In slow-motion, Draco saw how she fell over and how her big bushy mess of hair inched closer and closer to the flames underneath Greengrass' cauldron. Without so much as thinking about what the hell he was doing, he dived forward.

Draco couldn't quite comprehend what he had just done, and that was very much unlike him. This was one of the very few times he didn't understand his own motives; that he had done something so impulsive that he had shocked himself. He tried to convince himself that he did it for his Head Boy badge. After all, McGonagall and Granger had made it clear that what happened around him was his responsibility to an extent, and if the Head Girl got hurt on his watch, he would most probably be the one to pay.

"My, my, Malfoy, I wasn't aware of the fact that you aspired to be a knight in shining armour as well!" Nott sneered. "I rather like the sound of it: Nott and Malfoy, protectors of those born with lesser blood."

"Thank goodness for your incredible Seeker reflexes, Malfoy, you caught her with the ease you catch the Golden Snitch with," Greengrass laughed. "One-hundred-and-fifty points to you!"

Pansy hadn't taunted him; instead, she had wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What the bloody hell would you do that for?!" she spat. "Touching the Mudblood... In public! You've gone mad!"

The more he thought about it, the less he understood his motives. Why had he dived forward to help Granger? He didn't know, and not being in control of what he felt made him anxious. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. And for some reason, even his obvious anger didn't stop her from prying into his life to get a glimpse of how he felt, as though that hadn't been obvious at all.

Right now, he was standing in his dormitory, breathing quite heavily. What the hell was wrong with that stupid girl? Why was she so determined to understand him? Draco walked over to his four-poster bed and let himself fall down on his back.

For a moment he had actually wanted to believe her. When she had told him that he wasn't evil, that he had just made a mistake, she had sounded so sincere, and in that moment he was ready to give in and believe her. But in the end, she had proven to be no different from the rest. She didn't actually believe that he wasn't evil. One minute she was making up excuses for his behaviour, writing them off as a mistake and telling him how there was no way he was actually evil, the next minute she instantly believed that he would have let her and her friends die if the War happened all over again. Hypocritical wench.

Draco realised full well that he had lied to her. There was no way he would have actually betrayed them, not at the time and given the circumstances. When they had been dragged into the Manor he hadn't seen a bunch of people he had despised for years who were about to receive what they deserved. Instead, he had seen a bunch of people. Just people. People his age that were going to die if he spoke up. He honestly hadn't cared about how big their differences had been during their time at school together. This wasn't school, this was a War, and the difference between getting someone in detention or having someone expelled contrasted to having someone killed was too big for him to handle. But he couldn't admit that, he wouldn't. People already thought he was a traitor, that he was weak.

He played around with the wand he had finally won back after having lost it for months, briefly wondering how Granger had gotten it and why. His mother would be glad to have her own wand back; she had been wandless ever since he was back at school as she had given him her wand so he could participate in class. Draco sighed. He would be glad when the weekend was here.

Sunday, 13 September 1998

"Malfoy!" a female voice from somewhere behind him shrieked as he made his way down to the Slytherin dungeons.

Draco whirled around and found himself facing a rather upset Daphne Greengrass. "What's wrong?" he asked cautiously, raising an eyebrow in suspicion and surprise. It wasn't like Greengrass to display her emotions in such an obvious and public way. In all the years he'd known her, he had never seen her in tears before.

"Pansy's in the hospital wing. She's been attacked and in pretty bad shape."

"What?!" Draco breathed out in shock. All of a sudden he felt cold as though someone had opened a window in the midst of winter. "Why would anyone attack Pansy?!"

Greengrass sniffed and wiped away a tear before it could escape her eye. "Because of what she tried back in May when she wanted to hand Potter over to... to him. We don't know who it was."

"It's been nearly two weeks since term started, why would they wait this long to have their sodding revenge?!"

"Malfoy... this isn't the first time..."

