When Harry entered the Great Hall, an hour and a half before he normally would have, he glanced, almost automatically, at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was sitting all alone at one end of the table, staring morosely into a bowl of cereal. It may have just been the angle of the light but Harry thought Malfoy looked even paler than usual (was that even possible?) and had dark shadows under his eyes. He looked even worse for wear than he had during their sixth year.

Harry was just debating whether or not he should approach him, and if he did what curse should he use, when Zabini entered the Great Hall and made a beeline for Malfoy. Malfoy seemed like he was trying to avoid Zabini's questions which just made Zabini angrier.

"Hi Harry." Another blonde appeared in front of him.

"Hi Luna, how are you?"

"Oh I'm quite good; I was just outside picking dirigible plums. Neville helped me plant some here this summer when we were helping rebuild the castle. Would you like one?"

"Sure Luna." Harry smiled and bit into the juicy fruit while his eyes wandered over to Malfoy again.

"Draco helped this summer too, rebuild the castle I mean. I think it was part of his community service requirement. He wasn't much help with the physical work-" Harry smirked. "-but his spell work was quite good. And he would brew us potions should we need them." Luna said serenely while pulling out a jar of homemade dirigible plum marmalade to spread on her toast.

Malfoy seemed to have had enough of Zabini's pestering because he got up and left, completely ignoring Zabini's swearing.

Harry and Luna followed him shortly thereafter, Luna holding her toast in one hand.

"Luna, do you know what's wrong with Malfoy this year?" Harry told her about the incidents he had witnessed and how Malfoy had stood him up.

"Well he used to be quite mean wasn't he? But the war wasn't fair to him either. I think he only agreed to most of it because it was expected of him and because his family was in danger." Luna answered while her big silver eyes stared at Harry unblinkingly. It was a wonder that she didn't walk into something that way.

"Ah Harry, what is troubling you now?" Dumbledore said, sliding into an empty portrait next to a suit of armor.

Harry told him some of his suspicions.

"Miss Lovegood is quite right Harry, the young Mr. Malfoy might have believed the ideals of his family and Voldemort, but as times changed he started to realize that he wasn't on the side he agreed with."

"-but then why didn't he join our side?"

"You foolish boy, do you think someone can just hand in a resignation to the Dark Lord and live to tell the tale?!" Snape had appeared behind Harry in a painting of wizards playing cards who looked disapprovingly at their visitor.

"But he could have at least been a bit nice-"

"Harry don't forget that you rejected his hand of friendship eight years which must have affected his pride."

Harry tried to interrupt again but Dumbledore raised his hand.

"Harry James Potter, you embody the traits that Godric Gryffindor sought in his students. You are brave and would risk your own life to save others. However you also have a tendency to break rules," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "be a bit reckless and short tempered. Draco Lucius Malfoy embodies the traits of the Slytherin such as ambition and determination. You both represent your houses well and are proud of belonging to your houses. Yet you are both too proud to get along."

"He is arrogant." Harry muttered under his breath.

"Well being proud can lead to arrogance, however-"

"Potter you are just as arrogant as Mr. Malfoy but being the 'Savior of the Wizarding World'-" Snape spat.

"Severus..." Dumbledore said warningly. "Harry, you must be getting to class but think on what we've said."

"Thanks, Professor." Harry said before hurrying away. At the end of the corridor he walked into Seamus who blushed furiously when he saw Harry. His hair was tousled and his robes were disheveled.

"Er- hiya Harry! See ya in Transfiguration." And he hurried away before Harry could say anything.

When Harry arrived in transfiguration ten minutes later, he sat down between Ron and Dean, whose tie was loose and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone.

This day couldn't get any weirder.

AN: Please Review! :)