Author's Note: ~this~ is Parseltongue, *this* is for emphasis. I know the Draco liking Parseltongue and the Harry has to speak Parseltongue ideas are rather overused, but I like them. Also, though the plotline seems to have gone missing for the next few chapters, they are character/relationship development, and, yay for me, I managed to find the plot again, so it will be coming back.

Also, thanks to Spideria :)

All he could feel was pain. Slowly, Harry's vision cleared, and he could see a red-faced Vernon standing over him, yelling, cursing, hitting him, "Stupid boy!" the man screamed as yet another blow landed.

Harry wondered what he'd done to warrant this, not that it mattered. As long as his uncle didn't try anything . . . else, it didn't matter. He could feel his lip bleeding, bruises forming on his arms and chest where he'd been hit. As he looked over his Vernon's shoulder, he thought he saw something in the distance.

Moving quickly, riding a white horse and wielding a sword was . . . Malfoy?

Harry watched in disbelief as Malfoy drove Vernon away, threatening to kill him if he ever laid a hand on Harry again. Then he dismounted, standing before Harry.

"Thank you," Harry said quietly, looking down. He jumped as he felt a hand caress his cheek, eyes flying to meet his rescuer's as he heard the whispered words, "A kiss is thanks enough."

Before he could do anything Malfoy had closed the rest of the distance between them and was kissing Harry passionately. He was a good kisser, Harry thought dazedly. And then he couldn't think anymore as Malfoy ran the tip of his tongue along Harry's bottom lip. "Draco," Harry moaned softly.

He was roughly shaken into wakefulness to see a bemused Seamus standing over him. Blood heated his face as he realized what he'd been dreaming. He really didn't need his crush knowing that. "Umm, Seamus?" he asked, praying he hadn't said anything out loud.

"At least you know who I am now," Seamus laughed. "Before when I shook you, you called me Draco."

Harry figured he just about matched the color of Ron's hair now. "What?" he managed to get out. At least said crush didn't seem to mind.

"Yeah, sounded like an interesting dream," Seamus said mischievously.

"Don't tell anyone," Harry pleaded.

"Don't worry mate, secret's safe. Didn't know you went for the annoying blonde gits, though."

"Neither did I," Harry muttered darkly. He climbed out of bed and shook Ron awake. As his best friend opened bleary eyes, Harry told him, "Breakfast." Ron nodded, and Harry walked to the foot of his own bed.

Grabbing out a set of clean robes he made his way to the showers, and closed his eyes under the hot spray of water. He tried to think of Quidditch practice, of homework, of anything except kissing Malfoy, but his mind kept going back to his dream. "Just a dream," he told himself, but his body betrayed him, reacting to the memory of Malfoy's lips on his as his mind began forming possible ways the dream could have . . . finished. "Gods," Harry growled as he smacked his head into the wall. He did it a few more times for good measure. Today was not going to be a good day.

He met Ron and Hermione back in the common room ten minutes later, looking distracted. He nearly walked into them before he realized they were there.

"Is something wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.

Yes! Harry wanted to shout. A Slytherin is trying to get me to kill myself and I just dreamt about kissing, yes *kissing*, not killing, Draco Malfoy! Instead he answered, "No, just tired."

"I noticed you weren't back yet when I went up to bed," Ron said, looking at him curiously.

"I was talking with Snape," Harry replied evasively.

Now Hermione looked surprised. As they left the common room, she asked in a low voice, "Order business?"

"No, something else."

Hermione waited for him to explain, and when he didn't, her only reply was a disbelieving, "hmm."

They walked into the Great Hall and moved to the Gryffindor table. Seamus winked and Harry, trying to distract himself, looked toward the Slytherin table. There was Draco, in his usual spot, dwarfed by the walking boulders known as Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco met his eyes for a second and Harry flushed, looking away. Confusion flashed across Draco's features, gone as quickly as it came.

Hermione saw the whole thing, and made a mental note to talk to Harry later. Something was obviously going on.

"What classes do we have today?" Ron asked as they sat down, happily oblivious to his best friend's discomfiture.

"Honestly Ron," Hermione complained, "It's November! You still don't know the schedule?"

Harry smiled at their antics as he grabbed a piece of toast. "We've got Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, History of Magic, and Potions." The two still took nearly all of the same classes.

"Slytherin day," Ron groaned.

Harry groaned inwardly at the thought of having nearly every class with Malfoy. He really should have just stayed in bed today. Of course, then he would have found out where the dream was going. . . Flushing, he stared down at the table.

"Harry, are you sure you're all right?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Fine," he replied weakly. Seeing Hermione's concerned expression, he figured maybe he should tell them, though. The distance was building between the Gryffindor Trio, and he knew he was partly responsible. "Actually," he said, "Maybe we should talk. Come out into the hall."

They walked into the hall, finding a quiet corner. "Someone from Slytherin is trying to kill me," Harry told them in a low voice.

"Nothing new, mate," Ron replied. "They've always hated you."

Harry looked at him strangely. "That's what Malfoy told me."

