Harry slowly strolled up Diagon Alley in the muted light of early Monday morning. He wore a long black cloak over his Muggle clothing, hoping that few people would recognise him so that he could concentrate on chasing up Draco's stalker uninterrupted. He'd already meandered around Knockturn Alley without much success; while there had been many dodgy shops full of dodgy people; he hadn't found what he was looking for. He was also keeping an eye out for anyone following him - with anything other than star-struck adoration shining in their eyes.

Harry paused outside the Apothecary then purposefully made his way inside.

His nose wrinkled as the stench of eggs and rotten cabbage struck his nostrils upon entry. The place hadn't changed at all since the last time he'd stepped foot inside and he hoped he wouldn't be long. The tall weedy-looking shopkeeper barely spared him a glance as he walked in and strode past the ancient barrels full of slimy shapes and dusty animal hooves to the section of the shop housing shelf upon shelf of strange glittering gems and stones of every shape and colour.

Harry stopped in front of the dusty wooden rows to inspect the assorted stones, searching for anything similar to the exotic black rock that had been placed as a paper-weight on top of the first note.

He'd known there was something unique about the rock as soon as he'd seen it that day; it was not your everyday garden-variety stone, and he thought it was worth a look to see if he could find a similar one, and then enquire as to whether the shop kept a record of who they sold stock to.

"Do you require some assistance?"

Harry turned to see the proprietor standing at the end of his row, a suspicious frown creasing his face, as though he thought Harry was up to no good.

"Erm… perhaps," Harry replied as pleasantly as he could. "I'm looking for a particular stone."

The man came forward to stand next to him, shiny black apron crinkling loudly with each step. "What sort of stone?"

Harry swallowed and glanced over the shelves again before replying somewhat sheepishly, "erm, a really black one?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "What sort of magical properties does it possess?"

Harry suddenly felt extremely ill-prepared for this interrogation. It was bad enough that the man looked like Snape, he didn't have to make Harry feel like a complete idiot as well. "I'm not really sure if it does or not," Harry finally answered haltingly. "I'm just trying to find a match to one that was… er, given to me a few months ago. All I know is that it is about the size of a small cat and very, very black."

"And I don't suppose you thought to bring it with you?"

Harry flushed and shook his head. He hadn't wanted to cart the thing around all day so he'd simply left it behind, leaving it up to his memory to locate its equivalent.

The man sighed heavily before turning to the shelves beside them. "The colour and size narrows it down to five different varieties which we carry here."

Harry took a startled step back as the rocks all suddenly shifted and slid around on the wooden shelves until only five black boulders remained at the forefront. Without a word, Harry stepped back in to inspect the rocks in turn; squinting carefully at each specimen. Only one seemed to be similar to the Concerned Citizen's rock.

"This one," Harry said, pointing at it with one hand as he turned to the tall shopkeeper beside him.

The man raised his brow. "That is a rare stone: black tourmaline infused with blood of Re'em."

"Meaning…?"

With another put-upon sigh, the shopkeeper replied, "meaning, it is a type of protection stone."

Harry turned to look at the innocuous stone. "Huh."

"Indeed," he responded dryly. "Are you intending to purchase it?"

"How much is it?" Harry asked curiously, turning back to him.

A slow oily smile stretched the shopkeeper's thin lips. "Eight hundred and fifty galleons."

Harry gaped. "What? Really?"

"I take it that is a no?" he replied smugly, raising his wand and, without waiting for Harry's response, magically shifted all the rocks back into place.

"Er, no," Harry mumbled, watching him.

"Anything else I can help you?"

"Oh uh, no thanks," Harry declined politely.

"Good day Mr Potter."

Harry blinked; he hadn't thought the man knew who he was. Harry smiled to himself as he headed for the exit; he rather enjoyed it when people knew who he was and didn't give him special treatment - another trait the shopkeeper shared with Snape.

