Chapter Four: T is for Trusting Regret

Harry sat down cheerfully on a wooden stool as he waited for Draco to join him.

"Go on ahead, Potter. I need to wash up."

Hearing the sound of water running once again, Harry shrugged and entered the kitchen, only to remember that Draco did not have any food.

"Perhaps I should find Dobby," Harry considered out loud as he waited patiently for Draco to finish showering. As time passed, Harry tapped his fingers against the kitchen counter impatiently as Draco concluded his shower.

"Do you always take that long?" Harry questioned crossly as Draco walked out of his bedroom with a fresh pair of clothes.

"What's it to you, Potter?" Draco snapped irritably before sighing and answering, "Yes."

Harry eyed him with the surprise at this sudden change of attitude but chose to not bring it up. "So, um, what's on the menu for breakfast?"

Draco clapped his hands three times, and steaming plates of breakfast appeared on the dining table. "Shall we?"

Harry nodded enthusiastically as he plopped onto his seat and began shoveling his meal down his throat. Draco gave a look of disgust before unfolding and neatly placing a napkin on his lap, taking his knife and slowly buttering his toast.

Harry finished very quickly, going to pack his school supplies. And a scarf, incase I need to wrap my head like Lord Voldemort, Harry considered. Sometimes Malfoy just can't be trusted

Harry stuffed his contrasting red and gold scarf in his dragon hide cloak before scurrying out of the Slytherin common room. He walked a few feet in front of Draco so as not to cause attention to them, but he had worn a large wooly hat that he had pulled so that it covered his forehead and eyebrows, lest anyone notice the missing scar in his female version.

"Why are you walking so fast, Potter?" Draco asked, a smirk forming on the corner of his lips.

"Shhhhhhhh!" Harry hushed him as he pulled his hat down farther.

"At this rate, you're going to pass the limit," Draco pointed out.

"But I'm prepared," Harry replied, his voice muffled by the thick scarf that he was currently wrapping around his neck.

"You look like an abominable snowman, Potter. In horrid Gryffindor colors. Blood and urine."

Harry mumbled something, but it went un-deciphered under the scarf.

"Seriously Potter, anymore secret cover and you won't be so secretive when you bump into a suit of armor and go clanging down the stairs. Well, there we go," Draco said, rolling his eyes as Harry stumbled into a metal knight, causing a huge ruckus and many pairs of eyes to turn his way.

"Oops, my bad," Harry muttered as he tried to place the knight back together. Draco glimpsed Mrs. Norris around the corner and harshly whispered, "Potter, get up! Get up!"

Harry too noticed the prowling cat and hurriedly stood up, bounding up the stairs in the opposite direction of the approaching feline. "Come on Potter, stop lagging!" Malfoy hissed.

Harry was going to throw a remark back at him, but his foot stepped on the length of his scarf, causing him to slip and roll down the stairs. "Augh!"

Harry's muffled scream caught Draco's attention as he whirled around. Oh Merlin, Mrs. Norris is going to be squished as flat as a pancake by an oncoming Harry! Draco thought worriedly as he grasped the situation at hand. Save Harry or let the blasted cat get what she deserves, save Harry or…oh hell…

Because of the urgency of the problem, Draco's mind went blank. Damn, which spell was the deceleration spell? I'm usual not a nervous wreck when it comes to pressure. Ack, think Draco, think!

Perhaps you're a nervous wreck for other reasons.

Draco paused for a moment to contemplate what his conscience had just mentioned when he heard Harry yelling. Harry was nearing Mrs. Norris, and only one spell had popped into Draco's head. Here we go, Draco thought as he shouted, "Accio cat!"

Seconds before Harry had rolled over the spot where Mrs. Norris should have been, the cat flew through the air, landing awkwardly in Draco's outstretched arms. "Ow, you damned cat, I just saved your life and you scratch me to pieces? You ungrateful piece of scum," Draco seethed as Mrs. Norris immediately scrambled her way out of Draco's arms and continued her haughty surveillance of student conduct as in nothing of the sort had just occurred. Draco heard a huge crash as Harry bumped into another suit of armor, which on the pro side stopped his slide ride, but on the con side had caused another commotion.

Draco rushed over and grudgingly offered his hand as to pull Harry up.

"Thanks," Harry murmured as the scarf loosened around his neck and the woolly hat fell off.

"Mrm," Draco responded, hastily wiping his hands on his black school robes. "Be more careful next time Potter. Wouldn't want you dying by falling, no rolling, down the stairs, now would we?"

Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco's smirk and spat, "Like hell anyone cares, especially you Malfoy." Draco's smirk visibly disappeared.

He marched off down the halfway towards their first class, the hat and scarf securely in their original position. Draco shook his head and sighed, following behind the moody teenager.

"Take your seats Mr. Malfoy, Potter," Professor Snape shouted as he walked to the front of the classroom. "Come late again and twenty points of off Gryffindor. I'm being lenient this time because Mr. Malfoy was accompanying you," he reminded Harry.

"Yes sir," Harry muttered as the Gryffindors began protesting against the unfairness.

"Trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, Potter? I must say, you aren't doing very well, now are you?" Professor Snape noticed, eyeing the scarf and hat.

"Yes Professor sir, I'm so popular that I'm trying to disguise myself," Harry retorted sarcastically.

"Which explains making Mr. Malfoy here your bodyguard," Professor Snape added, the Slytherin side of the room bursting into laughter, along with some chuckles from the Gryffindors. Professor Snape raised a questioning eyebrow at Draco who stared straight at the blackboard blankly.

