Millicent hurried down the hallway and out the lawn. not wanting to be late. She refused to run, considering it too degrading. Upon reaching the greenhouse she slowed to a stroll, trying to appear nonchalant.

"Look who decided to show up," Professor Sprout said with a twinge of sarcasm. "Glad you're here." the last part was sincere and Millicent gave a respectful nod to the witch.

It was the second meeting for the herbology club and today they were to be tending to potion ingredients they would later give to Professor Snape. No new members had joined leaving Luna, Neville, Harry, Hannah, and Millicent as the only ones for this task. Millicent wasn't quite sure what she was doing here but she knew it definitely wasn't because of a kinda cute redheaded Hufflepuff; now that would just be ridiculous.

Professor Sprout called for the club to split into groups. As in the last meeting Harry, Luna and Neville were one group leaving Hannah and Millicent together. She wondered if the Hufflepuff would be alright with the Slytherin, knowing that the two houses didn't get along all too well, but the two girls seemed to be getting along rather well if those blushes were anything to go by.

"Alrighty girls and boys, here's what's going to happen. You three are going to get this side of the greenhouse and you two are getting this side. Every plant needs to be watered and weeded. Some of the plants need special care and those instructions can be found near the base of the pot. If you have any questions come ask me. You guys are going to be using these plants in potions and miscare of the plants can have negative effects on the potions. Got it?" Professor Sprout instructed.

Everyone nodded and gave a mumble of affirmation.

"Good, now off with you, have fun," Professor Sprout said. "Remember, this is a club activity, have as much fun as you want with this as long as you're careful."

Millicent walked over the their part of the greenhouse, not looking to see if Hannah was following but hoping she was. When the smaller girl had caught up she scratched at her cheek, unsure of what to say.

"Should we start here?" she finally asked.

"Okay," Hannah nodded with a carefree smile. Millicent tried not to blush at the sight.

"I guess I'll go get the watering can," she mumbled and slouched off. Hannah grabbed a bucket and weeding supplies and the two girls got to work in silence.

The silence was broken a few minutes later by Hannah. "Why did you join this club?"

Millicent thought about the real reason why she had joined, to spy on Harry for Draco and his little group, but that wasn't why she came back. She didn't know why she came back. She shrugged. "I dunno, it wasn't awful the first time." with a leap of faith Millicent threw a smirk at Hannah and continued. "Besides, the company I had was quite lovely."

Hannah looked at her, face bright red. "W-what?"

Millicent's smirk grew at the cute stutter. "Oh, nothing."

Hannah continued to shoot her looks, cheeks a burning red. The other girl looked adorable like that.

"Why did you join?" Millicent asked, allowing the girl a break from her embarrassment.

Hannah suddenly smiled brightly. "I love plants, they're gorgeous and learning how to care for them and the such seemed like fun. And, maybe it'll help me with potions!"

Millicent chuckled slightly at the girl's upbeat answer. "Do you need a lot of help with potions?"

"Not really," Hannah replied. "I can make most of them alright but I would like to do just a little bit better. As scary as Professor Snape is potions is one of my favorite classes."

"Really?" Millicent asked, surprised. Most people hated potions, though that was due in part of Snape. While that man was a genius at potions his teaching skills were questionable.

"Yeah," Hannah said. "It's really soothing, plus a lot of potions are healing potions and those are super useful."

"Do you want to be a healer?" Millicent asked, connecting the dots. Hannah blushed slightly, pausing in her work.

"Yeah… it sounds silly and most people call me silly for knowing what I want to do this early on in life but…" Hannah trailed off for a moment before smiling softly. "I would love to be able to help people for the rest of my life. I know it's a demanding job but it's something I've always wanted to do."

Millicent paused in her work as well, looking at the girl. "I don't think it's silly at all, I think that's wonderful you already know what you want to do." As tacky as the words sounded she meant them. Finding a job in today's economy was hard and knowing what you wanted to do was harder, to find someone who already had a dream in mind was special. She hoped Hannah went on to be a healer, she would help a lot of people.

