His eyes fluttered slowly and briefly as he tried escaping the last remnants of his disturbing dream. He wasn't in his usual place this time although he had known the new settings felt awfully familiar. But it was darker, colder, and the skies were violent. The field around his ankles was scorched, and instead of warm hues of the sun's rays, the skies wept dry grayish flakes. Ashes began collecting at the charred remains of grass and flora.

No, he didn't want to stay here long to find out what happened.

And where was the dragon…?

Emerald eyes fluttered for a final time then fully awakened. The skies outside were shown lifeless and snow gathered at the tower's windows. He smiled sleepily, at least he was warm in his bed. Warm and undisturbed, he felt way too comfortable to leave bed today. Too comfortable to notice that he wasn't alone in bed…

He focused his eyes better, and followed the length of this peculiar third arm that settled as light as a feather around his waist. He swallowed hard, his throat dry and stiff from sleep.

And he dared to turn over slowly…

…only to find him…

…there next to him…

…in his bed…

…in his dorm…

Harry's eyes had widened horrifically.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH"

"Mmm? What the…"

"AAAHHHHH"

"AAAHHHH"

"MALFOY?!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?"

"Good question…" Draco wondered briefly, then it dawned on him. "…oh yeah…"

"GET OUT"

"Why? I was comfortable…"

"DO YOU NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE?? ARE YOU MAD??"

Before the dazed Draco was able to open his mouth again, the sound of hurried footsteps sounded on the thick concreted stairs leading up the Gryffindor towers. Moments later, McGonagall's worried voice sounded behind the door as she began to pound on it.

"Harry? Harry are you alright?"

"Damn! Its McGonagall" Harry whispered frantically as Draco fumbled to get out of bed to hide only to get caught in the sheets.

"Quick, hide…"

"Potter? Open the door! Harry??"

"Where?"

"Anywhere…" then Harry's eye caught the shimmering fabric of his precious cloak that peeked just out of his trunk. He grabbed it and quickly threw it over the other boy, just in time for the Transfigurations professor to use a spell to blast open the door.

"Potter! Thank Heavens, I heard shouting…" Harry licked his lips as he stammered a little. Looking back at where Draco was bunched up with the cloak concealing him.

And still entangled in the bed sheets…

"Um my apologies Professor…I, um, I had a nightmare…" he said childishly, praying that his little act would play her off. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"A nightmare Mr. Potter? You know, that is not uncommon with you young man" she breathed.

"Did you…want to discuss anything ?" he shook his head almost too quickly.

"No no its quite alright, its like you said, I have them all the time…" she watched him with pursed lips for a moment then sighed as she sat at the edge of his bed. Harry mentally groaned at this. Not only was he not in the mood for one of her concerned talks with him, but there was also a certain trespasser he was hoping to get rid of before he was discovered.

"Harry…we understand the rough times the school and the wizarding community are both going through but…we just want you to know that you mustn't place such burdens on your shoulders more than you have to and alone. I mean you have enough to worry about as it is…" she had no idea. As much as Harry felt her as a mother to him and almost died from wanting to tell her everything he felt but didn't, he didn't think that he'd ever let her know anything. He was fine on his own, and was able to figure things out alone too. There was no way he was going to break in front of the likes of her, and especially when Draco was only a few feet away.

He was Harry Potter…

He had no weaknesses, and certainly didn't want any pity or sympathy. It was his life, his destiny. If it was burdened on him then he was going to have to put up with it.

"It was only a silly dream Professor, nothing more. Hardly even threatening"

"Yes but considering what you must be going through surely--"

"Surely nothing Professor!" and Draco under the cloak had jerked at Harry's sudden reaction towards the Headmistress. Harry's tone of voice didn't sound as though he'd rush her out of the dormitory, but as though the boy was hiding something…and it wasn't Draco. Professor McGonagall had almost touched something very sensitive, and Draco had known from what Harry told him as the dragon. Feelings maybe…he doesn't want to tell them what he felt about his destiny with Voldemort.

Draco watched him through the cloak now. Harry's face had become hard. McGonagall was worried yet shown a stern face as well.

"I'm fine Professor…I am" her eyes never left his for a long moment then finally sighed sounding somewhat convinced. Draco let out a silent sigh himself thankfully. She got up and but regarded Harry one last time.

"Very well then Mr. Potter, but do know, if there was anything you wish to talk about, anything at all…" he nodded his head, locked eyes for a moment again then turned on her heels with a sway of her morning robes. Just as he was sure she had descended the stairs, he sighed out loud and flopped back on his bed.

