Chapter Seven

Harry wanted to run after Draco, tell him how horrible he felt, how he too would never forget. The hate he had felt two minutes ago was gone. He waned Draco to come back like he had before, but somehow Harry knew it wouldn't happen again.

He was actually going to go find Malfoy when Ginny came hurrying up the corridor. Now. He must tell her Now.

"Harry! How was your first class? I got out of Herbology early because Luna tried to use the vine of a Snargaluff stump to tie her hair back. Sprout had to take care of her and the plant." Harry forced himself to laugh, on any other day this would be a very funny story.

"I didn't go to my first lesson," he said hoping he would be able to tell her the truth.

"What? Why not?" She looked at him questioningly.

"Well, I was...You see Draco dragged me into this deserted corridor and--" Ginny got the wrong idea at this part. "That git, making you miss the first lesson term so he could continue to fight!"

"No, it wasn't like that," Harry swallowed, "Something is happening with me and Draco. I don't understand. I can't think straight when I"m with him, and then I..." What could he say, "and then I snog him"? It sounded all wrong. Ginny didn't seem to understand correctly, "What is he doing to you, confunding you?"

"No, it's like all the hate I felt when we were standing farther apart goes away when we get closer, and then I want... I want Malfoy."

"You want him? Are you saying what I think your saying? This is mental!"

"I know! I don't feel anything for him when I'm not near him, not usually." Right now he felt deeply for Draco, but it wasn't like when they had kissed. It was like on the train. A strong feeling for deep within him, beyond desire. Ginny was silent. Should Harry wait for her to respond or go on?

After a moment or two, Harry decided Ginny must be waiting for him to talk. Her brown eyes were fixed upon him. "We kissed," he didn't know how else to say it.

Ginny's eyes immediately grew larger. "You...kissed?" She whispered as if her throat was slowly closing and she couldn't manage to speak normally.

"Yes, I'm so sorry Ginny. I think we should split up until I know what's going on, You deserve better than this." Ginny nodded, and turned to walk away. Harry knew he shouldn't be thinking about Draco, but he thought he may have really hurt Malfoy.

He knew where the Slytherin common room was and found himself walking in that direction.

At the section of wall which he knew concealed the entrance to the common room he stopped. He had no way of getting in. He sat down on the floor and rested his back to the wall.

After about ten minutes, Harry got up. His next lesson would begin soon. He guessed Draco was skipping this one too, since he hadn't seen him come out. He wanted to wait longer, but he knew MacGonagall would not accept any excuse for being for the first class.

Hermione and Ron were already sitting together near the back. Harry made across the class room toward them, wondering if Ron had told Hermione what he had seen. He sat down at the empty chair next to Hermione.

"I cannot believe you would skip the first lesson of term! Where on earth did you go? You were with us almost all the way there." Relief flooded through Harry. She didn't know, yet.

"Shhh! I'll tell you later." Ron gave Harry a look that said, "You better!"

More students came in and soon almost all the seats were full. Professor MacGonagall stood up and began the routine start of term speach. She talked about the importance of their NEWT level classes and how their grades in these classes would decide the type of job they could get. Hermoine listened intently.

Ten minutes into the speach, the door burst open and Malfoy walked in.

"Mister Malfoy! You are more than ten minutes late! Fifteen points from Slytherin. Take your seat, and see me after class." MacGonagall then went right back into her speech as if there had been no interruption.

The only empty seat in the class room was right next to Harry. Draco sat down and Harry couldn't help but look at him. Draco had been looking at Harry, but immediately looked away when Harry caught his eye.

Half way through class Harry threw a note on to Malfoy's lap. Draco stared at it for a moment and then slowly open it.

It read :

I'm sorry.