He stared at his classmate for several long seconds before he abruptly pushed her out of the way and hurried through the corridors, making his way to the hospital wing. Once inside, he spotted Pansy immediately, sitting on one of the beds looking as though she had been hit by a number of stinging hexes. Madam Pomfrey was still taking care of her, carefully moving her wand across Pansy's face and muttering healing spells. Draco heard Greengrass enter the infirmary after him and together they waited for the matron to be finished.

After the swelling on her face and arms had been reduced to none, Pansy tried to get up from the bed but was pushed back by the nurse at once. "Leaving is out of the question, Ms Parkinson," Madam Pomfrey barked. "You have a broken wrist and several bruised ribs. You are not going anywhere tonight."

"I'm fine, I refuse to stay here!" Pansy snapped irritably, attempting to get up from the bed once more. Madam Pomfrey had apparently expected that as she surprised Pansy by quickly pouring a cup of Sleeping Draught down her throat. "You... you... you awful woman!" the Slytherin girl sputtered weakly as the potion rapidly took effect. She tried to resist for a brief moment and then dropped down on her left side, fast asleep.

Draco marched forward. "I hear that this is not the first time something like this has happened to her, is that true?" he demanded from Madam Pomfrey.

The matron raised her eyebrows in disapproval of his tone. "That is true," she answered eventually, her lips pressed together in a tight line. She moved Pansy into a proper position, pulling the blankets up to the girl's chin. "This is the fourth time I've seen Ms Parkinson over the past two weeks, but this is the first time she has to stay."

"We were about to walk down to the dungeons," Greengrass added softly. "She was hit from behind and then she fell down both sets of stairs which is why she's so bruised."

"Why hasn't anybody told me anything?!" Draco snarled, turning to face Pansy's best friend.

Greengrass took a deep breath but refused to be intimidated. "Because she didn't want you to know. She said you had enough on your plate as it was!" she snapped back, glaring up at him. "Stop being so bloody hostile. I've told you this time, haven't I?!"

Madam Pomfrey had finished healing Pansy's wrist and walked around the bed towards them. "That's quite enough excitement for today. Out, you two, this girl needs to rest," she said brusquely, literally pushing them all the way out of the infirmary.

"Next time you'll tell me," Draco grumbled, glaring at Greengrass. She merely sneered at him in return and departed without another word.

Draco turned back to the hospital wing, glancing through the door. Madam Pomfrey was in her office, taking care of a pile of paperwork. He sneaked back in and hurried to Pansy's bed, which was just out of the office's view. Kneeling down next to her bed, he looked at her for a while and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You stubborn, secretive wench," he whispered after a little while, quickly pressing a kiss on her forehead before getting up again and hastily leaving the infirmary, not aware of the fact that Madam Pomfrey was staring after him as she stood in the doorway of her office, shaking her head with a small smile on her lips.

Wednesday, 16 September 1998

Pansy was allowed to leave the hospital wing on Monday morning, able to attend all classes. She had fully recovered, although she was a lot quieter than Draco was used to and she had a wary look in her eyes at all times. He hadn't asked her why she had kept from him that people had been attacking her, but it bothered him that she had, even if her intentions had been thoughtful.

Zabini was finally behaving normally again. After Greengrass had informed him of the reason why Pansy had to stay the night in the hospital wing, he had rushed over, only to find her fast asleep. He had joined Draco and Greengrass the next morning when they went to pick her up before breakfast. To everyone's surprise, he had actually apologised to her for treating her poorly and hadn't left her side since.

Meanwhile, Granger avoided him like the plague. Draco hadn't seen her in the common room for days and he suspected that she had retreated to the Gryffindor Tower, not returning to the Head's Tower until she knew for certain he was up in his dorm, which was often after midnight. Even though he thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet and the fact that he now had the entire common room for himself, he was starting to feel rather nervous about Granger's absence. It couldn't possibly be a positive sign for the report she would hand in on Friday, and even worse, their deal, which would probably be off right now.

