Chapter 7/? - Crazy Day (Posted August 26th 2010)
Part I
Harry and Draco had stayed with Annolynda for a few hours, until afternoon came. Draco even got to hold her, and he almost melted when she smiled at him. But, they finally let the aid take her back to the children's home, as they had studying to do, and Draco decided he wanted to go with Harry when he went on his normal visits.
When they got back to school, they stopped by the caf to get some food, and took it back up to Draco's room.
"Do you want to have a picnic?" Draco asked as they ate.
"A what?" Harry said, thinking he'd misheard.
"A picnic, you know, food in a basket, a blanket on the grass..."
"You mean... like... a date?" Harry asked.
"Well," Draco said, a little hurt by Harry's tone, "it doesn't have to be a date, I know we can't act like a couple in public, but maybe you could invite Hermione or some of your other friends so that no one starts any rumors. Or you can just forget I said anything, I mean, it was just a stupid idea that popped into my head. I don't even know why I said it." Draco blushed a little. Why was he suddenly insecure about asking for a date?
"No, Draco, it's not a stupid idea, it's a wonderful idea. Only... it's the middle of winter. There isn't any grass and it's too cold outside."
"Oh yeah." Draco realized Harry was right. "How could I forget something like that?"
"You have had a pretty emotionally exhausting day." Harry said. "I think you need some sleep. Why don't you change for bed while I throw the garbage out."
"Bed, Harry? It's only three thirty."
"You're not going to sleep," Harry said, "I thought maybe you could just get comfortable and relax while I study. Then maybe we could just spend some time... together." Harry stood and picked the garbage up, and walked to the door.
Draco snuck up behind him and took the bag from his hand, setting it aside. He turned Harry around to face him, wrapped his arms around him, and just rested his head against Harry's chest. "Thank you."
"It's just garbage, Draco." Harry said, patting his silky smooth blond hair.
"Not that, Harry." Draco lifted his head and looked into Harry's eyes. "I mean, thank you for what you did today. It meant a lot to me that you would show me something so precious."
Harry smiled and hugged Draco tightly around his waist. "It meant a lot to me as well, you know, that you were there for me." He bent his head down a little to place a tiny kiss on Draco's lips and then pulled away, only to have Draco rise to bring them together again in a more heated connection.
"I've been waiting to do that since we got back to school." Draco admitted with a pant. "As soon as we got back to the room, I just wanted to lock the door, throw you against it, and kiss you like crazy. I don't know what you're doing to me Harry, but I like it."
Harry just laughed and kissed Draco teasingly on the cheek. "I'll be right back, Draco. Get changed awhile."
"I could just wait till you get back. You could help me into my pajamas." He whispered to Harry before he realized what he was suggesting. He panicked for a moment, but didn't have to worry too long because Harry answered right away.
"No, I'm sorry, but I think you can do that for yourself."
"What?" Draco asked, relieved yet confused. "Why?"
"Draco, it's been three days since we became friends, and just this morning we officially became a couple. It's too early for that." Harry explained coolly.
"Too early? But, Harry..." Draco really didn't understand why he was protesting. He knew he liked Harry (a lot), but he also knew he didn't want to have sex with him (yet), so why was he making such a big deal out of it?
"Draco, don't take it the wrong way," Harry said, "it's not that I'm not interested, it's just that... I respect you too much to do that at this point in time."
Draco considered that. "You... respect me?"
"Of course." Harry confirmed. "I like you very much, and I respect you as a human being. I may be a walking powder-keg of hormones, but I don't think we should take that step yet."
"I think... I think I agree with you." Draco said, wondering where this was coming from. "Harry, no one has ever said anything like that to me before. It's always been straight to bed and..."
"I hope you weren't banking on it being that way with me..." Harry said, a little cautious...
"No! No, Harry, definitely not... I wasn't looking for that, that's just what everyone usually expects of me." Draco said.
"Draco, all I expect from you is that you care about me and are honest with me. Everything else will happen when we're both ready for it to happen."
"Harry... you are so... I can't even find the word..."
