Dangerous Love
by valacirca
Part One
By the time the train reached Hogwarts, almost everyone had been informed of what Colin Creevey saw at the last compartment at the end of the train. Of course, nobody believed him because…well, just because. It was utterly ridiculous to even think that something like that could happen, especially when those involved happened to be Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy: sworn enemies and bitter rivals.
On this matter, however, both Ron and Hermione refused to acknowledge anything.
But then again, Harry Potter was gay. It says so on The Daily Prophet. And Draco Malfoy had been known to play for both teams. So other than the fact that they were two of the hottest and most eligible men in Hogwarts, nearly everyone felt that they would make a great couple…aesthetically that is.
As Seekers of their own teams, both had enough workout to be blessed with finely toned muscles, yet slender enough for a Seeker's built. Draco Malfoy, the now Captain of the defending champions, the Slytherin team, had been called the Sex God behind his back (this he knew of course, but never let on that he knew).
Whereas Harry Potter, who had been offered the position of Captain and then graciously declined, have been the talk of school last year when he finally came out. How good is he? Is he a giver or a taker? Can he still get it up if he's with a girl? These were the things that people get curious of in these days of peace.
So when rumors came out that the two were dating, it had been the self appointed task of the school grapevine, mostly composed of Ravenclaw girls and headed by the seventh year Mandy Brocklehurst, to find out if there was any grain of truth about the matter.
Their first real clue came when an eagle owl dropped a note on Harry's plate one breakfast, a week after the train incident. Reading the note and quickly scrawling a reply at the back, he then tied the parchment to the owl's leg.
The owl flew directly back to its owner just across the room towards the Slytherin table where it perched with grace on the shoulder of a certain blond boy. Anyone not sleepy enough or too busy shoveling their breakfast down their throats would have noticed that subtle display of…non-hostility between the two.
Malfoy looked up and gave a quick nod to Harry, who seemed content at the hush that fell on the end of the Ravenclaw table. He tilted his head towards The Grapevines as if asking 'What?' and they all turned back to their breakfast.
But once the chatter of the students became louder and the morning commotion started, The Grapevines began to break down their schedules and 'got down to serious business.' Being the school's official grapevine was a hard work and they take pride in knowing everything there is to know about anybody in school.
"Okay," said Mandy Brocklehurst. "Chris, you have Arithmancy with Malfoy right? So your job is to gather anything there is to know about him there. Now, who has Divinations with Potter this year?"
"I do," replied Lisa Turpin, another seventh year Ravenclaw. "I'll try to get a look on his charts and astrology readings, see if there's anything there that involves Malfoy."
"Good," said Mandy. "Double DADA with Gryffindors shouldn't be a problem, as well as Double Herbology with the Slytherins. However, the most crucial part, Gryffindor and Slytherin double potions, is a problem."
A murmur of agreement rippled over the tight knit group.
"Wait," said Lisa. "I think I know the perfect way." With that she bent her head low and whispered the plan. Anybody who saw the identical grins on the faces of the Ravenclaws would think that the Slytherins had taken Polyjuice potion and invaded their table.
"Okay, so who's going to stalk them during breaks?"
"Potter," the soft hiss echoed through the empty corridor. Harry moved over to the coat of armor and found Malfoy leaning against the wall looking annoyed.
"I thought we were supposed to meet inside an empty classroom beside this armor?" asked Harry.
"It disappeared," came the annoyed reply from Malfoy.
"Oh."
"Anyway," Malfoy said urgently, "did you get my note?"
"You mean that 'love note' you slipped in my notes during potions?" asked Harry with a grin.
"Yeah," replied Malfoy. "How'd you know that Granger was the Grapevine spy anyway?"
"She's my friend. I guess I know her enough," Harry replied shrugging.
"Some friend," Malfoy muttered under his breath, but he seemed clearly amused that Hermione was the Grapevine spy.
"Okay, now let's get this straight. We have rules, okay?" Harry said, taking out and unfolding the 'love note.' It was a list of the taboos in their 'deal.' "One no snogging—" A snort came from Malfoy. "Two no shagging—" "Did we even have to put that there?" "—and three no telling anyone."
"And that includes Granger and Weasel, Potter," Malfoy reminded Harry.
"But what if it's between life and death? Does that count?"
"Who'd kill you? My father?" sneered Malfoy, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Well, your father was a Death Eater…"
"Well, he's in Azkaban now."
