Disclaimer: Harry Potter, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. They are used here for entertainment purposes only.

Warnings: Slash. Het. Mushiness.

Spoilers: None. Written Pre-OotP.

Like Glass
Chapter 3 - A Little Peace and Quiet

Draco was trying to read his book. Again. Without thoughts of Harry invading his mind, but that was proving to be impossible. Everywhere he turned he was reminded of the love he held for the Boy Who Lived. Across the lawn of Hogwarts lay the Quidditch pitch. He stopped to look over to it and remember all the times he'd played against Harry.

Harry was a God when he flew.

There was a passion in that boy's eyes that made Draco's heart race. It was just the same amount of passion that Harry usually put into their fights, which as the years flew by had begun to turn dramatic and just a little showy. Draco had been beginning to feel like sideshow entertainment for the whole of Hogwarts.

It had only gotten worse to keep up with when he realized he'd rather be having passionate arguments with Harry in private.

He'd rather be having passionate anything with Harry in private. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on.

He saw Ginny Weasley too late to make a run for it. She looked just a little bit apprehensive, but he admired her bravery at coming to talk to him. All of the younger ones were scared of him. Harry Potter's enemy. He was up there in bedtime nightmares with Voldemort.

"Listen, Draco..." she died off, fidgeting and looking away.

"I won't tell. Your secret is safe with me."

She looked at him in shock, then let her eyes sweep up and down over him. Her expression softened and she smiled at him.

"Thank you."

"Are you ashamed of him?"

She blinked at him. "Me, ashamed of him? How stupid do you think I am? I know that all of his friends would turn on him if they knew about us. I know how angry his parents would be. I don't think our relationship would last that long."

Draco stared at her. "Do you know, I'm tempted to leave you two to your own devices just to see how long it would last, but here's a hint: If he hasn't told you, he's in love with you. If it wasn't obvious to you, it's obvious me that you love him as well. I hate to sound starry eyed and romantic, but you could be a strong couple. Show no fear, Weasley. If you think Zabini is good enough for you, and I know he thinks you're good enough for him, go for it."

"He's... perfect. I don't mean dashing and romantic, and he is when he's being all 'suave,' but it's so obvious its more charming than slick. I'm not saying I want to run away and live in a glass castle with blood red roses with him, fighting off the dragons and gazing into each other's eyes all the time. I'm saying I want to... I want to read a good book with him. Make a home with him, as loving as mine own. I want to show him how to bake cakes, knowing all the while how uncomfortable he'll be. Worried about his fancy clothes or something. I want to cook him dinner and watch the sunset with him. I want to argue about the color of couch we get and what's the best Quidditch team. I just wanna live with him."

Draco smiled at her, warmed by her homey description of the perfect life with Blaise.

"It's all I need."

Draco nodded. "I think you should be open about your relationship. You two are... good for each other. He's an actual friend of mine, and... I care about what happens to him. Tell your friends and family together, it'll be better in the long run. And always, always," at this point he stepped up to her, determination in his gaze, "be honest with him. Trust him and let him trust you. I've seen love be used against people time and time again. Friendships, lovers, wives and husbands. Don't ever give someone a reason or a way to get to him. If you cause him any harm I will bring harm down upon everyone you know."

Draco pulled back and straightened up and blinked at himself. He hadn't even known until then how much his friendship with Blaise had meant to him. Another weakness. The list grew longer every day. He'd gone so long without letting anything into his heart, but people like Zabini were crafty. Who'd have guessed someone could win Draco's friendship by simply being nice to him. Being there for him.

You can only hold the world out for so long.

Ginny Weasley smiled at him, turning to leave before pausing a few feet away. "You know something, Draco? I think that's the sweetest threat you've ever thrown my way."

Draco was grumbling about interruptions and settling down by a tree as she walked away, a smile on her face and determination on her face.

* * *

Harry was everywhere. Draco just couldn't get away. He put down his book and shot the approaching boy Potter a look clearly depicting his unhappiness with the situation. Harry shrugged at him, understanding instantly, the way Harry always did. That was part of the danger of Harry. It was easy for him to see Draco's weaknesses.

"I'm only here to say hi."

"Sure."

"I'm worried about you, Malfoy. It's a beautiful day out, and all you can do is sit here and read a book," at this point Harry sat down beside Draco and reached over to grab his book. His perceptive eyes skimmed the cover of Hamlet and he sent Draco a questioning look, before shaking his head and handing the book back. "Do you know that you haven't picked on anyone in months?"

"I'm starting to re-think that decision."

"And you and I haven't had a fight in a few weeks either."

"I can remedy that. Are you busy right now?"

Harry grinned and shook his head, continuing on, "not that I wanted to fight you or anything. It's just that... well, let's say that when even Ron is worrying about you, I should probably check up on you."

"Charming." He was starting to feel intoxicated with the nearness of Harry. The sleek, inky hair glinting in the sunlight. "It's gratifying to hear that Wesley's concerned about me-"

"Another weakness to exploit? His kindness?"

Draco felt a pang of hurt hit him, and he flashed Harry a dirty look. He felt even worse because he knew it was true. He was a horrible person. His father was a horrible person.

