"Are you coming to Hogsmeade today, Harry?"

"No, I have- Oh." Harry was going to say he had to meet Malfoy but caught himself just in time. "I might just go to the library." Hermione smiled at him.

"Please come with us, Harry. You can't sulk forever," she said. Harry frowned. Sulking? Him?

"What do you mean?"

"You miss working with Malfoy, it's obvious." Hermione placed a hand on his arm before being led off by Ron. Ron grinned at Harry lightly before walking out of the common room. Harry pondered over what Hermione said. He thought he did almost miss going to their empty classroom each week. It had become part of his routine. Harry thought back to when he saw Draco asleep in the library. It felt wrong to see Draco working alone.

He mentally shook himself. This was stupid. He didn't miss Draco. Malfoy. He didn't miss Malfoy.

Harry caught up with his friends and arranged to go to Hogsmeade with them, much to Hermione's delight.

"Meet us at the doors to the Great Hall in an hour," Hermione clarified with Harry at lunch before he went down to the library. When he got there, he searched through the musty books and soon found the Guide to Advanced Transfiguration. He pulled it gently from the shelves and settled down with it at the table he and Malfoy had worked at. The hour sped by quickly and Harry was about to leave when he noticed something glint on the ground. He thought nothing of it and put the book back but on his way back past something made him stop. He crouched down to get a closer look. It was a watch. More specifically, and Harry recognised it instantly, Malfoy's watch. He picked it up gently and considered for a moment before slipping it in his pocket. He'd give it back to Malfoy later. Maybe it would make him talk to Harry again.

"Come on, Harry!" Harry straightened up when he heard Ron calling him. "Alright, mate?" He nodded.

"Just lost track of time. Let's go." They chatted as they walked to the Great Hall and met the others. Seamus and Dean had decided to join them and they all made their way to Hogsmeade. It was beginning to drizzle slightly and Harry thought that maybe they should have used the Marauder's Map and gone through a secret passage. He laughed to himself slightly.

Apart from a slightly awkward encounter with Ginny, Harry enjoyed the afternoon. Later that night, they were all sat around a few bottles of firewhiskey in the boy's dorm.

"Your turn, Harry," Seamus said when the spinning bottle landed on Harry. His words were slightly slurred and his grin was lopsided.

"Truth." Ron groaned.

"That's so boring, Harry," he said and Harry threw a pillow at him.

"You ask the question then!"

"Okay, I will." he thought for a second, "Why were you saying Malfoy's name last night?" A burning heat rose up Harry's neck and over his face. He absentmindedly slipped his hand into his pocket and closed his fingers around Malfoy's watch.

"I wasn't," he denied.

"Sorry, mate, I'm with Ron on this one. You were proper yelling. Woke me up," Seamus said, his voice wobbly. Harry looked at Dean, who nodded, and back to Ron.

"You're making it up!" he spat out at his laughing friends but snippets of his dream came back to him. It was when Harry rescued Malfoy from the room of requirement. He attempted to explain that to them but they just laughed harder. He sighed and looked to Hermione for support. She looked worriedly back at him.

"If the nightmares are coming back, Harry, you should tell someone." Harry shrugged. The last thing he needed was for someone to try to understand his mind.

"It's fine. It was only one," he replied dismissively. Hermione still looked concerned. "Leave it, Hermione."

That night, Harry lay in bed turning the watch over in his hands. He handled it gently; for fear that, the thin leather would break. He'd inspected it closely and now knew it well. The tiny clock had Draco's initials and a miniature snake carved into it. It was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. He brought it to his nose slowly, out of curiosity. It smelt of leather mostly, but there was an intoxicating smell of something musky and almost citrusy. It almost made Harry feel giddy and concluded that the smell must have come from being close to Draco's skin all the time. It slightly shocked him that he liked the smell of the watch so much but he thought nothing of it. Harry placed the watch carefully in his bedside drawer alongside the photo album from Hagrid and the shard of the communication mirror Sirius had given him.

Draco searched around the dorm room, looking under his neatly folded clothes, under the pillow, behind his bedside table, in the bathroom, anywhere he'd been lately. Blaise found him half under the bed.

"What are you doing?" he asked, causing Draco to jump and hit his head. He wormed his way from under the bed and stood up, rubbing the bump. Blaise smirked at him.

"Looking for my watch," he stated before flopping down on his bed. "Have you seen it anywhere?" Blaise shook his head.

"When did you last see it?"

"Two days ago. Mother gave it to me for my seventeenth so I'd like to find it."

"I'll have a look around. In the meantime, have you done the potions work? I can't do question six. It's about using copper cauldrons verses pewter ones."

"This book will help." Draco pulled out a book Snape had given him in the fifth year.

