Chapter 8- This is Where It Gets Serious…;)

Draco stood at the sink, washing his hands. He was alone in the school toilets, which he preferred. For some reason he was unable to 'empty his bladder' while there were others milling around. It made him uncomfortable

As he wiped his wet hands on his black cloak, a familiar voice made him groan internally.

"Hello Malfoy."

He spun around. "Potter," he spat out, "how is it possible you always know where I am? Stop following me!"

Potter looked surprised. "I don't follow you," he said quietly. "It's as if…I can just sense where you are, that's all."

"Bullshit." Draco strode up to Potter and grabbed the front of his shirt. "Leave me alone. I know what you want…"

"You do?"

Something in his eyes made him want to back down. Draco released the Griffindor, stepping backwards. "I think I do," he muttered. "And the answer is no! So just…just go and stop stalking me!" He scowled and walked back to the sink. He forgot he'd already washed his hands as he turned on the tap, hoping that Potter would have left by the time he turned around again.

"You're not that wonderful you know," Potter's voice drifted over his shoulder. Draco rolled his eyes. That was his archenemy's scathing remark, that he was 'not that wonderful'? Draco pondered that. He was not that wonderful, but that didn't mean he wasn't still wonderful. Draco didn't respond to Potter aloud.

Potter tried again. "Sometimes I wonder if you even have feelings," he said over the sound of the gushing water. "Or…or if you even have a brain." Draco shook his head imperceptibly. Potter was really going nowhere- he was floundering. Not even any good arguments; he also realised it was pointless trying but he was not used to giving up. "I mean," he continued, "if you did, you would realise that for one, you're not well liked by many…" Draco almost sniggered out loud. That was the understatement of the century. "And two, you know, this means that your capacity for happiness is rather restricted, and you'll never be happy because you'll always be alone." This struck a chord deep in Draco, and the anger in him swelled rapidly. He spun around and strode forward, grabbing Potter's coat lapels and shoving him hard against the wall. The black-haired boy cried out but Draco ignored him.

"How dare you!" he snarled. "You think I don't deserve happiness?"

"I didn't say that!" Potter choked out. "But you…nobody likes you Malfoy, because you don't like anyone. That's why your…your happiness is limited!"

"Ah, so you're thinking I should settle for the only thing I have the possibility of procuring happiness from. Is that what your thinking?" He let go of the boy and glared at him. "Potter," he said through gritted teeth, "I don't like you. I don't even respect you, especially after this episode. What makes you think I could…could…" Draco shuddered, and seeing this, Potter looked saddened.

"You could, couldn't you?" he murmured, and the silver-haired Slytherin looked at him. There was a small pause.

"Yes I could," he replied irritably, turning away. "But that doesn't mean I want to."

"Why not?!" Potter shouted, and he brought his fists to his eyes. Draco sighed. He wished his nemesis wasn't so emotional all the time. It was like hating a little girl, but it had to be done.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "Potter, Harry, whatever it is, I couldn't make you happy nor you me." Potter lowered his hands and his shimmering green eyes connected with piercing grey ones. Draco spoke calmly, with surprising gentleness, and the Griffindor was impressed.

Draco continued. "I'm not a complete idiot," he said, smirking. "I know what you saw in me. You thought just because I was nice to you and a complete arse to everyone else that meant something. It doesn't, Potter, and I'm sorry to break your heart. You're looking for someone who can show you the true depth of their feelings for you through their actions, and I'm in a great position to do that since everyone knows me as the mean-spirited Grinch with a horrible background of evil. If I suddenly mend my ways, turn all moral and virtuous, have a complete attitude change, transform myself into something that does good and heals the world instead of harming it…well, that would mean I must care for you a lot, right? To make such a sacrifice? To do something so drastic as to change myself for you? Am I right Potter?"

Potter looked miserable, and he hung his head, his fingers knotted together. Draco could pity him. He knew what it was like to discover the difference between achieving love and simply loving.

He felt the desire to tell Potter something about himself. Reveal something, just so the other boy wouldn't think the closeness he'd felt over the last month or so was a total illusion.

"If I tell you something," Draco said quietly, looking down at the ground, "will you promise never to reveal it to anyone?" He felt Potter's startled eyes searching his face for a sign of sarcasm, but there was none.

"I won't say a word."

"I…I do love someone Potter, only it's not you." He spoke in a rush, squeezing his eyes shut in anxiety for the ridiculing that was sure to follow. He waited for the smaller boy to start informing him curtly that his object of affection probably felt nothing but distaste for him, and even if there was interest from the other side, Draco's appalling personality would soon drive them away.

He waited, but nothing was spoken. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring into a sea of emerald-green. Harry was crying. Shit.

He fished out a forgotten tissue from his coat and handed it to Potter. "Stop it," he said harshly, but Potter only bit his lip and let the silent tears cascade down his cheeks. He ignored Draco's offer. Sighing, Draco gently wiped the other boy's wet cheeks and around his eyes, feeling extremely maternal and stupid. Luckily no one else had entered the toilets since Potter had come in.

"Do you always cry when you don't get what you want?" he muttered, holding the Griffindor's chin up so he could dab more easily at his wet skin.

"That's not why I'm crying," Potter murmured defensively, closing his eyes.

"Then why are you?"

"Because I never thought I'd see the day Draco Malfoy confesses to actually loving someone." He smiled and opened his eyes. "It was a very beautiful moment."
"Whatever Potter. This is just between us."

"Sure Malfoy."

Coming up...Chapter 9- More Strange Happenings…

· I just want to know, do Slytherin and Griffindor still share a Charms class with Professor Flitwick? Or is it just Potions?

· And is the Patronus spell 'Expecto Patronum'? With me asking all these questions everytime, it's kind of a hint as to what's coming up in the next chapter, eh?