Disclaimer: All characters copyright to J.K. Rowling
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"Do you think he's all right now?"
"I'm not sure. He's still not awake."
"I know, how long has it been now? It must have been about 2 days"
"Yea…he has to wake up. We're going to Hogsmade this weekend!"
Harry awoke to the sound of voices surrounding him. A crowd of blurred faces zoomed towards him and then back out as he blinked to try and focus. Except for these blurred forms all he could see was white. When he regained his vision Harry could clearly see he was in the school hospital wing and that the blurred faces belonged to Hermione, Seamus and Dean. Ron, however, wasn't present, as expected. Harry wondered briefly if Ron would ever forgive him for making up with Malfoy and if he could forgive Ron for not pushing his own views aside to help his supposedly best friend. His thoughts were disturbed when Hermione jumped and gasped in surprise when she realised that his eyes were open.
"Harry! You're awake?" Hermione cried. She gave him a quick hug before she ran off to look for Madam Pomfrey. Seamus and Dean turned to Harry seeing that he was awake.
"Alright Harry!" They chorused.
He nodded and turned his head in the direction of the window. He focused on the clear blue sky, admiring the scenery outside as his mind drifted to the weird experience he'd just had. What the hell had happened? He was sure that what he'd just dreamed or envisioned had been Draco's memories. This was just too weird for him. He would never have thought that Malfoy suffered problems at home, not to mention that Malfoy had also wanted to be his friend. Harry had always wanted people to look past him and see him for who he was rather then famous Harry Potter, but he'd never taken his own advice and tried to see behind Malfoy's cold front because he hadn't seen the need. He'd always thought it was what you see is what you get with Malfoy, but he'd been proved wrong. What if…what if Malfoy had seen his memories too?
Harry's eyes flickered from the window to the bed next to it, falling on a still form lying beneath the white sheets. Malfoy. His eyes were closed to the world and his already pale skin was paler then usual as he lay there. Harry turned away from him and looked at the ceiling, the thought that Draco had seen his memories plaguing his mind. What had he seen? What did he know? This was bad. He knew Draco wouldn't be happy about Harry intruding in his memories, because Draco like Harry would probably put two and two together and realise that if he'd experienced Harry's memories, Harry had more then likely experienced his. Despite the worry about what memories Draco had seen, and what his reaction was going to be Harry felt like he understood Draco better now. However, he'd have much rather it had come from Draco at his own will. Another thing Harry didn't understand was what in Merlin's name had happened to their potion?
It was at this point in his thoughts that Madame Pomfrey came in along with Hermione.
"I see you're awake. Good, good." She looked over at Draco, seeing that he wasn't awake yet she turned back to Harry. "I think we should reserve a bed here for you." Madame Pomfrey said smiling down at him.
Harry managed a smile at that, as it was true. Every year he found himself in the school infirmary.
"You're lucky to have such good friends, you know. These three have been hovering around here a lot in the last two days as well as a few others." She told him as she propped him up into a sitting position, before handing him a cup filled with a strange liquid. "Drink this."
Without bothering to wonder what the liquid was, Harry drank it down quickly and handed her the cup.
"I've never seen anything like this happen before during a potion." Madame Pomfrey muttered to herself, shaking her head. "You have five minutes." She said to Harry's three friends and then she turned and left the room.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Hermione asked
"I'm Ok, I guess." Harry replied, not really sure how he felt.
"Good. There's a Hogsmade trip this weekend so you can't miss that." Seamus told him smiling, Dean nodding furiously in agreement.
"I'll be fine by then." Harry said, before he turned to Hermione. "I noticed Ron never came, still being the stubborn idiot is he? I'm not sure if I wanted him here anyway after the way he's treated me." Harry whispered the last sentence but Hermione heard him.
"He's still angry about you making friends with Malfoy, Harry. You can't blame him. He thinks that Malfoy deliberately sabotaged your potion to do you harm."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle sarcastically, somewhat amused.
"Well if me making friends with Malfoy is more important then my feelings then he's not much of a friend, and the only person who's been causing me harm the last few days is him. So maybe he should take a look at himself before he starts looking at other people's motives."
A silence followed, as no one knew what to say to that.