Harry was halfway to the door when he remembered something else. He turned and made his way to the front counter where Snape's doppelganger had returned to restocking the display shelf.

"Excuse me, sir? There was one other thing I wanted to ask," Harry called out tentatively.

"Yes?" the man replied without turning around.

"Do you keep a record of who buys what?"

The tall man finally turned and looked down his nose at Harry with dark suspicious eyes. "Not as a matter of course Mr Potter."

"Oh." Harry shoved his hands into his cloak pockets. "So… if someone came in here a few months ago and bought one of those black stones, you wouldn't have any idea who it may have been?"

The shopkeeper pursed his lips a moment, surveying him. "Even if we did keep track of people's purchases, or remembered such things, it would not be information that we would release to just anybody Mr Potter. Unless you are an Auror here on official business…?"

Harry's eyes widened slightly and he shook his head, not wanting any of this to get back to the Ministry. "No, I'm not; just curious. Good day!" he said, backing away with a smile. He turned and walked out of the shop, letting the wooden door bang shut behind him on rusty hinges.

Harry took a deep breath and slowly released it; relieved to be back out in the fresh air. He started walking back towards the flat, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, as he thought about the mysterious witch or wizard who thought it was their duty to protect him from evil Draco Malfoy.

Harry smirked to himself, keeping his eyes on the cobbles beneath his feet. If they only knew what sort of activities he did get up to with Draco - they would be thoroughly horrified.

He shook his head and tried to keep his mind on the task at hand; so far he knew that the person understood a little of stone magic - or possibly just used the shopkeeper's expertise - and they had loads of galleons to waste. Harry frowned, or perhaps they'd spent every knut they had to purchase that rock, but it seemed unlikely. The note hadn't even made reference to the stone, as though it was nothing. Harry made up his mind to research black tourmaline and Re'em blood when he got home.

Harry blinked, realising that he'd just thought of Malfoy's flat as 'home.' He hadn't thought of anywhere as home since Hogwarts...

"Harry?"

Harry looked up to see Hermione walking towards him. He'd just turned the corner into Knockturn Alley and she was walking towards him from the direction of Draco's shop.

"There you are," she said with a hesitant smile.

"What are you doing here?" he asked stiffly as she came to a stop in front of him, yesterday's argument still fresh in his mind.

She clasped her hands together in front of her and swallowed, looking anxious. "I just wanted to stop by to apologise," she said quietly. "I… I didn't mean to insult you like that, I'm just worried about you and it came out all wrong - as usual."

Harry looked at her remorseful expression and felt his anger melt away. "That's okay, I know how it must look from the outside," he said with a slight smile, "but… I'm alright. I really am. I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing right now."

Hermione looked somewhat appeased by this and returned his smile.

Harry suddenly wanted to tell her everything, the wild urge sweeping over him and creating a knot of nervous energy in his stomach. He swallowed and opened his mouth to speak but the impulse shrivelled and died as quickly as it had come. He couldn't do it. Not yet.

"Do you mind not telling anyone about me and Draco?" he said instead. "I don't want it to get out and… and it's just… it's nothing. It's not a real relationship or anything. It's just… for fun."

Hermione blushed and nodded. "Of course, it's none of my business," she replied swiftly, as though she'd been telling herself the same thing all morning in preparation for this conversation. "I'd better get to work, I just wanted to stop in on my way to see you," she added, smiling hesitantly again. "So… we're okay?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, affection lacing his voice, "of course."

Hermione's expression was softened with relief as she nodded in farewell and walked past him towards Diagon Alley, giving his arm a light squeeze on her way past.

Harry watched her leave for a moment before continuing on to Draco's shop. He knew Hermione's words yesterday had come from a place of concern for her friend and he couldn't ignore that fact. He also knew that it was too late in the game for him to be holding grudges against the people he cared about.

Harry entered the shop and wandered into Draco's office when he saw that the blond was inside alone. He flopped into one of the chairs opposite Draco's desk and exhaled noisily.

