The Catalyst

Draco Lucius Malfoy was never one to simply 'accept' things as they were. He was always taught to look beyond what you were given and demand more. It came with being brought up amoung gold, servants and the finest things. He always had the 'finest things'. It was this fact that probably explained his current relationship to some degree, though many, such as his father, were stil left perplexed.

Over the summer Draco had grown a disturbingly obsessive fetish with the same sex. Hanging posters of Quidditch players on his walls would seem innocent enough, if it were not for them all being half-naked men. It was rumoured even that the blond enjoyed sneaking nasty little pinches to handsome boys' rumps as he made his way through his favourite wizarding clubs. Lucius, early on, preferred to think it a passing fancy, something all boys went through, but alas, it was not so. This was made quite clear as the Malfoy Heir took on a rather ostentacious relationship with one Blaise Zabini. The racey candid photos of the couple's outings are still pulling in fifty Galleons apiece.

It was no wonder, really, that when by the time Draco was on his way to his seventh year at Hogwarts, many boys living in Malfoy Village were left broken-hearted and de-flowered. Hogwarts boys were no exception, it seemed, as the Blond Bombshell left all in his wake gasping for more. He was picky, however. Nothing but the best ever touched this Galleonaire's porcelain skin.

The best presented itself just after Christmas, in the form of a very grown up and equally gorgeous, Harry J. Potter. Making a late entry because of Dark Lord matters, Potter immediately grabbed and kept Draco's attention. It seemed the two boys were fated for eachother as their relationship was made public in late January. Never had the public seen a more vivacious and intriguing couple. Their outings were always front page news, and it seemed each of their snogs were captured on film. The fans were simply enamored with their Golden Hero and his Ice Prince.

But as one of Draco's favourite poems goes, ' Nothing gold can last.'

"You gonna eat that, Draco?"

Draco sighed and shoved his french toast to his pudgy friend, Gregory Goyle. This average of average May days found the blond Slytherin sitting at his house's table, trying to pull off a show of enjoying his meal. Which he wasn't. His stomach was terribly upset and he felt the beginnings of a very bad day coming on. His hair had refused to stay flat this morning and he couldn't find his imported silk shirt for the life of him. Not to mention his boyfriend seemed to be missing in action, so to speak, from his bed when the blond woke.

Draco didn't take deprievation very well.

"What crawled up -your- arse this morning, Ferret Boy?"

Draco's flesh crawled as his temper prickled, " Weasel. I'm not surprised you'd take an interest in my arse, seeing as you're with Mudblood there."

Ronald Weasley visibly ruffled and his girlfriend, Hermione Granger had to hold him back forcibly." Leave him, Ron. He's just miffed because Harry hasn't given him any lately."

"Mine and Potter's business is NONE of your concern, " Draco spat venomously.

" It is when its been affecting his schoolwork that way it has. You DO realize that within the last month of school, you two have probably attended maybe a quarter of the classes?" Granger inquired, even her bushy hair bouncing with haughtiness.

"Jealous, Mudblood?" Draco sneered, not being able to sneak in a small smirk.

The girl bristled, " I don't know WHAT Harry sees in you. You're just the slimey little git we've always known."

Draco lowered his piercing silver eyes, tossing his cloakover his shoulders as he stood," There's one thing we can agree on." He left the two Gryffindors speechless as he stalked gracefully out of the Great Hall. As usual, Goyle and Vincent Crabbe were about five steps behind the rest of society. " Would you two shovel your food faster, we're going to be late for class."

He mustn't have been watching where he was going, or perhaps it was just because his mind was elsewhere, but for the first time in recorded history, Draco Lucius Malfoy found himself sprawled out on his back, staring up in bewilderment after having plowed right into someone. Crabbe and Goyle were instantly at his side, pulling the flustered blond to his professionaly polished feet. Draco hastily pointed a scowl in the direction of the fool who dared get in his path. The gesture fell apart almost as quickly. For what stood at his feet was certainly not a person. Oh Merlin, no. What this was, was...was...a GOD.

"Aren't you going to apologize you scrawny prat?"

"Should we enforce some manners into him, Draco?"

"I say we teach him a lesson."

"Whaddya say, Draco?"

"Well?"

"Draco?"

"Draco?"

"Huh?" It wasn't the most eloquent response he could've come up with. It was the second time in his entire life Draco had lost his cool. But both consequtive sequence? What were the odds?" Um, no. No, I think I'm feeling generous today, so, let him off with just a warning."

His rotund croonies seemed physically crestfallen as he glided past the quiverng creature and sauntered off. Yes, he put up a great front, for in reality he was trembling almost as badly as the boy. The safety of the Charms classroom never came too soon and Draco quickly sunk into his seat. Throughout all of Charms, he neither heard nor saw anything other than the boy who had turned his insides for a loop. A fair-skinned, blonde-haired boy with eyes like the sea after a storm who had rendered him inexplicably speechless.

- + - + -

It took quite a few days to finally uncover the mystery boy's name. Draco had had to call in a favor or two and use his more stealthy of skills to coax the information he desired from his victims, er, informants. But information he indeed received. The boy was an eccentric sixth year Gryffindor named Justen Cohen. Draco had to dodge quite a bit of curiousity as he pursued more facts to file away in his Ezhno folder, but it seemed well worth it.

The boy was surprisingly a loner. He never studied in the Gryffindor common room, he never attended Quidditch games and he rarely ate with his fellow classmates unless he was running late. Justen seemed to be infatuated with Potions, taking five of Snape's advanced courses in addition to the Potions Mastery Club. Quite ambitious for a sixth year, especially a Gryffindor. He was introverted, solitary and every single one of his informants devulged that the boy never spoke unless he was called upon in class or P. M. C.

Needless to say, Draco was intrigued. Here was a shining Gryffindor who refused to run with the pride, pardon the pun. A lone Lion. How VERY intriguing.

It was a rather stuffy Thursday afternoon when Harry returned from a wild goose chase in France. He was more than a LITTLE grumpy by the time he met up with Draco on the grounds for lunchtime. The two had launched straight into a frantic makeout session, their audience being the more trivial of matters. What caused Draco to stop was not the gawking stares or the excited whispers, not even the stiffled panting. No, it was simultaneously a hot burning sensation on the back of his neck and Harry biting viciously down onto his bottom lip.

"What the hell, Potter!" Draco exclaimed, leaping away and covering his injured lip.

"Sorry," The youth replied, not sounding at all sorry.

Draco scowled," Look, if you're going to be a pissy little wanker, go take it out on the other two-quarters of the Dream team and leave my beautiful mouth out of it."

"Oh please, Draco. Not every part of your body requires a virgin sacrifice."

The scowl became more pronounced," Not what you said last night."

It was the brunette's turn to scowl now, followed by a heated shove.

"What the hell is your problem!"

"Nothing!"

"Then why did you just push me! You're acting like some common hot-headed Muggle!"

"UGH! I can't STAND you sometimes!"

"If you can't stand me, why are you with me!"

"I don't kn-"

Draco hadn't bothered to stick around to hear the rest of it. All he could think of was getting back to his dormitory and ripping it to shreds. The burning tears welling behind his grey eyes weren't helping his temper much.

Everyone else looked on as the Golden Couple stormed off separate ways. Maybe their romantically blissful relationship wasn't as blissful as they all thought...