Author's Notes: I know, I know. I promised that this was the last part and I really intended it to be. It's just that my muse kind of grabbed this scene and ran with it leaving no room for the other two that I have planned for this fic. As it is, I forced myself to cut this scene short. I'd intended to have Creevey sneak up at the end and take a picture, but I found a stopping place and took it.. Still, there are only two scenes left in this one, so unless they run away too, this fic really should only have one part left. Also, the fact that their frolicking about in the great outdoors with no visible signs of discomfort- other than chapped lips- is explained towards the end.
I'd like to thank Aja, Shinko, Melissa, Elani, nancyrose, Kasikio, Masami, and T for their help with the lip problem ^_~.
And a special thanks to Ashura for getting me hooked on this pairing. Okies, I'll go now. Enjoy the fic.

^_^

"So, wha're wu don t'day?"

Draco frowned at Harry and wrinkled his nose. "You shouldn't speak with your mouth full."

The Gryffindor raised a brow at that, but obediently finished chewing the bite of omelet that filled his mouth and swallowed before trying again. "I said 'so, what are we doing today?'." Then, he turned to Greg. "Is he always such a stickler for manners or is it something he reserves just for me?"

The larger boy shook his head as he swallowed his own breakfast. "Nah, it's not just you. He's like that with everyone. Unless he's telling us we should be studying."

Potter grinned at the Slytherins. "That sounds like 'Mione."

The sounds of choking could be heard thought the Great Hall and Goyle helpfully patted his blonde friend on the back- hard.

"Stop, Goyle! You're going to break my spine." He scowled at his companions, first the huge oaf beside him and then the blasphemer across the table. "How dare you compare me to that filthy M- Oof!" A large elbow to his side cut off the exclamation before it could get all the way out of his mouth. It gave him the needed moment to realize what he was about to say and who he was about to say it to. The raven-haired Seeker was staring at him, eyes hard, all traces of earlier amusement gone as if they'd never been.

Standing, the boy continued to look at him, sorrow seeming to war with the terrible anger in his eyes.

"Harry-"

"I'm going now. I fear I've lost my appetite." And with that, he left. His stiff back was out the Hall doors before it had fully processed in Draco's mind that he'd blown it again.

"Mr. Malfoy," He glanced back, startled to see Snape standing behind him with an amused look on his face. "It occurs to me that insulting someone's friends is probably not the best way to stay in their good graces. Particularly if that person is either a Hufflepuff or a Gryffindor. They tend to frown on that sort of thing. Luckily, they also tend to be swayed with suitably humble apologies."

Nodding pleasantly to his Slytherins, the dark professor made his way up to the head table.

"Ha! We won! Pay up, Creevey! I knew it wouldn't last until New Year's!" Draco turned to glare at a pair fourth year Ravenclaws who'd cornered a scowling Colin Creevey.

"Greg?"

"Hmm?" His big friend was gazing forlornly at the doors instead of paying attention to the commotion caused by the betters.

"I'm going to find Harry. Please deal with these insolent little gamblers."

The Slytherin beater cracked his knuckles and stood, towering over the cowering little brats. It seemed they'd finally grasped the inherent dangers of angering Slytherins. "With pleasure."

Confident that Goyle could take care of those who'd had the audacity to bet on their tentatively growing friendship, Draco pushed away from the table and rose as regally as the pureblood he was. He didn't really understand why something as meaningless as a word had upset Harry, but he supposed he couldn't go around calling Granger a Mudblood unless he wanted to find himself at odds with the Gryffindor again.

Out in the Hallway, he could only stand there, looking lost. His fellow seeker was already gone and the possibilities of his newest location were endless. The night before, when he'd been upset, he'd wanted to go back to the Gryffindor Tower so Draco took a few steps in that direction before stopping again.

That had been after curfew when his only choices were the dungeons and the tower. It was broad daylight now and he couldn't see Harry cooping himself up if he didn't have to.

"Yer lookin for 'Arry, Malfoy?"

