I've made some progress where writing is concerned today, mainly because I've had the whole day to myself, a first in about six months. Hopefully I'll get more done in the coming weeks as I have more days like this. I plan to have it finished in the next five weeks at the most. Fingers crossed.
All I have to say this time I think. Enjoy, Thanks again and good luck to all those going to see the last film this week. I've got my ticket booked.
Part 33
Harry smiled as he sat down across from Draco and pulled a bowl closer towards him. He silently helped himself to cereal and milk. The great hall had been reduced down to one table now that the last of the people whom were going home for Christmas had left early that morning on the last train available. There were only five Ravenclaws, two Hufflepuffs, three Slytherins and four Gryffindors staying during the break and it was pointless to have all the house tables set out, granted that the students tended to sit with only those in their house even if it was at the same table anyway, with of course, the exception of Harry and Draco whom sat together.
"Good morning," Draco said with an amused little smile on his lips as he watched Harry go about his preparations for breakfast over his own plate of toast.
"Morning," Harry said cheerfully and with a significant look.
Draco sighed and pushed his plate forward so that he could lean closer over the table. "Look, Harry, about last night-"
"It's fine, honest," Harry said, defensively before he could hear what he considered the pathetic excuse again.
"No, listen," Draco said and his tone of voice made Harry stop with his spoon half way to his mouth and look at him, lowering his spoon back into his bowl again. "I know it seemed like I didn't want to go last night but believe me Harry I did. I just-just was surprised. I'm not used to being asked to just hang out. I didn't know how to handle it," Draco said, his face straight and sincere but his eyes darting to the side, clearly a little uncomfortable.
"But Draco we've done that before, we've studied together before, that's all I was asking for," Harry said.
"No Harry, you asked me to sleep in your dorm with you. I've-I've never done that before," Draco said quietly, still avoiding Harry's eyes.
Harry studied him for a moment and then sighed. This was a completely different story now that Harry knew what was going on in his head. This wasn't just about sex after all, it was much bigger than that and he now felt silly for thinking otherwise. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't know,"
"How were you meant to? It's fine. I-I want you to come to Slytherin tonight. I'll make it up to you," Draco said meeting Harry's gaze this time. Harry nodded and smiled encouragingly, he wanted to reach across and take his hand and tell him he didn't want anything more, but there were still too many people around to get away with that.
"Sounds like a promise," Harry said picking up his spoon from his cereal bowl and taking a bite.
"That's because it is," Draco said, and even though he was smirking along side Harry his tone of voice told Harry that he really meant it.
Within five minutes they had both finished their breakfast and were arguing about what they wanted to do with the day. Draco was insisting that they should go upstairs to the library to study where as Harry wanted to go outside to play in the snow. It took them a further five minutes to come to a compromise of going outside in the snow to study, Harry finally admitting that they needed to do something in the way of school work and Draco taking Harry's word for it that with the right warming charms and shade they would not be too cold or get the cold again.
They collected their things from their respective dorm rooms and then met at the door and walked into the courtyard together. It was strange how quiet and empty the castle was but it was quite nice to be able to walk around without having to be completely aware of themselves and everyone around them. It gave them an idea of what it would be like if they were to continue their relationship after Hogwarts. Harry tried not to think too much about this however, for as far as he was concerned, the less he thought about it the less he'd be disappointed if it didn't happen.
Harry cast a heating charm on the bench facing the castle which caused the snow on top of it to melt and the water that was left behind to evaporate. He arched his arm around the top of the bench, muttering the warming charm as he went so that he created a kind of warm bubble. Draco squeezed his elbow as he moved to sit down.
They settled on the bench and Harry reluctantly pulled out his potions textbook, while Draco pulled out his Defence book and perched it on his knees. Harry had turned so that one leg was hitched up on to the bench and he was facing Draco. It was peaceful and kind of comforting, even though it wasn't exactly exciting or particularly interesting.
