Chapter 7: Check-Mate!

"You look horrible!" Harry pointed out playfully as Eriol flopped down into the seat next to him the following day.

"I mean seeing you from across the Great hall at breakfast is one thing, but up close? I'm almost ashamed to have people call you my twin." he continued taunting and patting the boy awake.

"I haven't slept well.." Eriol groaned.

"What? You telling me Malfoy's drumming snore didn't rock you to sleep? Why it lulls half of us up in Gryffindor Tower every night rather effectively." Harry mocked with an added smirk.

"Ha. Ha." Eriol commented with a sloppy grin, "You exaggerate. He is actually a very serene sleeper when all tired out."

Harry arched a suspicious brow but decided to leave the matter alone.

It was a common sight by now, seeing the Slytherin and Gryffindor look-alikes sitting, walking and talking together. Of course the other students still stuck to their side of the class like glue, and even though some gossip still floated about between the houses..it wasn't a shock to anyone by now, much less the still skeptical teachers. In fact, due to last night, Draco had stopped harassing Eriol about hanging out with his 'mortal enemy'; which Harry, of course, knew nothing about.

The doors to the Transfiguration classroom burst forth suddenly allowing Draco's commanding presence to glide into the classroom followed by his goons. It was enough for some quick attention from all the students..so typically Draco. The difference this time, was the direction in which he strode. To everyone's surprise, and some dismay, he pulled out a chair next to Eriol, leaving Crabbe and Goyle to gawk between their 'master' and the empty seat they sandwiched. This demanded gasps followed by intense silence from the entire class. Never in history had Draco willingly sat so close to a Gryffindor, much less Harry Potter. Obviously enough, Harry's jaw hung to the floor in shock and the same expression came from the later arriving Ron and Hermione at the sight of silvery blonde hair sitting next to Eriol. They took their seat's beside Harry cautiously as Eriol smiled proudly at Draco for his odd behavior.

McGonagall approached the front of the classroom not a moment later and she too eyed the group of mismatched students curiously before starting class.

"W-well!" She choked trying to regain her usually serious composure, "Everyone take out yesterday's scrollwork."

Class seemed to breeze by in a blur to Harry. He hadn't been able to concentrate on his work once, earning a few rebukes from Mcgonagall and stares from Hermione. Draco's proximity and the meaningful glances thrown his way confused, if not scared, him to no ends. All he found himself thinking about were reasons for why the sudden change in his enemy. Did he lose some sort of bet to Eriol? Did he have something up his sleeve as usual? Did he drink some psychedelic mind altering potion of sorts? And still he couldn't be sure of his own debates as he found Eriol chatting with his enemy from time and time, and nothing but normal, non-forced, reactions from the other. Harry was suddenly thrust into an unwilling game of sharing Eriol's attention, something which in the past had not been a problem. Ron and Hermione on the other hand had remained silent most of the class, refusing to comment or let their eyes stray from their wands.

The tension only eased when class ended and Draco whispered something to Eriol before leaving the usual group to themselves. Not surprisingly most of the class stalked right after him, some demanding answers others quietly curious for some gossip. Harry took the opportunity of everybody's distraction with chasing after Draco, to pull Eriol aside.

"And what was all that about? I swear Eriol, the next time Malfoy and yourself decided to pull off another crazy stunt like that, at least have the decency to warn me! I nearly had a coronary and am sure I shed a few years off my life expectancy."

Eriol shrugged, "I don't know. I can't speak for Draco."

Harry huffed, "Don't give me that. Something's up and Malfoy has been increasingly odd in his mannerisms as of late. His habit of torturing the lot of us has all but vanished in such a short time, something our group attributes to you of course. Still, I can't imagine why the sudden change."

"Really? And here I thought you would be relieved that Draco was no longer breathing down your neck as usual." Eriol replied innocently.

"That's not my point and you know it. Yes, it is a relief, but it's also bloody scary on many levels."

"Maybe you just never gave it a thought that Draco Malfoy could actually be a very normal person if given the proper understanding and talking to." Eriol replied quickly as if to halt any further thoughts running through Harry.

It worked to stupefy him for the moment, "I..I.." he mumbled.

"Honestly, when have you ever REALLY tried to know Draco for who he might be and not what he's always been."

"He's never given me the chance! He's always been mean and nasty, actually no, those words are far too mild for the things he's capable of! Or have you forgotten so soon the horror stories of our past?" Harry almost snapped.