"Mr Malfoy, may I please divert your attention back to the lecture?" Professor Merrythought called out. Draco snapped out of his thoughts. To his annoyance, he noticed that every student in class had turned their heads to stare at him. Next to him, Nott snickered quietly.

"Ms Granger, please proceed."

"The Lethifold, also known as the Living Shroud, is a carnivorous and highly dangerous magical and amortal creature. It is considered a Dark creature because of its aggressive and violent nature. The Lethifold is a very rare species and can only be found in the tropics. It attacks its prey at night, when the target is asleep, and suffocates and digests it in its bed."

Professor Merrythought nodded. "Very good, take ten points for Gryffindor. The Lethifold are very similar to Dementors, but there are some striking differences. Who can tell me the biggest difference? Ms Bones?"

"Dementors feed on happiness, and ultimately, their victim's soul. Lethifold, on the other hand, suffocate their victims and feed on human flesh," answered the Hufflepuff redhead.

"Indeed. Now, how does one protect oneself against a Lethifold? Yes, Ms Turpin?"

"The only known form of protection is the Patronus charm."

"Correct, Ms Turpin. Thank you, girls, ten points for both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Now, it's been rumoured that several students here at Hogwarts have managed to conjure a fully corporeal Patronus," Merrythought said, eagerly scanning the classroom with twinkling eyes. "Does that, by any chance, include any of you?"

Draco sat up a little straighter and looked around in curiosity as well. He knew that successfully conjuring a fully corporeal Patronus was immensely complicated and very difficult, and he could hardly believe that anyone here was actually able to do so. After a few moments, however, in which several of his classmates had exchanged hesitant glances, he was proven wrong.

Granger was the first to raise her hand and was soon followed by Seamus Finnigan, Ernie Macmillan, Michael Corner, Dean Thomas, the Ravenclaw Patil girl and Terry Boot.

The professor's face lit up with excitement. "Impressive. Very, very impressive," she said softly. "I would like for you seven to write an essay about your Patronus and why you think it takes the form it does. For the rest of you, a detailed essay about what a Patronus is, how it's used, what it takes to conjure one and the distinct differences between a corporeal and a non-corporeal Patronus. Due next Wednesday!"

Friday, 18 September 1998 —
Saturday, 19 September 1998

There was a grand party going on in the Slytherin Dungeons, but if one asked around they would find out quickly that no one knew why or who started it. Not that the reason mattered to anyone, all that mattered was that it was Friday and that there was a party, which meant that suddenly everyone was in possession of alcohol.

The first-, second-, and third-year Slytherins were forced to accept that they weren't welcome and they had begrudgingly retreated to their dormitories. It was unfortunate enough that they weren't allowed to stay in the common room to enjoy the party, but even more unfortunate was the fact that none of them were able to cast a silencing charm on their dorm walls and doors. Silencio wasn't part of the curriculum until fifth year.

Draco had settled down in a corner near the fireplace with sixth-years Niles Hanley and Garrick Newbourne and fifth-year Holden Ledbury, discussing the Quidditch match from the previous night between Puddlemere United and the Karasjok Kites from Norway. The game had ended in a riot and several people were arrested. The Quidditch commentator had been transferred to St. Mungo's with a severe head injury after both Beaters from the Norwegian team had simultaneously hit their Bludgers in his direction. They had both been fined with a large amount of Galleons despite their protests that he had been asking for it for calling them 'brainless Vikings on sticks.'

After a little while, a stunning blonde girl walked up to them and seated herself on Ledbury's lap. Her friend, a pretty-looking brunette with a sour expression on her face, reluctantly sat down between Draco and Newbourne on the only empty chair. She looked quite familiar but Draco couldn't quite remember why. Ledbury and the blonde girl started snogging and the brunette sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes at the couple.

Draco smirked at her. "You're not jealous, are you?"

