"We are just under half way through the project and I'd like you all to do a small presentation about what you've learnt so far so I can check you're on track," McGonagall told the class. A series of groans went up around the room, the loudest coming from Ron who was sitting next to Harry. Hermione seemed to be the only one who looked pleased. Harry didn't like speaking in front of crowds, even though he'd had experience, and wasn't looking forward to it one bit. Ever since the war and being the centre of attention for so long, all Harry wanted to do was to blend into the crowd as much as he could.

Harry moaned to Malfoy later that day in their lesson together. He was in a bad mood and Ginny badgering him didn't help much. He really liked her, but she did get irritating. Harry was sat with Malfoy pouring over what they would present.

"I don't want to do this," Harry groaned. "I hate everyone looking at me." He was resting his head on his hands and playing agitatedly with the dog-eared pages of the book he was studying. Malfoy was stood near him, searching for a particular piece of parchment with the plan of what they were doing written on it.

"You don't want to do this?" Malfoy shouted angrily. Harry snapped his head up. "You don't understand what it's like, do you? If you don't like being presented to people, just think what it's like for me! You're the Chosen One, everybody loves you! Most of the people in there want me dead!" he sank down into a chair and buried his face in his arms. Harry could see him trembling with both fear and anger. He felt guilty and so very stupid. Whilst he was thinking about himself he didn't imagine what it would be like for Malfoy. He was overreacting but it was true that many people blamed him. He groaned inwardly, unsure of what to do. He walked over to Malfoy and awkwardly stood next to him. Slowly and full of uncertainty he placed a hand on the blond boy's shoulder. He felt him wince under the touch but didn't shrug his hand away. Harry kept it there for a moment and Malfoy relaxed under the touch.

Malfoy soon stopped shaking and looked up at Harry. His eyes were full of fire but they contained no anger that was from the simple gesture. Harry thought he probably should remove his hand but he kept it there, something making him stay. It felt remarkable to be able to do something as simple as comforting Malfoy without being snapped at for it and without flinching away himself.

"Sorry," he almost whispered, not wanting to disturb the peace. "I forgot it would be worse for you."

"You seem to be very good at that," Malfoy said but the words didn't have any weight behind them. Harry laughed slightly,

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. He felt guilty for getting Malfoy upset. He's been in such a good mood lately and he was glad of this and didn't want to wreck it. Harry gently squeezed Malfoy's shoulder in what he hoped was a friendly manner and got back to work.

"Y'know," Harry started, "I have an idea about what it's like." Malfoy frowned at him but allowed him to continue. "In our fifth year, Ron, Hermione and I set up Dumbledore's Army. Everyone hated me then and I had to speak in front of them."

"Everyone hated you?" Malfoy seemed interested.

"Yeah, after meeting... Voldemort-" Malfoy winced at the use of the name and Harry found that the word felt foreign on his tongue but he continued regardless. "-in the graveyard, no-one believed me. They were especially angry with me after reading what the Daily Prophet wrote about me. I still hate being the centre of attention." Harry sighed as he remembered. "Anyway, I know what it's like and I'm sorry I was so...self-centred." He smiled at Malfoy who returned it with a twitch of the corner of his mouth. They slipped back into silence and the bell soon rang. Malfoy made to leave but turned back before he went through the door.

"If it's any consolation, I believed you about Vol – You-Know-Who being back, even if no-one else did." Harry stared after Malfoy with his mouth open. Nothing could have prepared him for that.

"Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy," McGonagall called. Draco stood up and, glancing over his shoulder to check that Potter was following, walked up to the front of the classroom. Nerves twisted in his stomach but the knowledge that Potter felt the same was some relief. He reached the front and stood awkwardly waiting for Potter to join him. Potter caught his eye and smiled weakly at him before promptly losing his grip on the papers he was carrying. Draco sighed lightly and walked over to pick up the fallen parchment. Potter did the same and as they fumbled over the parchment their fingers touched lightly. Draco snatched his hand away quickly and felt himself grow hot.

Eventually, they both made it to the front in one piece. Draco looked down at the desk in front of them. Potter had his hands placed palm down on the table but they were still shaking.

"Okay, boys. You may begin." McGonagall's voice moved them into action. Their speech was rushed and they often stumbled over words but as they relaxed a little, it became easier. Draco was very relieved to sit back down at his desk when it was finished. As the other students gave their speeches he paid no attention whatsoever. He was busy thinking about Potter. He was very surprised to see Potter so nervous after being on the receiving end of his cocky side. Although he appeared confident, he was actually shaking up there. Maybe what he said about talking in front of the group he set was true; maybe he really didn't like being the centre of attention. Maybe he wasn't so confident and cocky as he came across as.

At supper that evening, Draco sat and stared idly across the Great Hall, playing with his food. Although his appetite was coming back slowly, he still spent most of the time at meals pushing his food around his plate and staring into the distance as he waited for his friends to finish. Today he was watching, with some amusement, the goings on at the Gryffindor table. It looked like Potter was in trouble with the girl Weasley. Draco watched as Weasley sat next to Potter and wound her arm around his waist. The group seemed to continue their conversation and he saw that Ginny said something to Potter. He shook his head and replied. Draco smirked as he could clearly see the Weasley girl's outraged expression. After a few moments and what looked like a very heated discussion, the Weasley girl stormed from the room. An exasperated shout of 'Ginny!" reached his ears as Potter ran after his girlfriend.

Harry stormed into his room. He lay back on his bed and placed his hands over his eyes. It was all getting too much and he didn't know why. It was like he was fifteen again. At least that was simple, he thought bitterly. And it didn't involve Ginny. Or Malfoy. Supper had started off fine; he was tired but in a good mood. He'd been sitting happily with his supper, content just listening to the conversations going on around him. Ginny had come in late and sat next to him. She'd wound an arm around his waist and Harry remembered feeling the urge to push her away. After a few moments she asked him to go to Hogsmeade with her. He'd shaken his head.

