The weeks of October rolled by, and soon the Great Hall was swirling with live bats, carved pumpkins resting on the tables. A bat swooped low, and landed in a girl's hair. She had screamed, of course, and ran from the table. Harry had watched her go, smiling slightly. The girl's hair, a Ravenclaw, had reminded him of what Hermione's hair used to look like.

Luna had accompanied Ginny to the Gryfindor table at lunch, and they were sitting opposite Harry, who was making his way through some cottage pie. Ron sat further down the table, sulking into his own food.

"Has he still not spoken to you?" Ginny asked, nibbling on a carrot.

Harry shook his head and shot his former friend a look. "I refuse to apologize."

Ginny sighed and flicked her hair back over her shoulder as Dean came to sit next to her, planting a kiss on her cheek. They had gotten back together at the end of the ball, and Harry was happy for them. He felt no insane rage to hurt Dean. As long as he was good to Ginny, Harry didn't have a problem.

"Hey mate." Dean said. "Talking about Ron?"

"Yep." Harry sighed, finishing his goblet of juice.

"Listen, me and Seamus were talking to him about it the other day. Not like the way Hermione speaks to him," Dean added quickly, "but to figure out why he's acting so sore about it. He thinks you don't care about him anymore."

He resisted the urge to sigh again. He was doing that a lot every time Ron was mentioned. "Look," he blurted out, "this is the same as last time, but he went a step too far. He knew I had a truce with Malfoy, yet he finds a way to try and make me choose between them. I don't like choosing. I never have." Harry rested his fork on his plate. "I feel sorry for Malfoy. He has no friends anymore, and half the school, if not most, hates him. Who else has he got but me? And Ron was trying to break that. That shows that Ron hasn't grown up." Dean was staring at Harry now. "Tell you what, when he says sorry to Malfoy, I'll forgive him."

"Mate, you know he'll never do that." Dean said, twirling a spoon in his fingers.

"Harry, do you honestly believe he will?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow.

Luna looked up from The Quibbler that she had resting on her knee. "Maybe Nargles are to be suspected."

Dean groaned. "Not them again, Luna. Look, they don't exist."

"They do." Luna smiled dreamily, standing up and taking her bag with her. "You'll see. Me and Dad will catch some and show you."

Harry watched her go. "You know, I wish I could be as carefree as Luna."

"Don't we all." Ginny chuckled.

He turned his attention to her and smiled, before a flash of blonde behind her grabbed his attention.

Malfoy was, as always since school began, sitting at the end of the Slytherin table away from the rest of the House, quietly eating his lunch and reading a book which he had propped up against a flagon of pumpkin juice. Harry just watched him for a moment. Malfoy's hand moved gently down the book's pages, skimming over the lines, before swiftly turning the page. His other hand rested on his goblet, which he raised to his lips and drank from. Harry's eyes were drawn to Malfoy's Adam's apple, which bobbed as he swallowed. As he lowered the cup, Malfoy's tongue darted out and licked his lips. Unconsciously, Harry licked his own.

Grey eyes flicked up and met Harry's emerald ones, before a knowing smirk spread on Malfoy's face. Then he winked.

Harry blinked rapidly. Had Malfoy really just winked at him?

"Harry." Ginny waved a hand in front of his face and he pulled his eyes away from Malfoy. He could feel his cheeks reddening as he looked at Ginny.

She stood on the opposite side of the table, just a foot or so to the right of where Malfoy was in his line of sight, smiling at him. "I'll see you later." She leaned across the table to hug him. He half rose from his seat to meet her half way.

She rested her chin on his shoulder for a minute. "I think we need to have a little chat at dinner." She muttered into his ear.

He pulled back sharply, frowning. "About what? What have I done?"

"Oh, I think you know." She grinned, before leaving with Dean.

Harry sank back into his seat. What had he done now?

N.E.W.T's were no joke. The teachers were piling on the homework even more, all giving them the same advice and warnings.

"Now, these exams will be no laughing matter." Flitwick had piped up in class one day, as he set them a new assignment of comparing five different temperament charms. "You will have to work hard to reap the rewards!"

