"Well done, you great idiot," Malfoy sneered, raising the lantern a little higher so light spilled across the tree trunks. "You landed us both on patrol."
"This is not my fault," Harry retorted, tightening his grip of Fang's leash. "You're the one who hexed Ron."
"And yet all evidence points to you," Malfoy gloated, but a howling sound echoed miles away and Malfoy flinched.
Harry smirked. "Scared, are you? Still think there're vampires and werewolves out here?"
Malfoy scoffed, but he still looked nervous. "I'm not scared, Potter."
"All right then, prove it," Harry dared, and Fang panted as if egging Malfoy on.
Malfoy glanced back at Harry, unsure. Harry rolled his eyes; he knew Malfoy wasn't going to do anything. He was the biggest coward there was. Patrolling the Forbidden Forest was easily the worst punishment there was for Malfoy. Harry, however, enjoyed patrolling; he knew he couldn't get hurt with Hagrid only a hundred feet away and his great dog guarding them. And after all these years, Malfoy was still terrified of patrol.
"You asked for it, Potter," Malfoy muttered, and he tossed the lantern to the side. The flame went out immediately, and they were plunged into darkness. Fang began to whimper, and Harry felt for his wand.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Harry whispered, suddenly terrified their only source of light was gone. "Lumos!" His wand tip lit up, and he saw the shattered remains of their lantern.
Malfoy did the same, and his wand cast a glow over the forest floor. "Let's see how we survive without a lantern, since I'm so scared," Malfoy taunted.
"You're risking our lives because I said you were scared?" Harry hissed, green eyes darting around, hunting for danger.
Malfoy shrugged. "You said to prove it. What, are you scared now?"
Harry's eyes flicked over at Malfoy for a moment. "I am not scared," he said defiantly.
"Prove it, coward." Malfoy smirked when he saw Harry flush.
Harry's fingers twitched, so he tightened them around his wand. "We've got no lanterns left to chuck," Harry said sarcastically.
"The great Harry Potter, afraid of the Forbidden Forest. That's cute," Malfoy laughed, and, Merlin, Harry really wanted to hit him.
Harry, without thinking, planted his palms on either of Malfoy's shoulders and shoved, Malfoy's back hitting a nearby tree with a thunk. Malfoy dropped his wand, but Harry kept his in his clenched fist. Harry stood at a distance from Malfoy, so he wouldn't have to look up at the git. Damn it, he really hated that Malfoy was taller than him.
Malfoy evidently didn't want to risk going unprotected and bending down to get his wand, so he glared at Harry and kept his hands to his sides. "What the hell did you do that for?" Malfoy spat.
"I'm not a coward," Harry growled, slinking closer to Malfoy. Soon, he was looking up at Malfoy, but he didn't care. All the rage that he had built up over the years was a pot of lava, threatening to pour over the rim, and Harry didn't care if Malfoy got burned. "I think you're the coward, Malfoy," Harry seethed,
Malfoy's silver eyes narrowed. "Too close, Potter." A pink tinge spread across his cheeks, and Harry's eyebrows raised, surprised.
"Why the hell are you blushing?" Harry asked, eyebrows still up.
Malfoy's nostrils flared, and he looked away at some point over Harry's shoulder. "Still too close. Damn it, Potter, I can smell you."
It was Harry's turn to flush. "Shut up." But Harry didn't back away. He stayed there, hardly five inches from Malfoy, for a different reason than before. Before, he wanted to get a good swing at Malfoy. Now, he stayed out of pure curiosity.
"Get out of my way, Potter." Malfoy still wasn't looking at Harry, and Harry saw him grit his teeth. Suddenly, an idea sprang into Harry's head. The tree was wider than any tree should be, giving Harry's palms plenty of room. Harry slammed his hands on either side of Malfoy's head, trapping him against the tree and dropping Fang's leash. Malfoy's eyes widened, as if seeing Harry differently.
Harry arched one eyebrow, a teasing smirk at his lips. "You're still blushing, Malfoy."
Malfoy flinched. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
Harry's arms stayed, forming two bridges over Malfoy's shoulders. "Humouring you," Harry responded, grinning.
A flicker of a smirk flashed across Malfoy's expression. "That slam was kind of hot," he admitted, leaning forward the tiniest bit.
Harry leaned forward as well, breathing in Malfoy's scent. "Only kind of?" They were so close Harry barely had to whisper.
Malfoy bit his lip, mock-contemplative. "Perhaps a little more than 'kind of,'" he said calmly, as if he wasn't causing Harry's heart to pound in his ears.
"Come on. You find me hot, admit it." Harry's shoulders relaxed as he leaned forward just a little more.
"Cocky much, Potter?" Malfoy raised one of his eyebrows at how close the two were, but he matched Harry's movement, leaning down so he could look Hary in the eye. If Harry just moved the slightest bit, their lips would brush….
"And I'll prove it," Harry replied, his eyes glinting with mischief before he screwed them shut and pressed his lips to Malfoy.
Harry felt Malfoy's nose dig into his cheek, he felt Malfoy's long lashes brush the corner of his cheekbones. Harry kept his arms up against the tree, for he liked feeling like he was trapping Malfoy, but Malfoy moved his hands up to Harry's hair and pressed into his scalp.
Another howling noise echoed throughout the forest and Malfoy flinched away from Harry, ruining their moment. "Damn wolves," Harry said, rolling his eyes at Malfoy's cowardice.
"It's a werewolf, Potter," Malfoy protested, bending down to pick up his wand.
"Merlin's beard, Malfoy, you really think werewolves just parade around the Forbidden Forest? They're probably hidden, like Lupin," Harry argued, fixing their lantern and finding Fang's leash from the floor.
"Ever heard of Fenrir Greyback?" Malfoy retorted, following Harry as he led them back to the direction of Hagrid's hut. "Eats children, Potter. He eats children!"
"Calm down, you have 'the great Harry Potter' to protect you," Harry boasted. He bent down and rubbed Fang's head as he added, "And Fang too."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "You can't protect me if you're a head shorter than me, Potter."
"Inches! Mere inches! Not a head!" Harry remarked, putting his palm flat over his head and moving it to the top of Malfoy's head, falsely making it seem as if they were the same height.
"That dog is nearly taller than you are," Malfoy sneered. They heard a skittering sound from a nearby bush, and Malfoy's hand found Harry's instinctively.
Harry raised his eyebrows, squeezing Malfoy's hand. "If you don't think I can protect you, why're you holding my hand?"
"Oh, shut up, Potter," Malfoy complained, but he never let go of Harry's hand.