The next morning, the two boys acted as though nothing happened, however it was all they could think about. Draco would go hot with humiliation every time he merely thought about the fact that Potter of all people saw him cry. And the only person
other than him to experience this phenomenon, was his childhood friend Pansy Parkinson and that was when he was eight years old.

Harry, on the other hand, thought about the way they just lay there in silence, still shocked at the fact that Malfoy didn't immediately hex him as soon as he lay eyes on Harry. There is also the constant questioning as to why he was crying….and why the
thought didn't cause him to laugh. Why did he feel that twinge of sympathy? It's natural. I'd feel that way towards anyone..was his explanation, and a perfectly reasonable one at that. He didn't tell anyone about that night, not even Ron and Hermione,
knowing Ron would only laugh and spread the news round to everyone he laid eyes one while Hermione looked at Harry disapprovingly, shaking her head. Not to mention that telling them would only reinforce their stupid theory that was was obsessed. He
wasn't obsessed.

"Who followed who?"

The words repeated continuously like a broken record.

"Harry?"

Yes, he followed Malfoy, but only to find out what was going on. There was no hidden intention behind it. He wouldn't be surprised if he was doing something for Voldemort.

"Harry."

In fact, he was convinced.

"Harry!" Jumping slightly, he found himself to be sat at the great hall, surrounded by all his house mates. Blinking away his day-dream like state, he turned to Hermione.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're okay? You look really out of it." She asked, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Not to mention that you were staring" He heard Seamus say with a chuckle.

"What? At what?"

"Who." Hermione corrected as she opened her book. Harry turned his head back to where Seamus pointed, his eyes locking with a hufflepuff who was talking to her friends before glancing over to harry, giggling and giving him a wink. Eyes widening,
he returned a nervous smile before looking away.

"Who's that?" Ron asked with his mouth stuffed with food.

Shaking his head, Harry shrugged. "I have no idea." He admitted honestly.

"Then why were you staring?" Seamus continued to tease.

"Lost in thought." He said dismissively, grabbing his goblet of pumpkin juice and talking a large sip. However, Seamus was still clearly unconvinced, looking at him with a 'that's-what-they-all-say' kind of look. Rolling his eyes, Harry looked
past his goblet, his eyes wandering to where he was staring, noticing that a few tables behind the girl was the blonde he had been thinking of, looking almost as exhausted as Harry, barely touching his food or talking to anyone. Surely Harry wasn't
staring at him...right?

"Ow!" he exclaimed as he felt something hit his arm, almost spilling his pumpkin juice. Placing the goblet back down, he rubbed his arm, glaring at Hermione in disbelief. "What was that for?"

"It's rude to stare." she stated before returning to her book, earning a few sniggers, Ron raising an eyebrow amusedly.

"No idea, eh?" Harry shot ron a playful glare, earning a few laughs,

"Come on, guys. Leave Harry alone." Neville spoke as he was finishing up his herbology homework last minute. In the end, the conversation had shifted from Harry to Quidditch, a topic which easily distracted Harry, Malfoy no longer in mind.

The day went relatively smoothly...well..up until potions class; that was when everything began to fall apart. Multiples of Slytherins and Gryffindors streamed into the dungeon, sitting at their divided tables, red on one side, green on the other. It
was fair to say that this was by far Harry's least favourite lesson. Not only was it with the Slytherins, but with Professor Snape.

As though the thought had summoned him, a familiar cold voice sounded from the opposite side of the room, demanding silence. The chatter extinguished as soon as his presence was noticed, strolling to the front of his classroom, his elegant black cloak
following. "Open your books and turn to page five-hundred and twenty six." He ordered as he picked up a piece of chalk and started scribbling on the black chalk board. " Today, we're going to be learning about healing potions. Now.
Can anyone tell me-"

"Ugh I hate potions…" Ron muttered as he opened his book.

"Mr Potter. No talking whilst I'm speaking. Ten points from gryffindor!" Snape snapped as he turned from the board to glare at Harry.

Eyes widening, Harry's jaw dropped slightly. "What? But I didn-"

"Another ten points for answering back." Harry groaned as well as the rest of the gryffindors, sitting back in his seat.

"Sir! It wasn't even Harry's faul-"

"Mr. Weasly. I suggest you close your mouth before I hex it shut."

He went silent. Unbelievably unfair. Both boys had to prevent themselves from muttering profanities under their breaths.

"As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, can someone tell me what eels' eyes are used for?" As usual, Hermione put her hand up before he had even finished the question. Snape's eyes casted over to Draco but the blonde simply rested
his chin in the palm of his hand, his grey eyes glazed over in thought, not paying attention.

