A/N:::Ducks Rocks:: I know I'm horrible, but real life got crazy. Good, but good. I will post as many chapters as possible in winter break. Enjoy! aLtO
Chapter Four
Dinner that night was an interesting affair. Harry's eyes shifted towards the Slytherin table quite a few times. He could still feel Draco's hand on his lower back. The Gryffindor shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the thought. This was going to be difficult. He had never really lusted after anyone; if lust is what you would call a constant need. Why did it have to be with Malfoy? Of all people, it had to be that insufferable, arrogant, ferret! Not to mention all the questions this thing brought up, not only about his sexuality, but his sanity.
Draco felt eyes upon him again, and shifted his gaze to catch Potter staring. His little altercation with him had not gone to plan. He was supposed to humiliate him, scare him, but not attack him in any way shape or form; so how he ended up pressing him into a wall was a mystery. This frustration was never going to end. And to make matters worse, he just had to get caught by Weasley of all people! Somehow, he knew he would never forget that, and he would never be allowed to either. It didn't help that Potter had left him a constant reminder on his neck. He really had to pause and think about that for a second. Harry Potter had given him a hickey.
As he left the Great Hall, someone pulled him into an alcove right past the doors. Draco looked up to see green eyes and black hair. Potter.
"Can I help you?" he drawled, leaning against the wall lazily and admiring his perfectly manicured hands. He was trying to show as little interest as possible.
"I- I think we need to… talk," started Potter hesitantly.
"And what, pray tell, do we have to talk about?" asked Draco sharply, aware that Potter had moved an inch closer to him. Suddenly, he had the urge to pull the other boy flush against him.
"After Defense today, when Ron caught- saw us, amongst other things."
'My goodness, who knew the Golden Boy could get so red?' Draco thought with amusement as he observed the flush on Harry cheeks.
"Do you think this is an appropriate location for such a conversation?" he finally responded, eyeing the few questioning gazes of their classmates that were leaving breakfast.
"No, I imagine not." Harry's voice was a bit higher than normal. "Meet me in the seventh floor corridor right where we, uh, met last time. At nine. That should give us plenty of time before curfew."
"Fine, Potter," Draco agreed grudgingly as he tried to stalk away menacingly, failing miserably.
oOo
Harry was pacing back and forth in front of a suit of armor within the seventh floor corridor. Malfoy was late. Why he even thought this would work out was beyond him. Nothing ever did. He turned to leave, but walked into something, lost his balance and tripped over his own foot, landing on the ground.
"Potter, get off the floor. Honestly, you wonder why I don't want to be seen within a foot of you unless I'm hexing you."
Malfoy offered his hand to help Harry up, looking just as surprised at the gesture as Harry felt. After the awkward moment passed, Harry finally spoke.
"Follow me."
He started walking and, only then did he notice he was still holding Malfoy's hand. His eyes darted towards the blond's. Harry didn't try to pull his hand away and neither did Malfoy, so they walked the deserted hall in silence. It was unfamiliar, yet comforting and completely disturbing all at once. Finally, they got to a blank space in the wall. Harry let go of Malfoy's hand and walked directly in front of it. He moved back and forth three times.
I need a place to talk to Draco. I need a place to talk to Draco. I need a place to…
It wasn't until the door appeared that he realized he'd used the name. Draco?
"Come on," said Harry, holding the door open for Draco- no, Malfoy. He shut the door behind him and found a small room with a fireplace, two couches facing each other and a small wooden table in the middle. It was modest and perfect.
"What is this place?" Malfoy asked curiously.
"This is the Room of Requirement," explained Harry as he took the couch farthest from the door motioning for Malfoy to take a seat.
"You mean it's real? I always thought it was some sort of myth." Draco shook his head slightly, before sitting down. It was obvious that he refused to relax.
"This place is as much of a myth as the Chamber of Secrets," Harry replied before he realized how cheesy it sounded. Draco laughed stiffly all the same, but maintained his stature. "And that isn't really what I came here to talk about."
"I'd think not. I'm surprised you came here to talk at all."
"Some of us actually posses some self-control." Harry winked before his cheeks turned pink.
Isiah
"So much self control that I have to wear a glamour on my neck? Yeah, I can see how you beat me there," Draco muttered sardonically. If possible, Harry's blush deepened.
"Sorry about that. I'd hate to think what would have happened if Ron hadn't interrupted."
"I wouldn't." Draco said softly. A slightly comfortable silence took over the room for a moment.
"I need you to know something," Harry finally spoke up. "I know you are going to be pissed when you hear it and no one can hear me scream in here." This drew a genuine smile from Draco. Harry had to pause for a moment to take in the rare occurrence.
"Well, out with it Potter. I haven't got all night. Not all of us have handy invisibility cloaks to get us through the castle after hours." Draco stared at him with a pointed look.
"Ok, point taken. I-I heard you talking to Ginny this morning."
Draco looked thoughtful for a moment, but then his face hardened. "How much did you hear?" he asked in a low voice.
"Nearly everything. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I heard my name and I couldn't help it. Especially after what happened yesterday." Harry added, blushing at the last statement.
Surprisingly, Draco was still seated, with his wand firmly in his right, back pocket. His face, however, was vastly distorted by embarrassment and something kindred to rage.
"So you know?"
"About you being gay, or that you didn't actually mean to… kiss me?" Harry asked before he could stop himself.
"Well, I guess I got my answer, you arse! I can't believe that the great Harry Potter would stoop so low! I bet you and your friends had a good laugh at that one!"
Draco was fuming. He was getting up to leave when Harry bolted off the couch and grabbed his arm.
"No, no I didn't tell anybody!" he told him honestly, turning Draco around to face him.
"You're serious?" questioned Draco suspiciously. "You could have destroyed my reputation, Potter, but for once kept your mouth shut? I don't believe it. I'm sure within the week I'll have Weasel up my arse, not to mention Thomas and Finnigan. Well, you know what, Potter? Fuck you!"
Draco was almost out the door, furious that Potter had the nerve to bring up such a subject when he heard Potter.
"Draco!" Harry called, all too aware of how pleading his voice sounded. Slowly, Draco stopped and turned. Without a word he brushed past Harry and sat back down on his couch. Harry stood, shocked for a moment before making his way back to his seat. There was another moment of uneasy silence.
"Why?" Draco asked quite suddenly. Harry's head shot up and their eyes met.
"Why? W-Why what?" queried Harry cautiously, not wanting to anger him again, which was ironic since he spent the last six years doing every thing in his power to achieve the opposite.
"Why…? Why didn't you tell your friends? Why did you kiss me back? Why do I have this bite on my neck? Why did you call me Draco?" Draco spoke quickly. Harry sat back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair, one of his many nervous habits.
"I didn't tell my friends because it isn't any of their business. I kissed you back because- because it felt right. That love bite on your neck? It's there because you pushed me against a wall. And I called you Draco because—well, it is your name."
"That is so like you, Potter," replied Draco after a few moments.
"What is that?"
"To answer the question while completely ignoring the actual question."
Harry looked up and saw that genuine smile again. "Well, what else would you expect?"
"Absolutely nothing."