Draco glanced up. "Did Granger find you?"

"Yup." Harry turned to sit sideways across the comfortable chair, absently swinging his legs up to hang over the side of the soft leather arm. "What do you know about black tourmaline stone and blood of Re'em?"

Draco set down his quill and gazed at Harry with a raised brow. "I know that both of those particular items cost quite a few galleons and are generally used in pure-blood homes for protection against visitors with malicious intent."

Harry's eyes widened with interest. "Hmm…"

"Does this have something to do with my secret admirer?"

"Perhaps," Harry replied mysteriously, a smug little smile on his lips.

Draco rolled his eyes and picked up his quill once more.

"You know… you should be practicing your defensive magic," Harry said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "When was the last time you had to defend yourself?"

"Hmm?" Draco glanced up from his notebook and then sighed as Harry's question registered. "Years ago - why?"

Harry swung his legs back around to face front and leaned towards Draco. "Because if this person is for real then they might try to harm you, and you might be too rusty to defend yourself properly."

Draco glared, affronted. "I'm a Malfoy, I don't need to practice," he replied shortly. "Defensive magic is practically bred into me."

"Oh?" Harry replied, not put off in the least by Draco's huffiness. "Then you won't mind a little test?"

"A test?" he repeated disparagingly.

Harry nodded, smiling now. "Yeah, just a quick dual - you and me. Like old times."

Draco's expression cleared and his grey eyes glinted with sudden interest as he leaned back in his chair, paperwork forgotten. "And what do I get if I win?"

Harry's smile turned into a smirk as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared back. "Name it."

Draco's eyes narrowed as he carefully considered his options for a minute. "You… have to… wear a jumper that states 'I love Slytherins' on our next pub night."

Harry laughed and then nodded. "Done."

Draco smirked as he stood and withdrew his wand from the waistband of his charcoal grey trousers. "And your terms Potter?"

Harry removed his wand from his cloak pocket before throwing the heavy garment haphazardly onto the chair and standing. "And if I win, you have to… go to the Burrow for lunch next Sunday."

Draco's smirk deepened with amusement. "Fine."

Harry grinned as he twirled his wand in one hand. "Ready?"

. . . .

"I can't believe you're making me go through with this."

Harry chuckled as he walked alongside the muttering blond up the path towards the bright, cheerful front door of the Burrow. "A promise is a promise Malfoy," he reminded good-naturedly.

Draco glared at the ground as Harry stopped to knock.

Mrs. Weasley opened the round wooden door with a warm, welcoming smile on her face. Her eyes immediately took in Draco's sullen expression as he continued to stare silently at the ground. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm so glad you could make it," she enthused.

Draco's head jerked up in surprise as she continued to smile at him unperturbed.

"Hi Mrs. Weasley," Harry greeted warmly, saving Draco from having to form a response.

"Hello Harry dear," she replied, turning her smile on Harry a moment before stepping back and opening the door wide.

Harry flashed Draco an amused grin before leading the way inside. He hung his coat up on one of the brass wall hooks shaped like a duck and then walked down the cramped hallway to the bustling kitchen, knowing Draco would follow.

"Hi Harry!" Ginny greeted with a smile as she made her way around the worn wooden table, setting plates down in front of each chair. Ron was following close behind with freshly polished silverware.

"Hey Ginny," Harry replied as he plucked a carrot stick from the platter in the centre of the table and crunched on it.

"Merlin's beard… he actually came!" Ron exclaimed in shock as Draco walked in behind Harry. "Didn't think you had it in you Malfoy."

Harry laughed as he turned to survey his flatmate; Draco looked less hostile now but still slightly apprehensive, as though he wasn't quite sure what to expect. He definitely did not appear as comfortable as he did on their Friday night outings. Harry took pity on him and quickly intercepted Ron before he could say anything further.

