Disclaimer: Anything recognisable belongs to J.K. Rowling.

.oOo.13.oOo.


Strategy

Harry had been practising as Snape had told him to do for nearly two weeks and whilst the meditation was relaxing and made it much easier to clear his mind, it didn't seem to be helping stop the visions. Harry told Snape this on Thursday night when he went for his Occlumency lesson. Snape appeared interested with the information, but said nothing about it.

"I think it is time we moved on from practicing the mediation. I want you to come up with something to use as a barrier for your mind. It can be anything you want. Usually, one would use something they associate with strength. You might use a wall, fire, smoke, darkness. It may take a few tries to find the one that works best for you."

Harry thought about it for a minute before settling on a wall; strong and tall. "Okay, I've got something. A wall."

"Now, I want you to envisage that wall in your head. I want you to picture the details; what is it made of, how thick is it, is it smooth or rough? I want you to imagine that the wall is surrounding your thoughts and memories – no one can get in."

Harry sat quietly with his eyes closed, imagining a high wall. It was made of stone, and very hard.

"Now, I am going to attempt to get access to your thoughts. This will be easy if the wall does not surround all of your mind. Also, if the barrier you have chosen is not good enough, you will need to improve it. Legilimens."

Harry focussed on the wall, an image forming in his head of his brain surrounded by a wall. It made him mentally chuckle and lose concentration, and images were suddenly rushing through his mind.

"Well that wasn't a very good start, was it?" came Snape's snide comment.

Harry scowled. "I'm doing my best, alright?"

"Really? How sad. Again."

Harry soon found that not only was the wall not surrounding all of his thoughts, but it was also not a good enough wall. At first, he had pictured the wall in his mind as a sort of Hogwarts- like castle wall, complete with battlements. However, as he imagined this scene, he saw a dark-robed figure appear in his mind, walking up to the high stone wall. Harry could not imagine how the figure could get over the wall, but it began to climb, sticking pale fingers between the cracks in the rocks and pulling itself up. Once again, Snape got to his memories.

"You see, Potter. I was able to get into your mind because I found a way to get around the wall."



They tried again, and this time Harry imagined the wall was made not of rock, but cement – smooth, with no crevices for Snape to crawl up. Suddenly however, a ladder appeared next to the wall, and Snape once again reached the top of the wall – and Harry's thoughts.

And so Harry added a roof to the walls. Unfortunately, Snape created a chimney to counter this approach, and once again Harry found the man perusing his thoughts.

"I think perhaps we will try a different barrier next time. You will find that not many Occlumists use a wall as their barrier. It would be sufficient against an amateur, but the Dark Lord will gain access to your thoughts as quickly as I did. I need only envisage a door and I could walk right through."

"Well if you can do anything, how will I ever stop you?"

"With practice you will be able to do so. At the moment your mind is weak, but with practice it will grow stronger. It will be more difficult for me to simply imagine a door and have it appear in your mind as I did tonight, do you understand?"

"I guess."

"We shall end here for tonight."

Feeling mentally drained, Harry retreated to Gryffindor Tower and fell asleep instantly.

oOo

The next day, Harry was partnered with Parvati during defence. Due to being in the DA the previous year, Parvati was a reasonable duellist, but she had no sense of strategy at all and was taken out by Hermione after about fifteen minutes. Harry managed to continue on his own from there, only encountering one other pair in the forest before the end of the class, but because Parvati had been knocked out that was equal to a loss.

At the end of the class, they discussed the techniques used by Malfoy and Nott, who had made a formidable team.

oOo

On Saturday afternoon, Harry walked with Hermione and Neville down to the Quidditch pitch. He was looking forward to the match, even though he would not be playing. McGonagall had told him the ban would be lifted after the match. Harry thought this was particularly unfair, given that Malfoy wouldn't have to miss a match, but kept his mouth shut in case McGonagall took points.

The game started badly for Gryffindor. Hufflepuff had certainly improved from the last year, due to the replacement of two of their chasers and both beaters. The new team meshed well and played much better than the previous years'.

Within a half hour, the score was 60 – 0 in favour of Hufflepuff, and Harry was groaning along with the rest of the Gryffindors as their own team failed again and again to score. The jeers coming from the Slytherin stands made it all the worse.



