Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own the Harry Potter characters, I don't. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Pairings: Harry/Draco (seriously, if you cant deal then don't read), maybe Hermione/Ron?

Warnings: SLASH! Also, the rating will be high incase I decide to use some...very physical...contact! lol! Maybe not even very, but better safe then sorry right?

LustAintLove: I have had a few questions….guess I will do a review reply section at the end so, if you reviewed, there is thanks and reply at the bottom. Thanks! I kept adding onto this every chance I had so please excuse the hasty boringness! lol! R&R please.

Don't Touch

by: LustAintLove

Chapter 3

Harry's POV

I sat silently watching the food on my plate and sighed as the same thought crept its way through my head for the hundredth time. The same thing I guessed most of my 'audience' were thinking. Glancing up, I caught Ron watching me silently. His features were twisted in thought and, on seeing my gaze on him, he gave a faint smile. I didn't have the heart to return it. I felt idiotic, childish, and embarrassed. But I also felt fear. Fear at not understanding what was wrong with me. The feeling only grew worse as all my other companions took turns watching me. They looked to be on the edge of their seats, expecting me to freak out at any moment now.

"I don't know." Hermione jumped at the sound of my voice and looked at me questioningly. Following this act, Ron, Seamus, and a few other students turned their attention to me.

"What don't you know?" Hermione asked warmly. They weren't used to me talking without being addressed. The look she gave me was all to common. She pitied me. I hated that.

"Why," I answered, under the belief that they were all wondering why I had freaked about the ghost. "I don't know why." My voice cracked and I glanced away. It was shameful. For some reason, I could now remember them, the ghosts I mean. I remembered having held conversations with a few of them. I even recalled the day I believed Sirius would be able to come back. Believed he, himself, could become a ghost. 'Why did I freak?'

"Why what?" Hermione sounded as confused as ever. She probably believed I had finally lost my mind and was now some rambling idiot. I glanced back at her and frowned.

"Why…I got scared. Why I'm like this, Mione. I don't know why." my voice shook and I felt ready to burst into tears. Everything was confusing me.

"There's nothing wrong with you Harry. You just need time to pull yourself together. Everything is going to be better. Once the war is over, once you can rest, everything is going to be better." She wasn't sure though. I knew that. There was a far away look in her eyes and it seemed she was trying to convince herself first.

"She's right Harry. It's nothing. What happened out there was nothing. I still get shivers when I see a ghost. I mean, how the hell are you supposed to react when some dead guy comes flying at you unexpectedly." Seamus took Hermione's place in trying to comfort me. I hung my head and sighed.

"That's not all though." they didn't hear my reply and I went back to watching my food in its process of becoming cold and less desirable.


The first few days of classes went without much problem. Though, I paid no attention and had done only two of my five assignments, thanks to Hermione. But, in my opinion, I wasn't too far back, after all, the two assignments had been some rather long essays. Those few days didn't matter though because, today was Potions, and somehow, Ron and Hermione weren't placed in the class with me. That had brought forth a notable panic in not just me, but both Ron and Hermione. Hermione, of course, was not about to stand for this, and that's how the three of us found ourselves facing, whom I believed, the most horrifying man at Hogwarts. Snape.

I stood ready to run if anything should anger the bitter professor and waited for either Hermione or Ron to speak up.

"Well?" Snape snapped impatiently.

"Ron and I want to know why we are not in potions with Harry." Hermione said with a hint of anger in her voice. Snape scowled, looking utterly fearful, and narrowed his eyes at the bushy haired girl.

"You can't be serious. You waist my time so you can have your classes changed to match Mr. Potter's? Class is about to begin and you choose now, of all times, to speak with me on the topic." He was ready to send the three of us out of his classroom, but Hermione was already fuming.

"Yes Professor, I believe we have. Now, I did not come here to be criticized about my poor timing. I came to have this mistake fixed so that Harry won't be stuck in a class full of murderous Slytherines, a foul professor, and neither I nor Ron to help him. If you are so eager to get class started, I think it best to be a bit more reasonable and start with changing our schedules." Ron gasped and began to apologize for her rudeness. I on the other hand, was staring, wide eyed, at Hermione. Nothing she had said was like her. She would never speak to a professor like that. Obviously that wasn't true though.

