(Ok … but I have no idea what a beta is, so if some one would e-mail me at and told me what it is, it would be many thanks. And sorry it took so long to get out, I have no excuse. I am just a bad little girl.)

Chapter 5: how about a game of chess?

'Your cheating, Potter!'

'What, no I'm not.'

'You have to be, no one beats me at chess.' It was true Draco was a very accomplished chess player. 'I can't believe you would stoop to as low as cheating Potter, I thought you were a fair player. I am very disappointed in you.'

The boys had been playing chess the last hour. Since Snape hadn't checked on them and the work was finished they saw no harm in playing the game. Malfoy had just lost to Potter, to his great surprise. But the point was that the enemies where finding different ways to show rivalry.

It was a shock to think that Potter could be as good as Malfoy in chess. Chess is a game of strategy and lots of thought. Not very many people have the natural talent to play and even fewer people go on to develop that skill. Potter it seems had talents in everything he did and that bothered Malfoy to the core.

'Who taught you how to play anyway Potter?'

'Ron. If you think I'm good, you should play him. He is the best player I know.' what a game that would be, a Weasley and a Malfoy at a game of chess, I know I would pay to see that.

'You must not know very many people. 'Said Draco off casually. 'You know Potter its not that your good, it's just that your strategy took me off guard, that's all.' stated Malfoy putting the pieces back for another game.

'Is that so? And how is my strategy, if you don't mind me asking? Tell me from the great mind of Draco Malfoy.' he said sarcastically.

'Fine I will. You, Potter, unlike normal people, drive right into the battle field without thinking. Now this way can be both good and bad. While this method may give you a surprised head start, you always take casualties. See like here,' Malfoy said pointing to the bored, 'you lost your queen to my pawn. If you were to think out your moves before you do them, you wouldn't lose so many.'

'O.k. Malfoy I get it you can stop.' this was the exact thing Potter didn't want to hear. Every one told him he had to think before he acted, in everything. His unwillingness to listen to reason is what killed his godfather, or at least that what he told himself everyday.

The sting of loosing Sirius was still weighting down on his heart. He still had the dreams of watching his godfather falling through the veil night after night. One of his greatest fears was that his stupidity would end up getting him killed. Or more importantly one of his friends.

'Wait I'm not finished. Another bad thing is that the next time we play this game, I'm not going to be tricked by you being head strong and running into battle.'

'Shut up and play, Malfoy I don't care anymore how I play.' Oh, did Malfoy strike a nerve with the Golden Boy. Well, one day he would have to dig further into this little sore spot of Potter's. But at the moment their 'friendship' was to new to be compromised. Malfoy had a plan for the sweet spot Potter had for his head strong battle tactics.

'Okay, Potter. So are you going to tell me what happen to make you so SAD?' asked Malfoy for the tenth time. It wasn't that he wanted to know what made Potter so upset, no it was that he wanted to see if he would tell him. Malfoy didn't believe that curiosity really killed the cat.

He had to admit he was starting to have a little crush on the dark haired boy. Yeah the boy had clothes that were too big for him and could act really stupid at times but his black messy hair was really sexy and his emerald green eyes where so enchanting. And he was funny. It was never boring with Potter. He could say as much for Crabbe and Goyle, his bodyguards. Between the two of them they had a brain the size of a peanut.

Harry flashed him with an award winning smile. 'Ok, Malfoy what do you want to know?' What, was Potter going to tell Malfoy what he wants to know?

Malfoy smirked and eyed the sexy brunette. 'What are your Muggles like?'

Potter laughed what of all things he could ask he asked what his Aunt and Uncle were like. Where should he start? 'Why do you want to know that?' asked Potter still laughing in Malfoy's face.

Malfoy felt embarrassed but he didn't show it. How was he supposed to know what Muggles where like, he's never talked to one, much less meet one? 'Because, I don't know what they are like, and you seem to hate yours. I just wanted to know, but I don't what to hear it if all you're going to do is laugh at me.'

'No, no I'll tell you Malfoy. What do you want to know about them? What they eat? How they fight? Or maybe how the mail post works?' Potter listed questions once asked be Mr. Weasley. If he could talk to Mr. Weasley about muggle things, why couldn't he talk to Malfoy about them? Perhaps enlightening the other boy would change his mind about them all together.

Draco shook his head, 'No, I want to know what they did to you.' if Malfoy could get this out of Potter he could get anything out of him.

'Well, they have done a lot of things to me, but one thing that I hate is that they never told me I was a wizard.' Potter said seriously.

'Ha, yeah right I don't believe that. The Famous Harry Potter, the Boy Who Live didn't know he was a wizard, I don't believe that.' Malfoy always thought that the Boy Who Live would live a life with love, fun and games all mixed into one.

'You asked Malfoy, I just told the truth.' stated Potter, moving his knight to capture one of Draco's pawns. What more was there to say, shit happen to him and if Malfoy was too stupid to believe the truth when he heard it that was his problem. In fact he felt a little pissed that Malfoy didn't believe him, like he would lie about something like that. But when he considered who he was talking to, the anger quickly subsided. Of course Malfoy didn't believe him, it was Malfoy. He was starting to forget that.

'Ask you no questions and you'll tell no lies, it that it?' Potter nodded in agreement. Just than Snape found it to be just the right time to check on them. He opened the door so that it slammed into the wall behind it., knocking down some of the items of the wall.

'What do you two think your doing just sitting there doing nothing?' he asked sneering at Harry, as if it were his idea. Then he saw the chess board between them. Now that was his ideas. 'I see that Mr. Malfoy is teaching you the proper way to conduct battle, Mr. Potter. I hope your learning something, for once in you life.'

'Yes, sir.' Potter replied standing up from the floor and bringing himself up to his full height. Almost in a way to challenge the Professor. Malfoy sensed the hostility right away and found it very entertaining. 'But I'm the one that is teaching Malfoy about running into battle. I'm the one that won.'

Professor Snape looked to Draco for a conformation. Malfoy nodded in replay. Snape turned back to Potter and scowled. 'You may leave now Mr. Malfoy. I want to have a word with Potter here, alone.'

Malfoy gathered his things and went out the door. But he didn't go back to his common room even though it was well after curfew. No, he waited just outside the door, waiting for Potter. What was he going to say to Potter? What was the reason he stayed. Well, one he wanted to know what Snape would have to say to him that he wasn't aloud to hear. And the second, well he could tell him he wanted to say bye or something. Or he could tell him that he wanted to have really hot sex with him and that would be the end of that.