Memoirs of Draco Malfoy

by Everett Scott

When Lord Voldemort returns, Lucius is once again his loyal servant. But what happens when he wants Draco to follow in his footsteps, and serve the same Dark Lord? And what happens when others in Slytherin start believing? Who will Draco turn to?

6. Just When Things Couldn't Get Any Worse

Chapter Five

Just when things couldn't get any worse.

The sky had begun to darken outside as the train moved steadily on. Draco had bored with his potions manual after the first half of the ride and stared absentmindedly out the window. He watched as hills and trees sped by. The pair across from him had stopped eating after and hour and went wandering through the crowded aisle. Draco had been glad to be rid of them. He sat in silence, not thinking about anything in particular, not caring to trouble himself. No one disturbed his solitude until the very end of the trip. Crabbe and Goyle burst into the cabin quite abruptly, the pure look of excitement on their faces was enough to make Draco sick. They stood in the doorway shifting their weight back and forth like children, neither one saying anything. "Well what is it!" Draco snapped at them sharply.

They seemed taken back with the abruptness that he spoke to them with, they had forgotten exactly what he was like over the last few months. The permanent look of ignorance bled through their excitement and finally Crabbe spoke, "We ran into Harry Potter." His voice was coarse and raspy. It was very deep and monotonic, he spoke the sentence without inflections of any kind. Goyle nodded his head peevishly in agreement, "Yeah, you wanna go and torment him some?" His voice had annoyed Draco since the very day his Father had introduced him. He wasn't even sure how such a large person could have such a squeaky voice.

Draco stared at the two of them. He wore no expression as he watched them standing clumsily at the entrance of the compartment, very blank and anxious expressions on their faces. His eyes began to twitch, the anger inside him building. Crabbe and Goyle could see the subtle changes in his emotions and they backed up slowly, their faces turning a pasty shade of white in fear. Draco couldn't contain himself anymore and he began to yell at the two boys who had been following him around for five long years. "Who cares about Harry Potter," he screamed. "I don't care about bloody Harry Potter." The two boys cowered in fear as Draco stood up and continued to yell, "Get out! Get out before I throw you out! And I don't want to hear that name again!" Crabbe and Goyle stumbled backwards and into the aisle. Draco marched after them, his eyes narrowed and his steps measured, "Don't come back, I don't want to see your faces again this semester. Leave me alone!"

They began to run awkwardly down the aisle away from him, heads poked out of their cabins to see what all the noise was about. Draco gave everyone who was staring in his direction a cold and angry glance. He stormed back into his compartment and slammed the door shut. The glass wavered and fell, breaking into pieces. Draco had no inkling to fix it, they would be arriving soon. He sat down stubbornly into his seat and crossed his arms tight against his chest. Why did he have to be paired with the two stupidest, most annoying people for all eternity? What had ever done to deserve such punishment as this? In all honestly, Draco thought that he would most definitely prefer to be held in Azkaban than deal with those two.

He thought back to what they had said. It wasn't really their fault, for every year since he had been coming to Hogwarts, Draco had tormented Harry at least once on the ride to and from the school. It was only natural then, in the small and under developed minds of Crabbe and Goyle, that he would want to torment Harry on this train ride. They didn't know that over the summer Draco had come to understand Harry in a way that he had never expected to, and that their friendship had been torn apart by family affairs.

He shook his head violently to clear the images of that horrifying night from his thoughts. He was more than slightly ashamed that he had helped his Father in some odd way return to perfect health after being mortally wounded in something of a crusade against the Giants. He didn't understand what exactly had taken place though, the memories of that evening were partially clouded by the fact that he had passed out and remained unconscious for nearly a full day.

He could feel the train begin to slow and he put his potions book into his trunk, hastily pushing it down the side. As he was about to close the lid he noticed his Slytherin robes sitting on top of everything else. He had completely forgotten to change what with all his interruptions. He made sure no one was peering in through the broken window and quickly switched from his expensive, black muggle clothes, into the plain black uniform robes of Hogwarts. The train had come to a complete stop and again Draco was rushed to stuff his original outfit into his luggage. He felt bad at not having the proper time to fold his silk shirt, but he really didn't have the luxury of it. He could hear Hagrid calling from the platform for first years and all around him people were disembarking. Draco had to slam the lid for it to close and then he practically ran down the deserted aisle to catch a carriage. There was no one on the platform and Draco started to run full out. Finally he could see the carriages, the last one was about to pull away. He reached for the door and pulled it open abruptly and jumped in as he heard the wheels begin to turn.

He sat down and breathed a sigh of relief, "Nearly didn't make it there." He said aloud. When there was no answer he raised his eyes and stared at the four other, now cramped, occupants of the carriage. Weasley and Granger sat next to him, pressed tightly together, and Harry and the other Weasley girl sat opposite. Each of the four sets of eyes stared at him, blank glares on their faces. He slumped back in his seat, "Great, Harry Potter and his three musketeers." The excitement he'd shown for catching the last carriage now disappeared and was replaced with disappointment. He stared into Harry's cold and angry eyes, Draco tried to plead silently to forgive him. Harry ripped away and stared out the window as the rode through Hogsmeade. Draco dropped his chin to his chest, he wanted things to be the way they were before Saturday night.

Draco's solitude among these four people was broken, "You ought to watch it Malfoy or we'll throw you out of this coach." Anger flashed in Weasley's eyes as he said this, his cheeks turned slightly rouge. He was shaking next to Granger, almost hiding behind her.

Draco didn't look up from the floor, "Weasley, I would love to see you try that, but I'm afraid you won't be able to reach me with that leash Granger normally keeps around you neck." Draco's voice sounded like he didn't want to be bothered, like he didn't care if anyone else was even in the room.

Hermione turned to Harry and Ginny, she started to speak horrible fast and defensively, "I don't keep a leash around his neck. It's not like we're dating or anything. Harry, do a lot of people think this way, because it's not true. And-,"

She was about to continue when Harry interrupted, "Hermione!" Harry shot her a look and Draco began to laugh and earned reproving stares from everyone.

"What?" He held out both of his hands and shrugged his shoulders. He had a very questioning look on his face and the start of a smile.

But Harry looked angrier than ever, "Don't you have any shame Draco, or any pride for that matter?" His eyes burned with fire, all of his rage being delivered. "You just leave on Saturday night and we have to win the cup using cheap tactics, no excuse, no reason, just a thoughtless apology."

Hermione, Ron and Ginny seemed as if they wanted to stay out of this, they weren't paying too much attention as Harry and Draco began to yell back and forth at each other. "Really Harry, what was I suppose to do, 'Sorry Mother, really Quidditch is the most important thing in my life right now and we have to win this final game. I'll be home in an hour!'?"

"Quidditch isn't the most important thing in my life Draco. Friends are the most important things to me, since I have no family." Harry said these last words as if he were directing them and the blame that accompanied them at Draco personally.

Draco was hurt now, and he lowered his voice, "Harry, I had no choice, and I couldn't have explain it to you then, because my Mother didn't explain it to me."

