A/N It's a bit shorter, but the next chapter will be up faster, because originally it was one big chapter... so have a good day!

Chapter 3

Befriending the Enemy

Harry's POV

The weeks continued on, constant and quick. Before I could fall into any sort of pattern, it was the Christmas Holidays. The night before the actual holidays began, I sat in my room glumly glaring at my offending trunk. I had acquired more items that could fit, normal sized, and I was trying to figure out what items to shrink, when someone knocked softly on my bedroom door.

"Come in," I grumbled as I grabbed my wand and started shrinking books.

"Umm…Harry?" Malfoy stood in my doorway looking a bit amused at my random shrinking charms.

Draco and I had an interesting friendship. I didn't think it would ever be possible for us to be civil, let alone friends; yet, as I'd found out, saving someone's life changes things, and perhaps the fact that I had testified for his mother' release, helped. I felt a sincere gratitude towards Narcissa Malfoy, even if she only told Voldemort I was dead to get information about Draco. The friendship between Draco and I had started as mere civility. We were forced to share a common area and were teachers, McGonagall would not stand for students to duel in the hallways, let alone teachers. I don't remember exactly when we dropped the last name thing, but I did remember the evening we ended the childish games that had sparked our animosity.

It was at the beginning of November, Ginny had left for the evening, and Hermione wouldn't let her in my room, which I knew was more Ron's doing than her's. I sat on the couch and stared moodily into the flames of the ornate fireplace in the commons.

"Aren't you supposed to be happy after an evening with your girlfriend, Harry?" It wasn't his normal sneer, but id did have a teasing tone.

I sighed, "You'd think."

He gracefully sauntered over to the cushy armchair he often occupied while reading and curled up in it, glancing at me, one eyebrow raised.

"Are you telling me you're having problems with the she-weasel?" I glared at him. "Sorry, Ginny. Old habits and all that." He mumbled, staring at his hands.

"Why do you care?" I asked defensively. He looked over my defensive pose with one eyebrow arched.

"I know we're not really friends," he began, as I snorted. "Alright, understatement. But I honestly feel like I owe you," I opened my mouth to protest.

"Don't make me curse you, Potter," He replied curtly. I snapped my mouth shut and waved my arm so he could continue. He smirked, but then looked down at his long, pale fingers, with his brow furrowed.

"This is going to sound weird, but you seem depressed, and I've been there."

"I am not depressed," I protested loudly, standing up quickly, fists clenched at my sides.

"Sit down, Harry," he said calmly. I glared at him, not liking how he was ordering me around, but I sat down anyway.

"Fine," he allowed, "Not depressed. But you are hiding something, I can see it sometimes, when We-Ginny leaves"

I slumped back in the couch, closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead absentmindedly. "I love her," I whispered, "more than anything. But there is something missing."

"What are you doing after this year is done, Harry?" Draco asked quietly, no animosity or sarcasm was present in his voice and I looked up at him surprised by his tone. He continued on. "What do you want to do with the rest of your life?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

"I didn't actually think I'd have to know. I figured Voldemort would have killed me by now."

Draco looked like he had choked on something. I sighed and stood up, and walked towards my door.

"Don't pretend like you know me Draco, but thanks for trying to help."

After that conversation in the commons, Draco and I struck up some weird sort of friendship. He was the only one who knew my fears about the blank future in front of me. A week later we had another conversation in the commons. Hermione rarely occupied the space, preferring the library to prepare for her classes. I walked in after an evening in the Gryffindor common room with Gin. Draco was seated in his armchair with a letter clenched in his fist. Ander ripped across his face as he glared into the fire.

"Draco?" I asked quietly.

He jumped at my voice, he hadn't noticed me enter. His face turned indifferent, and he raised one of his eyebrows. "Do you need something, Potter?" he asked icily, sarcasm flooding his words.

"Fine," I replied casually, turning towards the door, "Be a git."

"Harry," he said my name exasperated.

I walked over and sat on the couch and looked up at him expectantly.

"Father was sentenced today, life in prison for being a death eater and housing prisoners and all that. They are sending him to America. They don't want multiple death eaters in the same place. "

"And that makes you angry because…?" I trailed off, not quite understanding.

"Because that bastard got off easy!" he bellowed. "Do you know what he has done to us? To me and my Mother? She is under house arrest, barely able to afford food because she can't work and because the Ministry took everything else! She is just a shell now, no life left in her. He crushed it! She is depressed, and there's nothing I can do." His voice cracked and I sat immobile, not a clue how to comfort a person, let alone Draco Malfoy. "They took her to St. Mungo's today," he whispered. "She tried to kill herself."

I acted instantly without thinking and grabbed Draco's arm, pulling him up and supporting his weight.

"Let's go talk to the Headmaster."

I took him to McGonagall's office and told her what was going on as Draco slumped in his seat. It didn't take long to floo to St. Mungo's and the Auror's guarding her door stepped aside as I dragged Draco with me. I exited a moment later, and sat in the waiting area.

After a few moments a warm hand slid into mine. "I wonder, if after helping everyone else, you'll figure out how to help yourself," Ginny asked quietly.

"HARRY!" a sock hit me on the head. Draco had picked it up off the pile of dirty clothes near the door and threw it at my head.

"What?" I snapped, not appreciating being pelted with my own laundry.

"Daydreaming?" Draco asked smugly.

I sighed, "What would you like, Draco?"

He looked down at his feet. It was so strange to see Draco without his face held high. It hadn't been something I'd ever seen until this year, and only when he was forced to do something extremely beneath his status. I doubted many people ever saw this side of Draco and I felt a bit uneasy at the realization.

"Mother is still at St. Mungo's," he replied sullen, but then he raised his head and straightened his shoulders, chin slightly elevated, the normal look of Draco Malfoy. "So I'll need somewhere to go for the Holidays." He looked at me expectantly.

"Y-you want to stay with me?" I spoke my realization aloud, stuttering over the words.

"Thank-you for the invitation. I'd be glad to. I must go pack now. We'll be leaving in the morning then?"

I nodded dumbly at him, unable to speak out loud. He swished gracefully from the room and I dropped heavily to the bed. Somehow, Draco had just invited himself to Grimmauld Place, and made it seem like I had invited him.

"Harry?" Ginny stood in the open doorway, looking at me in confusion.

"Just come in," I said wearily, "Hermione is at the library again."

"What for?" Ginny asked as she sat down next to me on the bed, "She doesn't have to teach again until after the holidays."

I turned to look at her, one eyebrow arched in disbelief.

"You look like Draco," she jabbed at my eyebrow with a slender finger.

"How dare you compare me to such FILTH!" I spat, a perfect imitation of Draco.

"Amusing," Draco said dryly, as he passed by my room on his way to the common room.

Both Ginny and I erupted into laughter. I lay back on the bed, my knees bent over the edge and soaked up the happiness Ginny radiated. A flash of red hair temporarily blinded me as Ginny leaned over me.

"Wha…" I questioned, but Gin cut me off with her lips. After a few moments, she sat back on her knees, a sly grin on her face.

"You're irresistible when you're happy," she winked.

I sat up and grabbed her arms, pulling her into my lap.

"You're just irresistible."

Yay! I know there are a bunch of you out there getting the alert, Tell what you are thinking... REVIEW ME! :-)