Notes: Hallo! Venturing into the Harry Potter fandom momentairly. Um. Title and lyrics in the beginning/end are from Jason Mraz - "Faulty Manufacturing" off his new album, "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things."


Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed instead
Of running around
And pulling all your threads saying
Breaking yourself up

"I can't do it anymore," Harry said aloud, legs dangling off the roof.

"Do what, Potter?"

"It. Everything. Being the Golden Boy, the perfect Gryffindor. I can't do it anymore."

A sharp bark of laughter.

"Did you honestly ask me out here, looking for sympathy?"

"No. I just..." Harry paused, thinking of what to say. How to explain the sudden need to see Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin prince. His arch-enemy, his rival, his anti-hero, of sorts. But anything he came up with sounded stupid, and so he remained silent.

"I'm not about to pity you." A sneer. "You've brought it on yourself, you know. No one asked you to do most of the stuff you've done."

"I know that, but... someone has to do it, and.." he trailed off once again. Maybe it was a hero complex, but Harry felt compelled to help out other people, despite if they asked for his help or not. It wasn't that he was looking to be worshiped, or seen as brave, or anything like that. He just... he wanted to live up to everyone's standards. He didn't want to disappoint them; didn't want them to see that Harry Potter was just a short, mediocre student whose only real talents were housework and getting into trouble.

Malfoy said nothing. Harry ducked his head, staring down at the ground below.

"If I was 'just Harry', I'd be normal, you know?"

"And if you had accepted my hand on the train, maybe you would have been."

"Huh?" Why had Malfoy suddenly brought that up?

"Slytherins stay in the shadows, while Gryffindors are always in the spotlight," Malfoy said softly. "Maybe if you had been sorted into Slytherin, you would have been normal. And we'd be here under different circumstances."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've always wanted to shag under the moonlight," Malfoy said, gazing up at the sky.

"What're you playing at?!" Harry exclaimed, scooting back so he could stand up. Malfoy smirked, turning to look at him. The moon turned his skin paler than usual, the blond hair looking white under the light.

"Nothing, Potter," he said calmly. Standing up, Malfoy cast another look at the moon before looking down at Harry. Looking thoughtful, he extended his hand after a moment.

Hesitating, Harry took the hand and let himself be pulled up...

...and right into Malfoy's chest. Their lips connected, and Harry's eyes widened before he pushed away from the slightly taller male.

"What the hell, Malfoy?!" he cried out, cheeks flushed red as he swiped at his mouth as if that could erase the kiss.

"Serves you right," Malfoy said, looking thoroughly triumphant. "Dwell on that for a bit, Potter, instead of pitying yourself."

Turning, he walked towards the door leading inside and left, leaving Harry standing there and gaping.

Rubbing his lips for a moment longer, a small smile formed. He did feel a little better after talking to Malfoy. And he certainly wouldn't be dwelling on past mistakes anymore, not when he had a kiss to think about now.

If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.
Yeah everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all