Christmas. Harry hadn't even thought about what he could get Draco for Christmas. And how strange was that, Harry realized. He was sitting in the middle of History of Magic wondering what he could get Draco Malfoy for Christmas. It was only a week away, he would either have to get something at Hogsmeade on Saturday or order it by owl and that could take a while. It had been easy picking out Hermione and Ron's presents. Harry had no idea what you get for your former nemesis that you are now secretly seeing. Harry glanced over at Draco. He had his head down and was doodling on a piece of parchment. His right arm was covering the paper so he couldn't see what it was. Every few minutes he glanced over at Harry and then back down at the paper.

"What are you doing?" Harry mouthed to him the next time Draco looked at him. Draco just gave a quick smirk and shook his head and shifted to make it harder for Harry to see the paper. Harry frowned and looked back at his own notes and quill. He quickly looked back at Draco and realized what didn't look right. Draco wasn't holding his quill; it was lying on the desk. What was he writing with if not his quill?

Harry glanced around the room. Ron was giving him a funny look. Harry looked down at his own parchment and pretended to be writing notes. He knew Ron had seen him and Malfoy looking at each other. He would have to fake another fight with Draco; may as well start it now. Harry pulled his wand out and pointed it at Draco's quill.

"Mobilipluma" he murmured and the quill started lifting from Draco's desk. Harry flicked his wand cautiously and the quill started to bounce. Draco looked up and realized what was happening and grabbed for it. Harry smirked and made the quill go higher. He glanced over at Ron who was laughing quietly in his seat. Looking back Draco was trying to grab his quill; students around the room were breaking out laughing. Hermione frowned at Harry.

Draco swore and flipped over the parchment on his desk before Harry could see it and stood up trying to grab at the dancing quill. Binns voice droned on; more and more students were watching. Harry flicked his wand down and the quill dropped to the ground. Draco snatched up the quill and growled at Harry before sitting back down. He pulled a book out of his bookbag and slammed it on the desk. He bent his head down and read it, looking up only to glare occasionally are Harry.

At last the class was over, Draco quickly got up and left the classroom, glaring at Harry as he left. Harry slowly put away his ink and quill. Parvati had a class in the classroom across the hall and he knew she would be waiting for him right outside the door. If he waited long enough she would have to leave for her next class and he could be late for Charms, Flitwik had been so impressed with Harry's summoning charm during the first task that he could probably skip class and the professor would be delighted.

"Come on, Harry" Hermione said impatiently, coming to stand next to his desk "You can't avoid her the whole week. You are going to have to talk to Parvati at some point."

"Not if I can help it..." Harry muttered. Every time he did talk to her, she just giggled.

"Harry, isn't this where Malfoy was sitting?" Hermione asked frowning, looking down at the desk.

Harry turned slowly and looked over at where she was standing next to Draco's desk, "Erm, yeah, I guess so. Why?"

"These smudges on the desk. Do they look like anything to you?" Hermione was turning her head to try to see them at a different angle.

Harry came over and looked to see, there were faint, dark smudges on the desk. The smudges looked a little bit like a face. Harry squinted, they looked a lot like a face.

"Harry, it is a face, don't you see? Here is the mouth and chin and nose, and the face looks like it is wearing...Harry! It's you! He drew you!" Harry froze. It was his face, in faint charcoal smudges on the desk. Draco had been drawing him. When he had flipped over the paper because Harry had sent his quill up in that air, and then set his book on top. It must have transferred some of the charcoal on to the desk top.

"What's that?" Ron came over from the doorway where he had been standing guard for Harry, watching to make sure that Parvati had left. Hermione was biting her lip and pointing at the trace of Harry's face.

"Why in Godrick Gryffindor's name would he be drawing you?" Ron looked at it horrified. Harry opened his mouth but no words came out.

Hermione looked over at the both of them, her face a little pale. "Do you think it is some kind of dark magic? Like those Haitian voodoo dolls you hear about?"

Hermione's word shook Harry into action; he took the sleeve of his robe and quickly rubbed away the smudges.

"Oi! What are you doing?" Ron pulled back Harry's arm but the smudges were gone. "Why did you do that? That was evidence!"

"It was nothing! Just some weird smudges that looked a little like me if you squinted. Like the Muggles who see the Virgin Mary in a crisp." Harry looked from Hermione to Ron. "It really didn't look at all like me."

Hermione looked unsure, "I think I should check in the library to make sure, I haven't heard about that type of curse but..."

Harry gritted his teeth, "Look, we are going to be really late for Charms. We'd better go..." he grabbed Hermione by the arm and steered her out of the classroom.

OooOOoOOO

The next night he met Cedric and Draco for another Patronus lesson downstairs. The previous time they had only been able to produce a thin trail of silvery vapor from the tips of their wand. "Okay, you have the incantation down now. Just remember that you have to think the happiest thought that you can think of and put all of those feelings into the incantation and feel it flow through your wand arm and through your wand."

Draco and Cedric stood on either side of Harry in the center of the locker room. "Ready to give it another try?"

Cedric smiled and nodded and Draco gave a curt nod, "Okay," Harry pulled out his wand, "On three, one, two, three. Expecto Patronum!" Harry's stag leaped in full form from Harry's wand. Harry scarcely spared it a glance; he looked quickly over at Draco's wand. A shimmering veil of silver formed a shield and then disappeared. Harry heard Cedric's laugh of delight and turned to see a large silvery bird flying around the horns of his stag.

"You did it!" Harry slapped Cedric on the back and watched the two Patronuses. Cedric's faded after a minute and disappeared in a rain of silver dew towards the ground. "That was incredible; I've never seen a bird Patronus before! It almost looked like a crow or a raven."

"A raven," agreed Draco, "too big to be a crow."

"Alright, Draco this time it is your turn. Happy thought and feel it in your wand."

Cedric was still smiling in delight that he had produced a Patronus. "Hey, Harry." he came over to Harry and whispered in his ear.

Harry blushed, "I..."

"Worth a try." Cedric said with a wink. "I'll just be practicing over here." He wandered off into the office.

"Where's he going?" Draco asked, staring down at his wand as if questioning why it wasn't obeying him. Harry walked over to Draco and took the wand out of his hand "what are you...mmph" Harry grabbed Draco and wrapped his arms around him. He forced Draco to walk backwards until he was against the locker. Harry ran his hands over Draco's chest and slipped his tongue into his mouth. Draco growled and started returning kiss for kiss. Draco grabbed Harry's head and pulled him towards him. Harry stopped abruptly and handed Draco his wand back, the blond automatically reached for it. Harry stood behind him and whispered. "Think the happiest thought you can imagine, and just do it." Draco turned and stared at Harry, "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope."

"Right then, Expecto Patronum." Draco held his wand steady and the silvery mist sprang from his wand and formed for a few brief shimmering seconds a large four legged animal... he lowered his wand and it disappeared.

"You did it!" Harry shouted excitedly. "Try again." Draco gave the incantation again and the animal reformed, and loped past the lockers and disappeared.

"A panther, your Patronus is a panther." Harry smiled shaking his head at Draco, "figures, I always thought you moved like a jungle cat."

"A jungle cat? How can anyone move like a cat?" Draco protested, but he was laughing with delight at where his Patronus had disappeared.

"Pretty cool Patronus, Draco," Cedric said voice from the doorway. "I figured you just needed some extra incentives to get motivated."

oOOOo

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood at the top of the High Street into Hogsmeade. "We'll meet up in an hour at the Three Broomsticks, right?" Hermione said looking at the other two. "No peeking at what shops I'm going into!"

Ron and Harry exchanged glances. They knew that Hermione did all of her shopping at Smythwick's bookstore, and there was no danger that they would be shopping there.

"Right," Harry confirmed, "One hour." Fortunately, he had already bought Ron and Hermione's during the last Hogsmeade weekend. He quickly moved down the street until he got to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. There were a number of Hogwarts students in the shop and Harry poked around looking at the various quills and parchments on display. At last the clerk was free and Harry stepped up to the counter.

