I am finally updating. Had to take a break, sleep, eat, do chores, etc. but I'm back :D

Harry did not have as good a summer as he had hoped, but it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. He had spent part of the summer at the Dursleys were Petunia had begun to actually be nice to him, letting him stay updated and permitting him to talk about magic if it was important for the Dursleys to hear.

After this, he had been collected by Dumbledore and they had gone to convince Slughorn to retake a teaching post at Hogwarts and then Harry had gone to see Sirius at St. Mungo's. The man was recovering, though not quickly. He hard recalled most of his memory and regained the ability to speak, but his body was weak and his arm, though replaced with a magical one provided by Dumbledore, still needed to adjust to the change. They had talked for a couple of hours with Harry admitting that he was as much a Slytherin as any. He wasn't dark, but he wasn't a Gryffindor and Sirius needed to understand this. Sirius had argued, said that Harry had shown over the past three years how much of a Gryffindor he was from confronting Sirius, to surviving Voldemort's return, to adventuring to the Ministry of Magic for the prophecy. Things had taken a nasty turn when Harry confessed he had only gone to the Ministry because he was under the delusion that Snape was in trouble. As Harry had expected, Sirius had blown up about this, called Harry several derogatory names, and asked that Harry please leave.

They had then gone to the Burrow, where Harry would be spending the rest of his summer, much to his disappointment.

Ronald had returned to his old hate, believing that Harry had actually gone to the Ministry of Magic for the selfish reasons of wanting to hear the prophecy himself. He also believed that Harry and Theodore had been in cahoots from the start and had intended for the others involved to get killed and the Dark Lord to gain the prophecy. While the rest of his family clearly disagreed with him, Ron didn't seem to care and often would hex Harry when he got a chance. Seamus and Neville spent a week there with them and they all tried to play three on three Quidditch with the three Marauders versing Harry, Hermione, and Ginny. While Ginny was good, Hermione had been terrible. Thankfully, Neville had been just as lousy otherwise they would have been slaughtered. The two left a couple days before the O.W.L. results did.

Harry had to say he was pleased with his results. While he had gotten "Dreadful" for both Divination and History of Magic, he had scraped by with passing in everything else, while achieving "Outstanding" in Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. He had gotten "Acceptable" in Astronomy and "Exceeds Expectations" in everything else (Herbology, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures).

With their book lists finally in hand, they had gone to Diagon Alley to get their school things, meeting up with Hagrid since he would be the extra security they needed. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took off for the book store with Ginny while Harry, Hermione, and Ron had gone with Hagrid to Madam Malkin's as they needed new robes. Hagrid, being large, decided to stand guard outside while the three bought their new robes. It was in here that they ran into Draco.

In the minute's time that it took for Draco to realize they were there, Harry recalled twice nearly being attacked by Draco last year after the ordeal at the Ministry. The first time had been by Snape and McGonagall who had proceeded to award fifty points to each of those who had gone to the Ministry, which of course had left Gryffindor rather full. Draco had been told not to fight in the hallways and had been reminded of House unity by Snape. On the Hogwarts Express, Draco had made to attack once more, but...Harry didn't want to finish the thought and tried to will it away. Thankfully, Draco spoke, forcing the thought to leave.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Mudblood just walked in."

"I don't think there is any need for language like like that!" Madam Malkin huffed at Draco. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!"

Harry turned to see that Ron had drawn his wand and was aiming it at Malfoy.

"Put that away." Harry tried to swipe at the wand, but Ron ducked it away from him and brought it back up to point it at Draco once more.

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school!" Malfoy taunted and Harry sighed and took a few steps towards him.

"Draco..."

"Don't talk to me!" Malfoy spat the words at Harry and then glared at Hermione. "Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers."

"That's quite enough!" Madam Malkin snapped. "Madam...please..."

Malfoy's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, strode serenely into view and gave Ron and Harry a contemptuous look. "Put that away. If you attack my son, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you do."

"Really?" Ron breathed and Harry took another step closer to Draco and further from the Gryffindor. As much as he didn't like Draco, the Malfoy heir was a Slytherin and he felt far more comfortable with his back towards him and facing the wand the Gryffindor was wagging. "Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?"

Madam Malkin gasped and Harry felt his hand twitch towards his wand.

"Quiet!" Harry hissed, glaring at Ron who glared right back at him.

"Right, I forgot you're all cozy with the Death Eaters' sons."

"Really...you shouldn't accuse..." Madam Malkin was saying, but they were all ignoring her.

"I'm not cozy with any Death Eaters' sons." Harry refuted the idea as it was clearly nonsense. "And put that wand away before you do something you regret."

"Oh?" Ron asked, the quiver in his voice betraying his fear and nervousness. "Like defending myself?"

"There's no need to defend yourself here." Harry argued, but it was clear the Gryffindor thought differently. Even Hermione, who tried to avoid discord could be seen reaching towards her robes where her wand would be hidden.

"Don't think that stupidity doesn't have its repercussions." Narcissa was abruptly saying. "Being apart of a gang only gives you a false sense of security."

"And isn't your Death Eater organization just a really big gang for adults?" Ron growled. "And I'm not scared of you! Why not give me a try? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband!"

"Weasley!" Harry barked and then spun to catch a tripping Draco, who had apparently intended to physically attack Ronald, if it hadn't been for the excessively long robe he tripped over.

