CHAPTER THREE

Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D

A/N: Again evading assignments…naughty me. Enjoy! There is still no actual slash in this chapter, if you want to be picky about it, but I think there might be some in the next…

Harry awoke slowly to confusion; he didn't remember where he was. As he yawned it all came rushing back in.

'Shit.' He whispered, grabbing his paper.

It was…finished. He was sure he hadn't finished it. There was no time to worry about that now, he decided, as he gathered his things and raced to the Great Hall, practically throwing himself into a seat next to a still rather irritated Hermione. He glanced at the Slytherin table and Draco winked at him. Winked! Harry gulped, wondering just what this tutoring was going to cost him.

--

Draco left the Great Hall soon after Harry had arrived, heading for Snape's office. He knew this was going to seem strange but he felt he had to do it. Something in Potter's manner… His godfather looked up at him as he entered the room.

'Draco?'

'Good morning. I was wondering if you could do me a favor.'

'Perhaps.'

Draco watched his godfather's eyes narrow; their relationship was strained, at best, a fact he regretted somewhat, but now was not the time to think of that.

'I want to work with Potter in potions.'

'Why?' Snape asked, frowning.

'Perhaps I don't want to explode.'

I'm tired of feeling guilty, he thought. Snape sighed and shook his head. He knew Harry's actions were grand, but he couldn't bring himself to like the boy.

'You want your grade resting on that…moron?'

'I think he's frightened enough of me that he'll do anything I say. Which means no more explosions or strange liquids running everywhere.'

'Hmm…' Snape said, liking the sound of that. 'Very well. But make sure he does things right.'

Draco grinned at his godfather and for a moment Snape was reminded of the boy he had been before the mask was back up and Draco left. Snape had an uneasy feeling about Draco's true motives for this…but who was he to deny his godson something as harmless as this?

--

Upon walking into the classroom Harry stared blankly at Snape, not understanding what he was saying.

'Potter, I would like to believe there is a brain cell in that head of yours. Now, one last time, from now on you are going to be working with Draco. Move!'

Hurry opened his mouth but wisely chose not to respond. He sat in the empty chair next to Draco, ignoring the strained sneers from other Slytherin's (who weren't sure how they were supposed to act around him anymore) and the sympathetic glances from the Gryffindor's. As the class began Harry looked at Draco, eyes wide. Draco, just for a moment, thanked the healer that had fixed Harry's eyes so he no longer had to wear those glasses, then remembered himself and smirked.

'What is going on Malfoy?' Harry hissed.

'Well Potter,' Draco sneered. 'I believe we are supposed to be making a potion. Now go get the ingredients.'

Harry meekly got up and headed to the small room containing the ingredients, parchment in hand, trying not to think of the cupboard that had once been his home. When he worked with Hermione or Ron they never made him go in here…dark, small spaces terrified him. Malfoy doesn't know that so you can't blame him, his subconscious whispered.

'What is going on Harry?' Hermione hissed from behind him, making him jump.

'I don't know. But I have to get these ingredients so I can get out quickly.'

'But you're suddenly working with Malfoy!' she cried, helping him so he wouldn't suffer.

This just made Harry mad for some reason. I don't need her pity.

'I'm not stupid M'ione.' He sneered.

He left the room, arms full of ingredients, and flopped next to Draco, sighing heavily. He was out in the open, in the light. He was fine. Draco began to prepare the ingredients.

'Light the fire Potter.'

Harry stared.

'Surely you can't possibly damage anything lighting a fire?' Draco sneered.

Harry blinked. He knew he should respond, but there was something in Draco's eyes…

'Oh for Merlin's sake!'

Draco reached across Harry and lit the fire. Harry flinched backward as Draco came close to touching him and would have fallen off the stool had Draco not grabbed his robes and steadied him.

'Merlin Potter.' Malfoy snarled.

'Sorry…I just…did you finish my paper for me?' Harry whispered,

Draco leaned across Harry, pretending to reach for an ingredient.

'Yes. Now shut up and pay attention.'

Harry shivered as Draco's breath tickled his ear, then felt horrified. Surely he hadn't just enjoyed that! No, he thought, of course not. It's just cold in here, that's all.

'Cut this into small pieces.' Draco said, placing a root and a small knife before him.

Harry nodded, returning to his thoughts as he picked up the knife. His subconscious screamed at him that it wasn't cold, not really, and he tried valiantly to ignore it. It is cold, dammit! He cried at his subconscious. He was dimly aware of a dull ache in his hand and someone calling "Potter!" He wrenched himself from his thoughts and looked at Malfoy, whose pale face seemed even paler, if that was possible.

'What?' he snapped.

'Draco, you'd better take your partner to the hospital wing. Really Potter, you're lucky it wasn't an explosion.' Snape snarled.

Harry looked down at the dull ache in his hand and was stunned to find it stained with blood. He turned his eyes to Draco again who pushed him out of the room.

'Potter! What in the hell did you do that for?' Draco cried angrily.

Harry thought he heard a current of something else, maybe concern, but dismissed it as stupid.

'I'm missing my lesson for you, Potter. Don't you think you could explain what is going on?'

'I…uh…I didn't feel it. What happened?'

'How did you not feel that? You started hacking into your hand with a knife! Severus is right, you are a menace. Maybe you should just drop the class.'

Harry looked at Draco, panicked.

'No. No. I can't, see. If I don't…I won't…and I have to…'

'Are you going to finish a fucking sentence?'

Harry glared at Draco, saying nothing. Draco sighed, almost regretfully.

'Go to the wing on your own. I'm sure you know where it is.' Draco sneered, swooping away.

God damn you Potter! Why make me worry, so? He thought. Harry was relieved and yet strangely disappointed that Malfoy was acting more like himself again and continued on to the hospital wing.

'Again Mr. Potter?' she asked.

Harry grinned sheepishly, holding out his hand. She handed him a potion, which he drank happily though grimacing at the taste. The cuts on his hand closed up and, after washing away the blood, he returned to the classroom to find everyone packing up and a very pissed off Draco Malfoy glaring at him.

'You ruined the potion Potter, so now we have to come back tonight and start over again. Can't you do anything right?'

'What's wrong Malfoy? Not going to get laid tonight because of me?'

Draco snarled and whipped his wand out, pointing it at Harry's chest.

'Oh put it away Malfoy.' Harry groaned, gathering his stuff and leaving the room.

What was that flash in Draco's eyes when I said that? And why do I even care?