Author's Notes: Hmm, the next updates might come slow. maybe if people will review, then things might run smoother *wink wink* okay, just kidding! I'm currently working on a new fic. It's actually a challenge fic called 'There's Something About Harry', but I won't release it until it's finished. Plus, I feel a humor fic coming on. It's called 'The Non Graphic Sexual Fantasies of Argus Filch'. It's not scary. Really! Just. twisted. Like my other fics where they fight because of an unknown reason that turns out to be the boxers of Draco.

Disclaimer: No money, No own, No right, No sue

---

Tarantella

Chapter 6 - Meeting Under The Stars

Romance, who loves to nod and sing,

With drowsy head and folded wing, Among the green leaves as they shake, Far down from within some shadowy lake.

"Draco."

Harry could feel him tense up, and at the same time, Draco's tense feeling as well. It was like his own feelings were radiated double times.

"Do you. Do you mind if I-,"

"It's alright."

Harry noted Draco's stiff voice as Draco started wiping the tears away from his face. His voice defied his inner feelings. Harry would, of course, know. Nothing's really changed with the feelings Draco conveyed, just that it was lighter than before.

Harry, after a few seconds, sat down beside Draco. The grass crinkled as he squashed them beneath him. Draco breathed the cool, night air. Draco's and his hair swayed with the wind, and he felt a chill creep down his spine. He shivered slightly, and pulled his robe closer. That helped little so he took his wand out and summoned for a blanket.

He muttered, "Accio blanket." And in a couple of seconds, he was able to catch it as it flew through the air. He turned to Draco and found the boy shivering.

'He must've been here for a long time.' Harry thought.

He watched as Draco blew on his hands, trying to heat his palms with his own hot breath. Harry took this as a cue to offer to share his blanket with Draco.

"Uhm. Draco, you want to share the. uhm. blanket? It's pretty cold."

Harry didn't know if it was the right thing to do, as Draco never really broke out from his thinking when he asked if he could join him there. He didn't even feel surprised.

This time, though, Draco snapped out from his thoughts and looked over to Harry, returning his gaze.

"Sure. What happened to Malfoy?"

Harry took time to answer his question as he was looking intently at Draco. He was still stunned at Draco's exquisiteness. It was as if the sight ate him alive, with him giving in willingly. He could feel his stomach churn. He was suddenly light headed and all he could think of, to his surprise, was how it would feel to kiss those supple lips that ornamented Draco's face.

He could almost feel himself reach for the lips. He could see it now, his own pressed to Draco's. His hand playing with Draco's soft, blonde hair. Him caressing the velvety, fair skin of Draco's face.

He couldn't believe that such an angel even existed. A fallen angel at that.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a light tapping at his cheek. He shook his head and found Draco's face inches away from his.

"What the."

"Hey, you. You zoned out."

Draco pulled away as soon as Harry got back his consciousness. Harry realized that the blanket was still in his hands, so he unfolded it and draped one side over Draco. He felt Draco wrap the blanket around him. They weer suddenly sitting closer than before that their bodies actually touched. Harry couldn't day anything, for the fear that he might say something wrong because suddenly, he felt so close to Draco. Thankfully, he remembered Draco's last question before he zoned out.

"You were asking about Malfoy, right?"

Harry's response was a light movement of Draco's head.

"Well, I figured that. I don't know. It's your name, so. Or would you prefer Malfoy?"

"No. Draco's fine. Your choice."

Soon, Draco was again, watching the stars, zoning out on Harry. Harry, on the other hand, watched Draco again. He could feel his limbs go weak. Every time he looked at the blonde, he could feel the feelings for Draco grow stronger. Even the darkness of Draco made him like the Slytherin more. He held on to his every muscle, forcing himself not to do anything sudden.

Then again, what was wrong with him? Did he like Draco? Since when?

He didn't know. Wouldn't know. All he knew was that right at that moment, there was only Draco and himself in his world. Could he be attracted to Draco?

He bit his lower lip.

.And that simple gesture said it all. He was confused, but all the perplexity was drowned out. Harry desperately wanted to help Draco, just as Draco unconsciously desperately wanted someone to help him. Not the darkness, not the stars, but someone. Anyone.