It didn't take long for Harry to grow bored of his potions book, especially with Draco so near, mumbling under his breath as he read through his Defence book. Harry couldn't help but grin at the sweet little mumbles and comments that were coming from Draco, the blonde unaware of his little studying technique. He straightened up and continued to watch him, Draco none the wiser.
Harry nudged his foot against Draco's leg, but the action went ignored. He poked again but all Draco did was shift a little further away. He closed the book on his lap and continued to stare at Draco's profile, daring him to look round. He briefly wondered to himself how he managed to ignore how beautiful Draco was before. He'd always thought he had great bone structure and was good looking but he never took the time to fully appreciate it.
Harry closed the book on his lap and shuffled forward to poke Draco's leg with his toe again. This time Draco pushed Harry's foot off the bench without looking away from his book, with a large frown on his face that was clearly part annoyance and part concentration. Harry chuckled and just proceeded to repeat the action again, for the fourth time. Draco's hands clutched tighter around his book.
"If you do that one more time, I'm going to- I'll charm your hair Slytherin green," Draco said out of the corner of his mouth, without so much as a glance up from his book.
"What if I say I wouldn't really mind," Harry said. Draco finally glanced up and across at Harry, a little surprised at how close he found him to be. Harry reached out and traced the cuff of Draco's green jumper that was poking out from underneath his coat, running his fingers underneath between the fabric and the skin of Draco's wrist.
"What if I say that I've actually come to like the colour green," Harry said. Draco was looking at him as if he wanted nothing more than to just bring him closer and kiss him. Harry was just as eager to do the same, and even though they were the only ones out there, they both knew the risk was far too great to even try.
"I don't know how you expect me to not react to that. I will never be able to concentrate now," Draco said snapping his book shut.
"That was my intention. Come on Draco, studying is boring and we have two weeks to do it," Harry said, standing up, abandoning his books and taking Draco's hands, to pull him up. Draco scrambled to save his book from dropping on the ground and left it on the bench while Harry pulled him out of their cosy bubble.
"What happened to getting it over and done with?" Draco asked as he went quite willingly over to the other end of the courtyard.
"Consider it a study break," Harry muttered, and took off through the snow, leaving Draco frowning and wrapping his arms around himself to keep some of his body heat to himself.
Draco followed as quickly as he could, muttering about his new shoes and how ruined they were going to be after this. He didn't quite know what this was going to be yet; he was just following in the direction Harry disappeared in. Harry had hid behind a dense patch of snow covered bushes and decided to strike as Draco walked past, looking around for Harry.
The snowball Harry threw hit Draco square in the middle of his back. Harry bit his bottom lip and watched from a gap in the bushes as Draco stiffened as if he had been hit with a body bind and would fall back at any minute. Harry let a giggle slip and quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, but it was too late, Draco spun on the spot and narrowed his eyes in Harry's direction.
"You did not just do that Potter," Draco said as he shook the back of his coat to dislodge the snow. Harry stayed silent, watching Draco's eyes scan the bushes, obviously still not quite knowing where Harry was in between them.
"You realise this means war, don't you?" Draco said and within seconds he had produced his wand and waved it in front of him conjuring half a dozen snowballs at once that then went pelting towards the bushes Harry was in. Harry covered his head with his hands, but still managed to get a lump of snow down the back of his neck. He jumped up and attempted to shake it loose from where it slid down his back and under his coat and jumper.
Draco smirked as he watched Harry struggle and cast another snowball in his direction while he wasn't paying attention, hitting him square in the chest. Harry gasped, abandoned his mission of getting the ice from his back and started to gather snow in his hands to pelt at Draco. Draco took off running, casting snowballs over his shoulder that Harry managed to dodge, thanks to his quick reflexes and Draco's terrible aim.
They chased each other around the grounds, hiding behind stones, around corners of the building and behind bushes and trees. Harry's hands were freezing because of the way he was making the snowballs by hand, rather than magic like Draco was, finding it much more satisfying when he threw it and it hit Draco, than if he did it with magic.
