Chapter Twenty-two: No such thing as love or hangover potions

Draco had to admit that Harry's friends weren't all that bad. These Gryffindors were a different breed. They weren't at all like the Slytherins, but when he told Hermione this, the brunette told him never to think the Gryffindors above the Slytherins.

"We don't think of ourselves that way, at least, not a lot of us. We're not better than you, we're just different and different isn't always bad."

Draco had been shocked by that. He had always been taught that being different was bad. That one type of person was better than another. But after all he had been through he realized that at that moment he was different and he didn't think it was a bad thing either.

But that wasn't the only surprise he received that day as they did their shopping in Diagon Alley. For starters was the way the Gryffindors acted.

Hermione, for example, may be a know-it-all but she wasn't boastful about it. She seemed to enjoy sharing her knowledge, she didn't lord it over anybody. She simply loved to learn.

Weasley wasn't the hotheaded fool that Draco had always taken him to be. He saw that were he lacked in smarts he made up for with heart. Despite begin poor, Draco saw Ron as the type to give the shirt off his back to a needy person. In fact, as they passed by the ice cream parlor, Ron showed that type of mentality.

A young girl was licking on a one-scoop cone of every-flavored ice cream. Unfortunately for her, her shoe laces were untied and she tripped. She scrapped a knee and hand in the fall and her ice cream cone splattered on the cobblestones.

The girl looked at her fallen cone her eyes welling in tears.

"Oh dear," Her mother said.

"M-my ice cream cone!" she wailed, cradling her injured knee. Her mother tried to comfort her and pat her back the best she could with her arms laden with packages.

"There, there my dear. It's alright; it was just an ice cream cone." She said.

"I-I want m-my ice cream," She said through a quivering lower lip.

"I know, but it's ruined now. There's nothing I can do. I don't have anymore money." The mother said looking sadden by the fact that she couldn't afford to give her daughter another ice cream, but times were rough and she had to spend the little money they had were it was most important.

They watched the poor mother shift the packages and reach for her daughter's hand. Pulling the girl up, the pair set off at a slow pace down the street. Harry and Hermione looked on the mother with pity before turning away.

It was as they were walking toward the book store that they noticed Ron was not with them. They turned back and saw him coming out of the ice cream parlor with a one scoop cone of every-flavor ice cream. He jogged after the mother and daughter, who hadn't made much progress and presented the sniffling girl with the ice cream.

The girl beamed up at him and took the ice cream gratefully. The mother tried to pay him back or at least offer him something but he refused. She settled for thanking him profusely.

"That was really sweet of you, Ron." Hermione said kissing Ron's cheek.

"Good job, mate," Harry said, clapping him on the back.

Ron blushed from the praise but smile about his good deed. He was happy that he could cheer up the child and ease the mother's burdens.

Draco had never seen such an unselfish act. And it changed him.

That evening after they had bought all their books they retired to the pub. Harry was regaling Ron and Hermione with one of the many stories of his summer giving Draco the opportunity to get lost in his thoughts. He knew that Dumbledore had booked only one room for the two of them so he knew that, that night, he'd be able to speak to Harry about the kiss.

It was a little after ten before Ron and Hermione said their good nights and went off to bed. Shortly after, Draco and Harry too went upstairs.

"Wow, what a day," Harry said through a yawn. Draco merely nodded; he was too busy trying to think of a way to approach the topic with Harry. "Too bad we didn't get to see Fred and George's shop,"

Both Harry and Ron had really wanted to see Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, but Hermione would not allow it. They had a lot to buy and not a lot of time to buy it in. There hadn't waste any time; they went from one shop to another gathering up all their supplies.

"Yeah," Draco said his voice distant. Harry looked at him, the blond seemed troubled. Though his mind screamed at him that it was a trap, which Harry would end up in the conversation he didn't want to be in, Harry's heart told him he couldn't let the boy be in distress without at least asking what was wrong.

"Hey, is something wrong?" His heart won out.

"No," Draco said, Harry mentally gave a sigh of relief. "Well, yes, actually I want to talk to you about something."

Damn.

"Sure, what's up?" Harry said trying to sound nonchalant.

"I just wanted to speak to you about…that kiss….last night." Draco said, staring at the floor. Harry tried to keep himself from panicking. He knew it would come up eventually.

"Oh yeah, about that, that was just a mistake." Harry said as calmly as he could. Draco's head snapped up.

"A-a mistake?' Draco questioned.