"Well why don't you explain it to me now then Draco!?" His voice rose and Draco could see Hermione cringe once at it's volume. Draco looked at Harry, never in all the time that Draco had known him had he seen him this angry. Draco's eyes dimmed as he stared at Harry, waiting for his answer. He lowered his head, "Harry, I can't." There was a tone of apology in his voice as he spoke, his gaze raised and looked at Harry, into the anger that was still in his eyes, and now the sorrow as well.

He shook his head, a slight scowl coming over him, and as the carriage came to a full stop in front of the castle he flung open the door and stormed out leaving Draco with Ronald, Granger, and Ginny. Each one had a confused look on their face and looked to Draco for an answer.

Draco forced a large smile, "It's been a pleasure." He opened the door, tipped his imaginary hat, and left. Their faces gained confusion at this last attempt of humor.

Draco quickly joined the scores of other students marching up the steps and left the other three far behind him. The students he walked next to all seemed jovial and generally in a good mood to be back at school and with their friends. Draco did not partake in this mass emotion. He wore his usual, and nearly forgotten, scowl, and strutted up the stone stairs as if they were his and only his. His cloak fluttered behind him and he pushed two second years out of his way.

The multitude of students proceeded into the Great Hall via it's one entrance. Draco hated being around all of these people, shoulders bumping into him, hands brushing against him, breath on his neck. Just thinking about all of that physical, and social, contact made Draco feel ill.

He made his way through the main door and to the Slytherin table. The table was already quite full and Draco had to take a seat towards the front where the first years would soon be sitting after they were sorted. Draco never liked these feasts, there were too many people eating at once and Draco could never get a seat far enough from his housemates.

As Draco sat there on the cold bench waiting for the first years to come through the doors with McGonagall, something didn't feel right. He looked around at the students briefly, no one there seemed to be out of place. Harry and his sidekicks were all seated in their usual spots. His eyes were then drawn to the head table where the professors sat. The first thing he noticed was the new man seated next to Dumbledore. He was a man of average height and build. He had short cut brown hair which was parted to his left. He wore robes of a dark blue and seemed to having a relatively relaxed chat with the Headmaster. Draco suspected that this was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He seemed like an interesting sort, but not much fun, like Professor Snape. Draco finally knew what was wrong, Professor Snape wasn't sitting at the head table. Draco swung his head left from the new professor and found someone else sitting in his Professor's seat. He was a large man with bright blue flowing robes on, and a beret? He didn't seem to be enjoying his dinner very much, this pleased Draco, and he gave this new professor the worse look he had ever given at Hogwarts. The man simply gave a meager smile back and continued to pick at his food.

Draco was getting angry now, why would they replace Professor Snape at the last minute? Just Friday he had even told Draco that he would see him when classes started up, and he wasn't one to lie, not to Draco. If Professor Snape wasn't teaching this semester, that meant that whoever this new teacher was would probably be their head of house as well. Draco definitely couldn't see this man coming out of Slytherin house, not alive anyway, and to be their head of house you had have graduated from Slytherin. It was a rule, a tradition, that had been mandated by Salazar Slytherin himself when he had left Hogwarts, that no one be allowed to know the Slytherin secrets who had not been in the house. Draco may have hated what the house stood for, but he prided the traditions just the same.

His thoughts were interrupted by the huge oak doors being swung open. The old, gray haired McGonagall led in the first year students, there seemed to be so few of them this year, where had they all gone he wondered? The young children looked scared to death, everyone watching them, probably no one they knew, and all of these teachers who could destroy them in a heartbeat. Draco hadn't been scared as he had walked through those doors, he knew that the teachers could destroy him, and he wanted to learn everything that they knew, to become equal and better than they were.

The students stopped in front of the stool and stared inquisitively at the frayed hat that sat on it. Dumbledore stood now and made to make his usual announcements, "Before the sorting begins, I have a few announcements. First off I would like to introduce our new Professors. Professor Mortessen comes from the Ministry of Magic to us this year and will be teaching the defense against the darks arts. Sadly our Potions Master has asked to take a leave of absence for one years time, he will be temporarily replace by our French friend who taught at Beauxbatons for a few years, Professor Épanss." The Headmaster began to applaud politely and was joined by every other house except for Draco's. No doubt the rest of the school was pleased that they wouldn't have to suffer through Snape's class this year, meanwhile Draco would have to suffer through the classes of Épanss. Dumbledore raised his hands for quiet and continued. "There are also the usual announcement about the Forbidden Forrest being off limits. There is to be no magic used in the corridors. And the list of objects that are forbidden has now been updated and can be found in Mr. Filch's office."

He sat down now and McGonagall began to call off names from the short list of first years. The Slytherin house claimed four of these new students, two boys and two girls. Draco applauded along with his housemates as they were announced, but he really didn't care. As soon as the last student had been sorted Dumbledore stood a second time, "Abbera Caddaberra." With those words, the tables filled with food and the feast began. Draco helped himself to small amounts of the different things, but he wasn't as gluttonous as Crabbe and Goyle were being down the table. The first years sitting next to him were trying to pry questions from him. "What's Slytherin like?" "Are the classes hard?" "What's the head of house like?" "Is our common room nice?" Draco didn't answer any of these questions, he gave them each a stare, his eyes alight with anger and contempt, and then he went back to eating. He hated first years, he was never as bad as any of the first years he'd met. He detested their silly questions and their stupidity.

Draco had finished eating and sat in annoyance for thirty minutes waiting on everyone else. He watched students from other tables eating, talking, laughing. Draco wanted to leave, he wanted the feast to be over already.

Students began to finish, more and more people began yawning and looking tired. Dumbledore stood up at this, "Well, as we are all quite tired now, I suggest we head off to sleep. Prefects please lead your students to your common rooms. Goodnight!" With that Dumbledore left the head table and out the rear door of the Great Hall.

Students began to pour out of the hall following his lead. Draco didn't want to be bothered with the multitudes again and instead sat in his seat sipping his pumpkin juice as if he weren't finished. Once there were only a few students left Draco got up out of and walked slowly down to the dungeons. It got colder and colder the further down he went and he soon came to the familiar portrait.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle!" This password always worked on the portrait no matter what the year was, and only certain people knew it. It swung open and Draco stepped into the frigid common room. Sitting around the common room in the jet black leather chairs were eight people, eight of the most powerful people in the Slytherin house. In the big armchair next to the small fire sat Adrian Pucey who was a year ahead of Draco. Both of his parents were Death Eaters. He wore the black robes with the Slytherin house shield, his hair hung loosely just past his ears. Next to him in another armchair was Blaise Zabini, she had long brown flowing hair, deep blue eyes and a pretty face. Her Father served Voldemort. Sitting on the largest couch of the room were Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode, all of their Fathers were Death Eaters. All were eating leftovers from the feast, Crabbe and Goyle cowered slightly as Draco came into the room. Sitting on another of the large couches were two very pretty girls, one at each end of the couch, Tracey Davis and Gwen Greingrass, each was simply a pawn of Pansy's. Tracey had curly brown hair, similar to Grangers, but hers was styled in a proper fashion. Gwen had short cut blond hair that framed her face, blue eyes stared out at him. Tracey and Gwen had grown up in the same town but Gwen lived with her Uncle now who was a Death Eater, and Tracey's Father was a Death Eater.

