Author's Note: Whooohooo the suspense! It continues!
Chapter 9
Their lips had hardly been touching for a moment when Malfoy jerked back and stared at Harry in shock. "What are you doing?"
Harry was frozen in place, unsure of how to explain his rash actions. "I—I don't… I'm sorry, I didn't mean it? It was a total mistake, it'll never happen again, I promise! I'm so sorry…" Malfoy had a weird look on his face when Harry stopped apologizing. Instead of responding, he turned around and walked back towards the stands where Blaise Zabini and the rest of the Slytherin crew were seated without another word or glance back. Harry watched him go, feeling increasingly regretful of his actions. He slowly made his way to sit with Hermione and Ron, who were completely oblivious to his downtrodden mood for the rest of the game.
After it was over, they all went back to their dorms and got ready for bed. Harry kept nervously glancing over at Malfoy, who was amongst the chattering group of boys in the restroom, a few sinks down from him. He took a deep breath and tried to build up his confidence. This is Malfoy we're talking about here. Your friend. Your bunkmate. There's nothing to be afraid of. Just talk to him! He scooted over so that he was right next to Malfoy. "Hey."
"Oh—! Hello…"
"So… good game, huh?"
"Erm, yeah. Good."
Harry cleared his throat as he racked his brain for something else to say. It never really was this difficult to create conversation with the blonde boy before. Of course, that was before Harry had stupidly gone and freaked him out. Maybe if he just acted casual… "You feeling like sleeping tonight? I don't." He lowered his voice to a whisper as to not alert the other boys. The fort was Harry and Malfoy's thing, he didn't want anybody else to get involved. "We can do it in my bed, if you want to come. I've got my flashlight and everything."
A look of shock crossed Malfoy's face for a moment. Harry noticed a slight pink flush spreading across his cheeks. "Wha—? Oh… No! No—I can't. I've got to… do… I have a thing… tomorrow, erm. Yeah. No."
"Oh. Okay."
Malfoy quickly walked out of the room and Harry watched him go longingly. How dense he was for kissing Malfoy like that! The other boy probably thought he was completely out of his mind, and he would probably lose him as a friend, and it would all just be terrible and wrong! Harry could take anything else Malfoy threw at him—punching, yelling, screaming. But not this. Not this awkward stay-away-from-me vibe Malfoy had going on right now. He had to fix this. But how?
When Harry snapped out of his thoughts, he found a room full of boys giving him sly looks. He turned back towards the mirror and pretended to attempt to toy with his mop of hair. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seamus and Justin exchanging knowing looks, while Scott snickered quietly to himself. After a few more moments of awkward silence, he turned towards them with a frown. "What are you all staring at?" he demanded.
Scott stifled a giggle. "Nothing, nothing." Harry gave him a suspicious look before turning back towards the sinks. Then he heard Scott add "you dirty boy" in a hushed tone.
Harry whirled around. "Excuse me?"
It was Seamus this time who was trying not to laugh. "You're just so innocent, mate."
Harry was still confused, and now he was getting irritated. "How am I innocent?"
Scott couldn't hold his amusement in any longer. He burst out laughing and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder to keep himself from keeling over. Harry stared at him while he laughed hysterically for a few more minutes before he stood up straight, wiping the tears from his eyes. "You honestly don't know what it is you said that was so hilarious! Fuck. You are pure comedy."
"What the hell is so funny?" Harry yelled, flicking the other boy's forehead with his finger in annoyance.
Seamus grinned. "We can do it in my bed, if you want to come," he said, mimicking Harry's voice and words. His voice dropped a couple octaves and he wiggled his eyebrows in a seductive manner. "I've got my flashlight and everything." Scott burst out laughing again and Justin put a hand on Harry's arm comfortingly, even though he was biting his lip to keep from laughing as well. "What would you need a flashlight for? Is that some kind of perverted kink you have?" Seamus asked, giving Harry an approving look. "If so, give me the details. How would that work?"
