Chapter 5: Mental?

Malfoy and Harry stared at each other quietly. Malfoy was still too shocked to say much more and Harry was too embarrassed and nervous to say much either. Harry wanted to break the awkward silence but the question that came out of his mouth wasn't any better.

"Are you.....are you going to tell anyone?"

He asked it as if they were at the deathbed of somebody, with a slight tone of nervousness in his voice.

"No…..not yet, I now have leverage, I can blackmail you into doing anything I like," Malfoy said, trying to sound gleeful but was more confused than anything. They once again stood there. "We should get back to work," Harry said abruptly as he wanted to fill the silence. Malfoy went through the door, sat down, and busied himself with the potion. Harry came out a couple of minutes later, with his hair dried and fluffy. They both went back to doing the work. Harry was writing and Malfoy was brewing the potion. Harry finished up writing the essay and was getting tired as it was very late at night. As they sat on the little bench Harry slowly drifted off to sleep and laid his head on the essay. Meanwhile, Malfoys mind was racing, although at the time that everything was happening he didn't show Harry just how confused he was. Malfoy thought about what Harry had said as he stirred the potion clockwise and then counterclockwise. He wanted to know what was happening but didn't want Potter to flip out again. Malfoy turned to look at Harry, to find him in a deep sleep on the paper he was supposed to be writing. He was about to wake him up when he remembered their conversation by the lake. Potter clearly hasn't gotten a good night's rest in a while, so Malfoy let Harry sleep there for a while. However, an hour later Harry woke up thrashing and trying to attack something that wasn't there. His breathing was going alarmingly fast.

"Har…... Potter stop, you're going to rip up the paper," Malfoy said calmingly as he grabbed Harry's arm to stop him.

Harry paused, his breathing still heavy. Harry slowly started calming down as Malfoy just sat there holding his arm. Harry looked at Malfoy's hand on his arm and then looked up at Malfoy. Harry muttered something.

"Speak up Pottah!" Malfoy said as he let go of Harry's arm, realizing he was still holding it.

"I said thank you git!" Harry said a little louder this time. "Did you just thank me!" Malfoy said bewildered as he started chuckling.

"I guess I did, didn't I!' Harry said as he looked at Malfoy and started laughing.

When they both realized that they were laughing they stopped almost immediately. They once again sat in awkward silence, as Harry checked his watch.

"BLIMEY, it's 4:12 AM!!" Harry said with shock thinking it didn't feel like it had been that long.

Does that mean I was enjoying Malfoy's company!?!?!?! No time just went fast that's all! Harry thought as he was staring off into space.

"Pottah…. EARTH TO POTTAH'' Malfoy said as he shook Harry. Harry turned around and looked at Malfoy

"We should probably get going before it's the morning," Harry said in a desperate voice.

"Yeah for once in your life you're right Pottah.'' Malfoy sneered. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to get back to my dorm though, even though I'm a prefect I can't stay out this late!" Malfoy started worrying about this now. "I guess I could help with that Malfoy... I brought my invisibility cloak so hypothetically we could go down to the Slytherin dorms first and then I could go to the Gryffindor room, BUT you have to promise not to tell anyone about what happened today!". Malfoy thought for a moment on Harry's deal. Malfoy knew that he would be losing his blackmail rights, but then again he didn't need to keep the promise. "Fine, let's go then," Malfoy said as he cleaned up the potion stuff, except for the cauldron they had permission to leave there. Harry pulled out the invisibility cloak and said "This is going to be a little awkward but... you'll have to come here the cloak isn't very big so um…...yeah" Harry finished awkwardly. Malfoy scooted closer to Harry until their shoulders were touching. Harry threw the cloak over them and said, "we have to be very careful". Malfoy scowled and they slowly started walking through the hallway. Harry was very uncomfortable right next to Malfoy, he had never been this close to him. He could smell the 10 pounds of gel he used on his hair. Was the scent Peppermint? Harry thought while he and Malfoy kept quietly creeping along. They were almost to the Slytherin common room so they kept walking, accidentally hitting each other's shoulders as they did so. When they finally reached the door Malfoy got out from under the cloak. Then Harry appeared out of thin air it seemed. "Well, this is my stop Pottah, what a lovely ride it's been" Malfoy sneered quietly as he looked at Harry. "You're welcome Malfoy," Harry said as looked at his watch " Blimey, it's 4:30 now, I have to go!". Malfoy started to wave but when his hand was halfway up, he put it down. Harry just nodded his head and then disappeared as he went under his invisibility cloak. Harry slowly started walking towards the Gryffindor common room. He was mildly concerned that Malfoy wouldn't keep his promise. Now that he was thinking about it he was more than mildly concerned that Malfoy wouldn't keep his promise. Harry approached the Gryffindor common room with a glazed expression since he was thinking. He said "Periwinkle'' and stepped through the portrait hole. As he went in he heard Hermione saying "That's it he has been out too long, we should go find him!". Ron then argued "I bet Malfoy did something to him!". Harry pulled off the cloak. As they both turned around Harry came in "you guys didn't have to wait up for me!". Hermione ran over to him and gave him a hug. As she backed away she examined Harry's face. "Have you been crying?!". Harry's face whitened and he managed to stutter out "No I…. wasn't crying 'Mione, you know I don't cry!" Harry argued. Hermione looked doubtful and Ron simply looked confused as always. "I'm going to bed Harry!" Ron yelled as he headed up the staircase. "I think I'll join him," Harry said nervously as he started walking to the staircase. Hermione caught his arm. He responded "What is it with everyone holding my arm today?!" Hermione looked confused but plowed on with what she was meaning to ask "I know you were lying about not crying, Ron may be daft enough to be fooled but you know i'm smarter than that Harry!". Harry looked away from Hermione and whispered "I wasn't crying 'Mione.." Hermione made Harry turn around and said "I know you're lying and I know that you think crying is a weakness but Harry it's not good to keep these things inside!" With that Hermione started walking away. It was Harry this time that caught her arm and with tears welling in his eye he said "Can we talk?".