A/N: Wow, the end of the fic. :'( Sob. Or maybe not. Hmm. :D Um, I know I took really, really long to get this out, sorry! I was at OBS! Okay, that's not a good excuse. Never mind. :P I had major writer's block too... Heh. This chapter is hopefully slightly longer than usual! :) Oh, and thanks for the reviews! :) Replies are at the bottom, as usual. Warning: Clich¨¦s abound, and hopefully all loose ends have been tied up. :D This chapter has a whole lot of dialogue, somehow, compared to all the rest. Heh. This is what happens when the great J.K. is not guiding me. -_- Hope you don't hate it. o_O
You might know this, but anyway. I've redone chapters 1 and 2! :D Not really redone, just added to it, so well, I hope it makes for better reading this time. :) Read it, please? :D I changed the ending of chapter 3 just a little too. :) And by little I do mean little, so don't come charging after me with a pickaxe for not putting a lot more... detail. :) It's sort of mentioned here too, so don't be surprised by the change. You'll get what I mean when you read that part. :) Also, I've straightened out most, if not all, of the formatting and grammar mistakes and stuff in the entire fic. :D I think.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything.
This chapter is for Icicle, without whom this fic might never have been completed. She beta-read the beginning of this chapter and encouraged me whenever I felt the story was crap. :D So applause, please. :)
Harry's POV
***
After the whole Chamber of Secrets affair, Colin Creevey had been popping up in my face everywhere I went even more than usual, squeaking excitedly, ''Was it terrifying? Harry? Was it? Was it?'' and I was getting increasingly agitated whenever I spotted him lurking around a corner. There was only one word to describe that boy: scary.
The exams had been cancelled, thank goodness, and as a result the entire school had been in the holiday mood for the past two weeks, anticipating the long-awaited break. As expected, I was the exception to the rule, dreading yet another wonderful summer with the Dursleys at Privet Drive away from Hogwarts, from Ron, from Hermione... and him.
It was the last day of school before the summer vacation, and as I walked out of the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione after dinner, I was suddenly jerked back by someone pulling on my robes from behind. The not so mysterious someone took my left hand and slipped a note into it, holding it just a second longer than necessary, then he proceeded to walk off leisurely in the direction of Slytherin Tower. I shakily started to unfold the piece of paper, my hand trembling slightly from the contact.
''Come on, Harry, what're you standing there for?'' said Ron as he turned back for a second to see where I'd gone.
''Oh, nothing,'' I replied as I looked up and smiled, stuffing the note into my robes and catching up with my friends.
Whatever it was that he wanted, it could wait.
*
Later that night, after yet another raucous Gryffindor party in the common room, I felt exhausted and reluctantly started to change out of my robes, but I was distracted halfway by something fluttering to the floor. I stopped undressing and sat on my bed, leaning back on the pillow and stretching out tiredly. As I opened and smoothed out the crumpled slip of paper, I read its contents and nearly fainted in horror:
Lockhart's classroom. Now. And if you bring the Weasel with you, I'll kill you, Potter.
Now...?
Didn't that mean he'd been waiting since... after dinner? I groaned, grabbing my Invisibility Cloak and running out as fast as I could, not bothering if I made any noise. It didn't matter, since Ron and the others were all tired out by the party ¨C they had already started snoring the ceiling down the second they hit their beds.
I knew very well why he wanted to meet at the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom. Ever since Lockhart had gone away to get his memory back, nobody had been inside ¨C well, except Filch who cleaned it occasionally ¨C and there was practically no chance of people being anywhere near that area, especially after dark.
What I didn't know was why I was so nervous that he wanted to see me ¨C at night.
Alone.
Draco's POV
***
I sat on the teacher's table, waiting. For the first hour or so, strangely, I didn't feel my normal impatience. So Potter was busy. Fine ¨C I could understand if he had prior engagements. I, after all, had my own before the idea for this insane rendezvous crept into my mind.
Three bloody hours of sitting on a hard, wooden table, however, is a totally different story.
Potter, you git.
