Disclaimer: JKR owns everything!

Harry

Harry watched Draco walk out of the room, and a smile spread across his face. This is what he wanted: someone who he could talk to about anything. He walked slowly to his dormitory, just thinking about the way Draco's face lit up when he laughed, and how Draco seemed to trust him as much as Harry trusted Draco. Harry entered the common room and sank into a chair. He closed his eyes, and his mind was filled with pictures of Draco. He pictured the way he looked when smiled, when he was embarrassed and when he let Harry see the real him. All he wanted to do was hold Draco in his arms, but at the same time he was scared of telling Draco how he really felt about him. He didn't want to push him away. He sighed and opened his eyes and came face to face with Hermione.

"Well, Harry," Hermione said, smiling at him, "Why are you up so late?"

He gave her a smile in return. "Same question to you." He replied, moving over so she could sit next to him.

She shrugged. "I couldn't sleep." She smiled again and sank into the seat next to him.

"Same. I went for a walk and met…"

She looked at him. "Who?"

Harry looked away and shrugged. "Nobody."

"No way are you doing this to me, Harry James Potter! Who did you see?" She asked, grinning at him.

"No. it's not like that, I just bumped into Dra…Malfoy."

"Did he cause trouble?" Hermione interrogated him.

Harry shook his head. "No." He paused. "I think that he's changed." He said after a while.

Hermione stared at him as if he had grown another head. "Malfoy, changed? I don't think so Harry. Why do you think that?"

Harry sighed, wishing he had never mentioned he had met Draco. "I don't know, he doesn't want to start fights anymore."

Hermione smiled. "Just means he's grown up Harry. People get tired of picking fights all the time. He's still the same, still has the same views, feelings. Well, non existent feelings. Maybe he just has better things to do now, rather than picking on you. Maybe he's been told to do something for you know who."

Harry looked at Hermione and realized how different he had become to his two best friends. They were caught up in each other; still obsessing over Voldemort. He had grown used to the fact that it was either going to be him or Voldemort that lived. Over the summer he had sorted things out in his mind. He refused to think about Sirius, and just thought about the prophecy and what it meant. He knew that he wasn't ready to defeat Voldemort, but he also knew that in time he would be. He just wasn't sure if he would be given that time. He didn't tell anything to Ron and Hermione anymore, he didn't want to worry them, especially as they now had each other. He hadn't even told them about the prophecy. He looked away, wishing he could have his childhood back. Draco was the only one he could truly talk to and it shocked Harry at how comfortable this realization was to him.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at Harry and seeing how much he had grown up over the summer. He's leaving us behind. She suddenly thought to herself and sighed sadly. "I'm sorry Harry."

"For what?" He asked, continuing to stare in front of him.

"For not being there for you." She looked at him, wishing he would open up to her like he once would have. "When you needed us over the summer, we... I wasn't there. I wrote letters, Harry, but your replies were so distant. I should have tried harder to see you." Tears started to fill her eyes. "I miss him too, Harry. You can talk to me, I'm here for you. You know that, don't you?" She questioned, putting her hand on top of his.

Harry finally turned to look at her. He could see she was truly sorry, but he couldn't understand what for. "You have nothing to apologise for Hermione. I'm sorry I didn't write properly, I just had things to sort out. I know you're there for me Hermione." He pulled his hand away. "I think I'm going to go bed. Goodnight." He stood up and walked towards his dormitory. "Hermione." He said, stopping suddenly and turning around.

"Yes?" She asked, looking up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I…" He stopped, and looked at her, seeing how vulnerable she was. "It doesn't matter." He finally said, giving her a small smile and going up the stairs.

Hermione sighed and watched him go. "Yes, it does Harry. It's killing you." She said quietly and brushed away the tears that had finally started to fall.

Harry woke up late the next morning, and stared up at his ceiling, a grin spreading over his face as he remembered Draco. He slowly got up, got ready, and walked down into the common room, where he saw Hermione and Ron making out on the sofa.

"They should really get a room, shouldn't they?" A voice remarked behind him.

"Ginny?" Harry inquired, turning around and looking at her.

She gave him a small smile. "Hey, Harry."

