Dangerous Love
by valacirca
Prologue
Eyes skimmed over the latest news and gossip on The Daily Prophet lazily, stopping abruptly at an article that took up most of the space on the page. With big, bold letters, the article screamed: The Boy Who Lived to Play for the Other Team.
Skeeter. Figures.
The boy holding the paper took his time reading the article. He was a little too early for the train. He snorted at all the exaggerations that the famous reporter wrote. Clearly, it was to bring more color to the featured article. On one side was the photo of the famous Harry Potter dressed in his black robes with the insignia of the Order of the Phoenix on the left breast pocket, smiling embarrassedly at the camera.
He remembered that day all too well. It was a week after the defeat of Voldemort and every wizarding community had celebrated. Flocks of owls were flying over Muggle towns, shooting stars filled the night sky, and Ministry officially had their hands full putting memory charms on Muggles who noticed the peculiarities of their overjoyed neighbors.
That was over a year ago. The famous Harry Potter was still the famous Harry Potter, but a lot of other heroes had been created by the Dark times as well. Now, things have eventually mellowed down to almost normal—to the point of being practically boring.
Folding the newspaper neatly, the boy set it down beside him on the bench on Platform 9¾ and began to scheme.
Harry Potter was officially angry. No, frustrated. Almost ready to kill. Throwing the shreds of the mutilated Daily Prophet into the trash bin, he carted his things towards Platform 9¾. He decided to come early to avoid the crowd and sulk the whole way to Hogwarts.
It wasn't that his being gay was a big secret. Almost half of the population in Hogwarts already knew this and the other half already have a clue. A lot of girls had been disappointed then but it really didn't become such a big thing. It was simply just something that happens to some of the boys their age as far as everyone was concerned. It just so happened that the boy was Harry Potter. The Harry Potter. But other that a very few hostile looks, the rest of Hogwarts basically couldn't care less.
However, Rita Skeeter publishing it on the Daily Prophet and making him look like Hogwarts' biggest sex symbol (which was yet to be determined) was more than enough to get him all worked up and utterly embarrassed at the same time.
Harry quickly passed through the barrier not even checking to see if any Muggle was looking or not. Muttering a few choice curses under his breath he stormed down an empty bench and decided to wait for the train while thinking about all the evil things that he wanted to do to Skeeter.
"You're sitting on my bench."
Harry looked up to the familiar drawl that snapped at him. Emerald green met impassive grey eyes then flickered down to the newspaper lying between them, then down to the trunk on the side of the bench. Sure enough, the large trunk was bearing the seal of the Malfoy crest.
"Malfoy."
"Potter."
In the past few years, the childish squabbles and petty hallway duels have turned into cool aggressiveness and slick underhanded tactics. No longer was there fierceness or the brute physical contact that fanned the flame of their early rivalry. It had turned into a force of habit to snap a witty retort or crack a joke at the expense of the other more than anything else. A habit that the whole school had acquired when they had gotten used to the squabblings, duelings, pranks and practical jokes that both sides practice. But the intensity and impact was still the same. They just grew up a little, that's all.
But in this habit, Harry had unconsciously found a source of comfort. A sense of normalcy, a solid ground in the storms of change during the time of Voldemort's rise to power. It was that only thing that hadn't changed while the world spuns around them.
Until now.
Last year had been a little too dull in Harry's opinion. And right now he was just itching for a fight.
"I see you've heard," said Harry. "Here to rub it in, Malfoy?" At any other time, he wouldn't have picked a fight with Malfoy just before the start of the school year, but right now he was angry and wanted release. He'd be damned not to grab the opportunity that just smacked him in the face. If they were lucky, the brawl would be finished before the train arrives.
Malfoy just shrugged in reply and elegantly sat down with the grace of a cat, crossing his arms across his chest.
"What are you doing here so early anyway? Your parents too eager to get rid of you?" Harry taunted. Come on, come on, thought Harry. Say something.
"Can it Potter, you know I'm still my parent's brat," Malfoy replied coolly, then he turned to the other boy beside him. "I know you're itching for a fight, but I have a better idea."
Harry eyed him warily. "Who says I trust you enough to hear what you have to say?"
"It's not as if I could hand you over to the Dark Lord afterwards," Malfoy retorted.
Harry almost snickered at the thought. "Are you trying to offer you hand in friendship again, Malfoy?"
"In your dreams, Potter. I have a reputation to uphold."
"Yeah? So why the sudden change of heart?"
"Let's just say…I'm bored."
Bored.
Exactly.
"So, what do you have in mind?"
Harry looked at Malfoy skeptically.
Malfoy stared back expectantly.
"I'm not so sure…" Harry said warily.
"Look," said Malfoy hastily. "I see Weasel and Granger coming already. Just think about it okay?" With that the pale boy started walking away just as Ron and Hermione came bounding up to him.
"What did the ferret want, Harry?" said Ron looking suspiciously at Malfoy's retreating back.
"How's your vacation Harry?" said Hermione, as if she didn't hear Ron's question. "I hope you didn't lay off studying, remember this is our last year. You two seem to put all that off at the last minute."
"Summer is fine 'Mione, and Malfoy just wanted to talk, Ron," said Harry. Maybe he could start right now and see what happens? Somehow, his Slytherin side was creeping up on him.
"Yeah, right," muttered Ron. "Just wants to talk."
"Hey Malfoy!" Harry cried before Malfoy got lost in the crowd. He turned at the sound of his name. "I'll see you inside the train, okay?"
The blond nodded and gave a small smirk that passed off for a smile.
Ron turned to his best friend, his face contorting into confusion and aghast, while Hermione looked curiously at Harry then back to Malfoy.
"Like I said Ron," Harry said mysteriously. "He just wanted to talk." He shrugged and went to get his trunk, ready to climb aboard the Hogwarts Express.
"So, have you decided yet?" Malfoy drawled lazily, gazing at the passing scenery.
Harry fidgeted a bit. When he went to the last compartment at the back of the train, he had every intention of going along with Malfoy's plan. It was funny, in a sick kind of way, but sure enough it was a way to add a little spice to the prospect of going to school this year. Call it a pull on his Slytherin side if you will.
But now, seeing Malfoy in person seemed to raise a slight hesitation in him. He took a deep breath. He came here to do something and he sure won't come out without doing it.
"Yeah," said Harry. "It's crazy, but sounds like fun." He gave Malfoy a smirk that even the Slytherin would be proud of.
"I thought you would," Malfoy said, returning a grin. He then held out his hand to seal their deal, mirroring their second encounter all those years ago, but this time Harry Potter took it willingly.
But just as they were about to let go, the door suddenly burst open and Hermione stepped in, followed closely by Ron and Colin Creevey.
"Harry, did you know what Colin has been saying about you all over the—" Hermione stopped in mid-sentence.
"YOU!" cried the enraged Ron.
A moment of stunned silence followed them, eyes locked on the clasped hand of the two boys. Then Colin cried excitedly, "I knew it! I knew it! I told you Draco Malfoy is Harry's boyfriend!"