"Yeah, it didn't mean anything it was just…a mistake." Harry repeated awkwardly. Draco felt as if the air had been knocked out of him. How could something that meant everything to him mean nothing to Harry? There was no way that the other boy hadn't felt something. Draco's head swam and he barely registered that Harry was speaking again.

Harry saw that Draco looked a bit…perturbed but he couldn't seem to stop himself from talking.

"You didn't think it meant something, did you? Of course you didn't." When Draco was able to feel something again he was filled with a raw pain, and anger. "You have to know it was just-"

"Who do you think you are?" Draco asked his voice full of harsh disbelief.

"An im-what?" Harry asked, he had been being so involved in what he was saying that it took him a moment to register that Draco had spoken.

"What gives you the right to play with people's emotions like that?" The blond said turning to look at Harry with a furrowed brow.

"I-Draco, what do you mean?" Harry asked confused.

"How can you kiss someone and say it didn't mean anything? Do your kisses have so little meaning that you throw them about with such ease?" Draco questioned.

"Says the man whore." Harry snapped, not liking the Slytherin's implications. Draco's eyes flashed.

"Sex is not the same as kissing. Kisses and hugs are reserved for those we care for. Sex is simply physical gratification." He snarled. Harry was a bit taken back by what Draco said. He had never thought of it that way.

"That's…it doesn't matter. You didn't think that that little kiss meant anything? It was just an impulse." He cried.

"An impulse!" Draco exclaimed.

"Well, you were playing that romantic music, and the moon," Harry scrambled to explain.

"Shit, Potter, do you never do anything wrong?" Draco asked throwing his hands up in the air. "You can't even admit that you kissed me."

"No! I can't do anything wrong. I am the bloody saviour of the world! When I make mistakes, people get hurt. Every. Bloody. Time." Harry yelled. "Why does this bother you so much? It meant nothing. We're not even friends."

Draco went still as Harry shouted the last words. His heart lurched and his head began to spin. He felt sick.

"So that is huh? That's what you really think?" Draco asked. Harry seemed to think about what he had just said.

"Oh Draco, I didn't mean it." Harry tried to say.

"No, it was just another mistake wasn't it? But unlike all those other times, you only hurt me and I don't really matter much do I? I am just a Malfoy, a Slytherin, a Death Eater's son. That all you'll ever see me as and that's all anyone will ever see me as." Draco screamed.

"Draco, don't-"

"I hate you, Potter." Draco snarled before opening the door and slamming it behind him.

XxXxX

Harry ran the whole argument over and over in his head. How could he have been so stupid? Why did he let his mouth run away with him? He didn't even mean any of what he said, at least not in the way it had come out. When he said that he and Draco weren't friends he had meant it, but he meant it as to say that they weren't friends, there were so much more.

Now, hours later he lay on his back in one of the two twin beds in the room. He stared up at the ceiling and watched as the texture of the ceiling spelt out 'Draco' and 'love' over and over again.

It was two in the morning when Draco stumbled into the room. He smelt of alcohol and sex. Harry hadn't been aware that sex had a scent but, it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Shit," Draco cursed as he stumbled over his own two feet and landed heavily on the floor. Harry wanted to ignore the blond and try to fall asleep but he couldn't. Sighing begrudgedly, Harry pulled himself from his bed. He lit a lantern on the bedside table.

"Who's there?" Draco slurred trying desperately to get his eyes to focus. "Oh 's you." He mumbled when he brought Harry into focus. Harry took in the sight before him.

Draco's blond hair was a tangled mess, his eyes were blood-shot and his clothes were rumpled. At the moment the boy was lying sprawled on the floor and wasn't making any move to get up.

Harry sighed wearily and moved over to the boy.

"Get up, Draco," He said.

"No," Draco said. "I'm fine here. Get away."

"Dammit, Draco," Harry mumbled and picked him up. The boy's slight form fit perfectly in his arms and molded against his chest. A small elegant hand pressed firmly against his chest and a blond head rest against Harry's shoulder as the black-haired boy carried Draco to other bed.

Harry laid him down and Draco murmured a protest and he clutched to Harry.

"Draco, let go." Harry said annoyed and the blond ignored him. "Draco, let go, please." Harry tried a different tactic, his voice soft and gentle and this one worked. Draco let go of him and rolled on to his side. Harry sighed and began to untie Draco's shoes.

Harry tugged the comforter out from under the boy and covered him with it. Draco didn't stir.

Must've passed out. Harry thought as he went to his own bed. Just as he got under his comforter Draco spoke.

"I don't hate you, Harry." He whispered. "I wish I could. Because love hurts too much."

