So sorry I havent updated any of my stories lately. My bf, who happens to be my roommate, n was pretty much my second income, got laid off in January. So I have been working all the hours I can(average of 65 hrs a week) n taking night classes, n helping my bf fill out apllications early in the morning. ugh. Don't you think that if someone got laid off in January-its March now- n they turn in an average of 5 applications a day, that they'd have a job...even if it was just at mcdonalds? Stupid recession. Stupid California. It sux being a college student. if it wasn't for my bf's mom cooking us dinner fridays n sundays, all week I'd be eating nothing but top ramen and cereal.

All of you kids out there, never grow up. I'd willingly exchange the freedom of living away from home for decent meals n not having to worry about bills.

Did You Forget?

Harry walked into the Great Hall, and walked right back out. Draco was standing uncomfortably, holding two muffins, right next to the Gryffindor table. Nearly all eyes were on Draco, and Harry did not want to be a part of that scene. He almost felt bad for Draco, not because he was waiting in an awkward situation for someone he mistakenly thought of as a boyfriend, who wasn't going to show up. He felt bad for him because when Draco got his memory back, this would top his list as the most embarrassing thing that happened to him. Harry was sure Draco would prefer being turned into a ferret over this, once his memory was back. Harry decided to head to charms class, he knew Ron and Hermione would understand.

"Harry, wait up!" Harry groaned and walked faster, pretending he didn't hear Draco call out to him. Of course the blonde saw him, he was staring at the doors intently, when Harry opened them. "I brought you a muffin Harry!" Harry blushed and lowered his head as a group of seventh years laughed and started whispering. The whole school knew about Draco's memory loss and his memory replacements, so why couldn't Draco get a clue. "They're chocolate!" Draco called out. To Harry's surprise, Draco had caught up. Maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising, if Harry was being honest with himself, he'd notice that he was walking a lot slower than he actually intended.

"Thanks." Harry reluctantly grabbed a muffin, but determinedly looked at anything but Draco.

"Why didn't you come into the Great Hall?" Draco asked curiously. No accusation in his voice. What was Harry supposed to say, I was avoiding you and the embarrassing scene you caused?

"Hermione and Ron went on a date last night. I thought it'd be awkward, and kind of third wheel-ish if I sat by them." he lied.

"You could have sat by me you know." Draco said reassuringly.

"That would have offended them. If I didn't sit with them, they'd think they did something wrong, you know?"

"Ya." Draco lied. He didn't know. He didn't have any friends that would be hurt if he didn't sit with them. Crabbe and Goyle were similar to body guards, Pansy was an obsessed stalker, and Theo was just someone who was around him just for the heck of it. Blaise was the closest he got to a best friend, and he wouldn't give a damn if Draco fell down a flight of stairs, let alone forgot to sit by him during a meal.

"So uummm…. I got you something," Draco said looking almost unsure of himself, "It's a journal." Harry was unsure of what to do. He didn't want to accept the gift, but he didn't want to deal with Draco's questions if he didn't.

"You didn't need to get me anything." Harry said blushing. "I wouldn't even know what to write in it," he added when Draco handed it to him.

"I was thinking you could write in some of the memories you have of us. I'm still a little fuzzy, and I don't even remember when we decided to be nice to one another."

"I have to go to class now, I don't want to be late." Harry said throwing the journal in his bag, and running off. Draco smiled at Harry's retreating form. He knew Harry was too modest to accept a gift graciously.

Two days of avoiding Draco passed and now Harry was finding himself avoiding Blaise, who was determined to get Harry to acknowledge the Slytherins existence.

You have to go to potions!" Hermione said sternly. "Professor Snape won't hesitate dropping you out of his class." Harry ignored her and dug through his book bag for his class assignment.

"How many skiving snack boxes do you have?" Harry asked Ron desperately.

"Just a nosebleed nougat is all." Ron said going through his book bag too. "You should just drop the class, and we could have a free period together." Ron's low grades, unfinished assignments, and ditching Snape's detention to go to the party caused him to receive an owl that morning informing him that he was dropped out of potions. Hermione, who was deeply disappointed in Ron, ignored his comment and turned to Harry.

"You didn't mind being around Malfoy when he was helping you with school work." Hermione lectured in her know-it-all voice, her hands were rested on her hips and she wore a disapproving look.

"That was different. He wasn't giving me gifts and batting his long eye lashes at me." Harry defended, reluctantly following Ron and Hermione to the dungeons.

"Does his eye lash batting get to you?" Blaise asked from behind Harry. Harry spun around angry.

"I do not like guys and I especially do not like Draco!" Harry's hair blew in the nonexistent wind.

