A/N: I'm so sorry it has been so long updating this chapter. I've been a bit busy these past few weeks. But it is a long one :) I hope people enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Harry Potter what so ever. No characters or settings belong to me.

Remembrall:summerising what has happened so far- chapter one Draco recieved a letter from his mother which he replied to in chapter two. Also in chapter two we had the appearance of Jamesin the Slytherin common room, Chapter Three was more about James and the exchange he wishes for and chapter four held a kiss between Blaise and Draco, and also the agreement to the terms of the exchange.

In the Skin of a Slytherin

Chapter Five – Hole in the Wall

As Draco walked into the Great Hall he noticed immediately that something was going on. There was a small group by the Slytherin table and some he noticed were wearing red and gold ties, he scowled. He noted that the rest of the Hall was silent, there were no teachers at the Head Table and the voice he could hear booming around the large room was Weasley's, his scowl deepened. With his eyes never wavering from the redhead, Draco quickened his pace until he was face to face with Weasley.

"What is going on here?" he demanded. His eyes scanned the faces of all those present, three second years and four sixth year Slytherins; they probably had risen from their seats to protect the petrified younger years who looked as if they were on the verge of wetting themselves, Draco hoped they didn't; what an embarrassment to the house that would be! Also there were some third year Gryffindors, two of those and then there was Weasley, Potter, and Finnegan along with Weaslette.

"Shove off, Malfoy." Weasley spat. Draco almost cringed; he had Weasley spittle on him. He wanted to wipe it off as quickly as possible but realised that wouldn't look very good, so he remained absolutely still and refrained himself, however much that pained him to do.

"No, Weasley. I believe this is my house table not yours. Stop harassing the younger years, Weasley. Go back to Gryffindor table, you mustn't get much food at home, what do you do Weasley, scavenge?" he sneered. It amused him to watch that face go as red as the hair.

Weasley started to advance but was held back by his little sister, who had also gone a brilliant shade of red, and Finnegan. "You hypocrite, Malfoy." Weasley roared as he tried to break free of the others' hold on him.

"Bravo, Weasley. I'm so proud of you using such big words." Draco said as if he were talking to a small child, when in actual fact Weasley was quite a few inches larger than himself; Draco wished the other seventh year Slytherins would get here soon, especially Crabbe and Goyle. Weasley's face seemed to go an even darker scarlet.

"Shut up, Malfoy." Weasley was still struggling with the grip the other two Gryffindors had on him. Draco was quite surprised to see the Saviour not doing anything, usually the Golden Boy jumped to his friends' defence. Potter stood slightly apart from the rest of the gathered group, his green eyes flicking from one face to another behind his glasses, his face passive.

Draco saw a movement in the corner of his eye and turned his head sharply to face Weasley while at the same time whipping out his wand. Sure enough the redhead had broken free of his hold and charged at Draco. Draco flicked his wand and watched, amused as the tall Gryffindor hit an invisible bubble and bounced back. Weasley glowered and brandished his own wand; Draco ducked to escape the flash of yellow. He cast another non-verbal spell but that too missed. Soon shots of light were firing from wands in rapid succession, several others had joined most likely after being hit with a hex themselves. Draco didn't know how long it had been before a very familiar voice roared.

"CEASE THIS AT ONCE." And everyone did as if they had been immobilised. Some people had even reverted to fist fights, many had been hit with different hexes, there was one girl whose ears had grown to the size of her head and she was having trouble keeping it up right. A boy now had what seemed to be green feathers for hair. Another witch had her hand clamped over her mouth tightly and tears streaming down her face, Draco had several ideas as to what had caused that. After taking in the surrounding students Draco slowly turned to face his Head of House. "Who started this?" was Snape's question and everyone spoke at once but two voices could be heard above all others as they said simultaneously, both said with enough venom to kill.