Harry backed up from them in horror, realizing his mistake. Apparently he hadn't whispered quietly enough, because the whole damn room heard what he'd said. And what he said sounded so dirty! Oh Merlin, did Malfoy think he was coming on to him? Shit. Shit shit shit! Why did these things always happen to him? "Shut up! Did it really sound that bad? Fucking hell! I'm such an idiot!"
Justin squeezed his arm. "It wasn't that obvious, mate. But I think you kind of scared him off a bit."
Harry covered his face with his hands. "Gods. He probably hates me."
"Don't be so dramatic, Harry," Seamus remarked. "One little comment isn't going to send him running for the hills forever."
Harry bit his lip. "It wasn't just a comment."
All of the boys in the room suddenly sobered up and gave him their utmost attention. "What do you mean? What happened?" Scott questioned.
Harry blushed. "After our performance, I—" Harry tried to think of something that didn't make him sound like a total moron, but it was impossible. "I kissed him," he confessed quietly.
"What!" All three boys widened their eyes with excitement. "You kissed Malfoy! Are you serious? I knew you fancied him! I knew it!" Seamus shrieked.
"Shh!" Harry whispered, glancing around anxiously. "I don't want anybody to hear you! Besides, I don't know if I fancy him yet."
Scott snorted. "Really, how would it be possible for you not to? It's so on."
"No it's not! And now that he hates me, it's never going to be on. Gods, I'm an idiot."
"Stop saying you're an idiot," Justin said. "Go talk to him about it. You know Malfoy, how he gets into those moods. He's probably just confused."
"I don't know…"
"Go do it!" Scott urged.
'And when you do, make sure not to start snogging him until I arrive! With a camera!" Seamus added.
"Shut up," Harry grumbled. He walked out of the bathroom, thinking to himself. So maybe he did fancy Malfoy. But how the hell was he supposed to tell him that without freaking him out? He slinked off to bed without looking at anyone—not Seamus who was giving him suggestive looks, not Justin who was trying to contain his laughter, and certainly not Malfoy, who clearly didn't want to look at him either. He fell asleep thinking about forts, blondes, and kinks that involved flashlights.
~x~
Draco sighed in frustration as he finished reading the letter from his parents informing him that they were Apparating in to see him that very day. They weren't even asking his permission, they were just coming. His mother had stressed that they were just visiting to see him because the holidays were coming up, but Draco knew that she'd been going insane worrying about him being in another country by himself. He stuffed the letter into his bag and started to eat his plate of eggs in front of him. When he looked up to take a drink from his water bottle, Potter had already arrived at the table and had sat a few seats away from him. Draco could tell that the boy had purposefully avoided the empty chairs next to him. He sighed and went back to his eggs.
Draco had been completely caught off guard when Potter had kissed him at the game. It was so sudden and surprising and wonderful—but it had been a mistake. Potter had specifically said it was a mistake. If that hadn't been embarrassing enough, Draco had sputtered and mumbled his way through that conversation in the bathroom. He'd thought that he could just pretend everything was somewhat normal, up until the point when Potter had said something outrageously suggestive. He'd gotten all flustered and dumbstruck and ugh, it was all bad. Potter had probably figured out Draco's ridiculous attraction towards him and that was the reason why he was avoiding him like the plague.
He coughed uncomfortably and futilely tried to concentrate on his breakfast. But it was a lost cause, seeing as he couldn't stop himself from glancing over at the object of his affections every few seconds. Like right now, Potter was laughing at something Longbottom said. He had such a beautiful, jingling, delightful laugh. Draco could just imagine Potter looking at him like that with his lips curved up in a genuine smile, his green, green eyes sparkling in joy—the way he had looked right before he'd kissed Draco. Would he still look like that if he kissed him for real, with passion and emotion and aggression? How about the flush on his cheeks, would that still be there if they got a bit more intimate? Would his jet-black hair get all tousled and matted with sweat when he got down on his knees and—
"Hey, Draco!"
