A Change Of Seasons

Herbology thankfully had gone off without a hitch atleast from Harry's point of view. The class had been given some basic assignments by Professor Sprout, and they weren't made to split up into any type of groups a'toll, which was a definite plus on Harry's mind. Basically on this first day all they had to do was some simple reading on the pro's and con's of Devil's Snare, something Harry, Ron and Hermione had first hand knowledge of thanks to their little escapade back in first year. All in all, it was a nice, easy class, that was until the last 15 minutes when Remus Lupin knocked on the greenhouse door and interrupted them.

"Ah, forgive me Professor Sprout for barging in like this, but I have to hand out the new schedules to the students if I may?" Remus said politely.

"Of course, of course, please do come in Professor Lupin. I'll just go check up on a new batch of Venus Flytraps I've been delivered this morning. Call me if you need anything. And oh, remember class, I would like a 2 foot scroll on the uses and effects of the Devil's Snare by Wednesday's class." Professor Sprout said jovially and with that she headed out the door towards greenhouse two.

"Well then, as I call your name, please come forward and collect your schedules. After you're done, you can return back to the castle and get ready for your next class. These new schedules will not take place until tomorrow, so follow what you've been given today is that clear?" he said glancing at the two houses and seeing them nod in agreement.

As Remus began to call out the names, it gave Harry time to think. This would be the perfect opportunity to try and corner Malfoy on the way back to the castle and have a little 'chat' with him bout how they were going to handle this unbelievably awkward situation they found themselves in. He only hoped he would be called before Malfoy though or it wouldn't be as easy as he hoped it would be.

"Potter, Harry" Remus said for the second time and glanced up as he realized Harry wasn't paying attention whatsoever. He walked over and tapped Harry on the shoulder then to get his attention.

"Err, sorry Professor, did you call me?" Harry asked sheepishly and blushed as everyone who was left tried not to chuckle his way.

"Yes Harry, twice actually. Here, take your schedule and head back to the castle. Maybe you should stop by and see Madam Pomfrey, you're looking a bit peeked today I think." Remus said putting up a frown. He wasn't going to dare admit to Harry he was secretly thrilled Harry seemed so distracted, and he knew all too well why.

"No, that's allright Professor, I'm fine. Really. Thanks" Harry said and grabbed the paper from Remus's hand before Remus could say anything else and sprinted out the door. As much of a hurry as he was in however, he did remember to notice that Malfoy was still waiting to be called, and that was definitely a good thing. That meant that he could somehow catch Malfoy before he got back to the castle, just like he'd hoped to. The only problems left were the time, and where to catch him.

Harry stopped for a moment and took out the old schedule, the one they were still supposed to follow. He breathed a momentary sigh as he realized that they actually had no classes for the next hour, rather only library time, which made things alot easier. Now he wasn't limited to how long he could take talking things over with Malfoy. That left only where, and really, there was only one place left he could think of, the one place he could be sure Malfoy would pass by on the way back to the castle, and the one place Harry could draw Malfoy away from prying eyes.

It wasn't long before Harry was right, and Draco came round the corner by the place he'd picked. Obviously Draco wasn't paying any attention a'toll to where he was going, he actually almost seemed in shock while scanning over a piece of paper. Harry realized he must be looking at his new schedule, but really he didnt' care bout that right now. He had only one goal, and as soon as Malfoy got close enough to him, Harry stepped out infront of him.

"Malfoy, pay attention, we need to talk..now" Harry said and watched as Malfoy nearly gasped in surprize at Harry suddenly popping up infront of him like that.

Draco however recovered just as quickly and responded, "Who do you think you are Potter, bossing me around. You're not my father you know, you cant tell me what to do." he said with his usual cold sneer.

"Wouldn't want to be your deatheater father Malfoy, however you're going to talk to me or..." Harry began not realizing he'd pressed a button that Draco Malfoy didn't want pressed.

Draco's eyes flared and he grabbed Harry by the collar and pulled him off to the side of the pitch. "Or what Potter? Going to hex me? Curse me? Do something to me that hasn't allready been done?" he tried to sneer but his voice betrayed him somehow.

Harry looked at him almost with concern, those were words he hadn't expected to hear from someone like Draco Malfoy. "Malfoy honest, I only want to talk to you okay? No need to get physical with me." he said hoping his voice would stay calm. Much as he wanted to get totally peeved at Malfoy for this, he found he couldn't.

Draco just looked at Harry for a moment and realized Harry was serious and he let him go. He knew he'd let his emotions get the best of him, it was impossible to be this close to Harry and not feel something, but he didn't want to feel anger of all things. Here was a perfect opportunity to talk, just talk, with Harry and he'd gone and blown it, so typically Malfoyish! Rather then face Harry for what'd he'd just done to him, Draco turned away from him and just stared over the Quidditch pitch.