Ronald was laughing now.

"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Weasel!" Draco broke away from Harry's hold, gave him a sideways glare and then focused on the red-head.

"It's all right, Draco." Narcissa's cold tone chilled the air around them.

"I'm done." Draco pulled off the robe that was around him. "I don't want these anymore."

"You're right, Draco." Narcissa's eyes were still pinned on Ron. "Now I know the kind of scum that shops here...we'll do better at Twilfit and Tatting's."

The two exited the shop together, Draco casting Harry an odd look before they were gone.

Ron lowered his wand and scowled at Harry. "So apparently it doesn't matter that he's a You-Know-Who supporter, you'll stick by him because he's Slytherin!"

"I don't know anything about what Draco Malfoy is up to." Harry replied in as calm a voice as he could manage, given how stressed he felt. "And neither do you."

"You know what his father is like!" Ron argued as Hermione strode past them to get measured for her robes. "What makes you think he's not the same?"

"I don't have proof one way or another." Harry kept the snarl out of his voice, but only barely. "And until there is proof: innocent until proven guilty."

This silenced Ron, but increased the already strong enmity between them. The trip into Fred and George's Joke Shop only worsened the antagonism as the Weasley Twins insisted Harry not have to pay for anything as he provided them with the thousand Galleons to start up their shop. He acquired a few things and was ready to go when he spotted Draco, looking suspicious, making his way down the street.

Hiding himself under the invisibility cloak, Harry followed him to Borgin and Burkes down in Knockturn Alley. Malfoy had shown something to the man and apparently wanted to know how to fix something while retaining something similar there at the shop. Harry couldn't see much as he wasn't in the best place to spy, but it appeared to him as if Draco had acquired the Dark Mark and was up to no good. Worse, it seemed as if Draco didn't even want his own mother to know what he was up to.

Arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind and he froze as his heart went into a panic.

"Not nice to spy." Came a liquid cool voice and Harry instantly broke away and turned to see...his heart was somewhere else now, probably hopping down an alley, and his mind was blank.

Theodore Nott had grown taller over the summer by several inches and Harry would guess he was almost as tall as Snape now. His hair, still as short as it had been on the last day of school, was falling into his blue eyes, which seemed all the more piercing than they ever had. He was weedier looking too, his thin frame weighed down by his heavy robes so that he leaned back a bit as if to stabilize himself when he stood. Everything about him was relaxed and...bored.

Harry had always had a hard time reading Theodore, but he had never seen the other boy as unreadable as this moment. There was nothing, not in his features, his eyes, his voice, his movements, that gave away anything about what he was feeling at this moment.

Swallowing down the rising emotions, Harry tried to mimic this apathy. "How'd you know I was here."

"Saw your feet."

Theodore motioned and Harry looked down to see his feet sticking out oddly from beneath the Invisibility Cloak. He glanced around to see that Draco had left the shop and Borgin had gone into the back. He pulled off his Cloak and tucked it into his bag.

"I was wondering if I was going to see you." Harry commented, trying to hide his emotions and speak casually.

"No more need to wonder." Theo indicated for Harry to walk with him and the other boy complied without hesitation. "What were you spying on Draco for?"

Harry shrugged. "Looked like he was up to no good."

"How you haven't been resorted..." Theo gave a slight shake of his head. "Curiosity killed the cat, Harry."

"And it also led to great inventions." Harry retorted quickly. "What are you doing down here?"

Theo gave a mild flinch that Harry assumed was supposed to be a shrug. "Not uncommon for Slytherins to be found around here, especially us older ones."

Harry didn't argue with that. "Have you been to the joke shop?"

"Wouldn't let me in." Theo cast Harry a glance. "Nor Draco, I hear."

"Why?"

"Same nonsense most people will be assuming: future Dark Wizards and Death Eaters are not permitted."

Harry gave a roll of his eyes. "That is nonsense."

"Well, it's to be expected."

"So how was your summer? You spent it with the Malfoys, right?"

"Dreary." Theodore's lips twitched, but for what emotion Harry had no idea. "A lot of moping going on in that household. Draco was hardly there. Spent most of his time with Goyle and Crabbe. Rarely saw him."

"So you spent most of the summer alone?"

"Is normal for me." Theo didn't seemed bothered by this. "And I enjoyed it."

"You would."

They stopped outside the joke shop and Harry invited Theodore in.

"Would rather not." Theo answered. "Besides, I have to meet up with the Malfoys. Are my way home."

"Okay..." Harry fidgeted for a moment and then said, "So I'll see you on the train?"

"Of course."

Harry watched the other boy walk off down the street and memories flooded back in turbulent waves: of Theo defending him from Draco, Vincent, and Gregory, of him hanging around him for the last days of school and on the train, of him saying goodbye for the summer, of his letters that explained nothing, and...the worst memory of all...when standing in Dumbledore's office when moving only a centimeter closer would have told Harry that Theodore really did love him...and the other Slytherin had pushed Harry away.

He wasn't sure still if Theodore had done this act to protect Harry or if he had honestly not meant what he had said in the Ministry of Magic, but Harry planned to find out. As much as the pain at him and as much as his heart was tried of being pounded into a pulp by Theodore, he was determined to uncover the truth and get some bloody answers if it was the last thing he did.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.