Come Undone

Body


Warning and Disclaimer: part 1

Note: told you part 2 sucked.

There's No Such Thing As Second Chances

"The tides of sin draw tighter and brighter,

The hours become heavier and weighted,

And the shadows smile, dark aild,ild,

This is when hope and desire collapse,

The arc of the dream descends into despair"

-- "Irony", James O'Barr, The Crow, 1981-95

Cold sweat covered Harry's entire body. As he did almost every night, he woke from a dream involving Draco Malfoy. Usually they just conversed, though when he awoke, he had no recollection of topicopics of those conversations. These last few nights they had turned violent, whether painfully or passionately, and theyays ays left him in the same state. Since learning of the Dumbledore had put it- 'life-bond' between them and the night before that, Harry had become very aware of the presence in the back of his mind. It was there all the time but wasn't intrusive and it was through this, he suspected, that the dreams were coming from.

He'd been staying in a private room that he would eventually be sharing with Draco when the new school year started. Their new year would start later that afternoon when Draco was to arrive. Dumbledore had told him that they were to meet several days before start of term to 'grow accustomed to your particular set of circumstances'. Harry summed it up as 'learning to live with your other half'. He thought this very bitterly of course, since Draco was just that in a lot of ways. Aside from the physical connection, Draco was the dark to Harry's light, he mused bitterly. Or the light to his dark, if he allowed himself to follow that train of thought. Which he wouldn't for long, of course.

Four fifteen, read the little clock beside Harry's bed. That was the latest he'd been woken up in a long time. Usually it was between two and three thirty that he would awaken from one of those dreams and refuse to go back to sleep for fear of having more of the same kind. He would lay there for an hour or more for someone else to wake up so that he wouldn't be reprimanded for wandering the castle alone. Not since he'd arrived at Hogwarts was he ever alone except when he was in that room. Some teacher or other would always be following him around. So he'd done his best to accept it, and even taken advantage of it when the opportunity arose. He'd been meeting Madame Hooch every morning after breakfast for Quidditch practice and was greatly improving his game with her assistance. Snape had been testing his blood to find out exactly what potion beenbeen used. He had insisted upon being at Snape's side the moment it was found out so that he might have some idea how to go about undoing it.

Refusing to believe that it was unbreakable, Snape's confession that the potion had already dissolved into his bloodstream had nearly crushed him. There was no way to tell what it was; not a single trace of it was left. But now he'd had the man on a different level with him than most did. Only Dumbledore and two of the staff that Harry wasn't too familiar with seemo hao have earned the same kind of respect from the man. He had actually seemed almost sad for Harry's predicament and was actually treating him well. That was when he truly realised it was hopeless and was completely crushed.

He threw his blanket aside and sat up. Lying in bed for hours with his nerves like rubber bands that were stretched to their max didn't sound like an acceptable way to pass the time, so he decided to shower. He'd better start preparing to face Draco, he thought as he heaved himself out of bed. God, it was going to be one sodding long day.

*****

Draco had spent the remainder of his holiday at the cottage in the woods and he too had woken in a cold sweat that morning. The day before, Dumbledore had owled him and let him know that he would be picked up at the cottage no later than nine o'clocat mat morning. He still had four and a half hours before the designated pickup time, so he went about his standard morning routine.

Never in his life had Draco been expected to lift so much as a finger to help himself. He still wasn't but he had taken on certain dutieer ter the last two months. He didn't feel that he was in the woman's debt, but he didn't feel it would be fair to let her shoulder his burden for the duration of his stay when he was perfectly capable of doing it himself. So, he'd learned in two months what most wizard children would learn during their first few years of life: he could identify and use almost all the local herbs he'd seen, learned the basics of cooking and cleaning, and how to care for the animals that were kept in pens behind the cottage.

As he threw feed into the chicken's pen, Draco began feeling slightly sad that he'd have to leave the comfortable confines of the forest. He'd started thinking of the place as home. It was the closest thing to a home that he'd ever had and he bitterly reminded himself that it was due to Harry Potter that he would be leaving it.

The impending meeting weighed heavily on his mind. Harry's reaction to the situation worried him because he had no idea how he would have taken the news. Antha had explained the bond to him, and he felt comfortable with his knowledge. Well, as comfortable as one really can feel about being bonded to another. But Harry hadn't shown much emotion over the last year except when he'd been cut up by Crabbe and Goyle. Draco wondered if he would go into another fit of hysterics when he arrived at the school or if he would just be as hollow and emotionless as usual.

Behind the trees, the suone one with the first pink and orange rays of morning. It was deceptive, Draco thought, that a day like that (which he was sure would turn out horrible) should start out so lovely.

*****

Harry paced the length of the room waiting for Draco to arrive. He was to be there at any moment and he was not too keen on said moment actually arriving. He was half nervous about meeting Draco Malfoy for what would be like the first time, considering how drastically their 'particular of of circumstances' had changed. He was also half-mad with an uncontrolled rage that was festering inside him. His nervousness was almost overshadowed by that anger, making every muscle in his body taut and ready to snap.

He heard the door open but didn't look up. Draco was there realised that standing just outside the door werefessfessors Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore, Draco behind them. He would have to face them before anything else could happen. He knew the lecture and was expecting it. Refusing to make eye-contact with anyone in his presence, Harry proceeded to stare right through everyone like he'd been prone to doing that last year when he didn't want to have to face anyone.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. Harry looked past her. "This room will be given a password at the start of term," she began. "Being as it is still a few days before either of you really need to worry about that, I would suggest you use this time to your advantage." She stopped and sighed heavily. "If either of you need to get to the village before term begins, please feel free to let us know. The three of us, and no one else, shall be your contacts for outside trips, passwords, and what have you."

"There are a few limitations you should be aware of," Snape said almost hesitantly. "Due merely to safety precautions, you are not to be apart during classes, meals, and the like. The more you stay together the slimmer the odds of something happening to you are."

Harry nodded. He knew all this would eventually have to be said, but he tried not to think about it. Before he could stop himself he had said, "And we're supposed to be real discreet about this, are we? Okay. What do I say to Ron and Hermione when I tell them that Malfoy can't leave my side? What does he say to Crabbe or Goyle or anyone for that matter when I can't leave his side?"