Lastly, sitting on the small love seat, was Pansy Parkinson. She smiled warmly at Draco, they had attended the Yule ball together the year before. Draco had enjoyed himself, but in truth the date had been set up by his Father. Pansy's family was one of the oldest wizarding families in England, even older than his own family. She was the only one who sat in this odd circle who's family wasn't connected to Voldemort. Her Father had the reserve seat of the Hogwarts board of regents. Even though it was only the reserve seat it was the most powerful one, they advised the board of its' decisions, in fact it was the only paid position. In his spare time he funded other wizarding things, but Pansy didn't talk about it a lot.

The eight pair of eyes stared at him, challenging him. They know, he thought, they know I've changed over the summer. He stared back at them, challenging them back. No one spoke. Finally it was Tracey who broke the silence, "Draco come sit down and tell us about your summer, we hardly saw you at the feast." She patted a seat next to her on the couch she occupied.

"Yeah, Mr. Quidditch big shot player who's going to play for England, tell us all about your summer." This was Adrian Pucey, who, Draco thought, had a very unusual tone in his voice, a patronizing one almost. Now he would have to stay and talk about himself or they would all know for sure that something was wrong.

He put on a large smile, raised his hand in greeting and sat down next to Pansy. She smiled, as he had chosen to sit next to her, "So we all read some kind of weird stuff about your Quidditch experience, that you actually cooperated with Potter?" Her voice sounded questioning, like she refused to believe what she had spoken. The silence drifted down on the group again.

"Well yeah, what was I suppose to do? I wasn't going to let Harry," He faltered, " Let Harry Potter ruin my chances of winning at least a few games." He tried to sound resentful of the question, resentful even of the implications of it, and confident.

This seemed to put their fears to rest and they talked more openly. "What a weird summer though, eh? Both of my parents were gone for the whole time. Then on Saturday they come home beat to pieces." Adrian said this very matter of factly, as if it were not something unusual to speak of.

Tracey nodded in agreement, "My Father left the night I got home, Saturday he came home with a broken arm and his face completely covered in blood." The small group of cringed at this. Blaise was nodding that something similar had happened to her Father.

"My Uncle left a week after I got home and I haven't seen him since. I did get an owl from him a few days ago, he assured me he was safe." Gwen looked down at her feet, obviously she did not believe this statement. Her parents had died in Azkaban after they were caught by the Ministry with black magic artifacts that were commonly used by Voldemort.

No one spoke again, they were respecting her thoughts. Finally Gwen raised her head, "Draco what's going on? Why all of the sudden activity?" All of their heads turned in his direction, waiting for an answer. Draco hated it when they did this, expected him to know all of the answers, it wasn't like his Father told him anything even if he was the right hand to Voldemort. Draco was surprised that they hadn't figured it out by themselves, they all got decent grades, and they could read like everyone else.

Draco shook his head once and stared down at his own feet now, "I don't know." They seemed disappointed at this, but all accepted the lie he had just told and he was glad of it. "I think I'm going to head off to bed now. See you all in the morning."

He stood up and left the room, leaving the remaining eight in silence once more. He climbed the stairs down six flights, it was as many flights as you could go and opened the heavy iron door. The room was as he had left it months before, nothing had been disturbed. His trunk sat at the foot of his four poster, he would unpack that later. He found a pair of his silk pajamas and changed, then he pulled back the heavy blood red curtains, and crawled into bed. It felt so nice to be back in the bed that he had slept in now for the last four years. His eyes closed slowly and he fell asleep, not even to be woken by his two roommates later on that night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco woke up early the next morning, he felt refreshed and ready for another semester. His two roommates were snoring in their corner of the room. Draco had tried to convince Professor Snape that he needed his own room, but Snape had refused, "If I give you your own room it will look like favoritism, Mr. Malfoy." Draco had asked at least once a year, but so far the answer had been the same every fall. Draco walked across the frigid room and took a long hot shower. He dressed in his robes and left.

There was no one in the common room yet and the fire had died out long ago. He walked enthusiastically up from the dungeons and towards the Great Hall for breakfast. He had his wand in the small pocket inside his cloak, it felt good to have it so near. The Great Hall only had a few students in it so early and Draco took his usual seat at the Slytherin table, the very front corner. This was so that only a certain number of people could sit next to him, he could never be surrounded or cornered. These thoughts troubled him, he ran his hand down his robes and felt his wand through the material and was satisfied.

As he sat there eating slowly and quietly, Professor Épanss came in and was about to take the seat he had sat in last night when he spotted Draco. He altered his direction slightly and sat himself down uninvited across from Draco. Draco looked up from his plate and was greeted, "Good morning, you must be Draco Malfoy. Professor Guy Épanss." He extended his hand across the table and Draco grasped it firmly. He tried to show he had a strong grip, but Guy didn't seem to notice. He continued, "I have heard much about Severus Snape, quite an admirable Potions Master is what most people tell me."

The way he spoke these words disgusted Draco. He sounded arrogant, and confident of himself in Snape's position as if he was a permanent replacement. "Professor Snape is the best Potions Master Hogwarts has ever had." The anger in his voice revealed his quick opinion of the new professor.

Épanss didn't seem to mind, he smiled as if Draco had just told a joke, or commended him on being the best potions master. He moved on, "I congratulate you on your success this summer in the Youth Quidditch Association, quite impressive. It's too bad about the Cup game though, what happened?"

He sounded only mildly curious, it was his eyes that gave him away. They were too alert, to excited. "I wasn't feeling well, had a touch of the flu I believe." Draco smirked at how condescending and patronizing he sounded, but Epanss had asked for it. Draco knew that Epanss was trying to pry information out of him. What did he care why Draco had left the game early, it wasn't any of his business?

Guy seemed to be taken back by these words, his smile faded and his eyes dulled, he leaned back away from Draco a little. "I see, well, I think I'll just excuse myself then. It was nice meeting you Mr. Malfoy, I'll see you in class." The last part had sounded like a threat, but Draco knew Epanss wasn't stupid enough to threaten a student, not this student.

He watched as the professor walked away up to the head table and then turned his attention back to the breakfast in front of him. His mind ran wild with questions about this new teacher. Draco didn't trust him, and he wished that Snape would hurry back. More and more people started to trickle in for breakfast. Normally Draco would have left but today he had to wait for Épanss to hand out the clash schedules first. He was soon joined by Gwen and Pansy, Pansy sat down next him, closer than he would have liked. Gwen smiled as she sat down across from him, it was a polite smile and not seductive, Draco smiled in return. Pansy's voice broke his eye contact, "I didn't see Crabbe and Goyle awake when I left, your door was shut and I think I heard them snoring through it. You might want to check on them." Her voice was soft and melodic, it soothed him as she spoke.

