Originally this story was only meant to be ten chapters long. And now here's the tenth and it feels like it's not even half done yet!

This is a two part chapter, with the next one arriving as soon as it's written. Any ideas gladly appreciated x

Ten:

Draco Malfoy had never been so bored in his entire life. It was Monday, and he was serving History detention one out of five. The worst thing was that it had only begun fifteen minutes ago and already he felt like he wanted to die. Some professors had their captives do cleaning (without magic) during detention. This punishment came from the more crueller of teachers, who evidently liked to see them degraded and lowly and it didn't go unnoticed by Draco that it was mostly the uglier teachers who chose this, and the uglier they were, the more things they had to clean and the more spotless they had to be. Some professors had them write essays on nonsensical subjects: Why do I feel myself to be so important that I feel I don't have to pay attention in (insert Professors name) lesson? Or even worse, write lines. I, (insert students name), must pay more attention in (insert Professors name) lesson. These punishments usually came from the more studious of teachers. These were the sort that were not best pleased at giving up their evening to spend even more time with the students so had them do something totally random and worthless to keep them busy while they got on with whatever they were doing.

And then, there was Professor Wuffle.

First of all, he insisted that the detentions were two hours. Most professors let them off after one. Very occasionally, and only if you had done something really bad and personal to them, they made you do two. But Wuffle insisted it was two every single time. The second thing was that he taught things during his detention. Taught. It was like an extended two hour History of Magic lesson, only worse, because there were less people to hide behind to catch a sneaky snooze. He regularly called out during these detentions and though he was fair and didn't punish anyone for genuinely not knowing the answer, he did not abide those who were lazy and who didn't pay attention. The third thing was that he was really passionate about the subject. That, coupled with the second thing, was a dangerous combination because it meant that he wasn't simply there to follow through with his punishments, he was there because he found it a joy and so used every second of his two hours to cram as much information in as he could. Sometimes he rambled on so much that he went past the two hour mark and on these times that the detentions were filled with some of the more timid students - those usually serving their time for something they didn't do - didn't dare speak up to tell him and were sometimes there till way past midnight.

Mercifully, the detentions he gave were never about the subject they were learning in lessons. Old Wuffle would have been aghast at the thought of unfairly giving some students more of his vast knowledge than others, especially ones that had been slacking off in the first place. Draco didn't think he could handle two hours of hearing about what a hero Potter was, especially with him in the same room. On the same desk. Sitting right next to him. When he had walked into detention and sat down next to him, his heartbeat had quickened a little bit upon recollection of the Potions lesson last Wednesday when they had held hands (which now sounded ridiculous in his head because it wasn't exactly a romantic action; he had simply placed his hand on top of Potter's and swirled a ladle around, that was all.) Still, it was better than nothing… For The Plan, obviously. They were the only two students in detention that evening and Wuffle still insisted they sat at the same desk, right at the very front of the class. And although the topic wasn't Potter, it didn't make it any more exciting. Wuffle was animatedly telling them all about the history of some old wizard who supposedly did remarkable things in his time, though he himself had never seen this wizard on the back of a Chocolate Frog card so he couldn't have been that fantastic, could he? As Draco's mind began to wander, his gaze flickered onto Potter's hand, fingers randomly drumming on the table, though not in a rude or overtly bored manner. His fingernails were absolutely filthy. He knew all too well that that was the price you paid for playing quidditch in sometimes less than desirable weather conditions but he at least cleaned himself, making sure that every single bit of his skin was free from the dirt. He spotted a dark stain on the cuff of Potter's shirt and then his eyes wandered up his robe. The sleeve was a little frayed and there was a small off-coloured patch on the front of them, maybe the result of some sort of liquid or potion, or perhaps he had been clumsy and spilt a drink on it and hadn't bothered to fix it. Appalling.