"The other Slytherins are of no consequence," Snape said very quietly.

"And the other Gryffindors?" he asked McGonagall.

"That is up to you. And when I say 'you' I mean 'all of you'; Ron, Hermione, you, and Draco alike," she replied curtly.

He considered pressing the matter further but didn't when he caught sight of Draco's stony face. Clearly, his friends were still his friends but Draco's were not. He could argue with them later, he decided, and nodded for someone to continue.

"I understand that a few issues will need to be cleared up," Dumbledore said, choosing his words very tactfully, "but I ask that such things not be overly analyzed. You are both very intelligent individuals, so I trust that you understand what I mean."

Both nodded affirmatively.

"Good. Then we shall each be in our respective offices, I would imagine, should you need anything," he finished, gesturing for the others to follow. They were gone within moments, leaving Harry standing in the door and Draco standing in the hall.

The Draco Malfoy that Harry had last seen at the train station two months earlier was not very similar to the Draco Malfoy that now stood before him. The train station Draco had worn clean, pressed robes and his hair was slicked back with some type of lacquer. Now, Draco wore robes that at a first glance looked like they had been shredded by some kind of vicious animal, but upon closer inspection appeared to be made of a very gauzy, red material sewn layer upon layer. His hair was not lacquered; it hung around his face and neck like corn silk. Around his neck there hung a small satchel and his feet were bare. Aristocratic as his features were, the crisp static of them had gone to be replaced with something that Harry couldn't identify.

"I'd really rather not s out out in the hall all day," Draco drawled, but sounded far less condescending than he ever had before.

Stepping aside, Harry made room for the other boy to pass. He wondered if Draco could feel the hostility, which had more than doubled at the sight of the boy. The anger he'd felt before Draco's arrival was nothing in comparison to what it was at that moment. Anger was pale in comparison to what it was that he was feeling. He was feeling absolutely murderous towards Draco, who had taken away his freedom, his hopes, his ambitions. If he even had any of those left.

Draco passed without ever taking his eyes off the silently staring Gryffindor in the doorway. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and it was not due to his own apprehension. Potter was not a thing to fear or revere any longer, so he had thrown those notions aside. Now he was just a parasite. As he was a parasite, he reminded himself.

Standing in the middle of the semi-circular room, he quickly figured that his was the left side for it was empty except for a bed and a chest of drawers. Beside Harry's bed was the door to the bathroom. Against the rear wall there stood a table and several chairs. He sat on the bed and removed his satchel, looking about the room.

Harry had shut the door and stalked Draco through the room. "I know this is going to hurt me as much as it's going to hurt you, but it will be worth every second of pain," he hissed as he lunged at Draco and belted him across the face. No sooner had he made his swing did he involuntarily clutch his face with the pain of his own blow.

Draco just stared at him with narrowed eyes. "Think it's my fault, do you?" he whispered as he laid back on the bed. The gauze of his robe covered his body in such a way that Harry could see every muscle, every bone, and every tendon almost as though he were wearing nothing at all. "Then by all means, have at me."

In some remote corner of his mind, Harry couldn't help but catch the sexual connotation in that statement and gesture. He was too consumed with his frustration to really do anything but hit Draco again, and again he fell back.

"You're going to wear yourself out or knock yourself out at this rate, you know," Draco said as he rubbed at his stinging cheek. "And you're not really solving anything. Just get off me." He tried pushing Harry away from him, firmly but not aggressively.

"Do you see what you did to me?" he sobbed as he pulled up his sleeve. He regained his composure and hissed, "You branded me a monster."

"And I am dreadfully sorry, Potter," he replied icily, "but I can assure you, you've left your own marks on me. Now get. Off. Me." He shoved Harry this time, forcing him off of his body.

Picking himself off the floor, Harry straightened to tower over the bed. "What marks? I don't feel like waxing philosophic with you at this particular point in time about emotional trauma or whatever the fuck you're going to call it that I've inflicted on you. Why did you do it?" he hissed with eyes narrowed and fists clenched.

"Because it was expected of me," Draco spat. "Because it was required of me. If I didn't-" he stopped. With a smirk, he continued, "Well, I don't really know. He would have done the same thing either way, apparently. Never mind, I guess I don't really have a defence."

"That's all you have to say?" Harry demanded. "All you can say is 'oops'?"

"And what have you got to say about it? What's your excuse?" Draco asked airily. He sounded as though he hadn't the slightest idea what all the fuss was about, making Harry that much angrier.

"I don't need one!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "I had nothing to do with this!"

"You make it sound as though I did," Draco replied, his entire person exuding tranquility, which w sig signify to any who knew him that they should stay away.

"How could you not have? Your father is in the inner circle, you have the Dark Mark." He bared his arm once more as though to prove his pofurtfurther. "Don't tell me you didn't know. I just can't figure you out, though. What? Did they promise you more glory in martyrdom?"

"Shut. Up. Harry," he ground out through clenched teeth. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't tell me what I know and what I don't," Harry snapped. "You don't know the first thing about me."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh, and I suppose you're the fucking expert on what it's like to be me? Don't play that game with me, it isn't cute. Maybe it might have worked on your parents, but don't pull that teenage-angst, I-didn't-ask-to-be-born bullshit on me because I've played that card to the max. I know a lot more about you than you care to admit, and the same goes for me. But neither of us know everything. End of fucking story, so leave it alone."

"You're taking this very well. Or didn't anyone tell you?" Harry sneered. "This is permanent."

"I am very well aware of that, thank you," Draco replied. "And seeing as how there is nothing you can do about it, I would suggest learning to live with it. I don't want to be bickering like this in twenty years."

"You think we'll make it twenty years?" Harry asked, suddenly very docile. All the adrenaline had drained from his bloodstream as he thought about the implications of Draco's statement.

"Anything's possible, but if you want my honest opinion, no, I don't think we'll make it another ten years," he said as he opened his satchel.

"That's cheerful."

"I thought you wanted to kill me," Draco observed lightly. "I would think that having less time with me would make you happy."

"I still want to kill you but now I think I'm grossly fascinated with the possibility of actually surviving you," he answered with a demented grin.

"How very noble of you," Draco replied dryly. Suddenly, he grinned as he pinched his own arm.

"What'd you do that for?" Harry cried.

"Because I can," he replied lightly.

