Chapter Twelve

The Discoveries

"Harry? Draco?!? What in the bloody hell are you two doing?!?"

The two former enemies broke apart instantly and stared at each other for a second in fear and shock. Neither wanted to know who it was that had yelled at them. Finally, Draco took a very slow and deep breath and turned in the direction of the yell.

"Oh it's you," said Draco. "Please stop yelling. I don't want the whole castle to hear."

The intruder shook their head in disgust. "If I didn't know any better, I would think that you two were just snogging in the middle of the Entrance Hall."

"Well do you know any better?" asked Harry, flustered at the sight of their interrupter.

"I'd like to think that I'm totally wrong..."

"Oh, please do. Then you wouldn't be making such a fuss about this whole thing," said Draco, getting annoyed with the intrusion.

"But-"

"Just hush up about it. Honestly. Can't you leave well enough alone?" Harry shook his head, looking into the eyes of their interrogator.

The bushy ponytail swayed at the back of Hermione's head as she shook it again. "You'd think you two would be more careful. Especially since you want to keep this quiet."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You still haven't said a word, right?"

"Of course not. I always keep my word. Even if I don't agree with what's going on. And you have been treating Harry right, haven't you?" said Hermione, looking Draco square in the eye.

God, that's rather scary. Geez. I'm getting freaked by staring down a Mudb- By staring down Gr-Hermione. She is scary if she wants to be though. Guess that's a good thing for her. I really need to get myself to like her more. I mean, if Harry and I are going to be together for as long as I hope... Which is forever... Anyway. Better answer the girl. "Of course I'm treating him right. Aren't I Harry?"

Harry put on a play-look of despair. "I dunno, Draco. Last night was pretty rough."

Draco put on a look of surprise. "But I thought you liked it rough!"

With that remark, Hermione turned a deep shade of burgundy. She covered her ears and said, "I do not want to know what you two did last night. I just don't want to know."

Draco glanced at Harry and winked. Harry grinned back. Then Harry walked to Hermione and pulled her hands off her ears. "Don't worry, 'Mione. What we do on our own time stays between us. We were only playing with you." He grinned at her. Her face returned to its normal shade.

"And besides which," said Draco playfully. "You aren't really one to talk. You and Weasley looked like you were getting rather frisky last night yourselves." Draco winked.

"What?!? How do-? I mean-. I don't know what you're talking about, Mister Malfoy," said Hermione indignantly.

"Oh come off it, Miss Granger. I happen to know that you and Ron woke up in the hallway outside the sixth-year boys' dormitory in a very compromising situation." Draco smirked at the red that was creeping into her cheeks again.

"And how would you know that?" asked Hermione.

"Oh. Didn't you know? That was the reason Harry wanted the room to himself. I was with him last night," said Draco casually.

Hermione gaped at him.

"This morning, I had to step over you and Weasley. Real good snogging session in the hallway, Hermione?" Draco grinned and winked at her. She was once again the deep burgundy.

"I-. We-. You-." sputtered Hermione.

"What's the matter, 'Mione?" asked Harry. "Ron got your tongue?"

Draco and Harry laughed. Hermione just looked shocked and embarrassed.

"It's alright, Hermione. I won't tell. No points will be taken from Gryffindor for that lovely display of affection," said Draco in his best prefect-in-charge voice. He smiled at her again. Hermione blushed darker still.

"Well anyway," she said finally, when she regained her voice and her dignity. "You two should be careful."

"We know," said Harry. "We just had a lovely bath and-"

"Enough!" cried Hermione. She covered her ears again and hurried off to the library.

Probably where she goes when she's upset, Draco thought, amused. Girl's far too interested in books. Glad she has Weasley to loosen her up a bit. "Now, Harry. Where were we?"

Harry looked at Draco. Then the smile that made Draco weak in the knees spread across the lips he just had to kiss. They stepped together once more, positioning themselves as they had been before Hermione happened upon them. "About here, I believe..." said Harry as he leaned in.

Draco got swept away again in the mind-numbing kiss. They stood there together in the Entrance Hall. Lips locked, tongues doing battle for dominance, first in Harry's mouth, then Draco's, then back to Harry. Draco's hands slipped up to tangle in the hair of the Gryffindor. And-

"What the devil is going on here?!?"

~*~*~*~

The boys ripped apart again. Who is it this time? No one else knows we're together. What are we going to do? Harry could read the same fears in Draco's blue eyes as he was feeling. Harry took a deep breath and this time he was the one to turn and face their questioner first. Oh shit.

