Monopolization

by An3maePhreek

Chapter 01

It was a game that they played.

But everytime, he would lose.

Not this time.

"Malfoys never lose."

No, this time, he would win.

"Malfoys do not admit defeat nor do they put themselves in a position where defeat is eminent."

This time, Potter will kneel and submit...

"Malfoys never submit!"

To him.

"Damn that Malfoy!"

Harry was taking a short break from Quidditch practice when a shrill shriek caught his attention. It was Hermione, cursing yet again about Malfoy. For the umpteenth time...

"For the umpteenth time, Hermione, stop cursing about that git!"

He nodded in agreement. But nothing Ron or Harry said could calm the brunette. She would just growl and tug at her hair in frustration. Yet again. And say...

"I can't!"

She can't.

"He beat me again on the Arithmancy test."

He beat her again.

"When did he start getting this intelligent?"

When did Malfoy become this intelligent?

"I don't understand."

Neither did Harry.

"How could my intelligence be inferior to Malfoy's for christ sakes!"

Yes, a universal mystery indeed.

"I just... can't accept it!"

But for some strange reason, Harry could.

While Hermione paced, Ron sighed in frustration, and while Ron sighed, Harry contemplated.

Somewhere along the way, Malfoy caught up. Somewhere in the last two years, Malfoy finally ran alongside of him. Not lagging or even right behind him, but next to. Equal.

It annoyed him.

"Hey, Harry!"

Snapped out of his thoughts, he blinked several times before noticing his two best friends looking at him intently.

"Sorry, Ron. Just thinking about something."

The redhead just looked at him weirdly before telling him that it was getting late, and he should probably head for the locker room to change out of his Quidditch uniform. He absentmindedly nodded, said his goodbyes and started for the locker room, as Ron suggested. The scenery just blurred by; it wasn't as if he was actively paying attention to anything. It's just that he was... preoccupied. Soon enough, Harry walked through the oak doors, stripped, grabbed a towel and a change of clothing, and headed into the showers.

It was late, and the locker rooms were usually empty around this time. It wasn't that he felt embarassed about his body, but Harry had a keen sense of privacy, so it came as a surprise when he stepped into the shower stalls to find that he wasn't alone. It seems, privacy was a common interest. Who would be in the shower stalls at this time of the night, he thought to himself, but a closer look told him all he needed to know.

Blonde, six-one, and nice A-S-S.

It had to be Malfoy.

Slightly amused at the irony of the situation, Harry couldn't keep his mirth, notifying the blonde of his presence. The look of shock on the Slytherin's face sent Harry into another round of laughter.

"Potter, what in Salazar's name are you doing here?"

The indignant tone of Malfoy's question was left unanswered due to the current affliction Harry was in. The Gryffindor was at the moment clutching his sides, doubled over on the floor of the shower stalls, laughing in a slightly undignified manner. All Malfoy could do was wait until the laughter subsided and Harry to be back to his Malfoy-hating self. It felt like forever.

"S-sorry."

Finally gathering his wits, Harry attempted to keep himself under control and stood up tentatively.

"So," Malfoy drawled, "do you have an unearthly fetish for gazing at naked Slytherins and laughing, or am I special?"

"No," Harry smirked, "just you."

The two looked at each other, grinning to themselves, caught up in the pointless humor and strange connection they had at the moment. Mercury eyes met emerald green, and it was nice...

Then the blonde narrowed his eyes into black slits, and the tension was back. Harry could feel the hair on his nape standing and the skin along his arms, prickling. The heightened sense of awareness had not gone unnoticed by the Slytherin prince. He stepped forward, while the Gryffindor stepped back.

The blonde smirked.

"Well, well, well. What have we here? The Boy-Who-Lived, afraid of an itty-bitty Slytherin?"

At that, Harry, stood his ground, his pride injured and more than little indignant.

"I'm not afraid of you, Malfoy."

The blonde snickered.

"Your body says otherwise. You're legs are quaking, Potter, and if that's not fear, then I'm a Mudblood."

The brunet's head snapped up at the term.

"Don't say that word, Malfoyor God forgive me, I will-"

"You'll what, Potter. Do tell me, I am quite curious as to exactly what it is that you presume to do to me. I'm sure that whatever you attempt to do will fall short, once again, of expectations. Your delicate and delightfully Gryffindor sensibilities forbid you to as Muggles would say, go through, with it."

And that was the last straw. Despite the warning bells going off within his head, Harry could not ignore the smug look on Malfoy's face. The desire to physically wipe that look off the blonde Slytherin consumed his mind and the practical side of his brain shut down.

Which was why, thirty minutes later, both boys were in Dumbledore's office, having been caught by Filch. Harry had long bleeding gashes on his forearm, while the left side of Draco's face was turning decidedly purple.

The old man looked at first Harry, and then Draco. The only thing he did was shake his head.

"Mr. Malfoy... and Mr. Potter. Do you care to tell me exactly what prompted this altercation?"

Both boys tried looking anywhere but at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore sighed.

"Harry... what happened?"

The brunet just shook his head and pursed his lips even tighter.

"Draco?"

The blonde turned to the Headmaster, glared, and then looked away.

"If no one will volunteer information, then I can do nothing. You both have two weeks detention. Together. Report to me after dinner everyday for your assignment. You are dismissed."

The two stood up to leave, but before they could, the Headmaster stopped them.

"Oh, and boys?"

They turned to look at the old man.

"Stop by Madame Pomfrey's before heading to your dormitories. Those marks are hideous."

The both stepped out and walked their separate ways, feeling more than just a bit indignante and ruffled.

Little did they know that this was the least of their worries.

A/N:

Yes I'm delving into the HP realm XD... one of the Wanktastic Four fufufufufu Ahem... well... hope you like.