"I thought that…"

"That I was never going to talk to you for the rest of my life?" She nodded. "Yeah, I thought that too, but, I'm not going to lose you as a friend as well." She looked at him. "I'm sorry for the way I reacted…I was just so sure that you liked me back, and when you said you didn't, I just couldn't think of anything else. But slowly, I realized that I had acted like a complete and utter idiot. I shouldn't have reacted like that but it hurt me to hear the truth." She looked up at him and gave him another small smile. "Friends?" She asked, offering her hand to him.

He grinned at her. "Of course, I shouldn't have given out the wrong signals...I'm sorry Ginny…"

"It's fine. Honestly." She said grinning back at him.

He pulled her into a hug. "Good, because with these two together I really need people to talk to."

She laughed, "You want to go and get some breakfast?"

He nodded, happy that Ginny was talking to him, and the two of them made their way down to the Great Hall laughing and joking as if nothing had ever happened. As they entered Harry looked straight at the Slytherin table, and saw Draco surrounded by his friends. Harry sighed, wishing that he had the freedom to be able to be with Draco in front of everyone. He turned back and sat down next to Ginny, and started to pile food onto his plate.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade next weekend?" He heard Ginny asking him.

He stared at her, "I didn't even realise that there was a Hogsmeade weekend coming up."

She smiled at him, and Harry noticed just how beautiful she had become, and a surge of guilt went through him as he remembered how he had hurt her There had always been something in the back of his mind telling him that he would end up with Ginny. He had watched her grow into the young women that she now was, and he knew that everyone expected him to be with her. Even now, even after he had told her how he felt; people still wanted him to ask her out: for them to be a couple.

He couldn't do it, he loved her as a friend, and he knew that it would never evolve into anything different, especially now after he was getting to know Draco properly. Draco made Harry feel something he never thought he would feel. Harry knew that he was falling for Draco, and fast and it hurt him even more to know that Draco didn't feel like that towards him. Every time Draco looked at Harry there was an emotion in his eyes that Harry couldn't read, and he doubted he ever would. Draco would always be guarded against him, it was the way he had been brought up to be but at the same time he was showing Harry a side of him that no-one else knew. Harry wanted Draco in ways he had never wanted anyone else before, not even Cho, and Harry wasn't sure how long he would be able to keep his true emotions hidden.

Harry nodded as Ginny talked to him about the next Hogsmeade weekend and then realized

that she expected an answer. "Erm, I don't know." He finally said and saw that this wasn't the answer that Ginny had wanted.

"I didn't mean together Harry. Just as friends, I mean, Ron and Hermione will be going together. I know you don't like me like that, but…"

He looked at her and realized she had just asked if he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with her. "Sorry, I would love to go with you." He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"Good, I don't want our friendship to be ruined." She whispered and started to eat again.

He nodded and looked up towards the Slytherin table and saw Draco looking at him with a peculiar look in his eye. Harry gave him a small smile, but Draco just looked away, said something to his friends and started to eat again. Harry sighed, wondering what was up with Draco.

"You ready to go, Ginny?" Harry urged when he finished his breakfast.

"I'm going to stick around and talk to Lavender. I'll catch up with you later." She answered, giving him a quick hug.

He got up and walked towards Gryffindor common room, hands in his pocket.

"Is the Potter, and the Weasel finally going out?" A harsh voice said, as Harry was half way up the stairs. "Imagine the kids." He paused as a smirk came over his face. "However, I suppose it is one better than the other Weasel and the mudblood."

Harry turned around and saw Blaise standing there, sneering up at him with Draco, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle with him. He sighed, he really didn't need this.

"No, we aren't going out." He said, turning to go back up the stairs.

"The Weasel has some sense then," Blaise continued, "Hear she's the biggest slut in our school, after you of course." He sneered.

Harry stopped and turned round again. He looked at Draco who was looking everywhere but at him. He's not going to stand up for me. Harry realized. "What are you going on about, Blaise?" Harry glared at Slytherins.

They started to walk up the stairs towards him. "The weasel girl has gotten round a bit. Offers her services, but we all know it's you she really wants, and we all know she is the one person you haven't slept with. I wonder why? Scared she will be better than you." He snorted. "Although, to be honest with you Potter, it amazes me that you either of you are actually getting some. When you look as you do, and the Weasel is who she is... However, she is properly getting paid...it's probably the only income her family gets."

