Chapter 4: The winds of change

"Ron? Ron? Hey. RON!!!"

"Huh? Harry, you didn't have to yell at me mate. I can hear you perfectly well."

"Well, it's been a while and you still haven't moved."

"Harry, I was just pondering the sweetness of victory."

"Sure Ron… wait… no, no. Damn Ron. I did not see that move coming. Fine, you win again."

"See Harry, you can't beat the master."

"Yeah right, I will beat you yet Ron. You'll see. I almost had you there."

"Sure Harry, you almost did" Ron could not help but tease his friend.

As Ron was putting away the wizard chess, Hermione came into the room.

"Hi Harry. Where is Ron?"

"Oh, he just went to our dorm room to put away the wizard chess. I almost had him Hermione. I was this close to beating him." Harry said as he showed Hermione with his index finger and thumb how close he had been.

"Keep dreaming mate. Keep dreaming." Replied Ron as he walked into the common room.

"Ok you guys. I came to invite both of you to a party that I will be having in my room."

As soon as she finished her sentence Harry put his hand on her forehead and asked Hermione, "Are you feeling ok?"

Hermione just pushed his hand away and answered, "Don't be silly Harry, I am fine. It's just that since I became Head Girl I don't get to spend as much time with you guys as I used to. I mean… this is our last year and I want to spend time with you two before we have to leave Hogwarts."

"Well, Mione in that case. When is the party?" Ron asked.

"Well, how about on All Hallows Eve? I mean, we don't have classes the following day, so we can talk until the wee hours of the night and wake up really late."

"What do you think mate? I mean, it's not like this is an offer that we get from Hermione very often."

"Well Ron.  She is our best friend after all. It wouldn't be proper to say no."

"Ha, ha, hilarious you two. So are you coming or not. I need to know so that I can prepare for it." Hermione asked impatiently.

"Count us in Mione. We'll be there. Right Harry?"

"Sure Hermione. We'll be there. Do you want us to bring anything?"

"No, I'll take care of everything. Just make sure you come. I'm sure it will be a night to remember. I'll see you guys tomorrow around 10 after everyone has gone to sleep."

"Bye guys. See you tomorrow for the party." Hermione said as she walked towards the exit from the common room.

"Ron, I think we have been a bad influence on her. Look, she is throwing parties now!!"

"I know, I am so proud of her!" Ron said in an exaggerated maternal tone. "Our Mione has grown up."

Harry looked at Ron and couldn't help but laugh. His mate could be very funny when it came to Mione. Too bad he didn't realize what she felt for him, or worse, what he felt for Mione. They really did make a cute couple.

"You know Harry, this is the first time in weeks that I can get a chance to relax. I mean, as much as I like Quiditch, all those hours of practice are going to kill me."

"Come on Ron, don't complain. You know you love it."

"True, true. But that doesn't mean that it is not damn tiring. I say we go to sleep."

"Nah, you go ahead. I'll stay up for a bit."

"You sure mate?"

"Yeah, I am sure. I'll catch up to you later."

With that Ron left towards their dorm for some much-needed sleep. Harry sat down in the sofa on front of the fireplace. He thought about Ron and Hermione. He remembered how much they had gone through because of him. Even though it had been two years, he still remembered the day that they had found out that Hermione's parents had been killed by Voldemort. There had been such utter emptiness in her face, such despair. He was glad that he and Ron had been there for her. But it was not fair that just because she was friends with him that she should have suffered so much. She had changed that day. They all had changed. Ron had become more serious and protective of Hermione. With time she had relaxed more and actually had some fun. True, she still worried about school, but she was not as obsessive as before.

But the strangest change of all was that Harry had made a new friend. If someone had told him before that he would become a friend of Draco Malfoy, he would have punched that person in the face, but now… that had also changed.

Harry lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He could still remember that night last year. The three of them were coming back from Hogsmead when suddenly his scar had started to hurt. He had known that  Voldemort was near. He told Ron and Hermione to run to the castle and tell Dumbledore what was happening, when they heard a scream. The three of them started running towards the sound. The scream became more agonizing as they approached its source. They came to a small clearing and in the middle of it they found a dark shape over a smaller figure. They heard the scream once again and a dark voice that Harry had heard many times before.

"So you don't want to follow me? It doesn't matter. Your parents are of no further use to me. They have been taken care of. You are the only one that I still need to deal with. Obey me."

