AN: Well. Huge warning of a lot of out-of-character-ness. I apologize but the plot somewhat needs it. I'm still calling it artistic license. Um, um. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Second Chance

For the next week Seraphim was withdrawn. She never stayed more than fifteen minutes at meals and avoided common gathering places like the plague. Her lesson consisted of writing a student's name on and shrinking a previously enlarged piece of parchment small enough to be fit back into the book the pages came from. Pieces that did not fit would not be given full credit. In her other classes, she merely took notes and did not participate at all.

Ron had been livid. When she returned from her encounter with 'the blonde idiot', he'd been furious. "What's he done to her this time? I'll kill him! I swear I will!" were the only things he'd said for half the night.

Hermione was confused. Her plan had been perfect. She'd seen the eyes they were making at each other, only a blind man would have missed them because a blind woman would have sensed the signals they were sending out. While she tried to calm Ron down, she kept muttering to herself, "I don't understand."

Harry was just about ready to blow something up. When he finally accepts the whole thing, Seraphim goes and decides she doesn't want to date Malfoy. He'd watched on the Marauders Map after going back to his dormitory and couldn't believe it when Seraphim ran away. "What is wrong with women?" he'd asked himself when he heard the door to her room slam shut.

When he couldn't take it any more, Harry cornered Hermione and asked her to force her way into Seraphim's room and get her seeing straight again.

"I know what you're saying Harry, but I don't know what to do either," Hermione replied briskly.

"You're both girls. Go bond or something. Eat chocolate, I've heard that helps," Harry offered, handing Hermione a galleon.

"It doesn't work that way. And I'll need more comfort food than just chocolate," Hermione sighed. "Find out of Ron has any Japanese candy left from the last care package his uncle sent him."

"What? Why?"

"Because she likes them and they are her comfort foods," Hermione explained. Harry's blank expression prompted another sigh. "Never mind, just do it. I'll try my best."

Harry nodded and went off in search of Ron. When that task had been completed, he retreated to his dormitory for another look at the Marauder's Map. Quickly locating the speck that was Draco Malfoy in the owlrey, Harry plotted out the quickest route to corner him.

Map in hand, he jumped out of bed and set off at a brisk walk. There were a few things he had to take care of.

Malfoy turned quickly when he heard someone approaching. He'd been looking out the window at the Ravenclaw Quidditch team practicing for the next match against Hufflepuff. "Who's there?"

Harry stepped into the owlrey and shook his head. "What did you do to her?"

"I don't know what you're talking about…Potter," replied the blonde peevishly.

"I am talking about the chance that I gave you last week to win Seraphim over and the change that has overcome her since. She is withdrawn and quiet and not at all her usual self. What did you do to her?" Harry seethed.

"All I did was kiss her," he explained, defending himself.

Harry raised an eyebrow. Clearly Malfoy did not have much experience in winning the female race over. Not that Harry had much experience, but certainly enough to know that when a girl was confused over you, you did not go around kissing her. "You kissed her."

The offender nodded, puzzled. "It seemed like a good idea."

"She was confused. She believed you didn't like her. She probably thought you were going to, I don't know, rape her or something," Harry rolled his eyes, running a hand through his messy hair.

"She what?" Malfoy blinked. "Thought I would rape her? Just from a kiss?"

"You weren't exactly polite to her a couple of hours before," Harry pointed out.

"Well that wasn't my fault. If you two hadn't pulled that stint, I wouldn't have…" he stopped, his pride getting the better of him.

"You wouldn't have gotten jealous, admit it. I know already, you like her. Apparently a lot," Harry rolled his eyes. "And it's only November."

Malfoy pouted, very unbecoming to the cold Slytherin.

"I'll tell you what," Harry sat and called Hedwig over. Smoothing the owl's feathers, he sighed. "I'll help you figure out how to win her over because that will make her happy. In return, you will cease the constant mocking, teasing, etcetera. And if you hurt her, I will be allowed to hurt you. How does that sound?"

Looking warily at the other boy, the proud Malfoy, now taken down a few notches, sat next to his sworn enemy, sighed, and held out his hand, "Deal."

They shook on it. "All right then. First, you'll have to win her trust back. She doesn't know what to think of you right now. First you ignore her, and then you kiss her socks off. I'm assuming that's what you did?"

Harry was rewarded with a blush and a nod. "Yes, you might say that."

"Rule number one, don't do that. She doesn't trust you yet, do not go around kissing her until you are sure she won't slap you or run away, understand?" Harry sighed.

The pupil nodded. "But what can I do to win her trust?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "The general rules of courtship are pretty much in shambles with the way that this whole thing has been progressing. How much do you want this anyway?"

Draco was silent, apparently lost in thought.

"Because if you don't want it enough, there's no point. I think this is going to be a lot of work for you and if you're going to throw it away if you don't get what you want, it's not worth it. Believe me, I know," Harry pointed out. "Is this just some pride issue you have?"

"No. I…" Draco shook his head, speaking slowly, "I would like to prove myself worthy of her affections. I…I think want to make her happy."

"You're willing to work for this, even if it doesn't work out?" asked Harry.

"Yes, I think so."

"Good." Harry looked immensely pleased with himself. "Well, what kind of things do you think might make her happy?"

"I don't know," replied Draco. He really did look rather hopeless, head in his hands and half-splayed on the stone floor.

"You could try being nice to her," Harry suggested.

"She may be optimistic, but she's not stupid, Potter," Draco pouted.

"You could ask her out." Harry crumpled up a bit of parchment he'd found in his pocket and began tossing it in the air.

"Do you think she'd say yes?" asked Draco.

"Well, no," Harry admitted.

Draco groaned. "I'm terrible."

"Yes, perhaps."

"I'm being serious."

"So am I," Harry threw his parchment ball at Draco.

"So what am I supposed to do?" asked the blonde, tossing the ball back.

"I have no idea. As I said, all generally used forms of courtship have been tossed out the window," Harry replied.

The two boys sat in silence. "If there was a way for me to start over, without her knowing that it was…me…" a strange light came into Draco's eyes. "I've got it."

Harry looked up from the spot on the floor he'd been observing. "What is it?"

"It's practically the oldest trick in the book. I can't see why I didn't think of it before," the blonde babbled, not looking at all like the aloof snob he usually way.

"When you're read," Harry sighed, idly examining his shoes.

"I'll be her secret admirer," Draco explained.

"You already are," Harry pointed out.

"No, I'll send her presents and notes and things. I'll get her to trust this person, she won't know who he is. And then after I've gained her trust, I'll tell her that it's me," the Slytherin grinned.

Harry was skeptical. "I don't know…"

"You'll," Draco paused, "You'll help me, right?" He looked at Harry hesitantly.

The other boy nodded. "I suppose I'll have to. You realize that this goes against just about everything we've set up between ourselves over the past five years?"

"Of course, I'm not stupid. But the phrase 'united we stand, divided we fall' comes to mind."

"Does that make us allies then?" asked Harry.

"For the time being, I suppose."

Shaking on the newly formed, albeit tentative, friendship, the two proceeded to decide what kind of gifts would win Seraphim over and successfully mend the Gryffindor-Slytherin feud. It was going to be a very long morning.

:cough: Well, what did you think? Was it good? Was it horrid? Was it 'Oh my God, I can't believe you just did that'? Please, throw me a bone! Or a review! :wink: I'll see y'all tomorrow, okay? Ta!