Author's Notes: So here's another chapter. I didn't spend long on it, and I only read it over once, so there are probably many mistakes. I was going to put in a 'Draco's POV' but there really wasn't much for him to say and this chapter is sort of long enough. So I'm going to leave it like this and try to get another chapter up ASAP.

BTW (IMPORTANT!!!!!!!): Yeah, I'm not following the fifth book, but Ron and Hermione are still going to be Prefects. It's important for story purposes. Also, Ron is going to be the Keeper, like in the book. I need that to be in the story as well. It will play a part, sort of.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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September 2

******Harry's POV******

Well, I'm all by myself again. Ron and Hermione are at their stupid preppy Prefect meeting, leaving me to my own devices. Fun. I was lying on a couch, staring into the fire, willing it to swell and grow and eventually consume the entire room. Alright, I was being a little melodramatic, but dammit I was bored! And alone...

            Alright, I can't take it anymore. This place is driving me insane.

            "I'm going out," I said to no one in particular, hoping that someone would care. Nobody paid any attention to me. "Well don't say good-bye!"

            I left in a huff, slamming the portrait behind me. The fat lady was quite rattled and infuriated, shrieking at me while I trudged down the stairs. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I care. There was about an hour till I would have to be back in Gryffindor house, and I had no intentions of going back before that time.

            I was rounding the corner to the library when I quite literally ran into the beautiful platinum blonde Malfoy. I couldn't suppress a groan, but I strangely I found myself glad to have run into him; it gave me something to do. But before I could open my mouth to speak, he had grabbed me by the arms and pulled me around the corner, away from the library. He shoved me behind a stone gargoyle, gazing at me with a strange light in his eyes.

            "Harry! I was looking for you," he said. My jaw dropped, I couldn't help it! Never before had Malfoy looked for me, though sometimes I thought he had. He always did seem to find me. (AN: And he went wherever I did go. - A special treat to anyone who figures out where that comes from)

            "You were?" I said, astonished.

            "Yes, I have something to tell you," replied the blonde. He wasn't speaking with the same ease he seemed to have been born with. His words were slow, carefully formed, as if he was forcing himself to say the words. He took a deep breath and said:

            "I... I've come to make peace with you!"

            He exhaled sharply, as if a great weight had been lifted off his chest. I was too shocked to reply. Malfoy make peace, with me? I waited for him to continue, I was at a total loss for words.

            "I'm tired of being such a...such a..." He faltered, unable to find the appropriate word to describe himself.

            "A bastard?" I offered.

            "Let's not get too cocky," he said. "I don't want to be your enemy anymore."

            "What?"

            "I want to be your..." He hesitated, as if forcing himself to say the next words. "I want us to be friends."

            This was a bit too much for me. For as long as I had known Malfoy I had hated him. We had been enemies since our first train ride to Hogwarts and our animosity had grown steadily ever since. It was impossible for me to even imagine Malfoy and I friends, let alone actually be friends. It would upset the cosmic balance of things! All these thoughts were passing through my head when Malfoy turned his head away from me, as if hearing something. I heard it a moment later: voices. I recognized them as Slytherin voices, though I didn't know their names. I listened as Malfoy listened, both of us hearing the voices approach and then gradually fade away and a door slam. They must have gone into the library. I saw the blonde sigh and turn back to me, looking considerably relieved.

            "Oh I see," I said, hiding my anger effectively. He cocked his head slightly to one side, making a small 'what' noise. "You don't want to be my enemy, but neither to you want to be seen with me!"

            I pushed him away, walking angrily back the way I came. I still didn't know where I was going, but I didn't have long to think of where I was going when...

            "Stop!" I heard Malfoy's voice. Then as an afterthought he added, "Please?"

            I halted, turning to face him. He was standing, not having moved, with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't wearing the school coat, but rather he was wearing a long black leather one that almost reached the floor, his collar was turned up causing his hair to look even whiter and more brilliant. He looked like something straight out of a video game, minus a killer sword. He made me self-conscious about my appearance; he was a picture of pure magnificence, and I was not. But I decided not to dwell on his splendor.

Suddenly, I had the urge to leave, to just get away. I don't really know why, but I didn't want to be around him anymore. I wanted to be alone.

"I have to go," I said. "My friends are probably back from their Prefect meeting by now."

I was lying obviously; even if the meeting was over I didn't want to see them. I was seriously turning into a morose teenager. I started walking away from Malfoy, but he wasn't about to let me go.

"Your friends aren't at a Prefect meeting!"

I stopped, facing him again. "How would you know?"

"You remember that I'm a Prefect, don't you? There isn't a meeting," he said, flipping his head so his bangs wouldn't be his eyes.

