Hey guys! :D

Firstly, thank you all so much for reviewing the story so far! They really help me and give me motive to continue :)

I just want to answer something that came up in the reviews.

To the guest that said "Why do most Harry/Draco shipper constantly have Ron apologize to Draco for what amounts to nothing but expect Ron to just be okay with Draco after Draco POISIONED him. Which harry doens't seem to care about at all. It just destroys the believability of the storyline."

Now, Draco didn't know that he was going to poison Ron. It was meant for Dumbledore, as Slughorn stated. Draco had no idea that Slughorn was going to open it to celebrate with Harry and Ron. :) I think that helped clear it up.

Once again, thank you all so much for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned it. Sadly, 'twas not meant to be...

Enjoy chapter 8! :D

Ron was indeed acting less hostile towards Malfoy. Of course, he wasn't friends with the Slytherin, like Harry was, but they weren't glaring at each other or fighting in classes. They had even played a quick game of Exploding Snap together one night in the common room.

It pleased Harry, knowing Ron was making an effort. It must have been difficult for Ron. He knew the redhead hadn't forgotten the previous years, but he was slowly beginning to get past them as he realised Malfoy had changed.

Hermione had never been happier. She was glad that she no longer had to go between the two, and walk on eggshells every time.

Malfoy was acting as he always did. Now that Ron and he were on mutual ground, they spent less time studying in the library and more in the common room. There were still the glances that their year mates shot them, but Harry ignored them more, now that he had Ron back, as well as Malfoy.

Ron groaned and let his head fall onto the table with a thump. Now that their Polyjuice Potion was finished, with Harry and Malfoy's being second to Hermione and Neville's, (Harry and Ron had grinned at her, knowing it was second year all over again), they had moved on to studying Veritaserum before attempting to make it in the class. Hermione and Ron had joined Harry and Malfoy to try and finish their three foot essay on the ingredients in the potion.

"I give up." Ron groaned into the desk. "I'm dropping Potions."

"Honestly Ron," Hermione sighed, "You want to be an Auror, so you have to have the subject as a N.E.W.T."

"Hey, I helped save the world." Ron mumbled, "I think I could pull some strings - OW!"

Hermione had whacked his arm hard with her book. "No you will not! You'll get in the proper way, or not at all!"

Malfoy snorted, watching the scene with amusement, before turning back to his own work.

"What about you then Malfoy?" Ron asked, looking up and focusing the attention of their small group on the blonde. "What do you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?"

Malfoy paused for a moment, before setting down his raven feather quill. "Probably a Potions Master. It suits me."

"That it does." Harry nodded. "You're one of the best in the class. It's you and 'Mione."

The latter blushed and hurriedly returned to her work, but that didn't stop Harry from seeing the small smile that appeared on her face.

"Potions Master Malfoy." Ron chuckled. "Just don't turn into a miserable git like Snape."

Harry felt Malfoy tense slightly beside him, before he turned to the raven haired man. "What about you, Potter? Going to be an Auror too?"

"I thought about that." Harry tapped his quill against his parchment. "During fifth year, when we had the careers advice. If I don't want to be an Auror, I'd probably want to be a teacher here."

"Don't tell us, Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Malfoy drawled, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep." Harry grinned, before turning back to his essay. "Let's try and get this finished."

Ron groaned again. "I'm done for tonight." He rolled up his parchment and collected his books. Glancing at his watch, he stood. "I'm going to bed. It's almost eleven."

"Really?" Hermione asked, collecting her own stuff. She looked around the common room to find it deserted. "You're right. I'll finish this tomorrow. Good night, Harry, Malfoy."

"G'night." Harry smiled as his friends walked towards the stairs to their dorms. He sighed and flung his quill down. "I've had enough now too."

"You've almost finished it though." Malfoy leaned across to look at Harry's work. Harry leaned back slightly, avoiding touching Malfoy as his heart sped up slightly. He shook himself mentally. What was wrong with him?

"All you need to do, basically, is write the conclusion. Slughorn won't mind if you're a few inches short."

Harry snorted with laughter at Malfoy's last comment. "Oh, would he not?"

Malfoy leaned back and looked at Harry, a smirk on his lips and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "He wouldn't."