Draco slowly came out of his hiding spot and pulled off the cloak, making his hair stand out from the static of the fabric. He sat at the end of Harry's bed slowly with the cloak still in hand, staring at it in deep thought.

"That was close…how did you get in here anyway?" Draco shrugged carelessly.

"I flew" he said sarcastically. Little did Harry know, it wasn't a lie at all.

"Mind if I asked you something?" Harry shrugged as well. Draco then let out a sigh.

"I know this is something un-Gryffindor like, but we're still human regardless of our House status…" Harry was shocked to hear this coming from a Slytherin, but he just snickered anyway and let Draco finish.

"…what is it Harry? What's the one thing that'll make you break? I mean…what does it take for you to, you know, lose your ground sort of speak" both boys then sat in silence, while Harry contemplated the question, Draco wondered whether he was going to get the same reaction as his dragon self did. It seemed as though the dragon was the only one that truly knew the weaker side of the boy wonder.

Then finally after a long silence, Draco's eyes were on the other boy again. Watching for any kinds of changes or reactions, but nothing was shown. Harry laid there as still as the dead, with his eyes fixed anywhere but onto Draco.

"Harry?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean Draco…" Draco stared into his lap. It seemed as though he would only open up to his dragon self after all.

This was going to be hard…and Draco had come to fear, more and more, the day that Harry finds out about his Dragon form. The more Harry became closer to the dragon the more he was able to see deception somehow in Harry's eyes.

Harry then let out a sigh again and laid on his side. Draco just watched him from his side.

"Can I ask you something now Draco?"

"Sure…"

"Why are you doing this?" Draco leaned back against one arm.

"Doing what?"

"This…I mean is it because everyone is out for the holidays, and when they come back it'll be over and we go back to the way we were before? What do you want from me Draco…" the other boy looks away from Harry, but mutters:

"Just one thing Harry, just one thing" Harry laughs a little and curls up into a fetal like position.

"What's that ?" Draco didn't answer. Because truthfully, it wasn't just one thing. But Draco knew if wanted to win the heart of the boy wonder then the only thing he truly needed from the boy was his…

"Trust in me" Harry laughed again and buried half his face in the pillow. Who was he fooling? Trust in the boy? A Slytherin? Harry wasn't a genius like Hermone, but he knew better than to trust in someone like Malfoy even when the boy had asked him too. But for the longest time Draco had said nothing else and Harry was just laughing to himself. Maybe Draco was being foolish enough to ask for this. But he wanted to show the other boy that he wasn't the same anymore.

Harry turned his head slightly to watch the other boy, Draco was still gazing off into space.

"Seriously Draco…what's the matter with you? You haven't been acting normal…" still no response from the other boy. He was deep in thought. Then Harry turned over completely on his back, just watching the other boy curiously. This had finally caught the blonde's attention. Their eyes had locked and Harry's brows furrowed together.

He studied the situation now and it just finally dawned on him. Draco was in his room. He had most likely been there the entire night. Harry knows this because he had woken up to find him there. He could've done something to Harry during the night. Poisoned him…or even strangled him. Or heck, even used a deadly curse on him as he slept peacefully. Harry always knew that if he weren't to die by the hands of the Dark Lord, then it would be from at least one of the Malfoys, father or son.

And here was Draco, and nothing had happened.

Then it was Draco's turn to furrow his brows, he was watching Harry as the other boy sat up to examine himself. Harry didn't feel any differently, no affects of poison or anything. No signs of a slow death either.

Or perhaps not yet…

A look of panic suddenly flourished across Harry's face, and Draco regarded him with concern.

"Am I dying? What did you do to me?" Harry breathed. Cursing himself for being so careless around Draco. Draco's face twisted up in insult.

"What? I didn't do anything to you!"

"Then why are you here?"

"I found you out in the freezing cold, you could've froze to death you moron!"

"Then why spend the night with me? Why stay here in this dorm?"

"Because you needed to be warm and couldn't do that on your own,"

"Bullshit!"

"I swear it! Body heat, Potter. My body heat saved you from freezing to death. I made sure I stayed to know that you were warm and haven't gone into shock or something" Harry was blinking in confusion now. He did remember being outside in the snow without proper attire. But he didn't remember how he got back inside. He certainly didn't want to question why Draco was outside because then that would've led to questioning his own whereabouts as well.

And he certainly did not want a single soul to know about his precious dragon.

"I passed out from the cold…and you helped me" Draco's face had relaxed and he nodded his head. Harry dropped back onto his pillow with a sigh.

"I passed out?" Draco then propped an arm next to him to lean over Harry very closely.

