Before he got off the train Harry had come to the conclusion that he
might want to give the friends thing a chance. He didn't know what had come
over him to make him suddenly want to give his archenemy a chance, but it
was just a gut feeling. Draco could still be lying, but then again he could
be sincere. Harry was just going to have to take the chance and find out.
Throughout the feast Harry pondered over what could be the reasoning behind why Draco wanted to become his friend. He was too busy thinking about it that he didn't hear Hermione and Ron when they tried to talk to him.
He looked up confused, "Huh?"
"Honestly Harry, you are acting like you are in another world. Sure you're ok?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered in an unreassuringly voice and continued to stare off at the blond-haired Slytherin boy who was trying with all his might not to return the stare.
His two friends shared a glance and both knew he was going to be in a strange mood for a while and it was going to be up to them to figure it out on their own. Harry didn't notice the worried glances that they kept sending him but continued to eat and stare. Sometimes even forking himself in the cheek because of his lack of concentration.
When Dumbledore stood up to make the traditional beginning of the year announcements, he reminded the students that the Forbidden Forest was out of bounds to everyone and Professor Lupin would be assuming the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts again. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall applauded at the last comment. Harry finally broke his stare to clap along with everyone else.
After the feast Hermione and Dean, the new Gryffindors' prefects, led the rest of the house up the stairs to the portrait of The Fat Lady and told everyone the password (brave heart.) They reminded the first years and a couple of the older students that they needed to remember it if they wanted to enter the common room, otherwise they would not be permitted in and would have to wait until someone who knew the password, came along. Hermione then explained where the girls and boys dormitories were and advised that everyone go to bed now if they didn't want to be late to their classes the next morning.
Of course not many students listened. Instead they sat in the common room until the early hours, catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer.
Harry was having trouble getting to sleep. It seemed like every time he closed his eyes he saw a mental picture of what Draco looked like when he was asleep..."Argh!! Don't think about Malfoy! It was just a stupid letter meant to give you something else to worry about," he whispered to himself.
Well it seemed if that was what Draco was hoping to achieve, then he already had what he wanted. Harry turned over and closed his eyes once more. This time instead of trying to push the image out of his head, he just drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
~**~**~
The next morning at breakfast the first thing Harry noticed was that Malfoy wasn't there. It was very un-Malfoy like to be late for anything, even if it was something as trivial as coming down to breakfast. Harry wondered if something was wrong with Malfoy.
Suddenly the forgotten letter was remembered. He only prayed that it was still there and it hadn't wondered into the hands of someone else. He reached his hand in his pocket and pulled the parchment out thankful it was there. He began to read:
Harry,
I know that you might not think that I am being honest, but I swear to God that this is not a joke of any kind. I want to be your friend and I really like you. All I ask is for just one more chance to prove to you that I am worthy of your time once you get to know me. After that you can decide if you want to become my friend or not. Please just think about it. -Draco
P.S. I won't be at breakfast so don't bother looking for me. I have to go and see Professor Snape before classes start.
After reading the letter to himself, he put it back into his pocket and turned to Hermione to find out what their first class of the day was. She made a face, "Double potions, with the Slytherins."
"No surprise there. We've only had that class with them for the past four years," Harry said. 'Why did everything have to not go his way? Now he had to spend over an hour in the dungeons with Snape and the boy who he couldn't get off his mind.'
Harry didn't think his day could really get much worse... but he should've known that things would. Draco Malfoy walked up to him and asked if he would be partners' with him. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione who had already become partners and turned back to Malfoy, "Ok, but why do you want to be my partner when you could of picked one of your little buddies?"
"Well in case you didn't notice all of them seem to have partners and you are the only other person in the class that doesn't seem to have a partner besides me," Malfoy replied.
"Ok whatever you say, Malfoy."
"If you don't mind Potter, would you call me Draco? That IS my name after all," he said coldly. "I am sick of all this last name crap. It gets old after awhile."
"You know you should do the same then Draco," he shot back.
"I just wasn't sure you would want me to but whatever floats your boat Harry." With that remark the two boys started laughing, which in return earned them a cold glare from Snape. Snape shook his head in disbelief when he saw that Draco was also laughing but he turned his glare into a smirk and walked off. Draco seemed to have Snape wrapped around his little finger.
"Must be nice to be able to get away with anything," Harry said.
"You do know that it is only because of who my father is, right?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, sure," Harry said, looking away embarrassed.
"Anyways, Harry, I think that we should get started on this Poison Cure potion," Draco told Harry cutting through the awkward silence.
"Since when do you ever apply yourself and actually help out?"
"Since this summer, why?" Draco answered. "It's only in this class anyways, even though I don't even have to show up and I will still pass with flying colors.
"Umm... Draco. I know this probably isn't the time for this but what exactly did you mean when you wrote that letter to me over the summer and the one you slipped to me last night on the train?" Harry asked.
