Part Two
All's JK's and WB's
Harry waited outside the Slytherin common room, breathing deeply to calm himself. He and Draco had spent most of the Christmas holidays together. And it had been fun. They'd played chess, explored the castle together - Draco knew of places that Harry had never even seen before, save on the Marauder's Map, and they could be pretty interesting. One place, a Quidditch trophy room, had got pictures of his and Draco's fathers - as well as a team picture of the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's in Harry's dad's time, with Snape and Sirius trying to kill each other. It was pretty funny, but being able to see some more picture's of his father was the best thing Draco could have given him. A visit to Hogsmeade in Harry's invisibility cloak had been fun. The two had gone to the Hogs Head and stuffed themselves with far too much butterbeer and sweets. And now the holidays were over, and the two were meeting or one last time while they could be alone.
The portrait swung open, and Draco stood there, smirking at him. "What are you waiting for, Potter? I told you the password."
Harry gave him a look. As much as he'd grown to like Draco, he could still be most annoying. "I know, it's Diddlysquat. I was just, you know, getting ready."
"For?" Draco raised his eyebrow, and Harry smiled at him. He looked good. A strand of that pale, pale blond hair of his was in his eyes, those blue eyes that made Harry feel almost dreamy. "What?!" He asked, and Harry couldn't help chuckling.
"Sorry, its just - you looked so cute, then." Colour rose to his cheeks. He wasn't used to admitting that he even liked Draco, let alone attracted to him.
"And you look damned cute when you blush, Harry," Draco drawled, then stood aside. "So what are you waiting for?" Harry walked into the Slytherin common room, and sat down on what had become his favourite seat - a comfy, velveteen sofa in a shade of green that matched his eyes. Draco sat down next to him, after moving a textbook of the chair.
"Been revising?" Asked Harry, reading the title of the book. It was a potions book.
"Yeah, I want to keep ahead in Snape's class. Plus, it's really interesting." Harry gave him a look. He didn't find Potions at all interesting. More frustrating and annoying. "Hey, just because he doesn't like you, doesn't mean some of us can't get a good mark. Some of us work at it, too," Draco added, but without venom. His smile took the edge away.
"What do you plan on telling people?"
"About?"
"About us, stupid."
"Is there an 'us', Harry?"
Harry paused, looking at the other boy. It was true, they hadn't done anything other than be friends over the holidays. But he did want more. And with Draco looking at him like that, so seriously, with that small frown on his face... An urge to kiss him rose in Harry, and he decided to do it, now, before his courage left him. Leaning forward, he touched his lips with his own, softly at first, then harder, more passionately as Draco responded. The two boys parted, breathing heavily. A smile curved Harry's lips. That was his first real kiss. It was nice. He could see why people did it so much. And Draco still looked wonderful - more so, with his dishevelled hair, and the shocked look on his face. Then Draco smiled too.
"I guess that's your answer. I'm glad." Draco took Harry's hand, almost shyly. "I don't really know what our relationship has to do with anybody. Crabbe and Goyle already know. And everyone else'll probably guess when they see us together," he gave a dazzling grin. "What are you going to tell Granger and Weasley?"
Harry shook his head, shrugging. This was what he'd been wondering about. Hermione would be surprised, but would probably give them her blessing when she'd gotten used to it. But Ron was a different matter. He hated Draco with a vengeance. Not to mention the fact he'd probably think Harry's being bi was just another way to get attention. Harry frowned.
"I have to idea how to tell them. Especially Ron."
"Maybe you should just let him see us kissing?"
A shudder ran down Harry's back at the thought of what Ron might do at that. "No, I've got to tell him. But I can't think of a way to do it without him going mad."
"Just tell him," Draco said, sitting back and bracing a leg on the table. "If he has issues with it, that's his problem."
Harry looked at him, still worried, but not able to think of any better way to tell his best friend.
Reaching over to stroke his face, Draco smiled. "Don't worry, Harry. Everything'll be okay."
"Really?" He asked, knowing he couldn't really know.
"We'll make it okay," the Draco grinned, this time instigating the kiss himself, then he stood. "You better get back to your common room if you want to get there before Weasley."
"Ron, Draco. Crabbe and Goyle might be happy being called by their surnames, but my friends aren't. They're Ron and Hermione."
Draco shrugged. "Sure, Ron and Hermione. Whatever. Now get gone." He pulled Harry to him for on last kiss, then pushed him out of the common room. Walking down the corridors, Harry frowned. He was still worrying about what to tell Ron. Entering the Gryffindor common room, he walking slowly up the stairs to the boys dormitory. And stopped dead when he saw Ron, sat on his bed and pulling off his jumper, one like his mother made every year with an 'R' on the front. He grinned at Harry.
"Hey, Harry. Have a good Christmas?"
"Er - yeah. Pretty good."
"Get anything nice?"
"Er-" Harry was blushing scarlet now, and made an excuse to go and sit in the common room for a moment. He was delighted to see Hermione walk in. She looked surprised for a moment, then smiled and asked the same questions Ron had asked. She then frowned.
"Are you alright, Harry? You look - worried."
"Hermione, I - oh God, how do I tell you this? I - Me and-" Argh, I can't say it. "Me and Draco, we, well, I think we're going out." Harry's cheeks were burning, and the look on Hermione's face didn't help. She looked surprised, and suspicious, as though expecting the punchline to come any moment. "I'm serious, Hermione."
Her eyes widened, and then she gave a smile, looking a bit shocked. "I was wondering what there was between you two. I knew there was chemistry, but I never guessed it was that kind!" She smiled and hugged Harry. "Oh, congratulations! Though this'll take some getting used to… I suppose he's not so horrible after all?"
"No, he's not." Harry said, feeling protective. Over the holidays, he'd found a lot out about Draco Malfoy. Like he was terrified of his father. Like he didn't care whether his classmates were Muggle-born or pure blood, but if he better act like he did if he didn't want a beating from his father. And beatings in the Malfoy household came in the form of the Cruciatus curse. Harry looked at Hermione. "How the hell do I tell Ron?"
Cocking her head for a moment, Hermione shrugged. "I really don't know. Ron can be an idiot sometimes, but you're his best friend, Harry. He'll understand."
"Understand what?" Ron asked, appearing from the staircase. "What's up, Harry? Are you okay?"
"He's just got something to tell you," Hermione said, walking off up to her room. Harry stared after her in terror and anger. How could she leave him in this situation!? He looked at Ron, who was looking at him questioningly. Harry's anger at Hermione dissipated.
"Ron, I don't know how you're going to take this. But just be quiet, okay, 'til I've said it, or I don't think I'll be able to." Taking a deep breath, and staring at the floor, Harry started. "Over Christmas, Draco was staying here too. And we sort of got talking. And, well, I - we kind of - kissed - and we kind of - he explained a lot of things. He's not such a bad guy, and we - I like him, Ron. I really do." Harry got the courage to look up, to see Ron looking at him, expressionless. He then turned and ran up the staircase to the dormitory, and Harry heard the door slam. Sitting down heavily, Harry put his head in his hands. That hadn't gone the way he'd planned it to.