"Weasley"

"Malfoy "

Both in question turned to glare daggers at one another as Snape called for silence once more. "Weasley, Mister Malfoy come see me at eight tonight for detention. 50 points from Gryffindor." With that the greasy haired man turned on his heels and strode out of the Great Halls, his robes billowing behind him. With one last glower at Weasley Draco strode out of the Great Hall himself, furious. How he despised the Weasel.

The tension in the Great Hall was thick. Glares were shot across the room in all different directions. Although Draco had missed breakfast he was not in the slightest bit hungry. He sat cutting up the piece of ham in front of him.

"I think you've seen all there is to see on that ham, maybe you should try tasting it next?" Blaise asked trying to lighten the heavy mood. There was a hint of uncertainty and trepidation in Blaise's voice unlike the usual loud confidence. After the kiss last Sunday Draco had very rarely spoken to Blaise. Yes he acted as if there was nothing wrong but that was just to stop others from questioning what the matter was. Both Blaise and he knew that something had changed in their friendship. Blaise had crossed a barrier and Draco was uncomfortable but he did not wish for the inevitable conversation. So instead he had been avoiding Blaise as much as was possible without looking suspicious, as it was now the following Tuesday this had been going on for over a week. Draco hadn't realised how much he enjoyed the banter between himself and Blaise, it was a normal, regular occurrence. It was one of the things that he always believed would stay a constant in his life, keep him grounded when some part of his life flipped on its head. But at the moment that was not so and it may never be the same again.

"Maybe I do not want to taste it." Draco replied coolly. He had not had a good day, a good week in fact. Blaise's flinch was barely visible but Draco saw it, maybe because he was looking for it.

After some moments of difficult silence Blaise said to the group in general. "I can't believe how much work McGonagall set us! Three essays, that's absurd don't you think?" Blaise said animatedly.

Draco decided to answer like Crabbe and Goyle but a lot more refined by answering with a nod where they accompanied theirs with a grunt of agreement.

"Yeah, and she took 50 points from Slytherin as well, I mean 50! We were only on two hundred and something to begin with; we're now in the one hundreds again." Was Nott's answer. Draco scowled, Nott didn't realise it was because of the fight and because Snape had deducted that amount from Gryffindor. He stood, ready to leave.

"Well you had better earn it back, had you not?" Draco said before swiftly departing. The time Draco spent alone was becoming increasingly familiar. He had always enjoyed solitude but he also loved to be with people, listen to them and their conversations, watch the expressions flicker over their face's, he had always found it amazing and entrancing watching people's feeling being expressed through facial muscles or body language, it could change so quickly. From one extreme to the other in the matter of seconds. He couldn't remember when it began but from a young age he always tried to figure out what was going through his Father's mind. Lucius was a master at emotionless masks and Draco could sit for hours at a time if he had the chance to try to see if there was anything that gave his Father away. After many years of observation he could tell the twitch in his Father's left eye meant that the man was angry, the fractional droop in the eyelids when he was bored or extremely tired. The slight thinning of the lips when he was frustrated or didn't understand something but was trying to figure it out. The gleam in his eyes when he liked something. The tilting upwards of the lips when he was proud of Draco.

He found people intriguing. Like living puzzles he spent many hours of his time trying to understand people, the way they worked, the way they thought, especially the way they felt. That was most likely the reason why he had become closer to Blaise than anyone else, the brunette was a huge puzzle and whenever Draco thought he had figured him out there was always a piece that he didn't comprehend. Like the kiss. Blaise would do things that completely threw him. Maybe that was why he allowed James in the Slytherin common room that night a few weeks ago. Maybe that was partly why he had accepted to the Mystery Gryffindor's offer. Because he was curious. Because he wanted to figure out and understand this Gryffindor. Because he wanted to know whoit was. The lion acting as a snake was just as complicated as Blaise, just as complicated as his Father. Easy puzzles he found boring, like Weasley for instance he was an open book. Draco could understand exactly what was going through the redhead's mind and after knowing and fighting with him for so long could even predict what he was going to say next.