"I owled you an order...I'm, er, Harry-"

"Harry Potter!" The clerk's eyes rose automatically to Harry's forehead. "We've got your order and have it all ready for you! Perhaps you would like to inspect the kit?" Harry looked around and saw the other students in the store looking at him.

"No!" Harry said hastily, "I'm sure it is fine! Just wrap it up and I'll take it." Harry quickly pulled out enough galleons to pay for the package and left the store. He hurried to meet Ron and Hermione at the Three Broomsticks. Hermione was the last to arrive, carrying large rectangular packages.

"Done at last!" She said with a smile, "Harry, can I use Hedwig to deliver my parent's presents?"

"Sure, she'll be glad to get out." Harry said, looking around the room. Draco was at a table on the other side of the room. Ron and Hermione had seen him also. Hermione gave Harry a nervous look.

"Just because I couldn't find anything about a dark curse that involves drawing the victim, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, Harry." Hermione said, "If I could just get into the Restricted section..."

"Hermione, really just drop it." Harry said impatiently. "I haven't broken out in boils, or drool, or anything. It was just a smudge on a desk."

"Doesn't seem like you, Harry." Ron said looking at him questioningly, "You've always been willing to see the worst in Malfoy. Why not now?"

Harry shrugged and took a sip of butterbeer, "I don't know. He isn't that devious, I guess. If he is going to try something he is just going to hex me or trip me, not use dark magic. So, Hermione, when are you going to tell us who you are going to the dance with? We are going to find out in three days anyway..."

OooOOoOOOoO

Christmas Eve Morning

Harry woke up early, Ron and the others will still asleep in their beds. Gathering up his clothes he hurried into the bathroom to get dressed. He walked down the steps into the common room that was still empty. He swiftly opened the tunnel door; Draco's present was sitting on the steps where he had hid it the night they had gotten back from Hogsmeade, along with a basket he had gotten from Dobby. He went down the stairs, hoping that Draco hadn't overslept and would be waiting for him.

They had agreed to meet before breakfast on Christmas Eve, it would be impossible to get away from their friends over the next two days. Harry figured that most of the Gryffindors would sleep in late and wouldn't notice that he was missing from his bed.

Harry walked into the locker room and smiled as he saw Draco standing in the office waiting for him. "Happy Christmas" he said with a smile and a kiss as he realized that Draco had put a Christmas record on the player and started a fire in the fireplace.

Draco grumpily kissed back, "Too bloody early for happy anything. Couldn't we have met tonight?"

Harry smiled, "Too many people sneaking in and out of each other's rooms leaving presents. Here I have something to make you feel better." Harry sat down on the floor in front of the fireplace and opened the basket. "Breakfast"

"You are sitting on the floor." Draco said. He was still standing and staring down at Harry.

"It's a picnic breakfast; you eat picnics on the ground not in chairs." Harry retorted.

"Picnics are eaten on picnic blankets, not the floor," Draco said as he walked over to the large wardrobe, "there is a difference." He opened the wardrobe and pulled out a green bundle. Walking towards Harry he unfolded it to reveal a blanket with a large coiled snake, the Slytherin emblem. With a flick of his arms he laid the blanket on the floor and sat down, looking at Harry. His lip twitching, Harry moved over and sat next to him on the blanket, bringing the basket with him.

Draco perked up as he looked in the basket. "How did you manage that?"

"I asked Dob-one of the house elves to fix a breakfast basket." Harry said with a shrug. He wasn't sure if Draco knew that the Malfoy's former house elf was down in the kitchen or if he would even care but didn't want to make trouble for Dobby. He started pulling out pastries, scones and a thermos of hot chocolate. He held out a sticky bun. "You had said that you always wanted to kiss me at breakfast. Here is your chance."

"Hmmm." said Draco as he bit into the bun and then leaned over and gave Harry a sticky kiss, "I guess I can forgive you for the atrocious hour. Especially if you share that hot chocolate.

"Oops. No mugs." said Harry looking at the empty basket, in true Dobby fashion he had neglected to put in any plates or mugs.

"No worries" said Draco, he went over to the desk and pulled out a mug out of a drawer, "We can share." He opened the thermos and poured the steaming frothy chocolate into the mug.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Draco asked with a smile, peering over the rim of the mug as he took a sip and then handed the mug to Harry.

Harry grimaced "No, be just as glad when it is over. At least she has stopped following me around."

"How did you manage that?" Draco asked.

"I dunno, she just did. Hermione probably talked to her, she is good with that kind of thing."

"Talking to people?"

"Yeah, I'm bollocks at it."

"You talk okay to me, most of the time."

"You're not a girl." Harry mumbled, his mouth full of bun.

"Thank you for noticing." Draco leaned forward and licked a bit of caramel from Harry's lip. Harry dropped the bun on the blanket and reached out and pulled Draco towards him. Lips and teeth mashed together in a flurry as Draco pushed Harry farther and farther back until he was laying on the blanket, Draco atop him. Harry ran his hands up and down Draco's back, reveling in the feel of him. Draco was supporting his weight with his arms on either side of Harry. Their tongues danced together, Harry could taste chocolate and caramel and Draco and just wanted more.

Harry reached up and fumbled as he tried to unbutton Draco's shirt. He finally got it open to and slipped his hands against Draco's chest. Draco responded by pushing his leg between Harry's. Harry groaned at the contact, lifting his hips to grind against Draco's. He slipped his hands around to grip Draco's arse, pulling him closer.

Many minutes later; breathing hard Draco broke away, Harry fumbled and pushed off the floor, he looked over at Malfoy who was brushing sticky bun crumbs off his jersey. "This is why civilized people don't go on picnics," he grumbled, his cheeks flame red against the paleness of his skin.

Harry reached over and kissed him once slowly on the side of his neck, "Hmmm. I think this is exactly why people have picnics."

"Don't start again or we'll never get our presents open." Draco whispered, reaching out and grabbing a hold of Harry's chin and turning it towards him, giving him one hard kiss. "And I, for one, am eager to open presents."

Harry smiled and stood up. He retrieved the package that he had left by the door. "Happy Christmas, Draco." Draco gave him a delighted smile and went over to the chair. Harry leaned against the desk and nervously watched him open the package, he chewed on his lip. He was suddenly second guessing himself, what if he had been wrong?

Draco carefully opened the package; he didn't tear through the paper but carefully unpeeled the tape on either end. "It feels like a book..." Harry felt like wrestling it away from him and tearing off the paper for him. At last the box was free. The hinged wooden box had two latches. Draco looked at Harry curiously and then flipped open the latches and opened it.

He stared into the box without saying anything for so long that Harry wanted to grab it out of his hands and apologize. At last Draco looked up, his gray eyes dark and untelling. "How did you know?"

"It's okay then? I didn't know, not for sure." Harry said to him anxiously.

Draco pulled out a charcoal drawing pencil and held it in his hand, "It is wonderful..." Harry sagged with relief. The artist's box was filled with colored & charcoal pencils, a sharpener and pastels. A sheaf of drawing paper was carefully fitted inside the lid.

"But how did you know?" Draco repeated with a small smile of wonder on his face.

"That day in Binns class? You flipped your drawing over... and it left a mark on the desk and we saw it." Harry said, coming over and standing next to Draco.

"We? Who we?" Draco asked alarmed.

"Oh, erm, Hermione noticed it first, and realized that the smudges looked like me, and erm, Ron."

Draco shook his head alarmed, "What? Why didn't you tell me before!"

"We've hardly talked since then, but it's okay. Hermione thought you were doing some kind of curse on me. And I rubbed it off before Ron saw it properly."

"It's okay because Hermione thought it was a curse..." Draco shook his head disbelievingly. "But..."

"After I saw it I remembered all of the times that I'd seen you with smudges on your sleeves and hands." Harry shrugged, "Always puzzled me because you are so ...fastidious. So why would you let yourself get all smudgy? Once I saw the drawing I realized...and it all made sense."