"I'm tired of looking after them, let 'em fend for themselves." The edge of Pansy's mouth crinkled as she heard Draco speak this. He hadn't said it harshly, without tone really, but it didn't sound like the Draco she remembered. She put a few slices of buttered toast on her plate and ate slowly. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Draco kept glancing up at Gwen in between bites of food. She wondered what he was thinking. Draco could not stop looking at Gwen, thinking about her. The blond hair was nothing like his Mother's and her face was pleasant with ease. Here eyes were always kind, their deep blue always alight. Draco could not remember a time when he had seen her angry over the years, but she always held herself reserved. Reserved from what, he thought?

He had always seen Gwen in the company of another, always with Pansy or with Blaise or Tracey, never alone. That must be horrible, he thought, to never have a moments peace. He would have rebelled and gained peace whether those he was with liked it or not. Draco saw that Gwen didn't need to be alone though, she had her own peace within her. He smiled at her again as she had a small sip from her glass, she blushed and turned away. Draco felt Pansy's eyes on him now and he broke his present gaze and returned it to his plate.

Finally there were enough people sitting at the Slytherin table that Épanss started going up and down it handing out schedules. He smiled at every student, "Good way to help me get to know all of your names." He said this on many occasions. When he gave Draco his schedule, he did not smile, "'Course, I already know your name." This was a snide comment that Draco tried to ignore as he looked down his list of classes. This morning he had Transfiguration followed by History, then after lunch it was outside for Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors. Draco wasn't looking forward to that class, he didn't really care to see Harry yet.

He folded his schedule carefully and tucked it inside his robes. He got up from the table and picked up the potions book he'd brought with him. "See you guys in class." He smiled at Gwen and left the room.

The halls were filled with students as he walked down to the dungeons, he needed to pick up his books for class. He opened the door to his room after descending all of the steps. Crabbe and Goyle were still sleeping in bed, they must have forgotten to set their alarms. He had decided he wouldn't wake them and so he crept through the room and opened his trunk noiselessly. He pulled out his transfiguration and history text. He tucked these under his arm and left his bedroom as quietly as he'd come in. The rest of that morning flew by in a blur for Draco. Crabbe and Goyle slept through all of Transfiguration and McGonagall sent Draco back to his dormitory to revive them before their History class. Draco woke them roughly and left before they could question him about anything. History was as boring as usual and Draco stared out the window the whole time.

At lunch Draco was corner again, this time by Pansy, Tracey and Blaise, they sat: Pansy next to him, and the other two across from him. He smiled and nodded his head when they made jokes, and he said simply yes or no when asked directly anything. He ate quickly and excused himself. He saw Gwen glance as him as he left, she smiled at him and he returned it.

Once outside he walked past Hagrid's hut where his next class would be and headed in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. He sat down in the seats with his sunglasses on and closed his eyes and thought. Ever since the start of his summer vacation things hadn't been right. He had tormented himself the entire time with the notion that he could be friends with Potter, but he saw now that it wasn't a reality. The two of them were too different, there was no way to make it work. He thought back to how he had been before this new friendship had arisen, desperate to please his Father, desperate to be happy.

He let out a long sigh, he was always so hard on himself, he needed to have some fun. He got up from his seat and walked slowly towards his class. The others were already standing around, Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent, Blaise, Tracey, Pansy and Gwen, as well as the Gryffindors. He could see Harry standing with Weasley and Granger towards the front, they didn't see him approaching. Hagrid was just starting the class as Draco melted in with the group towards the back.

Hagrid began by talking about his summer, he went on and on about how he had been in France and how beautiful it was. Draco started to feel sick after ten minutes. Then Hagrid talked about how they would all be taking their OWLs at the end of the year, and although he hadn't taken them personally he had heard they were quite hard. Draco tried to contain his laughter, he didn't think there was anyway that Hagrid would have graduated even if they hadn't expelled him. "Malfoy, whatter you sniggerin' at back there?"

Draco let out a large smile now and shook his head, "I can't picture you taking the OWLs, that's all." The other Slytherins laughed at this and Hagrid turned beat red.

Draco watched as Harry gave him a dirty look, Draco smiled at this, and then Hagrid went on with his lesson. He talked about all the new things they would be studying this semester and about all of the old things they would be reviewing, and how after Christmas they would be taking notes mostly so that they were prepared for the exam.

At the end of class Draco joined Gwen as she walked with Tracey, the command that Draco held told her silently that he wished her to depart and a moment later she broke away and strode off by herself. Draco and Gwen walked slowly back to the castle together. "Is it true that you've been offered a place to try out next year for the English National Quidditch team?" Her voice was soft and low, Draco would love to listen to it for hours. He nodded slowly, a smile across his lips. "Wow, you must be really good then. I mean we all thought you were pretty good for Hogwarts but to play on the National team you've got to be great. And as a chaser too."

Draco heard footsteps behind him and a voice, "He wouldn't have been offered that spot without me." Harry's voice was cold as he spoke these words. Draco turned to look at him, Gwen was tugging on his arm that they should just keep on going to the common room. "That was pretty cruel what you said to Hagrid back there."

Draco shrugged, "It's true. Can you picture him, that big giant frame, sitting in one of our tiny desks, taking a test that have made students cry before? It's a hilarious thought."

Draco's face remained unemotional during this time, and he sensed that Harry didn't like this. "Just watch what you say, Malfoy!" He pressed past Draco and Gwen and headed up the steps to the castle.

Gwen didn't seem to have liked this exchange, Draco smiled warmly at her, "Don't worry about him, he's just mad at me." They began to walk back up towards the castle, Draco took his time, he enjoyed the weather today.

"Why is he mad at you Draco?" Gwen's voice was curious, and she didn't sound at all as if she were curious for unusual circumstance, just curious.

Draco let his mind wander and then decided on his answer, "Harry's mad at me because of what I did during the Quidditch cup game. My Mother dragged home after the first half and Harry thinks I should have stayed no matter what she said, or at least be able to come up with a reasonable excuse." Gwen had never heard Draco address Harry by his first name before. Her shocked expression was evident, "Over the summer we spent a lot of time together, I got to know him a little bit."

Gwen's face twisted a little bit, "You mean that the two of you became friends?" She asked this in a way that portrayed the fact she thought it hard to believe.

Draco nodded, "Yeah I guess we were kind of friends, in an odd sort of way. He was more a friend to me than anyone before him, that's for sure." They had reached the door inside and Draco held it open for Gwen.

"Thanks." She muttered, "But I don't understand, if you two became friends, then why all of the hostility now over something so small?" Her eyes stared at him in amazement as they descended into the dungeons.

"To Harry and I Quidditch is important. But more importantly to Harry is loyalty, and he doesn't think I'm a loyal friend." Draco realized that what he said was true and he hadn't realized it before. Harry's wasn't mad about him about the game, he was mad because he thought the whole thing had been some kind of act.

"Why don't you just tell all of this to Harry?" Gwen asked, her voice sounded as if this were the most obvious course.

Draco shook his head, "That's not going to happen and we both know that, Harry and I." They had come to the portrait hole, "Listen, ah Gwen, would you mind not mentioning this to anyone else?" His eyes pleaded with her, he hadn't even thought about this fact as they had been talking.

