled his eyes and put his hands in his pockets.

"Of course, however, I don't think it defines who you are or how you were raised. I mean, you don't wear wizarding clothing, you hardly act like you were brought up by Muggles, except for your horrible Muggle expressions that seem to make no sense at all," Draco explained badly and used his hand to rub the back of his neck.

"Nice, Draco," Theo said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at his friend.

"Yes, eloquent as always, Draco," Harry said. Draco hid his blush. Well, what could he say? That when Draco tries to talk about Harry he gets flustered especially when he looks at him like that?

They passed through the halls in relative silence. Draco tried in earnest to ignore the way Theo and Harry walked close together, their hands touching every couple of steps. He sighed in frustration. Why in the name of Slytherin did he agree to walk back with them? He only felt like a third wheel, interrupting their little stroll through Hogwarts.

When they finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Theo took Harry's hand and squeezed it. Draco stepped back and allowed them a little bit of privacy. He did notice, however, when he looked out through his peripherals as Theo leaned in to kiss Harry who only turned his head so Theo's lips landed on his cheek.

Draco bit his lip and tried not to think about what that meant. He had thought that their date on the weekend had gone great. He hadn't gotten all the details – he didn't want them – but neither of them acted like it was horrible. Maybe he just wasn't looking close enough, Draco decided.

"Well, I better go in. Wilson will be waiting for me," Harry said, taking a step back from Theo. He glanced over at Draco and gave a small smile with a polite nod.

"Bye, Harry," he said softly.

The Gryffindor softly gave the password and the portrait swung open. As he took a step in, the Common Room seemed to go quiet at Harry's appearance. The Fat Lady was swinging back when Draco saw a flash of light and heard a growl. He was rooted in the spot.

"Theo," he said and his friend looked back at him- he'd already started to leave-, "I think something happened to Harry."

"Don't be silly, Draco. They aren't stupid enough to do something to Harry in their own Common Room. That would be idiotic," Theo reasoned but Draco felt uneasy.

"Theo, the Gryffindor's are idiotic. They do stupid things every day. I-" He sighed and looked back to the portrait worriedly, "I just don't have a good feeling about this."

Theo opened his mouth to retort that Harry was capable of looking after himself when a large shout was heard through the wall. Draco paled and took a quick step back to the Fat Lady who was looking worriedly over her shoulder.

"Let us in!" Draco demanded. He silently hexed himself for not paying more attention to Harry saying the password. Usually when Harry speaks, Draco listens intently, apart from when he's distracted by other things about Harry. Anyway, it's beside the point. Draco knew he should have listened harder.

"Now, now, Mr. Malfloy, I can't just let you go in to another House's Common Room without a password. You know that," she replied back, but Draco noticed how she was fiddling with the cuff of her dress' sleeve.

"What if a student inside was in distress? What if he was hurt? Would you let me in then?" Draco asked loudly, getting slightly hysterical. "I'm a Prefect!" he exclaimed loudly like that would suddenly be the reason for the Fat Lady letting them in.

"Draco, calm down," Theo looked up to the Fat Lady. "Please let us in or at least open the door to call out to him just so we can make sure he's alright."

The Fat Lady sighed and chewed on her lower lip. She looked ready to disagree again when the door opened slightly. Both Slytherins took a step back at the door which seemed to have opened by itself. Draco cocked his head to the side and was only slightly shocked when Willow appeared.

Theo gasped loudly and started spluttering. "Tha- that's a sn-snake!"

"Yes, it is Theo. Thank you for stating the obvious." He knelt down to the hissing snake and spoke in English, praying that Willow could understand the language and would find some way to communicate back. "Willow, is Harry okay? Are they hurting him?"

The snake hissed and looked back to the slightly opened portrait door. Willow then turned her head back to Draco. She started hissing and slithering around his feet. Draco tried not to growl in frustration- he didn't have the gift of Parseltongue! He couldn't understand what she was hissing!

'Yes. Young Master is being ambushed. He's banned me from interfering and showing myself, but he never said anything about you. Please help him,' a young woman's voice spoke suddenly in Draco's head and he looked completely flabbergasted.

"Was that you?" he asked, looking at her.

'Yes, now go before serious damage is inflicted.'