Harry faltered. That had to be an innuendo. He gazed at Malfoy, emerald meeting silver. Malfoy's tongue darted out from between his lips to wet them. Harry knew his eyes had dropped to them, and he unconsciously did the same.

A low chuckle came from Malfoy before he leaned back. The spell broke. Harry could feel his face heating up as he hurriedly turned his attention back to rolling up his work and stacking his books.

"I-I'm going to bed." Harry stammered. "Night, Malfoy." He collected his belongings and crammed them into his bag as he walked quickly towards the stairs.

He reached the top and was about to turn to go into his dorm as Malfoy replied.

"Sweet dreams, Potter."

He snorted quietly as he entered the room. The others were in their beds, Seamus looking up from reading Which Broomstick to send Harry a wave. He returned it and changed into his pyjamas before lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

What had just happened with Malfoy? He pulled the curtains around his bed, to avoid Seamus' looks, knowing that the Irishman would be wondering what he was doing starting at the ceiling.

As Harry thought back to it, his heart sped up again. He willed it to calm down. What was happening? Why was Malfoy having this effect on him? It wasn't because he was male, Harry thought, rolling onto his side. Ron was a guy and Harry never felt like that around him, In fact, he hadn't felt like that in a while. Since he'd went out with Ginny.

Harry froze. No. It couldn't be that.

Groaning slightly, he tried to shove the thoughts from his head.

Could he be… attracted to Malfoy? Could he be gay? He frowned, turning over to lie on his other side. He had never thought about it. The only proper relationship he had been in was with Ginny, and that didn't last very long. He didn't even bother to count Cho.

He remember the way he had watched Malfoy that morning, and how Ginny and Hermione had hinted at something. So, he had to be showing some sign of being attracted to Malfoy.

He sighed and pulled his glasses off. It wasn't worth brooding over. It was just one simple little thought.

"Now, Veritaserum, like Polyjuice Potion, is very difficult to make, and it will take 28 days, which will be a lunar cycle, to be fully complete. I know that you all know how it works, yes, and your homework shows that you understand the ingredients pretty well and how they help add to the potion." Slughorn looked around his class, a small smile on his face. "If you can complete this potion to a very good standard, you are working your way to an 'O'! Now, to your partners, yes, and begin working on the Veritaserum."

The class were already sitting beside their partners, as was now the usual custom in the class, knowing that they were going to be working together.

"I'll get the ingredients." Harry stated, as Malfoy produced a small flame underneath the cauldron, before adding some water from his wand.

"Good. And hurry up with it, this water won't wait forever!"

Harry let out a small bark of laughter, before he moved to collect the ingredients. As he got to the door, he felt the weight of a gaze on his back. Frowning, he shot a look over his shoulder, but everyone was either concentrating on their cauldron, their book, or getting the ingredients. His frown deepened slightly, before he grabbed what he would need and hurried back to Malfoy, just as the water was beginning to boil.

"Now, just wait until I add these." Malfoy muttered, concentrating hard on the task at hand. "Don't touch anything, don't move anything, don't look at anything."

Harry snorted. "Can I at least open my book?"

Malfoy looked like he wanted to say no, but a smirk crossed his face. "Go for it. As long as you don't knock anything over."

Rolling his eyes, reaching for his book just as Malfoy reached for a jar beside it. Their hands brushed slightly, and Harry jerked back, knocking over a jar, just as Malfoy did the same. The contents of the jars mixed, and began to burn through the table.

"Potter!" Malfoy yelled, cradling his hand to his chest.

"It's not my fault!" Harry shouted back, shaking his own hand. It was burning badly. Looking at it, he saw the skin was bright, irritated red and beginning to blister. He knew Malfoy's would be the same.

Slughorn hurried over, worry on his face. "Oh dear, boys. Get yourselves up to the Hospital Wing right now. Those two ingredients create an acid when mixed together immediately. Don't worry about coming back. Just go, go, before there is any damage."

Harry grabbed his bag with his good hand and swung it over his shoulder as Malfoy did the same, before they hurried out the room.

Looking down at his hand, he could see that it was slowly spreading across the entire back of his hand, reaching his fingers and wrist. It was burning more fiercely now, and he cursed before breaking out into a run from the dungeons, up the stairs, Malfoy on his heels.