"How about a game of quidditch after lunch?" he suggested, glancing at Ginny as well.

Ginny's brown eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"Draco?" Harry asked, turning to him with a raised brow.

Draco seemed to relax a little at his words and silently nodded his agreement.

Mrs. Weasley walked in then and began to fuss with the food; using her wand with practiced ease to bring the delicious meal together.

"So tell me again Harry," Hermione said from where she was leaning against the counter next to the sink, arms crossed over her chest, "did you two really have a duel in Draco's shop?"

"You told me he lost a bet," Molly interjected suspiciously, stilling her wand movements as she glanced over.

"He did," Harry maintained with a grin. "I bet that I could beat him in a duel - and I did."

Ron and Ginny laughed while Hermione hid a grin. Draco scowled at the lot of them.

"Didn't you destroy Mr. Malfoy's shop in the process?" Molly asked with a furrowed brow as she levitated the food over to the table and everyone gradually took their seats.

"Please, call me Draco."

Harry turned in surprise at Draco's quietly polite voice and a sudden warmth washed over him as Mrs. Weasley smiled approvingly at the Slytherin.

"No, we used the work room for our duel," Draco answered smoothly. "The walls are protected against explosions and fire."

Harry chuckled at the memory. "We magically enlarged the room - and then cleaned up the mess afterwards," he added, catching Draco's gaze with a grin.

Hermione cleared her throat and asked Harry to pass the potatoes, and soon they were all tucking into the delicious meal. Arthur and George joined the group once they had returned from de-gnoming the back garden and they all settled into easy conversation in between bites.

Harry glanced at Draco every so often to ensure that the Slytherin was alright; he felt slightly guilty for entrapping the man into coming now that they were actually there but he seemed to be managing rather well. Draco relaxed the longer he was there and the longer nobody mentioned his parents or Death Eaters or Voldemort. Harry could see the tension slowly drain from the line of his shoulders and from the guarded look in his eyes. He didn't speak much but he listened and Harry was happy to see that everyone seemed to accept his presence without batting an eye - even Arthur, who despised Lucius and who hadn't seen Draco since before the war.

After lunch everyone wandered outside into the crisp, sunny afternoon. Hermione and Molly settled back into a couple of old weather-beaten chairs with cosy hand-knitted blankets draped over-top of them while everyone else took to the skies for a few warm-up laps.

Harry grinned, green eyes sparkling and heart soaring with exhilaration as he sped around the meadow on his Firebolt. He'd left his prized broom in the Weasley's shed while he'd been away and this was the first time he'd touched it since Hogwarts. He'd flown a few times in his travels - but nothing compared to the familiarity and power of his Firebolt, not to mention the easy-going camaraderie of playing a pick-up game against old friends.

And new friends, he thought as he glanced at Draco surreptitiously. The aristocratic blond, who was always utterly composed, was smiling in obvious enjoyment as he flattened himself to the broom handle and flew at top speed around the overgrown meadow. Draco was dressed simply; in Muggle jeans and a pale grey t-shirt, and Harry privately thought that the casual attire suited him. It had been strange at first to see him out of his customary trousers and formal button-up shirts, and Harry realised that it was probably the first time the man had taken an entire day off work since Harry had started living with him.

Harry startled out of his thoughts as George suddenly blew the whistle and called everyone to the centre of the field. George split the group into two teams of three, with Harry and Draco playing Seeker opposite each other.

Draco shot Harry an arrogant smirk look once they'd been assigned their teams. "Looks like I might get my wish after all Potter!" he called out.

"What's that?" Harry shouted back with a smile.

"If I catch the Snitch then you have to wear the Slytherin jumper on Friday!"

Harry laughed. "You don't give up do you?"

Draco grinned then took off in the opposite direction, waiting for George to signal the start of the game.