"Sod the rewards." Harry had exclaimed as he and Hermione had left the class, heading for dinner. "I just want to shoot myself."

"At least it doesn't clash with Quidditch practice this year." She smirked, as they sat down on the bench. She sent a look down the bench to Ron, who was chatting with Neville. Neville looked up and saw them, sending a small wave to them. Ron turned round to see who was there, and his expression hardened as he saw Harry. He turned his back on them sharply.

Hermione winced slightly, before placing steak pie and potatoes on her plate. "He'll come round Harry."

"I wouldn't be so sure." He muttered, tucking into his own dinner.

"He did last time." Hermione insisted.

"Look, 'Mione, it's different from then. He hurt another one of my friends. That's not easily forgiven." Harry said, a tone of finality in his voice.

Hermione just stared at him for a moment, before nodding her head slowly and going back to her dinner.

A halo of red descended onto the bench beside Harry and he groaned, closing his eyes. "Look, Gin, what have I done? Just tell me."

"Oh, nothing." She giggled. "It's about what you're going to do."

He opened his eyes slowly and turned to her, confusion blatantly showing on his face.

She poured herself a goblet of juice, and said casually, "What's going on between you and Malfoy?"

Harry froze. "What?"

"You heard me." She smiled mischievously. You could tell that she was the sibling of Fred and George. "So, spill the beans."

Hermione's attention had turned back to them, her jaw hanging open. "Ginny, are you implying what I think you are?"

"So you've seen it too!" The redhead said triumphantly. "I knew there was another reason that stopped you going back out with me, Harry."

"What - Why - What are you talking about?" Harry spluttered.

Hermione leaned across the table. "Harry, you need to realise this yourself. We're not going to tell you."

"But then why bring it up?" He said, exasperated, turning back to Ginny, who was positively beaming.

"I wanted to see how you reacted. So," she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper, "What do you and Draco get up to in those 'study' sessions?"

"I - What - You're mad!" Harry laughed shakily. "We just study and get our homework done!"

"Uh-huh." Ginny clicked her tongue. "Well, enjoy then." She grinned, sending a wink his way before sliding down the bench towards Dean.

Harry rounded on Hermione. "What was she talking about? What did she mean by the fact that you've noticed it too? Noticed what?"

Hermione giggled, actually giggled, at the look of hopelessness on Harry's face. "Oh Harry, you can be so stupid sometimes." She finished her dinner and patted her mouth with a napkin. "Are you doing homework with him tonight?"

"Yeah, we were going to finish the Transfiguration work." Harry narrowed his eyes at Hermione. "Why?"

"Just in case I wondered where you were later tonight." She smiled. "Look, I'm going to spend time with Ron. I'll see you later, Harry." She leaned over and patted his hand, before going to join her boyfriend, leaving Harry alone.

He ate the rest of his dinner in silence, mulling over what had just happened. Girls were so confusing! All of this mind melting talk… What exactly had been their point? They had noticed something Harry hadn't, he had caught that much. And it had to do with him and Malfoy, that was another definite.

Malfoy… His thoughts drifted back to that morning. Since then, Malfoy had been keeping his distance, sitting a few seats away in class. He had always managed to catch Harry's eye though. Even if it was just brushing his hair away from his forehead, where it would fall back a second later no matter how many times he did it, or straightening his tie.

Something clenched inside of Harry again. A thought erupted into his mind. He wanted to see how soft Malfoy's hair was.

He shook his head, cursing himself. No, he didn't. Not at all. He did not want to touch Malfoy's hair, to run his hands through the platinum locks, to see if they were as soft as they looked -

No. He didn't. Didn't.

He sighed and pushed his favourite treacle tart away from him. It was too hot in the hall, far too hot. He loosened his tie and stood, making his way out of the Great Hall, and into the cool empty Entrance Hall, ignoring the many eyes that followed him as he walked alone.

He leaned against a wall, far enough from the rest of the people eating dinner that they wouldn't see him immediately when he walked out and think he was having a 'funny turn' as they were called in his fifth year, when they thought he was insane.