XxXxX

"Kill me now," Draco moaned pitifully as he sat down at the table the three Gryffindors already occupied.

"Rough night?" Hermione asked pleasantly though her eyes were curious and mildly disapproving. Harry hadn't told them about the night before. In fact, all Harry has said was a 'good morning' at least that's what Hermione figured he said, and 'where's the coffee'. Since then, he's been staring moodily into his cup and grunting responses to his friends' questions.

"Just went to a local club." Draco murmured, he felt like he had been hit by twenty thousand bludgers in a rapid succession. "Had too much to drink." After his argument with Harry, Draco went to the first bar he could find. Though his first instinct was to get something sharp and remedy the pain right then and there, he had made a promised and damn it all to hell, that meant something to him.

At the club, he drank, danced dirty with girls and guys alike and just let the atmosphere engulf him. He had had plenty of offers to go somewhere more 'private' but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Every person he danced with, every person who touched him, all of them had brilliant green eyes, black hair and a lighting scar.

But even though Draco wasn't having sex that didn't stop the rest of the people in the club from doing it. Draco was sure the scent had seeped into his pores and he'd never be rid of it.

"Why don't you just get a hangover potion?" Ron asked. Draco lifted his head from where he had it resting on the wood surface and gave him a very weak glare.

"There is no such thing as a hangover potion, Weasley." He drawled. "Surely being of a pureblooded family you would know this." Ron looked confused.

"No hangover potions?" He asked.

"No, I could take a headache potion to dull the throbbing or a nausea potion to settle my stomach but nothing will fully heal me but time. Magic is a guide not a loophole. You can use it to help you but there's some things in life that not even magic can touch." Draco said. Hermione was rather intrigued by what he was saying.

"What sort of things?" She asked. Draco gave her a small smile, he had come to find her knowledge-seeking rather endearing, especially when the knowledge came from him.

"Well, let's go with hangover potions. They don't exist because that would interfere with a rather important lesson. If I could get rid of this hangover simply by drinking a potion then what is to stop me from doing it over and over again?" Draco asked, his eyes sparking with passion for what he was saying. "Nothing. Magic cannot interfere with life or make something out of nothing.

Even when you transfigure birds out of thin air, you are really using the air partials as your base."

"Give me another example," Hermione requested wanting to be sure she understood.

"Well, take love potions. First off, they don't fully work, they make the victim become infatuated with the caster but there are no real emotions. Magic can only make someone think they are in love it can't make them be in love." Draco explained. "It can't make something out of nothing. If there is no love, or if it simply doesn't exist then you're just brewing a stalker potion."

"I think I understand." Hermione said her eyes lighting up happily. "Not even magic can take away the hardships of life, it just doesn't work that way. There are some things you have to learn and go through to become a whole person."

"Yes," Draco said, nodding. "Like death. There's no potion or spell to bring someone back from death because you have to learn to deal with it. Death is a natural part of life and when someone is grieving they are more human and more real then they ever are. Grief is the rawest human emotion there is. We all feel it and we are all affected by it. Magic cannot take that away. It's feeling pain and suffering and surviving through it that makes us strong."

Harry listened to the last of what Draco was saying and couldn't help but wonder if Draco was referring to him. Harry had told Draco how much he blamed himself for the death of his friends and how much it hurt. Maybe this way Draco's way of saying that though it hurt Harry to see the people around him die it was just a way of making Harry stronger, better, not a reason to cut himself off from those who loved him.

Hermione was silently running through what Draco said. There was so much she didn't know about magic. Things that weren't in any book, things that were passed down from generation to generation through tradition and history. Though she, obviously, disagreed with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, she felt like she understood them a bit more and thought that they were just misguided and afraid. They didn't want all their history to be washed away after eons of protecting it and passing it down. If only they realized that it wasn't blood that mattered but heart. If only they could see that all they had to do was willing pass their knowledge to the rest of the Wizarding population, the poor, the half-bloods and the muggle-borns alike and their past would live and thrive forever.

If only…

Ron, on the other hand, was gaping at Draco. He opened and shut his mouth doing a perfect impression of a fish out of water. Finally he managed to speak.

"There's no such thing as a hangover potion?" He screeched.

"No," Draco said getting a bit annoyed by his thick headedness.

"Then what the hell did Fred and George sell me?" He cried pulling out a bottle of florescent pink fluid from his robe pocket.

"Let me see that," Draco said, his eyebrows knit together. Ron handed the bottle over to the blond. Draco took the bottle and began to inspect it.

