A/n: I am TERRIBLY sorry that both my dad's laptop and my computer died on me BUT I've got a new comp and many pages and pages written for my story. Sorry to keep everyone waiting but it couldn't be helped! Oh and thanks Paige for story help (She's on ff.net now!)

Chapter 9: "Not Quite Unrequited Love"

Draco yawned (that Sunday morning) and threw off the covers. Head Boy room was much better than the cold dungeons where his old Slytherin bed had been located. He got up to go to the bathroom (without bothering to put on a robe...leaving him shirtless and in boxers) but he stopped when he saw Helen sleeping in one of the chairs in the study. Her book lay on the table, still open.

"Hmm let's find out what spells Miss Beautiful has been doing," Draco said to himself. He edged slowly over towards Helen, careful not to wake her. Draco froze when her eyes fluttered open for a second but she curled up and went back to sleep. A smile played across his lips. He couldn't believe how angelic she appeared to be when she wasn't yelling at someone. Her skin looked so smooth…was it really that flawless? His fingers itched to reach out and feel.

"Forget her! Find the book," a voice told him. He reluctantly took his eyes off her and leaned over to read it. A lot was in some other language…looked Egyptian (he could make out a few spells like: "Reawaken Hidden Powers Within" and "Finding your Via". Draco had heard a few death eaters talking of Vias the day he found those weird gold card things. What were they again?) Hmm maybe he could borrow her book real quick before—

"Draco!" Helen shouted, reaching past him to shut the book and tried to walk away but stopped. Draco followed her gaze and realized she was staring at the mark on his arm (which he never let anyone see). He instinctively covered it with his hand.

"W-when did you get that?" she asked in a small voice.

"Last year," he answered, feeling angry at her for the first time.

"Via." He heard her say so softly it was barely audible. She stepped closer to him, about ten inches away. He could feel his anger being replaced with a new emotion, one he couldn't define.

"Oh, God," she whispered, and ran out before he could stop her. He'd never seen her frightened before…

"She was scared of me," he thought incredulously. Normally he'd enjoy it… (Other people fearing him) but for some reason it was like a personal insult. Draco turned to go back to his own room but the book Helen had been so secretive about lay on the floor (she must have dropped it). He picked it up and carried it back to his room. Maybe there was time for a quick spell before breakfast.

First practice as Captain was Harry's worst. Ginny and Paul were distracted by each other, Ron was a bit distant with him, Deidra didn't even show up, and he couldn't tell whether Helen wasn't very coordinated because of no food for 24 hours or lack of sleep. Only he and Neville were putting their all into that practice.

"Harry," Neville whispered, "You've got to pull this team together! We've got a match with Slytherin coming up."

But what could he do? He had enough on his mind between Hermione, N.E.W.T.s, and Dumbledore's Army meetings.

"Let's try that play again."

"Uh…Harry," Neville was pointing to the ground below where a crowd of Slytherin girls were gathering. Before Harry could react they formed a line and started doing a little cheer:

There once was a boy with a scar on his head!

The one we all wish was dead!

His team's going to lose to us

Gryffindors will whine and cuss!

We're Slytherins! We're the best in school!

We're Slytherins! We are too cool!

Gryffindors, they're all whores.

Slytherins! We're gonna win!

S is for Super

L is for Loveliness

Y is for YOU GRYFFS SUCK!

T is for Teamwork

H is for Hell! Where Gryffindors will go!

E is for Excellent

R is for ALWAYS Right

I is for Ingenious

N is for NEVER FAILING

S stands for our enemies, SHIT!

But Harry wasn't sure whether or not that's what "S" really stood for or if they said it because Helen chose that second to zoom at them full speed on her broom. They started screaming and swearing at her as she chased them out of the field and straight towards the castle.

"She's got some temper," Paul mused in admiration and surprise.

"That's Helen for you," Harry stated. "It's in her blood. Alright you guys, practice is over."

Harry got cleaned up and went back into the common room. Surprisingly it was empty, except for Hermione.

"Where's Ron?" he asked conversationally.

"He's with Helen." Hermione smiled, "So I guess it's just the two of us."

Harry saw a twinge of pink appear on her cheeks.

"Yeah, I-I guess so," he mumbled. Be cool Potter! Be cool!

"Want to help me with these sweaters?"

Harry could have sworn Hermione was knitting a furry thong, though he couldn't imagine Hermione as the thong-wearing type.

"I'll pass," he said staring at her as she paused to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. He couldn't believe she was still going on about S.P.E.W. and was still making Dobby items of clothing (she figured out last year that none of the house-elves were getting her clothes). Her determination was something he'd always admired about her.

"Hey…I was wondering…"

"Yeah, Harry?" Hermione asked, setting down her knitting needles.

"Do you—would you—"

A/n: Do be continued later in the chapter…

"Bye Ron," Helen said, leaving him at the common room door. She made her way back to Head Girl dorm and flopped on the bed. Her mind was swirling with worry. Draco was her Via. HER VIA! Figures didn't it? Draco could easily start to hate her but what were the chances that he'd start liking her (no one told her that last year Draco said he fancied her while under the love/truth squares)? Now she understood what Dumbledore had been hinting: 'He'll have to accept who you support. It won't work otherwise.' And 'Convince him to join you.' How could she make someone like that turn good?