"I've got to spend that lunch in the library with Draco," he'd said. He jaw dropped and their group of friends went considerably quieter.

"What did you just call him?" Ginny's expression became hard and Harry was confused to what she meant.

"Dra-" he then realised. "Oh." It occurred to him that he'd used Draco's first name. He wasn't even aware he'd been using it when referring to Dra- Malfoy in his thoughts.

"Not only do you constantly blow me off for the slime ball but you're suddenly on a first name basis with him?" Ginny challenged him.

"Well, not exactly. And besides, I haven't been blowing you off for him, we're working together on this project and it's a little hard to work together if we don't actually see each other!"

"Huh!" Ginny retorted, "So you've just been working together have you? That's not what Lavender said!" Harry felt anger build up. He knew Lavender had been spreading rumours but didn't expect Ginny to take any notice of them, let alone think they had truth behind them.

"I don't know where she got that from."

"Well she must have got it from somewhere!" Harry glanced across to the Slytherin table. He saw Malfoy glancing away and instantly knew he was watching them and wondered why.

"What are you looking at-" she started and before Harry could defend himself she stood up and flounced away calling over her shoulder, "Draco Malfoy. Of all people." Harry got up and ran after her, yelling her name as he left the room, not caring that most of the school had turned to their direction and were watching, with slight amusement, Harry arguing with his girlfriend.

Harry soon caught up with Ginny and fell into step beside her. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground as he walked and said nothing until he heard Ginny sigh loudly next to him.

"Look, I'm sorry I haven't been spending much time with you but I need to do this project well for Malfoy's sake." Ginny sighed again.

"I don't understand your fixation with Malfoy but I suppose you have to keep up the 'Hero' image." She stopped walking and turned to him with her arms crossed. Now it was Harry's turn to sigh.

"You know I had no choice and you love my hero image really," Harry said in what he hoped was a cheeky manor but the words came out wrong and the effect was lost entirely. Ginny smiled at him sympathetically and it annoyed Harry how it was somewhat patronising. She took his hand in his and continued walking.

"Shame it's Malfoy you're stuck with."

"Don't say his name like that and he's not as bad as he was," Harry stated grumpily. He inwardly cursed himself as defending Malfoy was not going to help at all but to his relief Ginny just simply squeezed his hand.

"We'll see," she said simply.

Harry turned over in bed. He was back on good terms with Ginny but as he kissed her that night he had the niggling feeling that things hadn't gone back to normal. And he didn't know if they ever would, he thought as his drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Harry was in a foul mood. Even standing under the shower for a long time didn't wash away his frustration. When he finally gave up and came down to the common room he groaned inwardly when he saw Ginny waiting for him. When she came over and made to kiss him, he hurriedly stepped away. Ginny nearly overbalanced and looked absolutely furious.

"What are you playing at!" she exclaimed. "If this has got anything to do with Malfoy..."

"Shut up, Ginny!" Harry snapped, his bad mood taking over his mind. "Stop going on about Malfoy. It's none of your business so just stay out of it!" he stormed off and left the common room.

Harry strode angrily into the Great Hall, trying to ignore the glances from the other students. They should be used to this by now Harry thought irritably as he sat down, remembering the times when he was often angry at everybody. As he scowled round at the faces he thought about how he really hated the unwavering attention. Soon students began to filter in including Harry's friends. Hermione and Ron gave him questioning looks as they sat down. Harry attempted to smile but knew from the way Hermione put a hand on his arm that she wasn't convinced.

"Hello Harry," Seamus greeted Harry with a grin. "How's Malfoy." Harry glowered at him and stood up. "Hey, it was just a joke!" Harry heard Seamus protest but didn't take any notice as he fled from the room. As he hurried up the stone steps, intending to go back to the common room, he met Malfoy half way up. Malfoy gave him a confused look and Harry returned it with a glare.

"What were you arguing with the Weasley girl about yesterday?" he asked. And you call me nosy, Harry thought with a scowl.

"You," Harry spat as he continued up the steps, leaving Malfoy standing open mouthed.

"Wait, what? Me?" Harry heard Malfoy's footsteps as he hurried up the steps after him. Harry sighed and stopped.

"Yes, you. Ginny's annoyed with me for spending time on this project with you." Malfoy's brow furrowed.

"Why? What happened?" he asked.

"I told her I couldn't go to Hogsmeade with her because I was working with you." Harry explained but he wasn't sure to why. "And I used your first name," he added hastily and quietly. Malfoy raised his eyebrows so Harry knew that Malfoy had heard what he said.

"I don't care, but I'm not calling you Harry." Malfoy almost smiled a smile that wasn't a smirk.

"Fine," he said in answer.

"Anyway, good luck with the Weasley girl. See you later, Potter." Malfoy walked away and he watched him go. He also watched him get a dirty look from Ginny as he was just about to go through the door of the Great Hall. She came up the stairs towards Harry. He groaned inwardly.

"Harry, we need to talk."

"I don't want to talk," he snapped. Her eyes widened in shock.

"What?"

"Haven't you thought that maybe I'd rather hang out with Draco rather than you because he doesn't want to waste time talking about things that don't matter?" He emphasised the word 'Draco'. He felt bad about being mean towards Ginny when she'd only ever been nice to him and patient with him but the angry part of his brain was louder than the guilty part.

"We don't matter?" Ginny looked close to tears and he backpedalled quickly.

"No, that's not what I meant. I don't-" he started but Ginny had already gone with her eyes twinkling with the first tell-tale signs of tears. Harry cried out angrily and struck the wall with his fist. He turned and went back down the stairs and outside. He needed to go flying.