Weasley just annoyed him. It was Potter out of the trio that always made him feel. Outraged, curious, furious, shocked, amused, delighted, belittled and even hurt. Right from the beginning when Potter had refused his hand in friendship, his emotions had always been so much closer to the heart when it involved Potter. There were very few others, who could affect him like that, and the list consisted of his Father, his Mother and Severus and in a different way he supposed the Dark Lord but that he didn't count. That was a list smaller than a handful and Potter had to be one of them, it incensed Draco.

Recently Draco had spent so much time alone it saddened him slightly. He had always praised himself for his people skills but of late he didn't enjoy the company of others. Stupid Blaise, it would be him and his unpredictability to do this to him. He needed to speak to Blaise and soon, he couldn't go on like this any longer. Having resolved that, Draco went off to his next lesson early, it was becoming increasingly cold outside now it had hit November.

Draco had spent quite a long time thinking over what he wanted to put in his note to Blaise during History of Magic, he had already read the text book and generally already knew most of what they were taught in that class, he probably knew more from teaching himself compared to what he would learn listening to Binns anyway. After thinking for the whole hour his note read.

Z

Meet me after detention in the common room. Bring a cloak.

The bell went and he quickly wrote his initials before packing everything away and neatly folding the note, placing it in his pocket ready to give to Blaise at dinner.

Once seated Draco looked at his options for dinner and decided that salmon followed by a nice sweet dessert was in order. He could tear the salmon apart, pretending to look for bones. He loved the texture and taste of the salmon combined with the sour accompaniment of lemon. His salivary glands worked over time at just the thought.

It was not long before Blaise was sat down across from him, making light conversation with Daphne. Draco himself had been good friends with the Greengrass girl, both in fact. But after he had heard things about the elder sister and seen things for himself he had become quite wary of her. He would never want to be on the receiving end of her wand; she knew some nasty spells and was not afraid to use them either. Draco clamped his legs together at just the thought. He took a larger than usual breath and let it out slowly to calm himself.

He wanted just the right moment to pass the note to Blaise. Straight away would give the impression that he was desperate, even if he was he wasn't going to show it, too late and Blaise might think he felt it of no importance and as if it was an afterthought. Luckily the right moment came when Weasley roared with frustration, his face a flaming red as he stomped off out of the Hall after glowering at the one that was the Boy Who Lived. Draco eyebrows quirked up in curiosity at the unusual scene while at the same time he kicked Blaise. Blaise's head snapped round to face Draco's own where he too, along with the rest of the school, had watched the redhead's actions. Now that was a face; Blaise couldn't seem to be able to make his mind up whether to narrow his eyes, raise an eyebrow or stay emotionless. There also seemed to be a hint of shame as well. He opted to keep impassive until Draco started to try to give him the note after which he raised an eyebrow in question. Draco just went back to eating his meal after glimpsing at Potter who also seemed to have gone back to his food but didn't seem to be eating it as much as he was pushing it around the plate. Draco felt quite the same.

After a while of squeezing much lemon onto his salmon he heard Blaise say, "Now I know why you have such a sour tongue, Draco." Draco looked up and saw the slightly shy grin on the other's face. Draco kept eye contact with him and saw the nod the brunette gave him; he looked down at his food again and smiled himself. Yes, they were uncomfortable at the moment but they could sort through it, anything would be better than this awkward unknown.

As Draco sat eating his apple crumble he said to Blaise in a very innocent fashion. "But Zabini, I have such a sweet tongue."

"Yes, because of course, Draco, you are so good at sugar coating things." Blaise said with a smirk and Draco smirked back himself. Draco sat savouring the delicious apple crumble in contentedness almost forgetting he had a detention and an awkward conversation lying ahead of him that night.

Eight 'o'clock found Draco Malfoy in the Potions Master's office glaring daggers at one Ronald Weasley before his eyes darted to the figure clad in black as Severus Snape strode into the room. The black haired man turned swiftly once he was on the opposite side of the desk to them and looking down at the two students with a sneer marring his sallow skin.

