Harry followed Draco until the blonde came to a halt by an edge that was a straight drop into the lake. He grabbed a rock big enough to make a satisfying throw. The blonde gave an outcry of rage and frustration, throwing the rock into the water. It made a satisfying plop on the surface. Harry hid behind a large enough tree and spied on the blonde as he gave another cry, the giant squid giving a long wail that echoed throughout the lake, as if replying to Malfoy's cry.

Harry watched the blonde grab another rock to throw, but instead of doing so, Malfoy stood by the edge, staring at the dark murky waters. His hand released the stone and took a step closer to the edge, looking down at the drop to the lake.

"Malfoy…" Harry said stepping forward. The blonde hurriedly stepped back and turned to look at him, eyes wide, mouth unable to formulate words. His mind unable to fall into his role. Instead Malfoy showed his true colours and glared at him with pure unadulterated hate.

"Potter! You stupid, senseless half-blood!" Malfoy yelled storming towards him. "Why must we all rest hopes on your shoulders! Everyone who thinks so is out of their blessed minds!" He yelled shoving him back roughly by the shoulders making him stumble back. Harry kept his feet firm on the ground and shoved him back.

"I never asked anyone to rest any hope on me!" He yelled right back. His response made a flicker of surprise show in Malfoy's face but the anger swiftly returned.

"You're such a fool! I could have lured you out and had you apparated away!"

"Nice try Malfoy, we haven't learned apparition yet!" Harry challenged back. Malfoy once more gave a shrill cry of frustration and lunged at him, both teens soon finding themselves rolling on the ground. Harry felt a punch across his jaw and was certain he landed one back soon after.

Malfoy soon overpowered him by straddling him and holding his robes firmly, using it to shake him, the back of his head bumping and rubbing uncomfortably against the firm earth. "My family is in danger because of you!" He yelled. "Because of you! How can anyone think that you can defeat the Dark Lord when you can't even realise how foolish running after me was!" He yelled, angry tears forming.

Harry shoved him hard on the shoulder and he let go, letting him roll from under him and get up, taking out his wand, but Malfoy didn't do the same. Instead he spread his arms out.

"Do it! Shove me into the lake. Do me a favour! At least he may spare my mother if my death causes her enough grief!" He yelled. Harry tried to control his racing heart to stop himself from fighting with Malfoy. Now he felt his frustration mingle with his own.

"I know he told you to become friends with me." Harry said and dropped his wand. "I saw him reading your letter, I felt his disappointment." Malfoy seemed to pale slightly. "I know what he wants you to convince me of."

"Potter… how—I mean… what are you talking about?" He asked.

"Maybe I shouldn't help… your family dragged themselves into this mess, but you didn't." Malfoy looked away.

"I don't need your pity!" He yelled.

"Yes you do. And you will accept it Malfoy."

"What can an idiot like you possibly do to help me?" He hissed.

He stared at him some more and considered his response. He sat on the large root of the nearby ancient tree and took a deep breath. Malfoy remained on his feet, eyeing him with wide eyes, as if ready to bolt or attack at any sudden movements from him.

Harry reached out his hand. "You're a git. Show me the letter." He said. Malfoy clenched his jaw and looked as if he wanted nothing more than to hit him, really hard. "I could leave you alone to jump into the lake if that's what you want." He said glaring at the blonde.

"Argh! I hate you Potter! I hate everything about you!" He yelled at him. Harry didn't reply and kept his hand outstretched. Draco stormed over and slapped the letter onto his hand before sitting down beside him, resting his chin onto his hand as he refused to look at him. Harry read the letter before the blonde had a chance to change his mind.

It had nothing new that he hadn't picked up on in the vision. Malfoy senior's tone of voice was cold and critical of Draco's success so far. "Charming." Harry commented at the other's harsh criticisms of his son. Malfoy tried to snatch back the letter but Harry held it out of reach, noticing something within the letter.

"Give it back, Potter!" Malfoy yelled. Harry was too distracted to register his words until Malfoy tackled him to the ground.

"Gah! Stupid Malfoy get off me!"

"Give me my letter!"

"I was just looking at something, ferret!" He yelled fighting against him again. "Moronic impatient…" He growled pulling back up, dusting his clothes. "Why does your father put dots on some words?" He asked.

"What?" Draco asked looking at his scrunched up letter sitting back down. When Harry came to sit beside him he made sure to do it hard enough to knock him off. The uneven branch made him slip down which made the blonde glare up at him.

