Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters, they belong to JK Rowling. I am not making any profit from this fic, it's purely for fun.

Chapter 12

Draco could hear the soft sound of breathing nearby. At first, he tried to ignore it, hoping it would go away so that he could slip back into the warm comfort of deep sleep. Once he had noticed it however, the soft whush of breath being pulled in, and then pushed out, so close to him was unnerving, and realising that he was awake enough to be thinking about it, reluctantly opened his eyes.

The ceiling above him was striped with pale moonlight. He tried to turn his head in the direction of the noisy breather.

He couldn't.

A quiver of unease ran down his spine.

"Hello?" he whispered, noticing with growing panic that he could barely move his lips.

Nothing.

"Hello? Who's there? " he said more loudly, his voice cracking. The skin around his mouth felt unnaturally tight.

There was a sudden flurry of movement at his side, and a tousled head of platinum hair popped into his line of vision.

"Draco!" the person said, sounding pained with exhaustion, or possibly worry "You're awake!"

Draco's eyes widened as he took in the face of who he was talking to. Polyjuice!

"Who are you?" he whispered.

The person frowned in confusion. "It's me," he said uncertainly "Harry."

It all came rushing back to him, like an ice-cold bucket of water had been upturned on his head.

The tournament…the dragon…

"Harry!" he paused, overrun with too many questions "Did I get the egg? Where am I? Why can't I move?"

Harry gave him a strained smile. "Yeah. You got it…" he glanced at the bedside table, out of Draco's eye range, and he guessed the egg was sitting there. Draco automatically twitched to look over, and gasped as a shooting pain flashed over this neck.

"Careful - the burns…" Harry trailed of, looking guiltily at the floor.

"Burns?" Draco frowned, then it dawned on him as he remembered the rush of heat overtaking him. Wincing, he asked "How bad are they?"

"Pretty bad." Harry said slowly "You've been in here for two nights already under Dreamless Sleep. Full body, third degree burns. That's why you can't move - in case you crack your skin while it's still growing back. Pomfrey told us you'd be in here for the rest of the week."

"A week?" Draco groaned

Harry shrugged. "Now you're awake, she might change her mind. We weren't sure if you'd went into a coma." He looked at the floor, the guilty expression reasserting itself. "I - I thought you were going to die. I thought you were dead, when that fire ball hit you."

"So much for keeping me alive, Potter." Draco said dryly.

For a moment Harry looked upset, then he scowled "I tried! The minute I saw what was going to happen, I tried to stun the dragon, but they had wards up! I tried to get into the arena to get to you, but I couldn't!"

"You wouldn't have been able to stun a dragon alone," Draco said "or don't you think I would have done it?"

Harry shook his head. "How did you think of it?" he said in wonder "How did you know what to do? I would have panicked - suddenly, out of the blue faced with a dragon!"

"I've always liked dragons," Draco replied after a pause "I didn't really know what to do. I tried to think about it in the time before I went on, and I had half a plan. Say," he said, worried "Did the other Slytherins see you trying to fling yourself through the arena wards?"

Harry grinned sheepishly "No. I didn't sit near them. I didn't think I could handle being near people betting on you dying."

"Good." Draco relaxed "As long as anyone else who saw you doesn't tell them. What about Ron and Hermione?" he asked "Why aren't they at my sick bed?"

"They were." Harry said darkly "And they would be still, if I hadn't knocked over a few potions bottles outside Pomfrey's room so they had to leave before she found them.

"You don't sound too happy - they are your friends after all."

"Do you know how worried I was?" Harry said sharply "I couldn't come and see you until a couple of hours ago, and the rumour was that you were dead! If it wasn't or Ron and Hermione looking so relieved when they came out o the medi-tent earlier, I-"

"Alright, alright!" Draco said, rolling his eyes despite being internally pleased at Harry's concern "So," he said hopeully "what did the other champions think of my performance?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Cedric was in the medi-tent during your 'performance' with a burn, but I'm sure he was very impressed when he heard about it."

