Chapter 1: Coming to Reality

It was the beginning of 7th year and everyone was on edge because of the war the previous year, but also relieved because Harry had defeated the Dark Lord and they wouldn't have to worry anymore.

That summer, Harry started to realize that something was happening, and he didn't know if it was good or bad, but he would not say anything until he was sure of what his feelings were.

Harry was at the Burrow the day before they had to go back to Hogwarts, with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the Weasley's. Sitting in his room thinking about what had been puzzling him for the last couple of weeks, with a concerned, puzzled, and worried face he thought:

"This can't be happening. Do I really feel this way? Is this just a theory? What if this is true? What if I really do feel this way? Bloody hell I am so confused!" Just as all these thought were occupying Harry, Ron walked in,

"Harry, you okay mate?" It seemed that Harry didn't hear him so he snapped his fingers in front of Harry's face.

"Earth to Harry," Harry snapped out of his daze.

"Oh! Sorry Ron I was thinking."

"Mum says dinner is almost ready."

"Okay. I'll be down in a minute."

"Harry are you okay? You know you can tell me anything," Ron said with a worried tone in his voice.

"Yeah, Ron, I know. I'm fine really." Harry faked a smile hoping it would fool him since it normally did. Ron knew something was up but decided to leave it and find Hermione since he hadn't seen her all day.

Harry went back to his thoughts.

"What if this is what I have become?" He touched his lightning scar that hadn't bothered him since the day he defeated Voldemort. "I think fighting Voldemort and having him enter my mind every other day was less painful and confusing as what I am dealing with now." He smirked and headed down the stairs to dinner. He saw Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.

"Need any help?" he asked.

"No thank you dear, just go take a seat with the others, dinner will be out in a moment." He did as he was told and went to sit next to Ron. He looked around the table and everybody had a worried expression on their face.

"What?" He said confused.

"Well Harry, you have been locked in your room pretty much since, you know, since you defeated Voldemort." Hermione broke the awkward moment.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that Hermione?"

"It's just that, well, we're worried. Are you sure you are alright?"

"I'm fine! Will everybody get of my case!" He got up and went outside by the lake and sat down. "Why can't they just leave me alone? I am perfectly fine. Aren't I?" The previous thoughts entered his mind again. He just pondered with them but he was more scared then he normally was when these thoughts penetrated his mind.

"Could this mean something?'"He thought.

"Something is definitely up with Harry. I hate seeing him like this." Ginny said.

"Ginny, it's going to be okay, He'll come around, I mean it was only a few months ago that he defeated Voldemort. He's probably overwhelmed. I mean think of what he has to deal with when we get back to school." Hermione said.

"Hermione's right Gin; Come on you know this has to be hard on him. All his life he has had this huge battle that he has been destined to do, and all the sudden in a few short minutes it's all over. And now we are going back to school, and after last year, with Dumbledore and Snape..." Ron trailed off.

"I know, It just hurts to see him like this, but is it me, or whenever we bring up Malfoy he gets jumpy and flushed?"

"Well Gin, he was a Death Eater, and I think it just hit him that it's over. Talking about it is just probably bring up the issue that we just discussed. Heaven only knows what they are going to end up doing when we get back to school tomorrow. That reminds me I have some last minute packing to do." with that Hermione went up stairs to finish packing.

Ron and Ginny went and played a round of wizard's chests until Mrs. Weasley told them it was time for bed.

"Ron can you go get Harry from outside please?" his mother asked.

"Sure mum," Ron walked outside to find Harry asleep next to the lake. He chuckled, "Harry, Harry wake up, the only time we get you out of your room and you are sleeping; you're mental." He said as he shook Harry.

"Harry if you don't get up, you won't like what I am going to do." Harry still didn't stir "Fine, you forced me to take drastic measures."

As soon as he finished saying that, he waved his wand and a cold bucket of water came out of nowhere and dumped on Harry. The moment it made contact, Harry jumped up as if he was on fire. He realized what had happened, and was looking angrily at a smiling, laughing, Ron.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT FOR!" he roared at Ron.

"You were sleeping, and mum told me to come get you. I tried being nice but that didn't seem to work so, I tried a different approach, and that one worked quite well." He said still smiling.

"Well next time try harder on the first approach." Ron helped Harry up and they went inside. Harry dried off and started thinking about that dream he was rudely awaken from.

