I bit my lip, framing my neck for a glimpse of where Draco could possibly be. I couldn't wait to tell him my O.W.L scores. It was now our 6th year, so we would be taking N.E.W.T classes. I barely got to talk to Draco over the summer. He's been so busy and won't even tell me what he's been up to...it's got Me worried.

I finally saw Draco walking swiftly towards me. As soon as he reached me, I asked, "what happened? Where were you?"

Draco hesitated for a moment. "I had to deal with something." He wrapped his arm around me, leading me away from the train. "Nothing that concerns you." I noticed that all the blinds in the Slytherin portion of the train had been drawn shut.

I eyed Draco Suspiciously. "Why are all those blinds shut?" I asked.

"Nothing that concerns you." Draco repeated as we sat in a self-drawn carriage.

I decided to let the subject slide and proceeded to something new. "So...why weren't you answering my owls this summer? You seemed so distant. What was going on?"

"What? Oh...I was busy. Father decided it was time to look for a new house elf since Potter decided it was a good idea to set ours free." Draco said.

"And it took you all summer?" I asked. "You could have at least sent me one owl."

"I didn't want Father knowing..."

"That you're dating a Gryffindor and a muggle born...I honestly don't know how you've survived around me. You obviously semi to hate Hermione, and I think she's really nice." I said.

"yeah, well Granger deserves whatever she gets. I'm kinda sad that the basilisk didn't take her. It would have saved us so much trouble." Draco began shaking in rage.

I stared, appalled, at him. "I sometimes wonder how I ever thought dating you would be a good thing. What do you have against Harry?"

Draco looked at his hands. "Its more of the fact that he exists, you see?"

"All I'm asking is for a bully-free year." I place a hand on Draco's knee. "Please."

Draco stared at me for a second, then said, "Fine. I'm too busy this year, anyway."

"why?"

There was a split second where I thought Draco stuttered before he said, "N.E.W.T classes."

I nod, looking out the window. "We're here." The castle was growing larger until the carriage pulled to a stop outside the entrance hall. Draco and I walked inside. He said goodbye to me as he made for the Slytherin table,and I the Gryffindor one.

I sat at the end closest to the head table, when I realized that Harry Potter wasn't visible in the sea of heads. I noticed Hermione and Ron looking frantically around, as if they, too, had no inkling as to where Harry could possibly be. I looked back over at Draco, who was deep in conversation with his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry didn't enter the Great Hall until after dinner, when the plates emptied of food to be replaced by pudding. He sat next to his friends, his face crusted with blood. Shape entered after him, his thin mouth twisted in a horrible smirk.

"where were you? You missed the sorting ceremony!" I heard Hermione exclaim.

"I'll tell you later." Harry whispered.

"Why are you covered in blood!?" Ron asked.

"I'll tell you later." Harry hissed, quieter this time.

What a way to start off our 6th year...covered in blood.