So why was it, he wondered to himself for what seemed like the billionth time, that he found him attractive? He had at this point given up arguing with himself and denying that Potter was attractive. Instead, he had given himself new reasoning: Yes, Potter may be attractive but that doesn't mean I like him. I'm gay, I find men attractive and Potter is attractive. It doesn't mean that I'm attracted to him! Maybe it was his lips? And his eyes now wandered up to his lips. They were full and red and so kissable, he could imagine the way they felt when Potter held his head in his hands and forced him into a bruising, passionate kiss. Or Potter with his arms around his neck, pulling him in slowly and gently pressing them against Draco's own. Maybe it was his hair? True, he just wanted to pin him down and take a brush to it for five minutes at least and almost always inwardly shuddered when he caught sight of it, but that was always followed by a general fondness for it and the little mannerisms that went with it, that he had noticed since they had been first years. The way he shook it from his eyes every five minutes, prompting Draco to wonder why he just didn't have it cut so he wouldn't keep having to do it. The way it blew in all directions when it was windy outside and he would smooth it down with his hand only for it to return the way it was the second he took his hand away. He could imagine taking that hair in a rough hold and slamming Potter against the wall by it. Or softly stroking it away from his eyes when it was hot and it was sticking to his face...

Just then, Potter's leg nudged against his own and the mumbled, quiet apology broke Draco from the trance he was lost in, at which point he sat up in his seat and tried to focus on what Wuffle was rambling on about.

His boredom would hopefully kill the straining erection he was sporting, at least.

"Here you go."

Blaise snatched the bag of money from Draco's outstretched hand eagerly and peered inside to check it was all there. It was nearing quarter to eleven at night and they, along with Pansy, were alone in the Owlery after Blaise had chased out a few lowly fourth formers who had gone up there to snog. Draco had wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed after his detention but Blaise had all but dragged him there to make the exchange. After Blaise had quickly scanned the contents and made sure that he had been paid fully, he handed the bag to Pansy and pulled Draco into a tight hug. "I'll never forget this mate," he whispered, his breath hot and ghosted and his words tickling his ear. "Never." He was like Draco in the respect that to him money equalled power and power got him hot and indeed he was hot going by the erection pressed against Draco's thigh, though Draco couldn't help feel a little bit miffed. He had practically had to get on his hands and knees and beg his parents yesterday to send him this money from the family Gringotts account; not an easy feat when they requested an explanation as to what it was for and he couldn't give one. They were being so stingy, it wasn't a lot of money at all but still, they had refused at first. He hadn't given up though and eventually they had given in when he had a brainwave and said that the money was to be used in order to seduce Potter and cement The Plan that they apparently so desperately needed to happen. Though they had not been impressed that he couldn't seemingly carry it out without a wad of cash to back him up, they were pleased with the progress and owled it to him that very day. Just then, Blaise licked the shell of his ear in seductive gratitude, because he knew Draco liked it when he did that, before breaking the hug and took the bag back from Pansy. Draco was surprised at how mildly Blaise had aroused him. Of course he was instantly hard when Blaise licked the most sensitive spot of his ear that sent blood rushing to his cock, he was a guy after all, but it was the action that did it, more than the person, he reckoned. More than anything, he was just tired of not knowing where he stood with Blaise and whether they were to remain as friends or go for something more.

"What's it for, anyway? You never told me," Draco questioned. Blaise smiled slyly and threw a glance at Pansy who looked equally as devious. "What?" He demanded, feeling left out and paranoid that they were keeping something from him. Pansy smirked and just shook her head while Blaise turned to him.

"We're going to throw a party," he revealed.

"A huge party," Pansy added.

Draco's face lit up. "With alcohol?" The scornful looks from his two friends answered his question without any words given. "Slytherins only, right?"

"Wrong," Pansy quickly interjected. "Well actually, I don't mind if it's Slytherins only as long as Jamie can come too." Deighton, like Diggory before him, was a Hufflepuff and Draco was starting to question whether Pansy had a particular fetish for Hufflepuff lads. It had been a long standing joke that any male student in that particular House was gay and before he had come out, Draco was one of the loudest to voice this opinion and state it as fact, something that he obviously now did not need to do.

"It's gonna be a sixth form only inter-house party, mate," Blaise explained with a feral grin. "It has to be, seeing as I've got my eyes on the Parvati girls."

Draco laughed harshly at this and Pansy's lips curled up into a smirk. "Those girls are harder to get into than the Falmouth Falcons locker rooms," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And believe me, I should know!"

