1 Ch. 7

The next morning at breakfast the two avoided each other's dark circled eyes and stared at each other whenever the other looked away, while Snape watched amusedly. //Honestly// he thought //students can be so dense sometimes//. He had told Dumbledore about his episode with Draco, and looked at him to see his reaction to this latest development. It wasn't like the headmaster didn't know already; he was far too intelligent not to notice something like that. Actually, there was no teacher in the school who didn't realize that there was something between them that the two boys just weren't willing to admit to themselves. It didn't take great powers to notice the way those two looked at each other. Dumbledore had noticed the strange behavior of the boys at the table and was chuckling amusedly to himself. He and Severus exchanged amused and frustrated looks and then resumed their breakfast.

Draco and Harry were practically dead on their feet due to lack of sleep, and were especially grateful that they didn't have to go to class. It would have been impossible to concentrate, especially in the classes that they had together, and Draco didn't think he would be able to look at Snape's amused expression if he caught one of them staring at the other.

//Besides// Harry mused to himself //I don't know how much longer I'll be able to go without doing something stupid, especially with nothing around to take my mind off of that night at the window, and then last night as well....//. His mind began to venture into zones he didn't want to go, so he looked down at his plate and concentrated on finishing his toast, realizing that yet again he had caught himself staring intently at Draco. Draco had noticed Harry staring at him and felt himself turning an intense shade of red.

//Maybe Snape was right......//

His thoughts trailed off as he heard as sudden burst of coughing from the teachers table, coughing that sounded suspiciously like a large group of people trying extremely hard not to laugh. At that, both boys suddenly got up from the table and exited the room. When they were safely out of earshot, the teachers burst out laughing and Dumbledore asked, "When will they ever learn?"

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"Look" said Harry. "We need to talk"

"What could there possibly be for us to talk about?" asked Draco, sneering. //He wants to talk me. Oh no. This will not be good//

"There's something that I really need to tell you....."

"Well Potter, I don't want to talk to you. Nor will I ever. Yes, I just refused a chat with the *wonderful* Harry Potter. Bet that's never happened to you. Now if you and your tremendous ego will go away, I have a Transfiguration essay that needs finishing"

With that, Draco swept away down the corridor to his dungeons. He didn't think he could stand there any longer without throwing Harry to the floor and tearing off his robes and well,..... Being face to face with those green eyes was almost more than he could bear. Leaving Harry standing there with that hurt expression on his face was the hardest thing he had ever done.

Harry stood in the corridor watching Draco sweep away and could feel the tears welling up in his eyes. He hastily wiped them away with his sleeve and heard the teachers getting up, still chuckling, from the table. He didn't think he could stand being suddenly surrounded by faculty members asking if he needed to go see Madam Pomfrey or if there was anything he wanted to talk about. Just as Dumbledore entered the corridor, Harry turned tail and ran back to the Gryffindor tower.