The voice of the announcer suddenly grew louder. "And Gryffindor is in possession of the quaffle, a nice snatch by Bell there. Bell passes to O'Fier. O'Fier back to Bell... Bell to Finnigan."

Harry was on the edge of his seat as the three chasers streaked up the pitch for the goals.

"Ooh, a nice bludger by Benson there, nearly unseated Finnigan. Is he going to score?"

Seamus dodged another bludger and a Hufflepuff chaser, coming out in front of the middle hoop. Harry watch with bated breath as the Irish boy drew back the hand holding the quaffle. The Hufflepuff keeper was speeding towards the middle goal as Seamus hurled the quaffle through the air...

"GRYFFINDOR SCORES!" Seamus' aim had been dead true and the quaffle had found its mark. He was pumping the air, and received a pat on the back from several team mates. The Gryffindor stands erupted in cheers, their hopes renewed.

After that, Hufflepuff scored two more goals in quick succession, and it began to look like this just wasn't Gryffindor's day, when Ginny suddenly went into a dive towards one of the Hufflepuff goals. The other players turned to watch just as Ginny reached out a hand and grabbed the tiny golden ball from the air, and the Gryffindor stands erupted in tumultuous applause and screams.

Harry happily joined his friends in the Gryffindor Tower to celebrate the victory, leaving a few hours later for dinner.

oOo

Harry didn't return to the party after dinner; instead he made his way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It had been a while since he had spent any actual time in the chamber, apart from just passing through. It would be much easier to use the pendant, but he liked walking.

He was nearly there when a boy stepped out of the shadows in front of him.

"Malfoy? What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you."

Harry looked around warily. "Er... why?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Why do you think, Potter. What's the only reason I put up with you these days?"

"I see. Well, I'm on my way there now, if you've changed your mind."

"Changed my mind? What do you mean?"

They fell in to step together, making their way to the bathroom.

"You seemed pretty pissed off the other day. I didn't think you'd want to be going back."

Malfoy groaned loudly. "Potter, how could I not want to go back to the chamber? Are you telling me you've been back there without me?"



"Just a few times. I found the way from Gryffindor Tower, you know. There's an image of a snake in the wood, and it opens up into a staircase. It's a bit faster than coming this way."

"Awesome... can you show me?"

"Not now. It isn't hidden away like the one in the Slytherin common room, and I doubt the Gryffindors would appreciate seeing a Slytherin in there. Plus, I don't want anyone to find out about it, that would just be stupid."

"True, I suppose. Maybe tonight when everyone's asleep?"

"Maybe. Is there any particular reason you wanted to go down there now?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Not really. I just wanted to get away from the common room for a while. Find some peace and quiet."

"I know what you mean. Sometimes I can't wait to get away. Especially tonight, everyone's still celebrating the Quidditch game."

"I thought you'd be with them."

"Nah, I was for a while, but it was getting kinda loud. Plus, it's different when you weren't the one that won the game. Takes the shine off a bit, I guess."

"Hmm. I can't believe Snape and McGonagall banned us from Quidditch!" said Malfoy passionately. "Plus taking points and the detentions."

"Yeah, at least you won't be missing one of your games though."

Malfoy smirked gloatingly. "Well, a Malfoy always comes off best."

"Shut up."

They walked in silence for a minute before Malfoy said, "You do know that if Weasley hadn't caught the Snitch Gryffindor would have been trounced, don't you?"

"Ugh, I know. I don't even want to think about it."

"Your team played atrociously, really," said Malfoy conversationally.

Harry punched Malfoy lightly in the arm and received a scowl in return. "I thought I told you to shut up."

They came to the girl's bathroom and Harry opened up the sink, descending the steps into the tunnel.

"Why were you coming down here tonight?" asked Malfoy.

"Same as you, just to get away for a while. Like I said, the party was getting loud. I was going to go through the paintings again."

"Are you stupid? Have you forgotten what happened last time?"



"No, but it was an adventure. Don't you have any sense of fun?"

"Of course I do. I also have a healthy sense of self preservation."

Harry sighed. "Well, I was only going to go to that painting outside the potions classroom. I want to see what he's making again."

"Don't you think people will start getting suspicious if we know what it is all the time?"

