That's right. Your eyes do not deceive you. It's another chapter, updating lightning fast! Just for you. I've also written the next one, which may or may not be the last one...stay tuned! And let me know your thoughts!

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

The next couple of days passed. They were better days. Draco had learned not to taunt Harry, and in return, Harry didn't make remarks teeming with enough innuendo to make him blush. The tensions between them became the elephant in the room, and outside of class, they made it their prerogatives to avoid each other as much as possible. They were curt and civil to each other, but each could see longing in the other's eyes, and their lips stung with unspoken words.

Harry was sitting in the Slytherin common room during his homework quite late on this particular evening (his own, it may be awkward between him and Draco, but there was no bloody way he was letting that make himdo an Arithmancy essay) when a first year came up to him. She was clearly nervous about talking to him. He was an eighth year after all, not to mention that Draco a bit of a reputation. Harry raised his eyebrow in question at the girl not unkindly, but with a mild air of exasperation at being disturbed.

"Hermione Granger told me to give you this," she said, before quickly thrusting a folded piece of paper at him. Harry took the note.

"Thank you," he said. The girl was still hanging around.

"Why is she sending you a message? I thought you hated her kind."

Her kind. Harry was tempted to begin another tirade about equality, but he bit it back, seeing the truly naive and curious expression on the girl's face.

"Things change, we're friends now," he said, flippantly. "You can go now."

The girl hurried away at his imperious tone. Harry unfolded the paper.

Hello Harry, it began.

I hope this note got to you alright. I give extra learning support in Potions to Belinda (the girl who delivered the note) and she's a sweet girl, so I knew she'd be trustworthy. I hope you weren't too mean to her. As we know, Draco does have a heart!

I digress. You've done so well these past few days, I know it can't have been easy for you. I'm so sorry for any pain I caused you with this stupid plan. I truly thought it would work. Maybe there'll be a chance once you're back in your own bodies. Again, I'm very sorry.

Come to the Room of Requirement this evening at five to midnight. I don't know the process of changing back and think that it's best if I keep you under observation in a private location while it happens. Feel free to bring Blaise and Pansy, it would be nice for Draco to have his friends there for when he goes back to Slytherin. I'll be there, as will Ron and Ginny, so you'll have people there as well. See you then.

Love, Hermione

Harry smiled to himself. Midnight gave him plenty of time to finish his homework. Blaise and Pansy each came to join him in their own time, Blaise with a novel and Pansy with a copy of Witch Weekly. Harry wordlessly passed Hermione's note to them. They nodded to him, letting him know they'd be there. Harry couldn't help but smile. He couldn't believe that all his life believing that Slytherins were just cold and cruel. He'd been proven so wrong in recent times. Snape, for a start, Harry had found a new level of respect for him, and had spoken at his funeral to honour his memory. His new Slytherin friends, (which he used to count Draco among although now he wasn't so sure) were also proving him wrong. They were cunning and plotting, sometimes cold and detached, sure, but they had an underlining sense of loyalty and friendship. Pansy checked the clock on the mantelpiece, and suggested that they leave. It was quarter to 12. They left the common room, and Harry found himself feeling somewhat wistful. He missed Gryffindor Tower like crazy, but for some reason he found himself right at home in the Slytherin common room. The dark leather of the sofas and the slightly green tint of the room that he'd found vaguely imposing when he was in second-year, now seemed elegant and beautiful, a place he'd thoroughly enjoyed spending time in.

The trio made their way to the Room of Requirement at five to midnight exactly. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were already waiting outside for them, and Draco stood behind them, staring at his feet, with a worried expression on his face. Hermione closed her eyes, and a door formed on the wall. She opened it, and the group filed in. The room was pretty empty, with a few chairs scattered around.

"So, what's going to happen, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione sat down primly. "Strictly speaking, I'm not sure. I'd guess that it would be pretty similar to when you changed the first time. I wouldn't think it would be particularly painful, but then you were both asleep when the change happened the first time. Harry, I believe you ingested the potion a few minutes before Draco, so your change should begin first."

Harry nodded and stared at his feet. "So, what now?"

"Now, we wait," Hermione replied. Draco silently passed her the glasses he had been wearing.

Everyone sat down on the chairs the room provided. Draco was still staring at the floor pointedly. Harry wondered if he was alright. Surely he couldn't be that scared of the process of changing back? Then again, Harry had a high pain tolerance having been exposed to so much, and so couldn't make a judgement. Hermione's watch began to beep.

"It's midnight," she stated.

Harry almost felt pain wash over his entire body. His skin felt like it was being prodded with red-hot needles in every pore. He fell out of his chair and bit down hard on his lip to stop from screaming.

"Harry!" someone called in alarm. In his pain-filled haze, Harry couldn't tell who it was. He heard people start to run towards him.

"No, don't!" Hermione shrieked, "Don't touch him, I don't know if it will disturb the process!"