"Here… these words have dots on them." He said pointing them out.

"They're just ink droplets, Potter." He grumbled.

"No, no." Harry said noticing a pattern. "Look, the dots are always on a vowel and on round letters. But…" Harry scrutinized the letter more. "The… dots on the consonants are to distract… read the ones that have dots on the vowels. Not 'i's." Harry pointed out. Draco scrutinized the letter again.

"Be… strong… son…" Draco paused and stared at the letter again for the longest of times. Harry couldn't blame him… the main letter was a harsh letter. "How… on earth did you see that, Potter?" He whispered. Harry simply shrugged.

"Anyway… I did say I was going to help you so… I'll answer one of the questions. But if I hear you sharing it around to anyone in school I will make you regret it." Harry swore. Malfoy still looked completely confused, staring at him with disbelief starting to show on his features. "My family doesn't give a damn about me. So much so that they and I both feel, that the word 'family', when looking at us, is a despicable twist of the word." He said.

Malfoy frowned slightly. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"You don't… but you have to admit… Voldemort will be happy to hear it if he wants to convince me to join his side." He said softly, looking out at the giant squid in the distance.

"…I'm tired."

Harry chuckled softly at that and slipped down to sit beside him, leaning back against the root. "So am I…" He whispered. He glanced at the blonde who did indeed have a tired expression, bags under his eyes.

"Do I still have to be nice to you?" He asked with an annoyance that did not sound real in the way he said it.

"Yes. Who knows if someone's spying on you." Harry said. Draco groaned at the thought of that and sighed closing his eyes for a moment. "Maybe we could try being actual friends." Harry said offering him his hand.

Malfoy scoffed. "I don't want to be friends with the likes of you."

"A truce then. At the very least… it's nice having someone who... feels as tired with this mess as I do." He said. Malfoy glared at him, then at his hand before he sighed and took it, giving it one light shake.

"Truce." He said.

A whinny was heard and Harry turned to look at the thestral heard which seemed to be coming this way to go down for a drink of water. Harry watched them go and watched the little colt turn their way with curiosity. It was as it approached that Harry felt Draco grab onto his arm, staring at the creature in horror and fear.

"I forgot how much of a baby you were in the forbidden forest." Harry said standing to pet the colt and stop of from getting closer to the blonde.

"What… is that?!" He hissed.

"It's a thestral…they're very common in this area. I was shocked too when I first saw them at the start of the year." He said playing with the little colt's ear which flicked away from his touch if he gripped it for too long.

"I… saw them then too… but I just refused to go on the carriages…" Malfoy said standing and coming over. "Why are they so… hideous?"

"You think that's what people said when they noticed your personality?" The quickness of the reply must have left Malfoy in shock. When he snapped out of it he smacked Harry's arm, startling the little colt a little and making Harry rub the area at the delayed sense of pain. "What?" He said innocently.

"You know what, Potter." He grumbled. "Seriously, where did these things come from?" He asked.

"They've always been here Malfoy… only those who have seen death can see them." He said once more encouraging the colt to come forward, petting his head gently. Harry looked up at the blonde. "Can I ask who?" He asked.

"…two muggles." He whispered. Harry almost thought he had imagined it. "He tortured them in front of us until they died." Harry felt his stomach churning as he looked away. Whenever he'd seen Voldemort torturing anyone it had been for brief periods and he'd hardly been able to eat on the following day. However, there was always a distance between the reality and himself. Because he was never physically there.

"Sorry…" he said gently.

"Why? You didn't do it." He mumbled reaching a shaky hand to pet the horse.

"I'm trying to show support." Harry said gently.

"Hmm… you're an idiot." Though the words didn't have the spite.

"You're the idiot." Harry replied and the little colt scampered away to catch up to its family. Harry watched it go but Draco shoved him by the arm as he made his way back to the school. Harry turned to catch up to him, shoving him back. Both glanced at each other for a brief second before Harry broke into a run as soon as Draco ran to catch him.

"Get back here, Potter!" Harry quenched the laughter that was bubbling at the back of his throat. It was easier to choke it back as he gasped loudly and skidded to a halt. He felt Malfoy crash against him though it wasn't too hard. Still, Malfoy didn't even get to ask why he'd stopped as Snape stood there, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at them with an intensity that made Harry remember years past. He groaned gently wondering how he was going to appease the potions master after he'd run off beyond the apparition wards.

Maybe Malfoy did have a point. Maybe he was an idiot.