Classes were back in full swing and Harry couldn't shake the impression that someone was watching him. He just didn't know who. Lupin didn't come back after the break. Apparently word got out to the parents that the werewolf was back in Hogwarts and they threatened Dumbledore or the school one way or another. Some old man replaced Lupin. There was still no word from Hagrid. Harry was starting to get concerned.
"How is he doing?"
"I don't know, Harry. No one has heard from him. Not since midsummer or earlier," Sirius told him.
"It's not fair!" Harry stalked out of Sirius's study. He was going to confront Dumbledore directly about this.
He passed by the slightly open door of a classroom and heard voices. He crept closer to listen. Eavesdropping was a bad habit but one he made no effort to break.
"Give it back!" came a little girl's voice.
"No. I think we'll keep it."
"I think you're right."
"No! Give it back! Please!" cried the little girl.
Harry peaked in and saw a little girl, maybe a first or second year standing in the middle of a group of boys who were throwing a doll back and forth over her head. Harry was about to go and help her when a door at the other end of the room opened and Draco Malfoy came out.
"Give that back to her right now. Or else."
"Or else what?"
"Or else you'll regret it." He took out his wand and began cursing the boys one by one, by the second boy the other boys dropped the doll and ran out.
"Tracy, if they hurt you I'm going to-"
"I'm okay, Drakey. Thanks." She picked up her doll, hugged it, and then hugged Draco.
"Are you sure you're alright, Trace? I'll get them if you aren't."
"I'm fine, Drakey. Thank you. Will you take me to the kitchens for some ice cream? Strawberry?"
"Okay, Trace. Just wait out there for a minute and I'll come." He pointed to the door he'd come in by.
Tracy scampered away.
Harry couldn't help doubling over laughing; he tired to be quiet. He must not have been quiet enough because Malfoy came over to where he was, looking murder at him.
"Potter," his face went red. "Don't you dare tell a soul what you saw."
Harry couldn't stop grinning. The thought of Malfoy being kind to anyone was just too much to bear.
"I mean it!"
"Drakey? Are you coming?" came the girl's voice.
"I'll be there in a minute, Tracy. I'm coming." He lowered his voice, "Not one word."
Harry waited for Malfoy to get out of earshot before he started laughing again. He decided to wait another day before talking to Dumbledore about Hagrid. *************************************************************
That night Harry found an owl waiting on his bed with a note for him. Meet me in the Trophy room at 11:30, Potter. There wasn't much doubt in his mind as to who had sent this, only has to whether or not he would go. He put the letter in his pocket and went to the common room.
As he had suspected, Rory was there. She spent a lot more time with the Gryffindors than with the Slytherins she was assigned to. Renata had shown no hesitation in leading her to Gryffindor Tower and keeping her updated on the current password. Just maybe she would have information to help Harry.
"Er.Hi. Rory, could I talk to you.alone?"
"Alright."
He led her over by the windows and away from the others.
"So what is it?"
"Well, what do you know about Malfoy and some girl named Tracy. I think she's a first or second year."
Rory chuckled.
"What? Did I say something funny?"
"No, no. It's just that." She started giggling.
"Is she in Slytherin?" Rory was starting to get very irritating.
"No, no, no. She's a Hufflepuff. Draco's cousin on his mom's side. The only person anybody knows of that Draco actually cares about. Pansy Parkinson talks about her, sometimes." She imitated Pansy shrill voice, " 'Draco ditched me! He was supposed to meet me in Hogsmeade near the post office but later I saw him with his cousin. She's not even old enough to go to Hogsmeade. He snuck her in.' Yeah. That's about all I know about Tracy. What do you know about her?"
"Only that Malfoy was standing up for her today when some older boys were bullying her. And Malfoy knows I saw the whole thing."
"And.?"
"He wants to meet me late tonight. Probably to threaten me."
"So?"
"I'm trying to decide whether or not to go."
"Go!"
"It could be a trick. He's done that before."
"So wear your invisibility cloak and don't take it off until you find out if he's there or not."
"Alright."
"Tell you what. I'll stick around here until midnight or so. I'll open the door and you can sneak in. It won't matter that I get back to the Slytherins late. A lot of them are still in the common room then anyway and they know I hang out with the Gryffindors so it doesn't matter anyway."