She smiled up at him, a warm and almost loving smile, "Of course not Draco, I would never do that." She was very sincere in this and Draco returned her smile, why had he never had this kind of conversation with Gwen before, he thought? They both entered into their common room, Gwen went off and sat next to Pansy as she started their homework. Draco headed for his room, he had brought a desk with him two years ago and preferred to work there where he couldn't be interrupted. Solitude, complete solitude.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday morning came the morning that Draco had been dreading all week. It was on this morning that the Slytherins had their double potions class with the Gryyffindors and Professor Épanss. Draco woke up and knew that the day was going to be bad, he could feel it all around him. He didn't want to get up, he wanted to sleep the entire day away. He knew this wasn't a possibility and so he forced himself out of his warm and comfortable four poster. Is feet hit the ice cold floor and sent a shiver up and down his spine. The hot shower relaxed him and he felt more prepared for the coming day. He dressed in clean robes and left the common just as he heard other people beginning to stir.

He ate a little bit of food in the Great Hall but for some reason he wasn't hungry. He didn't want to see Harry, he wanted to try and avoid him for the rest of the year. He knew this wasn't possible and he was glad Professor Snape wasn't around to force the two of them together as he was so fond of doing. He was curious as to how well Épanss was at teaching, Draco thought up some hard questions to ask, some that even he had had to look up.

The Great Hall began to fill up and Draco made his way out quietly before he could be singled out by Pansy or Adrian or any of his Slytherin housemates for that matter. He found a quiet chair in the common room and sat down, he waited silently, just thinking. Finally it came time for him to leave and he made his way down the hall to the potions laboratory. There was a loud group gathered outside, the Slytherins made fun of the Gryffindors to each other, and vice versa. Draco saw Harry standing in the back of the Gryffindor group, he was talking quietly with Weasley and Granger, he wasn't paying attention to the banter, although Weasley was joining right in.

Pansy, Tracey and Blaise were standing next to the door laughing, Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent stood just behind them trying to understand the jokes the three made.

It was just as Draco was arriving that the door was opened by Épanss. He was looking his jolly self, berret and all. "Ah, welcome, welcome! Come into the class now, that's where all of the precious learning takes place." He ushered them all into the laboratory.

The Slytherins sat on one side and the Gryffindors on the other, Épanss began his class, "Well, now that you're all seated, we will begin." His voice was strong, empowered. "For the first semester, our sole grade will come from one project, you will work in pairs and I will assign the subject for each group." His eyes scanned the class quickly, it seemed to turn sour as he gazed at the Gryffindors. Perhaps he had been in Slytherin House, Draco thought. He seemed to speak sarcastic at the present, "Now let's see, everyone get into groups." People began to group up switching seats all over the room. Draco was beginning to wonder who a suitable partner might be when Épanss yelled out, "Wait!" Everyone froze where they were shocked at his harsh words. "Mr. Malfoy you and Mr. Potter will be a group, you worked so well together over the summer." So, Draco thought, this was how he was going to punish him for his words at breakfast the other day, to group him with Potter.

Potter gave a look of plea over his shoulder to his friends as he crossed the class and sat down heavily next to Draco. He cast a spiteful glance at Draco and then shifted his eyes front again.

"Now then," Épanss continued, "For your topics. Longbottom," he spit this word out quickly, pointing, "You and Milliecent, a nice easy one, strength potions." He pivoted on his feet, "Ms. Parkinson and Greingrass yours will be love potions, know you'll like that one." Draco saw Pansy smile appreciatively up at Épanss. He went around the room like this until he finally came to Harry and Draco, "Ah, a hard decision here, what to assign the famous Harry Potter and the infamous Draco Malfoy?" There were small sniggers around the class, Épanss smiled briefly at each of them, sharing their pleasure. "Why not irreversible potions." He wore a wicked smile and Draco thought that he saw something he recognized in it. He turned back around and faced the entire class, "The assignment will be a full meter long and should cover in depth whatever topic I assigned you, and please don't forget it." He cast his eyes in the direction of Neville and Draco held back a laugh. Harry snapped his head and stared at Draco, telling him to keep quiet. "Why don't you all go to the library now and get a good start on this?!" With that Épanss dismissed the class.

Outside the class, Draco let the rest of the class go ahead of him, "Guess you're going to love this aren't you Potter, just let me do all of the work." He stared at Harry, a stare that could kill.

Harry returned his stare, "That's what you think Malfoy, it's not like I enjoy this assignment, but at least this Épanss is better than Snape." His words were poison to Draco, these daring words.

Draco recoiled slightly, "Épanss is just a coward who gives us lengthy assignments instead of teaching real potions." He hissed these words at Harry as his Mother might to him.

"Let's just get this over with Malfoy. Maybe is we finish early we won't have to see each other the rest of the semester." Harry headed in the direction of the library after this, not waiting for an answer, he could hear Draco following behind him.

The library was filled with Épanss' class, each in a different area. There were two to each desk and each table was piled high with books, Hermione's held the most. Draco and Harry took a table towards the back, their round table was full of strange books, mots of which Harry had never heard of before. The two worked in silence, each independent of the other.

After nearly two hours, the class began to leave for lunch, Draco and Harry had accomplished so little though that they continued to work. The rows were silent and even the librarian had left. Harry threw down his book, "This is useless, Épanss gave us the hardest possible topic." The desperation was thick in his voice and he flopped his head down onto the desk. "This is all your fault."

"My fault? How the hell is this my fault?" Draco was taken back, there was no way that Harry could blame him for the hard topic. "I don't know how it's your fault, but it is. Your arrogance probably forced him to assign it to us." His voice was muffled through the wood and his arms.

Draco threw down his own book now, the anger grew in him, "This has got to stop. You want me to apologize for missing that last game, I apologize! You think I wanted to go home, don't you think I wanted to be there when the Knights won the first ever Jr. Quidditch Cup?" His voice was ringing throughout the library and Harry's eyes were wide, "It's not like a had a choice or anything. In the Malfoy family if my Mother of Father says go, you go." He paused and took a breath, "Do you want to know why my Mother dragged me away that night? Do you?!"

Harry didn't speak, the silence hung around the two of them, absolutely still. Slowly Harry nodded his head.

"My Mother dragged me away from our game because my Father had been hurt," he paused cautiously, there was no turning back now. "He was hurt fighting against the Giants." Recognition dawned in the eyes staring at Draco, but there was no judgement. The eyes urged him on. Draco continued, his voice lower now, filled with a sense of sadness almost. "He had been hit with spells and swords, he was dying. My Mother used an ancient potion, a mixture of my blood and the venom of a snake, to cure him. I helped bring my Father back to life." There was disgust in his voice, not pride. His eyes welled with tears, he wiped them away quickly.

Harry's head nodded. There was acceptance on his face, but there was something else as well. "Yes, you helped bring back your Father, I helped bring back Voldemort. Now we're even and you know how I felt!" He flung himself up from the chair he was sitting in and stormed out of the library, hate and sorrow were the only emotions visible.