It was true what he said, but I didn't want to accept it. I wouldn't believe that my two best friends lied to me, and why? Why would they just ditch me like that? I was angry, but above all else I was hurt. Once more, I was being left out of something. My whole life I had been left out of something, even something as big as my magical abilities. Nobody had ever bothered to tell me that I was a wizard. Secrets have been kept from me, important secrets, that were directly related to me since I was born. Nooo, don't tell Harry (AN: kudos to anyone who figures where that came from). His poor little heart can't take it! Ok, I was being melodramatic again, but I defy anyone who wouldn't be in my situation.

Then I noticed Malfoy, standing there. His blue eyes were gazing at me intently, as if trying to figure out what I was thinking. I wondered if he knew what was racing through my mind, how I was feeling. Doubtless he knew that I was feeling left out and alone, but to what extent? I wondered if he knew how deep the loneliness went. "Do you know what I'm feeling?"

I hadn't intended for it to come out, but there it was, out of my mouth before I could stop it! He was taken aback by the question, obviously not expecting it. I felt stupid, having asked my enemy something so personal to me. I made to leave, but his voice rang out again, filling the hallway.

"I know you feel alone," he said. I didn't turn around, but I could tell from the soft click of his shoes that he was walking towards me. "You've lost everyone you love or is beginning to: your parents, and now your friends are drifting away from you."

He was standing behind me now, at most a foot from me. I felt his presence, and it was strangely comforting to me. So far he was right, and I wanted to see just how much he knew. "Go on."

"You're feeling left out," his voice was soft, tender. I felt myself being lost in it. I found that I was no longer listening to his words, but rather just his voice. It had a strange power to it that I never knew it had. "You're friends are Prefects, and you're not. They've been given a power and special privileges, which you are not entitled to. Now they lie to you, telling you they're going to an exclusive meeting, when really they're not. They left you behind so they could be by themselves, once more a part of something that you aren't. Am I close?"

"Yes," I muttered, "more." I didn't care if he was right or wrong, I just didn't want him to stop talking. It somehow felt better to have someone else say the things that I was thinking. His voice was so soothing; I didn't want him to ever stop.

 "Harry," he said, "I promise I'll never abandon you."

I felt his hand on my shoulder. It sent a strange yet wonderful sensation through my body. It was weird, what I was feeling. Malfoy had always been my enemy, without question. He wasn't supposed to be compassionate. He wasn't supposed to understand people's emotions, or care about them. What had caused such a change in him?

I was uncomfortable now, unsure of anything anymore. And oh, how I was confused.

"I- I, I have to go!" I said suddenly, running from him before he could say anything else, though I don't think he had anything left to say. I needed to be alone, to think. Malfoy had been so near to the truth, but how? Could he read my mind? No, it wasn't possible. I pushed the thought away; there was enough going on in my life without the prospect of mind-reading Malfoy.

I didn't return until late, well after curfew. Walking the school hadn't cleared my mind. Indeed, I returned to Gryffindor house with a heavier heart than when I had run from Malfoy. When I had taken my leave of him, nothing had fully sunk it. But when I was left to dwell, the full force of it all hit me. I felt more alone and inferior than ever before.

It was with a heavy heart that I entered Gryffindor house. There were two students still awake, doing homework. I trudged up the stairs and into my room. They were asleep, or close to it. Ron's curtain wasn't pulled, and he wasn't in the bed. He's not back from his little excursion with Hermione. My mood grew even worse. I stripped myself down and threw my pajamas on. I dropped into my bed, pulling the curtain. I lay back, gazing at the ceiling. About five minutes later I heard the door open again. I knew it was Ron from the way the footsteps hit the floor. Ron could never be quiet, even when he tried.

When he had lain himself down in his bed, I pulled the curtain back on my bed. I had to confront him while I was still annoyed enough to do it.

"Where were you?" I asked.

He looked at me, a little surprised. I smirked inwardly. He hadn't been expecting me to be awake, and I felt a malicious pleasure at having caught him off guard.

"Oh, the meeting ran late," he said, averting his eyes. I knew he was lying; Ron was a horrible liar, and he never looked at you when he lied and his face always became red. I tensed. He was still lying to me!

"Oh really?" I said sarcastically. Now it was my time to get him. "Oh, I almost forgot. I went out earlier and I saw Malfoy. Aren't all Prefects supposed to be at a Prefect meeting?"

Even in the dim light, I could see him pale. His mouth was opening and closing, trying to form words. I didn't wait for a response; I had what I wanted.

"Good night, Ron." I said angrily. I pulled my curtain, turned my back to him and closed my eyes. Malfoy's words were still circulating in my head when I finally fell asleep.

I promise I'll never abandon you.

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End Notes: So that's the chapter, I hope you liked it. Even if you didn't I'd still really appreciate some reviews.