It was a Monday meaning early morning potions, Harry had been staring at Malfoy all breakfast unable to look away. Malfoy had looked up a few times, giving him a glare the first time, then a smirk, and finally a smile shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Neville suddenly asked, he was sitting across from Harry beginning to settle into a place on the bench apparently having just arrived.

"Oh nothing, I was looking at the fire, you think it's enchanted?" Harry asked, focusing on the first thing behind Malfoy he noticed.

The night before had felt like a strange lop sided dream. Something that would come from a night of eating too many sweets, Harry would wake up the next morning to a stomach ache and a slow start to the day. Instead he had been woken to Malfoy giving him a few solid shakes at some ungodly hour of the morning. Harry had scurried back to the common room to nap on the couch until people started making their way down to breakfast.

Neville turned, and looked over at the fire, "I never really thought about it. I assume it must be, I've never seen anyone tend to them."

Harry nodded in agreement, "I suppose you're right."

Harry hid his barely touched toast beneath a napkin, while Neville scarfed down a quick breakfast, they talked intermittently until they silently packed and left for potions. They both hated the class and seemed to have agreed they would pretend it didn't exist until they got there. As they walked they talked of Neville's current herbology projects, he had recently stumbled into a love of plants and was trying his hand at a few garden variety herbs.

Unfortunately Snape seemed to be running late, the door was locked when they got there. A small group of mostly Slytherins stood or sat around the door seeming just as impatient to get inside. Neville sighed, leaning against the wall and taking out his Herbology textbook. Harry slouched, his leg falling into an anxious bounce almost immediately.

"Snape not here?" Hermione asked, seemingly appearing from thin air.

Harry shrugged, "Apparently." With how much Hermione hung out with Ron it was starting to get awkward when she did reach out to Harry. The more Ron refused to talk with him the more Hermione seemed to distance herself. It was in moments like this Harry wasn't sure how to respond.

"Ugh, I want this class to be over with." Hermione sighed, "Well he can't be too long, the bell rings in a few minutes."

Ron appeared from around the stairwell and stood silently behind Hermione, he made an effort to avoid looking at Harry and Neville. Harry couldn't help his heart sinking at the offhanded rejection. His thoughts however, were cut off by a sharp voice.

"Just the people I was hoping to see. Granger, I've got a bone to pick with you."

Harry wasn't sure if Malfoy meant to be a complete tool or if it just came so naturally he couldn't help himself. As Malfoy sauntered over Harry wanted nothing more than to slam his head into the wall. Luckily Malfoy was alone, but this was still absolutely not the way to address the problem they'd spoken about.

"The fuck do you want you snobby prick." Ron pushed Harry slightly to get in between Malfoy and Hermione.

Malfoy sighed, "I talk to you like you're inconsequential, speaking of which I wasn't talking to you. I don't believe I said Weasel. Now Granger, you and I happen to have a coinciding goal-"

Malfoy attempted to step around Ron but got cut off again as Ron stepped back in the way. Harry could see Malfoy getting more frustrated.

"Stop interrupting me, I have nothing to say to you- Then you have nothing to say to her." Ron interrupted, Malfoy scowled.

"Perhaps would like to make the decision for herself. Being the smartest witch of her age I'm sure she's more than capable."

Ron scoffed, crossing his arms, "More than capable of seeing through your bullshit!"

The class had fallen silent and as Ron's words wavered in the air Harry looked up to see Snape behind him. "Mr. Weasley, 20 points for inappropriate language now before I need to dock anymore please allow me to get into my classroom." Ron's face paled as he moved aside, allowing Snape through. Malfoy moved to follow standing next to Harry.

As they shuffled into the class, Malfoy put a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed gently. Harry wasn't sure what that meant but assumed it was apologetic, that conversation had gone poorly even Malfoy must have seen that.

Harry sat in the desk closest to the door and furthest to the back, Neville taking the seat beside him. Malfoy just happened to sit in front of Neville, Blaise Zabini, a boy Harry had seen Malfoy with on occasion sat next to him.

To Harry's horror the lecture portion of the class lasted less than 15 minutes before Snape launched into a tutorial. He and Neville started setting up their station when Snape stopped them, "Mr. Longbottom this potion is far too dangerous for you to brew with Potter, you will be working with myself and Mr. Zabini. Potter I believe Malfoy will be able to stop you from blowing up the classroom today."

Neville gave Harry a sympathetic smile as Harry started to collect his things. Of course Harry tried to take it all in one trip and ended up dropping everything to the floor. The clatter made him jump and it took everything in him to stay calm as he leaned down to pick his things up.

Malfoy ran to help, "Please Potter, let us try to keep property damage to a minimum today? I know that isn't in the Gryffindor nature but let us pretend for a moment."

Harry rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling when he and Malfoy's eyes met. "Don't be an ass," Harry whispered. Malfoy faked a shocked expression and looked around, "I don't think an ass would be helping you clean up. Especially as I don't see anyone else racing to do it."

Harry grabbed up his last book and placed his things at the station. "I suppose so, thank you Malfoy."

Malfoy smiled, "Your Welcome. Now come on Mr. Scruffy, we've got things to do." He made sure to look at Harry's hair which he was well aware was more unkempt than usual.

Harry started chopping up the ingredients they needed as Malfoy started the actual potion. They worked in relative silence, it wasn't until Malfoy put a hand on Harry's shoulder that he noticed he was almost hyperventilating.