Draco grinned, unabashed that Harry had found out his secret. "A burn? Excellent. We have something in common then. How did the other champions subdue their dragons?"

Harry settled back to recount the tale.

…ooo000ooo…

Harry,

How are you? Why didn't you tell me you'd managed to get mixed up in this tournament?! I had to find out from The Prophet, and you're lucky you didn't get a howler from me, because if I hadn't written to Molly Weasley first, I'd have believed all this rubbish that you entered yourself in it. It's something James would have done…

If you're going to illegally enter yourself into a deadly competition, I expect to hear about it.

But in any case, it seems like someone else entered you into it, and I hope you realise that it's unlikely they did it so that you could have a grand adventure.

Still, that's no excuse not to have one!

Please write back Harry, I hope you haven't forgotten your old godfather.

Snuffles

…ooo000ooo…

Draco gritted his teeth, trying not to roll his eyes, and doing his best to look good natured.

It was a freezing cold day, and his skin felt taut and itchy enough without the cold wind slapping against it and making it tingle in pain. Pomfrey had only just allowed him to leave the hospital wing, and it was just his luck that the first class he had to attend was out of doors.

December had begun, bringing with it wind and sleet to Hogwarts, and he wasn't enjoying his Care of Magical Creatures lesson in the slightest. He wished he were back inside the thick walls of the castle, with its roaring fires. They had passed the Durmstrang ship on their way down to class, tossing on the uneasy waters of the lake, and he didn't want to think about what it must be like trying to sleep in that, never mind how frigid it must be inside the delicate walls of the Beauxbatons carriage.

"I'm not sure whether they hibernate or not," Hagrid bellowed above the wind, which was approaching gale-force strengths, and Draco tried to pay attention. Hagrid was standing in front of them in the pumpkin patch , which was beside the Skrewts' pen, with two tall stacks of crates behind him which looked as if they had been stuffed with old bedding from the Hufflepuff dorms if the colours were anything to go by.

"Thought we'd jus' try an' see if they fancied a kip," Hagrid continued "We'll jus' settle 'em down in these boxes…"

Draco tried not to sigh, but exchanged a gloomy glance with Potter who was standing beside Crabbe and Goyle. Once Hagrid had stopped talking, he moved over to take a closer look at the Skrewts and cringed.

"Oh dear." Hermione said quietly, biting her lip as she looked into the enclosure.

"'Oh dear' is right." Draco muttered, and Ron grunted in agreement. After a mumbled apology in the hospital wing a few nights ago, he and Ron were on talking terms again.

The Skrewts still resembled lobsters, but their armour was thick, grey and gleaming. Their six scuttling legs were powerful and heavy, and their suckers were quite possibly the most repulsive things Draco had ever seen. Their numbers had diminished substantially - clearly no amount of exercise had been enough to stop them from killing each other. This was perhaps for the best, Draco thought. The less of these things in the world, the better.

Most of the class were staring dispiritedly at the padded boxes; no one seemed willing to go ahead and wrangle a Skrewt.

"Just lead 'em into their boxes!" Hagrid said encouragingly, and this time Draco did roll his eyes.

"How are we supposed to do that!" he snapped

"Come on Harry," Hermione said resignedly "we should lead by example."

I hate being Harry Potter, Draco thought mutinously as he reached to unlock the gate to the Skrewt pen.

Before long, the pumpkin patch was littered with the smoking remains of wood and torn bedding and Skrewts were running rampage amongst the pumpkins. The Slytherins had long since fled for Hagrid's cabin, and Draco was thankful he didn't have to prompt Harry this time - he was too busy trying to corner a Skrewt with Ron by shooting red sparks out his wand as he approached it in a crouched position. Hermione was running anxiously after Hagrid, who had just tackled a Skrewt - probably crushing it in the endeavour. Looking back towards the cabin, he sneered at Harry who was pulling off the Malfoy smirk quite nicely through the glass at them.

