A/N: Hey Guys, sorry this one's a bit late, i've had a busy week. Hope you like it, please review. :)

...

Chapter 7 - The confrontation

Walking into potions that morning, Harry's heart began to beat faster, and he could feel a swarm of butterflies buzzing around in his stomach. What the hell was he going to say to Malfoy? Clutching the death threats in his hand, he turned into the room and looked up to find Malfoy not there yet. Thinking this was really odd Harry sat down in his usual seat. Malfoy was always there first. Always. Harry began to wonder if he would ever turn up, when just as Slughorn rose to begin, Malfoy rushed in.

"Sorry i'm late professor, got held up" he mumbled as he passed the front and went to sit at the back, as far away from Harry as possible. Harry realised that Malfoy had been late on purpose, knowing him, he probably realised that he never managed to successfully hide those notes, so of course he knew Harry had seen them. By being late Harry would not have a chance to talk to Malfoy before the lesson started. Harry hoped that this lesson they would be left to work by them selves, unfortunately, Slughorn had other plans. For the whole lesson Harry didn't have one chance to speak to Malfoy. As time drew on Harry became more and more frustrated, which lead him to miss important details from what Slughorn was saying. If Harry didn't sort this out soon, he was going to fail Potions. As the lesson went on, Harry peered over at Malfoy, he was in exactly the same position as he had been when the lesson started, slightly turned away from Harry's direction, his back impossibly straight, leaning slightly over the table where he sat writing notes. Looking up at his face, Harry could see Malfoy's look of concentration as he tried his hardest to focus on his work. His bleach blond hair, now slightly too long, tumbled down each side of his face, falling into his eyes constantly, which meant he was always brushing it away. Harry had the weirdest thought that his hair like that made him look ruggedly handsome. Harry imagined leaning over and tucking that luscious blond lock back behind his ear, he could almost feel himself moving, when a particularly loud noise sounded from the front. Someone had dropped their quill, thank god for that, Harry had no idea what had just happened but he didn't like it. The noise from the front, also managed to snap Malfoy out of his concentration, as he looked around, he suddenly caught Harry watching him. Malfoy snapped back to his work, with doubled vigour, at the same time Harry could see a deep pink flush creep up the side of his neck. This was unlike Malfoy, he thought, getting embarrassed at someone staring at him, Malfoy loved attention. Harry could not figure it out, and in the end decided to continue with his work.

Near the end of the lesson, Harry had come up with a plan to talk to Malfoy, to ensure that he finally got some answers, he just hoped that it would work. Slughorn, eventually finished speaking and allowed everyone to pack up, Harry and Malfoy had already put their things away and were waiting to be let out. Immediately, Malfoy was up and walking rather quickly to the door, but Harry was close behind him. Malfoy rounded the corner, and went up the stairs, passing a long tapestry. Just as he reached the end Harry grabbed Malfoy by the waist, and hauled him behind the tapestry, where Harry knew their was a hidden passage way. Forcing Malfoy through, Harry came after and blocked off the entrance, so there was no way to escape. Although as he stood there, it didn't enter his mind that Malfoy had in his possession two wands, whereas Harry had none.

"POTTER! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Malfoy raged as he attempted to realign his uniform.

"I want answers Malfoy. You made sure that I wouldn't get any during that lesson, so i'm not letting you go until I get some now." Harry stood their, arms folded across his chest, staring straight at Malfoy, waiting expectantly for a reply.

"Leave me alone Potter, I don't want you to get involved, it's my business." Harry had the weirdest feeling that Malfoy somehow didn't quite believe what he was saying. He didn't look at Harry as he said this, and he began to fidget, a rarity in the Malfoy household Harry was sure.

Sensing an opportunity, Harry decided to press a little harder, "I found the death threats Malfoy, you didn't do a very good job of hiding them. What happened? One of your victims finally had enough of your bullying….

"Potter, leave it…" Malfoy snarled.

Harry pushed further, "Or maybe a scorned lover, out to seek revenge,"

"Harry, please stop!"

That froze Harry in his tracks. Malfoy had never called Harry by his first name. Peering more closely at Malfoy, Harry could now see how pale he had gotten, his bright blue eyes rimmed with dark bags, from where he hadn't slept. An ice cold feeling swept through his veins. Malfoy was terrified.

"You don't know who these are from do you?" Harry questioned, a lot gentler than before. He watched as Malfoy slowly moved his gaze to stare into Harry's eyes. His gaze reminded Harry of a cat, as it's introduced to a stranger. Very cautious, but with a hint of curiosity.

"I told you, I don't want to talk about it." Malfoy, said, which much less enthusiasm as before. Harry was so close, to making him crack.

"Malfoy, if you could for one minute stop being a stubborn prick and listen to me. I want to help." Harry finished, still looking at Malfoy. He could tell the second he had won. Malfoy's shoulders dropped, his head drooped, so his hair fell around his eyes. Harry, forced his hands behind his back, just incase he felt the urge to tuck the fallen strands behind Malfoy's ears again.

"No, I don't know who sent them. There, are you happy now Potter?" Harry was far from happy.

