Author's Note: I'm so SUPER DUPER SORRY for the incredibly looooong hiatus. I /actually/ wanted to post an update just to tell people that I won't be updating, cos I've been completely busy. But then I decided not to, cos that might make some people even madder.

I've received death threats! *author whimpers and hides behind her desk*

But, luckily for me (and my life), I think the release of OoP might have re- kindled my desire to continue this story. Thank You Everyone for your reviews, they constantly amuse me.

Oh, and about the fic posted on harrypotterfanfiction.com... I can't do anything about it cos I've completely forgotten my UserID and password. So just ignore it, if you can.

Chapter 24: Aftermath

"I heard about what happened this morning." Marcus whispered conspiratorially, his mouth close to Draco's ear, and a rough hand on the younger boy's arm.

"Nice one." he finished with a satisfied sneer, thumping Draco on the back solidly before continuing down the hallway.

Draco looked at the retreating figure of his Captain and saw that Crabbe and Goyle were grinning (albeit grotesquely); obviously impressed that an older student had heard about their little scheme.

Draco gave them an obligatory smug smile.

But his pretense quickly faded as he walked into the Common Room.

Throwing himself down on the couch, he tried to lean back and organise his jumbled thoughts.

He hated feeling like this. It was *supposed* to be so good.

He sighed heavily and stood back up again.

He ran a hand through his neatly combed hair agitatedly and started to pace.

The gut-wrenching guilt does *not* bode well with his temperament. And hiding it is even worse.

Despite the adamant and repeated denials in his head that he shouldn't care and didn't; the truth was that, he did.

And try as he might, he could not turn off the torrent of images of Harry lying on the lake shore this morning.

With his pale face scratched up and lips bleeding so freely.

And at that moment, revenge suddenly didn't seem so sweet anymore.

Now for the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy hated himself.

He didn't even know how Harry was doing now. While he was being carted off to the Infirmary (again), Ron and Hermione had thrown him what can only be described as 'The Look of Death'.

Which is probably largely due to the fact that he had managed to get away with his little prank scot-free.

With some help from two eyewitnesses. Whose names just happen to be Vincent and Gregory.

Heck, he had almost wished that Sprout had called him on what he did.

Almost.

The Slytherin wrung his hands for the umpteenth time and kicked sharply at the almirah by the wall in frustration.

It creaked whinnily in protest and tried to back itself up against the wall more closely in an effort to edge itself out from Draco's path.

Draco knew some of other Slytherins in the Common Room were watching him now and giving him odd looks.

And he didn't care.

A nervous looking first year trying to exit the dungeons skittered by around him, giving him a wide berth.

Even Crabbe and Goyle had moved away from him by now. With the excuse that all his pacing was making their heads hurt; they went in search of some chocolate to make themselves feel better.

Things were not looking good.

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"Still think he's harmless, Hermione?"

Hermione pursed her lips in response. Ron had been gloating over what had happened in Herbology for the past fifteen minutes and Hermione felt just about ready to slap him.

"Are you enjoying this, Ron?" she asked with a glare.

"WHAT?!" Ron looked taken aback by this accusation.

"Well, given that our best friend could be seriously injured for the second time this term, you seem awfully pleased with yourself." Hermione noted coolly.

"Well, I *was* right, wasn't I?" Without waiting for a response, he rattled on, oblivious to Hermione's growing annoyance.

"I was right that he couldn't trust Malfoy and I was right about that git hurting him, too!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. She had just about enough of Ron.

"/I'm/ going to the Infirmary to see whether Madam Pomfrey is allowing any visitors yet." And with a huff; she strode off, her robes swishing behind her, leaving behind a very befuddled Ron.

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By the time Harry had woken up, it was early evening. The sun had just begun to set outside the window next to his bed, and a soft dusky glow had filled the large room.

He opened his eyes and squinted through his blurred vision. Reaching over to the small table beside him, he groped around for the familiar feel of his glasses for a while, before finding them and putting them on.

Someone had bothered to fix them, he realised, as the memory of his flight this morning came back to him in a tidal wave.

He touched his face curiously, to feel the angry cuts that now grazed his left cheek and forehead. He looked down to see that his arms waren't spared either.

*But still. No broken bones. No punctured lung. Definitely an improvement for me.* he thought bitterly to himself.

As he sat up in bed, he started to piece together the events that led up to his latest misadventure. He knew Draco had a huge part to play in it.

*And this time I remember.* He brooded as he unconsciously licked the still- crimson cut on his bruised lower lip. He pressed his lips together. For some reason, the pain felt right.

He sighed softly to himself.

"Not the best term," a deep familiar voice interrupted his gloomy thoughts, "is it, Harry?"

Harry looked up to see the headmaster standing at the doorway.

"Professor Dumbledore," he said in acknowledgement and smiled weakly as he unconsciously fingered the scratches on his forehead, "It's not as bad as it looks, actually."

And as if to prove this, he slid off the bed and stood up, without much difficulty.

"Ah..." The headmaster nodded and smiled as he walked into the room.

"I'm sorry things haven't been easy for you this term, Harry." he said as he watched the boy rummaging around a nearby closet for his school uniform and robes.

"Yeah." he replied shortly as he started pulling his pajama top over his head.

"I hope you know that you need only to look for me if you ever need to talk, Harry." The professor said.

Now Harry was starting to feel a little annoyed now at the wizard as he put his arms through his school shirt.

It's not as if he needed reminding of the whole depraved affair with Malfoy.

Things have just gotten from bad to worse and he hadn't the slightest clue of how to go about his life now.

He exhaled hotly before putting on his shirt, "Well, it's not as if I can do anything about it, is there? So what's the point in talking about it?" and threw an accusing look at the headmaster before doing up his shirt buttons a little hastily.

Silence.

And almost instantly, Harry regretted his words. He knew that he had no reason to be angry at the headmaster.

He looked up guiltily and started to form an apology, but the headmaster raised a hand to stop him before he could.

"No need to explain, Harry. I can't pretend to know what it is that you're going through. It certainly is a unique position that the two of you are in." he said.

Harry nodded absently. He had by now managed to kick off his pajama bottom and was now trying to get into his school trousers as deftly as possible.

The headmaster seemed to be perfectly comfortable with, or oblivious to the teenage boy's state of undress before him.

"Thanks." Harry mumbled as he threw his dark robes over his shoulders. He couldn't wait to get out of the room.

All of a sudden, it felt incredibly stifling in there.

"Erm... If you don't mind, sir, I think I'll be going down to the Great Hall now." he managed an apologetic smile, "See if there's any food left."

The headmaster smiled graciously. "Of course. I'll tell Madam Pomfrey that you're feeling better." He started walking with Harry to the door.

Harry held back a sigh of relief as they headed for the doorway. He had been afraid that the wizard would start asking him questions in a bid to get him to talk about his feelings. Or something equally useless like that.

"And Harry..." the headmaster said as he held open the door for the both of them.

"Yes?" he half-turned, avoiding the headmaster's gaze.

"Take care of yourself." he said kindly.

Harry nodded quickly in thanks before heading out and away from the Infirmary.

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