Harry couldn't help the urges anymore, so he just said what he could think of.

"Tell me what's wrong, Draco."

Luckily, he didn't say anything stupid. He might scare Draco away if he did.

"I know I can't keep my feelings away from you as you can feel it. So I'll just say that there's nothing wrong."

"There's something there. Please, tell me."

"Why?"

It came so abrupt that Harry was somewhat confused, himself. But he knew the answer to Draco's question. He wasn't going to say it, though. He wasn't sure if he. if he likes Draco.

And like isn't just plain 'like'.

"Because. I want to help."

Harry was almost certain it sounded more like a question than a statement. He didn't know what to say because he wasn't ready to tell him the truth and he knew that Draco wasn't either. He just discovered this new feeling and he needed time to think it through. It came so sudden, but then, he wasn't all that much surprised.

"What? Need another soul to save, Potter?"

Draco's voice sounded a little less harsh than he must've intended. Harry swore Draco's voice broke somewhere in the sentence, but then, he knew about this façade all too well. He just needed to be patient. Draco Malfoy won't give in easily, but he had to try.

"Maybe. But it's not that. You've changed, you know?"

"And that concerns you?"

"Yes. You can trust me."

"Why should I?"

And yet, another question that Harry thought about.

"Because I know how you feel. Because your change is so abrupt that I had to ask why. Because. I can't bare to see you like that."

Draco chuckled lightly. It was bitter, and Harry knew that. He waited patiently as Draco's quiet laughter subsided, leaving just a small smile on his face.

"That's new. You must know how I feel right now."

"Yeah."

"Uhum... here we are again."

"Yeah."

"What? Are you going to say 'yeah' all night?"

Harry turned to Draco. He was smiling at him. It was a real smile and Harry knew it. He could feel the growing amusement in him, or rather, in Draco. It was fainter now, probably just a third of what it was before.

"You're so dark."

This time, it was Draco's turn to wonder. It wasn't a secret to him that he was "dark, as Harry so nicely put it. Though he knew Harry could feel his feelings, he just had to ask.

"What do you mean?

"You're dark. Your heart. It feels so empty. Too empty. And I wonder how you actually go on living with that constantly bugging you."

"I've grown used to it."

"I'd say. But you must feel sick and tired of it at times."

-

Draco sighed. He looked up at the stars again and started thinking.

'Am I really used to it? I did think that. But. I'm confused.'

Suddenly, Draco felt all his bad memories resurface. It started with the little things, like his jealousy for Harry. The Boy Wonder. Then the sudden distance of his mother. Then down to the worst memories when his father beat him up.

He was suddenly swallowed into another world. The whole place was silent, it was deafening. He closed his eyes shut and covered his ears as he heard his own screams of agony.

It was hell. It was just burning hell.

'What am I to do? I'm so pathetic.'

'Stand up, boy!'

Clothes painted with blood like dye.

'It's your last chance. Prove to me something or suffer.'

'This has to stop.'

Draco could hear his own whimpers and sobs. Out of the blue, the old scars that blemished his fair skin suddenly reopened. The scrapes of the whips started re opening and the old wounds were suddenly fresh again, blood spilling like mad.

He could feel his hot tears streaming again. His vulnerability that he so carefully kept with him and the night was fully unveiled to Harry. Why had he done this?

Somehow, he didn't need the answer. He felt secure sitting there, a warm, woolly blanket swathing on his back, and a shoulder ready for him to lean on.

He unconsciously denied the fact that he was starting to depend on Harry, but he didn't notice.

-

Harry felt Draco's sudden fear. The darkness grew even more, the emptiness, the hole he could feel in his chest was eating up his heart. It made him want to scream, to whimper, to jump, to keep stiff and still. It was inexplicable. He quickly turned to Draco. He could see the tears falling from his eyes and he knew it had to be even worse for the gray-eyed boy. This suffering. It was so great, so. bizarre. Even if the potion wore away, he could feel it as clear as it was. Then again, maybe it's just a very little part of what it truly felt.

Harry gave in to the urges he had to hold Draco close. And he did just that.