Feeling unusually tired, I lay on my front, and as I rested my head on my folded arms and pondered what was going to happen, I unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
*
I became most unpleasantly aware of a stray lock of hair annoying me, and I absently pushed it away from my face, turning over onto my back. The movement made it fall into my eyes again, and just as I was about to tuck it behind my ear exasperatedly, someone did it for me.
Opening my eyes just a little wider than a crack, I saw a blurry figure sitting beside me, seemingly hesitant as he bent over and placed his hands on the table on either side of my head. Interesting. My mind still unclear from sleep, I waited to see what the stranger would do. He paused to examine my face for a few seconds, as if trying to ascertain that I was still asleep.
Then he uncertainly bent his head down lower and kissed me on the lips.
I was strangely reminded of Potter. It was sweet, to say the least, both literally and figuratively and whoever he was he'd been drinking a whole lot of pumpkin juice.
Hold on.
Wasn't I was being... attacked? This was simply appalling! Nothing happened without my permission, and that certainly included parts of my anatomy being in contact with someone else's. The drowsiness suddenly cleared, and I blinked, fully awake, finally seeing who my assailant was:
Potter.
Well. That was fine, then. He had certainly learnt from the master of unprecedented kissing. As my brain started to function normally again, I couldn't believe I had forgotten that I was supposed to meet him. How could it have slipped my mind even for a second?
Before I could start to secretly gloat about the fact that he was actually kissing me of his own accord, he pulled back and opened his slightly glazed eyes slowly, staring into my, by now, wide-open ones for a few seconds...
''Like pumpkin juice, do you, Potter?''
...before proceeding to fall off the table in shock. Graceful, as ever, but I personally thought it was quite charming.
Did I just say that?
I sat up and looked down at him, calmly waiting for a response, and ''Er - '' was the first word out of his mouth. Typical.
''Taking advantage of a sleeping wizard, Potter? A Lethifold in the making,'' I drawled.
He paused, obviously disorientated. ''A what?'' Such ignorance!
''A Lethifold, Potter. Black, cloth-like? Smothers people in their sleep?'' I said as patiently as I could. The look of confusion on his face remained and I sighed. ''Never mind; evidently you haven't read 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' quite as often as you should have.''
''...Right.'' No wonder he never managed to beat me at anything besides Quidditch, then. Well, that, and the popularity stakes, but then I never cared much for affection ¨C other than from him, that is.
''You really should expand your vocabulary, Potter. You might actually have use for it when you're talking to someone with more brain cells than a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff.''
''So you don't, then, Malfoy?''
''I don't, what? Talk to Hufflepuffs? I will try my best to ignore that blatant insult, Potter ¨C I'll have you know I happen to enjoy an intelligent conversation.''
''No, you conceited git ¨C you don't have more brain cells than us.'' Was - was this possible? He had actually managed to get the better of me for once! I must say, well done, Potter.
Oh fine, maybe twice, if you really wanted to count the whole issue with his diary on Valentine's Day. I don't exactly enjoy being reminded of my losses.
Choosing not to reply, I stretched out my legs on what used to be Lockhart's table. I leaned back on my hands and stared out the window into the dark sky, not looking at anything in particular.
''You're late.'' I could almost feel him twitch behind me. ''Very late, in fact. Do explain, or I might make you start dancing again all the way until breakfast.''
He started protesting defensively. ''I just read the note about five minutes ago, Malfoy. I was at the Gry ¨C ''
''I hope you don't mean one of those ridiculously deafening and pointless Gryffindor celebrations, Potter. I hate to think something as trivial as that would take precedence over me.''
''Sorry to say it did, Malfoy. My apologies if your impossibly humongous ego is wounded.'' Fiery. Even without turning around, I could already imagine the irritated and angry expression I'd seen on his face so many times before.
Not wanting to have an argument just as yet, I changed the subject discreetly. ''I see the Tom Riddle incident didn't kill you.'' I turned around to look at him as he nodded imperceptibly. ''Pity,'' I said, cracking a smile.
He scuffed his shoe on the ground uneasily. My eyes narrowed. Did he really think I would hurt him intentionally? ''You do know I had nothing to do with it. Father didn't tell me anything about it, all right?''
