Harry stepped onto the platform and stood, uncertainly, among the rest of the students. He searched for his friends, but there was no sign of either. Sighing, Harry got onto the train and hoped that their absence wasn't foreshadowing some terrible even upon arrival at Hogwarts. He walked to their usual compartment and go out the muggle CD player he'd bought after leaving Diagon Alley for muggle London. For the first time, he had begun to spend some money on himself. He had to admit that he'd gone a little crazy. Not only buying the CD player, but a ton of CDs, batteries (for at Hogwarts) and a whole new wardrobe of clothes that not only fit, but looked good on him. Contrary to popular belief, he did have a sense of fashion, he just found it a waste trying to match one oversized article of clothing with another, there was no way they would every look good. He'd even spent money on a hair cut that kept his messy hair looking artfully arranged with the aid of a little gel, a year's supply of contacts and even accessories like shoes and belts. He figured that it was time people stared at him for more reasons than his scar.

But even Harry did no know how good he looked or how different. He didn't notice the tan he had gradually acquired or the muscular build he had developed after starting to run everyday at his aunt's. He didn't realize that he now matched Ron in height (of course he hadn't been able to see Ron this summer) and he certainly didn't know that his voice had become a warm medium tone that seemed to draw people in. All he thought was that he finally fit in with everyone else, he thought he was average, when in reality he had reached top 10 single wizard status without the aid of his name, number one with it. But this wasn't what was occupying Harry's mind at the time. He was wondering where Ron and Mione were.

"Oy! Mate, I don't know who you are, but you'd better get your bloody ass out of our compartment."

"Ron!"
Harry turned around shocked. There was Ron, an angry shade of red, and Hermione, blushing at the statement her boyfriend had just uttered.

"Harry…is that you?"

"Who'd you think it was?"

"I don't know. You look so…," Mione, usually the verbal one of the group, searched for an original word, but couldn't find one, "different," she finished, lamely.

"Blimey, mate, I didn't even recognize you," Ron echoed Mione's sentiments.

"Well, it's the same old Harry…except my clothes fit and I don't have glasses. That's all."

"No, it's not. Harry, your hair is gorgeous, you're clothes match, you've grown at least six inches. Harry, you're hot!"

"Mione!" Ron pretended to be shocked, but he wasn't worried. It was a well-known fact that Harry was gay. He had come out last year to his friends after hooking up with Fred and George over Christmas break when he had stayed at Ron's. Shortly afterwards, Harry was openly gay due to the openness of the threesome. They weren't together anymore, but they were still close friends that would protect each other like Mrs. Weasley protected them.

Harry grinned. He though Mione was exaggerating, he really didn't see himself as more than attractive at best.

"Anyway, enough about me, I've heard all about your summer in your letters and as much as I love you, I don't need to hear the mushy details of how you two hooked up."

They both gasped. "How did you know?"

"Well, the thoroughly snogged look didn't hurt when you walked into the compartment a good thirty minutes late."

Both looked sheepish. "We were planning to tell you."

"I know. Let's forget about it, we can talk tonight, for now I just want to play exploding snap and have Ron destroy me in a game of chess. And Mione, I want you to put your books away; I know you've done your work twenty times over and checked it five times that much. I have also finished mine and checked it for a change."

"You what?"

"I did it and checked it. It was a long summer and this year I have to work extra hard to do well. I don't want to decide what I'm going to do yet so obviously I'll just have to be at everything I do and that includes potions with that greasy git, Snape."

At that the door burst open and a body was thrown in and the door shut again. Harry jumped up and found to his surprise, Draco Malfoy at his feet, his blonde hair sticking out in every direction and blood flowing freely from a gash on his forehead. Harry bent down and muttered a few quick spells he had taught himself that summer and the bleeding stopped and Malfoy woke up.

Draco Malfoy woke up to two dazzling emerald eyes staring intently at him, the most shocking thing being their vicinity; they were about three inches away from his face. The eyes backed up and slowly the whole person came into view, but for the life of him, Draco could not figure out at whom he was staring. All he could think was how familiar they looked and how incredibly delicious they were. Looking around the room, he saw the Weasel and Granger. Bloody Hell! Was that Potter? They eyes were the same, only more startling without the glasses and the hair looked like it come of some fashion advertisement and the body was just perfect.

"Draco, are you ok?"

Draco started. That voice was incredible. Wait a second. If that was Potter, then he had just spent a good five minutes rambling over how hot he was and that was not allowed in Draco's universe. It wasn't that he was a strict heterosexual, no, he was bi and not quiet about it. He was attracted to beauty and a person, not a certain sexual organ. However, this was Potter, his worst enemy. There was no way he was going to think all these things about him. Hold on a sec, did Harry just call him Draco? Hold on, did he just call Potter, Harry?"