"Take a chill pill Potter." Blaise spat taking a step back

"Don't tell me what to do!" Harry spat back. "You're the one who helped drag this mess along. I could have ignored Draco from the start, and he would have gotten the hint to leave me alone. Because of you asking me to try and go along with this, the whole school is gossiping and spreading their rumors, and I'm tired of it!" Harry took a deep breath, and released the grip on his wand that he didn't know he was holding.

"Can't I just have one normal year?!" Harry asked turning back around and storming off to class.

"He's still calling him Draco, did you hear?" Blaise asked Hermione and Ron, as if nothing just happened.

"Oh no." Hermione groaned looking past Blaise's shoulder. Blaise, Ron, and a few bystanders turned to see Draco walking off, his eyes clouded with unshed tears.

"Finally he gets the hint." Ron said relieved. Hermione smacked her thick class book against his shoulder. Blaise rushed off after his friend.

Potions class dragged on. Harry was relieved, and confused when Draco never showed up for class. Blaise came in late, and threw Harry a dirty look. Not that Harry didn't expect it. He was glad when class finally ended, and he could get away from Hermione, who was giving him calculating glances every chance she could get.

Draco didn't show up to the rest of his classes, and when he didn't go to dinner Harry began to wonder where he was.

"Seamus finished his transfiguration homework if you want to look it over." Dean told Ron and Harry has they walked to the common room. Ron agreed readily, but Harry refused, saying he was going to bed early.

"Suit yourself." Dean called to Harry's retreating form.

Harry crawled into bed, and pulled out the journal Draco had given him the other day. It was the first time he really looked at it, and had to admit that it was nice. It was thick, and bound tightly in dragon leather. Hungarian Horntail leather to be exact. Harry found himself hoping that it wasn't the same Horntail from his fourth year. He opened the journal, and ran his hand down the crisp pages. He inhaled the scent of new parchment, and reached in his bag for a quill.

Harry Potter

He tested.

Memories of Draco.

He wrote in large chicken scratch, on the center of the page.

He scribbled out Draco, and replaced it with Malfoy. Then he turned the page.

The first time I met you, I was just barely 11. It was inside the robe shop. Do you remember that? Your hair was so blonde, it was almost white, and your eyes were gray. I had never seen gray eyes before then. You were pretty much the first wizard I met, besides Hagrid. You were the first to fill me in on things like quidditch and Hogwarts houses. You were also the first wizard I didn't like. You criticized Muggles and those who were Muggle born. I was Muggle raised. I hated you, hated the way you made me feel insignificant without even realizing you were doing it, without even trying. Then you had to go and make fun of Hagrid. Out of everyone around us, you chose the first person who showed they cared about me. The first person to give me a real birthday cake, and the one who introduced me to this place. I hated you even more. I wasn't sorry to leave.

You didn't know that I was Harry Potter, and that made you the first wizard to treat me like a normal kid from the start. Not instantly widening your eyes, or staring at my scar. Yet, that's the only good thing I can say about that day.

Harry tossed his quill back in his bag, and tucked the journal into his pillowcase. He knew these weren't the memories Draco was asking about, but he didn't have those nonexistent, delusional memories that the blonde did.

Draco didn't show up for breakfast the next day, but he attended each class. Harry decided that he looked like a zombie. His eyes had dark bruises beneath them like he hadn't slept. His hair was uncombed, and he was unusually quiet throughout each class. He wasn't writing his customary notes or listening to any of the professors. Ron was having fun throwing spit balls at the Slytherin's neck and laughing quietly when Draco seemed not to notice.

"Knock it off Ron." Harry growled after what felt like the hundredth time. Ron smiled, spit the last wad of wet parchment at the blonde, and went back to doing his assignment.

"Draco?" Harry called after their last class ended. Draco turned to him with pained eyes and left. Harry resisted the urge to chase after him, and instead called out to Blaise.

"What?" Blaise asked icily.

"I was wondering if Draco is ill or something?" Harry asked quietly.

"Or something." Blaise replied before walking off.

"He heard-" Hermione started to tell Harry, but was cut off by Ron who insisted they went flying before dinner. Hermione rolled her eyes and mumbled something about idiots, and going to the library. Harry tried to lose himself in his flying, but his mind kept drifting to Draco. He wondered what caused him to look so pitiful and unkempt.

"Stupid spying slytherins!" Ron growled stopping his broom mid air and throwing a dirty look somewhere down below. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were standing near the quidditch field. Draco had his broom in hand, and Harry wondered if the blonde intended on flying with them. But as his green eyes locked with Draco's gray ones, the blonde turned and left, barely keeping his head held high.

"I'm done!" Harry called out. He lowered himself to the ground and dismounted off his broom.

