Draco had decided that he'd liked Harry's reaction to his last stunt very much, but he hadn't decided what was next. He had an idea. He had several ideas, in fact, but most of them involved shoving Potter against the wall and shagging him into oblivion until he got the point. But unfortunately, he had the sneaking suspicion that that wouldn't go over well. No, Harry Potter needed to be handled with subtlety and care.

He sat in Transfiguration, and so far he'd managed to turn the given toad into anything but the requisite pillow. He cursed as it exploded in a pile of feathers.

"Mr. Malfoy, that is the third toad this class. Please do try and focus on what you are doing," Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"Sorry, Professor, I just—"

"It's all right, Mr. Malfoy. Just focus."

I can't focus. Not with Harry three fucking desks away. Hasn't looked at me once this whole class, either. He thought briefly about dipping bits of paper in ink and throwing them at Harry as he had that day he got them detention. Draco sighed, picking up his wand again, and recited the incantation, struggling to keep his attention on the slimy creature before him. Come on, just change into a fucking pillow, can't be so hard…

He felt someone's eyes on him, looked up and saw that they were that deep, warm green, lighter than Slytherin emerald but darker than grass, and he held that gaze desperately, trying to discern the emotions embedded therein. Harry, give in, Harry, I love you, Harry, don't let other people dictate your life! He tried to fuse all his emotions into that gaze, and Harry looked as if he understood, was coming around now—and then he closed his eyes and turned away.

Draco's fingers curled around the edge of his desk. That's it. I'm doing something. Tonight.

After Transfiguration let out, Draco decided to cut class (although he really couldn't afford to; ah well, he'd say he was sick, it wasn't as if they'd check) in search of Theodore Nott. Despite his reticence and generally staid-seeming personality, Nott was a connoisseur of obscure pornography. Draco wanted something that would really shock Harry, something that would show him that there were really all sorts in the wizarding world.

…Of course, the shocking Harry part might perhaps take precedence.

Draco wasn't really sure that Nott had a free period just now, but he figured it was worth a try, and anyway he enjoyed a good turn around the grounds.

It took him a good hour to find Nott, but he was (predictably) reading by the Black Lake. Once he saw the boy, he ran over and shoved the book out of Nott's hands. "Nott. I need the help of your sick, sick mind."

Nott blinked at him. "What? I thought you said the other day that I only needed glasses because of all the jacking off I did."

Draco laughed anxiously. "Aha, yeah. Well. Historical reference, you know. You masturbate, you go blind." He cleared his throat. "I was joking. Anyway." He stared deeply into Nott's eyes. "I want you to give me the very worst gay porn you have."

Nott adjusted his glasses. "Worst as in quality, or content?"

"Content, of course. I want something so shocking it even hurts you to watch it."

Nott sighed. "I don't watch everything, you know. Mostly I just collect—" he stopped in the middle of Draco's withering look. "All right. You're free now?"

"Would I be—oh wait. I would. But I am legitimately free at present," Draco said with a grin. "So what's this going to cost me?"

Nott stared at him with a calculating look Draco didn't like. "Why do you want it?"

Draco cleared his throat. "Gift. For someone else."

"A gift? What the fuck kind of a gift is that? Either you want it for your own use, which I doubt—you could just get it elsewhere and avoid embarrassment—or you have a motive. Who are you giving it to and why?"

"I can't—"

"How badly do you want it?"

Draco sighed gustily. He could get it somewhere else. But whatever he got probably wouldn't be as good as Nott's stuff, and so wouldn't have as great an effect on Harry. And now that this whole sending-Harry-gay-porn idea had been implanted in his brain, it wouldn't leave. It was a pretty damn good idea, too. He'd be hard-pressed to think of something as good. And he didn't want to give Harry the idea that he'd given up.

"Fine. Can I swear you to secrecy?"

Nott nodded. "I wouldn't let you do an Unbreakable Vow, but you wouldn't need to anyway. I promise."

Draco sighed. "Why do you want to know?"

Nott leered creepily. "I don't know. Whenever you have a secret, it tends to be very good."

"Fuck off, Nott." Draco looked away, not enjoying the reference to his troubled time as a Death Eater. "But fine. Show me the money first."

"You got it." Nott winked, got up, and started to walk towards the castle. Draco shivered. God damn, that boy is creepy sometimes.

#

Draco was in pain. It was terribly awkward standing there while Nott sifted through boxes and boxes of porn and knowing that yes, he was actually so desperate that he was not only going to send Harry Potter hard-core gay porn, but that he was going to tell Nott at least part of the story of his and Harry's relationship, which was increasingly looking like a terrible idea.

He was just about to tell Nott to forget it when the other boy turned around, creepy leer in place and a colorful magazine in hand. "Alrighty, Draco. Now give up the goods."

Draco sighed. "You swear nothing will leave this room? And are aware of what I will do to you if it does?"

Nott nodded solemnly.

"Okay, well, I sort of… I'm sending it to Harry Potter."

Nott's eyebrows reached his hairline. "Okay… and… you're trying to shock his innocent Gryffindor soul in order to hopefully give him a heart attack?"

Draco jumped at the chance. "Yes. I mean, it's a great prank, don't you think? It's like, it'll gross him out and fuck with his mind." Draco realized he had spoken too quickly and too eagerly, and held his breath, waiting for Nott to question him.

But Nott only sighed and handed over the magazine. "I thought it'd be more interesting than that, Draco. Ah well. Thanks anyway."

Draco smiled winningly. "Thanks, Nott."

He didn't feel Nott's eyes on him as he walked out.

Draco darted back to his room and began wrapping up his present, a wide grin on his face. Oh god. This is going to be so much fun. Even better than the book! Can't wait to see his face. Mmm, and that blush… okay. I need to finish this.

He went to bed at midnight, having sent off his owl and feeling very, very satisfied with himself, and excited for the next morning. He paid no attention to the slightly disturbing thought at the back of his mind that Nott wouldn't give up so easily when he had clearly been cheated on a deal.