AN: Surprise? LOL i'm sorry it took me so long to update this story- two years is pretty mental. I've been working on an off on this chapter for a month, because i simply couldn't get it to work. I am still a little skeptical about the last part, but yeah. I have around a 1000 words lying around, that i didn't think fit in properly, but could potentially work later- and that kinda demotivated me as well tbh ouo'' I hope you enjoy :)
Draco was pissed. He was certain someone had snitched. Someone had to have seen him taking the gillyweed and now he was being summoned to Snapes office. Whoever that little snitch was would get a piece of him. Hell, he almost wished it was Potter, so he could choke that idiot and watch the light leave those intense green eyes. He bit his lip, trying to force the images out of his head. He was considering if he was going slightly mad. It couldn't be healthy to have your mind preoccupied with one individual so often. He shook his head, he had to get a hold of himself, it was not becoming of a Malfoy to be walking around the castle hard. Especially not, when said situation was brought on by a bespectacled half blood of all things.
He reached Professor Snapes office soon enough, knocking on the door twice, before he was told to come in.
-o-o-
He woke up to lips being pressed against his, eyes fluttering open to meet brilliant green. Harry. He closed his eyes again, arms circling around the other males neck as their lips moved together. It was almost like a reflex, kissing Harry back. Even though they had never actually kissed before, it came naturally to him. Of course, when Harry was kissing him, he was meant to return the kiss. He quickly realized this logic was flawed, when he heard a high gasp around them.
His eyes shot open once more, realization hitting him. They were not alone, even if they had been, what the hell was he doing kissing Potter? He swiftly moved his arms to push Potter off him. "Ew, what the hell Potter" He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, making a disgusted face as he glanced at Harry. The Gryffindor didn't actually seem upset with his exclamation, settling something inside Draco he couldn't quite pinpoint. He let his gaze move over his surroundings. People seemed preoccupied with their own business, clearly having lost interest in the two of them. He shuttered a little, hugging himself, seemingly first then realizing he was wet. It took him a minute to put two and two together, as he gave his surroundings another glance. Potter was kneeling down beside him on some kind of bridge. Potter was wearing some odd outfit, which Draco quickly concluded had to be related to the Triwizard tournament.
The other male had a towel loosely hung over his shoulder, Draco noted as Harry ran a hand through his wet hair. Harry seemed to notice his gaze, their eyes meeting shortly before the other male took the towel from his shoulder and gently wrapped the towel around Dracos shoulders. They shared another gaze, Draco unsure what exactly Harry's eyes were saying as the Gryffindor rose from the ground to get himself another towel from Madam Pomfrey. The woman was rushing around, mumbling something about the students getting a cold. Draco chuckled to himself as he slowly sat up, pulling the towel closer around himself. He then noticed Granger standing near Victor Krum.
Granger was covered in more towels than were probably necessary and she had a soft glow to her cheeks, when Krum leaned in to mutter something to her. He moved his gaze towards Delacour, who was tugging a towel impossible closer around a little girl with similar features to her. Draco figured it had to be her sister. His eyes moved to Diggory, who sat on a bench with an arm around a girl with jet black hair. They seemed to be sharing the towel and Draco couldn't help but make a face. Public display of affection really was rather disturbing, typically Hufflepuffs.
He glanced around, noticing the stadium like seats on one side of the bridge. This had to have been the Triwizard tournaments second task, he deducted. It really was quite obvious now he thought about it. What wasn't obvious though was what the hell he had been doing under the water. The competition continued around him as the champions got their points. He only paid the points half a mind, but still heard how much of a fool Potter had been. What kind of idiot arrives first to free the hostages, but instead of just taking his own, waits for everyone to be rescued. He even took his time saving the little French girl as well as his own hostage. He truly was an enormous fool. Draco rolled his eyes, when Potter still received the second most points. Typical Potter, turning his mistakes to victory. Draco glanced at Harry, who seemingly felt his gaze and turned to look at him as well. A soft smile spread on Potters face, before Draco turned his gaze to look over the lake.