Closing his eyes, he slowly began to shut out the ruckus of the Hall, slowly emptying his mind. Ha. Who would have known it? Snape was gone, and now he was getting better at Occluemcy.

"Potter?"

He chuckled slightly, not opening his eyes. "Trust you to be the one who follows me out."

"It didn't seem like anyone else was going too. What's wrong with The Golden Boy now?" Malfoy jested.

Harry cracked open an eye to look at the face he had become so familiar with over the last few weeks. Malfoy was smirking, mischief plain in his eyes. It was like the old Malfoy had came back. Something grew hot inside of Harry. The noise of the hall was back tenfold, and he winced slightly.

"Nothing. Do you think we can go somewhere? It's too noisy." He straightened up from the wall, rubbing his ear slightly.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Got super-sensitive hearing now, Potter?"

Harry sighed despite himself. "Look, I'll go myself if you're just going to annoy me." He began to walk away, his footsteps echoing as he made his way up the stairs. He was at the first landing when more footsteps caught up with him. The presence of the blonde was so common now, Harry knew immediately it was him.

They continued up the stairs and towards the library. What with everyone still at dinner, it was deserted expect for Madam Pince, who watched them closely as they made their way to a table.

"I didn't think you had any homework left." Malfoy said quietly, pulling out his Arithmancy work.

"I just need to write some conclusions for Cole and Blessey, then I'll be done until tomorrow when we get even more." Harry groaned, pulling out his Transfiguration work first.

Malfoy snorted slightly, before they settled into their usual silence to work.

Half an hour before curfew, they left the library, chatting about the homework they had been handed in to Defence a few days ago, and they would be getting their results the next day. Since the incident in class involving Ron and Malfoy, Professor Cole hadn't given any practicals, but just written work.

"I swear she's trying to make our hands drop off." Harry moaned as they passed a group of Ravenclaws, who watched them curiously.

"McGonagall probably gave her a lecture after my experience with the Weasel." Malfoy said.

A few fifth years boys from Gryfindor past them, one knocking Malfoy hard in the shoulder.

"Watch where you're going." Malfoy spat after them.

They turned. "Oh yeah? What you gonna do about it?" one of them retorted, drawing his wand, pointing it directly at Malfoy.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he reached for his own wand, but froze.

"What is it?" Harry whispered to him, keeping his eyes on the four boys in front of them.

"I can't use my wand." Malfoy said under his breath, making sure the fifth years didn't overhear. "I can't use hexes or jinxes outside of class. The Ministry monitor it. It's part of my parole."

Harry swore, and drew his own wand. "Get a Shield Charm up if they fire." He said, before raising his voice to his House mates. "Guys, just go. This isn't worth it."

"So you're going to turn on your own House to protect low life Death Eater scum like him?" One of them hollered, as they all drew their wands.

"I'm saying there's no reason to fight!" Harry exclaimed.

"We're not afraid of you, you know." One of them called out. "Just because you're the Saviour of the Wizarding World. Why are you with him anyway? He tried to get us all killed!"

"You don't know what you're talking about." Harry growled, levelling his wand.

"Oh, don't we?" The same boy snapped.

"You're just children!" Harry snapped, sparks flying from his wand. He knew he was starting to lose control. "You never fought in the battles! You haven't gone through what so many others have!"

The one who was obviously the leader, more slightly built than the others, with loathing on his face, was the first to fire. Malfoy brought up a Shield Charm big enough to cover both of them, as the others joined in, firing spell after spell at the pair, hardly giving Harry time to fire back. A Stinging Hex hit Malfoy on the leg, and he went down with a small cry, before bringing up his shield again.

Harry retaliated, firing hex and jinx right after one another.

"OI!"

Full Body-Bind spells flew over Harry and Malfoy's shoulders in rapid succession, hitting the fifth years. They went down, as Malfoy dropped the spell and checked his leg. As he pulled up his trouser leg, he saw a red rash forming.

"Bugger." He muttered, before they looked behind them. Harry's jaw dropped.