Folding his arms across his chest, Harry muttered, "Oh, this is going to work out really well."

"It might if you could keep your mouth shut," Draco said, pulling a sheet of parchment out of his bag. "Or just quit insisting upoartiarting fights."

"You pinched me!"

"No, I pinched myself," the former Slytherin replied coolly.

"That's all semantics," Harry replied, beginning to pout. "You still started it."

Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm really not interested in playing the who done it game. I'm sorry I pinched myself if that makes you happy. Now if you'll excuse me," he said as he made for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Notify someone that I need to get down to the village," he replied without stopping.

The door swung shut, leaving Harry with only himself for company. He stood with his arms across his chest and staring at the door for the better part of the morning as though his brain couldn't process what had just occurred. He was angry with himself for his lack of self-control in the presence of the other boy, who seemed to have an overabundance of it. Draco managed to get under his skin like he always did but it was only because Harry had allowed it, he realised, making him feel even woabouabout himself than he already did.

Finally deciding that stewing wasn't going to get him anywhere, he grabbed his broom and headed for the Quidditch pitch.

*****

Night had fallen by the time that Harry and Draco faced each other again. The latter was sitting at the table at the back of their room with a stack of books and an essay in front of him when Harry came in with his broom over his shoulder. Draco did not so much as look up from his parchment when the other boy joined him.

"Hiya, Malfoy. Lovely to see you, too," said Harry with no end of sarcasm as he threw his broom on his bed. Draco still didn't acknowledge him. "Oh, my day was fine, thank you for asking. And how was yours?" Draco continued writing. "You don't say? Gee, that's really fascinating. Have I ever told you what a stimulating conversationalist you are?"

Without looking up, Draco replied, "Says the boy who not twelve hours ago proudly admitted that he wanted to kill me. I didn't know you enjoyed talking your victim's ears off before doing the deed."

"Never mind," Harry sighed. "Sorry I disturbed you."

He was just about to close the bathroom door behind him when Draco put down his quill and said, "How was your day, Potter?" Harry just stared at him. "Really? Gee, that's really fascinating."

"You know, Malfoy, you don't have to be such a sarcastic shit all the fucking time."

"But you can? Of course, how silly of me to forget. Golden Boi is the exception to the rule."

"God, of all the fucking people I had to get bonded to it had to be you!" he shoutelammlamming the door behind him.

"Yeell,ell, Potter, I'm sorry you had to get stuck with me too," he said to the closed door. "Because god only knows I just adore being bonded to such an ass. When did you get so fucking jaded?" he sighed. Dropping his quill on his essay, Draco stood up and stretched. He was sore from Harry's day of flying and was eager to get to bed. "Potter?" he shouted. "You in the shower yet?"

"What's it to you?" Harry grumpily shouted.

"I need your help real quick," he shouted back.

For a moment, he waited and then gave up just as Harry opened the door. "What?"

"Can you help me push my bed up against the wall?"

Harry ed oed oddly at him. "Why do you want your bed against the wall?"

"So my odds of falling out aren't so high," Draco drawled. "I just can't do it by myself."

Shrugging his shoulders in a gesture of dismissal, he helped Draco push his bed into the far corner of the room. "Better?" he panted impatiently.

"Yes, thank you."

Harry was a bit taken aback by the tone of genuine honesty in Draco's voice, but quickly shoved that e. Withoithout another word, he returned to the bathroom. Distractedly, he turned on the shower and stripped of all his clothes while he considered his new roommate. Though he was pompous, conceited, and still the same asshole that he always had been, Harry had to admit that Draco had certainly changed. Not everything he said was meant as an insult and he had actually been polite, even while being an ass. The missing hair-lacquer and odd robe weren't bad either, he thought.

"Jesus, Potter, what's wrong with you?" he muttered to himself. "Great, now you're calling yourself by your last name. Next thing you know you'll be talking to yourself," he giggled as he stepped under the stream of hot water.

*****

In the days following their first meeting, the two boys had hardly spoken a handful of words to each other. Harry hadn't tried to initiate conversation after that first evening, and Draco didn't seem to mind. While Harry practiced Quidditch from dawn till dusk Draco studied his books and completed the homework he'd been forced to neglect for the majority of the summer. Both seemed quite content with this arrangement as it allowed them to pretend that they had their own lives. The dreams had ceased, adding to the feeling of individuality that their differing activities had produced in them.

Unfortunately, the first of September was right around the corner and that meant that they would be by each other's side for the following ten months and neither were looking forward to it.

The dreaded day in question arrived and found both boys high-strung and uncomfortable with everything. The rest of the faculty and staff were going about getting everything set up for the new year, leaving Harry and Draco to fend for themselves. This meant that Harry couldn't spend his day out on the Quidditch pitch since no one would be around to look after him, so he'd tried wandering about until Professor Vector told him to go find Draco. His presence in their shared quarters was taking its toll on the other boy. He couldn't concentrate with Harry's pacing, so he finally gave up and joined him.

"What are you so edgy about, anyway?" Draco finaaskeasked after they had been pacing for nearly a quarter of an hour.

Harry stopped and stared at Draco as though he were below average intelligence. "Please tell me you didn't just say what I thought you just said."

"What have you got to worry about?" Draco snapped. "You've not got the rest of Slytherin, Gryffindor, and I'm sure the vast majority of the rest of the school trry rry about. They won't do shit to you."

"In case you've forgotten," Harry sneered, "your injuries are my injuries. I'm worried for exactly the same reasons you are."

"Well, I guess I should enjoy this moment, shouldn't I? Seeing as how I'm reasonably certain you won't ever show such concern for me in the future."

"Jesus! Is everything always about you?" Harry asked as he threw his arms in the air.

"Oh, honestly! You said, and I quote, 'Your injuries are my injuries.' Who's obsessed with himself?"

"And you're the picture of selflessness, too, aren't you? What have you ever given up for anyone?" Harry growled.

"Potter," Draco started, taking a deep breath, "I am only going to say this once, so you better listen well, okay? If you ever make one more remark about that ever again, I am going to kill you. That's not a threat, Potter; that's a promise. I'm not trying to sound big or intimidating, so don't try to counter me. I am only saying this so that you know what to expect if you open your fat mouth about it again. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Harry sneered.

"Good. What time is it?"

