AN: This chapter is going to be longer than the others… I don't exactly know why. The average number of words in the other chapters are around 1405 words. This one, I noticed, had 1361 words, and I haven't started on the main story… hmm… is that good or bad? Anyway, on with the fic! More rants with real feelings at the end! Heheh…

Disclaimer: No money, No own, No right, No sue

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Tarantella

Chapter 4 – Sway to the Music

The trio were barely late for Charms that morning. Harry, having little time to wash up, had a small accident in the bathroom involving the bruise on his face, a bar of soap and a red Gryffindor towel. Thankfully, they made it in time for their class. Harry and Ron were even more grateful. Harry couldn't agree more when Ron whispered to him, "I'm glad we made it in time! If we'd stayed a little longer in the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione would have made it impossible for us to get here!"

Harry grinned at his friend. True, Hermione would have blown her top. He heaved lightly and turned his attentions to Professor Flitwick. He couldn't afford to miss his lessons now because he had the feeling that things will go rough on him soon. His guts told him so… 'And to be completely honest', he thought to himself, 'I hate it when I have these gut feelings… something's gonna happen today…'

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Soon (very soon, as Harry would put it), it was already their Potions class. He was right to say things will go wrong because for some reason, fate found it nice to play a trick on the Gryffindor trio. Professor Flitwick ask them to return some books to the library, being that he'd dismissed them earlier, only to find that, no, he didn't dismiss them as he said, they had no excuse notes whatsoever. And since it is Potions class… Well, you can guess what happened.

"50 points from Gryffindor."

"Bu-hmph!"

Ron covered Hermione's mouth quickly. Hermione struggled to break free, hitting and elbowing Ron, but he's not going to let her. They're in deep shit as it is; they can't let it go worse.

Harry helped Ron restrain Hermione and whispered to her, "Mione, that isn't a very good idea, so stop it already!"

After a few struggles, Hermione sighed in defeat. 'They're right. Lucky it was only…'

"And 30 points from Gryffindor because of 3 noisy students at the back."

'Okay', Harry thought. 'And when I thought he was in a good mood, he takes out 80 points from Gryffindor. Wow.'

The Slytherins started smirking, some outright laughing, but Snape didn't care. He was just sneering at the Gryffindors, who were now sulking in their seats.

'Must be enjoying the show…', Harry thought again as he looked around the classroom, occassionaly glaring at some Slytherins. The lot of them just glared back at him and continued their laughter.  As Harry was about to glare at another Slytherin, he saw the blonde boy, Slytherin Silver Prince, Draco Malfoy, not amused. He wasn't annoyed, nor the contrary. He just looked as his parchment, then occassionaly grinned at a few of his housemates, but he wasn't as jovial as the others.

Now that's something.

Forget that Flitwick caused them so much trouble, forget that… Snape… took 80 points from Gryffindor and counting, forget that Pansy Parkinson is currently making faces that, peculiarly, made her face almost human. Draco Malfoy… DRACO MALFOY… was not laughing at this cruel joke.

Harry could only stare as he said to himself, 'How unlike him…'

The Slytherins still in their fit of laughter, Harry turned to Ron, face as red as beet. He tugged at Ron's sleeve from behind Hermione's back, since she was sitting in between them.

"Hey! Look there, Malfoy's not laughing. Not even a little sneer!"

Ron looked over at the Slytherin side, saw Draco and said, "Must be indigestion. That bloody git is positively amused in the inside."

Harry nodded in agreement with Ron, but turned still to a now almost asleep Draco. He looks so tired and worn out.

'It can't be Ron… Something's wrong…'

At last, Professor Snape shushed the Slytherin House and soon, they were deep in a discussion… More like a lecture, actually. It was boring, boring… and boring. Harry was about ready to sleep, save the blankets and pillows, but thought against it as they'd already lost 80 house points, surely Neville will lose about 50 more. If Snape catches him, he'll take out so much house points it'll be impossible for Gryffindor to catch up even if you add the Quidditch Cup, plus a clean record for the whole year for the whole Gryffindor House.

Harry sighed. Could this get any worse? Apparently, it could. It would and it did…

Professor Snape's face suddenly held a scoff. He turned to Harry, eyed Neville and said, "We will have pair projects today. I expect you all to have fairly good scores as it'll be a collaboration between Gryffindor and Slytherin. I will announce your partners."

At this, the whole room was filled with whines, moans and bleats. People started sighing deeply and the tension between the two houses started to mount. Of course, there are a few who thought it best not to complain… Save it for later if they got Neville, Crabbe, Goyle… At least let them have a 'fairly decent' partner (as being partners with the either house isn't decent enough).

Snape brought out the parchment from a compartment of his oak wood desk. He then turned to the class, a sadistic grin on his face, and started reading out the names.

