I fail I'm sorry!! D: I'm sorry it took so long to update! Anyway, please enjoy. (sorrysorrysorry)

CHAPTER 6

"I used to roll the dice, feel the fear in my enemies' eyes…"

He did not like this song, Harry decided as he drowned another shot. It probed at something deep within him, something he didn't like. And jeez, that sounded perverted, he realized. He was sitting in The Iron Knight, a local bar, hoping that he wasn't turning into a bar fly.

"So, Harry Potter likes purple nurples."

Harry looked up with a groan. He knew that voice.

"What do you want, Rita?" he asked, turning to the bleach blond next to him.

"Aw, come on sweetheart; is that anyway to great an old friend?" Rita Skeeter grinned at him over her daiquiri. "It's been a while."

"I would not call three weeks a while."

"But dearie, that's almost a month!"

Harry sighed. He came to this bar to get away from his problems. "What do you want?" he asked again.

"Haven't you heard the latest gossip? The rumors of a relationship between you and Mr. Malfoy have resurfaced."

Harry groaned loudly, letting his head fall to the counter with a bang.

"It seems that Mr. Malfoy was passionately denying all claims. When questioners refused to leave it alone he cursed and tried to jinx them, but broke his wand. This is a pretty extreme response to questions about something that supposedly never happened. Your reaction?"

Damn it, Draco, Harry thought, his head still resting on the bar. He hadn't known that he was still hurt over all this. But maybe he was upset over something else. Maybe the press what just looking too much into it. Maybe I should just call him.

Maybe he'd do that…


(Back to Al)

Al sat in the comfiest armchair in the common room, watching the fire as it danced. Suddenly, he grinned. He couldn't believe how good it felt to not be lying to anyone anymore. Himself included. It was this new sense of freedom. It felt wonderful.

"Al?"

"Hmm?" he asked, looking over at Score. The blond opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and then opened it again.

"I… never mind," he muttered, looking away.

Al's grin widened as he looked up. "What is it? Are you blushing?"

"No. Shut up," Score said, glaring at him.

"You are! What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, you can tell me!"

"I said it's nothing!!" Score yelled, hitting a book and sending it sailing across the room. A group of first year girls screamed in surprised when it zoomed over their heads and crashed into the wall.

Al jumped, startled by the un-Malfoy-like outburst. "Jeez, Score, calm down! I'm sorry!"

The blond stayed sitting on floor, staring at the paper he was working on. His teeth were clenched and Al could see that he was completely freaking out.

"Score? Are you alright?"

No response.

"Please? I'm worried; tell me what's wrong."

"You don't want to know," Score muttered finally.

"Yes, I do. Tell me," Al ordered.

"You really want to know?" Score turned and sneered at him, menacingly.

"Yes," said Al firmly.

A great mixture of emotions flashed across Score's face before he looked down. His bangs feel forward, hiding his expression. Something about the pose made Al wish he knew some way to make it all better.

"Ilikeyou," Score said finally.

Al stared. "What?"

"I'M GAY AND I LIKE YOU, OKAY?"

By the time Al's brain started working again, Score was forcing his way through the crowd to get out of the common room, which sat entirely quiet and staring at Al, waiting for his reaction.

please read and review!! (i'll try to update faster next time, i promise)