"Quiet." Snape didn't take his eyes off Hermione. No one noticed the anxious look on my face as I began to find running out of the dungeons, a very intriguing idea. 'What is she thinking?' "I have found, Miss Granger, that loosing your self control in an attempt to get what you want, never ends in your favor. If you would, I believe you may be late for your next class, which is not Potions." he turned and made way for his desk.

"What?" Her shrill scream caused me to jump. "You can't do that. It was you who said Harry needed us. How is making him take Potions all alone going to help him? You don't possibly believe that we're just going to leave it at that do you?" I stepped back, the closer to the door, the safer.

"I thought you'd have learned not to raise you voice with me by now, but clearly you haven't. Twenty points from Gryffindor and one weeks detention with Filtch, Miss Granger." Ron managed to stop her from any further outburst by dragging her unwilling person out of the room.


"I could kill him. I could honestly strangle him. I could hex him till next year. I could…." Hermione paused for a breath and probably a lack of ideas and fell carelessly onto a bench not far from the dungeons. Her face was flushed and a look of pure hate traced her usually tame features. I frowned. This was all my fault. She would never have risked yelling at a teacher. She would never have gotten two weeks detention. Never, if I wasn't so pathetic. If I were able to hide my emotions better, Hermione never would have seen how much I disliked the thought of a class without either of them. But recently, that seemed near impossible. I was as readable as a book. My proof being…..

"Don't look like that Harry." Hermione had finally given up on cursing Snape and was now looking at me sadly. "It's not you're fault." she chuckled lightly as a small smile grazed her lips. "Just thought I'd save you the 'sorry' speech you seem to have taken such a liking to." Again she chuckled with Ron joining in. I smiled at the truth of her statement and felt my cheeks burning.

"Only if it was my fault." I whispered glancing at anything but them. Although even I had to admit that not everything I apologized for was my fault.

A loud bell signaled the end of breakfast and a frown replaced my already fading smile. This also quieted the other two and Hermione made a very unpleasant hissing sound.

"Which reminds me, I could set a herd of Hippogriffs on him. Honestly, how could he do this? What kind of cruel man is…." Hermione decided to rant about Snape just a little longer, and scowled at Ron's sudden interruption.

"Umm…Hermione?" Ron was studying his schedule rather closely while blinking continuously. An inquisitive look from Hermione called for him to go on. "I think Snape changed my schedule." She didn't wait to be handed the sheet, but instead snatched it forcefully from his hands. Once again, her mood seemed to unwind and she grinned.

"So he decided to put us in potions then." She looked thoroughly amused and, after returning the schedule to it's owner, pulled her own schedule out. I barley had a chance to bask in the relief of having them in Potions with me when a strangled noise sounded in Hermione's throat. Her eyes darkened as she skimmed over her classes and she jumped up quickly.

"Then he didn't change your class?" Ron took a guess and almost stepped back when she finally tore her eyes from the paper she had been burning holes in. A humored, yet fierce look distorted her face.

"Oh no, he changed my class. Just not to Potions. He gave me Divination." Within seconds she was off. Not toward the Potions lab, but toward some unknown destination. I frowned as, finally, her words reached me and her figure disappeared around a corner. She had been placed in Divination with Trelawney. The only real class she couldn't tolerate.

"I swear mate, that one's mad." Ron turned a stunned look toward me and chuckled. I nodded and noticed the passing students.

"Ron, class." I said motioning toward the few others who were undoubtedly making their way toward their first class of the day. On realizing that we were about to be late, Ron turned and began rushing toward the dungeons with me trying desperately to keep up.

"Can't believe we're going to be late our first day of Potions." Ron muttered after slowing for me to catch up. Though hating to admit it, once again I was afraid. The last thing I wanted was a scolding on being tardy for class. Especially from Snape. Turning the corner, we hurried into the classroom just as the final bell rang.

"Seats Mr. Weasley." Snape hissed after the bell finished its call. I glanced around the room and frowned. I didn't see not one empty desk and everyone's eyes seemed to be on me.

