A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's taken me a couple more days to update than I thought it would. Truthfully I had

written this chapter earlier, but as I reread it I didn't particularly like the way it was going so I scraped it and started over. I had so many different ideas going through my head and I finally came to the conclusion that sometimes it's best to not try to stuff so many different ideas into one story, so I'm saving some of them for my next story.

A/N #2: This fic is AU-alternate universe. In my world book six DID NOT HAPPEN! Many characters from the final battle did not die. Since this is my fic I can make that happen. LOL. I'm sure since most of us are reading an HP fanfic we have read the books so 99.9 percent of us know who died and who didn't. Please don't give me reviews telling me that so-and-so is dead and whatnot. I KNOW THIS! Thank you.

Disclaimer: As much as I would like it to be true, none of these characters belong to me. Only the plot

Chapter 9: A Malfoy always gets what he wants

Several hours into the night Draco set plotting. He came up with numerous plans, and discarded just as many. Operation: Shag-Potter wasn't going nearly as smoothly in the planning stages as he'd previously thought.

There were many who considered Draco to be the sex-god of Slytherin. And for good reason. There were very few that could resist him when he truly turned on the Malfoy charm. When Draco set his eyes on a target there was nothing that could deter him until he had achieved his goal.

And he had ALWAYS achieved his goal.

Even though his record was unblemished, he didn't fail to recognize that the Gryffindor Golden Boy was in a whole different league than his past conquests. His usual methods would not work on the Saviour of the Wizarding World.

Potter would definitely be a challenge. There was nothing more that Draco loved than a challenge. But a Malfoy always gets what a Malfoy wants.

What Draco wanted most right now was Harry Potter. He vowed that he would get him.

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HARRY'S POV

Harry set brooding in the Gryffindor common room. He kept replaying the previous night in the broom closet in his mind. He couldn't imagine what came over him. He had never felt anything remotely close to the pull he had felt towards Malfoy. It truly frightened him. What was even more frightening was the thought that it could possibly happen again.

You want it to happen again. Except next time you want to give in to the pull

That little voice in the back of his head was becoming increasingly annoying. There was no way he was possibly attracted to Malfoy. He couldn't be. He was the enemy.

Oh. But he hasn't been nearly as bad lately. He doesn't even pick fights with you anymore.

Well that was true, Harry conceded. Still, it didn't excuse his previous actions.

True. But his actions during the war helped somewhat didn't it?

Why was that voice torturing him so? Couldn't it just shut up for a little while? He'd have to research a way to make your subconscious be quiet.

"Harry"

Harry jumped at the sudden interruption to his inner debate

"Yea 'Mione?"

"Well you've been sitting there just staring into the fire for the past ten minutes. What's wrong with you?" Hermione stood there frowning with her hands planted on her hips, as though waiting for a spat.

"Nothing 'Mione. Just thinking." Harry replied

"About?"

"The meaning of Life" Harry retorted sarcastically

This didn't seem to go over to well with Hermione because her frown just became deeper.

"Very funny Harry. How about you just tell me what you truly were thinking about for you to be off in your own little world for such a long period of time."

"Hermione I really don't feel like talking about it right now okay? It's nothing serious anyway. Can't I keep my thoughts to myself once in awhile? Is that too much to ask?" Harry was starting to become irritated with her questioning.

"Yes actually it is too much to ask. You know how you get when you keep things bottled up. Now I demand that you tell me right now!" Hermione's voice was becoming increasingly louder with each word

Harry scowled

"No actually I don't have to tell you everything. Now if you don't mind I'm going to go up to the dorm and get some sleep"

"Harry don't you dare just walk away from me. I'll go to Dumbledore if you don't let me know what's been bothering you lately." Hermione threatened

Harry whipped back around so fast it was a surprise he didnj't get whiplash

"How dare you threaten me like that? If I don't want to tell you or Ron something I damn well don't have to! Why can't you just mind your business for once?!?!" He truly didn't like talking to Hermione like this, but sometimes she just really pressed his buttons. How dare she threaten to go to Dumbledore because he wouldn't tell her what she wanted to hear. It's not like it was any of her business to begin with.

Sometimes he felt like she and Ron believed that Harry was supposed to let them know every single one of his secrets. He couldn't get any privacy. After the war he thought they might back off at least a little. How wrong he was.

"Look Harry. I'm only doing this for your own good." Hermione gave him a look as though she thought he was being a petulant child.

Harry figured the best course of action was to just leave and go up to his dorm before he said something that he might regret later. He stood up to make his way to the stairs leading to the boy's dormitory.