Draco sat back in his chair. "I thought Harry wanted to hear that?" he thought silently in his head, "What did I do now?" He heard books falling a row over, someone else was in the library. He got up from the table hastily and practically ran to the next aisle, whoever it was had heard every word of Draco's testimony, and Draco had to do something. He saw the fluttering of a cloak and a burst of blond hair turning the corner at the end, he broke into a sprint. He rounded the corner and again saw the black cloak rounding the shelf, they were running past the desk Draco had just moments ago been sitting at. He ran faster and faster to catch up but they were already out the door and gone. He leaned heavily against the door jamb, another mystery to solve.

That afternoon Draco and his classmates had their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Mortessen. Draco picked out a few of the books he had been glancing through and left the library hastily. He had entirely mised lunch and if he didn't hurry he would be late for class. He rounded the final corner and saw his classmates, they queued up early outside of his room and waited patiently. Professor Mortessen opened the door finally a minute before the class was set to begin. He opened it very slowly and peered at the small group gathered, the expression he wore might well have been on a man's coming face to face with a venomous snake. His eyes were very cautious and he quickly composed himself, he looked Draco over one last time and then opened his door fully, sweeping his arm around the classroom, "Please, be seated, we'll begin soon." His voice sounded distant, it was low and controlled, it had not a hint of emotion.

The class spilled into the room, each taking seats in a normal area for them, Draco assumed his seat at the back, Crabbe and Goyle sat in front of him. Pansy and the other four girls sat down on the other side towards the front.

The man standing in the front of the room turned suddenly and whipped around to face his class, his eyes were filled with courage and excitement, "My name, is Professor Mortessen. I am on loan from the Ministry of Magic to this institution for one year." His words were cut short, he was very articulate and commanding. "I understand, that in the past, you have had unusual professors for this class, some that taught a lot and some that taught nothing. Well this semester will be very different for you then, I plan on reviewing everything that a fifth year student should know while teaching new subjects at the same time. You may find it hard to keep up as you are so far behind. At the start of ever class we will revive the study of old material and during the second half of every class we will begin our new studies. Each week there will be two homework assignments, one that you should have completed before and one which you have never had before. Our main topic this year will be the theory mind you, the theory, of dark arts and their practice. Now before we begin for today, are there any questions?" Mortessen spoke fast and sharp, his last statement was spoken as if a dare, challenging any student to ask a question of him.

He glanced around the room, his face twisted, and he saw one hand raised in the air. "Mr. Malfoy I presume, you have a question?" He pronounced, Malfoy, with respect, a name not to be shamefully said.

"I was wondering if you could tell us what department you worked for in the Ministry, is all." Draco's question was asked respectfully and in a curious manner. His eyes held the determination though, he wanted to know if this man had worked in an area worth working for, or as a secretary.

"The department I work in, is of no importance to this class, I assure you I'm qualified." There was a note of finality in this that was undeniable and unrefutable. "Now let us begin our class," A hint of anger rose in his words, and the girls sitting at the front quivered slightly.

They began by restudying subjects from their first year, things they had learned under Professor Quirrel, one of the true teachers they had been taught under. Quirrel may have been a little unusual, but his methods were good and he taught important information.

The second half of the class they read theory after theory after theory, Draco was nearly bored to death, he never imagined that someone could turn something as exciting as the Dark Arts into a seminar as interesting as knitting. Draco noticed that Crabbe and Goyle sat in front of him in a complete stupor, they had absolutely no idea as to what was being taught. He chuckled at this softly and then went back to taking notes.

Finally the class ended, Mortessen assigned them to write a three page essay on the combination of four theories on Dark Arts, and a chapter of reading from their first year. The assembled group stumbled out of this classroom tired, once in the hall their mood picked up slightly, they were free of Professor Mortessen for a full week.

"That man gives me the creeps." Pansy shook her whole body in mock of her words. Some of the group laughed. "Don't you think Draco?" Her voice softened as she spoke to him, and her eyes flittered once.

"I don't know," Draco answered assertively, "I think he'll do a good job, better than that nut case Werewolf, and he's certainly not as unusual as Professor Quirrel."

This response didn't seem to please Pansy, her mouth crinkled slightly at the edges. "Oh Draco, I'm sure you'll absolutely love him, but I'm a little frightened," She spoke now in a very correct manner, but there was a hint of softness and vulnerability, "You'll protect me won't you Drac?"

Her lips pouted and made Draco slightly sick. She had been acting more than a little strange since term had begun, she was always where Draco was. And now she was calling him Drac, he didn't like the direction this was going. "Of course." He answered her question in a bland tone, smiled once in a polite way, and then pushed him self away from the rest, "I have to see Madame Hooch about the Quidditch team, if you'll all excuse me." He sped off up the steps, his Dark Arts book under his arm. He could hear the muffled whispers of the group as he left, they were still unsure of the change he had endured and it's cause.

He quickly found Madame Hooch's office and knocked politely on the door. He heard her call out softly from inside, "Come in." He pushed the door open and entered into the unfamiliar room. It's walls were covered with pictures of old Hogwarts Quidditch Cup champions, National Quidditch teams performing their signature plays over and over again, and a very old picture of a Hufflepuff House team was mounted her desk, Draco recognized her among the seven players.

"What can I do for you Mr. Malfoy?" She closed the small hand book she had been reading and set it down in front of her as she looked up at him. Her eyes didn't hold the hatred that many of the other teachers' did when looking at him, he wondered if it was because he had proved himself on the field as a formidable player.

He cleared his throat, "Well I was wondering about my Quidditch team."

Recognition dawned in her eyes and she nodded, "Ah yes, you're the new Slytherin team Captain aren't you? Quite an honor it is to be a captain." She paused and consulted a piece of parchment laying on her desk and then continued, "Let's see, the other captains this year are Cho Chang, THE HUFFLEPUFF CAPTAIN and Harry Potter of course, which you already knew. Ms. Chang has booked the field for this weekend, she needs to fill one or two spaces, Mr. Potter is only filling one position, he'll be doing this Wednesday night, and so that leaves any day open between now and next Sunday. What day would you like?"

Draco thought for a moment, "I'll take next Saturday please, I have to fill up six spaces." She smiled and wrote this down on a calendar that he hadn't seen before.

"Okay then, after you pick your team you will have to let me know who all of your players are, only these students will be allowed to compete in any school match up. Here is an official school Quidditch rule book, you should acquaint yourself with it, but you need not memorize it. And the last thing would be your first game, which will be November first against the Ravenclaw team. Let me know when you wish to have practices, you must schedule them at least one week ahead of time, but no more than a month. After everyone has one game, a permanent schedule will be put together." She folded her hands into a steeple, "If there's nothing else Mr. Malfoy?" She peered at him quizically.

Draco shook his head once, "No that's everything, thank you." He smiled once and left the room, closing the door gently behind him. He flipped once through the Quidditch book and then headed off in the direction of the common room. Students were busy in the hallways going from place to place, Draco ignored most of them. There was one student however that could not ignore. Harry strode was striding up the main set of stairs as Draco was coming down, "Malfoy! Malfoy!"

