What happens when their secret is revealed and two lovers are forced to
part, and how far will their friends go to see them together again?
Prologue: Whispers and Scandals
Harry walked disconsolately down the vast stone corridors to the Gryffindor Tower. He was flanked by his best friends Ron and Hermione, who both wore somber and concerned faces.
"Harry..." Ron began, but couldn't think of anything to say, so he closed his mouth almost immediately. He was quite startled to see a mysterious moisture in Harry's brilliant green eyes, spilling over and running down his face. He was usually so full of life and laughter, but now he was pale and somehow like a corpse.
They arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry didn't seem to notice. Those terribly sad eyes were fixed straight ahead, looking at nothing, seeing nothing.
" Soronias, " Hermione said in a cautious voice, not looking at the Fat Lady, but at Harry. The Fat Lady looked at them curiously, but said nothing and opened.
I guess she hasn't heard, thought Ron bitterly.
The Gryffindor common room revealed almost all the Gryffindors sitting in plush armchairs and whispering behind cupped hands. As soon as the three entered, every face looked up, and an unnatural hush settled upon them. Ron and Hermione looked around them, bewildered. Surely after a week things must have calmed down? Apparently not.
*****
Alone in his dormitory, Harry buried his face in his pillow and cried. This whole terrible, lonely week was dissolved into harsh sobs that would have broken any listener's heart. How good it feels to cry, Harry thought, And how strange.
Chapter 1: The Beginning and the End
If only Harry could turn back time, he knew he would have responded differently. If he had known the pressure was getting to Draco so badly, he could have shown more compassion. He could have showed him that he cared. Instead, he had shoved him aside.
It had taken a week to destroy that which they had worked so hard to build. Only a week. The cruel whisperings, the hisses and jeers of their former comrades ravaged what had once been a love so pure and so simple. Now it was tainted with the poison of truth. Secrets and lies. They all amounted the same thing, didn't they? But it had been so wonderful. Lies were supposed to be a bad thing, Harry thought, How could something that felt so good and so right be bad?
About a month ago, Harry had had a terrifying revelation. He was in love. That would have been hard enough for him, but his feelings went further than that. He was in love with a boy. Ah, how hard for a boy who lived in a society that shunned such "immoral" behaviour! But Harry's love went even deeper, so deep that he would have been driven mad by it, if his mind had not been so strong. He was in love with Draco Malfoy.
Each day in Potions, Harry found himself gazing longingly across the room to where the Slytherins sat. There his eyes would be drawn to an enchanting figure. A figure that represented all that Harry was and all that he could never be. They were photo negatives of each other, Harry and Draco. One was hallowed in golden light, while the other veiled in shadow. Positive and negative. Well, don't those wise creators of cliches that we all hate say that opposites attract? Yet another example of the wisdom that lies in cliche and science.
*****
Draco turned quickly, as though sensing Harry's gaze. Their eyes locked and at that moment they knew the other felt what they had been feeling for so long. They knew they were in love.
Midnight. The cold halls were dark and empty. Harry waited impatiently, leaning against a stone wall. He said he wanted to meet me here, Harry thought, so where is he? But at that moment, he heard light footsteps coming towards him. Draco, now 10 minutes late, had finally arrived.
"Alright Malfoy," Harry began, "What did you want to see me fo..."
And suddenly, Draco's lips were upon his, shutting off his words. Harry stiffened in shock, but almost immediately closed his eyes, returning Draco's kiss. Harry felt his knees giving way, and they sank to the floor together.
Draco broke away and looked into Harry's eyes.
"I think you know," he said, "That is what I came here for. I think you know."
Prologue: Whispers and Scandals
Harry walked disconsolately down the vast stone corridors to the Gryffindor Tower. He was flanked by his best friends Ron and Hermione, who both wore somber and concerned faces.
"Harry..." Ron began, but couldn't think of anything to say, so he closed his mouth almost immediately. He was quite startled to see a mysterious moisture in Harry's brilliant green eyes, spilling over and running down his face. He was usually so full of life and laughter, but now he was pale and somehow like a corpse.
They arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry didn't seem to notice. Those terribly sad eyes were fixed straight ahead, looking at nothing, seeing nothing.
" Soronias, " Hermione said in a cautious voice, not looking at the Fat Lady, but at Harry. The Fat Lady looked at them curiously, but said nothing and opened.
I guess she hasn't heard, thought Ron bitterly.
The Gryffindor common room revealed almost all the Gryffindors sitting in plush armchairs and whispering behind cupped hands. As soon as the three entered, every face looked up, and an unnatural hush settled upon them. Ron and Hermione looked around them, bewildered. Surely after a week things must have calmed down? Apparently not.
*****
Alone in his dormitory, Harry buried his face in his pillow and cried. This whole terrible, lonely week was dissolved into harsh sobs that would have broken any listener's heart. How good it feels to cry, Harry thought, And how strange.
Chapter 1: The Beginning and the End
If only Harry could turn back time, he knew he would have responded differently. If he had known the pressure was getting to Draco so badly, he could have shown more compassion. He could have showed him that he cared. Instead, he had shoved him aside.
It had taken a week to destroy that which they had worked so hard to build. Only a week. The cruel whisperings, the hisses and jeers of their former comrades ravaged what had once been a love so pure and so simple. Now it was tainted with the poison of truth. Secrets and lies. They all amounted the same thing, didn't they? But it had been so wonderful. Lies were supposed to be a bad thing, Harry thought, How could something that felt so good and so right be bad?
About a month ago, Harry had had a terrifying revelation. He was in love. That would have been hard enough for him, but his feelings went further than that. He was in love with a boy. Ah, how hard for a boy who lived in a society that shunned such "immoral" behaviour! But Harry's love went even deeper, so deep that he would have been driven mad by it, if his mind had not been so strong. He was in love with Draco Malfoy.
Each day in Potions, Harry found himself gazing longingly across the room to where the Slytherins sat. There his eyes would be drawn to an enchanting figure. A figure that represented all that Harry was and all that he could never be. They were photo negatives of each other, Harry and Draco. One was hallowed in golden light, while the other veiled in shadow. Positive and negative. Well, don't those wise creators of cliches that we all hate say that opposites attract? Yet another example of the wisdom that lies in cliche and science.
*****
Draco turned quickly, as though sensing Harry's gaze. Their eyes locked and at that moment they knew the other felt what they had been feeling for so long. They knew they were in love.
Midnight. The cold halls were dark and empty. Harry waited impatiently, leaning against a stone wall. He said he wanted to meet me here, Harry thought, so where is he? But at that moment, he heard light footsteps coming towards him. Draco, now 10 minutes late, had finally arrived.
"Alright Malfoy," Harry began, "What did you want to see me fo..."
And suddenly, Draco's lips were upon his, shutting off his words. Harry stiffened in shock, but almost immediately closed his eyes, returning Draco's kiss. Harry felt his knees giving way, and they sank to the floor together.
Draco broke away and looked into Harry's eyes.
"I think you know," he said, "That is what I came here for. I think you know."