A/N: I am on a roll! LOL enjoy!
"YOU are an imbecile!" Ron screamed at Draco and glared at his two best friends who supported the said imbeciles.
"We got you detention with Snape for an entire week." Draco hissed, as if it was the greatest gift in the world.
"And he thinks I am a troublesome child! How do you expect he will like me like this? He was so angry…" Ron sobbed.
"Ron…" Harry and Hermione both had forlorn looks on their faces.
"Weasel, listen to me. You need time alone with Snape to talk to him first. Detention is the only time that's possible. So, stop being a prat about this and vanish that sad look already! Disgusting"
Ron simply sniffed and looked like a lost puppy. He was understandably scared. Snape might have given him a chance before the fireworks but now… it seemed less likely, no matter what Draco said. Sighing with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Ron turned and made his was to his dorm.
Malfoy was bristling as he stared at Ron's retreating back. With an unspoken understanding, Hermione went after Ron while Harry guided Malfoy in the other direction. After all Hermione was best suited to dealing with a sobbing Ron and Harry was used to Draco's anger after all these years.
Harry walked Draco through Hogwart's beautiful gardens. In this modern age, very few people bothered with them and so they made for comfortable, quiet and private places. The few days after the war had prompted Harry to find secluded spots and the gardens were where he spent the most time. He steered Draco, who was still fuming, through a small maze and landed at a neat canopy housing a single long bench. The canopy was made of creepers entwined in a way that suggested magic was involved. There were small flowers sprouting here and there. In all it was a calm scenic spot and Harry hoped Draco could cool down.
They sat in silence as Harry leaned back slightly and followed the movements of a small sparrow. Draco was trying to force himself to breath consciously and control his emotions. Harry waited. Ron would do something similar when he was angry; it amused him to realize Ron and Draco shared a character trait and chuckled quietly.
"I don't see what's so funny." Draco's voice came so low and chilled that Harry had to blink twice before turning to look at the man.
"I would tell you but something tells me now is not the time" Harry shrugged.
"What I planned… was it that bad?" Self-doubt from a Malfoy was so rare that Harry forced himself not to smile.
"Not really. I think Ron… feels that we messed it up for him"
"I don't get it." The pronoun was apparently not lost on him.
"Me neither" Harry agreed. "But knowing Ron, he would come out with his reasons soon enough"
There was a long silence.
"I make a terrible friend…"
"Says who?"
"I should have anticipated the trouble this would cause Ron. Not to mention your house some points when Snape remembers."
"Good friend or not, you are bound to mess up sometime, Draco. We all have had our fights."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Besides… don't you have friends? Crabbe, Doyle, Zabini and Parkinson, if you'd include her."
"I…" Draco snorted, "I wouldn't quite call them friends… more like lackeys? Maybe. Well Zabini is ok but there's only so far you can go with Slytherins. No, I refuse to include her."
"Maybe if you tried, then they would make great friends… at least Zabini. I thought you were close."
"Humph." Draco snorted again; "The one time I did try, a certain boy refused me… in disgust even" He looked sharply at Harry.
"That…" Harry furrowed his brows. "I… I'm sorry about that."
"I was hurt you know." Draco said conversationally but some bitterness crept into his voice. "I was jealous of Ron and Hermione and spiteful. After last year though, I realized maybe getting your attention that way wasn't the best idea."
"You were trying for my attention?" Harry teased.
"Ugh… that was hard to say! Don't make fun of it!" Draco flushed and Harry allowed himself a small laugh.
"Well at least one mystery solved. You decided to change tactics to gain attention!" Harry exclaimed.
"Whatever" Draco muttered.
"Since" Harry's tone dropped and he suddenly sounded serious, "Since we are talking about this and well… sharing secrets. I should tell you why I couldn't at the time accept your hand."
"There was a reason? Other than me being Slytherin?"
"Draco, we weren't sorted yet." He rolled his eyes. "Besides I didn't have those prejudices since I was too new to this world." Harry smiled bitterly and Draco shifted to be a little closer unconsciously. "But I did have other prejudices…"
"Others?" Draco was listening intently.
"You see… you resembled Dudley."
"What a horrific name… it is a name?"
