Chapter Ten:

A Kiss

A/N: Read, review and enjoy!

~*~

I am a traitor. Blood traitor. I have to get used to hearing that word if I am going to do this. I am betraying my upbringing, my Father, my Mother and the very blood that flows within me. In a few weeks, I will most likely be stripped of my name. No longer will it be Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, but just Draco - the Blood Traitor.

Draco sighed and dipped his quill into the ink bottle before continuing writing on the thick diary page.

I will be giving everything I know to Dumbledore, one of the men I was raised to hate. Then again, I was also raised to hate Harry Potter too, wasn't I? Now look at that, I'm falling over for him.

It isn't so bad; he's handsome, smart, funny, and extremely powerful. My Father taught me that power is everything, and there is no doubt in my mind now that Harry is the most powerful wizard in existance. Wouldn't he actually be glad if I am able to take that for my own? Or will he hate me for canoodling with the apparant enemy?

Harry is different now though, ever since what happened this summer, he is different. He's not Dumbledore's Golden Boy anymore, he's independent and has his own schedule on his mind instead of the Dark Lord's or that old coot. I guess it's really not that bad...

Draco sighed heavily and set down his quill, he had enough of pouring out his feelings into his diary which he had been filling since the beginning of Third Year. Most of what was written in there were thoughts of Professor's, assignments, but most importantly his boiling hatred for The Boy Who Lived - it would be interesting to see the progression into what he was penning now.

A head poked into the dormitory now, it was Blaise Zabini with his usual crooked smile on his face. "Malfoy, you coming to dinner?" he snipped.

"Yeah," he merely responded and stood up, slamming the diary shut and walking across the room to put it in its usual spot beneath his pillow. He had a charm on it that made it impossible for others to read other than the one who penned it.

Zabini and Draco walked side-by-side towards dinner, both were quite glad that Pansy seemed to already be down in the Great Hall therefore they didn't have to walk with her. "You've been kind of off lately, Malfoy, are you sure you are prepared for the upcoming ceremony during the hols?"

"What is it to you?" Draco snapped immediately, he didn't like when his fellow classmates began to talk to him about Death Eater activities especially if it hasn't happened yet.

"I just wanted to wish you luck with it," Zabini shrugged, putting his hands into his pocket as he stared blankly at the ground as they walked.

"Wish me luck? Won't you be there?"

"Nah, my parents are giving me the choice; they haven't sold my soul to the Dark Lord, not like your Father has promised you up. I told them I wasn't sure and I wasn't ready to make that commitment, telling them I felt too young for all of this stuff," he smiled gently before his face went back to its mask, like most Slytherin's.

"And they are not upset with you?" Draco asked quite incredulously.

"No, they're my 'rents - why would they be?" he shrugged again and the conversation immediately dropped as they entered the Great Hall and made their way over to the Slytherin Table.

They were soon bombarded by Pansy, she snuggled her way in between the two boys and linked her arm around Draco's, he tried to pull away and fill his dinner plate. "Dracey, why have you been ignoring me lately?"

"Sod off, Parkinson," he snapped and tried to shrug her off again, she merely pouted. Meals were long whenever they were accompanied by the pug and her constant nagging, but Draco found himself slightly distracted this time by his thoughts.

I wonder if there is any possible way for my Father to accept me denying the Mark, or even for him to accept me and Potter. I think I have better chance with the latter...

Draco looked solmenly up from his thoughts and plate which he was picking at, he looked across the Hall and immediately caught the eye of a smiling Gryffindor. He wasn't even smiling at Granger and the Weasel, but that smile was directed at Draco himself. He smiled back and all thoughts of what was impending slipped away along with the annoying Parkinson beside him, they turned instead into thoughts of what his night could be.

Once dinner was over, his mind was made up.

Draco was leaning casually against the dungeon wall later that night, waiting for the familiar presence to come and pick him up so they could go out to the Forbidden Forest for their lessons. A small, crooked smile was playing on his face.

Suddenly, Harry appeared before him with a stoic mask as usual. "Are you going to be warm enough outside?" he asked immediately, looking Draco up and down.

"Sure. I will just put some Warming Charms on as well," he smiled softly, Harry turned around to start walking away and Draco quickly caught up. "Should we not put on the Invisibility Cloak?"

"No, I checked the Map before I left and there will not be anybody around the Entrance Hall right now," Harry assured him. The walk to the Forest was silent, and once there they began their lessons. It was on healing again.

Draco would cut his arm a couple of times, hissing at the pain and then he would extend it to the brunette for him to heal. Harry's face would scrunch up as he concentrated, his rough hands would be placed overtop of the oozing cuts and he closed his eyes, trying hard to ignore the sweet smell of blood that eradicated itself in his nostrils.

Draco felt a warming sensation crawling underneath his skin, he looked in surprise as the cuts stopped bleeding and slowly began to close up. "That is a huge improvement," he commented softly as he felt the pain seep away.

"Thanks, I er, practiced more on myself this morning..." Harry blushed lightly as he pulled his hands away now, letting them fall at his side.