"What page?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Would you like me to write it for you too?" Blaise smiled.

"Yes, please." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Page 172, but that's all the help I'm giving you."

"Thank you."

Harry took a deep breath and strode over to the Slytherin table. He tried to ignore the dirty looks he got from them and the obvious 'don't you dare do what I think you are going to do' glare Malfoy was shooting his way. He turned the book over in his hands, tightly gripping the leather cover. He'd gone to great lengths to secure the book and this was the only way he could get it to Malfoy before their transfiguration lesson the next day. He could have interjected Malfoy before he went into the Great Hall but he was held up waiting for Ginny. Luckily, Malfoy's close friends were absent.

"Malfoy?" he said when he reached where he was sitting.

"Go back to Gryffindor, Potter." Malfoy spoke without even looking round.

"I came to give you this," Harry motioned to the book in his hands. "It's a book for our project; I thought you'd like to read it."

"What makes you think I can't find a book for myself? I don't need your help." Malfoy waved him away with his hand before adding, "I thought I told you not to be friendly." Harry stopped.

"You think I'm doing this to be friendly?" he retorted with a slight disbelieving laugh. "Why would I want to be friends with a selfish git like you? No, I'm doing this to keep you out of Azkaban by making sure you don't screw up transfiguration for yourself!" as he said this, his voice rose to a shout and his pace quickened. "And even then, I'm not doing it for you, I doing this because your mother saved my life and it's the least I can do! You might not care, but I'm sure she does!" Harry was aware that all heads were turned at his outburst but he didn't care.

Draco rose from his seat slowly and turned. His hands were in fists and his heart beat furiously against his chest. Anger pumped around him and it took him all he had to keep himself calm. Even though he tried, his voice rang out cold and dangerous.

"You know nothing about me or my family." Everything was silent. Potter stood before him in a courageous stance but Draco saw that his eyes were full of dark fear and anger. "Don't you even dare bring up my mother and pretend that you know her." He spoke slowly and carefully but as Potter stood arrogantly before him he could feel fury building up until he could hold it no longer.

Draco flew at Potter, grabbing hold of him and tipping them both over onto the floor. He pinned him down and punched him wildly, not caring where his fist connected. He could feel Potter flinching and hear him yelling but made no effort to control himself and stop. Arms grabbed at him and tried to pull him away. Eventually he let himself be restrained and, as his blinding anger left him, he properly opened his eyes and saw what he'd done. Potter lay curled up in a ball with his head sheltered in his arms. As he was coaxed upright and unfolded, Draco saw his face. Blood dripped from his nose and split lip, and one eye was already going purple. His clothes were rumpled and as for his glasses, they were in a poor state lying on the floor not far away.

Potter left, with the guidance of Weasley and Granger, leaving Draco to face the consequences. Worry fled through him as McGonagall broke through the crowd that had gathered and came towards him with a very serious expression.

"You don't know how lucky you are, Mr Malfoy." Draco hung his head but relief filled him. He'd told Professor McGonagall and she thankfully understood. He was fully aware of the possible consequences and he'd got off very, very lightly.

"I'll see you in detention tomorrow. In the meantime, you can tend to Mr Potter. He's in the hospital wing with Madame Pomfrey and he will require an apology." McGonagall dismissed Draco and he muttered a 'thank you' to her before leaving the room and descending down the spiral staircase. He hurried to the hospital wing but before he got there he was interjected by Blaise.

"Draco! I heard what happened. Oh, you are an idiot! What were you thinking?" Draco looked down at the floor. "Tell me about it later," he said and made to leave before stopping and turning back. "Oh, here." He thrust a book into Draco's hands and slipped away, leaving Draco standing in the corridor. He looked down at the book in his hands. It was the one Potter had tried to give him.

The warmth of the hospital wing did nothing to sooth Draco's nerves. He hated apologies and saying sorry to Potter was something he didn't want to do yet again. It took him only a few seconds to see the bed the Gryffindor was propped up in. He didn't look badly injured and Draco was glad for that as it would have meant he would be in much bigger trouble. He didn't look badly hurt but he looked very, very angry.

Madame Pomfrey bustled him forwards.

"I left him for you. Get on with it," she told him before going towards another young student who had been hit with a spell that went wrong. Draco almost laughed as he caught a glimpse of the boy. His hair was green and stuck straight up into the air as if he's been electrocuted. He tore his eyes away and cautiously approached Potter. He wasn't wearing his glasses and looked odd without them. He then saw what Pomfrey meant. A spell book was open to the page of healing bruises, not that he needed it as he'd known that spell since his first year. Draco groaned and pulled out his wand.

