Disclaimer: Do not own anything you recognize- those belong to the ever- radical genius JKR! You dig? Don't sue.

Summary: 6th year trials for Harry. Most have secrets and not all is as it seems. Eventual HP/DM. Slash galore. Don't get your panties in a twist, you have been warned. Happy reading!

Just In Case: ~...~ is Harry dearests alter ego.



To Those Who Reviewed:

Shinigami: Hey, thanks! I just might use that later! Yeah, I can't wait to come up with some antics for Sirius as Harry's familiar...

espy-chan: I'll try!

Avalon Princess: I know, I just think Draco in denial is the cutest thing ever! He's deep in it trust me. And, as another reader pointed out, I needed to 'clear the air', so to speak, between Sirius and Harry. Besides, Harry needed to be a little happier. How can he fall in love if he's depressed and refuses to show any anger *cough, cough, passion*, towards my dear Dray?

JadeDragon: I will try to inform the readers more on these topics, I just gotta find ways to weave it all together, you know? Thanks for the review, now I know some of what's missing!

TwistedSlytherin: Yeah, not many people focus on Blaise a bunch, but I think Draco needed a real friend, and Blaise was perfect for said character. Let me know if I accidentally start to leave him out! I don't want to!

Thanks to all who reviewed! And now, the third chapter!

*drumroll please!*



Chapter 3: Happy Harry and Draco Seeks Help



Shakily, Harry sat up. *What the hell?* he mused to himself. *What just happened?* Shaking his head, Harry got to his feet. Something had happened, he was sure, but he didn't know what or why. One second, he'd been floating effortlessly in the air, and then he was on the hard, cold, stone corridor floor. The sound of padding feet and a soft 'mew' broke into his train of thought as he watched Mrs. Norris appear around the corner. Deciding it would be safer to ponder his wandless magic experience, which he was sure was what it was, in the safety of Gryffindor common room, he slowly and silently slunk away from the cat, not at all in the mood to get a detention from Filch. Plus, he thought better when Hermione was around, she always managed to make things clear. He'd talk to her about it in the morning, ask if she'd read about any wizards who, on emotional highs, were able to complete wandless magic. He'd always been able to do it when he was angry, when he lost control, but that was different. He wasn't losing control. He was merely expressing what he'd been feeling so exuberantly that he'd managed to levitate. Nothing weird about that right? *Right.* Reaching the Fat Lady, he mumbled the password and slipped into the Tower, confused and tired and as he remembered Sirius, very, very happy.



::-::



Draco tossed and turned all night, never quite getting to sleep. Blaise's earlier suggestion was madness, of course, pure fantasy, and Draco had told him so before stomping his way out of the room, rampaging blankly around the school. He looked so murderous, so livid, that everyone made way for the enraged Slytherin as he wandered aimlessly, trying to blow off steam. Where had he ended up? In the end, it was the library. Trying hard not to tick off Madam Pince, their very grouchy librarian, Draco fled to the most vacant corner available and promptly plopped down at a table to begin to analyze his problems. He'd thought and he'd reasoned, and an hour and a half later, as he slowly made his way back to Slytherin dorms, he was sure there was no possible way that he, of all people, liked Potter in any way. It just simply couldn't be. But then again, why couldn't he get to sleep?

By five thirty in the morning, Draco had given up on sleep altogether, and was trying to concentrate on writing his Defense Against the Dark Arts paper. 'Trying' being the key word. After an aimless half hour of doodling, he decided to get ready for his day. The shower helped, but not much. At least he felt slightly refreshed. As he made his way out of the bathroom with his hunter green towel wrapped snuggly on his slender waist, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. A little tired looking, yes, and a bit paler than usual, but he didn't look half bad. Most of the people he knew would never look this good after the night he'd had. Although, most people he knew never looked this good anyway. Except Harry, of course.

Draco snorted, tired of dealing with this voice in his head that wouldn't leave. Throughout the night it had bugged him, calling Potter 'Harry' and spouting nonsense about what Draco really felt. It was starting to get on his nerves. 'Give me a break!' Draco moaned, beating his head against the wall in despair. Suddenly he had an idea. There was only one thing to do; he had to go see Hermione, so that once and for all, he'd shut that voice up.



::-::



Blaise Zabini never tried to cause problems in general. As his only friend, Draco was definitely someone he could count on to pout for a while, and then forgive him. That was just how their friendship worked. Not unlike siblings, the two would argue, and 'not speak' for about a day or so, and then everything was fine again, no questions asked.

Draco was giving him the silent treatment as well as momentary cold glares, and he hoped it wasn't going to last long. Sure, he'd said that Draco fancied Harry Potter, and normally that would have been very offensive to his friend. Draco, fancy his nemesis? Horrible, to be sure, but it was the truth. Personally, Blaise didn't mind Harry. In fact, he thought that in the right setting, they would have gotten along famously. However, times being as dark as they were, such things were not possible. So, Blaise did what he could for Harry in the shadows, helping Draco spy and keep the light side informed of sinister plots, anonymously of course. After all, Harry had never said an unkind word to him before, even nodded politely in his direction a few times while passing in the halls, so Blaise didn't understand at all what Draco's problem was. So what if they were enemies? They made it that way. And they could change it too.