''I know.'' Taken aback, my jaw dropped. It wasn't like him to just accept ¨C to trust ¨C anything I said. Usually, an insult or two was in line, at least. What was with him?
''Why did you ask me to come here, Malfoy?'' He averted his gaze, fiddling with the silvery cloak in his hands. I stared at it ¨C it was an Invisibility Cloak! Where did he get one of those? He noticed my fixated stare on his cloak and hastily folded it up, leaving it on the first table. Noticing his apparent discomfort, I decided not to question where he got it. (A/N: I admit, I'm too lazy to write a lengthy explanation. :P)
''To talk, of course, Potter. It's the last chance you'll ever get.''
He laughed in spite of himself and looked up. ''The last chance I'll ever get? I thought that even for you, there was a limit to self-absorption, Malfoy, but I was wrong. What makes you think I even want to talk to you?'' Because I'm irresistible, of course, Potter. I thought you would have realised that by now.
''Why'd you come here then, Potter; to see dear Lockhart's classroom for the last time before the holidays? How sentimental! Very touching, Potter; I am simply moved.''
''Shut up, Malfoy.'' He flushed. I didn't want to think it, but I found it completely cute. And you didn't hear that from me, either.
''Remember what I said about the vocabulary, Potter.''
''Shu ¨C oh, forget it.'' I watched as he settled on the floor, crossing his legs and then looking up at me. ''Talk, then.''
''I was thinking more in terms of you asking me questions.''
''Like what? I don't think I have anything to say to you really, Malfoy.'' I don't think so, Potter.
''Well, how about 'Why did you kiss me in Borgin and Burkes?' I suppose that'd be a good start.'' I suppressed a smile as he stiffened visibly, his facial expression shifting into one of apprehension. And I think I saw hidden anticipation, too.
Harry's POV
***
I hadn't even recovered yet from the shock of him actually being awake when I did, er, that, and he had to spring another surprise on me?
''Oh. Right.'' Though I had sort of expected what was coming, I was still feeling very uncomfortable at the nature of the topic we were going to discuss. This was Malfoy. Worse, I had a crush on him. I wasn't really in the right frame of mind for any heart-to-heart sessions. ''So, er ¨C why did you, er, you know, do that, then?''
He mumbled something incoherently. Draco Malfoy mumbling? I had just witnessed a world first.
''I can't hear you, Malfoy.''
He turned away. ''I said, I don't know.''
Now he was confusing me even further. ''What? Then why'd you tell me to ask you that?''
''Never mind, Potter. Just carry on with the next one.''
I was completely baffled by Draco's strange behaviour, but continued anyway. ''You're not making any sense, Malfoy. Anyway ¨C next question, then. Er... That same day in Flourish and Blotts... you started walking over to me. Remember?'' He started to shake his head. ''Don't try and deny it, you self-delusional... thing. I saw you.'' He paused, and then nodded, as if he had just recalled the memory.
''You actually even remember something that happened so long ago and was so insignificant, Potter? Now I know how much I mean to you.'' Of course I remembered. I remembered everything... concerning him. He looked at me and smirked, and my legs suddenly seemed to have lost all feeling. All I can say is, thank goodness I was sitting down.
''Shut up, Malfoy, and just answer the stupid question.'' My tone softened as I asked, ''What were you going to do?'' but somehow I wasn't sure that I really wanted to know the answer.
He sighed. ''I don't know, Potter. Don't ask me questions I don't have a response to.''
''Do you know anything, then, Malfoy? '' I said, exasperated. ''You tell me to come here and ask you questions ¨C about your own peculiar actions, I might add ¨C and then you tell me you don't know the answers to them! What do you want me to think?''
He remained silent, as if waiting for me to continue; I suddenly had the urge to strangle him. Then he started speaking.
''It wasn't Ginny Weasley, Potter.''
''Wha...? What are you talking about, Malfoy?''
''The Valentine. I sent it to you. The one in the hallway with the harp-wielding dwarf.''
