Chapter 7- Strawberry jam and the Slytherin Clan

"So, let me get this straight... You are Harry Potter, supposed saviour of the wizarding world who is supposed to have died when you were one because you were hit with a killing curse but didn't for some unknown reason and now your soul purpose in life is to destroy the evil wizard that killed your parents with the strong magical abilities he passed onto you."

"Basically"

"And you are Draco Malfoy, the son of a death eater who is this evil guys most loyal servant and he expects you to be one too, but you're only pretending to be evil and are in fact a spy for the good guys and just so happen to be really, really powerful and have just been told that you have to help Harry kill the guy your father basically adores."

"Yup"

Alex scratched his head

"What the hell is the point?!?"

"Uh...what?"

"Why cant it just be simple like us? Someone is evil and greedy- so they take things and kill people. Why bother with all the stupid prophecies and magic and bloodline crap? Why does it have to be so damn complicated?"

Harry and Draco looked at each other, both looking very confused and taken aback by Alex's boldness.

"I...er...don't know?"

They were sat in the Hospital Wing waiting for Madam Pomfrey to tell them they were free to go. Alex and Willows injuries were now perfectly healed and all that was left were small silvery scars that they were told would fade in a few days time.

"I think its kinda cool" Willow cut in "its different"

"Its certainly different! But I mean...WHY do people bother? Take you two for example" Alex continued on his rant, determined to get his point across and understood.

"Us?" Draco growled, really disliking this kid for his rudeness and for being the most unsubtle person he knew.

"Yeah. You come from totally different backgrounds, you are basically total opposites and have been enemies for the last 5 years of your life. And now, all of a sudden you're like the best of friends behind everyone else's backs all because Harry's friends are either poor or not a pure blood wizard. Now to me that sounds stupid"

Harry screwed up his face in confusion. Draco just looked down right pissed off. He knew there was a reason he didn't like Muggles.

"It isn't the ONLY reason I don't like his friends" Draco hissed, trying his hardest not to yell.

"Explain it to me then"

"They...I- I don't know who started it but we have just always hated each other and always give each other new reasons to hate each other"

"That's crap and you know it"

"Hey I didn't ask-"

"If you want MY opinion-"

"NO! I said I didn't ask-"

"You only hate them because you are USED to hating them because that's what your FATHER told you to do"

"And because Weasley insults me as much as I insult him. Harry, you've seen him! He has kept being provocative even when I've kept my mouth shut!"

Harry held up his hands and made out like this argument had nothing to do with him. He wasn't getting involved...mainly because he thought Alex was right, but he wasn't about to say that to Draco. He'd go off in a huff for days.

"What I don't get is if you are such good friends, why it bothers you what other people think?" Alex grumbled

"It isn't that simple Alex" Willow answered for the two wizards "They cant afford to be selfish like that. If they told people they were friends there would most probably be some little mini war in Hogwarts and then they would DEFINATLEY lose the war because they decided they 'didn't care what other people thought'"

"SEE! SHE GETS IT, SHE GETS IT! SHES NOT A TOTAL IMBECILE!"

"Draco sit down and shut up" Harry scolded. People in beds near them were beginning to stare.

"I think you four can go to breakfast now, instead of sitting in my hospital Wing making a lot of noise and disturbing other patients" Madam Pomfrey had come over and was shooing them out of the hospital wing.

"And don't come back any time soon Harry OR Draco, I'm tired of seeing you both in here nearly every week with some kind of injury"

"Every week is a bit of an exaggeration"

"More like every Quidditch match game!" Harry laughed as they walked out, Madam Pomfrey shaking her head but smiling none the less. She was pleased they were getting along. Maybe she would see less of them since many of their injuries were caused by the other.

"Quidditch?" Alex asked, tuning to Harry "What's that?"

Harry and Draco explained Quidditch to the twins as they made their way down to the great hall. They went on to tell them about the World Cup they had attended and how Harry wanted to play professionally. Then they got into an argument about which team was better and they were still 'discussing' this when they entered the Great Hall.

Breakfast was nearly over but there was still quite a few people there. Hermione and Ron being two of them.

"We gunna sit together or take one each?" Harry asked Draco quietly

"We aren't splitting up" Willow hissed from in front

"There's your answer" Draco replied, raising an eyebrow "We'll sit at the end of Gryffindor table, I don't trust Slytherins with new people."