After a good half an hour, maybe more, they were both soaked through and collapsed on the ground, side by side in the snow. It took some persuading on Harry's part to get Draco down there but he did and they were now both shivering and exhausted. It wasn't clear who had won the snowball fight but neither of them really cared.
"We're going to get the cold again if we stay out here much longer, in wet clothes," Harry said, sniffing for good measure.
"I've still got some pepper up Pomfry gave me last time, we can take it when we go in, just in case," Draco said.
He pushed his hand out from where it had been buried in his pocket and found Harry's that had been idly gathering snow into a little mound in between them. Draco threaded his fingers through Harry's and held on tightly, not looking at him but staring up at the snow heavy clouds instead. He had no idea what compelled him to do so but he didn't mind too much and by the way Harry squeezed his hand back, he didn't mind either.
"Your hands are like ice, Harry," Draco said as his thumb rubbed the skin of Harry's, without realising that he was doing it.
"I know, that's what happens when you make proper snowballs," Harry teased glancing over at Draco and earning a sharp nip of his nails.
"Just because I didn't want to get my hands cold does not make my snowballs any less as good as yours," Draco said, refusing to make eye contact.
"Of course," Harry said, his voice laced in sarcasm. Draco didn't respond they just continued to lay there in silence.
"I think we should go in, I'm cold," Draco said after another five or so minutes. Harry agreed and they sat up, let go of each others hands and made their way back to the courtyard where they had abandoned their books.
They entered the castle again, immediately hit by the warmth and smiled at each other because of it. Harry stopped at the staircase, set to go up it, back to his empty dorm room. Draco looked down the corridor towards the Slytherin common room and then up the stairs as if he was thinking about something very important.
"I'll see you at dinner?" Harry started as Draco looked as if he was struggling with himself to come to a decision.
"Come with me. My common room is closer. I have pepper up," Draco said, almost all at once, stumbling over his words as if he was trying to get them out before he changed his mind, which he probably was. Harry's eyebrows shot up but he smiled, knowing this was a huge step for Draco and that the opportunity might not come around again.
"That does make the most sense," Harry said, watching Draco's face relax and straighten out as he realised his offer wasn't about to be rejected.
"Of course it does. You know, the longer we stand around here the more chance we have to getting the cold again," Draco said matter of factly, slipping back into his confidence. Harry nodded, hopped down the step he had been on and followed Draco's lead down towards the Slytherin dungeons. It may have been a small step but it was a step in the right direction and Harry couldn't complain about that.
"I thought that girl near the fireplace was going to faint when she saw me walk in," Harry said as he caught a towel Draco chucked in his direction with one hand and started to scrub at his hair with it.
"I told you that you should have put on that cloak of yours," Draco said. As he hung their jackets and jumpers on the urn in the centre of the room, much like what was in Harry's dorm room. Draco's dorm room really wasn't much different from Harry's at all, just a little more...green, and even then it wasn't as green as Harry had expected it. There was more mahogany than anything else.
"I don't have it with me," Harry said, muffled through his towel. Draco chuckled as Harry's head reappeared out of his towel.
"I thought you took that thing with you everywhere?" Draco said.
"I used to. Don't see the need anymore really," Harry explained with a small shrug. Draco nodded and moved over to what Harry assumed was his own bed and started to remove his wet shoes and socks, frowning at them and muttering again.
"Sorry about your shoes," Harry said, more because he felt the need to rather than because he really meant it. He just didn't appreciate Draco's new, expensive shoes as much as Draco did.
"It's alright. I should have known they'd get a little wet. They'll dry, or I hope anyway," Draco said, setting his shoes neatly at the side of the bed and swinging his legs around and up onto the bed, adjusting the pillows behind him.
