Chapter Six: The Testing of a Theory
Harry sat, naked, on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. He had a headache. Not like he used to get, just a headache. He remembered the pensive from so many years ago and wished for one now. It felt like he had a million different thoughts going through his head. That he'd had that dream a second time. After so many years. He heaved a great sigh as he decided he may as well put some of his theories to the test.
He stood, threw on a pair of jeans and left his bedroom. He crossed the hallway and knocked on the closed door.
"Come in, Potter." the drawling voice said.
Draco was lying in bed, wrapped in a towel, fresh from the shower. He held the latest copy of Twentieth Century Quidditch open over him. It was dark and the candles around the room shimmered off of Draco's wet hair.
Harry leaned into the room and asked, "Do you have a headache cure?"
Draco looked over at him and saw him for the first time. He sat up and closed the book. He looked concerned. "Yea." he said, slowly. "Migraine?"
"No." Harry said irritably. "Just have a headache."
Draco put the book aside and went over to his desk, where he'd set up a little work area. He scanned the shelf above it and reached for a small bottle of white powder. He turned to find that Harry had gone to his bed and sat where he'd been.
Draco got some water from the kitchen and returned to find Potter now laying on his bed, reading Twentieth Century Quidditch. He measured the powders and stirred it with his finger. Holding out the glass he said. "Sit up and drink this."
As Harry did what he was told, Draco returned the powders to their shelf. Once done, he turned and Saw Harry sitting on the edge of his bed, staring in the now empty glass with fascination.
"It's gone." Harry said, sounding mystified.
"Of course it's gone." Draco said. "You wanted a headache cure and I gave you one."
"But that was fast." Harry said, looking over at Draco. "Never knew faster. Did you make this?"
Draco walked over, took the glass from Harry and put it on his bedside cabinet. "Worked on it with Snape." he said. He walked around his bed and lay down.
"Which one?" Harry asked, turning to face Draco. He now had a foot on the floor and his leg was bent in front of him, his left foot hooked behind his right knee.
"Both of them, actually." Draco said, his eyes closed. "Those two have a hundred formulas for every kind of pain you can imagine." a slow smile spread across his face. "Those two must get up to some pretty dangerous shit. Guess I shouldn't be surprised knowing ol' Severus, should I?"
"I guess not." Harry said. He pursed his lips. "Can I ask you something, Malfoy?"
"Sure, Potter." Draco drawled, sounding half asleep.
"Do you have a thing for Hermione?" he asked.
Draco's eyes flew open. "Gods, no!" he exclaimed. "Well, back at school I did, but mostly that was just to get her away from you and Weasley. She was interesting sport."
"Sport?" Harry said.
Draco closed his eyes again. "I never got anywhere. She was always with you and Weasley. I never got the chance to really get her alone. Probably a good thing, in hindsight. It wouldn't have been very nice for her." he sighed. "Abject humiliation. That was the plan, at least."
"But she was my best friend!" Harry said, alarmed.
Draco opened one eye and looked at Harry. "Yes." he said, and it sounded to Harry that Draco sounded sad. "Hurt you through her." He closed his eye and bit his lip. "I was one sick fuck back then."
"You had plenty of girls. Pansy." Harry said, feeling another headache beginning.
"Pansy was nothing but a bit of spare for me." Draco said. "I'd go to her when there wasn't much else available. Sex is a great way to relieve frustrations and, believe me, I was a very frustrated son-of-a-bitch in school." he bit his lip again. He was feeling a lot more comfortable with Harry now. "And it wasn't just girls, either. I'd fuck just about anything that would move."
Harry bit his own lip. He wasn't sure what to say. He'd avoided winding up with Sirius' reputation, but just barely. Once Ron and Hermione finally pared off, Harry was left alone a bit more often than he liked. He'd used his fame to get under more than one skirt.
"Sex for attention." Harry mumbled.
Draco snorted. "I have heard people sometimes have sex with people who care about them." he said. "Sounds like a good fantasy."
"Pansy cared about you." Harry surmised aloud.
Draco snorted again. "She was after the Malfoy money. She would have married me if I would have had her. She would have regretted it for the rest of her miserable life. She put up with me and my father having at her in the hopes that she would get in the family."
