Chapter Four

The Declaration

Draco sat straight up in bed as his alarm blasted away in his ear. He turned the alarm off and wandered over to his wardrobe for his clothes before heading to the dormitory shower.

Well, Draco. Now you've done it, he thought as the water slid down his chest. You and Potter. You were just dying to hand yourself over to good ol' Voldie, weren't you? You and Potter. Damn. But he is quite nice to look at. I'll give you that. And that kiss... well, those kisses, really...

Draco smiled. It was a very odd feeling indeed. Smiling, that is. He caught himself doing that a lot since his detention with Pot- erm. Harry. Draco had gotten a note from Harry two days after their detention...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

M-

I couldn't help myself. I had to write to you. I can't stop thinking about you. I think we need to talk about... THINGS. As soon as possible. (without being too obvious) Write back with your thoughts. Miss you.

-H

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco smiled again, thinking of the letter. He sent a note back later in the day so he didn't raise suspicion in his housemates. Draco and Harry had agreed to meet that same night in the library.

- - - - -

Draco sat in the library, and looked at his watch one more time. 12:00. Exactly. Where is Potter? He looked up at the door again when he felt lips on his. He returned the kiss, confused.

Then Potter's head appeared, floating in midair.

Draco caught himself before he cried out in surprise. He watched as Harry slid the invisibility cloak off the rest of his body and dropped it on the floor.

"Bloody hell, Potter!" Draco whispered angrily. "I nearly had a fucking heart attack! For Merlin's sake!" Draco shook his head. "So we need to talk about things huh? What's on your mind?"

"You," said Potter, grinning. Draco could feel his knees getting weak. I can't handle that smile of his! Thank Merlin I'm sitting!

"Really?" Draco said slyly, arching an eyebrow.

"Hell yes," said Potter. He pulled Draco to him and kissed him again.

"Potter..." Draco moaned around the extra tongue that had just entered his mouth. His hands pulled Potter closer, his arms wrapping around the other boy tightly. The energy flowing between them and around them was almost unbearable. After a long time, Draco pulled back with a final kiss.

"We're not getting much talking done, Pot-" Draco stopped talking as Harry's finger touched his lips.

"Harry," said Potter.

"What?"

"Please. Call me Harry. 'Potter' sounds so..." Pott-Harry stopped.

"What? What does is sound like?" Draco asked.

"It sounds like you're mad at me." Harry said finally. "Like you're about to start a row with me or insult my friends or something." He looked down at the floor sadly.

"Geez, Po- er. Harry. Sorry. Don't you know I care about you more than that?" Draco shook his head. He reached out a finger and lifted Harry's chin so Harry was looking at him again. "Please. Don't be upset. I was only calling you 'Potter' because I didn't want to assume we were on a first-name basis. When we're by ourselves, I'll call you Harry. And you call me Draco. Alright?"

A smile spread across Harry's face. "Of course. Draco."

- - - - -

Draco smiled again as he stepped out of the shower. He still couldn't believe that Harry was so touchy about being addressed as "Potter."

As he got dressed, Draco reminded himself that he would probably scare the wits out of the other Slytherins if they saw him smiling like this. Draco plastered on the trademark Malfoy sneer and left his room, fully dressed and ready to start his day.

~*~*~*~

Harry plopped himself in one of the squashy chairs next to the fire in the Gryffindor common room. He pulled out his Monster Book of Monsters, but instead of doing his work, which he had intended on doing, his mind kept wandering to Draco.

Come on, Harry. You have to get some kind of work done. You can't go thinking about your boyfriend all night.

BOYFRIEND?!?

Harry couldn't believe it. He was in a very happy little relationship. With a boy. With Draco Malfoy of all people. Harry realized that he really liked that idea. He was Draco Malfoy's boyfriend. Draco Malfoy was his boyfriend. But what are you going to tell Ron and Hermione?

Harry sighed.

"What was that for?"

Harry looked around and saw Ron and Hermione walking over to him, hand-in-hand. Well speak of the devils.

