Chapter 2: We're definitely not friends… yet.

I quickly searched for the Marauder's Map in the mess of my trunk once I was fully awake. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," I pointed my wand on the parchment once I found it. A quick glance at the Infirmary told me that the Slytherin boy had already left earlier. I was worried that he'd try to kill himself again once he recovers, but I saw the ink dot labeling Malfoy's name in the Great Hall, away and safe from any towers or roofs. Still, he could kill himself with another way.

"Morning, Harry," said Ron and yawned sleepily. "What time is it?"

"Eight thirty. Come on, we'll be late for breakfast."

I got dressed and went downstairs with Ron to the Great Hall. I glanced at the Slytherin table and found Malfoy sitting alone and away from his house mates, looking bored and resting his chin on his hand. He, Dephane and Astoria Greengrass were the only Slytherin seventh years at Hogwarts. On the other side of the Hall, Hermione was sitting alone in the Gryffindor table hiding her face behind a book. Her plate was empty,I presume she has already finished her breakfast.

"Good morning, Hermione," I said, cheerfully. "What are you studying? It's the weekend and we have absolutely no homework!"

"Just revising some Transfiguration rules... And why are you so late? I've been sitting here on my own for hours."

"Sorry about that." For some reason, I didn't tell my friends about what happened last night. I thought it won't do any good making them pity Malfoy, as I currently do. I hate when people pity me, and yet I can't help but feel sympathetic for him. The boy looked thinner, if that was even possible, and he looked really depressed. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would see him in this state. Even in the mid of all the events during our sixth year, he looked more cheerful than that.

"About time," said Ron, and it took me a long time to realize what he meant: the owls came with letters and packages from families. I felt pain in my gut when I realized I will never get a family letter again after Remus died. And so returns my post-war depression...

Pigwidgeon landed in front of Ron and raised its small leg. Ron untied the letter and the owl flew away, happy that it accomplished its mission. The letter was from Mrs. Weasley giving us the latest news about the 'new Ministry'. Ron read the letter aloud, which was all about some new Ministry laws and more Death Eaters being captured and some things like that. I wasn't concentrating on what Ron said, until he mentioned the word Malfoy: "Dad says the ministry seized all the Malfoy assets to make reparation. Malfoy and his mother must have dropped from their high class completely. I think that is more than fair! They deserve it, those filthy, masked, arm-scarred, Voldemort's ass-kissers…"

So that's why Malfoy wanted to kill himself last night! He must have heard the news yesterday from his mother. He must have felt sad about her and himself. I wondered if the Ministry had taken the Manor too. If yes, then where is Narcissa living right now? Under different circumstances, I would have felt happy for this news, but after knowing how hard it had struck the family, I felt nothing but pity towards them.

"And Umbridge is arrested?" Ron laughed. "Isn't that great? Kingsley is doing a great job as the Minister! What do you think, Harry? Harry, are you alright?" Ron snapped.

"Uh? Oh, yes… I'm fine. Great news!" I said.

"You look like you aren't with us, mate."

Malfoy was leaving the Hall now. I had to follow him… Part of my mind asked 'Why?' Another part answered 'just to be perfectly sure he won't try killing himself again.'

"I'm full," I said, pushing away my unfinished plate, and followed Malfoy out.

"Malfoy!" I shouted at him before he goes to the Dungeons. I didn't know what I was going to say to him, but I just wanted to… I didn't even know what I wanted!

"Potter?" Malfoy's voice was hoarse as if this was the first time he talked since a week.

"How… Uh, how are you?"

Malfoy looked at me as if he wasn't sure it was actually me who is talking to him. "Fine."

"Um… I just wanted to say hello."

Without replying, without showing an expression of what he was thinking, he turned around and left me. The fucking brat…

My second attempt to have a conversation with the git was on the next day, in Potions class, and it wasn't any better. Slughorn paired me with Malfoy, like he always does, and we had to brew a very complicated healing potion. The problem was that I am pants in potion, now that I don't have the Prince's book.

"We are supposed to stir how many times, exactly?" I asked Malfoy.

He glared at me as if telling me 'How dare you talk to me?' then resumed chopping the ginger roots.

"Hey! Are you deaf? Answer me!"

"No, I am not deaf, Potter! The instructions are written in front of you on the board. So you are either blind or stupid. I will go for both."

