Hello. I'm back. No, I haven't died. sorry about that hiatus...I really wasn't intending it, but...yeah. the next chapter of Reflections is on the way, and a new story! so this is chapter two of There's Something About Harry. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Harry Potter. I just play with the characters.

Warning: slash

There's Something About Harry

Chapter Two

Draco Malfoy sat in the Great Hall, staring despondently at his dinner. He still couldn't believe what he'd done after potions the day before--he'd lost it and made a complete fool of himself in front of Harry! He rested his chin on his hand and wished, for the umpteenth time that week, that things could go back to normal. It was so much easier when he'd just hated Harry. But now…He raised his head and gazed across the hall at the Gryffindor Table.

Or, more specifically, a certain irritatingly good-looking boy sitting there, who was currently chatting with his friends amiably, unaware of the affect he was having on Draco. A certain hopelessly unattainable boy who would probably never acknowledge or return his affections. At this thought, Draco heaved a great sigh and turned his eyes back to the plate of food in front of him. He toyed unenthusiastically with his mashed potatoes, finding that he'd lost his appetite.

"Draco?" Pansy's voice broke into his rather depressing thoughts. He slowly looked up at her. "Is anything wrong?"

Draco almost smiled at her words. Wrong? Anything wrong? Of course there was! He could spend all day listing everything wrong with his life. And all those things seemed to lead back to one person. He wondered what their reaction to the truth would be. Why yes, Pansy, there is one small problem…I'm in love with bloody Harry Potter! That probably wouldn't go over too well.

"No," Was what he said at last, getting to his feet. "Nothing…Nothing at all." He shouldered his bag and, with one last longing look at the Gryffindor table, left the Great Hall.

"He's been acting weird lately," Pansy remarked, watching his retreating back with concern. Crabbe and Goyle nodded in agreement. "And he hasn't eaten anything. I wonder what's wrong…"

"And what happened in Potions yesterday?" Blaise Zabini questioned, joining in the conversation. "He went over to Potter and just stood there for a few minutes, then ran out."

"Speaking of Potter, he's been acting odd every time we mention him."

"Yeah, and he hasn't picked a fight with him all week." The Slytherins fell silent as they pondered this.

Meanwhile, a similar conversation was being held at the Gryffindor table.

"Malfoy's been acting weird lately," Hermione said thoughtfully as she watched him abruptly leave the Great Hall.

"I know!" Ron exclaimed, "And what was his problem in Potions yesterday?"

They both looked around at Harry. He knew they were waiting for him to give some input on the matter, but the fact was that he really didn't know what he thought. The first and most obvious reason for his odd behavior would be that Malfoy was planning something, but Harry knew it was more than that. Malfoy was acting so out-of-character that it had to be something different. But what exactly it was, then, Harry couldn't say. "I don't know," He said truthfully.

"Oh, I bet I know what it is," Ron chortled as he returned to his meal. "He's in love with you! Why didn't we see it before?" Hermione laughed at the incredulity of this statement, and Harry managed a half-hearted smile.

Actually, after Ron's comment the day before about Malfoy acting like a "lovesick schoolgirl" and without anywhere else to turn to, Harry for a brief moment had entertained this possibility, inconceivable as it may be. But then he came to his senses, realizing that it really could never be true, not by the furthest stretch of the imagination.

"Well, whatever it is, at least we know we can rule that one out," Hermione grinned. Harry certainly hoped so.

Draco wandered aimlessly through the empty halls, feeling rather moody and sullen. He did have a good reason to feel so, after all. His problem now wasn't so much that he was in love with Harry - there was no getting around that one. Now he just had to decide what to do about it. He already went through all of his possible options, most of which involved shame and humiliation on his part. For he couldn't possibly admit it to Harry, or anyone in Slytherin for that matter. It wasn't as if he could confide in Crabbe or Goyle. Draco smiled humorlessly as he imagined himself either confessing his love to Harry or revealing the secret to one of his friends. Both of those ideas were laughable.