The dark eyes shot to Weasley. "Mister Weasley, you shall be assisting Mister Filch tonight cleaning the toilets. I have to put up with your presence enough during the day I shall not spend my evenings with you. Go. Now. He is waiting in the Entrance Hall I believe." With one last glare shot at both Slytherins Weasley was scrambling towards the door as if he was desperate for air to breathe.

After watching the redhead leave Draco gulped slightly and turned back to face his Head of House. If there was one time Draco despised being alone with his Godfather it was in detention. It was well-known throughout the school that Severus Snape favoured his own House and was rather unfair to the others, to an even stronger degree than Minerva McGonagall. But what others didn't know was that the whole of the Slytherin House was petrified of being in a detention with their Head. Snape didn't care if his Slytherins broke rules, but being caught in doing so and therefore disgracing the House; he despised. Within private walls away from prying eyes Severus Snape was harsher to any Slytherin than he was to any other. And for Draco, his Godson, the leader of Slytherin, to be caught, Severus was ashamed and livid. Draco could see those emotions quite clearly running off the man opposite him in waves as the black haired man sat down in his high backed chair. Draco was glad he was already sitting down.

The Professor leaded forward, linking his fingers together, looking as intimidating as only Snape could be, he spoke. "Pray tell, Malfoy," Draco winced; his Godfather only reverted to calling him by his last name when Draco had done something exceptionally bad. "Why you were duelling, at breakfast, in the Great Hall no less, with Weasley." Snape raised an eyebrow in question.

Draco stayed silent, he knew this would anger the man but replying with childish lines such as 'he started it' would be worse. Sure enough the heat of fury flashed through the dark eyes before he started again. "Very well, I'm sure the Headmaster can decide who would be a better candidate for wearing the badge." The sentence was said casually, as if there was of no importance to the words.

"No," Draco cried, his hand clutching at the Head Boy Badge on his robe. He was reduced to silently begging with his eyes. A Malfoy begging, but he wanted the badge too much to be ashamed, if his Father found out about him losing his Head Boy title the man would be more ashamed than if Draco was begging.

Severus let out a sigh as a hand came up to rub his temples. "Draco, if you are unable to act civilly, at least where you can be seen, towards other students, then you are unfit to be Head Boy. You know of Dumbledore's rules and confirmed at the start of the year that you would refrain from any of the childish behaviour we have seen from you in the past. Less than a term into the year and you has already reverted back to your old ways." Draco received a look filled with disapprovement and disappointment. Draco resisted the urge to duck his head and cower. Only Severus and Lucius could make him feel like that. He hated that they could do this to him but couldn't stop it. These were the two men Draco had always idolised and admired, wishing he could be like them one day. Of course his thinking had changed since his Father had been sentenced to Azkaban, but he still looked up to his Godfather the way he had as a child. He wished to go into the potions field himself in the future and Severus had done much to help him achieve that.

"I promise Severus that I shall not do it again but please not the badge. Please." Draco was almost begging. His Godfather had seen worse from him though.

Severus sighed again. "But, Draco, you promised at the start of the year and already you have been caught disobeying that promise. If I am to believe that you shall not do it again I need to know why you have done it the first time." Severus raised his eyebrows in question.

Draco looked down his face flushed and stared at his hands. "I..." how did he answer that? There was nothing for him to give a good enough answer and reason for his actions, just that for the past few weeks he had been having little sleep and extreme emotions that he was not used to dealing with. There was no answer he could give his Head of House he just looked at his potions master with pleading eyes without lifting his head as he whispered "please" almost cringing at the croaked brokenness of it.

Severus looked pained but Draco couldn't fathom why. "Draco what's wrong?" Draco saw all the other questions within his Godfather's eyes. But he just didn't know what to tell the man. As far as Draco was aware Severus was very loyal to the Dark Lord so Draco could not tell him about his Mother's letter or his refusal to join the Death Eaters. The man would not be pleased to hear about a Gryffindor spying in the common room nor did Draco want to talk about what happened between himself and Blaise. Draco looked down at his lap once again, unable to answer.

