Chapter 2 - Potter's Secret Admirer

During the next two weeks Harry avoided the Slytherin Ice King, Malfoy, afraid that he would say something about him again. Harry couldn't notice that Draco kept gawking at him during meals and every other opportunity.

Ron kept sniggering when he saw Malfoy and sometimes he erupted into a series of laughs that didn't end for over 10 minutes. Harry found it rather irritable.

'Can't you stop for once? Do you think I like this?' Harry sighed, wincing as he caught Draco's glance.

'Hee hee...no, but it's HILARIOUS!!!! hahahahaha...' Ron grinned, then broke into uncontrollable laughter once more.

Harry's shoulder's dropped and dragged his bag along in an agonized way.

One day, at Care of Magical Creatures, Harry looked up and saw that Malfoy was again staring at him, his cobalt eyes in that pining way.

This was it.

He walked to Malfoy, who was still in sort of a trance.

'Malfoy!' Harry shouted at the blonde to get his attention- of course he had it.

Looking up quickly Malfoy saw him and reddened, his pale face not suiting this shade very well.

'Hello Harry,...I mean - what do you want, Potter?' Malfoy spat, putting his usual ghost of a smirk upon his face but failing.

'Why are you staring at me, all the time? It's really annoying, Ferret!' Harry informed him harshly and in rather a blunt fashion.

Malfoy looked down, as if caught in the act, 'S-sorry Potter it's just...well...'

He looked around. Several Slytherins were nearby, so he didn't dare tell him yet.

'See me tonight, in the Trophy Room,' he whispered in a casual offhand manner, then sauntered towards his friends- but still in view of Potter.

'Err...okay,' Harry mused, then turned to walked back to Ron and Hermione, who were feeding a creature that looked like a shrunken wolf with extra large eyes.

'What did Malfoy want, Harry?' Ron questioned him, looking at the mini-wolf going all doughy-eyed.

'He wants to tell me something, this evening. I'm meeting him in the Trophy Room.' Harry sighed.

Why? Malfoy had been his biggest enemy for all these years, and had showed him he didn't want anything but to make his life miserable. This was wrong and with that thought he walked away from Ron and Hermione. He needed space to think, which was quite hard to accomplish as Ron was in another fit of laughter. -*-*-*- That evening in the trophy room, Harry opened the door soundlessly, not wanting to wake any of the teachers, or Filch- the ill-tempered caretaker. Malfoy was already there, looking slightly jittery. He looked up and strode towards Harry, not managing his usual swagger.

'Hi ya Potter' He nearly smiled, but it dropped because of his nervousness.

With a disgusted face Harry sat down in one of the big, leather chairs, in a corner- far away from Malfoy.

'Nice weather today, Potter, it's really hot...yes really hot for this time of the year...yep, don't you think, Harry?-I can call you Harry, can't I?' he squeaked, his usual smooth and silky manner dropped.

'What do you want, Draco?' Harry snarled, his emerald eyes narrowed.

'Erm, well, I-I wasn't lying when I said I...liked you. I mean... you're nice and all...' Draco managed to croak out, twiddling his thumbs.

'I can't believe it! My whole time here at Hogwarts you have treated me like scum and now you keep staring at me and you LIKE me?' Harry questioned, eyes wide with disbelief.

'Yeah...oh...I'm sorry, Harry!' Malfoy was nearly crying. 'Please hear me out! My father always told me to hate you, and so I did, but.. I love you, Harry! I don't know why! You're so handsome and brave, you conquered you- know-who so many times, and I can't stop thinking about you...'

It went quiet. Harry was breathing very deeply to calm himself and to stay cool and collected.

'Stay calm' he told himself this is just one of his jokes, or he did truth or dare with Crabbe and Goyle.

'But Potter," Malfoy whimpered, 'I know you didn't expect this, but please think it over...I will always love you and I will do everything for you!'

'That's IT!' Harry shot up from his chair 'This isn't true, stop it! You're joking, it's a JOKE!' and with that he rushed out into the dark corridor, leaving Malfoy behind, looking miserable.

But Harry was already gone, and rushing to the Gryffindor common room, and straight to bed. He didn't want any questions from Hermione or Ron.

-*-*-*-

When Harry woke up the next morning, he looked at his alarm clock. It was 5:30 a.m.

Leaning back against his pillow, he sighed, and tried to sleep some more. He was nearly sleeping again when he heard a loud- 'SCREECH!'- just behind him.

He shot up from his bed.

A big eagle-like owl sat on the window sill, pruning it's feathers, reminding Harry much of Malfoy- then it his him, it was Malfoy's owl. A bit of hope filled Harry's heart. What if he wrote that it was a fake? That it was a dare with one of his Slytherin buddies! Harry took the letter off the leg of the eagle-owl, who took off with large sweeping of his wings.

'Sup, Harry?' Harry Jumped round. Ron lay in his bed, looking up at him with his flaming red hair standing upright and his eyes slightly unfocused. 'What's that, an owl?'

'Eh...Yes, it... was from the Daily Prophet, I want to know what happens outside Hogwarts,' Harry quickly lied, wiping sweat from his brow.

'Yeah,' Ron yawned and lay down again, 'Whatever...'

Trying to be as quiet as possible, Harry climbed up his four-poster again and ripped open the envelope, and took out a pink letter. Harry's heart sank. A powerful scent came towards him. It smelled like roses and daisies mixed with chocolate. Holding the letter as far as he could, so the wafts couldn't reach him; Harry read the letter, written in curly letters. He recognized Malfoy's handwriting.

"Dear Harry,

If I look at you

I see your bright green eyes, so clear

and I sink in them deep

I lose all my fear

It seems eternity

The times our eyes meet

The love jumps up at me

And I would do everything for you

I love you

And I always will

You are my hero, savior and friend

From now, till the end

So ask me and I'll do

So tell me and I'll go

Please forgive me if I do

But I really love you so!

Love,

Malfoy" ***

Beta-reader- morninglight__@hotmail.com - Mornings Light