"Settle down students. We have not yet finished the Generis Cambiare Potion. I trust none of you has been foolish enough to even research the non-altered form, is my assumption correct?"

Harry glanced at Draco, but Draco did not show any sign of guilt on his face.

"Go on, we haven't got all day. Open your books back up to page 326 and continue from where you started."

Harry trudged over to where Draco was sitting and looked up at him.

"So, shall we?"

The two of them walked side by side to the ingredients cabinet and gathered the items needed for the rest of the concoction. Time flew by as they completed the directions in silence, sometimes sneaking furtive looks at each other.

"Uh, Malfoy…" Harry started.

Draco looked up at him.

"Well, I have Quidditch practice tonight, and I was wondering if you were going to come."

"Do I have a choice?"

"I guess not," Harry replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. Actually, Malfoy could just not go at all.

I could just not go and let him suffer, Draco thought, but he shook his head slightly. "Here, why don't you just give me your Invisibility Cloak, and I'll follow you on my own broom. Hopefully, I won't crash into any of your teammates," Draco suggested, a evil smile creeping onto his face.

"You better not, or else…" Harry threatened.

"Of course not you arse, I wouldn't risk it," Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"Okay, that's settled," Harry said cheerfully. He finished stirring in the last ingredient before wiping his hands on his robes and announcing, "Done." Harry carefully poured and sealed the solution into the glass bottle that Professor Snape had provided them with.

Instantly, Professor Snape was behind them. "Now, to authenticate the creation of your potion, one of you will be tasting it. Potter, why-"

"I'll do it, Professor," Draco interjected, grabbing the bottle, opening it, and chugging the contents down before either of them could say or do anything to stop him. I owe the git a favor, so, here goes! Draco felt an odd sensation in his stomach before the feeling disappeared. Potter was right, it does have a weird aftertaste, Draco considered.

"Ooh, you're a sexy one Draco," Pansy purred, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"Ugh, Pansy, you act the same to me even after undergoing a sex change," Draco responded, completely disgusted as he removed Pansy's flabby arms from around his shoulders.

"Doesn't matter to me because you'll change back," Pansy crooned.

"No, I won't," Draco lamely lied, unnerved by Pansy's disturbing closeness.

"Oh, doesn't matter. I'll adapt," Pansy remarked, nuzzling his neck as Draco made a face.

"Miss Parkinson, anymore of this student harassment, and you will be facing consequences. Things like this belong outside of classrooms," Professor Snape barked harshly, giving Draco a look that clearly said "if-you-had-made-Potter-drink-the-fucking-potion-you-could-have-avoided-this." Draco, in return, gave a look that simple replied "too-late."

Pansy growled but backed away, winking to Harry before walking away.

"Have fun," she whispered seductively.

Harry gave her a weird look before turning to observe the temporary female Draco.

"Parkinson was right, it's quite fetching," Harry mused.

Draco groaned. "Oh no, don't you be ogling me too."

"Who said I was?"

"It was implied."

"No, it wasn't."

Yes it was.

"No, it wasn't!" Harry shouted.

"I hadn't said anything," Draco said, raising an eyebrow. "But now that I think about it, I must say Potter, I do have the assets. Sadly, I'd have to say you have impeccable taste."

Harry blushed and muttered something under his breath.

"Didn't quite catch that."

Harry blushed again and began cleaning up the empty potion containers. Trying to gather all of them at once, some of the bottles began slipping.

"Here, let me help you," Draco offered congenially, brushing the back of Harry's hand while attempting to catch a bottle. Feeling a small shock at the contact surprised him, and Harry and Draco locked eyes, a unique feeling coursing through both of them When eyes fell into eyes, it was if two opposite spirits crashed, molding into one. The bottle crashing to the floor brought them back to reality as Professor Snape immediately strode over to them.

"What is the meaning of this racket?" He spied the broken bottle.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for ruining classroom supplies," Professor Snape reprimanded, repairing the bottle in a second and turning to observe another group.

"Now that was uncalled for," Harry sighed, placing the bottles as gently as he could on the table. He rested his head on his arms, which were laid on the table. I could have fixed it just as simply.

Draco sat down beside him, and the two of them waited for the potion of rub off, and for the class to end.

"You know, hanging around with you, Malfoy, really has its consequences," Harry commented.

"True, for it seems to make people notice how unworthy they are."

"Arrogant jerk."

"Trustful bigot."

"Is that supposed to mean something?"

"You trust in people too much."

"That's a bad thing, then?"

"Of course. What reason do you have to trust in someone?"

"If they're your friends or family."

"So, how are the Weasel and Mudblood?"

"Don't call them that."

"Not like they'd give a damn. They don't seem to give a damn about you either."

Harry abruptly stood up and glared at Draco. "Say that again," he challenged.

Ooh, the fire's kicked back into gear, Draco noticed, and he smirked. "I said, they don't seem to give a damn about you either."

Harry fists clenched as he tried to restrain his anger. "How…true..." You wouldn't understand…Harry dejectedly sat back down. Silence surrounded the two.

Wow, I wasn't expecting that, Draco thought, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"And now they desert me for…you…" Harry's face contorted as he recalled what he said.

"Oh, thanks," Draco muttered offhandedly.

It shouldn't matter to me anyways.

Ha, that's what you think.

It doesn't matter to me at all…

Draco felt the nausea returning, and Harry watched him transform back into the genuine Draco Malfoy.

"Feels good to be normal, doesn't it Malfoy? But some of us are restrained to do so."

"I know, Potter," Draco growled. "You don't have to remind me."

"Oh, I don't?"

Draco didn't reply.