(A/N): Hi all! So glad you liked the last chapter, hope you can say the same for this 'lil one here. Sorry for the delay, college applications are pressing down again. Thanks for the reviews.

RESPONSES: random-laughter: I am so happy that you, as well as many others are so INTO this story.

Bluvly: I try so hard to make it longer, but most of the time it's hard. I might not have said this before, but this is an outline basically and I fill in the gaps. I think I'm doing kind of alright, but maybe not. I tried to receive help, but my two contacts were deemed unreliable after not hearing back from them in two months. I'll try to do better, promise. Was the GOD for he good story or my horribly short entries.

SaKuRa-MIna : I'm ecstatic. As always I appreciate your review.

Robin the Bird: Exactly right? I wish Draco would peck MY cheek...

Tsusaka24: Pity? But why:(

greeblefleeb: Squee right back! Whatever that means...I LOVE your username.

Gloies: Thanks so much, I don't think I've seen you before, so I wanted to say thanks here since you were anon.

DISCLAIMER: Eye dont own nothing. If eye was J.K. i wuld difitently hafe beter gremmar n speling. :33 LOL!

Chapter 10

AT LUNCH

Harry sat with a group of his friends at lunch. He was the only one without food, which was a usual occurrence, he usually nipped pieces off the others trays. The raven-haired boy glanced at the people sitting with him.

Natalie or Nat as he called her, sat to his left, quietly observing as usual. Harry had met the unusually tall girl at the beginning of his senior year. She had strawberry-blond hair that went past her shoulders, her sun-touched skin offset her strange, almost orange irises.

Green eyes flickered to the guy snuggled up to him. Domenic had been best friends with Harry since they were little. The two boys had grown up with bright faces sticky with their various afternoon snacks. Domenic's mother had taken a liking to Harry after they met. She had fussed constantly on his frail body and large green eyes. When the shapely woman had died suddenly, it had pushed the two boys closer than before. Sometimes people even assumed that they were together, but if Harry thought about it, it wasn't that hard to see why.

Domenic could be overly affectionate sometimes and constantly littered Harry's cheeks with kisses. The firm hugs and frequent cuddle poses they were seen in were also suspicious, but Harry didn't mind as much as others would. The kids at school classified Domenic as "emo", but not without what they thought was evidence. His favorite color was black and he pretty much wore it everyday. Domenic was tall, slim and had several mental issues. Two years ago, after Harry's intervention, he had sought help and stopped cutting himself. Because of the tell-tale scars, he wore long sleeves and jeans everyday. Jet black hair and amber eyes framed his face and the lankiness actually looked good on him. So in a way, the kids could say he was "emo," but Harry knew he was just being Domenic.

Hermione sat on the other side across from him. Her curly hair was back and her dark brown eyes glittered as she winked and blew kisses to Ron across the cafeteria. The red-headed quarterback was catching them as if he was actually on the field and instantly placing them on his lips in order to blow some back. It was practically sickening.

Both Harry and Hermione used to be close, but now he felt a huge distance between them and briefly wondered how she would react when she found out about Draco. She was terribly smart and she knew it. Unfortunately, she had only a handful of friends because of her know-it-all nature. Recently though, she was more interested in boys than books and Harry could practically feel their friendship sinking fast.

Harry brought himself back o reality as Hermione snapped out of her hormone-induced state and spoke directly to him.

"Hey, I heard you were in the car with the new boy Draco! Is it true?"

The Boy-Who-Wished-He-Could-Turn-Invisible suddenly felt uneasy, "Yea, he gave me a ride to school," he lied partially.

Natalie watched the averted green eyes and made a sound of disbelief on the back of her throat before asking, "That's all?"

The raven-haired boy turned to look at her, but ignored the question. "Hey Nat."

"Hey," she whispered, but was cut off.

"Is that your new boyfriend?" Hermione interrupted snottily.

Harry shifted slightly as Domenic glanced up at him warily. The green-eyed boy immediately saw that Domenic already knew. 'Damn I have to learn how he does that.' Harry expertly avoided the questioning amber eyes and skirted around her question. "No guys seriously, it's nothing."

Nat accepted easily, although she knew he was lying, "I was just teasing Harry, you don't have to explain anything to us."

Hermione huffed in an annoyance, "Speak for yourself O'Hare, I want to know and I'm sure they want to as well," she pointed a finger at a group of girls walking towards them.

"Bitches," Nat muttered and Harry was hard pressed not to agree with her as they came to a stop in front of him.

She stood watching the disgusting display of affection. The only thing that stopped her from running over there and ripping the Potter freak away from her man, were the bulky men eying the crowd menacingly.