First, he swirled the liquid around the bottle and watched as the residue painted the glass walls. Then, he uncorked it and sniffed it. Last, he pours a small drop of it into a glass of orange juice that had been Harry's.

The small drop landed into the orange liquid and a small explosion sent a few drops of orange juice splashing up at Harry and dotting his glasses. A little mushroom cloud rose from the goblet and then dissipated. The three Gryffindors looked at the goblet speechlessly. Draco looked at it in concentration.

"What does that mean? What is it?" Ron asked a bit panicked.

"I'm not sure." Draco said staring at the pink potion in interest.

"Well how are you going to find out?" Hermione asked.

"There's only one sure way to tell what a potion does. Cheers." Draco said and knocked back the contents of the potion. Nothing happened for a few moments. "Hmm, taste like bubblegum," Draco said. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he began to convulse.

"Are you bloody mad!" Harry screamed grabbing the front of the blonde's shirt. "Spit it up, come on." He shook him. Draco was limp in his arms and was making an odd gurgling sound.

Ron and Hermione looked horrorstricken. They watched Harry tried to dislodge the potion by shaking Draco violently. After a few moments Draco's eyes opened and Ron and Hermione gasped and Harry let go of him.

Draco's normally grey eyes were bright pink.

"Bloody hell," Ron said and the three Gryffindors watched as the rest of Draco began to turn pink. First the colour seeped out of the top of his head and flowed over the boy in a wave of pink.

It only took a few moments before the once pale, blond Slytherin looked like a piece of bubblegum. Draco lifted up his arm and brought it to his face to inspect it.

"Interesting." He said as he moved it around. He ran his hand over his arm and noticed that he could see small indents from his fingers. Draco gave his arm a tug and it stretched like a piece of chewed up gum. "Very interesting." He said sounding delighted. He looked up at the shocked faces around him and smiled.

"You-you knew what it was going to do." Hermione accused.

"Well, no I didn't know that I would turn into a piece of bubblegum, but I figured that the taste and scent had something to do with it." He said. "But I did know it was harmless, most likely a prank for little brother."

"But- but the explosion," Ron cried.

"That's how I knew it was harmless. See, orange juice is full of citrus acid. Most potions that are deadly or dangerous have a few acidic ingredients as well. The harmless ones have more base ingredients." Draco explained. "Since the potion caused the acid to react when I pour it in, I knew that it was a base, meaning it was harmless."

The three Gryffindors stared at him in shock. Then Hermione calmly got up and smacked him, leaving an indent into his bubblegum cheek.

"Ow, what the hell, Hermione?" He asked angrily.

"You scared the shit out of us, you bastard." She shouted. Draco's eyes widened. Not only has he never heard the Gryffindor princess curse but he was also shocked that she had been concerned for him.

"I'm- I'm sorry." He said. Hermione nodded in satisfaction.

"I accept." She said stiffly. Draco smiled awkwardly.

"Ok," He said and to lighten up the mood he tugged on his ears so that they were long and pointed. Hermione looked at him and giggled.

"Live long and prosper," She said making an odd 'v' with her hand.

"What?" Draco asked confused and Ron too looked at her as if she were one twig short of a broom.

"It's from an old muggle TV show." She tried to explain but only got more blank looks, except from Harry who knew about TV shows.

"Whatever," Draco said and tugged on his cheek to try and get rid of Hermione's hand print. The skin stretched and made a sick squelching sound as Draco tried to smooth it out.

"That's attractive." Harry muttered.

"Don't go there, Potter." Draco snapped getting his face back in place.

"It was just a joke, Draco." Harry replied snarkily.

"Yes because everything is a big joke for the great and wonderful Harry Potter." Draco shot back. Harry opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by the arrival of Fred and George.

"Malfoy mate," George said, clamping the boy on the shoulder, the twins had been kept well informed about Draco and his loyalties. "Nasty luck, Ron slipped you the 'Gum-boy potion, huh?" Ron's ears turned red. Draco was sure that the boy expected Draco to tell them that Ron hadn't been clever enough to slip it to him.

"Slimy git told me it was a hangover potion." Draco mumbled, acting rather disgruntled.

"You should know there's no such thing as hangover potions, Malfoy." Fred said, sitting down by Hermione, who, Draco noticed, suddenly seemed rather nervous and quite.

"Yeah, well," Draco said shrugging his shoulders.

"Well don't worry, it should only last another ten minutes at most. It takes a lot to make that stuff." George said.

