Disclaimer: Nope…not mine. Na-ah.

A/N: Okay peoples…I would normally sit on this chapter a few days to make sure everyone who wants to read and review the last chapter gets a chance to do so and experience the cliff hanger. However, I love you guys and I'm not going to make you wait too long. Please read and review. And, as always, thank you for your feedback!

Props as always to Jasmine for betaing this fic and keeping my ass in check. (And keeping my head from getting too big from all the great reviews) Thanx Chica!

Chapter 9……………..Observing the very rare Draconius Malfoy in its natural state.

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Ron made it back to the Gryffindor common room without hitting anything…he took this as a good sign. The more he thought about it…the more Malfoy pissed him off. This was all his fault anyways. Now Harry was probably fighting with him. He wanted to go back to Harry's room and knock the bastard one for Harry…but he wouldn't. He knew that Harry wouldn't appreciate it, and as much as he hated to admit it…it wasn't his business. He did think, though, that between the two of them, Harry should be the one who didn't want anyone to know who he was shagging….or not shagging….or whatever.

Hermione was waiting for him, sitting in a chair with a book twice her size taking up the rest of the room. She looked up at him and noticed the scowl on his face.

"How'd it go?"

"It went fine, until….ugh, not here, let's go for a walk."

"Okay"

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Harry turned around expecting to see a very angry Draco. He thought Draco would be ready to scream at him, throw things and storm out. What he saw was an exceedingly calm Draco casually putting his tie on. He flashed his award winning smile at Harry.

Harry blinked, confused. "Are you okay?"

Draco's smile widened and he spoke as though he'd been asked if he'd like fries with his Happy Meal. "I'm fine, you?"

Harry was worried. He knew what to make of Draco when he was mad and yelling. If he had wanted to yell, Harry couldn't say he would have blamed him. He even knew what to make of Draco when he put up his walls of casual indifference. It was almost as if Harry could sort of feel what he was feeling…usually. This was different. This was…nothing. This was….emptiness. This was the scariest Draco he'd ever seen. He cautiously continued.

"Is something wrong?"

Draco continued fixing his clothes and smoothing his hair. He tossed another gorgeous smile over his shoulder at Harry.

"Everything is perfect."

Now Harry was really worried. Everything was most definitely not perfect. He watched Draco check his appearance in the mirror after he finished dressing. The Slytherin headed to leave the room. He held up Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Is it alright if I borrow this to get back to the dungeons? I'll leave it on your desk before potions tomorrow…your little friends shouldn't find it odd…seeing as how they've already been informed apparently."

Harry almost asked him to stay until it was clear to leave, wanting to explain to him…explain how Hermione could be trusted and how Ginny had seen them and how Ron would never do anything to hurt him, and therefore would keep their secret… but decided against it since the tension in the room was already unbearable. If Draco had wanted to stay…he would have said so.

"Sure"

"Thank you, Potter."

Harry winced at the use of his surname. Draco headed for the exit with the cloak slung over his arm. He moved so fluidly, like a cat almost…even now. He moved with purpose and his steps were brisk and sharp. Harry had a horrible feeling that if Draco left this time…he wouldn't be back. He grasped the blonde boy's arm in desperation as he passed him.

"Don't go"

Harry knew Draco was strong…however, he had underestimated his speed. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen *anyone* move that fast. He grabbed Draco's arm, asked him not to leave, blinked and the next thing he knew, he was backed up into a wall. Draco was pressed into him, pinning him to the wall and smiling that awful, deceitful smile.

He continued to smile at Harry. It wasn't a smirk, or a grin…it was a smile. The smile the Devil wears when he wants your soul.

Draco moved his right hand to Harry's throat and stroked the skin there, while using his left one to keep Harry pinned to the wall. Harry wasn't struggling though. The closely matched boys would probably have quite a wrestling match had Harry attempted to fight back. But he didn't. He wasn't sure he could have moved if he had wanted to anyways. Draco dipped his head down to Harry's ear and continued to caress his throat. His voice sounded to Harry like a cyanide laced purr.

"I have things to do Potter. Graduation is coming up you know." He nipped Harry's ear, causing him to shiver, before running his thumb up Harry's neck until it pressed into the dip under his chin a little painfully. Draco pushed harder and Harry bit his lip as Draco used the grip to force his head to the side, bearing his neck to him. The Slytherin ran his nose along the length of Harry's neck before coming back to the ear to speak again.

"The Gryffindor Golden Trio…such loyalty to each other."

Harry was disturbed by many things at this point. The thing that disturbed him most was his reaction to Draco's assault. He found it somewhat arousing, being pinned to the wall with Draco whispering to him like that. Surely this kind of reaction isn't normal. He couldn't figure it out for the life of him and he tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. It would do no good though, as Draco's hand made a trail from his throat to the arousal in his jeans. Harry was confused, but couldn't find his voice to ask any questions and was left to simply listen as Draco continued.