"This is all your fault, Potter!" He snarled, clutching his right hand to his chest.

Harry fought the urge to turn round and stop, as he knew it would waste time, and he couldn't afford that. For all he knew, the longer the acid was on his hand, there was a high risk of it actually burning through his hand.

"Shut up!" Harry snapped. "It was just an accident!"

Malfoy snorted as they reached the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey turned around from where she was giving a second year Raven claw a Headache Cure. She frowned slightly, obviously wondering what was wrong with them, and she looked like she was about to ask, before she saw their hands.

"Oh for Merlin's sake." She sighed, before making her way quickly to the cabinets which were lined with antidotes. "Go sit on beds, now!"

They made their way over to adjacent beds, holding their hands gingerly. She hurried back over, two bottles sitting in two stacked bowls in one hand and bandages in the other. She put them on the table at the end of Harry's bed and separated them. As she poured the vials into the separate bowls, she muttered under her breath about "volatile potions" and "clumsy teenagers." Harry looked at Malfoy. He had a scowl on, but he had paled dramatically. Harry knew he was trying not to show how much pain he was in.

"Now, it will sting when you put your hands in the antidote, but it will as it neutralises the acid." She said sharply, handing the bowls to them. "After that, we'll clean them and bandage them. Quickly, quickly! Otherwise it may scar."

With those words, Harry plunged his hand into the murky purple liquid. Immediately, it began to burn even more, and he bit his lip to stop from crying out. Malfoy looked like he was dealing with the same problem.

"What actually happened?" Harry asked through gritted teeth, as the pain dissipated slightly.

"I take it you were making a potion?" Pomfrey asked. They nodded. "Well, whatever you were using obviously reacted together, to create a severely corroding acid. I take it that it melted whatever else it hit?"

Malfoy nodded. "Burned right through the table."

"That's what I thought. Thankfully, this particular acid takes longer to burn through human flesh and bone, but it will have eaten away at the skin quite quickly. Let's see the damage." She turned to Harry first, pulling his hand out of the bowl.

The burning had stopped, but the skin was still red raw. She tutted under her breath, before casting a quick drying spell, and pulling the other bottle towards her. "This is a skin healing potion. It will help restore your hand." She applied it to his hand, and Harry felt it soothe the irritated skin, before she began to wrap it in clean bandages. "You'll need to keep the bandages on for a few days, and then come and see me. If the damage has been restored it will be fine."

She moved onto Malfoy, but frowned. "Ah. Mr Malfoy, you may have slight scarring. It appears that more of the acid hit your hand, therefore it worked faster."

If it was possible, Malfiy paled even more. "How bad will it be?" He whispered.

Pomfrey pasued for a moment. "It may be just a slightly discolouration of the skin. Nothing serious, I assure you. You have enough of them as it is."

Malfoy winced slightly, and Harry frowned. He didn't know that Malfoy had serious scars.

"Right." Pomfrey pulled away from Malfoy, who gently cradled his hand. "The period is about to end, so just go to your next class. Remember, come and see me in a few days. Sooner, if there feels like there is a problem."

They both got up, picking up their bags. Thanking the nurse, who merely shooed them out of the Wing, they made their way through the corridors.

"I'm sorry." Harry said quietly as they made their way down the stairs. "I didn't know it might scar."

Malfoy sighed slightly. "It's like you said, Potter. It was an accident. Let's just leave it at that."

Harry nodded slightly. "Malfoy, what did Pomfrey mean by the fact you have serious scars?"

Malfoy's steps faltered slightly, his body tense. "Nothing."

"Come on, you can't lie to me." Harry turned to him. "Tell me."

The blonde appeared to think hard for a moment, before closing his eyes. "That day in the bathroom, in sixth year…" He trailed off, but he didn't have to finish.

"Oh my god…" Harry stumbled back a step. "I - The - That scarred you?"

Malfoy nodded sharply, staring to a spot just over Harry's shoulder.

"How bad?" Harry asked.

Malfoy's grey eyes snapped to him. "What do you mean?"

Harry stared at Malfoy. "How bad are the scars?"

The blonde looked away. "Not that bad."

"You're lying." Harry said through his teeth.