Harry could feel his facial features begin to change, and it was a strange sensation. It felt like things were being ripped from his skin, or that some were being pinched hard and manipulated as if he were made of clay. He found himself become comatose and stop struggling in pain, although that he still felt in abundance. He heard Draco let out a surprised yell, and a thud as he surely hit the ground as well. Again, the group of spectators let out worried gasps.

The pain all over Harry's body seemed to be cut in two as Draco took half the burden.

Sighing with relief, he began to feel himself begin to change. His head felt like it was on fire, as his hair began to lengthen and darken. His limbs began to shrink in size, as he began to resume his usual height. His eyes flew open, as his vision began to blur, as if a drop of water had been placed on each eyeball. He gasped for air as all of the pain began to subside and he felt himself begin to go back to normal. He sat up in shock. Ron and Ginny were kneeling next to him. Ginny flung her arms around him.

"Harry! Are you alright?"

Harry hugged her back. "Yeah," he croaked, his voice box seemed brand new.

Ron tapped his wand against his hand, and a glass formed. He grinned, pleased with himself. He tapped it again, and it filled with water. He passed it to Harry, who drank greedily.

"I'm fine," said Harry, feeling untold relief in hearing his own voice once again. "It hurt like hell, but now I'm alright."

A groan from next to him alerted to him to Draco.

"I'm glad that's over," he heard the familiar drawl.

Harry turned his head. Draco was examining his hands, and running them through his hair, looking as relieved as Harry felt. Hermione let out her breath and passed Harry his glasses, he put them on immediately.

"I'm so pleased that went well," she said.

"Well, as in the most pain I've ever felt, well?" Harry muttered.

Ron snickered.

"You two should probably change robes," Pansy pointed out. "It may be midnight, but there's always a few students still in the common rooms."

Harry nodded, and shucked off the outer robe with the Slytherin insignia.

"Wait," Draco interrupted. "Just the things with houses on it. I really can't be bothered to fully change right now."

He looked to Harry for approval, who shrugged in acquiescence and tugged the green and silver rimmed jumper off over his head and slid them across the floor to Draco. Draco quickly stood up and stripped himself of his robe and jumper and threw them to Harry. He threw on his own jumper and robe, and without caring about his too short trousers and shirt, he quickly bustled himself out of the room.

"What's wrong with him?" Ginny asked.

"Maybe it was the strain of the change," Hermione said.

Harry ran a hand through his hair pensively. Draco had been skittish ever since he saw him standing outside the Room of Requirement. Then it hit him.

"Shit!" he swore.

"What?" Pansy asked in alarm.

"We're in the flaming Room of Requirement!" Harry said, wincing at his phrasing. "The last time Draco was in here, he nearly died. His friend died. He's bound to be a bit stressed out coming back in here."

Hermione slapped her forehead, reminding Harry painfully of Dobby. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that? I should have scheduled this to be in one of the common rooms, and brought the Invisibility Cloak. There's charms we could have used. Oh, I'm so stupid!"

Harry grabbed her. "Hermione, stop berating yourself. Don't worry, it's done now."

Harry quickly pulled on his jumper and robe. They smelt of Draco.

"I'm going to find him," he said.

"He's probably gone to the Slytherin Common Room," said Pansy, "Blaise and I will head back there."

Harry didn't argue. He needed to talk to Draco alone, anyway. He watched the pair leave.

"He's not there," he told the remaining few.

"I take it you know where he is," Hermione remarked.

Harry smiled. "I've got a pretty good idea."

Hermione hugged him. "You go get him, then."

Hermione released him, and Ginny took her place.

"Good luck, Harry. We believe in you," she said, pecking him on the cheek.

Harry smiled and then sought out Ron. He looked stern.

"Go on then. Your turn for well-wishing," Harry joked.

Ron's expression became even more stern. "Don't fuck this up, mate."

Harry laughed. Ron raised his eyebrows.

"I mean it. You can't let him slip away from you."

Harry set a determined look on his face. "I've no intention of letting him, Ron. I promise you that."

With that, Harry hurried out of the room, stumbling over his too-long trousers.

Ron chuckled good-naturedly.

"He's really in love, isn't he?" he said.

Hermione smiled. "Yes, he is. Now we wait and hope he doesn't get his heart broken."

"And if it does, which I doubt," Ginny broke in, "We'll be there to pick up the pieces and put him back together."

"Of course we will," finished Ron. "We're his best friends."

Oh, the joys of no homework. Even though I should probably use this time to be revising for exams. Oh well. "You should always waste time if you don't have any", as our dear friend The Doctor once said. That's my new mantra for revising.

Anyway. My other fandoms?

Doctor Who, Sherlock, Merlin (sob), The Avengers and Supernatural (sort of)

A few others, but I don't know whether they're classed as 'fandoms.'

Next question: Do you own any HP memorabilia/merchandise? If so, what?