"Why are you such a brat? Can't you say anything nicely?"

Malfoy didn't answer, which made me angrier. I regretted saving him from the fire and from his suicide attempt. I wish he could die now. I wanted to hex him so badly. I wanted to Sectumsempra his lungs (again) and chop off his limbs. This way, he'll learn that ignoring me is a very big mistake!

Slughorn gave us top marks on our potion and praised me for such a good potion, when it was Draco who did most of the job. Now I felt happy that he was ignored. Take that, ferret...

The third encounter was the worst. I was walking by myself in a corridor, when suddenly I was slammed forcefully against the wall. I had no idea where Malfoy even came from. He was grabbing my collar hard and breathing hot fast breathes on my ear. I tried to push him away but the man was so damn strong. His thighs pressed hard on mine to keep my legs in place. I just stood there unable to move a limb.

"Listen, Potter. I know you saved my life, OK? And I am NOT happy about it. I am not grateful to you. So STOP trying to be friendly to me. Stop acting like I owe you something. I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING. I didn't want your help. Stop looking at me with sympathy and stop telling everyone about your heroic actions_"

"I didn't tell anyone about any_"
"SHUT UP! And next time you see me killing myself, do not interfere. Understood?"

He punched me hard in my stomach. I screamed from the pain and saw stars on the back of my eyelids. When I opened them, Malfoy was gone. I swore that I will get him for that, but then my anger degraded when I realized that I would do the same to him if I felt him pitying me. Seriously, I hate it when people look at me with sympathy, and of course he hates it too. I must stop pitying him, or at least stop showing it.

My day got worse. After lunch, I returned to the common room to find my own girlfriend sitting on Dean Thomas's lap, devouring his mouth.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING?" I shouted like a maniac, not believing what I saw.

"Harry…" said Ginny, surprised but not scared.

Dean, on the other hand, was scared. I guess he never saw me this angry before. He looked at me and then at her, then at me and said "Sorry, mate. She told me tha_"

"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH, DEAN! DON'T MAKE ME HEX YOUR ARSE! NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

He ran out of the common room. I turned to look at Ginny. She looked so fucking calm. I expected her to beg for forgiveness or deny that I'd seen anything at all and tell me that I was imagining things, but she didn't look sorry at all!
"Care to explain?" I asked.

"Harry, why are you so angry?"

"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO REACT? I WALK IN TO FIND MY GIRLFRIND SNOGGING MY FRIEND AND YOU WANT ME TO BE BLOODY CALM?"

"I am not your girlfriend," she said calmly.

My heart fell to my knees. I couldn't believe what she was saying. "What? What do you mean you're not my girlfriend? Of course you are."

"No. We broke up fourteen months ago."

"But that was before I left for the Horcrux hunt, then we returned back to each other!"

"No we didn't," she said.

"Yes we did. We fucking did. We were together for the whole summer!"

"No, you acted like we were just friends. You never gave the slightest indication that we are back together. I thought that you didn't see me as your girlfriend anymore. God, Harry, we didn't even kiss once!"

"Oh, really? Is that your excuse? Ginny, look, I am sorry I was ever your boyfriend. Even if we are a couple, then now we're not. I regret the day I had this foolish idea of ever ending up with you. You are the biggest mistake I ever had in my life. And you know what? FUCK YOU!"

I stormed out of the common room and walked so quickly it was almost a run. I could hear my heartbeats in my head. I have never been this furious in my life. I, Harry James Potter, was dumped by this bitch. I hate her. I hated to think that she might be true and I was deluded, but it doesn't matter. We're over now. 'I am not your girlfriend, Harry' she says. 'We are not together,' she says. Well guess what, I. DON'T. CARE!

As if today wasn't bad enough, I had to run into Malfoy on my way out.

"Potter_" he said.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, MALFOY!" He was quite shocked that he backed away from me quickly. Merlin, I was shocked from myself. But… wait! This is the first time I saw an expression on his face since the beginning of the year. Well, other than the angry frown he wore when he punched me earlier today…

I returned back to face him, slowly calming down. After catching my breath, I asked him "What do you want, Malfoy?" Part of me screamed to run before he punches me again, but I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor for nothing.

He seemed at a loss of words. "About what I did earlier today… I am_ I am s_"

Was that 'sorry' he wanted to say? When did Malfoy ever apologize for anything he's done? This must be the end of the world! Malfoy is apologizing to me. Yes he had trouble saying the word, but I guess that's what he wants to say.