He snapped out of his fantasies when he saw Scott waving at him. "What?" he snapped, annoyed to be pulled out of his Potter fantasy early.
"Your name was called on the loudspeaker. You need to go to the office."
"Ooh, is Malfoy in trouble?" Finnigan teased.
"I'm going," Draco grumbled, getting up from his seat.
"You need an escort," Scott reminded. "It's technically school hours, so you can't go wandering around campus by yourself."
"What am I, a child? I can handle myself."
Scott shrugged. "School rules. I can take you if you want."
"No, I'll take him." Draco looked over as Potter stood up and nodded at him. "I mean, I'll go with him. He can handle himself, mind you." Draco bit back a smile as Potter held out a hand in a mock formal way. Even if he was uncomfortable with the fact that Draco fancied him, he was still his ever-charming self. "Shall we?"
Draco gave him his best disdainful look. "I suppose." He made a point to snub Potter's outstretched hand and started walking towards the exit, expecting the other boy to follow. Potter caught up with him when they got outside, and soon the only sound was the crunching of gravel beneath their feet as they walked. Draco felt as though the air around them was loaded with all the things that he was afraid to talk about with Potter. He held his breath and counted the moments until they reached their destination.
Right before they rounded the corner to the office building, Potter stopped him. All playfulness from earlier was gone. "I have to talk to you."
Draco's heartbeat sped up. He didn't feel like being rejected right now. Especially when he knew he was going to have to see his parents, who were surely the reason he was being called to the office. "Can't it wait, Potter? I wasn't called here to stand around and chat with you."
Potter shifted around nervously. He looked like he was going to be ill. "No, Malfoy, I—"
Draco didn't want to hear it. He slid away from Potter in one smooth motion, heading towards the office briskly. He opened the doors and entered the large room to find his parents sitting in the waiting area next to the counter. "Draco!" Narcissa squealed, jumping up from her chair and rushing over to him. "How lovely it is to meet you here!"
"Mother," Draco rolled his eyes, "Of course I'm here, I was summoned by your arrival."
Lucius got up as well and patted him on the back. "Good to see you, son."
"Father," Draco greeted back. He heard the office doors opening again and already knew from the loudness of the entrance that it was Potter.
"Malfoy—oh!" Potter stopped and stared at the family standing in front of him. "I didn't realize… I'll just be going now."
"Wait, Harry Potter? Oh! It is you! Come, come here!" Narcissa urged, motioning him to come over to them. Potter looked nervous, but walked over to them anyway. "I want to thank you for helping us out," she glanced over at the muggle receptionist and lowered her voice, "after the you-know-what. The Malfoy family is eternally grateful."
"Mooo-om," Draco protested, while Lucius grimaced. "Stop embarrassing us!"
Potter looked a bit mortified himself. "You've already thanked me, ma'am. But you're welcome again."
Narcissa clapped her hands. "I know! We'll take you two out to brunch before you head back to class, what do you say? That way, we won't have to wait until school gets out to catch up!"
Potter looked uneasy at that. "Malfoy's excused from class, but I'm not. So I should be going back—"
"Nonsense. We can excuse you as well. Just say you're another son of ours."
Lucius and Draco both cringed at that. Why me? She's so embarrassing! Draco thought miserably.
"Well… okay."
"Then it's settled! Come on, boys. Show us the nicest restaurant in town!"
Draco caught Potter's gaze and rolled his eyes, trying to show him that he had no idea why his mother was acting like that. Potter shot him a tiny smile back, and Draco's heart fluttered like mad inside his chest. He looked away quickly before Potter could see his goofy grin.
They arrived at a small but ritzy café that Draco had taken a liking to and sat down in a booth, his parents across from him and Potter. After they'd ordered, Narcissa leaned forward and smiled at them. "So, what have you two been up to for the past couple of months? Is school going well? I understand from Draco's letters that you're roommates."
