Chapter Two

What now?

Harry watched the retreating back of the blonde. He pulled a sour face, angry with himself. "Well! That went well," he mumbled. He started toward the Great Hall to eat. Maybe then he could get his mind of his embarrassment and rejection.

Harry walked into the Hall a few minutes later. He took a seat next to Hermione and diagonally across from Ron, facing away from the doors. Harry was rather amazed that the two were capable of being so far apart, what with the entire width of the table separating them. The pair looked up when plopped into his seat huffily.

"Alright, Harry?" asked Ron, tearing his eyes away from Hermione.

"Yeah. Just a bit down." Harry frowned at the meatloaf on the plate.

Hermione put a comforting hand on his thigh. "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry looked around him before talking. He didn't want the rest of Gryffindor House to know what he'd just done. "I just got rejected is all." Two pairs of confused eyes looked back at him, begging for more information. Harry sighed. "Malfoy," he whispered, looking around again.

Hermione took her hand back from Harry's leg, shocked. Ron raised an eyebrow, looking surprised but slightly amused at his best friend's choice in men. However, he didn't say a word against the attraction. "I see," said the red-head.

Harry stared back at him, amazed. "You- You're not angry? I would think you would get all indignant and try to run off and pound Draco for daring to make me like him."

Ron shook his head. "Nah. Who you choose to be with is your business. True, I'm pretty surprised. I mean, he has been a bastard to us for how long now? But still. I can see how you'd have a thing for him."

Harry released a sigh of relief. Then it came.

"Mal-" Hermione almost screamed, but stopped herself quickly. She lowered her voice and started again. "Malfoy?!? Why Malfoy for Merlin's sake!" Hermione had sat quietly for too long. Harry hadn't noticed the utterly scandalized look on the girl's face as he'd talked with Ron. But now, looking at Hermione, Harry could swear he was staring at a giant tomato that happened to be wearing a bushy wig. Harry flinched as Hermione started laying into him again.

"How could you do this? After all the shit that boy has pulled? Do you not remember how many times he's tried to hurt you? Let alone all the detentions he's gotten you. And all the shit he's said about us. That little ferret is nothing more than pond scum! How the fuck could you even think about liking him? And you were rejected by him? Who does he think he is, rejecting you! But how could he reject you? You haven't done anything stupid, have you? Well? Have you?" Hermione glared at the Boy-Who-Lived sitting next to her.

Harry stared back, amazed that Hermione knew all those swear words. A thought occurred to him. His best friends' roles were reversed for once. Hermione was furious with Harry for even thinking about Draco in any way other than foe. And Ron was perfectly fine with it. What the fuck is going on? Harry thought.

Ron was now leaning across the table with a hand clamped tightly over his girlfriend's mouth. " 'Mione. Babe. Calm yourself. Harry can be with whomever he wants. So it's Malfoy. Big deal. If he can forgive Malfoy for all the shit we've been put through and actually care about the guy, so be it. Calm down and just listen to Harry." He almost released Hermione, but one more thing was said before he did so. "And no more ranting." Hermione nodded, glaring at first Harry, and then Ron. She crossed her arms stubbornly.

Ron slowly drew back his hand, saying, "There's a good girl." He looked to Harry now, amusement, worry, and confusion all playing in his eyes. "So what happened?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I've liked Draco for a while now. I saw my chance to get to him today, and I took it. After Potions, I waited for him to leave. I knew he'd be the last one out. You know how he is when we use dung for potions." Ron smirked, and he and Hermione nodded. Harry continued. "So I waited for him, and tailed him halfway to the Slytherin common room before I let him know I was there. And then, erm." Harry stopped. Do I really want to tell them I pinned him? Oh, what the fuck. Harry took a deep breath and started again. "Then I, um. Islammedhimupagainstthewallandkissedhim," he finished quickly.

"Come again?" said Ron.

Harry sighed. "I slammed him up against the wall. And I kissed him." Hermione gasped. Ron looked a little ill, but still impressed.

"Harry, ol' boy! I didn't know you had it in you!" Ron cried, recovering. He grinned and clapped his friend on the shoulder. Hermione just stayed quiet.

"So what happened after that?" asked Ron, still smiling.

"Well he seemed into it at first, but then he pulled away and ran." Harry frowned, looking down at his untouched food.

"Stupid git." Ron frowned too. "Know what I say, though, Harry?"

"What?"

"Go after him again." Ron smiled reassuringly. "You're a great bloke, and he's blind if he can't see that."