"You were talking to *Malfoy*?" Ron yelped. "Was he the one that tried to kill you? Of course he was," he answered himself. "Did you tell Dumbledore, Harry?"

Finally able to get a word in, Harry answered, "No, it wasn't Malfoy, he's the one who found me, and no, I didn't tell Dumbledore. I didn't even know what was going on until Snape told me."

"What?" Ron goggled.

"Maybe you should tell us what happened Harry. Start at the beginning," Hermione advised. "And what was the thing with Malfoy at breakfast?"

"What thing?" Harry asked.

"You know what thing. The thing with you looking at him and turning bright red," Something dawned on Hermione. "Is it a love potion? Are you in love with Malfoy?"

Ron turned slightly green.

Harry yelled, "What?! No, there's no love potion. I do NOT have a CRUSH on bloody MALFOY, of all people!"

Draco had chosen that moment to exit the Great Hall. "Good to know, Potter."

Crabbe and Goyle snickered.

"Kill me now," Harry groaned.

"All right Potter, so long as you're not doing it yourself," Draco sneered. "Wouldn't want you screwing it up."

"I wasn't talking to you Malfoy!" He was too embarrassed to listen or care about what the other was saying.

Draco just smirked and turned away, walking outside with his thugs.

"What was he talking about, Harry?"

"We have to get to class," was Harry's only reply as he turned and followed Draco.

Hermione shook her head and thought to herself, I didn't ask him if he had a crush on Malfoy.

Ron growled, "Bloody Ferret has him under a spell, I'm sure of it."

Outside, Harry saw Hagrid standing next to a crate, and he could hear groggy voices from inside of it.

~Where am I? ~

~Why is it so cold? ~

Waiting for Hermione to catch up, Harry asked, "Mione, do you know what creature Hagrid has us working with today?"

"No, why?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Because I can hear them." At their confused looks, Harry motioned towards the crate and added, "Voices. From in there." Both of his friends were still looking at him blankly. "You don't hear them? Snakes then, I'd wager."

As the rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins made their way towards the class, Hagrid began speaking. "Mornin' class. Today we'll be workin' with Snargons, fire-lizards with snake and dragon ancestry. These are babies, so they won't be burnin' ya. Pairs mus' be Gryffindor/Slytherin, Headmaster Dumbledore wants House unity with You-Know-Who on the loose."

A few students shuddered.

Hermione immediately looked towards Pansy Parkinson, knowing the girl from her Advanced Ancient Runes class, while Ron moved toward Blaise-the two knew each other from a summer Quidditch league years ago.

Harry looked up to find Draco standing directly in front of him. He jumped back, and then cursed the reaction as he saw humor glittering in the blonde's eyes. "Afraid of me, Potter?"

"Do you really like me enough to stand so close, Malfoy?" Harry shot back.

"From what I hear," Draco grinned evilly, "You like me enough to want me to."

"Did you miss the 'not'?" Harry snapped.

" 'Methinks the lady doth protest too much'" Draco quoted.

"One, I'm not a girl, and two, you know Muggle literature?"

Draco ran his eyes down Harry's body in a slow perusal. "No, you are very much a male, Potter."

Harry reddened and turned away quickly. "I'll get the Snargon."

This is even more interesting than making him angry, Draco thought to himself. And almost every class today was with the Gryffindorks, except for Herbology. Today was definitely going to be fun.

Over at the crate, there was only one Snargon left, a small gold-green one. It looked like a miniature dragon. As Harry watched, slim wings unfurled slowly while the baby stretched.

~Hello, little one ~ he greeted.

In reply the Snargon flew up to his shoulder and perched there, tail wrapping lightly around his neck.

Harry walked back towards Draco, not really listening to Hagrid, who was talking about how to feed the Snargons, what they ate, and the fact that they were often kept as pets in other countries.

Draco looked at it interestedly, saying, "I always wanted one of these." He reached out his hand to touch the little creature, and Harry immediately tried to distract himself from the other boy's closeness.

~What's your name? ~ he asked the Snargon.

~Quentin Silver-Tongue ~ came the reply.

~I'm Harry, and he's Draco ~ Harry told Quentin, motioning towards the other boy.

Draco closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the hissed conversation. The only times he'd ever heard Parseltongue were from Voldemort, and the single time in second year. Voldemort's voice was cold, metallic, and Draco had always found it creepy. He'd never realized how good it could sound until he heard Harry's warm voice pronouncing the sibilant words. He was suddenly grateful for the looseness of school robes. When he spoke, his voice was slightly rough, "What's it saying?"

Harry didn't seem to notice Draco's entrancement, and replied without looking up, "His name is Quentin Silver-Tongue, but we can just call him Quent."

~Where's your family, Quent? ~

~Family? ~ the Snargon asked.

~You know, brothers, sisters, hatchlings you were born with? ~

~I have none ~ Quent answered, still sounding faintly confused.

Harry looked towards Draco, just now seeing the Slytherin's closed eyes. "Malfoy, are you alright?"