'Hmph, must be new security,' she reasoned silently and planned her next mode of attack. She had put up with "gay boy Potter" since finding out about his preferences. But now? Now he was pushing her fucking buttons. 'One freaking day and he's already sunk his fucking claws into the hottest guy in school.'

She paused and glanced at her 'friends' who were watching the blond and brunette with obvious distaste. "Girls," she paused until all attention was on her, "as you see, that whore has spread his disease to my Draco. We have to cut their connection before it spreads to your guys," she reasoned to them quietly. Her 'friends,' after taking a moment to process the information, smiled and agreed.

She smirked before turning away from the scene and motioned for her the girls to follow her. There were things to be done. Yes, Pansy Parkinson was pissed.

PRESENT

Harry stared up at the previously mentioned female dogs with a blank look on his face. "Yes?" he questioned innocently.

"Stay away from Draco," a brown-haired girl spoke up.

Harry glanced amusedly at her. 'I think she meant to be threatening, but it's sounds as if someone shoved a stick too far up her ass.'

At Harry's snicker, she balled her hand into a fist, "Do you know who I am?"

The green-eyed boy wrinkled his nose before responding, "Of course your Millicent, but your friends call you Millie. You think your the shit, but your not. But first things first, I don't need you to tell me who to talk to or mess with. Second, I don't believe Draco's business concerns you. So please take your fucking groupies and leave so my friends can eat their lunches in peace."

Domenic, who had sat up, placed a calming hand on Harry's shoulders and the green-eyes boy relaxed once again and gave the intruders a cool stare.

Pansy finally stepped from behind Millicent and glared at the seated Harry. "Draco is my business. He wouldn't want you anyway, fucking faggot. Why would he want your fairy ass when he can have all of this? By the end of her tirade, Harry had clammed up and turned away, recalling those exact words spewing from Vernon's mouth during a particularly violent beating.

Natalie and Hermione fidgeted tirelessly. They were wondering if they should jump in or if it would make the situation worst. Hermione left, while Natalie remained seated, glaring at the verbally attacking group.

Domenic frowned before turning and Pansy was surprised to find emotion in the usually indifferent eyes. "Bitch you better watch your freaking mouth."

The pug faced girl regained her composure and shot back, "Or what your mommy's gonna call the police?"

'Big mistake,' she thought inwardly and winced as she was pushed back by the taller male.

All of sudden Harry pulled Domenic back and growled, "Just go!"

Pansy brushed the visible dirt off her clothes before responding, "No one tells me what to do," she raised her pudgy fingers to slap Harry, but her hand was held back by another's.

Attached was a calm Draco, "Look ladies I advise you to stay away from them, trust me you'll end up better off."

Pansy whirled around as the blonde's voice filled her ears. "Oh Drac don't be so cold!!" she exclaimed.

Before anybody could blink there was a large red hand print on her face.

"Don't ever call me Drac again," the Malfoy heir said in a deadly voice, an icy glare fixed on his pale face.

Pansy Parkinson stared at him in fear, before running away with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Her 'friends' had mysteriously disappeared into the whispering crowd.

Draco turned to Harry, who had stood still and watched what happened. "Are you ok?" he asked softly, cradling Harry's cheek in a soft caress.

Harry nodded and smiled softly at the taller boy. The green-eyes teen then heard a cough and blushed with embarrassment before tugging Draco over to is friends. He then noticed Hermione's absence and hid the stab of pain it caused him in his gut.

"Um Draco, these are my friends. The tall blond is Natalie or Nat for short. I met her at the beginning of the year. This sexy beast here is my best friend, Domenic. We've known each other since we were kids."

Draco nodded at each in turn and carefully eyed Domenic. Dark clothes, makeup, multiple bracelets and rings, yeah he's definitely bisexual, but Draco could tell that he only held brotherly love for Harry. "Nice to meet you," he spoke gently.

Harry smiled inside at the acceptance in both his friend's voices. He frowned slightly as Draco pulled him away for a moment of privacy.

"I have to get going Harry, but I'll see you later ok?" After the green-eyed boy's reluctant nod, Draco leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Harry's lips. "Later," he smirked at Harry's blushing face before leaving.

Harry Potter walked in a slight daze back to his friends.

Nat eyed her friend and smiled gently, "Are you sure you don't like him?"

Domenic joined in quickly, "Yea because it looks like he cares a whole freaking lot about you."

Green eyes glanced into amber before Harry shook his head. "I don't know anymore. One minute he's rude and so cold, then the next he's the sweetest guy."

"He cares," Domenic repeated flippantly and resumed his prior position on Harry's shoulder. Harry remained silent.

(A/N): Yeah I know not much Harry-Draco interaction, but it'll come back soon. This must have definitely been my longest yet.