Chapter 7: Letting Go
Draco rolled over to find bright sunlight entering his bed. He was sure he had closed his bed drapes before he went to sleep. He lazily opened one eye.
"Rise and shine Slytherin princess." Blaise said sarcastically.
Draco muttered something along the lines of "fuck off" before rolling over to the opposite side of his bed.
Blaise poked him with a finger. "You missed breakfast and you have exactly 5 minutes before Slughorn's class."
"Shit!" Draco shouted, rolling out of bed. He ran over to his wardrobe and frantically tried to get dressed. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?"
"Since when did I become an alarm clock? But anyway, I've got something interesting to tell you."
"What?" Draco asked, his voice muffled by his tie that was in his mouth.
"Harry was looking for you this morning. Isn't it strange?"
Draco yawned. "No that's not strange at all. He most likely wanted to talk about the project we're doing. He's supposed to eat breakfast with me."
"Oh." Blaise replied, examining his nails nonchalantly. "Did you fuck him already?"
Draco made a disgruntled face. "What the hell? Me fucking Potter? Oh Merlin, no." Draco broke out in laughter. "I told him I was gay and I thought he might pass out. The boy is practically a little scared virgin."
Blaise smirked. "Those are the kind you usually go for."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Drop it and help me get my tie on."
Harry sat in Slughorn's class staring at his book. He hadn't slept well the other night, and he was looking for Draco to maybe talk about his latest dream. He peered across the Great Hall and realized that he wasn't there. Finishing his toast, he went up to Blaise.
"Hey, you know where Draco is?"
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "How should I know, I am not my housemate's keeper." A smug expression settled on his face.
Scowling, Harry walked away. Now, he was sitting in Slughorn's dungeon waiting for class to begin.
Just when the potions class was about to start, Draco and Blaise came sauntering through the door.
"Mr. Zabini, Mr. Malfoy, how nice of you to grace us with your appearance." Slughorn said, grumbling.
Draco smirked as he made his way to his seat. His hair was a bit messy and his tie was crooked.
Harry didn't like the way Draco looked, and the satisfied expression on Blaise's face. He gripped the desk tighter as he thought about Blaise's hands all over Draco, kissing those lips.
"Harry." Ron said, staring at him concerned.
The Gryffindor snapped out of his thoughts. "Hmm?"
"You alright mate? You look a little angry."
"I'm fine." Harry shook his head. Was he just jealous? Why? Draco was a bloke, and he certainly didn't care who he was fucking? Or did he?
Harry drove the thoughts out of his head and concentrated on Potions.
Choosing to skip dinner in order to get a much needed nap alone, Harry crept up to the dorms, sprawled out on his bed, and shut the curtains. Just as he was falling asleep, he heard someone heading towards his bed. He gripped his wand tightly.
"Harry, you awake?" Ginny asked, poking her head through the curtain.
Harry relaxed. "Yeah." He patted the space beside him.
Ginny clambered onto his bed and they both stared at the ceiling in silence. She traced her fingertips along Harry's forearm. "How are you?"
"Fine." He stared into her eyes with concern. "Why do you ask? Have you been talking to Hermione?"
Ginny looked uncomfortable. Finally after a long pause she spoke. "Hermione and I have discussed a few things. She says you aren't well. Harry, I'm worried about you."
"Join the committee." The raven haired boy grumbled.
Ginny draped her arm over him as she snuggled closer. "Everything is going to be fine. I'm here for you. We'll make it together." She said, kissing his cheek.
Harry sat up. "Look I don't need consoling like a mental case. You treat me like I'm crazy."
"I didn't mean it like that." She bit her lip. "I saw you out in the garden at the Burrow and it worried me but I didn't say anything. I know this has been hard on you."
"If I'm so broken, then maybe we shouldn't be together." Harry said bitterly.
"I'm sorry Harry. I didn't think it would upset you that much if I brought up that topic. If you say you're fine, then you're fine."
Harry looked away. "It's not just that. I'm going through some changes Gin and I'm trying to figure myself out. Now that Voldemort is gone, its time to make my identity without him, which has been quite confusing."
"So you want to end our relationship?"
Harry sighed. "It's not like that at all. I just can't give you what you need right now. I've been a pretty sorry excuse for a boyfriend, and I won't have you tied to me any longer. I want to see you happy Gin."
Tears spilled from Ginny's eyes. "Just like you, always putting yourself last. If that's how you feel, ok. I love you Harry, no matter your decision."
"I love you too Ginny." Harry said, squeezing her hand before she left.
Draco was nose deep in his books in the library. Ancient Runes proved to be harder than he thought and he unhappily toiled away at the antique symbols. He heard someone sit down at his table, and he was prepared to give them a fierce tongue lashing until he realized it was Harry.
"Hey." Draco said, smiling and shutting his book.
"Hi." Harry said, smiling back. Something about the Slytherin's smile was contagious and he was sure that his grin was as wide as the Cheshire cats.
"Blaise told me you were looking for me earlier. Did you want to talk or something?"