"So what?" Malfoy snapped, his eyes returned back to Harry. "Do you think I want to remember that day? Do you think I want to remember the fact I almost died? The fact that I know it was you that did it? The scars are a reminder of that, and I don't want to think about them! It's bad enough I have to see them everyday!"

Harry gaped at the Slytherin in front of him. "I'm… I'm sorry." He stammered, his eyes dropping to the floor. He had no idea that he had scarred Malfoy. He had been so sure that Pomfrey had been able to stop it. Yes, he regretted what he had done. Something clenched around his heart as he realised the pain he had caused Malfoy, and he had to live with a reminder of it every day.

"It's in the past, Potter." Malfoy muttered. "Just forget it."

"How can I?" Harry said. "How can I do that now, knowing that you-"

"Because I want to as well!" Malfoy cut in. "If I can learn to forget it, so can you!"

Harry fell into silence, looking at the blonde in front of him. He looked… vulnerable. His eyes were fixed on the floor again, his face pale, his hands clenched. Harry noticed he was shaking slightly. Malfoy never did that.

"Look, I'm sorry for bringing it up." he said quietly. "We'll just leave it."

"Thank you." Malfoy said curtly, still not looking up at Harry. "I'll see you after dinner." And with that, the Slytherin was gone in a whirl of robes, hurrying down the corridor to his Arithmancy class.

Harry stared after him for a moment, before sighing and turning to continue his way to Herbology, where he was meeting Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

To him, it felt like he was now on rocky territory with Malfoy.

He hadn't told his friends what had happened between and Malfoy. It felt like a breach of privacy to discuss with Hermione and Ron what Malfoy had spoken about. They had pressed him for details, as it was obvious that something had happened; Malfoy never spared Harry a glance, and not a word had been said.

"Harry, tell us. Maybe we can help fix it." Hermione said, as they sat down to dinner. Harry sat himself so he could see the Slytherin table, as he had done for the past years at Hogwarts. He frowned slightly when he realised the familiar blonde wasn't sitting at the table. Where was Malfoy? Sure, it was early for dinner, but Malfoy was usually there at the beginning.

"Look, drop it. Nothing happened." Harry said firmly, pulling some roast chicken onto his plate.

"Mate, he hasn't spoken to you since you two left Potions." Ron said, before stuffing his face with mashed potatoes.

"Seriously. Leave it." Harry said through gritted teeth.

He knew that Hermione thought this was as far as they could push him, as she left the subject alone. Ron sent him a glance, before shrugging.

Harry smiled slightly. He appreciated his friends for that. Since the war, even since Sirius' death, they hadn't pressured him into sharing information as much as they used to.

Ginny sat herself on the bench beside him, helping herself to some steak pie. "So, how is everyone?"

"Fine." Hermione smiled at her. "What about you?"

"Probably a damn sight better than Malfoy." Ginny grimaced.

"What?" Harry's head snapped up. "What's wrong with him?"

"I saw him getting taken to the Hospital Wing by Professor Vector." Ginny said. "It looked like he had been hit by something bad."

"How bad is it?" Harry was half-standing now.

Ginny bit her lip. "He was unconscious."

That was what made Harry leave his half eaten dinner, Hermione and Ron calling out his name as he walked quickly out of the Great Hall.

Harry's heart was beating fast as he jogged up the stairs towards the Hospital Wing. Something bad had happened to Malfoy. But why? Maybe it was the Gryfindor fifth years again. Harry growled slightly, before remembering he had seen them sitting further down the table from him, sending glares in his direction. So, who then?

The next suspicion he had was the Slytherins. They probably hadn't taken Malfoy's friendship with Harry well. Harry couldn't deny them that, but to turn on their House mate? That was simply uncalled for.

He opened the door of the Wing, and saw Madam Pomfrey leaning over a prone figure in Slytherin robes, frowning slightly as she cast diagnostic spells.

"I came as soon as I heard. What happened to him?" Harry asked as he briskly made his way to Malfoy's side. Bruises covered the right side of his face, and the hand that had been bandaged earlier was freshly dressed.

"Why am I not surprised you've turned up?" She sighed at him, before turning back to the prone Malfoy. "He went through a pretty tough time. Numerous hexes and jinxes, even physical assault. Professor Vector found him in the corridor, and brought him here immediately." She turned and went to a cabinet.