Harry smiled and let go of Draco, picking up the garbage again. "You can think about it while you get changed. Back in a moment." and he left.
Draco did just as Harry said, he changed and then sat on his bunk, thinking about the words to describe how he felt about Harry.
"Refreshing." Draco said when Harry returned. "Refreshing and handsome."
"What?"
"Those are the words I was looking for. Well, not exactly, but close enough for now."
Harry was about to respond when there was a faint knock at the door.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice came through softly. "Harry, it's me..."
Harry opened the door and saw Hermione standing there looking the happiest she's ever been. "Hermione, what's up?" Harry asked.
Hermione reached to her side and pulled Ron over from where he'd been hiding out of view. "Ronald has a few things he'd like to say to two." she pushed him into the room. Ron just stood there, and looked around the room a little. "Ron!"
"Right." Ron said, looking at Harry. "Hermione told me about Lyn being in the hospital, and I wanted to tell you I'm glad she's alright."
"Thanks." Harry said. "Is that it?"
"No." Hermione said. "Ron do it now or I swear I'll..."
"Fine!" Ron said harshly. "She told me you took Draco to see her, so I came here tell you I'm sorry. He's obviously trustworthy and you must really like him. So, Malfoy, if the offer still stands, I'd like to accept your offer of friendship."
"Really?" Draco asked nervously.
"Really. Harry's right, we're best mates, and if you're who he wants to be with, I need to support his decision."
"Thanks, Ron." Harry said happily.
"So, what do you say, Malfoy?" Ron looked up at the blond boy hanging his legs over the side of his bunk.
Draco suddenly jumped down and shook Ron's hand. "Please, call me Draco."
Part II
They were sitting on the floor, each in their own little world. Harry studied for a while, Draco watching him the whole time. It seemed like every time he thought he could do this, every time he thought he could be with Harry, something happened to make him doubt himself. Draco was glad that Harry and Ron made up, but he had kind of hoped Ron would have stuck to his guns a little more. He sort of liked knowing there was still someone who hated him as much as he was starting to hate himself.
Another knock sounded at the door then, interrupting Harry's concentration on his studying, and Draco's concentration on Harry.
"Who's there?" Draco shouted.
"Ginny Weasley. Is Harry in there?"
"What does she want now?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"Isn't that Ron's little sister?" Draco asked.
"Yes, but she's been bothering me a lot lately." Harry said, then answered Ginny, "Yes, Ginny, I'm in here, what do you want?" He opened the door and shook his head at her revealing outfit.
"What do I want?" Ginny asked, appalled. "Can't a poor lonely girl check up on her boyfriend once in a while?"
"Boyfriend?" Draco asked, standing up.
"Ginny, how many times must I tell you, I am not your boyfriend." Harry said, wishing he'd never opened the door.
"Oh Harry, your words hurt!" Ginny said. "So rude. Is that any way to treat your girlfriend?"
"Ginny! You're not my girlfriend! Going around and telling everyone we're together doesn't make it true!" Harry said.
"Fine, fine, say what you want, but you're not a very convincing actor, Harry." Ginny stepped inside without being invited. "So, this is where you disappeared to. I couldn't find you for days. Then Ron finally told me that his antics were enough to force you to stay with the Malfoy boy." she sneered up at Draco.
"Yes, Ron needed some privacy, and Draco invited me to stay with him." Harry said, giving up. "Draco, meet Ginny Weasley, Ginny, meet Draco Malfoy."
Draco walked closer to Ginny and stuck out his hand. "Hello, always happy to meet more of Harry's friends." he smiled at her.
"I'm not shaking hands with a Malfoy." Ginny wore a face of utter disgust.
"You're brother did." Harry said, standing next to Draco.
"I don't believe you." Ginny said.
"It's true. They're friends." Harry argued.
Just then, Draco's phone gave a little beep.
"It's a text message." Draco said, checking the phone. "Oh, we have a dorm meeting tonight, I'm late."
"A dorm meeting this late?" Harry asked. "And on a Sunday night?"