Despite all the accusations that Lucius Malfoy had been charged with after the defeat of Voldemort, no one had been able to prove most of them and was never given the Kiss. Without Voldemort urging on his evil desires, Lucius became satisfied with what he had: his life. Yes, Draco Malfoy knew his father was a Dark Wizard. Dark, but apparently, no longer evil.
"Yeah? Well—"
"Shh!"
Malfoy quickly grabbed Harry's shoulder and pushed him against the wall beside one of the coat of armors half-hiding them from view. Trapping the Gryffindor effectively between him and the wall, he leaned down and whispered to the other boy's ear.
"Quick put your hands on my waist, a Ravenclaw Grapevine is coming," Malfoy whispered against Harry's ear.
Harry quickly complied and Draco leaned in closer putting his hand against the wall on the other side of Harry's head. A sharp gasp was heard, followed by the sound of quickly retreating footsteps. A few seconds later, the corridor was filled with howls of laughter from the two boys.
The two finally had to stop when Professor McGonagall came down the corridors and deducting points from each of their houses for disrupting the class she was holding on a nearby classroom. She then went away but not before giving them one last backward glance.
"Okay," said Harry still wheezing. "Where were we again?"
"I think," said Malfoy who was still chuckling, "we were discussing the rules, before we got interrupted."
"Oh yeah," said Harry, choking down his own laughter.
"Okay," said Malfoy. "How about you can tell the Headmaster only if you're in real danger."
"'K," said Harry. "Just don't go running to your mother when this thing blows out of proportion."
"Deal."
"And no calling of Mudblood and insulting Ron about money."
"Fine, if they lay off the cracks on my parents. Anything else?"
"Oh," said Harry. "What about Quidditch?"
"What do you mean 'what about Quidditch?'" countered Malfoy.
Harry just shrugged. "Any rules regarding Quidditch?"
"You wish Potter," Malfoy said half sneering. "We're going to win again this year."
"Last year was a fluke," replied Harry then gave Malfoy a challenging look. "Fine, no rules in Quidditch. I'm taking you down myself."
"Go ahead and try."
There was a moment of tense silence as sparks all but flew around them. Until Malfoy remembered something.
"By the way," Malfoy as if nothing had happened, "the Head Girl is making her rounds on Friday 10:30. Make sure she sees us up in the Astronomy Tower."
As the Head Girl, Mandy Brocklehurst had many ways of getting information. Not to mention that she could get away with a lot of the things normal students couldn't. These were some of the things that made her invaluable to the Grapevines.
"Sure," replied Harry. "Well, I'll see you around then. I have Divinations in ten minutes. Oh and Malfoy, one more thing. You'll be calling me Harry from now on."
Lisa Turpin could not believe her luck. It was a wonderful Friday afternoon and it was her turn to 'stalk' Potter. But just as she was rounding a corner, she saw Potter and Malfoy bumped into each other, as if it was deliberate. Quick eyes allowed her to observe the oh-so-subtle way Malfoy brushed past Potter and pressed a note to the other's palm. Once Malfoy was gone, Potter began unfolding the note.
Oh God! Notepassing in corridors! thought Lisa. Looking hungrily at the piece of parchment, she prayed to all the gods she knew that the note would fall into her greedy hands.
And the gods heard her.
Potter quickly crumpled the note then carelessly slipped it down the pocket of his robe. But the note didn't fall inside. Instead, is fluttered sown to the floor without Potter noticing as he continued walking.
Lisa quickly dived for that precious note, pushing other students away and almost tripping over her feet in the process. Her eyes grew wide when she read what's inside. She then scrambled to the direction of the library hoping to find Mandy there.
What she didn't know was that her every move was being watched by a pair of calculating grey eyes.
"Are you sure this note came from Malfoy?" asked Mandy for the nth time.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" cried Lisa excitedly which earned her glares from the other students who were studying.
"This would prove to be interesting," said Mandy as she closed her book, but not before inserting the note from Draco which read:
Astronomy Tower 11:00 Friday D
At exactly 10:45 Harry quietly crept up from his bed with the Marauder's Map in one hand and his wand on the other.
"Harry?" came the sleepy voce of Ron who was quietly sitting up. "What are you doing out of bed?"
"I—umm—"
"Oh wait," said Ron groaning slightly. "If it's what I think it is, then don't tell me. I don't wanna know. Really."