Or something. Those words sent a chill down Harry's spine, as he imagined Draco's hands all over him, grabbing his hair, his mouth tantalizing places he could only dream of. His eyes widened. He had just thought of Draco in a not so platonic way and now his head was swimming in confusion.
"Hello? I asked you a question." Draco said, waving a hand in front of him.
Harry swallowed hard. "Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to get off of the grounds for a bit."
"Sure it's stifling around here. I could stretch my legs."
Draco and Harry walked to the third floor corridor to the statue of one-eyed witch.
"Dissendium." Harry said, tapping the witch with his wand. Suddenly, a shadowy passage appeared and they descended into the darkness.
Harry groped around in the dim area. The passage was smaller and darker than he last remembered and he slid his hands along the wall until he felt something firm and warm.
"Harry, you're touching me." Draco said.
Harry quickly removed his hands and was glad that it was pitch black so Draco couldn't see his fiery red cheeks.
"Lumos." Draco said, and light poured out from his wand. "That should make things a bit easier, although if you want to continue to grope me in the dark, I'd be perfectly fine with it."
Harry laughed nervously.
Draco smiled. Maybe there was more to what Blaise was saying. Could Potter be developing a crush?
They finally made it to Honeydukes. It was after hours, so they were very quiet, selecting their favorite candies and leaving money on the counter. They sat in the passageway eating chocolates by wand light.
"I ate so many of these as a child, I'm surprised I didn't turn into a chocolate." Draco stuffed his mouth with more candies.
"That's because your mommy dearest gave you whatever you wanted, you spoiled prat." Harry unwrapped a chocolate. "Besides, you're already a pouf all you need is the cream filling."
"Hahaha. Very fucking funny. Did I mention how much I hate you?" Draco glared at Harry.
"Don't be so sensitive. I was only joking around. Besides if you hated me, you wouldn't be sitting in this pathway eating treats me."
"I'm only doing this because there is nothing else to do."
"Right, sure."
A moment of silence passed between the two.
"Anymore of those dreams?" Draco questioned.
"It's really none of your concern. I'll take care of it on my own."
Draco was beginning to get fed up. "Look, you have a problem and you're to fucking headstrong to let anyone help you."
"I'm not some war reject that needs to be treated at St. Mungos." Harry retorted. "What makes you think I can trust you? This is some ploy to regain your place in society. I can read the headlines now. 'Ex-deatheater's son saves zany Potter.'"
Draco gripped his chocolate so tightly that it squished in his hand. "You don't have any idea what I've been through. Don't you dare accuse me of something as vile as that!"
"Why not? It seems like something your father would do!" Harry knew he had pushed Draco's buttons, but he didn't care. Something about the Slytherin made his blood boil in more ways than one.
"I'm nothing like my father!" Draco was now shouting inches from Harry's face. "You're parents were just as impetuous as you are and that's the reason that they're dead!" There was a flash and Draco felt an immediate pain in his jaw. Harry had punched him. He immediately grabbed Harry and they tussled and brawled.
"Get your damn hands off me, you spoiled blonde headed git!"
"Let go of me Potter or I'll hex your bits off!"
Draco was tired of fighting with Harry. The constant bickering was wearing on him. He pressed his lips to Harry's during mid punch. He felt Harry drop his hands and his body stiffen against him. Draco stopped when he realized Harry wasn't returning the kiss.
Harry stared at him with a baffled expression. The silence was pressing down on the both of them like a weight.
"Harry...I'm sorry...I just wanted to help you and-" Draco was cut short by Harry promptly latching himself onto Draco, his fingers threading through his corn silk hair.
Draco's tongue slid in Harry's mouth with ease and he heard an appreciative moan echo from the Gryffindor. His fingers ran down Harry's back and to his arse, where he pressed their bodies together. It was one of the best kisses Draco had ever had, so simple yet setting his body on fire. Firm hands pushed him away. He opened his eyes to find the green eyed boy staring at him with an expression of lust mixed with confusion.
"Malfoy...Just no…" He turned around and fled, leaving Draco to walk back to Slytherin common room.
Draco quickly made his way through the portrait. Blaise was sitting up by the fire reading the Daily Prophet.
"He likes me." The blonde said with a smug expression.
"Who likes you?" Blaise asked, never looking up from his paper.
"Potter."
"A blind man could have seen that. The way he stares at you, almost carnivore-like."
Draco crossed his arms and stared at Blaise until he looked up from his paper. "Well what am I supposed to do?" He threw his hands up in frustration.
"Do you like him?"
Draco crinkled his nose. "He could use some work."
Blaise scoffed. "Just because he isn't perfectly manicured like you, doesn't mean he isn't hot. You may not have noticed, but quidditch was good to him. His body is unlike anyone else's around here, going along with those lovely green eyes and tan skin. Let's just say if he had the hots for me, I'd be grabbing my ankles now and begging for pleasure."
Draco was surprised by Blaise's blunt statement.
The dark Slytherin smirked.
"What?" Draco asked.
"You're thinking about him aren't you?"
Draco didn't respond. He only walked up the stairs.
"This should be interesting." Blaise said, returning to his paper.