Draco turned to see Hagrid watching him with hooded eyes. He opened his mouth to tell the oaf off for daring to speak to him in such a impertinent manner. Luckily, his brain caught up in time to keep him mouth from getting him into more trouble than he already was. Somehow he didn't think that insulting two of Harry's friends in less than ten minutes was going to endear him to the boy- and he didn't doubt at all that the half-giant would waste very little time in informing him.

Besides which, Hagrid just might know where his prey had hidden himself. "Yes..." He just couldn't bring himself to say 'sir', so he settled for something a little easier, "Hagrid. Do you know where he is? I sort of upset him, and I'd like to apologize."

That was hard to admit. He was a Malfoy and Malfoy's just didn't do apologies. If it was anyone else, Draco would have said that if they're skin wasn't think enough to take an insult not even directed at them, then they weren't worth his time.

But it wasn't anyone else. It was Harry Bloody Potter and the entire Wizarding World bent over backwards for him in one fashion or another. It didn't really surprise him much that he was about to do the same.

Hagrid just watched him for a long minute and Draco was starting to squirm uneasily on the inside under that hard gaze.

He'd just about lost control of himself when the half-giant sighed and moved across the hall to look out the windows. "I dun care fer ya, young Malfoy an I ain't nev'r bothered ta 'ide that anymore than you've 'id yer disgust fer me. I still dun care fer ya." Draco had resigned himself to a long search when the teacher sighed and turned back to him. "Bu' this 'oliday, 'Arry's as 'appy as I've seen 'im fer a while now. An' that's mostly due ta Goyle an' ya. Bu' I'm warnin ya, Malfoy. Upset 'im again an I'll not be 'eld accountable fer my actions."

Silvery blue eyes widened at the perceived threat and Draco shuddered when he realized that Hagrid was perfectly serious. What an odd loyal bunch of friends you've managed to collect over the years, Potter. Each willing to die, maim, or even kill for you. And me, poor pathetic sod that I am just added myself to the list. Oh joy. "I would never hurt Harry intentionally."

That was true enough and seemed to relieve some of the giant's distrust.

"Depends on 'ow upset 'e was. Sort of bad, and e'll visit 'edwig up in tha Owlery. Bad will be by tha lake- 'e talks wid the Merfolk sometimes an just watches tha squid tha rest. An' if it was real bad, then e'll get 'is broomstick and 'ead on out to tha Pitch ta fly fer a bit."

The blonde Slytherin managed to choke out a rough thank you before he hurried outside. Wrinkling his nose, he briefly considered the indignity of having to thank Hagrid of all people before turning his attention back to the matter at hand.

How upset had Harry been?

Upset enough to leave, but not upset enough to hex him. Although, that might have had something to do with the presence of teachers. For all his purported guts and rule-creaking, the Gryffindor was curiously prudish about doing anything wrong around adults.

He'd go by the lake first, start in the middle as it were, then check the pitch before heading to the Owlery. He didn't want to climb all those stairways if he didn't have to.

Trudging over the grounds, he considered how he could possibly extract his big foot from his even bigger mouth this time. He didn't want to say he was sorry because he wasn't really. Well, not about Granger. It was hardly his fault she'd had the misfortune to be born to Muggles. Or that she was an annoying know-it-all puss that managed to annoy him more than anyone else he knew besides the Weasel. But he was a little sorry that it had upset Harry and he was a bit more sorry that it had put their truce in jeopardy.

So.

He mulled over the idea of just saying he was sorry and not specifying what he was sorry for. The best lies always had a little truth in them after all. Nodding decisively, he pulled up short at the raven haired presence sitting against a tree. He couldn't see Harry's face because the other boy was looking out over the lake, but from the slumped lines of his shoulder's, Draco figured his anger must have run out of steam. Or at least, he hoped that was the case. He really didn't want to get into a duel over Granger's dirty blood.

For a moment, he just stood there, close enough to watch Harry's black robes rise and fall with each breath. A frown had settled on his face as he tried to think of what to say. He wasn't used to being so unsure of himself and he didn't like it at all.

"It's not your fault, Draco. It's mine." Startled out of his thoughts, Draco just floundered at the Gryffindors words. Before he could think of a response, Harry was continuing. "I forgot, you see. I was having so much fun with the pair of you I let myself forget who and what you are. I made a mistake."