Draco nodded and stood up. He pulled his wand from where it was hidden up his sleeve and at Draco's gesture, Theo followed suit. Draco carefully pulled the door opened and cautiously strode forward, wand in hand, knee's slightly bent. But even he wasn't prepared for the onslaught from the 6th and 7th year Gryffindor boys. They had Harry on his knees, his hands bound behind his back and in obvious pain. Draco couldn't see his face, but he was sure he was grimacing.

"You won't break me," Harry spoke up, leaning his head back to Weasley, Thomas, Finnigan and a few other boys from other years. Draco and Theo stopped, hiding back in the shadows of the entryway.

They observed the Common Room silently. Granger was whimpering softly at the sight of Harry but was doing nothing to stop the fight that would surely break out. Longbottom was standing at the foot of the stairs and even from across the room, Draco could see he had tried to stop them. He had a fresh black eye.

"It's not you we want to break," another Weasley spoke up and Draco took in a deep breath when he noticed it was the Weaslette. She had an evil glint in her eye; her wand rose pointing directly where Draco and Theo were standing.

"Expelliarmus!" he yelled, shooting a bright light towards the youngest Weasley. She ducked and Draco growled. Finnigan and Thomas stayed where they were, wands pointing down at Harry but the Weasel and the older boys took the duelling stance and started towards the Slytherins.

"We knew you would turn up," Weasley said, sauntering forward, "sooner or later."

"You got what you wished for," Draco spoke up, raising his chin at the red-head. "Let Harry go."

The red-head glanced back at the young wizard who used to be his best friend.

"You know what, I don't think I will," he said slowly. "I want him to watch."

"Watch what?" Theo asked, stepping up next to Draco, wand raised.

"Us," he said, motioning towards his friends behind him, "take you down."

And then the fighting broke out. Draco and Theo sent off stunners to the Gryffindors which sent them ducking and rolling out of the way. Draco put up a Shield Charm as Weasley threw his own stunner. He crouched down and took careful aim of his feet and cast the Jelly-Legs Jinx. He was right on the money. Weasley went down like a stack of potatoes, he legs flying everywhere. Draco allowed his a smirk at he sent the freezing charm towards him. The older Weasley froze with one leg up in the air and the other in an uncomfortable position and Draco knew that it would be sore when the charm ended.

Theo looked sharply at the chaos in the Common Room. The girls were all racing towards their dormitories and the younger boys looked ready to do either one or two things- run away, or stay was watch. The smarter ones ran away, up the stairs on the left of the Common Room.

He growled as he was hit with a Stinging Hex and sent one straight back to Finnigan who bowled over and whimpered in pain. Another stunner his way and he was down. He dodged a disarming charm from the She-Weasel who looked to be in a jealous rage.

Draco was about to get up to run to pull Harry out of his binds when he saw them fall off. He pulled his arms back around and sent a gust of wind through his palm towards Thomas. He was blown off his feet landed rather loudly on his back. He saw the Gryffindor groan and roll on his side. Harry stood up and seemed to radiate power. He turned around and wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

He looked around the room; his normally emerald eyes were almost black in anger. Draco was stunned at the sight of power that he seemed to give off. Unfortunately, he became distracted and a Stinging Hex was sent his way. He groaned and bowled over.

He saw stars as the stinging pain came from his head. He lost grip of his wand and it rolled out of his hand. He was caught off guard by another hex to his stomach. He groaned and tried to get back up. He was on his knees and feeling around from his wand when he noticed that someone had removed the charm from Weasley and was now standing in front of him, Draco's wand in his left hand. He looked up at the raged red-head and swallowed sharply. A wand was placed underneath his chin and Draco slowly stood up, trying to ignore the almost blinding pain from his forehead, the wand never leaving his chin. He stared defiantly at the Gryffindor, trying not to let him show what was really running through his mind.

"You changed him, Malfoy. So now..." Weasley spoke in a deep, menacing tone, "I'm going to change you."

Harry tried to stop him and send a Shield charm around Draco, but even as Ron stepped back to take aim, not even the Boy-Who-Lived could cast a quick and strong enough shield to stop several blasting curses.

Harry watched in horror as the all the spells hit Draco simultaneously. They threw him up into the air and Harry almost couldn't watch as Draco's face contorted with pain as he was thrown through the wooden portrait door. He ran up, his hand outstretched, but he was too late. Draco's body met with the stone wall with a loud and resounding 'bang!'