Ron stood there, his wand still at chest height, his face pale. Hermione was behind him, shaking slightly.

Slowly, the redhead walked over to them and offered Malfoy a hand up. The blonde stared at him, before slowly taking it. Ron pulled him to his feet and turned to the crowd that had gathered. "Show's over! Clear off!"

The people that had congregated to watch the fight immediately departed, shooting glances over their shoulders at them. Harry turned to his friend, who was starting defiantly at his feet.

"Is this your way of saying sorry?" Harry asked.

Ron looked up at him, before sending a glance at Malfoy. "Yeah, I suppose it is." He turned to the blonde. "Malfoy, you may have been a pain in the arse for years, and made our school life hell, but…" he seemed to struggle to get the words out. "I'm sorry for what I did in the class. There was no reason for it. I let my feelings get the better of me."

Malfoy was speechless. He stood staring at Ron, his mouth moving but no words coming out. He snapped out of it soon after, realising where he was. "I forgive you, Weasley. And I'm sorry for the six years of misery I caused."

Harry turned to Hermione, who had hurried forward. "Did you talk to him?" He asked her quietly.

She nodded. "He really wanted to say sorry, Harry, but he is really stubborn."

"It worked though." Harry grinned, before pulling her into a one armed hug. She hugged him back fiercely, before going to Ron's side.

Harry turned to his best friend. "So, no hard feelings between anyone?"

Ron glanced at Malfoy, before looking at the raven haired man. "It'll take some getting used to, but no, there are no hard feelings."

Malfoy nodded, rubbing his leg slightly. "Thanks by the way, for getting them."

"It's fine." Ron frowned. "How come you weren't firing spells though?"

Malfoy scowled. "Part of my parole."

"Oh." Hermione said. "I take it they're watching your spells?"

"Yes." Malfoy said. "And where I am when I cast them. I can use them in class, as it's part of the work, but I can't anywhere else."

Hermione nodded. "That's something they would do." She linked her hand with Ron's. "Come on, let's go back to the common room."

As they walked back, Harry fell into step with Malfoy. "He means well." He said to the blonde, nodding towards Ron's back as they walked.

Malfoy snorted. "He took his time though."

Harry just shrugged as they climbed through the potrait hole. "He apologised, that's all I care about."

Malfoy stopped after he climbed through. "Really?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Yeah." Harry smiled, turning to look at him, walking backwards towards the stairs that would lead to his dorm. "Now my two friends are friends."

He caught the look of surprise on Malfoy's face before he turned and jogged up the stairs to his room.

He awoke with a start.

Pushing his glasses onto his face, he gazed around the room he was in. The Room of Requirement. Why was he sleeping in here?

He clambered out of the bed, and looked around. There was a faint orange glow coming from one of the corners. He frowned. What was it?

He began to walk through the maze of objects, passing the old chess pieces from the chessboard McGonagall had made to keep the Philosopher's stone safe. The glow began to get bigger the closer he got.

He realised his mistake when he walked around the corner.

Flames were spreading quickly as he stared in horror. Animals, snakes and birds, erupted from it, making their way towards him.

He turned and ran.

Harry could feel the heat on his back, but he kept running. He turned corner after corner, trying to find his way to the door.

"Harry!"

He turned at the anguished cry of Hermione.

"Where are you?" He bellowed over the noise of the Fiendfyre. "Hermione!"

"Help us!"

"Ron!" He ran and ran through corridors of junk. "Ron, where are you?"

"Save us Harry!"

"Ginny!"

The flames were catching up with him, demolishing old piles, eating the furniture and items.

"Potter!"

"Malfoy!" Harry screamed. "Where are you guys?"

It was getting too much. He had to find his friends. He ran and ran, dodging the flames that were beginning to come over the top of the piles. Harry stumbled as he tripped over a chair leg. He swore loudly but kept going.

He turned another corner, and almost stopped dead in his tracks. "No…"

In a ring of fire stood the people who had called his name, begging for help. Hermione was clutching onto Ron, sobbing loudly. Ginny was shaking like a leaf. Ron looked as if he had been petrified. Malfoy was trying to move the flames, which were steadily creeping towards them.