"No, but you seem to have forgotten that Draco did give you a chance, on that day in the train." he rose a silencing hand anticipating the retaliation from Harry as to Draco's approach to the whole incident, "The point is that in his own way, Draco wanted to know you, and you refused. Yes, he was being a git, but also I doubt you have ever stopped to think WHY he could possibly be the way he is. All the things he may have endured in his childhood to mold him the way he was and is now."

"And he told you this?"

Eriol nodded, but Harry quickly dismissed it.

"Still that's not an excuse!" exclaimed the boy with the famous scar.

"No it's not, you're right... it's a reason." Eriol concluded.

Harry stood pensively for a moment, as if trying to discern whether he felt any compassion for his rival. Eriol decided to nudge him on.

"The truth is, you two are very alike in your stubbornness. And even when you bicker, your words have about as much sting and venom as his. It's no surprise really why you were almost sorted into Slytherin."

Harry's eyes twitched for a second. "Who told you that?"

Eriol smiled knowingly.

"Well, bottom line is I'm not in Slytherin and despite some similarities I am nothing like him! I would have never thought of carrying out the cruel and underhanded schemes so typical of Malfoy. I'm not cold and critical of everyone..and with all that, it's almost appalling to be compared with someone of the likes of him."

"Yes, Draco thought the same thing, initially being compared to your friends."

"Yes well it's about time he learned some humility. He isn't perfect, despite his good looks, wealth and status. And it's his own bloody fault that he lets his pride run his life."

"Maybe his pride and dignity are all that he has. All that's truly his and his alone."

Harry blinked as if understanding had somehow dawned on him at Eriol's words. He thought of how Draco suddenly compared to his own miserable upbringing with the Dursleys. Back in those days, before his wizarding..he had only had his hopes and dreams to cling to, when the Dursley's provided him with nothing but shame and pain. Now with the information that Draco was more than a mere snobby brat, that something else could possibly lay beneath the almost evil exterior, someone equally as scared and innocent locked away emotionally the same way Harry had been locked away in his cupboard..it hit a deep sympathetic nerve in him.

"I see.." was all he could feebly leak out of his lips.

"You didn't know what pride and dignity were until you came to Hogwarts true? Well Draco, even being here, does not know what true understanding and acceptance is, as of yet."

"But he has you." Harry replied quickly as if justifying himself in some way.

"Yes, but I'm not the one who plagues him."

Harry was suddenly curious of Eriol's last statement and the other boy noticed covering up his more than meaningful slip quickly.

"If Draco hadn't of been so obnoxious in that robe shop, and if he hadn't insulted your friends on the train..where do you think you would be right now? Do you think you could have possibly formed a friendship? Maybe even been sorted into his house without protest as you were initially meant to?"

"I hadn't thought about it before." Harry admitted.

"Maybe it's time you did. You see, some people who have lived mistreated lives and then are shown something better, like yourself, learn to love and appreciate life and people. They count their blessings and are filled with hope no matter what they might face. Other people don't have that luxury. Some people live mistreated lives and will always live it, so when they are surrounded by something better they lash out, because they've never known how to receive anything good and separate it from the bad. Good, to them is a weakness, when all their lives they have been taught to be strong. To dominate others instead of feel compassion for them. For someone like Draco who grew up hearing all the wonderful things about Harry Potter but then have his family turn around and teach him to hate the very person everyone admires..is confusing. Then, going beyond what he is taught and try to make friends with the person he is supposed to hate only to be shot down..it can't be for a very warm future between you two can it?"

Harry turned to Eriol, studying his face closely. "And Malfoy..are you serious..does he seriously want to..you know, get to know me? I mean after all this time, all the fights and insults. Could I actually believe that he honestly wants another chance? That he's being sincere about all this without his usual games?"

"Maybe he's the one giving you a chance." Eriol finished as the boys reached their second class of the day.

Harry scrunched his face in lost thought as he followed the other boy into the class. Draco's head popped up from the table he had been saving just for them. Harry's eyes locked with the silvery-blue pair looking back at him, as if exploring the sincerity of them, if there was any. Suddenly he gave the boy an acknowledging nod, just as he found his own seat and sat. As expected Draco flinched in surprise and Harry knew, perhaps Eriol had been telling the truth.

Eriol seeing the silent dance of emotion between the two smiled inwardly. "Check-mate." he whispered to himself. "On to phase two."