"So it's we, is it? Decided to come, have you?" Harry faltered at Malfoy's deadly look. "Anyway, what are people going to think? No one will ever guess how we're finding out."

"Why do you need to find out anyway?"

"Well I think it's only fair that I get back the points I lost my house. You could get yours back too."

Malfoy deliberated for a minute. "Fine, but we're going no further than that painting. I don't want to get lost for days on end again."

"It wasn't days on end. Besides, it was fun."

"Agree to disagree."

"Fine."

...

They were approaching the waterfall portrait when Malfoy asked, "Why haven't you stolen back the book yet? I thought you were going to do it as soon as all the students returned."

"I told you I was going to do it when you didn't know the password, and as I haven't really talked to you since Christmas..." Harry shrugged. "Besides, I think Snape will... know. That it was me."

Malfoy gave him a sideways glance. "Yes, Severus does have a way of knowing things, doesn't he?"

Harry got the strong impression that Malfoy knew Snape was a Legilimens, and decided to push a bit. "It's like he can read your mind or something, the way he stares at you, and he always knows what's going on."

"Maybe he can," said Malfoy smugly.

Harry faked a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. No one can read minds... can they?"

Malfoy gave Harry a condescending glance then. "The mind is not a book to be read Potter. It cannot be perused at one's leisure."

Harry hid a smirk. It sounded to him as if Malfoy was directly quoting a source, probably Snape.

Malfoy continued. "It is a practice called Legilimency, and only very talented minds can do it. I'm learning!" he finished smugly, puffing his chest up proudly, and Harry nearly laughed at his boyish enthusiasm.



"You've never read my mind, have you?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Of course not. You'd know it if I had. Only practiced Legilimens can intrude the mind without the other person knowing. At my level, you'd feel it like a ton of bricks falling on your head."

"Do you have a book or something?"

"Some, but it's the kind of thing that you learn by actually doing. Severus is teaching me."

Harry was surprised that Malfoy was learning Occlumency. He recalled Snape saying it was harder than Occlumency, and wondered if Malfoy knew the latter. "Is there a way to stop someone from performing Legilimency on you?"

"Yes, you can learn to hide your thoughts. That's called Occlumency."

"Can you do that?"

"Yes, I'm quite proficient, which Severus says is a great achievement for someone of my age. I'm still training though. I'm absolutely no match for him."

Harry had a sudden thought. "Will you teach me? Otherwise Snape will know I took the book, and he'll know you told me where to get it, and he might even find out about the chamber!"

"Please tell me that you're joking. I really have no desire to go looking through your mind. Why do you even need that book. There's hundreds of dark arts books down here.Besides, I'm not particularly skilled at Legilimency yet."

"It's a matter of principal. I paid for the book, it's mine and I want it back. As to you not being skilled at Liegilimency, you know the basics, right? You could get into my mind, and I would be able to push you out?"

"I really don't think it's a good idea, Potter."

"Come on, please. I really want to learn it... It'll give you a chance to practice your Legilimency against someone who isn't an expert in Occlumency..."

This seemed to sway Malfoy slightly, and he glanced at Harry as though assessing him. "It would... I'll have to think about it."

Not wanting to pressure the Slytherin, Harry quickly agreed, and they stepped into the world of paintings.

...

Much quicker than the first time, they came upon the painting of the potions lab. Luckily, there was again no one in it, and Harry followed Malfoy over to the steaming cauldron. A thick brown liquid was bubbling sluggishly in the pewter tank, and both boys wrinkled their noses at the smell. Harry however, also grinned.

"What are you smiling for? That smells absolutely foul!"

"Because I know what it is!" said Harry superiorly, receiving a scowl from the Slytherin.

"How can you possibly know what it is when I, the best potions student in this school, don't know what it is."

"I've made it before."

Suddenly, a voice sounded behind them and they both froze. "What, may I ask, are you two doing around my cauldron? Step away now, before you ruin it!"

Harry looked sideways at Malfoy. "Run!" he muttered, and they stumbled between desks, attempting to keep their backs to the potions student. They heard him yell "Hey!" and start running after them, and they dashed through the portraits back to the water fall. Across the field of daisies and past the screeching mermaid, through Phineas' portrait, and finally to the water fall. They stood panting, and suddenly heard a loud banging coming from beside them. "Let me through! How did you get through here? Hey!"