"Bullstrode, Brown. Crabbe, Granger…

Both Lavender and Hermione sighed and turned to their partners. Hermione then turned to Lavender and saw that she was gritting her teeth.

'Well at least you didn't get… Crabbe…', she thought.

Of course, it is a well-known fact that Hermione is a gifted student, a freak to Slytherins, but anyway, she obviously won't let her partner pull her grades down.

"…Goyle, Weasley. Longbottom, Thomas…"

Dean sighed at the thought. At least his partner was a Gryffindor. That way, they can at the least, get along. It'll be tough having to be partnered with Neville, but that was better than to be partnered with a Slytherin… Right?

Ron could only stare out in empty space.

"…Malfoy, Potter…"

Harry, still feeling sorry for Hermione and Ron, sighed in relief. Though he really didn't like it that Snape purposefully put them together, he was at any rate, liberated from having the two numbskulls as partners. Knowing Snape, though, he knew who his partner was. It could even be that the cracked professor made this a partner project because he wanted to see him suffer.

This time though, something told him that "suffer" wasn't going to be the issue between him and Draco.

Soon, Snape called out a couple of pairs more.

"…Parkinson, Patil…"

"…and Zabini, Finnigan."

Harry heard Seamus mumble. He knew about that little attraction Seamus had for Blaise. Blaise, though, was a bastard guy that must've screwed around with every girl and guy in Hogwarts with hormones. It's a well-known fact, but it seems that Seamus didn't really care.

Harry felt happy for Seamus, though.

Harry then looked over to Draco, who looked as though he was oblivious to the thought of being partnered with him. He didn't know if this sudden suppression of emotion Draco displayed was good. So seeing that his partner wasn't going to move away from his seat, he was the one who trudged over there, carrying his stuff. He sat down the vacant seat beside Draco. As he set down his cauldron with a thump, Draco, finally, looked up at him.

"What?", said the blonde.

"What what?"

Harry didn't know if Draco was suddenly going stupid or if there was just some problem.

"I mean, why are you here?"

Draco said it with little force that Harry could feel the growing intrigue in him. Yes, Draco Malfoy had a problem.

"We have pair work today. And I'm your partner if it isn't clear enough for you."

Harry couldn't help but say it in a callous tone. He didn't really mean it, but that was Draco Malfoy there, problem or no problem. That was what he thought, though, before Draco simply moved a little bit more for Harry to be seated. He hid the parchment he was scribbling on a while ago and said, "Oh. Okay. Sorry, I wasn't listening. What are we supposed to do?"

Draco looked at him with questioning but timid eyes. Harry was caught unprepared for this. Why didn't he think of this? He knew his partner was zoning out… It's not that he didn't know what to say. It was just that… Why is Malfoy like this? In truth, Harry's noticed that even before… As much as he hated it and denied it, he was getting bothered himself.

But this wasn't the time to ask questions, as Snape was slowly making his way towards them.

"Uhm… Yeah. Look here, we're going to…"

Harry gave Draco the name of the Potion and soon, their cauldrons were boiling and the faint smell of what seemed like onions and vinegar filled the room. The students, though, knew better than to complain.

"Potter?"

Harry answered with a, "What?" as he stirred his cauldron, adding beetle's legs to the mixtures. Draco, on the other hand, was mixing his potion and getting the vials ready.

"Can you give me the effects of the potion? I wasn't really listening a while ago…"

"Oh… Uhm… The _________ potion set will let the drinker of your potion feel the feelings of the drinker of my potion. It's most common uses are with students who try to skip classes too much. They let them drink the potion, the other on a teacher to prove if he was really not feeling well. It's an alternative for Veritaserum as this is easier to make."

Draco pondered a bit and nodded. "I see."

Soon, the class was done, of course, with Snape taking out points from Gryffndor as Neville blew up his potion. Dean made their comeback though, and even if they were the last ones to finish, it seemed that they're potion looked like how it was supposed to be. One clear and one red.

"I see everyone's done with their potions. I'd like you to exchanged potions. After that, you may drink them."

Harry took note of the Professor's gleaming eyes.

'I wonder if he talked out the Slytherins to poison us…'

Harry felt a tug at his sleeve. He turned to see who it is and found Draco sealing his Potion.

"Here." said Draco, offering his vial. "Don't worry. I want a decent grade, I didn't put anything in it."

Harry nodded swiped the vial while giving his to Draco.

"It said in the book that you're supposed to drink first."

Draco shook his head and drank the clear liquid. He wiped his mouth then sat down. The two of them were silent then Draco spoke up.

"I don't feel any different."

Harry just looked at Draco. It looked like Draco was zoning out again, so Harry quickly drank Draco's potion, the red one, and sat down himself, still discreetly looking at Draco. The sun elucidated his fine features, the smooth, fair skin, blonde, tidy hair. His sharp, perfect nose and the pinkish red lips. He suddenly remembered the night at the Quidditch Pitch with Draco. He almost forgot about it. He recalled how Draco looked, staring up at the stars. He looked serene. He was even more beautiful then. He had to admit that.