As Harry watched the blond Slytherin fall to the ground, his grey eyes rolling into the back of his head, his body lying awkwardly on the ground, he felt his magic swarm around him.

He felt it gather into his palms. He screamed a loud, horrifying, painful scream, crouching down and clenching his eyes closed. His hands turned to fists and he leaned his head back to the ceiling. He slammed his fists down on the ground and the Common Room shook with the force, magic clearly behind it. Several more screams were heard as the windows were shattered and the bits of glass went flying.

Harry slammed his fists down again and this time sent a wave of magic knocking over all the Gryffindors who weren't already on the ground- making them fall unconscious from the sheer force behind it.

During Harry's magical explosion, Theo had taken shelter underneath a table, tripping slightly and rolling his ankle. His pain was forgotten as he stared in terror as his friend's magic flowed seemingly out of his pores. He gasped as Harry opened his eyes and Theo saw angry tears flow down his red cheeks. He saw him slowly stand up, unsteady on his feet and clamber over to his fallen friend.

Right then, as he saw Harry stride over to the broken body of Draco, did Theo know that his chance with Harry was gone, obliterated. Strings pulled at his heart as he saw Harry ghost his hands over Draco, obviously trying to heal him with his wandless magic. When Draco didn't stir and his visible wounds didn't heal, Harry almost broke down completely.

Theo watched from afar as Harry cried loudly, black tears from his copious amounts of eyeliner running down his face. The Slytherin let tears of his own fall as he saw the gentle and almost loving way Harry stroked a hand down the side of Draco face. He moved his head closer, his black hair now shielding his face from Theo's view.

He slowly got up from underneath the table and slowly strode over to where his friends lay. He leaned against the broken portrait frame. Even past his own haggard breaths, and though Harry's hair now covered his face, he knew that the Gryffindor was silently begging for the unconscious Slytherin to wake up.

Theo jumped as he felt something bump his leg. He looked down and saw Willow. She hissed and slithered over to Harry. She hissed something, obviously to Harry, and Harry replied quickly. Even though Harry was hissing, even Theo noticed that his voice was think and almost dripping with sadness.

Then, a loud commotion as the end of the corridor was heard. Theo turned his attention to it.

It was Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore racing down the corridor, followed quickly by Professor Snape and Flitwick.

"What in the name of Merlin, happened here?" Head of Gryffindor asked loudly, taking in her surroundings.

Harry ignored them and Theo had a feeling he hadn't even noticed their arrival. He continued to stroke Draco's face and murmuring healing charms underneath his breath.

Professor Snape's dark glare turned to him.

"Mr. Nott, care to explain why the Gryffindor Common Room is in tatters and many students unconscious?"

"Can we get Draco to the Hospital Wing first? He was hit by several Blasting Curses," he said softly, looking over at his friend. He heard a couple of sharp intakes of breath. Dumbledore clicked his fingers and a house-elf turned up. He heard weakly that Dumbledore wanted the elf to send Draco to the Hospital Wing immediately.

Theo took the few steps, limping slightly, over to Harry and placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Let the house-elf take him, Harry. You can't help him anymore," Theo said softly, trying to pull him away.

"No," he said sharply, ripping his shoulder out of Theo's grip. "I'm going with him."

Theo heard Dumbledore sigh and must have told the elf to take him as well because when the small creature touched Harry, they both disappeared with a snap of the elves' fingers.

"Mr. Nott," Headmaster Dumbledore began and Theo looked meekly at him, "I think you better explain all of this to me in my office. But firstly, Minerva, Filius, please enervate the students and send them all down to the Hospital Wing. Make sure they don't leave there until I've talked to them. Severus, you head down to the Hospital Wing now to help Madam Pomfrey and make sure that young Mr. Malfoy will be alright."

The teachers nodded and did as they were told. Dumbledore looked severely at Theo who hung his head and sighed heavily. He knew it would be a long and painful afternoon.

It wasn't until just before lunch that Theo got time to rest. He'd spent what seemed like hours talking to Dumbledore over and over about what happened. The old man seemed unwilling to see the obvious faults in the Gryffindors actions and continuously asked Theo questions that made it seem like he was trying to blame the Slytherins for starting the fight.