Hannah smiled widely at her. Millicent blushed, not use to the overly happy look in the Hufflepuff's eyes. "You really think so? That's great! Most people think I'm dumb for it. It's nice meeting someone who thinks it's a good idea. I've already talked to Madam Pomfrey's and she's going to let me apprentice for her starting next year. I'm so excited! I've been too scared to tell anyone else because they might make fun of me but you won't, right? You're far too nice for that!"

Millicent was caught off guard by the stream of words Hannah was saying. It was like a dam had burst. After a moment she managed to catch up to the words and bristled. "Hey! I'm not nice."

"Yes you are," Hannah giggled. "You're one of the nicest people I've meet here and by far the nicest snake,"

Millicent scowled and turned back to her work, trying to hide her blush. "Bloody Hufflepuffs…"
Hannah giggled at that too. "See, you try to be all high and mighty but you're really just sweet. You're even blushing."

Millicent refused to look up, trying to stop blushing. "Fuck you," she mumbled.

"Awwww, see," Hannah said.

Millicent ignored her and focused solely on her work. They still had a quarter of their side to finish. Hannah giggled again and began helping again. Millicent started sneaking looks at Hannah while her blushed cooled. Gathering her courage she decided to ask one more thing.

"So, um, you said you needed help with potions," she said awkwardly. Hannah looked up and nodded, eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. Millicent took a deep breath. "If you want I could tutor you sometime." she kept her eyes on the plant in front of her, scared that Hannah would laugh and reject her offer. She had never offered to help anyone outside of her house and barely helped anyone in her house. It was nerve wracking.

"Really?" Hannah asked with wide eyes. Millicent looked up just in time to see Hannah's face break into a huge smile. "That would be great! Thank you so much! You're the best."

Millicent shrugged and looked away, cheeks tinged with red. "It's nothing."

Hannah hummed happily and returned to her weeding, asking a few questions to set up a study session that weekend. After that the girls continued to talk, mostly about trivial things that left both of them smiling when they left for their common rooms later that day.

Logan stood outside of Professor Snape's office, biting his lip. He had already waited out here for five minutes but he was scared to knock. While Professor Snape didn't detest him Professor Snape didn't like him much either. To be fair Professor Snape didn't like most people but it seemed as though Professor Snape disliked him just a bit more than others. That was probably because Professor Snape had caught him and the twins pulling pranks multiple times over the years and had once been at the receiving end of one, having to go a full day with purple hair. Still, there a paralyzing fear that stopped him from knocking on the door like he wanted to. Taking a deep breath he screwed up his courage and knocked thrice on the door before he could convince himself otherwise.

There was a long silence before a voice rang out. "Come in,"

With another deep breath Logan entered the room, careful to close the door behind him. Professor Snape sat behind his desk, grading essays. The professor looked up slightly, eyebrows lifting when he saw who it was. Snape set down his quill and sat up in his chair, motioning for Logan to take a seat.

"And to what do I owe this honour mister Potter?" Professor Snape asked with a touch of sarcasm.

Logan looked down at his lap, twisting his hands together as he bit his lip. Snape waited patiently, watching Logan as he dealt with his inner turmoil.

"It's about Harry," Logan finally said. Snape sat up a little bit straighter, his attention had.

"What do you mean?" Snape asked.

Logan bit his lip again. "I'm not sure I should tell you. My mum said it was a bad idea to go to anyone but Dumbledore about it but…"

That certainly had Snape's attention now. Lily Potter had instructed her oldest son not to disclose information concerning Harry to anyone but the Headmaster. That seemed a little bit fishy. Maybe Logan knew something about Harry that would help him figure out what was going on with that boy.

He waited patiently for Logan to continue talking. The boy was gnawing on his lip, looking scared and indecisive.

"I think his uncle is hurting him…" Logan said in a rush, as though betraying a great secret. Snape stilled.

"What do you mean?" Snape asked in a calm voice.

Logan took a deep breath and continued. "When we first went to get Harry he seemed alright but then his uncle came home and started yelling for him. Harry got all jumpy and scared and went to go see what his uncle wanted. When Harry came back he had a cut on his arm and cheek. I tried asking him about it but he refuses to say anything and when he goes back on the medication it's like he can't even remember it."

