Harry knew all too well the rumors that must now be going around. But if Hogwarts thought he and Malfoy were friends or even a couple ('not that that would ever happen!' Harry told himself), Malfoy would be safer from retaliation. At least that was Harry's strategy. He tried to keep his head high, as Malfoy was doing, as they walked to the Great Hall but it felt like his spine had frozen in a C-shape. When they finally reached the Great Hall, and separated to their usual tables, his realized almost all the good food was gone. To make matters worse, Ron and Hermione weren't there and there was a note:

Detention at 20.00. Meet in bathroom on first floor. -Filch

Harry glanced at the slytherin table and made eye contact with Malfoy, it seemed he had received the same note. Harry checked his watch, it was already 19:47. He grabbed the nearest bowl towards him, buttered peas, and ate as fast as he could. Ron would have been impressed. At 19:56 he stood up and left. Malfoy and Filch were waiting for him in the bathroom.

"Now boys, you will learn the hard way of cleaning a school bathroom. No magic. Obviously this one gets used the most as it's right next to the Great Hall and some classrooms. I also made sure not to clean it during the day so you would have a bit to clean. Get to it." He grinned evily and left them alone with Mrs. Norris.

Filch had been right, there was a lot to clean and the stench was horrid. For two hours they scrubbed and mopped and disinfected until their arms were numb. They worked side-by-side but didn't talk as Mrs. Norris was constantly watching them.

When they were finally finished Filch appeared again to release them with a "Next time I catch you, it'll be all the bathrooms in the castle!". Stiff, dirty, and tired both boys headed back to common room. They were almost there when they ran into a group of boys. They had been talking but broke off at the sight of Harry and Malfoy. Harry thought he recognized one or two of them. All were glaring at Malfoy who carried himself even taller than usual but at the same time, stepped closer to Harry. When they went around the next corner, the boys behind them started talking again quietly. Malfoy didn't say a word until they reached the common room but his pace quickened.

"Good night, Potter."

"Er, same to you."

Friday morning dawned cold and windy. Harry stared at the clouds moving across the ceiling.

"You alright mate?" Ron asked over a mouthful of bacon.

"A little stiff."

"I would be too if I spent the day sleeping on the floor in front of Malfoy." Ron remarked smirking, clearly slytherin influence wasn't good on him. "Hermione was torn between being furious at you for missing class and gossiping with Pansy."

"Good to see you're all getting along." Harry grimaced as he massaged his neck.

"We're the best of friends, right Weasel-King?" The three slytherins had arrived along with Hermione.

"Don't push it Zabini." Ron warned but moved over all the same.

"Did you have a good nights sleep, Potter?" Blaise asked with a grin.

"Fantastic actually." Harry replied dryly still massaging his neck.

"A bit sore from yesterday perhaps?"

Malfoy cleared his throat and glared at Blaise.

"Hello Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and other slytherins who names I don't yet know." Luna had arrived carrying a basket full of herbs. "I was just helping Professor Sprout when I ran into Professor Slughorn and he asked me to ask you, Draco, if you might be so kind as to brew some pepperup potions for Madam Pomfrey. He said you had agreed to it when Harry suggested it."

Harry froze, he had completely forgotten to ask Malfoy about it and now the latter was staring at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Well if that's what Potter here arranged, you can tell Slughorn I'll be more than happy to assist him though I'm sure Potter wouldn't mind helping as well." Malfoy said smoothly. As soon as Luna had vanished from sight, his tone changed, "What did you do now Potter?" he said, a bit tiredly.

"Er, well Madam Pomfrey is always low on potions and Slughorn doesn't have the time and you're not on the quidditch team anymore so I thought that you might be willing to…well help with brewing the potions?"

"And Slughorn agreed to this?"

"Yeah."

"But I didn't. I wasn't even asked."

"Ah right, well I know it's my fault and I should have-"

"Obviously."

"So you won't do it?"

"No, I will." Malfoy said while calmly sipping his pumpkin juice.

'Seriously?' Harry wanted to shout. 'How can one person be so difficult and aggravating?' He ran his hands through his hair and looked to his friends for advice. Hermione was hiding her grin behind a book while Ron was concentrating on his bacon. Harry returned to his own bacon, stabbing it a bit harder with his fork than was necessary.

Luckily, Harry had a break from the slytherins all morning. After charms, Ron suggested they spend their lunch and free period outside to enjoy what might be the last warm weather. The three chatted cheerfully as they made their way to their favorite tree by the lake. Ron had brought his chess set and Hermione a book. As they sat there, Hermione reading, and Harry losing to Ron, it felt just like old times.

"Don't you three look cozy."

'Oh no.' Harry groaned inwardly. Pansy had arrived along with Blaise and Malfoy.

"We brought refreshments, and cookies. Welcome to the dark side." Blaise said winking as he levitated a small tray into their midst. The slytherins settled down among them and stretched out.

Ron sniffed a bit suspiciously at the hot cocoa at first but his constant appetite won out. Hermione took a cookie and continued reading as if nothing had happened.

"Checkmate." Ron said grinning. "Have I taught you nothing?"

Harry groaned. "I give up."

"I'll play." Blaise said and moved closer.

Ron looked doubtful, "If you say so. Are you any good?"

"I've played a few times." Blaise said innocently. "But let's make this interesting." His smile widened considerably. Pansy and Malfoy both looked up with identical evil smirks. "Loser has to throw a dung bomb into the staff room tomorrow."

"Done." Said Ron without hesitation. He clearly thought he was going to win. "I'll let you start."

"So gracious." Blaise said flashing his killer smile.

