Time for another update! This is basically another filler chapter. I'm sorry, but I seem to have a small case of writer's block. Never fear! I shall continue writing pointless chapters until the dam breaks. I finally got to watch Princess Mononoke this week, so maybe it'll give me some ideas.

Disclaimer: This is absolutely pointless. If I owned Harry Potter and its merchandise, do you honestly think I'd be writing fanfictions about it? I think not!

"Speech"
XXXXXXXX- scene change

By that evening, word of the events that occurred in the Gryffindor/Slytherin Defense class had spread like wildfire. When the largest group of those involved entered the Great Hall, everyone else fell silent. Harry and Draco glanced at each other in confusion before heading their separate ways, their friends following. Ginny stared intently at the scarred boy after he'd taken his customary place at the table. After five minutes, he'd had enough.

"What?"

"You actually hung out with the Slytherins for the whole day?"

"Yeah. What of it?"

"And there were no arguments?"

"Nothing extremely serious, no."

Ginny raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Right," she muttered sarcastically, then changing the subject. "So I hear that DADA was interesting."

After Harry, Ron, and Hermione all recounted their version of events, Ginny was seething.

"You mean to tell me that Snape used a spell that was obviously Dark against opponents he knew were students? And he got away with it?"

"Well, yeah. But Harry-"

"He totally did!" Lavender exclaimed, interrupting Hermione. "It was awful! Poor Harry's shoulder was practically slit to the bone!"

Ginny glared at the Trio for omitting this fact while Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"It wasn't that bad. Malfoy actually got it worse. The curse sort of glanced me, but he got the full brunt of it."

"Not that bad? Blood was everywhere! Besides, Malfoy's had it coming to him for years."

Harry, ignoring the sudden urge to tell Lavender off, sullenly returned his attention to his hardly-touched plate. Ginny steered her questions in a different direction after noticing his reaction.

"You said that Neville helped?"

"Oh, yes! He kept the arguments of the others from getting out of control, and he was the only one with enough sense to revive Professor Lupin. If he hadn't, Harry and Malfoy probably would've died."

Ginny rounded on the shy boy. "Why didn't you mention that, Neville?"

"W-well, I didn't do anything special," he stuttered, withering under the redhead's fiery gaze.

Ginny continued to interrogate them throughout supper, focusing most of her attention on Neville and her brother. Whenever Harry risked looking at the Slytherin table, he noticed that the Silver Trio, while not being questioned directly, was under the silent scrutiny of their housemates. Ginny and Hermione would glance knowingly at each other when they caught him.

Harry watched as the three Slytherins walked out of the Great Hall, unaware of his actions. He continued to stare at the doors until he heard his name being called.

"Harry, mate, snap out of it!"

"Oh, um, sorry Ron. You were saying?"

"What do you think the teachers will do about Quidditch?"

"What do you mean?"

"Take you and Malfoy, for example. Are they gonna make partners compete against each other and rekindle rivalries, or are they gonna cancel the next few games?"

"There isn't really a reason to cancel it. I mean, a little competition could actually solidify the groups."

Harry zoned out once again when he saw Theodore Nott walk out of the Great Hall, his attention drawn to the boy because he was trying to be inconspicuous. To Harry, his stance screamed predator on the hunt.

"Hey, Seamus? You're paired with Nott. What's he like?"

The Irish boy stared at him in confusion for a moment before shrugging. "He's your typical Slytherin. Cunning, power hungry, the works. A little bit violent, if you ask me. Why do you want to know?"

"No reason. Just confirming something my intuition was telling me."

Harry stood up, Hermione and the Weasleys curiously following suit. As the group neared the doors, they heard raised voices in the Entrance Hall. Harry turned the corner and saw Draco and the slightly taller Nott arguing. Pansy and Blaise were lying on the ground in full body-binds.

"So, Malfoy. Associating with Gryffindorks now? That's pathetic. I mean, I could tolerate your leadership before, even after your father was locked away in Azkaban, but now you've gone and fraternized with the enemy!"

"And you expect me to believe that you would be better for our house than me?" Draco snarled. "You don't have enough brains for the job. In fact, you're nothing more than a brute."

Nott bristled at the blonde's words. In a flash, Draco was on the ground with a bloody nose. Nott stood over the fallen boy, in shock at his own actions, before smirking in triumph.

"I suppose Malfoys aren't an invincible as they'd like to believe, are they, Draco?" he mocked.

Draco rolled his eyes. "We're only human. Besides, you just proved my point for me. What now, oh great one?"

Nott snarled and viscously kicked the fair boy in the ribs several times, forcing him to bite his lip to keep in his cry of pain. When the attack stopped, Draco stared up at his assailant.

"Nothing good ever comes of violence. You will not raise your rank by harming me. If anything, you have just demonstrated my tolerance to pain, thus solidifying my position."

Nott spat on Draco's face. "You'll slip one day, Malfoy. And when you do, I'll be on you faster than you can say 'Salazar'."

With one last contempt-filled glance, he turned and walked away. Draco waited until he had rounded the corner to wipe away the spittle dripping down his cheek.