Satisfied that the student couldn't get through, Harry's breathing gradually eased. "Do you think he saw our faces?"

Malfoy shook his head, his breathing already back to normal. "I don't think so, he would have recognised us for sure, and it didn't sound like he did."

They made their way back to the library and sprawled out on the big lounge. "So, what was it?"

"Huh?"said Harry stupidly.

"The potion?"

"Oh! Right, yeah. It was Polyjuice Potion."

"Of course! I can't believe I didn't recognise it – I've read all about it." Suddenly he snorted, and shot Harry a suspicious look. "Hang on, you told me you'd made it. I don't believe you. Polyjuice is way above even NEWT levels.

"Well, to be quite honest Hermione did most of the making. Ron and I just helped out."

"You expect me to believe that you and Weasley helped Granger make the Polyjuice Potion? Come on Potter, I'm not stupid."

"It's true. We made it in second year when-"

Malfoy had burst out laughing, and Harry looked at him confused. "What?"

"You actually had me going for a minute there. I actually nearly believed it, when you said Granger had helped you. But second year? Yeah right!"

"But we did!"

"There is no way a second year could make Polyjuice."

"Fine! Don't believe me."

"I don't."

Harry scowled, determined that he prove it to Malfoy. "It's got lace wings, and boomslang skin, and it has to stew for-"

"I know how it's made, Potter. Though I am surprised you know it well enough to quote even that much."

"I can prove it to you."

"Yeah, how's that?"

Harry was fairly sure Ron and Hermione wouldn't want him to tell anyone, let alone Snape's godson about how they had stolen ingredients and posed as a couple of Slytherins, but Malfoy wouldn't tell anyone.

"Do you remember in second year how Hermione was in the hospital wing for a few days?"

Malfoy smiled at the memory. "Ah, yes. The mudblood got petrified by the basilisk."

Harry scowled, but continued. "No, before that. She had hair all over her face, and ears like a cat."

"Hmm, yes. I do vaguely recall a few comments made by some friends of mine around that time. What has that to do with this?"

"Well, the reason Hermione looked like that was because of the Polyjuice Potion."

"Aha! So you stuffed it up, did you? That I can believe."

"No, it worked fine. Her, Ron and I all had a different hair, only Hermione's turned out to be a cat hair, and as you probably know, the Polyjuice Potion is only used for human transformations.

Malfoy chuckled. "I can just imagine the look on your faces when she sprouted whiskers. Why were you even making that potion anyway? It's far above the level of second years, and dangerous too. I've heard it's painful."

"It was, and it tasted foul, too. We were making it because we wanted to find out who the Heir of Slytherin was, and the only way to talk to them about it was to pose as the person's friends."

"Haha!" Malfoy was chuckling again, but leaning forward interested. "Who did you think it was?"

Harry blushed slightly, smiling at the memory. "Er, well... to be honest, we thought it was... you."

Malfoy sat stunned for a second before bursting out in laughter. "What! Laugh. You though. Laugh. It was. Laugh. Me?"

"Well, you are in Slytherin. I know it sounds ridiculous now, but come on! We were twelve."

Malfoy shook his head, smiling. Suddenly he stopped and frowned. "You said you posed as my friends to talk to me. Did it work?"

Harry smirked. "It did indeed."

"I don't believe it! When?"

"I don't remember exactly. Hermione took a hair she thought was Millicent Bulstrode's, but it turned out Millicent had a cat. Ron and I posed as Crabbe and Goyle. We knocked Crabbe and Goyle out with some tainted fairy cakes (Here Malfoy shook his head resignedly.) and dragged them into a broom closet. We took their shoes and went to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom."

"Why there?" Malfoy interrupted.

"No one ever goes in there, it was the perfect place to brew the potion. Anyway, we took the potion, and Hermione refused to come out afterwards, telling us just to go. We only had an hour, so me and Ron went down to the corridor where we knew the Slytherin Common Room was and luckily enough someone was there to open it for us."

"You infiltrated Slytherin in second year! I don't believe it! You are so lucky no one found out."

"Well we thought you nearly did. You and Pansy were over near the fire place, and we went over. Eventually you started talking about all the attacks."

Malfoy's eyes lit up. "You know, I think I remember the night you're talking about. You asked if I knew who it was, and I said I wish I did, because then I could help them."