"Holy shit! It's already almost five," he replied as he looked at his watch.

Draco groaned as he sat on his bed. He still didn't have anything but his gauzy, red robe, he still didn't have any shoes, and had nothing to buy any new ones with. As though his presence at Harry's side wouldn't be odd enough, he would be the only student not in black robes. The feast started around five-thirty and he and Harry were to meet Dumbledore fifteen minutes before that.

"What?" Harry snapped. He looked at Draco's crestfallen expression and repeated himself with a lot more patience. "What is it?" Looking down at his robes and bare feet, Draco tried to convey what he was trying to say without actually having to say it. Harry seemed to understand because he went to his chest of drawers and opened one of them. He pulled out a spare robe and held it out to the other boy. "It'll probably be a bit big, but it's better than nothing," he said.

Shaking his head, Draco whispered, "I don't want your fucking charity."

Trying to keep his temper in check, Harry took a deep breath and sat beside his roommate. "Draco, we've got twenty minutes before we have to meet Dumbledore. Unless you have a better idea or don't care about standing out, I am telling you to take this. It's not charity, okay?"

Finally, Draco looked up at Harry's face. "Then what is it?" he asked quietly.

"Peace offering?" Harry tried.

"That's cute, Potter," Draco said, smiling. "What other excuses do you have up your sleeve?"

"Why can't you just say 'thanks' and leave it at that?" Harry sighed. "Do you have to turn everything into an insult?"

"Maybe I wouldn't if everything you said to me didn't turn out that way," he replied quietly as he cast his eyes at the floor. "I've tried being civil to you and all you can do is throw it back at me. If you were in my position, you'd do the exact same thing and don't even try to deny it."

"Fine." Harry stood, tossing the robe beside Draco. "Take it or leave it; it's all the same to me. But just for the record, we're in the exact same position, so don't try to make it out like we're not."

"We're not, and that's the god's honest truth," he whispered, almost inaudibly.

"How? Tell me how we're not in the same position," Harry said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"All right. You've got friends. You've got money. You've got clothes. Your books weren't bought used by the school. You still get to be with your house. Shall I continue?"

"If they could give you books, why couldn't they get you robes?" Harry asked, genuinely curious.

"Robes aren't necessary to pass one's classes. I'm not running around naked, so I guess it's just not that important, is it?" he replied, crossing to the table. "To be totally honest, the only thing I'm really worried about is not having my wand. There's not a whole lot I can really do without it. Aside from Potions. But big fucking deal, you know?"

"But you need ingredients for Potions," Harry observed, more to himself than to his companion.

"Nearly everything grew wild where I was at, so I collected them myself," Draco said as he gathered his books together.

Harry nearly asked about where he was at, but was distracted by Hedwig's appearance in the window. "Hey, Hedwig," he said as he crossed to the window. "What've you got?"

She held out her leg and Harry untied her message. Draco watched and suddenly felt very uncomfortable when Hedwig hooted at him. Tearing his attention away from his note, Harry watched the exchange with much interest.

"Hedwig, is it?" Draco said to the owl. She hooted again. "Least I don't have to call you 'Owl' anymore." He scratched her neck, earning a pleased warble.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"What does it look like?"

"You know each other?" There was no small amount of curiosity in his tone and a bit of apprehension besides.

"Sort of," Draco replied as he fed Hedwig a couple treats. "Pie likes her, you know."

"Pie?"

"Piewackett, my owl. She was sitting with this one when I sent her to my father last," he explained. "She's pretty cool, Potter."

Harry raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Thanks?"

"Indeed. What's the letter?" Draco asked, trying to deviate from discussing his relationship with the owl in question.

"Hagrid wants to have tea after dinner," he said as he read the message. "He says for you to come, too."

Draco tensed. "He-" he cleared his throat, "He s mes me to come with you?" Harry nodded. "Why?"

"Do I look psychic?" Harry snapped. Draco flinched. "Sorry. No I don't know why. Guess we'll see when we get there, huh?"

Saying nothing, Draco continued to pet Hedwig. Meeting the half-giant with Harry didn't seem like his idea of a good time, especially since he obviously disliked Draco. That incident in their third year with Buckbeak the hippogriff was still fresh in his mind and he knew that it always would be in Hagrid's. Perhaps he just wanted to meet Harry but figured that he would have to be with him, he thought. But why would he have bothered to mention him then? He wondered if Weasley and Granger would be accompanying them and hoped that they wouldn't be. His odds of survival seemed a lot higher with only Potter and Hagrid to worry about.

"Come on, we gotta go," Harry said. "Dumbledore'll be waiting."

"See you, Hedwig," Draco saHedwHedwig hooted and flew out the window and they left to find the headmaster.

*****

Dumbledore stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for them. He smiled warmly when they reached him. "Ah, lovely to see you both. Now, they should be here any minute, but I want to get a few things straight before they do." The boys both nodded for him to continue. "Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger have been informed of the new living conditions and I have told them that it is due to new security measures. No one, not even they may know about the truth behind this just yet. You are both still at too high a risk for anyone at all to know the reality of the situation."

"What am I supposed to tell them?" Harry asked. "Am I supposed to just ignore them when they ask me a question about it?"

"Yes, you are," Dumbledore answered shortly. "Should an answer be unavoidable, you may tell them what you like. But whatever you tell them, you must stick to it thereafter. Understood?" They nodded. "Wonderful! You will kindly take your seats, then, and I shall meet you shortly," he finished, waving them away.

"Great," Draco moaned as they made their way to the Gryffindor table. "First it's Weasley and Granger, then the fucking giant. It's gonna be a wonderful evening, I'm sure."

"Shut up," Harry said irritably. "I'm not looking forward to this any more than you are."

No sooner had they taken their seats at the end of the table closest to the doors did the rest of the students in the second year and above file into the hall. Of course, Draco's robe caught their eyes, and they all turned for a look. Most of the Hufflepuffs whispered amongst themselves, the Ravenclaws glared and one of them shouted, "Traitor!" at Harry. He sneered and continued watching the door for Ron and Hermione. The Slytherins said nothing. Not a single one of them paid any attention to Draco, though they all noted his presence. Pansy looked almost hysterical, but whether from disappointment or hostility, no one could really tell. Blaise kept to himself, as usual, and Crabbe and Goyle pretended like Draco wasn't there. The Gryffindors said nothing for the most part, but a few did make remarks to each other. Dennis Creevy laughed to one girl that he was walking beside. "Is that a woman's robe he's wearing?" he asked the girl. They laughed and continued on their way. Draco stared at his plate.

