Title: Salamander Scales Author: Yama Strife Rating: PG- for the use of the word "bitchiness" Summary: A botched potion screws up harry, it's all Malfoy's fault.etc etc. I'm sure if you're thinking it's cliché you're probably right, but oh well. Later chapters added later. Disclaimer: My name isn't J.K. Rowling, therefore, they aren't mine. Pairing: will eventually be Draco/Harry. That means boy/boy relationships. I'm sure you can read, so if you don't like that idea, go away. You can flame if you like, I don't mind. I'll just laugh at your stupidity and close-mindedness.

This chapter still doesn't have an explanation, but it seems to me that everyone basically knows why Harry is sick, I meant to include it this time, it just didn't happen, sorry. (And I'm sorry if the Italics and bold text doesn't show up.it didn't in the first chapter either)

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Salamander Scales: Chapter the Fourth: The Odd Couple

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Harry followed closely behind Dobby the House-elf, wanting to stay as far away from Malfoy as possible while he still could. Dobby was leading Harry and Draco to their new quarters; a room just off the prefect's bathroom. Draco was begrudgingly following a few feet behind them, his usual grace and poise lagging. He wouldn't have been going had it not been for Snape asking him to. Malfoy didn't give a rat's behind about what Dumbledore said, or how Potter felt. After all, how was this his fault? He continued to shuffle his feet and stare at the ceiling (because a Malfoy never looked down when they walked) as they moved along.

Harry was looking down at Dobby, who looked quite pleased with himself for being assigned such an important task. "Dobby is very sorry, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby is very sorry indeed. If Dobby can do anything for Harry Potter, he must let Dobby know." Harry smiled at this and walked behind his little Captain until they came to an elaborate looking wooden door. It was a dark cherry wood and was carved intricately with a serpent and a lion facing inward. Harry shook his head in disgust, thinking it must've been Dumbledore's odd sense of humor.

'No point in dwelling on a door,' he thought. A concern suddenly rose to the surface of his mind: If the door looked like this, what would the room itself look like?

"The password is Dragon of Bad Faith, Harry Potter." Dobby said, interrupting Harry's horror ridden musings. Draco looked up as though someone had just called his name. He smiled in that superior way Harry hated, and shot Malfoy a look of disgust. Why should Malfoy be acting smug over something like a password? He decided to ignore this for now, said, "Dragon of Bad Faith," and the door swung open to reveal a dark room.

Harry squinted, trying to make out something, anything; but all he could see were even darker shapes and shadows. Draco walked past Harry, knocking him roughly on the shoulder, and into the room. The moment he passed through the doors a giant fireplace to Draco's left sprung to life, and smaller torches along a dark, wooden paneled wall joined in with the fireplace, seemingly happy to be brought to life.

Harry then smacked himself on the forehead at Dumbledore's -what he now called "sick"-sense of humor. The torches along the wall were of green and red flame. Three of the torches, these being red, were situated on the wall beside a deep, forest green silk canopy bed. The canopy was tied off at the four posts with a think black cord. And to the right of this was a deep burgundy red bed. The canopy to this was tied off with long, tasseled gold cord, and fastened to the wall beside this bed were three green flamed torches.

Harry was glad that at least the fireplace gave off normal coloured light. The fireplace was of deep black marble, and reflected the light of the peculiar coloured torches eerily.

Harry stepped further into the room, standing away from Draco, -hoping bitchiness wasn't contagious- and took in the deep cherry wood table in- between his, and Draco's beds. On it perched a silver pitcher and two silver goblets.

There were two overstuffed chairs in front of the fire, both were black, but Dumbledore was obviously accommodating, and had them put in here with each boy's preference in mind. One chair, he assumed was Malfoy's, was a deep rich leather, (and had it been made of anything else, Harry also assumed, it wouldn't have been good enough for him), and the other, also black was softer and made of a comfy looking plush material. In front of the chairs was a high table with another lion and snake carved into it's top. Harry also noticed on the mantle of the fireplace were a few books. Wanting to keep with a theme, Dumblebore had placed bookends of the same silver colour as the pitcher and goblet on either end of the books. Harry wouldn't have even needed to look to know the bookends were in the form of a lion and serpent. 'He should've been an interior designer,' Harry thought bitterly, and with much sarcasm.

