Draco found himself beginning to shake as he made his way through random hallways, searching for Potter. He would've returned to his common room if it hadn't been for the run-in with Snape; he hated needing someone else this badly. His hat was clutched anxiously between both of his hands as he glanced to the side and around all the possible corners. He felt as if Snape was going to jump at him from out of nowhere.

After what seemed like an hour, he finally spotted the dark haired boy rounding a corner in one of the corridors near the library. With a relieved and rather frustrated sigh, he called out before he could get very far. "Hey, Potter! Come here for a second!"

For a moment he didn't think the Gryffindor heard him, or wasn't going to acknowledge him, but he was proved otherwise when Harry moved into view again. "What?" His eyes were narrowed and he didn't look very happy at all to see him. Not that Draco expected anything else.

His hat was situated back on his head as he made his way forward, stopping a good distance away from the other boy before he spoke again. "I wanted to ask you for some assistance."

"What, with your's and the professor's little love affair?" Harry snapped.

"Where the bloody hell did you come up with that, Potter!" Draco defended himself in a matter of a moment, glaring. "Did you think of it yourself?"

"Yes, what else could it be? You won't tell me anything about what happened the other day."

"Because we're enemies, Potter! I don't talk to you about my personal life!"

"Then why are you here now?"

"Because I need..." Draco stopped before he could say it. He hated this. He hated having to say it and admit he didn't have his own life under control. He hated being here, standing next to the one person he'd despised all the years here at school. ".. your help with it. There is something going on, but nothing I want."

"Thought you could handle it yourself." Harry crossed his arms over his chest, still giving Draco his angry look. Draco merely stared coolly at him.

Silence crept between them for a while before Harry finally said something. "What do you want me to do? You should just tell the Headmaster."

"The Headmaster is an old fool, and I don't want anyone finding out. You're worse enough."

"Fine, Malfoy! Tell me what the hell you want me to do!"

"Don't raise your voice at me! You wanted to help me before!"

"This is pointless!" Harry shouted, giving an exasperated raise of his arms. He turned around and started down the hallway again. Before he could, however, Draco called after him.

"No, just wait! I only need you to stay around me so that Snape stays away from me. He knows that you hate him and he won't bother with me if I'm near you."

Harry stopped and turned around again. "What about when he gives either of us a detention, separately?"

"You have that cloak, don't you?"

"Yes, but --"

"You could use that. I'm supposed to go to detention tomorrow night. And... you can watch and make sure he doesn't try anything."

Harry sighed. "That's the only reason he gives you detention though, isn't it?"

"Have you been doing research on this or something, Potter? Just do what I bloody tell you."

There was another angry expression being sent his way as Harry fought the urge to simply turn around again and let Malfoy deal with this on his own. He didn't even know why he was considering helping him, anyway. Who cared what happened to him?

"Ok, I'll wear the cloak and follow you. And how about when you're not in detention?"

"Pretend we're together, but not in public."

"What?"

"Together, Potter."

"Like a couple? When did you turn gay?"

"Never! You've lost the point," Draco growled. "Only for show."

"It's still wrong," Harry said darkly, "And even if I did agree to that, there's no point if we won't be doing it in public. Snape wouldn't see us."

Draco did know that, but he didn't know how else to put what he wanted. He wished there were a way to put forth this plan without any of his housemates or even the rest of the school finding out. To be seen next to Potter was a disgrace, and he didn't know whether his entire social life or Snape doing inappropriate things to him was worse. A minute or so was spent this way, thinking.

"Ok. We can do it in public, but you can't touch me that much."

"I wouldn't want to anyway, Malfoy."

A cold glare was shot Potter's way. "You better hope this works."

"Why? It's not my problem." Harry frowned.

To that, Draco didn't say anything. He took a step back to get ready to leave. "Detention will be after dinner." And off he went. He turned around and just about stormed down the hallway. The only way he could think of to vent off the thought of what he'd just done was to do this, and he could hear Potter's footsteps behind him. He was happy that for now they were going in the opposite direction.