"Our dorm supervisor isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the pack." Draco said. "I'll be back in a few minutes, Harry."
"Oh, ok, see you later then." Harry smiled and Draco waved as he left.
"So, now that we've got some privacy, you don't have to pretend we're not together." Ginny said sensually.
"Ginny, I'm going to have to ask you to leave if you keep saying things like that." Harry said. "I like you as a friend, only as a friend. Besides, you know I'm gay."
"You're not gay. You're my boyfriend, Harry Potter and someday we'll get married and I can be a wonderful mother to Annolynda."
"That's it. Ginny, you're delusional, get out now."
"No, you don't mean that." Ginny stepped closer and grabbed Harry by the shoulders.
"Ginny, stop." Harry protested.
"No." Ginny said, pressing her lips against his.
"Harry," Draco came back in the room, "sorry, I forgot my..." then he looked up just in time to see Harry lightly pushing Ginny away from a tender kiss. "Harry?" Draco looked shocked and horrified.
"Draco, no, this is not what it looks like..." Harry said.
"Why are you explaining yourself to him, Harry?" Ginny asked, stepping back.
Draco looked down, then backed up and ran down the hall.
"Now you've done it!" Harry screamed at Ginny. "Draco, wait!" Harry ran out of the room, but didn't see where Draco went.
Ginny walked out, confused about what was happening. "Harry, Don't tell me... you and Draco...?"
"Keep your voice down!" Harry shushed her. "Ginny, I have to go find him. Why can't you get it through your thick skull. I'm not your boyfriend! Now please, leave me alone before you make things even worse!"
Harry ran from her in a huff, and went in search of Draco.
Part III
Harry couldn't find Draco anywhere. He suspected he went to the meeting, because boarders were required to go to at lease one monthly meeting. The only problem was, Harry didn't know where the Slytherin dorm tenants met. So he just went back to Draco's room to wait for him; he'd have to go back there sometime.
As soon as Harry heard the doorknob jiggle the slightest bit, he ran right over and pulled Draco into the room, shutting the door quickly and taking Draco's slight yet strong body into his arms.
"Draco, I'm sorry you saw that. But please, I was not kissing her." Harry began his explanation. Draco still said nothing, but wrapped his arms loosely around Harry. "Ever since I came here and became friends with Ron, she's had this crazy idea that I'm her destiny or something like that, but I don't even like her. I'm really sorry..."
"Harry, I'm not mad." Draco said, relaxing into the hug. "I was at first, but then I was thinking... I know you wouldn't do that. That's not you. And she was being awfully pushy before I left. I'm not upset, because I know it wasn't your fault. But still, try not to let it happen again, ok?"
"I promise, Draco, I'll be more careful around her." Harry said, thankful for Draco's understanding.
"Thanks."
Part IV
"Harry?"" Draco asked as they laid huddled together in Harry's bottom bunk.
"Yes?" Harry answered tiredly.
"Now that the weekend is over... are you going back to your own dorm?"
"I don't know... do you want me to?"
"No." Draco answered without hesitation. "I thought... since we need to get to know each other a little better anyway... maybe you could stay in my dorm. I mean, you can't keep all your stuff in here, we'll get in trouble, but you could just say you're visiting all the time. Unless you'd rather be back in your dorm, then don't worry about me, I'll just..."
"I want to stay. I want to stay here with you." Harry said with a yawn.
"Good." Draco smiled at Harry, who had his eyes closed and was almost asleep. He started to get out of the bed, but Harry stopped him.
"Where're you going?" He asked softly, almost jokingly.
"Back to my bed." Draco answered.
"Why?"
"Because..." Draco tried to think of a reasonable answer. He did not succeed.
"Why do you need to get out of one bed just to go to another. Stay here in my bed, I'll keep you warm."
Draco fell back next to Harry once more, and they wrapped their arms around each other. "Harry... I thought you said you didn't want to..."
"I don't. I just want to sleep with you next to me. Is that a problem?"
Draco, a little surprised at Harry's pure intentions, smiled and brushed his thick, dark hair away from his face. "Not at all."