At the shrill blast from George's whistle, the six players began to race around the meadow; ducking and diving and chasing the tatty red Quaffle through the air, whilst Harry and Draco swooped above, in search of the elusive Snitch. The game was played without Bludgers but by no means had the competitive edge been taken off, Ginny in particular seemed to be out to prove just how good a flyer she was. It wasn't much of a contest as she was the only professional player amongst them.

Harry circled above at a leisurely pace; gaze alternating between watching the game and watching Malfoy. It brought back so many memories, watching the figure flying opposite him; wind whipping through white-blond hair and grey eyes darkened with intense concentration. Gone was Draco's earlier affected poise and stiffness - now he looked young and care-free; pale cheeks pinked by the sharp wind and physical activity, and his eyes, while focused, were sparkling with unconcealed joy.

Harry couldn't help but smile at the sight.

Draco caught his eye then and smirked before shooting off to the other side of the meadow in an energetic show of speed.

Harry's smile faltered when something sharp twisted in his stomach at the sight of Draco's smirk.

He swallowed, feeling light-headed as dawning realisation suddenly unfurled within him: he didn't just see Draco as this abstractly handsome man anymore - he was actually attracted to him.

Harry blinked and forced himself to look away, pretending to search for the Snitch, as he tried to gather his thoughts as the numbing cold of reality began to spread through his body. He searched his feelings and found that it was still there; a longing that threaded through him and pulled it tight with want when he thought about Draco. Maybe it had been slowly creeping up on him for a while, but seeing Draco today in a different light had somehow made it clear to him: he was attracted to him. He was attracted to Draco's cool, calm persona and dry humour, he was attracted to his teasing smirks and love of forever trying to wind Harry up, he was attracted to the caring man who encouraged Harry to talk when he felt like it or to be silent when that's what he needed too, who let a room to him in a time of need, gave him a job, and who made him laugh on a daily basis. He was handsome but also quirky in a way that Harry found amusing and appealing all at once.

"Oh fuck…." Harry breathed out, stomach dropping as he arrived at this conclusion.

Harry startled and nearly fell sideways off his broom when the air around him suddenly erupted with cheers and whistles. It seemed whilst he had been daydreaming about Malfoy, said Slytherin had captured the Snitch right out from under his nose.

Harry took a deep breath and shook his head, trying to clear it. He glanced at his teammates who were currently staring at him in shock. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged it off as Ginny and Arthur congratulated Draco on his stealthy catch. Draco smiled in acknowledgment of the praise, looking self-conscious but genuinely pleased.

He flashed Harry a triumphant smirk that was meant to remind him of losing the new bet but only served to make Harry's stomach flutter anxiously.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur, and he knew that he was being unusually quiet and subdued, but he couldn't help it, his mind kept wandering back to his earlier revelation. Harry thought that it really shouldn't have come as such a surprise; they had been getting on really well, Draco was the only one who knew his secret and with whom he could talk to about it, and they had been living together for almost seven months now. Add in their little 'friends with benefits' agreement and it was suddenly ridiculously obvious to him that this was always going to happen. Harry knew that he had a bit of a habit of becoming attached quickly and absolutely when it came to matters of the heart, this was why he had always stuck to one-night stands since the final battle.

And instead of all these terrifying revelations encouraging him to run in the other direction - it seemed to be having the opposite effect. Harry suddenly found that he couldn't stop staring at the blond and it was making his heart pound and his blood race. The fresh air and flying and casual outfit had enhanced Draco's appearance in such a striking way that Harry just wanted to rip his clothes off and have his wicked way with him right there in the Weasley's sitting room.

By the time they walked through the door to the flat a few hours later, Harry was a bundle of nerves and drawn tighter than a bow.

"Is everything alright?" Draco asked with a frown as he shut the door behind them. "You've been acting-"

Harry didn't let him finish. He turned and pushed Draco up against the closed door and pressed his mouth to his in a fierce and messy kiss. All of his turbulent emotions were thrumming through his body, and now, combined with Draco's look of concern, were just too much for him to take without snapping.

