"A promise? Like an Unbreakable Vow?" Harry had only heard of such things. "Seems a bit extreme," he said uneasily.

"No, no, a promise. A lesser binding. It causes you a degree of physical pain if you speak about things you aren't supposed to. It won't kill you," Malfoy added quickly, based on Harry's facial expression probably, "but it wouldn't be fun. Then we can proceed without recompense."

Harry thought it over. He stared at his shoes and considered the deal. Malfoy could talk about it, but if it was physically painful, he probably wouldn't. He was a bit of a coward in that department. And not proceeding, as Malfoy so elegantly put it, meant they would never leave this room. He was stuck. Harry sighed. "So what do we do?"

"Well," Malfoy cleared his throat and swept his hair to one side, "we could start with a kiss and see if a door appears."

Harry felt the corner of his mouth tick upwards in a small smile. "No, I meant the promise."

If Malfoy was embarrassed, he didn't show it. His silver eyes were focused on Harry's own. "Right. Yes. Give me your hand." Malfoy opened his palm toward Harry, as if waiting for Harry to give him something. After only a slight hesitation, Harry put his hand in Malfoy's. He looked up to see a smirk on his handsome pointed face. "Other way, Potter." Harry scowled and flipped his hand so that his too, was palm up. Malfoy's other hand followed, palm down. He nodded at Harry, who got the message and put his other hand on top.

Harry waited, their hands sandwiched together. Malfoy's hands were soft, his fingers cool despite the warmth of the small room. Harry was suddenly very aware of how sweaty his palms were getting. "What now?"

"Shh." Malfoy closed his eyes, the smirk still lingering on his face. "Think about the time we've spent in this room, think about the things that could still happen in this room. This room is our binding force, nothing leaves it. We won't speak of it, any of it, not to anyone, for as long as we draw breath." Malfoy opened his eyes, stormy with intent, locked on Harry's. "I promise to you, Harry Potter, to uphold this agreement or face the consequences."

Harry stared dumbly into Draco's eyes, waiting for something to happen. Malfoy raised his eyebrows and whispered, "Now you."

"Oh, right. I, uh," Harry hesitated.

"You wanted to do this, so do it right. Say what I said but use my name." Malfoy's voice was quiet and clipped.

Harry felt his cheeks grow hot. "I promise to you, Draco Malfoy, to uphold this agreement or face the consequences." Harry gasped as his hands felt prickly all over, as if he had taken to long to make the promise and his hands had fallen asleep and now had the pins and needles of circulation returning.

He looked up to find Draco smirking at him.

"What? Did I do it right?"

"You felt it, didn't you? You can take your hands away, if you want." Malfoy's drawl was slower than usual, giving Harry a strange feeling he couldn't quite place.

Harry pulled his hands away slowly, noting the slight disappointment on Draco's face. "What did you mean before, about options and meeting me?"

Draco cleared his throat and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Harry froze. "Relax, Potter, I'm only getting comfortable. This room is a bit warm, isn't it?" He was rolling up his shirtsleeves. "My father wanted me to get close to you, that first year, in the hopes that you could be turned. But me," he paused to renew his smirk, lifting his eyes to Harry's, "I saw a chance to leave my life, to leave dark magic, behind me."

Harry could only blink. Could it be true? That Draco Malfoy had seen hope in befriending him? And Harry had dashed it all away with one well-placed quip. And how would a young boy respond to that? Just how Malfoy had been treating him for the past 6 years, he supposed. Malfoy didn't have any reason to lie to him, not after the promise. Harry still felt the needly feeling in his fingertips. He shook his hands a little.

"Don't worry, it will pass soon."

"I wasn't worried." Harry's voice came out more defensively than he had intended. These revelations, these truths from the boy who had, up until now, tormented him at every possible turn. It was all starting to make sense, wasn't it? Things had gotten out of their control, circumstances were impossibly larger than two teenagers could possibly comprehend.

Draco sighed next to him, a miserable sort of sound. He turned and got up, leaving Harry's leg missing the spot where they had touched. He watched Malfoy lay an arm over the mantel and stare into the fire. He got out his wand and Harry wondered what he intended to do. Malfoy muttered a spell, pointed his wand at the fire, and the room cooled considerably.

