It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that…

I got kicked a couple of times for not updating too quickly, but real life kept intervening.

I hope this next chapter works…thanks for all your support, guys and gals…

Oh yeah, I make no money from my assorted ramblings, though one day I hope to form a plot and characters of my own and make money from them instead.

Pick me up

I sighed with relief as the lesson ended, only to be cut off with one word from Snape.

"Potter." I turned to see a look of disgust on Snape's face.

"Yes, sir?" I tried my hardest to look intelligent, but it was clear by the look in his eyes that I'd failed miserably.

"I expect you to achieve a top grade in your assignment. Mr Malfoy has agreed to continue tutoring you, heaven only knows why." He stopped and stared at me in an extremely unfriendly fashion. "I shall be keeping an eye on you…"

With that, he straightened and flicked his cloak out, stalking out of the dungeon.

Blowing my breath out, I picked up my bag and made my way to the Great Hall for lunch. Somewhat disappointingly, I didn't see Draco on the way, nor did I find Hermione or Ron, which was unusual in itself, until I got to the Great Hall and found all three of them standing in the doorway glaring at each other.

I quietly closed the distance, wondering how bad it was – looking at the scowl on 'Mione's face, I was guessing it was pretty bad and likely to get worse…

Draco's hair swung around his face as he shook his head vehemently. I heard snatches of what sounded like him being outraged, and smiled briefly to myself.

Hermione and Ron had their backs to me, making it easier for me to sneak closer without them noticing me. Draco was a different matter though - being over six feet tall now that he'd stopped growing, he towered over my two friends- so it was no surprise when he looked over their heads and straight at me. The look on his face was frightening at first, but on realising who he could see, he relaxed. Was it my imagination or did he look relieved…there was no time to wonder as 'Mione and Ron turned round and dragged me into the conversation. I mean argument…there was no way this would stay civilised, so I did my best to end it.

"Harry, I think you should know what Draco said before you came into the Potions classroom." Said Hermione primly. Not giving me a chance to do anything but draw breath, she went on "He lied to a professor – he said that he was helping you with the Potions homework…now that cannot be true. Mainly because I know you'd come to me for help before you'd go to him." She looked so angry, giving me the sudden realisation that she was horrified not that Draco would spend the time of day with me, but that I might go to someone else for help before her. I blinked.

"Hermione, he was covering for me…" I said softly.

Draco threw his hands into the air. "Finally, the truth comes out…you see, Hermione, I tried to tell you what happened, but no, you had to shout over me and tell me what you thought was happening." Draco rolled his eyes a little before looking at me intently. For some reason, my breath caught in my throat and all I could do was stare into those glorious silver eyes. Time seemed to slow down as he reached an arm out towards me, resting his hand lightly on my shoulder. "Are you ok, Harry? You're looking a little pale. What did Snape want after class?"

I clawed my way back into my head and tried to reply. "He urr, wanted to warn me that I needed top marks on this assignment…I don't think he believed your story." I gave him an apologetic look.

Draco flashed a grin at me "I wasn't really expecting him to, but it was good enough to keep him quiet. So, about that homework you need top marks on…" He removed his hand from my shoulder and shuffled, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks, somehow making him more perfect than ever.

With a smile I did something which royally pissed off Hermione and made me a new friend in one fell swoop. "I'd be grateful if you'd help me, Draco. God knows I could use a hand with it, and it would keep up the pretence that you were tutoring me, wouldn't it?"

A small huff was all Hermione would say on the subject and she began to walk away. Catching her sleeve, I turned to look at her and found that she wouldn't look at me. I sighed gently and moved both of my hands to her shoulders. "'Mione, Snape expects us to be working together on this. It's better if we do, so that he doesn't get suspicious. I'll catch up with you in five minutes and explain everything, ok?" Hermione looked up at me and nodded slightly, promptly dragging Ron off to the Gryffindor table to get their lunches.

I closed my eyes and let my head hang down for a moment then jumping in shock when warm hands caught my arms. "What are you doing Draco?" I looked at him in confusion.

He had the grace to look embarrassed "I thought you were going to faint again…Sorry…"

"Heh, no, it's just hard work dealing with those two sometimes." I sighed gently "Sometimes they just expect to much of me, like I'm something special." I looked up at Draco and realised he might just understand what I was talking about, far better than my two best friends. "I just want to get on with my life and be normal, not having people looking at me as if I ought to be doing good all the time. I really want to be able to get up on a Saturday morning and go and watch silly cartoons whilst eating my breakfast, and not have anyone interrupt me or tell me what I ought to be doing…" At some point during my rant I realised that Draco hadn't moved his hands from my arms, and was looking at me strangely. "Umm, Draco?" I lifted a hand up in front of his face and waved.

"Sorry Harry, I was just thinking about how similar we actually are. Pushed into doing things we don't want to do, all because we happened to be born to the right people at the right time… It's not fair to heap all the pressure and responsibility onto our shoulders. Not like this. Not without a choice…" His voice trailed off and I looked at him in shock. My enemy thought like me…no longer an enemy…

"By the way." Draco looked confused "What's a cartoon?"

I dissolved into giggles and then into tears at the revelation that here was an 18 year old boy who had never sat and watched a cartoon.

Who said only girls can be emotional?

I enjoyed writing that – I know it's maybe not what you all wanted but I am working on the next chapter as well, so hopefully that'll be up soon as well.

Thanks for reading…