A/N: The second chapter is here! I'd like to thank those of you that reviewed or added this story, it really means a lot to me! And of course I'd like to thank my beta Kei Lawliet. :D

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. They all belong to JK Rowling. Grawr.

The rest of the train ride was uneventful for Harry. He sat slumped by himself in a compartment, not willing to face his friends.

He was watching the scenery going by without really seeing it; his mind was still going over what Draco had said.

Was it selfish of him to interfere with Draco's life?

Harry leaned against the window with a sigh and shut his eyes. He relished the cool sensation on his skin before falling into a restless sleep, again plagued by the nightmare that started this mess.

The Great Hall was loud and cheerful as Harry always remembered. Nervous first years huddled together in the front of the room, whispering amongst themselves. Returning students greeted old friends and struck up conversations.

Everything was warm and friendly and familiar, but Harry didn't feel right. He found himself searching through the crowd for a certain blond. Hermione and Ron had found Harry and were trailing after him. Hermione gave him one of her "we-are-going-to-talk-about-this-later-whether-you-like-it-or-not" looks. Harry swallowed thickly and nodded. Ron was already drooling about the feast to come, ignoring Harry's obvious discomfort.

The rest of the evening went as planned, though Professor McGonagall making all the announcements was quite unfamiliar. Ron wasn't disappointed when the feast appeared and he dug in quite literally.

Harry sat next to Hermione and ate slowly. He found that if he sat tall and stretched his neck, he could see Draco sitting all by himself at the Slytherin table.

Hermione elbowed him in the side before he had a chance to feel too bad for him.

"Ouch, what Hermione?"

Hermione had her arms crossed and her eyebrows rose as she looked between Harry and the Slytherin table. Harry sighed and went back to eating. She understood that he didn't want to discuss anything here, but Harry knew he'd have to talk about it at some point.

As if on instinct, Harry looked up and caught Draco leaving the Great Hall. His eyes lingered on the door, wondering where the blond had gone when Hermione cleared her throat. This was going to be a long discussion.

"You were practically drooling over him, Harry," Hermione stated with her arms crossed.

"I was not drooling over Malfoy! I- you don't understand!"

Harry plopped himself down in one of the couches in the quiet common room. The rest of the Gryffindors had yet to come from the feast.

"Then help us understand," she said, sitting down next to Harry. She gestured to a clueless Ron to do the same.

Harry sighed. "It's complicated. See, it started when I had this dream-"

"Bloody hell, Harry! Gross, this is Malfoy you're… dreaming about! I mean-"

"No, Ron, not that kind of dream," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "It was a nightmare, really. Draco killed himself right in front of me! And I, the dream me, didn't even try to save him." Harry paused and watched his friends' faces. "I've been having this dream almost every night. I know from experience that reoccurring dreams usually mean something. I just don't want that dream to come true."

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Hermione asked.

"Wait, what?" Harry's eyebrows shot up.

"What are you going to do about it? You said you don't want the dream to come true, so what are you going to do to help him?"

Harry frowned and looked down at his hands. "Erm, I don't know. I guess I just want to be there for him, just in case. I want to save him."

"You're saying you want to be friends with Malfoy?" Ron asked with wide eyes.

Harry hesitated. "I guess so, yeah. He doesn't have anyone, and he's not exactly popular now that the war is over and everyone knows what he's done. Besides, why not? We should get over this stupid rivalry somehow," he said, looking up at his friends.

Ron looked at him with raised eyebrows and his mouth hanging open.

"Harry, if it were me, I'd just leave him. He doesn't have any friends because he doesn't deserve them! Not to mention he's a complete twat. If you start following him around acting all friendly, he'll skin you alive! It's just weird!" Ron protested, throwing his hands in the air.

"I tried talking to him this morning and it didn't go so well, I guess. Then again, I knew this would take time. Even if you don't believe it, Ron, I think everyone deserves a friend. I think Malfoy deserves a second chance," Harry said with a firm nod.

Hermione smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't think we could discourage you even if we wanted to," she said with a strange twinkle in her eye.

Ron sighed and leaned back against the couch, letting the argument drop.

Harry raised an eyebrow, but Hermione giggled. "You can do it, Harry. I know you can. Now, get some rest, both of you."

Harry smiled at her motherly tone as he got up and climbed the stairs. Hermione was right – he could do this.

How hard could it be?