There was a long pause as I tried to digest this new information. He sent me the Valentine? Did that mean what I thought it did? But it was impossible. He couldn't like me... at all.
''Do you really expect me to believe that, Malfoy? You've gone round the bend. Why do you want to take credit for something as... as stupid as that?'' Surely, this had to be another one of his inane jokes... but it wasn't remotely humorous to me.
''Potter. Did you really think a Weasley was capable of coming up with something that was so brilliantly amusing that it could make all the students in the corridor laugh? I understand that your brain is abnormally microscopic, but you should try using it sometimes, Potter. Think about it. Even taking into consideration her usual obtuseness, Ginny Weasley wouldn't dream of humiliating you like that, seeing as you're her object of idolisation.'' As I stared at his expression, I couldn't believe it.
He was actually serious. Suddenly I felt ridiculously happy.
''I'm not. Shut up.'' Ginny. Did he really see her as a threat of some sort? She was just... Ron's sister.
''Shut up? I seem to remember you being the one asking the asinine questions, Potter.'' With that, I was suddenly riled again, all thoughts of elation forgotten. Why was it that every time I thought he was actually behaving acceptably or maybe even being likeable, he had to go and mess it up with another one of his callous remarks?
''Stop pushing the blame to me, Malfoy! You were the one who wanted this absurd conversation!'' I stood up and snatched my Cloak from the table angrily. ''I don't know why I even bothered to come.''
''Potter, wait.''
''Wait? For what, Malfoy? Wait for you to tell me why you held my hand and bloody kissed my cheek the day Colin asked me for a photo? To clarify why it is that even when I merely look at you I can't breathe properly? For you to explain the reason you gave me that kiss outside the Great Hall ¨C that bloody, perfect kiss that ruined my brain because I didn't know what to think? Do you know, or care, that it made my head spin so bad I think I would have had a heart attack if my heart had been beating any faster?'' I turned to go, completely enraged by now.
Why did he have to be such a git?
And why did I finally admit the truth?
But the next thing he said stopped me from taking even one step forward.
''Yes.''
Draco's POV
***
Why was he so easily angered? He should've known I was just being Draco Malfoy. Potter could be so unbelievably dense sometimes.
And did I hear wrongly or had he just confessed that he liked me? He asked me if I knew or cared how he felt about the kiss. And my answer was unmistakeably...
''Yes,'' I said quietly.
''What?'' He turned back abruptly, looking floored by my reply as his Cloak slipped to the ground.
''I said yes, I know, Potter.''
''I know what you said, Malfoy. I mean... how...?'' Was he completely clueless? If it really were so, how oblivious could he get?
''Because my head spun even more severely than yours, I'm sure.'' He blinked.
''Oh. Is ¨C is that why you smiled at me, then?'' What! I couldn't have him telling anybody that I had actually been worried about him ¨C my reputation would be eternally destroyed.
''Excuse me? I what at you?'' A Malfoy resorting to playing dumb ¨C self-repugnance overwhelmed me.
He looked adorably bewildered and unsure of himself. ''When I broke my arm at Quidditch... You smiled at me. I remember.''
''I did? Since when? I don't remember such an incident ever occurring, Potter. You must have been delirious from your injury,'' I said, unable to keep from smiling. He was just so bloody... loveable!
''Don't lie, Malfoy.'' He seemed almost weary by now, his eyes expressing his frustration.
Yes, I lied. I remembered every detail of each encounter with him, down to what he had been wearing. Exactly how his hair fell into his face, the different shades of green his eyes could turn each time his temper was tested, the colour of the shoes he wore that day, and even the design of that cheap excuse of a timekeeper he called a watch. I knew exactly why I kissed him in Borgin and Burkes, and even more so outside the Great Hall after the meeting of the Duelling Club. I knew why I walked over to him in Flourish and Blotts, and why I held his hand and kissed his cheek the day of the signed photos.
And I knew, and he himself knew, the reason he had respiratory problems when he looked at me, as did I when I looked at him.
It was love.
And as I jumped down from the table and started to walk toward him, I told him so.
Harry's POV
***
Love? Was it really?