Draco stood up and carefully set the box on the desk and came over and put his arms around Harry. "Thank you. No one has ever gotten me such a perfect gift."

"So you really do draw?" Harry said with relief, "Would you...could I see your drawings sometime?" Draco nodded, a blush flooding his cheeks. "Yeah, I draw. I'll show you...but first you have to open your present." Draco walked over to the wardrobe and pulled it out the large package that the three owls had delivered.

Draco handed him the package, he had a nervous look and didn't let go of the package right away. "I hope this is okay, I actually asked Cedric if he thought you would …well, open it."

Harry took the package and started tearing the paper away, as he saw the edge of what was inside revealed he took a deep breath and looked at Draco, who was staring at him, his eyes inscrutable. Harry pulled the rest of the paper away and stood there, leaning the desk holding the stack of record albums in his trembling hands.

"I know they aren't your mother's albums and they probably aren't the same ones... but I thought you would..." Draco's voice trailed off as Harry set down the stack of albums and started flipping through them.

"Cedric helped, he knew what groups you had talked about and I owled a music store that carried Muggle albums and ordered any albums they had by them-" Draco stopped talking when Harry grabbed him around the waist and buried his face into Draco's neck.

Draco tentatively put his arms around Harry, "I'm sorry..." Harry reached up and put his fingers against Draco's lips to stop him from talking. He took a deep breath and straightened up; his green eyes were shining.

"It's perfect, they're perfect. I never thought I would be able to..." Harry shook his head and turned back to look at the stack of albums. He picked them up and walked over to the blanket. Draco hesitated for a minute and joined him on the blanket.

"This was one of them..." Harry held the album with careful hands, as if it would shatter if he gripped it too tightly. "I remember listening to it and wondering whether she had picked it out or maybe my dad. It didn't seem like something a teenage girl would listen too." The album cover showed a close up of a man's torso clad in jeans, with a zipper.

"Do you want me to put it on the player?"

Harry hesitated, "No, put this one on..." Harry handed him the album covered with a grid filled with the musicians' faces.

"The Beatles? What a strange name for a group..."

Harry shrugged; he was separating the albums into two stacks, ones that he had listened to in the cupboard and three that he hadn't heard before. Draco walked over to the player and carefully placed the album on that Harry had given to him.

The record player's needle settled on to the album and there was a moment of quiet and then the opening chord filled the room. Harry closed his eyes and sat in absolute stillness. He felt Draco come over to him and sit behind him. Draco wrapped his legs around Harry and drew his arms around him. He felt Draco rest his chin on Harry's shoulder. With a sigh, Harry leaned back against him.

It's been a hard day's night, and I been working like a dog
It's been a hard day'
s night, I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you I find the things that you do

Will make me feel alright


You know I work all day to get you money to buy you things

And it's worth it just to hear you say you're going to give me everythin
g
So why on earth should I moan, 'cause when I get you alone

You know I feel ok
*

"It's okay?" Draco whispered

"S'okay." Harry said quietly, listening to the music with his eyes shut and holding on to Draco's arms. He was trembling slightly. The music was filling the room, so loud he realized because he had only ever heard it with the headphones on. To hear the notes swirling around the room made the music come alive. With his eyes closed he felt like he was back in the cupboard in the dark just listening and imagining what his mother looked like. Although Aunt Petunia was her sister, Harry's imaginary images of his mother never looked like her. She always had long hair and a happy smile, he imagined her with dark hair like his...

By the time the third song had finished Harry had begun to shake harder, it was all just too much. He heard Draco stir behind him...

"Bugger this." Draco stood up and pulled out his wand, stopping the music. Harry looked at him confused. "I'm okay, honest, it is just..."

Draco held out his hand, Harry took it and let Draco pull him to his feet. "Dance with me."

"What?" Harry half laughed.

"It is Christmas Eve morning and I'm not going to let you get all mopey." Draco looked at him, "We are both going to a dance tomorrow with girls, I want to dance at least one dance with my boyfriend."

Harry looked at him startled, "Is that what I am? We are?"

Draco flushed, "Well, we are exchanging Christmas presents, snogging and getting all weepy, what would you call us? Enemy with benefits?"

"Boyfriend works for me." Harry said with a laugh.

"Right then, dance with me." Draco held his hands out to Harry.

Harry raked his hand through his hair, holding back, "What about your toes?"

"That's the beauty of not doing slow dances, much less danger of smashed toes." Draco flicked his wand at the record player and the music started playing. Harry closed his eyes waiting for the music to start, feeling Draco holding his hands. He felt Draco let go of his hand and then felt it on his chin, he opened his eyes. Gray eyes stared into his, "Trust me..." Harry nodded and didn't break Draco's gaze as he felt Draco pull him into the dance.

Before this dance is through
I think I'll love you too
I'm so happy when you dance with me
I don't want to kiss or hold your hand

If it's funny try and understand
There is really nothing else I'd rather do
'cause I'm happy just to dance with you *

They danced to all four songs, Draco leading Harry around the room in spinning, hip bumping, and laughter.

As the music stopped and they heard the needle left off the album and return, the silence filled the room. Harry held on to Draco, both their heartbeats were pounding hard. Harry took a deep breath and looked at him. "I don't know how to thank you... no one has ever..."

Draco kissed him softly, "I was afraid that it would be...too much. Sad instead of good."

"It's good. Caught me by surprise. What's funny is that I've never heard the music out loud before. It was always with the headphones on, in the dark in that tiny cupboard. It's better out here, with you."

"It is a funny kind of music..." Draco hesitated; Harry could tell that he didn't want to offend Harry.

"Yeah, nothing like wizard groups, instruments are all guitars, drums and keyboards. And Muggle kids nowadays, they listen to different stuff now a day, edgier, louder. These groups were pretty cutting edge for their time though, when my mum was a teen. My teacher at primary school said that the BBC wouldn't even play them."

"We have to get back, don't we?" Harry said looking at alarm at the time." Breakfast in the Great hall is half over."

"Where are you going to tell them about where you've been?" Draco asked

"That I went for a walk," Harry nodded towards the exit that lead outside. "I'll come around the castle that way."

"Are you ready for tomorrow night?"

Harry grimaced, "No. Rather face off with the dragon again."

"Just be a total git and she'll get the picture." Draco said with a shrug.

"That isn't very nice."

"Be better than having her follow you around like a puppy dog all night."

"Easy for you to say and Cedric. You both are going with girls who know..."

"Your choice, you can out yourself...wonder what the Prophet's headline would be "Boy Who Lived Gay Exclusive..."

"Ha ha"

Harry looked around the room, "I'm going to leave the albums down here, no sense bringing them upstairs where we don't have a player...Would it be okay, if I come down here when I can and listen to the records?"

Draco nodded, "So long as you don't get all maudlin and depressed, that isn't why I gave them to you."

"Promise." Harry looked at the desk where the art kit lay open. "Are you going to show me your drawings sometime?" Harry asked, titling his head at Draco. Even though he knew now that Draco liked to draw he still couldn't vision the Slytherin sitting and actually sketching things.

Draco nodded slowly. "I'll show you next time. But you probably won't like it...never had any lessons of course. Father doesn't consider drawing a very Malfoy appropriate skill."

OOOooOOOO

Harry walked into the Great Hall with Parvati on his arm. He was still reeling from the sight of Hermione with Viktor Krum. Why hadn't she told him that she was going to be Krum's partner? What had she done to her hair? Harry was so busy pondering these questions he scarcely noticed that they had walked the entire length of the room and were at the head table. Parvati was beaming and smiling at everyone. Harry went sit in the empty chair next to Percy. He looked over and saw Cedric pulling out a chair for Cho. Harry spring back up and did the same for Parvati. She gave him a cold glance. He hadn't dared look over at the Slytherin table.

Percy was rambling on about the Ministry and Hermione and Krum were talking, their heads bent together. Harry strained to hear what they were talking about and realized with a laugh that Hermione was trying to teach Krum how to say her name. They couldn't be dating he thought with relief, if he doesn't even know how to say her name.