Snape stared at the boy, trying to comprehend what he had been told. "What do you mean, when you went to get him?"

Logan looked down, wondering if he had said anything wrong. "When my mum and I went to get him from my aunt and uncles house…"

"What was he doing there?" Snape asked. He briefly wondered if this was just a fib Logan was telling as a prank but the fear in his eyes said otherwise.

"Before he came to Hogwarts he stayed with his aunt and uncle," Logan said. In a much smaller voice he continued. "Mum always said it was to protect him and to let him live a normal life since we had to deal with the press and everything so much. At first I believed her but now… I don't know…"

Snape leaned back in his chair. If Harry had been living with an abusive family for so long then his theory about repressed memories might still be relevant but if that was the case then that meant the situation surrounding Harry Potter was so much more complicated than he thought.

"Does Harry stay with you and your mother now?" Snape asked.

Logan shook his head. "He goes back to the Dursley's, his aunt and uncle, for the first part of the summer before my mum brings him to our house. She said there was some sort of protection on the house."
Snape nodded once. If Harry was actually being abused why would Dumbledore and Lily be sending him back there every summer? And why would he forget the abuse whenever he came back to school? Was the child repressing his own memories in an attempt to live a normal life? But then why would Dumbledore be so involved with the child's health? And that potion?

Snape breathed in deeply, his head spinning with the ramifications of what this could mean. Dumbledore was his savior, having pulled him out of the darkest part of his life and given him a new beginning. Could the same man be hurting a child so severely that it would cause the child acute emotional and mental damage? He didn't want to believe it, but he might have to.

He refocused his attention back on Logan. "Is there anything else you think I should know?"

Logan shook his head again, eyes on the floor before pausing. The boy looked up, his eyes bright. "Please don't let Harry go back to that house, please. I might not have been there for him when he was younger but he's my brother and I don't want him to get hurt. He's already so fragile. I've tried talking to my mum but she won't listen. Please, you're the only person I can think of who might be able to help. Please?"

Snape was shocked at the raw emotions in the boys voice and felt the coils of obligation fall on his shoulder. He bowed his head slightly. "I shall do all in my power to make sure your brother doesn't come to harm. Thank you for bringing this information to my attention."

Logan gave a small smile and sniffled. With an embarrassed laugh he wiped at the unshed tears with the back of his arm. "Thank you Professor,"

Snape waited until he caught the boys gaze. "Of course, Harry is in my house and therefore my responsibility and even if he wasn't I would still do everything I could to help him. If you learn of anything else that might help me help him come tell me immediately. My door is always open to you and your brother."

Logan was surprised at the words. Snape had always been a pretty emotionless hardass that made potions a living hell and gave god awful detentions. He'd never seen this side of the professor but he was grateful for it. He nodded raggedly, scared that if he talked he would start crying. It felt as though he had been carrying this burden alone for so long. He had tried talking to his mum and even the headmaster about it but had been turned away and called a silly child, it was nice to have someone listen and take him seriously; to have someone help. There was such relief in knowing there was someone else to help watch over Harry. He tried as hard as he could but he was only fourteen. It was nice to have an adult he could trust.

He slipped out of Snape's office and hurried back to his dorm, not wanting to be caught out past curfew. He thought about writing to his mum and letting her know what had happened but something held him back. Instead he grabbed his book bag and joined his friends by the fire, pulling out his homework as the twins tried to coerce some poor first year into trying some of their 'special' candy.

"Harry, are you okay? You look like hell?" Draco said at breakfast. Harry yawned and poked at his eggs.

"Yeah," he mumbled.

His normal state of foggyness was compounded by lack of sleep, making him more apathetic and dazed than ever. It had been a month since he had first heard the voice that had led him to the bathroom. Now he was hearing the voice all the time. He followed it whenever he could and it always led him to the third floor girls bathroom. Lockhart had caught him several more times and given him detentions that lasted until the early hours of the morning. It was always doing something simple like fan mail or polishing pictures but it was tiring. When it wasn't detentions keeping him up that damned voice was murmuring promises of death. Toyomoto-hime had taken a dislike to the voice and often hid in his closet, unwilling to come out anymore. He made sure to bring her food but the day was lonely without her. If only he could figure out what that voice was then he could do something about it.

