Title: I Will Be Good At Making Bad
Author: Agent M (loveofhavok@colourovers.net)
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Pairings: Draco/Harry, various others
Disclaimer: Don't own anything that isn't mine.
Archive: Tainted Wings (www.colourovers.net/wings) and The Underground (http://members.aol.com//michirublade//index.html) anyone else, just ask.
Notes: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. It means a lot to me that you like my crap. Thanks to VinylNoMiko, my muse and beta reader, for everything.

Hermione stretched out across the couch, yawned and looked over at Ron.

"Mind you, this is a completely hypothetical situation," Hermione reminded Ron who was sitting across from her in the Gryffindor common room.

Ron looked like he was either struggling with some sort of intense personal realization or was quite constipated. In either case, Hermione was fighting back a giggle and forcing herself to give Ron a serious look.

"It just doesn't make any sense," Ron whined. "Either you read Hogwarts: A History or you get mauled by drunken Bulgaria fans? I mean that would never happen!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. The excuses that he came up with as to not read that book were truly amazing sometimes. Most notably was when he said that if he read the book he might inadvertently cause the apocalypse. Hermione was too stunned by that excuse to even argue with him and besides, that was entirely possible considering how much Ron actually read.

This conversation was one that they had had a million times over. Only this time it was less relaxed and comfortable due to the fact that it was the better part of midnight and Harry had yet to return from his 'date' with Malfoy. Both Ron and Hermione were deliberately avoiding that subject as neither wanted to admit that they were worried and waiting up for Harry. After all, they were still inside of Hogwarts, what's the worst that could possibly happen?

Just as Hermione was going to suggest some other situation, there was a tapping on the widow, not unlike the one in Poe's "The Raven", she noted. Both of them turned towards the far window of the common room where the tapping seemed to come from. Ron slowly stood up and walked towards the window and carefully opened it. Ron and Hermione ducked as a giant black owl flew into the room, circled around a couple of times then dropped a note before flying out again.

Hermione looked at Ron then at the note and slowly crawled over towards it. She picked up the note with the tips of her fingers and held it away from her, examining it carefully before finally opening it. A look of confusion spread over her face and she handed the note to Ron before standing up and looking curiously at the door.

"Let me in?" Ron read out loud. "What do you suppose that means?"

Hermione shrugged and made her way towards the door with Ron right behind her. She slowly pushed it open and gasped. Draco stood on the threshold with Harry's body in his arms.

"About bloody time," Draco said. "Harry is not the lightest thing in the world."

"What the hell happened to him?!" Hermione squeaked.

"Oh. Well, you know how tricky autoerotic asphyxiation can be," Draco said conversationally.

"What?" Ron choked out.

"Kidding, Weasley. He just passed out."

"Why, Malfoy, did Harry pass out?"

Draco shrugged. "I spiked his pumpkin juice."

"You what?"

"Look, I would love to finish this conversation but can you, you know, let me in or something. Unless you want this to echo down the corridors, that is."

"Fine," Hermione said moving out of Draco's way so he could bring Harry into the room.

Draco laid Harry down on one of couches and then looked around. "Nice place you got here. A little too red for my tastes, but nice nonetheless."

Hermione was fully prepared to argue with that statement until she remembered that Draco was an interior decorator and probably knew what he was talking about. Instead she turned the topic back to Harry.

"So why did you spike Harry's pumpkin juice?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I never intended for him to drink so much so fast. It was just to take the edge off things, really. I wasn't trying to take advantage of him." Ron snorted. "Fine. Don't believe me. You can ask Harry when he wakes up," Draco said settling himself into one of the giant armchairs on either side of the couch Harry was on.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ron asked outraged.

"Sitting down."

"I can see that, Malfoy, but don't you have someone else to bother, preferably in your own common room?"

"Perhaps. But I would much rather make sure that Harry's okay first."

"Oh."

"So, just ignore me," Draco said making himself more comfortable.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that'll happen."

---

Harry woke up to the feeling that his tongue had turned into sandpaper and that someone was tap dancing inside his head. He slowly sat up and realized that he was in his common room. The fire was almost burned out but he could see three figures asleep in the room. He waited for his eyes to focus and for his mind to clear a bit before looking around. The first thing he saw was Hermione and Ron curled up together in the love seat next to the fireplace. He smiled at that before turning his attention to the chair next to the couch. His smile slipped. Why the hell was Malfoy asleep in the Gryffindor common room?

Slowly the events of that night began to trickle back into his mind. The 'date' with Malfoy, getting completely pissed and, good god, did they snog? Harry groaned and rubbed his temples. He wasn't supposed to be excited by the idea of snogging Malfoy, but unfortunately he was.

Harry attempted to stand up but a wave of dizziness hit him and he fell ungracefully to the floor. Ron and Hermione slept on, blissfully unaware, but the thump woke Draco.

A moment a panic swept over Draco before he remembered where he was and why he was there. And then he looked down and saw Harry sprawled out on the floor and choked back a laugh.

"Harry?" He asked lowering himself to the floor. "Are you okay?"

Harry looked at Draco and had to laugh. Draco's hair was standing up in the oddest angles and as Harry was used to seeing it perfectly styled this new look amused him to no end despite his steadily increasing hangover.

"I'll take that as a 'Yes, I'm fine, Draco, thanks for asking.'" Draco said with a bit of a frown.

"You didn't need to spike my drink, Draco. I would have, you know, anyway."

"Could have fooled me. You've been avoiding me like Filch on a bad day for the better part of two months."

Harry considered this. "After a while it just became more fun to watch you chase after me."

"My, my. Such a Slytherin thing to say, Potter."

"Well it was the Sorting Hat's first choice," Harry informed Draco.

"Was it now?"