"Ron, you better go get a teacher, it looks like he's out of it."

"No, Ha-Potter, I'm fine, but I'd be much better if you'd get the bloody hell away from me so that I can get up off the floor and out of here without any Gryffindork contamination."

"Shut up, you filthy Slytherin, if Harry hadn't just healed you, I'd wipe that sneer off your face."

"The Weasel strikes again with another witty retort."

"Both of you be quiet. I don't want to hear this. I don't care whether or not you fight, but this year, don't do it around me. I've had enough. This war is serious and is more important than any stupid house rivalry. Grow up. I've had to and perhaps you won't recognize the "new Harry", but it's time that I accepted my role in all of this and started to help by focusing on what is important. So Ron, sit back down and talk to Mione. Hell, go snog her in the bathroom if it makes you feel better. Ron blushed and Mione let out a laugh at seeing Harry yelling about all this when that was usually her job.

"And, Draco, you can either get up and sit down as going outside doesn't seem to be such a great idea after whatever got you beaten up or you can go out there and with any luck be thrown back in here to be healed again. Your choice."

Draco just sat there on the floor, mouth hanging open in complete shock. This wasn't the Potter he was used to; this one was obviously much more mature and wasn't going to take any shit from anyone. He got off the floor slowly, searching for some sign of pain, but there wasn't any. How did Potter manage that? Even the best healers left some sign of injury. He saw on the seat farthest away from Ron, at a loss as to what to do.

"Malfoy is not staying here."

"Ron! He is going to fucking stay if he wants. You, however, need to get out until you can calm down. Did you not hear a word of what I just said?"

"But, Harry," Ron whined, "He's not on our side, not to mention he's an arrogant ass."

"Ron, how do you know that?"

"Potter, I'm leaving."

"No. You will stay. Hermione, please take Ron somewhere and get him to understand that we are all growing up and it is time for him to do so as well."

"Ok, Harry, come on, Ron."

"No."

"Ronald Weasley, do not make me ask again."

The door shut and Draco and Harry were alone. Neither spoke while Harry appeared to just lean back and go to sleep, leaving Draco with a lot of unanswered questions.

What did I just do? I stood up for Draco against Ron and what was all that I said about the war and growing up. I hadn't even thought about any of that before. Of course, I knew that I had changed. After Sirius, how could I not? I guess I just realized that it was time to start listening to others, if I had, he wouldn't have died. Ok, enough of that, no more thinking about Sirius. Harry looked over at Draco. He's changed over the summer too. He looks incredible. God. He's gotten taller, but he's still a few inches shorter than me. He has a light dusting of a tan, but nothing more. And his eyes, they are such an icy blue that I feel like shivering when I look at him. There is no gel in his hair. It looks so soft. I want to touch it. Hold on, Harry! You want to touch his hair? You aren't even his friend. I want to be. You're not. I will be.

Across the compartment, Draco was having much the same thoughts about how good Harry looked, but he was more shocked about the little speech and Harry picking him over Ron. He wasn't sure what that meant, but he was sure that being along with Harry was tying his stomach in knots. Suddenly, Harry spoke.

"Malfoy, why did you end up in here anyway? What happened that got you beaten up?"

Oh, so it was back to Malfoy now. Oh, well, he couldn't blame him, at least there was no trace of the usual malice in Harry's tone.

"I happened to have refused my father's urgings to get the Dark Mark early and told him I would never get it. I was thrown out of the manor, but given all my belongings and my trust fund because of my mother's begging. The word was spread around so that at school I would be exiled." With a wry grin, Draco elaborated, " Exiled means that you have to be beaten up first and then watch your back for the rest of the year."

"Why did they throw you in here?"

"Probably thought you would use my incapacitation to get in a few punches of your own."

"Hmm, good point, I could have too. Damn this saving people complex."

Draco ducked his head.

"Funny, isn't it? I hated that complex of yours too, until it worked to my advantage."

"Malfoy, I know this may seem strange, but I'd like to offer you something: my friendship." Harry stuck out his hand, a replay from the first year on the train.

Draco sat there for a minute. He was amazed. Mutely, he took Harry's hand and shook it. Withdrawing his hand, Draco noticed that it now felt alone without the warmth of Harry's around it. Harry was at a loss for the first time that day. Everything had seemed so surreal, until he had taken Draco's hand. It had felt right, like the only place his hand belonged was with Draco's. He didn't know what to say and so he sat in silence until Draco said something.

