The week came and went, and Harry was extremely glad to see Friday. That is, until it was time for the lab. Neville was extremely kind, but Harry was worried he was going to bring down his lab grade.

"Neville stop!"

"What?"

"That's not the right chemical!"

"Oh God."

There was loud snickering from behind, and Snape slammed his hand on his desk.

"Zabini if you think personal safety is funny, you're working with Longbottom now. Malfoy, up front with Potter."

"But Sir-"

"Another word and I make it a permanent seating change Zabini."

"Potter, we're restarting this. I need to be sure of exactly what is in this beaker."

"That's fine by me."

The two worked well together, and even though they were one of the last groups to get started due to the mishap, they still finished first.

"Interesting," Snape mused. "Start on your lab report once your bench is cleaned."

"Yes sir."

"You're much more pleasant to work with than Blaise," Draco muttered once Snape had left.

"I don't like taking advantage of my friends."

The smile wouldn't leave Draco's face if he tried.

"I'll see you in study hall and we can finish the lab report then?," Draco asked once class was over.

"See you then."

"Malfoy, Zabini. after class," Snape demanded.

With a sigh, Draco waved goodbye to Harry and waited to talk to Snape until all of the other students had left.

"You prefer Potter to Zabini," Snape said lowly while Blaise was packing up.

"I do."

"So be it. Zabini now!"

"Sorry Professor."

"I've decided that you'll remain Longbottom's partner until I see fit to change them."

"But Sir-"

"You are wasting your time Zabini. Don't even start Malfoy," he warned.

Draco appreciated that the professor was covering for him. He only had to look irritated, which wasn't hard when he knew he'd be dealing with Blaise later.
 
"Get to your next class, the both of you."

Draco couldn't wait for study hall. When he found Harry next, he was working on maths problems.

"Give me five minutes to finish this problem," Harry muttered.

"No rush, but I do have news."

"Make it three."

Draco took out his chemistry stuff and began typing his notes that would be useful for their lab report.

"Okay done. News?"

"You're looking at your new lab partner."

"Really?!"

"Really. Snape was irritated with Blaise, but I hope he doesn't take it out on you."

"I can hold my own, don't worry about me. Ready for the report?"

Draco didn't think he would ever get tired of working with Harry. He knew exactly when to make a joke, and when to focus on the task at hand.

"When's this due again?," Harry asked at the end of the period.

"Monday."

"Of course it is."

Harry pulled a planner out of his backpack and began scanning it and making notes.

"This is gonna be fun," he muttered to himself. "I'll make it work."

"If you want to meet up and work on it just let me know. My schedule is flexible."

"Sadly, mine isn't. Might have to drop a work shift."

Draco was about to ask him why that was such a big deal when the bell rang.

"Can you text me what you want me to finish when you work on it again? I want to keep it an even split."

"Of course."

"Hey Harry, Neville looked like he had seen a ghost when he came into English."

Harry caught him up while the three of them walked to gym.

"Tough luck being stuck with Malfoy mate."

"Good luck actually. Draco is absolutely brilliant and I couldn't possibly have a better chemistry partner."

"Thank you Harry. I'll catch up with you later. Weasley."

During gym class, Blaise let it be known how angry he truly was.

"I can't believe he did that! I don't want to be stuck with Longbottom of all people! He's going to get the both of us killed in this class."

"I'm sorry Blaise-"

"But you're not really aren't you? I knew from the minute that I found you with four eyes that he was gonna be a problem."

"Do you feel threatened Zabini?"

"No, but he'll be when I'm done with him."

"And what exactly do you plan on doing? Shoving him into a locker? You're being ridiculous Blaise," Draco interrupted with a snort.

"Don't tell me how I'm acting!"

"I can't be around you when you're acting like this."

"Go crawling back to your boyfriend."

"Oh that's rich coming from you of all people. My sexuality is no one's business."

"That's not what Parkinson said."

"Oh but you would know after taking my leftovers wouldn't you?"

"Enough!"

With that, Blaise found Harry, and kicked the football as hard as he could towards him. Draco yelled "Potter" as Ron yelled at him to look out.

Surprising everyone, Harry hit a perfect header, sending the ball right back at a surprised Zabini.

"Zabini, Potter, Malfoy! Here, now!"

"Bloody hell Harry you got some distance on that!"

"Almost broke my glasses on it too," Harry muttered to Ron, taking them off for inspection as he went to see Madam Hooch.

When Harry arrived, it was to Madam Hooch berating Zabini and he had to fight to keep the smirk off his face. Well deserved the tosser.