"NEVER!!!" the smaller figure yelled in defiance.

That voice was familiar to Harry… but it couldn't be.

"Then die. Aveda Keda…"

"STUPEFACTUS!!!" yelled Harry at Voldemort as he ran towards the small figure on the ground. Harry had been shocked that it was Draco.

"Leave him alone Voldemort."

"Why, Harry fancy seeing you here. Now I can take care of the lot of you." Replied Voldermort as he raised his wand towards Harry.

"No you will not. Harry is not alone." yelled Hermione.

"Hermione, Ron, run!!"

"Stupid children! I will destroy you right now along with the infamous Harry Potter. I.. AAAGGHH!!!" yelled Voldermort as he pushed Harry away from him.

Without Voldemort noticing, Harry had transfigured a rock into a knife and plunged it into his side.

"You will pay for this Potter. You and your friends will regret this. I will kill all of you yet." With that he vanished into thin air, leaving them shaken and scared.

"Harry are you alright?" asked Hermione worriedly.

"Yes, Hermione. But we need to take Malfoy to Madame Pomfrey. Come on help me." Answered Harry as he stood up, helped by Ron.

"wingardium leviosa" Hermione said and the body of Draco Malfoy rose in the air. Together they took him to the infirmary. They had barely made it.

They had stopped by frequently to see how Draco was doing. He never said anything. It seemed as if he wasn't there. Hermione took to reading to him from "Hogwarts: A History". Harry smiled at the memory.

"Granger, can't you stop reading that damn book!!", yelled Draco.

"Well, it is about time you woke up and said something. You lasted longer than Ron or Harry." Hermione said smiling as she closed her book. "Since you are awake now, I'll go and tell Madame Pomfrey."

Hermione walked out of the room and was gone a few minutes. When she came back she had Ron, Harry and Madame Pomfrey with her.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy. I am glad you are finally awake. I was starting to worry about you."

Draco watched them silently and Harry had never expected the words that he uttered next.

"Thank you Harry. You saved my life."

"You owe me nothing Draco, I would have the done the same thing for anyone. No one deserves to suffer at the hands of Voldemort." Answered Harry as he looked at a shocked Ron and a speechless Hermione.

Draco extended his hand towards Harry, "Potter from now on, my life is yours. I would like for us to be friends."

Harry looked at Hermione and she just nodded. When he looked at Ron he asked, "Ron, will you be ok with this?"

Ron thought about it for a minute and answered, "Harry, this is not the same Draco that we new. If you decide to be friends with him I will support you all the way." Ron smiled "That's what friends are for."

Harry's spirit had lifted, he was lucky to have such friends. With determination, Harry had taken Draco's hand.

"Friends from now on Draco."

"Ron, Hemione I hope that we can also become friends?" Asked Draco looking at Ron.

"Sure Malfoy. If Harry says its ok with him, I don't see why I can't be friends with you."

"Welcome to our group Draco." Said Hermione touching his shoulder lightly.

Yes, they had all changed.

Draco had been accepted into their group. He was even welcome to the burrow during their summer vacation. It was like having one big family. But this was their last year together. After Hogwarts each one would lead different lives and go their separate ways. Once they left Hogwarts, Harry was not going to be able to protect his friends. This thought worried Harry to no end. Little did he know about the plan his friends were executing in order to protect him.

Harry got up up from the sofa and walked towards his room. Maybe sleep would come fast to him. For a moment he stopped in front of the stairs and wondered if he would dream the same dream from the past two nights. He hoped so, he wanted to feel again the warmth that surrounded him when the three lights appeared around him enveloping in their light. It seemed strange but he felt like he knew them.

"Harry, I think you are starting to lose it." Harry said to himself out loud. His smile stayed on his lips and he couldn't help but anticipate the dreams. Lying in his bed, as he drifted into deep slumber, three soft lights surrounded him, comforting him, keeping the nightmares at bay.

To be continued…

Disclaimer: I just want to say that I own nothing but the plot. So, Please don't sue me!!!

Well, first of all I want to thank all of you who have read and reviewed my story. Thank you for your support and your comments. It is much appreciated. I also want to thank those who read the story but did not review. I hope you enjoyed it.

Sorry it took me this long to update the story, but I have been very busy and had a bit of a problem figuring out how to go about this chapter.

I hope the story has made sense so far. I am trying very hard to make it all fit. Please keep on reading and reviewing.

Sincerely

Ednyadove