[Notes, disclaimer and everything in chapter 1 – do read that]
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Harry shrugged and said, 'A Muggle.'
He hoped that Draco would leave it at that.
'What happened?' Draco inquired.
'She's a Muggle; what do you care?' Harry pointed out.
Draco looked a bit sad, and he shrugged. He pseudo-nonchalantly pushed his shoulder from the wall and took a step towards the entrance to the Slytherin Common room.
'Don't be silly, Malfoy,' Harry said.
Draco sighed and confessed, 'I was trying to be nice and make amends, Potter. Even most Slytherins are no longer talking to me, and I must say it's a bit tough… and Pansy's gone.'
'Did you really like her?' Harry asked, taking a step towards Draco.
Draco sighed again and shrugged. 'I'm not sure, but she was way more challenging than Crabbe and Goyle. You and the Weasley girl?'
'You got an hour before curfew. Fancy a walk outside?' Harry suggested.
Draco grinned and nodded.
The two young men left the castle and walked towards the greenhouses.
'You'll be a really good Auror,' Draco declared.
Harry snorted and said, 'I'm just cautious. I didn't want to say anything important inside; you never know who's hiding and spying on you there.'
'As I said, good Auror in the making,' Draco said.
The two young men sat down, side by side, on a fallen tree.
'You got caught in all this trying to make your dad proud,' Harry stated.
Draco nodded and said, 'Silly, isn't it? I could have become a murderer or got killed for a madman to make my father proud.'
'It's many things, but silly isn't the first that crossed my mind. I quite understand. I might not approve, but I had it easy; I was on the side of the good guys from the start,' Harry said.
'Thanks, Potter,' Draco said warmly.
'Hell, use my name!' Harry said with a chuckle.
Draco smiled a bright, true, happy smile. 'What do you say we forget the Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry, my recent stupidity, and everything in between, and we start over?' he suggested.
'I'll ask Mrs Snape to punch you if you behave like a twat. Deal?' Harry asked, holding his hand out.
Draco shook hands with him, chuckling.
They looked at each other, and after a short, awkward moment of silence, Draco said, 'The Snapes are quite something.'
Harry nodded and said, 'I never suspected that Hermione loves him.'
'No one suspected that Snape had a heart,' Draco murmured.
'He's good at hiding who he really is,' Harry said.
Draco nodded fervently. 'They're a good match,' he said.
'They're perfect,' Harry agreed.
'If they found each other, we can hope to find someone, too,' Draco said. He grinned and said, 'So, Kate?'
Harry, who was in desperate need of a mate his age, shared everything with Draco.
Draco nodded several times once Harry was done talking.
'What?' Harry inquired.
'Can I be blunt?' Draco said.
'Nothing's stopped you before,' Harry pointed out.
Draco grinned. 'Well, maybe your age isn't really what's bothering her, and she just doesn't want to be the one having to teach you everything,' he said.
It took Harry a few seconds to realize what Draco was implying; then, he spluttered.
'That's a possibility,' Draco said gently.
Harry groaned, blushed and nodded.
'Does your guardian have books on the topic? I know there's nothing in the Library,' Draco said.
'I… I don't know,' Harry said. 'And I'd be too embarrassed to search her bookcases!' he added to be honest.
'I could lend you mine if you want,' Draco said.
Harry gaped and blushed.
'I don't mind… as long as I get them back,' Draco said. 'Why don't you come get them?'
'Look, let's face it, I'm lonely, too, and the new you's a decent bloke, but if the students see us together, your dad is going to ask me to marry you,' Harry pointed out.
Draco made a face and said, 'I don't mind blokes, but I really prefer witches. You've got a point… What do you say I come to your room under my Invisibility cloak?'
Harry blinked a few times and a feral grin spread on his face. 'Now, you're talking, Malfoy. That Slytherin side's good to plan stuff; I'll have to ask Sev to help me do that,' he said.
'Hell, use my name,' Draco said, using Harry's earlier line.
Harry smiled.
'You can read thoughts,' Draco stated.