Theo was almost at his wits ends when Professor Snape came and saw him in the Headmasters Office, informing Dumbledore that Theo needed to be checked out.

Dumbledore sighed heavily and stood up.

"I better go ask the other students what happened as well."

Theo growled under his breath and walked quickly ahead of the two older wizards. He thought he'd seen a distraught Harry before, but he wasn't fully prepared for the sight that lay before him.

He ignored all the other beds that had their curtains pulled around them. Theo was sure that they held the bodies of the Gryffindors involved in the fight. He looked around and saw a bed whose curtains were slightly open. He walked up to them and peek through the gap. Theo held back a gasp of surprise and shock.

Draco was lying in bed, his skin chalky pale against the starchy bed sheets. His hair was damp and Theo could see clumps of blood that hadn't been cleared away properly. Clutching an unmoving, pale and cold hand was Harry, seated on a chair next to the bed but it was so close, he may as well been sitting on the bed.

Theo's heart tugged when he saw Harry. His emerald eyes were bloodshot and puffy and all his eye make-up had disappeared and Theo had a knowing feeling that it was all washed away from his tears. He had pushed the sleeves of his jumper up to his elbows and rested them on the bed, both hands cupping Draco's. Harry tugged on his lip ring multiple times as he stared at Draco's pale face.

"Harry," Theo said softly, striding forward towards him, pulling the curtain closed properly behind him.

He looked up slowly, as if taking his eyes away from Draco would kill him. He licked his lips and smile weakly as he saw Theo approach.

"Hey," he said extremely softly and Theo wondered if he'd lost his voice.

"How is he doing?" Theo asked softly, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. Harry sighed deeply and went back to staring at Draco.

"He had some head injuries, spine injuries and internal bleeding from his impact against the wall. There's no way of knowing if he'll fully recover, but there's hope, but he'll be in here for at least a week. Maybe more if he doesn't respond to the potions and heal like he's supposed to."

"Don't worry, Harry," the conscious Slytherin said soothingly, "you know Draco. He's a Malfoy. And what do Malfoy's do? Never get ill!" Theo tried to make Harry smile at his rather lame joke but all he got was a rather pathetic attempt at one. He sighed softly and took a deep breath.

"I never really had a chance with you, did I?" Theo asked sadly. Harry slowly turned to look up at him and shook his head softly, his hair brushing his face lightly.

"I'm sorry," he replied, speaking so quietly it was hard to hear. Theo gave a sad, knowing smile.

"I'm the wrong Slytherin, aren't I?" he asked softly, gesturing with his head towards Draco.

Harry turned back to look at him. He squeezed the unconscious Slytherin's hand before breathing out a, "Yes."

Theo merely nodded, even though Harry couldn't see it- his focus was back on Draco, like it almost always seemed to be. Theo's hand fell of Harry shoulder and he made no move to replace it again. He knew whatever comfort he gave, whether it is friendly or otherwise, it wouldn't be enough to cure his breaking heart at the sight of his object of attraction in the bed.

Theo didn't think 'loved one' was an appropriate term to use. He wasn't sure just how strongly Harry felt for Draco, he could only guess and it would be presumptuous to assume that he was in love. From what he'd heard about what his real family had done to him and the harm that had befallen Harry from their hands, and even the harm that old friends such as Weasley and Granger, he wasn't even sure Harry had the trust of even the capacity left in his heart for such a large emotion such as love and adoration.

But then he remembered the loving way that Harry had stroked his face and how he had tried in vain to heal his injuries. Theo felt the way the ground had shook when Harry sent his magic through it- and it was all because of Draco. He remembered the simply broken way that Harry had knelt beside Draco and wept openly and wondered why Harry had even agreed to go on a date with him. Theo reflected to himself about how, even after all the years that he'd spent at Hogwarts and all the tragedies that had befallen Harry throughout them; he'd never seen him so upset or down-hearted.

It was...heartbreaking.

Silently, even though fearing for his friends' health, he left the Hospital Wing and headed back down to the Slytherin Common Room to break the news to Pansy and Blaise, and well, the rest of the Slytherin House. After all, it was their Prefect that had been injured and they had not been informed about the attack that occurred. Sighing softly and mentally preparing himself for the onslaught that will surely be Pansy, he strode through the Common Room door.

Theo had a lot of things to explain.