I backed away nervously as he came nearer, and promptly bumped into the side of the bench in the first row. As I sat down clumsily, Malfoy swung himself easily over the long table and trapped me with his legs on either side of me. I nearly fell off the bench in surprise, but he caught me quickly by the forearm and pulled me back up. He bent down slightly so that his face was just inches from mine.
I looked up and started to lose myself in the blazing grey depths, their intent clear. This wasn't fair! Why did he always get the upper hand? His s-stare was quite i-intimidating... Since when had I been a-afraid of him? And why in the world was I s-stammering in my thoughts?
''Look, you know nothing good will come of this, Malfoy. Nobody will accept it. Ever.''
He bit his lip and looked away. ''Do you think I don't know that, Potter?''
''So let go of me.''
Instead of letting go, he leaned down even lower; only one inch away now. I swallowed. ''But I can't,'' he said gently, as he closed his eyes and tenderly kissed me.
I virtually sprang up in shock and tried to step back, but he refused to release me from his grip, one hand firmly but gently pulling me down by the base of my neck and the other still resolutely planted on my wrist. But instead of jerking myself away by force in disgust, I was positively melting.
He subconsciously let go of my right hand as I pulled it from his grasp. Slowly, I relaxed and leaned forward, lightly looping my arms around his neck, closing my eyes as well. I started to feel distinctly giddy and nervousness slipped away, giving way to only what I now knew was, undoubtedly, love, and nothing else.
And then, in my inebriated state, I spoiled it all by licking his lower lip.
He immediately tensed up and pulled away, an unreadable expression on his face.
Oh no.
Draco's POV
***
What the...? I think he just - yes, he definitely did. How inconceivably and uncharacteristically brazen of him!
And it was quite nice, actually.
''S-Sorry... I-I shouldn't have done that.'' Potter stuttered, trying to move back but instead tripping on the bench and falling onto it with a bump.
''Don't stammer, Potter. It's completely unbecoming. Speech impediments are reminiscent of Longbottom.''
''I was j-just...''
''Potter ¨C ''
''I didn't mean to!''
''Potter. Stop it and listen, you idiot. It's fine.'' As he stood up and stepped out of his seat trying to get out of my reach, I made a wild grab at his robes but leaned a little too far forward and lost my balance, falling off the table onto him. He stumbled and brought both of us to a tangled heap on the floor painfully.
''Ouch! Get off me, Potter,'' I cried out, pinned to the floor by his weight.
I suddenly noticed that we were in the exact position that we had been in Borgin and Burkes, and evidently so had he, as he hesitantly brushed my hair away again. He searched my face for the merest sign of consent by staring deeply into my eyes, before kissing me with a startling intensity. It was different from the others, but still just right, with emotion and passion mixed somewhere in between, and I then knew for sure how he really felt.
As the kiss finally ended, his expression suddenly changed from one of bliss to that of fear.
''It's never going to work... Draco. Just forget any of this ever happened,'' he said, evidently hoping to sound convincing. He scrambled up from the floor, pushing me aside lightly.
Convincing, my arse.
He seemed almost desperate to get away and started to make his way to the door, his Cloak forgotten. I was stung. Even if he couldn't accept this, he wasn't allowed to just walk away! I had a right - a need ¨C to closure of some sort.
And I was going to bloody get it.
Before he managed to get his hand on the door handle, I had his wrist in a death grip. He stopped short, but didn't turn around.
''Did you really think I'd just let you get away like that, Potter?'' I tightened my hold on his wrist. ''Not bloody likely. Do you think it's possible for me ¨C or you, for that matter ¨C to just forget everything, like it was just some trivial matter? Do you really?''
''Yes.'' It was barely a whisper ¨C wobbly and feeble. I was almost livid with rage by now.
''Don't lie. Look at me and say it, you git!'' I said coldly, yanking him back in fury. Suddenly, I inexplicably found in my eyes tears of anger, hurt, and disappointment. I brushed them away irritably ¨C I never cried, and I certainly wasn't going to start now.
