Chapter Nine:

Coming to Terms

A/N: Read, review and enjoy!

~*~

"You are doing it wrong again, Potter!" Malfoy scolded loudly, tapping his wand impatiently to the palm of his hand as he circled the dark-haired boy in their usual forest clearing.

Sneering over at his 'Teacher' Harry heaved out a sigh before dropping down onto the snowy floor, "I'm bloody exhausted, you've been working me like a dog for the past few weeks!" he snapped in response.

It was true. The two met numerous times a week for these lessons that helped Harry train himself in the dark gifts that were accessible to his kind, and he was becoming quite accustomed to the feeling of his growing power. They had already conquered telepathy, telekenesis and were now working on healing. Harry was already stronger than most vampires, having being taught strength along with Allure quite well from Migeul. Whenever he was physically injured, he already healed in such a speed that was nearly unbelievable, but they were practicing now so that Harry could heal others using his intensified magic.

It was now early December and the snow was falling lightly in the late Saturday evening, it was just past eleven o'clock.

"You were the one who said you wanted a proper teacher," he chided and than cast a quick warming spell before sitting down beside him as well, he had to admit that he was even getting tired of instructing.

"Er, thanks for all this again," Harry mumbled as a blush reached his cheeks as it usually did, he awkwardly pulled his knees to his chest and hunched his back.

Rolling his eyes, Malfoy shivered against the cold, "Do you have to be embarassed and thank me every time?" he smirked as even more red crept into Harry's features, he always loved the way he looked when he got uncomfortable and embarassed, quite vulnerable for somebody who held so much power.

"I don't do it every time, Malfoy," Harry muttered and became suddenly fascinated with the ways his boots look, covered in dirty snow.

"Fine, if you want to thank me properly than you can start calling me Draco," he teased lightly but meant what he had said, he would much prefer to be called by his first given name as it did not represent the dark reputation his Father had given his surname.

"Er, okay...Draco," Harry blushed furiously and shifted uncomfortable at the chuckle that escaped the blonde. "Call me Harry then," he countered.

"Harry," Draco agreed as he shivered again with a cold breeze, even with the warming spell it was bleeding December and it was pretty late as the snow fell and melted on his face. Still, he didn't much fancy going inside yet because he enjoyed his time out in the forest clearing with Harry, he loved just sitting in those awkward silences with him...though he would never outwardly admit it.

"Here, I sure as hell don't need it," Harry whispered as he had removed his school robe and nudged Draco with it, offering it to him although it wasn't taken.

"I am a Slytherin, surely you do not expect me to wear a Gryffindor robe!" he seemed slightly astonished at the suggestion of it.

Shaking his head, Harry allowed a bemused laugh to come forward. "You're so bloody stuck up, you prat," he joked and flung the robe around the shivering boy's shoulders anyway.

Draco blushed at the contact and gesture. Ever since he had come into realization of his infatuation with Harry the feelings only became stronger, especially with them seeing one another so frequently and on friendly terms. At first Draco had been put off and depressed about it all, but then he noticed the difference of the Harry he hung around and the Harry that hung around everybody else. There was definitely a clear difference.

"I am not stuck up. It is called pride, would it kill you to have some every once and awhile?" Draco shot back, he rather enjoyed their playful bickering as well since it was filled with underlying grins and snickers instead of anger as it once was.

"Are you going back home for the holidays after midterms?" Harry blurted out, it was a question that had been on his mind for a few days now.

"Ah, excuse me?" Draco was taken aback and waited for Harry to awkwardly repeat the question he had definitely heard the first time. "Why do you want to know?"

"Er, because I know that there will be a huge Death Eater initiation and you will be expected to be marked. I know you don't want to be marked so I was wondering...well...I know it's not my place at all but, what are you going to do?" Harry stumbled on his words and thoughts.

"Can you not just read my mind and know?" Draco scolded him, he got tense at this very subject and didn't want to exactly go through explaining the fine details of something he had not quite figured out himself.

"I don't want to," Harry answered truthfully with a shrug. He rarely read minds once he trained himself to do so, only when it was necessary did he want to use that privacy invading skill.

"Ever the Gryffindor," Draco muttered with a smirk to himself, Potter will never change.

