Rain hit across the window pane as Harry slowly read through his fifth care for magical creatures text that week. He was on a page about banshee when he had to put the book down. He looked out towards the other castle turrets lights flickered in the windows. As Harry watched slowly as the rain grow and fell like waves the lights fell darker and one by one turned out. Hogwarts was going to sleep for the evening, and Harry watched the castle until the rain grew so strong the night went black.

It was late, and Malfoy had never turned up. Harry could feel it nagging at him. Draco Malfoy had never been late to one of their meetings, as far as Harry knew Malfoy hadn't been late a day in his life. Something was wrong, Malfoy made a point of never being late. Harry sat up putting the book into his bag to be returned tomorrow, there was nothing new from it. He attended to the lowest burning candles treating them with a transfiguration spell to bring them back to their original state. Harry paced the room starting up his internal debate- To go looking for Malfoy or to wait here instead.

First of all it was late, it was getting to a point in the night where teachers would be on high alert making it difficult for Malfoy to sneak back up. Maybe time got away from him, Malfoy was one of the top students in their year so maybe he was studying. Malfoy could have already gone to bed. Harry didn't want to waste his time or worse lose some of the precious free time he did have by getting caught out late and landing himself in another detention.

Harry sat back down on the window sill, he had his head in his hands. What if Draco had been attacked, yes it was unlikely but… If Voldemort really was back or coming back or whatever- the likeliness of an attack would go up. Then there was the other consideration, the one that didn't revolve around Harry being the centre of the universe. Malfoy liked to shoot off at the mouth, more importantly he liked to be right even in situations where that wasn't possible or a priority. Some older Slytherin could have gotten sick of him and found a way to shut him up. Harry looked up, the cozy setting of the classroom felt wrong, he felt he really should go either way.

He started to properly pack up, putting away the paper and quills loose around the classroom from his studying. He folded the blankets putting them away on one of the shelves, and had just started to blow out the candles when the door slammed open.

Malfoy stood in his pyjamas, a school cloak hastily draped around his shoulders. His hair was full of soot making it a grey colour, his eyes were rimmed red and puffy. "Harry? You leaving already? I've only just arrived." He was out of breath, but somehow still sounded smug.

Harry sighed giving Malfoy a concerned smile, "Took you long enough I thought something may have happened." He'd never say to the extent out loud but seeing Malfoy in one piece brought him a great relief.

Malfoy closed the door behind him placing the sigil and then pointing to the candles Harry had blown out. The room was once again cozy and bright, Malfoy walked over to Harry who stood by the games and blankets in the corner. "Well something did happen, but I took care of it. Strangely enough there are things in my life outside of you."

Harry rolled his eyes, "So why bother showing then?"

Malfoy pushing past Harry grabbed one of the blankets and turned back towards the window, "I didn't say you as a whole were a bother, more so your enormous ego."

Harry had balled his fist, "My enormous ego?" Thunder rumbled outside of the tower, as Malfoy set up the window sill.

"Oh yes Potter I still don't think after all these years you've realized the world doesn't revolve around you."

Harry was only just holding back an anger he couldn't explain, something about Malfoy's needling was just getting to him. "You know what? Fine, if that's how you feel I'll just go then."

Malfoy turned at that, "Hey hey I was only joking." He somehow in a single moment with only the slightest tone change seemed to transform. Harry dropped his shoulders looking at Draco, they were on the same team, the thought flashed across Harry's mind, why was he being so sensitive.

Harry grabbed a blanket and walked over to sit across from Malfoy on the sill, lighting flickered off in the distance, and Harry finally met the other boy's eyes.

"Sorry, I- I dunno why I said that,"

Malfoy was staring at him, but Harry dropped his eye contact and ignored him, looking out at the storm again.

"There's going to be a ball." Draco was quiet when he spoke and Harry couldn't help falling for the trap and looking up falling back into Malfoy's gaze. Harry blushed, "What like a dance?"

Draco smirked, "Well I suppose it's more of a Gala, Dumbledore's last ditch effort to get some international allies. I was wondering if you'd have any interest?"

Harry paused, "Social events aren't really my thing. Too many people, lots of staring." He was a bit confused why Draco would care about Harry's interest in a ball anyway.

Draco nodded, "Of course, yes that makes sense... Well if you don't plan on going I was wondering…" He broke eye contact and stared out into the storm as lighting came even closer.

Harry looked out at the storm too, "Wondering what?"

Out of the corner of his eye Harry could just catch Draco beaming, "Oh I was thinking maybe we could do some flying."

Harry smiled, "It's going to be freezing you're just going to complain the whole time."

Draco chuckled, "No you're the one who complains about the cold, I've learned a charm to deal with it. Besides we wouldn't be flying for the sake of it, I was thinking maybe we could sneak out to Hogsmead."

