Genre: Romance/Slash

Rating: PG-13 for "romantic moments", swearing, homosexual themes. Be warned, rating may change, in the upward direction.

Disclaimer: The characters and places aren't mine. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I own a fantastic little curse, and a twisted little plot. Don't sue me, I'm broke as it is.

Author's Note: Heh, some of you guys are sharp when it comes to details. To those who noticed that Fred and George should have graduated, good job! So, my excuse? It's fan fiction and I really like the Weasley twins and I wanted a realistic crush for Harry. And I despise H/R. Sorry, H/R fans. Also, lengthening Harry's name. It just sounds better shouted angrily then "Harry." Again, poetic license. It just makes the whole thing flow better. ish. Anyway, sorry it's late, hot off the press:

*

Madame Pince did not comment when the schools worst pair of enemies entered the library, walking next to each other, and talking in quiet tones. She did not comment when they disappeared down the same aisle and furthermore, she did not comment when they sat down at the same table, directly across from each other, and became immediately immersed in the large pile of books they had found.

*

It was some time later that Draco made a noise of smug self satisfaction, causing the other boy to look up. The blonde pointed to a line of text and turned the book so that the other might see what he was pointing to. Harry nodded grimly and then the boys systematically put the books away, checking out the one Draco had been reading. Madame Pince said nothing as they walked out together, talking quietly, heads bent close together.

*

When they finally got some distance from the library, Harry let out a sigh. "That was weird."

Draco nodded. "That nosy witch wouldn't stop staring at us!"

Harry laughed ruefully. "Do you really blame her though?"
Draco sighed. "I suppose not. The circumstances are bizarre!"
Harry snorted in contempt. "I'm stuck to you. That's more then bizarre."

The pretty blonde glared at his nemesis, something he did fairly well. "Let's just find out how to reverse this blasted spell before I strangle you just to shut you up."

"Bouncing ferret."

Draco, a bit shocked was nevertheless quick to respond. "Headmaster's Pet."

"Pretty boy."

"Muggle lover."

"Fake."

There was a long, rather uncomfortable silence that Harry eventually ended up breaking. "There's an empty classroom at the end of the hall. We can take a look through the book there."

Draco nodded, still glaring uneasily at the shorter Seeker beside him.

The two boys disappeared into the fore mentioned classroom and sat down cross-legged on the floor next to each other. Draco opened the book and turned to the page he'd been showing the dark-haired boy earlier.

He ran a thin finger down the page and finally found the paragraph and read it out loud:

"The Moreso Curse. First developed by Edwina Bagglebottom, in 1345, this curse in a complex way to stick two people together. If the casting wizards or witches prefer it, there is a very strong paste recipe at the back of this book. See Appendix Z-135. If you feel bold enough still, find another witch or wizard that also wishes to perform this curse, for two are needed to make this curse work. This curse will permanently create a "leash" between the two people this curse was meant for. This curse is reversible only if both of the cursing parties say the counercurse or if the cursed parties fall in true love?!?!?!" Draco's voice rose several octaves as he read the last line in disbelief.

"Like Hell!" Harry snorted. "I may like boys, Malfoy, but I'm not going to fall for you!"

"Hey!" said Draco, getting defensive and stuck up. "You wouldn't be the first!"

Harry rolled his eyes and Draco saw that this would probably dissolve into another row, something that quite frankly he was too tired to put up with.

"We can talk to the Mudblood tomorrow," Draco said, logically. "Maybe she can do something."

Harry glared at Draco for what he called Hermione but with a sigh, admitted, "She could, maybe, but she wouldn't."

Draco gave the boy a long, calculating look, something that unnerved Harry, then said, "Stupid Gryffindors! I thought you meatheads were supposed to look out for each other!"

"Against back-stabbing, power hungry, blood thirsty Slytherins!" Harry said, but his voice softened. "But not against each other."

Draco laughed, which surprised Harry and caused him to look up at the blonde Slytherin. "Potter," he said, humor flicking over his gray eyes, "we may be back-stabbing and power hungry, but we're not blood thirsty. Sure, some Slytherins don't balk at killing people, but that doesn't mean we have some twisted lust for blood. That's just sick."

"I never said Slytherins were pleasant," Harry said with as charming of a smile as he could muster.

Draco sighed. The Gryffindor's humor aside, Draco could tell that his friend's traitorous actions had him on his knees. "Listen, Potter," he began, and with out knowing it, put a comforting hand on the shorter boy's shoulder, "Granger will get over herself eventually and hey, you still have the whole stinking Weasel family, not to mention countless others that are absolutely in love with you. You may have lost the Weaselette though. Merlin knows she's fond of Granger."