"OK" Harry nodded "I'll meet you there in a minute, I just have to go and explain to Herm and Ron"

Draco rolled his eyes but agreed and took the twins to the end of the Gryffindor table where no one but a few first years sat.

"Hey Harry" Ron grinned up at him as he approached their usual spot, with a mouthful of toast

"Hi Ron, Hermione" Harry smiled back "I'm not gunna sit here today guys, I have to look after a couple of exchange students from Baubaxtons with Malfoy so I have to stick with them for a bit, that OK?"

"Ugh, poor you Harry, I'd hate to have to spend more time than I had to with that guy. Merlin, I hate him" Ron swallowed and made a disgusted face as he looked over to where Malfoy sat with Alex and Willow who were shoveling down food like they hadn't eaten in years.

"Why are they here?" Hermione asked curiously

"Oh, their uh...parents had to come to England for a bit. You know, business. Didn't want to leave them in France. Thought it would be good for them to come as well" Harry smiled nervously at Hermione who frowned but seemed to accept his explanation.

"OK then guys, I'm gunna eat a bit. I'll see you later" Harry waved and walked away, thanking Merlin he was able to think on his feet.

He slumped down next to Draco, opposite Alex and Willow.

"Here's the deal" Harry began wanting to explain to them what he had told his friends "You are pure blood Wizards, very rich family from France." Harry began

"Harry, they don't have French accents, how do you suppose they pull that one off?" Draco scowled

"Its OK" Willow smiled chewing on an apple "Our Dad is French anyway, we go there a lot. Our mum is English. That can happen to Wizards as well cant it?"

Harry nodded and shot Draco a "See, I know what I'm doing" look and continued:

"I told my friends that your parents are over on business and brought you with them"

"Good one" Draco nodded giving the toast a wary look and deciding on an apple as well.

Just as he reached for one someone slammed a hand down on Harry's shoulder from behind. He yelped and Draco swung round to point his wand in the face of the attacker.

"Hey calm down Malfoy, I'm only coming to sit with my friend if that's OK with you or are you still going to hex me?"

Ron stood behind them with Hermione who was standing slightly behind Ron for protection. It looked as if everyone had been scared by the incident.

Harry lowered Draco's wand for him, he was glaring at Ron and breathing heavily and looked ready to kill. He grunted something and went back to his food.

Harry pulled an apologetic face at his friends and offered for them to sit down, as reluctant as he was to do so.

"We thought we'd come and introduce ourselves" Hermione smiled at Alex and Willow who smiled back, already knowing who these two must be, but neither said anything.

Introductions were made and they sat in silence for a few minutes before Draco spoke up

"If you came over to talk, don't hold back on my account"

"I wasn't, Malfoy"

"Glad to hear it Weasley"

"Why have you been dumped with HIM Harry?" Ron asked, scowling at Draco "Couldn't we have helped you rather than this stupid-"

"I'm helping HIM actually Ron" Harry cut him off, he couldn't have Draco losing his temper. Not now.

"What?!"

"Uh...Alex is Draco's, uh, Pen Friend."

Harry chuckled inwardly. Draco and Pen Friends were never meant to be said in the same sentence. The idea that Draco could have a Pen Friend was so laughable it was like Voldemort having a pet cat he called Fluffy. Draco seemed to have the same train of thought because the moment Harry said it Draco turned to him slowly and...well...if looks could kill Harry would most definitely be dead, and it would have been a painful death at that!

"Pen Friend? HA so the old meanie DOES have friends!"

"Shut it Weasley, my Dad set it up if you must know"

Ron pulled a face and turned to Alex

"You DO know his Dads a Death Eater and he is most probably one as well?"

Alex frowned in confusion and turned to Draco

"But I thought you said you were a sp- OW!!" Draco kicked him hard in the shins to shut him up and Harry decided a good distraction was needed.

"RON!" Harry yelled "Don't make accusations you cant prove!"

"Cant prove? Harry, have you been in LaLa land for the last 5 years?"

Hermione wanted to change the subject, she had heard this argument too many times in the last 5 years

"So what do your parents do?" she asked the Twins "How do they know the Malfoy's?"