"They wouldn't touch you with a bargepole," Draco added spitefully. Truthfully, he was quite sure that Blaise could turn his charm onto anyone and get what he wanted but he wasn't about to say that. And why was he wasting time on those twins? They weren't particularly attractive, not as attractive as he anyway, and he had made it perfectly clear that if it was he who Blaise wanted it was he who Blaise could have had.

"I'm sure they'll think differently once they've got a few pills inside 'em," Blaise grinned. When Draco looked at him questioningly he gave an over exaggerated sigh and shook the bag of money at him. "All this isn't going on alcohol, you know. This is a proper party. I'm gonna get some gear in."

"What's gear?"

Blaise rolled his eyes and Pansy rubbed his shoulder kindly. "Drugs, dear," she replied.

"WHAT?" Draco shouted, making a few of the more timid owls flutter from various perches to higher ones near the roof of the building. Blaise ushered Draco and Pansy over to where a ledge would cover their heads in case one of the owls got the wrong idea and decided to drop a messy present down on them. Draco snatched his arm away from Blaise's grip when they were suitably covered. "You mean to tell me that this money is going to be used on dirty, disgusting DRUGS?" He asked in an appalled manner.

"Muggle drugs," Blaise replied evenly.

"Well I guess that makes it okay then!" He snapped, before turning to Pansy. "And what do you think of this, or do I even need to ask?"

Pansy shrugged. "It'll make the party way better," she replied, just as evenly as Blaise. "Plus, with all the spare bedrooms we're going to have, me and Jamie are obviously going to do it and coke sex is the best!"

Blaise shook his head vigorously. "X sex is better."

"Depending on who you go with. Some guys can't get it up for shit after taking it."

"Well I'm not 'some guy'," Blaise replied with a leer.

Draco had never felt more left out in his life.

It was halfway through the second detention that Potter decided to take it upon himself to flick a bit of rubber at him. Wuffle's back had been turned to them, animatedly using his wand to chalk up several facts or theories - Draco wasn't paying much attention, really - on the blackboard, when he felt a small something hit one of his hands. He glanced down to see the tiny chunk of eraser, then turned to a grinning Potter and rolled his eyes. A couple of minutes later (Wuffle still hadn't turned around; he'd now moved onto significant dates in History and was practically flying into orgasm) he felt something bounce off of his hand again - this time a bigger bit of rubber. He turned to Potter and scowled. This sort of inane, immature behaviour might fly with the other idiots in his House, but it most certainly did not fly with him. In the lessons he shared with the Gryffindors he was often disgusted by their antics. The sort of things they found amusing were things that he had not partook in since his first or second year at school. Pranks, dares, flicking bits of rubber at each other… Anyone would think they were six years old, not sixteen.

"Stop it!" He hissed out of the corner of his mouth. Unfortunately, it was not quiet enough to go unnoticed by Wuffle, who turned around with a disapproving look on his face.

"Is there any reason for the interruption, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked. Draco sat up straight in his seat, the angelic look of innocence that could fool the more gullible teachers etched all over his features.

"I was just telling Potter that it was the year seventeen eighty-three when William Mertial discovered the Jakthai plant and how the uses of its leaves marked a huge advance in potion making, most noticeably in transformation and shape-shifting brewing," Draco replied in his politest voice. "He couldn't quite hear you, Professor, and asked me to clarify what you'd just said."

Wuffle's disapproval had vanished with every word of Draco's reply and he was now beaming at the Slytherin before his attention turned to the Gryffindor and he took on a not unkindly, but less pleased manner.

"While I appreciate that you might not want to interrupt me while I'm talking, Mr. Potter, I would prefer it if you asked me on anything you are unsure of next time. It is not fair that you distract Mr. Malfoy from his learning just because you didn't manage to hear something properly."