Draco shook his head once to clear his thoughts and focused on Potter, he still looked just as upset as earlier. "What do you want now, Potter?" Draco sneered this as they stood in the middle of the stairs attracting attention.

"I've thought of a way to solve our little problem. We have some unfinished business from first year that will do the trick nicely." His voice was fluid as he spoke and his eyes glinted with excitement in the flame torch light. "You owe me a duel."

A sudden understanding came to Draco, he remembered luring Harry into a duel and warning Filch that he was to be in the trophy room that night after hours. Draco wonder whether Harry was going to do the same thing to him, "Yes, it seems to me I remember something about that, nearly got caught by Filch too. What if you're going to do the same thing to me?"

Harry shook his head, "I have more honor than that Malfoy."

Draco hated the way Harry had a selective memory, sometimes remembering the old Draco and sometimes remembering the new. "But Harry," Draco spoke innocently, "I don't have a second."

"Damn seconds!" He nearly screamed this and Draco looked as everyone's eyes turned on them, questioning this sudden outburst from Harry Potter. "In the trophy room, tonight, midnight, and don't bring a second." At the end of these strong and hushed words Harry turned and strode up the remainder of the steps, his cloak trailing lightly behind him.

Draco had never seen Harry like this before and he found it hard to believe that he had everything to do with it. It might have been true last year that Draco could get Harry acting this way if he had wanted to, but since the cup game Draco had hardly spoken to Harry. He shook his head in aggravation and headed back in the direction he had been walking before the confrontation.

The dungeons got colder and colder until he came to the familiar portrait and entered the common room. People sat crowded around the room in the black leather chairs clustered near the round wooden tables. Pansy's sat with Blaise and Tracey, they sat at a table near the well built fire, her head came up and she watched Draco walked across the room into the corner and begin to read his manual. A moment later Draco felt someone sit down across from him, he continued to read. He heard her clear her throat and finally he spoke, "What is it that you want Pansy, I'm trying to learn these mundane rules for my team?" His head was still buried in the book as the words flowed, they seemed to anger Pansy.

"Draco Malfoy, what is the matter with you lately?" Her voice was low and high pitched, it reminded him of his Mother's, a hiss. "Ever since we started this new year it seems that something has been wrong. You know you can tell me if something's bothering you." Her voice tried to sound soothing and sincere, he felt her cold hand on his arm, running slowly up in down, trying to feel comforting.

He folded his book over on his lap and pulled his arm away from her slowly. He measure out his voice so that it sounded the way he intended it, and also so that he didn't betray his promise. "Pansy, the way before I left for school, my Father was injured and they used my blood and snake venom to cure him." He rolled up his sleeve and showed her the jagged scar that had been pulled across his arm.

Her eyes widened in wonderand she ran her fingers over the scar slowly, analyzing it all, filled with excitement, "How?" Her voice was inquisitive and it hurt Draco, his eyes became blurry, "What do you mean, how? Don't you care that it hurt like hell and that I passed out afterwards?" His sharp words resounded, there was pain in him at the response to her request. She didn't care about him, she didn't care.

He picked up his book and stormed out of the common room and down the steps to his dormitory. He swung the door open brutally and slammed it shut. There was no sign of his roommates and he was glad for this. He flung the Quidditch manual onto his four poster and sat down at his desk to start on the homework Mortessen had assigned. The work wasn't nearly as hard as he thought it would be, he only had to compare two things, there was nothing difficult. He finished within an hour and was only just in time for the last bit of dinner.

The Great Hall was nearly empty save a few people. At the Gryffindor table sat the three people he enjoyed seeing the least, Granger, Weasley, and Weasley, there was no sign of Harry. He pulled his eyes from them, he didn't want to start anything, he just wanted to eat and then find something interesting to pass the time until he was ready to go to the trophy room. At the Slytherin table there were a few first years and sitting in his regular seat was someone he hadn't expected to see eating alone. He walked down the long table until he was standing over his seat, the person in it was oblivious to him standing their, they were lost in their own thoughts.

Draco cleared his throat and spoke softly, "You're in my spot Gwen." His voice held no command in it for her to get up, it was simply stated in a curious manner, almost questioning. Gwen was startled by the sudden interruption of her solitude. She made to move from the seat she occupied, muttering apologies, her head lowered. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It's alright Gwen, I was joking." Draco had a smile on his face and he sat down to the right of Gwen as she re-seated herself in his usual seat. He carefully put a few things onto his plate and filled his goblet, "Would you like some more?" He asked smoothly. The girl sitting next to him nodded and he filled her goblet as well. For a little while the two ate in silence, it wasn't an awkward silence by definition, but the conversation was kept to a minimum. Finally though the question would not leave Draco's mind, "How come you were sitting here all by yourself Gwen?" He had put down his utensils and took a small sip from his glass.

She looked uneasy at the question, she shifted her weight subtly, squirming. "I, well, you know, they all eat fast, and I just got left behind to finish, that's all Draco?" She tried to sound strong and reassuring, but at best she came off only slightly believable. Draco narrowed his eyes at her in a playful fashion. She let out a long sigh, "I saw the exchange between you and Pansy, and I heard it, when I asked her about it she seemed angry and then I told her that she shouldn't treat you that way and she kind of flipped." She swallowed hard, as if by telling someone this she had broken a vow. "She said that if that's the way I felt that then I wasn't welcome among their group for dinner. It seemed that everyone agreed with this and so when they left for the Great Hall I finished my homework and then came up here when they re-entered the common room, they all gave me dirty looks as they passed."

She seemed on the verge of tears, "Gwen, you don't have to stick up for me. Pansy thinks that just because we went to the Yule Ball together we have something, but we don't and I remind her of that every chance I get." Gwen smiled at this and Draco returned her smile warmly. "You let me know if Pansy says anything else to you, we're all Slytherins and she can't talk to anyone like that, not without my permission." When Draco mentioned the Slytherin name, he could see Gwen shudder. Was it that bad being in the Slytherin house with Pansy? If it was, Gwen could hide it quite well, in the four years that he had been a classmate of Gwen's Draco couldn't remember her being like this before. "Hey, do you want to go up to the observatory and take a look up at the heavens, there's suppose to be a meteor shower tonight?"

Gwen shook her head slowly, "We're not allowed out after dinner Draco, you know that." Draco seemed a little taken back, how did Gwen get into the Slytherin house obeying rules?

"What are you suddenly part of Hufflepuff or something? Come on it's not like there's a meteor shower every night." She seemed to be torn trying to decide her course of action.

She was weighing her choices, the benefits and consequences, "Well, I don't know Draco." She seemed to have her doubts as she spoke these slow words.

Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the table, "It's settled then." He led them quickly out of the Great hall and up towards the observatory. Rushing past all the students on their way to the respective dormitories the two made their way hurriedly up the many flights of stairs.