Harry's head reeled. "You and your father?"
"Father liked sex. Mother wasn't enough. Maids, the wives and girlfriends of his fellow Death Eaters, whoever he could con or blackmail into it." Draco covered his already closed eyes with his forearm. "Father and I shared more than one of my pieces of fluff."
Harry said nothing, just looked at Draco with his mouth open a little. So far most of his theories had proven themselves true, and his headache was getting worse.
Draco took a shuddering breath. "Since I seem to be on some sort of honesty kick." he said, eyes still closed and covered. "You'll never guess at my wildest fantasies."
Harry thought he might know, but he shrugged. "I thought it was Hermione." he said, truthfully. "I thought maybe Professor Snape. He always seemed to care about you so much."
Draco uncovered and opened his eyes. "Snape?" he said, as if he couldn't believe it. "Severus Snape was kind to me because we were kindred spirits. His father used to beat him like a house elf all the time too."
Harry hadn't known about Severus' home life, but he guessed at it a long time ago. "Crabbe? Goyle? Flint?" he ventured.
"Fluff. Fluff. More fluff." Draco said, chuckling. "But I had them all." he'd closed his eyes again, settling himself into his pillow.
Harry swallowed. "Ron?" he said, playing one of his last cards.
Draco just laughed. He opened his eyes and got up. He went back to the shelf with the headache powders and shook some into his open hand. He walked to Harry. He licked half of the powder off of his palm. He held the rest out to Harry. "For your own headache." he said. "Water makes it less bitter, but it can be taken just like it is."
Harry turned at the waist and took Draco's hand. He licked the powder off of Draco's hand and was somehow unsurprised at the shudder he felt in Draco's hand.
Draco dropped his hand and walked around the bed, laying down on his back and crossing his arms behind his head before closing his eyes again.
Harry unhooked his foot from his knee and lay on his side beside Draco. He supported his head under his hand and looked at Draco's silver-blonde hair.
"I had a dream about you." Harry said softly.
"Really?" Draco said, not even flinching. "Do tell."
"I was in Divination." Harry said. "I was forever falling asleep in there. And I was always having wierd ass dreams in there. Dreams that would ultimately come true."
"Mmmmm." Draco hummed.
"Had one which came true, so I remember thinking this one might too." Harry went on. He closed his eyes. "Anyway. This was back in my Seventh year, just before final exams and leaving school. I was in this room. Talking to you. We were flatmates, like we are now. I can't quote it word for word, but we had a very similar conversation to the one we've been having this evening." Harry fell silent.
"And?" Draco prompted.
"You were telling me that you had been attracted to me in school and that you didn't dare tell anyone. Because of who I was. Because of who you were." Harry said slowly. "So I am going to have to make my last guess." and he paused here, opening his eyes and searching Draco's closed face. "Me. Harry Potter."
Draco didn't move. He hitched another sigh and nodded, once. Then he froze again, his eyes still closed.
Harry took a deep breath of his own and let it out in a rush. He leaned over and placed his lips against Draco Malfoys'. For a moment Draco did not respond. Then he returned the kiss. Their mouths opened and their tongues explored each other for almost a full minute.
When they parted, Harry looked down at Draco Malfoy. His eyes were still closed. They opened and Harry found himself looking into those grey eyes, somehow not as cold as he remembered them.
"I'm too dark for you, Potter." Draco said, not smiling. His face was a mask.
"Your rehabilitated." Harry said, softly, searching Draco's grey eyes. In the second before Draco wiped even his eyes of emotion, Harry thought he saw something. Hope?
"Maybe." Draco said. "I'm different, anyway. Not good. Different."
"Different isn't wrong." Harry said, and he kissed Draco again. Harry felt Draco's hand on the back of his head. Great passion was exchanged in this kiss.
Harry placed his hand on Draco's chest and felt the small bit of chest hair as he moved his hand down to the belly. He lifted his head from Draco's and kissed the hollow of his throat. Draco sighed deeply. Harry kissed the neck of his former nemesis and worked his way, kissing lightly, to Draco's chest. His hand, in the meantime, had loosened the towel around Draco's waist and found Draco's manhood, half hard already.