So he did.

Draco made a startled noise before reciprocating as Harry shoved his tongue into his mouth; tasting and stroking, striving to coax Draco's body into matching his own frenzied pace. With a quiet moan, Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and deepened the kiss as he pulled his body in tight.

Harry pressed his erection firmly against Draco's thigh and the blond tore his mouth away with a tiny gasp. "What's gotten into you?" he asked, closing his eyes as Harry moved his lips down Draco's pale throat.

"…quidditch…" Harry murmured against warm skin, answering with the first thing that popped into his head. He could feel Draco's chuckle reverberate against his lips.

"Kinky, Potter."

Harry smirked as he moved back up to claim Draco's tempting mouth once more. This time Draco matched his heated intensity stroke for stroke, an answering hardness growing against Harry's hip and spurring him on. Fingers tightened in hair and hot breaths were traded back and forth. Draco's hand moved down to grasp Harry's backside and pull him up against him, hard.

Harry moaned and instantly knew he wanted more than this; more than their usual routine of rough hands or hot wet mouths.

Harry abruptly took a step back, breathless, green eyes dark and intense as he stared at Draco and tugged on his hand with meaning. He prayed that Draco wouldn't balk at the idea, they'd never had one of their trysts in a bedroom before, only public toilets or the lounge room or the kitchen. Maybe the bedroom was too intimate, maybe it gave too much away of his newfound feelings for the other man…

Draco hesitated only a second, arching a brow in silent question, before allowing Harry to drag him down the hall to Harry's room.

Harry hurriedly pulled Draco through the doorway and shut the door behind them. Draco was on him again before he could second-guess himself or begin to feel awkward, mouths connecting and arms winding tight as the heat joining them immediately returned and flared between them.

Pushing, pulling and stumbling, they made their way to Harry's bed and collapsed on top of it, Harry falling onto Draco and fitting in between parted legs with a groan as they resumed kissing. Harry closed his eyes as strong, warm hands stroked over his back and held on tight. He thrust downwards once, twice, before swiftly sitting up and trying to wrench Draco's soft grey t-shirt over his head. The shirt was tossed aside onto the floor and Draco's hands immediately slid under the hem of Harry's shirt and tugged upwards.

Harry lay back down, skin on skin, and kissed Draco's neck, inhaling the scent of musk and vanilla from the silky blond strands tickling his nose. He returned his lips to Draco's mouth to swallow the sound of hushed whimpers that the Slytherin probably didn't even know he was making. Draco opened his mouth to him and Harry felt the throbbing in his groin suddenly intensify as though merely kissing Draco was going to push him over the edge.

Draco pulled his mouth away, breathless, as he slid his hands down Harry's bare chest to pull pointedly on the button of his jeans. Harry quickly shuffled aside to yank off his jeans and pants while Draco removed his own, arching his back up off the mattress, then throwing everything off the side of the bed.

"Do you have any…?"

Harry nodded, flushed and breathless, as he hastily scrambled to the edge of the bed and pulled open his drawers. He scooped up the squashed tube of clear, slick lubricant and returned to Draco's side.

"What do you want?" Harry asked, pulse racing as he clutched the tube to his chest, pupils blown wide with arousal as he drank in the sight of Draco's naked form, pausing long enough to appreciate the moment and what was laid out in front of him. They'd never been completely naked together before and Harry knew that this was probably going to elevate his feelings to a whole new level of yearning but he couldn't quite find it in himself to care, especially not as Draco gently took the lube from his hand and opened it, holding Harry's gaze as he squeezed out a generous amount and began to slick it over Harry's stiff member in smooth, firm strokes.

Harry moaned and threw his head back as Draco continued to grasp and stroke him in turns, his hips pushing forward into that warm hand with shallow unbidden thrusts.