A lopsided smile formed on Harry's lips. "Really?"

Ron nodded. Harry turned to Hermione. " 'Mione? Please tell me you think it's alright? I can't stand the thought that you might not."

Hermione, who'd stayed quiet the whole time Harry was talking, let out an aggravated sigh. "Harry, you know I love you. You're family. If it's something, or someone, that is going to make you happy, then who am I to tell you to do otherwise?"

Harry grinned and gave the girl a hug. "Thank you, Hermione. That really means a lot."

"It better." She poked him in the side. "But know that I'm going to kick his ass if he screws things up." She stopped, thinking. "Well, I'll at least get someone to kick his ass. Anyway, you'd better get that prat to think straight now… Well, not straight… You know what I mean. Get him."

Ron nodded in agreement. "Go for it, Har. You deserve to be happy, and if it's Malfoy that'll do it… Go get him, Tiger! Oh, and speak of the devil…" He nodded toward the doors behind Harry.

Harry turned around. There was Draco, coming into the Hall, looking beautiful as always. Harry's breath caught as he looked at the Slytherin. Blue eyes rose from the floor and locked with green. Harry smiled. The only response he got was the raising of one delicate eyebrow. Then Draco turned and walked to the table where his friends were seated.

Harry turned back to his table, sighing happily. "Not now, Ron," he said. "I'll get him soon though." Harry smiled.

Suddenly, from above him, Harry heard the soft rustle of feathers. Hedwig was coming in for a landing next to his plate. Harry tilted his head to the side, looking at his owl. There was a small note tied to her leg. I wonder what this could be… Harry reached out and undid the small scroll from her leg and handed her a bite of his meatloaf. She accepted happily and took flight soon after.

Harry, after looking at his two best friends, unrolled the parchment.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco sat in his room, catching his breath. He'd just arrived in his room after his run-in with Harry. He dropped his bag on the floor of the empty room and flopped on the bed, thankful again for having a single room. He lay there on his bed, thinking aloud.

"I can't believe the balls of that fucking Gryffindork. Fucking little shit. How dare he kiss me!" He lay there, on his back, his rants continuing on like this for a few minutes. Then.

"Although. That was a great kiss. Ugh. Why did he have to kiss me? Now what do I do?" It dawned on Draco that he really didn't mind kissing Harry. What he really minded was the abrupt way the kiss came about. He snorted. "Never thought Potter would be the forceful type… But he is a Gryffindor. Bravery and all that… He's a little hottie, too. And damn, can he kiss."

Draco sat up. He had his mind made up. He had a thing for Harry. Plain and simple. "Explains a lot, though. No wonder the two of us are always fighting. I do enjoy those fights." He let out a soft laugh. "That's what Harry gets off on." Draco chuckled. He still couldn't believe he'd asked Harry if saying his name got him off.

"Draco, Draco, Draco. I don't get off just by saying your name. There's got to be a little more than just that."

Draco chuckled again. "Well," he said, hopping lightly off his bed. "There's only one thing I can to do." He walked to his desk. Out came a quill and a piece of parchment. Draco sat down in his chair, moving the still-melted fudge over and out of his way. He penned a short letter to Harry. As he was tying up the page, he looked at the closed tin of ex-fudge.

"Well, at least I can put that chocolate to good use." Draco strode across the room and out of the Slytherin common area. He had a stop to make in the Owlery before he could go eat.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry opened the scroll and saw blue script written delicately across the page. An eyebrow lifted his lightning scar as his eyes read the words.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Potter~

I wanted to apologize for earlier. Normally, I am not one to run when someone beautiful kisses me. Then again, I am not usually the one that gets kissed. More often than not, I initiate things. So obviously, I was thrown when you - you of all people - cornered me and kissed me. I am sorry for running. Not quite the Malfoy thing to do.

I would like to make it up to you. Please meet me later by the suit of armor in the Entrance Hall tonight at nine.

~Draco Malfoy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harry's eyebrows disappeared into his hair. So. He didn't hate it, huh? Harry grinned. He turned slowly, feeling eyes boring into his back.

Draco was watching him. Emeralds sent the message to sapphires that yes, he would be happy to meet Draco that night.

A smirk spread across the blonde boy's face. Harry smiled back and winked. The corner of Draco's mouth twitched, as though he really wanted to smile back, but couldn't as it wouldn't be proper Malfoy behavior. Harry inclined his head slightly at the blonde and turned back to his dinner.

Suddenly he was hungry again.

~*~TBC~*~