Disclaimer: JKR owns all the characters!

Thank you for reviews yet again! You know how I love to get them! I am very sorry for how long it has taken me to get this next chapter up, life has been very hectic recently, but it is slowly coming back to normal. I am also sorry for the differing lengths of my chapters…I just always have a point in which I want to finish my chapters, and it always seems to vary at how long they are. So anyway…read and review! 

Harry

The rest of the week passed quickly for Harry. He only saw Draco in lessons, in which he would give a small smile or nod. He noticed that Draco no longer threw insults at himself and his friends for which he was thankful for. Harry had replayed his conversation with Draco over and over in his head. He couldn't believe how open Draco had been with him and in return how he had been with him. He had seen a side of Draco that he doubted many other people had. It gave him hope that Draco wanted to be friends with him and that Harry might finally have someone he can truly talk to, but for the past week he had hardly seen Draco on his own, every time he saw him out of lessons Pansy was with him. Harry wanted desperately to talk with Draco again but he didn't know how he would get him on his own.

He thought of the words Draco had said to him as they had said goodbye and Harry had seen in his eyes that Draco believed what he was saying and that he wanted Harry to believe it as well. It shocked Harry how much emotion Draco had shown him and Harry found himself wanting to be with him all the time.

At the weekend Harry woke up and noticed that no-one else was awake. He got up, dressed quickly and went down for an early breakfast. He sat at the table on his own, with only a few other people coming in as the time went on. After a while Draco walked in and was for once on his own. Draco turned his head and looked at Harry, giving him a smile and then walking over to his table. Harry finished his breakfast quickly and walked towards the door, catching Draco's eyes as he did. He nodded towards the doors and walked out into the crisp morning air. He sighed and smiled, walking down towards the pitch. 10 minutes later Draco appeared at his side.

"Potter, you are one of the most least subtle people I know." Draco said smirking.

Harry smiled. "Well, no-one was really in there."

"True." The two stood in silence, staring out at the lake.

"You know, when we last talked…" Harry started to say.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I don't know what came over me, telling you…stuff."

Harry looked at him curiously. "No, I was going to say thanks."

Draco met his look. "Why?"

"You know, talking to me properly. Letting me say what I want and knowing that you won't judge me, or try and make me think in a different way. I don't really get that with anyone else and it surprised me how easily I found I could talk to you."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, me too."

"So, does this make us friends?" Harry asked, holding his breath.

Draco smirked. "Well isn't that a question for two people who are meant to hate each other since their first year."

"I don't think, looking back, that I actually hated you."

"Same. I was told to, by everyone. So in a way, I guess I thought I did."

Harry nodded. "I know what you mean."

"People told you to hate me?" Draco asked him.

"Well, not exactly. But, Ron did, he was my best mate, so I just followed him I guess." He shrugged. "Then, in second year, when you called Hermione a mudblood I felt even more like I should as you really insulted my friend, but I don't know, I don't think I did. I don't think I really had it in me. Who told you to hate me?" Harry asked him, amazed at the way things were going.

"Everyone. My father, people in my house. So I tried to…apparently it didn't work that well." He said smiling.

Harry looked at him smiling naturally. A smile that wasn't forced or a smirk. A smile that was so rare to Harry that he knew that he wanted Draco to smile all the time, at things Harry said to him. "Apparently not." He paused. "Why did your father tell you to hate me?"

Draco looked at him with an odd expression on his face. "Because I failed at befriending you."

Harry stared at Draco in shock. "What?"

"You know, you wouldn't be friends with me. You choose the weasel over me. I told my father and he said that I was to hate you, make your life miserable. Although, to be honest, I don't think you really need me to make your life even more miserable. That Christmas holiday was not one of the best…" Draco said, trailing off.

Harry looked at the ground. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter now."

Harry didn't know what to say. He had always thought that Draco led the perfect life, adored by his mother and father. He did what he wanted and he got what he wanted at the click of a finger but now, he was seeing things differently. He sighed. "I'm still sorry." He looked around. "People will be up now."

"Yeah."

Harry looked at him. Draco was staring out at the lake, obviously thinking about something that Harry knew he wasn't going to tell him. "I'm going to go in and see if Ron and Hermione are up." Draco nodded. "I'll see you later?"

"Ok."

"Ok then." He paused, not wanting to leave Draco alone.

"I think." Draco said, pausing for a while then continuing. "That it would be best if we didn't tell anyone about us being friends." He looked at Harry. "It can't get back to certain people."

Harry nodded, understanding what Draco was getting at. He walked off, leaving Draco standing on his own.

Harry walked straight up to the common room, happy at the way things were turning out. He entered the common room and saw Ron sitting alone on a chair by the fire. "Hey." Harry said walking over. Ron only nodded in response. "Are you ok Ron?" Harry asked, sitting down next to him.

"I think that, maybe. Today, I think, that I am, maybe, am going to ask. Her. Out."

Harry looked at Ron. "You're going to ask Hermione out today?"

Ron nodded slowly and buried his head in his hands.

"Is that bad?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded again and mumbled something into his hands.

"Erm, what was that?"

Ron looked up. "She's going to reject me." He said again and went red.

Harry laughed and shook his head. "I don't think so Ron."

"You don't?" Ron asked in surprise.

"Of course not. It's about time you got your act together, what made you change your mind?"

"Ginny telling you how she felt."

Harry looked at him in shock. "But…I did reject her…" Harry said, unsure of how this would have made Ron finally want to ask Hermione out.

"I know. But…I've been thinking this week, at least I'll know, you know? And if she doesn't like me back, I won't have to live in hope. But then…if she does reject me…I'm not really sure what I will do."

