After his hearing changed and his sight improved, things seemed to settle down. Harry had gone without any alterations for five days before things took a turn for the even more bizarre. It was so ridiculous in fact, that he managed to put it down to not paying attention or bad luck for nearly an entire week.

They may have ended up fighting on the same side in the war, but that didn't mean that the seventh year of Slytherin would even pass the time of day with the seventh year of Gryffindor; the prejudices were too well ingrained on both sides. The fact that the Slytherin turn around to the side of the light had been led by Draco Malfoy did not mean that he and Harry were ever going to pass pleasantries in the hall. Which was why when Harry found himself looking at the sarcastic git in any way but with distaste, he shocked himself. Then, when he discovered that he was going out of his way to be in the same place as the Prince of Slytherin he had known he was in trouble, but worse than that, over the course of the week of denial he found himself doing the strangest things.

Harry kept his head down in Potions; it was a fact of his life. Snape hated him even though they had been allies and if he so much as breathed out of place the head of Slytherin relished in taking house points. Then one day just after he had started denying that he wanted anything to do with Malfoy, Harry spoke up in Snape's class for the first time. The really bizarre thing was that he managed it in such a way that the potions master couldn't penalise him.

The answer to one of Snape's questions had leapt into his head and before he realised what he was doing he'd stuck up his hand. It had been a question designed for Malfoy, who was the unchallenged potions king (the blond boy was a genius when it came to his house master's class) and Snape had obviously thought the only other person who could answer would have been Hermione, whom he always ignored.

Harry was pretty sure that Snape had only let him answer because the man assumed he would answer incorrectly. Even Malfoy had looked impressed when he gave the correct response, which had, worryingly, pleased Harry no end. That had been the first incident of several. What was more worrying was that Harry found himself with his nose in books so he would be ready for the next time as well.

It wasn't just potions either. Harry eventually had to admit to himself that it was every subject he had with Malfoy. It felt strangely to him as if he was trying to prove his worth to his Slytherin nemesis, which he really didn't want to consider too closely. And it happened out of the classroom as well. Twice he had suddenly realised he was trying to attract the other boy's attention.

Harry felt as if he was going slightly mad.

He had heard all the bad things about eavesdropping and he really tried not to do it, but when his name popped up in conversation, he always seemed to zero in. He was walking to dinner with his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his new jeans and his head down, trying to forget that he was going stark raving bonkers, when he heard himself referenced by another voice.

Harry had been finishing a paragraph of his homework when the others had left to walk to the Great Hall so he was a good hundred yards behind them, round a corner or two, and they had no idea he could hear them.

"It's like we're not even in the same class anymore," Seamus bemoaned just after having uttered a sentence containing Harry's name.

"I just wish he'd pick someone and let the rest of us back in the game," agreed Dean mournfully.

Ever since he had broken up with Ginny, the artistic Gryffindor had been chasing a fair amount of skirt, as his Irish dorm mate put it so colourfully. Harry felt sorry for his friends, he really did, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"It's not Harry's fault he went through a growth spurt," Ron defended him in true best friend fashion.

"You have nothing to worry about," Seamus pointed out loudly, "you're firmly attached. Harry needs to choose, and he needs to choose soon."

There was a murmur of agreement from Dean and Harry wished silently that it was that simple.

"He has chosen someone," Neville's calm addition to the conversation drew Harry to a sudden and complete halt.

From the sounds of it, Nev's simple phrase had done the same to his dorm mates as well. Ron was spluttering incoherently and the other two were ominously silent.

"Neville," Dean finally said in a very dark tone, "what do you know and how do you know it?"

"Um," the other boy returned nervously, "I thought it was rather obvious actually."

Harry wanted to hit his head against the wall and willed Neville to shut up. Unfortunately for him his dorm mate was not in a position to keep his mouth shut.

"Longbottom," Ron said pointedly, "just tell us."

"Malfoy," the Gryffindor replied quietly.

That brought a long deep laugh from Seamus, a thoughtful gasp from Dean, and a dismissive snort from Ron.

"Oh, good one, Neville," Seamus said, "you really had us going there for a moment."

As Harry listened the reactions slowly petered out, and he realised that the others were probably noticing that their friend was serious.

"I wasn't joking," Neville said, sounding a little hurt, "you must have seen it."

"You're insane," Ron said pointedly, "Harry would never..."

His best friend trailed off and now Harry did bang his head against the wall as he realised Ron was putting the pieces together. Sometimes Ron couldn't see what was in front of his own face, but he never forgot. Harry was sure his friend was adding things up. There was complete silence for a few moments.