"Maybe our lessons are no longer necessary," the blonde grinned, he was quite impressed with the emmense power he had witnessed through-out their lessons. Harry showed such improvement that there was no doubt in his mind anymore about who would win this war, if Harry was still up to fighting it.

"You really think so? I guess not..." Harry sighed and spread out his Invisibility Cloak on the snowy floor, he sat down cross-legged and motioned for Draco to do the same.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Draco observed Harry, the brunette was looking outwards across the Forest with a furrowed brow. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Harry shrugged.

"You are always thinking about something when you look like that," Draco smirked lightly, still observing him.

Harry blushed, "I, uhm, it's The Call. It keeps getting stronger yet," his face fell into a deep frown now. The Call meant his Maker was getting closer now, and if he came close enough Harry wouldn't be able to handle it and would have to answer to it.

"Oh, maybe I could try and research ways to silence The Call? I mean, there has to be something..."

"No, don't worry about it. I'm not afraid of answering Miguel," Harry simply replied levelly, his face was stoic now and showed no sign of emotion. Draco didn't like when he got like this, distanced and alienated from everybody else, he didn't like feeling cut off from Harry's emotions completely. During their lessons, they were usually open with one another and their Truce had grown stronger than either expected it to, it was at a point when they were comfortable and even thankful for the others company.

"Harry, do you really think Dumbledore can protect me if I give myself over?" he asked quietly, shifting uncomfortably.

"Yes. Dumbledore may be old and overly trustworthy, but he will be able to over you full protection if you ever decide to switch over to the Light. If not, then I will," Harry answered firmly.

"You cannot protect everybody," Draco whispered.

"I can. I have to, it's my purpose," Harry growled in response, this was a subject he really didn't like to talk about. It brought up those muddled emotions and thougts of Sirius and Cedric, people whom he had tried vigorously to protect and failed in doing so. Harry felt the burden strengthening its hold, but with his new birthed power and dark gifts there was no doubts in him that he could provide protection for those he loved now, or those who needed it.

"Harry...this is not your War. It is Dumbledore's and the Dark Lord's, you know you do not have to fight," Draco was whispering still, his grey eyes seemed to be fixated on the struggling boy beside him. The cold of December was nipping at his exposed skin, but Draco ignored it.

"I do. You don't understand," Harry muttered coldly.

"Then make me understand, I want to!" Draco responded immediately.

Harry sighed, his shoulders hunched over. "My parents sacrificed their lives for me. It's my fault Cedric Diggory died, and it's my fault Sirius died too! I can't have all these people dropping dead around me and do nothing about it! Voldemort has made this my fight, and I can't dishonor my parents sacrifice by sitting idly by waiting for this to blow over - like it will! And I am the only one person who can defeat Voldemort, nobody else, so I need to!" Harry was growling now, his anger rising and Draco could feel the hot power emenating from him.

Draco reached outwards, he put his cold and shivering hand on Harry's shoulder and was surprised when it was shaken away. "Why can you not leave Dumbledore to defeat the Dark Lord?"

"Because, I am the only one that can," Harry whispered now, his eyes seemed to be distracted by something in the distance. "There was a Prophecy in the Department of Mystery at the Ministry about me. That Prophecy said how I was the only one who could defeat the Dark Lord, and that neither can live while the other survives," he sighed heavily and threw his hands up in exasperation. "That last part seems completely irrelevant now that I'm this wretched monster," he snapped angrily.

Draco observed him closely still, taking in the emotions he could feel radiating off of him. He scooted himself closer on the Cloak, his hand snaked around to the other shoulder now so that his arm was around Harry. He was still surprised that the brunette didn't recoil. "Harry, you are not a monster. You are too bloody Gryffindor to be one," he chortled lowly. "So if you can only defeat him, when will you?" Draco asked quietly, he knew what Prophecy's in the Department of Mystery meant. They meant that they couldn't be changed, so instead they would have to be dealt with.

"As soon as I find out where that bastard is," Harry growled and his fists clenched, he was actually glad for the comforting arm around him as he leaned slightly towards Draco. He sniffed lightly, and was almost overcome by the scent that enthralled his senses. Draco smelt like lavender, and his heartbeat was soft but perfectly periodic. Harry couldn't help but lean even closer yet.

"You cannot go on your own. Who will fight with you?" Draco asked curiously, pushing himself further into this dark subject that Harry rarely allowed to be spoken about. As he felt the brunette close the distance between him, he couldn't help the smile that twitched on his face.

"I have to do it on my own. I can't risk anybody else's lives,"

"You may be powerful, Harry, but you sure are thick," Draco muttered with slight amusement, his arm tightened its hold as he spoke. "Wherever the Dark Lord is, he has at least ten Death Eater's guarding him. I do not care what you say, you cannot battle them all at once. Doesn't Dumbledore have some sort of Army? Were those not the rumors last year?"

"Tch, that was just a Defense study group," Harry smirked lightly at the memory before his face fell stoic again. "There is the Order of The Pheonix, a group transfixed on bringing down Voldemort. Still, more of their lives would be lost due to a battle that is mine," he mumbled darkly.

