'I have also felt the inclination to force myself, almost in a devilish way, to become stronger than I really am'.

Sören Kierkgaard

Time seemed to pass relatively slowly compared to the number of events that disrupted students' lives on a daily basis. During that month, Umbridge's measures filled the walls of the school like a torturous drumbeat, encouraged by the headmaster's distant attitude. Tensions seemed to grow by the minute, and tempers grew frayed among even the gentlest of Hufflepuffs.

But these were minor problems for Draco. He knew he was beginning to have a problem when he looked at himself in the mirror closely than other days and met an increasingly thin boy with a deathly paleness that had nothing to do with the smooth skin he'd flaunted as a child.

That Saturday he promised himself, just for the sake of his skin, to eat at least half his plate. And he was actually succeeding until the post arrived and the mad gaze of his aunt Bellatrix pierced his soul along with a piece of news he had been expecting. His parents hadn't been very explicit in their letters, but Draco had always been a clever boy.

The silence in the dining room died as more people reached out to read the front pages of the Prophet. At the Gryffindor table, Hermione gasped. She wasn't the only one.

-Massive escape from Azkaban! - she exclaimed - How is this possible?

- It's impossible, it's the safest prison in the world! - The words and the toast got stuck in Ron's throat as he read it on his own, and he broke into an exaggerated cough.

Harry glued himself to Hermione's side to read the news. A large number of Voldemort's former followers had escaped that night, and urgent search warrants were being extended against all of them, especially the ones the newspaper considered most dangerous. Harry clenched his fists as he saw Sirius's portrait next to Bellatrix Lestrange's, having been accused by the Minister of being the perpetrator.

- He really is back, isn't he, Harry? - Seamus whispered, mournfully.

- Yes. Don't I look like a nutter to you anymore? - Harry practically spat. Seamus faced him with supplication written in his eyes.

- I'm really sorry, I really am. I've been thinking for a while that the Minister's story doesn't stand up, and this has confirmed it. Dementors would never let prisoners escape unless someone else was controlling them - Seamus whispered. Harry forced himself to relax.

- I can understand why no one would want to believe that. I myself wish it weren't true. - He saw the relief in the eyes of Seamus and many of his companions, and Harry swallowed and stared down at the table. He wanted to find the will in his heart to forgive them sincerely, but all he could find was accumulated anger.

- I find it unbelievable that in this situation Dumbledore still seems to be missing. You haven't heard from him, have you? - Ginny complained with a frown. Harry simply shook his head, and let out a worried sigh.

- We have to learn to defend ourselves. If there aren't going to be any real Defence classes, we'll have to learn on our own. - Determination sparkled in Hermione's eyes, and she turned towards Harry. - You have to teach us.

Harry gasped and tried to find the joke. The look in his friend's eyes told him there was no one.

- What are you saying Mione, how can I teach anyone anything?

- It's actually a really good idea - whispered Ron - Harry, for better or worse you've been dealing with horrible things for years, you're the one who knows the most about Defence Against the Dark Arts.

- But Ron, I've come out of most of them by pure luck and with help, not because of my skills.

- Precisely, mate - crooned George cheerfully, forcing Ron to move away and sitting down next to Harry. Fred did exactly the same but with Ginny - You need luck and help.

- What are you going to do if no one's up to helping you? - Fred continued.

- The luck thing is fucked up- George added, raising an eyebrow.

- But not the help thing - Fred winked and gave Harry a smile. His first one in weeks.

Harry pondered for a few seconds, watching his friends. Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Ron, George, Fred, Hermione and even Neville were looking at him with overwhelming seriousness, oozing with Gryffindorian resolve and courage. He sighed heavily.

- All right, we'll do it. I don't promise master classes.

- Nor do we expect them - Fred poked him, making the group laugh.

The rest of breakfast passed quickly, trying to come up with the most discreet way to do it, and forming a thinly disguised circle.

Particularly Draco Malfoy, who after five years had witnessed a lot of such scenes. He raised his eyebrow and twisted his mouth in disgust.

- What are the little lions up to now?

- Whatever it is, we should find out. I'm sure it's fun - Pansy replied, smiling twistedly and looking in the same direction as him.

- Fun? I knew that hanging out with them so much was going to drive us mad - laughed Theo as he finished his juice.

- They tend to get into trouble, and it's always fun to watch. As if you guys didn't like it. - Pansy stood up and grabbed the books, waiting for both boys to imitate her. - I could pull it out of Ron, since there's not much work left to do and he's very chatty.

Draco did the same but with a raised eyebrow in her friend's direction.

- Is it Ron now? You've definitely hit yourself in the shower or something.

Pansy pointed accusingly at Theo as she stood up.

- The other day he called Potter Harry.

Draco's jaw dropped outright as he looked at his friend. The boy simply laughed.

- We've been spending five or six hours a week with them since term started, and he's not a bad lad. I'd even say he's got more Slytherin in him than we imagined.

