4/15/11

Okay, I'm back, if only for a short while. Real life is tiring me out and making being creative difficult. Still, I'm sorry for taking so long. You guys rock for being so patient.

Before you read, I'd like to clarify something and that's how Harry got his wand and trunk back. If you'll recall in chapter one Dumbledore wrote Harry that an Order Member would go to the Dursleys' to get him. One did, and that's how they discovered he was missing. Said Order member took his things to Grimmauld place, and then Dumbledore transported them to Hogwarts. I hope that clears up that plot hole. Please let me know if you spot anymore, as I tend to miss them until way later.

Now, please read and enjoy.

XxXxX

"Let's play Twenty Questions," Harry suggested to Draco one evening after their studying was done. The two had taken to tutoring one another after class on subjects they were slipping up in.

Draco looked up from his Potions essay, eyes alight with curiosity. "What's that?"

"It's where we each ask twenty questions to learn more about each other."

The Slytherin leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look upon his face. "Alright," he agreed. After all, when would he get another opportunity like this? He started out with something simple. "What's your favorite color?"

"I have two," Harry said, "Green and black." It was his turn. "What are yours?"

"Black, silver, and white."

"White?" Harry asked with interest.

"Yeah. You got a problem with that, Potter?" Draco asked with a scowl on his face.

"No, I've just never seen you wear white before."

"It's rather difficult to wear white clothing at this school," the blonde replied. "They would become filthy."

'That makes sense,' Harry thought. There was a good reason their uniforms were black after all.

Draco's turn. "What's your favorite animal?"

"Snakes."

Draco's surprise must have shown on his face, because Harry began to chuckle.

"What?" he asked.

"You're starting to sound more and more Slytherin by the minute."

"I don't have to be a Snake to like snakes," Harry replied good-naturedly. "One of my oldest friends happens to be a Burmese python at the London Zoo."

"Interesting," Draco said, stroking his chin. "I would enjoy meeting him one day."

Harry smiled. "I think he'd like that. Now, what's your favorite animal?"

"Giraffes," Draco responded, and Harry nearly burst out laughing.

"Why giraffes?"

"I've always liked them, ever since I was a little boy and Mother and Father brought home photographs from their safari in Africa. I thought all the animals were interesting, though none as much as the giraffes. I would smile every time I saw them."

"Why?" Harry asked, even more curious now.

Draco shrugged. "I thought they were pretty."

Harry would have started up laughing again had a certain memory not entered his mind; one that occurred on that fateful trip to the zoo. He had been enjoying himself, watching the animals and noticing similarities between them and his family, making him giggle. Unfortunately, Harry soon found that Dudley had been doing the same thing as he pointed to the giraffes and exclaimed, "Look, Potter, I've found your real family! They're knobby and skinny and ugly like you!" The boy then proceeded to guffaw and walk on to the next animal's habitat.

He hadn't been hurt by the comment of course; he was far past such things after living with it for so long. What had bothered him was that Dudley had called the giraffes ugly. He looked at them for a long time, trying to see any part of them that wasn't completely natural and beautiful, but could find none. Coming back to reality, he realized that he, too, found giraffes pretty.

He gave the other boy a soft smile. "Yes, they really are."

Draco stared at him for a moment before recovering himself, his cheeks pinking slightly. It was his turn. "Why did you choose Weasley over me?"

Harry was a bit taken aback by the question. After all, they had both been eleven when he had rejected the blonde; a mere child easily influenced by the words of the only person his age who had ever been nice to him. "Because of how you were to Ron, and because of what he said about you."

"What did he say?"

He hesitated, trying to find words that wouldn't completely anger the blonde. "He said…your family was dark, that all Slytherins were and that scared me."

"How could you believe that?" Draco asked, anger in his voice and hurt in his eyes.

"I didn't know you very well and the only times we had spoken you were a total prat. You reminded me of my cousin and I didn't want to be friends with someone like that."

They were quiet for a long time, both waiting for the other to speak.

Finally Draco asked, "Why were you scared?"

"Hagrid had just told me about my parents, how they…how they really died. I didn't want the same thing to happen to me."

"Oh," was all Draco said.

"Why did you want to become friends with me?" Harry asked.

"Because you're famous."

He frowned, feeling a sharp pain in his chest at his words.

"At least," Draco continued, "That's what it was back then."

Harry looked up, eyes questioning.

"Over time, my want became a need, my need an obsession. I'd do anything to get your attention, even if it meant insulting you and your friends. I don't know why, though, honestly. I haven't figured it out."

Harry's cheeks were red. He felt strangely flattered.

"Alright, my turn." Draco declared. "Birds or blokes?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you prefer women or men?"

Harry's face grew even hotter. "You mean sexually?"

Draco nodded.

"Women, of course," was his automatic and quite defensive answer.

"You've never even thought about being with a man?"

He was about to say no when he realized that would be a lie of incredible proportions, because he had been with a man before, and quite recently at that.

"I…"

He couldn't tell Draco that.

"..Er…"

He felt bad about it.

"Um…"

Why did he feel bad about it?

Draco rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Potter. Don't have a heart attack."

By now his face was as red as a tomato and his heart was beating out of his chest. Draco merely smirked.

"You don't have to be so nervous."

Harry took deep, calming breaths until he calmed down. They continued talking until the library closed, both forgetting they had already asked twenty questions each.

XxXxX

"Harry, are you alright?" Fior asked him later that week as they snuggled. They had been using the Room of Requirement for the vampire's 'feeding' sessions since coming back. "You've been awfully quiet lately."

So he had. He couldn't help it, though. He had so much on his mind. Did he fancy blokes because he enjoyed the sex or did he want more with the men he lusted after? And why didn't he ever lust after women? He had never thought of himself as a homosexual until now and it was terrifying. What would his friends think? The more specific question was how the rest of the school and the whole of the wizarding world would take it. He had no idea if wizards were open or not when it came to such things. If they were anything like muggles he was doomed.

He groaned and rolled over, facing the opposite direction of his worried partner. He wasn't in the mood to talk and, though he desperately wanted to be held and comforted, he didn't want a man to do it. 'I wish mum was here...' That made him feel even worse.

"Harry, please tell me," the man requested, his worry increasing. "Did I do something wrong?"

Harry turned and looked over at his friend, guilt now being his prominent emotion. "Of course not. I'm just not feeling well, that's all."

"Do you need a blood replenishing potion?" Fior asked, ready to hop up and fetch it for him if need be.

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you." And he allowed himself to be held, despite his pounding heart and the awkwardness in his stomach. Eventually he would figure everything out. He just hoped it would be soon.

XxXxX

I am so dissatisfied with this chapter. It's utter shit. Please don't track me down and kill me for its awfulness. (-.-)