Harry watched him as he turned away, but not before he'd seen a look in Malfoy's eyes that he was beginning to almost understand. Harry himself had had that look before, after spending time with the Dursleys over the summer. It was a look that meant defeat, of being broken and in pain, and being the person Harry was, even if it was Malfoy, he couldn't bear to see that look in anyone.

"Malfoy I meant what I said you know, about talking I mean. If you want to talk I'll listen...."

"Dont Potter, dont feel 'sorry' for me or anything okay? I dont need or want that, especially from my enemy. Say what you wanted to and let me go." Draco said without emotion, just staring still acrost the pitch.

Harry felt a bit tempered at that. "You know the whole weight of the world doesn't rest on your shoulders Malfoy, sometimes it's good to talk to someone, I should know."

"Oh really? How the hell could the Golden Boy possibly know what it's like for a Malfoy huh? You know what though Potter, I really could care less. I know what you wanted, for me not to tell anyone that we're 'partnered' is that it? Fine Potter, I wont tell, just leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. Unless we have to leave the castle, just stay out of my way!" Draco said his voice breaking as he tried not to have these strange emotions running through him, and before Harry could stop him, he ran off.

Harry stared at the retreating form of Draco, stunned at what he'd heard. If he didn't know better he say that Malfoy was definitely not the person he'd known all these years. Malfoy's dont show those emotions, Malfoy's above all, dont break infront of their enemies. This Malfoy however, just did both, and it didn't fit in a'toll, and Harry was oddly enough, quite concerned.

Harry became even more concerned when he realized Draco hadn't run off in the direction of the castle, but rather the complete opposite direction...towards the Forbidden Forest, and in the state Draco was in, he wasn't too sure that he would even know not to enter it alone. Harry didn't even stop to debate if he should have gotten a professor, instead he himself ran after Draco, and he hoped he wouldn't be too late. Unfortunately however, he was, for as he approached the edge of the forest, he saw all too clearly the form of Draco Malfoy disappearing inside and a part of himself nearly screamed.

Running as fast as he could he followed Draco inside the forest but it was too late. Wherever Draco had gone he couldn't tell now, there was no visible pathways he could have taken in here, and the forest itself was more illusion then reality. Where it had been daylight moments before outside, in here it felt like the deepest part of the night, and sounds of strange creatures tore at his ears, whilst the smell of dampened earth assaulted his nose. Blindly he ran hoping for a sign, anything to let him know where Draco had gone, only to find himself running in circles it seemed.

It could have been minutes, or hours later, he didn't know, but still he'd found no trace of Draco. His body hurt, he'd been scratched, his robes had been shredded even in some places by evil looking thorns, and he was both thirsty and peckish at this point. Sighing he tried to again find something familiar, but now everything was looking the same to him, and nothing seemed to point to either Draco, or a way out. He only hoped Draco was safe, and that soon someone would find them both in here.

It was moments later that the air was pierced by a scream, and it sounded all too close for comfort. Harry jumped, then realized the scream wasn't made by animal, but by human, and it could only mean one thing...Draco was in trouble. The scream came again and Harry was luckily able to trace it, but stopped short when he came to a small clearing.

Draco was indeed there, but was surrounded by 2 very nasty looking wolves. Harry had no doubts these weren't ordinary wolves, but some of the werewolves that were able to shape change at will, unlike Remus. These were the type of werewolves that were wild, untamed, and loved to feed off the innocent. They didn't want to turn you, they only wanted to kill you, and Harry knew he had to act fast, but he didn't have a clue what to do.

At that moment however, something sailed over him and landed infront of the wolves, driving them back. The thing was able to get rid of the wolves, then went over and picked up Draco and walked over to where Harry was hiding.

"Your friend needs help Harry Potter. You must leave this forest, again it is not safe for you to be here now."

"Firenze? It..it is you! I"m so glad to see you I thought..." Harry said but his voice caught in his throat when he glanced over to where Draco was now lying in a shaft of light in Firenze's arms. "Draco my gods! What...what happened to him? The wolves, they didn't..." Harry thought he was going to be sick at that thought.

Firenze shook his head. "Nae, they have not. However he needs help, now. At once. The forest can be cruel to those unawares of the true dangers Harry Potter."

Harry sighed in relief. Atleast that was on thing he didn't have to worry on, Draco atleast was still human. "We've been here a while I think now, I dont know how to get out. Isn't there anything you can do for him Firenze?" Harry pleaded.

"Nae Harry Potter, I cannot. Only the unicorn could have helped him, but this boy is no longer able to sustain the touch from her. However the old man knows you are here, he waits with the wolf, and the one who watches the stars. I will bring you to them. This is all I can do now Harry Potter."