She glanced up at him with narrowed eyes. "Not really," she answered, "I just wish she'd remember that she is here with her friends," she said a bit louder, directing the sentence at her friend's back. In return she received a rude hand gesture from the blonde, who didn't even bother pausing the snogging session.

Zabini arrived with two glasses of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey in his hands. He offered one to Draco, who looked at it with his eyebrows raised. "Peace-offering," Zabini said simply. Draco shrugged and took the glass, disposing of his Daisyroot Draught bottle by throwing it into the fireplace, which currently seemed to be serving as litter bin. Garrick Newbourne excused himself and Zabini took his place.

"So..." he said after a sip of the alcohol. "How do you two know each other?" He gestured his glass from Draco to the brunette and back.

"We actually don't know each other," the girl answered in a flat tone, clearly still annoyed with her friend. "I just know his name, and that he's in my sister's year, like you."

Suddenly Draco realised why the girl looked so familiar. She was a younger version of Daphne Greengrass, albeit with dark hair instead of blonde, and he was quite sure she was a fifth-year prefect. "You're Daphne Greengrass' sister," he stated.

The girl smiled at him. "Seems like we do know each other after all." She extended her hand. "Astoria," she introduced herself.

Draco took her hand and shook it. "Draco, but I suppose you already knew."

"Yeah," she confirmed with a nod. "You're hardly anonymous, being the Head Boy and all." He smirked at her.

Holden Ledbury and his blonde catch stood up, both with broad grins on their faces, and without as much as a goodbye they left, undoubtedly retreating to a dormitory. Astoria Greengrass glared after them, huffing.

"Your friend is such a polite young lady," Zabini sneered. "What's her name, though? She's rather good-looking."

Astoria raised her eyebrows at him. "Imogen Stretton, but I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. She and Holden have been together for two years now and as you may have noticed," shes said, carelessly motioning toward the stairs that led to the dorms, "they're still quite happily together.

Draco snorted. "Imogen? What a ridiculous name."

"Says the boy whose name is the Latin word for dragon," Astoria retorted with a mild glare in his direction. "You don't look much like a dangerous fire-breathing reptile to me."

Zabini, who was dragged into another one of Niles Hanley's Quidditch talks, choked on his Firewhiskey and badly tried to cover up his laugh by coughing loudly. "Excuse me," he said simply, and casually proceeded to discuss the latest match of the Chudley Cannons and how one of their Beaters' Transylvanian Tackle had gone horribly wrong.

"Hey, Amy!" Astoria called over her shoulder to a girl with long black hair. "Bring me some of that Elderflower wine!" The girl walked over and handed her a glass of the wine she had requested and sat down when Hanley stood up and offered her his chair.

"Where's Imogen? I haven't seen her in ages!" she commented dramatically, looking around the common room.

"Probably in Holden's bed," Astoria sighed, rolling her eyes.

Zabini gulped down the remainder of his whiskey. "Would you like to see a bed as well, beautiful?" he said with a smirk, addressing Astoria's friend.

"Sorry, is your name Astoria?" the girl asked in a snobby tone. "No, didn't think so. Guess what? That means I wasn't talking to you."

"Cheeky!" Zabini exclaimed, his dark eyes glinting with excitement. "I like you very much," he told the girl with a seductive wink.

Despite trying hard to seem unaffected, a blush appeared on the girl's pale cheeks and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She exchanged a glance with Astoria, who was merely smirking as she sipped her wine, enjoying their banter in silence.

Draco concluded that Zabini had already reached the point of no return, which basically meant that he would be in dire need of a Pepper-up Potion tomorrow. He was an obnoxious drunk, though his intoxicated state was the only time he was even remotely likeable.

Shortly after, Pansy and Davis joined them, and the six of them had an enjoyable time together until suddenly a neatly folded parchment aeroplane landed on Draco's lap. He put his glass aside in surprise and unfolded the parchment that strongly reminded him of the memos he had so often seen at the Ministry of Magic, not quite knowing what to expect.