"Yeah, what are you huffing about?" asked Ron, as they sat in two armchairs near Harry's.

"Oh, just trying to decide what to do my assignment on for Hagrid. I can't decide between centaurs and merpeople. Thank Merlin he's only asking for twelve inches on it!" said Harry.

"Oh I've had that finished for ages, Harry. You had better hurry up. It's due next Tuesday." said Hermione, shaking her head. "I did yetis." she finished proudly.

"You did what-ies?" Ron asked. He and Harry exchanged confused glances.

"Honestly! Don't you two ever read?" Hermione said, exasperated. "They're hairy creatures that live in the Himalayas. Most Muggles think there's only one, but-"

" 'Mione! Stop. Save us the lecture," cried Harry as Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione's head and put his hand over her mouth. Hermione tried to struggle, but that only made Ron squeeze tighter. She settled for glaring at the boys and crossing her arms in a huff.

"I'm doing my paper on gnomes. It should be pretty easy as about a hundred live in my garden at home." said Ron. He glanced down at Hermione, seemingly assessing whether it was safe to uncover her mouth. Apparently, he thought it was as he slowly removed his hand.

Hermione glared again at her boyfriend, still sitting stiffly in her chair.

"Oh come here," said Ron, pulling her out of her chair and onto his lap. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I just wasn't up for another lecture today. I had enough between History of Magic, and Double Transfiguration. Forgive me? Please?" Ron put on his sad-puppy face, obviously hoping to get back in Hermione's good graces.

"Oh, you play dirty, Weasley," she said, elbowing Ron lightly. "You know I can't resist that face." Hermione stuck out her tongue before turning her back to him and snuggling into his chest.

"So, Harry. Who's this girl you keep sneaking off to see?" said Ron suddenly.

"Wh-? Huh?" Harry was surprised at the sudden topic change.

"I hear you leave," said Ron, smirking. "What, do you think I'm thick or something? You've snuck out at lease three times in the last two weeks."

"I believe," said Harry, blushing, "that is my business. If I wanted you to know, I would have told you by now, wouldn't I?" He glared at the couple.

"But-"

"No. Just drop it. I'm still trying to get over the shock of being in a relationship myself. I don't need the two of you badgering me about who I'm seeing." With that, Harry stood, strode over to the portrait hole, and stormed out of the common room.

~*~*~*~

Draco was in the library when the owl found him. Crabbe and Goyle had begged him for help on their History of Magic essays. Draco was startled by the owl's visit. Madame Pince was nearby tutting to herself and looking daggers at Draco.

He picked up the letter and read through it quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

D-

I need you. Now. Astronomy Tower. PLEASE.

-H

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco looked up from the hastily written note. He glanced at his friends.

"I need to go," said Draco.

Crabbe snorted. "Off to see your secret girlfriend, Draco?"

"Time for a little afternoon snogging, eh, Draco." Goyle winked knowingly.

"Sod off. I have to go," said Draco. He picked up his bag, and stuffed his books in quickly. "I'll see you two dunderheads later."

With that, he rushed out of the library and up through the castle to the Astronomy Tower. Ten minutes later, huffing and quite out of breath, Draco arrived at the steps leading to the tower. He stopped to catch his breath before climbing the last winding staircase. When he emerged, he looked around and saw Harry.

Harry was sitting in the shadows, curled in a ball. He looked a mess. And if Draco was not mistaken, Harry was trying hard not to cry.

"Oh, Harry," Draco breathed. Draco dropped to his knees next to his boyfriend and wrapped his around Harry. "What's wrong?"

"I just needed you. Ron and 'Mione were hounding me again," said Harry finally. The tears that he'd tried fight while waiting for Draco began streaming down his cheeks. "I hate lying to them, Draco. I hate it. I love you and I keep us a secret just like you asked me that first night. But this is killing me." Harry stopped talking. He started sobbing into Draco's chest.