"That was such a weird dream, I mean, I didn't mind it but that's what's weird to me." With this perplexing thought he went to bed and he was fast asleep in a matter of seconds.

WITH DRACO MALFOY AT MALFOY MANNER

"Oh my gosh, I'm in love! Me, Draco Malfoy, in love! What to tell my father. He wouldn't be mad if I told him I was in love, but it's who I am in love with that would make him furious. He would probably crucio me if he found out. Mum, it would probably take her a little while to get her head wrapped around, but she would want me to be happy. I would have to tell them something before I tell them who I am in love with. I will have to tell them, that, that, that I'm gay; and in love with Harry Potter!"

But it's just a fantasy, I mean how could Potter like me, he's straight and in love with the Weasley girl. But even if he wasn't straight, he still would never love me. Man, being a Death Eater was way easier than this. Well all I can do is wish and dream." He ends with a disappointed tone.

"Draco, time for bed dear." his mother calls.

"Alright mum, night." And with that, he climbed into bed and silently cried himself to sleep over the love he had for a man that would never love him back.

THE NEXT DAY AT PLATFORM 9 ¾

"Come on now, hurry up dears, you don't want to miss the train." Mrs. Weasley called.

"Good bye mum, see you in a few months." Ron said.

"Yeah, what Ron said," Ginny piped up.

"Bye , thanks for everything." Hermione said hugging Mrs. Weasley one last time.

"Oh Hermione, it's no problem! Come back whenever you'd like." Hermione nodded her head and got on the train taking Ron's hand and leaving in search of a compartment that they could snog in later on in the journey.

"Bye, thanks for a great summer." Harry said.

"Oh Harry, thank you for your bravery." Mrs. Weasley said with tear filled eyes.

"Yeah, well, see you in a few months." They said there goodbyes and board the train for their final year at Hogwarts, and Ginny's sixth year.

Harry turned his head to see none other than Draco Malfoy, the guy he had been thinking and dreaming about since the day he defeated Voldemort. About a moment later Draco looked up to met Harry's gaze and the two men keet eye contact for a minute, seeming hypnotized as well as mesmerized. After that minute, Draco was jabbed in his back by his father's cane and walked to get on the train.

At that moment, Harry realized that he wasn't making this feeling up; it was real and he finally had the answer, but he would not tell anyone. No one could know what his deepest secret was now. He was gay, and in love with the man that had been mean to him for so many years, he was in love with Draco Malfoy. He thought,

"Oh my goodness, I'm in love with Draco Malfoy!" He was quiet the whole way to Hogwarts. No one bugged him knowing that he was probably getting over the big battle; but they couldn't have been more wrong. He was thinking about Draco, his bleach blonde hair, ice blue eyes, not to mention that smirk. He thought about all of this and when it got to the smirk, a small smile came across his face. The others didn't notice. When he thought about Draco he couldn't help but be happy. He thought,

"Could this be a bad thing?" he pondered this though until the train reached Hogwarts. He got off the train, as he looked around he could not find Draco so he just headed to the carriages. He was slightly disappointed but he did not let it show.

Draco got on the train and found an empty compartment. Before he knew it Blaise, Pansy, and Goyle, came and joined him.

"Hey mate, how was your summer?" Blaise asked giving Draco a brotherly hug.

"Hey guys, it was okay." He hugged the rest of them and they all sat down.

"So did you tell your parents yet?" Blaise and Pansy asked almost simultaneously.

"Tell them what?" he asked, wondering what they could be talking about.

"Tell them about you being in love with Potter!" Pansy giggled.

A worried look came across Draco's face.

"KEEP YOUR BLOODY VOICES DOWN! I don't need the whole school to know!" Draco shouted as he slammed the compartment door shut.

"Well did you at least tell them that, you know, that you're gay?" Goyle asked.

"NO! Are you guys' nuts? They would kill me if they found out."

"Well you're going to have to tell them some time mate."

"I know, But Blaise, they won't be as understanding as you guys are."

"Sure they will, they love you Draco, well at least your mum will. Potter saved your bloody arse remember? She would want you to be happy." Pansy said putting her arm around him to comfort him. Goyle left the compartment to go and get food.

"Thanks Pansy." He said giving her a smile and a hug.

"No problem Draco." She said returning the smile. Then the train stopped.

