A/N: I'm finding it a little hard to motivate myself right now, even though I promised myself that I'd write something every single night. I'll probably make up for my lack of productivity by spending my spare moments at work writing. I guess I'll leave it in third person. I've had a couple of people tell me not to bother rewriting the first chapter, and to just update as fast as possible, so that is heartening I suppose. This story has gotten me the most reviews I've ever received, EVER. It makes me feel happy and squishy inside.

Oh, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Tom Felton!! He turned seventeen on the 22nd of September, and now can drive!! Hehehehe, I love him… my darling Draco Malfoy (and Louis Leonowens).

Disclaimer: Think of the wittiest, most clever disclaimer stating that I don't own this, and pretend that I said it right here.

Chapter 2

The incident involving the ring had spread all over the school by lunchtime, and the end of the day couldn't come fast enough for Harry. After Transfiguration Harry had been hounded nonstop about where he had gotten his ring. No matter how much he tried to tell people that he just couldn't remember, they wouldn't stop asking. Some girls thought that he was lying so that he could keep the secret all to himself. Frankly, Harry was starting to get a little irritated with the questions, and it was showing in his demeanor.

By the time that Harry reached the Gryffindor common room (taking the longest and most remote route possible to avoid coming across anyone), his expression had turned from the mild irritation it held previously in the day to something meant to keep anything and everything up to and including Norwegian Ridgebacks at a distance of ten feet. Of course, girls with schoolyard crushes are far scarier that mere dragons. And much more persistent.

Harry hadn't gotten three feet from the entrance to the common room before he'd been spotted, and inevitably swarmed by the entire population of first through sixth year Gryffindor girls. It was hard to make out what most of them were saying to him, seeing as they were all speaking at once, but a few of the louder ones let their voices be heard.

"Harry, where did you get the ring?"

"Harry, you'll help us find one like it, won't you?"

"Please Harry, tell us!"

"You wouldn't keep this a secret from your own housemates, would you?"

The press of people against Harry was beginning to be unbearable, and his eyes started darting around, searching for an escape. It was no mean feat to find one, the girls were intent on finding out whatever the cost, and didn't seem to want to let him go.

It took a few minutes, but Harry finally found an opening through the throng of girls, and ducked through as quickly as possible. The pleading tones on the lovesick masses changed to protests as they followed him and tried to halt his escape. The frustration levels reached a peak as his robes were grabbed and tugged on slighting and the whining continued to grate on his already frayed nerves. He stopped in the middle of the common room and dropped his bag on the floor, startling everyone in there. With a determined expression on his face, Harry stood up on one of the low tables so as to be heard and seen by all in the vicinity.

"I don't know why the bloody hell you want to know where I got my ring," he began.

"Because I want to share a ring with Draco Malfoy!" a voice cried out. Harry raised his hand impatiently.

"I don't know why, and frankly I don't care. Just so I don't have to say this more than once tonight, let me tell you that I cannot remember where I purchased it; therefore there is absolutely no reason for you all to keep asking me the same question over and over. So please stop."

Having finished his short speech, Harry stood down from the table and picked his things up amidst grumblings of 'that's not fair,' and 'I bet he just wants to keep the secret to himself.' He sighed and muttered "You're all nutters," before wearily climbing the spiral staircase to the dormitory.

His eyes roved across the room, pleased to find it empty for the time being. Cursing his fate under his breath, Harry dropped his bag on his trunk and flopped face down on his bed, burying his face in his pillow.

"It's a good thing Christmas holidays start next week, I think I really need a break from Draco-sodding-Malfoy." He turned over, kicked his shoes off next to his bed, and shifted himself so that he was lying correctly on his bed, rather than diagonally as he had been. His hands found their way behind his head, cradling it, and his ankles crossed themselves. His eyes stared up.

"It's been barely a day since we started fighting again, and I'm already tired of him," Harry mused out loud, closing his eyes and relaxing. "I can't believe that everyone thinks he's this nice guy now. Feh. If he's so nice, then what's with that attitude? And the mean remarks?" Harry shifted to his side.