"Can't you even say 'sorry'?" He looked relieved that he didn't have to say the word. "Well, you might find that hard to believe, Malfoy, but I accept your apology. Is that all?" I asked him, guessing that he had more to say.

"No. Well, I just… I just realized that I never thanked you properly. Um so, thanks…"

"For what?"

"Um, you know… Giving my wand back."

"That happened four months ago!"

"Yeah… See you around, Potter."

"Malfoy," He turned again to face me. "You're welcome… I guess."

His lips twisted upwards into a smile. He actually smiled, and then left.

Why did he all of a sudden stop being a prat? Just today at noon he was hitting me and pushing me against a wall, and now he thanked me and apologized! This was so out of character.

When I returned back to the Common Room for the second time, it took me a long time to remember why I was angry earlier. Suddenly, it seemed like a silly reason to be.

That night, I spent hours in bed doing nothing but watching Malfoy's ink dot on the Marauder's Map. He was in his dormitory and never got out. I felt like I am guarding him, making sure he'll not attempt to do what he did earlier again. The dot moved out of the dorm then out of the Common Room. I was alarmed. What would make him leave the Slytherin Dungeons at this hour? It was two hours after curfew.

I had to follow him anyway. He was in the second floor when I got there. I was hiding under the Cloak, so he didn't see me. It was so dark in this corridor that I couldn't see ahead of me except his blonde hair that shined like a lantern. I accidently hit a suit of armor and its head fell on the ground. Malfoy startled and looked around searching for the source of the noise. I cursed myself.

"Who's there?" Shit! It was Filch. He'll give Malfoy detention if he caught him, and it will be my fault. The punishment for whoever wanders the castle after curfew is severe.

Filch's steps were approaching. "Don't think I will not get you, lad," he said. I thought quickly of what I should do, not knowing whether it would be any good to run. But then I ran to where Malfoy was standing and quickly grabbed him and hid him under the cloak.

"Umph_ What the hell? Potter?" He looked scared.

"Shhh!"

"Filch_"

"I said 'Shhh'"

I tried to breath quieter but I can't stop panting. I just hoped Filch's hearing senses weren't strong enough to hear our fast breaths.

"Show yourself! Peeves, was that you? Curse you, poltergeist." He finally gave up and left.

I took the Cloak off. "Bloody hell, that was close. What were you thinking of, Malfoy, wandering the corridors at this hour? Where were you going, huh?"

"Were you following me?" He asked with a threatening tone.

"No." I said quickly, and added lamely "I just happened to be here."

"Really?" He asked. He didn't look like he believed a word of it.

"Honestly." I prayed he'll not punch me again.

Malfoy let it pass. He was now looking at the Cloak in my hand with wide eyes.

"This is an Invisibility Cloak, right? You have a fucking Invisibility Cloak? I KNEW IT!"

"Yes…"

"Oh my God, that explains so much. But how did you know I was here? And why do you care if I get caught or not? And why are you out at this hour?"

"Can't you just say 'thanks for saving me from getting detention' and shut up? Now go back to your dormitory."

"You're not my mother, Potter. I do whatever the fuck I want"

"Of course you do. But now, will you please get back to your dorm."

Perhaps that 'please' was what saved me from getting punched.

"I can't sleep," he finally said. "I wanted to take a walk."

I sighed. "OK."

"Wait, I wasn't asking to have a walk with you!"

"I didn't say you were." I said.

"Fine."

"Fine."

We stayed in an awkward silence for a few seconds before I said "Do you want me to come with? Because I can't sleep either."

"Potter, please don't try to befriend me. This is the last thing I want to happen: me being your friend." He wrinkled his nose as if he smelled a badly brewed potion.

"Really? So why don't you go alone?" I snapped sharply. "And guess what, I don't want to befriend you either. I do not have prats and gits like you as friends, Malfoy."

"Yeah, you only befriend mudbloods and gingers…" he muttered.

That got my anger. I took my wand out of my pocket, not quite ready to use it though, and shouted. "At least I HAVE a friend, Malfoy, unlike you."

Oh, snap. That did it. His sneer dropped and he left. Oh God, I was supposed to be here to stop him from hating his life, not the opposite.

"Malfoy! Wait!" I shouted back at him. Surprisingly, he stopped. "I am sorry."

