Chapter 2
About two weeks passed. Harry and Draco kept their love a secret. However, deep within the foggiest and murkiest depths of his heart, Harry knew it could not stay that way forever. Even if no one else ever found out, Ron and Hermione were certain to, and he would rather tell them than have them stumble upon the truth. He did indeed try on several occasions, but the flow of conversation always moved on before he could muster enough guts to tell his two best friends that he was in love with their arch enemy, and Harry's chance at deliverance from his guilt was snatched away.
"Oh, guess what I saw in Hogsmeade!" Hermione said on one of these occasions.
"A smelly old bat in a clown suit?" Ron suggested, not looking up from his Transfiguration homework.
"In the Three Broomsticks there were two guys sitting with each other and they were kissing!"
No one observed that Harry's face had suddenly gone bright crimson.
"Err..." he began.
Suddenly, the portrait burst open with amazing force. Fred and George came running in, laughing maniacally. A few seconds later, the Head Boy, Calvin Towers (who was, if at all possible, as bad as Percy had been) sporting a lime green face and an extra pair of arms attached to his behind.
"I demand that you give me the antidote to this potion RIGHT NOW!"
"Why Calvin!" said Fred in mock offense, "I am hurt and shocked that you could possibly think that George and I did this!"
Calvin's lime green face turned olive with rage at Fred's words.
" You fix me NOW! Other wise, I will be forced to exercise my authority as Head Boy and go to Professor Dumbledore!"
"Tattletale," Fred murmured.
"Ah, c'mon, Calvin! Don't get your panties in a bunch!" Fred said heartily, clapping the now forest green Calvin on the back. "Or should I say..."
"NO YOU SHOULD NOT!"
*****
Although a very amusing way to end the day, Harry trudged up the stairs to his dormitory bitterly disappointed. He felt terrible for not being able to tell Ron and Hermione about he and Draco. They were his best friends; didn't they have a right to know?
At 11:30, Harry crept quietly out of bed and descended down the descended down the spiral staircase to the common room. Not quietly enough, however. He didn't observe Ron silently waking up and following him down the stairs. Nor did he perceive Hermione sitting almost hidden in a corner of the room with a large book in her lap.
Ron put a finger to his lips, looking at Hermione. She nodded and then pointed at Harry questioningly. Ron nodded back and then shrugged, a puzzled look on his freckled face. As Harry climbed out of the portrait, Ron and Hermione crept noiselessly behind him.
*****
Up in the Astronomy Tower, Harry saw a familiar figure. Draco stood, leaning lightly against a cold stone wall. He turned and saw Harry. In the dim light, Harry saw him smile, a sincerely sweet gesture that made Harry's heart melt and caused his knees to tremble.
"You took long enough, Potter," Draco whispered softly to Harry, as he wrapped his arms around him.
"You have my sincerest apologies," Harry responded, and kissed him, long and softly.
From behind a corner, Hermione watched and Ron watched. The moment Harry's lips met Draco's, Ron was unable to keep silent any longer.
"Eww, Harry, gross!"
Hermione gasped and clapped a hand to Ron's mouth. Draco and Harry spun around, identical looks of horror on both their faces.
About two weeks passed. Harry and Draco kept their love a secret. However, deep within the foggiest and murkiest depths of his heart, Harry knew it could not stay that way forever. Even if no one else ever found out, Ron and Hermione were certain to, and he would rather tell them than have them stumble upon the truth. He did indeed try on several occasions, but the flow of conversation always moved on before he could muster enough guts to tell his two best friends that he was in love with their arch enemy, and Harry's chance at deliverance from his guilt was snatched away.
"Oh, guess what I saw in Hogsmeade!" Hermione said on one of these occasions.
"A smelly old bat in a clown suit?" Ron suggested, not looking up from his Transfiguration homework.
"In the Three Broomsticks there were two guys sitting with each other and they were kissing!"
No one observed that Harry's face had suddenly gone bright crimson.
"Err..." he began.
Suddenly, the portrait burst open with amazing force. Fred and George came running in, laughing maniacally. A few seconds later, the Head Boy, Calvin Towers (who was, if at all possible, as bad as Percy had been) sporting a lime green face and an extra pair of arms attached to his behind.
"I demand that you give me the antidote to this potion RIGHT NOW!"
"Why Calvin!" said Fred in mock offense, "I am hurt and shocked that you could possibly think that George and I did this!"
Calvin's lime green face turned olive with rage at Fred's words.
" You fix me NOW! Other wise, I will be forced to exercise my authority as Head Boy and go to Professor Dumbledore!"
"Tattletale," Fred murmured.
"Ah, c'mon, Calvin! Don't get your panties in a bunch!" Fred said heartily, clapping the now forest green Calvin on the back. "Or should I say..."
"NO YOU SHOULD NOT!"
*****
Although a very amusing way to end the day, Harry trudged up the stairs to his dormitory bitterly disappointed. He felt terrible for not being able to tell Ron and Hermione about he and Draco. They were his best friends; didn't they have a right to know?
At 11:30, Harry crept quietly out of bed and descended down the descended down the spiral staircase to the common room. Not quietly enough, however. He didn't observe Ron silently waking up and following him down the stairs. Nor did he perceive Hermione sitting almost hidden in a corner of the room with a large book in her lap.
Ron put a finger to his lips, looking at Hermione. She nodded and then pointed at Harry questioningly. Ron nodded back and then shrugged, a puzzled look on his freckled face. As Harry climbed out of the portrait, Ron and Hermione crept noiselessly behind him.
*****
Up in the Astronomy Tower, Harry saw a familiar figure. Draco stood, leaning lightly against a cold stone wall. He turned and saw Harry. In the dim light, Harry saw him smile, a sincerely sweet gesture that made Harry's heart melt and caused his knees to tremble.
"You took long enough, Potter," Draco whispered softly to Harry, as he wrapped his arms around him.
"You have my sincerest apologies," Harry responded, and kissed him, long and softly.
From behind a corner, Hermione watched and Ron watched. The moment Harry's lips met Draco's, Ron was unable to keep silent any longer.
"Eww, Harry, gross!"
Hermione gasped and clapped a hand to Ron's mouth. Draco and Harry spun around, identical looks of horror on both their faces.