At last they came to the door that led outside and onto the astronomy deck. Draco opened it carefully and peered out to make sure there was no one outside, sometimes the first years were required to observe these nighttime delights. On this night though there was no such class and Draco led Gwen out onto the deck. It was fully dark by now, the deck was only lit by the light of the crescent moon that hung just over the edge of the forest. They walked out onto the deck and sat down on one of the many stone benches that lined the outer portion. They stared up at the sky silently, watching for movement. Instantly they began to see the meteors burst into flames as they hit the Earth's atmosphere. "There's one." Draco called pointing up quickly.

Gwen missed it though, "I don't see it." Her voice was soft in the night air.

"There's another one." Draco called quickly, cutting her off as she spoke. She looked up fast but missed it again. Draco smiled at her, she looked quite annoyed. Finally he stopped calling them out as he saw them. They seemed to fill the entire sky now in one giant shower, there wasn't a way possible that Gwen could miss them.

They continued to sit quietly, in awe of the natural event, each one just sitting and staring. The moon moved slowly over the forest and after nearly an hour it cast too much light into the sky. "I think we should go down now Draco, we can't see anymore any ways."

Draco nodded in agreement and together they walked casually through the halls to their common room. They didn't encounter any teacher, and before Draco would have liked they were outside the portrait hole. He stopped before giving the password, "This was fun Gwen, we should sneak out again sometime."

She looked up into his steel gray eyes and nodded, a smile made it's way across her face. There was something new about Draco that she liked, something that had never been there before, not even in modesty. In years past, Draco Malfoy would have joined in her punishment for speaking out against Pansy. What had happened over the summer to change him so dramatically, she thought? It must have been something quite major, and she knew that he was holding it back from her, from Pansy, from everyone. He held the portrait open and let Pansy through to the common room. "Aren't you coming in Draco?" She turned around, watching him from inside.

Draco shook his head, "I've got something to do." He said this as if it were homework, he didn't want to worry Gwen.

He began walking away from the painting, "Wait Draco! Does this have something to do with the argument you had with Harry Potter earlier?"

Draco pivoted quickly on his feet, "That was you in the library listening?" His voice was a mixture of anger and amazement. "What were you doing in the library after everyone else left?"

"I was finishing up some work for the project Pansy and I are doing." She shrugged her shoulders showing that she didn't think much about this.

"To answer your question, no, it doesn't have anything to do with the argument I had with Potter in the library." He tried not to sound angry, and he wasn't truly lying to Gwen, which he wanted to avoid. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." He smiled once reassuring her and then turned and left again.

He walked the halls very cautiously, he peered around the corners as he came to them. The halls were just as bare as before, he had only to avoid a few late night ghosts. Finally he came to the trophy room. He looked around quickly but there was no one there yet. It was still a few minutes to midnight. He walked around and looked at the different plaques in the cases. He heard watched hand click as it hit twelve. He was beginning to wonder if Potter was going to show up, perhaps he had set him up and the teachers were on their way. He made his way quickly towards the door, he wasn't getting caught by a teacher. There was a loud wind behind him, like a draft and a voice spoke out, "Leaving already Draco, just like a Malfoy!"

Draco swung around, Harry was standing there against the far wall, a luminous cloak sitting on the floor. He wore a wicked sort of grin, his wand was in his hand at his waist. "Trying to get a good advantage sneaking up behind me, is that it Potter?" He pulled his own wand from underneath his cloak quickly and brought it out on Harry.

Harry brought his wand up now to the casting position and slowly began to circle around the room so that he was so cut off from the entrance. "Well, if I did sneak up on you it would only make up for you casting early in second year."

Draco smiled, circling Harry around in the same manner, "Yes that was amusing wasn't it? You didn't even know how to block a spell then!" He grinned wider but Harry didn't seem to enjoy this joke.

"Yes, well I know how to block one now, and I've learned to cast some more as well, not just laughing curses and jelly legs." There was no note of fun in his voice, Harry meant every word of the subtle threat.

The two continued to circle slowly, neither one attempting to cast yet. "Why don't we stop dancing and duel Potter, unless you're scared." Draco acted as if he were back in second year now, he was trying to call Harry out before he was ready. Harry stopped dead in his tracks now, he stared at Draco intently, his wand held in front of him like a sword. Draco brought his up to the same level now and returned his stare, which one would cast first, Draco thought? At the smallest twitch or spasm the other would cast now with full force. The two's eyes were locked, each searching for a hint of thought, an intuition to strike.

Suddenly the door to the trophy room sprung open with a loud bang. Harry and Draco spun in it's direction, both of their wands still at the ready, each poised to cast. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, lower your wands and explain yourselves!" The voice of Épanss was cold and harsh, neither one knew what he would do to them. They lowered their wands as they had been told, each with a worried look on their face. Draco cast a quick and worried look at Harry who seemed to be wearing the same expression. "Now, Mr. Potter, would you please explain yourself." Harry thought that perhaps Épanss wasn't any better than Severus, he had already seemed to make up his mind about Harry.

"Well you see sir, Draco wanted to see my Special Award for Service plaque and I didn't have time during the day."

"Yeah, Harry was telling me that Dumbledore gave him one for his deeds in the Chamber of Secrets and I didn't believe him. I bet him a galleon that he was lying." Draco took a galleon out of his pocket and handed it very ceremoniously to Harry, who accepted it with a nod.

Épanss looked from one boy to the next, he looked very confused at the whole situation, but obviously wasn't fooled by their joint lie. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the two, he was obviously trying to decide what to do. Did he not have these type of raucous students in France, Draco thought? "I'm giving you each detention, to be served with me Saturday night, and you will each owe me a paper on the proper dueling technique and a brief history. Now off to bed!" His voice was sharp and he didn't seem happy with his decision. Harry picked up his cloak quickly and followed Draco out before Épanss changed his mind.

As soon as they were out the door and around a corner, they both burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Did you see his face?" Draco cried in between laughs.

Harry's eyes had welled up with tears, he had sunk to the floor and couldn't answer Draco. After five minutes of laughing from the two of them they gradually tapered off. Harry got up off the floor and wiped his eyes. "Okay, well I guess I'm going to head off to bed now like Épanss said. See you Saturday night." Harry turned around and began heading up the giant steps.

"Hey Harry wait a second." Draco called out quickly, "Are we alright now?" His voice was sincere, he wanted to know if he and Harry were back where they had left off at the end of summer.

Harry smiled once, a cunning smile, and shrugged his shoulders, "Don't know what you're talking about Draco, see you Saturday." He turned and left now, and Draco didn't stop him with another question, he knew the answer.

He walked casually through the dark and quiet halls now and made his way back the dormitories. There was a spring in his step and Draco was feeling better tonight than he had since that fateful night with his Father nearly a week ago. He climbed through the portrait hole, the common room was deserted. The fire had gone out and it was fitfully cold, he went quickly down the steps to his room. There was no one left and Draco pleased with that. Draco tip-toed across the room, trying not to wake Crabbe and Goyle. He changed into his silk pajamas and pulled back the curtains to his bed. He picked up his manual and set it casually onto the table next to his bed and pulled the curtains around him. He fell asleep thinking about the night he had just experienced, the unexpected argument with Pansy, and the new friendship he felt forming with Gwen, and a new start with Harry. Things could be starting to look up, he thought to himself, and then fell sound asleep.