"Don't worry, everything will work out, you'll see." Pansy said as she left the compartment.

"She's right you know." Blaise said. With that Draco found himself alone. He grabbed his bag, and got off the train. He looked around for Harry; he couldn't find him and was slightly disappointed but he couldn't seem to get Harry's emerald eyes out of his mind, they made him week at the knees. He made his way to the carts that took him to what would be, what he thought, his most difficult year at Hogwarts yet.

AT THE FEAST IN THE GREAT HALL

The first year's got sorted into their houses, the headmistress gave her speech, and the feast had appeared.

"Harry, Harry, Earth to Harry Potter!" Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face and he snapped back into reality.

"What? Oh sorry Hermione. I was just thinking about something."

"Harry, are you okay? You've been spacing out a lot lately."

"Yeah, Hermione, I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind that's all." He gave her a hopeful smile and hoped it would fool her. She realized that he didn't want to talk so she turned her attention back to Ron.

The feast was almost half way over when Draco walked in. Harry saw him and wondered why he's late but didn't let it show. He looked away hoping that his friends and Draco didn't notice. Draco however, did, notice out of the corner of his eye. He didn't look, because if he did he knew the whole school would see. He didn't want to hurt Harry like that. He cared too much to see him hurt.

Harry was concerned. He hoped that Draco was okay. Every once in a while, he would glance at Draco to see that he wasn't very happy. It hurt him to see Draco upset.

Draco was just sitting there. He didn't feel like eating so he decided to go back to the Slytherin common room. Harry saw him leave and he decided to follow him. "Guys, I'm tired going to bed see you later." he said to his friends.

"Bye Harry see you later." They all replied.

IN THE CORIDOR

Harry quickly ran up to the Gryffindor common room, grabbed his invisibility cloak, and bolted to the dungeons. Just as he got there he saw Draco leaving the Slytherin common room. He put on the cloak and followed. Draco had no idea he was being followed.

"Where is he going? He looks so hot in dim light." Harry thought. He followed him outside where Draco went and sat under a big tree by the lake.

Harry was about five feet away. He moved closer as quietly as he could, to be slapped in the face by surprise and disbelief.

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?" Harry thought. Draco didn't know any one was there and he was silently crying. Harry hated seeing him like this. He wondered why he was crying. Then all of the sudden:

"Why do I have to feel this? Why do I have to love him? God I just want to die. He'll never love me. Who would love a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach, like me? I mean I'm a Malfoy for crying out loud! A Death Eater! He won't ever love me."

Harry could not believe what he was hearing.

"Draco's gay?" he whispered. Harry didn't know what to make of this. Part of him was shocked, the other, happy. Then doubt came.

"He can't be with me because he loves someone already." He thought. He let a tear role down his cheek. He wiped it away and stayed to hear if Draco would say the name of the man he was in love with. Draco started crying even harder, Harry couldn't take it any more so he went behind the tree so Draco could not see him, and took off the invisibility cloak. Then he went around behind Draco.

"Malfoy? Are you okay?" Draco's head snapped back and he saw Harry. He was shocked, but too upset to get up or to insult him. He didn't even bother wiping away his tears.

"Why do you care Potter?" there was a slight wine in his voice and Harry heard it. He knew he was holding back tears so he didn't want to bring up the question "who are you in love with?" just yet.

"Because, it's the first night back and you're out here upset, and, well, that's not very normal. Especially because it's our last year here." Harry said. Draco was surprised that he was talking to him like a person instead of, well, like a Malfoy.

"Just a lot of stuff on my mind is all." Draco responded. Harry could tell he was cheering up slightly and that made him feel better so he decided to keep it up.

"Well, I don't want to go back yet. My friends are in there and, well, it's not important. So do you want to go to the Three-Broomsticks with me?" after Harry said it, he was holding his breath knowing what Draco would say.

Draco was surprised. He could feel his heart skip a beat, and then get faster.

"Um, sure," Draco said hesitantly. Harry felt relived and happy but he didn't show either emotion.

"There's a passage to Hogsmede just under the Womping Willow. Come on, it won't hurt you," Harry explained not knowing if Draco knew about the secret passage or not.

"Oh my gosh, I'm going to the Three-Broomsticks with Harry. Calm down Draco it's not a date. Just keep cool." Draco thought.