"Yes it's a name… my cousin's name. He was spoiled rotten, got his way every time, was dreadful and thought he was above everyone. Remind you of someone?"
"Maybe? Was he absolutely gorgeous?" Draco smiled, somewhat understand what Harry was hinting at.
"That might be the only difference between you two."
"So you think I am gorgeous?" Draco teased.
"You really love yourself too much" Harry said dryly. "Anyway, he always found means to torture me and was the bane of my existence until Hogwarts. And I was scared you were the same. You even had lackeys!"
"And I guess I proved that I was just as awful in the years after that?"
"More or less."
"How about now?"
"I…" Harry thought a second and turned to Draco and smiled. Harry placed a hand on Draco's reassuringly when he saw the nervous look Draco wore. "I think, no, I know you are not that bad. I have seen you in pain over torturing people in war. I saw. I understood how you wanted to protect your family. I am ever grateful to you for saving my life. And, the you trying to make your dream of friendship come true, is very attractive." Then Harry did the unthinkable and kissed Draco on the mouth.
"Ha…Harry?"
"But, Draco," Harry continued, ignoring Draco's spluttering, "I can't let you fulfill that dream. Cuz' you see… I want more…" Harry caressed Draco's face a lingering moment more and got up with an awkward sigh and "sorry."
There was an awkward silence as Harry considered running before Draco reacted. He looked at the shocked blond, now frozen to the bench, all anger forgotten- for now. Harry winced as he remembered their younger days and fights they used to have. Could he hope they won't return to that time now? Too late to think about, he decided. He let out another sigh and started to reluctantly move away from where Draco sat. He wasn't three steps away when a clammy hand clasped his nervous one.
Draco was looking at his eyes and was pulling slightly at his captured hand. Harry turned around and faced Draco calling up whatever courage he could muster. To his utter surprise Draco stepped nearer to him and after a long look he fluttered his eyes close and kissed him almost shyly. Draco pulled back a little and resumed looking deep into Harry's eyes, as if searching for an answer. Harry felt a grin creep on his carefully schooled face as he placed a hand on the other man's waist and pulled him into an embrace.
"I was worried you'd hex me to next year." Harry mumbled. In response Draco laced the fingers of his free hand in Harry's hair and smiled. The next moment they were lost in their first kiss.
That evening, Ron went to the dungeons with the heaviest footfalls ever. He dreaded the moment he met Snape's eyes. He hovered in front of the door and considered turning around and running but somehow he could not move when he sensed Snape's quiet hum of emotions more strongly. Ron gulped loudly and knocked.
"Come in, Weasley."
"Good evening, Professor" he mildly wondered how Snape knew.
"Sit" his voice was stern matching his determined and sublimely angry emotions. "Now explain yourself." At least he was giving him a chance to explain.
Snape stood in front of him and seemed a bit too large at the moment. Ron looked up at him, at his onyx eyes. How had he never noticed those eyes? He could easily imagine himself getting lost… No! He had to stop this line of thought or he might just be pulverized in no time.
"It… wasn't me." Ron managed to squeak.
"Pardon?"
"I was not the one responsible for the fireworks, sir" This time his voice was stronger.
"And you expect me to believe that?" Snape said in a dry voice but in his mind, Ron sensed how incredulous he felt at his admission.
"No. But it is the truth." He felt like a proud Gryffindor, the way his voice was not shaking.
"I see. Care to tell me, who then?"
"No"
"Potter? I hardly believe Granger would do that." Snape mused.
"I am sorry professor. I can't reveal the name."
"Why ever not? Unless it was you, who did the deed"
"I know who and why. They… um… did it for me…"
"I don't quite understand Weasley. They did it for you and you were not involved."
"Yeah." Ron hazarded a wan smile.
"Mr. Weasley, I find this preposterous tale…. Idiotic. Now the truth please."
"It is as I said."
"And why would your friends get you into trouble? Do you actually like cleaning the cauldrons?"
"Not that. They…"
"Go on"
"They were trying to give me time…"
"Time for?"
"Time with you" Ron finally rushed out and blushed.
Snape regarded him suspiciously, Ron could tell. "Pray tell, Weasley. Why do you suddenly find that you must spend time with me?"