"Well, well, well…this does look like fun."

Rita Skeeter was leaning on Hagrid's garden fence, looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak with a furry purple collar today, and had a dragon skin handbag over her arm.

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Draco snapped, then realised the mistake he'd made by looking away from the Skrewt for too long when it made a dash for freedom.

"Harry!" Ron groaned, lowering his wand "We almost had it!"

"Watch ou'!" Hagrid bellowed, launching himself forward on top of the escapee, crushing it; a blast of fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby.

"Who're you?" Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter, as he slipped a loop of rope around the Skrewt's sting and tightened it.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Reporter." she answered, flashing her teeth in a predatorial manner.

"Thought Dumbledore said you weren' allowed inside the school anymore?" said Hagrid, frowning slightly as he got off the rather deflated looking Skrewt and started tugging it over to its fellows.

Rita acted as though she hadn't heard what Hagrid had said.

"What are these fascinating creatures called? She asked, beaming more widely.

"I do believe," Draco said loudly as Hagrid opened his mouth "that Professor Hagrid mentioned that you're not permitted to be on school grounds."

"Harry!" Skeeter said, looking delighted, "Would you like to tell me about -"

"Aw come on' Harry," Hagrid said "I don' mind havin' a quick chat about' the Skrewts!"

"Skrewts you say?" Skeeter's eyes narrowed like she'd caught a whiff of blood.

"Ms Skeeter," Draco snapped, stepping in front of Hagrid "I highly resent having my words taken out of context. If you continue to bother me and my friends," he snarled menacingly "I'll be having a conversation with Albert Runcorn."

"Excuse me?" Rita scoffed, lowering her notebook.

"You know Mr Runcorn," Draco said conversationally "he owns over half the shares in The Prophet. And I have friends in high places who owe me favours."

Skeeter narrowed her eyes at him. "Just who would owe favours to a twelve year old?" she snapped

"I'm fourteen!" Draco snapped right back, before controlling himself as a nasty smirk settled on Skeeter's features. "And you'd be surprised what favours one can call when you're Harry Potter." he added with an insolent smile as she dropped her notebook back inside her handbag, snapping it shut with a scowl.

"This isn't the end of this!" She hissed at him, before pivoting and marching in the direction of the gates.

After a moment's silence, Draco felt eyes on him and turned to see a shocked looking Hermione and a red faced Ron.

"Harry…" Hermione said

"What?" Draco said uncomfortably "She's said enough crap about me! I don't need her starting on Hagrid!"

"Surely it wouldna' hurt -" Hagrid began

"Hagrid, that woman is poison, trust me," Draco said darkly "she'd twist every word you say. Especially with those Skrewts." He gave him a pointed look "I'd be surprised if you wouldn't be facing an search warrant under the Ban on Experimental Breeding once she's through."

As he predicted, Hagrid's face reddened slightly. "Don' know what yer talkin' about." he grumbled, turning away.

"You didn't have to throw your name around like that!" Ron said suddenly, glaring at him.

Oh for Merlin's sake, here we go! Draco was getting far too used to making himself not roll his eyes.

"I'd do anything to protect my friends." He said shortly, turning to follow Hagrid. There. That was an appropriately Harry Potter style melodramatic sappy comment. Out the corner of his eye he saw Ron's face clear slightly though he still looked upset.

"How do you know Albert Runcorn, Harry?" Hermione said, looking like she was thinking far too hard for Draco's liking.

"I just knew he owned stakes in The Prophet. I don't know him." he bluffed. But my fa- Lucius Malfoy does.

He marched swiftly after Hagrid, hoping Hermione would let it go.

…ooo000ooo…

Dear son,

I hope you enjoy the éclairs I sent in your care package this week - I know they're your favourites.