He yawned again. He was so tired. The food on his plate looked decidedly unappetizing and he set his fork down. He looked over at Draco and was glad to see the boy nibbling on some fruit. Good, Draco needed to eat more. Without much thought he laid his head on Draco's shoulder. Usually he hated human contact but right now he was too tired to care and Draco's shoulder was soft, if not a little bony, but that was okay.

Draco looked over in surprise as he felt a weight on his shoulder, only to find Harry asleep. Harry looked exhausted, with dark bags under his eyes. Draco kept asking Harry if he was sleeping well but the boy always said he was fine. He was glad Harry was finally sleeping, he needed it.

As Draco continued his earlier conversation with Blaise and Pansy about the usefulness of sporks and homework Pansy eyed the interaction between Draco and Harry. Over the past month they had steadily become closer. It was just little things, like Draco leaning over Harry's shoulder to see what Harry was reading or Harry carrying snacks for Draco whenever he was hungry but it made Pansy wonder if there was something there, something more than friendship. She had tried telling her theories to Milli but lately the other girl seemed concerned with something else and had brushed off her theories. Still, she was pretty sure that Draco and Harry would become an item sooner or later. She smirked happily at knowing that she would be the first to call the couple before frowning. Harry was going to have to be a lot more spacey if him and Draco were going to be a thing. Hmm, maybe they wouldn't work out. With a shrug she broke free from her musings and returned to the conversation, promising herself she would talk to Milli about it later.

Soon it was time for class and Draco loathed it but he woke his sleeping friend, shaking his shoulder slightly.

Harry whimpered, "Just a little bit longer Aunt Petunia, I promise,"
Draco frowned, wondering what that was about. "Harry," he said softly, "You need to wake up,"

Harry scrunched up his nose and opened his eyes. He blinked blearily and focused on Draco. "Oh, hi Draco," he mumbled sleepily.

"Hi Harry," Draco returned. "Now come on, class,"

Harry made a noise of protest as he grabbed his bag. He was so tired, why couldn't he just sleep a little bit longer?

He slouched and followed Draco to their first class, transfiguration. He tried to rest his eyes but Professor McGonagall was on him immediately, raping his desk with a ruler. He sat up miserably and stroked his arm where Toyomoto-hime usually lay. The lack of chilled warmth on his arm depressed him even further and the fog grew until everything appeared as though from underwater, words floating to him in snippets and fragments.

"Harry! Pay attention," A sharp voice broke through the fog. He turned to see Professor McGonagall standing at the edge of his desk, lips thin. He cocked his head, wondering what she wanted.

"You're supposed to be turning pin cushion into a teacup," Professor McGonagall finally said. He nodded and looked at his desk, mildly surprised to see a pin cushion there.

"Oh," he said. He looked to see Professor McGonagall still there. "Yes Professor?"

Professor McGonagall sighed and put on a patient tone. "Potter, I said I wanted you to turn that pin cushion into a teacup for me."

Harry nodded once more and looked back at the pin cushion. He took out his wand and waved it, saying the correct spell. The pincushion stayed the same as it was. He tried again before looking at the Professor.

She pursed her lips, "Try one more time Potter." He tried, nothing happened. She folded her arms, confused. The boy was doing everything right, so why wasn't it working.

"Potter, do you know why you can't turn the pincushion into a teacup?" she asked.

He shrugged. "My magic doesn't want to," he simply said.

She sighed, not wanting to get into this argument again. Whenever Harry couldn't do something in this class he always blamed his magic. She had wasted entire class periods fighting over , it was odd that he was doing everything correctly this time and still could not do it. There should be at least some reaction but there wasn't. She shrugged and went to go help another student. Maybe she'll mention it to Dumbledore later, he might know more about it.

^&&&&&&&Chapter End

Awww, there's cute couple stuff going on plus Logan is helping move the plot forward, yays! Alright, so next chapter will be posted soon, more awesome stuff in that now, until then enjoy and review. ciao!