"Harry." I heard Ron hiss my name and realized he was calling me toward a pair of empty desks. They were well hidden toward the front of the class which explained why I hadn't seen them. Slowly and aware of the many stares, I picked my way through the many other filled desks, finally taking a seat beside Ron.

"Now that everyone is ready," Snape looked entertainingly at me. "we will begin with some notes on the many disastrous consequences that may result from messing up today's potion." with a flick of his wrist, the board flashed with words and everyone began to write. I began doing the same, but after the first few lines, I found myself spaced out.


"Mr. Potter!" Pulled back into the present by the sound of my name, I looked around inquiringly and frowned at the many stares. "Mr. Potter." Again my name was said, but now I recognized the voice. Looking at Snape, I waited. "I expect you understand that, when being spoken to, you are to reply." he snapped. I stayed quiet, not understanding what he wanted me to say.

"Yes Professor?" Ron clued in with a very loud whisper. A few giggles were heard throughout the class and I promptly repeated the words.

"Yes Professor?" I murmured. But Snape wasn't looking at me anymore. He was watching Ron very sternly.

"That will be five points from Gryffindor for Mr. Weasley's choice to speak without permission." He snapped before turning back to me. "Mr. Potter, you are a student in this class and you will take notes along with the others in this class. Understand?" I nodded and watched his face turn dangerous. "I asked if you understood." Obviously he wanted me to say so aloud.

"Yes." I answered before returning to the notes. This time I forced myself to finish them before getting lost in nothing. But even then, Snape was already pairing us into groups. As always, I expected to be with Ron, or someone else in Gryffindor, but that was wrong of me.

"Seeing as though we have an odd number of both Slytherins and Gryffindors, two lucky students will just have to deal with each other throughout the remainder of class." Snape loved the anxious looks from both sides of the room, but as he found my calm face staring carelessly in the crowd, he chose to partner me first. "Ah, Mr. Potter, I'm sure you'd do well handling yourself with a Slytherin. Let me see, Mr……Malfoy. Yes, Potter and Malfoy." I glanced at Ron as if to say 'Don't let him do it!' and found he was already waving his hand in the air. With a loud sigh, Snape looked at Ron, which signaled him to speak.

"Professor, I don't think putting Harry with Malfoy is a good…"

"Idea? Well Mr. Weasley, if I cared about your thoughts, I would have conversed with you before making my decision. Until I do, please refrain from giving me your opinions." with that, he finished pairing the class. I sat, unwilling to move, at my desk while the rest of the class got with their partner.

"It'll be alright Harry. I swear, if he so much as looks at you wrong, I'll…" I had been engrossed in Ron's many different facial features when another, less welcome voice, interrupted Ron's very convincing speech.

"You'll what Weasel? Sic your girlfriend on me?" I spun around and stared into the bored face of Draco Malfoy. He just waved Ron aside and looked at me expectantly. "Well Potter. Up we get. This isn't exactly the most appropriate place to make potions." He drawled once more in that bored tone. I glanced back at Ron who was glaring death at Malfoy.

"Come with me Harry, I'll help you get the ingredients first." Ron smiled and motioned for me to follow him.

"Already done." Draco blocked my path and motioned for me to go across the room. I studied him for a moment. His eyes were a bit dark. Maybe he didn't sleep well. Also, his hair was not near as neat as usual, though that didn't affect his looks in any way. Again, that urge to reach out and brush his hair aside, shot through me. But something told me the touch wouldn't be welcome. Not so much by me, but by him.

Nodding, I followed him and sat down. The potion had something to do with making others speak their thoughts, or something like that. Snape had assured the class, with a rather distrustful smile, that no one in the class would be made to test their potion.

"Start crushing those seeds into a powder, I'll measure the right amount when your done." Draco directed, nodding to a bowl filled halfway with red seeds. I grabbed the bowl, setting it in my lap, and looked for the instrument to crush them.

It wasn't a difficult task, it was somewhat relaxing actually. I didn't have to keep my eyes focused on the bowl, which enabled me to look around. First I let my eyes linger over the other ingredients scattered along the table, but then I found my eyes following the skillful movements of Draco's hands as he sliced a plant into small, thin pieces.