Harry knew an apology was probably in order, that it would make this whole thing easier, but it was as though his mouth were filled with porridge. "Malfoy, I-" but he stopped talking as soon as the other boy looked at him. He had a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't as if he was completely at fault. Malfoy was a prick, ever since he could remember. His thoughts went back to Malfoy admitting he was a product of his environment. Rightly so, he supposed, just as he was a product of his. He sighed and turned his focus to getting out of the room. "I'm sorry our.. relationship.. started off so.. difficult. I had never considered…" and he trailed off again, unsure of where his words were taking him.

"What, Potter, that I would have feelings?"

"Well, yes, but," Harry paused for Malfoy's scoff that followed, "I hadn't realized I affected you the way that I did."

Malfoy turned and started to saunter over to where Harry sat. "Is that an apology?"

"Um, sort of? You weren't exactly best friend material when we met, you know."

"True enough." Malfoy had his hands in his pockets and his shrug was all shoulders. "I'm sorry I made fun of you and your friends incessantly. You were all easy targets, though. And I was angry."

"I think I understand." Harry cleared his throat. A lot of fantastic things had happened to him in the last six years, but he never thought making amends with Draco Malfoy would be one of them. "I'm sorry I nearly killed you with that curse. I was also quite angry."

Draco clapped then, startling Harry. "Good, good. You feel better, Potter?"

"Um," Harry paused, "it's a bit strange. There's still everything that happened last year and-"

"Well, I feel better. Victims of circumstance and all of that, aren't we? We don't have to resolve our differences, Potter, we don't even need to be friends. We just need to, you know, get on with it." He sat next to Harry once more, very close, their knees touching, his smirk turning into more of a leer.

Harry shifted in his seat. "You don't have a problem with this? Our initials will be here, for anyone to see, forever, no matter what we promise each other."

Draco looked around, then back at Harry. "I suppose. But hardly anyone knows it's here and I'm sure we're not the first gay couple who wandered in here."

"We're not a couple," Harry felt his cheeks flush.

"Or the first couple who didn't really want to make out."

"We're not a couple!"

Malfoy's cool fingers were suddenly on his hot cheek, a gentle touch, then he was leaning forward, ever so slowly. "You're kind of cute when you're angry." Harry froze for the second time that afternoon, his limbs feeling like dead weights, a tightness in his chest. He swallowed hard. Malfoy called him cute. Harry felt a tingling sensation, not unlike butterflies in his stomach, except a bit lower. Sharing a kiss with Malfoy was something he could probably do but wanting to do it went against everything he thought he stood for. The other boy was so close now.

"Malfoy, I-"

"You're so tense, Potter." Malfoy's voice was low, like he was telling Harry a secret.

Harry looked down at his hands. They were clenched into fists and his left knee was bouncing up and down. Malfoy's hand was on his bouncing knee and he stopped. He forced his hands to unclench, wiping his sweaty palms on his trousers. He looked up to find Malfoy smirking at him. Again.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Harry accused.

Draco let out a small chuckle. "It is a bit amusing, I won't lie to you. I've seen you face dementors and dragons but the prospect of kissing me has got you all out of sorts." Malfoy's other hand was gently stroking his jaw. A ghost of a touch. "If I knew how much it would bother you, I would have tried to kiss you years ago." He leaned forward slowly, his grip on Harry's jaw tightening slightly. Harry could see the intent in his grey eyes.

"When?" Harry asked, eager to keep the other boy talking.

"When what?" Malfoy all but growled, sending a new wave of shivers through him.

"When would you have kissed me?"

"Seriously, Potter. I'm trying to woo you a bit. It's Valentine's Day. I'm not just going to steal a kiss from you and leave."

Harry blinked. The idea that Malfoy could just take what he needed to leave the room hadn't occurred to him. He didn't think Malfoy would be brave enough to try something like that.

"I may be a prick, but I'm still a gentleman, Harry. If we're doing this, we're doing it right. I intend to have a little fun with you." Malfoy's gaze softened, his long fingers winding their way through the hair at Harry's temple. "I'd like you to want to have some fun, too."

"It's just for fun, then?" Harry didn't know why, but he felt a tiny wave of disappointment.

