CHAPTER 4

The corridor was deserted. He trembled slightly, but not from the cold, no. This was nerve's work. He suddenly remembered that he wasn't supposed to wander around the castle after 11 o'clock, so he decided to quicken his pace.

He was lucky he didn't make any sound while walking. His footsteps where light as a feather and his friends found this very useful because they could use Draco's feature to pull a prank on the Gryffindors without being discovered.

It always ended on him being used.

His friends, his father and Voldemort.

Meanwhile, Malfoy had already arrived to his destination. He turned his head at the sound of footsteps. It was Harry running. When the Gryffindor saw Malfoy, he pointed nervously at the passage behind the portrait Draco had opened and ushered him inside. The green eyed boy closed the door and let out a breath he'd been holding.

"I thought they were going to discover us." Harry said relieved. Malfoy's eyes were demanding him further explanations.

"Filch. It was him and his precious cat who were patrolling the halls. I didn't remember that he would be here tonight because I usually bring the invisibility cloak at my midnight escapades. But this time Ron needed it, and I couldn't say no to a friend." he had talked so fast that he had to stop for a moment, in which Malfoy decided to interrupt.

"Wait a minute Potter. You're telling me you own an invisibility cloak?" asked Draco with an incredulous expression. Harry saw this and a smug smile appeared on his face.

"Yeah, I have one since my first year. It was my father's." at the mention of this, Harry's eyes clouded and he lost the smile he had plastered on his face.

"You really miss them, don't you Potter?" said Draco very softly. He was feeling very bad because he couldn't bear to see that sadness bottled inside of the person he loved. He tried to transmit with his eyes all the sympathy he felt towards the other.

"What can you know about how I feel? You know nothing, Draco. You have a little perfect family and all the attention you could ask them for." Harry was losing it. He wasn't used to hearing pity on the other's voice that's why he decided to ignore it.

"Stop Potter. You can't talk about what you don't know. Don't assume things because you'd be very surprised if you knew half of what really happens in my family." those words silenced Harry. He had never really thought  how living in a family like Malfoy's would be, with a Death Eater for a father and a vain mother who cares more for her appearance than for her own child. That wasn't very pleasant.

"I'm…I'm sorry Draco. I don't want to begin another fight with you. In fact, I've told you to meet me here because I want to end all this.- he said pointing to the space between them.- I think this childish rivalry has lasted too much and I don't need an enemy right now. I've got enough with old Voldemort planning evil schemes behing my back. What do you think?" asked Harry very determined.

"One moment Potter. You're saying that you want to become friends with me?" said Draco.

"No, I haven't said that exactly. I just don't need you as an enemy. I want to be able to be at school without having to think what's the next prank you're planning to pull on us." answered the green-eyed boy wearily.

"Oh! I understand now. Poor perfect Harry needs no more of his enemy Draco Malfoy because he's tired." he paused for a moment and continued with a warning voice."Well let me tell you one thing, Potter. This has never been a game for me and you can't call it off when you feel like it." Draco was very angry with Harry. His speech had obviously a double meaning for him. He felt like a toy the Gryffindor could play with whenever he wanted.

"Oh you! Why you have to be so stubborn! I don't know why you've been ignoring us this last year, but I really don't care"as Harry was saying this, Draco flinched slightly - I only want to know if you're going to be a problem for me in the future. But if you want to start a friendship out of this agreement, there's no problem with that." Harry said with a hard voice.

Draco was hurt. And, although he would have jumped at the chance of starting a friendship with Harry, he wasn't going to now. The Gryffindor had been very harsh with him. Part of him knew that he probably deserved it for all the times he had insulted his friends in the past. But it was very different now.

-Fine you want me to get out of your way? Ok. But don't expect me to fall on my knees everytime you pass near me. And eventhough your friendship offer was very tempting I'll have to refuse. I'm a Slytherin after all, and I don't need friends like you when I already have them on my own house, who can even be harsher than you are. Thanks and goodnight Potter.- and with that,, Draco left the room.


Harry was feeling very guilty. He had been preparing this for a long time, but he couldn't help feeling angry with the Slytherin for all those times when he was very cruel with him, Ron and Hermione.
**Well at least I've arrived to an agreement. But why do I feel so guilty? I guess it's Gryffindor's nature.** he thought.

And without thinking about it, he stormed out of the room searching for Draco. He found him in front of the Slytherin common room's entrance. He was saying the password when he decided to call him.

"Malfoy! Wait." Draco stopped his movements and sighed.

"What do you want Potter? I think that everything has been cleared." he said with a voice that betrayed nothing of the nervousness he was feeling right then.

"I'm… I'm very sorry, ok? I was very cold with you and I don't like to be like that."

"Well, after all you were right about being angry. I haven't been very good to you or your friends" confessed Draco softly.

"Yeah, I know." answered Harry smiling slightly. "But I'm willing to try again, what do you think?"

Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. His Harry was offering him his friendship and had apologised for being so cold to him. He pinched his cheek. No, this wasn't one of those dreams where he'll get up and all the magic would vanish. This was real. He turned his head slowly and smiled gently. He approached Harry and –fighting the urge of kissing him-, he extended his hand and said:

"Hi there. I'm Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you. And you are?"