"Potter!" Malfoy cried, seeing him. "Help us!"

"Aquamenti!" He shouted, as a stream of water erupted from his wand, dying instantly as it neared the flames. "This isn't happening!"

"Harry, please!" Ginny sobbed, falling to her knees.

"I don't know what to do…" He whispered, horror washing over him. "I don't know how to get you out."

"Do something!" Malfoy shouted.

"I can't!" Harry exclaimed. He could see that Malfoy was crying too, his tears glistening on his pale cheeks. "I don't know how!"

The flames were almost upon them.

"I know you can do it Harry!" Malfoy cried out, as the flames leapt up ten feet, and dived onto his friends.

"NO!"

With a gasp, Harry found himself panting in his own bed, sweating covering every inch of his body. He whipped around quickly. He was safe in his dorms, with Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville asleep near by. To not disturb them, he had raised a Silencing Charm around his bed, which he was now grateful for.

He sat up and crammed his glasses onto his face. His hands were shaking terribly.

It had been a while since his last nightmare about the Fiendfyre. He had been glad for that. They were one of the worst ones he had. He had thought for days after it, what might have happened if they had been caught in it. Now his nightmares were showing it.

He let out a choked sob as he remembered the faces of his friends behind the ring of fire. The anguished looks. The tears.

It hadn't happened, he told himself, as he willed his heart to slow. It was just a nasty dream that wasn't real.

He cast a quick tempus charm, and realised it was only half past four in the morning. He let out a groan. There was no way he was going to get back to sleep now.

Sliding out of bed and grabbing his wand from his bedside table, along with a book for Charms, he quietly made his way out of the dorm and down the stairs towards the common room. He knew it would be empty. He would read by wand light if he had to.

He crept into the common room, and was startled to see a fire burning in the fireplace. The flames reminded him too much of his nightmare. He redirected his gaze to the couch, where a lone figure was.

Malfoy was curled up on one end of the couch, gazing into the flames. His knees were drawn up to his chin, with his chin resting on them, his arms wrapped around his legs. It was such an unusual pose for Malfoy, that Harry couldn't help but move closer.

"Couldn't sleep either?"

Harry jumped at the quiet voice of Malfoy. The blonde turned his head to look at Harry and gave a small smile.

"Sort of." Harry replied, making his way over to sit on the couch beside the Slytherin. Malfoy was dressed in a pair of dark green silk pyjama bottoms, and a black vest. The Dark Mark stood out vividly against his pale skin.

"Bad dream?" Malfoy enquired.

Harry nodded, and looked down at the rug. He couldn't look at the fire in front of him, with Malfoy sitting beside him. It seemed too real.

"Me too." Malfoy said, returning his gaze to the fire.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Malfoy watching the flames, Harry staring at the ground.

"I'm going to go back up to bed." Harry said quietly. He felt like he was intruding on Malfoy. He got up, picking up his book and wand where he had placed them beside him.

"Potter, wait." Something tugged at the back of his shirt. He turned.

Malfoy was staring at the ground, but his hand was on Harry's shirt. Harry frowned slightly, before the blonde looked up at him.

"Could you sit…with me for a while?"

Harry knew that it had been difficult to say, as a pink blush covered Malfoy's cheeks. He looked away back to the ground, not letting go of Harry.

"Really?" Harry asked.

Malfoy gave a nod.

Harry smiled sadly, before sitting back down on the couch, nearer to the Slytherin. He knew how hard it could be to wake up from a terrible nightmare, with no one to turn to, no one to hug you and tell you it wasn't real. Hermione had been there for him a few times when Ron had had family matters to attend to.

Malfoy looked at him and gave him a small smile, before gazing into the flames again. Harry watched him for a moment, before resting his head on the back of the couch, gazing up at the ceiling.

It wasn't long when the warmth of the fire began to make Harry feel tired, his eyes drooping slightly.

Just as he was drifting off, he felt something lightly graze his hand, and Malfoy's voice.

"Thank you."