Harry looked around the room and his eyes went automatically to the Slytherin table, Draco was sitting next to Pansy, his dress robes were black of course and velvet. Pansy was wearing a fluffy pink outfit. The pink and black robes together seemed to emphasize how ill-matched the couple was. Draco turned his head and met Harry's eyes. "Stop staring" he mouthed and turned his head back to Blaise.

All of the sudden the meal was over and the lights dimmed. The other champions stood up with their partners. Harry realized with dread that he was really going to have to dance with Parvati in front of everyone. Cedric gave him an encouraging nod as they lined up on the dance floor. For one brief moment Harry wondered what Cho and Parvati would think if he asked to switch partners. Not that he minded dancing with a girl, but he knew that Cedric wouldn't let him embarrass himself. The music started and Parvati eagerly grabbed a hold of Harry. All of Draco's carefully taught instructions went out the window and Parvati steered Harry through the dance. Harry gave a quick glance over at Draco who was laughing and shaking his head. Harry shrugged and just waited for the song to be over.

With relief he saw that other couples, including Draco and Pansy, were coming out on the dance floor. The song finally ended and Harry led Parvati to the edge of the dance floor. "Aren't we going to dance the next one?" she asked with a pout.

"Oh, erm, I want to find Ron...and Padma." Harry walked towards the Gryffindor table where he found Ron glumly sitting next to Padma…

OOoOoOOO

"Mail is here," mumbled Ron, his mouth full of food. Harry looked up to see the owls swooping into the Great Hall. He smiled when he saw Hedwig circling and coming towards him, a scroll attached to her leg.

"Who sent you a letter using Hedwig? You didn't send him to Padfoot did you Harry?" Hermione looked concerned.

"Don't know," Harry flipped Hedwig a piece of sausage, and untie the scroll. Hermione and Ron were watching him hold the scroll.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Ron asked.

"Oh, erm, sure." Harry flushed, Draco wouldn't have used Hedwig to send him anything that he couldn't open in front of Ron and Hermione, he hoped.

Holding his breath he unrolled the scroll. It was a pencil sketch of Harry on his broom holding on to the gold egg with the Hungarian Horntail chasing him, its wings unfurled. Harry was laughing in the picture; his hair seemed to be blown back in the wind.

"That is a really good drawing of you, Harry" Hermione said slowly, "Is there a note or anything?" Harry blushed and shook his head.

"No note, no signature."

Ron gasped, "You don't think Malfoy..."

"Why would Malfoy draw a picture of me and mail it to me using Hedwig?" Harry laughed, "Next you'll be saying that he likes me."

"Well, he did draw you on the desk..."

"That was just smudges, really can't we forget about strange smudges on desks?" Harry grumbled reaching to take the drawing back from Hermione who was studying it intently, looking for a signature.

"Probably just another secret admirer," said Neville who had been looking over Hermione's shoulder. "Harry has plenty of those."

Harry put the scroll into his bookbag and only then did he dare to look over at Draco across the tables. Their eyes met briefly and Draco flashed a quick smile before turning to talk to Goyle sitting next to him.

OoOOOoOOo

Cedric came up to Harry as he was walking back from lunch, "So last night seemed to go okay?"

"Wasn't that bad. Pavarti is a little miffed at me." Harry shrugged, "Cho didn't get annoyed with you."

"Well, that is probably because she knows I'm seeing Simon and we were just going as friends and because I danced more than once dance with her."

Harry smiled ruefully, "Yeah, I'm not too good at this deception thing."

"Well, there is honor in being honest; you'll just need to find a way to walk the line until you can be completely honest about who you are." Cedric paused. "So you and Draco exchanged gifts?"

Harry flushed and nodded, "He told you, didn't he? What he was getting me?" Cedric nodded and looked concerned.

"He mentioned last night that he was afraid that you would..."

"Become a mopey git?" Harry gave a half smile.

"Pretty much."

"I can't believe he found the albums. No one has ever gotten me such a thoughtful gift. My aunt and uncle sent me a tissue." Cedric looked confused, "You know, for blowing your nose. They always send me something utterly worthless so that I know that it isn't that they've forgotten, but that they remembered and don't care."

"That is..." Cedric shook his head. "I don't even know how to respond to that." Harry waved his hand dismissively; he didn't bother trying to figure out the Dursleys anymore.

"But Draco's present...it was a shock I admit, but listening to them made me realize how much my life has improved in the last five years. I have a lot to be happy about, and now I can share them with Draco and you..."

"What about sharing them with your other friends?' Cedric asked curiously.

"Someday," Harry said, "I thought about that last night. There were at least five or six gay couples out dancing with each other last night. Maybe I just need to get over being scared of what everyone will say."

"That would be a huge step Harry, but don't do anything rash...and especially not with checking with Draco. No way can you predict what kind of backlash it would cause. This tournament is already pushing a lot of attention towards you. By the way, how are you coming with the egg?"

Harry laughed, "Nowhere. You?"

"Haven't a clue...oh, one more thing. Not to add to your lists of worries but last night Cho talked about you a bit..."

"Oh?" Harry asked puzzled.

"Let's just say she is interested in you." Cedric laughed, and patted Harry on the shoulder as he walked away.

Great, thought Harry, another one to watch out for, at least she doesn't simper and giggle.

OooOoOoOOO

Harry stood up from the desk as he heard the record player's needle left off the album and return to the off position. "I'm taking requests, what do you want to hear next?"

"Play that kinky one by the Pebbles..." Draco said not looking up from his sketchpad.

"The Pebbles?" Harry laughed, "You mean the Stones?"

"Whatever...pebbles, rocks...the one with the zipper."

Harry nodded and slid Sticky Fingers out of the jacket. The zipper on the album cover was pulled down, courtesy of Draco's curiosity

Harry placed the needle on the record and went back to sit at the table next to Cedric. "When are you going to show us what you are working on?"

"When I show it to you." Draco said easily. He had been drawing for the last hour, only glancing up from his paper occasionally to look at Harry and Cedric.

Draco had finally shared some of his drawings with Cedric and Harry a few days earlier. He had pulled them out of the desk drawer and walked away as Cedric and Harry started looking through them. There were drawings of Slytherins in their common room, Snape, McGonagall, Cedric and a lot of drawings of Harry. Harry was amazed at how Draco could capture someone with just a few strokes of his pencil. Others were more elaborate, detailed sketches that must have taken hours to finish.

Harry shook his head in amazement, "How do you do all these without anyone noticing? They are incredible." Cedric nodded his headed in agreement.

"You are really talented, Draco." He held up a drawing of Harry walking into the Great Hall. I can't believe how you were able to capture the look that Harry has when he walks into a room."

Harry looked up in surprise, "What do you mean my look? I don't have a look."

Draco and Cedric both laughed, "You do, you walk in and survey the room, assess the danger level and..." Cedric trailed off.

"And then you engage, dive into whatever is going on around you." Draco continued with a laugh, "The only room you don't enter like that is Snape's... his classroom you sidle in, making it clear that you would rather be anywhere than sitting in front of him. It is no wonder he hates having you in his class. You clearly don't want to be there."

Harry looked at the drawing, "Well, I don't want to be there. Anyway I wouldn't call that a look, it is just survival. I think you drew me taller, to make me look more noticeable in the drawing."

"Artist's prerogative. I draw you as I see you." Draco had said airily.

Harry tried to get a glimpse of the drawing as he went back to his chair. Draco scowled and turned it over so he couldn't see it.

"Which one of us are you drawing?"

"None of your business. Work on your Transfigurations, you still have at least 12 inches to write. I am done."

Cedric looked up, "Talking or music, not both. I can't concentrate." He smiled as he said it though, his quill bouncing along to the music.

Harry laughed and picked up his quill, they had been able to meet three times since the Yuletide Ball, sneaking off for study and Patronus sessions. Classes had started again though and it was going to be tougher to get away.