"It was just a slip of the tongue, Harry. I didn't mean it."

His companion snorted, the inelegant sound telling Draco that his lie hadn't been bought. "Try that line on someone who hasn't listened to you hurl that particular insult about for the last four years. You're all Pureblood Pride inside and out."

"You say that like it's a bad thing to have pride in what you are."

Harry shook his head. "Despite what some people say, there's nothing wrong with a little pride. I've my own share of it. Pride in being a Gryffindor, pride in my Quidditch team. pride in my parents- even if I didn't know them very long."

Draco sighed and sat down. He nudged the other boy over a bit so he could lean against the tree and stare out at the lake, too. "Then I don't know why you're so upset. It's not like I was calling you one."

"There's nothing wrong with pride until you use it to hurt other people, Draco. And when you call Hermione or any of the other Muggle-borns Mudbloods, you're hurting them. More than that, you're using it as a reason to treat them poorly for no other reason than an accident of their birth. I may take pride in my parents, but you don't see me using it as an excuse to look down on all Purebloods." Harry ignored his look of disbelief. "Secondly, when you call someone a Mudblood- even someone who's not my friend, you are insulting me. You know my Mum was Muggle-born."

"Harry-"

But now Potter was gaining that steam back and wasn't about to let him interrupt. "And you're a bloody hypocrite to boot, with all your babble about manners. It doesn't' stop you from throwing around the foulest words in the Wizarding language, now does it?" The boy was clinching one fist against his forehead, between his eyes while the other was wrapped tightly around one up drawn knee. "And what kind of an idiot am I to actually believe you were any different this year from any other year. You were born an insufferable prat and you'll be one for the rest of your life."

An unnatural wind was starting to blow around them and Draco could practically see the magical aura glowing around his companion.

"Harry!" Startled emerald eyes flew to meet his own and the smaller boy took a few deep breaths to compose himself.

"Sorry." Harry dropped his eyes to stare at the lake again.

In a softer voice, Draco said, "I am sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to upset you. Believe that, if you don't believe anything else."

The Boy-Who-Lived seemed to slump even further than he had been before. "That doesn't make it any better, you know." At the questioning glance thrown his way, he elaborated. "That just means that the ideal is so ingrained that you don't even think about it anymore, you just accept it as what is and go on."

Brushing back a few platinum strands that had fallen in his face during the earlier windy display of power, Draco thought about that. Was that what he was doing? He supposed that to a fine upstanding Gryffindor, it would seem so. And Harry had made at least one valid point, even his father didn't use the term Mudblood when in polite (read, non-Deatheater) company. It was rather hypocritical of him to chide those around him for their manners when he wasn't watching his own.

'You're a Malfoy, Draco. When in public, you should always behave appropriately. Lead by example. Besides, it's a simple enough matter to make others understand how very much more superior you are to them with your tone. You don't have to stoop to a commoners level just to get that point across.'

His father's words, often spoken, came back to him suddenly. He'd been lectured more than once about the inappropriateness of using such terms.

"I can't promise that it won't slip out again, Harry. It's like Weasel-y and how he's always 'bloody this' and 'bloody that'. It's a habit and habits- good or bad- are hard to break."

Harry turned to face him with a sudden movement that nearly toppled him over. "Where are we going with this Malfoy? What's going to happen when everyone else comes back from the holidays? Will we go back to hexing each other in the halls or will we try and be friends?"

"Harry-"

Under the glasses, green eyes darkened with something akin to hysteria and Draco could tell that Harry was becoming agitated again. "What is it, Draco?! What do you want from me?!"

An image of a naked Harry Potter writhing under him, groaning his name caused the Slytherin to shift uncomfortably. Could he tell Harry what he wanted? What he couldn't help but hope was waiting on the other side of this new friendship?

Or was it too soon?

Judging from the mounting upset on Harry's face and the wind that was accompanying it, Draco wasn't sure he had much choice. Besides, he should begin as he meant to go on, right? Right.

It still took a second for him to reach out and place his hands on the soft tanned cheeks of his sometimes-rival. He hadn't been passed over for Gryffindor for nothing, after all. Bravery certainly wasn't his strongest suit.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "D-Draco?" He looked uncertain, but not disgusted.