"Yes Professor," he heard Potter mutter from next to him whilst inside he was cackling at his own clever handiwork. Merlin, Gryffindors were stupid. So were most of the idiot professors at the school too, so easily fooled. So pleased was Draco with himself for gaining extra points from Wuffle while at the same time making Potter look bad that he didn't even notice him getting ready to launch another attack and was completely unready for the remainder of the rubber lobbed roughly at his face. The small slapping noise it made as it connected with his left cheek made Wuffle turn around to see what was going on but Draco had already gathered up the rubber in his hand and had a look of utmost concentration on his face. Wuffle gave a small nod and turned back round to continue through his timeline. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco saw Potter watching him, getting ready for a sudden attack but Draco pretended not to notice. Only when Potter realised that Draco wasn't playing ball and reluctantly focused his attention back to the blackboard did Draco hurl it at his face with full force. It bounced off one of the lens of Potter's glasses; the impact of the hit made them shoot up the bridge of his nose and elicited a small shout from him as they dug into his face painfully.

Wuffle turned around again at the interruption and this time he was angry. "Mr. Potter, I simply will not tolerate any more disruptions from you. You've earned yourself a further two days in detention, my boy."

"But Professor -"

"Not another word!"

"Malfoy!"

Draco stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Potter, who was running up to him furiously. Wuffle had asked him to stay behind just as they were about to leave but a couple of minutes later Potter had now caught up in his tracks.

"What the hell was that about, Malfoy?" He asked breathlessly when he reached him.

"What are you talking about?" Draco replied innocently.

"You know damn well what!" Potter spat.

"If you're referring to the obvious, by which I of course mean you spending an extra two days in the soul-sucking detention of death, then might I remind you that you were the one that started it? I, as usual, merely finished it. But if you're talking about something completely different, then by all means, interject." Potter didn't respond. "Interject, Potter," Draco continued, "means to cut in or interru -"

"I know what it means, Malfoy," Potter snapped and Draco found it a great delight that the expression on his face gave away the very fact that he didn't. Then, he noticed his expression fade away and take on a more weary demeanour as he focused on something behind Draco's shoulder. Draco turned around and saw the weasel glaring at them from the other end of the corridor before he turned deliberately back the way he came and walked off.

"Trouble in paradise?" Draco smirked. Potter just sort of half-shrugged and went to continue down to his common room but Draco grabbed his arm as well as the opportunity. "Seriously Potter, I'm genuinely confused. You two have been the best of friends since the first day you met and now you're hardly talking." He said this in a caring and understanding voice when there was nothing more to it than finding out what was going on and hopefully take advantage of the situation. "I know I haven't been the nicest person to you, to most in the school really, but I do have feelings, and I do like to try and help people." He smiled a warm smile at a sceptical Potter. "I know I've got a reputation, I was the one that built it up, but I do have other sides to me. And fixing a broken friendship is something very important to me."

He was pleased to see Potter looking genuinely touched. "Malfoy, are you serious? I mean, I've got to say, for the most part you're still your old annoying self but I have noticed a minor but nicer change in you since you decided to tell people that you're gay."

Draco cocked his head slightly to one side at this as he didn't know what to make of it while he was also trying hard to swallow the 'old annoying self' part graciously. He had Potter fooled, he didn't need to blow it now, not when he could find out what drama was going on between the former best friends.

"But it does make me wonder," Potter continued. "If every single person - and just hear me out here, Malfoy - if every single person in the entire school knew from the second that you stepped onto the train platform for the very first time six years ago that you were a huge flaming homo, why didn't you just come out sooner and maybe, by this point in time, you could have turned into a fully fledged decent human being?" Draco dug his nails into the palms of his hands as Potter laughed. "Do you really think I'm that stupid as to fall for that shite, Draco Malfoy?" Draco opened his mouth to speak but behind Potter and his smug voice the perfect prospect was standing talking to someone in the distance. Oh, this was useful. "You may be able to fool the people in your House but you don't fool any of us outside Slytherin, you know." Draco still didn't answer. "…You can feel free to interject at any point, by the way," Potter concluded.

Draco stared at him coldly. "Well while I do appreciate your unwarranted bile for simply trying to help diffuse a likely uncomfortable situation for your mutual friend, Granger -"

"It's mudblood to you usually, isn't it?"