"You are not going anywhere near me with that, Malfoy," Potter spat at him. Draco cursed under his breath.

"I have to. McGonagall's orders." Draco moved toward Potter slightly until he was standing right next to him. He placed the book in his hands on the floor so he had both free. He raised his wand and Potter flinched away, warning Draco not to come near him with sharp threats.

Draco got fed up and cast a silencing charm on Potter and the insults stopped.

"Just keep still. I won't hurt you," Draco said but although the words were soothing, his tone was far from. He awkwardly climbed onto the bed and with one hand tried to keep Potter's hands under control while he pointed his wand at his eye. He muttered the spell and the purple bruise began to heal. One of Potter's hands caught his shoulder and he was pushed back a little but he regained his balance quickly. After Draco had healed Potter's nose and lip, the struggling died down.

Draco pulled up one of Potter's sleeves and found a bruise that couldn't be uncovered properly unless the shirt came off. He looked expectantly at Potter who silently yelled 'No' but soon obliged with a grumble. Draco helped him pull the shirt carefully off. Potter's smooth chest was covered in red and purple marks and Draco winced inwardly. He quickly healed the bruises and sat back; scanning the slightly tanned skin for any ones he might have missed. His eyes lingered on Potter for longer than the probably should have and when his eyes met the other boy's he jumped slightly.

Draco got off the bed and reversed the silencing charm from Potter. Potter looked back at him. Draco had to stop himself from glancing down at Potter's bare chest, as if his eyes were desperate to follow the trail of dark hair below his bellybutton. Potter, thankfully, seemed to notice and hurriedly but his shirt back on. Draco felt himself blush slightly.

"Thanks," Potter muttered.

"It's not like I had a choice." Draco looked away, desperate to leave. He reached over and closed the book on Potter's bed. Draco glanced at him and saw him look away quickly. Potter sighed. Draco looked away but glanced back at him out of the corner of his eye. Potter looked tired and his hair was sticking up all over the place. He was playing with his still broken glasses. Draco reached across and took them gently from his fingers. Harry looked up at him. Draco breathed in sharply and his stomach fluttered. His mind raced back to the previous dream. Without his glasses, Harry's eyes shone bright green. They almost glowed. He remembered the last time he'd seen Harry without his glasses and remembered Harry's head resting in his hand. That and the strange similarity to his dream only caused his stomach to flutter more painfully. After a few seconds, Draco looked away and waved his wand at Harry's glasses. He passed them back. All negative feelings toward Harry had dissolved and Draco found himself apologizing to Harry because he wanted to.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you." Harry's eyes flicked up to his.

"No, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have ignored you. I shouldn't have said those things either. I knew it would make you angry. I take full responsibility," the Gryffindor said, infuriatingly.

"Stop being so bloody chivalrous and let me apologize for once!" Draco almost shouted. Harry looked shocked at his outburst but then dissolved into laughter. Draco was taken aback and felt slightly offended. Harry must have seen his expression because he soon stopped laughing.

"I accept your apology," he managed to say before laughing again. Draco turned away and was about to stalk off but Harry spoke. "Oh, don't be like that." A hand grabbed Draco's wrist. Draco looked down at it, shocked how pale his skin looked in contrast with Harry's.

"Merlin, you're so skinny. Don't you eat?" Harry's voice was almost concerned and Draco looked round at him. Harry looked at him as if he had only just seen him. Draco gulped as green eyes searched his face, aware of Harry's hand still around his wrist. "You look awful," Harry commented. Draco pulled his hand away.

"Thanks," he said, coldly. Harry sighed slightly.

"You know what I mean."

"Well, if you must know, and I'm guessing you must as you can't help but interfere with everyone's lives, I've not been sleeping well. Or at all, really." he watched Harry wrinkle his nose and could predict the question he was about to ask.

"Why?" Draco almost smiled as, sure enough, there it was. He didn't really want to answer so he just shrugged. Harry lay back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling. "If it's nightmares, I can relate." Draco threw a questioning look at him. "I was there, remember? It's not only you who's affected by it all."

"Really? I thought you were too brave to have nightmares." Harry laughed.

"Now you're just being stupid. What are your nightmares about?" Draco felt himself blush.

"Oh, just about you-know-who." Harry watched him for a second before nodding. Draco was thankful he didn't press him for more details.

"So, err, Blaise gave me this," Draco said, picking up the book from the floor. "Do you," he faltered and rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Do you want to work on the project again? Together, I mean." he was rewarded by a grin from Harry.

"Sure, as long as you won't run out on me again," he answered, smiling. Draco couldn't help but smile back. He felt as if a weight had lifted off him and had a slight spring in his step as he left the hospital wing to go back to the common room.