Draco turned down a secluded hall hidden behind a tapestry. It was dimly lit and empty--just what he was hoping for. He sat down against the stone wall and wrapped his arms around his knees. What was he supposed to do? He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, wishing that things could be less complicated.

But he knew that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. When he came right down to it, Draco realized that he had to tell Harry how he felt one way or another. It was either that or feel this way for the rest of his life. And he certainly didn't want that. So now, the only question was how he was going to tell him. That opened up even more possibilities. Draco groaned and covered his face with his hand.

Draco entered the Slytherin Common Room much later that night, not looking forward to the large pile of homework he'd neglected all evening. But then again, he hadn't completely wasted the night--at least he'd come to a conclusion about what he had to do. Even if the very idea of what he had to do made him feel greatly nervous, disbelieving, and slightly nauseous at the same time. But that wasn't even the main problem--now he just had to figure out how exactly to do it.

The next few days didn't present any opportunities. Draco really was doing his best to keep his cool, but it didn't seem to be working. He'd firmly resolved to avoid talking to Harry directly at all costs, after what happened the last time, but that didn't seem to prevent him from ending up in embarrassing situations. Whenever he saw Harry his mind went totally blank and his common sense didn't seem to have any control over his actions.

A couple of days before, when he'd been walking outside to Care of Magical Creatures, he caught sight of Harry just ahead of him, talking to Ron. Of course, this was a very distracting sight to Draco, and he was so busy staring at the object of his desires that he didn't notice Professor Sprout walking straight toward him carrying a large box of dragon dung manure. He walked right into her, resulting in him being knocked backwards onto the ground, covered in the stinking manure. Unfortunately, this collision took place right in front of Harry.

Draco, his cheeks burning, couldn't bring himself to look at Harry as he mumbled an apology to Professor Sprout and helped her up. Ron snorted derisively. Draco pulled out his wand and hurriedly cast a Scourgify spell on himself. Although he was no longer covered in manure, he was no less humiliated, and so after being reprimanded by Professor Sprout he left as quickly as possible. After this mortifying experience, he was unable to face Harry in Care of Magical Creatures, and so he spent that period skulking in a secluded spot in the library.

Just thinking about this horribly embarrassing ordeal made him cringe. Draco groaned as he remembered Ron's laugh and what Harry's face must have looked like. Why did that have to happen right in front of Harry! It just wasn't fair.

Fortunately, the holiday season brought with it a new opportunity for Draco. Most of the students were going home for the holidays, and only a few stayed behind, Draco and Harry among them. Draco hoped that he might have an opportunity to talk to Harry, or at least redeem himself slightly in his eyes, over the break. Now he only had to keep himself from doing something else completely stupid in front of him.

Catching Harry alone, though, proved to be more difficult than it sounded. First of all, Draco had to give excuses to Crabbe and Goyle (who loyally stayed back at Hogwarts with him) as to where he was going. It wasn't as if he could have them tagging along when he was following Harry. Next, Harry seemed to always be accompanied by Ron and Hermione, who stayed back with him as well. Then there was the very business of following him--shadowing his every step was tricky, not to mention rather demeaning. Draco couldn't believe he was crouching behind statues and tapestries, ducking into classrooms--in other words, degrading himself--all just to stalk Harry Potter.

Draco was thinking this disbelievingly as he concealed himself behind a bookcase in the restricted section of the library near the table that Harry and his friends were sitting at. He wished that Harry would venture off alone…But that was unlikely--he hadn't had any luck in the past three days. Draco figured that today would be no different, and besides, he'd been standing behind the bookcase for about 20 minutes and it was getting very boring. Deciding to leave, he quietly made his way out of the bookcases, hidden from view. At that very moment, however, Madam Pince walked by and, before Draco had time to react, caught sight of him.

"What are you doing in the restricted section!" She demanded.

"I, uh…" Draco muttered, conscious of Harry sitting only a few feet away.

"Out!" She ordered. Draco did so with much haste, wondering why everything had to go wrong around Harry.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked, looking rather surprised as Madam Pince stalked away after ordering Malfoy out of the library.