"Yeah, if Hermione here hadn't given us those sticks of gum, we'd never have perfected it." Fred said throwing an arm around the girl's shoulders and Hermione suddenly went ten shades of red. "Oh don't worry, 'Mione, I'm sure ol' Drake here can take a joke. He wont hex you for it, will you Drake."

"Of course not, but I'll hex you if you call me Drake ever again." The pink boy said. Fred threw back his head and laughed heartily, his arm still around Hermione's shoulders, how could one feel threatened by a pink Gumby?

"That's a sport." George said beaming.

"What brings you two here? Not that we aren't always glad to see you." Harry asked.

"Have a message," George said.

"Mum said,"

"She and dad,"

"Will meet you lot"

"On the platform"

"At exactly ten-thirty,"

"Don't be late!" They both finished together.

"Well we must be off," George said nicking Ron's toast.

"Aw, must we?" Fred pouted moving closer to Hermione.

"'Course we do. We're businessmen now, can't be lollygagging around all day." George said.

"Oh fine," Fred sighed. He got up and then bowed to Hermione. "Until we meet again, sweet maiden," He said and kissed her hand. Draco was sure Hermione was going to faint. Then the twins turned away and walked up to the bar and began to talk to Tom.

"Hermione, you gave my brothers the means to make a potion that'll turn people into gum?" Ron asked her incredulously.

"Well, they didn't tell me what they were going to use it for," She protested.

"You would've given it to them anyway," Draco said taking her toast and nibbling on it and giving her a knowing look. Hermione's eyes widened.

"What?" Ron asked confused.

"Our little Hermione here has got it bad for one Fred Weasley." Draco said smiling widely. "Though I cant say that I blame her, he does have a nice arse." He peered at the man from over Hermione's shoulder.

"Hermione! Is that true?" Ron asked.

"Well, umm…yes." She said meekly. Ron looked absolutely flabbergasted. But while Draco was noticing Hermione and Fred's behaviour, she was also noticing Draco's and Harry's. They were sub consciously leaning toward each other but when they talked it was all hostile. And when Draco made the comment about Fred's arse Harry shot daggers at the Weasley twin.

I think I know what happened this summer. Hermione thought. The four of them quickly finished their breakfast and gathered their stuff. It was almost time to go.

XxXxX

As soon as the foursome stepped onto platform nine and three quarters they were descended upon by a plump woman with fiery red hair.

"Oh Harry, dear," She cried gathering the boy to her in a suffocating hug. "I've been so worried. What do you think you were doing, running away like that?"

"I didn't mean to worry anyone. I am sorry, Mrs. Weasley." Harry mumbled from somewhere inside the woman's bosom. Mrs. Weasley let the boy go and inspected him.

"Hmm, well your still rather thin but are looking much healthier than the last time I saw you." She beamed at him. "Well come you lot, we better be going." Harry found it rather strange that Mrs. Weasley didn't acknowledge Draco's presence but when Harry looked back, the blonde boy was no where in sight.

"He ran off as soon as we came through the barrier." Hermione said in a way that told Harry she didn't understand but would very much like to.

Harry just nodded and followed Mrs. Weasley to the train.

XxXxX

Draco pushed his way through the massive crowd on the platform while looking about for any sign of his fellow housemates.

"Well, well, look what the hippogriff dragged in, if it isn't my old friend Draco Malfoy." A familiar voice purred near Draco's right ear. Draco whirled around.

"Blaise!" He cried excitedly. It was so good to see a friendly face, or at least a Slytherin one.

"Miss me, Draco?" The dark boy asked waggling his eyebrows.

"Terribly," Draco said, he didn't feel like coming up with witty comments or beating around the bush. The truth was that he had missed his friends.

"Aw, I think I might be blushing." Blaise teased. Draco swatted at him playfully and laughed.

"Oh bless the stars, is that Draco Malfoy, laughing. It must be the end of the world." A dramatic drawl announced Pansy's presence.

"Pansy!" Draco exclaimed and the two hugged. "Merlin, it's good to be around normal people again."

"Where ever have you been this summer, Draco?" Pansy asked as the trio began to lug their trunks onto the train.

"Yeah, we thought you were dead." Blaise added.

"I will tell you everything once we get a compartment." Draco called over his shoulder.

It didn't take long for the three Slytherins to find the compartment that Crabbe and Goyle were saving for them.

"Crabbe, Goyle," Draco greeted nodding to each boy who smiled stupidly and waved.

"Alright, we have a compartment, now spill," Pansy commanded impatiently.