Draco looked up, "What is he singing about anyway?"

Can't you hear me knockin, ahh, are you safe asleep?
Can't you hear me knockin, yeah, down the gas light street, now
Can't you hear me knockin, yeah, throw me down the keys

I've been begging on my knees
I've been kickin, help me please
Hear me prowlin'
I'm gonna take you down *

Draco looked up from his drawing and smirked, "Anytime you want to beg on your knees…let me know."

Harry ignored Draco, "Some people think it is about someone trying to get drugs from a dealer…others think it's about a girl. I just love the guitar playing at the end of this one…Always had a fantasy that I would become a great guitar player and escape from Dursleys."

There was a pause on the record player and the next song came on. Draco flashed Harry a smile. "My dance."

"This one?" Harry asked with surprise as "Wild Horses" came on…

"Definitely," Draco murmured, pulling Harry out of his chair.

Cedric close up his book, "I think I'll leave you to the dancing and go and write a letter to Simon up in my room. Remember that curfew is in a half hour."

Draco and Harry scarcely noticed he was going. Harry swayed with Draco, their feet barely moving. "I thought foot shuffling wasn't allowed?" Harry murmured.

"Shut up." Draco said as he kissed him.

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living, after we'll die

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them some day*

OOoOOoOoOo

Ron, Hermione and Harry stopped short next to Hagrid's cabin for Care of Magical Creatures class. Hagrid wasn't outside waiting for them. A witch introduced herself as Professor Grubbly-Plank was there and said that she was would be teaching the class. She turned and led them to the paddocks. Harry and the rest stayed back wondering what had happened to Hagrid.

"What's going on?"

"Where's Hagrid?"

"Wondering where your precious Hagrid is?" Pansy Parkinson sneered. "You should read this."

Draco was standing next to her, with his practiced look of disdain on his face. Harry stared at him, Draco knew something. He was pale, paler than usual, Harry felt the first tingling sensation that something was about to go very wrong. Draco wouldn't meet his eyes and looked away.

Hermione had grabbed the copy of Daily Prophet and gasped, "Dumbledore's Giant Mistake"
Ron, Hermione and Harry stood and read the article.

"How could they! What difference does it make who his parents are?" Hermione was spitting angry. Harry read the quotes that Draco had given the newspaper. The Slytherins stood watching them. Goyle was laughing and reading his favorite bits of the newspaper.

"Draco Malfoy! How could you tell such lies," Ron shouted,

Harry could scarcely hear Draco's response. His head was buzzing and he stared down at the article. How could someone he cared about treat someone like this? Think thoughts like this? Waves of nausea swept through him, he knew he had to get away and quickly.

"This is too much." he forced himself to say, looking at Draco, "You pushed it too far." He thought he saw Draco flinch but probably just imagined it. He turned and walked away with Hermione and Ron close behind him.

"We should check on Hagrid," Hermione said worriedly. "Make sure he is okay."

Harry nodded numbly and followed them up the steps to Hagrid's cabin. All he could think of was that last night while they were downstairs in the locker room listening to albums and laughing that Draco knew that the Prophet was going to press with this article.

There was no answer to their pounding on Hagrid's door. Harry suspected that he was in there but there was nothing they could say to get him to open the door. They gave up and walked back to the castle. As they came through the entrance doors, Draco was there. Harry knew he had been waiting for them. "Hey Scarhead, you afraid that..."

Harry whipped out his wand, "Silencio" and kept walking without looking back. He was shaking with anger. How could he have been so wrong about Draco. He'd thought that the Slytherin had really changed, that was his mistake he realized. Draco's attitude towards Harry had changed, but inside he was still the same prejudice git he was four years ago when he had insulted Hagrid outside of Madam Malkin's.

Hermine and Ron were talking excitedly about how they could help Hagrid. Harry could scarcely focus on what they were saying. "I'm going back up to Gryffindor." He mumbled.

"You feel okay?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Just a headache."

"Is it your scar, Harry?" She glanced up at his forehead.

"Nah, just a regular headache."

Thankfully the boy's dormitory was empty. Harry threw himself on his bed and closed the curtains. He stared up at the red canopy. He never should have trusted Draco. Malfoy, he's Malfoy now Harry scolded himself. He threw his arm over his eyes and willed the hurt to go away. How had Malfoy tricked him into thinking that he cared? Was it all a set up? Would the next Prophet article be an exclusive on him and Malfoy dating?

Harry could hear the others coming back and getting ready for supper.

"Uhm, Harry? Are you in there?" Ron called out.

Harry forced himself to answer, "Yeah."

"Aren't you coming to supper?"

"Nah, you go down, I'm not hungry." Harry couldn't stomach the thought of sitting in the Great Hall and watching Draco, no, Malfoy crowing to his friends about what a great trick he played on Harry Potter.

"You sure? Want me to bring something back for you?"

"No, don't bother." Harry replied, thinking to himself, go away, Ron, just go away and let me be miserable.

Ron had been gone not even a half hour when Harry heard a familiar tapping on the window. He dragged himself over and there was Hedwig with a note tied to her leg. Harry untied the note and flipped Hedwig an owl-nut.

"I need to talk to you."

Bloody git, hell of a lot of nerve to still use Hedwig. Harry crumbled it up and threw it into the fireplace. Hedwig fluttered around the room and came to rest next to Harry where he sat on the bed. Harry reached out and gently petted the great snow owl. "It's not your fault. I know he just convinced you to deliver it."

Harry successfully avoided Malfoy the entire week. Malfoy hadn't tried to send any more messages, no more coded messages in the hallway. Good, thought Harry. He'd finally gotten the message. It didn't stop Harry from staring up at the canopy of his bed every night. Wondering how he was going to get through the next day of seeing him class.

On Saturday, everyone was going into Hogsmeade. Harry never felt less like joining in, but he knew it was better than being miserable in his room. He had done enough of that all week. The Gryffindors set off down the path to Hogsmeade. Harry heard Hermione in suck in a breath of air, and he looked up, Cedric was waiting for them at the base of the hill.

"Harry, I know something has been wrong this week. And I think it has something to do with Cedric, you don't have to …" Hermione grabbed his hand. Harry laughed, "It has nothing to do with Cedric, honestly, Hermione."

"Harry, please, do you want me to stay with you..." Hermione clearly didn't believe him.

"No." said Harry bluntly, "I'll catch up to the rest of you in town." The other Gryffindors gave Cedric a curious look as they drew up to him on the path. Harry stopped but motioned them to go on. Cedric nodded at Harry and gave him a smile. Hermione walked on reluctantly looking back. Harry gritted his teeth and stared over Cedric's shoulder, not wanting to look at the Hufflepuff.

"You are going to have to talk to him, Harry." Cedric said quietly.

"Nothing to talk about."

"I'm not going to get in the middle of this, I told him that too. But you need to talk to him at least once, so you know where the two of you stand."

Harry laughed bitterly, "There is no us. There is just Draco fucking Malfoy and the idiot Harry Potter who was gullible enough-"

Cedric held up his hands. "Like I said, I don't want to get in the middle. I'm friends with both of you. You need to tell him whatever you have been keeping bottled up inside all week."

Harry took a deep breath, "Yeah, fine. Tell him I'll meet him tonight downstairs. I need to get my Firebolt back anyway."

"And your record albums?" Cedric asked.

Harry felt the tears that he had refused to shed all week welling up. He shook his head angrily refusing to breakdown. "Guess I'm going to lose those albums twice. No way can I keep his present now."

Cedric reached out to grab Harry's arm but Harry brushed aside and started walking down the hill. The sooner he was done with Malfoy the better.

OooOoOoO

Harry felt Draco's eyes on him the whole time at supper. He half-listened to the excited talk about everyone's day at Hogsmeade while he picked at his food. Finally he stood up and told Hermione that he was just going back to the tower.

"Want me to come with?" she asked. "If you want to talk about anything..."

"No, just need to be alone."