"Wow. He said yes. I mean it's not a date but hey, it's a start." Harry stood up and held out a hand to help Draco up. He took it and they headed to the Three-Broomsticks.

AT THE THREE-BROOMSTICKS

They walked into the Three-Broomsticks.

"Butterbeer?" Harry asked.

"Yeah."

"Can you go find a table?"

"Sure Potter." Harry goes and to get the drinks while Draco finds a table. He found one that was in the back, and waved Harry over when he saw him with the drinks.

"Here you go." Harry said as he put the drink In front of Draco.

"Thanks."

"So what's was on your mind that was making you so upset earlier?"

"It's complicated, and it would make you feel really uncomfortable." He said as he looked at his drink.

"Okay Malfoy, if you don't want to talk about it, we won't talk about it. But know that I will always be here if you need to talk. Maybe we can be friends this year, instead of enemies?" Harry gave Draco a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Harry. I'll remember that."

"Good." He said with a smile.

"Hey Harry?"

"Yeah Draco?"

"You said you didn't want to go back to go back to the school just yet, that it was complicated, what was that about? Is something wrong? I mean you don't have to tell me. I just thought you would like to talk about it." Harry looked at Draco with sorrow filed eyes.

"I don't think I am ready just yet. Sorry." Harry looked down into his already half empty butterbeer.

"Don't be sorry. I didn't tell you either but just like you said, I am here for you too, if you ever need to talk just come find me. I like the whole friendship idea."

"Thanks Draco, I might take you up on that." He chuckled.

"That's what I was hoping for." He said with a grin. They talked for about an hour and a half, and then Harry looked at his watch and realized it was almost curfew.

"Thanks Potter for giving me a chance. I know that I have been a real git in the past."

"You're welcome Malfoy. After hearing your story, I realized that you really didn't have a choice. I had fun talking to you, you're a good listener. We should do again some time."

"Yeah, I had fun too; how about Saturday?" Draco offered.

"Works for me; see you in class and on Saturday."

"Yeah, see you." They said their goodbyes. Harry headed to the Gryffindor common room as Draco headed back to the Slytherin common room. Both had each other on their minds. Neither of them could stop smiling and thinking about the amazing time they just spent together.

IN THE GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM

Harry entered the common room in a daze. As soon as he saw the gang sitting on the couch he snapped out of it and went to sit with them.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

"Hey Harry, nothing, you seem happier you okay?"

"Yeah I'm great. I'm going to bed, night." And with that he went up to the boys dormitory, changed, and got into bed. For the first time in weeks he had a good night's sleep and he dreamed about Draco and him and the night they just had.

IN THE SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM

Draco walked in with a grin from ear to ear. Blaize and Pansy were sitting on the couch talking till they saw him, and were shocked to see him so happy.

"What happened mate? You look like you just got told you are the new Headmaster of Hogwarts." Blaise said

"And where have you been we have been worried sick?" Blaise put his hand on Pansy's shoulder to try and calm her down.

"Well there is one explanation that will answer both your questions." Draco smiled bigger.

"Well what is it?"

"I was with Harry." Blaise got wide eyed and Pansy got a smile.

"Are you serious! What happened? When? Are you dating now, or what? Speak boy speak!" Pansy insisted.

"No, we are not dating, we are just friends." He said and then sat down to tell them everything else that happened.

"Aww! That's so sweet." Pansy cooed at the end of Draco's story.

"Congrats mate."

"Thanks, but don't tell anyone. We don't want it getting around. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight." Draco headed up to the boys dormitory, changed, and sat on his bed. He realized he had classes tomorrow so he decided to get some sleep. All night he thought of Harry and the wonderful time he spent with him. He couldn't wait till Saturday.

Note From Author Alex Michele: Hello all!

As a warning, this story is written by two separate Authors, and sadly our writing styles are not the same. This Chapter was written by Mari Rose, and beta'd by me. The next Chapter will be written by me.

We do hope that you'll stick with us as we begin to write this story, seeing as though this is Mari's first fanfic.

we hope you enjoy! :)

7-2-12: This chapter (as well as the rest of the story) has been reedited after multiple errors were brought to my attention. It's been a while since we've even so much as looked at this story, but a lovely reviewer reminded us that it still exists and we do want to continue with it. Hopefully soon we will have another chapter for you all. :)