Draco paid no mind to Potter as he fled to change, understanding full well the need to be alone and enclosed inside himself. Besides, he had too much on his mind.

Some times like these he would go to Pansy's room and wake her up. She never seemed to mind 'comforting him', no matter what the time of day or night. The thought made him laugh. He didn't love Pansy Parkinson, nor did he love any of the other girls he had been intimate with. He was, after all, a Malfoy, and Malfoys only loved power. Draco loved the power he had over most of his fellow students, the fear he had instilled in his so-called peers. There were very few who didn't fear and/or respect him. He could, in fact, count them on one hand.

Potter, Weasley, Granger. A Half-Breed, a Blood Traitor, and a Mud-Blood. The thought of them all made him sneer. They didn't fear him and that set Draco at unease.

Draco sighed. Thinking about Potter only reminded him of a few months before when they had been in the North Tower. He absently wondered whether the offer from Dumbledore could be available to him still; if he were to ask. Of course, he was taught that Malfoys never ask for help…

But look at where that got them all! He had read his family's history and seen all of them face horrible fates, alone. Many of them were maimed and killed when they should have gotten help. After all, wasn't asking for help a brave thing to do? Admitting your own weaknesses… especially to your worst enemy. His Father would disown him if he knew Draco was even contemplating doing such a thing… But then again, his Father had ended up in Azkaban without any help from his fellows to clear his name or free him…

Harry gathered up his cloak and went to leave, reaching the door before a voice stopped him.

"Potter, wait," Harry's eyes grew wide and he found himself turning towards Draco, who had already climbed out of the bath and wrapped a towel around his waist.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" His voice still held bitterness and resentment, but Draco didn't even blink.

"I need to ask you something…" The Slytherin began.

Now he had Harry's attention. Draco Malfoy asking him for something! "What's that, Malfoy?" He raised his eyebrows.

Draco took a deep breath and sighed. Could he really ask Potter for help?

"You remember," He began, still unsure of whether or not to bring up what he was preparing to. "That night at the North Tower? When Dumbledore…" He could feel his throat clenching. "When he offered me help?"

Harry felt like a fist had clenched over his heart and was trying to explode it. The memory of Professor Dumbledore 's fate was still fresh in his mind and he bit back tears of loss. How dare Malfoy talk to him about Dumbledore! "I remembering him saying that Malfoy," Harry's face had grown red. "Before you tried to kill him!"

Draco fought the urge to argue with Potter. It wouldn't help his cause a single bit. "I understand your anger." He bowed his head. "I am truly sorry for what has transgressed…"
"Yeah, I'm sure you are!" Harry spat. "You just wanting to rub his death in my face! HA FRICKIN HA! HARRY POTTER FAILS TO SAVE THOSE HE CARES ABOUT YET AGAIN! WHAT A BLOODY FOOL OF A HERO HE IS!" Harry threw his hands up in agitation. Draco, too, held up his hands, but in a gesture of defense and to show hiss pacifistic intentions.

"That isn't what I meant by it, Potter." He said shortly, his voice a bit softer than Harry had ever heard it before. "I was talking about what he said… How he could…" He was at a loss of words. "Just, never mind." He shook his head. "I shant keep you any longer." He turned towards the cubbies and was stopped by a dubious voice.

"You want my help, Malfoy?" Harry's face was painted in incredulity as he looked towards the receding Slytherin.

Draco shook his head, rubbing his throbbing temples. "I don't expect I'd get it." He sighed.

"Why do you want my help?" Harry asked, skeptically moving closer to Malfoy. Draco turned around and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I wouldn't, if it weren't important." He was on the brim of tears. "I- I didn't want to do this in the first place, be a Death Eater…" He said with a sigh. "Well, I did in the past, but the point is, Potter," He took a breath to stop from ranting. "I don't want to do this anymore. The only reason I stayed is for my Mother's sake." Even Harry, who had not known his parents, could understand the want, the need to protect someone close to him. He felt the same way about his friends, and he felt it about Sirius… "Dumbledore seemed to think I wasn't beyond redemption…" Draco pressed.

Harry felt his throat clench and he considered the situation. He knew what Dumbledore would have done, but what of Sirius? What would his Godfather have done in the situation? Hadn't Sirius said that Draco was to be pitied..? Or was his mind playing tricks on him again?

"I wasn't really expecting an answer right away." Draco's sigh broke the silent contemplation. He felt he would be sick if he had to wait in that ominous stillness any longer.

"I'll think about it, Malfoy." Harry said finally.

"Good." Draco nodded. "Meet me here in…"

"Three days." Harry interrupted. "I'll meet you here in three days at one in the morning, Malfoy," Harry made his way back to the portrait hole, still deep in thought. "I'll let you know then." Draco nodded in accordance and went to change.