Harry stares at his bowl, not with disinterest, but in an attempt to make it float.

He's so focused that it takes Ron snapping in front of his face for him to come back to reality.

"What?" he asks stupidly, staring at his friends.

"What the hell are you doing?" Dean asks, confusion scrawled across his face.

"Trying to practice wandless magic," Harry answers truthfully.

Neville's eyes light up. "That's great, Harry!"

"Yeah, great. Lemme know when you can actually do something with it," Ron replies bitterly.

Harry's expression darkens, but he doesn't say anything in response.

Fred doesn't yell at Ron this time. His dull eyes are staring blankly at the wall.

***********************

It's the third time Harry finds himself sliding out of bed. He actually went to sleep last night after talking with Malfoy, so he's not completely sleep-deprived.

"Where are you going?" Ron asks.

Neville sits up in interest, and so does Dean. They stare at Harry curiously.

"I don't know," Harry replies dully.

"Liar," Ron replies. "You were gone for an hour yesterday, and you came back smiling. Are you getting laid?"

"You have a girlfriend, mate?" Dean asks, sitting up more. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Neville doesn't say anything, but his curious eyes watch the situation.

"It's not a girlfriend," Harry replies, sighing.

"What is it then?" Ron persists.

"I've been meeting up with Malfoy. He's practicing wandless magic too," Harry admits.

"Are you sure that's safe, Harry?" Neville asks quietly.

"He's not going to hurt anyone. He's as against the Death Eaters as you or me," Harry assures.

This seems to calm Neville. He relaxes and nods, trusting Harry's judgement.

"Malfoy, mate?" Ron sputters. "Out of everyone in the bloody school, Malfoy?"

Harry shrugs. "He's not awful. He's changed this year. He's quieter, more reserved."

"I don't bloody care how quiet he is, he's a prat!" Ron cries.

"Ron, chill," Dean murmurs. "Don't wake up your brothers, they don't get enough sleep as it is. Speaking of, Harry, if you're going out every night, are you still getting sleep?"

"I'm only gone for about an hour then I come back and sleep," Harry assures him. Dean nods.

"Harry-!" Ron is still sputtering at Harry opens the door.

"Be careful," Neville murmurs before Harry shuts the door.

He walks down the stairs, irritation coursing through his veins. Since when does Ron get to control who he hangs out with? Ron isn't his only friend. Why doesn't he trust Harry's judgement like Neville and Dean do?

He has no hesitation when he enters the kitchen.

"Hello."

Malfoy doesn't jump this time. "Hello."

"I've been practicing wandless magic." Harry slides into the chair next to Malfoy.

"Any luck?"

"None. But I just started this morning, so I haven't expected much yet."

Malfoy nods, his eyes returning to the task at hand.

"What are you trying to do, exactly? Make it float?"

"Destroy it."

"Wouldn't it be easier to make it float?"

"Floating won't kill a Death Eater."

Harry sighs, his eyes trailing over Malfoy.

He wonders how much power Malfoy has, if he could actually destroy a person if he wanted to.

His eyes follow Malfoy's line of sight until they rest on the bowl. 

He imagines it smashing, exploding into a thousand pieces. He tries to focus on his energy, destroy the bowl.

Suddenly, another feeling overwhelms his senses, a feeling of power, magic, destruction. He tries to connect with it, to find a sense of power.

His hand moves on it's own accord, intertwining his fingers with Malfoy's. He feels a surge of power and adrenaline.

The bowl shatters instantly.

Harry stares at it for several seconds.

"Holy shit," Malfoy breathes.

Harry blinks, tearing his hand away from Malfoy. "What the fuck just happened?"

Malfoy's eyes are shocked, panicked, amazed. "I don't know."

Harry blinks several times. "You broke the bowl."

"We broke the bowl," Malfoy corrects.

"How?"

"I don't know."

Harry stares at the bowl again.

What the fuck is happening?