DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter

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The Great Hall was eerily silent as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore addressed the entire student body. Every eye was on him as he spoke of the Ministry's recent activity with the escape of Sirius Black. When he began to explain that Dementors were going to be hanging around the school, the tables began buzzing with words of disbelief, fear, anger, and horror. A brief raise of the headmaster's hand quieted everyone in seconds.

"The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds." He explained in a low but commanding voice.

"Pst, Draco."

The blonde haired wizard turned next to him to the girl practically leaning across Goyle's lap.

"What?" he hissed in annoyance.

Pansy pouted. "Well there's no need to get snippy! I just wanted to pass down the news I heard from some 5th year girls that told me Harry Potter fainted on the train."

Draco just stared at Pansy as the news set in. Then a wide grin slowly broke over Draco's face.

No fucking way.

"While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities."

"Are you serious?" Draco whispered, unable to even begin to control the broad smile he bore.

Pansy nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yeah. That thing we saw outside the train? It was a Dementor. Potter saw it and passed out."

"Oh man" he laughed, "Pansy I could kiss you for that."

Pansy giggled like a maniac while Draco swiveled his body around to face the Gryffindor table. Potter's back was directly in view as he listened intently to Dumbledore's words.

"Under no circumstances are you to approach them."

"Potter!" Draco whispered harshly.

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving."

Grabbing a grape from the table, Draco gave a quick look at Dumbedore before tossing it at Potter's back.

"Oi! Potter!"

Harry flinched as the grape hit his back and he turned to face the culprit.

"What, Malfoy?"

Crabbe and Goyle twisted around to face the raven haired wizard.

"Is it true? Did you really faint?"

Putting the back of his hand to his head, Goyle feigned an overly dramatic faint. Draco and a few surrounding Slytherins chuckled quietly. A feeling of triumph washed over him as he saw Harry's jaw set in anger. He smirked as Hermione grabbed Harry's arm to turn him around, shooting a death glare at the blonde.

It's going to be a good year.

"Hey."

Draco turned his head from his spot on his bed to see Blaise enter through the dorm door. The black haired wizard threw his bag on his own bed before falling on his back alongside Draco with a dramatic sigh. The second boy lay on his stomach writing in his leather bound book, facing the faded Salazar Slytherin tapestry that hung on the stone wall.

"How was Herbology?" he asked, turning his attention back to his book.

Blaise made a pained sound in his throat. "Torture. I swear that woman is off her rocker."

Draco snorted as he finished his last sentence with a flourish and closed his book. Sliding it under his pillow he turned over on his side, supporting his head in his hand to face his friend.

"How 'bout you?"

Draco shrugged. "First day back. Nothing special. Snape was as moody as ever, so that was enjoyable."

Blaise smirked. "At least he likes you."

"Likes? Snape doesn't like anyone. He tolerates me."

"Fine. You're still a teacher's pet who decided not to change his schedule to take Potions with his best friend."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Because then I would only have one class today. If I followed your schedule I would have three classes in a row" he retorted.

Blaise rolled over, grinning at him. "Nah, I know why you chose to have it today."

"Oh?" Draco asked skeptically with a raised eyebrow.

"Harry Potter."

An intense glare was Draco's only answer. Satisfied to see he had struck a nerve, Blaise lay on his back again, looking up at the ceiling with a triumphant grin.

"I knew it."

"You don't know anything" he growled back.

"Defensive much?"

Draco opened his mouth then shut it with a snap, anger written all over his face. Blaise just smiled to himself.

"So, you gonna tell me why? Or am I going to have to start a few rumors to my own preference?"

"There's nothing to tell" he answered quickly.

"Alright then," Blaise said with a huff, pushing himself off the bed and heading to the door, "let the Harry/Draco secret love scandal commence." He pulled opened the heavy stone slab and stuck his head out into the hallway. "Oi, Theo!" he shouted in the direction of another dorm room.

Draco launched himself off the bed, getting to the door in two strides. He yanked Blaise into the room and shoved him up against the door, slamming it shut. Blaise's head smacked back against the stone behind him. His eyes flashed as he glared daggers at the wizard inches away from him, jamming his wand under his chin.

"Hey man, take it easy" Blaise said with a small nervous laugh, eyeing Draco's wand that was painfully being pressed into his skin.

Draco's lips curled back in a snarl, his dark silver eyes searching the face in front of him. Then he turned away and stalked to the middle of the room, running a hand through his hair. The simply carved light chestnut stick he gripped tightly in his fist.

"Take my head off why don't you…" Blaise mumbled, carefully walking forward and rubbing the back of his head. "I think I'm bleeding."

"No you're not, you great wuss" Draco muttered. He calmed his breathing before moving to place his wand on his bedside table. Pulling out the leather book he was writing in before from under his pillow, he jumped up on his bed, using his pillows to prop himself up. Blaise just scoffed and pivoted where he stood, heading for the door.

Draco sat straight up. "Where are you going?" he almost yelled.

"Oh I'm sorry your majesty" Blaise shot back, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Relax. I'm not going out to threaten the royal reputation you seem to hold on to so dearly. I'm just going down to dinner. Show up if it's not too much trouble."

Draco narrowed his eyes at him until the door closed and he was left alone. With an exasperated sigh he cracked open his book and let the pages fall to his last entry. The small, precise black inked letters graced across the page. Metal gray eyes found the spot they were searching for. After reading it over a few times, Draco lifted his eyes to a spot on the wall and lost himself in thought.

Yes, I hate him furiously. However, I'm willing to put up with a year of being in the same room as him if it means keeping tabs on his successes. If I can keep myself ahead and besting Potter at everything he attempts, maybe Father will recognize it. I'll do what I can to get that small nod of approval.