"Harry!"

"Sod off Hermione!"

Climbing into his four-poster he knew that he had just delayed the inevitable. Tomorrow would just mean a newly rejuvenated, and more determined Hermione. And just his luck she would add Ron into the mix. Groaning Harry turned over to get some sleep. He'd need to be well rested to face the interrogative squad the next day.

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DRACO'S POV

Draco looked across the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table. He had a perfect view of the Golden Trio as they were directly across from him. He could see that there was a heated argument going on if the red face of The Weasel and wild gestures of the Mudblood were anything to go by. Looking over at Potter he saw the dark look on his face as he listened to whatever Granger was saying to him.

"Looks like not everything is as wonderful as it seems in the land of the Gryffindors hmm?"

Draco looked to his right at Blaise's comment, noticing that the boy had followed his gaze to the Gryffindors.

"Guess not" Draco replied his gaze going back over to the three friends.

"You seem more interested than usual. What's up?"

Leave it to Blaise to recognize Draco's actions for what they were.

"I don't know what you're talking about Zabini."

"Hmm, rather defensive are we Draco? Now I know somethings up" Blaise smirked at him

Why must my best friend be so damn observant? Most of the time that's a good thing, but not when it's directed towards ME!

Draco decided that the best course of action would be honesty. To a certain degree anyway

"I think I may have just found a new target Blaise. My most challenging yet to be honest"

"Is that right? Who? Surely not the muggle born?" Blaise looked disgusted at the thought

"Are you out of your bloody mind Zabini?!? Like I would stoop so low. Give me more credit than that please."

"Alright alright. Just making sure you hadn't bumped your head or anything. So that only leaves Weasley and Potter. I know you wouldn't dare try to bed Weasley considering how much you two loathe each other. So that only leaves Potter."

Draco's silence must have confirmed Blaise's guess because the boy's eyes widened comically

"Potter?!?! Draco you can't be serious!"

"For Merlin's sake keep your voice down Blaise! I don't want all of Hogwarts knowing about it." Draco sneered at the dark haired boy

"Come on Draco. You really think for one second that the Golden Boy is going to give you the time of day? I mean I know you have charm, but there isn't enough charm in the world to allow you to shag Potter. You two hate each other as much as you and Weasley!"

"Why do you think I said this would be my most challenging conquest?" Draco asked

"This isn't just challenging Draco, it's IMPOSSIBLE!" Blaise couldn't believe Draco actually thought he could get Potter of all people. I mean he'd impressed Blaise with many of his targets over the years, but Potter? There was no way

"Nothing's impossible to a Malfoy Blaise. Surely you know that."

Blaise gave him a look that stated clearly that he still didn't believe Draco could pull it off.

"Your doubt in my abilities really disappoints me Blaise. Would you care to make a wager on my success?" Draco smirked at him.

"Of course. How could I pass up such a tempting offer that I'm sure to win?" Blaise chuckled. "So what are you offering?"

"5000 Galleons should do it I think."

"I guess we have a deal then. Of course there will need to be certain terms of the deal though."

Draco looked over at the boy

"Such as?"

"It's only fair that you have a certain time frame to accomplish the goal. Christmas should be fair I'd think." Blaise looked over at Draco as though thinking the boy wouldn't dare consider accepting under such a small amount of time.

"Done. I'll have Potter so in love with me by Christmas that there will be no doubt of my success." Draco's smile was so confident that even Blaise believed him.

Draco looked back over at the Gryffindor table just in time to see Potter storming off from the two angry looking remaining members of the trio.

"Sorry to cut the chat short Blaise, but I have business to attend too." With that, Draco strode out of the Hall, looking every bit of the pureblood aristocrat that he was.

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HARRY'S POV

Harry couldn't believe the nerve of his two best friends. Cornering him like that, and then having the gall to treat him as though he was being unreasonable! He just couldn't understand how they didn't realise that he could handle his own problems.

Admittedly they had a right to be concerned when Voldemort had still been around, but now was completely different. They needed to understand that he was an adult now and trust him to make his own decisions. He didn't need anyone treating him like a child. Not his best friends, and certainly not Albus Dumbledore.

Harry just needed to get away. He slowly made his way down to his spot by the lake so he could sit and think for a while without anyone bothering him.

Making himself comfortable, he drifted off into thoughts of the recent conversation he had with his friends

FLASHBACK

"Harry…" Hermione started off cautiously, as though she felt at any moment something could set Harry off.