"Of course, everyone else gets the nice treatment. Help with potions, kind words, but that just doesn't seem like Malfoy. The nicest he'd been to me was ignoring me up until yesterday." Harry sighed deeply there. "It felt weird to be ignored by him… like something was missing from my day…" A grim smile appeared. "It's good to know that we haven't changed in regards to one another. Too much else has changed."

Though closed, Harry's eyelids still gave the impression of heaviness. He could feel his body relaxing into his bed, and absently realized that he was still in his clothing but made no move to rouse himself and change. The last thought he had before he fell asleep was that he was glad that Malfoy was 'speaking' to him again.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

I realize that I'm obsessing over Malfoy lately, and that bothers me. Not in the way that it should, mind you. It bothers me that it's a one-sided obsession on my part. This thought keeps rolling around in my head as I wander the halls of the castle. It's after two in the morning, and I find that I can't sleep. This isn't anything new, it's a regular habit that I wish I didn't have. But one can't always control insomnia.

Wandering the halls of the castle is second nature to me. I know some of these drafty passages better than I know the neighborhood where I grew up. I can let my mind wander and my feet will take me where they will. And I do.

Before long the atmosphere changes. I no longer feel the chilled draftiness of the halls around my Tower, but the dank staleness of the dungeons. Somehow this doesn't bother me either. There's no one here, I have no worries. For now I just meander quietly along as I think. I'm not thinking about anything in particular, just peaceful images and snippets of murmuring voices from the past. I expect it to stay that way until I return to my Tower.

"Harry."

I'm startled. I turn around and quickly take in what's around me. A figure emerges from the shadows. One with blonde hair and silver-blue eyes. It was apparently his voice that said my name just now. I don't feel like fighting right now, so I just nod once at him.

"Malfoy."

"You can call me Draco, you know." Draco Malfoy gives me a slight smile. This, of all things, surprises me. I've seen him do many things with his mouth, but smile at me is not one of them.

It takes me a moment to find my voice.

"No, I can't," I say firmly. His smile turns into a smirk. I start to fiddle with the ring on my finger, and my eyes automatically find themselves looking for the very same ring on Malfoy's finger. It's there.

"Ah yes, of course. Would that be because you are incapable of formulating the words, or merely because you hate me?" His words are light, almost mocking, but with an undertone of sadness that is barely noticeable.

"I don't hate you," I reply automatically, shocking both of us. My mouth is hanging open, I can feel it. And as I examine my feelings, I know that what I said is true. "I don't hate you, Malfoy. I hate your attitude."

"I've changed."

"Not in my eyes."

I take a step back as Malfoy takes a step forward, and find myself trapped against a wall. Malfoy places his hands to either side of my head and leans forward. His lips are next to my ear. Before I can help myself, I whisper, "It made me sad when you ignored me."

I can feel my face turning red, and I can't help it. But instead of laughing at me, as I expect him to do, Malfoy merely exhales slowly. I can feel the warm air over my ear, and it makes me shiver slightly.

"Harry…" Malfoy whispers.

"What…" I barely manage to say.

"There's something I need to tell you."

I take a shuddery breath. This is beyond bizarre.

"Wake up Harry."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Harry awoke suddenly, and stretched his curled up limbs. He simultaneously yawned, and then relaxed back into the softness of his bed. He scratched his head idly, and struggled to remember his rapidly fading dream.

'I remember the castle, and I remember talking… but nothing else.' He mentally shrugged. ''S not important right now.' Lazily Harry turned his head to face the window, and noted that the sky was starting to light up. He estimated that it would be about a half an hour before everyone else would wake. "Perfect time for a shower." He felt out of sorts, having slept in his clothing from the previous day, and wanted to rid himself of that feeling.

Harry dragged himself out of his bed and gathered his things for a shower. Padding his way barefooted to the bathroom, he stripped down and chose a stall. Fiddling with the knobs until the water was the perfect temperature, he proceeded to wash himself at a leisurely pace. He had neglected to take his ring off this time, and every stroke that ran across his skin left a tingly, slightly cold feeling behind from the feel of the metal and soap.