He spun around to face me, and I could see him struggling, in those impossibly green eyes, to hold back his own tears. He tried to speak, but I suddenly saw one start to fall slowly and leave a wet trail behind it on his cheek. I watched as they all started to gush out insuppressibly, and I was quite uncertain of how to react.
Trying to hide the tears, he stepped forward and buried his head in my chest, gripping the front of my robes tightly. He shook his head gently, the soft black hair brushing against my cheek, conveying his exact thoughts without even saying anything. I hugged him, feeling resentment towards... everything.
''Harry...'' I gently lifted one hand to touch his hair, the silky dark strands slipping through my fingers, just as the boy whose head they were on was already doing.
''I'm sorry,'' he choked out, his voice muffled and shaky through the cloth.
I moved back slightly and lifted his chin up gently, looking into his eyes to tell him I understood. We kissed - a last, complete, wistful and longing kiss lamenting what was never meant to be, and I tried my hardest to commit to memory the profound emotion in my entire body and feeling of his lips on mine that I knew I would probably never feel again.
Finally, knowing he wouldn't be able to, I broke away reluctantly, actually being able to taste his salty tears as my lips brushed lightly across his cheek. He leaned against my shoulder and put his arms around my waist, the only sound in the room being his occasional sobs.
As I resigned myself to his decision, my vision blurred and I closed my eyes, resting my head against his as a solitary tear made its way down my cheek. I held him to me tightly for the first and last time, never wanting to let go.
*
''This can only end in tears!'' ¨C Bartok, Anastasia.
A/N: I'm sniffling now. :'( This chapter was majorly mushy. Heh. I admit I'm a sop. :D I wasn't thinking of using 'love' at all in this fic, since they're like in second year but it just... happened. :P I really think the Anastasia quote is appropriate for this chapter! -sniff- I couldn't put the quote at the front 'cause it'd be a gargantuan giveaway to the ending. Oh and er, Fox owns Anastasia. -_-
I think I might write an epilogue, actually. :) Just a short one to finish the story properly ¨C wait, that sounded ominous. o_O It'll be up within the next week or so, I promise! :) Or should I end it here? Do tell me what you think.
Please don't flame me for the, um, not-happily-ever-after ending: I mean, they're 12! I can't get over that fact; it's kind of hard to ignore. :| Anyway, Harry has a crush on Cho the next year, so it'd be even weirder. :X In any case, it leaves my options open to have a sequel! Which will, however, probably never happen 'cause I'd have to have some semblance of a plot. XD
I'm going to co-write a fic with Icicle and another friend about Harry and co. at OBS soon! Do read it when it comes out. It's probably going to be a humour fic, but I don't think it'll be slashed. Nothing's confirmed, because we haven't discussed it fully. It will be posted under this nickname, so well, you know. :)
Thanks (and apologies for taking so long for this chapter) to: Miss Razberry (Here's more! But it's the last of it, I'm afraid. ¨Csniff-), LenaLovely12, BakaWeapon (Your review kept me in fits.. ¨Cwipes tears of laughter away- Thanks!), forfirith, La Princesse D'or (Oh my gosh! I'm not worthy of such praise... But thanks. :) Oh and do reply soon!), Icicle (Right, I wrote a whole bloody chapter as your reply, so er yeah. :D There was hair in this chapter! XD), caroline, Tine (And the D/H came, didn't it. XD Heh. Continue 'Know Your Enemy' soon! :D), Barbara (Thanks! I always get this really 'jump-up-and-down' feeling when people say they put the fic on their favourites. :D), VenusPrincess (Pippin and Merry are gay? Well, I'll take your word for it, then! :D), Vespertilios-Flower (Yeah, people have said it's not really second-yearish and I agree, but oh well. :D), Chibi*Star (Well, glad you found the dwarf thing funny, but it was created by J.K., as you probably know. I couldn't write something as funny as that to save my life. ¨Csigh- :D), Frost JP, alex and Bobalong (A girl, actually. :) My gender seems to be in question a few times. o_O Hope you like this ending! Come to think of it, nobody can, but... never mind. :|).
Feedback will definitely be appreciated, and thanks for reading the fic! :D Be nice, and review please. :)