Harry quickly went upstairs. The common room was empty and he slipped through doorway into the tunnel. Harry gave a sigh of relief when he emerged into the locker room. Malfoy wasn't there yet. He walked over to the locker where he had put his Quidditch gear and Firebolt. He pulled them out and carefully placed them in front of the Gryffindor tunnel entrance, he didn't want to forget them when he was through talking with Malfoy.

He went into the office. The record albums were still sitting on the desk. He reached out and tentatively traced the outline of the submarine on the cartoon cover of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine album. He didn't even know he was crying until a tear dripped on to the album, he angrily rubbed it off the cardboard and swiped at his face. He wasn't going to do this; he wasn't going to fall apart.

"Harry." Malfoy's voice came from the doorway. Harry didn't turn around.

"It's Potter to you." he said as coldly as he could. "I just came to get my stuff."

"Don't do this, please." Malfoy said quietly, "Let me explain."

"There is nothing to explain," Harry slammed down his fist on the desk and whirled around to face Malfoy. "This, whatever it was, is over."

Draco's face was pale. His gray eyes were filled with tears. Harry brushed past him and Draco reached out and grabbed his arm. "I need to talk to you."

"No." Harry stared down at the hand gripping his upper arm and over at Malfoy, just inches away. "I can't date someone who hates other people just because of who their parents are. Who cares so little about one of my friends."

"It wasn't like that," Draco spat. Harry pulled at his arm.

"Let me go."

"No." Draco gripped him harder. "Harry, please..."

"Don't call me Harry." Harry reached out with his right arm and hit Draco with all of the rage he had been feeling all week packed into a punch that landed right on Draco's cheekbone. His head flew back and he fell backwards. Harry looked down coldly at him and turned and headed for the Gryffindor tunnel. He was stooping to pick up his broom when he heard Draco coming at him. He spun and crouched, lunging forward he caught Draco off balance, tackling him to the ground. Draco punched Harry in the side, trying to get him to let go. Harry let loose in a rage, hitting Draco anywhere he could. Draco got his arm free and punched Harry in the nose. Harry immediately felt the coppery taste of blood in his mouth and throat. Draco stopped struggling, and reached out with his open hand. Harry fell back, sitting on the ground, dazed by the pain of the blow.

"Crap, Harry. I'm sorry."

Harry wiped at the blood coming from his nose with the back of his hand. He forced himself to stand up and looked down at Draco. "Looks like we've come full circle to where we started." He turned and stalked towards the tunnel entrance and picked up his wand to open the door.

"You can't go back into Gryffindor looking like that." Malfoy called out.

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do." Harry said quietly, he had put his hand out and was leaning against the wall, his head down. "You don't have the right."

"Neither do you." Malfoy said, "You can't tell me who I can and can't talk to."

Harry whirled, "No, I can't... what I can do is say that I'm not going to be friends with someone who says and believes such hateful things." He felt the blood dripping down his face and wiped at angrily. "I really...liked you, Draco. I was really happy down here with you. I thought you were too, and you just had to ruin it."

"I know. I'm sorry." Draco hadn't stood up, he was sitting on the floor where they had fought, his arms resting on his knees.

All the anger seemed to drain out of Harry and he slid down the wall and sat on the floor a few feet from Draco. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He felt his nose tentatively. The bleeding had stopped.

"Did I break it?" Draco asked, watching him.

"Don't think so. No crunching. Have to try harder next time."

"I don't want there to be a next time."

"Why did you do it?" Harry asked quietly, still not looking at Malfoy. "The article, why did you do it?"

"I don't know how it happened. Skeeter was talking to us all, us Slytherins. Asking about the school. And someone said something about Hagrid and the hippogriff. And she kept asking questions and everyone was saying bad stuff about things that had gone wrong in Hagrid's calss. The skrewts, and everything" Draco grimaced, "And she asked if we knew Hagrid was a giant and everyone got excited and talking about it. I actually don't remember saying half the things she said I said. But I may have. And her damn quill was zipping over the parchment, writing down who knows what."

"Her bloody quill." Harry grimaced, "Half the stuff she quoted about me in that first article was all made up. No way would I say all the things she said I said."

"For what it's worth...I'm sorry." Draco said, he looked up and stared over at Harry. His eyes unfathomably dark.

"Are you sorry for what you said about Hagrid? Or just sorry that this," Harry swirled his hand around the room, "Is over."

"Sorry for hurting you. What I believe, that isn't part of us, is it? Can't we just-"

Harry stood up, shaking his head, "I can't be with someone who thinks that way, Draco. I wish... I wish this could have worked out differently." Harry caught a glimpse of himself in the mirrors and grimaced. He walked over and turned on the faucet in one of sinks and carefully splashed water onto his face, wiping away the blood. He turned off the tap and looked back in the mirror, Draco was standing behind him.

"It's the way my family taught me. It was drilled into me every day. Mudblood, half-breed, hate for anyone who wasn't a pureblood."

Harry held Draco's eyes in the mirror and shook his head slowly, "You need to start thinking for yourself. I'm a half-blood. When you lump all half-bloods and Muggle born together you are including me. You can't care about me and at the same time believe that I and everyone like me are less worthy than you and your family is because you are pure bloods. If you don't think that is true anymore then you need to learn to stand up for what you know is right, not just going along with your father. You can't have it both ways." He turned away and went back to the doorway and picked up his things. "I'll see you around."

"Don't go, Harry, please." Draco pleaded but Harry opened the door with his wand and stepped through without looking back.

OoOooOoOoO

Ron and Hermione had stared at him gap-jawed when he'd come back to the tower. He had refused to let Hermione fix the bruises. Hermione had shaken her head and muttered about talking to McGonagall about Cedric. She didn't believe that it hadn't been Cedric that he had been fighting with until the next morning at breakfast when Malfoy walked in, his face as bruised as Harry's.

The whole school was talking about the Potter/Malfoy fight by the end of the day. Cedric had stopped Harry and tried to talk to him but he had just walked away. The sooner he forgot about everything the better. Malfoy didn't try to talk to him again. They both passed each other in the hallways with careful avoidance. Bets were flying around the school about when the next fight was going to take place and who would win.

The next week passed like a blur. The only thing that distracted Harry from the misery of breaking up with Draco was the realization that the second task was only four weeks away and he didn't have any idea of what it was.

He was desperate to go flying, it was the one thing that allowed him to escape from all of his worries and just be happy. Draco had even taken that away from him, Harry thought bitterly. Although, he had to admit to himself that he wouldn't have been able to fly at all this year if it hadn't been Draco and his secret room. As a poor substitute Harry had taken to running. He got up early every morning and ran around the lake, lap after lap, until he couldn't go any farther.

He was sitting on the steps leading to the castle, waiting for his pounding heartbeat to return to normal. He was sitting there with his head bent over his knees, catching his breath when he saw two feet step up beside him and heard someone sit down next to him. He looked over and saw the all too familiar yellow and black Hufflepuff robes covering the legs. He didn't bother looking up to confirm it was Cedric.

"Hi Cedric."

"You've been avoiding me."

"I've been avoiding everyone." Harry said tiredly, "besides, you don't want to get in the middle."

"No, I don't, but I'm still your friend, and I'm worried about you. Didn't actually come and find you to talk about Draco." Harry looked up startled. Cedric looked over at him with a concerned look, "The second task is only three weeks away. You need to focus on that...you haven't even solved the egg yet have you?" Cedric asked quietly.

"How do you know I haven't?" Harry asked automatically even thought it was true.

"Because you aren't panicking and spending every minute in the library like I am." Cedric said with a laugh.

Harry felt his heartbeat leap, "Worse than dragons?" he asked faintly, trying to imagine what it could be.

"I think this one is more of a challenge...magic wise. More difficult to achieve." Cedric said slowly. "You need to get started working on it. Take the egg to the prefect bathroom on the fifth floor...take a bath with it."

"Take a bath with the egg?" Harry looked bewildered.