Alex, Willow, Harry and Draco gulped. They hadn't discussed THAT. Trust Hermione to ask the one question hey weren't expecting.

Draco had dipped his finger in some Jam and had begun wiping his finger on the table

"Great time to start getting artistic Draco" Harry frowned "A little help wouldn't go amiss"

Then he looked more closely at what he had done. He had written letters upside down, in Jam. He was telling Alex what to say!

"Now if that's not clever I don't know what is" Harry thought to himself. He looked up at Alex who had also noticed what Draco was doing while Willow was stalling for time.

M I N

"Min? Min? What the hell is Min? God its hard to read upside down" Harry squinted at the jam smeared table.

M I N I S

"Minis? CAR SALESMAN? NO! Gah and I was beginning to think Draco was clever"

M I N I S T R Y

"Oh, ok then..."

"They both work for the Ministry" Alex stated "They never talk about which department, top secret, you know" He was proud of himself, he had got a quick explanation of what the Ministry was while they were in the Hospital wing and so knew enough to know what they did there was important and that a lot of it would be Top Secret.

"My Father worked closely with them once, they haven't really seen each other since but he said it would be a nice idea for me to keep in contact with Alex, you know, having the right connections and all..." Draco quickly wiped the Jam off the table using a napkin and began licking his fingers.

Harry watched as he slid his index finger into his mouth and sucked lightly, then took it back out and licked off the remainder of the Jam slowly, savoring the taste.

Hermione had begun to talk again, about the Ministry or something but Harry wasn't paying a blind bit of notice. His attention was on Draco's finger that was now resting lightly on his own lips and his tongue was licking the tip gently. The lingering taste of Strawberry jam kept his finger there, and he began to fiddle with his teeth and tongue with this lone finger as he listened intently to Hermione.

Harry began to lick his own lips, desperate for Draco's finger to be touching them instead of his own.

"Oh god, I'm done for. I am so completely Gay. And I'm lusting after Draco Malfoy and his FINGERS!"

Harry groaned and let his head drop to the table. Everyone looked at him and gave him a confused look

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked, concerned that he might feel ill or something

"Tired" came the muffled reply.

Hermione turned to Ron who shrugged.

"Anyway, me and Ron have to get to first lesson. Will we see you there Harry?"

Harry thought about what first lesson was.

"Transfiguration. Pants!"

"I uh, don't think so. We have to show these guys around the castle. I should be around later, I'll see you at lunch" he replied, not wanting to take Muggles into a lesson where they might be asked to show what THEY have been taught, when they have only been in a wizarding school for a total of...nearly 2 full hours. Not smart.

Ron and Hermione made to leave. They waved at Harry who waved back and watched them as they left the great hall together, sighing in relief.

"That was close" he said slumping over and dragging a hand through his hair.

"You really should keep your friends on a tighter leash Harry, you let them run round you in circles" Draco sniffed, finally getting to start on his long overdue breakfast.

Harry mumbled something which Draco just ignored and carried on speaking

"So, if we aren't going to lessons, what ARE we going to do?"

Harry didn't care. Harry had inner demons to conquer. Harry wanted peace and quiet. Harry wanted to throw Draco down on the floor of the Great Hall, right this very second and shag him senseless.

Harry just shrugged.

As it happened Dumbledore wanted to see them, yet again. So they ended up in his office with about half of the teaching staff, a few members of the Order and Minister of Magic.

All he really wanted was to make sure Alex and Willow were OK, that Harry and Draco hadn't started arguing and turned each other into things which were incapable of looking after people, and he therefore didn't have to find replacements, and to introduce the Muggles to the people which mattered the most.

Teaching Staff were told that if Harry and Draco were out of lessons then they had permission and were not to be punished, and that if the Muggles were in lessons with them they were to be kept together and were not to be asked to perform magic for obvious reasons.

The Order were told of the happenings at Malfoy Manor and were told to keep an eye out for any suspicious rumours about an old ruin disappearing for 10 minutes to be replaced by a castle. Any Muggle that got too close to the truth were to have their memory erased of such things to keep the whole story under wraps.

It turned out that the Minister was just being nosy and wasn't actually needed, but he explained that he liked to be kept informed to the fullest degree.

