Something for us

December 25th 2004

Upon waking from his slumber the events of the previous evening came rushing back to him and for some reason making Harry reluctant to get up.

When he eventually dragged himself down to Gryffindor common room he was somewhat disappointed to discover that not a single present had been sent to him by his friends, they had completely forgotten him.

Trying desperately hard not to care he dressed and decided he wasn't hungry and he had nothing else better to do he would go to the room that Dumbledore had assigned to him for training and do just that. The room included a large mat covered area to prevent injury, a punch bag and a various assortment of weapons that Harry had to be sufficiently trained in.

Harry trudged down the festively decorated hallway, the tinsel and cheerily singing coats of armour only made him feel more depressed.

At one point Professor Magonigal past him, a huge grin on her face as she wished him a happy Christmas, Harry did not reply except for muttering a soft 'bah humbug' under his breath.

The room in which Harry was headed towards was concealed behind a portrait on the sixth floor, it portrayed the four founders and the sorting hat. Harry spoke the password 'stand united' and entered, the room was cold, empty and uninviting but Harry shut the portrait hall all the same and lit a fire within. The heat quickly spread and warmed the room to an habitable standard.

Harry stripped himself of shoes, socks and jumper, doing a few stretches so not to pull a muscle. He then set into the punch bag showing it no mercy.

After two hours of continuous training Harry stopped leaning breathlessly on the cold stone wall taking small sips from a bottle of water. As the time slowly past his breathing returned to normal. He was about to charm a sword to attack him so he could get some sword practice in when their was a small knock on the portrait hole before it swung open.

Harry ignored the person who now entered not even caring to take notice of who it was. The person watched as a plain silver sword swung itself around and began to attack Harry of it's own accord. Harry who was brandishing Godric Gryffindor's sword defended himself quite skilfully, though not meaning to show off in the slightest.

After about fifteen minutes a voice that Harry recognised ended the spell with a swish of his wand, much to the annoyance of Harry. He turned menacingly towards the person standing not two feet from him only to find it was the one person he really didn't want to see, Draco Malfoy and he was smirking.

"Never, and I mean never interrupt me again." He scowled still clenching his sword tightly in his hand as if he were ready to attack at any moment.

"And here I was going to offer you a compliment Potter."

"What do you want?"

Harry turned his back on Draco placing the swords back on the wall with the others before grabbing his jumper and pulling it on along with his shoes and socks.

"Dumbledore sent me to get you, lunch is going to be served in" Draco checked his watch "in ten minutes, for some reason he wants you present."

"Why did he send you?"

"No idea, maybe so you could show off, something you've already done, or perhaps it is to encourage us to be more civil to one another."

"Great." Harry muttered to himself, then deciding he needed a shower before he presented himself to the public he headed toward the exit completely ignoring the smirking Slytherin. However it seemed that Draco wasn't going to leave Harry be just yet. In fact he followed Harry all the way up to the portrait of the fat lady on the seventh floor.

"Why are you following me?"

"I was asked to escort you down to the great hall."

Harry sighed in an exasperated tone. "Fine, now wait here unless you have to 'escort' me to the shower as well." Harry opened the portrait hole and had stepped inside before he realised that Draco actually was following him inside. "What are you doing?"

"Escorting you to the shower."

"What, no, wait here." Harry said shutting the portrait shut behind him before Draco could come in and harass him further.

He stripped off and turned the water on to a decent temperature before stepping in. By the time he got out and wrapped a towel around his waist he felt a lot more relaxed than he had done a few minutes before hand.

Harry grabbed his clothes and hurriedly started pulling them on as he was already running a little late, assuming that Draco would still be outside he went down into the common room in his boxers as he was attempting to pull on his trousers.

The sight that met his eyes made him pull up his trousers in record time, Draco was lounging on one of the scarlet sofas his feet propped up on the coffee table. Doing up his trouser button he pulled on his shirt and set about doing that up also.

"About time." He said, his eyes sweeping over Harry's exposed flesh before it was covered

"I thought I told you to wait outside."

"Got bored." Draco shrugged getting up as Harry finished pulling on a pair of shoes. "Are you coming or not?"

"Whatever

They went down in complete silence, neither had anything to say to the other. What were two enemies supposed to say to each other apart from discuss the grim topic of the war that loomed ever closer, the same war in which they would fight, side by side in.

The Professors and the handful of other students were awaiting their arrival so the Christmas lunch could begin. Harry sat opposite Dumbledore and Draco took the only other vacant seat in-between Pansy and Harry.

No one tried to engage Harry in any conversation throughout the whole meal, as the desert plates cleared Dumbledore quietly requested Harry's company on a short walk after dinner.

Reluctantly so Harry agreed, his thoughts were only on all the valuable training time he would be missing while he was keeping the headmaster company.

Harry watched as Dumbledore took off his cracker hat and stood up to excuse himself, Harry did the same and the two of them left the great hall in silence watched closely by Draco. Pansy, Blaise and Millicent all noticed this and looked at him pityingly before all excusing themselves.

Enjoy and review. SS xxx