He enveloped Draco into a warm embrace. As he did, he felt the cold wind slowly loose it's power. All he could feel was the warmth that emanated from him and Draco. He wondered how the taller boy could actually fit in his encirclement, but then, he couldn't care less. He felt Draco's head rest on his shoulder. Harry felt through the blonde, almost silver, hair. It was as soft as he imagined it to be.

Draco made no noise as he cried. The tears just simply ran by itself.

Harry rocked Draco lightly, hoping that it'll soothe him. He even rested his chin on Draco's head. Then, he heard a muffled voice, barely clear enough to be heard.

"I'm. so empty. I feel so alone."

Harry felt his own tears start to amass in his eyes. He couldn't bear to keep it inside, after the surge of Draco's feelings struck him. But he was happy that they did cry. At least some of the pain will be released.

Harry thought of a reply, but most of what he cooked up wouldn't suffice of what he really wanted to tell Draco. Finally, with full resolve, he decided to say it out loud. He didn't know what Draco would make of it, but then, drastic measures had to be taken.

Even if it was a risk on his part.

"You're not empty, Draco. And you're not alone. I- I'm here."

Harry swallowed hard, but relief washed down on him as he felt Draco's hold tighten. Then he felt a warm feeling burst inside him. He couldn't tell if it was his or Draco's. He felt so warm inside that even the gloom emanating from Draco was overpowered. Then he knew that it wasn't just his. It was from both of them that the heat came from.

"I'm not making a bad decision of trusting, am I?"

Draco's tone sounded as if it was a statement. Inside, he knew that he didn't need to ask Harry. And Harry, he answered Draco. With all his heart, he let his deepest, warmest emotion flow with his words.

"No, you're not. I'll always be here. Because."

He didn't finish his reply. He didn't because he didn't know what to say next. All these emotions. It was certainly not just any old feeling. It was old but at the same time new. He felt this way with Ron and Hermione, but this. It was similar, yet different all the same. It was gathered in just a short time, but it felt so deep.

His thoughts felt like sand that he tried to grasp in his palm. It crept through his fingers, to the deepest regions of his hands and they slowly disappear. The, he felt Draco's breathing turn shallow.

"Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"What happens now?"

There was a brief silence before Draco replied.

"My mind. My thoughts. They're slowly slipping away."

"Like grains of sand in your closed palms?"

"Yeah."

"I feel the same way right now."

"Then we must be feeling the same thing, Harry."

"And so, what happens?"

Another brief silence fell and Draco raised his head and whispered softly, enough for Harry to hear.

"I feel something. different. towards you."

They were still and Harry could feel the slightest tinge of regret and doubt. And it wasn't his feeling. He could've laughed then and there, but knew better of it.

"And I feel the same way."

Draco suddenly pulled back, just enough for him to see Harry's face. They were face to face, though Draco was a few inches higher. They stared at each other's eyes, feeding on each other's warmth, drowning each other's eyes.

They were suddenly swallowed into another world. Their own world. They could no longer feel the wind's icy kisses, nor could they hear the buzzing of the insects, the movements of the lake's surface as the wind dances above it. They could simply feel each other. The simple touch of their flesh sent electricity through their bodies.

Draco's forehead made contact with Harry's. He touched the Gryffindor's tanned face down to the curve of his chin and slowly, he dived in, feeling Harry's lips touch his own.

And all was perfect in the world as the crinkling leaves of the swaying trees lulled them. The stars and moon, their audience, the wind their bonding force, their lips, their hold for survival.

---

But my heart it is brighter, Than all of the many Stars of the sky, For it sparkles with Harry-* It glows with the light Of the love of my Harry- With the thought of the light Of the eyes of my Harry.

---

The poems are by Edgar Allan Poe. The first is entitled 'Romance', the other is 'For Annie'

* No, Edgar Allan Poe is not gay. I just change 'Annie' to Harry. It actually looks nice, eh?

Wow! Another chapter done! Did you know that I finished this barely a day after I updated Tarantella with the 5th chapter? But I won't/didn't/(whatever's appropriate) upload yet because it's too soon. Anyway, I can feel slumber pull me back to dream land. And it's just 12:48 in the morning. Wow. I usually feel this at around 3 in the morning. Anyway, thanks for your reviews!

PS - chapter seven *might* come out late. Actually, it's already done, but. ehhe.

REVIEW!