Harry nodded, smiling. "Yup, at that point we started changing back. That's when Ron faked having a stomach ache and we left. We went back up to the bathroom and Hermione finally showed us her face."

Malfoy was shaking his head with an expression of amusement crossed with bemusement on his face.

"I will never again trust my housemates... you've destroyed any illusions I had about Crabbe and Goyle being a couple of innocent idiots."

Harry laughed at Malfoy's woeful expression. "Ah, well. Just don't tell Snape we had to er... borrow some of his ingredients."

"What! You stole stuff from Snape?"

"Technically it was Hermione..."

"Granger? Ha! The prefect isn't so innocent after all."

"You'd be surprised what Hermione can get up to. We needed Boomslang skin, so I created a distraction by throwing a firework in a cauldron, and Hermione slipped in to Snape's cupboard and took some. She left some coins though. I think she would have felt too guilty otherwise."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. "By the way Malfoy, if Snape finds out about this..."

"I remember the rule, Potter. What happens in the chamber stays in the chamber."

...

Later that night when Harry was sure the Gryffindor Common Room would be empty, Harry and Malfoy crept up the inclined tunnel that led to the Gryffindor quarter of the castle. They came to the 

stair case and Harry turned to Malfoy. "You need to be quiet in case anyone is up. Let me go up first and se, alright?"

Malfoy nodded as Harry turned and looked up at wooden panelling. "Open," he hissed, but nothing happened. Then he noticed straight line about fifteen cm long that ran down the middle of the panelling. Remembering what Malfoy had told him, he reached up and stroked the depression. As soon as he pulled his hand away, the wood began to fade away, and Harry hurried up the stairs, peeking cautiously over the floor. The common room was dark, the fireplace nearly burned out and throwing only dark shadows around the room. Not seeing anybody, Harry beckoned to Malfoy and took the last few steps up onto the landing.

As soon as Malfoy had stepped up next to him, the floor faded back, resuming the appearance of solid wood.

"I found it from the air. I'd never have noticed it otherwise, but the wood patterns here form the image of a snake. Can you see it?" Harry whispered, pointing with his foot along the line of the snake. Malfoy tuned his head this way and that, squinting in the darkness. "I suppose... I guess it looks better from the air."

"Yeah, it does." He turned to look out over the common room and spread his arms. "So, what do you think?"

Malfoy moved to stand next to him. "Hard to tell in the dark," he said, shrugging noncommittally.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You would never admit it even if you did like it, would you?"

Malfoy smirked. "Probably not."

They descended the stairs and walked over to the fire, taking seats. Harry pointed out one of the comfy ones to Malfoy who sat down looking distinctly uneasy. "Relax, Malfoy. No one's going to see you."

"Easy for you to say, Potter. There were no students here when you came to my common room. It will completely ruin my reputation to be seen in here."

"I'm not so sure about that you know. Most likely everyone will want to know how you got in. Your housemates will be falling all over themselves to congratulate you on infiltrating Gryffindor's domain.

Malfoy paused thoughtfully, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You could be right. Maybe it would be beneficial to let some little first year see me here. Not with you of course."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You should probably go now. I want to get some sleep."

Malfoy agreed, and they stood. Harry was about to lead Malfoy over to the portrait hole when it suddenly opened. Harry pulled Malfoy down behind the lounge as giggling voices reached their ears. Thankfully, the voices went straight to their dormitories, and they heard the doors closing up on the landing. "Maybe you shouldn't go that way. I can open the entrance to the chamber and you can go 

back through the tunnel to the Slytherin Common Room. Malfoy nodded. "Alright. Wouldn't do to be caught by Filch at this time of night."

They went back up the stairs and stood on the landing. "Listen, after Ancient Runes tomorrow, do you want to go down to the chamber?"

Malfoy hesitated a second before nodding.

"Alright then. Seeya tomorrow," said Harry.

Suddenly, the portrait hole opened again and Harry heard voices, but could see no one. Suddenly, he realised it was Ron and Hermione, and they were beneath his invisibility cloak.

"Where d'you think he could be?"

"I don't know. I just hope nothing's happened to him. Maybe we should go and see Dumbledore."

"You're right. Hang on though; let me check the map once more."