It was like cold water was thrown over his head and washed all warmth the towel had given him away, when realization hit him. The lake consisted of water. Water. No, that couldn't be right. He remembered a very important part of the golden eggs message. 'We've taken what you'll sorely miss.'* He ran it through his head. Delacour's sister had been in the lake, she had failed to save her and Potter had done it for her. Diggory and Krum had each saved their own person – Granger and the other girl. This left… Draco had been Harry's person. It was like everything stopped for just a moment. Nothing really seemed to register in his mind as he took this factum in. Potter would sorely miss Draco.
He huffed, there was no damn way. Potter was a fool, but he could not be such an enormous fool. It was a mistake. He was clearly not meant to be put down into the lake and Potter had felt bad for him and saved him anyways. Draco frowned, perhaps that was why Potter had waited. Perhaps he had simply been uncertain who exactly he had to rescue. It clearly wasn't Delacours sister, but as far as Draco knew either girl could have been Harrys person. Maybe Potter had simply waited to make sure no one was there to save Draco, because why would any of the other champions do that? First then he had decided to rescue him. Draco nodded to himself, certain of his own deduction being correct. Even so he felt a flatness rush through him. Like something was pulled out of his chest and replaced with air. He wasn't quite sure what that could mean.
Draco was too caught up in his own mind to notice that the task had fully ended and the rest of the student body was on their way towards the castle. He wondered who had chosen the which person would be sunk into the lake. Who would assume Harry would miss Draco? It really did not make any sense. Draco couldn't mention a single person who would assume the two of them would be a good match for the terms of this task. He blinked. He did know of one person who would assume Draco would potentially sorely miss Potter at least. Mad eye Moody. The mad man could easily have confused Draco's interest in Potter for something else. Something it was clearly not. He shivered. He couldn't even imagine it. Him and Potter. What a joke. If it hadn't been a mistake... If Potter actually secretly harboured feelings for him… If he did he had to be mental. Draco had never been nice to him. There was nothing he had done which could possible spire such emotions in the other male. It was ridiculous. It had to have been a mistake, there was no other conclusion which made sense.
His train of thought was interrupted, rather rudely mind you, by Harry himself. The git waved his hand in front of Draco's face and he felt a rush of anger spark inside him. He glared at Potter as he rose from the ground. "Fuck you Potter" He muttered, Harry grinned, seemingly unfaced by Draco's words, as he turned on his heel and moved towards the castle to catch up with Granger and Weasley. He ran a hand through his wet hair, sighing softly as he followed the other male with his eyes. He would have to clear things up with Potter later, hopefully by choking that stupid grin off his ridiculous face. First, he had to talk with his god father though.
-o-o-
It had been quite a long conversation Draco realized when he sat down in an armchair by the fire. He had almost missed dinner entirely, only just getting there before the food had been vanished, in a hurry grabbing whatever food was left and putting it onto his plate. He gaze landed on the flames in the fireplace, watching as they licked the wood. Furrowing his brows. Severus had explained the whole Triwizard tournament ordeal. It turned out it wasn't a person who had made a mistake, but a magical object. Draco's name had been chosen by the goblet of fire. Draco's certainty in it being a mistake had faltered slightly. It was one thing that another person had misread the situation, but a completely other that an object should be wrong. The only reason he hadn't completely dropped his conclusion was due to the goblets earlier mistake in choosing Harry as a champion. If it could make such a grave mistake, choosing four instead of three champions, then who was to say this couldn't be a mistake as well?
Dumbledore had given Snape the task to inform Draco of the situation and prepare him for the next days task. Severus knew Draco far too well. He had realized right away that Draco would not have agreed to take place in such a ridiculous task. And why should he? For Potters sake? Sadly for him, his god father was a Slytherin after all. So instead of attempting to convince him, the other man had spiked his tea with sleeping draught. Draco had been quite outraged at this statement. Especially when his god father said it almost triumphantly. Like it was something he should be proud about. Draco huffed. Humiliated he had been stupid enough to trust someone, only for that trust to be taken advantage of. He hadn't told Snape that though, far too proud to admit his own defeat.