It was many silent minutes that followed until Snape changed the subject. "I believe we had a visitor the other week did we not?" he asked lightly while organising the parchment on his desk. Draco visibly cringed that time; sure he was going to be scolded once again.

He cleared his throat before saying. "Yes, Sir."His head high once again, ready for what the potions master would say next.

"Is he going to be visiting again?" Severus sounded truly curious and that threw Draco. He furrowed his brows slightly. "He was rather amusing, don't you think?"

Draco didn't know how to answer that. Severus had found him amusing? Severus never seemed amused. Severus had been watching their monthly games evening? While that was news to Draco he couldn't be shocked as the Head of Slytherin was just like any other Slytherin and loved to have information that could be used to their advantage. Blackmail was lovely; usually rewarding and is entertaining, any good Slytherin adored it.

"I would not use the term amusing to describe him." Was Draco's reply, trying to avoid other questions.

"No, you looked more like a dog with its hackles raised at more than one time during the evening." Severus smirked and Draco tried to control the flush spreading across his cheeks. "Now, if there is nothing else you wish to speak to me about then off you go, Draco. The next time you shall not be so lucky." Draco took his cue to leave and stood, glad that he was able to keep the green badge attached to his robes that glinted in the dim, lamp light the words Head Boy, as he was by the door Snape spoke again. "Be weary of what you say in front of our visitor, Draco. I wish not for you to be in any more trouble, and this could be a lot more serious than what happened today." Draco hadn't turned around from facing the door and just nodded his head in understanding once. What Severus had just said worried him a bit, he knew James had business to do with the war but although he had an idea he was still unclear as to what side the lion was on and what Severus had just said made him even more doubtful. He opened the heavy, dark door and as he was walking out heard Severus mutter, "I wish you would tell me your troubles, Draco." Although he had barely heard it the resigned tone was easily caught. After the briefest of pauses Draco closed the door and walked down the corridor all the while wishing he could tell his Head of House but he was scared of the outcome of that.

Draco took a deep breath as he tried to control himself outside of the common room. He said the password and entered the room that was bathed in the glow of the flames. He could feel the slightly warmer air ripple through him, although it was usually bitterly cold in the dungeons he felt on fire, even the slightly warmer air feeling unbearable against his heated skin. His eyes scanned the room and he realised he must have spent quite a while at his Head's office, longer than he had thought for there were only a few people left in the common room, a group of sixth years huddled together whispering to one another by one of the larger black leather couches and some fifth years sat hunched over the desks, scribbling furiously what was most likely to be homework to be handed in for the next day. Draco's eyes soon moved to Blaise who sat easily reading his book, looking as much at ease as a king on his throne which he was while Draco was absent.

Draco walked up to the brunette with all his importance shining through. Blaise looked around as he heard Draco's footsteps a shy smile curving his features. "Hey" he called as Draco reached his seat. "Go ok?" he asked still slightly tentative.

"You know Severus. You ready to go?" Draco replied.

"Yeah" Blaise stood, stretching before he placed his book on the coffee table. He grabbed the cloak that had been hanging over the back of his chair. "Shall we?" Blaise asked gesturing towards the entrance.

Draco shook his head, "We are going this way." He said, as he turned and started walking in the opposite direction of the entrance. Blaise hurried up to him and fell into step.

"Why this way?" he asked seeming quite confused.

"Because Filch and Weasley are cleaning toilets, they could be anywhere in the school and I wish not to be caught; twice in one day I'm sure that would even out beat Potter." Not that Draco wouldn't secretly wish to beat Potter at just one thing, but he wished to keep the Head Boy title and live another day, thank you very much. Blaise didn't reply but just walked beside him silently, often taking in his surroundings; very few Slytherins actually came this far into the room, it became much colder and damper the further they went into the tunnel. Draco himself had been this way on various occasions; he had always been a very inquisitive person and liked to quench his curiosity. He liked walking around the grounds of Hogwarts and enjoyed even more a nightly flight, flying under the light of the moon and stars. It was much more exhilarating at night, more difficult to see if he was about to fly into something. Also he felt free, often he would spend most evenings after returning from the Manor out flying at top speeds, all his senses increased due to the darkness with his mind so focused on the feeling of flying and his surroundings he forgot about all the other worries.

