AFTER CLASS...

Everyone was happy to get a coon. It was like having a pet of their own. Harry though was still stuck on the fact that Malfoy had said it was cute. He split off from Hermione and Ron. He had a different class this period than them. But he'd see them next period in Potions.

Draco didn't have a class this period and he knew Snape didn't either. He figured he'd go talk to the dark haired man, since he had refused to hours before.

He walked into the Potions classroom but he didn't see Snape anywhere. Oh well, he'd just wait. Snape didn't leave his classroom for very long anyways. And he was right. Within a few minutes Snape walked briskly into the room, but halted when he saw Draco waiting by his desk.

"Is there something you need Mr. Malfoy?" asked Snape as he continued towards his desk.

"About last night..."

"Yes?"

"I wanted to know if..."

"If what Malfoy...spit it out."

"Have you noticed that Potter's been acting strange lately?"

"Actually you and Potter have both been acting odd lately. But before I talk about Potter I want to know what's wrong with you?"

Draco hadn't been expecting that. He stood there momentarily stunned.

"I'm just tired of being told what to do. I'm tired of being exactly like my father. I want to be my own person, but I don't know how since I've grown up trying to be my father," said Draco finally.

"I expected this at some point in time," said Snape not surprised by Draco's answer one bit.

"I had a feeling you'd say something like that," said Draco.

"Anyway, how about you tell me why it is that you don't want to be like your father," said Snape as he sat on the corner of his desk.

"I...I'm tired of being treated like something that I don't think I am," said Draco, "But I'm afraid that if I change how I act towards people then...then they'll reject me more than they already do."

"That tends to happen Draco, so I don't know what to tell you," said Snape looking at the blond.

"Well then could we talk about Potter?" asked Draco, "I know he's been acting odd as well."

"Yes, we can talk about him. But I'll tell you right now he's acting differently because of totally different reasons," said Snape.

"I know."

"How?"

"Well I wasn't just going to run off after he saved my life last night. We did talk, if only for awhile."

"About?"

"Stuff. Like why we were both outside at that time of night. Why we went outside at that time of night. Things like that."

"And what did he tell you?"

"That he goes outside to think about the future. Because he worries about it. He says if the Dark Lord were to attack he wouldn't want any one to be killed because he would feel like it was his fault, that even though he didn't kill them, he would feel responsible for their deaths," said Draco.

"I had a feeling that's what was wrong with it. I'm glad you confirmed my suspicions," said Snape.

Draco looked at the clock. He knew Snape had work to do and he should probably go check on his coon before Potions started.

"I need to go," said Draco, "Could we talk later?"

"You can talk to me anytime Draco, you know that," said Snape.

Draco nodded and walked out of the room.

"Now," said Snape, "To find Potter."

Harry skipped his second period. He didn't normally do that, but he didn't feel like learning today for some reason. He sank farther down into the chair in the library and looked up at the ceiling. But instead of the ceiling filling his vision, Professor Snape did.

Harry jumped about five feet, heart racing. He definantly hadn't been expecting that to happen.

"Skipping class Potter? Tsk, tsk. Ten points from Gryffindor," said Snape as he sat down in the chair across from Harry.

Harry had to keep from strangling Snape, he didn't want to go to Azkaban young. Actually he didn't want to go there at all.

"I just had a nice little chat with Mr. Malfoy about last night. Want to talk about it?" asked Snape.

Did he just ask me if I wanted to talk to him? I wonder just what exactly Malfoy told him about last night?

"I went outside to think and yes I know that's breaking the rules. So if you need to take points go right ahead," started Harry, "But trust me I wasn't expecting to run into Malfoy."

"I'm not taking points only because Mr. Malfoy claims you saved his life. Is that true?"

"Yes, but why he was out there I don't know. Is something wrong with him?"

"We'll talk about him momentarily, right now I want to discuss you."

"That was obvious Professor," said Harry, "But I don't know what there is about me that we should talk about."

"Potter...you're depressed. That's a given, but there's something else. Something's bugging you and as much as I would rather not help you with whatever the problem is I need to. Whatever is going on in your life needs to be fixed."

"I can't sleep. No matter what I do... whether I take a dreamless sleep potion or use the occlumency technique Voldemort still gets into my mind. He never finds anything out. But...it's getting to the point where I don't sleep at all and it's exhausting. It's taking a toll on my body, my mind. It's interfering with my school work and my concentration during class. I just don't know what to do any more. I've even discussed it with Dumbledore and he didn't even know what to do."

"Potter how long has this been going on for?"

"I don't know. I've lost track of how long it's been happening."

"I think I have something that'll help. Come with me," said Snape beckoning Harry to follow.