"Hiya, Harry!" Ron yelled as he approached the table with Hermione and Ginny following along behind him. Upon actually noticing Draco, he frowned. "Uh, hi, Malfoy," he said through clenched teeth as he took a seat between his two best friends. Neither Hermione, Ginny, nor Harry acknowledged him otherwise.

Draco nodded and continued to stare at his empty plate. He unconsciously moved just the slightest bit closer to Harry when Colin Creevy took a seat opposite him and began looking him over as though he was some intriguing new creature Hagrid had allowed into the school.

"Malfoy," Colin greeted him. "All right?"

"Fine, thank you," he whispered, keeping his eyes glued to his plate.

"Have a nice summer?" the younger boy asked jovially.

"Fine," he replied, still staring.

"Oh!" Colin said suddenly. "Sorting's starting," he told the other boy.

Draco nodded and he listened silently without looking up as the forty-three new students were sorted into their respective houses. Once again, he moved closer to Harry when a girl with curly blonde hair had taken a seat beside him. She was fidgeting nervously and kept glancing up at the silent boy beside her as though waiting for him to acknowledge her.

"Hi," she finally said once the ceremony had ended and the food had appeared on the t. Dr. Draco ignored her, so she repeated herself. "Hi," she said a bit more forcefully as she leaned in toward him. Colin was watching very interestedly.

"Hi," he answered without looking at her.

"Hi, I'm Sue," she said, smiling. "What's your name?"

Draco ignored her.

"Draco isn't feeling like talking tonight," Colin said to the little girl. Draco looked up at him, startled. Colin winked at him. "Seems his holiday wore him out."

"Oh," she said, picking at her chicken leg and looking thoroughly dejected. "What'd you do?" she asked.

Draco sighed. This girl was clearly not going to let up on getting his attention, so he finally decided just to give in. "Stayed with my aunt," he replied. "She has a farm." Though this clearly wasn't true, he didn't think that explaining a life-bond between himself and Harry Potter would be a wise thing to do.

"Really?" the little girl gushed. "What was it like?"

Harry, at this point, had started listening to this tale. He was reminded of the earlier conversation they'd had when Draco had referenced his stay outside of Hogwarts, but hadn't said anything else about it. He hoped that he could get the story out of him that way so that he wouldn't have to show interest in the future.

"It wasn't bad," he started, trying to buy time to come up with answers to the inevitable barrage of questions he'd most likely be asked. "Mostly just feeding the animals and cooking and stuff."

"Cool! My family lives in Birmingham," she said. "We don't leave the suburbs much."

"You're from a Muggle family?" Colin asked, trying to turn her attention away from Draco.

The little girl was caught up with Colin, Harry had turned his attention back to Ron and Hermione, and Draco was left with his own thoughts. He was grateful to Colin for diverting the attention away from him, though he was rather confused as to why he did this. He and Colin had not spoken but a handful of words to one another in the four years they'd gone to school together so they didn't really know each other.

Dumbledore made his usual speech and Draco stood to leave, forgetting about Hagrid's request for tea. Harry stopped him by gently touching his arm. "Hagrid," he said, reminding Draco of their obligation.

"What about Hagrid?" Hermione asked as Draco sat back down.

"He asked us for tea," Harry explained.

"Great! Maybe he'll let us know what kind of horrors to expect this year," Ron laughed.

"Er Harry faltered. "Just us, actually. Sorry, Ron."

"Just you?" he asked stonily.

Handing him the note, Harry tried to explain. "I'm sorry. I don't know what he wants. I'm sure it's just this time, though," he tried to assure his best friend.

"All right," Ron reluctantly consented after having read the note. "See you later, right?"

"Right," Harry said, grinning. "We'll see you later. Bye, Hermione."

"Bye."

He and Draco exited the hall with the rest of the students. Draco was practically walking on top of Harry; he was standing so close for fear of some sort of attack from the crowd surrounding him. They had made it to the doors leading outside and down to Hagrid's hut. Not a single word was spoken between them until Harry yelped as he felt a sharp pain in his foot.

"We're going to have to get you some shoes," he mumbled. "Are you okay?"

Draco nodded. They had reached the cabin on the edge of the forest, where Hagrid was already sitting outside with his pipe. "'Allo, Harry," Hagrid boomed. "Er Hi, Draco," he said to the other boy. Draco nodded again. "Sit down, sit down," he said, patting the ground beside him.

Once they were seated, Harry asked, "What's this all about, Hagrid?"

Clearing his throat, Hagrid began with, "Y'know, it's funny yeh should ask that question." He puffed at his pipe.

"You don't know what this about, either, do you?" Draco asked very quietly.

"Actuallyer no, An',&n'," Hagrid laughed nervously. Draco looked up and Hagrid winked at him. "All righ' well, Ah do koinda know. Ah should have done this a few days ago."

"Should have done what?" Harry asked.

"Ah wan' yeh teh listen to meh, because et's important that yeh do. Ah saw how they treated yeh both at dinner tonoit and Ah didna loik et. Ah also didna loik how yeh treated each other," Hagrid said very seriously. Harry and Draco both fidgeted. "Ah understand that this situation isn't makin' oither of yeh very happy, and Ah can' say Ah blame yeh. But yeh're gonna hafta make et work better than that ef oither of yeh hope teh make et any better."

"Stop, Hagrid," Harry said. "We don't need a lecture on the importance of-"

"Clearly yeh do, Harry. Ef yeh didna need et, yeh wouldn'ta behaved loik yeh ded."

"Behaved like what?" Harry shouted, jumping up. "You heard them. They called me a traitor!"

"Ah know they ded, Ah was there," Hagrid reminded him. "And they called him some pretty mean things, too. Or didn' yeh notice?" Harry sat back down and continued fidgeting. "Thas what Ah thought. Yeh're not wee bitties anymore, yeh know, and yeh should stop behavin' loik yeh are. Yeh're bein' a damn fool, Harry, an' yeh know et."