After Severus had made sure he was knocked out, he had transported him to the headmasters office, where everyone had been administered the potion which kept them frozen during their time under the water. Draco was honestly livid. First he had been chosen to participate in something he didn't want to and then he had been tricked and forced to do it anyways. There was nothing which could legitimate their actions. Nothing which allowed them to take advantage of his trust to such a degree. He should have been able to refuse. His opinion on the matter should have been heard and respected. But no. This was all Potters fault. Why did Draco have to be chosen for Potter? He was angry at his god father for taking advantage of him, but he was far more angry at Potter for putting him into this situation in the first place. Maybe Potter would sorely miss him. Maybe Potter was just truly sick in the head. What a fucking mess he had gotten himself into, just because his anger had driven him to new heights.
He made a face at the look Severus had given him, when he had asked what exactly the goblet had to go on, since he had been chosen as Potters person. Draco had been far too angry to actually be able to logically explain it though, going with the next best option and saying exactly what he thought. "Who knows what goes on in Potters mind". That seemed to have satisfied Snape, though Draco could still see a hint of curiosity in the other mans eyes. Anger was still rushing through his veins as he left his god fathers office and he swore if he as much as got a glimpse of Potter, he would choke that jerk till Christmas. Luckily for Harry he was nowhere to be seen, when Draco had finally arrived at dinner.
-o-o—
Draco didn't see much of Harry until the Friendship ball was announced. Sure, he kept an eye on the other male, but they didn't interact between the damned second task and the announcement. Draco was honestly too angry for it to be reasonable to approach Potter. He wasn't interested in actually murdering Potter, which he deemed like a very liable possibility if he approached the other male. Even if he still found himself dreaming about Potter, hell even wanking to the stupid git, it didn't drive him to approach the other male. Potter was a git and he simply didn't deserve what Draco could give him. Even if approaching Harry could solve the mystery of whether or not the goblet had made a mistake, he wasn't going to abandon his hurt pride and approach Potter about it.
Supposedly the ball was meant to have been a Christmas event, but due to ministerial circumstances it had been changed to a spring themed ball. It would take place the 24th of April, which left them approximately a month to prepare themselves for the dance. This included finding a partner to bring to the ball. The ball was only for fourth year and up, which meant if any younger students wanted to participate an older student had to ask them. Draco half wished he was younger, so he wouldn't have to consider who to take to the ball. He obviously had to go with a pure blood Slytherin witch. The question was which of them he would like to waste a whole evening on.
For some students preparing for the ball also meant they had a month to learn to actually dance. Draco huffed at this, he found it alien that someone their age had no idea how to dance. Who with a proper upbringing couldn't dance? Unsurprisingly Potter couldn't. That was made very clear when their years dance lessons took place. The school had announced that each year would have dance lessons together to encourage friendship between the houses. Dumbledore had said, with a twinkle in his eyes, that perhaps these lessons were the place to find a date. Draco had rolled his eyes of that, if you couldn't dance, the lessons would only humiliate you, not score you a date.
The fourth years dance lessons were instructed by Mcgonagall, who to her credit seemed to take it very seriously. She chose Weasley of all people as her partner and guided them through the steps. Draco, who had been taught to dance at a young age, levitated around the room, with Pansy, giving him plenty of time to study other less elegant dancers' skills. Longbottom was as clumsy as always, stepping on the poor Hufflepuff girls cloak every minute or so. Thomas and Finnigan was surprisingly average, the two of them dancing around together, their skills clearly lead by Finnigan. Then again Thomas was close to a mudblood, why would he know how to dance? Potter's skills or rather lack of skills, was also evident. Potter stumbled around on the floor with a tight looking Granger. Granger seemed to be on the tip of her toes, struggling to avoid her feet being stomped on by Potter. The rest of his own house flowed around the floor like they owned it. Which of course they did. This was the right element for them to shine.
Draco rolled his eyes as Potter fell flat on his face after tripping over his own feet. Potter would embarrass himself during the opening dance, that much was certain. Whoever he was bringing as a date had quite some toe crushing to look forward to.
-o-o-
Draco was in the middle of writing a charms essay, furrowing his brows as he read the page he had written so far, crossing over words and rephrasing different parts. His concentration broken when someone cleared their throat. He lifted his head, glare in place, replaced momentarily by surprise, when he realised it was Harry. The other male bit his lip, rubbing the back of his neck. Draco could feel the anger momentarily flare inside him, before it subsided when Harry spoke.
