"I can't believe our Potion's exam is Friday, already," Draco complains as they walk out of Snape's classroom. "We're first years. We shouldn't have to memorize anything."

Harry responds in unsureness, "I'm not sure Hermione would agree with you."

"Don't even bring that Gryffindor up. It's bad enough I have to compete with her, but apparently she's also Professor Binns prized student." He spats, "Making the rest of us look like rubbish and having that ghost compare her work to those who're nearly failing." He shakes his head, and then his mouth opens at the sight of the large tree in the stone hallway. Trees are meant to be outside. What's that oaf bringing it in here for?

They're forced to a standstill at the back of the crowd, and Goyle mumbles irritatedly, "We're going to be late."

Draco shakes his head before trying to push through the crowd, but he doesn't have the strength to get past, "Would you mind moving out of the way?"

Harry sees people begin to move, but it's unclear if they're doing it to oblige him or just because they were getting annoyed. Following him, they're able to see the front a lot better. Ron's trying to help Hagrid move the tree out of the way, although a bit unsuccessfully. Suddenly, it hits him, "I forgot."

"Forgot what?" asks Greg.

Harry watches Draco smirk, as he steps toward Ron. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley?" Ron glares at him. "Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose." He snickers, "That hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to."

Harry steps forward and grabs Draco's arm, "That's enough." as Hermione tries to keep Ron from barging at Draco. Harry sees Draco give him a disbelieving look, as if he'd just ruined his fun or stopped something completely normal for no reason. "I forgot to tell you that if you stop making fun of Ron, then he said he'd stop calling you names."

Draco laughs in a low tone, "I don't care what that weasel calls me. He's nothing but a blood traitor. He deserves everything that's coming for him, and he knows it."

"Draco," Hermione begins. "Maybe you should—"

"Don't call me Draco," he seethes. "My friends call me Draco, and you're anything but you filthy, impure—"

Ron breaks free and grabs the front of Draco's robes, "That's enough."

Harry can't help but notice the fear that had crossed Draco's face, which is understandable. When Harry had very mildly pushed him, he had completely fallen backwards. Draco would get hurt if Ron was to actually try to push him, and that wouldn't be bad for just Draco but also his reputation. Suddenly, a tall, black figure swooshes in front of Harry, and after he blinks he recognizes it's Snape. "Weasley!"

Ron lets go, and Hagrid defends, "He was provoked, Sir. Malfoy was insultin' his family and then he started calling Hermione names."

"Be that as it may," Snape says in a smooth, cold voice, "fighting is against Hogwarts's rules." He looks from a worrisome Hagrid to the squirming redhead, "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more." He looks around the group before snarling, "Move along. All of you."

Draco mutters, "Come on. We're late for Herbology." before he brushes past the prickly tree, and the rest of them follow.


Harry notices a thin and short, red line crossing the side of Draco's neck, "Did the tree do that to you?"

"Do what?" Harry nods to the cut, and Draco wipes his hand across it. When he sees the smeared drop of blood he just blinks, not seeming to care. "Probably."

Harry watches as his friend just continues with the assignment, measuring the growth rate of the different plants they had been working with over the semester, but Harry finds himself unable to. "Doesn't it sting or hurt?"

Draco touches it again for a moment before continuing with the assignment, "I'm fine, Harry. Just continue doing what we're supposed to be doing. I don't need your grade to fall because of me."

Harry does as he's asked but still attempts conversation, "The holidays are coming up." Draco hums in a nonresponse. "Are you looking forward to them?"

Draco smiles a little too wide, "Someone would have to be completely insane to want to actually stay at Hogwarts during the height of winter, what with the cold hallways and freezing dungeons." He tries to laugh, "We all just need to feel sorry for those who do stay."

Harry hesitates, "You do remember that I'm staying, right?"

Draco's smile slips, and he mutters, "Lucky you." under his breath. Before Harry can comment he continues at a normal volume, "At least you'll be warm. If your clothes don't do you justice, then you may have the house to yourself." He measures a plant stem. "Take the large blanket and curl in front of the common room fireplace. I bet it'd be nice." He licks his lips, "Nice enough, anyway. Nothing beats the large area charmwork my father's manor has."

Harry frowns, "Isn't it your manor too?"

Draco stops for a moment, but then he continues, "Yes. Yes. It is."

"Draco," Harry begins to question.

He interrupts, "The stems have different measurements. One is four inches, the second is three point four inches, and the last is six inches. What do you think caused the difference?"

"I don't know," Harry shrugs before looking back up at his friend. "Draco. Your father, the holidays—" He breaks off and starts to whisper, "Are you okay?"

Draco forces a smile, "It's too bad you can't be there with me. The winter holidays are just brilliant. The purebloods hold this gala; there's food, entertainment, and a lot of people to impress. We dress in our best attire and—" His smiles fades, and he bites his bottom lip as he stares out at the plants, "I think this one was given more sunlight and water. It would have taken in the water to rejuvenate, and the sunlight would have given it energy to grow."

"Draco," Harry begins to lose patience.

"Not now," he whispers fiercely before looking around. "Not here."

Harry stops to think, before he looks around at all the people— all the witnesses. If there is something wrong, he's not going to admit it here, is he. Harry looks at the paper they're supposed to be writing on. "I agree with you. It must have had more water and sun than the others." He sees Draco become calmer, and for the rest of the class it's the work that's the focus.

At the end, however, Draco looks around as the people leave. He watches the professor as several students stand around her and ask questions about the upcoming exam on Thursday, and he continues watching them as he swipes the tape measure and moves it towards his robe's pocket. He becomes still and doesn't breathe; he's been caught, and now someone's hand is wrapped around his arm. He looks around and is a little relieved at the sight of Goyle, "Hey."

Goyle smiles as he lifts up Draco's arm, the tape measure still in hand, "What you doing?" His tone is friendly, non-accusing, and Draco can't help but play along.

He smiles back, "Nothing much."

Goyle nods, "Hmm." before he takes the measuring tape from his friend. "What's this?"

"Oh." Draco shrugs, "I don't know. I just found it."

Goyle's smile widens, as he nearly laughs, "Do you think that maybe you'd like to unfind it?"

Draco pouts, "Fine." and when he's given the tape measure back he sets it on the table.

His friend continues to smile, "Nice try. Maybe next time."

Draco smirks, "Perhaps."

Goyle shakes his head before nodding up, "So, you staying for extra credit, or are you eating lunch with us?"

Draco turns to look at the professor for a moment, before he turns back and frowns, "I don't think we were given that option."

"Then you don't have an excuse." He places his hand in the middle of Draco's back, "Come on. Here we go. That's it."

Draco shakes him off but continues walking, "I'm not ill."

Goyle gives him a look, "Would you like to rephrase that?"

Draco's eyebrows furrow, "I'm not sick. I can walk myself." and he does.


- I love how playful this chapter is. You know you have a true friend when they find you stealing something you're not supposed to have, and their response is to ask you if you'd like to "unfind" it. I should mention that I am using a calendar to keep track of the time that passes in the story, and since things didn't make much sense I'm changing things up a little (like how the holiday break hadn't started yet and they don't have classes, or that they only seem to have a few classes). The way Hermione describes it in the book makes it almost seem like they get almost the entire month off, since their break would be starting a week before Christmas and they wouldn't return until after the new year. Maybe it makes sense to the British folk out there or to those who attend boarding school, but to make it make more sense to me and for the sake of plot I'm changing it so they have all classes until break and that their break is only two weeks. I hope this doesn't annoy anyone. Please R&R and have a good day/night. The next couple of chapters are going to be a bit interesting. I hope you've enjoyed.