Harry slipped off his own shoes and then sat at the foot of Draco's bed, tucking his legs underneath himself. Draco idly picked at threads on his bed sheet and Harry idly tried to find something for his hands to do.
"You realise that the fact that you made an appearance in the Slytherin common room, and spent time with me up here is going to be all around the school by this afternoon right?" Draco said gently. Harry sighed, knowing that they would have to discuss this at some point.
"Yeah, it's only a few people though," he said.
"It's not going to be forgotten about though. They will tell everyone when they come back, if not the press first. It's one thing about Slytherin's that you can count on, they'll spread gossip faster than the plague, and in all the right places too," Draco said. He kept his head down, his fingers wrapping around the loose thread he was picking at.
"I know. That's why I have already organised an interview with the daily prophet for the 28th of this month and done a promise with them that they won't publish anything about me until then," Harry explained. Draco's head shot up and he frowned at Harry, obviously wondering how he managed to organise all this without Draco knowing about it.
"How did you know that you would need to do that?" Draco asked.
"I figured we'd need some kind of damage control after these two weeks and I thought it about time that I came out to everyone. I'm ready for that much. I was going to wait until after the holidays but I don't really see the point. I'm ready to get started on- on this," Harry said gesturing between them both. Draco squinted at him and then looked down at the thread around his fingers again, this time with a hint of a smile.
"What happened to wanting to be able to defend ourselves when it all blows up on the outside?" Draco asked with a bigger smile and still avoiding eye contact.
"I can- we can. It's easier than I imagined asking the Prophet for an interview," Harry said with a shrug Draco didn't see and then let his hand rest on Draco's shin. Draco slowly looked from the hand resting on his leg and then up at Harry, all signs of a smile gone.
"It helps if you're Harry Potter, I suppose," Draco said.
"Draco, don't. Stop that okay? Yeah it probably does help but, it's going to help us too in the long run," Harry said, his fingers creeping up his trouser leg and caressing the skin there. Draco was smiling again and sighed heavily before tucking his legs underneath him and pushing himself forward to catch Harry off guard with a kiss.
"Hmm, what was that for?" Harry asked once Draco had sat back on his heels again. Draco shrugged, while Harry crawled up the bed to lie next to him. Draco looked down with a smile at him and Harry didn't waste any time in pulling him into another kiss.
They lay there together for a while, stationary and side by side, only touching by the side of their arms. Harry knew that Draco wasn't really one to snuggle, so he wasn't that surprised. Unfortunately though he did enjoy a cuddle, so it felt rather awkward and strange. He turned and rested his head on the edge of Draco's shoulder and put his hand over his stomach. Draco tensed but linked his fingers through Harry's that rested on his stomach.
"So, you're not mad are you?" Harry asked just to make sure.
"No. Kind of relieved you're doing something about it. I thought we'd have to wait until we were finished here," Draco said softly, his fingers moving in small circles over Harry's hand.
"I'm getting to the point where I don't care what people think. I don't have anyone that it will effect in the long run apart from you and that's the only thing that is holding me back," Harry said, he snuggled closer, his eyes starting to get a little heavy in the comfortable, cosy surroundings.
"I think we can both handle it by now, don't you?" Draco said. Harry agreed and they fell into silence.
Harry's eyes started to droop and closed for longer than he thought until Draco shifted slightly and he popped them back open. Draco was watching him with a smile, letting him battle with sleep. He kissed the top of his head and smirked at Harry startling awake again.
"Just sleep, I don't mind, we've got some time before dinner," he whispered. Harry looked as if he would have argued if he was a little more awake but he found it difficult enough to keep his eyes open never mind formulate enough words to have a dignified response, so he just made a noise of agreement instead.
Draco watched him as he slowly started to stop fighting sleep. His hand loosened it's grip of Draco's and Draco used his newly freed hand to run through Harry's hair. He found his own eyes going together and decided it was best just to follow Harry's example and catch a few hours before they had to go to dinner.