Hello everyone! Severus here, posting the first chapter of our new story. Sadly, Draco, Tonks, and Harry couldn't be with me at the moment to share in the long awaited occasion! Now may I present to you Bathroom Beginnings, part 1 of It All Started in a Bathroom!

Warning: Slash, slight AU, somewhat DH and HBP Compliant. Takes place towards the beginning of sixth year. HP/DM HG/BZ RW/LB

Chapter One

Bathroom Beginnings

The world swirled around him, twisting and blurring his vision. Clawing at his tie, Draco struggled to catch his breath.

I can't do this.

He struggled to steady himself, clutching the porcelain sink in a grip that turned his knuckles white. He fought to hold his ground against the swelling despair in his chest. The reality of his mission was crushing he, smothering him in its weight.

I have to do this; I have no choice.

A choking gasp broke through his clenched teeth. He had to hold himself together. He was a Malfoy; Malfoys are not weak. The words of his father flooded his mind: "You do not show weakness. Not around others, not within your self. My son and heir will not be a disgraceful weakling."

"Malfoy?" came an all to familiar voice.

His muscles tensed at the sound. Why him? Why now?

"Get out of here, Potter!" He yelled, trying to keep the anxiety from his voice.

He heard the foot-steps behind him, moving closer to where he stood hunched over the sink.

"Malfoy?"

Draco looked up into the cracked mirror, his gray, tear filled eyes starting in to the concerned emerald eyes of the Raven haired wizard.

"Leave me be Potter!" He spat.

There was no venom behind his words. For once in his life, Draco had no strength to throw an insult.

He can't see me like this, no one can. Be strong Draco. Be a Malfoy.

But he had no fight left in him. All of his thoughts were turned to the empty box that lay now in the Headmaster's office, and of the innocent girl in St. Mungo's. All of it was his fault; his careless mistake had caused this.

Harry stood behind him, unwavering in his attempt at comfort.

"Now, Potter, before I hex you." Again, there was no sting to his threat.

Draco stared at his white knuckles, unable to hold Harry's searching gaze.

Don't look at him. Stay strong Draco. Be a Malfoy. Stay Strong.

Suddenly, he felt a hand grasp his shoulder, turning him away from the battered mirror.

"Draco?"

He couldn't hold back any longer, throwing his arms around the Gryffindor in a breath-taking embrace. Draco couldn't hold back the sob that broke through him.

"I'm sorry." He sobbed into Harry's shoulder, "I didn't mean hurt anyone."

Harry Stiffened for a moment, before relaxing enough to return Draco's embrace. The strong arms that wrapped around his shaking form reassured him slightly. In Harry's arms, it did not matter that Draco was a Slytherin or that Harry was a Gryffindor. Draco's name meant nothing, nor did Harry's. At that moment, they weren't Malfoy or Potter- they were Draco and Harry.

Harry held him gently, only offering a few words of comfort every few moments, while Draco cried into his robes.

"I never meant for anyone to get hurt." he whispered.

"I know, I know." Harry soothed.

No, you don't, and you never will.

Reluctantly, Draco pulled himself from the warm embrace. Turning away from Harry, Draco hesitantly said, "Nobody can know, Potter. Alright?"

Harry shook his head, waking himself from his dazed thoughts, " I can keep a secret."

Draco gave a curt nod before hurrying out of the lavatory. This had gone too far for Draco's liking.

I am a Malfoy. I must be strong. I cannot show weakness; especially not to Harry Potter. How could I have let my guard down?

Harry stood in front of the sink, still in shock of what had just happened. What bothered him most wasn't the fact that Draco had allowed him to comfort him. No, it was something far more disturbing. What Death Eater would cry in front of The-Boy-Who-Lived ?

Was I even right to believe he is a Death Eater?

He had stood, holding the sobbing Slytherin in his arms, listening to Draco apologize over and over again. What did he have to be sorry for? He was Draco Malfoy; he had wealth, a family, a home. Anything he could possibly want!

And everything I don't have.