"Always the gossip, aren't we, Pansy." Draco teased.

"Oh shut up, you. I have been riddled with curiosity all summer wondering what became of you." The girl responded, tossing her thick black curls over her shoulder.

"Yes, Draco, do tell," Blaise encouraged. His deep brown eyes shining with excitement.

"Well, it's a long story," Draco began. "It actually starts about eight months ago…"

Draco then proceeded to tell his friends everything. He told them about Snape's visit and his mother's involvement, he told them about switching sides and then he told them about his summer with Harry Potter and he made sure he left nothing out. By the end he was breathless and his heart was pounding. Silence stretched in the compartment until Draco simply couldn't take it anymore.

"Say something." He said softly.

"You can sing?" Blaise asked in disbelief. Draco looked at his friend in shock.

"That's all you have to say?" He questioned.

"What else is there to say?" Pansy asked.

"Wh- what else…I-you-…there's a lot to say," Draco sputtered. "I just told you that I am a spy for the Light, gay and in love with Harry Potter. I think that warrants at least a few questions."

"Not really." Blaise said and Draco opened his mouth to explode before Pansy intervened.

"What Blaise means to say Draco is that…well, we are not at all upset about you switching sides. In fact, we are quite happy about it. When you went missing Blaise and I feared the worst. We thought that maybe the Dark Lord took you to punish your father. "Pansy said. "We have been talking and…well, Blaise?"

"Pansy and I want to join the Light as well. We realized that the Dark Lord's path is not for us." Blaise finished. Draco gaped at him.

"And you, Crabbe, Goyle?" Draco asked the two boys who had been silent.

"Our loyalties are to you, Draco. Where you go, we follow." Goyle said, speaking for both Crabbe and himself.

"Thank-you," Draco said feeling his heart swell. He then turned back to Pansy and Blaise. "But what about the whole 'I'm in love with Harry Potter 'thing?"

"Oh, we've known you fancy him, for years," Blaise said waving away the issue.

"It's quite obvious." Pansy agreed. Draco whole system was in shock and the only way to keep him from melting down was to laugh.

"You could've told me," Draco cried as he began to laugh. The others in the compartment quickly joined him.

It felt good to be back where he knew where he stood.

As the train rolled through the countryside, Draco stared out into the corridor. He watched as students passed by, running and laughing. He saw a flash or red and brown.

Hermione and Weasley, he thought with a slight smile. Then an idea struck him. He excused himself from the compartment and went running through the train.

XxXxX

Hermione and Ron had run off to do their rounds as prefects and Harry was left in the compartment all alone. He sat and stared out the window miserably. After what felt like hours to him, Ron re-appeared.

"Hermione still has some Head Girl stuff to do." He said, explaining the brunette's absence. It was only a matter of minutes before the compartment door opened.

"Anything of the trolley, dears?" The witch asked. Harry shook his head, he felt to sick to eat.

"I'll take a couple of chocolate frogs." Ron said fishing out the few coins his mother had given him before he got on the train.

"Here's your frogs, and congratulations young man. You've won the one hundred chocolate frogs contest. You are the hundredth person to buy a chocolate frog today." The witch announced with a wide smile.

"Wow, really?" Ron exclaimed, he had never won anything, well his father had won the contest at work in Ron's third year but Ron himself had never won anything.

"Yes sir, here's your prize, fifty galleons." She said hanging a leather pouch over to Ron. Harry moved to the edge of his seat because he was sure Ron was going to faint. It was more money then he had ever seen in his life let alone held or have.

"Th-thank-you," Ron said weakly, sitting down heavily. The witch just nodded happily and pushed her trolley out of the compartment. Harry couldn't help but be a bit suspicious, he had never heard of a contest with the trolley witch before. As he got up to slide the door shut after the woman left he saw a flash of blond hair.

Draco

It had been Draco who had step up the contest, Harry was sure of it. But why? He wondered. Then he remembered what had happened the other day with Ron and the little girl. Draco had been so surprised that Ron had given his last coins to make a little girl happy. This must be Draco's way of paying Ron back for the lesson.

Merlin, I am beginning to love him more and more each day. Harry thought and sat back down across from his friend. And that's why I have to protect him and keep him safe.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

(an: the story is almost over. How sad! Only a couple more chapters to go!

For all you RW/HG shippers, I am sorry if you don't like my pairing of Hermione and Fred but I will never, EVER do a pairing that is in the book. So sorry.

I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT ACIDS AND BASES! If what I said happens with acids and bases aren't true then in the wizarding world it is! Lol)