The two of them carried on in silence. The tunnel came to a turning on the right, all the while sloping up gradually, which they followed until Draco stopped at an unusually shaped stone in the wall. He tapped it three times with the tip of his wand. Stepping aside he pulled Blaise with him so he wasn't in the way. They both watched the large stone move backwards into the passageway with a grinding noise as stone rubbed again stone, although Draco watched it with a slight smile on his face as he remembered other times he had been through this same gap Blaise stood beside him, his mouth agape slightly and his eyes wide. The stone soon stopped, leaving a small gap from the inside of the castle to the out.

"I would ask if pixies taste that nice but I doubt there shall be very many around here." Draco said to Blaise who, in turn, snapped his mouth shut with an audible click. Draco moved his attention back to the hole, he had grown quite a bit in the time since he had discovered this little escape root in Second year and realised that it was going to be a squeeze for him to get through let alone Blaise who was an inch taller than he and rather muscular. A spark flashed out of his wand and expanded the hole; that was better; he wished not to get stuck nor have grime all over his robes, just the thought brought a shudder to his body which he suppressed. He climbed through first not waiting for Blaise to recover as he started strolling across the ground by the lake. Soon enough he could hear the quick steps of one Blaise Zabini catching up to him.

"How long have you known about that?" Blaise asked sounding quite awed still.

"Long enough." Was the reply. He didn't want to be having this conversation but didn't want to drag it on any longer, best cut to the chase. "I believe you know what I want to speak to you about?"

"Yes, look Draco I didn't mean to offend you like I obviously have..." Blaise said but was cut off by Draco.

"Then why do it? How did you think I was going to act about it, buy some flowers and go down on one knee the next morning at breakfast telling you of my undying love for you in front of everyone?" Draco was quite frustrated about this whole situation. If he had been in any other mood he knew that the both of them would have laughed at that ridiculous idea.

"No, Draco. I guess I just wasn't thinking at the time."

"And that different from any other time, how?"

They had been walking around the lake as they spoke, it was easier and less personal that way but Blaise stopped, caught Draco's arm and spun him round. "I'm trying to be serious here, that's what you want. I can't actually explain why I did it ok Draco? This is hard enough as it is but your just acting like we do any other time; insults aren't going to sort this out, Draco."

Draco sighed; he knew Blaise was right but he didn't know what to say, he was confused and the insults were always their way of masking other more meaningful emotions. He looked at Blaise; trying to convey all of this through his eyes while he said "I know." The tone was slightly defeated but he didn't particularly care at the present moment in time.

Blaise smiled with one side of his mouth, a smile of understanding and sadness. "I apologise for what I did but I can't go back in time to reverse it." As Draco opened his mouth to counter him Blaise held up his hand to stop him. "Fine, I won't go back in time to reverse it as it's such a small thing. It's you who's in control of our friendship now, Draco. I stand by what I did though; I think you need to open your mid up a bit more. I'll leave you alone from now on unless you decide you wish to carry on our friendship or whatever it was." Blaise's blue eyes shone with defeat and sorrow but also defiance as he turned and walked away from the blonde his head held high.

Draco stood still for a long time his gaze fixed on where the figure of Blaise had walked away. He was no less confused if not more so than when he had woken up that morning. With even more questions filling his mind. He didn't feel the bite of the November air whip around his body. His mind was in shock; Blaise had just walked away from him. Blaise Zabini had just walked away from Draco Malfoy. No one walks away from a Malfoy!

End of Chapter Five

A/N: so what's Draco going to do? hmmm. Severus and Draco are living in a bit of confusion. There was no James in this chapter but he shall be in the next.