Harry squeezed Draco gently and Draco responded either to that or to Harry licking his nipples, Harry wasn't sure which. Harry worked Draco with his hand while his tongue worked itself further down Draco's body. Harry noted the only slightly darker pubic hair when he moved his hand and took Draco into his mouth. He heard Draco gasp. Gently, using his tongue, his teeth and a hand on both Draco's shaft and his balls, Harry manipulated Draco Malfoy. He smiled inwardly as he sucked, squeezed and fiddled listening to Draco's moans.
Harry swallowed everything Draco gave him. When he was done, he kissed Draco's tip and kissed his way back up Draco's body, where they again kissed deeply and passionately.
Breaking from the kiss, Draco looked at Harry with awe. "Never." He gasped. "No one has ever made me cum like that -" but Harry silenced him with a finger to the lips.
"You trust me, Draco Malfoy." Harry whispered. "No one has ever because you never trusted anyone enough to let go."
Draco considered this and broke into a weak grin. "Trust." he said, as if he'd never heard the word before. He looked long into Harry's green eyes before he said. "I thought I was supposed to be the aggressive one."
They laughed together.
A owl flew into the open door, carrying a note. Harry recognized the owl as one of the ones belonging to the Snapes. Draco took it's note, and the owl took off.
"Isn't that owl Severus'?" Harry asked, frowning slightly.
"It's called Atrox." Draco said absently. He was looking at the note. Frowning he said. "Shit! The Taipan! I forgot all about it." and he sat up. He stood, his knees buckling a moment before he found sure footing. He went to the wardrobe and found a pair of jeans and a shirt, which he came back and sat on the bed before putting his legs into.
Harry sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the note Draco had dropped. It read, simply;
Midnight
He looked up to find Draco standing and facing him, his shirt open. "I have to go." he said. "I wish I didn't, but I have to go. I can't tell you anything besides that. Yet."
Drago ran a finger along Harry's jaw-line, then kissed him lightly. "We'll have to continue this some other time." he said with a mischievous smile.
He disappeared.
Harry sat, naked, on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. He had a headache. Not like he used to get, just a headache. He remembered the pensive from so many years ago and wished for one now. It felt like he had a million different thoughts going through his head. That he'd had that dream a second time. After so many years. He heaved a great sigh as he decided he may as well put some of his theories to the test.
He stood, threw on a pair of jeans and left his bedroom. He crossed the hallway and knocked on the closed door.
"Come in, Potter." the drawling voice said.
Draco was lying in bed, wrapped in a towel, fresh from the shower. He held the latest copy of Twentieth Century Quidditch open over him. It was dark and the candles around the room shimmered off of Draco's wet hair.
Harry leaned into the room and asked, "Do you have a headache cure?"
Draco looked over at him and saw him for the first time. He sat up and closed the book. He looked concerned. "Yea." he said, slowly. "Migraine?"
"No." Harry said irritably. "Just have a headache."
Draco put the book aside and went over to his desk, where he'd set up a little work area. He scanned the shelf above it and reached for a small bottle of white powder. He turned to find that Harry had gone to his bed and sat where he'd been.
Draco got some water from the kitchen and returned to find Potter now laying on his bed, reading Twentieth Century Quidditch. He measured the powders and stirred it with his finger. Holding out the glass he said. "Sit up and drink this."
As Harry did what he was told, Draco returned the powders to their shelf. Once done, he turned and Saw Harry sitting on the edge of his bed, staring in the now empty glass with fascination.
"It's gone." Harry said, sounding mystified.
"Of course it's gone." Draco said. "You wanted a headache cure and I gave you one."
"But that was fast." Harry said, looking over at Draco. "Never knew faster. Did you make this?"
Draco walked over, took the glass from Harry and put it on his bedside cabinet. "Worked on it with Snape." he said. He walked around his bed and lay down.
"Which one?" Harry asked, turning to face Draco. He now had a foot on the floor and his leg was bent in front of him, his left foot hooked behind his right knee.