Harry stared at him, wondering if what Blaise was saying about Ginny was true. He realized he didn't know a single thing about what Ginny did when she wasn't with him and his friends, but he had always heard rumours going around the school, but he had never believed them. "Shut up Blaise, you have no idea what you're talking about." He eventually spat, wishing that Draco would look at him.

"Ah, but you see, I do. In fact, I've gone for a ride myself."

Harry blinked in surprise, and finally Draco looked up at him, but Harry couldn't see anything in his eyes. There were no emotions, no hate, no anger, no happiness, and no love. As Harry continued to look, Draco's face clouded over, and the hate that Harry was used to seeing returned

Draco

Draco stared at his breakfast plate as he thought about the conversation with Harry last night. He couldn't get the boy out of his head, everywhere he turned he thought he saw him. He could hear Pansy talking to him, but he wasn't listening. Harry had given him hope that Draco could still live the life that he wanted. He wanted to be happy and with Harry he knew this would happen, even if they did just stay friends, at least he would have someone that truly knew him. He sighed and jabbed his fork at the bacon that lay on his plate. He wanted to tell Harry how he really felt but he was scared of being rejected. Harry trusted him and he didn't want to throw that away.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Pansy asked him, as she watched him play with the bacon.

He looked up at her and saw concern in her eyes. "Nothing Pansy." He replied, giving her a quick smile. He suddenly felt a calmness come over him and looked towards the door where Harry and Ginny Weasley had just entered. He looked away quickly but felt Harry look at him. He knew that last night Harry had said he didn't like anyone but Draco had often heard people saying that Harry and Ginny were destined to go out; that they both really liked each other but neither had the guts to tell the other. Everyone with a pair of eyes could tell that Ginny was crazy over Harry and most people thought Harry returned those feelings. He threw down his fork in disgust and pushed his plate away as he realized he wasn't feeling hungry anymore.

"I just wish you would tell me Draco. You used to tell me everything…"

Draco looked up at Pansy when he noticed she was still talking to her. "Sorry." He said, not really registering what she was saying but he could tell from the tone of her voice she was upset about something. He looked away from her and stared at Harry. Ginny was talking to him and kept touching his arm, obviously trying to get his attention.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade next weekend?" Pansy suddenly asked him.

He tore his eyes away from Harry and looked down at his plate and shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it."

"You want to go together? As friends I mean, it's just we haven't really had any time together recently Draco. You always seem so distant and I…I just want us to talk again, like we used to."

He looked towards her and gave her a small smile. "Sure, Pansy. If you want."

She gave him a smile in return and went back to eating her meal. Draco sighed silently. He didn't want to go with Pansy. He didn't even want to go. For some reason he was scared of leaving the castle and he wasn't even sure why. But, on the other hand he didn't want to push Pansy away. He understood what she meant, he hadn't talked to her properly in a while and he missed that too but at the same time he couldn't help thinking that he had Harry now and that was the only person he truly wanted. He looked back at Harry, wishing that Harry would just understand how he felt so he wouldn't have to tell him. He had been taught from a young age that Malfoy's never told anyone how they really felt about them. As he looked at Harry, Harry looked straight back at him. Draco blinked in surprise and saw Harry give him a small smile. He looked away, unable to make any movement back at Harry.

Draco finished his breakfast and watched as Harry left the room, his hands deep in his pockets. He stood up to go as well, bored of just sitting there. "I'm going to go back to the common room." He said to his friends and stood up. Pansy and Blaise stood up as well. "You don't always have to follow me." Draco said to them, rolling his eyes.

Blaise shrugged. "We've all finished, might as well all go back together."

Draco didn't say anything and they made their way out of the Great Hall. As they made their way out they saw Harry walking up the stairs. Draco groaned inwardly. He knew what was going to happen and he knew he would have to go back to acting like he hated Harry. Blaise nudged Draco and winked at him.

"Ready for some fun?" Blaise invited Draco, grinning evilly.

"Don't you think we've grown out of this by now?" Draco queried him in a bored tone.

Blaise just laughed. "Draco, are you feeling alright?" He looked up at Harry. "Is the Potter and the Weasel finally going out?" He called up to Harry. "Imagine the kids." He continued, "However, I suppose it is one better than the other Weasel and the mudblood."

Harry turned around and looked at them all. Draco just wanted to turn and run away. He wasn't ready for this; he wasn't ready to go back to pretending.