"He was spying on us!" Ron accused. He looked from Harry to Hermione, expecting them to agree with him. When neither of them did, he sighed exasperatedly and continued, "He was standing right over there. Right where he could overhear us! And in the restricted section, too!"

"I guess it is a little suspicious," Hermione admitted. "He has been acting very oddly for the past week or so. It could be anything, though. I think you're being a little paranoid." She looked back down at her book about transfiguration, already bored with the conversation.

Ron rolled his eyes at her after she looked down and turned to Harry. "Don't you think so?"

Harry shrugged. It was true, Malfoy had been popping up in odd places ever since the winter holiday started. And he was always alone, at that. It did seem as though he may be trying to spy on them. But why?

After these two rather disastrous events, Draco decided to lie low for a while. His attempt at spying had done nothing but make Draco look stupid in front of Harry once again. The holiday was passing quickly, along with all of Draco's opportunities.

As he walked hurriedly into the Great Hall on Christmas Day, Draco was promising himself not to do anything at all to make himself look stupid in front of Harry. He thought it best not to even look at him, and sit as far away from him as possible. This, however, turned out to be undoable, as the only empty spot at the single table in the Hall was right across from Harry. Perfect.

Draco sat down quietly, ignoring Crabbe and Goyle's questions about where he'd been for the past few days. He stared down at his plate, determined not to look up at all. The food appeared, and he ate quietly as all the other students chatted around him. He was obliged to look up, though, once or twice when other Slytherins talked to him or he was asked to pass food across the table.

On one of these occasions when he looked up, it was to ask for the salt. Unfortunately, he realized that it was sitting in front of Harry. "Um…I want, uh…" He started. Harry looked up, as did Hermione and Ron, who were sitting on either side of him. "I want…you…" Harry raised his eyebrows. After realizing what he just said, Draco turned red and finished quickly, "…to pass me the salt…" Harry did so.

Draco kept his eyes fixed on his plate for a few more minutes, then stood up, quickly giving some explanation to the other Slytherins before hurrying out of the Hall. He paused once he had left, wondering where he'd go next. Why did he always act like that around Harry? He sighed and walked slowly down the corridor in the direction of the Slytherin common room.

Harry watched Draco leave, feeling immensely confused. What was that about? Ron turned to him and asked him this exact question. He shook his head. What was wrong with Malfoy? And why did he just say "I want you"? Was it just an accident, or…

"I'm leaving," Harry told Ron and Hermione, standing up.

"What? Where?" Ron questioned. Hermione merely looked at him strangely.

"Um…I just remembered, I left something in the library," Harry lied, already walking around the table. He didn't know why, but he just had to know what Malfoy was thinking.

Draco stopped when he heard footsteps behind him. He looked around.

It was Harry.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't think of anything to say. Why was he here? He forced himself to turn around and keep on walking.

"Malfoy." Harry said. Draco didn't reply. "Stop." When Draco didn't say anything, Harry hastened his pace.

After being followed by Harry for a few minutes, Draco finally spun around. "What do you want?"

"I want to know…what's up with you lately," Harry said. "Why have you been following me?"

Draco flushed. "I…" But he was unable to think of a suitable reply.

"Why have you been acting so weird?"

Draco looked down. He stared at the ground, thoughts racing through his head. He hadn't been expecting this. But then again…He should have. He couldn't have expected Harry not to notice. "Why?" He said at last, looking directly at Harry. He took a step closer. Harry stepped back. "You want to know why?" He stepped even closer. Harry started to look rather apprehensive, and backed up more, until he was standing against the wall. Draco put one had against the wall, preventing Harry from leaving.

Draco simply stood there, inches away from Harry, for a few moments, staring into his eyes. Then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed him. Harry froze and his eyes widened. After mere seconds, although it seemed like days, Draco stepped back. "That's why." Then he turned around and walked away without looking back.

Harry stood, frozen, in the same place he had been when Draco kissed him, staring straight ahead. After a few moments, he raised a shaking hand to his lips. "What…?"

hee hee cliffhanger! well, tell me what you think. :D