"Shite, come on Malfoy! You have to get out of here!" hissed Harry. Pushing Malfoy towards where the entrance was and desperately hoping that his two friends couldn't see him.

"What's wrong? Who's down there?"

"Just hurry!"

"Herm..." came Ron's confused voice from near the portrait hole.

"What?"

"The map says Harry's up there."

"Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried... Ron? What's wrong?"

Harry opened the entrance, hissing the password as quietly as he could and pushed Malfoy down the stairs just as Ron said, "It says he's with Malfoy."

"What? Give me that! ...What in the wor-"

"What?"

"He's gone!"

"Harry's gone?!"

"No, Malfoy is. He just... disappeared."

"You mean he apparated?"

"Of course he didn't! Haven't you ever read Hogwarts, A History? You can't apparate or disapparate on school grounds!"

"How did he do it then?"



"I've got no idea..."

Harry walked as quickly and quietly as he could to his dormitory, closing the door quietly. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain this, but he didn't even feel like trying right now. He most definitely couldn't explain Malfoy being there, and if he pretended he hadn't been up either, perhaps they would dismiss it as some accident on the map. He just hoped they hadn't seen him walk into his dorm...

A few minutes later, the door opened and Harry heard Ron putting the cloak and map away.

"Harry?... Harry?"

Harry feigned sleep when Ron pulled back his curtains, and Ron gave up, moving over to his own bed. Deciding to worry about explaining tomorrow, Harry snuggled into his blankets and fell asleep.

oOo

The next morning, Ron waited until Hermione had arrived to accompany them to breakfast before he said anything. "Harry, we wanted to ask you something."

"Mmm."

"Er... where were you last night? Me and Mione were really worried."

"Oh, sorry guys. I was in the library working on that transfiguration essay and I fell asleep. It was pretty late when I got back here. I'm lucky Filch didn't catch me."

"Did you er... have company when you came back?"

Harry gave Hermione what he hoped was a puzzled look, and saw Ron rolling his eyes. "No, why."

"I told you, Hermione."

"Told her what?"

"You see, last night we went looking for you. We took the cloak and map. We were getting really worried cos we couldn't find you anywhere on it. Then, when we got back to the Tower, we were going to go and see Dumbledore, but we decided to take one last look at the map."

Hermione took over the tale. "We saw you on it; you were up near the dorms, but you were with someone."

"What, Nev or Dean or someone?"

"No, it was... well it was Malfoy."

Harry raised an eyebrow and forced a laugh. "Malfoy. In the Gryffindor dorms? I'll believe that when I see it. He would probably have an aneurysm if he saw all that red and gold."

"So you didn't see him?"

Harry shook his head. "Are you sure. I find it difficult to believe he was in there."



"I saw his name too, Harry."

"The weird thing is though," continued Hermione, "is that he just suddenly disappeared, and after that he wasn't anywhere on the map."

Harry quelled a grin. "You think he disapparated?"

He could have laughed at the expression of frustration on Hermione's face, but bit his tongue to stop it.

"You can't apparate or disapparate within the grounds," Hermione ground out with forced calmness. 'She's going to snap one of these days,' thought Harry.

"Weird. Maybe it was just a strange mistake with the map."

"I just think it's strange that Malfoy appeared to be in Gryffindor Tower and then disappeared off the map altogether," said Hermione. "Do you think we should go to Dumbledore?"

That was not what Harry wanted. "Hermione, like you said apparating here is impossible. There are a hundred wards around this place. Besides, why would Malfoy be in Gryffindor Tower anyway?"

"Maybe he was on some mission for You-Know-Who!" said Ron.

"Yeah right. Malfoy isn't a Death Eater, Ron."

"How do you know Harry? For all we know, he could be."

"Look guys, it is really too early in the morning to be discussing this. Could we please just go and have breakfast?"

Ron was easily distracted by that topic, and eagerly took a seat at the table. Hermione clearly wanted to pursue the issue, but Harry finally convinced her to drop it. "Let's just wait and see, Mione. You'll see, it'll turn out to be nothing.

oOo

Harry hung around outside the Ancient Runes classroom until Malfoy appeared, then followed the Slytherin at healthy distance to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. In the chamber, they sat on the emerald lounge, admiring the view out of the huge window. "What happened last night, anyway?"asked Malfoy.

