Chapter 2

Both Harry and Draco spent the next week seemingly unperturbed by their meeting with the headmaster, and avoided contact at all costs. However, despite Harry's best efforts to disguise his upset, he was unable to convince either Ron or Hermione that nothing was wrong.

"Harry?" Hermione started one evening, her eyebrows furrowed, "Is everything alright? Ever since you had that meeting with Dumbledore, you've been acting rather strangely…"

"She's got a point," Ron added, "You've kind of distanced yourself from everybody."

Harry sighed inwardly, yet did not feel terribly surprised at his friend's ability to interpret his behaviour. "It's nothing terrible," Harry admitted, "it's just Malfoy." As Hermione's eyes rolled and Ron groaned, Harry could not help but admire their nonchalance.

"Mate, please don't tell me you're obsessing over that git again," Ron sighed.

"I've got to say I agree with Ronald on this one, Harry. Seriously, I know you've got some sort of rivalry going on, but you need to…"

"No, it's not that," Harry cut in, waving his hand dismissively.

"Then what's the matter?" Ron asked. Both of Harry's friends looked at him with curiosity, eyebrows raised and expressions confused.

"Dumbledore's getting him to teach me Occlumency."

A silence excluding the crackle of the common room fire followed his words. Ron was the first to break the lull in conversation, his voice outraged. "Well is he out of his fucking mind? Son of a death eater given easy access to your mind! What in Merlin's name is he on?" He shouted, his ears colouring considerably. Hermione seemed confused, but not to the extent of Ron's outburst.

"Well I admit it definitely seems strange… But surely Dumbledore knows what he's talking about. He wouldn't purposefully endanger your life… Maybe… Yes..." She considered, pausing for a moment.

"What?" Harry snapped agitatedly.

"Maybe he's switched sides," Hermione suggested.

"Ha!" Ron yelled, "Son of Lucius Malfoy; good? Hermione he calls you a mudblood! He's probably a death eater himself."

"Keep it down Ronald!" Hermione hissed, "I'm not saying he's good… But he is a Slytherin."

"You're not arguing your point very well," Ron snorted, as Hermione rolled her eyes in response to the boy's vacant expressions.

"And Slytherins are famous for their self-interest. If You Know Who gets defeated, Malfoy's going to be in trouble. He probably wants friends on both sides."

Harry deliberated this for a moment, pushing his glasses further up his nose. "I guess that makes sense… But how does it make Draco trustworthy?"

At that, another silence cloaked the common room as three students tried desperately to figure out Dumbledore's reasoning.

Draco was eating breakfast in the Great Hall when he received his post. After briefly scanning a letter from his mother and opening his usual package of sweets, he noticed another note on his lap. At this he looked up at the Gryffindor table, only to witness Potter's appalling table manners. Wincing slightly, he read the note and tried not to groan as his suspicions were confirmed. Looking up again, he noticed Potter was staring at him. Draco felt unnerved, wondering if Potter's fearful expression was similar to his own, despite the Slytherin ability to conceal emotions. Draco then noticed Potter's eyes were bright green – almost startling. Feeling uncomfortable after this realisation, he broke eye contact and returned to his toast, refusing to look as anxious as Potter had.

Harry stumbled into the Transfiguration classroom allocated by the headmaster at ten past seven – ten minutes late.

"You're late," Draco drawled miserably, "The least you can do is turn up on time." Both boys scowled, avoiding eye contact. "Okay then," Draco started, feeling momentarily unsure of himself. Running his hand through his hair he continued, "I guess we shouldn't waste any more time." Harry nodded once, his posture rigid as he stood by the door – almost as if he was about to make a quick getaway. "Unfortunately Potter, I do not own any books on Occlumency, therefore we're going to have to learn this the hard way," Draco smirked as Harry flushed angrily, his muscles tensing. "In order to teach you Occlumency, I'm going to have to invade your mind, while you attempt to resist." Draco shrugged, looking impossibly relaxed as he leaned against a desk and folded his arms across his chest, "Any questions?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, his grey eyes mocking.

"Yeah actually," Harry began, "How do I know you aren't just going to run off to Voldemort with anything you might see?"

Draco remained unperturbed, his expression bored. "Well Potter, I don't think my father would be terribly impressed if he were to find out I'm helping the precious chosen one with Occlumency, do you? Besides, your dear headmaster set me up to this – you may not trust me, but surely you trust him? However, if you're going to remain an ungrateful git, I suggest you leave now," Draco drawled, his expression irritated.

"But you… You hate me?" Harry exclaimed incredulously.

"Your observational skills are truly sublime Potter," Draco sneered, "Don't think I'm doing this for your benefit."

The two boys glared at each other, the animosity between them almost tangible, "Fine," Harry snapped, "Whatever, let's start."

Draco pulled out his wand, and barely hesitated before uttering "Legilimens."

Although Harry had tried to mentally prepare himself for the shock of having another presence available to his thoughts and emotions, he could not help but panic as Draco rifled through his mind. Desperately he thought, frantic to conceal everything, but he could not, he did not know how. He gasped as thoughts flashed to the front of his mind, seemingly tangible… Mesmerizing. He remembered finally opening the letter from Hogwarts, and the endless wonder he felt as he boarded the Hogwarts Express. Images of him kissing Cho came flashed in front of his eyes, and so did the emotions that came with it – awkwardness and the reluctance to stop. He remembered flying for the first time – his breathing ragged and his hair whipped in the wind. And finally a burst of green light broke everything up – the image of so many nightmares, still horrifying to this day.

"STOP," Harry roared, twitching and sweating. Draco seemed reluctant, but lowered his wand as he looked indifferently into Harry's green eyes.

"Useless," he drawled. Harry was heavily reminded of Snape.

"I. Don't. Know. How." Harry stuttered, his lips shuddering despite the desire to remain nonchalant.

"Are you even trying?" Draco spat, "You seem pretty negligent considering you share a mind with the dark lord," he laughed sharply. "Again."

This time, Harry was slightly more prepared but he still let out a gasp as his thoughts were infiltrated. More images flooded his mind, of him hiding from Dudley and his cronies, of Sirius falling through the veil and Harry screaming as Lupin held him back – time standing still. Of smashing everything in Dumbledore's office afterwards, the will to fight fading as his remaining family was destroyed.

"Please… Please," Harry gasped, clutching his head and panting for air. This time Draco nodded slightly, his expression curt – completely indifferent to what he had just witnessed.

"Better," Draco said, "But only marginally - we need to do this next week. Try practicing before then, I'm not terribly patient." And at that he left, leaving Harry alone - still recovering in the abandoned classroom.

After returning to the Slytherin common room, Draco picked up his potions textbook; not wanting to fall behind on his studies. Everything he did that evening consisted of ignoring the earlier events – wanting to maintain his cool exterior and to remain calm. However, despite his best efforts he could not prevent the nightmares that followed – flashes of green light enveloping his mind.

Quick note – Hi, it would be great to know if you like/don't like where this is going. Please leave a review, constructive criticism is always appreciated. I also apologise for the grammar – I think it decided to do its own thing.