"It's touching, really, how you three share everything…all your secrets…putting each other before all others…I've never been one for such allegiances myself. The chattering and gossip sharing behind everyone else's backs…it's not really my style."

He started to lightly stroke Harry as he went on.

"The thing about Slytherins though…is that if I want to…"

*stroke*

"…fuck you,…"

*stroke*

"…I'll do it to your face."

He released Harry with one quick motion, stepping back and suddenly putting feet of space between them when just before there had been only centimeters. Harry almost fell forward from the abrupt change. Draco looked Harry in the eye and smiled that damned smile again.

"Lucky for you…I don't."

And then he was gone, having vanished under the cloak. Harry hadn't heard the portrait, so he knew Draco was still in the room somewhere. He called out to the invisible boy.

"So that's it? You're leaving? You're just giving up on all this?"

He heard Draco's voice as the portrait opened.

"How can I give up on something that never happened in the first place?"

From out of nowhere, Harry saw what appeared to be a severed hand out from the cloak. The long pale fingers Harry loved so much held something he couldn't quite make out at first. It took him a moment, but he realized it was a coin…a gold coin. The hand retained every bit of it's elegance as it flung the coin at Harry. As he caught it in mid air with his seeker reflexes, he heard Draco's voice again.

"For your trouble."

And he was gone.

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Hermione gasped. "Are you serious? Ron! You should have been careful…poor Malfoy…"

"POOR MALFOY?!" Ron exploded. "What are you talking about Mione? This is all his own fault…he better not hurt Harry…" Ron cracked his knuckles to emphasize his point.

Hermione stopped walking and put a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "Look Ron…how would you feel if you'd been groomed your whole life to think what you are is wrong? You finally find a way to be yourself and its scary…then you find out people know…it's got to be embarrassing and infuriating all at the same time."

Ron thought back to Harry's reaction when he found out that Ron had already known about him. Why could he forgive Harry's anger, but not Malfoy's? Ron quickly dismissed the thought; Malfoy was just such a…git….

He and Hermione continued wandering. They'd set out for nowhere in particular and had been just walking about the castle and talking, not even really aware of their surroundings. Ron was rolling his eyes while Hermione went on about how he could be 'so insensitive' when the duo realized they had ended up in the dungeons.

"Shit"

Hermione slapped his arm. "Ron! Language!"

"Oh like yours is any better Ms. Head Girl!"

Hermione flushed at his last remark. The two looked around them and silently agreed that neither of them wanted to be there and took off in a run to leave Slytherin territory.

Ron looked behind him to taunt Hermione about not keeping up, but remained running when he suddenly slammed into something, knocking him on his rear. He swore and rubbed his behind before turning to look at what…or who…he had run into.

Across from him, also on the floor, was Draco Malfoy…Harry's cloak slung over his arm. Hermione made a small gasp.

When Draco realized who had run into him…Granger and Weasley…two of his least favorite people, he immediately prepared to make some scathing remark. Then it hit him…they knew. They knew about him…god only knows how long they'd known…they probably laughed at him behind his back all this time. The thought made him feel dirty and humiliated. He was unable to keep the initial fear that they would say something off of his face…but, as was the norm with all Malfoys, it was short lived…soon replaced with the steely indifferent gaze that was his birthright. He stood and brushed himself off and ran a hand through his hair, offering no help to the other fallen boy.

"You two should really watch where you're going down here. Fortunately for you, I have far more important matters to deal with…but I do suggest you leave the dungeons before someone with nothing better to do comes along and hexes you into next week."

He strode past the two and left them gaping behind him. Just as Ron was standing with Hermione's help, Draco turned slightly and called out to them.

"Oh, and one more thing…" He tossed them Harry's cloak. "…give that to Potter, would you? It'll save me the trouble…and I'd hate to deprive him of the only reminder he has of that dead father of his…" And he sauntered off, towards his own rooms.

Hermione had to put her arm out in front of Ron to keep him from chasing after Draco.

"Ron! No…listen…something obviously happened…we should go make sure Harry's alright…"

Ron nodded and forced himself to turn and head in the opposite direction.

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Harry could hear his two best friends outside his room, currently it was Hermione's turn to plead to be let in.

"Harry…come on, let us in. We just want to help you…please!"

With a sigh, Harry relented, realizing that the two were just going to beg until he let them in anyways…and he was in no mood to listen to their pleas much longer.

"Fine! Come in."

The two entered tentatively and spotted Harry sitting on the edge of his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest. His chin rested on top of his knees and more than anything…he looked tired. Hermione immediately hugged him.

"What happened? We ran into Malfoy in the dungeons and he acted like…"

"Like the bastard he is." Ron cut her off.