"You helped me…so it was only fair" he muttered, which made Harry shake his head in amusement.

"So that's what all this is about, just because I helped you?" Draco shrugged, then smiled.

"Something like that…" Harry laughed to himself. But Draco's piercing eyes caught Harry's own and trailed a finger across Harry's collar bone.

"I like this 'I got your back and you got mine' thing, much better than us fighting don't you think" Harry smiled while playfully swatting away the other boy's finger.

"No…that just makes us even now…I think" Draco smiled gleefully, because he knew Harry didn't really mean that. He knew that it wasn't about being even or not, but about perhaps earning he other's trust slowly or maybe just partnership.

An alliance between the two of some sort even.

Then Draco's smile fades away and turns rigid again.

"All I ask for is your trust in me Harry, I'm not like all the others you know me better than anyone else"

"I know Draco and that's why I'm having a hard time with this. Its great that I have your, erm, respect or whatnot but, Draco you've got DeathEater blood in you. How do I know you won't use my faith in you against me someday? And I know you will have to Draco…" Draco sighed then looked away.

"I know, there's no denying what my father was…" he muttered in complete distaste. Harry was able to see the conflict of his father's past in his stormy eyes, but all he was able to do was tuck his curtain of blonde hair behind his ear. It felt so nice between his fingers. He never thought any guy's hair could ever feel like that, so soft and silky.

"I never wished to become your enemy Draco, even back then…on our first train ride, but I thought…its what you wanted, what you've decided…" then Draco collapsed and buried his face into Harry's shoulder with a groan at the memory of their first year.

"Don't remind me of that! Its what started it all…" he whined but Harry was too speechless to say anything. He was completely shocked, almost appalled to have Draco do this. But his weight was comforting against him, almost…intimate somehow. Such a feeling that he had never felt before. And Draco didn't intend for this, it was a spur of the moment kind of thing.

Well…sort of.

He just wanted Harry to feel close to him as he had felt towards Harry. That he was comfortable with the other boy no matter what they felt towards each other. And Harry strangely didn't mind, he liked this feeling. It was nice and felt strangely secure considering that it was Draco.

A Malfoy

The Slytherin Prince…

Oh well…

What matters is that it felt good, and that Harry didn't want to let go just yet. He had never held anyone before, not like this. So he wanted to savor this moment.

It was overwhelming….

Exciting, overwhelming…he had wanted this for the longest time. To hold anyone as he cried, as he spilled his darkest secrets.

The dragon…the dragon felt like this.

Oh no…it was those feelings again. His dark past catching up to him, making him want to cry again.

No he wont do it here…not now, not in front of Draco.

Never in front of Draco…

But he was feeling scared again, and lonely…

Sadness…

Its what happens when he gets to close to someone, then they end up getting taken away.

Just like Remus…

Sirius…

Death. No… no more tears

Draco will be taken away too.

No more tears…

No more tears!

"Harry…you okay?" no answer, no sound. Only the feel of arms circling around the Slytherin's waist. Holding him closer, holding him tighter.

Something washed over Harry's heart. Fear, dread, anxiety… whatever it was, Draco had suddenly felt it in the other boy…

And he wasn't going to let go either.

"Its okay, just breathe Harry…just breathe"

It was so sickening.

Watching those two side by side, always together… always together. And what sickens him the most is that everyone has grown accustomed to this. Does anyone else NOT see that these two rivals have been inseparable for God only knows how long? This was wrong! They were supposed to be fighting… they're from two of the most opposing Houses on campus. Not to be misjudged though since there were students who were friends with members of different houses but…

A Gryffindor…

…and a Slytherin?

Since when?

Blaise let out a sad sigh as he watched his former Slytherin partner with dread and need at the same time. Could Harry be the reason why Draco had been ignoring him? To the point where they wouldn't even fool around anymore? And what did Harry have that Blaise didn't have. He surely had it all, or at least he thought he did.

But whatever it was, Draco had to come back to his senses and realize who he was becoming buddy buddies with. This was bad for his image. As a future DeathEater, Harry was going to be killed by Draco Malfoy's hand if not the Dark Lord himself.

The Dark Lord…

Yes of course!

The Dark Lord would know what to do. He would surely be able to bring Draco back to his senses and realize what Harry really was.

Then they can be together again.

Blaise smiled at the thought. Perhaps he will pay the Death Eaters a little visit. They usually assemble at a small town near Hogsmeade.

He would get to writing a letter at once.

---------------------------------------------------

A/N: my apologies folks, I will keep updating…and sooner hopefully --;