"Both of them, actually." Draco said, his eyes closed. "Those two have a hundred formulas for every kind of pain you can imagine." a slow smile spread across his face. "Those two must get up to some pretty dangerous shit. Guess I shouldn't be surprised knowing ol' Severus, should I?"
"I guess not." Harry said. He pursed his lips. "Can I ask you something, Malfoy?"
"Sure, Potter." Draco drawled, sounding half asleep.
"Do you have a thing for Hermione?" he asked.
Draco's eyes flew open. "Gods, no!" he exclaimed. "Well, back at school I did, but mostly that was just to get her away from you and Weasley. She was interesting sport."
"Sport?" Harry said.
Draco closed his eyes again. "I never got anywhere. She was always with you and Weasley. I never got the chance to really get her alone. Probably a good thing, in hindsight. It wouldn't have been very nice for her." he sighed. "Abject humiliation. That was the plan, at least."
"But she was my best friend!" Harry said, alarmed.
Draco opened one eye and looked at Harry. "Yes." he said, and it sounded to Harry that Draco sounded sad. "Hurt you through her." He closed his eye and bit his lip. "I was one sick fuck back then."
"You had plenty of girls. Pansy." Harry said, feeling another headache beginning.
"Pansy was nothing but a bit of spare for me." Draco said. "I'd go to her when there wasn't much else available. Sex is a great way to relieve frustrations and, believe me, I was a very frustrated son-of-a-bitch in school." he bit his lip again. He was feeling a lot more comfortable with Harry now. "And it wasn't just girls, either. I'd fuck just about anything that would move."
Harry bit his own lip. He wasn't sure what to say. He'd avoided winding up with Sirius' reputation, but just barely. Once Ron and Hermione finally pared off, Harry was left alone a bit more often than he liked. He'd used his fame to get under more than one skirt.
"Sex for attention." Harry mumbled.
Draco snorted. "I have heard people sometimes have sex with people who care about them." he said. "Sounds like a good fantasy."
"Pansy cared about you." Harry surmised aloud.
Draco snorted again. "She was after the Malfoy money. She would have married me if I would have had her. She would have regretted it for the rest of her miserable life. She put up with me and my father having at her in the hopes that she would get in the family."
Harry's head reeled. "You and your father?"
"Father liked sex. Mother wasn't enough. Maids, the wives and girlfriends of his fellow Death Eaters, whoever he could con or blackmail into it." Draco covered his already closed eyes with his forearm. "Father and I shared more than one of my pieces of fluff."
Harry said nothing, just looked at Draco with his mouth open a little. So far most of his theories had proven themselves true, and his headache was getting worse.
Draco took a shuddering breath. "Since I seem to be on some sort of honesty kick." he said, eyes still closed and covered. "You'll never guess at my wildest fantasies."
Harry thought he might know, but he shrugged. "I thought it was Hermione." he said, truthfully. "I thought maybe Professor Snape. He always seemed to care about you so much."
Draco uncovered and opened his eyes. "Snape?" he said, as if he couldn't believe it. "Severus Snape was kind to me because we were kindred spirits. His father used to beat him like a house elf all the time too."
Harry hadn't known about Severus' home life, but he guessed at it a long time ago. "Crabbe? Goyle? Flint?" he ventured.
"Fluff. Fluff. More fluff." Draco said, chuckling. "But I had them all." he'd closed his eyes again, settling himself into his pillow.
Harry swallowed. "Ron?" he said, playing one of his last cards.
Draco just laughed. He opened his eyes and got up. He went back to the shelf with the headache powders and shook some into his open hand. He walked to Harry. He licked half of the powder off of his palm. He held the rest out to Harry. "For your own headache." he said. "Water makes it less bitter, but it can be taken just like it is."
Harry turned at the waist and took Draco's hand. He licked the powder off of Draco's hand and was somehow unsurprised at the shudder he felt in Draco's hand.
Draco dropped his hand and walked around the bed, laying down on his back and crossing his arms behind his head before closing his eyes again.
Harry unhooked his foot from his knee and lay on his side beside Draco. He supported his head under his hand and looked at Draco's silver-blonde hair.
"I had a dream about you." Harry said softly.
"Really?" Draco said, not even flinching. "Do tell."