"Okay."
"Go get your cloak. I'll stand by the door."
Harry trudged upstairs and took out his invisibility cloak and the Marauders' Map. A map of Hogwarts created by his father, Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew. It showed where everyone was, little moving dots with labels like "Snape" and "Dumbledore" to show who they were. Harry stuck the map and his wand in his belt and threw the invisibility cloak over him.

He went downstairs and saw Rory by the door. He got a wicked idea and as he crept near her he pinched her to get her attention.
"Ow!" She saw everyone looking at her. "I, uh, stubbed my foot on the wall." She lowered her voice and muttered fiercely, "I'm going to get you for that, Harry!"
"Just be here when I come back," he whispered.
"I will, if you're lucky." She leaned casually on the door "accidentally" opening it.
Harry made his way as quickly as possible to the trophy room. He got to it at last. Malfoy was waiting, muttering under his breath. The only words Harry caught were "he better be here" and "Where is he?"
Harry dropped the cloak and hid it behind a cabinet.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
"You showed. I knew you would."
"How did you know? You wouldn't have come if I'd asked you to. And how'd you know that I wouldn't rat you out to Filch. You've done plenty of rotten stuff to me, you know."
"I knew you would because you're a decent guy, Potter. And you don't snitch on people."
"Well, I've got plenty of reason to call Filch right now. I could get out of here without being caught, you couldn't."
"I know you wouldn't do something like that, Potter. Because you aren't me, you're Saint Potter," he spat the words and continued in his normal tone, "who can do no wrong according to the Headmaster. Now, I'm trying to be civil. Work with me and return the favor."
Harry just glared at him.
Malfoy glared back.
"So, what is this about?"
"How much did you see today?"
"All of it from the time you came in the room and told the bullies to leave her alone."
"What'll it take?"
"What are you talking about?"
"How much for your silence, Potter? I can't have something like this ruining my reputation."
"What reputation?"
"My reputation as a guy who doesn't care about anybody. I'm a tough guy who swaggers around school with his bodyguards and spouts insults at Gryffindors and bought his way onto the Quiditch team. That's who I am, Potter. I can't have people think I'm anybody else."
"Tell me about your cousin."
"She's such a sweet kid, Potter. She's a Hufflepuff. She's only 11. If something ever happened to her.She doesn't belong in the Malfoy family. She's not like us. She's special."
"Okay, Dra-"
"Say 'Drakey' and die."
Harry grinned. "So, no first name basis here. Got it."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes at him. "So what will it take to keep you quiet?"
Harry thought about it. "No more jokes about how poor Ron is, or about me being an orphan. Or especially about Hermione being a Muggle-born. She is a witch. You don't tease Hermione, or Ron, or me anymore."
"What about Renata?"
Harry laughed. "It's not my fault if you don't stay clear of her and she does something drastic. I am not responsible for her actions. If you say anything to her it's at your own risk."
To Harry's surprise, Draco chuckled. "You're right about that. Witty and pretty but such a sharp temper; not like those stupid Slytherin girls. Air-heads, the lot of them."
Harry started to agree. Then he and Draco realized at almost the same instant that they were actually getting along. "So I won't say anything and you'll keep away from my friends?"
"Deal." He put out his hand for Harry to shake.
Harry hesitated before shaking it. "I'll see you in class."
"Sure thing, Potter."
Harry waited for Draco to turn his back before getting out the invisibility cloak.
Draco turned around one more time, "Potter, I know you're still here. Don't think I don't know about you invisibility cloak."
Harry didn't say anything. He only walked away. When he reached Gryffindor Tower it was past midnight. Rory was standing at the portrait of the Fat Lady, holding it open by leaning on it and talking to Nearly- Headless-Nick.
"Oh, I fell asleep in the common room. I'm going to go back to the Slytherin House so I can go to bed now. It's awfully late." Harry snuck past her. "Would you walk me back to the Slytherin House. I don't want to run into the Bloody Baron by myself. He kind of scares me." Harry looked out the door at her and saw that she was attempting to look meek. He turned to go and heard Nick respond in the affirmative. He went up to the dormitory.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, don't think they're getting too buddy-buddy.