Draco was first to break the silence. "I suppose this will be suitable," he said with a resigned sight. "The problem is the company I'm expected to keep." He sneered at Harry and sat in the leather chair, crossing his legs.

Harry was outraged. "What do you mean, 'the company you're expected to keep'?" He glared fiercely, green eyes flashing behind glasses. "This is in no way my fault, Malfoy. I assure you, I'd rather be sipping tea with Voldemort than stay in a room with a slimy git like you." He stalked over to the red canopied bed and sat down in a huff, folding his arms and glaring, in what he hoped was a menacing fashion.

Malfoy clucked his tongue and waved his finger in a reprimanding way at Harry. "Manners, Potter," he said, and then with a smirk crossing his face, "unless you'd rather I blast you into oblivion?" His tone of voice changed, and became rather hopeful, as though Harry would say "Okay Malfoy, blast me into oblivion."

Harry sighed, and said instead (to Malfoy's disappointment); "I'm not scared of you, Malfoy." Harry lay back on his bed (finding his pillows to be the most comfortable thing he'd ever had the pleasure of lying on) and found himself wondering what was going on, and how exactly Malfoy was a part of this. He decided it would be best not to ask though. He didn't want to appear stupid or ignorant in front of him, he'd never hear the end of it. Especially since Malfoy was now his roommate.

But Draco saved Harry this humiliation by asking in a sweetly sarcastic voice, "This may seem like a silly question, but what have you gone and done now, and why am I all of a sudden thrust into a room with you, without explanation?"

Harry sat bolt upright and his face fell. "You mean you don't know? I thought they stuck you in here to help me fix whatever is wrong with me." He trailed off, a bemused expression crossing his face.

Malfoy dropped the nice boy act, the fury apparent on his face. "What do you mean, I'm supposed to help you? I'd rather vacation with the Mudblood and the Weasel than help you, Scarhead!" He spat out venomously. He let out a small shudder, as though the thought of vacationing with his second least favourite people was enough to scar him for life.

Harry was tired, he was sure it must've been past midnight. He was too tired to care Malfoy insulted his friends again, too tired to wonder if Madam Pomfrey had given him something as he slept to ease the pain. Harry didn't even bother checking the trunk at the end of his new bed to see if there were some pyjamas. He flopped back down on his stomach, face buried in his pillow. It may have looked like a suicide attempt, which would be understandable considering the circumstances. He let out a muffled "I'm going to sleep," and dozed off almost instantly.

Malfoy either didn't hear him, or didn't care because he didn't even incline his head toward the comatose boy; he just stared into the fire long into the night.

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Harry awoke to the same scene he had fallen asleep to. The silvery haired youth was sitting up in his leather chair, staring into the fire. Harry was wondering why he didn't move or even blink when he realized; "Oh no! Class! I'm going to be late for class!" He scrambled to get out of bed, but his foot caught on the silk sheet and he stumbled and fell right onto the hard wooden floor.

Malfoy clucked his tongue in disbelief, wondering how anyone could be so clumsy. After watching the frantic boy run about the room, scatter brained and disoriented, looking for text books and dragon hide gloves for a minute or two, Malfoy decided the fun had worn off and said, "Sit down Potter. Honestly, are you so daft that you'd forgotten it's a Saturday? Besides," he added, "we've received a letter this morning saying we're to take all our classes and meals in this room." He stood up, almost eye-level with Harry, and said, "your filthy house-elf friend will be along to deliver breakfast any moment."

Malfoy strode over to his bed, which had obviously not been slept in; oblivious to the dirty look he received from Harry, and pulled a small black book out of his robe pockets. He sat on his bed with his long legs crossed gracefully.