Potter nodded. "That's right," he glanced over at Draco, "and school's been excellent, especially for him. He's truly a genius at everything he does."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm only a genius compared to you," he muttered.
Potter grinned a little. "He's also been doing choir for a while now. Quite a fantastic voice on that one, I tell you."
Narcissa looked overjoyed. "Oh! That's wonderful, Draco! What is choir, exactly?"
Draco sighed. "It's singing."
"Singing?" Lucius looked mildly disgusted. "What kind of sick—ow!" There was a thump underneath the table and he winced. And Draco noticed that Narcissa looked far too innocent right next to him. "I mean, that's great, son. Really great."
"What about you, Harry Potter?" Narcissa asked. "What have you been doing?"
Potter shrugged. "This and that. Nothing special, really."
Draco shook his head. Sometimes the modesty thing was too much for Draco to handle. "He's the star of his sports team, Mother. It's a muggle game called soccer, and he's really quite brilliant. Maybe you can watch one of his practices while you're here. Also, he's done a bit of choir with me."
Draco smirked a little when he saw Potter blush while Narcissa showered him with praise. They chatted about their studies for a while, and Draco began to relax in his seat. Maybe this wouldn't be as awkward and horrible as he thought it would be. His mother and Potter seemed to be getting along all right, and Lucius hadn't said anything nasty for the duration of the conversation. But after about 20 minutes and still no food, Lucius was getting impatient. He glared at everyone that passed by their table. "Why the hell haven't we gotten our food yet?" he growled, at no one in particular. "I want to speak to the manager! My lawyer will hear about this!"
He got up and stomped off towards the counter, and Narcissa frowned in worry. "Oh dear. He's gone off again. I'm going to go make sure he doesn't do anything that will get us into trouble." She stood up and hurried off after him. Then it was just Potter and Draco sitting in the booth, alone.
"I'm just going to go to the bathroom, if you'll excuse me," Draco said quickly, nudging at Potter to let him out of the seat. Of course, he didn't.
"I said I needed to talk to you, Malfoy."
"Right. But my parents are here, so let's not."
"It'll only take a minute."
Draco glared at him. "It'll only take a minute? That's all I get? If you're going to sit here and reject me, it better be long and dramatic, damn it!"
Potter looked adorably confused. "What do you mean? Why would I reject you?"
"You're not? But I thought—"
Potter eyes widened in realization. He leaned in and smiled a bit, interrupting him. "I guess you thought wrong," he murmured.
Draco gulped as Potter got closer. Oh gods, what did that predatory look in his eye? Was he going to punch him? "What are you doing?"
"What feels right," Potter replied, his lips brushing Draco's cheek ever so softly as he spoke.
Draco shuddered in surprise at the sound of his name and the feel of Potter's lips. "Okay," he breathed.
Potter's mouth curved up in a small smile. "Good."
And suddenly Potter's lips were on his again, but this time there was no way in hell Draco was pulling back. Because his lips were persistent, passionate, filled with aggression—just the way Draco had imagined it. He tasted sweet, like sugar and berries and cream and all of his favorite things combined. Draco's heart fluttered as Potter's arm slithered around his waist and pulled him closer, and he opened his mouth wider to give him more access. Gods, he was brilliant. The way his soft lips moved against his with urgency and gentleness at the same time was completely and utterly Potter. And all Draco could think was why the fuck didn't I do this 8 years ago?
"Draco," Potter whispered, pulling back to nibble lightly at his ear. "I fancy you."
Draco responded by leaning forward and pressing his lips to Potter's again, wanting to taste every bit of him and never stop. He would never stop kissing Potter, he would never ever—
"WHAT THE HELL?"
And then Draco jumped back from the other boy at the sound of his father's furious voice.
Author's Note: HAHAH. Okay. So I don't know, here's some more dramatics for you. You know you'd be bored without them. Until next time!
