I do not own any of J.K. Rowling's characters. I'm just borrowing them to play with, probably to her horror were she ever to set eyes on this. But what matters is that you who are reading this, whoever you are, that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. So, enjoy!!

And a huge THANK YOU to Mrs. ToriSnape for being the first one to read my story. You ROCK!!

Chapter 10 – An Unexpected Choice

After lunch Harry walked over to Professor Dumbledore nervously.

"Can I speak to you for a moment, sir?"

"Oh, of course, Harry. What is it?"

"I was just curious… That is, I wanted to know…

Has anyone ever changed houses before?"

"Well, it's rare, but not unheard of. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if… I could change, sir."

"Oh, really? Why? Are you no longer happy in Griffindor?"

"I don't know… I used to be, sir. But now I think that I might have made a mistake when I asked the sorting hat not to put me in Slytherin… Now that I know more about it, I feel like I really do belong there…"

"Well, I'll speak to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape about it, but I don't see why not."

"I forgot about Snape," Harry sighed. "He'll never agree to it. He hates me, sir."

"He doesen't hate you, Harry. He may not like you, but there is a difference. I'll talk to him, I promise."

"Thank you, sir. I guess that's all I can ask for…"

* * * * *

Harry was surprised when Professor McGonagall stopped him in the hallway to talk to him.

"Professor Dumbledore informed me that you wish to change houses, Potter."

"Um… Yes, I do, Professor."

"May I ask why this is so? Are not all of your friends in Griffindor?"

"I'm just not happy in Griffindor anymore, Professor. I'm sorry. And… my partner is in Slytherin."

"You mean your girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Harry answered, knowing better then to explain the truth to her. "Sort of."

He knew adults weren't as tolerant of that stuff as others his age, and Professor McGonagall had to be pretty old.

Not as old as Professor Dumbledore, but still old from his perspective.

"Very well, Potter. If Professor Snape agrees, then you may be in Slytherin.

But, you know that you will have to get new ties and scarves. The school is not obligated to pay for them for you."

"I'll pay," Harry answered quickly. It would be worth whatever it cost to be able to be with Malfoy at night without any chance that he would get in trouble for it.

"I shall inform Professor Dumbledore then."

"Thank you, Professor. And… you're not upset with me, are you?"

"Of course not, Potter. I shall certainly miss having you in my house, but if this is what you need, then as your teacher, I want what is best for you."

"Thank you, Professor."

McGonagall nodded, leaving him standing there alone hardly daring to hope that it would be this easy.

Then Professor Snape found him.

* * * * *

"Potter," he said by way of greeting, his eyes and voice void of any emotion.

"I have been informed that you wish to leave your house for mine. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Professor, I do."

"Might I inquire as to why? Not that I care. It's quite impossible."

Harry's face went white, his lack of sleep finally catching up with him all of the sudden. He swayed on his feet, gasping as he tried and failed to catch himself.

* * * * *

Snape reached out to catch him automatically, his heart clenching in his chest as he looked at Harry's face. His eyes were so like his mother's. Lily.

God, how he loved her. He frowned, trying to distance himself.

"What is wrong with you, Potter?" he snapped. "Are you ill?"

"I don't know… I don't think so…"

Harry's eyes filled with tears as he realized that he might fail. "Please, Professor, I need to be in your house. I made a mistake when I asked the sorting hat not to put me in Slytherin. It knew that I really belonged there, but I wouldn't listen…"

"No. Now I think that you need to go to the hospital wing, Potter."

"I'll be fine, Professor. Just please let me be in Slytherin," he pleaded, the tears in his eyes spilling over onto his pale cheeks.

"Oh, very well, you stubborn fool. But I'll make sure that you'll regret your choice."

Harry sighed in relief, some color retuning to his face as he smiled.

Nothing could make me regret it, but I'll look forward to your superior efforts…"

Then Harry passed out in Snape's arms.

* * * * *

Hermione sat by Harry's bed in the hospital wing, her eyes worried, but also curious at the same time as she watched Malfoy take his hand in his and press his lips to it gently.

Harry smiled as he woke, confusion filling his green eyes as he opened them slowly.

"How did I get here? The last thing I remember was talking to Snape…"

"Snape carried you here, Harry," Hermione explained. "You passed out while you were talking to him. That's all I know."

"What happened, Harry?" Malfoy asked softly, his gray-blue eyes concerned. "Are you alright?"

"My heads hurts…"

"Yes, I'm sure it does. I'm here for you, love."