Suddenly, an unwelcome thought hit me. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted so badly for him to just brush a hand against me, and I was puzzled. Why, of all people, did I want Draco to touch me? I didn't even let my closest friends do so. I had always hated the cruel touch of his hands, and yet, I wanted it.

As soon as I began to study his face, he looked up. This caused me to jump and smack my elbow against a beaker. The sound of glass smashing against the dungeon floor caused a girl to scream with surprise. But an even louder yelp sounded from me as a stinging pain shot through my arm. Something sharp had just ripped through my robes and cut into the flesh of my arm. I felt my eyes begin to water with tears while I eagerly yanked the arm of my robes up, causing only more pain. There, mid-forearm, was a huge piece of glass sticking out at an odd angle. The amount of blood was unexpected. It covered a good portion of my arm.

"Bloody hell." Draco began to reach for my arm, but remembering my earlier thoughts, I pulled away. Still, I looked at him anxiously. By now the whole class had turned to find out what happened and Snape came rushing forward.

"What happened here?" Snape saw my arm and scowled slightly. "Malfoy, I trust you can escort Mr. Potter to the hospital wing?" He glanced at Draco.

"Sir, don't you think he can take himself?" Draco answered while still eyeing the blood on my arm.

"If I thought so, would I have bothered asking you to take him?" Snape asked coolly.

"I'll take him Professor." Ron had stood up and was more then ready to help, but knowing Snape, the offer was better left unsaid.

"Nonsense, you still have a potion to work on, but Mr. Malfoy here will be lacking a partner anyways." Snape shot Ron an annoyed glance.

"I can find it myself." My voice cracked, as I was desperate to get out of there. I didn't care if anyone took me, I just wanted to get the chunk of glass out of my arm.

"Mr. Malfoy." Snape ignored me and pointed toward the door. With a grunt, Draco stood up and waited for me to follow.

"Now class, back to work." I vaguely heard Snape order the class to continue as I walked away.

Draco walked very fast. He took long, steady strides as I tried to keep up with him. I could have been sick if Draco would have given me the time, but I was more focused on trying not to fall behind. How I ever enjoyed the sight of so much blood, I didn't understand. It was sickening. Though, maybe it was the sight of an object protruding from my arm that made me want to hurl.

"Draco." I breathed his name with exhaustion and he froze. Maybe it was the fact that I said Draco instead of Malfoy, but he looked surprised. "Please," I took a breath and avoided his grey gaze. "please slow down." It was barely a whisper, but he heard it. He turned away from me and began a much slower journey toward the hospital wing. This I was thankful for, until I remembered the nauseating feeling in my stomach. Believing, without a doubt, that I was about to vomit, I stopped walking, dropped to the ground and tried to breath steadily. The sound of approaching steps met my ears.

"You going to be sick Potter?" Draco sounded disgusted. I trembled slightly and tried not to put any weight on my arm. I heard him kneel down beside me. "I can try and take it out." Draco offered a bit hesitantly. Though he probably met by magic, the thought of him yanking glass out of my arm was very disturbing. I whimpered and tried to move away. This kept him silent for a moment.

"We only have a little ways to go. Come on, get up." Very unexpectedly, he slipped an arm around my waist and tried to haul me off the floor. It wasn't an easy task seeing as though I was struggling the whole time. "Bloody hell Potter, what's wrong with you?" he asked when finally standing me up. A sudden rage shot through me as I finally tore away from him.

"Don't touch me Malfoy." I hissed with a harshness that surprised even me. He stared, indifferent, at me for a moment before turning away. What made me so angry? Well, I tried to believe that the blood loss made me that way, but I knew there was something else. I knew it was more personal then anything. I just didn't want to think about it.

"I don't have time for this." He began walking again.

Draco's POV

I tried to focus on the task before me. Tried to focus on following the direction correctly. But having him beside me made it near impossible. I couldn't stop wondering what he was thinking and most of all, what was wrong with him. I felt him watching me and glanced up. My breath caught as I looked into his piercing emerald eyes. For some reason, he jumped and knocked something glass off the table. I heard Pansy scream, probably from shock, and then Potter did the same. It was more of a yelp, but he still sounded somewhat girly. His face contorted with pain as he began to reach for the arm of his robes. I watched, surprised with his speed, as he tore the fabric away, revealing a very bloodied arm. My eyes widened as I continued to stare at the object stuck in his arm. It too was covered in blood.