Malfoy was by no means Harry's friend, but even Harry could see that he was different. Gone was the arrogant rich kid who bullied everyone in his wake, and openly supported the dark arts. In his place was a darker, broodier shadow of the Malfoy Harry knew. He never saw Malfoy around the corridors anymore, he would always be in his own common room, or in the library. At meal times, he would sit with Pansy and Blaise but he wouldn't engage in conversation. Harry had even begun to enjoy Malfoy's company in potions lessons, so did this boy really deserve to be given death threats? No, Harry was definitely not Happy.

"Let me help you." Harry said suddenly. Malfoy whipped his head up in surprise.

"Potter, i'm warning you, i'm in no mood to joke so leave me alone and get out of my way" Malfoy curled his lip into a sneer.

"I'm being serious Malfoy, I have nothing better to do, and to be honest i'm starting to miss the old Malfoy who couldn't go 5 minutes without insulting me in some way." This last part wasn't strictly true, but Harry thought it might help persuade Malfoy to listen to Harry.

For a long moment, Malfoy looked up at Harry, as if trying to see what Harry was up to, after a while, he resolved.

"Fine, you can help, but don't go running off to your sidekicks. I do not want this to get out. I mean it Potter. Keep your mouth shut!" Malfoy, became very serious and Harry did not bother to argue. Harry help up his hands in submission, and a small smile played in his lips.

"My lips are sealed." Harry mimed zipping up his lips, then put his hands into his pockets. All of a sudden, now the problem had been sorted, they both realised that they were still behind the tapestry, in quite a small space, where no one could see them. Malfoy's cheeks once again turned a bright pink, and Harry began to shuffle his feet.

"Can I go now Potter, or do you intend to keep me here forever?" Malfoy said this very lazily. Harry moved back against the wall to leave a small gap for Malfoy to squeeze passed. Looking faintly displeased, Malfoy walked over, and moving sideways, shimmied his body through the tight gap. It was so small that Malfoy couldn't help but slide up against Harry's body, at one point they were nose to nose, their chests pressed against each other, Malfoy's breathing had become rapid and uneven. With a final push, Malfoy had escaped Harry, and now moved towards the hole in the wall. Just before he disappeared, Malfoy turned back to look at Harry.

"Oh, by the way, you might need this." Malfoy, reached into his pocket and revealed Harry's wand, he chucked it over to Harry, who caught it. Harry was astonished, he had completely forgotten that Malfoy had his wand. Malfoy left then, snickering at Harry's shocked face.

Harry couldn't believe what he had just done. Kidnapped Malfoy, forced the two of them to be alone together for a long period of time, where Harry on a number of occasions tried to make him angry. However, not once did it occur to Harry that by putting himself in that situation, Malfoy could have hexed him, jinxed him, even cursed him, and no one would know. Harry focused hard on this revelation. He didn't move for several minutes, still in shock from what he had realised, or so he told him self. Deep down though, he still couldn't forget, how where Draco's chest had touched his, there was a warm burning sensation spreading across his chest, that heated up his entire body, as if he were filled with electricity. Slowly his senses returned to him, and he slowly made his way to the opening. Stashing his wand in his robes, he climbed out from behind the tapestry, and made his way towards the Gryffindor common room. Harry silently hoped Ron and Hermione had lessons, as he didn't want to explain where he had been for the past half an hour. Trudging along the corridor, Harry began to think over everything he had learned.

…..

Harry, climbed through the portrait hole and into the common room, and immediately stumbled across Ron. Great.

"Hey mate, where've you been, I was just going to look for you?" Ron asked, he looked flushed, as though he had just gone for a jog outside. More likely, him and Hermione had been together whilst Harry was in Potions.

"I was just in the library, Slughorn, spent the entire lesson droning on about some new potion we have to make, I figured I better actually find out what the potion was. " This wasn't technically a lie but wasn't really the truth either. Slughorn had mentioned a new potion, but Harry didn't care what it was. This answer though seemed to satisfy Ron, as he sat back down on a sofa, and promptly dozed off. Harry carried on to his room, and sat down on the bed. He then pulled out all of the death threats and looked them over again. The same question kept bugging Harry, why would someone want Malfoy dead? Harry decided that in order to figure out who was sending the notes, he needed to figure out what he had done to cause so much pain. Harry could tell that their next conversation wasn't going to be very pretty but unfortunately it was all Harry had to go on.

Instinctively, Harry got out the marauders map, muttering under his breath he said "I solemnly swear that i'm up to no good." Instantly, Harry could see the outline of Hogwarts appearing on the parchment. A few seconds later the map was complete. Harry looked over the map until he found what he was looking for. Over by the dungeons, where the Slytherin common room was, Harry could see Malfoy pacing up and down. There was no one else in the common room, so he wasn't talking to anyone, just thinking Harry decided. Putting the map away, Harry thought that he would forget about Malfoy for a while and focus on his work. So grudgingly, he went back down stairs and sat opposite Ron. Waking him up with a tickling charm, they both settled down to work, Ron occasionally jerking to the side where the tickling jinx had yet to wear off. Safe to say, Ron was not very happy with Harry.