The game started quite good for Ron but Blaise's smile never wavered. After a few minutes Ron's grin disappeared and he was concentrating so hard it looked like he was attempting to lay a dragon egg. Hermione continued to read, Pansy was watching the chess game along with Harry, and Malfoy had stretched out and was dosing in the sun.

"Checkmate." Blaise said with a Cheshire cat grin. Ron looked stunned. Hermione put down her book and leaned in. Malfoy open his eyes and sat up. The tension grew as everyone looked at Ron to see how he would react.

Ron seemed to be fighting an internal battle. Finally he asked, "Bloody hell. Show me how you just did that."

Hermione smiled and leaned back. Pansy and Malfoy leaned in closer while Blaise explained his strategy.

Harry took the last cookie, leaned back and relaxed. Times had changed and maybe now they could actually get along. At least it was better than being constantly on the lookout for hexes in the corridors.

At midnight the entire potions club met in the entrance hall with their winter cloaks, dragonhide gloves and baskets.

"Everyone here?" Slughorn asked. "Good. Follow me to the forbidden forest. We'll be picking the moonsickle petals there, globe mushrooms, and lacewing flies. But make sure to stay close to the main trail. I don't want to have to send out a search party. Remember, if you ever are in need of help send up red sparks with your wand."

It was completely dark as they left the warm castle except for the full moon and a few lanterns to light their way. Bats flew low overheard, attracted to the lights of their wands. The wind had picked up and the students fastened their cloaks tighter.

The forest seemed like an impenetrable wall in front of them; a mass of darkness with a beginning but no end. No one talked as they walked into the forest. It was very quiet, too quiet. Many of the students had surely never before been in the forest but heard the rumors of the werewolves, centaurs, and giant spiders. They began to spread out in groups, moving carefully and jumping at every sudden noise.

"Well let's get this over with, it's cold." Malfoy sniffed and started searching for the silver petals, his wand lighting up the forest floor.

They had been steadily gathering petals for about an hour when spells lit up the darkness. The spells were aimed at them. Harry quickly pulled Malfoy behind a tree. The latter had paled. Both pulled their wands out, nodded at each other and stepped out from behind the tree.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted.

"Stupify!" Malfoy cried.

The tree next to Harry splintered with another spell. He couldn't see their attackers. Another minute later and the forest was as quiet as before. Their attackers had fled as quickly as they had come. Harry looked over at Malfoy who was seemingly unhurt, just as breathless as he was.

"Did you recognize them?"

"No. But they must have been in Potions Club and in Hogwarts' Anti-Death Eater Club." Malfoy said bitterly. They stared at each other for another second before returning to gathering petals when Malfoy stopped. "Potter, I think we're lost," with a trace of fear in his voice; Harry couldn't help but remember that the last time he and Malfoy had been together in the forest, they had come across Voldemort.

Harry looked around and realized they were all alone and he couldn't see the path anymore. The trees were so high he couldn't see the castle either. The woods were completely silent besides for the wind. Harry had the feeling countless animal eyes were watching them. The sooner they returned to the castle, the better.

"Do you know which direction to the castle?" Malfoy asked.

"That's the hard way. Accio Firebolt!" Harry grinned at Malfoy's surprised look. Less than a minute later, the firebolt soared over the trees right in front of Harry. He climbed on and looked at Malfoy expectantly.

The latter shrugged. "Mine is at home."

"Get on." Harry said. He slid forward. Even in the darkness he saw Malfoy grimace. He took both their full baskets and transfigured them into small boxes that he put in his cloak pocket.

"Right." He got on the broom, leaving as much room as possible between him and Harry as possible. Harry rolled his eyes knowing he couldn't see him.

Harry kicked hard off the ground and the firebolt shot straight up. Malfoy who had been taken unawares had to grab Harry around the waist as not to fall off.

"Potter!" Harry grinned and leaned forward to push the firebolt as fast as possible low over the trees. He could just make out Hogwarts in the distance. Malfoy's arms around him loosened so Harry jerked up the broomhandle; they did several loop-the-loops. Malfoy started laughing, making Harry realize he had never heard him truly laugh, without it being malicious, before and it was a sound he liked. Malfoy's arms left his waist so he could hold onto the broomhandle behind Harry while pressing his chest into Harry's back. This new position gave him control of the broom as well and he immediately pulled them into a tight and very fast corkscrew. They were nearing the castle now at full-speed. In the very last second Malfoy pulled them out of the corkscrew to soar around the castle, dipping under the bridges, through the owlery, across the quidditch pitch, and finally landing on the astronomy tower.

As they climbed off the broom, Harry noticed that Malfoy's hair was thoroughly windswept and his cheeks were flushed, from the wind and happiness. 'It suits him.' Harry couldn't help thinking.

"Do you think you could get your broom here? We could play quidditch, the six of us."

Malfoy smiled, "I will see what I can do. I would like that."

Harry beamed back.

"Ahm, we should be heading back, right?" Malfoy said hesitantly, he was looking away from Harry again, which didn't exactly boost his confidence.

"Yeah." He shouldered his broom and they walked in silence back through the dark castle. This time they didn't meet anyone. Harry couldn't help yawning every few steps; he hadn't exactly slept the last two nights and couldn't wait for his warm, comfortable bed.

As they reached the dark common room, Malfoy turned to him. "Thanks Potter, I hadn't been on a broom since before the war." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair before smiling. "Good night."

Harry watched him disappear into his dormitory before he went to his own. He laid his firebolt on his trunk and fell into bed with his clothes still on. Only his shoes he kicked off. He fell asleep with a smile on his face and dreamt of flying with a laughing Malfoy.