AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, I'm indeed, alive. It's been more than two years since I updated the previous chapter. When I was writing that chapter, I had no idea that the next time I'd be doing it, it wouldn't be any time soon. Most of you won't be interested in what I did with my life in 2 years time, but still, I feel like I need to tell you guys (that's if anyone would still be reading this). But feel free to skip ahead to the chapter.
I was depressed. I realized that quite late. And the moments of intense panic, that I had begun to experience around the time I stopped writing, were in fact anxiety attacks. I was being pressured from every direction. I used to cry in my room before going to school everyday. Then at school, I'd run out to the washroom to throw up, in the first class itself, because it was all too much. My best friend and I had a fall out. I was on my own. Then, I became really good friends with this guy. He made me be friends with another guy and one of my old friends and I got back. 4 of us. We were a group. As always, shit happened. The first guy and the girl left. Remember the second guy? He helped me quite a lot. To the point I'd confidently say that he's my best friend. Yes, he's still with me. In fact, he got feelings for me (who'd have thought) and after a while we started dating. Oh and now I've got an online friend, who lives in my neighbouring state. We've known each other a little over a year now. I'd trust her with my life. Shit still keeps happening. But everything is better than before.
Now, that I've successfully wasted your time, you may proceed to the chapter.
Draco entered the common room only to find everyone gathered around the wall where the notices are put up. From the way everyone was chattering, he knew something was up. He sauntered over to them and pushed himself to the front and read the flyer-
All the Eighth Years are here invited to a party in the common room night at 8.00pm, organised by truly yours Pansy Parkinson and Hermione Granger. Anyone who's interested is welcome.
WARNING: THINGS MIGHT GET HEATED UP.
So, if you're chicken, think before you come.
Draco groaned visibly. Pansy wouldn't let him chicken out. Not that he didn't like parties. But a party where Pansy's involved, there's sure you be party games. And party games involve- to put it in Pansy's way- times where things heated up. And he really didn't want to cuddle up with any girl. Or any boy for that matter. 'Cause he wanted one boy. Or even worse scenario, watch Harry cuddle with a girl. Just a girl because there was no chance he was gay or even bi. Whatever Pansy might say.
No. Draco was not going. He was gonna fake some stupid cold or some headache. He had to. Oh wait. Did he mention the part that Pansy Parkinson was his best friend? Merlin's pants. It was going to be the worst night ever. EVER.
Turns out, he was right. She threatened him- to put it lightly- and didn't leave a chance for him to chicken out. Grudgingly, he dressed up in a dark green turtleneck and a pair of denims (he seemed to like muggle clothing so much more than wizard ones) and walked down to the common room at exactly 8.15pm, to see that the party was already in full swing.
"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY!" Pansy yelled at him from the other side of the room. He walked up to her.
"You little shit. I told you to be here at sharp 8.00pm and you come 15 minutes late. What part of that didn't you understand?" She exclaimed over the music. They were playing some weird sisters' song, he didn't even know that existed.
"Well, I couldn't decide what to wear," he replied.
Not a minute later, Hermione, her weaselby and the savior himself were breathing down his neck.
"Here are the boys. They are about 20 mins late but I managed to convince them to come," Hermione reported to Pansy.
"Very good. I guess everyone is here now." Pansy looked around.
"Well, Pansy, did you get the bottle?" Hermione asked.
"Merlin! I had totally forgotten about it. I'll go get it now. And you should come with me. Leave the boys to enjoy themselves. Oh and Weasley, I'm pretty sure, Finnegan or somebody was looking for you." Pansy said this hastily, grabbed Hermione's hand and was gone in a moment.
Ron looked at Pansy's disappearing head as she walked away and shook his head. Then he turned to Harry, "Mate, you coming with me to Seamus?"
Harry looked at Draco and then turned back to Ron. "Nah, I'll be here."
"Cool, then. See ya around." Ron gave him a salute and walked off.
"So, Harry. Why didn't you go with Weasley?" Draco raised his perfectly shaped brow.
"Well, I have come to know that the present company can turn out to be pretty amusing." Harry smirked.
"Ah, I'm honored to be of your service, My Lord," Draco dead-panned.
Harry laughed and after a moment, Draco joined him. They took seats at the temporary bar in the corner and got a bottle of Firewhiskey to share.
"I must say, Pansy and Hermione outdid themselves. I can't even recognize that it's our common room." Harry commented.
Draco nodded, looking around. To be honest, he hadn't really noticed the decor till then. One could say, he had been pretty much distracted by a certain green-eyed companion. The said companion looked absolutely breathtaking. Not that he'd ever looked any less, but today he made Draco's breath hitch. He was wearing a simple black button down and a pair of light grey jeans. And they fit him a little too well. In fact, now that he thought about it, the whole year he'd been wearing clothes that fit him. Draco suspected Hermione's hand in it. And his eyes looked like emerald orbs without anything as an obstruction. He had ditched his old glasses for contacts. His unruly black curls, we're suddenly more sensual than adorable. Draco was blown away, in the least.
"Do you want to get a drink or something? Hello? Draco...?" Harry's voice cut through his reverie.
"Oh. Sure." He nodded his head a little too vigorously. The corners of Harry's lips turned up a little, but he didn't comment.
A couple of drinks and quite a few rounds of criticism of random party-goers later, Draco was slightly buzzed. But that was nothing he couldn't handle. A Malfoy always knows how to hold his alcohol.