Finally Draco was told that his father had sent the letter requesting he be sent home and he was not to leave Hogwarts grounds under any circumstance now that Lucius wanted his son.

"What do you MEAN I cant leave?"

"Draco, you must understand, if you leave your father will be able to get at you and that is something I am not willing to let happen. For your safety as well as the Schools" Dumbledore explained

"So no Hogsmeade?"

"I'm afraid not"

The thing that really annoyed Draco was what Dumbledore said next.

"I also think it's a bad idea you sleep in the Slytherin Dorms. We do not know who is trustworthy and I think it best you sleep away from them where it would be easiest for them to get at you"

"WHAT?!"

Dumbledore ignored his outburst and continued

"That is why I have created a new dorm for you and Harry to share with Alex and Willow for the time being. Alex and Willow will have a separate part to yours but it will be in the same general place"

He smiled then, pleased with his little plan

"I have to share a dorm with...with...HIM?!"

"Hey!" Harry protested with a frown, surely he wasn't THAT bad!

That was mainly what the entire meeting consisted of and as Harry had promised he was able to join Hermione and Ron for lunch.

Second lesson was when Alex Willow Harry and an extremely pissed off Draco Malfoy were shown their new dorm. It was much better than the ordinary dorms but still Draco refused to speak to anyone. Alex and Willows was a bit smaller than Draco and Harry's but they were as happy as they could be.

"Do you think he blames us?" Alex whispered to Willow as they looked around

"Who?"

"Draco, for having to stay inside and having to share a dorm and stuff. I mean, if we hadn't have turned up none of this would have happened and he'd be free to go about as he pleased."

Willow didn't answer, she was wondering the same thing. Maybe he did blame them. Maybe Harry did too but wasn't showing it like Draco was. She couldn't bare the thought of stopping them from doing what they wanted all because she felt a little adventurous one day.

She decided to push the thought to the back of her mind however, surely if they did blame them Draco would have said. And after all, it wasn't exactly THEIR fault some evil guy decided to mess things up just when they so happened to be there. Was it?

"Draco say something"

"Draco..."

"Oh fine you great big ugly moron, I've taken the silent treatment off you for years now, I'm sure I can last a bit longer"

"I'm sorry what did you call me?"

They were at lunch. Ron and Hermione hadn't turned up yet but were due any minute.

"A great big ugly-"

"I HEARD you, I want you to take it back"

"No"

"Pardon?"

"I said no"

Draco made a growling noise in the back of his throat and glared at Harry, daring him not to take it back. Harry dared.

"Take it BACK!" Draco said pushing harry lightly on the shoulder

"No" Harry said pushing him back

"Yes Potter!"

"No Malfoy!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES!!!"

The pushing was becoming more violent but neither was taking this argument seriously, they never did anymore. Unfortunately some people from Slytherin had been watching and Blaise decided this pathetic pushing match just wasn't up to the usual Malfoy standard.

"Malfoy! PUNCH HIM!" he yelled across the hall. Everyone stopped to stare at the two boys who were laughing and playfully pushing each other, however they all took it as one of their usual fights and were ready to watch if it got out of hand.

"What now?" Draco whispered to Harry out of the corner of his mouth.

"Way to have a discreet friendship guys" Alex murmured from the other side of the table.

"Do it Draco" Harry whispered back

"What? No!"

"Just do it. They'll know if you don't!"

Draco was stuck. He didn't want to hurt Harry but it didn't seem like he had much choice. He made his decision, hopefully Harry would have sense to move out of the way.

So Draco sucked in a deep breath and swung.

Harry didn't move. Draco's clenched fist connected with the side of his face causing Harry to fly off his seat and Draco heard the faint gasp from Willow as he slumped to the floor.

"Woo shit" Draco thought "Why the fuck didn't he move? Stupid git!"

"Too...Hard..." Harry groaned from the floor as people began to murmur around the Great Hall.

Draco whimpered in apology and went to kneel beside him

"No, Ron- Hermione, up- Ron Angry" Harry winced as Draco shook his head, not understanding. That is till he was yanked upwards by his collar, choking as he was lifted from the floor and thrown across the floor.

"Hey Weasley! Keep your filthy ginger mitts off him!"

Blaise was now standing not too far away with a very angry looking Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

"He punched Harry, I saw him do it, and he isn't going to get away with it" Ron snarled snatching his wand from his robes.