Then, as he thought of the sight of Draco when they were staring at each other, a searing pain caused him to jump up slightly and gasp. He was breathing desperately for more air as he clutched his chest. He couldn't help but embrace himself as he contorted his limbs because of the aching in his chest that was slowly making it's way for his head. He lay his chest down on the table. His nose touched the cold wood the tablewas made of, and it did little to help the hurting subside. He wanted so badly to roll around in the floor, to kick his legs with full force, but then the pain suddenly numb itself and a dark gap in his heart started to form. It felt heavy but at the same time empty. Then he felt evil wash in him and then, the hopeless feeling of want to release exploded inside of him. He was sweating and tensing up. Then he felt a sudden attack of worry. It was small, but overpowered the other feelings as they lingered still. He then felt a soft hand pulling him up back to a sitting position. He responded to it, slowly making a painful way up. His eyes were barely open and he was breathing heavily. He could feel the stares of his classmates. He turned to the person who helped him up and saw Draco. He stared at him and if he was right, was that worry he saw in Draco's eyes? It was so new to him that he couldn't tell. Then, slowly whispered, "Draco?"

As the words left his lips, he felt a sudden feeling of surprise and guilt. He then realized that he called Malfoy by his first name. But it wasn't that that made him feel surprised. In itself, true enough, it was unforeseen, but for the most part, he felt another change of feeling. He felt shocked, but pleased.

And it hit him. He felt Draco's feeling.

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Soon, they were dismissed and as it was double potions period, it was free time for both Gryffindors and Slytherins. Harry could still feel the same feelings that attacked him just moments ago, but it was much lighter now. And weirdly, it was constantly like this since he'd muttered 'Draco' in class.

Harry was feeling depressed, but he pushed it away, knowing it wasn't his emotion's, but Draco's. Soon, Hermione and Ron made their way to Harry as Snape went inside his storeroom and they were already dismissed. Hermione, being the nosy girl that she was, battered the unprepared Harry with questions.

"Harry! What happened? Did Malfoy try to poison you?"

"No he di-,"

Harry wasn't even finished with his response when Ron pulled his arm and asked, "That bloody ferret! I knew there was something he was planning! Everybody knows people who have stomach aches go even nastier than they are! And knowing Malfoy, bah!"

Harry pulled away from Ron's clutches. And cut off another question by Hermione and Ron as he said, "No! He wasn't trying to kill me! It was nothing!"

Hermione quickly replied to Harry, her arms crossed over her chest. "Nothing, is it? Then how do you explain yourself almost shouting out in PROFESSOR SNAPE's class? Even Ron wouldn't do that, would you Ron?"

"Harry, I am telling you! That bloody git did something to you!"

Harry knew this was going to go on all day. Seeing that even the Slytherins eyed him once in a while. He knew the battery of questions will last for long and with the feelings of Draco still with him, he will no doubt loose his temper on them.

"Look, go on without me, guys. I have to settle some things here first. And please, this isn't the right time with questioning me. I'm puzzled myself and I'll tell you when I tell you. Okay?"

Harry said it with a pleading look unconsciously and Hermione knew that he was serious. He wasn't going to tell them anything… Yet.

"Alright. See you next later or next class maybe?"

"But… But…"

Hermione quickly elbowed the red head before he could say anything that could make Harry's condition worse.

"Oh… Alright. See you later Harry."

With that, Hermione pulled Ron with her and exited the Potions classroom. Harry, conversely, stayed and waited by the door for Draco. He had many questions that he needed to be answered.

Before long, Draco proceeded to exit the classroom himself. There was nobody left there but Draco and Harry and maybe Professor Snape, but he's somewhere else in the classroom.

Draco was barely a meter away when he saw Harry, waiting patiently by the door. Harry took this opportunity and approached the boy.

"Malfoy."

"Potter."

Harry looked at Malfoy, expecting him to say something rude and spit his name, but nothing came.

"I just wanted you to know that I won't say anything about today… You know. The potion and it's effects. And the Quidditch Pitch."

Malfoy just nodded in reply. Then, a moment of awkward silence fell unto them. Just as Harry was to end the conversation, Draco spoke.

"Uhm… Thanks. I mean, in the Quidditch Pitch. Weasley didn't taunt or anything, so I supposed you didn't tell him anything."

"No, I didn't. Malfoy, if… If there's something bothering you, you can tell me."

Draco's face was emotionless, as he uttered another thank you, but Harry knew better for as Draco walked away, Harry felt a tinge of fear, and a bucket of happiness fill him from within. It was then that he knew. Things will drastically change from here.

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AN: This is a transition chapter. I won't tell you what I think because… Hmm… Well, because because. Anyway, that's it! J Review on your way out! :P

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