But he couldn't find it in himself to be jealous. He had seen how Lucius had treated Draco; it had seemed so cold and cruel. There was no love between the two. And if there was, it was buried deep. How would the Death Eater react if he knew his heir had cried in the arms of his Lord's greatest enemy? Harry couldn't wrap his mind around it. Could Draco truly be a Death Eater if he felt remorse for a something he had done. Death Eaters had no remorse; they never apologized for past crimes.

What had he done to feel so guilty over?

Harry shook the thought from his head; he had been gone for too long. He had told Hermione he was going to the library, and felt as though he had been standing there for hours. Based on only the occasional student passing by, Harry suspected it was nearly curfew. Quickly, he left the lavatory, hurrying through the corridors to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Faery Lights." he said, slightly out of breath.

"Cutting it a bit close, aren't we dearie?" the Fat Lady chided before swinging open.

Harry nodded, embarrassed, as he climbed through the portrait hole. He found Hermione, still at the same table he had left her at an hour ago, surrounded by textbooks and rolls of parchment.

"Harry, where were you? I looked up from my Transfiguration essay, and you had gone." She said in a shrill voice, looking up from her studies.

Harry slumped into the seat across from her, unsure of how to respond. He still had yet to comprehend what had just happened.

Bloody Hell! I was there and I still don't understand! How would she be able to?

"Er... I had a run in with Malfoy on the way to the library." He said hesitantly, carefully choosing he words.

"Oh, Harry," she sighed, "can't you just leave that be?"

Her bit his lips, apprehensive at what her reaction would be, "Actually, I think I will."

Hermione tilted her head, gazing at him quizzically, a gaze he knew all too well. She was urging him to continue without pressuring him outright. He sighed, Of course she knew something was wrong.

Harry felt his face heat up as he remembered the encounter. He could still smell bits of Draco on his own robes, some strange spiced smell he couldn't put a name to. His eyes widened at the thought,

When did he take stock of what Draco smelled like?

He cast the thought from his mind, focusing his attention back on Hermione.

"You're right. I should let it go; that run in that is." He started, Hermione nodding for him to continue, " And, well, is wasn't a ...bad run in, really."

Harry hesitated a second more, trying formulate the words in his mind. His feelings were still muddled; all his senses had been on fire with Draco so close to him set his emotions on overload. Instantly he filled with guilt at betraying their secret so quickly, but Hermione could be trusted. Besides, she would have figured it out on her own somehow.

"I heard Draco in the bathroom on my way to the library. he sounded really upset, so I stopped to see what was wrong." he said awkwardly, " I haven't a clue what came over me, but I walked in to make sure he was okay."

Hermione stared at him blankly, "What? You're joking, Harry!"

He shook his head, "And somehow I ended up comforting him, you know? Draco was so upset, so I just stood there and held him until he had calmed down."

"Honestly, Harry, what would Malfoy have to cry about?"

Harry thought for a moment, remembering Draco's words.

"He kept saying he was 'sorry' and hadn't meant for 'anyone to get hurt'. He was really upset over it, Hermione."

She frowned at his words, "Malfoy? Sorry?"

He nodded in return.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but closed it quickly. Am moment later, she spoke calmly, "You believe him, don't you? For whatever it is he's done?"

He remembered the desperation in Draco's words. The emotion behind his words and tears seemed so sincere and hard not to believe.

"Yes."

"Then what happened to your 'Malfoy is a Death Eater' Theory?" she asked wearily.

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

" A Death Eater wouldn't cry in front of anyone, especially not in front of me, and especially in front of me. Draco isn't a Death Eater."

Hermione smiled to herself, So, Malfoy is Draco now? She knew where this would head; she could see it in Harry's eyes when he spoke about believing Malfoy. Turning back to her school work, pondering Harry's last words.

Harry, too, was left to ponder his last words.

Since when have I called Malfoy Draco?

So, what do you think? Review please! And if you have any questions we'll be happy to answer them! Chapter Two will be up soon!

~3 Severus