Harry smiled. He really had enjoyed them, but he'd taken the time to sneak Draco one under the desk in potions later that day.

Your father tells me that there are plans for some kind of Christmas event at the school this year, and I was most disappointed as it would mean that you won't be available to come to France.

Harry grinned in relief, then his smile faded as he read on.

I know you'll be disappointed as I am - but not to worry. Even if you can't come with me to Paris, I insist on you spending some time - a week at least - at home with me.

Shall we say the week before Christmas? I know a little more about this event than you, but I won't spoil your surprise. Let's just say its most definitely a dress robes occasion - and I happen to have had a new set tailored for you!

Looking forward to Christmas,

Mother

"Well shit." said Harry

…ooo000ooo…

"Draco!" Harry panted, breaking into a run when he spotted the blond heading up from the kitchens "Dra-"

He stopped, taking in the panic-filled expression on Draco's face.

"Wha-?"

"We need to talk." Draco said grimly, grabbing his arm "They know."

. . .

"Draco what-" Harry tried again after Draco had dragged him down three corridors and a flight of stairs.

"Sh!" Draco said, looking over his shoulder before tugging Harry into an empty room.

Glancing around at the dusty furniture pushed up against the walls, Harry said warily "Who knows what?"

Draco looked pained. "Ron and Hermione. They know I'm not Harry Potter."

…ooo000ooo…

"We were just in the kitchens. Hermione dragged us down there, said she had something to show me." Draco took a seat on a desk, then looked at Harry.

"Potter, what's your relationship with my old house elf?"

Harry looked at him in alarm. "I - well in second year - well it's a long story - but he tried to save my life from the heir of Slytherin and kept nearly killing me. He meant well though, and in the end I managed to trick your - I mean father - into throwing a sock at him and freeing him. We're sort of friends, I suppose."

Draco gaped at him.

"What's Dobby got to do with it anyway?" Harry said

Draco shook himself. "Right - well, Hermione dragged me down to the kitchens to see this stupid elf. And he knew who I was."

Draco stared down at the small, knobbly creature.

"Dobby." he said blankly.

Dobby's eyes widened "Master Dr-"

"No!" Draco snapped, then stopped, remembering Ron and Hermione. He looked up. Ron was staring at him in surprise, Hermione was frowning.

"Dobby, don't you remember Harry?"

"This is not the great Harry Potter!" Dobby squealed "This is Ma-"

"Silencio!" Draco aimed his wand at the elf, panicking.

There was a moment of shocked silence before Weasley began to raise his wand - but by that time, Draco was already running.

"What do we do?" Draco asked, once he'd finished his story.

Harry stared blankly back.

"Harry?" Draco stood up "We need to think up a plan -"

"There's no plan," Harry said blankly "If they think someone's impersonating me, they'll have gone straight to Dumbledore…" and then Sirius will find out.

"We could catch up." Draco said, paling "If my parents find out- we could still obliviate them-"

"We can't obliviate my friends!" Harry said indignantly "We could talk to them - if we catch up…" he trailed off, realising it had been at least ten minutes since Draco had emerged from the kitchens. Ron and Hermione were probably already speaking to Dumbledore.

Draco realised it at the same time as Harry, and dropped his head, closing his eyes in despair. "I don't want to be you." he mumbled "I can't handle this crap. Dragons, and the Dark Lord and everything…."

"Maybe it's for the best." Harry tried to convince both of them "Maybe they can turn us back-"

"My father made it very clear there was no going back!" Draco snapped, and they fell into silence.

"We've got nothing to lose," Harry said finally "we might as well try to track down Ron and Hermione and sort this out."

They'd barely stepped out the classroom before Professor Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and oddly, Professor Snape appeared in front of them.

Ron's face was hard with suspicion, and Hermione looked frightened.

"Mr Potter," Dumbledore said, locking eyes with Draco, his voice sharp "I think we should have a chat."

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