Harry smiled at the blonde. "As backwards and cruel as that sounded, thanks Malfoy. It sort of does make me feel better."

Draco grinned. "And," he went on, "if you're really, really mad at Granger, the Weasel will probably stick by you, even if it puts him in the doghouse."

"Boy, you catch on quick," Harry remarked.

"Of course," Draco said, looking proud of himself.

Harry yawned and looked at his watch. It was only a bit after ten, but the day's events had been trying to say the least. Draco yawned as well and the boys locked eyes.

"Fuck," said Harry.

"Yeah," said Draco.

"We could push two beds together in Gryffindor Tower…" Harry suggested as they walked out into the hallway, the book tucked under one of the Slytherin's strong, slender arms.

"Are you kidding?!?! The Weasel'd murder me in my sleep!"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"My room, of course! As Head Boy, I do have my own room."

"You'd murder me in my sleep!"

Draco sighed, getting exasperated. "Potter, I promise I won't murder you in your sleep."

"Promises don't mean too much to a dead guy, Malfoy."

Draco laughed. "You've got a point there Potter, but honestly. Dumbledore already hates me. I'm not going to kill his favorite student right under his nose."

"Gryffindor Tower is closer."

"Too many people! C'mon!" Draco began to walk, but Harry did not. "Come on, Potter! Don't be such a dumb sod!"

"I'm not going into the dungeons alone with you!"

"Well, I'm not going back to your house!"

They glared at each other, then they argued some more and then they both attempted to walk towards their rooms. This proved to both tiring and painful and finally, both gave up and collapsed to the cool stone floor.

"Well. There's one thing we know," Draco grumbled.

"It hurts like hell to move farther then the spell allows?" Harry asked.

"And," Draco lamented, "it's tiring." He sighed. "Guess we can't do too much of that until this damned curse is broken."

"This is as much your fault as mine," Harry accused.

"Hardly. Your pissed off ex-girlfriend is the one with the brains! Pansy couldn't have done this on her own!"

"Pissed off girls are resourceful. Besides, why that airhead?"

Draco was not used to being asked personal questions. It tended to catch him off guard. "Don't make me beat the snot out of you, Potter."

"I'd like to see you try."

Draco glared at him darkly.

Harry laughed smugly. "You can't do it! Ha!"

Draco's scowl deepened. "If I wasn't attached to you, mark my words, I would."

Harry laughed more. "You can't do it! What, are you going soft, Malfoy?"

Draco swung at Harry, who ducked and rolled, pulling the blonde with him.

"Agh! Potter! You dumb sod!" Draco grunted, as the rolling pair came to a stop, Harry on top. "This is why I didn't beat you up! Now get off!"

Harry glared at the blonde, his eyes sharp and dark and locked with the Draco's. "I can't move and believe me, if I could, I would."

"Damn it! Potter, this is your fault!"

"You tried to hit me!"

"You ducked!"

"Oh, so I was supposed to let you punch me?"

Draco scowled, tense under the weight of the boy on top of him.

"Now what?" Harry asked.

"How the hell should I know?!"

They were silent for a while, keeping their level eyes averted.

"Wait!" Harry said, "I've got it! Maybe it will let us sit back to back."

"Sounds charming."

"Better then this."

"I never said I wasn't willing to try it. Okay," said Draco, taking a deep breath. "This is going to be challenging."

Harry nodded, causing their chins to gently brush, sending chills down both of their backs.

"Okay, Potter. Try to roll sideways and off of me."

"Move your arm first or I'll end up on top of it."

Draco lifted his arm up and behind his head and then nodded, again causing their chins to brush again. "All clear."

Harry bit his lip and rolled sideways, trying not to think of the boy beneath him. He let out his breath when he was lying next to the blonde. "Now what?"

"Well, we could try to get over to the wall and sit like this, or we could try to stand and sit back to back."

"This will work, I guess," Harry said, a bit uncomfortably.

Draco saw the unease in the dark-haired boy's eyes and knew that that unease was mirrored in his own gray eyes. "Wait, Potter, move your head for a second. Maybe the curse will let our shoulders be the link."

Harry bent his neck and felt Draco wriggle slightly as he brought his arm so that it was touching his.

"There," said Draco, "now all we have to do is make it to that wall. I don't fancy lying in the middle of the hallway all night."

Harry let out an uncomfortable little laugh. "Let's just try to sit up. Maybe then we can make it to our knees…"

"Okay, on three."
Harry nodded and said, "One."