"Uh, okay…" replied Harry grinning slightly at his best friend.
"Are you sure she'll come up here?" asked Draco anxiously when Potter got to the tower.
"Positive. I heard some of the Grapevines talking about it during DADA," said Potter. Glancing over the map—another surprise from Potter—they suddenly noticed the dot that says 'Mandy Brocklehurst' on it walk up the stairs towards the Astronomy Tower.
"Quick! She's coming up!" Potter whispered loudly pushing him out the door. "Go!"
Outside Draco waited for the footsteps to come, but nothing came. Silencing spell, thought Draco immediately. He then saw the shadow that fell over the moonlight and he knew she was coming.
Draco tapped the door lightly twice then entered just in time to alow Mandy to see the ends of his robes go in and the door closed with a soft click. Inside, Draco couldn't help but grin and gave a thumbs-up sign to Potter.
Both looking at the map, they could see Mandy's dot come very near the door. Potter motioned to Draco that Mandy was listening on the other side. Grinning wickedly, Draco let out a small moan from the depths of his vocal chords.
Potter's eyes grew wide and then stifled a gasp as Draco clamped the other boy's mouth with his hand. Shaking with mirth, Potter couldn't seem to stop laughing at Draco, who was having a hard time shutting up the other boy. He quickly waved his wand to cast a Silencing Spell around the room.
Less then a second later, the room was filled with Potter's laughter.
"Potter! You idiot!" cried an extremely annoyed Draco. "You almost gave us away!"
"I'm sorry!" said the other boy, who did not look sorry in the least and still shaking with laughter. "It's just that—no wonder they call you 'Sex God,' you're extremely good at faking it!" And another stream of laughter filled the room.
"I'll have you know that that trick is very useful at times," retorted the red-faced Draco hotly.
By Saturday night, nearly the whole school knew about Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy's midnight rendezvous at the Astronomy Tower. Of course, it was courtesy of The Grapevines. But a lot were still skeptical about it and didn't believe it instantly. But breakfast the Sunday had been an eye opener.
Harry had been flying over the Quidditch pitch that Sunday morning just before breakfast. He needed to feel the cool breeze on his face. It was then that Draco came along.
"Potter, come down here. I need to talk to you," said Draco.
"Hey Drac, what's the problem?" asked Harry flying low and hovered ten feet above the ground slowly going around Draco in a wide circle.
"That," stated the blond, "is the problem."
"Huh?"
"My name, Potter," said Draco exasperatedly, "is Draco. Not Drac."
"Okay, whatever you say Drakie," grinned Harry impishly.
"Arrgh! I said DRACO. Draay-coh!"
"Watch it, if flame starts to come out of your nostrils I may have to call you Firedrake."
"Shut up, you git." A loud bang came from the end of Draco's wand and out came a small stinging hex. They next thing Harry knew, he was falling and his arse landing smack on the hard ground.
"Ow! What the fuck, Malfoy?" cried Harry, rubbing his sore behind.
"Serves you right for being a git," said Draco while helping Harry up. Then his expression became contrite. "Are you hurt badly? Broken bones?"
"You wish," replied Harry. "Just a little sore."
Together they walked towards the castle, but not before Harry slightly smacked Draco upside the head. And so the bickering continued until they got inside.
A hush fell over the Great Hall as both Harry and Draco entered. It was clear to all that Harry was walking in a funny way and that Draco was trying to support him by laying a hand on his back and escorting him to the Gryffindor table.
"What did you do now, ferret?" said Ron standing up and glaring at the Slytherin.
"None of you business, Weasel," replied Draco.
"Harry are you okay?" asked Hermione helping him to sit down. "Do you need to go see Madam Pomfrey?"
"I'm fine. My arse hurts a bit though," Harry said glaring at Draco. "And it's all his fault," he added even before he could think and stop himself from saying it.
Draco almost choked and Harry turned bright red. Hoots and catcalls rang out from neighboring chairs and tables and the Grapevines were smiling brilliantly.
"I did NOT need to hear that!" cried Ron banging his head on the table.
And so, that was how the school learned about the now-not-so-secret relationship between 'enemies-turned-lovers' Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. And from that day on, people no longer say that Grapevines news were based on pure rumors. As for Mandy Brocklehurst, it was said that that was her last big achievement as the head of the Grapevines before she graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.