"I was in Divination." Harry said. "I was forever falling asleep in there. And I was always having wierd ass dreams in there. Dreams that would ultimately come true."
"Mmmmm." Draco hummed.
"Had one which came true, so I remember thinking this one might too." Harry went on. He closed his eyes. "Anyway. This was back in my Seventh year, just before final exams and leaving school. I was in this room. Talking to you. We were flatmates, like we are now. I can't quote it word for word, but we had a very similar conversation to the one we've been having this evening." Harry fell silent.
"And?" Draco prompted.
"You were telling me that you had been attracted to me in school and that you didn't dare tell anyone. Because of who I was. Because of who you were." Harry said slowly. "So I am going to have to make my last guess." and he paused here, opening his eyes and searching Draco's closed face. "Me. Harry Potter."
Draco didn't move. He hitched another sigh and nodded, once. Then he froze again, his eyes still closed.
Harry took a deep breath of his own and let it out in a rush. He leaned over and placed his lips against Draco Malfoys'. For a moment Draco did not respond. Then he returned the kiss. Their mouths opened and their tongues explored each other for almost a full minute.
When they parted, Harry looked down at Draco Malfoy. His eyes were still closed. They opened and Harry found himself looking into those grey eyes, somehow not as cold as he remembered them.
"I'm too dark for you, Potter." Draco said, not smiling. His face was a mask.
"Your rehabilitated." Harry said, softly, searching Draco's grey eyes. In the second before Draco wiped even his eyes of emotion, Harry thought he saw something. Hope?
"Maybe." Draco said. "I'm different, anyway. Not good. Different."
"Different isn't wrong." Harry said, and he kissed Draco again. Harry felt Draco's hand on the back of his head. Great passion was exchanged in this kiss.
Harry placed his hand on Draco's chest and felt the small bit of chest hair as he moved his hand down to the belly. He lifted his head from Draco's and kissed the hollow of his throat. Draco sighed deeply. Harry kissed the neck of his former nemesis and worked his way, kissing lightly, to Draco's chest. His hand, in the meantime, had loosened the towel around Draco's waist and found Draco's manhood, half hard already.
Harry squeezed Draco gently and Draco responded either to that or to Harry licking his nipples, Harry wasn't sure which. Harry worked Draco with his hand while his tongue worked itself further down Draco's body. Harry noted the only slightly darker pubic hair when he moved his hand and took Draco into his mouth. He heard Draco gasp. Gently, using his tongue, his teeth and a hand on both Draco's shaft and his balls, Harry manipulated Draco Malfoy. He smiled inwardly as he sucked, squeezed and fiddled listening to Draco's moans.
Harry swallowed everything Draco gave him. When he was done, he kissed Draco's tip and kissed his way back up Draco's body, where they again kissed deeply and passionately.
Breaking from the kiss, Draco looked at Harry with awe. "Never." He gasped. "No one has ever made me cum like that -" but Harry silenced him with a finger to the lips.
"You trust me, Draco Malfoy." Harry whispered. "No one has ever because you never trusted anyone enough to let go."
Draco considered this and broke into a weak grin. "Trust." he said, as if he'd never heard the word before. He looked long into Harry's green eyes before he said. "I thought I was supposed to be the aggressive one."
They laughed together.
A owl flew into the open door, carrying a note. Harry recognized the owl as one of the ones belonging to the Snapes. Draco took it's note, and the owl took off.
"Isn't that owl Severus'?" Harry asked, frowning slightly.
"It's called Atrox." Draco said absently. He was looking at the note. Frowning he said. "Shit! The Taipan! I forgot all about it." and he sat up. He stood, his knees buckling a moment before he found sure footing. He went to the wardrobe and found a pair of jeans and a shirt, which he came back and sat on the bed before putting his legs into.
Harry sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the note Draco had dropped. It read, simply;
Midnight
He looked up to find Draco standing and facing him, his shirt open. "I have to go." he said. "I wish I didn't, but I have to go. I can't tell you anything besides that. Yet."
Drago ran a finger along Harry's jaw-line, then kissed him lightly. "We'll have to continue this some other time." he said with a mischievous smile.
He disappeared.