Harry fell into the seat beside Malfoy. "Has he woken up at all?"

"I need to wake him up so he can take these potions, but I'd have to put him back to sleep after it." Pomfrey said, returning with a bottle of Skele-Gro. "Sleep will help his body recover alongside the medicines."

He nodded slightly, watching the way Malfoy's chest rose up and down shakily, obviously not taken deep enough breaths, making Harry suspect he had broken ribs. "Please tell me you have an idea of who did it."

"Afraid not." Pomfrey said quietly. Harry started slightly as he felt a hand on his shoulder. "He's lucky to have you as a friend, Potter. Make sure he always has you. You're good from him.

He looked up at the mediwitch, stunned by the admission she has made, before nodding, a small smile pulling at his lips.

"Good. Now, wait outside the curtains whilst I give Mr. Malfoy his potions, and then you can see him again." She said briskly, shooing him out of his seat and drawing the greenish curtains around the bed.

Harry stood with his arms crossed, chewing on his lip slightly. He was sure it was the Slytherins now. Only they would have wanted to inflict physical pain on Malfoy.

He heard a groan, and his eyes focused on the curtain.

"Where am I?" Malfoy's voice sounded hoarse, as if from disuse.

"The Hospital Wing, Mr. Malfoy. You've experienced quite an ordeal.

Harry heard another groan.

"Now, take these potions, and then you can go back to sleep." Madam Pomfrey said. "A friend dropped by to see you."

Malfoy snorted slightly, and Harry could imagine his face, and smiled slightly. "Oh really? Who?"

"Mr. Potter." Pomfrey said simply.

"Oh." Malfoy said quietly, before falling silent for a while, obviously taking the potions that Pomfrey handed to him. "Why?"

"He seemed quite worried about you, to be honest. He came up to see you as soon as he heard apparently. That sounds like a friend to me, Mr. Malfoy."

"Yeah…" Malfoy said. Harry thought he could hear him smiling, if that was even possible. "I just didn't want him to see me in a state like this."

"Why not?" Pomfrey asked. "He didn't seemed phased by it. In all honestly, he seemed quite protective."

"That's exactly why." Malfoy muttered. "I don't want him to think I'm weak and that I need protection. It's… embarrassing."

The mediwitch sighed. "I don't think Potter will care about that. He's your friend, and friends help each other. He wants to help you. I don't think he sees you as weak. So, stop that right now, and finish the Skele-Gro!"

Harry blinked rapidly. He didn't know what to think of that the part of the conversation. Malfoy thought that Harry just wanted to protect him? Really? It wasn't because he wanted to be friends, oh no. Definitely not that. He rolled his eyes, and continued to listen.

"Now, get some sleep. I bet that Mr. Potter will be back to visit you later."

"If... If I'm not awake when he says, tell him I say thank you." Malfoy said quietly. "For coming to see me."

"Why don't you tell him yourself?"

That was the only warning that Harry had before Pomfrey whipped back one of the curtains, allowing Harry to see Malfoy.

Malfoy's grey eyes were fixed on Harry's green ones, slightly panic in them. The right one was slightly bloodshot, and his skin still pale underneath the blue and purple that covered the side of his face.

"You're still here?" Malfoy half whispered.

"Yep." Harry said simply.

"How much did you hear?"

Harry walked forward, as Madam Pomfrey picked up her bottles and left them alone. "Everything." Malfoy flinched slightly as Harry sat down beside him.

"Look," Harry sighed, "I don't want you to feel like I'm only friends with you because of the truce, or because of my 'hero complex' that some people say I have," a small smirk appeared on Malfoy's face at this. "I'm friends with you because I want to be. I don't think you're weak. I think you're just having a bit of a rough time. And friends help each other out, just like Madam Pomfrey said."

Malfoy had watched Harry carefully throughout his mini-speech, the panic in his eyes dwindling slowly, until there was none. "I can trust you?" he asked quietly.

"Yes." Harry smiled at Malfoy. "You can trust me, and I can trust you."

The Slytherin was quiet for a moment, before scowling and tutting. "Stupid Gryfindors."

But that didn't stop Harry seeing the small genuine smile of Malfoy's face.