It was a pleasant change from most mornings when Harry was incredibly rushed, usually waking up late. He took his time, staying under the buffeting spray until his fingers started turning wrinkly, and he felt that the rest of his dorm were about to start stirring. With some regret, he turned the water off and toweled himself dry. He grabbed the clothes he'd brought to the bathroom and pulled them on.

"Hmm, even have time to try and do something with my hair." Harry grabbed a comb and stood before a mirror, attempting to tame his messy mop of hair.

A few strokes through, and it seemed like it was getting better. Harry 'hmm'ed softly, and said a spell to dry his hair. 'Heh, wandless magic, one of the most difficult techniques to master, and I use it to do my hair.' Harry grinned wryly at his reflection, which returned the favor. He noted with some disappointment that while his hair looked slightly neater, it still stood out in several directions in the patented Harry Potter fashion. Shaking his head, he drew the comb through a couple more times, before giving up completely. His hair would never behave, no matter how much he tried.

Harry gathered up his discarded clothing and put it in the hamper for the house elves to take care of, and stepped back into the dorm room. Some semblance of life was returning to his mates as they groaned and stretched, trying to wake themselves from unfinished dreams. He smiled gently at them and walked to the end of his own bed, where his bag had been dropped the night before.

Gathering his things, Harry went downstairs to the common room and thanked whatever deities were looking out for him that it was deserted. That meant that he would not have to deal with giggly girls trying to pump him for information. His weekend was already looking up.

His step was light as he made his way from Gryffindor Tower to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry was in such a cheerful mood, that he didn't even notice when he was on a collision course with someone until he ran into them.

"I'm sorry, please excuse me," he apologized automatically, before looking up to see who he'd run into. For the second time in as many days, Harry was face to face with Draco Malfoy, who looked mildly amused. Harry felt his good mood slipping.

"Potter." Malfoy sounded civil.

"Malfoy," Harry spat back.

"I accept."

"What are you talking about?" Harry was desperately confused with Malfoy's last statement, and it showed clearly on his face. Malfoy gave a short laugh.

"Your apology."

"Oh. Well I wouldn't have apologized if I had known it were you." The venom in Harry's voice was unmistakable.

"Testy, aren't we this morning? Upset because we happen to share the same ring?" Malfoy shook his head. "Pathetic."

"No, Malfoy. I just hate you." Harry glared at Malfoy, whose face seemed to change expression for half a second, but went back to normal so fast that Harry thought he'd imagined it.

"Good day, Potter." Malfoy stalked off. Harry felt mollified that he hadn't been the one to run away first. And yet something in the back of his mind bugged him, words he couldn't quite grasp.

'I don't hate you… I just hate your attitude.'

After-chapter noteage: Well, that took longer than I anticipated, but a lot has gone on. My brother is leaving for basic training for the Navy today, and I wanted to finish this chapter before I left to see him off.

That dream was difficult, let me tell you. I dislike writing in present tense, and first person is difficult for me as I mentioned before. Hopefully it had the desired effect, though. I wanted it to stand out, to be different. Tell me what you think!

I want to say thank you everyone for reviewing, you don't know how much that boosts my confidence. I would surreptitiously check for reviews at work, and whenever I would get one, it would make me much more cheerful with the customers. So not only do you guys motivate me to write, you guys get me good comments at work, too!

This is the place where I mention all of you by name, so thank you immensely to: Khrystyne, Kreyana, Lyonessheart, Emerald Dragon08, LadyofGrey, lestat-draco646260, Brenna8, samantha, Without Permission, Faye407, Madame.x.mlp, Losing Grip, Beloved, Kreyana, KeyvieSnape, Blaze, Katrina, Lady Lirimaer, and especially to Sanguis Magia who has graciously offered to beta for me. You all are my raison d'etre!!

And one more thing… it seems that asking for twenty reviews is a bit much for now. So I'll settle for ten before the next chapter comes out. Hope you're all as excited to see what happens next as I am to write what happens next!

NEXT CHAPTER: Harry eats breakfast, and rumors circulate. Christmas is on its way… Harry thinks he'll be alone at Hogwarts. Oh how wrong he is.