Harry paused thinking, "They'll know we're Hogwarts students and just send us back."

Draco sighed a touch too dramatically for it to be genuine, "You're right… Well... There is this little town just off the island we could go to. No one would recognize us there." It was more bait, Malfoy had planned this conversation long before he and Harry started actually having it.

Harry jumped as lightning struck one of the towers, Draco put a hand on his leg and they both watched as flames started to grow from the point of contact. Harry looked over to Draco, "Should we tell someone?"

Draco gave Harry a soft smile gesturing back to the tower, the flickering from the fire slowly disappeared and the night went dark again. Harry settled back watching the lightning continue across the sky, Draco kept his hand on Harry's leg as they watched.

"So why do you want to go to this town?"

They had been quiet for a few minutes and Harry thought the subject was safer than trying to switch to why Draco had been crying.

Draco smiled obviously pleased with himself, "Well I was thinking maybe we could spend the night there, have a little party, the two of us."

Harry thought it over, "Is it a muggle village?"

Draco frowned, "Yes… Yes it is, I was hoping maybe you could help out with that?" Draco looked up allowing a moment to be vulnerable.

Harry gave him a soft smile. "I think I can figure something out."

Draco was beaming as lightning flashed so bright the classroom went white, seconds later the thunder rattled the very classroom they sat in. Harry found himself holding onto Draco's shoulder with one hand and his other hand grabbing Draco's arm. Draco held just as tightly onto his leg, they both looked at each other and chuckled, nervously moving away.

They fell into silence again, falling back into the lull of the rain and the storm.

"Draco can I ask you something?"

Draco fussed with the hem of his cloak, "What is it Potter?" His tone was suddenly bored but his wording seemed annoyed. Harry paused trying to think of the right words, something he had little practice doing.

"Are you okay? When you came in you seemed upset…"

Draco locked eyes with Harry, he looked almost mad, his emotions seemed to move across his face in small flashes in little ways he moved his eyebrows and lips. He seemed to be having an internal debate.

"You don't have to tell me, actually it was really stupid of me to pry. Never mind." Harry felt as though he was see through and felt the need to draw into himself as he looked back at the rolling storm.

Draco shifted slightly tucking his legs up and pulling them to his chest with his arms. "My parents called me…"

"On a telephone?" Harry was definitely shocked he wasn't aware Hogwarts had any phones.

"On a pardon? They called me via the floo network, you know what the floo network is right?" Draco placed a hand on his temple and seemed to be in physical pain from Harry's mention of muggle technology.

Harry turned his head as though to peer off for lighting further on the horizon but really to mask his blush. "Yes I know what the floo network is… Why did your parents call?"

Draco sighed, "Well partially because of the article by the Skeeter lady. Apparently it has caught the attention of the wider public and well… To put it bluntly people who would have rathered you had died during the war are checking in with my parents. My parents are concerned about where my allegiances lie.

"And..?" Harry fiddled slightly with the hem of his robe. He felt the slightest pressure on his shoulder and turned to look back up at Draco. His hand was reaching for Harry hovering just above his shoulder, Harry reached out to hold it. Draco smiled, "I told them the truth. That we are close, that I trust you, and that these feelings aren't going to change any time soon."

Harry smiled back, "That was brave of you."

Draco chuckled, "I must admit I didn't say it that concise or loquaciously. My father was rather upset at the situation though my mother seemed…" He paused searching for a word. "It didn't seem to shock her she acted as though she had suspected it."

Harry shrugged, "Hermione seems to know everything too maybe it's a girl thing."

Draco started laughing, "Maybe it is." He stood up suddenly stretching out as the thunder seemed to be slowly growing more distant.

"Harry I'm going to tell you something and it is going to really suck to hear but it's important."

Harry nodded, watching Draco seem to hype himself up for a moment.

"Potter Voldemort is going to use this tournament to return. I have no idea how, no one in my family has any idea how, but he is. My father would never speak lightly of the dark lord returning. There is a plan in action and Dumbledore is doing everything in his power to support that plan."

Harry sat up, "I'm sorry what do you mean by that?" He was truly baffled, he wasn't sure if Draco had spoken so fast he had misheard or if Draco had in fact lost his mind.

Draco turned to Harry, "He allowed you to be placed in this tournament. Dumbledore is smart enough to know you getting put in this tournament was not a mistake. People are going to take advantage of these circumstances, they are going to try something, a ceremony of some kind most likely…"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "How do we know Dumbledore isn't trying to stop it. There's supposed to be some life binding contract with the cup right? Maybe these people just acted faster than he could counter."