"I know. I love you…"

"I love you to," Malfoy said, smiling slightly as he leaned closer to kiss Harry's forehead gently. He pulled back just as Madam Palmfry came back into the room, staring in surprise at the scene before her.

"What are you doing here, dear?"

"I went to get him," Hermione answered, looking slightly nervous as to what Malfoy might say about it.

"Harry's my friend," he continued, leaning back in his chair casually.

"Really? Well, nobody would ever suspect that."

"That's how they want it to be," Hermione supplied, coming to their rescue quickly.

"Because of you-know-who, you know. He doesen't want to have to worry about him being threatened, to try and hurt Harry by hurting Malfoy. You know he'd try to do it."

"Yes, I see. That man is a monster, if man he can be called. I wonder if his life would have taken the path it has if someone had offered him love, or even just simple friendship. Most people don't understand the effect that they can have on another person just by showing them that someone cares about them. It's so sad… I've been told that he was such a beautiful boy…"

"Madam Palmfry?" Malfoy said, trying not to look impatient.

"Oh, yes dear?" "Will Harry be alright?" "Yes. Yes, of course."

"But… What happened to make him pass out?"

"It was many things, wasn't it, Harry dear?"

Harry nodded, lowering his eyes so that he wouldn't have to see Malfoy and Hermione's accusing looks.

"I assume that you haven't been eating enough for someone of your size? Nor have you been getting enough sleep?"

"No, I haven't," Harry admitted quietly, blinking when he realized that Malfoy was still holding his hand under the blanket because he squeezed it gently.

"I never feel much like eating when I'm stressed… And… Lately I've been stressed almost all the time… But that should change soon now. And I'll be able to sleep better to…"

"Oh, yes," Madam Palmfry said. "I heard that you are no longer in Griffindor. You're free to go to your new dorm room and rest when you feel up to moving. Professor Dumbledore gave instructions that you are to be excused from classes for the rest of the day."

"What do you mean Harry's not in Griffindor anymore?" Hermione asked in confusion.

Malfoy was looking stunned, but his eyes were hopeful.

Harry sighed softly, squeezing his hand under the blanket. "I'm in Slytherin now, Hermione. I just thought it was for the best. I'm still going to sit with you in class though, I promise."

"Alright, Harry," Hermione said, her brown eyes concerned. "If you think that's best. What do you want me to do about Ron?"

"Just love him, Hermione. And… Tell him… That I'm sorry, please?"

"I will, Harry. I promise."

"Thank you. I think I should go rest now. Will you come with me, Malfoy? Just incase I pass out again on the way up?"

"Of course."

He stood up, accepting Malfoy's arm around his waist, pretending that he needed the support since Madam Palmfry was watching them leave.

Hermione left to go to classes.

* * * * *

Harry sat down on his new bed, getting up again when Malfoy gestured for him to move, pulling out his wand and waving it.

"What are you doing, Drake?"

He smiled at him, still waving his wand gracefully. "You really think I'm going to let you sleep that far away from me after last night?"

Harry blinked as the bed lifted from the floor, floating over next to Malfoy's bed and settling down next to it, making a two-person bed. There was a faint glowing around it, but it faded quickly.

"Now, in bed with you, love."

Harry nodded, climbing into the bed.

Malfoy put his wand away, pulling the covers up over him and kissing his forehead gently.

"I'll see you at dinner time, alright? I'll bring you something. Sleep now. Promise?"

"I promise," Harry managed to say with a straight face, when all he really wanted ot do was burst out laughing at Malfoy's parental tone of voice.

"Good. I'll see you later then."

"Malfoy?"

He looked back from the door in surprise, already used to Harry calling him Drake now. He actually liked it, and wondered why he had never thought of that before.

"Yes? What is it, Harry darling?"

"Your sort of making me feel like a sick-child with the whole tucking-me-in, kiss-on-the- forehead thing. Any chance that I can get a real kiss?"

Malfoy blinked, then he started to laugh softly as he walked back to the side of the bed.

He pressed him lips to Harry's lightly at first, then he deepened the kiss gently.

Malfoy smiled, pulling back when he shivered and moaned softly.

"I think that's enough until tonight, babe. You need to rest," Malfoy said sternly, but his gray-blue eyes were sparkling with mischief. "See you soon, love."

Harry smiled, nodded as he closed his eyes. "Yeah. I love you, Drake."

"I love you to, Harry. I have got to think up a cool name that only I can call you like mine…"

He left, closing the door behind him and smiling at the sound of Harry's soft laughter.