Draco pulled Harry closer. His mind was reeling. Did he just say he loves me? Oh my God! But Draco decided to leave that untouched for the moment and get to the thing that was hurting his boyfriend so much. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Just be here," said Harry shakily.

"I am," said Draco, stroking Harry's hair. "I'm not going anywhere." Draco thought over things for a second. Then he pulled back from Harry and lifted Harry's chin with a finger. Harry wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Look at me," said Draco, half-demanding, half-pleading. "Please?" Harry raised his eyes to look at Draco.

"Harry. I love you." Draco kissed Harry softly. "I love you. That will never change. I promise you that."

Harry's reddened eyes widened to the size of saucers. "You what?" His crying had stopped completely at the sound of those words.

Draco held Harry's gaze. "I love you," he repeated.

"Wow."

"Well that's usually not the response a guy looks for when he tells someone he loves him for the first time ever. But we can skip that. You've said you love me once already tonight." Harry's eyes got even wider.

"I did?" whispered Harry. Draco realized that Harry hadn't even known he said it. Draco nodded.

"But that's not what's bothering you," Draco said quietly. "What can I do to make things okay?"

"Love is good." Harry smiled. Draco could feel himself getting lost in that face. He pulled himself back together.

"You want to tell them, don't you." He looked at Harry. "That would make things with you and Weasley and Granger better, wouldn't it?"

"But you said you wanted this to be only ours," said Harry, stunned.

"Do you want to know why I don't want news of us to get around?" Draco said slowly, looking away from the tear-stained face. This is going to be hard, Draco. You know it. You've got to tell him a lot of stuff that he really shouldn't know. But he has to understand. Draco looked back at Harry.

Harry nodded, confused.

"You're not going to like much of this. Are you sure?" Draco asked.

"I would like to know, yes." Harry looked at Draco, worried.

"Well you can't say I didn't warn you." Draco took a deep breathe. "Well first things first, my father is a Death Eater. But I'm sure you figured that one out already." Harry nodded silently. "And I'm sure you also know that Voldemort considers Father to be one of the most trustworthy of them." Another nod. "Well contrary to popular belief, I have no desire to be like them. I didn't want to have anything in my life that would somehow help them. And the biggest thing that Voldemort and his supporters want is you, Harry. For the longest time, I've pushed aside my feelings toward you. It started out that I just wanted to be your friend, but then I just enjoyed all our stupid fights so much... I realized that I really wanted more than just friendship. But I knew that if it did happen, if we did get together, that would be the one thing that would make Voldemort want me on his side for sure. I couldn't do that to you. I didn't want to be the reason for any of your pain." Draco sighed as tears threatened to come. "But then we got that detention together. And you said you liked me. It was all my dreams coming true. I had never thought that you would ever say anything kind to me at all, let alone like me. And now. Tonight. We've both let it out in the open. We've said the 'I love you's. This is what I feared the most. Because my love for you will probably be the death of both of us." Draco couldn't continue. Now he was the one sobbing. He let go of Harry and turned away. But Harry followed him. Now it was Harry's turn to wrap his arms around Draco. Harry picked Draco's chin up now, and it was Draco who averted his eyes.

"Draco, look at me." Harry leaned to look for Draco's downcast eyes. "Please?" Draco finally looked up, his face now just as tear-stained as Harry's.

"Draco. I love you." Harry said. "And I'm not going anywhere. Whether you like it or not."

At that, Draco snorted. "Well, what if I don't want you anymore?" he said teasingly, through more tears.

"Too fucking bad."

At that answer, Draco threw his arms around Harry's neck. Harry slid his arms around Draco's waist. The two boys stayed like that for ages. They were both crying again. But it wasn't crying in pain. It was crying in joy. They were in love. They knew it. And they were happy.

At least for now you're happy. Draco's mind told him. But what happens when something goes wrong. Draco pondered that for a minute. I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. But for now, I'm just going to be happy because I'm with the man I love.

~*~TBC~*~