"Yeah your right this isn't the time," Snape snarled. "Now both of you can serve detention for me tonight at 8:00. And don't be late." He leaned down to Draco and whispered, "Sorry but I had to. It would be too suspicious and besides I'll give you something easy to do."
By the end of the lesson Snape had taken 20 points from Gryffindor because Neville had managed to melt yet another cauldron. It wasn't much of a surprise though since everyone knew he was afraid of Snape and that nervousness caused him to make huge mistakes.
When they tested their potions, Harry and Draco's came out perfect which made Snape even angrier because now he had no reason for deducting points from Harry, without doing the same to Draco. But then again he was the teacher, "You fail Potter. Class is dismissed."
Next, Harry and Ron had Divintation while Hermione had Arithmacy. "Sorry about potions Harry; see you guys at lunch," she called as she headed in the opposite direction.
Divintation was nothing special as Professor Trelawney predicted Harry's death for what seemed like the millionth time. That was no surprise since this was the third year running that she had said that he was going to die. Ron erupted into a fit of giggles and Harry had to elbow him in the side a few times before he got it under control. Trelawney gave them a cold look, but ignored it and went on talking throughout the rest of the lesson.
Parvati and Lavender also gave the two boys cold glares. Then they turned back around and returned to the trance like state they had previously been in.
At lunch in the Great Hall, the trio ate hurriedly because they had Care of Magical Creatures where Hagrid told them about Veala and how they may appear beautiful they can turn into very dangerous creatures and ugly creatures. Throughout the entire class Draco just stood there and took notes, not bothering to utter a single insult about Hagrid or anyone else, which Ron pointed out "Was a first."
All through dinner, Harry thought about his upcoming detention with Draco and wondered what was going to happen tonight. Hopefully Draco would answer his question then. Since this morning Harry noticed there was something different about him but he wasn't quite sure what it was. When Draco had commented that something had happened over the summer, Harry couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with whatever it was that caused him to not act normal. Well I guess that I will have my chance tonight to see if I can find out what is wrong with him when we serve our detention.
He said goodbye to Ron and Hermione at the staircase and headed down to the dungeons where Draco was waiting for him.
~**~**~
Ron and Hermione sat in the common room talking. Well Ron was talking and Hermione was working on her homework, only half listening to what Ron was blabbing on about.
"You know I bet Malfoy is going to try something," he said angrily.
"Ron sit down and listen to yourself. And while you're there do some homework," she said, pushing his stack over to him.
"Alright Hermione, but if something happens to Harry, I am holding you responsible."
Throughout the feast Harry pondered over what could be the reasoning behind why Draco wanted to become his friend. He was too busy thinking about it that he didn't hear Hermione and Ron when they tried to talk to him.
He looked up confused, "Huh?"
"Honestly Harry, you are acting like you are in another world. Sure you're ok?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered in an unreassuringly voice and continued to stare off at the blond-haired Slytherin boy who was trying with all his might not to return the stare.
His two friends shared a glance and both knew he was going to be in a strange mood for a while and it was going to be up to them to figure it out on their own. Harry didn't notice the worried glances that they kept sending him but continued to eat and stare. Sometimes even forking himself in the cheek because of his lack of concentration.
When Dumbledore stood up to make the traditional beginning of the year announcements, he reminded the students that the Forbidden Forest was out of bounds to everyone and Professor Lupin would be assuming the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts again. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall applauded at the last comment. Harry finally broke his stare to clap along with everyone else.
After the feast Hermione and Dean, the new Gryffindors' prefects, led the rest of the house up the stairs to the portrait of The Fat Lady and told everyone the password (brave heart.) They reminded the first years and a couple of the older students that they needed to remember it if they wanted to enter the common room, otherwise they would not be permitted in and would have to wait until someone who knew the password, came along. Hermione then explained where the girls and boys dormitories were and advised that everyone go to bed now if they didn't want to be late to their classes the next morning.
Of course not many students listened. Instead they sat in the common room until the early hours, catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer.
Harry was having trouble getting to sleep. It seemed like every time he closed his eyes he saw a mental picture of what Draco looked like when he was asleep..."Argh!! Don't think about Malfoy! It was just a stupid letter meant to give you something else to worry about," he whispered to himself.
Well it seemed if that was what Draco was hoping to achieve, then he already had what he wanted. Harry turned over and closed his eyes once more. This time instead of trying to push the image out of his head, he just drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
~**~**~
The next morning at breakfast the first thing Harry noticed was that Malfoy wasn't there. It was very un-Malfoy like to be late for anything, even if it was something as trivial as coming down to breakfast. Harry wondered if something was wrong with Malfoy.