"Alright everybody!" Pansy was standing on a bar stool and her voice carried over the music. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her. Apparently, she got the attention she was seeking so she continued.
"Now, that we think," she said gesturing towards Hermine who was standing beside her, "that everyone's got their fill of dancing and canoodling, it's time to spice things up." She had a wicked gleam in her eyes. Draco groaned inside. Trust Pansy to turn everything dramatic.
"We are going to play Truth or Dare!" She suddenly conjured up a bottle and did a little curtsy.
There was a chorus of reactions. Some cheered. Some discreetly left for their dorms. Some complained that it was a game for 10 year olds. Pansy smirked. "If it's a game for the kids, then what are you so scared of? You've nothing to lose."
After a few minutes, there was a rag-tag group of mostly half-drunk eighth years, settled in a circle, and waiting for Pansy to give them the go. Draco and Harry had been dragged against their wills to be a part of it. Hermione explained the rules. Somebody spins the bottle, whoever it lands on, chooses whether to answer a truth or do a dare. If he or she doesn't comply, then they have to be at the receiving end of some weird spell- that Draco couldn't bother to listen- for a week. Obviously, nobody would be stupid enough to go through that.
Pansy spun the bottle. It landed on Longbottom. He chose Dare. That guy had definitely grown some balls. Pansy asked him to take his shirt off for the entire night. Draco knew that she had been eyeing his abs the moment he'd walked into Great Hall at the beginning of the year. That clever witch. She got her way.
Longbottom spins and it lands on some Ravenclaw. The poor guy has to dye his hair pink for a week.
Draco zoned out of the game. He kept sipping his firewhiskey every few minutes. He couldn't be bothered to look at how his fellow classmates made fools of themselves. And then after what seemed like ages he heard a name that got his attention, "Harry."
The bottle pointed at the boy beside him. He looked up to see that, Pansy was the one who had spun it. Harry shrugged, "Truth."
Pansy pretended to ponder over what she was going to ask. She was never one to compromise on dramatics. Then she looked at him with a small smile playing on her lips.
"So tell us, Golden Boy, which way do you swing?"
Harry shrugged yet again. "Both."
"The Chosen one is Bi? My, my. You never fail to surprise us, do you?"
Harry shook his head and chuckled.
Draco tried to keep his face impassive. He had been wrong. Harry Potter wasn't so straight after all.
Draco tried to think of all those times that he'd dreamt and fantasized about all those situations where Harry had confessed about him swinging the other way and harboring an undying love for Draco. This wasn't definitely wasn't on the list though.
Then entirely too soon, he heard his own name. Hermione smiled at him sheepishly. "Draco?"
"Dare," he said with a bored drawl. Hermione took a moment, as if she was genuinely thinking about what she'd ask him. Then, she caught his eye.
"Kiss Harry." There was series of whoops and cheers from the other players.
What?!
Draco didn't react for a moment. Then he snorted. "You're kidding, right?"
"No. That's your Dare." She shrugged. Damn, Granger. She was almost sly enough to be in Slytherin. He gritted his teeth, seeing no way out. He risked a sideways glance at Harry. He was looking at him apologetically. The sooner he got this over with, the better. After all, it was just a stupid dare. "Fine." He rolled his eyes. Then he turned to Harry. He tilted his head and moved in and the other boy did the same.
Suddenly, slightly chapped yet soft lips were pressed on his own, and Oh Salazar, Draco lost the ability to think for a moment.
Then, too soon, they were moving away from him as well, and Draco tried hard not to look like an angry kitten. He spun the bottle and it landed on Finnegan. Draco dared him to do a lap dance on Weasley. Nothing better than a way to get the attention off himself.
Slowly, one by one people started leaving for their dorms. Hermione and Pansy took down the decor and Harry helped for a while. Then, his sidekick puked his guts out, so he helped him up to the dorms. Draco moved over to the couch by the fireplace. He didn't want to sleep yet. Pansy called out a 'Goodnight!' to him when she left with Granger to their dorms. The entire common room was now empty, save for him.
He had been intently starting at the burning embers for Merlin knows, how long, when he heard a certain somebody clear their throat.
"You can sit down if you want, you know. There's no need to stare at my back eerily till it gets too awkward for both of us." Draco rolled his eyes. The dark haired boy settled down beside him.
"So, you don't feel like sleeping?" He asked Draco.
Draco shrugged. "Apparently, neither do you."
"Fair point." Harry chuckled.
Don't say it, don't say it- "So about earlier, I understand, if you felt awkward." Damn it, Draco. "I mean, not that I care. But it was awkward for both of us, I assume." Shut up, Draco. "Damn, Granger and her Dares. Actually, it was Pansy's fault. Obviously, she had to host a party and drag me into it. But that wasn't enough! Then she had to fucking include a stupid Truth and- "
Then, Harry was kissing him. And Draco shut up. Because, Harry Potter was kissing him and it wasn't a stupid Dare. After what seemed like a lifetime, yet too soon, he pulled away.
"What-?" Draco stuttered like a 4 year old. How eloquent.
Harry gave him a sheepish smile. "I really like you, but I definitely like you more when you're not speaking nonsense."
Draco made a sound of indignation. But before he could protest that he didn't ever speak nonsense, he lost all coherent thoughts, because Salazar, Harry Potter was kissing him again.