"Potter, are your glasses alright?"

"They appear to be."

"And your head?"

"A tad sore but nothing I'm not used to. Am I in trouble?"

"That was absolutely mental Potter! You're sure your head is okay? I've done that a few times while playing footie and got an egg sized lump on my head once."

"I've had worse," Harry replied uncomfortably, confused at all of the attention.

"What are you doing after school Mr. Potter?," Madam Hooch inquired.

"Well I have work-"

At Blaise's snort, Harry turned to shoot daggers at him.

"Sorry Zabini, not all of us were born with gold spoons in our mouths. Maybe you should remove it, it seems as if you have a problem keeping your mouth shut."

"You little-"

"Enough! Zabini I want you running laps for the rest of the period. Now. We'll discuss your further punishment later."

Flipping Harry off, Blaise went to do as told.

"I've never even spoken to that man before, what's his problem?"

"He's vice-captain and has an unhealthy attachment to our captain Mr. Malfoy over here. Tell me Mr. Potter. Would you be interested in playing on our football team?"

"Oh no I couldn't possibly-"

"Harry you'd be amazing are you kidding me?!"

"I hit the ball with my head one time," Harry deadpanned.

"But you did it skillfully!"

"I... erm- have some... umm- personal reasons as to why it won't work out?"

"Do you have time for a meeting after school? We can discuss the benefits of you being on the team."

"I really am not interested, I'm sorry."

"Come on Potter," Draco pleaded.

"I can't force you to attend, but I think it's in your best interest to do," Madam Hooch implored.

"How long will it be? I'll have to call my job," Harry replied with a sigh.

"An hour at the maximum. I'll allow you to make your phone call now. Call your parents too. Then, I want you to practice with Mr. Malfoy for the rest of class."

"Oh... right... Maybe I should go get my head checked out. I did hit the ball pretty hard."

"Mr. Malfoy, escort Mr. Potter to see the nurse. Come straight to Professor McGonagall's room after your last class of the day. She's your guidance counselor correct?"

"Yeah."

"Excellent. I'll see you both later. Phone calls Mr. Potter, make them before you go."

Harry quickly called his job, and having no one else to call he called Molly. She was very sympathetic towards him, and said that if he needed a parental figure present for anything to let her know and she would be there.

To say Harry felt deflated was an understatement. If he was being honest with himself, he was feeling quite sick now. Draco was oblivious to it, happily chattering away with an arm thrown over Harry's shoulders.

"Draco I'm not doing it."

"What do you mean you're not doing it?," he asked, stopping in the middle of the hallway.

"I can't."

"You can't or you won't?," Draco challenged.

"Both."

"So that's it then?"

The cold tone of Draco's voice was enough to stop anyone in their tracks.

"I don't know what you want me to say."

"Here's the nurse Potter. I'll be seeing you."

"Draco-"

"Goodbye."

"Great," Harry thought to himself, walking into the nurse's office. He felt absolutely sick and was wondering if he could pull off a fever and get sent home.

"Gym class?"

"Yeah. I took a header. I feel dizzy and nauseous."

Madam Pomfrey clicked her tongue and started lecturing him on the dangers.

"Wasn't on purpose, I was targeted. New kid and all."

"Some of the students here are absolutely ridiculous. Let me know how you're feeling at the end of the period. Lay down for now, the dizziness and nausea is worrying."

Harry ended up sleeping through the rest of gym class. When Madam Pomfrey moved to wake him up, she frowned at the prominent bags under his eyes. She decided to let him sleep through the rest of the day, letting his professors know he had sustained an injury.

"Mr. Potter?," she asked softly.

"End of the period already?," he asked tiredly.

"Mr. Potter, it's the last period of the day. I took the liberty of ordering you some lunch as I suspect you haven't eaten all day."

"You suspect right."

"We have resources if you need them you know."

"I'm sure others need them more. I'm fine."

"Are you? Stubborn like your father."

"You knew my father?," he asked in shock, quickly sitting up.

"Easy there, and eat up. I've been around Mr. Potter, and your father was in my office many times during his time in high school. Most of the time he was unwillingly brought in by his friends."

"I wouldn't know about that," Harry said quietly.

"Let me help you where I can Mr. Potter."

"This is something that I need to do alone. It's how it's always been."

"Just because something has always been done the same way, doesn't mean it's the right way. Off you go. Mr. Weasley took the liberty of collecting your school work. We'll be in contact I'm sure."

"Thank you."