Suddenly the forgotten letter was remembered. He only prayed that it was still there and it hadn't wondered into the hands of someone else. He reached his hand in his pocket and pulled the parchment out thankful it was there. He began to read:
Harry,
I know that you might not think that I am being honest, but I swear to God that this is not a joke of any kind. I want to be your friend and I really like you. All I ask is for just one more chance to prove to you that I am worthy of your time once you get to know me. After that you can decide if you want to become my friend or not. Please just think about it. -Draco
P.S. I won't be at breakfast so don't bother looking for me. I have to go and see Professor Snape before classes start.
After reading the letter to himself, he put it back into his pocket and turned to Hermione to find out what their first class of the day was. She made a face, "Double potions, with the Slytherins."
"No surprise there. We've only had that class with them for the past four years," Harry said. 'Why did everything have to not go his way? Now he had to spend over an hour in the dungeons with Snape and the boy who he couldn't get off his mind.'
Harry didn't think his day could really get much worse... but he should've known that things would. Draco Malfoy walked up to him and asked if he would be partners' with him. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione who had already become partners and turned back to Malfoy, "Ok, but why do you want to be my partner when you could of picked one of your little buddies?"
"Well in case you didn't notice all of them seem to have partners and you are the only other person in the class that doesn't seem to have a partner besides me," Malfoy replied.
"Ok whatever you say, Malfoy."
"If you don't mind Potter, would you call me Draco? That IS my name after all," he said coldly. "I am sick of all this last name crap. It gets old after awhile."
"You know you should do the same then Draco," he shot back.
"I just wasn't sure you would want me to but whatever floats your boat Harry." With that remark the two boys started laughing, which in return earned them a cold glare from Snape. Snape shook his head in disbelief when he saw that Draco was also laughing but he turned his glare into a smirk and walked off. Draco seemed to have Snape wrapped around his little finger.
"Must be nice to be able to get away with anything," Harry said.
"You do know that it is only because of who my father is, right?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, sure," Harry said, looking away embarrassed.
"Anyways, Harry, I think that we should get started on this Poison Cure potion," Draco told Harry cutting through the awkward silence.
"Since when do you ever apply yourself and actually help out?"
"Since this summer, why?" Draco answered. "It's only in this class anyways, even though I don't even have to show up and I will still pass with flying colors.
"Umm... Draco. I know this probably isn't the time for this but what exactly did you mean when you wrote that letter to me over the summer and the one you slipped to me last night on the train?" Harry asked.
"Yeah your right this isn't the time," Snape snarled. "Now both of you can serve detention for me tonight at 8:00. And don't be late." He leaned down to Draco and whispered, "Sorry but I had to. It would be too suspicious and besides I'll give you something easy to do."
By the end of the lesson Snape had taken 20 points from Gryffindor because Neville had managed to melt yet another cauldron. It wasn't much of a surprise though since everyone knew he was afraid of Snape and that nervousness caused him to make huge mistakes.
When they tested their potions, Harry and Draco's came out perfect which made Snape even angrier because now he had no reason for deducting points from Harry, without doing the same to Draco. But then again he was the teacher, "You fail Potter. Class is dismissed."
Next, Harry and Ron had Divintation while Hermione had Arithmacy. "Sorry about potions Harry; see you guys at lunch," she called as she headed in the opposite direction.
Divintation was nothing special as Professor Trelawney predicted Harry's death for what seemed like the millionth time. That was no surprise since this was the third year running that she had said that he was going to die. Ron erupted into a fit of giggles and Harry had to elbow him in the side a few times before he got it under control. Trelawney gave them a cold look, but ignored it and went on talking throughout the rest of the lesson.
Parvati and Lavender also gave the two boys cold glares. Then they turned back around and returned to the trance like state they had previously been in.
At lunch in the Great Hall, the trio ate hurriedly because they had Care of Magical Creatures where Hagrid told them about Veala and how they may appear beautiful they can turn into very dangerous creatures and ugly creatures. Throughout the entire class Draco just stood there and took notes, not bothering to utter a single insult about Hagrid or anyone else, which Ron pointed out "Was a first."
All through dinner, Harry thought about his upcoming detention with Draco and wondered what was going to happen tonight. Hopefully Draco would answer his question then. Since this morning Harry noticed there was something different about him but he wasn't quite sure what it was. When Draco had commented that something had happened over the summer, Harry couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with whatever it was that caused him to not act normal. Well I guess that I will have my chance tonight to see if I can find out what is wrong with him when we serve our detention.
He said goodbye to Ron and Hermione at the staircase and headed down to the dungeons where Draco was waiting for him.
~**~**~
Ron and Hermione sat in the common room talking. Well Ron was talking and Hermione was working on her homework, only half listening to what Ron was blabbing on about.
"You know I bet Malfoy is going to try something," he said angrily.
"Ron sit down and listen to yourself. And while you're there do some homework," she said, pushing his stack over to him.
"Alright Hermione, but if something happens to Harry, I am holding you responsible."