That gave Draco the boost of confidence he needed and he leaned forward to capture slightly chapped lips with his own. He made a mental note to suggest a spell that Harry could use to keep that particular problem at bay, then let himself get swept away in the first kiss in his life that really mattered.

The Gryffindor had frozen in shock at his touch and when Draco dropped one arm down to circle his waist and pull him closer, he tensed even more. A long moment passed without any other response from the boy in his arms- honestly, it was a bit like kissing a dead fish. He'd just decided that he'd been wrong, it was too soon, and letting go when Harry relaxed and leaned into him, refusing to let him end the kiss.

On the surface, Harry tasted like the ham and cheese omelet he'd been having at breakfast.

Draco moved to deepen the kiss and for a second was afraid he'd gone too far when the body in his arms stiffened up again, and in entirely the wrong manner.

Gradually, the skittish boy had relaxed again and allowed it.

How long they sat there, learning the scents and tastes and feel of each other, Draco wasn't sure. Finally though, oxygen became an overriding concern and he didn't protest when Harry pulled away, looking as dazed as he felt.

He was moving in for another kiss when a calloused palm came up to cover his mouth. "No, Draco." He figured the hurt that flashed through him at that moment must have been visible on his face because the other seeker smiled and gently caressed his cheek. "Not, never. Just... not now." Blushing as he as uttered the softly spoken words, Harry turned to stare out over the lake again. "As nice as it was, it doesn't solve the problem. We don't even have what any sane person would consider a stable friendship. Don't you think we should work on that first?"

The first thing that crossed his mind, but luckily stopped before it got to his lips, was 'friendship is highly overrated'. It was well documented, the extremeness that Harry Potter would go through for his friends and what they in turn frequently went through for him. No, making jests about friendship was not going to get him very far with the savior of the Wizarding World.

"Okay, Harry. Friendship first. And... maybe more later?" His father would have been completely disgusted with the almost boyish hope that filled that last bit. Malfoy's take what they want, Draco. They don't grovel or compromise.

Oh sod off, he told his father's voice. Taking might have worked in the short term- if he could stun Harry enough to keep him from using magic- but it would only keep him from his longer term goals.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Harry's smooth baritone pulled him out of his thoughts and he focused on the issue once more.

"What do you want, Harry?" Shards of emerald jerked away from their study of the lake to lock an incredulous gaze on him. Did no one ever ask him what he wanted?

Apparently not. Potter had to think about that one. "I.. I don't know exactly. I've enjoyed the hols. I'd like for our truce to extend past them, if possible."

"How far?"

Harry smiled shyly at him. "I haven't got loads of friends, not really. Not so many that I'd give any up willingly."

Nodding, Draco turned to stare out at the lake himself. Tentacles from the giant squid rippled the surface ever now and then and he found himself smiling. He could see what Harry liked about this spot. It was peaceful. "I can't promise that it won't happen again, Harry. I can't even promise that I'll be able to get along with your friends. None of us particularly care for one another, you know."

His companion's face was a study of misery before brightening infinitesimally. "Just.. Try to be civil. And if that doesn't work, ignore each other. I'm not asking you all to be best chums. I'm just asking that no one try to force a choice on me." His features hardened slightly and Draco remembered his own belief that Harry seemed to fit in the Slytherin dorms. "I'll ignore the lot of you, if any of you try that."

"How about this, if Weasely and Granger don't try to hex me, I won't hex them. Agreed?"

There was only a faint hesitation before Harry nodded. "And do you think you at least try to stop using that awful term? I understand that it'll be hard to break, and I don't care what you think in your own head or say away from me and my other friends. Acceptable?"

The pureblood's hesitation was noticeably longer, but finely, he too nodded.

"And what of your father and Voldemorte? I can't imagine either of them will be pleased to hear that we're friends. Unless you join up and they ask you to bring me to them, that is."

Draco shrugged carelessly. "I won't be joining the Deatheaters, if that's what you're getting at. Father gave me the choice the summer after fourth year. I declined."

"He won't try to force you?"

