He could feel the pulse in his abdomen and that served to anger him even more. His vision blurred with every deep breath he took forcing him to breath shallowly. He felt as if he was suffocating.

"Shit, you look like hell. No don't talk to me your little bird told me you were in a right mood." Bird. The lifeless form of the bird on the bottom of the cabinet came to mind and he shook his head to clear it before groaning at the quick movement.

"Snape sent me down to look at you. Seems he feels you need it."

"I don't need a babysitter." Slowly he raised his arm up to cover his face. He quickly pulled it back and looked at the bare forearm, his heart beat quickly in his chest as he looked for signs of the mark that had been cursing him. He could see the grey faintly. A glamour charm.

"Are you looking for something?" Blaise asked

"It's nothing, thought I felt another cut, guess you have to be bleeding out for that witch to actually get everything. What do you really want Zabini?"

"When are you going to stop playing games and tell me why someone tried to kill you in the lavatory?"

"Potter tried to kill me. Didn't think he actually had it in him to use anything stronger that a stinging hex."

"Guess we all change huh." Blaise picked a stray string at the end of his shirt and sneered. "What exactly are you going to do with Potter on your tail?"

"He knows even less than you do. He won't be a problem." He looked down his nose and to the office of the media-witch. Surely, she would come soon, make him leave.

"She won't come. Told me you would be okay for a bit longer, but she understands the need for guard. Seems someone is going around trying to kill students. It's a shame only Gryffindor's were being hurt for a bit but seems like the mystery assailant is also going after spoiled, uptight Slytherins as well."

"I'll keep that in mind." Draco slowly reached for the water on the table next to him and winced. If she had just left him alone, he wouldn't be in pain. Wouldn't be a failure.

"Are you through trying to kill people Draco."

"Lay off it Blaise, I was the one almost murdered no matter what the filthy little witch told you in the hallway." He sneered as he took a drink.

"She told me nothing I didn't already expect. You're a right foul git when you want to be Malfoy, but you aren't a murderer, surely there is a way out."

He laughed then and instantly regretted it. He felt the blood drain from his face and his arm went weak, the glass fell to the floor and Blaise reached to pick it up.

"So, can they not heal you or what?"

"Seems Potter found himself a new spell. Have to wait for the dittany to heal it. Pain in the ass." He was finally able to catch his breath again and wincing he closed his eyes.

"I'll ask Pomphrey if there's any dreamless sleep." Blaise rose and walked to the office. Draco let out a breath and cursed.

She threw the jumper on and quietly walked through the empty common room and out the painting. The castle was quiet, and she cursed the stone floor as every footstep echoed. Would serve her right getting caught after hours, she should've gone during the day, to hell with what would be appropriate. She should have checked on him. Blaise had shot her looks all morning; his disheveled form told her that he had been up all night with him. She had felt sick every time she looked at Harry. He appeared no worse for wear, no loss of sleep over the attempt the night before. If anything, he seemed more determined to find out what was going on.

She wrapped her arms around herself and quickened her pace. Snape had Harry, he wouldn't have the map and it would be okay. She could visit him and leave, look and make sure he was breathing before Harry got back from detention and it would all be okay. She sighed and felt the corners of her eyes prick as she made it to the door and stepped inside. Whipping at the corner she walked through the empty room and to the back, he was sitting up now, in a chair next to the bed. An improvement from the morning.

"You best be careful; someone may see you and we wouldn't want that." He sneered not looking at her.

"They won't be looking for me any time soon. Besides I found you remember; I think some time ago you told me I like sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. I'm sure people will simply think that to be the case if prompted." She sat on the edge of the bed in front of him and her heart raced in her chest as his eye finally flickered in her direction. There was color in them again, around the edges the healthy blue was trying to come back. He looked away quickly and huffed in agreement.

"What do you want Granger?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay. That all."

"I'm fine. Leave."

"We're fairly toxic aren't we. This whole year, push and pull, right and wrong. Why did we even attempt anything?" She asked after a moment. The air between them could be cut with a knife. She waited for him to say anything, to deny it but a crease between his eyebrows had formed and she couldn't move away from whatever answer he was planning on giving her.

"It isn't as if we could be anything else. We weren't going to walk down the corridors holding hand and exchanging love notes. You don't trust me, and I don't trust you. But there was a moment. A brief brief moment where maybe one day we could've…" he trailed off

"We could never have, not really." She shrugged and hoped off the bed and went to leave, he reached an arm out and grabbed hers as she made to pass.

"Why is it that you do that? Run away when things get too real, you were always braver than that. Yet there you go again, running away from me."

"Nothing else is going to come from this Draco. You just said so yourself that we don't trust each other." She placed her hand on top of his. "How am I supposed to know that this isn't just an excuse, a way to make me forget about all the things you're sneaking around doing. Make me care for you so I would get out of the way."

"You don't"