"Bloody hell." My first instinct was to wrap something around it and without thought, I began to reach for his arm. He quickly pulled away and looked almost pleadingly at me. Well, if you want me to help, then don't pull away. I heard Snape speaking and tried not to engage all my attention to the very appalling sight. What was I thinking trying to help him?

"Malfoy, I trust you can escort Mr. Potter to the hospital wing?" Snape asked. I just wanted the boy to get away from me. There was just to much blood.

"Sir, don't you think he can take himself?" I had meant to say 'No sir, look at him. It's a mess of blood. Someone else should take him.' Normally blood didn't effect me like this. I never had problems with it, but the sight was just…repulsing.

"If I thought so, would I have bothered asking you to take him?" He answered icily.

"I'll take him Professor." I glanced up to see the weasel ready to leave. Least he's good for something. I felt slightly thankful toward the boy.

"Nonsense, you still have a potion to work on, but Mr. Malfoy here will be lacking a partner anyways." Why the hell did he have to partner me with Potter? I glanced at the raven haired boy as he finally spoke.

"I can find it myself." His voice cracked as he spoke. The panicked look on his pale face earned him a small amount of my sympathy. Though, Malfoys have very little sympathy.

"Mr. Malfoy." Snape pointed toward the door acting as if he hadn't heard Potter. I grunted and stood up. This was so unfair. The pale boy stood up and followed me. I tried to keep a good distance from the other as he tried to keep up. The sooner we got to the hospital wing, the quicker I could get away from him.

"Draco." The way he spoke my name reminded me of the past. He sounded breathless, exhausted, tired. I froze and looked at him. He wouldn't have noticed it. I wanted now, more then ever to get away from him. To never hear my name spoken that way again. I waited for him to continue. Was he going to continue? What did he want? He lowered his head away from my gaze and frowned. "Please," a breath. "please slow down." My body loosened up a bit. All he wanted was for me to slow down. Will do. I turned and began walking once more, this time I slowed to match his own pace, though, still staying a few steps ahead of him.

Another sound caused me to stop, and I turned to investigate. My eyes widened slightly as I found the boys figure slumped over on the ground. He looked to be taking deep breaths. Approaching cautiously, I realized what was wrong.

"You going to be sick Potter?" I felt well on the way to being sick myself just by the thought. Whatever it was that made me offer, I don't know. Maybe I felt bad for him, but I found myself kneeling at his side holding my wand. "I can try and take it out." I didn't sound to sure though. He seemed repelled by the thought and moved away with a tremble. I was certainly pleased with the reaction. I had no wish to deal with more blood if the glass was holding some back.

"We only have a little ways to go. Come on, get up." I found myself wanting to help him now. Carefully, I placed an arm around his waist, surprised by how small he was, and began the lethal job of getting him off the ground. He squirmed and smacked a bit, but I wouldn't let go. "Bloody hell Potter, what's wrong with you?" I asked after finally getting him on his feet. He yanked away and surprised me with an intensely angry glare.

"Don't touch me Malfoy." He hissed with such rage, I felt a bit dumbstruck. I stared at him for a moment and turned away. The way he said that was just to familiar, but the shocker was, it was me he reminded me of. Though I never quoted it with those words, I did use the same harsh tone. For some reason, I felt like he said it on purpose.

"I don't have time for this." I said before once again starting toward the hospital wing. It seemed no time had passed once we were finally there. His words kept playing over and over in my head. 'Don't touch me Malfoy.' Even as I left the boy behind with a very displeased Madam Pomfrey, I kept thinking about it.


"Look at them Draco. They all look scared to death. I don't blame them of course. Potter would probably hex them if he got a good enough scare." Pansy laughed at the thought and kept urging me to look at the Gryffindor table. Finally I gave in and stole a look in Potter's direction. He looked deep in thought as he stared at his food. That was routine for him. I noticed after the first few days that he ate very little, though the mudblood never stopped shoveling food onto his plate. I had even felt how slim he was today. Pansy was, in a sense, right about the way his friends looked. But, instead of being scared to death, they looked scared for Potter. Maybe it was how they didn't sit too close to Potter that gave Pansy the impression that his friends feared him.