Harry said no more but followed Firenze. His mind was whirling with what he'd just heard. Draco couldn't touch the unicorn? Not only that but he didn't want to begin to imagine what kind of trouble the two of them would be in with Professor Dumbledore. He assumed the wolf was Remus, but the one who watched the stars, he couldn't figure out that person. He doubted it was his astronomy professor, or he hoped it wouldn't be Professor Sinistra. Sighing he resolved his fate that he was in for a heck of a detention for this, if not getting expelled. He'd broken a cardinal rule, students were never supposed to enter the Forbidden Forest unless authorized.

That fact that he was supposed to be 'partners' with Draco didn't matter, obviously he couldn't protect him when he really needed it. Which led Harry to another set of thoughts. thoughts that he was beginning to wonder about now. Why had he followed Draco into the forest instead of getting a professor? Why had he cared so deeply about the fact Draco had said those words to him earlier, causing Draco to run here in the first place? It wasn't just guilt, it was something more, something that tugged at him hard, and he was frightened just to think bout it.

Suddenly he was seeing Draco in a different way, he was piercing together the things he'd been noticing since term started a scant day or so ago. The looks from Draco, the words, the actions. The unicorn. The look in Draco's eyes when he'd mentioned his father. Puzzle pieces that weren't quite filled in, but were starting to take some shape, an outline. Suddenly Harry felt this was his puzzle, and he had every intention of putting it together, and somehow a part of him hoped that in the end, it would be very much worth the trouble.

His thoughts were then put on hold, as Firenze led them out of the forest, right into the path of Professor Dumbledore, Remus, and oddly enough, Professor Snape. Harry almost gave a grin if the situation wasn't so horribly bad, at the fact that Firenze refered to Snape as the starwatcher. However the look on all three of their faces was enough to sober anyone, and Harry felt chilled to the bone at the seriousness of the normally jovial headmaster.

"Old one, wolf, star watcher, I bring you the two who are now found. I ask you take heed on them, they have suffered enough on this day. This one needs help, of which the unicorn cannot heal, but his heart will need more mending then you will be able to give. He is not the same as the one who was here long ago, yet he is in body." Firenze said to Albus as he handed Draco's still unconscious form to Severus.

"As for this one, he is stronger, but he too needs to mend. The stars say the time comes soon, they will need to fight the dark, but as one, not two. You are wise to make your plans now. This one though must learn, and not fight what is ordained. The stars have spoken Harry Potter, listen to them." Firenze said and with a nod of his head, retreated back into the forest leaving the five of them alone.

Harry didn't even know where to begin, nor even remotely what to say. They quickly walked back to the castle, Severus and Remus taking Draco straight away to the infirmary, whilst Harry went sullenly behind Professor Dumbledore to his office.

Albus gave a long sigh as he settled himself behind his desk, and finally asked the question that had been in his mind since he got word from the centaurs that all wasn't right in the forest.

"It seems your first days back are as usual, fraught with problems Harry. May I have an explanation why you disobeyed strict rules about the Forbidden Forest?"

Harry sighed as well, he knew this was coming, yet he still had no clue how to approach it. So he did the only thing he could do, he started at the beginning. He told Albus everything that had happened up till that point, including the looks from Draco, the conversation right before Draco fled from him, and everything else. Albus listened and nodded, not saying anything until Harry was finished.

"Professor? I dont understand though about what Firenze said. What happened to Draco that the unicorn cant help him?"

"Well, I cannot fault you for what happened, truely it was unforeseen that Mr. Malfoy should have ran that particular direction. As well as I will not blame you for trying to find him. As for your questions, I'm afraid I do not know. Centaurs are cryptic creatures, they govern themselves by the stars, though I know Firenze to go against the fates every so often. Perhaps there is more to you and Draco Malfoy being partners then seems, who knows? As for the unicorn, I fear that is something Mr. Malfoy would have to tell you himself, it is not in my place to do so."

Harry looked a bit startled but nodded. "Right now I doubt he'll talk to anyone, especially me. He'll probably blame me for this if I know him." Harry said sighing.

Albus looked thoughtfully at Harry for a moment then made a decision. "Harry, believe it or not, you were only gone for about 3 hours. Dinner should be shortly, and I am excusing you from any other classes today. You are to report to Madam Pomfrey for healing and you are to stay there until she says you may do so."

"The infirmary sir? But I"m allright, I promise, just a few scrapes is all...."

"No buts Harry, you're to report there immediately. Now go, and tell Severus and Remus to come in will you? Apparently I forgot to inform them of the new password." He chuckled the twinkle back in his eyes.

Harry nodded and walked out, not daring to look back at the headmaster. Now for sure he'd have to see Draco again, and he was positive this wasn't going to go too well. Maybe he'd get lucky and he'd be able to get healed and leave before Draco woke up, either way he hoped he wouldn't have to talk to him. He did hope he was allright, but he didn't want to face the wrath that he knew was going to come his way when Draco finally woke up. Sighing Harry walked out of the passage to the headmasters office, and finding Severus and Remus outside told them to go in, and he headed dejectedly to the infirmary.