"Hermione and Ron went looking for me. That was them that came in second, when I told you you had to go quick. They were under the invisibility cloak – that's why we couldn't see them."

"I still don't appreciate the way you practically pushed me down the stairs. I bruised my shin."

"Oh, poor little Draco, do you need a band aid?"

"A what?"

"Never mind. The reason I had to get rid of you so quick was because they knew you were there."

"It was pretty dark, how did they see us up there?"

"They didn't see us, at least not that way. When I was in third year, Fred and George gave me this map. Hermione and Ron had it – that's how they knew we were there."

"I remember Weasley saying he was going to check the map. How would it tell them we were there though?"

"It's a special map of Hogwarts. It shows where everyone in the castle is."

"What!? You mean you could look at it and see where I am at any time?"

Harry shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Well what did you tell Weasley and Granger?"

"I told them you weren't in there. Besides, you disappeared as soon as you went down the tunnel, which is lucky."

"How could I have disappeared off the map?"

"The people who made it wouldn't have known the tunnel was there. They didn't plot it, so to anyone reading the map, it doesn't exist. Anyone looking at the map right now wouldn't see us on it."

"This map sounds interesting. Can I see it?"

"I could bring it along some time, I guess. We have to be careful though, Ron and Hermione, especially, are getting suspicious. They don't know how you just managed to disappear like that. I told them there was probably just some malfunction with the map, but they looked for you and couldn't find you anywhere, so now they think something is up."

"Does it really matter?"

"It might if they go to Dumbledore. They don't trust you, and if they think you were up to something bad, they're bound to tell."

"Well you need to convince them nothing is wrong!"

"Don't worry, I'm trying."

oOo

On Tuesday, Harry went down to breakfast with Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione kept exchanging glances, and Harry, growing more and more frustrated with each look finally burst out; "What's wrong with you two? Has something happened?"

"No everything's alright. It's just... we're worried about you Harry."

Harry looked across the table to where Ron was nodding in agreement to Hermione's statement.

"Why? I'm fine."



"It's the way you keep disappearing, mate. We don't know where you go for hours on end. You need to spend more time with your friends."

"I spend plenty of time with you guys."

"No you don't, not really. You go off by yourself, you say you've been in the library, but we go there to look for you and never find you. We understand if you need time alone, but it isn't good to withdraw away from everyone."

"Believe me guys- I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about. Like you said, everyone needs time alone."

"Well... if you ever need to talk Harry, you know we're both here."

Harry smiled reassuringly and nodded. "I know."

...

After transfiguration, Harry and Hermione went to the dungeons for potions. Malfoy was already there, and Harry walked over to the painting of Serenius Mobrey and his potions lab. "I still can't believe you guessed it the other week, Harry! That was so good."

Harry grinned at her. Just wait.

He looked over at Malfoy and gave an almost imperceptible jerk of his head in the direction of the painting. Malfoy took the hint and wandered over, Pansy clinging to one arm and Goyle tailing them.

Harry turned to the painting. "Serenius, what's that you're brewing?"

Serenius stuck his nose in the sir and said nothing.

Malfoy spoke. "It wouldn't be a highly complex shape-shifting potion, would it?"

Harry turned to Malfoy. "You know, I've read about one of those. In a book called 'Moste Potente Potions.' Have you read that one Serenius?" Beside him, Hermione gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

Mobrey was eyeing them warily, and Malfoy spoke again. "Does it require lacewings and boomslang skin?"

"I bet that potion's a really foul tasting one, isn't it?" added Harry.

"Have you stewed it for a month yet?" asked Malfoy.

At that point, Serenius threw down his mixing spoon and crossed his arms huffily, a scowl upon his face. "If you know what the bloody potion is just say it!"

Malfoy smirked. "Sometimes known as the Chameleonis Mophorius."

"Better known as Polyjuice Potion," finished Harry.



Serenius Mobrey slammed a hand flat on the bench. "How could you have possibly guessed so soon? I hid the ingredients and everything!"

"Just a lucky guess," replied Harry, amused at Mobrey's indignation.

"That was more that a lucky guess, Harry," said Hermione.

"Yes, it was." Snape's smooth voice cut through the air, and the class turned to face him.

"How is it that someone who has shown such abysmal talent for potions is suddenly able to guess two potions in a row?"