"Mr Malfoy." With a frustrated sigh, Hermione's hand fell to her side, Draco's head snapping up at Snape with a look absent of interest. "Perhaps you could care to tell me what eel's eyes are used for."

"A catalyst." He answered without missing a beat, as though it was common knowledge.

"With which ingredient is it used best with?" Harry noticed something was sightly off. Usually, the rare times Snape ever picked on Draco, his eyes would light up with pride and a kind of admiration. However, at that moment, it looked like he
was merely testing him, waiting for him to mess up in front of all his housemates. Or maybe that was just because he was so used to Snape picking on himself, he had grown to assume it'd be the same with everyone else.

"Ginger roots." Again, without missing a beat. His tone was monotonous, his expression void of anticipation.

"An explanation."

Sighing, Draco sat up, straightening up as he prepared to answer the following question. "When used together, the ginger roots combine with the vitreous gel in the eye, which contains magic to speed up the reaction. As ginger roots don't have an
extremely strong source of energy, collisions within particles are less likely to happen. However, the vitreous gel is used to bind the particles in a more efficient way, hence speeding up the reaction. Eel's eyes don't have the same impact on any
other ingredient."

There was a cheer from the Slytherin table, the Gryffindors scowling at them. However, Harry couldn't help but feel shocked at Draco's seemingly flawless explanation. He caught a small smile/smirk of satisfaction, glancing over at Harry and catching his
eye briefly. He didn't sneer or widen his smirk or even scowl. His expression remained the same. Harry masked his shock with a slight scowl, turning away and facing the front. It was strange…

The hostility wasn't nearly as apparent.

He did notice, however, the way Malfoy rose and eyebrow at Snape, his smirk widening as if to challenge him

"And can you tell me what the purpose of ginger roots are?"

"They are used in many healing potions so to combine eel's eyes with the potion would decrease the time it takes to heal someone." Another cheer as Snape nodded.

They weren't the most difficult questions in the world, (according to hermione) but they weren't easy either. Over thinking things again He reminded himself.

"20 points to Slytherin." Snape awarded. "Mr Malfoy was in fact correct. Ginger roots work best with eel's eye, and today, you will all be using eel's eye to create healing potions."

"Git.." Ron muttered which caused Harry to snicker.

"Mr Potter." Shit...Harry cursed himself. Great. Now there'll be detention.

"Usually I'd award you with a detention for being arrogant enough to laugh in my class."

"I didn-"

"Another ten points from Gryffindor for answering back." He interrupted, straightening up and looking around the classroom before a smirk crawled onto his lips. "But clearly they don't do anything to improve your behaviour. So today, you're
going to be working with Mr Malfoy."

What?

"What?" Harry's mouth gaped open in disbelief before looking over to the Slytherin's table, Malfoy now alert with his eyes wide with protest.

"Twenty points." Groans and cried of protests erupted from the Gryffindors as they knew that meant twenty points off and not awarded.

"Silence!" Reluctantly, everyone obliged. "Maybe when watching a skilled student, you might learn a thing or two." Snape's lips curled into a smirk, Harry shooting a back dangerous glare. "Everyone else, you may begin!" There
was a rustle of students getting up, the chattering returning within a matter of seconds.

"Holy shit mate...I'm so so sorry." Ron apologised sincerely as he looked from Malfoy and back to Harry. Harry didn't blame him, for he knew how genuinely sorry Ron was.

"It'll be fine. You don't have to talk to him. Just rise above his insults and ignore him when you don't have to acknowledge him." Hermione told him before her and Ron went to work together.

Looking over to Malfoy, Harry sighed deeply before grabbing his textbook and reluctantly traipsing over to him. Draco glanced at Harry from the corner of his eye, scowling as he approached him. Clearly, Malfoy was as enthusiastic about this as Harry was.

The two stood in an awkward silence, both looking away and avoiding each other's gaze.

"Had to go run your mouth, now didn't you Potter." he muttered frustratedly.

"It's not my fault. I didn't think he'd put me with you." Harry mumbled annoyed.

"You think this is only a punishment for you?" Draco rose an eyebrow as he folded his arms, his chest pushed out slightly, his blonde hair brushed back naturally. Now Harry was closer, he could see the dark rings under his eyes a lot clearer.
They were practically engraved. It was almost disturbing.