A silvery blue light flashed from the crack in the door. Helen looked around her room quickly and realized her book was gone and someone was using it! She ran to the study as Draco fell limply back onto the chair. She froze knowing he'd performed the "Reawaken Hidden Powers within" spell. The only reason she hadn't done that one already was because it could change someone completely. It would be like Dumbledore suddenly having Voldemort's personality). The biggest danger is that the spell was permanent…with no way to reverse it.

She took a step closer to him. He rose to his feet slowly but didn't turn to face her. Did he even know she was there?

"Draco?"

He cocked his head sideways and she saw that his eyes were just blue, having lost its grey tint.

"Are you okay?"

He reached out and intertwined his fingers through hers, and pulled her against him, never breaking eye contact for a second. If she doubted his change before, this last action cleared it.

"Draco."

He shook his head and blinked a few times before he seemed to break out of his trance.

"It worked," he smiled, dropping her hand and stepping away, "I feel stronger already. Hey what are you looking at me like that for?"

Hello! Think back to what you did two seconds ago!

"Do you realize what consequences this could have had on you?" she said exasperatedly. Maybe he hadn't changed.

"Why? Were you worried about me?" he sneered. He laughed until he realized she really had been worried.

"Oh," he said quietly, "I thought you hated Slytherins."

"Some. Not all."

"So you don't hate me then."

"No. You helped me out before."

"You can still hate me."

"Why should I?"

"My side wants you dead. They already killed your parents and are going to kill your friends too. Wouldn't you be glad to have one less enemy?"

"Are we enemies?" she asked, unsure what his answer would be. He considered this a moment.

"Guess not."

"Friends then?" she asked.

"Not quite and don't expect me to start hanging out with Pothead and Weasel and the other Gryffindor lowlifes."

"They aren't low and don't expect me to just let you insult them either."

"That would only be too good to hope for." He grinned.

They looked at each other, not sure what to make of their agreement. Whoever heard of a Gryffindor and Slytherin at peace with one another? The son of a death eater and the friend of Harry Potter no less! Helen broke the silence after picking up her book.

"Do you know why Voldemort hates me?"

He didn't answer right away.

"You're a Sacred Keeper…whatever that is…and you won't help the Dark Lord get what he needs."

"Do you know anything else?"

"Not really," he answered honestly.

She nodded.

"Not even what a Via is?"

"I heard that word a few times, but no."

She nodded again.

"One more question. Last year I overheard Bellatrix say that you were going to be a death eater."

"Does that really come as a shock to you? I hate Potter, I will always hate Potter, and no one can convince me otherwise. If Death Eaters want him dead, then I'm joining them."

AUGH! If only he knew that the only way to get to Potter was through her and Dumbledore first…not that he'd care if two more people died along with Harry.

"Well I guess I'll go check on the 'Wonder Trio' as you call them. See you at dinner," she said. He turned his back on her and she left him alone. So much for being friends!

A/n: Continuation of Harry asking Hermione something…

"Do you—would you—"

The common room door opened and Ron walked in with a huge grin on his face until he saw Harry and Hermione sitting next to each other…both looking very guilty.

"Hey Ron," Hermione smiled, attempting to sound normal.

"I see I've interrupted."

Harry said "Yes" and Hermione glared at Harry before saying "No. Not at all. Want to help me knit?"

Now Harry knew Ron hated knitting more than anything (because most teens hate what their parents love [at least I do]…like I hate my mom's music and her clothes section, etc.)

"Sure," Ron said, sitting in the tiny space separating Harry and Hermione. Hermione's eyes shone with happiness, "Anything for 'mione," he added.

Hey now! So that was how he was going to play the game, eh? Ron was going to use the old I'll-do-whatever-you-want-even-if-I-don't-want-to ploy? Well two can play at that game!

"Don't leave me out," Harry said, grabbing a pair of needles. Hermione beamed at the both of them, not noticing that Ron was giving Harry the evil eye. Harry resisted the urge to jab Ron in the neck and tried to figure out what the heck he was supposed to do. He was saved when Helen walked in the common room, looking like she was lost or something.

"You okay?" Hermione asked, walking over to her."

"I don't know," she said in a dazed voice. "I don't know if I should tell you guys or just go straight to Dumbledore."

"Tell us what?" Harry questioned.

Helen slumped down in the chair across from them.

She couldn't tell them. Could she? How could she explain to them that their enemy, Draco, just did a spell on himself to become more powerful (which more than likely will make him more dangerous in the future), and he's destined to either love her or kill her. How could they possibly begin to understand that? They'd shoot down her idea of becoming friends with him too. Also, how could she come up with a simple explanation about how the Worset Stone was what Voldemort wanted? She decided to just keep quiet until she learned more. There's no use worrying them over nothing, after all, Dumbledore had some of the missing cards. There was no way old Voldie could get his hands on it then.

"Nothing. I just wanted to scare you guys," she lied (very badly I might add). "I have to go now. Bye!"

A/n: Man oh man I almost have up to chapter 13 finished but I have to type everything up onto my comp (otherwise I'd put everything all up). Hopefully I'll have Chapter 10 by next Friday! Once again sorry for the month delay.