The Nature Of A Man

Disclaimer: The usual. The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and this work represents a poor fumbling attempt at a Harry Potter story. I really wasn't sure where the story was going but it's rated PG-13 just in case. Read and review. You like it or you don't, just drop me a line at jadewing@hotmail.com if you want to rant or praise longer. Um, read the earlier chapter's disclaimer. Otherwise, nothing to say. Just review and let me know what you think.

Harry was absorbed over the conversation with Professor Grey the whole morning and the whole evening as well. Even a slipped note from Draco during Potions earlier on had not been enough to jar him out of his reverie. Which was quite a change, Harry mused to himself. These days notes from Draco meant late nights in Draco's room and burning kisses in bed with the Slytherin. Even at the thought of what they were going to do tonight made Harry's face burn. I'm becoming an addict to sex, Harry thought. And again the very idea of sex made him blush again. Because tonight …

"Harry, have you finished your Transfiguration homework yet?" Ron's voice jarred him back to reality. The redhead gave him a curious look. "Why is your face so red? Are you feeling all right?" He stepped forward, placing a cool hand over Harry's forehead. "You're not having a fever or anything."

"I'm all right, Ron. Really." He gently nudged Ron's hand away.

"What did Professor Grey want to see you about today anyway?"

Harry felt his face burning again. I'm blushing like a school girl, Harry thought to himself, a little wryly. "Er, um, just some stuff about my homework."

"Oh." It was obvious Ron wasn't really interested in the answer anyway. He sat up on the arm of the couch Harry was in, kicking his feet restlessly against the soft cushions.

"What's up, Ron?"

Ron jerked his head up. "Nothing. Why should anything be up?"

Harry sighed. "Do I have to use a Truth Potion on you? I'm quite willing to hex you and funnel the Potion down your throat."

Ron scowled. "You're getting really impatient and grouchy these days. Did you know that?" He bit his lip indecisively. "It's … it's about …" His words trailed off in a mutter.

"What? Speak up!" Harry told him crossly.

Ron took a quick look around. Then he hissed, "It's about going all the way!"

For a moment, Harry was just a little confused. "What?!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Sex, you idiot! Going all the way!"

Harry blinked and Ron's face began turning a deep shade of crimson. Weakly, Harry said, "You mean, you and Hermione are thinking …"

Ron ducked his head, his face towards the floor. Harry was sure his blush had gotten deeper. "No, just me. I haven't talked to Hermione yet about it …"

"Maybe you should. I mean, this is something the both of you have to consider …" Harry couldn't believe he was about to give this lecture. Him!

Ron nodded. He looked up. "I really knew the answer actually but I guess I wanted a second opinion or something. Tonight, I guess. Could you …?" He gave Harry a pleading look.

Harry smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I have some things to do anyway tonight."

Ron heaved a sigh of relief. "You know, I can't help feeling that the both of us have really been neglecting you these days. I mean, we're always together and you're always alone."

"Gives me time to study." At Ron's look of disbelief, he hurriedly continued, a little defensive. "What? Is Hermione the only one who can study around here?"

"Yes." Ron laughed at Harry's outraged look and Harry joined in as well. It felt good to be laughing with Ron again … and then his mind wandered to what Grey had told him. He hadn't mentioned it to anyone yet and he couldn't figure out what to do about it. Should I or shouldn't I? Harry wondered. It was important that Ron and Hermione knew but Grey's answer had been so vague. True, what Grey had said could have answered his questions. Draco could have been responsible for the Situation at his father's orders. But why was Grey not doing anything about it? The only answer was that Grey was involved in it as well or he was being forced to keep quiet about it. Tell, he decided suddenly.

"Ron, I …" But at that moment, the clock struck eight and Harry cursed silently. He was supposed to meet Draco at a quarter past eight outside the Slytherin common room.

"Yeah?" Ron turned an inquiring look at him.

"Never mind. I have to run. See you later then." He dashed off with a wave and heard Ron's "bye" lingering behind him. Harry ran like crazy, traversing all the moving staircases. While the distance from the Gryffindor common room to the Slytherin common room may have been a short one, in linear terms, once all the other factors had been considered, running to meet Draco wasn't really that surprising. Factor one, manic poltergeists. Peeves was rattling the armour, throwing gauntlets at Harry with a cackle. Wand out, Harry used the Banishment Charm, sending them back at Peeves who howled as one hit him on the head. Factor two, moving staircases with an invisible hole just there and another over there. He leaped over both with a practiced ease that had been developed after four years at Hogwarts. Factor three, the stubborn door. The quickest way through to the Slytherin common room was through a passage that a particularly stubborn door guarded. It wouldn't open even if you pleaded with it or tickled it. It only responded to bribes. Harry tossed it a few Chocolate Frogs he had in his pocket, a little something he had prepared for this. A wooden tongue slurped the Frogs up and the door swung open. Finally, a little out of breath, Harry was outside the entrance of the Slytherin common room. A portrait guarded the entrance as well but this one was that of a bloodied pale woman in a white dress.