"He doesn't like to be touched." I shrugged and returned to eating.

"No mistaking that. What do you think is wrong with him? Maybe he really has finally snapped." Blaze, who was sitting to my right, joined in the conversation. He didn't sound as pleased by the thought as Pansy had been.

"Why does every meal have to revolve around Potter? Can't we talk about class or something?" I offered tiredly. I heard both Pansy and Blaise chuckle.

"What's wrong with you Draco? Potter do something to upset you after the little incident dismorning?" Pansy questioned me cheerfully. I shot her a glare and frowned.

"I hardly call it a 'little' incident. And no. I'm just tired of talking about him. If he has gone mad, then we should take pleasure and leave it at that." I didn't like saying the last part, but I wasn't in the mood to play word games with Pansy.

"Yes, pleasure indeed. But why does the fun have to stop there?" Blaise sounded as if he were advertising some great new product. "We can have ourselves some entertainment with just the right mind. Just imagine this, Potter faints from ghost. Or even, Potter in a nuthouse. All we have to do is play with him a little." I imagined Blaise as a cat tossing a, still living yet badly wounded, mouse between its paws just for the mere pleasure of watching it suffer. It disgusted me.

"Oh yes, that sounds about as fun as beating up little kids for their candy. How entertaining." I sighed sarcastically.

"It does doesn't it." Blaise obviously didn't get the message and sat with a glazed look in his eyes. Just knowing he was thinking about playing such a sick game was disturbing. Standing up abruptly, I walked away. Pansy called after me but I chose to ignore her. 'Bloody idiots!'


LustAintLove: Sorry this doesn't have much of a twist to it, at least you can see that Draco is starting to get a bit…..soppy? But Harry seems to be slightly angry. It is defiantly personal…Anywho, worry not readers, Harry wont always be like that, unless you like it! lol.

Review reply:

Doxie: Basically, Harry is super messed up because of all the stresses of war and the fact that (in my fic) Lupin, and several order members, died in his sixth year, which would obviously hurt him, seeing as though his parents, Cedric, and Sirius have also died. He just has so much weight on his shoulders and its effecting him in a weird way…weird! hope that answers your question…thanks for the review, though it was more a question then review, lol!

Opal: This is funny cause I had already began writing my third chapter before reading your review and was already explaining the ghost thing. Haha. But here it goes anyways- I just planned to write the ghost part in as a way to show how the past, and present (still having to fight a dark lord, who is only growing stronger) is finally getting to Harry. Trust though, he will get better….as shown in this chapter! hehe. Thanks…again, it was more a question then a review, but I like that you asked questions when you didn't understand.

Drays girl: Thanks a lot for your reviews. They are much appreciated. Sorry if you don't like the 'screwed up' Harry, but I love him, cause I have the power to make him all better…umm, yeah well I have the power to make my characters make him all better. lol.

Evalyn D. Roberts: I will try my hardest to update quickly. Thanks a lot for the review. You are 'awesome'for leaving a review and making me happy!

Jezebel: Thanks for the review. Sorry I did not reply until now. I'm glad you like it and will try and get some more chapters done soon. Though, I do have to take a break every now and then. Thanks again!

person :) : Though, I feel weird replying to this, since it just say person, I will not leave anyone out. I appreciate your review and will forever remember you as person :), thefirst to review my very first fanfic and chapter. Thanks!

Fifespice: I guess you could say that in the end, the way Draco treated Harry was what lead to him finally….snapping shall I say? Anyways, thanks for the review.

Chaeli.meep.: Thanks a whole bunch. Probably the most enthusiastic reviewer I've had. Thanks a lot and though it's nothing great, this chapter has some Draco and Harry. I wish my mind could have thought up something more…interesting, sorry. Thanks again.

Emma: Thanks a lot for the review. I will definitely try to update quickly, but you will have to give me some time to plot, otherwise you get something like this chapter…been so busy I didn't get the chance to really think, plus, I don't want to keep anyone waiting to long. Thanks.

Quick promise: I will try to plot the next chapter a bit more. Hopefully I can think up something good. HOPEFULLY.