Hermione was quick to retort. "No! He seemed like his old self…what happened Harry?"

Harry sighed and recounted the events that had unfolded just minutes ago in his room. When he finished, both Ron and Hermione seemed to want to offer moral support, although Ron's was reluctant.

Hermione tried the 'it could have been worse' routine. "That's not so bad Harry! He didn't yell at you or anything…maybe he's not as mad as you think…"

Ron tried, rather ineloquently, to further Hermione's explanation. "Yeah, mate…I mean…I was worried it might come to blows, and I would have had to jump in…"

Harry shook his head and brought his hand up to rub his temples.

"You guys don't get it…this was worse than all that. It was like he was so mad, he actually lost all emotion…it was…scary. I mean…I know he can be cold…but this was unreal…I didn't know he even had that kind of darkness in him. It was like *pure* malice. He practically called me his whore."

"WHAT?!" Ron's face instantly turned three shades redder than it had been before. Harry's face remained unchanged though.

"I already told you that, Ron."

"No you didn't! That…that…ferret…I'll…"

Hermione tapped her boyfriend on the shoulder and pointed at the coin beside Harry. "The coin, Ron. That's what the coin meant…"

"Oh…." Ron regained some, but not all, of his color.

Harry let out a small, slightly amused laugh. "I suppose we all know how the Malfoy reacts when truly threatened huh?"

Hermione scowled a bit. "You make him sound like an animal, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "That…or he could be a computer program… 'Evil Draco Version 4.0'"

Hermione furrowed her brows, convinced Harry was more upset than he was letting on. Ron jumped into the conversation.

"Sorry to interrupt but…a what program?"

Hermione waved a hand in the red head's direction, but did not look at him.

"It's a muggle thing Ron…So, Harry…what now?"

Harry looked up at her. "What do you mean? What is there?" His voice was sharp and cold…his gaze, empty.

Hermione kept her voice and face determined. "Graduation is very close Harry. I think you should give it another shot. I mean…if this is it…if it's really over, then you'll know it, right? But if you just let it go…you know what he'll do after we graduate. Don't you think it's worth a shot?"

Ron could not believe his ears. "Hermione! What are you doing?! Why are you telling Harry to give *Malfoy* another chance?!"

"Shut up Ron. Stick to quidditch and food…leave the love talks to me…okay?" Hermione smiled sweetly at him, but her eyes warned him not to argue.

Harry flopped back on his bed. "Look…I'll think it over…but could you guys just go for now?"

Hermione gave him as much of a hug as she could from his position.

"Okay, Harry. We love you no matter what…okay?"

"I know."

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Harry laid there for hours. He hadn't even noticed he had missed dinner…although he wouldn't have gone anyways. He didn't want to have to look at Draco. Little did he know that the Slytherin Ice Prince would not be in attendance either.

He thought over what Hermione had said to him. He wanted to take her advice…more than anything. He wanted his dragon back…he loved him…at least…he thought he did. But who was that man who left his room hours before? That had spoken so coldly to him…and acted solely to hurt him? Was that Draco's true nature? No, he decided. He had seen Draco's true nature…at least part of it…and he knew that the laughing…smiling…moaning Draco he knew was, in fact, real.

But what of the rest of him? It seemed to Harry that every time he was exposed to Draco's shadows, they became darker than before. Harry questioned whether or not he was equipped to handle such innate malevolence. If he wasn't…who was? If not him, then who would save Draco from himself? Was this love? Or was it Harry's so called hero complex kicking in?

Harry thought of Draco's face when the Slytherin had told him he loved him in the rain. He thought of the peaceful smile adorning his striking face as he slept with Harry's fingers running lazily through his hair. He thought of the way Draco said his name. The way the syllables lingered on his tongue when he said 'Har-ry'…unlike when he spat 'Potter' in front of everyone.

'No' Harry thought. 'If this isn't love…nothing is.'

The fear soon set in. What if Draco didn't want him? What if his love wasn't strong enough to pull Draco from his so called 'destiny'? It would be hard…but Harry concluded that he had to try.

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Harry had tried all week to talk to Draco. The Slytherin had managed to elude him at every turn, though. He would arrive at meals late and leave them early…in potions he was always the first out of the door when the lesson ended and by the time Harry could catch up…he would be gone. When they did cross paths, Draco would eye Harry a moment before narrowing his gaze and sauntering off in the opposite direction, leaving Harry gaping and unable for some reason to call after him. Harry had tried all week…and failed. Now it was graduation day…and Harry was desperate.

Before the ceremony, there were the pre-graduation events out on the quidditch pitch. Harry wandered from event to event, not really paying attention to any of them, or to the countless parents he'd been dragged over to meet…many of them the parents of children he hardly knew.