"Lots of people have left you cards and gifts, Harry. Look." Dean said indicating Harry's bedside table, which had a few cards no it along with lots of sweets, which included chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts every flavour beans. Harry just nodded, other thoughts swirling around his mind.
"I doubt I'll be coming to Hogsmade with you then." Harry said, turning back to Hermione.
She hated playing middleman, or in her case woman. Hermione didn't know what to do about the pair, but she knew that their friendship had probably been permanently scarred by this event. She wanted Harry to come but she had promised Ron. Hermione looked down guiltily.
"I thought so." Harry muttered to himself.
"Right, come on you three, out! Harry needs his rest if he wants to be up and running this weekend." Madame Pomfrey said shooing them towards the door.
"See ya, Harry." The two boys shouted. Whereas Hermione looked back a sad look on her face and raised her hand tentatively. Just as they left, however, a gang of girls came in giggling.
"There he is!" One shouted pointing at Harry. They all began to rush over, but Madame Pomfrey stepped in front of them.
"Visiting times are over now girls, out!"
They looked at Harry disappointed, before waving to him, then they all left giggling loudly. Harry watched them leave confused, he didn't even know who them girls were. Shaking his head muttering about fame bitterly Harry flattened his pillows and lay down.
"Finally managed to have your fans torn away did they?" Draco Malfoy said bitterly, some of the old malice back in his voice.
Harry looked over at the bed next to him and saw Malfoy had turned himself around and was now staring up at the ceiling, the expression on his pale face unreadable.
"I never knew you were awake." Harry said not sure what to say to Malfoy's bitter comment.
"Yes, Potter, I am awake, thanks to that gang of giggling girls. Who could possibly sleep with that racket?" Malfoy replied as bitterly as last time.
Draco looked at the ceiling fierce envy building up inside him. He had awaken to find Harry's bed surrounded by friends, whereas there was no one around his. Dean had indicated Harry's gifts and cards; he had looked at his own bedside table and seen nothing. Not to mention a gang of girls had been coming in at the end as well, but still nobody to see him, nobody to tell him about Hogsmade. He couldn't help the old envy returning. He didn't want to hate, Potter, now that he was his friend, but he just couldn't help it. All of these jealous thoughts had ridded Draco's mind of what should have been his immediate concern, the potion.
"I'm sorry that they woke you, Malfoy, but I didn't ask them to come." Harry said just as coldly, beginning to get upset that his newfound friend was treating him like he used to.
"No, they just came to see famous Harry Potter, to drool and fuss over him. Can I have your autograph, Potter? Are you ok, Potter? Can I peel you a grape, Potter?" Draco said his voice positively dripping with spite.
Harry stared at him anger beginning to boil up inside him.
"I thought you'd changed, Malfoy. Obviously I was wrong. You're still the same cold son of a bitch you always were." Harry told him angrily, his voice hoarse as the anger turned to despair. Maybe he should have listened to Ron. Could things possibly get any worse? Harry thought to himself, pained.
Hearing Harry's voice breaking with pain, Draco kicked himself inwardly. What the hell was he playing at? Instant regret of his words washed over him. He was pushing away his only real friend in five years, over his own jealousy. Draco sighed openly.
"I'm sorry, Harry." Draco said, for the first time calling Harry by his first name. If Harry didn't answer he wouldn't blame him, but he was wrong Draco had changed. Normally regret wouldn't be an emotion Draco would feel, or allow himself to feel. Seeing the pain his own cruel, envy filled words had caused though made him realise what a bastard he really was being. Draco sighed again at the silence and felt his own loneliness and pain envelope him. He had lost the only friend he had ever had. What did he have left now?
Harry could hear the sincerity in Draco's apology and forgave him for it. After experiencing the effects of the potion he understood Draco's envy towards him. It was because Harry had people who loved him, whereas Draco had no one. He probably had never had anyone who had really cared for him ever, no matter how hard he tried.
"It's ok, Draco. I understand." Harry said finally.
"You can never understand me, or what's expected of me…" Draco said his own voice beginning to break, despite the slight happiness he felt that he hadn't lost the only person he had to rely on.
"Didn't you experience the effects of the potion?" Harry asked quietly.