"That…um… I don't know how to…"
"Just spit it out!" Snape growled his irritation evident.
"I…" Ron began with a sigh, "My Veela mate happens to be … you."
There was a long uncomfortable silence following which Snape started pacing, his confusion and disbelief apparent.
"That is not funny Weasley." He finally stopped pacing and stood in front of Ron who was now standing nervously.
"I agree."
"You are telling the truth?"
"Yes"
"And I am you mate?"
"Yes"
"Why the fuck did you choose me, brat?" Snape lost control of his cool voice and flaccid face in a moment.
"It's the blood!" Ron screamed and stepped into Snape's personal space. "I can't help that. Besides, you are not too bad Snape." He ended more calmly.
"Not too bad?" Snape gaped, his perfect façade now nowhere to be seen.
"I mean I wouldn't have chosen you but now that you are my mate, I want to make it work"
"You have gone mental!" Snape screeched accompanied by disbelieving rage now flooding Ron's senses.
"No. I just see better, when it comes to you, at least." Ron then leaned in for a kiss. He waited to see if Snape would bolt but as he didn't he went ahead and kissed the bewildered professor lightly on his lips. "Soon I will win your heart" Ron declared as he slightly caressed Snape's cheek and exited the dungeons, leaving the Potions Master rooted to the spot.
It wasn't until he was nearly at the Gryffindor tower that he stopped to wipe his sweat and control his breathing and finally face what he just did. Morgana's beard, what did he just do? Ron's heart was hammering in his chest and his eyes were bulging as he bit his lip as hard as he could without drawing blood and slid down to the floor. This is how Harry and Draco found him a few moments later.
"Ron?" Harry whispered, sensing the youth's mood. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"Harry…" Ron looked up desolately and said nothing more.
Beside them Draco was once again remembering Ron's attitude and was starting to get angry. Harry placed a hand on Draco's shoulder; once he looked into those beautiful grey eyes, Draco let go of his anger with a sigh.
"Ron… did something happen? Is it Snape?" Harry turned his attention back to the nearly sobbing heap while still holding on to Draco's shoulder.
"Is… is it… my fault?" Draco asked hesitantly. He relaxed a little when Ron shook his head. "Care to take a walk?" Draco offered his hand and surprisingly Ron took it and stood up in one fluid motion.
The three of them walked around the castle, two worried boys flanking Ron. Once Ron seemed to have calmed down, Harry tried again.
"I…well; I told Snape that he is my mate…" Draco clapped softly.
"That's a good thing!"
"Yea… he didn't take it well though."
"He will come around" Draco assured.
"Maybe…"
"So… What is bothering you?" Harry asked, fixing his friend with a piercing gaze.
"Well… I was … bold."
"Excuse me?" Draco mimicked Harry with his gaze.
"I… um told him, I will win his heart… and…"
"And?" The prompt was hardly necessary.
"And I…. Kissed him"
"That was fast Weasley" Draco murmured in satisfaction.
"He was still frozen when I left! He is gonna kill me tomorrow." Ron groaned.
"Ronald Weasley! Are you forgetting that you are a Gryffindor? You yourself said you would make him succumb. Are you trying to back away?" Draco pulled a very Molly-like voice, which startled Ron, out of his moping.
"Of course not Malfoy." Ron said dryly. "It's just that Snape is still seething." Ron closed his eyes. "He is confused and angry and would like nothing better than strangle me right now." He left out some other emotions he felt.
"And how would you know?" This time Harry was curious.
"Well… I guess I gained a new power? I can sense Snape's… emotions"
"O…" the two boys were lost for words.
"I wouldn't worry. If you can tell what he is thinking…"
"Feeling" Ron corrected.
"Feeling" Draco conceded, "You may just as well dodge him. Besides, being a teacher he won't harm his students."
"I am not too sure about that…" Harry muttered.
"Me either."
"He won't! At least he won't kill you. Maybe hex you…"
"Snape's hexes are not funny"
"No, Harry they are not. But no pain no gain" they looked at Ron.
"I guess it is useless worrying. We will see what happens tomorrow…"
"Yes. You should get a good night's sleep."
Ron nodded and went to his room leaving Harry and Draco in the corridors.
"You really think it will be alright?"
