The owl that landed on the Gryffindor table that Monday morning hadn't been there before. The owl was beautiful, a glistening screech, and Harry was sure that he would remember seeing this particular owl before. And since Harry was fairly sure that it wasn't a school owl, he had only one idea who this owl; who had landed in front of him, with only a single line written on the letter that it dropped.
Potter,
It meant nothing.
It wasn't signed, but a quick glance to the Slytherin table, where a certain blonde had been carefully watching Harry over his newspaper, told Harry all that he needed to know.
And enough to know that the letter was a lie.
Flipping the parchment over and borrowing Hermione's quill, he scribbled a response, suddenly aware on how messy his handwriting was compared to the blonde's.
Sure it didn't. What don't you stop staring at me, then?
Harry
A few minutes later, the owl had returned. Ignoring Ron and Hermione's questioning glances, he took the letter it offered, and unfolded it quickly.
Touché.
Harry couldn't help smiling.
--
One day earlier
Harry was late to potions. Not that he really cared about showing up, or even about missing what was going on in class, but he knew that if he showed up late one more time, Snape would kill him. He wouldn't care that it wasn't his fault that he was late, that Dean had forgotten one of his books, and that Ron had stupidly grabbed Harry's potion book to hand to Dean, instead of the charms one that Dean needed. By the time that Harry had hurried to the charms classroom to trade books, he was already late.
So, really, it wasn't his fault at all. It was Ron's.
But Snape wouldn't care if it wasn't his fault. Not if it would keep him from taking points away from Harry.
It was because of Harry's desire to prolong the time it took him to get to class that he followed the sound of sobbing.
It lead him a little off course of where he was going, but Harry didn't really care. If he was lucky, he'd keep walking until class was over. He followed the sound around the corner, where what he saw brought him to a complete stop.
Draco Malfoy was leaning against the wall, tears streaming down his face. And, as far as Harry could tell, he hadn't noticed that Harry was watching.
Harry took a few steps forward, wondering how close he could get to Malfoy before he would look up. He was only a couple steps away when Malfoy looked up at him, the annoyance and suppressed anger still visible behind the wetness in his eyes.
"What do you want, Potter?" Draco snapped, though something seemed to be missing from his usual drawl. "If you're going to sneak up on me to laugh at me, could you get it over with. I don't want to deal with you right now."
"I wasn't going to laugh at you, Malfoy," Harry said, irritated. "I'm not you."
Malfoy snorted.
"Oh, excuse me," he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "What were you planning on doing, then?"
"I heard someone," Harry said, shrugging. "I came to see if something was wrong."
"And so the hero comes to save the day," Draco said, looking away, an odd look in his eyes. There was a moments pause, before his eyes snapped back to Harry's face. "Why didn't you turn around when you saw who it was?"
Harry shrugged again, but he could tell the Malfoy was waiting for an answer. Smiling slightly, he sighed.
"Because I really wanted to miss potions," he said hopefully, mentally crossing his fingers that Malfoy wasn't thinking that it was more then that.
To his surprise, Malfoy laughed. Shaking his head, he stood up. His eyes looked almost dry now.
"Anything to get out of potions," he said. "God, you're pathetic, Potter."
Harry couldn't help noticing that Malfoy's tone was more teasing then unpleasant. He felt a small smile play once more at his lips.
"I try," he said.
It was when Malfoy smiled slightly back, and took a step forward, as though he intended to go around Harry, when he instead ended up stepping right in front of him. Harry wouldn't have believed this to be an accident, if it wasn't for the shocked look on Malfoy's face.
But Harry only got a glimpse of his face, before Harry felt himself closing the distance between them.
The horror didn't kick in until after Harry and Malfoy had parted, but for the few seconds that Malfoy's lips were on his, Harry felt complete bliss.
--
Harry couldn't believe what he was about to do. Passing notes in potions was practically suicide, the chances that Snape wouldn't catch you were slim. Plus, Harry felt that passing notes was a girl thing.
But desperate times had called for desperate measures.
Malfoy,
It's been three days, and you still haven't stop staring at me. Enough of this 'it meant nothing' nonsense. It obviously meant something or you would have spread it to the whole school that I– well, that I did what I did. So, why don't you tell me why you haven't told everyone yet?
Harry was lucky that Malfoy sat across the aisle from him, so that all he needed to do was stretch slightly, and he could drop the note on Malfoy's desk. He saw Malfoy's eyes flicker to his for a moment. Harry wasn't sure why, but he was pleased to see that they were shocked.
Harry didn't have to wait long before another note was slipped onto his desk. Harry glanced over at him; he was smirking.
Potter,
Who said that you kissed me? Last time I checked, that wasn't how it happened.
And I could ask you the same thing. Why haven't you told anyone? What about Weasley and Granger; I'm assuming that you've told them at least.
But they haven't tried to strangle me yet, so maybe you haven't.
I have to admit, I'm surprised, Potter. I thought you told them everything?
Snape was watching Harry carefully now. Deciding not to push his luck, he tucked the note into his bag. He'd have to answer it in his room later.
--
The next few days pasted without incident, and to Harry it seemed as though they passed only with the letters that him and Malfoy exchanged.
Malfoy,
So you kissed me? My, My, Malfoy. I didn't know that you could be so forward. Or even that you were that way.
And I don't tell Ron and Hermione everything. Maybe I haven't said anything because I didn't think anyone would believe it. Plus, I could really live without rumors going around the school about me.
But you still haven't answered me. Why haven't you told anyone??
--
Potter,
What do you mean, you didn't know that I was that way? Do you mean kissing guys? If you do, then it's my turn to say my, my, Potter. Where have you been?
I have to say that you keep surprising me. I didn't think that the famous Harry Potter would ever not want people talking about him.
If you must know, I haven't told anyone because I don't need the gossip either. Also, it would completely ruin my reputation.
It's not because I enjoyed it, if that's what you were thinking.
--
Malfoy,
Thanks to you, my whole common room is staring at me. I just fell out of my chair as I read that last line of your letter. I hope you're pleased.
--
Potter,
Oh, I am pleased.
And why did that make you fall out of your chair? You can't blame the fact the you're ungraceful on me.
--
Malfoy,
I can blame you for whatever I want. How are you going to stop me?
--
When I said 'how are you going to stop me', I didn't mean to give you permission to kick me in the middle of the Great Hall. My shin still hurts.
Potter
--
Potter,
Well, when writing a letter, one must be clearer about these sorts of things. How was I supposed to know?
Though I do hope you aren't waiting for me to apologize, because it's not going to happen.
--
Malfoy,
Fuck you.
--
Potter,
You'd like that, wouldn't you?
--
Malfoy,
Maybe I would. What's it to you?
--
Harry sent that last letter without a thought, sniggering slightly as he did so.
He had never thought that Malfoy would take it seriously.
But after only six days after their first kiss, Harry found not only himself being pulled into a broom closet between classes, but found himself repeating the experience.
--
A/N: Wow, that was certainly interesting, wasn't it? Sometimes I worry about what comes out of my head. Anyway, I didn't start this as a chaptered fic, but I certainly think it's going that way now!! And don't worry, this doesn't mean I'm abandoning Fighting.
And to those who haven't read my fic Fighting (or any of my other fics), feel free to check them out!
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