Draco opened lust darkened eyes and replied hoarsely, "I'm fine." What the hell? He thought frantically to himself. This is *Potter*! I don't feel this way about the bloody Boy-Who-Lived!

Harry was completely unaware of the inner turmoil of the boy next to him. Instead, he was thinking of the Snargon now draped over the back of his neck, sleeping. "He has no family." Then he remembered Draco's offhand comment from the beginning of class, and the fact that the Slytherin didn't have much of a family either. "I'll be right back, Malfoy."

Draco nodded distractedly, not really listening.

Harry made his way toward Hagrid, asking quietly, "Hagrid, where will they live once the lesson is over?"

"I suppose we'll be givin' them a chance ta go home, Harry," Hagrid answered.

"What if they don't want to leave?" Harry questioned.

"Well. . ." obviously the possibility hadn't come up.

"If they wanted to stay here, could we keep them? I can ask them."

"Sure, I don' see why not. Final decision is the Headmaster's, o' course." Hagrid replied thoughtfully.

"Thanks, Hagrid."

The groundskeeper nodded and Harry dashed back to Draco, waking Quentin.

~Quentin, would you like to live here? ~

~Does it ever get warm? ~ the Snargon asked sleepily.

Harry laughed and replied, ~it's warm inside, and it'll be warm in the summer. ~

~Okay. ~ the fire-lizard promptly went back to sleep.

"Hey, Malfoy!" Harry called.

Draco, who had finally managed to get his traitorous body under control, turned to see a brightly smiling Harry a few feet away. "Yes, Potter?"

"Have you ever had a pet?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just answer the question, Malfoy," Harry answered, annoyance building. Maybe this was a dumb idea. After all, how many people did nice things for their *enemies*? But after last night, were they really enemies? And it was okay to do something nice for the person who saved your life.

"Does Lucius really seem like the type of father to allow pets?" Draco asked cynically. "And if he had, he probably would have killed them as punishment."

Harry nodded, that sounded like something the elder Malfoy would do. Really, there weren't a whole lot of differences between the personalities of Vernon and Lucius, though he hoped Lucius had never sunk to some of Vernon's . . . tactics. ~Quentin? ~

~Yes? ~ the fire-lizard answered tiredly, having been woken up yet again.

~Would you like to live with Draco? ~ Harry pointed at Draco, who looked confused. Were they talking about him?

~Would I still talk to you? ~ Quentin asked.

Harry thought about it. ~Yeah, sure, ~ he answered. I'll just make it part of the deal, he told himself.

~Okay. Can I sleep now? ~

~Sure, why don't you sleep on him? ~ Harry suggested, motioning towards Draco again.

Quentin flew towards a startled Draco and immediately curled around his neck, going to sleep.

"Umm, Potter, why is your Snargon sleeping on me?"

"His name's Quentin, and he's yours. To keep, if you want him." Harry looked at the ground, not wanting to see the scorn and mockery in Malfoy's eyes. This was such a bad idea, he scolded himself.

Draco's eyes widened. A pet? Potter was giving him a pet? "Thank you," he whispered, not trusting his voice.

Harry looked up, startled at the tone in Draco's voice. He saw the rare emotion on his face, and finally realized how much it meant to the Slytherin. He opened his mouth to reply, to say, thanks for saving my life last night, but all that came out was a quiet, "You're welcome. There is a catch though."

Draco met his eyes with a resigned look that said he had known it was too good to be true. "What do you want me to do, Potter? Kiss the Weasel, bow at your feet, what?"

Harry looked shocked. "No, nothing like that! Just . . . just, can I talk to him, sometimes?"

"That's it?" He asked, disbelief coloring his voice.

"Well, if you really want to kiss Ron, I won't stop you," Harry grinned. "Hermione might though."

Draco shuddered in disgust. "Urgh. I'd rather kiss *you*, Potter, and that says a lot."

Harry suddenly found the grass extremely interesting. Of course Malfoy would have to say *that*, he thought to himself.

"Harry," Hagrid called. "Come up 'ere and we'll work out who's stayin' and who's goin'."

Harry looked up and nodded, then turned back to Draco. "About last night Malfoy, well, thanks."

Draco looked surprised, and then smirked as he replied lightly, "How can Slytherin possibly win the House Cup if you aren't around to lose points in Potions, Potter?"

Harry could see the humor in those silver eyes, and he laughed. Draco smiled, a real smile that made his face soften and his eyes light up. Harry wished the moment could last forever, but time never obliges the wishes of mere humans, and he turned towards Hagrid. Suddenly he noticed all of the other pairs were staring at him and Draco in shock.

"It's a spell," Ron muttered, and Blaise could only nod in agreement, because why else would the Prince of Slytherin be smiling and laughing with the Golden Boy of Gryffindor?

Even Hermione and Pansy looked vaguely worried.

Harry shook his head and pretended not to notice.

Draco, on the other hand, glared imperiously and snarled, "What are you looking at?" Everyone seemed to suddenly find the other direction very interesting. Upon realizing what he had just done, he groaned. "Bloody hell, Potter, we're supposed to be enemies." But Harry didn't hear.