Okay... I've delayed this long enough... I've come to let everyone know (those of you who actually read these things of mine) that I'll be studying abroad from Jan. 13th to April 28th in Europe and will seldom have a computer availuable to me so you shouldn't expect anymore updates (those of you who care) from me between these times. And for those of you who are wondering I'll be going to the following cities in the following order: Paris -> Oxford -> Berlin -> Edinburgh -> Rome -> Come back home. I'm really excited and really nervous about this trip and sad about all of the things I'll be missing back here like my birthday this March, my parents birthdays, Valentines Day, etc... But hey, maybe I'll meet a cute guy. Also, if anyone would like to make me really happy when I come back nothing would be better then lots of comments on my stories.

Chapter 11

"Detention, every night, for a month with Snape of all people, why couldn't they just expel me," moaned Ron, his head hung low as he walked out of McGonagal's office. His voice was also very scratchy and soft, but it was amazing that he could even speak after his vocal performance just a half and hour ago.

"Serves you right for screaming in such a matter in a library of all places," scolded Hermione, not feeling the least bit sorry for her red headed companion. In fact she still had to suppress giggles at the thought of Ron's earlier horrified expression. However, because she had been sitting so close to Ron when the screaming had begun her hearing was temporary damaged and it was only temporary because Madame Prince had escorted the entire library to see Madame Promfrey immediately after sending Ron to McGonagal's office. Now for the next couple of hours she would speak extra loudly so, to her, it sounded like she was talking normally.

"Why were you screaming anyway," questioned Harry, who had been just returning from the forest when the screaming started. And Harry, being Harry, thought someone was killing his best friend and ran into the castle with his wand drawn only to find Ron in the library screaming for no apparent reason. Needless to say, he felt very silly for rushing to Ron's aid in such a matter when he knew Ron could have been screaming for anything as little as a spider. He was also very lucky that everyone was too distracted by the horrid noise to notice him for running around with his wand drawn and give him detention as well.

"Just so you know I blame you," forced out Ron, sending both Hermione and Harry death glares.

"Me? What did I do," questioned Harry, but was ignored by Ron and couldn't get a word in afterwards for Hermione had begun to lecture Ron about 'indoor and outdoor voices' that the entire dorm got to enjoy.

"So why was Weasley screaming like a bloody Banshee yesterday," Draco asked Harry the following day when they met in the library at what had become their usual table. He had at first decided not to ask, trying not to be his old self when he would torment the trio about such a thing, but curiosity had gotten the better of him. So he had asked as casually as possible when he had been looking over Harry's potions homework.

"I don't know, but apparently it's my fault," replied Harry, wincing when he saw Draco pick up his quill to make corrections.

A soft chuckle escaped Draco's throat.

"I always thought Weasley would be a screamer."

"What…. EW! NO!"

"I'm just joking Potter."

"I'm scarred for life now, you know and it's your fault."

"My fault? I thought some ugly Dark Lord did that."

Out of reflex of when the other Gryffindor boys would tease him, Harry grabbed the closest piece of paper available, crunched it up and threw it at the paler boy. He was mildly surprised when Draco had caught it without looking it, but it reminded him that Draco was a seeker too. It also made him realize that it was the first time either of them had mentioned anything remotely dealing with the dark arts since they had started talking.

It's like we forgot what we used to have between us, thought Harry but then immediately shook his head violently to get rid of the image that had popped into his head. The way he had thought that made it sound like they used to have a relationship together.

"Thinking of Weasley again," asked Draco, glancing up from Harry's homework.

"No, I was thinking of you actually," said Harry before he could stop himself and immediately covered his mouth.

Draco held Harry's papers upwards to block his face for longer then he probably would have normally, as if he hadn't truly understood what Harry had said, but Harry thought he was doing it just to torment him. When he lowered the papers, he gave Harry an odd look.

"And what exactly about me were you thinking?"

"Nothing," stammered Harry, wondering why he suddenly felt so nervous.

Not believing the other boy, Draco rolled his eyes.

"Sure it isn't and Dumbledore hates sweets."

Not sure what to say, Harry remained silent.

A moment later Draco handed back the top sheet of Harry's corrected Potions assignment.

"You should extend what you were talking about in the second paragraph. It sound like you just cut off because you ran out of things to say."

"I did run out of things to say. I don't know anything else about it."

"And you wonder why you get bad grades in Potions."

"It's because Snape hates me."

"Snape hates everyone, but that doesn't stop Granger."

"That's different. Hermione's smart and Snape doesn't hate everyone. He likes Slytherins."

"That's because he's our head of house, and are you trying to say you're stupid?"

"No-"

"Then Hermione being smart isn't a good enough excuse to-"

"You just called Hermione, Hermione!"

Draco immediately stopped as if he had forgotten what he had been saying and a soft blush covered his cheeks.