- I wonder if Granger would have a heart attack if he called her by her name. It might do her a favour, surely one of her dreams is to die amongst books- Draco ironised, actually considering it.

It was true that after the day he practically ran away from the library (labelled in Draco's memory as 'the afternoon with Luna and the Thestrals'), Granger had relaxed incredibly, even talking about subjects other than Potions, chatting with Draco in some classes, and exchanging genuinely cordial greetings with the Golden Trio in the corridors. But to call her by her first name was a bit too much.

- Let's go get our little lions, I want to finish this crap work," exclaimed Pansy.

The three of them made their way towards the Gryffindor table, noticing how the conversation died as soon as they were close enough.

- What are you waiting for? I don't know how you guys are doing, but Granger and I are about to finish and I'd hate to have to spend another day with this. - Draco commented in pretended exhaustion, searching the Trio's gaze. He was aware of Longbottom's jaw practically falling apart, and the weasel's curious look as Granger stood up, rounded the table and pulled Potter and Weasley's cloaks.

- We're almost done, aren't we, Harry? - Theo replied, shooting a quick glance at Draco and Pansy. The lions' already exaggerated reactions became even more obvious, and gasps could be heard everywhere. Draco had to bite the inner side of his cheek to prevent him from laughing, but he couldn't help but smile. The new way of annoying the Gryffindors was quite effective.

- That's right, Theo - Potter said, with an equally mocking grin as he took one last glance at his housemates.

Draco gasped, unable to believe what he had just seen. The golden boy seemed to have enjoyed the Gryffindors' confusion as much as they had, and that spark of irony in his eyes had managed to turn the snake's stomach upside down. If it was true that Potter had some Slytherin inside him, it wasn't going to be any help to his now grown-up crush.

Several hours later, back in the library, and after a while of trying to get the girl's attention, Draco had no choice but to click his fingers in front of her to break her out of the trance she seemed to have been in all day. Granger gasped and blinked furiously.

- Granger I've been trying to get you to listen to me for a while now and you seem to be over the moon. I really want to finish this, and I don't know why... - Draco began to complain, under the brunette's constant scrutiny.

- Malfoy, come closer - said, cutting him out as she approached with a book outstretched as if she was trying to shield them from everyone's view. Draco moved away from her in a reflex, his expression twisted.

- But what is wrong with you all today, by Salazar.

Granger snorted and gave him a look that made him move closer, because something told him a spell would be next.

- Listen to me carefully - she whispered, taking one last glance over her shoulders before practically clinging to him - My friends may kill me for this, but I've decided to trust you.

- Wrong move.

- Shut up and answer me this: what do you think of Umbridge?

Draco was a little puzzled by the question, but it didn't take him long to answer.

- Lovely person, I'm going to have to ask her to lend me one of her outfits one day. - he ironised. Granger raised an eyebrow - Okay, okay. She's a harpy and should be tied to a St. Mungo's bed.

- What do you think of the new Defence classes?

- That that book would be more useful in a burning fireplace.

- And what do you think of the Azkaban breakout? I know your family's ideals aren't that far from those of You-Know-Who, but I've been watching you these past few months, Draco Malfoy, and something tells me that you might have a different opinion. - she whispered, looking directly into Draco's eyes.

The brunette's gaze acted as a cage, and the question caught him off guard. His face must have reflected shock, because Granger seemed to take mental note of all the changes, and he forced himself to keep breathing.

It could be a trap. It had to be. What any other reason could it be?

He opened his mouth ready to extol the Pureblood values that had been drummed into him since birth, but instead he simply whispered three words.

- I am frightened.

He clapped a hand to his mouth automatically, mentally hitting himself as he watched Granger grin widely. What in Earth did he just said? The urge to run away became just as strong as the last time, and surely the girl saw it coming because she grabbed his forearm tightly with her free hand, pinning him to the table. Draco felt as if his eyes were going to pop out of their holes, alternating his gaze between the grip and the girl, who seemed more determined than ever.

- Malfoy, a group of students from all the houses are going to meet for training in secret. Harry is going to teach us everything he knows about Defence Against the Dark Arts, and you're one of the best in the subject. I'm offering you to join, and of course Pansy and Theo as well. What do you say?

It took Draco's brain what seemed like an eternity for the information to sink in.

The same feeling he had when he heard of Voldemort's return flooded through his chest, but instead of frightening him, it awakened something else. His expression relaxed, and he looked at Granger as he nodded.

Hermione, for her part, sighed with relief, calming the nerves she had been feeling since she wondered if it would be reasonable to invite the Slytherins. She let go of the blonde's sleeve as she prepared to answer all the questions she knew were coming. There was no need to hold him back. The silver gaze filled with determination and courage told him that he wasn't going to move from there. It almost seemed as if his eyes had never been as empty as they had been in the past few months.