'What makes you think so?' Harry inquired as he got up.
Draco followed suit and said, 'With our past, there's no other way you'd invite me like that.'
'Or maybe I mesmerised you,' Harry joked.
Draco shook his head, smiled and said, 'Whatever it is, thanks, Harry… Next year will be a lot less awful with you around.'
'Well, Ron betrayed me, and Hermione has better things to do… but I swear I'll have her punch you if you go back to what you were when Umbridge was here,' Harry swore.
'I was drunk on power… and I hadn't properly met Lord Pompous Prat yet. I was an idiot, but I've changed; all I want now is quiet,' Draco said.
Harry nodded.
They walked back to the castle, each wizard lost in his own thoughts (and Harry invading Draco's from time to time). They agreed that Draco would go to his room, get the sex books, put on his magical cloak and join Harry by the main staircase.
Harry was chatting with a lady in a painting when he felt a silky material brush against his hand; he said goodbye to the lady and went upstairs with Draco.
When Harry opened the door, he found Minerva entranced by the laptop, and clicking like mad as she was playing.
'Having fun?' Harry asked merrily.
Minerva looked at him and said, 'I found the games. I'm playing Solitaire. This is addictive.'
'It's a healthy addiction,' Harry said. 'Have fun with it!... Do you know how to turn it off?'
'No, show me, please,' she said.
Harry walked to her and showed her what to do.
'You can go on playing, you know,' Harry told her.
'I think I'll finish this game, thank you, and you can take Mr Malfoy to your room. You can bring guests, you know,' Minerva said.
Draco squeaked under his cloak, as Harry laughed heartily.
Harry kissed Minerva's cheek and held out his hand to Draco, who took it and revealed his face.
'Good evening, Headmistress,' Draco said politely.
'We didn't want the students to get the wrong ideas,' Harry explained.
'Good idea. I've got an elf tagging Miss Weasley, but she's certainly not the only student with an agenda,' Minerva declared quietly.
'Things will quiet down in the summer,' Draco said.
'And we'll get fresh blood come September,' Harry added.
Minerva nodded and said, 'By the way, I'm planning to have the school letters sent by the end of the week, so that the families all know that the next school year will be normal.'
'Perhaps I should warn my Muggle instructor that his son's going to be over-excited very soon,' Harry said.
Minerva smiled and nodded.
'Good night, Min!' Harry said as he dragged Draco to his room.
The two young men closed the door behind them, Harry cast a Silencing charm, and they laughed heartily.
'How did she know I was there?' Draco asked.
'I bet the school Heads have special spells… or they know more magic than us. Dumbledore knew where I was, even when I was hiding under my Invisibility cloak,' Harry explained.
Draco nodded, took off his cloak and handed Harry three books.
'What are the good chapters?' Harry asked.
'Everything after the introductions is good. I wasn't sure what your limits were, so there's a bit of everything; you'll see,' Draco said.
Harry sat on his bed and patted the spot next to him; Draco joined him.
'Limits?' Harry squeaked.
'Yea, you know… fun stuff in and out of bed, techniques, spells, things about witches… and wizards,' Draco said.
'Not funny!' Harry protested.
'I wasn't joking, Harry. It's a possibility, and if you want to know what to do, you'll find everything in those books,' Draco said.
'Oh,' was all that the now blinking-like-a-surprised-owl Harry could say.
'I'll head back to my dorm before your guardian takes points from my house, and Snape uses me as a potion ingredient for it,' Draco said, as he got up and put his cloak on again.
'I'll see you tomorrow evening then,' Harry said.
'Yes, and I'll hide my cloak in my pocket… in case you'd like another chat outside,' Draco said.
'Good idea,' Harry said enthusiastically.
'Happy reading, Harry, and good night!' Draco said, opening the door.
'Thanks! Night, Draco,' Harry answered.
Harry opened the first book, and he didn't hear Draco leave. The books were full of Wizarding pictures, and the young wizard was devouring the pages.
While Harry read about the theory (and while Draco had unexpected dreams), the Snapes were having tea.
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[Next part as soon as possible]