Harry, Ron, and Hermione proceeded through the large stone doors at the entrance of the castle with every intention of going to bed, but they were subdued. A large crowd had formed at the front of the Main Hall. The three students pushed their way past the gawkers. What they then saw was so shocking that Ron nearly collapsed with glee. Lucius Malfoy stood with a menacing look on his face, and the boy cowering against the wall before him was none other than his only son, Draco.

Lucius then mumbled something that only Draco could hear. He stood impatiently as his son's eyes dropped to the ground.

"Well?" he said.

Draco looked up at his father, apparently contemplating his answer with extreme caution. Then, he finally summoned the courage to speak. "No," he said, and braced himself.

His father's fist struck like lightening, colliding hard with his left cheek. He put his hand to his face and sank to the floor, fighting back the tears begging to break free. Not in front of everyone, he thought. Especially Potter. I'll never hear the end of it! It was then that he realized his father had begun to yell at him.

"You ungrateful brat!" he roared. "You're a disgrace to the family! You have no idea how humiliating it is to have you as a son! The fact that I even know you disgusts me!" And with that, he glided off. When he reached the crowd, he glared at them.

"Out of my way!" he yelled as he shoved Harry aside. The rest of the students parted for him to pass, and when the doors had finally closed behind him, they turned back to face Draco.

He was still huddled on the floor. He looked up and searched the crowd. Every few seconds his eyes would come to rest on those of a different student. Some of them had looks of remorse, some of hate, and others, like Ron's, sheer happiness at his humiliation and distraught. Finally, his eyes met those of the all too familiar Harry Potter.

Potter! he thought, and he could only wonder what cruel joke would come flying out of Harry's mouth in the next few seconds. But none did. He just stared back at Draco. Neither of them said a word. In fact, they didn't even move, except for their breathing and occasional blinking.

They watched each other for what seemed like hours, but try as he might, Draco could not tell what the other boy was thinking. He stared into Harry's piercing green eyes until he could no more, and jerked his gaze back to the ground. But Harry continued to watch him. Finally, he walked forward and stopped before Draco, never taking his eyes from him.

Here it comes... thought Draco. But to his amazement and everyone else's, Harry said nothing. Instead, he extended his hand. There was a buzz of chatter at this gesture, and a few girls at the back gasped.

It's got to be some sort of joke! Draco thought. I'll reach up to take his hand, he'll pull it back, and everyone will laugh. He sat for a moment staring up at Harry, his hand still pressed hard against his cheek. At last, he made his decision. He removed his hand from his face and slowly reached up to grasp Harry's, all the time expecting him to withdraw... but he didn't. Harry held Draco's hand firmly in his own and helped him to his feet.

Harry smiled. Draco tried to do the same, but the second he did, he winced from the pain and his hand shot instinctively back to his face.

Just then, Professor McGonagall appeared. "What is going on here?" she said as she rushed up to the boys. She had obviously gotten the wrong impression. It wasn't too hard to figure out her thoughts on the situation. There she stood before two boys she knew had been enemies since the day that they met; one, no doubt, had taken a hard hit to the face.

"I want an explanation now!" she yelled when no one spoke.

"Well," Harry replied, "umm... you see Professor... it's like this—"

"He didn't do it, Professor," Draco said before Harry could even think of a story to tell.

"Well, then who did?" the professor said. 'He's lying!' a voice in the back of her mind said. But why would he lie to help Potter? she argued. They hate each other!

Draco hesitated for a moment, trying to decide whether to tell her the truth, or make something up, as he suspected Harry had been about to do. But before he could, she realized that they were still being watched by over a hundred pair of eyes. She turned. "Well what are you waiting for?" she said. "Go on, shoo! Back to your dormitories at once!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to walk back with the rest of the students.

"You three get back here," she said, pointing at them.

She turned back to Draco. "I'm still waiting for an answer," she said.

Draco decided to tell her what had really happened, seeing as how it would to be all over the school by the morning anyway. He stared at the ground.

"My father," he muttered.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but you're going to have to speak up," she said. She was beginning to lose her temper.

Draco looked up at her. His grey-blue eyes fell upon hers. And then it happened: his eyes began to fill with tears. He tried to fight them, but it was impossible now.

"It was my father, all right?" he said, and tried to turn and return to his dormitory, but she caught his arm before he could.

He didn't want to turn around again. He didn't think he could bear for anyone to see him like this. After what had just happened, he didn't think Potter would say anything, but the other two... he wasn't sure they would be turned so quickly... and he wasn't keen to find out at the moment. So, he just stood there, facing the other direction with his arm twisted around his back.

Professor McGonagall turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, still clutching Draco's arm.

"Well?" she asked them. "Is this true?"

They nodded their heads in reply.

"Hmm…" she said. "All right, you may go."

"Not you, Mr. Malfoy." she said as he tried to squirm free of her grip. "We're going to have a nice long talk in my office... one that I'm sure your father would love to be included in."

A look of horror spread across his tear-streaked face, and he thanked God his three classmates couldn't see him.