'SECTUMSEMPRA!', I shout, my wand slashing downwards. Rivulets of blood start cascading down his chest instantly, and I immediately realise what I've done. 'HELP!' I scream, running to the blonde boy as he falls to the floor. 'SOMEBODY HELP!'

The door creaks open as a familiar man runs in. It's Dumbledore, robes flapping as he dashes towards us. 'Harry,' he says quietly, then continues; 'this is of vital importance, you must hold his head at the right angle as I...that's it, a little higher, good lad. Now...' he begins chanting in a low tone, the words barely legible as blood siphons from the damp floor and into his wand. Once all the blood is gone he touches the wand to Draco's chest through Draco's shirt, and the wounds take it in instantly, starting to heal. The bloodflow from the wand stops, the once-deep gashes reduced to angry red lines in Draco's skin. 'Expecto Patronum.' whispers Dumbledore. A phoenix erupts from his wand, the blue Patronus unusually tainted with dark strands of poison much like his hand. 'Go to Madam Pomfrey,' he says. 'Get her to collect this boy at once!' The phoenix Patronus keens as it flies through the doorway. Dumbledore grabs me by the arm gruffly and hauls me to my feet. He twists sideways, and I feel as if I'm being squeezed down a dark pipe, blind and constricted on all sides.

I land in the chair on one side of Dumbledore's desk, and he stands opposite me. He's staring at me, his eyes hard and cold. 'Accio es causta,' he mutters. He sits as a book flies through his open window. As it lands on the desk I gasp silently. It's my Potions book, and the pages flip at a flick of Dumbledore's wand. He frowns as he quickly reads the notes of the Prince in the margins. He reaches the page with Sectumsempra written in the margin. 'For enemies.' He says, looking at the book. 'For enemies?' he asks, and the disappointment in his voice cuts through my conscience like a knife. 'What enemies, Harry? What enemies in this school do you have in this school that you would hate this much? Why on Earth would you ever resort to such methods?'

'B-but Sir, Professor, I didn't know-'

'Didn't know what it did? But that's not my point, Harry! You see poor Draco Malfoy as an enemy! You have many more enemies in the world, The Death Eaters, Lord Voldemort, even Dolores Umbridge. A sixteen year old boy for whom you hold a schoolboy grudge is not your enemy!' I feel the hot rush of shame in my cheeks at his words and I look down. Is Draco Malfoy really worth worrying about?

Moments pass in silence, as I'm too ashamed to speak and Dumbledore smiles slightly, knowing his message has gone in. The silence is interrupted by Snape barging through the door. My heart sinks. 'This stupid boy has gone and put one of my students in the hospital wing, whilst you, Headmaster, sit here, not a care in the world. You, Albus, are getting more lax and complacent with the behaviour of your favourite student with each passing day! What example are you setting to your students? Why does Potter get preferential treatment?' He finishes his rant, seething and white.

'Severus, I only favour Harry as much as you favour Draco,' Snape tries to intercede but Dumbledore continues; 'However, I have taken your concern into account. I have devised a suitable punishment for Harry, one that I hope will both teach him and Master Malfoy a lesson, as well as to stop the age old feud between Hogwarts houses. I propose that both Draco and Harry share a dormitory for the rest of this year and the next, in the hope that they come to realise that the differences that separate them are not nearly as great as the similarities that bind them together.