Draco scoffed, but it was good-natured, or at least it seemed that way to Harry. "If that makes you feel better about it, yes. Making the best of a bad situation." Malfoy's fingers reached for Harry's glasses then, plucking them off his face. He smiled at Harry, a genuine smile, Harry thought, but without his glasses it was nearly impossible to tell, while he took out his wand and muttered, "Repairo." Malfoy reached over and put them back on Harry's nose, curling the ends around his ears with great care, as if he had a great deal of affection for him. The crack in his lens was gone and they were straightened besides.

"Thank you," Harry whispered, marveling at Malfoy's gentleness and thoughtfulness. "Either you're a very good actor, or I don't know you at all."

Draco laughed his barking laugh. "Rest assured, Potter, I'm not acting. I've had to lie about who I am for a long time and will probably continue to do so after we leave this room. My entire life will be a lie, now that I think about it."

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"It's complicated. You've never lied about who you are? For your muggle relatives who kept you in the closet?"

"I've always tried not to, but I suppose, yeah, I have."

"But you can be yourself at school."

"Yes."

"I cannot. If anyone knew I was here, with you, like this, what we're about to do, it would ruin me." Malfoy was looking at him in that penetrating way, as if there was something more he couldn't say but wanted Harry to grasp. It was different than before, more open, and Harry didn't know for sure, but he knew he didn't want him to look away. Malfoy's fingers were on the side of his face again, sliding slowly down to his neck, playing along his shirt collar. Harry closed his eyes and waited for the shudders to stop.

"Is this okay? If I touch you?" Draco's voice was a low throaty whisper. Harry couldn't find any words. He couldn't remember the last time he had been physically affectionate with anyone. Short hugs from Hermione didn't count. He barely shared a kiss with his last girlfriend. He suddenly realized he didn't know what to do. His body told him one thing while his mind told him another. It felt good. It felt terrible. Draco's cool touch left him. He opened his eyes and saw only Draco's silver ones staring into his, into him.

Harry finally nodded. Draco scooted closer, winding a long arm around his back, making Harry's breath catch in his throat. Malfoy's other hand resumed the light caresses on his neck, his face inches from Harry's. "You can touch me, too. If you like," Malfoy's throaty drawl was quiet and sexy in his ear.

Harry nervously put a hand on Draco's thigh.

"Harry Potter," Malfoy breathed, "are you trembling? Should I make the fire warm again?" There was a hint of knowing in his voice, a hint of a joke, Harry thought. He could feel the pull of Malfoy's lips in his ear, curling into a grin. "It's alright, Harry, we promised. No one will know." His hands were running through the hair on the back of Harry's head, his touch so soft. Malfoy was gentle, considerate, and, Harry hated to admit it, a total gentleman. It was hard to believe.

"I've never done this before," he blurted.

Draco pulled away and Harry wished he hadn't said anything. He smirked at Harry, his grey eyes sharp and knowing. "The girlfriends don't stick, is that right?"

"Yes, that's it." Harry felt silly.

"Not even long enough to get a kiss?" The smirk on Malfoy's face was terribly annoying.

Harry scowled. "I've kissed before, it's just.."

"You've never been properly snogged before."

"Yes, that's it," Harry said quietly. "Especially not by.."

"A boy?" Malfoy's smirk turned into a grin. He really was handsome, grinning at him like that in the light of the fire.

Harry's cheeks blazed. "I was thinking the son of a Death Eater, but yes, that too, I suppose."

"I gathered that much, Potter. There's something else keeping you from enjoying yourself, isn't there?"

Harry fiddled with his hands nervously. "I uh," he muttered. He couldn't find the words to say how weird their current situation and relationship status was, sides of good and evil notwithstanding.

"You aren't attracted to me? Then we can just agree to get it over with."

"No, it's not that," Harry said quickly. Maybe too quickly, judging by the bemused expression on Malfoy's face.

"I'm not asking you to like me, Harry. I'm not asking you to forego your war and settle down. I'm only asking that you let everything else go. Just for a little while. Do what you want to," Malfoy came closer as he talked, his voice dropping back to low tones, "or tell me what you want me to do to you," his hands were in Harry's hair, his breath was on Harry's neck, "this will never happen again. Right now, it's only me," his lips brushed Harry's neck, running shivers up into the base of his skull, "and you."