"What do you know?" he grumbled as he stood and began heading back for the castle.

Draco stood, but didn't follow. "Let 'im goo," Hagrid told him. "'E's not gooin' teh listen ta meh."

"He's not going to listen to anyone, you know," Draco said, once again sitting. "I tried, Hagrid. Really I did."

"Ah'm sure yeh ded. 'E's jus' got a lot on 'is moind."

"I've got a lot on my mind, too, but I'm not going out of my way to be an ass," he sighed, pulling at his hair. "He's so frustrating you don't know. How are we supposed to get through the rest of our lives if he's going to keep being a fucking child all the time?"

"And Ah suppose yeh've been a prince teh him, haven' yeh?" Hagrid said very sarcastically as he re-loaded his pipe.

"I've been good, thank you very much," Draco said defensively, hungrily watching the giant's pipe.

"Look, Draco-"

"Hagrid, stop and let me talk. Just for a minute. Please." The half-giant lit his pipe and nodded for Draco to continue. "Considering all that's happened, I think I've been trying to a p a pretty decent go of it and I'm getting kind of sick of catching all the hell for his stubbornness. You know everyone makes him out to be the most wonderful guy on the planet, but he's just an ass. You saw him and Weasley and Granger. Argue with me."

"Ah don' wanna argue wi' yeh, but Ah think Ah understand where yeh're comin' from. But yeh gotta understand that where yeh're comin' from is where 'e's comin' from, too. 'E's not had an easy loif, yeh noo."

"Yeah, I know. No parents, friends, family. Sounds really wretched," Draco grumbled.

"Do yeh noo aboot 'is family? Muggles, they are. Nasty ones, too. 'E slept in a cupboard under the stairs for the firs' ten years of 'is loif." Draco looked at the ground. "Didn' noo that, did yeh?"

"No, I didn't."

"Ah don' noo aboot yeh, but Ah do noo yehr faither, sos Ah can' imagine yeh've had a real easy go of it oither. 'E'll come aroond, Ah'm sure."

"That's it?" Draco sighed. "All you can say is 'he'll come around'? What am I supposed to do in the meantime?"

"Ah don' noo. What've yeh ben doin'?" Hagrid asked, genuinely curious.

"Homework. And that's all fine and good, but it'll have to run out eventually." Once again, he pulled at his hair. "I'm just so frustrated. I don't know what the hell else to do. You know, I know he's got problems; we all do. But how come he's got to make it out like he's got it worse than everyone else? How come he's got to make it out like I'm the bad guy all the time? Before you say it, I know I'm an asshole, and I won't deny it. But this goes above and beyond."

"What do yeh wan' meh teh say? Ah lovery vry very much, yeh noo, an' Ah feel miserable that 'e's havin' such a rough toim o' things. But Ah'm mad at 'im, too. Ah agree wi' a lot o' what yeh're sayin', really Ah do. Ach, Ah don' noo, Draco. Ah guess Ah should have jus' left it aloone." He looked angry with himself. "Never moind."

"No, Hagrid, it's okay," Draco sighed. "There's nothing anyone can do, so I should just learn to live with it. Thanks anyway," he said as he stood. "See you around, I suppose."

"Draco? Er ef yeh should feel the need teh talk or summat Maybe jus' get away, yeh noo where Ah'm at," he said, trying to sound kind.

Draco half-smiled. "Thanks. See ya' in class, huh?"

"Can Ah ask yeh summat?" Draco shrugged. "Why aren't yeh tryin' teh argue wi' meh?"

"What's the point?" Draco asked very simply. "I've got no reason to be a prig like that when you're just trying to help."

Hagrid nearly went into cardiac arrest. He choked on the smoke he was attempting to exhale, throwing himself into a fit of coughs. Draco suddenly looked very worrind pnd patted the half-giant on his back until he calmed down.

"Sorry," he gasped hoarsely.

"Geeze, if I knew that was going to happen, I would have told you someone paid me off," Draco said. "You all right?"

"Yeah. Lets get yeh back up ter the castle," Hagrid coughed. He threw his pipe on his doorstep so hard that the bowl broke off. "Serves yeh roit," he gasped at the pipe. "Shouldn'ta ever picked et oup. Nasty habit, that."

"Bet you a thousand galleons you pick it up again before morning," Draco said.

Hagrid narrowed his eyes at the boy. "What do yeh noo aboot et?"

"I know that every time I said that, I did pick it up again," he explained very simply.

"Yeh're a bit young fer that, aren't yeh? Not even of legal age yet."

"Yeah, well

"Aye. Ah will agree wi' that logec," Hagrid said, half-smiling. "And Ah won' take yeh up on yer bet."

Draco grinned. "That's 'cause you know I'm right."

*****

At the front doors, Hagrid left Draco to find his own way back to his bedroom. Draco for his part felt that it wasn't a bad meeting, even if they hadn't gotten around to actually having tea. And the fact that Harry had walked away from him didn't please him all that much, either. Draco was lost once more in his thoughts and his anger at Harry when he heard a voice shout, "Hey! Wait up!" He turned to find that Colin Creevy was running up to him and waving one hand in the air.

When he'd reached the place that Draco had stopped at, Colin grinned. "Hiya!"

"Hi," Draco replied in a monotone.

"Where ya headed to?" Colin asked.

"Bed."

"Oh." Colin seemed to be getting nervous but was obviously not wanting to let Draco go that easily. "Mind if I walk wiv ya'?"

Draco shrugged and turned without waiting for the other boy. He continued toward the stairs that led to the upper floors. Colin quickly caught him and fell into place beside him.

"Sohavin' nuffin to do. Holiday was kinda really fuckin' dull, ya know?" he laughed nervously. "I got some good pictures from Dover, ough. Least, I fink dey're good. I wanna develop 'em tomorrow. I hope Snape'll be around. I kinda like Snape, trufe be known. E's not bad once ya' get 'im to quit being such a git. Really, I jus' fink he likes it when someone shows interest in 'im. You ever take pictures?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Draco stopped and stared at his companion. "Don't you have someone else to harass?" he said as he continued walking.

"No. And you're really ungrateful, ya' know vat? I fought you'd at least like someone to talk to ya', seeins how Harry-"

Draco rounded on Colin but his voice was serenely calm. "Seeing as how Harry what?" he demanded.

