An understanding

Suddenly, Neville tripped as he tried to avoid a vanishing step. He landed directly into the back of Draco Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle, turned around to face him, cracking their knuckles. Malfoy turned as well. He hesitated, his fist clenching, and his jaw tight. Finally he spoke.

"Careful Longbottom," he said with obvious struggle. He glanced up and caught Harry's eye. "Potter," he said coolly, with a nod of his head.

"Malfoy," he replied.

The blonde headed Slytherin spun around and pushing his cohorts in front of him, walked away.

"BROTHER?" they cried together, more loudly then they intended.

"Well... half-brother anyway..." she paused, as she felt Draco stir beside her, eyes blinking open slowly.

"Talking to yourself again are we?" he murmured tiredly, sitting up slowly.

"POTTER!" he roared. Severus jumped up, wand in his hand immediately.

"Potter, Granger, Weasley. Why doesn't this surprise me?"

The girl sighed.

"Severus, relax!" she said with a yawn. "You too Draco. Not a word."

They looked at her in defiance, but she glared at them. Raising his hand in submission Snape sat back down.

"You've been sick, I'll humour you," he muttered quietly. She rolled her eyes again, with a smile playing at her lips. Draco just scowled. Opening his mouth to argue, Renee quickly held a finger to her lips. He rolled his own eyes.

"Hush little baby?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Renee nodded with a wink.

"Don't say a word..." she continued. Draco rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. She turned to face the three intruders. "I think we all need to have a little chat."

Twenty minutes later, and a deal was struck. Harry, Ron and Hermione would not reveal her identity, or the... compromising positions they had found Malfoy and Snape in, and in turn Snape and Malfoy had made a promise of their own.

"Shake..." ordered Renee, sitting up in her hospital bed, a sparkle in her eye as Draco and Harry glared at each other in hatred. "Think about your reputation Draco!" she said, holding back a laugh. He sighed, and held out his hand. Harry hesitated. She put her hands on her hips, and glared at him. He almost stepped back. She looked remarkably like Molly Weasley when she pulled a face like that. "I honestly think you guys are getting the better deal. SO... stop being a wimp and shake his hand already!"
Finally, in frustration, Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and shook it for him.

"There."

"Lovely!" smiled Renee. "Now, who's got chocolate?"

Several days past, and Harry, Ron and Hermione continued along like usual. Only there was a slight difference, a difference which at first nobody noticed. Until one unforgettable day, at least to the Gryffindors.

It was lunch, and the Gryffindor Fifth Years were coming down the stairs towards the Great Hall after a class with the Slytherins. Suddenly, Neville tripped as he tried to avoid a vanishing step. He landed directly into the back of Draco Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle, turned around to face him, cracking their knuckles. Malfoy turned as well. He hesitated, his fist clenching, and his jaw tight. Finally he spoke.

"Careful Longbottom," he said with obvious struggle. He glanced up and caught Harry's eye. "Potter," he said coolly, with a nod of his head.

"Malfoy," he replied.

The blonde headed Slytherin spun around and pushing his cohorts in front of him, walked away.

"What the hell was that?" asked Dean Thomas in shock. Hermione smiled at him, shrugging her shoulders delicately.

"Nothing... we've all... reached an understanding, that's all. Come along boys," she said happily. Harry and Ron followed her, with amused expressions on their faces. They were very glad they'd gone to the hospital wing that night. Very glad indeed.