Harry smiled. "I see. I'm pretty sure she won't reject you though Ron, so, you won't have to worry about that one."

Ron nodded and smiled at Harry. "Is it ok with you though mate, if I do?"

Harry looked confused. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Incase, I don't know."

"Ron, I've been waiting for you to do this for ages. I'm fine with it, seriously."

Ron gave Harry a big grin. "Cool!" He looked towards the stairs and went a bright red when he saw Hermione coming down them.

"Hey you two" Hermione said, coming over to them.

Harry covered a laugh at Ron's redness. "Hey 'mione. You good?"

She nodded and smiled at him. "You look happier today Harry. Any reason?"

He looked at her, amazed at how she picked up on the smallest things. "No, not really, guess it's just because it's the weekend." He said, shrugging.

"Good." She looked at Ron. "And, are you ok Ron…You look a bit…"

Harry looked between them. "I'm just going to go up to my room. I've already had my breakfast." He said, standing up. "Go on without me." He winked at Ron, and walked up to his room, laughing as he heard Ron stutter out a few words to Hermione.

Draco

Draco watched Harry walk off. Surprised and shocked at the conversation he had just had with him. This was the first time he had ever admitted to anyone that his relationship with his father wasn't as perfect as everyone believed it to be. He was happy that Harry had never hated him but at the same time he was becoming scared at how easily he could talk to Harry. He couldn't let people get close to him, especially Harry. If he let Harry into his life…he didn't even want to begin to think of the possibilities of what could happen. For some reason, Draco knew it would be incredibly hard for him if he were to try and separate himself from Harry, but he knew he had to do it.

Draco had seen emotions in Harry that he felt himself. He somehow knew that Harry felt alone, even though he was constantly with people that truly cared about him. Unlike Draco, who was always alone. People were with Draco because they were told to stick by him, with the possible exception of Pansy. He walked towards the lake and sat on a rock that was by the surface. He stared into the water and looked at his reflection that gazed back at him. He needed to talk to Harry, to tell him they couldn't be friends but he had seen the glimmer of hope that had glittered in Harry's eyes and he didn't want to be someone to hurt the boy more. He sighed and picked up a rock and threw it at his reflection, causing it to shimmer and disappear until it came back, just as it had been before. Draco continued to stare at his reflection. He was shocked at the sadness that was etched onto his face, at how defeated he looked. He changed his facial features to how people saw him. The mask was back up. He looked at it, the way he looked like nothing could ever hurt him. He turned away, not wanting to look at the lies his face was portraying. He stood up and walked slowly back up to the castle, wishing he could stay out here forever. It was so calm and peaceful and out there with Harry was where he belonged. As soon as this thought came into his mind, he pushed it to the back. He wouldn't let these thoughts come up. He couldn't be friends with Harry, let alone anything else. He looked at the lake once more and walked into the entrance Hall, closing the door behind him.

"Draco." Draco turned his head in the direction of the call and saw Blaise walking towards him. "Where did you go?"

Draco just shrugged. "I woke up early so I just went straight to breakfast."

Blaise nodded. "Pansy was asking after you."

"Where is she?"

"She's having breakfast. She didn't look very happy when she came in for food last night. Did you two have a fight?" He asked, as the two of them began to make their way to the Slytherin common room.

Draco shook his head. "No, we didn't. Is she ok now?"

"Yeah, just asked where you were. She seems worried about you."

"She shouldn't."

Blaise stopped. "Look, Draco. Are you having second thoughts, about what you are going to do after Hogwarts?"

Draco stopped as well and looked at Blaise. "Why?"

"Just, I don't know. Last night…" he stopped; he didn't want to get on the wrong side of Draco.

"No. I'm not; I will do exactly as my father has planned for me." He glared at Blaise. "And I would suggest that you never ask me where my loyalties lie again Zabini." He started walking again.

"I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean it like that…" The two boys walked in silence until they reached the common room. As they sat down Blaise looked at Draco. "I'm scared though and I know Pansy is as well."

Draco looked at him, surprised that Blaise had admitted to this. "You're scared? Of what?"

He shrugged. "What we are going to have to do. I'm not…I couldn't kill someone Draco" He said quietly, fear evident in his eyes.

"I thought that's what you wanted, to kill all the mudbloods. Be the Dark Lord's right side man." Draco said.

Blaise shook his head. "No and everyone knows that's exactly where you will be heading, your father has made sure of that. And yes, I hate mudbloods but it doesn't mean I want to kill them."

"Do you want other people to kill them Blaise?" Draco asked him, waiting for his answer. Blaise nodded, unsure what Draco meant by asking this question. "Then I'm sure, when the time comes, you will be able to do what is expected of you."

"What if I can't?" Blaise whispered, staring at Draco.

Draco looked at Blaise. "Then…" He paused; he didn't know what to say. "Blaise, don't worry about it. When the time comes, I'm sure you will be surprised."

"Then I will be killed myself" Blaise whispered so quietly, that Draco nearly had to lean in to hear him. "I meant what I said last night thought Draco. I do want it to be us three. You two are my best friends, and well…I don't know if I could do it without you."

Draco sighed and rubbed his head. "Blaise, look, one day, you are going to have to. I won't always be here to tell you what to do."

Blaise looked away. "Are you scared Draco?" He asked, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"No. Malfoy's are never scared." Draco also looked away, thinking about how many lies he told in a day. "Don't be scared." Draco whispered, and Blaise looked up in surprise at the sincerity and urgency in Draco's voice. "He knows when you are." Draco looked straight at Blaise. "Don't let him know your emotions Blaise." Blaise nodded and the two boys sat in silence, each of them thinking about the futures that lay ahead for them.