Without missing a beat or even flinching, Colin replied, "Seeing as how Harry ignored you. Am I wrong in assuming it was him you was sittin' wif?"

"No, that is not a wrong assumption, but it is wrong to assume that I would have wanted it any other way," Draco ground out as he glared at the Gryffindor. He couldn't believe he'd actually had the bollocks to mention Harry's name in his presence when he was still so angry at him. The fact that Colin was unaware of this didn't seem to be a very vi exc excuse so far as Draco was concerned.

"You don't haffa be an arse, you know. I was just tryin' to show some interest in ya' since no one else was. But have it your way." He turned away and managed to get a few steps in before Draco stopped him.

"I'm sorry," he said in the same monotone he'd spoken in since meeting Harry a few days earlier.

"As well ya' should be," Colin smiled, turning around to join Draco again. "No hard feeliugh,ugh, right? Right. So you wanna help me develop my film?"

Draco looked suspiciously at the other boy. "Why?" he asked without stopping to think about it.

"Because it's a pain in my arse to do it alone," he replied with a laugh. "You ever roll film?"

"Roll film?"

"You gotta coil it around this little contraption sosat it's not touchin' itself. If it touches itself, it'll stain an' ruin your pictures," he explained. "It's not hard once you get a bit of practice in."

Draco stopped outside the portrait that had been placed over the door to his room. Sir Cadogan waved his sword at Colin. "Well, good night, then," Draco said, turning to the picture.

"See ya' tomorrow, right? Affer class tomorrow, right? I'll meet ya'!" Colin beamed as he talked to Draco.

"Yeah, all right," he conceded.

"Great! Good night, ven!" He waved as he walked down the corridor to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"I wonder if he can use more v's and f's when he talks," Draco muttered sarcastically to Colin's retreating back. He turned to Sir Cadogan and said, "Beetle brains."

"I will thank you not to call me that again, Good Sir," Cadogan said as he placed his hands on his hips.

"It's the password," Draco scowled at the tiny knight.

"Oh! Of course it is! Cheerio!" he said as he swung aside.

Draco had not been in the room but fifteen seconds when he heard cursing coming from just outside the door. He pushed the door open to find Harry, red-faced and scowling, standing outside.

"Ha!" he yelled at the portrait.

"What's going on out here?" Draco asked.

"Scurvy knave!" Sir Cadogan shouted. "Think insults are going to get you inside, do you? Scoundrel!"

"Stupid bastard!" Harry exclaimed. "You could at least remember your own damned passwords!"

"Sod yourself, you filthy coward!" Cadogan retorted as Draco dragged Harry inside.

"Bloody arse! What is the password?" Harry asked.

"Beetle brains."

"Oh," he groaned.

"What did you think it was?"

"I couldn't remember and I thought it was something like 'bug dung' or something," he said.

Draco half-smiled. "Well, you weren't too far off, anyway."

"Yeah, but I don't think he'll be too keen on letting me back in ever again. Of all the fucking portraits they could have picked to guard the door they had to pick the worst psychopath in the whole of the wizarding world!"

"It could be a portrait of Voldemort," Draco offered. "He's a worse psychopath than that silly, little knight."

"Point taken. But you know what I meant. So what did Colin want?"

"He wants help developing his pictures," Draco replied.

"Oh," Harry laughed. "So that's what they're calling it these days."

"Potter, what-? Oh, fuck you! Honestly!" he exclaimed as he pinched his own arm.

Harry continued to laugh. "Hey, I was kind of excited. I thought maybe we'd finally get some."

"Does it hurt?"

"Does what hurt?"

"Being so fucking dense."

Harry ignored him and went about picking clean clothes out of his dresser.

"Why'd you walk away, Potter?" Draco finally asked

"I would think that you of all people wouldn't have to ask that question," Harry said, monotone.

"You were being a jerk, you know," Draco said rather quietly.

"You're one to talk."

"Hey, I didn't ignore you and spend the whole of dinner bullshitting with my friends and pretending you weren't there," he snapped. "And I didn't get up and walk away when Hagrid pointed out that what I did probably wasn't the best course of action."

"And that makes you so much better than me, doesn't it?" Harry sneered. "You're so valiant for staying to listen to Hagrid talk about things he knows nothing about. How wonderful of you to have kept silent at dinner. Thank you so much for making an effort at communication."

"Don't play that with me, Potter. Don't. I've tried."

"Oh! Of course! How silly of me to forget," Harry said very sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "First it was on the train in first year, if you can call that communicating. Then I suppose you'd like to believe that pushing me off you was another attempt, wasn't it? And at the end of the list we've got your very sensitive question: 'Why are you such a jerk, Potter?'"

"No, I asked why you walked away. I pointed out that you were being a jerk, but I didn't do it to piss you off," he yelled.

"Then why did you?"

"I just wanted to make sure I was using small enough words to make you understand."

"You're really doing wonders for your cause, you know."

Throwing his arms in the air, Draco sighed, "Fine. I give up. You're right and I'm wrong. You're the best and I'm shit. You're the nicest guy in the world and I'm the devil incarnate. Is that better?" he finished, turning away from his seething roommate.

"That is so like you, Malfoy. Blow everything out of proportion," Harry said as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Good night, Potter," he replied, climbing into his bed and closing the curtains behind him. "And thanks for the robe."

Harry laughed humourlessly. "You are the most impossible git on the planet."

"Thank you for the lovely compliment. It's the nicest you've given me yet."

"Just you wait," Harry mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing," he replied in a sing-song voice. He grinned and pinched his arm.

"What was that for?" Draco asked.

"Because I can," he replied airily.

"Fuckin' child," Draco laughed. "Good night, Potter."

*****

"That wasn't so bad," Harry said upon entering the shared quarters behind Draco.

"Speak for yourself," Draco said angrily.

"What?" Harry asked, though he already knew. Not he nor anyone else had given Draco so much as the time all day long. The classes they'd shared with the Slytherins had been some of the worst. They taunted Draco with the passion they used to reserve only for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They had actually left them alone in light of Draco's presence at his side and those taunts had obviously taken their toll. Not to mention the way he had been picked on in every class they'd had that day despite his silence and the fact that he now wore the robe Harry had given him.