And being in control was lonely.

But he couldn't stop being Draco Malfoy right now. It just didn't fit. He just wasn't nice. Even to Harry.

"I'm sorry, I'll take that back. But it's an issue I feel we should address later."

"What are you, my therapist?"

"I'm a concerned acquaintance."

Draco sighed and rolled his shoulders before leaning back against his tree. "Go away, Potter. And know that any weakness I have, is a victory to you. We'll never be friends, Harry. We can only be enemies. Take advantage of this chance. There won't be many."

"You called me Harry." Harry's eyes had darkened behind his glasses and he was leaning into Draco. Close. Too close.

Draco's eyes narrowed and he snapped away from Harry, shuffling to his feet, clutching his book with tension. "It's your name, ignoramus."

Harry stood as well, taking a step forward, concern and something else in his eyes. "I know, it's just... I know you knew my name."

"It's not the first time I've said it, either. I don't know why you should be so surprised." Draco jumped when he felt Harry's hand fall on his shoulder.

Harry smiled comfortingly at him. "I know. Relax."

Draco snorted and turned on his heel. Maybe the library would afford him some privacy.

* * *

"There's my favorite neighborhood ferret boy."

"What is it with you Gryffindors today? Decided it's just the perfect day to bother me?"

"Something like that. Isn't today a beautiful day?"

"Merlin, another one."

"I can't help it, I'm in love."

"Oh, not you too. First Zabini and Weasley, now this."

"Ron's in love?" Her eyes lit up with girlish hope.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I was referring to the younger Weasley. Ginny."

"You know, the confusion could all be solved if you called everyone by their first names, Malfoy."

"Hypocrite. And anyway, the confusion could be solved just as easily if only the Weasleys would stop breeding like rabbits," he said without malice.

Hermione stifled a giggle. "Watch it. I could be a Weasley someday."

"Merlin, save us."

"Haven't you ever been in love?" She put her arms up and twirled around happily in the dewy grass. He rolled his eyes. "Oh, get off it, Malfoy. You're seventeen years old! You're young!"

She flopped down beside him and took his arm in her hands, extending the sleeve us his robe us past his elbow, running her fingers along his flesh.

His eyebrows raised, "checking for marks, Granger?"

Hermione shook her head and snorted. "You, Malfoy? Somehow I don't think 'Follow the Leader' was ever a game you played well in school. Look, Malfoy. Blood runs through these veins, hot and passionate. Your heart pumps it through miles of arteries to keep you alive, and right now it's jumping to get out and do something foolish, I can feel it."

"You can?"

"Yes. It's the time in a young man's life when he looks to young women," and here she slid knowing eyes to him, "or other young men,"

He barely stopped himself from choking.

"-and the heart builds bonds with other human beings. Attraction, passion, affection, love..."

"Weakness."

Hermione sighed and let his arm go. He eyes focused on something faraway and invisible to Draco. "Weak. Yes."

He nodded and began to stand.

"Tell me Draco, do you think you'll live forever?"

Draco frowned down at her. "That's nearly impossible."

"Do you think you can live your life, a fortress in a land with no stability? You'd stand against the storm?"

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"You'd never see beyond the horizon. Never feel the rush of falling. Never experience the fear of running for you life, and never experience the joy of that first meal just after you've escaped death. The colors that invade your senses. All you'll ever eat is bland, and all you ever see is black and white. What does being safe get you?"

"Tell me something Granger, if you went to him now and confessed your love, would it break your heart if he turned you away?"

The breath caught in her throat. "It would break my heart, but I'd still have wanted to love him."

Draco made a derisive sound. "And if he said he loved you back and two weeks from now you found him sleeping with some Ravenclaw, not a thought about his girlfriend?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "We are talking about Ron here, aren't we?"

"Anything's possible."

"Yes, I suppose it is. No, Draco. I wouldn't give up this feeling of being in love, even if it comes with all that pain."

He nodded shortly and turned to leave, then stopped and turned back to her. "And if he felt the same, and you were one day married, had eight children, hundreds of honeymoons and happy evenings together. And one day during the battle that you know must come, he's captured so they can get to you? Don't pretend your skills won't be dearly needed in this war."

Hermione sighed. "You mean if my never loving him would have kept me safe?"

He nodded.

"I'd die a thousand deaths to love him freely for just one day."

"Sweeping statement. And if the roles were reversed, and your loving him put him in danger instead?"

At this she looked over and smiled at him. "Is that what this is, Draco? The flimsy hope that by hiding all of your feelings, you'll feel nothing when he's in trouble? When he's in pain? Merlin forbid, when he dies?"

Draco was silent.

"Ron fights for what he believes in. Its part of what makes me love him. He'd fight even if the two of us never loved each other. He'd be in danger whether I gave into my feelings or not. I love him Draco, and I can't hide it."

Draco nodded.

"I'm telling him tonight," she said, sending him a crafty gaze, "so Harry should be free."

Draco snorted and turned on his heel, walking away from her. Hermione Granger followed him with that all-seeing look. Why did she have to know everything?

End Chapter