"Well...what are you going to do?" Harry urged onward, he had been buggered with worry ever since Snape had told Dumbledore about the upcoming ceremony.

"Truthfully, I am not too sure yet," he said icily.

"Not too sure? Well you definitely can't just go and get the mark, I'm not going to let you!" Harry screeched immediately and then lowered his voice, blushing and ashamed that he just said what he had.

Feeling warm at the thought, it passed when reality came back to Draco. "I just have not given it enough thought yet, I guess I really should. I have been busy just making sure your training works out and with school and all..." he rambled off and then his eyes drifted to look at the darkening forest in the distance.

"If you don't think your Father will stand behind you if you deny it, Dumbledore can offer you protection. I can offer you protection," Harry said firmly, he knew that if Draco got the Dark Mark that their relationship would most likely end immediately and that was definitely not what he wanted.

"I just need to think about it more," Draco repeated softly, he wanted to explore his options and put off making a decision until the very last moment. "Did you get what Professor Kalei was on about yesterday in class, I really had no idea," he changed the subject quickly.

It had worked, the two got into a talk about what their new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor was teaching earlier that week. With their new truce and odd partnership, the two always helped out with their communal classes especially since Draco needed assistance in Defense and Harry was in dire need of help during Potions. Now that Harry had decided to stop the unneccessary resting he was taking every evening since he had returned to Hogwarts, he also had more time to not only train himself but finish up homework assignments, walk around the empty and beautiful Grounds at night as well as read.

Another hour and a half passed before Draco stifled a yawn and their conversation began to die out. Reluctantly, he admitted that he needed to be getting off to bed as it was well past midnight now. They both stood up off the floor and he shrugged off the Gryffindor's robe and handed it back over to him.

"Wear it till we at least get inside," Harry said as he began to stride towards the outer of the forest.

"You are not going to stay out here?" Draco questioned slowly as he quickly followed him, soon they were instep with one another and the blonde didn't hesitate to pull the robe back around his lean figure. He sniffled in the air and noticed that it smelt strongly of Harry, he liked it all at once and a little too much.

"I don't feel like it tonight, the Call has been getting stronger everyday and I can't imagine why. Migeul and Maija must have left their homeland and are back trapsing through Europe, maybe they're getting closer," Harry mused alloud as they made their way through the padded snow towards the dimly lit castle.

"Oh, well..." Draco trailed off into silence.

Once they were inside and standing in front of the Slytherin portrait hole, which Draco still had no idea how Harry knew where it was but the brunette would only snigger every time he asked and refuse to answer. "Alright, goodnight," Harry said awkwardly as he folded his robe in his arms now, it was soaked slightly from the snow and he didn't quite enjoy the damp feeling against his stone cold skin.

"Er...want to have a cup of cocoa with me?" Draco offered him as he opened up the portrait hole. He shocked himself with the question but stood by it as he ushered an awkward Harry inside of the Slytherin Common Room.

It looked just as it had during First Year to Harry, although a few things were switched around. Immediately for warmth, Draco sat down by the fire and called on a kitchen house elf to bring him a cup of cocoa. Once he recieved his order, Harry sat down on the opposite end of the green leather couch.

"You do not look too impressed, I imagine you have been in here before?"

"Yeah...but remember, I'm not telling," Harry sniggered again only to recieve a cold glare.

"I will get that information from you someday, Potter, if it kills me or not," Draco snapped and then smiled warmly against the hot mug in his hands as he took a sip. "So, are you staying for the hols?"

"I usually goto Ron's house with him and 'Mione but I thought it best to stay here this year. I don't much like keeping secrets from his Mum and I don't think I could face her yet," Harry admitted despite thoughts that told him to keep things like this secret from Draco Malfoy.

"Right," there was an awkward silence where Draco was aware of Harry's eyes staring a hole right through him.

Just do it. Just fucking do it. You are Harry Potter, you are a goddamn fiersome beast...just do it...just do it. You've been thinking about doing it for months now. Just do it. Fucking, get yourself together and just do it...do it, do it...

"What is it?" Draco finally asked, slightly concerned with those looks he was getting.