"Trust me. You really have to focus on this, Harry. You can't spend any more time sulking about Draco. There is plenty of time to get that sorted out...afterwards."

"I'm not sulking. Besides there is nothing to sort out. It's done." Harry said quietly. Strangely the words didn't hurt as badly as they had, he was getting used to it, he supposed.

OoOOoooOo

Harry walked away from his close encounter with Snape and Filch shaking. It had been too close a call. Now he was without his map, Moody having taken it. And he had the mystery of the egg solved but no clue on how he was going to go underwater in the lake for an hour. He could swim a couple of laps, but no way could he ...he needed Hermione.

Hermione, Ron and Harry walked into the library the next day. Harry laughed, Cedric was sitting at a table by himself, a large stack of books discarded next to him. He looked up at Harry and gave him a wink and turned back to his book, flipping pages.

Every spare minute he had was spent at the library, trying to find a way to get through the second task was all he thought about during the day. It was only when he was back in his bed at the end of the day did he dare to let himself think about Draco. Cursing himself for doing it, he would pull the loop of green silk scarf from the bottom of his trunk and lay in his bed, coiling it around his hands. Feeling the cool silk slide through his hands he would replay every time they had spent together. The first meetings with Cedric, the detention with Snape when he had felt Draco's hands on his shoulders and dared to hope, connecting to Draco through the Imperius curse...

OOoOoOoOoO

Second Task

Draco sat on the stands overlooking the lake. Cedric, Fleur and Krum were standing on the platform next to the lake. There was no sign of Harry. "Where the hell is Potter?" He grumbled to Blaise.

"No idea, but it looks like you are going to lose this bet." Blaise snickered.

Draco could see the judges gathered trying to figure out what to do. Where were Granger and Weasley? With Potter? Probably, but he wouldn't skive, would he? Granger wouldn't let him for one thing.

McGonagall had just gathered up her robes to hurry back to the caste when they saw a figure racing around the lake at breakneck speed. He was wearing his robes and was a mess, hair sticking out everywhere. Draco swore, he didn't know to be happy or mad that Harry had shown up.

Harry came to a stop next to the others; he bent over trying to catch his breath. Draco saw Cedric reach over to talk to him but Bagman made the announcement and the horn sounded and the competition had begun.

"He is just walking into the water like that!" Pansy called out in delight, clapping her hands excitedly. "I do believe the Boy Wonder is going to fail!"

Cedric, Krum and Fleur had already disappeared into the lake. Harry was still just stepping slowly into the lake. Draco studied him hard, he appeared to be grinding his teeth, "Doesn't he have a plan? Isn't he going to take off his robes? He can't go into the lake with his robes!" The crowd was cat-calling and laughing.

Draco saw Harry's body jerk, something was happening to him. Harry's mouth and nose were suddenly covered with some flesh colored material. His hands jerked up to his neck; large gills had appeared on his neck. Before Draco could think of how this had happened, Harry had disappeared beneath the surface.

"What the hell did he do? Did you see his face disappear?" Blaise asked stunned. Draco shook his head and looked at the clock. Fifty-five minutes were left. He stared out at the lake, there was no movement. Bubbles broke the surface of the water, but even the waves seemed to have died down.

With dread Draco realized that this was far worse than the dragons. Harry could be drowning down there and no one would know. Cursing, he checked the clock. Ten minutes went by. Twenty minutes. What the hell was happening? Draco looked over at the judge's stand. None of the judges or faculty looked concerned. Maybe there were people down there watching to make sure nothing happened.

Suddenly there was a huge splash and the crowd leaped to their feet. Fleur was at the surface coughing and flapping her arms. Something below the surface pulled her towards the judge's platform. Draco saw Madam Pomfrey rush over and help her out of the water, putting a blanket around her. Fleur cried out and fought to get back in the water. What was down there that they were supposed to retrieve? Bagman had just said that something had been taken from them and they had to retrieve. What could it be? What would be so precious that they would swim underwater for an hour? Draco watched Fleur, she was distraught. It wasn't just the competition; he didn't think she would care to risk drowning again for the Triwizard tournament.

"Where are Potter's little friends? You wouldn't think they would miss this." Pansy commented to Blaise.

Draco's eyes swept the Gryffindor section of the stands. The Weasel and Granger were both missing. With a feeling of dread Draco looked towards Ravenclaw, he scanned each face until he realized with dead certainty that Cho wasn't there.

It wasn't a something that had been taken from them, but a someone. Draco felt nauseous; he knew nothing would stop Harry from rescuing his friends. He would risk everything. The minutes crept by, he finally saw McGonagall and Moody walking up to the edge of the water looking concerned. Draco could tell that Moody's magic eye was penetrating the water trying to see what was underneath.

The hourmark passed. Still no sign of the remaining three champions. Could all three of them have drowned? There was a ripple growing on the surface and suddenly Cedric emerged from the water holding on to Cho, the bubble head still around him he swam towards the surface. Cho smiled and gave Cedric a hug and they walked out on the shore to the roar of the crowd. Pomfrey rushed over throwing blankets over their shoulders as they emerged from the water.

Krum was next, holding a limp Hermione Granger. As soon as he cleared the water the shark's head disappeared. Granger gave a shake and looked around as if startled to be above water. She and Krum swam towards the shore and Draco narrowed his eyes as Granger hugged Krum, but then she looked around frantically when she realized that Harry and Weasley weren't back yet. Krum seemed disappointed that she wasn't paying him any more attention and stomped off. Cedric stood in a foot of water looking for Harry.

"Where the bloody hell is Potter?"

"Cheer up, Draco." Pansy smiled, "He has clearly lost this task. Hopefully he never comes up."

Where the hell was he? Draco felt his heart stop as there was a huge splash and Harry appeared, holding both Ron and a young girl. He saw the Weasel spit water out of his mouth and look around with a smile on his face. Harry slowly swam towards the edge of the lake, towing the girl next to him. Weasley appeared to be yelling at Harry.

"Probably complaining how long it took, and who could blame him. Bloody late." Blaise commented, Draco felt like yelling at Blaise to go and try the task himself before critizing how Harry had done.

"Are those merpeople?" Goyle asked pointing a finger. Draco looked out at the lake again. Near where Harry had come up over a dozen green mossy heads were sticking out of the surface. One of them swam over to the judge's platform and Dumbledore stood up and knelt down to talk to him. There was a large rumble from the crowd as they began to stomp their feet, waiting for the judges' marks. Dumbledore stood up and went over to talk to the other judges.

"Something is going on." Blaise muttered, "Maybe they are going to pitch Potter out of the tournament for being so late."

Bagman's voice rang out over the lake. Draco could scarcely take in what he was saying, he watched as Fleur wrapped her arms around the young girl. Draco realized who she was, Fleur's younger sister. No wonder the Beauxbaton champion had been so frantic to go back in the lake. And Potter had saved her and the Weasley. Fleur had stood up and was hugging Harry tightly, she kissed him on both cheeks.

"Bloody fucking Potter."

"You can say that again, how can he come back last and still be tied for first? This whole thing is fixed." Blaise grumbled.

"Wait, what happened? I didn't catch what Bagman said." Draco looked around startled.

"Really, Draco you have to pay more attention. They are claiming that Potter found the four hostages first but stayed until last to make sure that everyone was rescued. Sounds like a bunch of crock to me. They gave him 45 points for 'moral fiber' if you can believe that. At least Diggory is tied for first place with him. He'll beat Potter next time. "

The Slytherins stood up and were heading out, Draco sat where he was, watching Harry and his two friends, join Cedric and hug one another.

"Aren't you coming Draco? We are going to have a commiseration party in the Dungeon." Pansy called out. Draco waved them off, "I've got to do something. I'll be up in a bit."

He sat there as everyone slowly walked around the lake and back up to the castle. He saw Harry and his friends walking arm in arm, laughing towards the castle. When they had disappeared from sight, Draco stared out at the lake. The merpeople had disappeared back into the dark depths. Trust Harry to go the hero route; if he had been competing he would have grabbed his hostage and raced to the surface without hesitating. Harry had stayed and made sure everyone was safe.