Snape.

Harry took a deep breath again. Then he looked the hook-nosed professor in the eyes and said, "Whatever are you talking about, Professor?"

"Oh don't play cute with me, Potter. I saw you and your companion there, snogging in the middle of the hallway. Could you please explain yourself?" said Snape, sneering with the normal look Snape left solely for his benefit.

"It was my fault, Professor," said Draco, stepping round Harry. Snape's sneer disappeared and was replaced with utter shock.

"Your fault, Mister Malfoy?" asked Snape in disbelief and disappointment. It was obvious to Harry that Snape was just itching to dole out detentions.

"Yes, sir. I was the one that asked for the kiss, sir." said Draco, lowering his head, not looking at Snape.

"You asked Potter to kiss you? Potter?" Snape stared at his prize pupil in absolute astonishment.

"Yes. Erm, sir? Can we speak about this privately? Your office, perhaps?" asked Draco politely.

"Erm- Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea." said Snape, obviously still trying to recover from the sight of Harry and Draco.

The trio walked to Snape's office. Professor Snape muttered several unlocking charms, and opened the door. He walked in, the two students following. Harry, the last in, closed the door behind him. Snape pointed his wand at the door and said, "Silencio." He sat down behind his desk. Then he motioned for Harry and Draco to sit. He looked to Draco for an explanation.

Draco looked at Harry for a second. His eyes were telling Harry that he would get them out of trouble, and just to be quiet. Harry understood and nodded ever so slightly. Then Draco turned to Snape.

"Professor. Sir. Harry and I," Snape raised an eyebrow at the name 'Harry' coming out of Draco's mouth. Draco continued as though he hadn't seen the look. "We have been seeing each other."

If Snape was shocked before, it was nothing like what he was now. As Harry watched, Snape's face contorted into disgust, shock, amazement, amusement and then finally resting on shock again. "You-. What?"

"Harry and I have been together for two months now. We learned that we really cared for each other, and now we're together. We don't get to really spend much time together, and that's why you caught us snogging in the Entrance Hall. He had hoped to just catch a quick kiss, but I got caught up in the moment. I'm sorry, sir." Draco looked at Snape, whose face was now showing- Is that forgiveness?!? Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Forgiveness?

Snape nodded slowly. "I suppose that as this is the first time I have caught you, I will let you slide. Just this once." Snape looked reproachfully at the two boys. "But if I catch you two again, there will be consequences, do you hear?"

Both boys nodded fervently. Harry couldn't believe his luck. He had pissed Snape off, and he was getting away with it. Because of Draco. Thank Merlin for Draco. Harry pushed away a smile. For more reasons than one. Snape glared at the couple for a few seconds more. Then he waved his hand dismissively.

"You may go."

Harry and Draco stood and walked out of the room. Harry waited till they were far enough away from Snape's office before stopping. "Whoa."

"What?" asked Draco.

"You just got me away from Snape's office without even getting points taken away. How in Merlin's name did you do that?" Harry stared at the Slytherin in awe.

"He's an old friend of the family. You should know that. He practically helped raise me. He's not going to punish me for doing anything." Draco grinned at Harry. "Or anyone I'm doing things with." He winked and started walking again. Harry walked with Draco, still flabbergasted. He only realized where they were when Draco stopped again. Harry looked round himself. The Entrance Hall. Again. He looked at Draco, who was smiling seductively.

"Now come here. I'm quite determined to finish this kiss." he said slyly. Draco pulled Harry to him and planted his lips on Harry's once more. Harry once again got completely caught up in the moment and was thoroughly enjoying Draco's persistence. As Draco's tongue massaged his own, all his thoughts disappeared. But-

"HOLY SHIT!"

~*~*~*~

For Merlin's sake! Can't I kiss my boyfriend in peace here?!? Draco slowly pulled away from Harry for the third time. He was extremely irritated, as he was quite into the moment this time, and was definitely not in the mood to be interrupted again. We have to pick a new place to have a good-bye kiss from now on. Draco turned to see whose voice it was that disturbed them for the third time. His eyes grew so wide he thought they were going to fall out. I'm dead. Draco took a deep breath and looked over at his shoulder at Harry. Harry was shaking. Draco could feel the fear and pain flowing out of Harry. This is going to kill him. Oh what have I done? Then Draco turned back. And looked at their third delayer.

Ron Weasley.

~*~TBC~*~