A/N Hey guys! Feeling really proud of myself for getting this done, might be a while to the next chapter as I'm heading into exams but hopefully I'll still find time to keep writing! :) Big thanks to everyone who's supporting this story, love you all :)

Harry

He didn't like the idea of leaving Draco with Hermione. His best friend was great but Hermione was really upset. He didn't want Draco to make it worse-

SNAP

"Hiya Harry! I'm Colin Creevy. I want to talk about what it's like to be a good guy in... a nest of vipers!"

"What?"

"You- Slytherin- clearly you belong in Gryffindor! Can I get your autograph?"

"Seriously, Colin- whatever- just get out of my way. I'm busy and Slytherin's are not vipers. Leave me alone."

"Tsk tsk Harry- handing out autographs? Be careful- people might think you're an attention seeker." His seemingly ever present defence professor stage whispered to him.

"Now look what you've done! Get out of here Colin" Harry stalked away and Colin ran off in the other direction. The corridor went suddenly quiet as students dropped their voices and began whispering about what had happened.

"Harry? Are you okay?" asked the professor who had followed him.

"I'm just tired Professor, I should really go."

"Nonsense, here we go- a little pick me up potion"

"I don't think-"

"Go, drink it!"

Harry felt he really couldn't resist with Lockhart watching him so he tenatively took a little sip.

"AARGH!" He spit out the potion and a fireball exploded out of his mouth. He dropped the little vial and where it spilled, smoke started forming.

"Harry!" Hermione was running towards him, putting out the flames with water summoned from her wand. Harry was dazed and surely hallucinating because the smoe seemed to be forming snakes. Lockhart began casting spells at the snakes but it just seemed to make them angry

"Expelliarmus!" and suddenly Draco was there, catching the professor's wand which had shot out of his grip and immobilising the snakes. That was the last Harry saw before he passed out.

Draco

What the hell was going on? He and Hermione had raced out of the classroom when they heard shouts only to find that someone had unleashes fire snakes on the school. He instantly disarmed Lockhart who was doing more harm than good.

He looked at Hermione who was about to hex a snake.

"Hermione! You have to freeze them" He picked up the vial Harry had dropped. Draco cast a freezing charm at the nearest snake. It instantly lost its form and became a wisp of vapour.

Draco caught it in the bottle, burning his hands as he did so. Soon the room was filled with smoke as Severus and McGonagall arrived and began to take care of the situation. He had just put the lid on the tiny bottle when he saw a snake seconds from Hermione. He drew his wand and was about to hex it into oblivion when someone started speaking parseltongue. Draco recognised the language but others looked shocked. He realised Harry was standing up and shouting at the snake. The snake began to retreat. Hermione looked terrified and he wanted to run over to her but he couldn't move for fear the snake would attack.

When the snake had retreated she drew her wand and froze it. McGonagall held out the vial and caught the last snake. Severus took the vial and left while McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey took Harry away, presumably to the hospital wing. The other students stared and began talking about Harry and his snake-talking skills.

He ran over to Hermione. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? You're the one whose hands are covered in burns! You should go to Madam Pomfrey"

He smiled. "I really am sorry."

Hermione

She didn't know what to think. He was horrible then nice. Why? Was his reputation that important? She knew she liked him, but hated herself for that. She was obviously shallow, loving the boy who was so cruel to her.

"I...I can't forget what you've done, what you say about me... but I guess I can try... to forgive you."

"Mione! What are you doing with this Slytherin jerk?" Ronald came running over to her. slung an arm around her. "Don't you dare say anything to Mione!"

Hermione pushed him away. "I can stand up for myself Ronald. And anyway, I'm just talking to him."

"What? Why? All Slytherin's, especially a Malfoy, are pureblood snobs."

"Better to be a pureblood snob than a traitor, Weasley."

"Enough! I am going to check on Harry, you are coming with me to get your hands checked up and Ronald, you go and check on your sister- she looked awful."

She walked off.

"So, Mione." Draco smirked

"Don't call me that! I hate that nickname"

He hadn't changed. He still clung to his pureblood status.

"Don't be mad- he started it."

"Quit moaning Malfoy! Can't you leave the pureblood stuff alone for two minutes?"

"It's who I am" She couldn't tell if he was serious.

"You have a choice. No-one's forcing you to be like this."

Draco

She didn't understand. He didn't have a choice. He stayed quiet all the way to the hospital wing. Hermione went through to check on Harry and then left, leaving Draco alone with his thoughts.

Madam Pomfrey said he should stay the night which was fine by him as he didn't really want to go back to the Slytherin common room. He said goodnight to Harry and then lay in bed, thinking about what Hermione had said.

It was hours later when he heard frantic movement. In hushed whispers he heard that there had been a student petrified. He peeked round his curtains and saw that it was the Gryffindor boy Harry had shouted at earlier. Draco knew things would move quickly now, he had a lot to take care of. He had to stick with the plan, but now he also had to make sure Hermione was safe.