"Password?" Her voice was cold and it echoed in the silent halls.

"Draconis rex."

She eyed him dubiously for a moment then nodded grimly before swinging open. Harry stepped through and ran up the stairs and flung open the door to Draco's room.

"Meep!" The door swung shut, the knob falling away from Harry's listless hands.

"You're late, Harold James Potter!" Draco scowled at him, folding his arms crossly. His hair was loose again, and he was sitting up in his wide, four poster bed. Red sheets covered him from the waist down. The warm firelight glinted across the pale skin of his bare torso, lightly muscled and smooth, as Harry knew from all those nights they had spent together. Though there was really no indication, Harry knew without a doubt that should the sheets be pulled away, it would confirm his suspicions that Draco Malfoy was very much nude.

Noticing Harry's rather preoccupied eyes, Draco smiled. He whipped out his wand and muttered, "Olahomora", and Harry could hear the door locking behind him.

"Draco, the note … I thought you were …" Harry began weakly but at that moment, Draco decided to stand up. Harry squeaked again and shut his eyes tight but he had caught a glimpse anyway. It's huge, he thought to himself wildly. He can't be serious about doing that!

He was very much startled when Draco's lips touched the base of his neck and Draco's arms slid around his waist. "Open your eyes, Harry," Draco whispered into his ear before his tongue began probing Harry's ear.

"Meep!" Again. What was with all the squeaking? He was a big boy now. Surely he could handle just the sight of it … As Harry felt Draco's hands slide down past his waist, caressing his bottom, he decided against opening his eyes. "Draco, stop playing around!"

"Who says I'm playing?" He chuckled softly and the sound sent a shiver down Harry's back.

When arms swung him up into their embrace, Harry couldn't help it. He opened his eyes. Draco's silver eyes stared down at him, a laugh on his lips. He had picked up the other boy, carrying him in his arms. The warm smooth skin of Draco's chest was pressed against Harry and even through his robes, he could feel the heat emanating from the blonde. As for the rest of him … Harry refused to look down. Draco set him down lightly in the bed and the slipped in beside him, under the covers. Thank goodness!

Draco looked at him. "I thought you wanted this as well."

"I do … I think. I don't know. Thinking about it earlier was easy but now, I'm just …" Harry shut his mouth at the smile on Draco's lips.

"We don't really have to go all the way tonight. But I thought I'd just give you a taste of what we could do." He gave Harry a smirk. "If you want to go on, we can, but the decision lies with you."

"Why do you seem to assume that I'm the bottom and you're the top?" Harry asked him, a little furiously.

Draco grasped Harry's hand gently and pulled it towards himself. A little dazed, Harry watched as Draco pulled his hand under the sheets, down past Draco's waist and then … It really was hard, hot and big. Very big. Harry couldn't help himself from holding it with his hand, hearing a small gasp from Draco. As he … um, measured it, he couldn't stop his jaw from dropping. Draco smirked again. "Does that answer your question?" Harry nodded dumbly.

"Now, your turn," Draco murmured softly.

"What?"

"Your turn to strip," Draco told him patiently. Red-faced, Harry began pulling off his robes and then his shirt. He took off his watch, leaving it one Draco's bedside table. He paused at the jeans. "Turn around." Draco shook his head and smiled.

"You didn't want to watch me but I want to watch you." He was leering when he said that and Harry scowled at him. He turned his back towards Draco, still sitting on the bed and pulled off everything. Everything. It was with some relief that he pulled the sheets over him before turning around to face Draco. The other boy had this lazy smile on his face but evidently, he had been aroused by the sight of Harry stripping. His arousal was very evident indeed. Draco pulled Harry into his arms and he could feel it against his thigh. Harry scowled at Draco again who pretended not to see anything.

They didn't do anything then, just lying together, getting comfortable. Harry's head was propped against Draco's shoulder and Draco's head was cushioned on Harry's thick unruly hair. His fingers were slowly making circles on Harry's open palm and the other hand was caressing Harry's shoulder.

"I heard you went to see Grey today." Draco's voice was a soft whisper.

Harry nodded.

"What was it about?"

There really wasn't anything else he could say about it though. "He knows about you and I. He saw us kissing in the halls."

There was strange note to Draco's voice when he spoke next, staring at Harry. "What did he say then?"

Harry kissed him gently. "Nothing. He just said we should be more careful in the future."

Draco nodded.

They were silent and Harry wondered what would happen next. He wanted to do it. He was a guy after all, a teenage boy with all his hormones after all. It would be … interesting. But … maybe it might not be such a good idea. But when Draco began kissing him again, Harry's reasons why it wasn't such a good idea just seemed to vanish from his mind. He could only feel those warm lips trailing across his chest and going further. Harry gasped aloud. And the night just seem to pass by in a blink.