"I am going to ignore that question because not even you could possibly be so fucking dense," Draco hissed. He threw his books on the table at the back of the room and sat down in one of the chairs. He had just sat down with his history book when cursing came from just outside the door.

"Oh, allow me," Harry sneered when Draco didn't react. He opened the door and Colin practically fell inside.

"I'm goina killat fuckin' Cadogan," he said, drawing Draco's attention from his homework. "Rude little bugger shouldn't be allowed to- Oh, hi, Draco. Ready?"

Draco stared at him blankly for a moment as though he wasn't really sure what the other boy was doing there. "You going to be here?" he asked Harry, who nodded. "Guess I'll see you in a bit, then," he said as he walked to where Colin stood by the door.

As soon as the door was shut, they heard Sir Cadogan shout, "Bloody savage! Don't tell me you associate with this brute!"

Draco turned to the mouthy portrait and narrowed his eyes. "So I'm a bloody savage am I?"

"No, Good Sir, no!" he replied, falling on one knee. "'Tis your companion, Good Sir, that tried to brutalise me into allowing him inside!"

"Brutalised my arse!" Colin replied. "I asked if you could notify someonenat I was here!"

"Yes, right after you threatened to run me through with my own sword!" the portrait defended himself.

"Only because you tried to stab me wiv it!"

"So, where are we going?" Draco asked irritably.

"Right," Colin said, turning away from the portrait who was continuing to throw insults at him. "Dungeons. Snape's got a photo lab across from his office. It's really well equipped; you could do anyfing to a picture at you want to. Me dad was really proud of me pictures. He said I could make it as a professional someday," he beamed. "I don't know, ough. I wonder how much a photographer can make inna wizarding world. I don't fink I'd work for Muggles, you know. What do you want to do when you graduate?"

"Wank," he replied. He wasn't paying much attention to Colin's rambling and was still in a foul mood.

"God, Draco, if you're not doinat yet, vere's no hope for you," he laughed. "And I don't really see vat as much of a

"Bad day," he answered shortly.

"Ven I guess we'll just have to turn vat around, won't we? Don't let stupid people bover you, it's not worf it."

"What do you know?" he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Not much. So what's your story? What're you doin' wiv Harry?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"Sleeping with him," he snapped.

"Sosat's why you're pissed, is it? What's wrong wiv Harry?"

"God, where do I start?"

"All right already. I'm not trying to pry, you know, but you're eiver going to have to deal or get out of it. An' I'm guessinat last bit isn't possible, is it?"

"No, it isn't."

"So deal. What's so bad about 'im?"

"What's so bad about him?" he screamed. "Are you serious? Aside from the fact that he's the most selfish fucking prick I've ever met in my life, he's an asshole to boot! All fucking day he just sat there, pretending like I wasn't. Fuck! Potions was hell! All fucking class period, everyone was throwing their ingredients and shit at me and what did he do? NOTHING! He didn't do shit. I might as well not even exist. I mean, I'm not asking for him to be some knight in shining armour or some other such shite, but he could at least acknowledge me. He didn't say a single fucking word to me until five minutes before you showed up. I followed behind him and his stupid fucking duo all sodding day. And those two! They can glare at me and spit at me, but do you think they looked at me sideways when I was getting harassed? Not a chance in hell. And what did he do? Nothing! What's so bad about him? Honestly!" He tore at his hair then sighed in exasperation. "And there's nothing I can do about it."

Now it was Colin's turn to sigh. "Sere's probly nuffin I can do to make ya' feel any better, isair?"

"No."

"You don't have to come wif me if ya' don't want to," he said. "I'd raver ya' weren't miserable, is all."

"Thanks," Draco sighed. "So why are you concerned?"

"Why isn't everyone else is what I want to know," Colin replied with a frown. "I mean, it's all fine and good for you to be wiv Harry since you obviously know what's goin' on, but fora rest of us it's kinda weird, you know? You're not hangin' wif the Slyverins ya'- and you're sittin' at da Gryffindor table; vat shite's kinda strange, ya've got ta admit. I'm not goina pry; if ya' wanna tell me somefin, you will, I'm sure. I don't know, I guess I figured ya' might want some company or somefin. You've been kinda frown into a situation ya're not real familiar wif, apparently."

"Yeah, you could certainly say it like that."

"So I'm just doin' my part as a decent citizen and makin' sure you're taken care of," Colin finished, grinning.

"I see." Though he really he didn't.

"I mean, if ya really don't want to do vis, ya really don't have to," he added as an afterthought.

"No, I want to," Draco said quickly. "Spending too much time with Potter can't be too good for a person, can it?"

Colin sniggered but kept his voice neutral. "Couldn't say, meself. Never spent much time wiv 'im."

"Look at Weasley and Granger," Draco continued, sniggering himself. "That doesn't happen without outside influences."

They had by this time reached the dungeons and Colin led the way into the main of the school darkroom. On the ceiling there hung covered lanterns that immediately sprung to life when the door opened. The wall to their left was lined with countertops that held various bottles, jars, trays, stacks of newspaper, and other various tools and paraphernalia. On their right was a wall lined with sinks and directly across from them was a rotating door that looked almost perfectly cylindrical. The room smelled of strange chemicals like nothing else Draco had ever experienced and it did give him some measure of thrill when he decided that he would learn what everything in that room was and what it was used for. Colin beamed with pride as he watched Draco look around with interest.

"I can't believe I've never been in here before," Draco said quietly. "I thought I'd seen everything in the dungeons."

"Only when ya paid attention," Colin replied. "I doubt you'd have paid vis much attention if you'd stumbled upon it." Draco didn't reply. "Right. Shall we get started, ven?" He then crossed to the countered side of the room and pulled a box from one of the shelves. He pulled out a roll of film and a silvery metal coil and patiently waited for Draco to join him.

"I thought you said we had to do this in the dark," he said, suspiciously eyeing the items in his companion's hands.

"To dosa real fing, yeah. But you should practice first. It's not as easy as it looks. You just slip the film froughsis clip and wind it sosat it's not touchin' itself." He demonstrated and handed it to Draco. "Once ya've got it wif your eyes open, try it wif your eyes closed. I'll be inair," he said, gesturing at the other door.

Draco nodded and Colin disappeared through the revolving door. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad day when all was said and done, he thought.