Mr Malfoy—

Your curfew passed an hour ago. If you don't get back to the Head's Tower in a timely fashion, you will be serving detention every day for the remainder of this month. This is your first and only warning.

Signed,
Professor McGonagall

Draco closed his eyes, his good mood instantly gone. He had completely forgotten all about that sodding curfew. For the first time in months he was actually having a good time, and of course it had to be ruined for him again. Without fully realising it, his hand formed a fist, crushing the piece of parchment. A warm hand touched his knee, and when he looked up he found himself staring into Pansy's concerned eyes.

"What's the matter?"

He pushed the memo into her hands with more force than he had intended, causing her to wince a little. Draco mentally cursed himself. He had forgotten all about her wrist, which had been broken only a few days ago. Pansy smoothed out the aeroplane and quickly read the message. She then looked up at him with genuine confusion.

"What are you still doing here?" she hissed quietly. "Go!"

With a heavy sigh, he got up, for the first time actually doing what Pansy told him to do.

~ X ~

When he arrived back at the entrance of the Head's Tower, little over twenty minutes had passed and he hoped that was within McGonagall's boundaries of a timely fashion. He doubted that she would accept that he had to take a longer route back to avoid Peeves seeing him. He had spotted the Poltergeist in one of the main corridors, floating below the ceiling with a pile of silver plates from the kitchens in his hands, ready to throw them at unsuspecting students that were out after hours, like himself. Draco muttered the password and entered the common room.

Granger was lying on the couch with her cat on her legs, reading a book. When he walked in, she looked up, staring at him in surprise before looking down at her wristwatch. She snapped her book shut and sat up. The cat hissed and jumped up, moving to one of the armchairs where he resettled.

"Where have you been? It's nearly midnight! I thought you were already asleep, or at least up in your dormitory!" Granger sputtered, sounding utterly confused.

"None of your business," he grumbled in response.

She sighed tiredly and looked away from him, getting up from the couch. Just as she was about to climb the stairs to her dorm, something repeatedly tapped against one of the windows. Granger turned around, her eyebrows raised. She looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes, but Draco had already moved toward the window, opening it. No less than three owls entered the common room. They all gracefully descended on the back of the couch, offering Granger the rolls of parchment, envelopes and packages they were carrying. Draco stared at her as she approached the birds, slightly blushing as she took the mail that was addressed to her.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" he snapped in annoyance, eyeing the owls.

Granger briefly looked down at her wristwatch. "It's my birthday," she said softly. She had taken the last envelope and the birds departed through the open window. She sat down on the couch and opened the first roll of parchment. Draco stared down at her, still standing in front of the window. He noticed the way her eyes lit up more with every sentence she read. She seemed to glow with happiness and excitement, and as though it was contagious, he felt his own mood brighten as well.

Two more owls entered through the still open window, both carrying a small package and a letter and the colour on Granger's cheeks deepened. She seemed to be both flattered and embarrassed with the attention and Draco almost smiled. He noticed how her hands were slightly trembling as she released the owls from their burden.

Suddenly he was hit with the realisation of what he was doing. He was staring at Granger. Why was he staring at Granger? Why was he standing here at all? Shaking his head, he crossed the common room but he halted again in front of the stairs. Slowly turning around, he stared at the back of Granger's head. Without thinking about it or fully realising what he was about to do, he opened his mouth.

"Granger?"

She stopped unwrapping the package she held in her hands and turned around to look at him. The blissful look in her eyes quickly faded and he noticed that her expression became guarded. For some reason he didn't quite understand, he didn't like that change at all. Without a moment's hesitation, without having planned it, or without even giving himself permission for it, he opened his mouth again.

"Happy birthday," he said softly to his own surprise and he turned around to climb the stairs, feeling oddly and inexplicably content.