Genuine laughter filled the grounds as Draco fell over. Great peals of laughter were torn from his body and it took a long minute before he was able to bring back any semblance of self-control. "H-Harry. He's my father, not a monster." Still chortling to himself, he wiped the tears of mirth from his cheeks. "He loves me too much to force me into anything, no matter what kind of rumors have found their way up to you gossipy little Gryffindors. He asked, I declined. That was that."

He continued to snicker occasionally at the incredulous look he was faced with. Really, did everyone think aristocratic automatically meant abusive?

"As I recall, at the end of fourth year, you were all but waving little 'Go Voldemorte' banners." There was enough bitterness in Harry's voice that it calmed him down immediately.

"I was a child, Harry. The only thing I knew about Vo-Vol.. err. You-Know-Who, was a bunch of meaningless prattle. I was only repeating what I'd heard from my father." Draco's voice grew a great deal more serious though he was honestly a bit exasperated with his companion's inability to understand. "I saw him, that summer. He came to our house." He could see it in his mind, almost as if it had happened yesterday instead of almost two years ago. "Father sent me to my room, but I didn't obey him. I wanted to meet our great leader." His chuckle was self-deprecating rather than amused. "I'm not sure what I expected really. Tea in the library, perhaps, with someone handsome and charismatic or wizened and regal."

"He used to be like that." The Gryffindors voice quivered, as if he was suppressing something unpleasant. "Actually, he used to look a great deal like me."

In an attempt to lighten the dark mood, Draco cracked a joke. "Humble, aren't you?"

He got a dimmed, but sincere smile. "Well, you certainly seem to think I'm handsome and charismatic."

Cursing his fair skin as he felt heat rise up in his cheeks, the blonde continued. "Anyways, whatever I was expecting, what I saw was the complete opposite. My father was on his knees in front of that hideous creature, begging for forgiveness. And when it was granted, after a curse or two, he kissed the hem of V- You-Know-Who's robes. He's a Malfoy for Salazar's sake! Malfoy's don't beg."

"And so, you decided that service to someone who was going to demean you wasn't worth your time?" Harry's voice carried vast amounts of amusement.

"Something like that. I did promise my father that I'd just try to stay out of the whole bloody war. Neutral like. He seemed almost relieved."

There was a nod in response. "I doubt any father truly wants their child to end up in the middle of a war."

"Will you go back to hating me if I don't choose sides, and just watch from the sidelines?" This time, the shaggy head shook. "Why? I would have thought it would make you furious."

Even through the glasses and from and the awkward angle, he could tell that Harry's expression had grown depressed again. " I'd rather you sat it out actually. Though I don't think anyone will be able to in the end. If I could, I'd keep everyone on the sidelines and make the only person in danger me."

Slim hands were once again clinched into fists and were rubbing tired at the shadowed eyes hidden behind the thick glasses.

"Headache?"

"Yeah. Had it since last night."

"Here, take off your outer robe and roll it up." He grinned at the suspicious look that was cast his way. "Don't worry, Harry. I won't molest you anymore today. I'm just trying to ease your headache a bit." A bit dubious, Potter did what he was told, none the less. Taking the robes from the nervous hands and placing it in his lap, he shifted and tugged until he had a dark head resting on the makeshift pillow in his lap. "Now, just close your eyes and relax."

This time the tension was released almost instantly. Brushing the hair back off Harry's forehead, he leaned down and placed a quick peck on it, careful to avoid the infamous scar. Then, before there could be any retaliation, he moved his fingers down to the temples and began to gently massage them.

Harry sighed and did some shifting of his own until he'd found a more comfortable position.

The pair let themselves go, enjoying the moment. Caught up in the tranquility, Draco began humming some tune he vaguely remembered his mother singing to him when he'd been young. It seemed to further calm, the smaller boy and he watched as Harry slipped off to dreamland, an almost content smile on his face.

Leaning his head back against the tree trunk, he closed his own eyes and just sat there. He knew the air around them was cold- though not as cold as it could have been due to the warming spell that had been placed on the lake itself this year at the request of the merfolk- but he couldn't feel it.

He was as content as he could remember being and he was only too glad to enjoy it for as long as he could.