A/N: Re-uploaded for your enjoyment! Please review.

I woke with a start the next morning as something with sharp teeth bit my hand. Sitting bolt upright, I realised it was the dragon-lizard.

"What was that for?" I hissed at him, quietly, for the rest of my dormitory was still asleep.

'I'm hungry again.' He told me in a pitiful mind-voice. I sighed and got up and dressed, sneaking out of the dormitory with him in my pocket. Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I began my walk down to the kitchens. I drew him out of my pocket (the corridors were deserted; I saw no one the whole way) and looked at him closely.

"You've grown." I told him, for whereas yesterday, he could fit in the palm of my hand, now it took two hands to hold him. "A lot."

He looked at me, as if it was obvious. 'Well of course.' He replied. 'Don't you grow?'

"Well, yea I do, but not that fast. How big will you get?"

He considered it for a moment. 'I think, from nose to tail, I'll be as long as your arm.'

I blanched. "What? How will you fit in my pocket then?"

He looked at me, once again, as if it was obvious. 'I won't. Your shoulder will do nicely though.'

"You can't sit on my shoulder!" I hissed. "I have classes! You can't be seen!"

'Well it's not as if I can leave you, is it?' He said, almost smugly.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I asked, dropping him in my pocket as I reached the kitchens.

'Of course not.' He replied, lying.

Entering the kitchens, preparations for breakfast were well underway. And once again, they all bowed, and then a few hurried over.

"Would you like meat again, miss?" One of them squeaked.

"Yes, please." I replied, looking around the kitchen curiously. There were several large fires around the room, and in front of each were several house-elves, cooking things for breakfast. Several hurried over, carrying a bowl of meat.

"Thank you." I said gratefully, as they handed it to me.

"Would you like anything else this time, miss?" They squeaked. Remembering my promise last night, I thought.

"Could I please get a few of those jam tarts?"

Over their heads, I saw another tray hurrying my way, filled with jam tarts. I took three, backing out and thanking them.

Once again finding an empty classroom, I took the dragon-lizard out of my pocket. Slowly, I began to feed him.

"I have no idea how to take care of you, you know." I informed him. He made a sound that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

'Don't worry. I can teach you.' He laughed again then muttered something about even hatchlings knowing more then me. I decided to let that pass.

I re-entered the common room with a (hopefully) not-noticeable bulge in my pocket, carrying three jam tarts, which I gave to my sleepy-looking friends, stumbling out of their dormitories.

"Where have you been?" Hermione demanded, taking my jam-tart. "When I woke up, your bed was empty and you were gone."

"I got up early." I lied smoothly. She looked at me funny before turning her attention elsewhere.

I went with them down to breakfast, but this time I had a sliver of bacon on toast. I had to have enough energy for classes, and now for caring for my dragon-lizard as well, it was awfully draining. They stared at me eating, but I shrugged and abandoned the table, making my way down to my first class-Potions. I didn't really mind Potions, however much the other Gryffindors hated it. Professor Snape had been decent, if not nice, to me since that time I desperately needed to get into the Slytherin common room last year.

Professor Snape was already there as I walked in. He glanced up as I sat down on the far side of the dungeon, in the shadows, in a corner.

I sighed and began pulling out the stuff I'd need; my Potions book, quills, ink, a few scraps of parchment, et cetera. The dragon-lizard crawled out of my pocket onto my lap, fanning his wings.

'They itch!' He complained, fanning them harder.

"This is what happens when you grow to fast." I whispered, but began rubbing them softly. He relaxed again, curling up in my lap, like some small, scaly cat.

The door to the dungeon banged opened, and I jumped, the dragon-lizard toppling into my cauldron, which was right next to the desk.

"Hush." I whispered at him, for it was Draco Malfoy, and he was swaggering over to the seat next to me. He swung himself into the seat, flinging his bag down onto the desk, pulling out his stuff. Thankfully, the babble of the rest of the class entering stopped any conversation he was going to have with me. I leant down, appearing to busy myself with my cauldron, discreetly pulling my dragon-lizard out of it, and hiding him in the folds of my robes, on my lap.

Professor Snape set us a rather difficult potion to make, and I used that as my excuse not to talk all lesson. I just sat there, doing what the potion needed with slow, monotonous movements, not really caring. Once, I had to stand, so I put a hand over the dragon-lizard, holding him in place as I made my way over to the store-cupboard. Once there, out of sight, I put him back in my pocket again, which he grumbled a bit about.

The rest of the lesson passed in the same way. I felt like I was sitting at the bottom of a river, watching everything, everyone, from there, with a bent perspective. How could they be so happy? Because they didn't have the horrors of my past. Of Harry's past. How could Harry be so happy? Because he didn't live with the Dark Lord. He wasn't hurt regularly by the person he liked.

I snuck a sideways glance at Draco. He smirked. He was watching me. Discreetly, he slipped me a small scrap of parchment, with a note written on it.

Meet me tonight, outside the Slytherin common room. You better be there.

I turned to him, opening my mouth to say I wouldn't, but the bell rang, and the class began shoving their stuff in their bag. Draco had already stood and was halfway across the classroom.

"Amy Potter, stay behind a moment." Professor Snapes' voice rang out. The class looked at me, before leaving. I wondered what I had done wrong. I didn't think my potion was that bad? I'd done nothing, it turned out. Apparently, I had reached Slytherin level, on his acceptance list, for he asked me if I was okay. Professor Snape asked if I was feeling okay, because I seemed distracted and didn't look too well. After assuring him I was fine, I escaped the dungeons feeling even worse then before. Did I honestly look that bad?

'Yep.' The dragon-lizard assured me. 'You look like death walking.'