Harry was curious as to what Malfoy was reading, but not curious enough to actually ask him. After all, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy didn't sit around and chat idly like friends.

Even if Harry had wanted to ask Malfoy what the book was, he had missed his chance. A knock on the door and a mumbled phrase -the password, Harry assumed- told him that Dobby had arrived with breakfast.

"Good morning, Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby, his long pencil like nose touching the floor as he bowed. "Dobby has brought Harry Potter and Master Draco their breakfast, and a note from kind Headmaster Dumbledore." Dobby glanced at Draco, a member of the family he formerly served, but Draco just ignored him. A look of sadness appeared on Dobby's face for a fleeting moment, his green eyes looking rather wet, but he shook his head and looked up at Harry. "If the great Harry Potter needs anything, he just needs to ask Dobby," (Harry could've sworn he saw Malfoy roll his eyes). Dobby bowed again, set the trays containing their breakfast of sausage, porridge, toast and juice on the table and left, the door clicking lightly behind him.

"Soup's on," Harry said, and sat on the floor in front of the table, placing a tray in front of himself and setting the other on the opposite side.

He began to eat when Malfoy looked up from his book and said, "Well, what does the note say?" Cold grey eyes flashing impatiently at Harry.

"Oh, right," said Harry sheepishly. He took the note off of Draco's tray and read, 'Boys, I'll be down later to talk to the both of you. Kindly stay in the room until then. You'll find your things have been placed in the trunks and wardrobe.

Sincerely, Professor Dumbledore'."

Harry looked at the last part again. He'd just been looking for his things earlier and they weren't there. He stood up, temporarily abandoning his breakfast and shuffled to his trunk. When he opened it he found the contents of his trunk from upstairs inside. Harry wondered at this until he realized that there was no wardrobe in this room. He scanned it briefly and discovered, next to the fireplace, a handsome cherry wood wardrobe. He stood there, staring stupidly until Malfoy said, sneering, "We're to stay in here? That means I'll have to put up with your stench until ol' Dumbledore lets you go take a shower."

Harry was about to retort, knowing he didn't have a 'stench', when Malfoy pointed his wand squarely at Harry and said "scougify". Harry felt a little bit refreshed, Malfoy just smirked and said, "that'll have to do for now," before immersing himself back in the book.

Harry felt mildly insulted (as he always did when Malfoy was around) but couldn't help but laugh a little at the way Malfoy had wrinkled his nose and looked highly affronted at having to stay in a room with an unwashed Potter.

Harry went back to the table to eat and said, "Your breakfast is getting cold," as he started his first full day as Malfoy's roommate.

``````````````````````````````````` Please tell me if you think I'm keeping people in character. If not, lemme know how to improve, and I'll try

I can't thank everyone enough for their kind reviews and feedback. If you have a question, please ask, and I'll reply at the end of every chapter.

Review Replies:

Brenna8:LOL, I'm glad you know what Dumbledore knows. Every fangirl should anyway. ^_^ I love it when stuff bites Malfoy in the behind too. Draco's such a git, but we all love him anyway, don't we?

RedMeadow: Thanks, I hope you like this chapter

Morgan: I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Akima: Ahhh.I want to know what happens next too, I don't have the whole story planned out yet.

Yve: Sorry, I leave cliffhangers.it's a problem I'm currently seeking professional help for..(heh heh) I'm glad you're enjoying!

Shelli: ahh you made me laugh with that cute review. Thanks a lot. I'll try to finish the interesting stuff before ending the chapter from now on.

BluLightning: I'll try and get em out as fast as I can ^_^

Kittylover16: Ahhh we'll get some Draco/Harry action soon, but first we have to build up a friendship, right? Hope you keep reading!

Randomness: Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it! I'm working on the next chapter as we speak!

Jade the Dragon Mistress: Thanks a bunch hun! And I'm sorry for not actually writing the problem out totally, that'll happen in chapter 5!

Thanks again everyone!

~Yama Strife