"Two."

"Three!" they both said and sat up with a huff.

Draco drew his knees up around himself. "Merlin this is torture."

"Good thing Seekers are flexible," Harry grumbled.

Draco glared at him. "Okay, can you make it to your knees from here?"

Harry nodded.

"Okay, you first."

With a bit of a struggle, Harry made it to his knees, his hip now touching Draco's shoulder. "Your turn."

Draco bit his lip and curled his legs up beneath himself and then forced himself to his knees, drawing their shoulders back together.

"There," he breathed. "It should be easy enough from here."

And the two crawled, very slowly, to the wall and found themselves facing it.

"Er," said Harry. "Now what?"

"Uh, stay put. I'll crawl backwards in a half circle. All you have to do is turn with me."

Harry nodded, and turned carefully as Draco crawled backwards, watching constantly over his shoulder.

When both of their backs were against the comforting stone wall, they both let out sighs, and flopped from their knees onto their bottoms.

"Sorry for trying to hit you," Draco said, rubbing his tired eyes.

"S'ok," Harry said sleepily. "I did antagonize you."

"One more rule for being under this curse then. Nothing physical. No hitting, kicking, biting, elbowing, etc."

"Biting?!"

"I've learned not to underestimate you, Potter."

Harry scowled. "Fine. It's a deal."

The two shook their unconnected hands.

"Merlin," said Draco a moment or so later, running his free hand through his long blonde hair, "I'm tired."

There was no response. Harry had fallen asleep, his head rested on his free shoulder.

Draco smirked, closed his eyes and was asleep seconds later.

*

Harry woke and found his head resting on something comfortingly soft. And then he opened his eyes, and found that his head had been resting on Draco's shoulder. What's more, a stand of silvery blonde fell in front of his eyes and he peered up, suddenly aware of the head resting on the crown of his own.

He swore to himself, wondering how he'd gotten into this mess. More over, he wondered how he'd get out of this mess without waking Draco. He was debating, and calculating when the boy beside him stirred.

The porcelain face was still for a second, and then an agony filled gray eye opened.

"Fuck," said Draco, quickly scooting a few inches away.

"Yeah," said Harry, who took the opportunity to stretch his cramped neck.

"That was bizarre…" Draco commented.

"Malfoy," Harry grumbled, still rather sleepy, "that was more then bizarre."

Draco, feeling more then a little flustered, glared at Harry. "Well, there's something the book forgot to mention. The leash changes."

Harry groaned. "This is the crappiest spell ever!"

Draco's eyes widened in amusement. "Eloquently put, Potter."

It was Harry's turn to glare, and he did so vehemently, for Harry wasn't much of a morning person.

Draco had picked up on this rather quickly. "How long do you plan to stay this unbearable? More so then usual, I mean."

Harry glared at the pretty blonde again, brushing his unruly black locks back from his eyes. "Don't make me hit you, Malfoy."

"Tut tut, Potter. Surely you remember we made a pact."

Harry grumbled incoherently.

"Does tea or coffee or food make you any less unbearable?" Draco asked, giving Harry a smug grin.

"Oh shaddup, Malfoy."

"Breakfast it is. Come now. We can breakfast early and perhaps not have to put up with the Weasel and Granger and other related ilk."

Harry grumbled some more.

*

Unfortunately, the Great Hall didn't stay deserted for long. Harry and Draco were perhaps halfway through breakfast--they had opted to sit at the Ravenclaw table--when Ron and Hermione walked in.

Hermione giggled and Ron gave Harry a helpless look, then glared at Draco.

"That was uncalled for," Draco muttered. "I haven't done anything to the poor slob yet today."

Hermione and Ron walked over and sat near Harry, one on either side.

"Mornin' Harry!" Ron greeted, not even looking at Draco.

Hermione, thankfully, Harry thought, had lost the desire to be verbally mean to him, That didn't extend as far as to stop her from teasing him though. "Sleep well, Harry?"

Harry gave her a false smile. "But of course, Hermione. I hope you slept well?"

"Never better."

"He hasn't been more of a jerk then usual, has he Harry?" Ron asked darkly, casting a disdainful eye at Draco, who blatantly said nothing.

Harry looked uncomfortably between Ron and Draco, and finally said. "No, no. We haven't beat the snot out of each other yet, have we?"

Hermione laughed secretively.

Harry and Draco both cast her a dark look.