Harry nodded and Draco smiled. They met each other half way there and shared their first sweet, sober kiss. Draco pulled Harry back onto his couch kissing him the entire way, they laid down in each other's arms and fell back asleep to the sound of the other's breathing.

---

The next time Harry woke up it was to the sound of Neville's screeches. Harry shot up into a sitting position and immediately regretted it as last night's headache returned with a vengeance. He also regretted the loss of Draco's warmth, a thought that surprised him but was not all together unwelcome. Harry looked down at Draco who was trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes and make sense of what was going on around him. Hermione and Ron were staring at them in some combination of awe and shock.

"What is HE doing here?" Neville hollered. "And why," his voice cracked, causing both Harry and Draco to wince, "why are you sleeping with him?!"

Harry groaned and lay back into Draco's arms and rolled away from where Neville was towering over him.

"Talk in small letters, Neville." Harry's voice was muffled from talking against Draco's neck. "Some of us are a bit hung over."

"And whose fault is that?" Hermione said coming out of shock and joining the conversation.

"I take full blame for that one," Draco admitted with a bit of pride.

"But why are you even here?" Neville asked again, losing patience.

"What I want to know is how you ended up there. Last I remember you were falling asleep in that chair," Ron said pointing across the room.

"We talked things out last night then went back to sleep," Harry said as if that explained anything.

"I give up!" Neville threw himself into a chair. "I'm even more confused than before."

"What is going on down here?" Seamus called from the stairs to the dorms. "Some people are still trying to sleep you know. I mean its, what, only eight--holy shit! Way to go Harry! What else did I miss? I should get up early more often…."

"Shut up, Seamus!" Ron and Hermione yelled in unison.

"Sorry."

"Look, can we just forget about this. What I do is my business. Just forget this happened, okay?" Harry sat up and pulled Draco up with him.

But like most things in the world, nothing is ever that simple. For at that moment the common room door opened and McGonagall came through. She gave everyone in the room a stern disappointed look before turning her attention to Harry and Draco.

"Potter. Malfoy. Dumbledore would like to see you two in his office," she paused. "Now."

---

Harry and Draco followed McGonagall down the corridors with their heads bowed looking the part of ashamed students, but really they kept smiling at each other. McGonagall spent the entire walk to Dumbledore's office to lecture the boys on proper behaviors of seventh year students, not to mention one who is a prefect. Harry and Draco were more relieved than they should have been to reach the gargoyle that lead to Dumbledore's office. At least Dumbledore's voice was nice to listen to.

"Albus, I found them."

"Ah, good. I'll take it from here thank you," Dumbledore said.

McGonagall gave Harry and Draco one last look before exiting the office.

Dumbledore gestured to the chairs across from his desk and Harry and Draco took the hint and sat down.

"So I've been hearing some things lately, and usually I tend to stay away from student gossip but well, I'd wager you can understand why this has caught my attention." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes shining with their ever-present twinkle. "You will soon be crossing great waters."

Harry and Draco looked at each other and then Dumbledore in confusion.

"Look boys, I know I should be punishing you for being out after hours, drinking, staying in the Gryffindor common room and everything else you two did last night, but I think that despite all of that this is a step in the right direction." Dumbledore paused and offered a dish of caramels to the boys. "You two are strong influences in your respective houses and I think it's time we took advantage of that fact."

"I'm not sure we follow," Harry admitted, ignoring the jab in the side from Draco.

"Remember to share good fortune as well as bad with your friends."

"What?"

"Just keep your eyes open for things going on, especially you Draco. Don't think we don't know you are a Jr. Death Eater."

To say Draco was stunned was an understatement. Harry studied Dumbeldore's face for a moment.

"Is that all, Sir?"

"Just keep me informed on any information and no punishment from last night will be administered." Dumbledore smiled. Harry and Draco moved to leave. "Oh, one other thing boys. Do either of you know why Snape has been following you around and talking to himself lately?"

---

"Christ, that was the weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen," Draco said as soon as they left Dumbledore's office and were back in the corridors.

"Yeah," Harry absently agreed. "When did Dumbledore go completely nut bar?"

"You mean he doesn't always talk like a fortune cookie?"

"No. The man has lost it for sure." Harry confirmed.

"And what was all that about Snape? Have you noticed him following us lately?"

They both stopped in their tracks and looked at each other, then behind them as if they could suddenly feel a presence there.

"No. But he has been acting a little odd, lately." Draco gave Harry a skeptical look. "Odder than usual, I mean."

"Now that you mention it, I know what you mean. He's been walking around with a scroll and quill, not for taking house points or anything. It's something else... like he's writing an autobiography or something."

They soon realized that they had walked to the great hall and by this time most of the school would be there for breakfast. Harry shrugged and walked in and towards the Gryffindor table, leaving Draco to go to the Slytherin side.

As soon as Harry sat down he was barraged with questions from everyone who had witnessed the scene in the common room that morning. Harry waited until it was quiet before he turned to Ron and asked for the pumpkin juice.

"Oh come on, Harry, just tell us what happened," Ron said handing over the juice.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean 'nothing'?" Hermione asked.

"Just what it sounds like. Dumbledore didn't do anything. McGonagall, on the other hand got a good lecture out of the situation."

"So let me get this straight. You went out with Malfoy, got drunk, passed out. Then he brought you back, stayed over and all you got was a lecture from McGonagall?" Seamus asked taken aback.

"Pretty much," Harry nodded.

"Right on. So are you two dating now, or what?"

Harry furrowed his brow. "Actually I don't know. I should look into that."

Harry then turned his attention to his English muffin and ignored all further questions. After a bit he turned to Ron and Hermione.

"We need to talk," he said and left the table.

-end part 8-

this is agent me signing off.