Harry exhaled, letting himself relax a tiny bit. He didn't want to admit it, but Draco was right. And the other boy was making him feel so good. His hand went back to Draco's thigh, his other gently touched Malfoy's side, near his ribs. It was intimate, it was strange, it was nice to touch and be touched. He never thought getting close to Malfoy could be this way. He could smell the almost flowery scent of his hair, and a clean laundry sort of smell mixed with a spicy cologne or aftershave. It only doubled the tingly feeling below his belt. He felt Draco's lips against his neck, more forceful this time, but not yet a kiss. Harry imagined he was probably smirking, still. The thought made him grip the other boy tighter, his hands moving up Draco's thigh a little higher as he felt himself get a little braver. This time he definitely felt Draco grin against the soft flesh of his neck, followed by a purposeful kiss, then another.

Harry gasped without meaning to, shrugging his shoulders against the intimate onslaught. Malfoy backed up, but only enough to see into his face. "Don't you like what I'm doing?" His smirk was changing into more of a gentle smile, or maybe it was only Harry's perception that was changing.

Harry closed his eyes, feeling breathless. "Very much so."

"Shall I go slower, Potter?"

Harry cleared his throat. "No, it's okay."

"I need you to open your eyes, Harry." Malfoy's voice was slow and gentle. Harry thought he might be able to listen to it until the end of time. Draco talking like that. To him.

"Why?" Harry whispered, doing as Draco said.

The blond Slytherin was touching his face again, so familiar. "Because your eyes are the most brilliant shade of green I've ever seen. I never noticed before."

Harry chuckled. "Everyone says that." He reached up and removed his glasses, folding them up and setting them aside.

"Not everyone does this," Draco muttered, and wrapped his arms around Harry, pulling him closer still, into his lap, burying his pointed nose in Harry's neck behind his ear. Harry gasped again, followed by a short, excited laugh. He felt more than saw Malfoy grin, his hands firm on the small of his back. Harry's hands found his soft blond hair and he wove his fingers through it, barely touching his scalp. "I can make you feel good, Harry, you just have to let me," Malfoy whispered into his ear and Harry tried to control his shuddering body. His cool fingers were on one side of Harry's neck, his mouth on the other, teasing, playing. "Tell me you want me to."

Harry could barely stand it. He squirmed against the other boy and Malfoy only held him tighter, intensifying everything. "I want you to," Harry breathed.

"Want me to what?" He could hear Malfoy's smirk in his voice.

"You prick," Harry said with a smile.

Draco kissed his neck, kissed him behind his ear. "You want my what?"

Harry laughed, losing himself in the moment. "Malfoy," he warned, trying to sound like he meant it, but his hands were touching Draco's neck, sneaking into his open shirt collar, caressing the space between his neck and shoulder. Draco growled appreciatively, sending another shockwave through Harry. He felt Malfoy's lips travel to his jaw, kissing him there, kissing his cheek sweetly, chastely. Draco's cool fingers rested on his chin, tilting his head up. Harry let it happen, their eyes meeting. He felt embarrassed, but at the same time, too turned on to care very much. "Kiss me," Harry whispered, marveling at the openness of Draco's stormy colored eyes.

Draco hesitated, but only to smirk at Harry for a moment. Harry wasn't sure if he hated it or loved it. Malfoy's grip tightened on his chin, as if he were afraid of Harry getting away, and his lips touched his, barely, gently. Draco's lips were soft, the feeling electric, sending jolts through Harry's body. He gripped Draco's shirt collar in response, pulling himself closer, their bodies meeting. Draco's kisses grew bolder, a firm press of lips upon lips, slightly parted, there and gone again. Harry fought to control his breathing, coming in short gasps between kisses, his heart hammering against his chest.

Harry felt Draco's tongue snake between his lips, touching his tongue. He couldn't stop the small moan that escaped him, the heat flashing up in his face once more. Draco's hands went to Harry's hips, pulling on his belt. Harry grunted in pleasure and surprise, his hands going to either side of Draco's face, touching his soft, flawless skin, opening his mouth, deepening the kiss. He felt Draco's mouth smile against his and he hoped he wouldn't speak, that he would just keep kissing him.

A sudden light spilled across the two of them, making Harry open his eyes. They both turned as one towards the glowing outline of a door. They turned back to each other, still wrapped around each other, neither one of them speaking. Harry could see a question in Draco's eyes, but he didn't want to be the one to ask it. Draco's face broke into a cool smirk.

"Want to try the door, Potter?"