"No, we aren't going out." Was all Harry said, turning to go back up the stairs.

"The Weasel has some sense then." Blaise vocalized. "Hear she's the biggest slut in our school, after you of course." He sneered.

Draco blinked; everyone had heard the stories about Ginny. Harry stopped and turned around again. Draco didn't dare look at Harry but he could feel Harry looking at him. He couldn't stand to see the hate that would be in Harry's eyes if he did look at him. Draco just wanted to walk away, but he knew he couldn't. So he just stayed there, hoping that Blaise would leave it alone soon.

"What are you going on about Blaise?" Harry demanded, glaring at them.

Blaise started to walk up the stairs slowly and Draco realized he would have to go up too. "The weasel girl has gotten round a bit. Offers her services, but we all know it's you she really wants and we all know she is the one person you haven't slept with. I wonder why? Scared she will be better than you." Blaise snorted. "Although, to be honest with you Potter, it amazes me that you either of you are actually getting some. When you look as you do and the Weasel is who she is... However, she is properly getting paid...it's probably the only income her family gets."

Draco's eyes widened in surprise, Blaise and he had always laughed about what they had heard about the Gryffindors, in fact some of the rumours they had even started themselves but he knew he would never bring these up in front of Harry. Especially now. He wanted to stand in front of Blaise and tell him to stop, but he couldn't. Things would get back to his father, and he didn't even want to begin to think what his father would do to him.

Harry didn't say anything and just stared at them. "Shut up Blaise, you have no idea what you're talking about." He eventually breathed.

"Ah, but you see I do. In fact, I've gone for a ride myself."

Draco groaned silently. What Blaise was saying was the truth, but he had hoped that none of the Gryffindors would ever find that out. He saw Harry blink in surprise and he could tell that Harry was hurt. All Draco wanted to do was hold him and tell him to ignore Blaise, but he just stood there and stared at Harry, not letting any emotions onto his face. But as Harry continued to stare at him, so did the others. He forced the hate back onto his face. The hate he wished he had never been told to feel. Harry continued to stare at him and Draco knew he had to say something, anything, to get the others to stop looking at him as well.

"What are you looking at Potter?" He sneered at Harry and turned around, letting his true emotions come onto his face.

He knew that the rest of his friends were following him and as he turned the corner he looked back and Harry was still standing there, staring at him. Draco snapped his head back and stared at the floor as he walked down the corridor. He heard the others talking around him, but he couldn't register what they were saying. He had hurt Harry by not standing up for him. He has to realize who I am. I'm still Draco Malfoy. I have to be who my father taught me to be, I can't just switch. I can't. Draco lifted his head and saw they had reached their common room; he muttered the password and the five of them stepped into the room.

Everyone saw them and moved away from the seats around the fire. They are scared of us. Of me, they know what would happen if they turned against us. We are all meant to be friends, but how can you be friends with people you are scared of. This isn't unity. They all look up to me; they do exactly what I tell them to. He sank into a chair and watched everyone in the room. They had no idea what was going to happen to them. They had been brought up to believe that they were safe; they were on the 'winning side'. They had been brought up to think that killing someone just because they are not pure-blood is an ok thing to do. Just like I have. Draco thought to himself.

"Draco, are you even listening to us?" Blaise interrupted Draco's thoughts.

"Yes." Was all he said. He caught Pansy's eyes and he knew that she wanted him to talk to her, but he knew he couldn't. He could trust Pansy with most things, he knew that, but he knew he couldn't tell her everything he felt: it was too risky.

"Ok, well as I was saying, I got an owl from my father this morning." Blaise continued and Draco looked towards Blaise, wondering why he sounded so excited.

"And…" Draco trailed off, making his voice sound bored so he could hide the fact that he was scared of knowing what was in the letter.

Blaise lowered his voice, "He says that things are moving quicker than they expected."

"What things?" Pansy grilled.

"I don't know; he wouldn't tell me. He just said that things are going very well and that things will start to be changing for the better."

They all looked at Draco, thinking that he would have heard exactly what is happening. Draco looked at each of their eager faces in turn. They were all excited, even Pansy. "Well, I don't know what they are planning to do." He grumbled and they all leaned back in their chairs, disappointed.

They sat in silence, all thinking about what was going to happen. Draco stared into the fire; wondering how soon was soon, and if he would even make it out of his sixth year alive.