Hmm, I don't know what to say. Thanks to my reviewers. By the way, the reason my chapters are always not certain when it will be up is because I read more than I write. But I love writing and that was what had got me to write this story. Anyway, I'll stop ranting and babbling. R&R! Hope you guys will like it.

Disclaimer – Well you know the drill. Harry Potter and its other characters are not mine. I don't own them. It is J.K. Rowling's copyright. This is written completely in my view and my view alone.

PS. Thanks to my BETA reader, nancy.

Chapter 8

Hate and Rivalry Forgotten

Harry woke up to find himself lying on a crisp white bed, which he quickly registered as belonging in the hospital wing, as he had been there countless times on many occasions. Too right he was, because as soon as she saw that he was awake, the mediwitch began fussing over him. This time, though, he felt too tired to protest against anything that Madam Pomfrey might ask him to do. In this particular case, the command was to stay and rest. When she was really sure that he was making a complete recovery she made him down several potions which, despite having nasty smells, did wonders.

After all that fussing, Harry was finally able to rest on, well, his favourite bed, so to speak; he already had a bed reserved especially for him since he always attracted trouble to himself and would inevitably end up in the hospital wing. Only then did he notice a sight which greatly surprised him: Draco Malfoy was sitting on a chair next to his bed. Questions formed in his mind the way a storm crashes on to the earth's surface. How on earth had he ended up in the hospital wing? Memories came flooding into his mind: the encounter with Draco, though Draco didn't know about it, the meeting with Dumbledore, his accidental magic, Dumbledore telling him the extent of his magical abilities and powers. Everything else after that was hazy.

The memories that suddenly came into him greatly overwhelmed him. At that moment he could feel power emanating from him, and he suddenly felt refreshed as though he hadn't been tired in his whole life. He could feel energy radiating from his surroundings and wrapping themselves in him, making him feel their warmth. The fatigue he had experienced earlier was completely diminished and he felt as if he were a phoenix, reborn from the ashes and coming out as a new person altogether.

Even the presence of Draco Malfoy did not light up the flames of anger or disgust that had been there since he had first met the boy. Instead, he felt pity and sorrow for the boy who had betrayed his own father and crossed over to the light to fight that darkness in the form of Voldemort that had crept since Voldemort's rebirth. He felt as though another person had taken over his body and was forming a new self in him.

Harry reached over to Draco and made a slight move to wake the blond, pale boy. Draco woke up instantly and straightened himself upon seeing that Harry was indeed wide awake. Not looking into his eye, Draco expressed his apologies and started to pour out every detail of the happenings and troubles he had trod and experienced during his encounter with his father. As Draco mentioned his father throwing a Cruciatus curse on to him, tears started to trickle down his cheeks and somehow made him look so innocent that you wouldn't have guessed that he had been one to bully others.

Harry sat listening to his part and made a move which surprised even him. He hugged Draco and comforted him as though they hadn't fought in their entire lifetime. This sudden movement surprised Draco even more that he had abruptly stopped talking but his the expression softened and he cried on Harry's shoulder.

Harry, being selfless and having a great heart didn't make any attempt to pry the boy away from him. This was where he told his part of the story, where he heard the argument in the corridor between Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Although Draco had a surprised look on his face, he didn't say anything but turned to look at his fingers. Harry noticed this and decided that maybe he should break the overwhelming silence.

"Draco, you don't have to say anything. I already forgave you last night, at Dumbledore's office. If there is anything that no one should deserve, is to go through what you had to. It is too much of a burden and if you ever need someone to talk to, I'll always be there," said Harry.

"I don't think I deserve any forgiveness even though I certainly asked for it. I deserve whatever happened to me as punishment to any wrongs I have done. I have never been so ashamed of myself than I did for the last couple of months," said a red eyed Draco Malfoy.

Harry looked at him in pity and motioned Draco to come closer to him. Without being aware, Harry cast a calming charm on Draco and the boy, who had been sobbing for the last few minutes, calmed down.

"I think it's almost breakfast time. Hurry along to the Great Hall and have something decent to eat. If you encounter the slimy gits, Crabbe and Goyle, make sure there's a teacher around or hex them. I'm sure you'll not get any punishment for it," said Harry with a mischievous glint in his eye which suggests that he knows something that Draco didn't have any idea what about. Draco just nodded in answer and walked off to the Great Hall. Just before he stepped out of the infirmary, he turned to look back at Harry. "Thank you, Harry," whispered Draco and stepped out.

