Disclaimer: I Do not nor have I ever owned anything that was written in any of Ms. J.K. Rowling's books. I simply have used her characters to create a spinoff of sorts… Don't sue me
Author's Note: OK as I'm sure most have you have long since discontinued reading my story as I have with so many stories I used to read, I want to apologize for my long hiatus. I won't give any explanation; I know you don't want to hear it. I know that the following chapter is short, barely 3 pages on Word. But to be honest it's been 2 years since my last update so you should be happy with what u get. Not that I don't love all my reviewers unconditionally. Cause I do. And on that note I give you my very long awaited 10th chapter in my Harry Potter saga: Walking in Darkness.
Walking in Darkness
Chapter 10: Check Mate
"Knight to E5," Harry commanded, watching the small chess piece mercilessly knock it opponent's pawn to the floor.
"You really should let Greg teach you basic strategy of the game Potter. Perhaps then you won't make stupid mistakes like that. Queen to B7. Check Mate."
"I may not be able to beat you at chess," Harry countered, "but at least I can beat you on a broomstick."
"It's such a shame you can't leave the room. Otherwise I would take that as a challenge." Draco retorted.
It was a very late Friday night. Blaise and Vince had returned back to their rooms before curfew and left Draco and Harry to themselves. Harry was regretting his idea to play chess after his third straight loss to his roommate.
"I should be used to losing chess. I almost never win against Ron and when I do, most times I suspect he lets me. At least if I play Hermione I know she's not letting me win."
"You honestly don't think your girlfriend LETS you win? Of course she does."
"Hermione isn't my girlfriend. She should be Ron's but I don't think she realizes how much he actually cares for her."
"And you're telling me that you're not interested in Granger? I thought you two were like bound at the hip. Even when Weasley wasn't talking to you back in 4th year, she barely left your side." Draco sat up in interest. The conversation was heading in his favorite direction. Sex and Gossip were his 2 absolute favorite things.
"I'm... NOT interested in Hermione. I couldn't be if I tried. It's nothing against her. I just... don't feel that way for her." While Draco enjoyed the direction the conversation was going in, it was making Harry uncomfortable.
"Most people believe that Pansy and I are together. In one way we are, our parents have an arranged marriage planned for us. But I only tolerate her presence in public. Behind closed doors she is cruel, malicious, manipulative, and tactless. I care for her far less than I care for anyone else in this school."
Draco fingered the black chess pieces in front of them carelessly. He wasn't sure why he opened up to Harry like this. The occurrence was becoming far more frequent lately as the two boys spent their time in such close quarters. During the times when the two were either apart or separated by the silence of their own thoughts, Draco found his mind drifting to the dark haired Gryffindor. It was like a constant nagging companion whom he had conversations with in his daydreams. He couldn't explain how Harry had gotten under his skin, but Draco knew that whatever he had felt for Harry in the past was long gone.
"I always thought you were too good for her. Or at least I thought that you thought you were too good for her. She always struck me as being a little deranged."
"That's comforting." Draco replied.
"It should be. The only person I've ever been involved with was Cho and that was aweful. I think I only liked her because of some weird social conformity I was subconsciously trying to achieve. Really she was shallow and obsessed with Cedric. I'll never fall for that again."
"You'll never do what? Follow a social conformity? That is inevitable."
"I suppose, but I mean I won't fall for someone for the sake of everyone else. It should be for me."
"That's very insightful of you Harry. Who would have thought you were such a hopeless romantic."
"And you? Do you really expect me to believe you don't want to fall for someone?"
"I never said that. But I don't 'like' people. I'm attracted to people. If something comes after that attraction so be it. But first and foremost it's attraction."
"That is disturbing."
"Look at it this way. If I were attracted to you I would come on to you. And you might expect a relationship after that. But if I don't feel it with you, it would be wrong of me to string you along. So in some ways, my lifestyle is more compassionate than yours." He turned his icy grey eyes to face his companion, staring him down. Harry was looking back at him with an intrigued intensity.
"So, if you were attracted to me," Harry began slowly "how would you go about acting on that?"
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"What do you mean Percy has joined You-Know-Who? That is impossible!" Molly shrieked at a terrified Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry Molly. I understand this is hard for you but you must believe me. For your safety and the protection of the Order." Dumbledore let out a long slow breath. He was tired. Tired of explaining to people that their lives were crashing around them. Tired of fighting a battle that seemed to be getting the better of him. Most of all, he was tired of having to make decisions for the better of all and at the expense of the few. "None of us could have seen this coming. But there is nothing we can do to change what has already happened. Percy's hunger for power has finally taken him to a darker place."
"I'm sorry Albus. I can tell this is hard for you. But he is our son. No matter what has happened these past few years, it is difficult for us to believe that he could drift so far from our teaching." Arthur spoke in a voice unlike his own. He was distant, staring without seeing and holding his wife close to him as he tried to grasp the concept of his son turning his back on their family.
"If I could do anything to change this I would. But, alas, I am condemned to deliver only bad news it seems."
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Draco stared at Harry unabashed. If he hadn't seen his lips move, Draco would have sworn he'd imagined the question.
Harry coughed slightly looking uncomfortable.
"Hypothetically I mean."
Shaken from his daze, Draco moved without thinking. Carefully he pushed the chess set aside, his eyes locked on Harry's. In a split second he had reached across to the other boy and grasped his hair roughly.
"What..." Harry's question was cut off as Draco leaned in and kissed him. For a split second Draco thought Harry would get angry and pull away. But the Gryffindor kissed him back with an animalistic ferocity. When they finally separated both boys eyes blazed with lust and hunger.
"So I'd start with that, and then wait for you to make the next move." Draco said after a moments silence, his voice hoarse.
"And if I didn't make the move?" Harry asked.
"Then I would leave it at that."
The boys stared at each other intently for a short moment before Harry moved closer to Draco and pushed him back against the pillows locking him once more in a mind-bending kiss.
A/N: I know it's REALLY short... but I think you all can survive with it... I'll try not to take 2 years writing the next chapter... I promise... MUAH!!! R/R LOTS!!!