"I'm SORRY!" Draco called from his position on the floor. If Harry hadnt have been so worried about his pounding head and bruising cheek at the time he would have probably fainted from shock. Draco appologised!

"No you're not Draco" Blaise said taking his own wand from his robes, getting ready to duel if he had to.

"Ron please" Hermione begged "He said sorry, isn't that enough? Leave it now? Look, Harry's getting up, he's OK. He's even helping Malfoy up."

"He's what?!" Ron swirled round to see Harry hauling Draco up from the floor, blood trickling from a gash on his face. He wiped it away quickly.

"Its OK Ron, I told him to hit me" Harry explained hoping this would shut Ron up but it just made him more angry.

"You TOLD him to hit you?" Ron glared for a minute before charging up to Draco and seizing him by the front of his robes.

"You slimy little-"

"RONALD WEASLEY, PUT HIM DOWN!" came Professor Mcgonagall's booming voice from the front of the hall. Ron just ignored her.

"Why is he standing up for you? What have you done to him?" Ron demanded, clutching Draco by his robes even tighter so he began to splutter

"I- no-"gasped Draco, needing air badly.

"Ron stop it you're choking him!" Hermione said trying to pull him off but he ignored her and carried on. Mcgonagall was now charging down towards them. Willow and Alex watched in fascination, who knew wizards were so vicious?

Alex decided this needed to stop, Draco was getting hurt and Harry was trying his hardest to get Ron to put him down but to no avail. He stood up and ran at Ron, as if he were playing rugby. He attempted to tackle him to the floor, hoping to knock his hands from around Draco's throat but just as he did this Ron put Draco down and Alex connected with Draco instead of Ron.

Draco went flying once again and Alex landed on top of him, winding him. Not that he had much air in his lungs now anyway.

"Hey! You little creep!" Crabbe yelled, he wouldn't stand for that! No way! He lumbered towards Alex who whimpered in fright and began shuffling in the opposite direction but he was too slow. Crabbe picked him up easily, and was about to hurt him when Harry produced his wand and shoved it into Crabbes' temple.

"You hurt him, you die" Harry hissed and Crabbe instantly froze. He may be stupid, but he knew when he was in danger.

Blaise and Goyle both retaliated by pointing their wands at Harry, which made Ron point HIS wand at Blaise and Hermione had hers on Goyle.

Stalemate.

Everything in the great hall seemed to freeze apart from this one scene, even Mcgonagall had refrained from intervening because this was a very dangerous situation, and everyone knew it.

Draco stood, taking in the situation that was in front of him.

"What to do? What to do?"

"Why isn't your little French friend helping you out Potter?" Blaise sneered "Too much of a wimp I guess"

"I am NOT a wimp" Willow exclaimed standing from her half hidden position behind the table. "Put my brother down and we can all go back to our lunch"

Crabbe snorted

"You think I'm going to just let him go do you? Look what he's done to my arm!"

"You bloody better" Harry replied

"I'll tell you what Potter" Blaise grinned, lowering his wand "Crabbe will put him down only if he agrees to a duel, one on one. I'm sure he can handle it, and Crabbe does SO want his go at killing the French kid"

"I...I er- don't think so Zabini" Harry stuttered, this was bad. Very, very bad.

"If you don't agree Potter you know what'll happen. We all hex each other into oblivion, and I know for a fact you would want to avoid that now wouldn't you?"

"Stop it Blaise" Draco sighed "Crabbe put him down"

"But-"

"PUT HIM DOWN VINCE!" Draco ordered. When Draco ordered them to do something, they did it! No questions asked.

Alex was returned to solid earth, and all wands were lowered or put away. The great hall seemed to collectively sigh in relief.

But no one counted on what happened next. Blaise had never considered himself to be one of Draco's cronies, and so therefore didn't follow his orders. None of them. Which is why, the moment everyone had relaxed his wand was raised and he was sending a curse at Alex.

Alex had his back turned and only spun round just in time to see Harry dive in the way and hear him mutter a short incantation. Harry had sent his own curse to block the one sent at them by Blaise and they met in mid air, flashing as they connected and then disappearing from view.

The occupants of the great hall gasped as this happened, not sure whether to feel relieved or scared.

