Due to my successful OWLs; I was able to take Potions, and to my greatest pleasure, Snape was no longer our teacher since he had been appointed to the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. Being a Slytherin, Snape was never nasty to me but I loathed the way he treated my friends.

Our class was very small - only about a dozen had progressed to NEWT level, including, to my delight, Harry, Ron and Hermione. To my not so delight, there was Draco, Theodore, Blaise and Pansy - the only Slytherin's, as well as myself, to have gotten in.

Professor Slughorn was a breath of fresh air in Potions. For our first lesson he had us competing for a small vial of Felix Felicis; also known as 'Liquid Luck'. I'd never seen a class concentrate so hard in my life before to get a potion right, especially Draco. I watched as he feverishly riffled through his copy of 'Advanced Potion Making', he really wanted that lucky day.

At our own table, Harry was moaning about his own tattered copy. "And someone's even scribbled all over it!" He sighed as threw it down on the table in front of him.

Despite him acting as though he had gotten the worst book in the world, Harry won the Felix Felicis. I don't think anyone expected that - least of all Hermione who was always top of everything. I stole a glance at Draco who looked absolutely furious. It wasn't the only thing he looked, as I noticed his tired and drawn face.

***

Living with the Slytherin's was just like it had been since day one for me - they all ignored me bar Pansy who couldn't help but mutter sly insults my way whenever possible and, on occasion, do petty nasty things towards me like lock me out of my own dormitory.

Tonight was one of those nights. I had snuck down to the dungeons after a late night study session in the library with Harry, Ron and Hermione. The Slytherin Common Room was empty as I passed through, meaning everyone had gone to bed. As I tried the handle on my dormitory room it didn't budge. I tried the alohomora spell which didn't work either. I wasn't surprised, I expected she somehow blamed me for Harry winning the Felix Felicis and this was my punishment.

I sighed, feeling frustrated at the thought of spending an uncomfortable night on the sofa. I longed for my bed and my nice warm duvet. I knew there was no point knocking and yelling as Pansy would have put some sort of silencing spell on the door. She was such a bitch.

I made my way over to the fireplace and tried to make myself comfortable on the sofa but the leather creaked under me and I was flipping cold. Not even the dying fire could warm me up enough. I hugged my thin robes around me as a tear dropped down my cheek. Stop it. I scolded myself. I did not like crying over the Slytherin's. I would not let them wear me down.

Half an hour later I was still trying to fall asleep, with little success, when suddenly, I jumped out of my skin as I heard footsteps enter the common room. Who on earth was out this late? I froze, praying that whoever it was would not notice me and just walk on by.

"What on earth are you doing out here?"

I looked up to see who the drawling voice belonged to. Tired grey eyes stared down at me. There was only one word to describe the blonde haired, black suited Slytherin in front of me: exhausted.

"Pansy." I grumbled, turning my face back to the fire, not wanting him to see the torment and anger in my eyes.

I waited for the snigger or smart comment about putting Mudbloods in their place, but instead, I heard a heavy sigh and then the sound of footsteps walking away towards the boys dormitories.

Before I could work out why Draco was behaving so un-Draco like, footsteps were coming back towards me and as I sat up, there was Draco, carrying a dark green blanket under his arm which he dropped on the sofa next to me.

Without a word he turned around and started to head off. I finally found my voice, and called after his retreating back, "Why are you being nice to me? I thought you hated Mudbloods?"

He stopped, slowly turned around and shrugged. "Well, you're still a Slytherin."

I stared back at him, my mouth agape. I could not believe this was Draco Malfoy. Despite the complete nastiness he had previously treated me with in the past, I felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards him.

"Thank you," I said quietly, my lips tugging helplessly into a small smile.

Draco simply nodded, turned his back on me and disappeared inside his dormitory.

Trying not to question Draco's sudden kindness, I snuggled back down on the sofa and finally managed to get to sleep under the warmth of the Slytherin's blanket.

***

As Draco wearily lay his head down on his pillow, his thoughts turned to the dark haired girl laying on the sofa on the other side of the door.

He didn't know what had made him get her that blanket. Perhaps it was because of the smattering of raised goosebumps Draco had noticed all over her normally smooth pale skin. Or perhaps it was because he was getting fed up of Pansy's childish games and he had felt guilty for being a part of them in the past.

Draco would never admit it to himself that maybe it was perhaps it was because he cared. Because why would he care about such trivial things when there were much bigger things going on outside? He didn't have time to get messed up with silly school antics anymore. He had a lot of growing up to do, and that growing up had started last summer.

As Draco rolled over and closed his eyes, he scratched an itch on his left arm.

***