Draco sighed and shook his head, "You are such a thick-headed, Gryffindor. Brave, but definitely not intelligent," he chuckled.

"At least I'm not a slimey Slytherin," Harry grinned in response, he nudged Draco lightly in the ribs with his elbow as he did so. The two laughed darkly for a moment before silence lapsed around them, Draco's arm still tightly around Harry's shoulders.

Time disappeared for a moment as the two became lost in their own thoughts of the impending War, Harry was also trying to push away the deep rooted feeling of The Call that continued to grow stronger by the hour. "It is half past eleven, walk me back to my dorm?" Draco asked as he reluctantly stood up, losing contact that he longed for with the brunette.

"Sure," Harry simply responded, he gathered up his Cloak and then took the Marauder's Map from his pocket. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he stated and the Map became to fill itself with the corridors of Hogwarts, Draco curiously looked over his shoulder. "We're all clear, might as well put the Cloak on for further safety," he suggested.

They walked silently under the Cloak as they always did, making as little noise as possible in case Peeves decided to come down one of the corridors. Finally they were in front of the Slytherin portrait hole, like so many nights before. This one, however, was different. Their lessons were finished, where did that leave them?

"Er, I guess I'll see you later then," Harry awkwardly sighed as he turned away, beginning to walk down the hall.

Draco quickly caught up with him, his hand gripped around his lower bicep as he pulled him around so that they were facing each other. Harry stared down his nose at Draco, an almost bemused look fell upon him. "Can I meet with you again? Even though our lessons are complete...if that is alright with you?" Draco asked unsurely, for once in his life he was more nervous than he could ever remember.

"Ah, sure. When?"

"Thursday, after dinner? I will just come by your dorm?" he suggested, his hand still tightly gripped on the hard bicep as he drew himself an inch closer to Harry's body.

Harry automatically stiffened as that lavender scent became stronger, the beating heart louder. "Sounds fine," he hissed between his teeth, uncomfortable with being this close to somebody.

Draco smiled lightly as he completely closed the distance now between the two of them, his nervous lips now stilled themselves on Harry's dry ones. Harry stiffened even more but then felt himself melting against the touch, he gave in quickly and found himself wrapping his arms around the smaller boy lightly. Draco smiled against their kiss, he deepened it by flickering on his tongue momentarily.

Harry's mind was quickening now as he allowed access into his mouth, he was almost overwhelmed by the feeling of Draco's pulse through his pink tongue that wetted his own mouth, it danced freely inside of him now as he answered desperately. The contact was soon broken by Harry's tense arms, pushing Draco away firmly.

Their eyes locked for a moment and then awkwardly looked down at the ground, Harry's hands were still strongly on Draco's. "Hurry and get inside the Common Room, I smell somebody coming," he whispered quickly.

Draco smiled and nodded, he quickly leaned up and pecked Harry lightly on the lips. "Goodnight, Harry," he smiled softly and then turned around, well aware of the emerald eyes that followed him all the way into the Common Room.

Draco woke up feeling something he had never felt before, completely satisfied with where he was in life. Of course he still had to come to terms with the fact he was going to betray his Father and everything he knew in a mere few weeks, but none of that seemed to matter half as much as Harry's lips answering his own last night.

His thoughts were drowned by the sensations he remembered, he scratched them eagerly down in his diary before getting ready for the day. He couldn't keep his smile bitten back through-out the whole day, as he stole glances from the Gryffindor. This time, however, he wasn't getting smiles in response but only stoic, cold gazes and nods. Of course, Draco didn't take this for much. Harry needed to mask his emotions from his friends, they would raise too many questions if he was walking around lunatically like Draco was.

The Slytherin's seemed more apt to avoid him when he was in a good mood, out of fear apparantly that he would abuse his Prefect badge. Classes went by in a certain blur, Draco was listening in the background but he couldn't help but let his thoughts wonder.

He was still so unsure of what his situation with Harry was, but now he knew that his feelings weren't completely denied.

As dinner came around, Draco's good mood still had yet to falter. But then his smile fell when he saw a cold, dark expression cross over those emerald eyes. Harry had been sitting facing the Slytherin Table, as he did most those days, and the Granger and Weasel were sitting opposite of him. They were chatting about something or other when Harry was approached by Professor McGonagall. They exchanged a few words and the Head of House left, Harry's eyes seemed to be filled with some kind of emotion that Draco could not place.

He had to follow him out of The Great Hall when he left a few moments later, wanting to know what had happened. Immediately, he regretted the decision as his eyes fell upon something completely unpredicted.

Harry was embracing with a tall man, his sandy-hair fell into a neat ponytail. Harry's face was turned away from Draco as the man was smiling brightly into the embrace, they weren't letting go of one another. Draco felt sick to his stomach when he watched the older man lean away only to place a firm kiss on Harry's lips.

Draco found himself walking as briskly as he possibly could on the opposite side of the Entrance Hall, only slightly aware that the other two noted his presence as he soon disappeared into the dungeons. Draco's heart was pounding, his blood boiling and his emotions were completely askew as he flung himself down on the safety of his bed. He was surprised when his eyes began to tear up.