Draco sighed, "I mean there was no protection at all for the goblet. He never even questioned anyone about your name being placed in it. The ministry tried to execute a full on investigation which Dumbledore interfered with on every level. They never got a look at any of the rooms the cup was held in or to talk to any of the people involved in the handling of it or even staff who may have been watching names be thrown in. The only thing he let the ministry look at- because it was the ministries property which had to be returned was the cup itself. Even then when they went to do testing Dumbledore had done a full wipe down of it both physically and magically.."

Harry's hands shook slightly as he listened, feeling his adrenaline begin to pump, "So you're telling me Dumbledore doesn't even have the cup right now?"

Draco let out a short cold laugh, "Gods no, only piece of evidence the ministry has."

Harry felt sick to his stomach, "He told me he was working on it."

Draco paused, dropping his cold demeanour and looking at Harry, "He lied to you."

Harry could feel the hurt deep in his chest, "Why?"

He felt Draco next to him in a heartbeat, Draco's hands grabbing Harry's immediately trying to find words to comfort him.

"There are so many reasons that could be why he's hiding it and not all of them make him out to be a total monster." That sentence seemed to hurt Draco to say but he did anyway for Harry's sake, which Harry appreciated.

"The part that does make him a monster is the fact that he is willing to risk your well being, the well being of a child under his protection. Dumbledore is either being swayed by pride, ego, or a blatant disregard of his responsibilities as headmaster. That disregard is putting you in danger and that's not okay."

Draco made eye contact before pushing forward, "You are someone very important to me and I'm not going to make excuses for the people who are actively putting you in danger."

Harry wasn't sure how to feel, he sat there numbly letting Draco grip his hands. He wasn't even sure if he totally believed Draco, he had always been heavily biased against Dumbledore.

"Why put me through this though, I mean even by the logic of 'we don't know the reason why he's letting Voldemort get his way' there should be some reason why putting me through the tournament would be a long term benefit. I guess I'm asking what does Dumbledore get out of it outside of a war? Even if he wanted a war no one would put him in charge if he's shown to recklessly kill a child"

Draco thought for a moment and then paused, and then froze. His face was morphed into a look of disgust and Harry wasn't sure how to pull him out of whatever thought had triggered it. Luckily he didn't have to Draco moved in one fluid motion to lock eyes with Harry.

"My father talked about this a little. There are people who have been waiting for you to hit this age just to start the war all over again. What if Dumbledore is using these tasks to prepare you? I mean you are the boy who lived. What if he's preparing you to be some kind of chosen-" Harry put up a hand, and Draco fell silent.

"I don't want to think about that." Harry didn't have any other excuse to stop him from speaking. The horror was that it was entirely possible. In fact the more Harry thought about it the more his first, second, and third years began to make sense, Dumbledore had always known Harry was getting involved in these mysteries and he had never once stopped him. In fact Dumbledore had given him tools to help prepare him to face those tasks. He cut his thoughts short and looked back at Malfoy looking at the worry in his eyes. Harry wasn't ready to live in a world where he was being manipulated to any extent let alone to the potential extent Draco was suggesting. However there was enough logic in Draco's argument Harry couldn't pin the whole thing on paranoia. Draco didn't seem the type to fall into conspiracy theories that was more Harry's territory.

They'd sat in silence for a long time before Draco seemed to force himself to relax and look back into the rain. He spoke slowly to Harry, "We don't have to talk about it again. I'm just saying we need to rely on each other, Neville, you, and me. We need to stick together."

Harry sighed, "We have two more who want to join. I tested the waters and they seem... flexible." It was the best word Harry could find.

Draco sighed, "Fucking Weasley and Granger? Really Harry?"

Harry nodded, "I know but we need all the help we can get and they want it to work. They want to help."

Harry looked at Draco who seemed to have entered a debate with himself, after a moment he looked back at Harry. "Granger is a great ally that we desperately need. I don't know about Weasley though, he's not emotionally stable."

Harry laughed, "And I am?"

Draco nodded,"A fair point, we'll give them a chance but as soon as they get wishy washy- Wishy washy?" Harry interrupted barely holding back laughter.

"Did you just say wishy washy? I thought you were Mr. Posh but apparently we've fucking moved down to wishy washy."

Draco smiled, "Oh fuck off, I'm tired I can't think of the word. As soon as they start acting like they're gonna piss off we get the jump on them and tell 'em to piss off first. Does that sound like a plan?"

Harry pushed him lightly, "Barely but to be fair this whole year has felt like it's only been held together by some duct tape and loose string."

Draco sighed, "Cheers to duct tape then."

Harry rolled his eyes relaxing slightly, letting Draco lean on him as they settled further into the sill. The rest of their conversation was mostly incoherent sleep getting the better hold of their minds. By the time the sun rose the next morning Harry felt like he'd only just fallen asleep. Draco however seemed like he was on top of the world and that made Harry smile.