"Disgusting," he muttered to himself.

Harry glanced around the corner once more to ensure that the Silver Trio was alone, then he stepped fully into the Entrance Hall. The others followed after some prompting. Draco glared heatedly at the foursome.

"Not. One. Word," he hissed. Harry sighed and, ignoring the threats being issued to him by is partner, moved closer. He saw Ron and Hermione proceed to free the bound Slytherins as he himself knelt to inspect Draco's wounds. He pulled up the blonde's shirt, causing him to fall silent in shock, and winced at the severe bruising he saw. Gently, he placed his hand on Draco's left side, just below the pit of his arm.

"Let me know when it hurts the worst, all right?"

After receiving a grudging affirmative, Harry applied slight pressure and began moving his hand toward the hip, noting where Draco hissed in pain. When finished, he repeated his actions on the right side. He shook his head when he completed his self-appointed task.

"Well, you could have had worse. However, I'm pretty sure that there are a few broken ribs."

The blonde rolled his eyes. "Figures. That's the second time I've been injured today." He heaved himself up, wincing due to the pain in his sides. "Guess we'll just head back to the dungeons now. Come on, guys."

Pansy and Blaise thanked Ron and Hermione, then walked over to Draco. The three turned towards the entrance to the dungeons only to come face to face with an irate Ginny Weasley.

"Oh no you don't!" she scolded. "You, Malfoy, obviously need to go to the Hospital Wing. You three are not getting past me otherwise."

"Since when do you give a damn, Weaselette?" Pansy queried nastily, not in the mood for being held up.

"Honestly, I don't. Harry, however, seems to have taken a shine to you for some odd reason. He would have stopped you guys if I hadn't, only he'd be worse.

"No I wouldn't," he grumbled under his breath, but still loud enough for her to hear.

Ginny ignored Harry's denial. "Besides, look at you! Your nose is clearly broken. If you don't have it healed, it'll end up looking like Dumbledore's. And your ribs will probably keep you out of Quidditch for the next game, if not the whole season! Not that that's a bad thing, of course."

Draco scowled at her before his determined expression crumbled into one of defeat. "Fine. I guess we're going to the Hospital Wing!" he exclaimed with false enthusiasm.

Harry chuckled at the grudging tone. "It's not that bad. Trust me, I've been enough times to know."

As the group headed up the stairs, Draco flinching after every one, he turned to Harry.

"Hey, Potter?"

"Yeah?"

"Are there any of your friends that wouldn't do well in Slytherin?"

"I've never really thought about it, but I don't think there are. Except for Neville, maybe."

XXXXXXXX

When Madam Pomfrey saw the state Draco was in, she ordered him to sit on a bed while she got a Pain Relieving potion. Harry sat next to Draco and struck up a casual conversation while their friends stood in a corner, discussing the situation the Gryffindors had come upon.

The Healer returned from the storage room and gaped at the students, shocked by the ease with which they were conversing. She shook her head quickly and walked to her patient.

"Okay, Mr. Malfoy, I need you to drink this then sit still while I do a diagnostic scan."

Draco nodded and accepted the proffered vial, downing the red contents in one gulp. Harry marveled at the fact that he was apparently undaunted by the bitter taste. The blonde rolled his eyes when he saw Harry's expression.

"Pureblood, remember Potter?" he drawled playfully. "I've taken this potion so many times since I was a kid that the taste doesn't bother me anymore."

Harry, accepting this explanation, laid back and watched Madam Pomfrey perform the diagnostic spell. She tisked to herself when the results came in.

"I don't know what you were doing, but you've managed to break your nose and four ribs. There's also some minor internal bleeding. It's really nothing to worry about."

Pomfrey cast the appropriate spells and released her charge, watching the group suspiciously. Harry couldn't blame her; he'd be wary of a group like theirs if he wasn't a part of it himself.

Draco shut the door behind him and groaned.

"I can't believe I let you Gryffindors talk me into getting healed."

"Isn't that a good thing, though?"

"Not for a Slytherin, Ron." When his friends still appeared confused, Harry elaborated. "It's a dominance thing. A leader of the Slytherins can't show weakness in any way, shape, or form. If they cave in to the pain, they are considered unworthy. Malfoy's already put himself at risk of his position by freely associating with us. Am I right?"

Harry once again found himself subject to severe scrutiny. Finally, Pansy managed to recompose herself. She scowled at him.

"As much as I hate to admit it, he's right. Now how will we help Draco? Even a blinded first year would be able to tell that he isn't injured anymore."

Harry turned to the blonde in question. "Would you be so kind as to remove your shirt?"

His eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"Take of your shirt."

"Why should I do that?"

"Well, you don't necessarily have to. I mean, I could just cast the glamour through it, but it wouldn't look as convincing."

Ginny frowned at Harry and turned to the others. "Are you guys as confused as I am?"

Ron and Hermione appeared puzzled, though the bushy-headed witch's eyes were lighting up in dawning comprehension. Pansy and Blaise, however, were gaping at him. Harry smirked, knowing that they understood.