"Are you sure you can do this today?" Malfoy spoke so quietly Harry could only just make out the words.

"I'm fine, just a little distracted."

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "You're hyperventilating if you don't watch it you'll knock yourself out. Don't be an idiot, just sit out today."

Harry raised his eyebrow, "That'll draw more attention then just pushing through."

Malfoy sighed waiting for Harry to finish chopping up the ditany before grabbing all the ingredients and throwing them into the cauldron. He pushed some plants Harry didn't recognize towards him and he started to chop them up too.

He just needed to get through this first hour after that he could get into a rhythm. It would get easier. Harry just had to push through this hour. He had to ignore the spots across his vision, and the tingles in his legs, he just had to push forward.

He paused for a moment when his vision went black.

Then he felt a hand on his back, it was Malfoy's he already knew. "I'm fine," Harry mumbled.

His vision cleared and he realized he was on his hands and knees. Malfoy was sitting next to him on the floor, Snape was a few feet away yelling at someone. As Harry started to try to get up a different set of hands immediately came to help him up. "Steady mate."

Harry was shocked to see Ron and Neville sitting on his other side. Malfoy held out some water, "You're dehydrated, it'll help." The four of them sat in silence while Harry drank. "You fainted, I told you, you would." Malfoy was obviously on edge watching Snape like a hawk. Harry realized he was talking with Zabini while Hermione stood silently stuck behind them. She caught Harry's eye and gave him a soft smile.

"Since when are you concerned with Harry?" Ron suddenly snapped, the words an almost growl that made Neville shuffle a bit away from him.

"I could say the same about you." Malfoy snapped back, his words like ice.

"We're all just happy Harry's awake now." Neville cut them both off making an effort to look Harry in the eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"I… I think I should go back to bed." Harry's voice came out quieter than he had expected. Malfoy took his now empty cup and offered his hand. "I think we should go back to the hospital wing." He spoke quietly but it would have been impossible for Ron not to hear.

"What do you mean back? Have you been hanging out with this creep? Is he how you got your name in the cup?" Ron was yelling now, and Snape took this moment to appear.

" , would you keep your voice down? I can assure you we can all hear your nonsense. Mr. Malfoy, please escort Potter to the Hospital Wing. Mr. Weasley, Longbottom back to your stations please."

Snape turned to the rest of the class, "Now most of your potions should be ready for the aconite fluid."

Malfoy took hold of Harry's arm and firmly directed him up and out of the classroom. They made it to the stairs before Harry needed to sit.

"When did you last eat?"

Harry looked up from his feet to see Malfoy truly and deeply concerned. Harry couldn't help but smile. "You're hair's as bad as mine," Harry lifted a chalk white hand and adjusted the other boy's equally white hair. Malfoy rolled his eyes, "Food Potter?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Honestly I'm feeling a little sick." Malfoy sighed, "Yes, probably because you are starving. Focus here Potter when did you last eat?"

Harry shrugged, "Ugh breakfast.."

Malfoy sighed, "Okay then you've just eaten so it must be- Oh no breakfast yesterday." Harry was surprised how quickly this new Malfoy could turn back to the old one. His facial expression had fallen back into the same place it almost always sat when looking at Harry.

"I didn't mean to make you upset," Harry muttered looking back at his feet.

Malfoy looked as close to exploding as a human being could without actually exploding.

"Potter I'm- Malfoy! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Harry was surprised to see Ron, hands turned to fists making a bee line for them.

"Oh great this guy, I thought you two weren't talking?" Malfoy asked Harry who shrugged as Ron approached.

"Look I don't know what you're playing at here but Harry doesn't need some pompous, stuck up, self important- Shut up!" Harry couldn't hold it in.

They both stared at him, and his shoulders slid up. "I've been so alone and scared and you weren't there." Harry glared at Ron, " I needed you and you turned your back on me! If you think for two seconds I actually want to participate in this human death trap you're stupider than everyone says you are!" Harry had closed his eyes at some point and was almost screaming by the end of his rant. In the icy silence that followed he felt a hand on his back.

"Whatever, like I really want to be friends with you anyway. Have fun with your new blood obsessed friend but he'll drop you as soon as he figures out you were raised by muggles."

Harry felt the hand on his back lift, and Harry felt like he could crumple.

"Well not that this hasn't been lovely but it's time for you to evaporate."

This made Harry open his eyes. Malfoy was standing in front of Harry, staring Ron down. It was actually quite an interesting sight Ron was a half foot taller than the other boy at least but Malfoy didn't seem bothered by that. Ron looked down at him and gave a huff before turning and stalking back to the classroom. As soon as the door to the classroom shut Malfoy turned back to Harry crouching so they were at eye level.

"I meant what I said… About trying to help you and I guess I… I get your thing with mud- muggle born students. I guess I understand it a bit better now."

Malfoy was making an expression Harry had never seen on his face before. He didn't really know what it was but when Harry looked back at him Malfoy gave Harry a small smile.

"I think I'm ready to keep going." Harry let his shoulders down, and he stood up. Malfoy looked nervous for a moment but when he saw Harry standing he let out a breath. "Come on you idiot, at the very least I want some tea. If I'm going to be around you the next two weeks I'll probably need a lot of it. You have the uncanny ability to stress out the people closest to you."