His question caused Harry to frown, confused. Snape punishing Draco? It shouldn't have mattered but the idea seemed so off. Draco loved Snape and Snape would never even consider punishing Draco. Malfoy had only spoken to answer flawlessly, nor had he
insulted Harry and stirred trouble. Come to think of it, he hadn't done that in a while. Something is going on...but what..

"Why would Snape-" but was cut off by Draco waving him off in a dismissive manner, rolling his eyes.

"Let's just get this over and done with." He said, clearly not wanting Harry to finish that trail of thought. Turning away, he walked to their cauldron, Harry reluctantly following as he bit down on his lower lip.

"But I don't understand. You're the 'Slytherin Prince'. Why would Snape-"

"Prince, now am I? That's a new one." Draco said with a smug smirk, looking back at Harry. He was avoiding the question. It was obvious. God, how is his face so punchable? Harry thought to himself, clenching his jaw in frustration. Everyone
couldn't help but stare at the two, just waiting for their conversation to break out into a huge fight/duel. If they were going to stare, they could've at least made it less obvious.

"Just answer the damned question." Harry snapped, losing the short patience he had with Malfoy.

"Why?" The blonde suddenly stopped, whipping round to face Harry in a quick, swift motion. Harry's eyes widened as he leaned back slightly. . The two were now very close, their faces inches away, Harry's gaze hardening as he stared right back
at Malfoy.

"Well, I'm waiting." but when Harry had tried to think of something, nothing came up. An annoying voice in the back of his head was telling him that Malfoy was right. Hermione was right. Ron was right. Who followed who? Was he really obsessed?
No. No he wasn't. He ignored all of those voices, one cold, smooth one slicing right through the others.

"Exactly." Malfoy replied in a low, smug tone, his eyes shining with victory. Taking a step back, he turned back around, Harry wanting to scream in frustration. The tension in the classroom only grew thicker, everyone hesitantly returning to
conversation, half focused on the pair.

That was a close one. Draco thought, inwardly sighing with relief. Opening his textbook, he tried to distract his mind, trying not to think about the fact that Potter saw him cry still remained inscripted in stone. Surely he won't...No. He's too much
of a gryffindor to do anything. The thought reassured him, gathering ingredients for the potion.

Harry leant against the surface of their table, his fingers drumming on the desk rhymically. Draco Malfoy. What was he hiding? Harry noticed how absorbing his thoughts of him were becoming. Not one day passed when he wasn't thinking of the blonde and
he couldn't understand why this suspicion took up his attention so much more than it did the last few years. Probably because he wasn't most likely working for Lord Voldemort..but the thing was, he father definitely was hence making it likely he was
too. Now it was all he could think about..

"Potter. Pass me the shrivelfigs."

Snapped out of his thoughts, Harry looked over to Malfoy, half dazed. "Sorry. What was that?"

Huffing exasperatedly, Malfoy grabbed a jar filled with small, purple figs, taking three out.

"God...How you passed your O. will remain a mystery to everyone." He stated shamelessly. Although Harry thought the same (mainly because his fifth year was so fucked up) that didn't mean it was okay for Malfoy to say it.

"Oh. Yeah. Right. I'm sorry. Was a tinsy bit busy last year. Had a few minor issues so I could only revise for six hours instead of seven." Harry retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Ah yes. Because famous Harry Potter is the only one who has it hard. You weren't the only one, Potter." Malfoy drawled.

"Really now? Because if I remember distinctly, and please. Do correct me if I'm wrong, you had the time to make all those badges, become Umbridge's pet, expose DA. And your father certainly had the time to-"

"Shut up." Draco growled viciously, his cool demeanour slowly crumbling. Anger was pulsing through both of their veins, Harry becoming absolutely furious, emotions and resentment towards everything that happened last year surfacing. "Don't
you dare." the blonde warned.

"Hah!" Harry laughed. It was so amusing, seeing how Draco reacted when someone crossed the boundaries. Funny how he does it all the time. "What are you going to do? Go tell on me? With who? It's not like he can hear about it." Harry
knew he had taken a step over the line, but frankly he didn't care. Built up rage was radiating off of him, his fists clenched tightly. Malfoy was the same, his jaw clenched so tightly, the risk that it might snap didn't seem so farfetched.

"You incompetent git." His voice trembled as he spoke, making sure to keep it low so that Snape couldn't hear their argument. He was already in enough trouble as it was. "It's your fault he's behind those fucking bars in the first place."

"My fault?!" Harry exclaimed, causing heads to turn, the room falling into a tense, shocked silence. This was it. The moment that was building up, ready to snap, the moment everyone was waiting for. A few galleons had been sneakily passed around,
most people having made bets as to how long they thought Harry and Draco would last working together without fighting. "It's my fault your father chose to be a fucking death eater, now is it?"