"Potter," Draco replied exasperatingly, "I am not standing here discussing my authenticity with you. I know what I am, I don't have to prove anything to you." He stalked off in the opposite direction and gave Potter a chance to do the same before he hoped to hear his voice. And sure enough…

"Malfoy!"

Draco grinned a quick victorious grin to himself and then turned around. "What?" he asked in a bored voice. Potter beckoned him over by cocking his head, sly grin on his face. Draco already knew what he was going to say even before he was going to say it. He had orchestrated this whole thing after all.

"I know you said you don't have to prove anything to me," Potter began, "But if you're such a changed guy then why not take a little walk up there with me and tell the truth." 'Up there' to where Potter was pointing was the person that Draco had earlier noticed over Potter's shoulder: Professor Wuffle.

Draco's eyes widened as he 'suddenly' noticed their professor. Potter smirked "I knew it."

"No no," Draco said nervously as though he was unconvinced by his own words. "I'll do it." He led the way slowly, a triumphant Potter in tow. He hadn't managed to see the outline of the other person Wuffle was talking to but he mentally cursed McGonagall when he realised it was her. Amazingly, just as they were no more than thirty feet from reaching them, she walked away and he inwardly sighed with relief. Without her there it would make this a lot easier. She was one of the professors who wasn't fooled by him at all.

"Professor Wuffle?" Draco called, before he had a chance to continue with where he was going. He smiled as a greeting to Draco and nodded to Potter. "Professor Wuffle... I just want to say... that it was me who caused the disruption in the detention earlier today." He was careful to say this in his usual tone, though not too offhand so that his professor wouldn't believe it and not too grovelling so that Potter wouldn't believe it. "I know you thought it was Pot - Harry, I mean, but it was me. I was messing around and I apologise."

"It was both of us," Potter quickly replied. Of course the goody-goody Gryffindor wouldn't let him take all the blame. "We were both messing around, Professor, it wasn't just him."

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Aaaand we're done.

Thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter. Thanks to Darloudasha. Glad you're enjoying Narcissa, she and Pansy are my favourites in this :D Thanks also to farwalker. Yep, it took a while, but Harry and Draco are now learning to be civil. So far it's more manipulation on Draco's part but for how long?

Thanks also to Crush47. Neville and Draco! That's er, an interesting combination! ;) And I'm glad nobody has figured out how and when and why Harry and Draco will come together. It's so... out there that I don't think anybody is going to get it. And what's going on with Ron and Harry? I'm dying to let it out but it will blow the whole plot of the story open so I can't. But it's big. I mean BIG!

Thanks also to anonymous who forgot their account name! I'm glad you think this story is really interesting, i feel honoured with all the fics on this site and on the net :) Your review really made me smile when I read it. And haha, I think Narcissa as a mom would personally be a nightmare for me (as a gay man myself, I cringe when I write some of the stuff she comes out with lol) but she'd definitely be hilarious. And you know she'd always fight your corner :)

Thanks also to CisaraAmel. Glad you're loving it. And yep, I like the characters of Blaise and Pansy too :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks to catindahat. Yeah, Draco seems to be projecting his anger with Blaise onto Marcus. Not good at all! Thanks also to PrincessLeia1560. Heh, yep, Narcissa is very 'supportive' indeed. A little overly so if you ask me! ;) Hope this wasn't too long a wait.

Thanks to akiraoniichan. Haha, glad you liked the last chapter summary. A couple of people commented on it, I might do it again if there's a long gap in between some chapters.. And yeah, I'm not really a fan of fast paced stories myself, though I think there's got to be a sort of compromise because I don't want people to stop reading after the first or second chapter because they think it's heading nowhere. It is heading somewhere, I promise! ;) Hope you enjoyed this update!

And last but not least, thanks also to bob, xxxxParvati-Patilxxxx and houseslytherinS.S. for your reviews :)

Next chapter (in which Draco serves the rest of his weeks worth of detentions and gets closer to Harry, another encounter with Fenrir occurs leaving Draco to realise that he isn't so much a 'top' as a 'bottom' and a jealous Blaise is furious with Draco's new found friendship with Harry leading to the boy-who-lived enduring a vicious attack) coming soon as I complete it.

Please review. They keep me going!

All the best,

Johnny x