"Potter, that is positively Slytherin of you!"

"Draco, do as Potter says and take off your shirt!"

"But Pansy-"

The girl leveled him with a sharp glare, causing his to gulp nervously. With one last reluctant glance at Pansy and Harry, Draco slowly removed said garment.

Draco's chest, surprisingly, wasn't absent of a blemish or two. There were a few extremely light freckles on his collarbone. On his right shoulder, a scar remained from the battle that had taken place earlier in the day, though it was undoubtedly less severe than it would have been if the dittany hadn't been taken. The skin was a creamy pale, slightly lighter than on his face or arms. Draco's abdomen, while flat, sported the beginning of a six-pack.

"Like what you see?" he asked smugly, an almost flirtatious light in his blue-gray eyes.

"Just seeing what I've got to work with."

Harry withdrew his wand and approached Draco, who tensed reflexively. The scarred boy noted where there should be bruises then wordlessly cast the glamour charm. He nodded in approval.

"There. You still look like Nott beat the shit out of you."

"Wow, Potter. Where did you learn how to cast glamour charms like that? No, wait, let me guess…over the summer?"

"Nope. I'd rather not talk about it, though. Anyway, going on the assumption that this sort of thing happens a lot, would you normally wash off the blood?"

"Yes, but my nose would still be broken when I entered the Common Room."

Harry turned to his audience. "None of you would happen to have a pocket knife on you, would you?"

Blaise reached into his pocket and withdrew a silver knife with three emeralds encrusted in the center. He looked at Harry suspiciously.

"Don't worry. I'm not stupid enough to try hurting Draco with it."

The Italian reluctantly handed over his knife. Harry slowly withdrew the blade, its metal glinting in the torchlight. He pulled back the right sleeve of his robes and released the glamour he had on his arm, revealing the scar from the wound Wormtail had given him on the night of the Third Task. Placing the blade at the crook of his arm, where the scar began, he pressed down and dragged the blade halfway down the blemish, causing blood to well up. Draco gaped at him in repulsed horror.

"You want to put that on my face?"

"Well, if you have a better idea, I'd like to hear it."

"How about another glamour?"

"And if, for whatever perverse reason, someone checks to see if it's real?"

Draco huffed in annoyance. "Fine. I think I may have preferred you when you were fully Gryffindork. At least I didn't lose as many arguments, even if you were more eager to fight."

Harry chuckled. "I was never completely Gryffindork, Draco," he retorted as he used a finger to smear some of the blood from his arm onto the blonde's face. "If anything, I was Slytherin enough to fool everyone, including Dumbledore, into thinking that I was."

Ginny glanced at the others, keeping one eye on the interactions of the boys. "Does anyone else feel left out?"

Everyone nodded. Ron turned to his sister. "It's been like this ever since they were paired up. Or while 'Mione and I were around, anyway."

Blaise shook his head. "Longer than that. Draco has a tendency to forget about everyone else when Potter's around. Always has. It usually leads him into doing stupid things."

Harry, remembering the several times he'd had to reset his own nose, recalled that blood had spattered all around his mouth. He added a few more drops in the appropriate places, then stepped away.

"Finished!"

The gossiping group turned to look at the subjects of their conversation. If they hadn't known better, they would have thought that Draco was fresh out of a fight. Said boy quickly put his shirt and robe back on while Harry cleaned Blaise's knife and returned it to its owner.

"That has to be one of the weirdest things anyone has ever done to me."

Draco glanced at Harry's arm and sighed at the sight of blood dripping from the laceration. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, grabbed Harry's arm, and gently wrapped it around the wound.

"Thanks," Harry muttered, blushing.

"It's the least I can do…Harry."

The two boys stood there, grinning carelessly at one another, until Pansy cleared her throat.

"If you two are quite finished," she drawled, "we need to get to our Common Rooms before the corridors get crowded.

Everyone else voiced his or her agreement. After saying their farewells, the group split up and went in opposite directions. Ron asked why Madame Pomfrey couldn't heal Harry's cut. Ginny slapped him on the back of the head and explained that it would look a bit suspicious. Harry continuously glanced over at the Slytherins, not knowing why he did so. Hermione's and Ginny's giggling ripped him out of his dazed state. He turned to them and was leveled with two fierce stares. He sighed, resolved to the fact that he was in for severe questioning when they returned to Gryffindor Tower.

Author's Notes: There's chapter 9! I know that very little happened in this chapter. I used to have some sort of purpose for writing it, but I forgot. Oh well. I've never broken a bone, had to check for broken bones, broken my nose, or reset it. Therefore, many details may not be accurate. My brain solely provided the descriptions of these events, and no research was done. On a side note, did anyone else see the lunar eclipse? My brother and I sat outside looking at it for about an hour.

As usual, I am taking animagus suggestions. Feel free to send in song suggestions as well, but it's looking like I may have to pick those myself. I may or may not update in April. It all depends on if my muse returns. I'd also like to make a shout-out to my off-line friend ShadowMoonDancer. She has a really good AU fic that I recommend. Fare thee well!

Thanks to the chapter 8 reviewers:

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