"Bloody hell," was what came from Ron eventually.

"Holy mother of god," Seamus decided distinctly and what came from Dean's mouth did not bear repeating.

"Harry and Malfoy," Ron did not seem to be able to quite come to terms with the idea, "they hate each other."

"But Malfoy is the best-looking boy in the school apart from Harry, and he's probably the most powerful student next to Hermione and Harry as well," Neville pointed out. "It makes perfect sense, in a match of equals kind of way."

There was silence again except for the sound of shuffling feet and Harry thought that his friends were probably having the same epiphany about Neville as he was. No one ever rated Longbottom at anything but Herbology and yet he seemed to be far more than he at first appeared.

"Neville," Ron said in a much gentler, but nevertheless direct way, "are you gay?"

More shuffling of feet.

"Um, well, yes," the other Gryffindor replied.

Silence again.

"Thank Merlin for that," Ron said and startled Harry because he was listening too hard, "and there I thought the rest of us were out of touch."

"Nev," Seamus commented lightly, "you never cease to amaze me. Now tell us everything you know: we want details."

Harry banged his head on the wall again for good measure and turned back towards the common room; there was no way he was going to dinner now. It was as he reached the portrait that he met Hermione. As head girl she had been to her regular weekly meeting with Dumbledore that always ran late and into dinner, which was why the others had headed off without her.

"Harry," she greeted brightly until she saw his face, "what's wrong."

"I think I'm losing my mind and now everyone knows," he said dejectedly. "My life is over."

The portrait hole flipped open as he gave the password and he stormed through without waiting for his friend to react. Harry went straight for his dorm without pausing and was about to slam the door loudly when he realised Hermione had followed him. She stood there with her hands on her hips, looking at him with a worried frown.

"You don't think you're getting away with that do you?" she said eventually and took a step over the threshold. "Now sit and tell me what's bothering you."

When Hermione used that tone of voice there was no disobeying and Harry knew it, so he shoved his hands back into his pockets, walked over to his bed and sat down.

"Malfoy," he said plainly, guessing that if Neville had noticed then there was no way Hermione wouldn't have.

"Oh, that," she said and nodded sagely, "I wondered when you were going to face it."

"Face it!" Harry replied, his voice rising before he dragged his temper back into check. "What with everything else I do not need this as well. I did a Wronski Feint at practice yesterday from three hundred feet just because he walked past. I'm either going to kill myself or go completely mental if this doesn't stop."

"Or possibly get an 'O' in all your N.E.W.T.s and give the whole staffroom a heart attack," his friend attempted to inject some humour into the conversation and Harry glared at her for her trouble.

"It's not funny," he said pointedly, and he knew he was beginning to sulk, but it did feel as if his world was coming to an end.

He had wings for heaven's sake and appeared to be obsessed with his living worst enemy, since the Death Eaters who weren't dead had never met him personally. Malfoy may have led the revolt against the dark in his own house, but he blamed Harry for his father's demise and their relationship was acrimonious at best and homicidal at worst.

"Sorry, Harry," Hermione said gently and sat down next to him, "tell me what's up."

Harry glared at his fingers and picked absently at the corner of one of his oh so perfect nails.

"I just want to be Harry again," he said eventually with a sigh. "Everything was simpler when heads didn't turn if I so much a sneezed. I know people have been watching me forever, but now it's like I'm on display the whole time. And I don't seem to have any control over my hormones at all. I do things without even realising I'm doing them; stupid things and I must look like a real prat."

"Actually," Hermione said and patted him sympathetically on the arm, "so far I think you've been pretty impressive. If Malfoy can't see past this silly feud you two have going on, to what a great catch you are, then he's blinder than I ever gave him credit for."

Harry looked at Hermione rather stunned, and she smiled at him warmly.

"Don't look so surprised," she said in a very motherly fashion. "Harry, you were always good looking in a boyish way, but now you're stunning. You are the most powerful wizard in the world, and you are finally using the considerable brain inside your head rather than muddling through. It would be very difficult for you to be anything but impressive."

He didn't know what to say; he was completely taken aback. Most of his instincts were telling him she was just being nice.

"But it's Malfoy," was all he could find to say.

"I know, Harry," Hermione said sympathetically, "and I wish it was someone easier, but I don't think that's going to happen. I've been doing a little reading and I think I know what's going on."

Harry couldn't help it, he laughed rather hysterically. If there was anyone who could be relied upon to figure things out it was Hermione.

"You're displaying, Harry," she told him calmly, "you've chosen a mate."