"Then can I fly your nimbus?" Ron asked eagerly. Harry handed the broom to Ron.

"Put it away when you're done." Harry walked through the castle, headed for the Gryffindor castle. He entered the common room, and passed Neville on his way to the boys' dormitory.

"Where are you going?" Neville squeaked has Harry started climbing the stairs to his room.

"To the dorms." Harry said brushing him off. He heard Neville call something out to him, but he ignored it has he opened the door, and walked to his bed.

"Dean." He heard the breathy whisper, and turned his head to see Dean on top of Ginny. Her eyes were closed and her head thrown back as Dean nibbled on her neck. Her shirt was unbuttoned, and her bra was nowhere to be seen. Dean was brushing his thumb lightly across her nipple, and she was arching her back each time he did that. Her legs were wrapped tightly around his and she sighed his name again. Blushing, Harry turned to leave as quietly as he could. Ginny opened her eyes and let out a high pitched yelp.

"Sorry!" Harry called out behind him, and left the dorm.

"There you are." Ron said climbing the stairs to the dorm room Harry just left.

"I-I thought you were flying." Harry said nervously, blocking Ron's way up.

"It's no fun by yourself." he said sidestepping Harry and continuing up to the room.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked repeating Neville's earlier words.

"To put my book bag away." Ron said pointing to the heavy bag resting on his shoulder.

"Why don't you do that after dinner, Hermione's probably looking for us."

"It'll only take one second." Ron said opening the door. His eyes widened, and his cheeks flushed with anger. "Oi!" he yelled out. "What are you doing in here with him!" Harry let out a sigh of pity for Ginny.

Ginny walked out holding a class book in her hand, fully dressed. "I'm allowed to study you know." She said defiantly walking past him.

"Study my arse!" Ron yelled at her. "You don't need to be in a boy's dorm alone with him!" Ron growled pointing to Dean, who was blushing. His tie was lazily thrown over his head, and one of his buttons was open.

"You aren't my boss." Ginny said walking down the stairs without a care in the world. Ron fumed, threw his bag into the room, and ran after her.

"You won't say anything to him, will you?" Dean asked Harry nervously.

"And be the one to give him a heart attack?" Harry asked, fixing Dean's tie.

"Thanks mate." Dean said relieved, and walked with Harry to the Great Hall. "So..?" Dean asked nervously. "You don't mind do you?"

"Don't mind what?" Harry asked confused.

"About me and Ginny," Dean attempted to clarify.

"No. I mean as long as you guys are being careful and Ron never finds out that I know. Then it's none of my business." Harry said blushing.

"Not that." Dean said, an amused smile on his face. "I mean you don't mind that we are getting serious about our relationship?"

"I guess not. That's really more of a question to ask Ron though." Harry led them to the Gryffindor table.

"It doesn't bother you? I thought you like her?" Dean looked confused.

"I did." Harry shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"What made you change your mind?" Harry didn't know. He didn't even know when he stopped liking Ginny.

"Excuse us." Someone pushed between Harry and Dean, and grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him in the opposite direction. Harry turned his head to see Blaise leading him out of the Great Hall.

"What do you want now?" Harry asked angrily, shaking out of Blaise's grip, as they exited the Great Hall.

"It's about Draco." Blaise said turning piercing eyes to Harry.

"I told you yesterday-"

"Yes, I heard what you told me yesterday." Blaise said running his fingers through his hair. "And Draco heard you too."

"Your point?" Harry looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. He was tired of being the school's gossip target.

"He hasn't eaten or slept since then."

"It's been one day, he'll be over it by the end of the week."

"No he won't. He won't even be here by the end of the week." Blaise sighed looking defeated.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, eye brows raised.

"He wrote a letter to his dad saying he was done with school and just wanted to join….the family business." Blaise whispered. "But he's told me before that he doesn't want to have any part with that." Blaise rushed on before Harry could get angry. "He's upset and thinks you have been ignoring him because you want to dump him. He told me that he would help you out by just leaving, but this is the only way he could think of his dad letting him out of school."

"So what, he's just going to leave? Like running away and joining the family business will solve everything?"

"He's Draco, he's rash. You of all people have to understand what it's like to make a blind decision-"

"Does he want to -do what his dad does?" Harry asked.

"No, he despises the idea. But he doesn't want to be around you, knowing that you hate him."

"What do you want me to do about it, rush up to the Slytherin dorm and tell him that I want him here, and that he can't leave?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"Well do you want him to leave and become a…well you know?"

"No."

"Then start running."

Let's give SweetTormentedAngel a hand for her lovely and swift beta skills. She's great.....

Review?Please?Don't make me get on my knees and beg.

Please mind Harry's jerkness, he's just in denial right now is all.