A/N – So I got down to writing the next chap…and realised it was already written…don't remember writing it and don't know if it carries on right but…I really just can't be bothered to check so ha! Deal with it and enjoy x

Magick Moon – Trying not to do OCC…realised that many of the Draco/Harry were OCC…damn Cordy for trying to get me away from that! x

Oh girl – Thank you x

Hell's Sorrow – Yes I have realised that I seem to be following Draco but there are some chapters following Harry…that way you get to see how both are feeling and how those feelings progress x

All knowing alien – Sorry for the wait…somehow this chap and the next were already written…wow I'm typing in my sleep. x

Fiery Aries – Harry always suffers…he suffers worse because he thinks he's the only one who suffers in the world and I will stop there before I get into another I HATE HARRY rant x

NATWEST – thanks x

Lecter – Darling I know you are secretly turned on by thoughts of Draco and Harry don't try to hide it now mwah ha ha ha. x

Cordy – Ha ha I have risen above your critique! You tried to shoot me down and failed tee hee! x

Chapter 3 – Burning Bridges

Malfoy lay awake in the Slytherin dorm. He was staring at the ceiling trying to think of something other than Harry bloody Potter. Since the train all Malfoy was able to think about was how much Harry needed someone right now and how, even though he was surrounded by people who loved him, he couldn't talk to a single one of them. Malfoy wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him, tell him to get a grip, cheer up, enjoy what life he had ahead of him, just stop walking around so depressed. The only thing was…Malfoy didn't know why he wanted to do that. He had always hated Harry, always had probably always will but lying in his bed with absolutely nothing else to think about was making him realise things, things that frankly he didn't even want to think about.

Malfoy realised with a dawning horror that he didn't hate Harry Potter. All those years scorning him and making fun of him at every opportunity and for what? Harry had never done anything to him, in fact Malfoy had started all this on their very first meeting, slagging off the only friend Harry had made thus far in the school term.

Ever since that first meeting Malfoy had spent every night thinking about Harry and how much he hated him, so it came as quite a blow to realise that he didn't actually dislike Harry at all. In fact seeing him in such a state over the past few days almost made Malfoy want to bury the hatchet…but he had burned that bridge long ago.

The following morning was a Saturday. A day that would normally be devoted to relaxing and escaping from the pressures of the week…not for those doing their final year in Hogwarts who had been plagued with homework and Malfoy knew that if he wanted any time to relax on the weekend he would seriously have to get all that work out of the way, then just maybe he might have a couple of hours on the Sunday to himself.

It sounded like a great plan and for a while it worked. Malfoy spent hours locked in the dorm working on his potions essay and perfecting it until it reached the standard he wanted and Snape expected. He got onto a roll and managed to get halfway through his Defence Against the Dark Arts assignment when an owl arrived for him, one from his mother no less. Malfoy frowned and allowed the owl to fly in delivering the letter before swooping out again, obviously not expecting a reply. Still annoyed that he had been interrupted his frown vanished and was replaced with a sinking feeling in his stomach as he read the words 'Your father's home.'

So Lucius Malfoy had managed to bargain his way out of prison at last. It really did put some emphasis on the saying it's not what you know but who you know. Malfoy read over his mother's words praising the heavens (and some wizard, an old friend of his father's in with the law enforcement department), but where he should have been ecstatic he just felt empty. So now his father was back and the pressure was once again on to make Draco into the perfect wizard his parents wanted. Draco crumpled up the letter and left his room heading into the castle, just trying to clear his head.

He felt quite irritated as he passed the carefree first years worrying about things that in a few years time would seem so trivial and insignificant. At their age the only thing they had to worry about was trying to find their way around the castle, making their way to lessons on time. At Draco's age he felt as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, his father a convicted death eater, the pressures of NEWTS after the very first week and an arch rival who looked as though he didn't have a friend in the world when Draco would have liked nothing more than to make up and be friends.

He tried to think of any way he could actually speak to Harry without an argument sparking off but he was distracted when he noticed a familiar red head rushing around a corner with a busy haired Granger in tow. Malfoy paused for a moment before turning away in disgust as Ron actually kissed Hermione in the halls…well kissed being the softer definition, shoving his tongue down her throat might have been a bit more accurate.

Rolling his eyes Draco left the happy couple and wandered into the courtyard finding that the cold September air was enough to take Malfoy's mind off his father, Harry even the sickening thought of Weasley and Granger. Malfoy was hardly clothed for the weather with just a muggle t shirt and jeans on as he walked through the freezing outdoors. New Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Black was out enjoying the weather also, dressed like Malfoy she seemed to be relishing the cold weather.

Malfoy watched the Professor head towards the castle gates, no doubt going to meet her boyfriend in Hogsmeade, but the cold wasn't touching her, or if it was she found in quite pleasant. To his surprise Malfoy found the same, if he closed his eyes and inhaled the cold air he found that it was actually quite bracing and distracting.

Opening his eyes he felt his stomach sink not for the first time that day, Harry was sitting on the lake edge, by the looks of it working on his potions essay though why he had wanted to work on it out here in the cold Malfoy had no clue. Taking a deep breath Malfoy stepped over the fallen Autumn leaves, relishing the crunch they made beneath his feet as a child does, walking towards Potter, until he could see that he was having problems comparing the properties of lemongrass with those of limeweed.

"Limeweed is far more suitable for using in healing potions," Malfoy murmured, standing right behind Potter. He had been there a while, Harry just had yet to notice him. Harry jumped and turned around, his eyes narrowing when he saw Malfoy. "You won't find it in the school text books," Draco continued, ignoring Harry's obvious displeasure with the Slytherin's appearance. "You might want to try a book on herbal plants, you might have more luck."

"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry spat the name out as though it left a nasty taste in his mouth.

Malfoy shrugged and jammed his hands into his pockets, "Nothing really…" he took a deep breath and decided that it would be a good idea to say what he wanted to say on the train, "I'm sorry," he said, sympathetically, "I'm sorry about your parents…and Sirius…and I'm sorry about Tonks and the others."

Harry's eyes seemed to narrow further and Malfoy doubted that in all their years of arguing Potter had never been so angry. He slammed the book shut and shoved his essay into his bag. "Congratulations by the way," Draco added, realising he had forgotten to say something, "You defeated Voldemort."

Harry paused for a moment, that was the last thing he had expected off Malfoy. He had been anticipating a rant about how it was Potter's fault Lucius Malfoy was in Azkaban. The Malfoy family were subtle supporters of Lord Voldemort so to have one of them congratulate Harry on his demise came as a surprise if not a complete shock to the Boy who Lived.

"Anyway, there's a good book on herbal plants in the library," Malfoy said, growing more and more uncomfortable with the silence between them even though Harry's expression had appeared to soften slightly. "You should check over it, you may get somewhere." Turning Malfoy left Potter to stare after him completely unsure of how to react, his arch nemesis giving him advice on homework. Malfoy was sure Harry would dismiss the entire meeting but was somewhat surprised when he passed the library later on to catch a glance at Harry pouring over the very book Draco had recommended whilst frantically scribbling down notes. As he passed, Draco couldn't help but smile to himself, it was a start after all.

TBC