Blushing with the fact he was caught, Harry nearly jumped out of his skin and stood up immediately. "Er, nothing. I need to leave," and with that and lightning speed he was gone without another word. Raising an eyebrow Draco just shrugged and continued to sip his cocoa, he quite enjoyed Harry's odd actions sometimes but they were just getting confusing lately.

~*~

Harry sat pretending to nibble at his buttered toast the next morning, he just allowed the scratchy substance to run smoothly across his tongue. Hermione and Ron were caught up within each other, going back and forth between bickering and making up like they did nearly twice a day ever since their relationship had finally become official.

He was distracted from pushing down his odd thoughts the moment he smelt that familiar, enthralling scent waltz right through the Entrance doors and stride proudly over to the Slytherin table. Draco still kept up his reputation and appearance, but he let a muffled smile out across the hall once he noticed Harry's eyes on him.

Harry watched intently as the blonde took his seat and began to eat amongst the usual company of Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. Look at him, he's gorgeous. His long, blonde hair looks so silky. You definitely can't deny it anymore, Potter, you like him. Admit it. You like sodding Draco Malfoy. Ron would kill you...tch, if he ever knew.

Becoming slightly alarmed with his thoughts, Harry took a big bite of the toast and swallowed hard. He immediately regretted it as the rough taste stayed in his mouth for far too long, he coughed loudly which sent alert to Hermione. He was aware that Draco's eyes were on him with concern, he smiled inwardly.

"No no, just choked on a bit of bread," Harry promised Hermione before she looked at him sternly and then returned to chattering with her boyfriend.

Looking up from his plate, Harry met those grey eyes levelly and fought back the urge to call out to him. He was shocked at his sudden change in emotion towards the blonde until he realized, it wasn't so sudden afterall. Harry found himself opening his mouth as he watched Draco wink at him and then nudge his head towards the Great Hall doorway. Harry nodded his head knowingly.

"Mate, what's got you looking all goofy and happy?" Ron chimed cheerily, it was a great thing to see Harry smile (which was an unusual happening that year).

"Er, just having a good morning I s'pose," he replied with a sheepish grin and then let his eyes wander back to the Slytherin Table, Draco had already left the Hall apparantly.

It took him quite a bit of self control to stay in his seat for another minute or two before he stood to go. "What are you two up to today?" he quipped.

"We were going to go to Hogsmeade, get some X-mas shopping done," Hermione smiled up at him and then frowned almost immediately. "Sorry you can't come," she added.

"No worries, I've got loads of work to do anyway," he lied with a small smile, he knew that if he acted too happy about being left completely alone there would be definite questions raised. "You two have fun though, I'll see you later tonight in the Common Room?" and without an answer, Harry was leaving the Great Hall.

Once outside he was greeted by a smiling Draco, and it was a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life. The way the blonde's thin lips curled up perfectly to greet him made Harry catch his nonexistant breath.

"Mornin', what could I do you for?" Harry asked and then all of a sudden, his nerves began to come up and choke him. A blush rose into his cheeks and his smile fell into its stoic mask once again, Draco raised his eyebrow artfully.

"A bit cheery this morning, are we?" he smirked playfully and shoved his hands into his trousers, "Just was wondering what had you off so quickly last night, wanted to make sure you were alright?" Draco knew that it sounded strange coming from him, concern and all.

"Yeah, thanks," Harry blushed deeply again, despite himself. He shifted uncomfortably. "I just realized I had forgotten something," he lied sheepishly.

"Right, well then, cannot say I will not be missed - gotta get back to the dogs," Draco grinned as he turned to make his way back into the Great Hall. Harry only just realized then that the blonde most likely hadn't even touched his breakfast yet.

"Wait!" Harry called automatically, and for what reason he had no idea. "Wanna...er, lessons tomorrow night after dinner?" he asked unsure.

"Sounds perfect. See you then, Harry," Draco breathed his name and with that was gone.

Harry felt as though he were going to faint, and at least he had the rest of the day to recover. It seemed like even after hours of loneliness and trying to conceal his thoughts to his homework and training, Harry couldn't get the sound of Draco breathing his name lightly out of his mind. Apparantly, these feelings for his classmate and somewhat teacher were far worse than he had ever expected them to be.

Great, what have you got yourself into now, Potter?