"I'm not discussing this with you of all people, Potter." Draco snarled through gritted teeth. But Harry didn't stop. Too much pent up rage was beginning to leak out of the bottle Harry had tightly sealed for the last few months, and Malfoy
was now the subject to this wrath. It was his father's fault Sirius was dead. All his fault. His and Belatrix's. If they never existed, he'd still be alive. He'd still be alive...

"Your father is a cruel vile man. He deserves to be where he is!"

"Shut up!" Draco exclaimed, drawing out his wand. Multiple gasps were sounded, a few backing away.

"Harry-" Hermione began but Draco interrupted her.

"Don't you dare speak about him in that way. You have no right to insult him with that foul, half-blood mouth of yours. At least my father didn't knock up a whore, hence being the only reason I'm alive."

Eyes widening in fury, Harry took out his wand. "How fucking dare you." He could see as Malfoy began to regain some of his superiority, smirking as he knew he hit where it hurt. He loved to see how Harry's eyes lit up with rage, in a way that
only he himself could cause.

"What? You and I both know it's the truth. And what use is defending them if they're dead? It's not like they can thank you any time soon."

Harry remained silent before growling, "I wonder how long it'll take before you understand. At the rate things are going, I'm assuming not long."

"Langlock!" A white light suddenly burst out of Draco's wand, causing Harry to stumble back a little. Gasps were heard from all around, Hermione shoving past the crowd and rushing to Harry, Ron following and shooting Malfoy a dangerous glare.

"What the fuck did you do?!" He exclaimed as Malfoy lowered his wand with a smug expression.

"Why don't you go ask him?" He simply said as he put his wand away, Ron looking as though he was about to blow a fuse.

"What's going on here?" A cold, slow voice was suddenly present, causing everyone to stiffen, including Malfoy.

Harry shot a glare at Malfoy.

"He fucking tried to curse me!" He explained, outraged.

What really came out was complete gibberish, his words forming into muffled mumbles, eyes widening as he finally realised his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Laughter erupted from the Slytherins, cutting through the tension. Harry's cheeks
heated up with embarrassment, furious. He saved his ass! He didn't go around telling people that he was crying like a baby the night before, and then he has the nerve to go out of his way to humiliate him. Why did I feel sympathy for you? I should've
laughed..

With a flick of his wand, Snape undid the curse, Harry able to speak again. "You son of a-"

"Mr Potter. I just gave you back the ability to talk. Do not make me regret it." Harry closed his mouth but he was still fuming,

"10 points from Slytherin. I will not have disputes in my class, Mr Malfoy."

"Yes sir." Malfoy said, his voice low, avoiding eye contact from everyone, especially Potter.

"And you, Mr Potter." Snape turned to face Harry, a smirk on his lips. "20 points from Gryffindor and detention for the rest of the week. For Mr Malfoy to attack you, there must've been some reason for it." Eyes widening, his knuckles
whitened as he clenched them tighter. Groans of annoyance sounded yet again but nobody blamed Harry. Everyone knew Snape had it out for him. It was probably the reason why he put the two together in the first place.

Suddenly, the bell dismissing the lesson sounded through the halls and classroom, Snape dismissing the class with a wave of his hand.

Packing up his things, Draco bit down on his lower lip, contemplating as to whether or not he should talk to Harry. At this rate, their 'little secret' was threateningly close to be spilt. He could see the anger and somewhat betrayal in his eyes. What?
Just because he agreed not to tell anyone, they were now friends? The thought amused him, causing a small smirk to play on his lips. He should've kept his mouth shut if he didn't want to be humiliated. And the way his face darkened with fury was definitely
amusing. Oh how he missed getting a rise out of the boy who lived.

Just about to leave, Draco halted as he heard Snape's voice.

"Malfoy."

"Yes sir?" Turning around, he mentally cursed. Probably another lecture. He hated these.

"What did you think you were doing?" He hissed, swaying his cloak out of his way so that he could walk to Draco, a look of anger on his features.

"He doesn't know when to close his mouth so I taught him a lesson."

"You kno-" However, when looking up, Draco could tell he spotted something, turning around to look, but by the time he did, Snape had already gotten to the door, closing it shut.

Harry mentally panicked as he thought Snape spotted him, keeping hidden amongst the shadows as he watched him close his door. Something suspicious was going on. He knew it and although he had been wrong about them countless years before, something bad
was going to happen and they were going to be either involved or behind it.