Meanwhile in Albus's office Severus, Remus and Albus were discussion exactly what to do next.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect that. What was Draco thinking running in there?" Remus said almost angrily.

"Dont blame the boy Remus, he's having enough troubles as it is. You both should know all too well what it can be like to have hatred from the person you want love from." Albus said softly glancing from Severus to Remus.

"That's uncalled for Albus. This has nothing to do with the two of us." Severus said with a bit of a growl.

"It has everything to do with you Severus. If you two want to see them happy, I suggest trying something a little less dangerous. Until those two can work something out, they are not to leave the castle for any reason. If they cannot work out something by their next Herbology class, they will have to be accompanied by one of us. Hopefully Poppy will keep Harry there long enough for those two to talk."

"I think Draco is in shock more then anything else, he should snap out of it soon enough. Poppy gave him something that should help anyway, and cleaned up his wounds. They weren't as bad as they looked atleast which was good." Remus said.

"Good. I'll have a little talk with Poppy then, have them both confined to the Hospital Wing for the night. I expect both of you to check in on them regularly when possible." Albus said.

"Albus, what did Firenze mean?" Remus decided to finally ask.

"Ah, I knew you would pick that up Remus. I'm afraid that is something I cannot yet answer though, not even to the two of you. I will say however you were right in your initial observations, which is why I have allowed the pairings of the students as such, and the combination of the classes."

"But what has all this to do with Harry and Draco?" Remus asked.

"I fear our young Mr. Malfoy is beginning to understand there is more to life then what his father expects of him, and he is trying to fight that life. However he is growing weaker, the threats against him are very strong. You both know that the unicorn will only be able to help those untouched, and she could not help him now."

"You're not implying that Draco's been...that Lucius..." Severus said stunned.

"I will not accuse anyone of what I think, but there is no other explanation for the refusal of the unicorn Severus, even you know that. Perhaps you're slight of hand in 'meddling' with Harry and Draco will be exactly what they both need. Harry obviously would never have thought of the things he is obviously thinking now, and the desires of Draco's for his enemy were there before you even saw him, which is what led you to 'meddle' in the first place"

"He's got a point Sev. I saw that look on Draco's face back on the train, so it's definitely something he's been thinking awhile now. All we have to do is get Harry to realize the same thing." Remus said thoughtfully.

"Well I'm all prepared to meddle, but in my own way. Sometimes people need a hard shove rather then a light nudge." Severus said with his usual air of arrogance.

Remus chuckled. "So like you Sev, always wanting the path of destruction. Maybe your right though, these two are going to need more then a gentle nudge towards each other, but without getting one of them killed. Albus, permission to ah work on this issue more?" he said turning to the headmaster.

Albus grinned and nodded at them both. "Whatever you think is needed, provided it is safe for them both. Firenze is right by the way, Voldemort grows stronger daily. Since we no longer have your ability to spy for us Severus, we can only hope that Harry will be strong enough to face whatever Voldemort is preparing for him this time. Harry has been lucky so far, but the true and final battle will have to come someday, and he'll need to be ready for it."

Remus thought for a moment. "He's afraid isnt he. That's why he wouldn't accept the prefect badge right? He's afraid that anyone he gets close to dies, and being prefect was too much responsibility. That's why he broke up with Cho Chang, and that's why now he's afraid to admit there ever could be anything towards Draco, when that's exactly what he'll need to fight." Remus sighed.

Albus nodded. "Yes, that's the reasoning behind Harry's refusal of the badge, though he wouldn't tell me the truth at the time, yet I know he is afraid. Draco needs Harry much as Harry needs Draco, that much I agree. Now, both of you go figure out a way to get them together, while I tell Poppy to keep them for the night. Much as I normally would never involve myself in something like this, it is for the future of the entire wizarding world that this is for. Harry is our only hope, but I fear that without love, the dark can easily win, and that is something that cannot happen."

Severus and Remus agreed, then got up and headed back out, discussing how they were going to delicately yet forcefully enough handle this. Albus meanwhile headed himself out to the infirmary, all the while thinking back to another time in which he'd played a helping hand in getting two other people together. Two people who normally wouldn't have said anything to each other except in hatred, and how desperately their friends knew otherwise. He remembered the day James Potter and Sirius Black approached him for help in getting Remus and Severus together, and although it had been a very rocky romance, in the end it had worked out just fine.

This time was no different in Albus's eyes. Two people that belonged together needed to be joined, and again he would help in this matter, and gladly so. If ever two people belonged together, it was Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Each vulnerable in their own way, each blocking out others from caring and loving them. Both of them with so much more in common then they even realized, and of a bond that even though neither knew it yet, they both so very much needed and shared.

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