A/N: Hi! So, first of all, I love you guys :) You're the most amazing fans ever. You have yourselves to thank for this chapter, and for the few that I will be writing and uploading in the next few days! Thank you SO MUCH for the reviews and private messages hounding me to update. On a normal (crazy insane) day of my life at college, I have ten thousand things running through my mind. Usually (unfortunately), my writing isn't one of them. But when you guys keep sending me little notes and remind me that these stories floating around in my head aren't just for my own enjoyment, but for yours as well, it makes me feel terrible and want to sit down and write until my fingers fall off :) So, that's exactly what I'm going to do today. My to do list isn't as terrible as normal, so I'm going to dedicate the next few hours to writing.

I promise to have one more chapter of this story up tonight, and at least one chapter of 831 up as well. It's the least I could do after such a long wait :)

For any new readers, I do feel the need to announce officially (again) that I'm not a very fast updater. I could potentially knock out a chapter or two every day if I had no life, but sadly, college is definitely a devourer of life haha. So, I write when I can, and update when enough people pester me (don't let the negative word choice affect you - I really do love when readers pester me to update and show interest despite long breaks!). So if you really like this story, or any of my other stories since the same goes for all of my writing, LET ME KNOW IT. Don't allow me to push writing aside. Make me acknowledge that you want more, that you are still interested in reading.

Now, without further ado, Chapter Four :)

.:Chapter Four:.

Draco's world expanded around him slowly, dark and distorted. He could make out muffled sounds, but couldn't interpret what they meant. He wondered why it was so dark, and then realized that his eyes were shut and refused to open. He groaned, pain washing through his body. In the middle of the night, he must have fallen off of his bed because he was currently trapped within the confines of his tangled blanket on the hard wooden floor.

He somehow managed to force one eye open, and blinked it closed again to shut out the offensively bright light that was trying to blind him. He pulled the blanket over his head, sighing as bits and pieces of his nightmares came back to him. He tried pushing the image of hateful green eyes from his mind, and focused on getting up.

Shit, I'll bet breakfast is almost over…

He quickly grabbed a pair of black slacks and a button up shirt, his robe, and slid his shoes on. He took one last glance at himself in the mirror on the way out of the empty dorm room, and stopped dead in his tracks.

Merlin, I look terrible…

There were dark circles beneath his eyes, more pronounced due to his already pale skin. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was sticking up on one side. He angrily stabbed at it with his wand until it obeyed, falling around his heart shaped face in soft waves. After a few quick scourgify spells to freshen himself up, he stumbled down to the Great Hall to try and grab some toast before everything was gone.

He hesitated for a moment in front of the doors to the Great Hall, debating whether or not he should just go down to the kitchens so he wouldn't have to see Harry. But in the end, the chiming of a clock nearby made his decision for him; he would be late for class if he hiked all the way to the kitchens. With a sigh, he pushed the doors open and made his way to the Slytherin table.

He ignored the stares he was getting; no doubt people were surprised that the normally impeccable Draco Malfoy looked like he had been run over by a herd of hippogriffs. He held his head high, putting on the fateful Malfoy mask as he sat down with the usual flourish of his robes.

"What happened to you? You look like complete shite." Blaise was staring at him with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing. I just didn't sleep well." Draco shifted his gaze to the food around him, and began to pile some of it on his plate.

"That's the same thing you've been saying all week, Drake." Pansy frowned, scooting closer to him and pressing herself against his side.

"And I also keep telling you that it's nothing! Don't worry about it. It's under control." Draco's temper started to rise.

"Yeah, the bags under your eyes certainly look like you've got it under control." Blaise muttered. Draco glared at him, but didn't respond. The group of eighth years fell silent, eating their meal quickly so they wouldn't be late for potions.

Draco pretended not to notice the covert, knowing glances that Blaise kept sneaking at him.

When the bells tolled to signal it was time for breakfast to end, the Slytherins stood up as one and moved towards the door of the Great Hall. Across the hall, bright green eyes were riveted on the blonde as the group left.

"Did you see Malfoy this morning?" Harry asked his friends, eyes still on the doors of the Great Hall.

"Yeah, he was sitting where he always does, mate. Why?" Ron asked, trying to stuff the last few bites of food into his mouth before his friends dragged him from the hall.

"He looked… terrible." Harry picked up his bag and followed Hermione who was quietly chastising Ron for making them late to class. "He's up to something."

"Oh, Harry. Aren't we beyond all of that by now?" Hermione sighed in frustration, glaring at her friend.

"Of course we are. But this is different… I just got a weird feeling whenever I looked over at him. I can't really explain it, but my gut tells me he's up to something. He isn't himself." Harry frowned as they descended further into the dungeons. His friends ignored him, bickering about some no doubt pointless detail as usual. Harry fell into a contemplative silence, taking his normal seat at the table behind Ron and Hermione when they reached the classroom.

Snape, with his usual flair for the dramatic, slammed the door open as he entered the classroom. He slowly but gracefully limped over to his desk and sat down. He crossed his hands on top of his desk and leaned forward, looking at his students so intensely that he may as well have been looking into their souls. Harry allowed a small smile to flit across his face for a moment until Snape's eyes met his. He gave a small, respectful nod to the professor, who then moved on to the next student.

Snape had not changed very much since the war, although he wasn't quite as bitter has he used to be. Without the constant stress of being a spy looming over him, the potions master was able to take a deep breath and enjoy life more.

"What are all of you impudent brats waiting for? You will be matched up with the partners on the board," with a flick of his wand, a neat list of the students appeared, "and making doxycide for professor Trelawny. Get to work!" He snapped, a grin spreading across his face that sent chills down most of the students' spines.

Well, he may have enjoyed life a bit more, but that didn't mean he was any less tough on his students. He expected the best, and if in his mind, you were not worthy of his respect until you proved to him that you were more competent than a flobberworm. Harry searched for his name on the board, and had to stop himself from laughing aloud at his good fortune. He was paired up with Malfoy.

This is perfect! Maybe I can figure out why the git's acting so strangely.

Malfoy, however, had a much worse reaction to the neatly written letters on the board. He gripped the side of his desk, knuckles white with exertion, and his eyes widened. The more he stared at the board, the more he hoped that his eyes were playing tricks on him. But when he saw Potter moving towards him, he swallowed nervously and tried to force his emotions into the back of his mind, behind the Malfoy Mask.

This is going to be the longest class ever…

Draco whimpered internally when Harry sat down next to him.

A/N: There you have it :) Hope you enjoyed it! I'm sorry not much plot development happened in this chapter, but I promise next chapter is going to move forward by leaps and bounds :) Look for it sometime tonight; I do have to write it before I can post it haha.

Much love as always,

Arya Rose