Blaise laughed softly to himself. Despite what they both thought, the two boys were alike in so many ways. And they were also different, in as many ways as they were alike. Most thought that is what caused problems. Blaise, however, thought it made life interesting.



::-::



Draco searched the Great Hall eagerly, awaiting Hermione's arrival. He knew she always came early on Saturdays, at eight in the morning, and Ron and Harry barley made it before ten thirty, even on Hogsmeade weekend. Tapping his foot impatiently, one of the only people in the Great Hall, he checked his watch again. 'Where is she?'

The great oak doors slid open and in stepped Hermione. Draco managed to catch her eye and she cocked her head to the side, studying him. Finally she nodded, and grabbing a piece of toast, stepped back out. Draco soon followed.

"What is it?" she mumbled softly from their corner of the library, ironically the same place Draco had been the evening before.

"I've got a problem, of sorts. You see, Blaise put this idea in my head, this absurd, nonsensical, even unscientific idea and as stupid and as unrealistic as I know it is, I can't seem to forget it! For Merlin's sake, why does he do this to me? And of course, I told him point blank he was insane, and I got no sleep last night because- because...Oh, I don't know why, it just seemed to be lodged in the back of my head. Tell him he's crazy, Mione, tell him it's stupid! I won't speak to him until he apologizes for even suggesting such a thing!"

Hermione was at first slightly amused by this narrative, but quickly grew concerned about Draco as he became more and more desperate at proving his point. "Draco, honey, what's the deal? What did Blaise say?"

"Well, I've known for awhile that I, er, butter my toast on the other side, so to speak, right?"

Hermione's eyebrows practically flew to her hairline. "Butter your toast on the other side?" She asked quizzically.

"Yeah, you know, bat for the other team, drive on the wrong side of the road..."

"Um, Draco, just say it."

"I'm gay!"

Hermione barely held in her giggles. "Oh! That's what you meant. Well, you've already told me that!"

"I know!" Draco cried, exasperated. Madam Pince shot him a warning look and he lowered his voice. "Okay, so I've known since third year that I prefer guys to girls, curves to muscles, etc, etc."

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, Blaise just says this thing that is so, ergh! Just, it's not me, okay, it's stupid, it's unimportant. Fuck, I don't know why I'm even telling you this!"

"Draco. Calm down, breath." Slowly, Draco sucked in a breath, held it, and then released it. He did this for a few minutes, succeeding in relaxing. Relieved, Hermione continued, gently prodding him. "Now, tell me. What did Blaise say?"

Draco's face became very grave, and he pronounced solemnly, "Blaise believes that I fancy Harry Potter."

Hermione blinked. This was the horrible news she'd been expecting? Letting out the breath she'd been holding, Hermione began to laugh. Sputtering, she told him, "That is utterly ridiculous! What complete nonsense! That's not right at all!"

Draco, relieved by her reaction, smiled weakly. "See that's what I told him. Go set him straight," he begged. "Look, there he is now, in the Herbology section!"

Hermione, still giggling, made her way discreetly over to Blaise, followed closely by Draco himself. "Blaise, dear." Hermione murmured. "A word?"

Looking up warily (just in case it was Pansy), Blaise broke into a grin when he saw Hermione. "Hey, Mione, haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know," she sighed, sounding a little put out. "I miss hanging with you guys. We really should do something in Hogsmeade tonight. I'll tell Harry and Ron I have a tutoring session."

"Great idea! Oh, speaking of Harry, um, has Draco told you he's not speaking to me?" Blaise asked cautiously. Hermione nodded soberly. "Did he mention why?"

She nodded again. "And I'm here to set you straight, Blaise Zabini!" Draco stood poised behind her, arms crossed casually across his chest, smirk in place.

"Oh are you, Mione?" Blaise asked coolly.

"Yes. The truth of the matter is that Draco doesn't fancy Harry! How could you say that? What an untruth! Draco doesn't fancy Harry at all, Blaise, he's completely and irrevocably in love with him."

The smirk on Draco's face fell, soon followed by his open jaw, banging against the floor. (A/N: not literally ya'll!)



::-::



Harry'd woken up pretty early, considering his late night excursion and the fact that today was a Saturday. Glancing at the clock, which read eight thirty, he remembered today was the day he was picking up Sirius. Wide-awake now and bubbling with energy, he jumped out of bed, grabbing a towel as he made his way to the bathroom for a shower.

Twenty minutes later found Harry dressed (in his own clothes, thanks to Sirius himself) and ready to go, despite his damp, wildly untamed hair. Rushing out of the room, he headed towards the library, deciding to read up on familiars, just in case anyone suspected he wasn't telling the truth about Sirius. It wouldn't do for him to get caught.

Entering the Library, Harry hurried over to the section on familiars and squinting, picked out the one he was looking for. Heading to the checkout, he stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a familiar voice screech, "I'M WHAT?!"