"I don't want an apology from you, Potter…" Still mad then…

"Malfoy, why don't we forget our pointless rivalry? Why don't we act like grown ups and put our childhood hatred behind us? Let's start from the beginning, huh? Hello, I am Harry Potter. And you are?" I asked holding out my hand to shake his. For a moment, I thought he'll reject me like I rejected him on our first year, and he'll have every right to do it. But he surprised me again. "Draco Malfoy" he said shaking my hand. I smiled widely and he smiled too. I noticed that we didn't let go yet, and pulled my hand away embarrassedly. "See, not bad, eh? We still haven't started hexing each other. Good progress!"

He chuckled at that, and that was the first time I heard him laughing at something I said, not at me nor my friends. He stopped quickly though, and I think he was wondering when he last laughed. We stood silent for a few moments, and then he said "You can walk with me… If you want. I mean, if you didn't want to, it's OK, but it would be alright if you did, but it seems like you don't, so no pressure_"

"Oh shut up. I'll come." And I said that not only to stop his babbling, but because I wanted to.

"N-Not that this means that I accept your friendship. I don't. We're still not friends, just to make everything clear. Ok?"

I liked the 'still'. "Sure!" I said.

We walked for so long, staying in complete silence.

"Why so silent, Potter?" He asked me.

"Mmm? Oh, uh… nothing to say."

"You look upset."

"Do I? Oh, yeah… Bad day."

"Yes, you were like a raged hurricane when I bumped into you earlier today."

"Yes."

"Mind if I asked why?"

I didn't know why I did that, but I told him. "My girlfriend sort of dumped me."

He was shocked too that I told him something personal like that. I waited for a comeback, but there wasn't any. "The Weaslette?"

I glared at him, and he shrugged. "What? She dumped you. You should not be sad I called her that. It's not even a bad word. Besides, she's the losing one. She dumped the Savior of the Worlds."

"Oh, my God! Was that a compliment, Malfoy? I am flattered!"

"No!" Malfoy blushed and looked away. 'I must have said it in a wrong way, then."

We were near the front doors now. They were closed, of course, at this hour, but I wanted to get out to the grounds, out of this dark place and into the fresh air. I knew a secret passage somewhere near here that can get us out to the lake shore. I found the passage. I took my wand – the repaired Phoenix-feathered wand – and muttered "Dissendium" and an archway appeared in the wall.

"Wow!" Malfoy exclaimed. "How did you do that?"

"It is a secret passage out of the castle. I just opened it…"

Malfoy looked at me as if I did something amazing, then the cold face came back.

We went outside and sat on the ground beside the lake. It was a beautiful night. The atmosphere was a bit warm and peaceful, and the silence was comfortable.

"So, Potter," Draco said. Oh, now he's the one trying to start a conversation, not me. "Since we are so close from being, you know…"

"Friends? Is it that hard to say?"

"Well, yes. It's a terrible thought! But I meant to say 'starting a new page'. Anyway, tell me more about yourself."

"Malfoy, you know me for seven years. We tried to kill each other several times before. I am not a stranger to you!"

"Bloody hell, Potter, I am trying to be friendly and you're ruining it. Besides, you're making it sound like we're archenemies or something. We never wanted to kill each other, really."

"Oh, really?" I asked.
"Yeah!" said Draco as if daring me to say otherwise. I decided to pretend that we weren't and let it pass. "You saved me. Twice." He said.

I looked at him, surprised that he admitted something like that. "Did I?"

"Oh, yeah. Last night… And during the battle; you saved me from the fire… And I never thanked you." He said that last sentence quickly and quietly as if hoping that I won't hear it.

"You're welcome."

"I still didn't thank you."

"Prat…" I murmured.

"That night… You were searching for something… A die-dum. What was it?"

"Is it anything of your concern?"

"Fucking hell," he said angrily. "I am trying to be_"

"Friendly, yes. It is a diadem. Not a die-dum."

"And what was it?"

"A Horcrux of Voldemort's"

"I heard that word before! 'Horcrux.' You said it, before you killed him! What does that mean?"

I started explaining to him all the Horcrux business. We talked so long this night, about Voldemort, wands, Horcruxes and Hallows until I did a bad thing. I asked him, "Why did you jump off the Astronomy Tower, Malfoy?"

He looked away. "It's none of your business!"