"Why isn't he fighting Potter?" Blaise demanded, curious as to why neither Alex or Willow had produced wands the entire time.

"You haven't given him a lot of opportunity"

"Don't lie, what's wrong with him? Where is your wand?" Blaise fired the last question at Alex who looked shocked, and he realized he had no idea what to say.

"He doesn't usually expect to have to defend himself during lunch" Hermione retorted, not realizing she had just saved them from one hell of an awkward situation.

Blaise narrowed his eyes at the two newcomers and thought for a moment. His eyes swept over their appearance and their shocked expressions, pale faces giving away not only fear but wonderment as well.

"Who are they?" he whispered finally "They aren't Wizards"

"Uh oh...not good, not good AT ALL" Draco quickly snapped into action

"Blaise shut UP!" Draco gave him a look, begging him not to speak any louder and to just let it go. "Not here"

Blaise was, however, extremely angry.

"They aren't Wizards" he said, louder this time so the crowd of students nearest to them could hear.

"They ARENT Wizards" he was shouting now, so nearly the whole great hall could hear him.

"THEY ARENT-"

"Lunch is now over, would all students like to make their way to their common rooms or their next lessons." Dumbledore had cast a silencing charm on Blaise, he couldn't have him blurting all over Hogwarts that there were Muggles running the corridors.

Everyone snapped their attention to Dumbledore as he spoke, and then there was a huge rustling as they all began to move out of the Great Hall.

Everyone except Blaise, Draco, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Alex, Willow, Crabbe and Goyle. There was some serious explaining to be done.

Blaise Crabbe and Goyle had their memory erased of any incident involving a wandless "Wizard" and the duel at lunch. It was too late however, the damage had been done. Rumours flew all over the school, people whispering and passing notes about Muggles at Hogwarts, non magical folk and even aliens.

This last one made Draco snort in disgust.

"How stupid ARE these people?"

Harry and Draco tried their best to keep the rumours at bay, telling anyone they heard discussing it that they were Wizards from France and they just hadn't had their wands with them that day. Ron and Hermione were harder to discourage.

"They are Muggles aren't they Harry?" Hermione sighed one night in the common room

"That's why you have to look after them, why you haven't been around lately. Its Him isn't it?"

"No Mione really, they ARE Wizards"

"Don't LIE to us Harry! You haven't been training at all have you? You've been working with Dumbledore" Ron added, beginning to go red in the face

Harry sighed, they knew. It was too late. He may as well tell them, they wouldn't tell anyone, he could ALWAYS trust them.

"OK, so they're Muggles" he shrugged

There was silence while they processed the new information, minds obviously wandering to the same places Harry's had when he first worked out who they were.

The same questions playing in their heads "Why? How? What Now? What's going to happen?"

"And I HAVE been training Ron" Harry continued "That wasn't a lie"

They talked about it for a long time before everything was clear to them, what had happened, and how. No one knew what the Order were doing about it, no one cared as long as Hogwarts was safe and STAYED safe. Harry explained that Draco was needed at home, that they couldn't do the spell without him, but he lied and told them he didn't know why and that all he knew was he wasn't leaving and needed protecting from anyone untrustworthy. For the schools sake, he had said.

And his own"

Willow and Alex lay on their beds, looking up at the enchanted ceiling, thinking about the days events.

They were nearly caught. Nearly found. In effect there was still a strong chance they could be.

"If I hadn't tried to be so heroic" Alex sighed to himself, scolding himself for his lack of thought and stupid actions at Lunch "No one would have noticed our presence, no one would have questioned us"

Willows thoughts were matching that of Alex's

"If I'd have just said I was a wimp, if I'd have just stayed hidden" she was shaking herself for her stupid pride and her eagerness to look good, brave, unaffected.

Both of them were thinking the same:

"We're causing too much trouble. Someone is going to get hurt"

"We cant stay here" Willow sniffed, sad that they were causing so much trouble and that there was nothing they could do "But we cant leave either"

"Maybe there IS something we can do"

Draco was in the Library, not doing much but staring at a book about Potions, eyes skimming the words but not really reading them. He was thinking about other things, including Harry.