"Yes, I do. And…"
"Hm?"
"I want my Godfather to be happy. He has been alone long enough." Draco's mouth was set in a thin line.
"His… relationships never did work out well." Harry said quietly, remembering the fact that Snape had loved his mother. He shuffled close to Draco and held his hand lightly.
"Yeah. He really isn't bad you know."
"I know. After all he has been protecting me for so long. I owe him a lot."
"How long?"
"I believe since Voldemort killed my parents." Draco flinched at the name.
"All that time?" Draco's eyes widened.
"Yeah. And I never knew." Harry shook his head sadly. "He also had the toughest time as a spy… not that anyone wants to acknowledge his heroic deeds" Harry added bitterly. "But I know and I wish I could do something for him."
"You could. First off helping Ron get close to him will suffice."
"Agreed. You got any more crazy ideas?"
"Lay low for now."
"What should we do meanwhile?"
"How about…" Draco leaned over and kissed him.
"Scandalous" Harry chuckled as Draco dragged him to the nearby empty class room.
As soon as the door closed, Harry found himself pushed into the door and kissed thoroughly. Harry responded eagerly and slipped a hand into Draco's silky hair with the other drawing small circles on his chest. Draco had one hand bracing him against the door while the other snaked its way to Harry's waist. The kiss deepened as Draco slipped his tongue in Harry's mouth and explored it relentlessly. Somehow Draco's hand found its way to Harry's bare stomach making him gasp and push the blond away gently.
Draco withdrew slightly and looked at Harry in question.
"Not so fast Draco." Harry breathed. "I…want to take it slow."
"Why?"
"It's my first time?" Harry offered.
"Come off it Harry! You have been with at least two girls, I can think of." He looked hurt.
"We never went farther than kissing." Harry admitted.
"Mr. Popular Boy-Who-Lived has never gone further than a few chaste kisses?"
"No." Harry blushed. "I have never wanted to…"
"So… you are not interested in sex?" A devastated look replaced the earlier look of disbelief and hurt.
"Not that…! I am interested… with you" He stole a glance at Draco.
"Then?" Now he looked confused.
"I want to do this right. I want more than your body…"
"More than…" Draco blushed, the pink hue making him even more attractive.
"Everything. I want everything." Harry stroked his jaw lovingly and laid small kisses along the said jaw.
"If you keep that up… I might not be able to grant your wish…" Draco gritted through his teeth.
"Sorry" Harry's color was a deeper red than before.
"Look here." Draco captured Harry's chin and guided him into another kiss, this time slow and sweet. Harry smiled into the kiss and relaxed against Draco's well built body. When they finally broke the kiss, they hung onto each other in a tight embrace and rocked back and forth.
"I might be in love with you, Harry Potter"
"I might be too, Draco Malfoy" Harry chuckled.
They stood there, content to be in each other's arms until a cough interrupted them. They jumped away and looked around to find the source of the disturbance.
"As much as I would love to see more romance…" a shrill voice continued, "It's almost curfew, you boys should go back now, no?" It was the portrait of Lady Ermine smiling at them with amusement.
"My Lady" Draco bowed a little.
"Malfoy. Potter. I must say I am surprised. To think the top troublemakers of the year would be so sweet to each other" She was smiling even wider, if that were possible. Harry mumbled a hello as he copied Draco's bow uncomfortably and turned even a darker shade of red while Draco grinned.
"May we ask you to keep the secret, Fair Lady?"
"But of course." She winked. "Now, go on. Curfew is almost up."
"Yes ma'am" they mumbled thank you and left.
"Let me walk you to the tower"
"Dungeons are closer. I might as well accompany you" Harry pointed out.
"That's why dear Harry. We have enough time… ten minutes. I will easily make it back in time."
"I'd rather you didn't take the risk… but I won't stop you from spending another few minutes with me."
They smiled and hand in hand they walked to the Gryffindor tower. The portraits were sleeping and did not bother them, which admittedly was a small blessing. When they reached the tower, Harry turned to Draco and kissed him again.
"Good night Draco." He whispered.
"Good night."
Harry woke up the Fat Lady while Draco hurried to the dungeons. Both had smiles on their faces and went to bed content, sure that no nightmares could mar their rest that night.