"Can I sit here?" he asked, Draco shrugged. Choosing to keep quiet, not wanting to interrupt whatever Potter was here to do, with his anger. Potter sat down, seemingly trying to manage an inner battle. Draco raised an eyebrow, which seemed to prompt Potter to speak. "I'm here to pay what I owe." Draco furrowed his brows, confusion momentarily spreading over his features, before it disappeared, replaced by a grin. He understood exactly what Potter was saying. He glanced around, checking no one was within earshot or keeping an eye on their unusual meeting. "Brave, aren't you Potter? Approaching me in the middle of the library for sex" It wasn't quite a whisper, but neither spoken in his normal tone of voice. A smirk spread on his face, when a deep blush covered Harry's cheeks, goosebumps littering the other males arms. Damned charms essay. Draco closed his book, stuffing that and the essay into his bag.
They both rose from the bench they had been sitting at, Draco swinging his bag over his shoulder. Then they left the library. Draco could feel eyes following them as they walked together, but not really. Harry followed a few steps behind him, making it unclear whether or not the two of them was actually walking together. Draco glanced around as they reached the cupboard. Their cupboard, as Draco referred to it in his mind. Harry slipped in first and Draco followed him shortly after, closing and locking the door securely behind them. Harry's eyes met his when he turned around. Draco wasn't sure what they were saying, but a softness shone from them, that made Draco almost uncomfortable.
Harry bit his lip. "Why did you kiss me during the second task?" Draco could feel his face heat up. Him kissing Potter. Ha what a joke. He huffed. "As far as I recall it, YOU were the one who was kissing me, I simply returned the gesture Potter." Harry rolled his eyes, who would have known he had that in him. "I wasn't kissing you, I thought you died! I was trying to save you!" Draco furrowed his brows. "What a fine fucking job you did." He sighed, feeling discomfort settling over him. He had been the one to kiss Harry. He glanced down at his hands, he had promised himself nothing as intimate as that could ever happen and then he had gone and done it. No wonder Potter was potentially into him. They were both huge fools. Harry seemed to sense Draco's discomfort as all he said was "Draco", making Draco lift his head and meet his gaze. "What are you thinking?" Harry muttered. Draco was honestly confused, what exactly was Harry playing at. He supposed it couldn't hurt telling Potter just what he was thinking. "That you're an enormous fool" he stated, forcing a grin on his face, to save the face he had momentarily lost. Potter snickered at that. "Fuck it" he said, warm hands cupping Draco's face before all he could concentrate on was lips. Lips gently pressing against his.
It was impossible to determine exactly what he felt in that moment, but anger wasn't it. It felt like a ball of light was thrown at him and he simply absorbed it into his chest where its heat spread through out his body. The heat almost burningly hot on his lips, only manageable due to the insisting press of lips against his own. He didn't think as he threw his arms around Harry's neck, pulling the other male closer, as he allowed his lips to explore the set of lips pressed against his own. Draco ran his hand from Harry's neck into unruly black hair, letting the strands slide between his fingers as Harry bit into his lower lip, making him gasp. Harry taking the opportunity to push his tongue inside Draco's mouth. Draco's mind went blank as Potter's tongue explored every inch of his mouth. He gripped onto Harry's hair as the other male used his body to manoeuvre Draco up against the wall. As his back collided with the cold wall, it was like all his thoughts returned at the same time, knocking the air out of him as he let go of Harry's hair, pushing the other male off him.
Fuck, what the hell were they doing. Potter had bloody kissed him and like a mindless goat he had just joined right in and kissed him back. He was ashamed to admit it, even to himself, but he had also enjoyed it. Dammit. Why the hell would Potter do that? Had he truly gone mental? He could feel the anger slowly returning. This time it wasn't directed towards Potter, but himself. He hadn't rejected the kiss. He had let Potter manhandle him like some fool. He panted heavily as he looked at Potter, squinting his eyes. "What exactly do you think you're doing, Potter?" And Potter just smiled. Draco wanted to hit him. Hell, he wanted to choke him, but instead he just waited. "I wasn't sure at first." Harry finally said. "I didn't think it was really possible, but this confirmed my suspicion." Draco rolled his eyes. "Get to the point Potter."
"You like me."
*This is taken from the book.