Harry opened his eyes when the torturous touches ceased, and he had to bite his lip to stop the moan from escaping as Draco knelt up to prepare himself, silvery-grey eyes holding his gaze and freezing him in place. He wanted to reach out and touch, to help, but there was also something so painfully arousing about just sitting back and watching it happen.

Finally, Draco put the lube aside and turned to kneel with his back to Harry, hands braced against the wooden headboard.

Harry didn't need any more invitation than that. He moved forward, stroking his hands up the soft skin of Draco's sides then back down before dropping one hand to his trembling erection and lining himself up. He pressed his mouth to the warm salty skin on the back of Draco's neck as he slowly slid inside. Draco's body was so tight around him that he had to pause, eyes shut, to keep from coming just from the sensation -never mind the knowledge that he was inside of Draco.

Draco impatiently pushed back against him with a muted grunt and Harry snapped out of his thoughts. This was not about rising attachment or feelings, he had to remind himself; this was purely sex.

Harry drove the rest of the way in with one firm push, causing them both to moan aloud into the quiet room. He didn't even pause to allow Draco time to adjust, he began to pump his hips in earnest, skin heating and turning sticky. Draco had his eyes clenched shut and head thrown back in pleasure as Harry continued his assault.

He could already feel his orgasm fast approaching, so Harry quickly reached around to grasp ahold of Draco's erection; so hard and stiff that it was curving straight up towards his belly and leaking copiously. Harry stroked with practiced ease, already knowing just how to squeeze and twist on each upward motion in order to get Draco off.

Suddenly Draco was crying out, cock spurting hotly over Harry's fist and headboard. Harry groaned at the feel of Draco pulsing in his hand while simultaneously pumping his own cock into that tight heat. A few more erratic thrusts and Harry was stilling as he bit his lip and emptied himself inside of Draco.

He collapsed forward, draping himself on Draco's back, mouth panting hot breaths onto the skin of Draco's shoulder blades while Draco leaned his forehead on the wall, eyes closed and breathless. They remained that way for a minute, catching their breath, before Harry pulled out on shaky legs and knelt back on the bed.

Draco swallowed visibly as he turned to sit on the edge of the mattress, face flushed pink and hair mussed. He glanced at Harry with a tired smirk. "Wow Potter, you're not a bad shag," he teased.

Harry snorted and ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair. "Thanks," he replied dryly as Draco began to gather up his discarded clothing.

Harry watched with a sinking heart as Draco pulled on his pants and t-shirt, then held onto the rest of his clothing as he walked to the door and opened it. He didn't even bother turning around as he called over his shoulder, "until next time Potter."

Harry dropped his head into his hands as the door clicked shut behind him. This was their deal - he knew that. They got off and then went their separate ways. But he didn't want that this time, he wanted Draco to stay in his bed for the rest of the night and to wake up beside him tomorrow morning in a tangle of naked limbs and easy, sleep-tinged smiles - and being alone right now just felt profoundly wrong. He felt hollow and bereft down to his very core.

He slid his fingers into his hair and tightened them around the thick, jet-black strands, eyes clenched shut.

This was more than just a crush and he knew it. This was more than just being attracted to a man who had been a steady-welcoming-wonderful presence in his life for the past seven months. This was more - much more.

And he didn't know what to do about it.

This was going to be messy and painful and awful…

Harry opened his eyes and slowly raised his head, staring unseeing at the far wall.

And yet… it could be thrilling and magnificent and wonderful too - if he let it.

Harry felt his heart lift and a soft smile bloomed on his face. Draco wasn't aware of his inner turmoil, he had no idea that Harry was falling for him and that actual feelings were now involved - so what harm could it do to continue? While it would be impossible for him to pretend that they were in a real relationship, Harry could at least allow himself the freedom to feel and just enjoy spending time with Draco. Sure they may not ever spend the night together, but everything else was perfect, wasn't it?

Harry nodded to himself, determined. Draco need never know that he was in love with him. He would take this secret to the grave and Draco could live out the rest of his life none-the-wiser.