A/N: Okay first off: I am sooooooo sorry that I haven't updated in like almost a month! I really have no excuse! Yes, school and life has been pretty busy but the truth is: you can always make time for stuff like this. I think the reason I haven't updated in so long is that I just couldn't get myself to write the next chapter. Don't get me wrong, I love writing this story and everything, it's just that I wasn't able to put my heart in it. I started writing the chapter and after a couple words I found myself staring at the screen blankly and finally closing the document again. I guess this is what a writer's blockade feels like? Anyway, I am happy to announce that it is now officially over and I'll try updating regularly again. I hope you can forgive me. Well here we go...

Draco strolled down the corridor, not sure whether the direction he was heading was the right one or not. For some reason he did not want to reach his destination. He would walk faster if he did, wouldn't he? He shook his head and leaned against a wall, next to the portrait of an old witch for a second.

Get yourself together, Draco. He told himself and took another step towards the dungeons. This was ridiculous, why did this feel like the walk to the death row? It was just a girl. He had had so many girls this past year, what did one more girl change? He stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes. Things had changed. And they would change even more. With every step he was taking towards the dungeons he was taking a step away from change. He was scared of change. But why? It wasn't exactly like his life was fulfilled and he was happy – change had to be good because his life couldn't get much worse, could it?

He began walking again, taking one step at a time. Change was something scary. Change meant risks, stepping out of the comfort zone... he didn't want to change. He wanted change to just hit him, but he did not want to change himself to get there. Or had he already changed? Hadn't his moral code already changed? When he thought back at it now he hated the thought of following the Dark Lord and his orders, but even back then he had despised it. He now thought it was wrong to kill a man, let alone his own father, but even while doing that he had known so. He had always known it was wrong to bully the Golden Trio and Gryffindors in general, he had just not found the strength to stop... but now he had. Ever since the beginning of the year he hadn't bullied a single person. Sure, there had been fights with Hermione, but they couldn't be considered as bullying... Her face appeared in front of his eyes and he gulped hard. He knew that even though they were far from dating she would be hurt if she found out about him and what-was-her-name. Could he really do that to her? But then again, what right did she have to feel hurt about it? He didn't belong to her, he was his own being. He shook his head again and almost ran into one of the people he wanted to see the least right now.

"Malfoy, watch where you're going!" The boy who lived grunted.

"Sorry." Draco immediately replied off guard, still caught in his own thoughts.

Potter gave him a puzzled look and didn't move. He just stared at him.

"What?" Draco finally hissed.

"You just apologized to me."

"I guess I did."
"It sounded like a reflex."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Do you have a point, Potter?"

Harry shrugged. "I just didn't think you had it in you."

"You don't know a thing about me." was all Draco replied as he tried to push past Potter. But said boy moved in his way again.

"You're actually not that big of a mystery, sorry to disappoint you."

Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes at him. "Whatever."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then he whispered "And whatever you're up to right now... don't do it."

Even though Draco wanted to reply a snarky remark or just shut him up, he was speechless for a mere second.

"It will hurt her. And if you hurt her, I will hurt you." Harry had come closer, his voice becoming deeper and threatening. He really knew how to push someone's buttons.

"Listen, Potter." Draco spat debasingly. "I don't know what it is with your lot trying to stick their noses into places that are none of their business... but if your nose ever comes near my affairs again, I will not hesitate to reunite you with your parents."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth he regretted them. Yes, he did hate it when people pretended like they knew him. And yes, he did hate it when people didn't mind their own business. But mentioning someone's dead parents and threatening to kill someone in only one sentence – that was a little over the top. He had just admitted to himself that he had never hated Harry and that he didn't want to bully anymore... and now this? Maybe he hadn't changed after all.

Harry eyed him silently for a couple of seconds. "As much as I want to hex your butt right now... I won't."
"Because you're a coward." Seriously, where did this come from? Why couldn't he just be civil.

"Because I'm more mature than you." Harry stated. "Don't you think the time has come to stop acting like a little kid?"

Draco lowered his eyes. Every single cell of his body knew Harry was right. His behavior wasn't acceptable, he needed to move on from the past and start breaking out of his patterns. He tried. But he needed help with it... someone's help.

"I'm sorry." he finally managed to say and could see Harry's eyes widen. "I really am." He then pushed past him and scudded down the hallway and around the corner. Then he let himself stop and think. What was he doing? He didn't want to have meaningless sex with just another girl. It would make him feel better about himself and about his life for a little while. But he didn't need that. He felt crappy most of the day, haunted by his past, miserable in his present and scared of his future. He despised himself for his past actions and felt misunderstood by the whole world, no matter if it was true or not. But not always. There had been times that he'd been able to just let the past go, live in the now... and he had felt that he wasn't alone... His eyes became glassy and his cheeks flushed as he scurried down the corridor, up the stairs and knocked on the heavy wooden door.

"Open up."

A/N: Sorry that the first chapter after the long pause was pretty short as well, but it was necessary. I'll probably upload again tomorrow or the day afterward. So sorry you had to wait this long for such a short chapter... So how about a little poll... who do you think will open the door? Any guesses?

Love,

ShayleeRae