"Well… I usually do when we have prefect duty together…"

Panic struck Harry, but he couldn't figure out why. He decided to ask the first thing that came to mind.

"You and Hermione… your not…"

"What… EW! NO!"

"Hermione is not an 'ew'."

"But what you were about to ask was."

"Is it because she's muggle born?"

Harry instantly regretted asking this when he saw Draco's expression harden.

"That isn't even a factor anymore," snapped Draco and he began to gather his things to leave.

Panicking, Harry practically flung himself over Draco's things.

"Get off Potter," demanded Draco.

"No! Just listen a sec-" began Harry.

"I don't want to hear it," said Draco and move to leave without the stuff that Harry was covering.

With his seeker reflexes, Harry grabbed onto Draco's wrist.

"I'm sorry!"

Draco looked at Harry oddly, surprised by what the other boy had said, and froze.

"I'm sorry I said that," repeated Harry, relieved that he had Draco's attention but didn't let go in case the other boy still decided to leave before he could finish. "I know you already said that you've changed and you've been pretty nice to me this year but I'm still trying to get used to it. I mean we've been enemies for so long…"

Sighing, Draco sat back down.

"Four years… I've been pretty rotten to your three."

Deciding that it was probably better not to agree, Harry remained silent.

"I should probably feel lucky you and Hermione are willing to put up with me, but like you said we have been enemies for so long I just keep waiting for one of you to start laughing at me and tell me to leave you alone," admitted Draco. He bowed his head, no longer able to look Harry in the eyes.

Again Harry remained silent, only this time it was because it was because he didn't know what to say. Draco looked the most vulnerable he had ever seen him in all of the years they had known each other.

"You two and Blaise are the only friends I have right now and-"

A strange gagging sound caught their attention and they both turned towards the source of the noise.

Standing there stood Ron and Hermione. Ron looking as his he was having a heart attack, his mouth hanging open – making the strange gagging noises as he pointed at them while Hermione's expression was a mix between curiosity and embarrassment.

"H-Harry… Y-you and him," Ron forced out, his whole body practically twitching with what could be anger or shock.

Confused, Harry and Draco looked at what Ron was pointing at, making them both realize that Harry never let go of Draco's wrist which, at their current position, made it look like Harry had laid his hand on top of Draco's in a sort of… romantic way. Upon the realization both of them retracted their hands in an awkward fashion.

"Ron… this is not what it looks like."

"Ron, breathe!"

"I think Weasley is going to explode…"

"Not funny Draco! Ron, please breathe!"

After taking Ron outside, away from the prying ears of the library, it was practically dark out when Hermione and Harry had explained themselves, with Draco remaining silent the entire time, and Ron was able to properly breathe again. Unfortunately Ron's breathing was raged, showing how angry he was with his two friends.

"So you both have been hanging out with Malfoy, Malfoy of all people, behind my back, working together to keep it from me-"

"Actually Ron, Harry and I only discovered that the other had befriended Draco as well just recently and-"

"And you both still kept it from me? What else am I out of the loop on? Why would you keep this from me? WHY Malfoy? Don't you know he's evil? This is all probably a ploy to tare us apart or a trap to hand over Harry to You-Know-Who!"

"Ronald Weasley, you take that back this instant," shouted Hermione. "Draco would never-"

"So it's 'Draco' now it is? Don't tell me you're both in love with him."

"I am not in love with Draco you pigheaded-"

It was at this point Harry had noticed that Draco had walked away and was practically back at the castle door.

I hope Hermione can handle Ron without me, thought Harry before rushing after the blonde.

"Draco! Draco, wait."

Harry was relieved when Draco stopped, and was soon standing beside him before he stopped to catch his breath.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll turn you over to Voldemort?"

"No," answered Harry, and he knew he meant it. "No, I'm not."

"At least you think so," commented Draco as he sat down on the steps. "I would never do it, on purpose I mean, but my father… My father could."

Sitting down next to Draco, Harry watched as Ron and Hermione continued to fight in the distance.

"I always thought you liked your father."

"So did I."

"What happened?"

"The Tournament happened."

"How did that change your relationship with your father?"

"…I… I always knew my father was a follower of Voldemort, but I never thought much of it. It was just an idea I was raised with, but when he came back my father changed and…"

"And…" Harry encouraged.

"I didn't like what was expected of me."

Harry wanted to question further, he almost reached forward to… well probably wrap his arm around Draco's shoulder, but he didn't get the chance.

Ron came up to the stairs, glared at them both and stormed into the castle between them.

Shortly after Hermione came and stood before them.

"Ron pretty much said it was him and Draco and…"

"That's not fair," shouted Harry. "We shouldn't have to-"

"You two should probably go talk to him some more," suggested Draco, his voice extremely soft as he stood.

"Draco, we never said we were going to choose Ron over you," protested Hermione.

"You didn't have to," said Draco, before walking into the castle.