"We just feel as though you haven't been the same lately"

"Yeah mate…we're just trying to make you understand that you can come to us if somethings bothering you" Ron added in

Harry had been expecting this really. It still didn't make it any better even though he knew it was coming. He tried thinking up some lame excuse to get them off of his back as soon as possible, but his mind was currently coming up blank.

"I told you guys that there was nothing bothering me. Can't you just believe me for once?"

Hermione and Ron shared a glance that Harry knew was disbelieving Hermione took a deep breath as though preparing for battle.

"Harry we've known you for years. We know when you're hiding something from us. We think it's more than just the anniversary of Halloween too. The way you treated Ginny was deplorable.

Harry was reeling. He couldn't believe they would put the blame on him for that!

"What the hell do you mean the way I treated Ginny? You two saw how unreasonable she was being!"

"Look mate, you could have handled it better. I mean how did you expect her to react with you ditching her like that? She's your girlfriend for Merlin's sake! You should've expected her to think you would take her to the dance." Ron's voice was becoming more angry

"You knew why I didn't want to go to that dance! I even explained that to Ginny. How is it right that she's my girlfriend, but she can't even understand my reasoning for not wanting to go?"

"Harry we feel as though it's time you started to talk to someone about your parents' deaths. You can't keep living in the past. It's time for you to start getting over it. Since Voldemort is gone you really don't have such a visible reminder anymore." Hermione stated firmly

Harry couldn't believe how tactless they were. Couldn't they understand how hard it was to lose someone so close to you? Obviously not. They hadn't really lost anyone that close to them. They couldn't possibly grasp the fact. They just expected him to get over it because so much time had passed. What did they know?

"Excuse me Hermione that I'm not meeting your time frame for getting over their deaths."

Hermione winced as though he had slapped her

"That's not what I meant Harry. I just feel it would be better if you began the grieving process. You really couldn't do it properly with Voldemort hanging over your head the whole time."

"Well I'm sorry that you feel that way. I'll do it my own way. If that doesn't meet your approval then too bad." He got up from the table to make his way out of the hall. He truly felt that if he stayed any longer the temptation to hex his two friends would be too great.

"Wait a minute Harry!" He ignored Ron's calls to come back and made his way out of the castle

End Flashback

Harry sighed. There really was no one that understood him.

"Fancy meeting you here Potter"

Harry looked up startled at the familiar drawl coming from beside him

I should've known"How is it that you always manage to catch me at the worst of times Malfoy"

Draco sat down beside him. Uninvited of course

"I guess you could say I have impecable timing." Draco gave him a small smirk. "So what happened today that would lead you to brooding so early in the morning?"

"Do you really care?"

"You'd know I was lying if I said I did, so I won't bother. I was just asking out of sheer curiosity"

Gotta admire his honesty

"Just a little disagreement I had with Ron and Hermione is all. They don't seem to grasp the fact that I'm an adult and can make my own decisions."

Draco snorted

"Well that's not shocking. They always seem to act like your handlers every time I see them. How you could stand it for this long I don't know"

"Gosh is it that obvious? I never realised. I can make my own choices you know" Harry huffed

"Hey I know that! You didn't defeat the Dark Lord by not having the ability to make your own choices. Merlin only knows how much courage that took"

Harry looked at Draco with surprise. He'd never expected such a vehement statement from the usually stoic Slytherin. It made him feel extremely good to receive such a compliment from the normally cool boy.

"Thanks Malfoy. At least someone realises that."

The two boys sat in silence for a while drifting off into their own thoughts. After a while Harry stood up thinking that he'd might as well go back to Gryffindor tower and face the music.

"I'd better go. Surprisingly it was nice talking to you Malfoy" Harry gave him a slight smile.

Draco smirked lightly

"Yeah you to Potter."

As Harry was starting to make his way back to the castle, Draco called out to him.

"Listen Potter. If they're really your friends then they should have enough confidence in you to trust your decisions. Don't let them bully you into second guessing your own choices."

"Thanks Malfoy. I really think I needed to hear that."

"No problem." Draco hesitated briefly. "And…just in case….I'm always here…in case you need someone else to talk to. At least to keep you level headed anyway." Draco gave him a slight smile.

Harry grinned back

"I'll definitely keep that in mind Malfoy" With that he made his way back to the castle, thinking all the way about how his dreadful morning had brightened slightly.

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DRACO'S POV

Draco smiled to himself.

Phase one of Operation: Shag-Potter

Status: Complete

A/N: Well here you go! Sorry it's not as long as my others but I wanted to get something out to you. Give me some feedback. Good or bad it doesn't matter. Hopefully a new chapter will be out soon.