AN: I'm looking for a beta. If you want to volunteer, review. Hey, review anyway!

Harry awoke the next morning to the sound of Neville groaning. "Ugh, what did you do that for, Lancelot?" Neville was sitting up in bed, rubbing the side of his head and holding a small brown package. He carefully untied the strings around the box and opened it.

Harry rolled out of bed and looked out the window at the comfortable fall weather. My favorite kind of day, he thought. He went to Neville's bedside. "What have you got there, Nev?" he asked, curious. Harry leaned over the bed to get a closer look.

"It's a birthday cake, from my Gran. Happy sweet sixteen. It's a day early too." Neville lifted the little white cake from the box. "Oh, and a book, Helpful Spells for Awkward Teen Wizards. Gee, thanks Gran."

Harry was very relieved when Neville mentioned that his gift had come early, he had forgotten all about Neville's birthday. Luckily, today was Friday, there was a Hogsmeade visit tonight. He had plenty of time to get Nev a gift.

Ron stirred in his bed. Harry watched him sit up and scratch his stomach sleepily. "I'm starved!" he declared. "Let's go get breakfast."

.....

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were seated at the Gryffindor table when Pansy entered the Great Hall. Draco was standing behind Potter, no doubt drawling out some nasty insult directed at Weasley. "It's the easiest way to get Potter upset, to torment his friends," he'd told Pansy once. Pansy watched as Weasley went very red in the face. Potter turned to him and put a palm on his chest, holding him away from Draco, who didn't look the least bit concerned that Weasley obviously wanted to pummel him into the stone floor.

Draco laughed and delivered his parting shot before sauntering over to where Pansy sat at the Slytherin table. Draco sat next to her and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Good morning," he said, smirking.

"What was that all about?" Pansy asked. "Did you bring up Weasley's poverty again? Pathetic, that."

"No, just gloating over Father being Minister of Magic," Draco said between bites of toast. "It's a fresh wound, because Father just denied Arthur Weasley a promotion, again." Draco smiled. His father had been elected last year, when that nutter Cornelius Fudge refused to believe that Voldemort had returned. Lucius had managed to convince most of magical England that his having previous inside knowledge of the Dark Lord and his habits would be a beneficial trait for Minister of Magic. Actually, he was right. His knowledge helped him a great deal in preventing Voldemort's imaginary excursions. He kept most real attacks out of the newspaper (under the pretense of not wanting to scare the public) when he bought the Daily Prophet. "Father projects such a good image, doesn't he? All those attacks he foils, and the large donations to charity, he appears to be fighting and winning against the Dark Lord. The people love him." He lowered his voice. "If they only knew."

.....

Ron swore. "That bloody git Malfoy. He'll get what's coming to him. Someday," he growled.

"You shouldn't let him upset you like that, Ron," Hermione chided. "You know that's exactly what he wants. Why give him the pleasure?"

"Well, if he wouldn't insult my family."

Harry tuned them out then, lost in his own thoughts. How was it that Malfoy got him flustered without ever saying a word to him? Harry knew that Draco only wanted to upset him. Malfoy was not transparent, but Harry was observant. The blonde boy was always glancing in his direction, looking for ways to get to him. He reveled in seeing Harry get emotional. Upon this realization, Harry felt he should be repulsed. Instead, he found himself curious. "What could Malfoy possibly be interested in me for?" Harry whispered.

(Just a reminder: Beta Reader wanted/needed!)