Harry quickly recovered from his shock of Malfoy calling him Harry. He wondered what had made him change dramatically from the snide snivelling boy to a different Draco. He decided to let it slide and lay on the bed. For the first time in years, he finally managed to drift into a dreamless and peaceful sleep.

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Dumbledore paced in his office and was restless. A troublesome thought was playing on his mind. The answer came at last. "Alas, I must settle the matter at hand."

Dumbledore walked out of his office and headed to the infirmary. Seeing that Harry was in a peaceful slumber, Dumbledore ignored his intention and reminded himself to bring up the matter in a more appropriate time. He couldn't bring himself to disturb the peace that he had very rarely seen in Harry.

Maybe one day, Harry would be ready to accept what he would have to say. Little did he know that Harry is already a changed person and he would never be the same. Yes, maybe the time will come. Still looking at the sleeping figure of Harry, Dumbledore walked back to his office and battled with himself whether he should be telling Harry immediately or not.

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Harry woke up after a refreshing sleep. He was just in time to see Dumbledore walking out of the hospital wing. He sighed and slumped back into bed wondering. As he lay in bed, his eyes closed and he was asleep. This time however, a dream came to him. Where he is, he didn't know.

"Hello, Harry. We've been waiting for you," said a voice behind him. He turned around and nearly toppled at the sight.

"Mom, dad, is it really you?" croaked Harry. The two nodded.

"Well, we're able to communicate with you after the awakening," said Lily, answering Harry's unasked question.

"But we couldn't do it often. There will be times of great need where we will appear for you. For now, you may as well keep quiet about this but I suppose you could inform Dumbledore. By the way, Sirius sends his regards. He tells you to not to stop having fun," said James.

"You might wonder whether we knew about the prophecy. Well, we did and my first priority was to protect you. You are my only son. I love you so much," said Lily.

"Hey, I love him, too!" exclaimed James in his playful tone.

"Of course you do, darling. If you don't, he wouldn't be here right now," said Lily.

"I knew that," said a smiling James.

Harry watched his parents playfully arguing with a hint of amusement. He snickered quietly and caught his mother's attention.

"You are special, Harry. You're not like everybody else. You will do great things, powerful things that not even Dumbledore could achieve," said Lily in her motherly voice.

"Humph, like I needed that to add to my collection. Now, I have more people coming up to me and say, you are a great person, Harry, you are superb and on and on. I hate the attention. I don't ask to be famous but this is too much," said Harry.

"Harry James Potter, don't talk to your mother that way in that tone," said James sternly.

"Sorry dad, sorry mom," said Harry and smiled sheepishly.

"Look, we have to go. You're waking up. Remember, we'll always be here, watching over you. Don't ever think that you're alone. We love you and we always will be," said James.

"Bye," said Lily.

The world was swirling and he woke up with a start. He shook his longing feeling and walked to the Great Hall after a quick check-up by Madam Pomfrey. The moment he entered the Great Hall, he was hugged by a brown blur, who is obviously Hermione because of her bushy hair. A worried Ginny was standing by the side and kissed him after the commotion was over.

As he sat down next to Ginny, he took out his timetable. It was Monday and sure enough, Potions were up next. After finishing breakfast, he quickly pecked Ginny on her cheek and went to the dungeons with Hermione in his wake.

A/N:

Well, it's kind of short, but this came into mind when I was reading a book and no that the book had something to do with this. Anyway, please review. I really appreciate those reviews and I love them.

HGandRHrforever - Nancy,Thanks for beta reading this. :)

lilypotterfan – I think Percy's a git too. He's the biggest git in the whole world after Voldemort, Fudge and of course, Lucius. Anyway, I hope that you're reading this. I appreciate your comment.

Pedragon – Well, I don't know where my mistake is, so could you point out where? If you do, thanks a million and oh, thanks for being a great friend and reader.

Balvinder – I know your computer got hanged. I feel for you. Anyway, hope you like this one. This idea really came out of nowhere.

Dhania – Are you still there?