Hermione and Ron, for the most part, kept the conversation going, that is of course, until Ginny stumbled bleary-eyed, down to the breakfast table. She looked a bit confused, but finally came down and sat next to Hermione. She refused to speak to Harry, and conversation lulled to a stand still.

The silence was finally broken by the arrival of the mail. A letter landed in front of Draco, but the owl, a dark black one, didn't stop for a scrap of toast or anything, like Hedwig did. Draco pocketed the letter.

Nothing but Hedwig arrived for Harry, but she was comfort enough.

Hermione got the Daily Prophet, as she did everyday and quickly started into it.

All was silent until two more redheads burst into the Great Hall, talking animatedly. They stopped dead when they saw everyone at the Ravenclaw table. They stepped back when they saw Malfoy.

"Er, Harry?" said George.

Harry turned his head, just as Draco kicked him under the table. Harry kicked back.

"Why is Malfoy eating with you guys?"

"Oh," said Harry. "Funny story, that one."

"Oh!" said Fred. "Do tell us!"

The twins quickly pushed Ron and Hermione out of the way.

"Well," Harry began. "Hermione and Pansy Parkinson got really really mad at us, and cursed us."

Fred and George looked expectantly at Harry.

"Er," said Harry. "That's it…"

"Oh. So, what'd you do?" George asked, interestedly.

"Um, that's a rather long and boring story…" Harry said uneasily.

"Harry, my friend," Fred said, grinning, "we're on Christmas holiday. We have all the time in the world.

Harry looked up and made eye contact with Draco. Harry's eyes said everything, and Draco understood perfectly. "Fuck." Draco gave him a barely noticeable, smug, smile that Harry knew to mean "Yeah."

"Well," said Harry, "Er…."

"Harry and I just weren't right for each other," Hermione said, not looking up from the newspaper.

"So what was all that book throwing about?" George asked, reaching across Harry to snag a pot of jam.

Harry took a deep breath, scowled at Draco, who seemed to be enjoying the whole conversation and quickly said, "Misunderstanding."

"And the screaming?" Fred asked.

"Er…" Harry began, not very sure what to say.

"Hormones," said Hermione, as if daring any of the boys to question further.

Of course, Fred did. "So, who's the lucky girl, Harry?"

"Cho Chang," Harry lied.

"Are you kidding?" George asked. "Why she's been after you for some time. You've been turning her down at balls since fifth year."

"Oh lord," said Hermione exasperatedly, still not looking up from her paper. "Just tell them Harry. It's not like you can keep it a secret forever."

Harry's mouth fell open and as four freckled faces looked toward him in interest, he caught a look from Draco. An almost sympathetic look. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. "Um…" he finally said.

Hermione looked up and said, "Harry likes boys."

She then returned to her newspaper.

*

Author's Note: Sorry for it's general lateness…um, reviewer thanks below…Thanks for all the reviews guys! I never thought I'd pull in so many!

To:

Yami-no-Hikari: Glad you like it!

SparkySparkles: I know, I know, I'm breaking fan fiction laws here, but…consider it an alternative universe where Fred and George are just there…congrats on being one of the only people to notice!

Mandraco: There's a plot…sorta…but no, it's not just porn or fluff…

Desertwren: Sorry it's late…Muggles…psh! Those are the people that glare at my friends and I when we repeatedly ride the escalators up and down…tee hee hee. *hugs* Many thanks!

MinnGirl: I like Harry and George. Don't you think they'd be sweet together??

Amethyst Shard: Thanks! Glad you like it so far!

Asaroth69: Oh the little things…*cackles* Thanks for reviewing!

LvlySenbei: Very glad you liked it!

Sailor Grape: Thanks!!!

Aspara: I try!

Diamond Angel: I'm such a sucker for D/H clichés…I will read your fic! As I had to explain to those that read a fic I write on my alter ego, I have been very out of the fan fiction circuit lately. Thanks for adding me to your faves!!! *hugs*

Cerberis: Thank you! Sorry for my slow posting!

Black Heart: Glad you like it!

RAVENCLAWPUNKg: I heart your name. If I were to change mine, Id' be SLYTHERINPUNK. Hehe. Glad ya liked it!

Star C. Waters: Thanks!

Draven: SO glad you liked it!!

Dodo: Heh. Yeah….what I don't get is why Harry would ever be short for Henry..?!?! Sorry for late update…glad you like it!

Lady Rhiannon: I love your name! Thanks so much!

Thank you guys for sticking with me! Hope this chapter wasn't too dull…expect fluff in…er...about two more chapters…ish…I think….Well, see you guys next chapter!!

*hugs*

Ril