Harry shrugged. "I always thought Malfoy was rather good at potions."

Seamus snickered, and Snape glared, looking suspiciously between Harry and Malfoy. "Well, I suppose it is tradition. Thirty points to each of you, then." Snape turned and walked in to the lab, the class scurrying after them. Harry avoided Hermione's gaze; she was giving him strange looks.

oOo

That week in defence, they were beginning the official competition after their two practice weeks of team strategy. Snape began by giving the class instructions. "Choose your partner wisely. Marks will be accorded depending on the success of the team, not the individual. The winning team will receive the highest mark, with the team that does the worst receiving the lowest. That is not to say the lower scoring teams will fail, as I will be assessing your technique and the strategies you use, as well as your practical performance. The mark you receive for this will be worth thirty percent of your final grade. I will now give you five minutes to find a partner. When you have chosen, come to me so I can put your names down."

The class scrambled to find partners. Harry immediately turned to Ron, but the redhead was already agreeing to go with Hermione.

Ron and Hermione looked at him apologetically. "Harry, you go with Seamus."

"He's with Dean."

"Ask Nev-"

"Potter's with me Weasley," came Malfoy's imperious tone. The Slytherin had appeared at Harry's shoulder.

"What?" said Harry, as Ron snorted.

"As if Malfoy!" scoffed Ron.

"Why do you care, Weasley? You're with Granger." He turned to Harry. "Come on, Potter. I'm in this for the points – no one can beat us."

"Harry doesn't want to go with you!"

"I don't really care what he wants. Nearly everyone else is paired up, anyway. What's your answer Potter?"

Harry looked from Ron's slightly red face to Malfoy's slightly impatient, expectant gaze.

"Er..."

"Er... Draco?" It was Nott, clearly thinking that he had been going to partner with Malfoy.

"Theodore?"

"You coming or what?"

Malfoy turned and raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Well, am I?"

Harry cast what he hoped was a calming look at Ron before turning to Malfoy. "Fine, let's go."

"Wha-!? Harry!"

Harry turned back to Ron and shrugged. "We did do well that first week. Defence is my best subject and I'd like it to stay that way. Having my biggest threat on my team is the best way to do that."

Malfoy clapped his hands and rubbed them together, pleased. "Right then." He turned to Nott. "Theo, you'll have to find someone else.

"But I thought... who are you with?"

"Potter."

Nott blinked several times, frowning. "You. Are with... Potter?"



"That's what I said, Theo. I do believe Blaise is still free, but he won't be for long."

Nott continued to look bewildered for a moment before turning to find Zabini.

"Come on Potter, we need to tell Professor Snape."

Harry shrugged at Ron's perplexed and sour expression as the four walked over to give Snape their names.

"Weasley, you are with Potter?"

"No sir. Me 'n Hermione are partners."

"Weasley, Granger..." repeated Snape, writing the names down.

"Draco, who are you partnering with?"

"Potter, sir."

Snape froze in the middle of writing down Malfoy's name and looked disbelievingly between Harry and Malfoy. "What?"

"I'm with Potter."

Snape looked unsure of what to say before shaking his head slightly and writing 'Potter' next to 'Malfoy'. "Are you quite sure you want to commit to this particular partnership? I'm not sure it is a good idea."

Harry shrugged. "It's supposed to be about strategy, isn't it? As I said to Ron, Malfoy is my biggest threat. He can't beat me if he's on my team."

"Don't take all the credit, Potter. It was my idea."

Snape gazed at them appraisingly, a small smirk appearing on his face. He nodded. "Very well. See to it that I don't regret allowing this pairing."

oOo

Hey guys, for anyone who wants to know, at this point in the story it's the beginning of February. I wasn't really sure what I thought about this chapter. Hope it didn't seem badly written or disjointed or anything...

REVIEWERS:

Fhippogriff: Hey! Yeah, I guess Dumbledore can't see through cloaks in this story. Of course, he had no idea Harry was even in the painting, so he wasn't really looking either. So, who knows? Maybe he can. :)

Akuma-chan0326: Glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing. Please keep R&R'ing. : )

Voldemort is Dead: Hehe, thanks. Thanks for another review :)

Jensindenial3516: No worries! Thanks for the review.