"Sorry…" I muttered. "I was just wondering why jump? If you wanted to kill yourself, why not just Avada Kedavra yourself?" Just after the words left my mouth, I cursed myself. Great! Now I planted the idea in his mind. Shit!

He stayed silent for so long, but he finally muttered, "You think I haven't tried it?"

"You did?" I asked lamely.

He nodded sadly. "Apparently, one can't Avada Kedavra oneself. The wand can't kill its owner. So, I thought that jumping off the topmost tower would do it fine and quick."

I wanted to ask him so many questions and try to convince him not to try to kill himself again, but I thought it would be counterproductive.

"It's getting late," I said. "We should get back."

Malfoy stood up after me and we walked slowly back towards the castle. I closed the secret passage after us when we entered.

"Well, I guess… Good night!" Malfoy said.

"Night, Malfoy." I was astonished at how much our relationship has changed in one day! Two days ago, the most kindly phrase I'd have said to him was 'Sod off' or 'Shut your fucking mouth'. Now, we were saying 'Good night' to each other… Judging by his raised eyebrows and blank stare, Malfoy was probably thinking the same thing.

"Wait a minute." I took the Marauder's Map out of my pocket. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." I checked the corridors and found that Mrs. Norris was in the fifth floor, but Filch was in the dungeons. Malfoy will have trouble returning to his dorm.

"What is this thing?" He pointed at the map.

"Long story…"

"Oh god, I hate you sometimes. All the time, actually."

"I know."

"Come on, tell me." He looked like a kid begging his father to buy him something. He was grinning like a fool, but he looked kinda cute. I had to kill myself for thinking of Malfoy as cute! God, where did that thought come from?

I explained to Malfoy the function of the Marauder's Map, mostly repeating Fred and George's words. "It's a map of Hogwarts that shows every secret passage, every room, every corridor and every person in every place, and what they're doing in every moment."

Malfoy's jaw dropped and then he snatched the parchment from my hands.

"HEY!"

He scanned it not believing his eyes. "Oh. My. God! Is this actually real? From where do you get this stuff? Look! There are two dots above each other! Urgh, Terry Boot and Michael Corner are shagging! I never knew Boot was a queer! Corner looked like a poof yes, but Boot?"

I snatched the map from his hands. "DON'T. TALK. ABOUT. MY. FRIENDS. LIKE. THAT! Why do you care if they're gay or straight? What does it have to do with you, ha?"

"Calm down, Potter, I didn't mean anything…" Malfoy actually looked afraid I might turn on him. "And, blimey, how many friends do you have? Everyone I talk about turns out to be your friend... I never knew they were your friends, I am… sorry." The last word was so quiet it was barely audible, but it was enough for me to forgive him. Malfoy never said sorry to anyone I knew before. NEVER! And saying that to me means that he really doesn't want me to turn up against him; that he finally found someone to talk and spend his time with, even if that someone was me, his nemesis. I tried not to show my sympathy to him only for his sake.

I nodded. "Now listen, Malfoy. Filch is in the dungeons. You don't want him giving you a detention, do you? And you won't like serving detention in the forest again." I remembered how scared Malfoy was in our first year when we had to do detention together. He shook his head nervously.

"So, you take this," I said, handing him my Cloak. "My way will be safe when I return. I won't need the Cloak."

"You're giving me your Invisibility Cloak?" He asked disbelievingly.

"Yes! Just for the night. You'll give it to me back tomorrow morning, of course."

"You actually trust me with it?"

"Yes."

"You really do?" He asked, shocked.

"Um… no, but what bad will you do with it? The worst would be sneaking to the girls' bathrooms. Or the boys'"

Malfoy glared at me. "I am not a bloody faggot, Potter."

"Why so homophobic, Malfoy?"

"I am not! But I don't want anyone thinking that I am gay. Because I am not!"

"I didn't say you were." I smirked. He took the Cloak, frowning, and turned to leave.

"Um… Thanks, I suppose…" he said.

I grinned. "You're welcome, Malfoy."

"Only to make sure that everything is clear: This doesn't change anything. I still bloody hate you. And we aren't friends."

"Yet." I said. My grin turned into a smile when he frowned but didn't say anything. "Now go!"

For the first time in weeks, I went to bed happy and I didn't even know why. I guess I liked the 'friendly Malfoy' more than the 'prat Malfoy'.