Not for the first time Draco realized that whatever drove Potter to stand up for what was right was just part of who he was. The git fidgeted, stammered and stumbled through classes and life. But when it came to deciding what to do in a tough situation he didn't hesitate to choose the right path. Where did he learn that? Not from his parents, not from the Dursleys. Draco had blamed the whole article snafu on how he was raised, his parents. He knew know that that wasn't good enough. Potter had been raised in a fucking cupboard; yet he always did the right thing.

Draco felt like he had been sleepwalking through the last four weeks. He closed his eyes and remembered dancing with Harry on Christmas Eve morning to that weird Muggle band. And then Harry had left those records sitting on the desk when he left. They still sat there; Draco hardly went down into the locker room anymore. The one place in Hogwarts that has been his and his alone and now he couldn't stand to be there without Harry. He'd give anything to have things back the way they had been. Draco stared out at the lake, he would give anything. But would he do anything? Draco knew what he had to do; he'd known it for weeks now. He didn't know if it would work, but he would have to try. And damn the consequences.

OoOOoOoOO

That night there was a celebration for the completion of the second task in the Great Hall. The Hogwart students were jubilant with both Hogwarts students tied for the lead. The Beauxbaton students were also celebrating, despite Fleur's last place finish in the task. She and her sister had run up to hug Harry when he had walked in with Ron and Hermione. To his embarrassment several of the female students throughout the meal had taken to sending sparkling trails of glittering stars to zoom and circle over his head.

The Gryffindors were ecstatic; Harry could scarcely eat for all of the jostling at the table. Finally dessert appeared on the table and he was reaching for a slice of treacle tart when he heard Ron say, "What's Malfoy up to? If he is giving Hagrid a hard time, I'm going to..."

Harry whipped his head towards the head table. Draco was standing next to Hagrid who was bending down stiffly to hear him. He saw Hagrid's face freeze.

"The bastard..." Harry was standing up and about to head over when he heard Hermione exclaim, "No wait..."

Draco Malfoy, pureblood, was holding his hand out to Hagrid. Harry watched as Hagrid hesitated and then shook his hand. The Slytherin table was absolutely silent as was everyone around Harry. Draco gave Hagrid a small smile and then walked out of the Great Hall without looking left or right.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron shook his head in disbelief.

"I know what it looked like, but I don't believe it." Hermione exclaimed. "I'm going to ask..."

"No," said Harry jumping up, "Let me go, I have to know..." Harry felt an all too familiar buzzing in his ears. Harry walked over to Hagrid who still had a faintly stunned look on his face.

"Hagrid? What happened? Are you okay? What did Malfoy say to you?"

"He apologized," said Hagrid, he had stuck his finger in his ear as if checking his hearing, "said he shouldn't have said those things to that Skeeter woman, and that he was glad that I was back teaching." Hagrid looked down at Harry. "Never thought I would see the day when a Malfoy apologized."

Harry looked towards the doors where Malfoy had exited and then over at the Slytherin table. Everyone at the table was talking angrily, arms flying up in the air. This clearly wasn't some Slytherin joke that Draco had played on Hagrid. Harry gave a brief smile to Hagrid and walked away.

He sat back down at the Gryffindor table, "What was it?" "What did he say?" Ron and Hermione asked at once.

"He apologized," said Harry with a disbelieving laugh, "He apologized to Hagrid."

"As if that makes all those hateful things he said okay!" said Hermione angrily.

"It's a start." said Harry quietly. "I've got to go do...something. I'll see you back in the tower in a little bit."

"Where are you going? You can't disappear on us tonight, there's a party!" Ron said looking at Harry in disbelief.

"I know, I'll be back upstairs in just a little bit." Harry said hurriedly standing up from the table. He hesitated as he got out of the Great Hall. He knew that Fred and George and others were busy decorating the Gryffindor common room. With a curse, he ran out the front doors and around to the West Tower. He slowed down as he got close. He stared at the entranceway. Did he really want to do this? One apology did not make up for what Draco had done. Harry felt his heart pounding in his chest.

He knew though that he hadn't been happy since he and Draco had broken up. It had taken all of this time to even think his name without hurting inside. He still fell asleep every night holding the git's bloody scarf in his hand. All good reasons not to open that door again. He didn't want to make himself so vulnerable again. Harry shook his head as he did it he took a deep breath. "Aperiens"

Draco was sitting on the floor leaning against the lockers opposite the entrance to the Gryffindor tower. He was holding his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. He hadn't heard Harry come in through the other door.

"I thought Malfoys didn't sit on the floor?" Harry said quietly. Draco swung his head around with a start and scrambled to his feet.

"Well, we'll just add it to one of those things that I'm rethinking about my family." he said quietly. His eyes were watching Harry walk across the floor towards him. "I didn't think you'd come."

"That is why you were sitting here waiting for me?" Harry asked, his voice sounded a little harsher than he had intended.

Draco shrugged, "I had hoped that maybe...but I hadn't really thought that it would be enough to change your mind."

"It wasn't." Harry said flatly. Draco's shoulders sagged. Harry forced a small smile, "but it was a start." he finished quietly.

Draco's eyes flared, but the expression on his face didn't change, "I know, I don't know if I can, but I want... to change." He dragged his hand through his hair, "I sat out on those stands for a long time after everyone had gone inside. You make me want to see things in a different way. I want to look in the mirror in the morning and like what I see. I don't want to become my father."

Harry had hardly breathed as he listened to Draco. He took a deep breath. "I don't know if I can do this again, Draco. I've never hurt so badly as this last month. Every bloody night I would close my eyes and think of you..."

Draco gave a half laugh, "Every day, every night. It's been hell. I know you are better off without me-"

"Don't decide what I'm better off with or without," Harry exclaimed sharply, stepping closer to Draco. "The two months we were together were the happiest I've had in years. Don't put yourself down and say that you aren't good enough for me, that is a cop out."

Harry stopped a foot from Draco. "I'm willing to try again, 'cause I'm miserable without you, and I believe in the downstairs Draco." Harry reached out and placed his hand on the side of Draco's face. Draco was perfectly still, scarcely breathing. "I hope that someday the downstairs Draco and upstairs one will merge together."

Draco turned his head slowly and kissed the palm of Harry's hand that was cupping his cheek. "Me, too." They stood there for a minute both afraid to move. Harry gave a groan and reached and hugged Draco who melted against him. They stood there tightly embraced for what felt like hours.

"I have to get upstairs. They are having a surprise party for me in the tower." Harry said huskily, breaking the embrace. He hesitated and then kissed Draco quickly on the lips. "We are going to need to talk more. Set up some of those ground rules that Cedric likes so much."

Draco nodded; his eyes were gleaming with unshed tears. "You scared me to death today, out on the lake. I'm surprised my hair didn't turn gray."

Harry reached out and ruffled Draco's hair thoroughly, "It looks as perfect as always."

Draco shook the fringe that fell into his eyes out of the way.

"So are we okay?"

Harry hesitated, "Let's take it slow and see what happens. I don't want to make any promises..."

"That's okay, I just want a chance." Draco said quickly. "Okay, you go to your party, I'll go get pounded to a pulp in the dungeon." Harry eyes flew open with concern.

"Are you serious? They wouldn't do that, would they?" Draco regretted his words.

"Nah, I was just joking. They aren't going to be happy with me; but I can handle it." He drew himself up to his full height. "There are a lot worse things." He hesitated and then leaned forward and kissed Harry one more time. "Go, have fun at your little Gryffindor love fest."

Harry gave a half smile and left through the door that went outside. He hurried around and entered the castle through the courtyard entrance.


* Song Credits

"A Hard Day's Night" Written by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney (A Hard Day's Night album)

"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (A Hard Day's Night album)

"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (Sticky Fingers album)

"Wild Horses" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (Sticky Fingers album)