Harry woke up in the infirmary, sweat dripping down his forehead. Madam Pomfrey looked over at him when he let out a loud groan, his head spinning around and around. He tried to erase the sharp image of Voldemort in his head, or at least, it had to be Voldemort. He hadn't seen a face, but the dark power emanating from him couldn't be mistaken. It had to be him.

One minute, he'd been talking to Draco and the second, he was lost in a dark field with no one but the robed visage of Voldemort standing over him.

Madam Pomfrey pointed her wand at a cup on the bedside table. "Drink," she smiled mildly, "you woke up just in time for dinner. They're going to announce the champions today, so if you're feeling up to it, you should go."

Harry looked around, "Champions?"

"Yes, any student who is of age can throw their name into the Goblet of Fire for a chance to be the champion of Hogwarts and compete in the tournament."

Harry nodded, "That's today? I forgot."

"Now, how are you feeling?"

"Just a little headache," Harry lied smoothly, "probably dehydration."

Or the Dark Lord trying to get in his head.

Madam Pomfrey let him go down to the Great Hall, and Harry gratefully took his spot at the Gryffindor table, forking himself a little bit of mashed potatoes and picking at it, not really hungry. His friends tried to talk but he just mumbled responses, trying to show he didn't want to talk. He watched warily as Dumbledore stood, signaling for silence. The drone of conversation slowly died away and Dumbledore gestured toward the goblet in front of all, the ethereal blue flames erupting from it. Harry could hardly pay attention to his speech. It wouldn't matter anyway, Harry wasn't old enough to participate. The names were called, one at a time, and the champions lined up.

Dumbledore was just about to wrap up his speech when the goblet sputtered once more, and Harry was announced as a champion.

Draco noticed that Harry's friends were ignoring him. Or at least, it looked like they were ignoring him. He knew that the idiotic redhead was at least mad. Which posed the perfect opportunity for Draco to step in. When his friends turned on him, Draco would be there. So what, Harry had been chosen as a champion, it came as no surprise to Draco. He could barely keep himself from smiling as he walked out of potions the following morning, waiting for Harry. Potter stepped out, looking at the floor and rushing down the hall. "Hey! Harry, wait up!"

Harry stopped and turned, his face pale and dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Draco put a hand on his shoulder, "What happened to friends? You haven't said anything to me in weeks."

"Sorry, it's all the training. The first event is coming soon, and no one is really my biggest fan at the moment. Everyone just thinks I want attention."

Draco shook his head, "That's the thing with light wizards, they're so shallow. Anything they don't like, they just turn around and shun it."

Harry snorted. "Says the one who called one of my best friends a mudblood just because of circumstances beyond her control."

"I was twelve. And besides, at least us dark wizards don't beat around the bush and pretend to not have biases we do. Internal bias is real and at least we acknowledge it. Annnnd, for the record, I don't think muggle borns are gross anymore."

"You, you don't?" Harry's eyebrows shot up, his previously drooping eyes now wide.

Draco grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him away from the stream of students, amongst which was Cedric Digory. Draco made a beeline for a hidden alcove, Potter just looking flustered. "I know what the first task is," he said as soon as they were truly alone. "I have a couple ideas on how you could beat it, since we're friends now I figured that's how you're supposed to do things, right? Help each other?"

Harry broke into a grin, "Yeah, that's exactly how friends work. Wait, you didn't know how friends work?"

Draco waved a hand dismissively, looking anywhere but at Harry. "Of course I know how it works. I meant with Gryffindors like you."

"What's the task?" Harry fidgeted with his potions book, looking more adorable every second.

"Dragons," Draco said as casually as he could, hoping Harry wouldn't ask how he knew. He didn't think he could ever explain that he lived this before, or at least a version of this before. "You have to steal an egg from a dragon."

"Blimey. How the hell am I supposed to beat something like that!" Harry banged his head against Draco's chest before realizing that he was, in fact, touching him and jumped away.

"I know exactly how," Draco grinned before slipping out of the alcove despite Potter's confused shouts. He needed Potter to ponder all he'd said. He also needed to find, ugh, that stupid Ron Weasley.

Draco reached into his robes, drawing his wand. He didn't know where to find the Weasel, which he probably should've thought of before developing his plan, but figured the git would be hanging somewhere near the Great Hall, waiting for lunch to ring to curb his ridiculous appetite. Draco almost laughed when he saw him, the guy's face almost as red as his hair. He looked pissed. Which only made Draco all the more amused. "What's got your robes in a twist, Weasel?"

"Shut your mouth, Malfoy. I'm not in the mood for a spoiled brat like you."

"Poor Weasley abandoned by the great Harry Potter. Left alone. You honestly thought you stood a chance to be a friend of someone as famous as him? A blood traitor like you? HA! Don't make me laugh," Draco smirked, hoping his antics would work.

Ron leapt to his feet, "Why can't you mind your own goddamn business!?"

"Yours is just so much more interesting, obviously," Draco yawned.

"Fuck off!"

"No need to get hostile, Weasley. It's not my fault you were too blind to see that someone like Harry Potter is so much better than you. Of course he wouldn't tell you his plan to get in the Tournament! Honestly, you're ridiculous!"

"That isn't true! You're just saying bullshit!" Ron shook with anger which only made Draco laugh.

"Then watch," Draco said, only loud enough for Weasley to hear as Harry started walking toward lunch.

When he spotted Draco, his eyes lit up. "Draco! I've been looking for you, we need to talk about earlier."

Draco grinned at the Weasel and mouthed, "Told you so" before turning to Harry and walking away. And with that, Draco was sure he just burned a very important bridge.