"Stupid sodding Harry, why does he have to look so hot when he's angry"

Draco decided to head back to his room, check on Alex and Willow and then go to bed. He wasn't get any work done because of Harry and thought it would be a nice idea to come up with reasons why Harry was annoying on the walk back.

Reason 1. He has annoying Friends

Reason 2. He walks funny, kinda lopsided, like he's drunk...

Thinks

Reason 3. He's an alcoholic and I'm the only person smart enough to figure it out. Drunk 24/7 I tell you.

Reason 4. He never brushes his hair. Its always just sitting there on top of his head like...like...a nest for wild animals "I wonder what it feels like, I bet its actually really soft. Like silk. I could run my hand though... no, wait, back to the list"

Reason 5. He's always staring at me, or glaring "Then I suppose you could say that's my fault. I cant control my prettiness, it just happens. And as for the glaring well...I guess I deserve a lot of that. To be honest I don't actually mind, I can glare back and I get to look at his eyes, sooo pretty...Huh? No! Guh! LIST!!"

Reason 6. He always has to save the day... "He's so good at it though. So heroic sigh Wait...oh I give up! I am SO amazingly gay! Stick a wig on me and call me Repunzel...hey...that's not such a bad idea..."

"And yes...I do read muggle fairy tales, anyone have a problem?" Draco was so caught up in his list he hadnt realised he'd said that last little bit out loud. A few passing second years gave him funny looks as they skuttled past him, wondering what the hell he had taken.

Draco gave up on the list. That was still causing him to think about Harry. He reached the door and gave the password, he relaxed slightly...sleep was always good.

He dumped his stuff on his bed and went through to check on the Twins before going to bed himself.

He had to admit, he felt lonely here at night. Harry decided to leave it a few days before moving in, which he knew was sensible but he couldn't help missing his presence. Mainly because it was so quiet, no one else moving around on the other side of the room, no snoring, nothing. Just silence.

Draco knocked on their door and peered round into their room.

It was dark. Their window lay open and the moon cast its light into the room, making one spot on the floor glow brightly.

"Hey, you guys asleep?" he whispered into the darkness, and he took the silence as a yes. He turned to leave but something caught his eye.

The moon was also making the window show up clearly in the dark, and he saw something odd. There was something hanging out of the window. He glanced back at the beds which were unclear in the shadow, and moving forwards, he ripped back the covers and found the beds both empty.

He threw back the curtains that were blowing in the wind and looked down out of the window to the ground.

"Shit" he cursed to himself. A sheet was knotted and thrown out the window and it trailed to the ground, footsteps led away from the castle and into the distance.

They'd run away.

Draco lurched away from the window, sprinting up to Gryffindor Tower. He had to find Harry.

Harry was amazed to see Draco come falling through the portrait hole after a few scared looking first years. He was deathly pale and out of breath, struggling to pull himself upright to face a whole room of glaring Gryffindors.

"They've- They've gone" he panted, clutching to the wall for support "They've just...GONE!"

"Draco what are you talking-"

"ALEX AND WILLOW! THEY'VE GONE!"

"Gone? What do you mean gone? They cant have just-"

"They've run away Harry, what do I have to do to get it into your thick skull?"

Harry threw his book that he'd been reading forcefully at the sofa and bounded out of the door as fast as he could, Draco following closely behind him.

Ron and Hermione were left to stare after them, the rest of the common room going back to whatever they had been doing.

"Malfoy called him Harry" Ron said blankly, missing the point entirely a the pair raced to find Dumbledore, to save the twins and to save Hogwarts.

Hmmm, its Friday again I know...I like Fridays tho. So maybe I'll update every Friday now instead. Who knows? Plus i got paid today so im particularly happy.

Nehoo, PLEASE tell me what you thought...I'm distinctly missing reviews! Come on....as a birthday present for me! LOTS of reviews for my 17th! Its on Friday so lots of reviews would be a nice thing to find in my inbox! Did I spell Baubaxtons right? i dont think i did....bah...someone help!

Next Chapter: The Order get involved, Harry and Draco continue to train, a little of what Demongirl12000 has been waiting for, Draco gets in a bit of a stress, a accidental midnight meeting which leads to some fun in a darkened cupboard....but for who?

We follow Snape to a death Eater meeting and get an insight to the workings of the Big Bad Fella himself.

Ta peoples, laterz xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx