Hiya! Welllllllllcome back! I decided to get this next chapter out nice and quickly, just to be nice.

Well, about the mailing list—it's up! Yup, go join it at yahoogroups. The name of the group is "hpperhaps", and feel free to come and join ASAP! And not only will we discuss my fanfic, but your own fanfics, fanart, and anything Harry Potter. Sounnnnnd good? I think so! Go join today!

Anyway, I could not be happier with all the review I'm getting on this. It really means a lot to me, so you guys really rock. So I give my special thanks to:

ILOVELINKINPARK122, Draco Malfoy N Harry Potter, Ashna, Evil Windstar, Angelstar, Crazy one with Neko ears, Jeanie, Karina, Seven Stones, Prophetess of Hearts, CrystalStarGuardian, Klee, Scratches, ClarKeRaVen, Angel Of Death, flynfish, Kate, TOm, Griffingirl

Also a big round of thanks to DiDi Khatib, my first inspiration, lol; anyone else who read and didn't review; and all of my friends who told me I was insane and what I write is disgusting 'cause it's slash--you amuse me, and give me motivation-- I write to show you that slash ISN'T bad. Thankss again to everyone!

Enjoy!

~Lauren

Draco tugged on Harry's shirt sleeve, pulling him quickly down the staircase. In any other situation, Harry would have complained, but today was different.
Today he had connected with Draco, felt some unseen energy, known some unfound fact. He felt his friend's hand reach down from his smooth sleeve and search frantically for his fingers, grasping his hand needily. The tension that had risen in that one moment, that pivital second, was engulfing them both, leading them in frantic silence to the main hall, then to the doorway, and out to the forbidden forest. They shared naught a word, but none were needed, for the feeling of each other was all they would need.

As soon as the last sliver of Hogwarts disappeared behind a dark, rough trunk, Draco let his clammy fingers reluctantly drop Harry's. He brought his hand up to his forehead, and clasped his side with the other one. "Side ache," he gasped slightly. "Ow!"

Harry smiled shakily at Draco, eyes catching on the beads of sweat resting on the edge of his hairline. Too damn good-looking, he is. God, I'm alone in the forest, horny, with my best friend that I'm overwhelmingly attracted to . . . life is too difficult. Even the sweat on his forehead is turning me on! God, Draco, just get it over with, it's so hard to resist temptation . . .

Draco looked back up at Harry. "Well, I suppose you're wondering why I dragged you out here," he muttered, biting his lip. His hands dropped and clasped together, squirming nervously as if they wanted to leap right off the ends of his arms. Looking up, he realized that his raven-haired crush was gazing right at them, an un-readable expression forming on his face. He quickly dropped his hands to his sides, and Harry glanced back up.

"Errrr, yes, as a matter of fact I was," Harry drawled, a smirking slightly. "It's not every day that you drag me spontaneously out of bed and into the forbidden forest for a 'walk'."

Draco's face had now drained of all color that his pale skin had ever possessed, and Harry could see the boy's chest rise up and down in frantic breath. Damn it, I shouldn't have done this, I'm such a git . . . "It's just that there's something that's been on my mind lately, and I really need to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. You . . . you probably don't agree, but . . . "

Harry cocked one eyebrow. His mind told him to act like he wasn't nervous, but he was. God, he was. In his dreams, at least, this would be the moment where Draco slammed him down to the ground and ravaged him, right on the spot. You know he's not going to confess some life-long love for you, you daft prick! Stop letting your imagination run away with you! he tried to tell himself, but to no avail. It'll be some silly little thing. It's nothing. His face showed he was convinced, but his mental voice weakened as the second progressed. Nothing at all . . .

"Hurry up then!" he chuckled lightheartedly, hiding all signs of nervousness. Draco's eyes widened, and he gulped.

"Harry, I . . ." he started, staring into the boy's eyes . . .



HA! I'M LEAVING YOU THERE! **cackles insanely** AND I'm going to Florida for a week ((national dance team competition! woooo!)) so I won't be able to update! **does a happy evil dance** For now, you can all go
**cough**
JOIN! MY! MAILING! LIST!
**cough**
and discuss what you think is going to happen next.

Will Draco tell Harry the truth?
Will he make something else up at the spur of the moment?
Will they be interrupted?
Will Draco faint ((etc))?
Will something else happen?

((frankly, even I don't know yet . . . ))

Well, sorry that chapter was SO short, but I wanted to get what I had done up before I left for Florida, so . . . biya! See y'all later!
~Lauren ((HPMystery))