Then it hit Draco like a bang. All of the visions and feelings rushing back to him, all he had seen, had understood. Had Harry experienced his memories? Oh god, what had he seen? Draco's blood felt like ice running through his veins. His own envy and jealousy had clouded his thoughts pushing the strange dream like memories to the back of his mind. It was his fault this had happened if only he hadn't messed with the potion, rather then helping the situation he had made it worse for them both, sharing their memories and personal thoughts and feelings. There was a silence between the two as they both thought over what they had witnessed.
"What do you know?" Draco asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer that might follow.
"It doesn't matter, Draco. Maybe we both understand each other better now. We saw what we saw there's nothing we can do about it now; no way we can change it. It may even be for the best. I think it's made me see you differently." Harry said.
Harry was right Draco thought there was nothing they could do about it and maybe it was for the best. He looked at Harry a lot differently now as well after seeing things how they really were. He even felt he could trust him, and Draco had never really trusted anyone before. If his father found out he was on Potter's side, however, he'd probably be killed and maybe that would be for the best. He would rather die then be on his father's side anyway. He turned to face Harry his grey eyes looking in to Harry's green ones.
"I guess you're right."
Harry nodded a half smile forming on his lips. He was happy that they had sorted their differences, all tension now gone. Draco gave him a small smile back. They were an unlikely pair him and Draco, the snake and the lion, but they had a lot in common and both needed a friend right now. Despite that neither had wanted to share their own memories with the other, least of all their thoughts and feelings, it had probably helped them both to understand each other better. Harry, even though he was curious, would rather not know what Draco now knew about him and would rather that they left the situation go, just keeping to themselves what they now knew. That way neither of them would have to talk about things they would rather not talk about. It could all be left unspoken, but they would both understand the other's feelings and what the other was going through or had been through.
Happy that he had resolved the situation in his own mind, Harry turned back to Draco.
"So are you going to Hogsmade this weekend?"
"Not sure." Draco answered. He had no one to go with. He wanted to ask Harry but he wasn't sure if he was going with someone and didn't want to intrude.
"Oh, I might go, but it would be better with company." Harry said giving Draco another half smile.
Draco took the hint.
"Hmmm, well I suppose I could reconsider."
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco's joking tone. It was very un-Draco.
"Is that a yes then?" Harry asked.
"I suppose so, can't have you disappointed now can we?" Draco said in the same joking manner and they both laughed.
Madame Pomfrey watched the two from the hallway in disbelief. The rivalry between the pair was common knowledge so it was quite a shock to see the pair, laughing, talking and joking with each other. It made her smile though, an unusual pair they were. Harry Potter the boy who lived and the son of a death eater. Opposites like dark and light. But Madame Pomfrey thought that Draco deserved a chance and was glad that it seemed their differences were settled. She thought that Draco Malfoy needed a friend. She remembered the time he had come with his injured arm, while examining him she'd seen the many bruises and welts that had covered the boy's body and felt for him. The marks positively screamed abuse and she hated his father for it. She knew it had to be his father as he was a cold, heartless man who she had met on a number of occasions and instantly disliked. She'd tended to his wounds, while he slept and hadn't asked him about it, not wanting to intrude. The nurse couldn't think of anyone who would be a better friend to him than Harry Potter, and she smiled as she watched the pair.
As reluctant as she was to disturb them, she knew she had to.
"Come on the boys, It's time you two went to sleep." She said walking into the room, giving the pair a warm smile. They both smiled back at her as she smoothed the blankets on each of their beds. After making them both comfortable, she left the room, turning the lights of as she went.
The two boys now lay there in darkness, both staring at the ceiling. Draco felt his eyes beginning to droop as sleep came to claim him. Turning his head towards the direction of Harry he scanned the darkness to see him, but couldn't.
"Good night, Harry." Draco said.
"Good Night, Draco." Came the answer from the darkness.
Smiling to himself, Draco turned around pulling the blankets over his body and closed his eyes to the world.
Harry followed shortly after, for the first time in awhile, Harry like Draco fell asleep content.
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A/N – Sorry this chapter took awhile to post I haven't had much time to write due to work experience. Thanks once again for all the reviews they're greatly appreciated! I hope you all like this chapter!
I would just like to say once again, this is NOT slash. Sorry to disappoint all those who wanted it to be, but there are a lot of Harry/Draco stories around, and I wanted this to be different. Plus I don't really write that kind of stuff, but don't get me wrong I'm not against it.
Anyway please read and review and I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Enjoy!