Ducking into the aisle, he saw Blaise Zabini, a fellow sixth year, standing with Hermione, both who looked like they were about to have an apoplexy due to laughter. The person who'd shouted, however, was scowling adorably with his arms crossed across his chest, the aftermath of shock written all over his features. Harry would recognize that platinum blond head of hair practically anywhere.

"Hermione?" he asked hesitantly. Said girl whirled sharply, as did Draco, both wearing looks of utter panic on their faces. Harry, fighting the insane urge to grin, despite all the urgent thoughts running through his head, decided to ask the dumbest question he could think of spur of the moment. "What are you doing in the Herbology section? I thought you only worked with Malfoy in Arithmancy..." Harry sent a roguish wink in her direction.

"Harry! Erm, what are you doing in the Library? And so early?"

"What do you normally do in libraries, Hermione?" he asked cheekily, throwing her a suggestive look. He'd become a little suspicious when Draco had stopped insulting Hermione, never calling her 'Mudblood' or any other such nonsense. The past year had left him to talk nastily about Ron, and sometimes Harry, but never Hermione. His suspicions seemed to be confirmed at this moment as a slow flush crept up Draco's neck, and Hermione looked at him nervously.

"Uh, what do you mean?" she stuttered, eyes wide.

"I'm here for a book, of course," Harry said, waving a hand airily. "What did you think I meant? What else is a library good for?" ~Besides snogging and romantic trysts with sexy Slytherins?~

*Erm, that is, sneaky Slytherins.*

"Erm, uh-" eloquently put by Draco, one person Harry thought he would never see speechless. Harry studied him closely, and the looks of horror still careening across his face. Turning to take in the shaking Blaise, mad with repressed hysterics, Harry raised a single eyebrow, eyes turning to bore back into the sexy Slytherin in front of him. *Sneaky!* he reminded himself sheepishly. After a moment, he gave in. ~All right, sneaky and sexy, but definitely sinister.~ Scrutinizing the blond carefully, he cocked his head to one side, surprised at the almost unsure look on Draco's face, quickly covered by a sneer. *Maybe not overly sinister,* he repaired mentally.

"Potter? Stooping so low as to eavesdrop where you're not wanted? Really, I thought you had the Weasel for that."

"Morning to you too, Malfoy. Lovely day, isn't it?" At this statement, Hermione's eyes bugged out of her head and she goggled at Harry like he was an alien from Mars. "And no one had to eavesdrop, I'm sure the whole bloody school heard your, shall we say, 'distressed outburst'?"

Malfoy was about to jab back with another witty remark, when Hermione spoke up. "Harry? Are you feeling okay?"

"Of course. Why?"

She took in his flushed face and the happy glint in his eyes, and stepped closer to him. "You're not running a fever, or feeling, I don't know...delirious?"

"There's nothing wrong with me!"

"Okay..."

"I know what she means, Potter. You look sort of feverish, slightly demented, you know? Want me to call St. Mungo's for you?" he added, shooting a meaningful look towards Blaise, who was still laughing, a look Harry wished he could read.

"I'm fine! Really. Thanks for the concern though, Malfoy. Truly. Oh, and guess what Herm! My late night appointment proved to be a worthwhile investment, besides the loss of sleep. I'm picking up my familiar today!" Harry's smile widened. Despite the fact that he'd just discovered his best friend had a fling going with Malfoy, Harry was practically glowing. He'd elaborated somewhat, about his spur of the moment meeting with Sirius, just to make Malfoy curious. Give him something to think about. ~Attaboy Potter! Way to jump into the ring!~

*Not like that! It's Malfoy, for Melin's sake, get a grip!*

~Can't help it! He's forbidden fruit, and therefore irresistible.~

*True enough.*

"But Harry, you don't have a familiar," Hermione responded, even more worried than before.

Harry shot her a dark look, trying to stress his meaning to her. "Herm, how could you forget about Snuffles?" he demanded, stressing 'Snuffles'. "Dumbledore agreed that it was simply inappropriate for my familiar to stay at the Dursley's, of all the hellish places, just because he was a dog and not a cat, rat, etc."

"Snuffles? Your familiar? But-" she asked in confusion. Harry shot her another look, one she read loud and clear. "Oh, right! Snuffles!" She giggled nervously as Blaise, who had regained control, and Draco stared from her to Harry.

"Jeez, Hermione, just because I know what you've been up to doesn't mean I want to see the effects of said events."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, who knew you'd go completely, well, unsmart, after a good session." At Hermione's startled look, and Draco's usual smirk, ~Sexy smirk!~ he decided it was time for him to check out his book. "Happy snogging, lovebirds!" And with that, he strutted up towards Madam Pomfrey, leaving all three sixth years goldfishing.



::-::



Author's Note:

And that's the end of chapter 3! Wow, that came out different than I thought it would. Let me know if you think Harry is too- oh, I don't know, I guess too indifferent about a possibility of Herm/Draco. Not that that's gonna happen in this fic. It's just what naïve, innocent Harry perceives. Oh yeah, and reviews are appreciated...yada, yada, you know the drill!



Hasta for now.



::Riana::