"I would like you to call me Draco if we are to be friends."

"Ok. I prefer Harry to Potter."

Then silence fell again. Both were sitting there, unsure of what to do next, when Hermione flew through the door, grabbed her robes and Ron's robes and warned them both that they were a few minutes away and that they had better change as well. Then, she raced out.

"Is she always like that?"

"Yes."

The boys laughed for a few seconds before Malfoy paled. His robes were in the other compartment, with Pansy and several other death eater children.

"Pot-Harry, I know this sounds stupid, but will you come with me to get my robes."

Harry was puzzled until he realized where the robes must be.

"Sure."

They left the compartment and walked down the hall. Draco opened the door and stepping into a group of Slytherins, all rose menacingly. He felt Harry's arm go around his shoulders. And then he heard Harry speak and felt the vibrations as his back was up against Harry's side.

"We've come to get Draco's things and I wouldn't suggest you trying anything because I promise if you hurt him or his things, you will wish that you had never set eyes on me."

"Oh, look, not only has little Draco turned traitor, he's gone and gotten himself a boyfriend, and none other than the Golden Boy of Gryffindor himself."

"You're right."

Draco didn't move. Did Harry just say that he was his boyfriend? When did that happen? He felt himself being pulled away by his arm and realized that Harry was leaving with his things after shrinking them and putting them in his pocket.

Back in their compartment, Harry took out Draco's things and resized them, beginning to change, he also began to speak.

"Sorry about back there, I just decided to play along with boyfriend, figuring that they would eave you alone if they thought that you were that close to me. The problem that I didn't think of is that by the time we arrive at Hogwarts, the whole school will know."

"Shit, what are we going to do now?"

Draco thought for a minute. You know, having Harry as a boyfriend wouldn't be half-bad. I mean, he is sex as hell and there would be all these people to prove that we were dating too, meaning lots of reasons to hold hands and if I'm lucky, to kiss. Ok, how can I trick Harry into continuing this. I know.

"Harry, I'm afraid that if we don't continue this ruse, I'll be danger. I know this is asking a lot of you, but can you continue to pretend to be my boyfriend until this all blows over."

Harry was quiet as he pulled his robes over his head. I don't know if I can take just pretending.

"Ok."

Draco opened his mouth to say that it was ok, he understood Harry not want to…stop the presses…Harry had only said ok. He had agreed.

At that moment, the door opened and Draco got a sick feeling in his stomach. Ron. He hadn't thought about this. What was Harry going to tell him? Looking at Harry, he saw him turn pale and then with a shake of his head, regain his color and set his face with a determined expression.

"Ron, I need to tell you something." Harry proceeded to tell him what had happened to Draco before he had appeared in there compartment and then about the incident with the Slytherins, finishing with his new status as Draco's boyfriend.

"You what!"

"Hey, at least I'm the dominant one."

"Like hell you are."

"Admit it, I protected you in there. I basically have a sign hung around my neck that says dominant right now."

"I don't want to hear this. I'm not listening. I'm not listening. I'm going to accept this because Harry is my best friend and because Mione has just encouraged me to be mature."

"Whipped."

"Said the submissive one."

"I am not the sub."

"Know it off, guys, we're here."

Harry resized all of the luggage in the room and the various owners, including Hermione, who had walked into the compartment during the resizing, grabbed their various pieces and put them in the pockets underneath their robes. Harry then walked up to Draco and put an arm around his waist, in a very possessive manner. Draco slipped his arm around Harry and the two walked off, leaving Ron to tell a very surprised Hermione what was going on.

The loud gasps form the other students followed the two as Draco and Harry walked out and got into one of the empty carriages, however, neither heard them. Both were too absorbed in the wonderful tingly feeling of touching each other to notice anything. Once in the carriage, they sat next to each other and subconsciously removed their arms from each other's waist only to link hands. Ron and Hermione got into the carriage and started staring at the joined hands, which were quickly separated once their owners realized where they were. Ron sighed with relief and Hermione stored away the knowledge for later, sure that something would come of it.

The four were spared the need for conversation with Ginny and Neville, now a couple, got in the carriage with shocked looks on their faces. Ginny exploded with questions about what was going on, were the rumors true and when did it happen. She was simply told that it was true, it happened on the train and if she wanted a more detailed account she could ask Ron or Hermione. She and Neville were also told not to tell anyone the truth about all of this.

Once they had told her that, Harry and Draco rested their heads on the wall of the carriage and leaning closer to one another, closed their eyes and tried to rest for a few minutes before the inevitable uproar of the feast.