He'd passed Draco a few times, but the blonde's reaction was different today. Instead of his usual glare and slow waltz away, the Slytherin looked almost…fearful…before scurrying off in another direction in a rather unMalfoy like way.

Harry looked around the pitch, scanning for the blonde hair belonging to the one he needed to talk to. He soon spotted it…and realized instantly the reason for Draco's unusual behavior. The hair he spotted did not belong to his dragon…no it belonged to the dragon's sire…Lucius Malfoy.

Harry's confidence wavered a bit, as the Gryffindor could plainly see now the effect Malfoy senior had on Draco. Harry didn't know if he could compete. But he had to try. He spotted the other head of platinum and prepared to head in his direction…but was stopped by Colin Creevy.

"Harry! Great, I found you! I need to get a picture of the quidditch team captains. Stand right there…I'll be right back!"

Harry snarled in annoyance, but quickly changed his tune when he realized that a picture of the team captains meant Draco would be in the photo as well. He waited rather impatiently until Colin returned with the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw captains…and a very reluctant Slytherin captain as well. Colin remained his usual irritating cheery self.

"So sorry, but it's only a picture…it'll only take a second! Harry, you and Malfoy should be in the back, with you guys…" He pointed to the other two captains. "…in front, since Harry and Malfoy are the tallest. Ready? 1…2…"

Harry hadn't a word Colin said. He elbowed Draco in the ribs. Draco shot him a sidelong glare, but otherwise seemed unaffected. Harry spoke under his breath.

"You've got to talk to me some time, you know."

Creevy snapped the picture and released the four captains. Draco turned and glared at Harry.

"I don't have to do *anything* Potter." He turned around again and marched off in the direction of his Father.

'Progress' Harry told himself. 'At least he spoke to me.'

Harry steeled himself to head off in the same direction as Draco.

'If he thinks I won't come near his father…he's sadly mistaken.'

When Harry reached the Malfoy clan, Draco's eyes grew to the size of saucers. He opened his mouth, indisputably to spit some nasty remark and tell Harry to go away, but didn't get the chance, as Lucius spoke first.

"Harry Potter!" The elegant man spoke. "How unfortunate for the Headmaster to finally lose his favorite student. You've survived this long, I'm sure Dumbledore was convinced he'd never lose you."

Harry wasn't sure if the man's remarks were insults, compliments or neither. The ambiguity reminded Harry of a politician.

Draco, eyes still wide, shifted his gaze from his Father to Harry and back and forth over and over again. He shocked himself that he wasn't hyperventilating.

"Draco?" Lucius turned toward his son, who quickly squared his shoulders to regain his composure.

"Yes Father?"

"Did you not tell me that Mr. Potter here was the one who took those excellent photos of you that were in the Prophet?"

"Yes, I took them." Harry interrupted.

"Ah yes…My wife and I were quite impressed with them. If possible, we'd like copies of them for the Manor. Those photos of Draco had a…different…feel to them than the photos of the rest of the team." Lucius paused. "He must be….naturally…picturesque."

Harry took a step back, feeling an odd vibe from the older blonde man who smirked at him, looking much like his son, and addressed him once more.

"Very well Mr. Potter…if you will excuse my son and I…we have some…family business to discuss."

"S..sure"

Harry was a bit shocked at how, with just a flick of Lucius' wrist, Narcissa obediently left her husband and son alone. Her mouth never opened, and her eyes displayed no emotion. Harry, however, was not so obedient. He left the two alone, yes, but quickly snuck around to where he could not be seen but could clearly hear their conversation. He listened intently.

"Draco?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You are aware of the plans for you after graduation?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I take it you are prepared to fulfill your destiny then?"

Draco's voice sounded undeniably resolute. "Yes, sir."

"Excellent. I have something to give you in that case." 

Harry craned his neck to see what Lucius was going to give Draco. When he caught sight of the tiny hand carved box, his heart sank. He only knew one thing small enough to fit in a box that size.

Draco opened the box and took a deep breath before looking his father in the eye.

"I thought Mother wore this."

Lucius smiled. "She did…but I've bought her a new one…this is an heirloom and now it is yours to give to Pansy. When your heir is old enough, you'll buy her a new one and pass it along again. This ring has been in the Malfoy family for two hundred years now."

Harry watched Draco exhale slowly and close his eyes before opening them again and fixing his stare determinedly on his father.

'No, no, no, no, no, no….' Was all Harry could seem to think.

"Thank you, Father. I will bring honor to our family."

"Brilliant, now put away your broom…the ceremony will began soon."

"Yes, sir."

Harry watched Draco pocket the box and head off for the broom shed. He scrambled after him…not caring if anyone saw him, not caring if anyone heard him muttering "no" under his breath. He was going to get to Draco…he had to get to Draco…

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TBC

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Love and Kisses,

Reika