Title: Clear

Chapter 11: Simply Because

Pairing: Harry/Draco

Rating: R for slash themes

**WARNING**: THIS STORY CONTAINS SLASH THEMES – WHICH MEANS HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO MALE CHARACTERS. YOU ARE ADVISED TO LEAVE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story do not belong to me, but to the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. This is all FICTION; none of it is true. No profit was made from this story. I bear no responsibility for anything you may claim from this story, you have been warned.

LAST WARNING. SLASH. HOMOSEXUALITY. LEAVE IF YOU DON'T LIKE.

Plagiarism is a crime. But I'm sure you know that already.

Notes:  Much thanks to the reviewers!!!! Thank you just so, so, SO much! Much thanks to May, the very evil bunny, ClarKeRaVen, alistar, Evil Laughter, efa, Summer, Anne Phoenix, Lady Malfoy II, someone who's too lazy to login, Heavens_beyond, GlacierFlame, bondagechic, IncubusSuccubus, in-a-crushd-tin-box, Patchfire, Marionette, Gwendolyn Malfoy, Lunadeath, mellony melody, Sera Luanma, Hoshikio-Malfoy, J (BleedingEros), Moonblade, Sienna of Lothlorien, Zany, pottergirl, Mistic, random reviewer, ILLk, Hoshiko-Malfoy, Little Bunny Fu Fu, scythefire, Kiren, vanityfairI'm actually trying to work the violin in, lol, and the Tennyson poem is one of my faves :D, AshFarley, phoenixwhitebirch, Sineadluv, K.C., Marian of the Faeries, Aurora, Tanya Maxwell, Reveuse, Avalon Princess, yiota, chrisseee67glad you liked this chapter, thank you so much!, Rosetta, deadredsocks, JadeDragon, Chiaki Dark, Jade_Jewel, Chireelthank you for your review, hope you continue to read on!, Scap, TanisaFyre, Jinsei, The Intellectual Dirtbag, Ghaleonsama, Baby Ty Ty, AmZ, mistykasumithx for reading, hope you like this chapter!, Morien Alexander – thank YOU for reading and reviewing!, Jubileehope this update is quick enough for you!, amethyst – thanks for your support!, TanisaFyre – thank you so much for reading! don't cry, chapter 10 was supposed to be fluffy! glad you enjoyed it anyway!, Portuguese-Girl – Your review was very sweet and I was very happy when I saw it, thank you!, IamtheLizardQueen – thank you very much for reading my fic and, lol, I liked your pun!, Green-and-Silver – I hope I won't give you a reason to set your chipmunks on me!, Bizzle – Thank you very much for your review, and I wrote in a couple snogs just for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TOM FELTON! This present might be a bit late, but…(heeheehee…)

***

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love's sake only. Do not say,

"I love her for her smile – her look – her way

Of speaking gently, - for a trick of thought

That falls in well with mine, and brings

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day." –

For these things in themselves, Beloved, may

Be changed, or change for thee, - and love, so wrought

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for

Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, -

A creature might forget to weep who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love's sake, that evermore

Thou may love on, through love's eternity.

***

They were standing at the end of the corridor to the Prefect Private Entrance. Malfoy was clutching at Harry's sleeves just above his elbow, and Harry had his hands on Malfoy's waist.

Harry was staring at Malfoy, who was staring at the floor. Green eyes raked over beautiful silver hair, remembering the feel of them as they tangled in his fingers. They swept over eyelashes, long, dark, and curled so they rested gently on hued cheeks, covering the steely gaze that had softened into molten warmth not long ago. They gazed hungrily at perfectly formed lips, full, tempting, addictive. One would fall drunk after one taste of those lips, and Harry was sure that, were those lips wine, he had become an alcoholic already.

"I have to go now," Harry whispered.

"I know," Malfoy replied, just as softly.

"Draco – I'll see you in class today. And I'll come by again tonight. After dinner." To Harry, though, his words sounded more like he was trying to convince himself to leave rather than for Malfoy to let him go.

"Mhm."

"I really should get back to my dorms…I need to change into my school robes, you know."

"Mhm."

"So…I guess I'll see you at breakfast then?"

"Of course." Malfoy let go of Harry's sleeves. "Go change into your uniform. I'm going to get myself washed up."

"Alright then." Harry's hands were still resting on Malfoy's waist.

"Alright then." Malfoy made no move to go.

A pause.

"You know, you really should get going. The little Gryffindors will have their panties in a twist when they discover their hero isn't in the dorm when they wake up."

Harry sighed. "I guess you're right. It's only six, though. No one's going to be awake yet. And we have half an hour after breakfast to go get our books and stuff…I could meet you early before Transfiguration."

"Yeah. So I guess you're not going to tell anyone, are you?" Malfoy's head was still down. He had been staring at the floor the whole time.

"Well, no, obviously."

Another pause, in which Harry continued staring at Malfoy's bowed head. He could feel the other boy take a small step back to go, and impulsively fisted his hands into Malfoy's robes, pulling the other boy forcefully to him into a tight embrace. Slowly, Malfoy's arms reached up and circled him, holding him close, burying his face in Harry's neck. They stood there for a good several minutes until Malfoy shifted and they broke apart.

"You should go."

Harry breathed in deeply. "Yeah." He pulled back and stepped into the stone corridor. "I'll see you soon."

"At breakfast, I know." Malfoy was still looking down, but Harry could tell that there was a tiny smile playing on his lips. He tilted his head up and kissed Harry on the cheek briefly. "See you. You better get going now, or there'll be hell to pay."

Harry nodded and took a deep breath before turning his back, walking solemnly down the long, dark hallway. About halfway down, just as he was about to disappear into the looming shadows, he couldn't resist, and turned his head quickly to catch one last glimpse of Malfoy before he left.

A tiny figure was at the end of the passage, surrounded by light, head bowed towards the floor once more and slightly turned to the side, torn between leaving and staying, wanting to watch Harry's departure, but wanting to spare himself from the sight.

Harry's breath caught in his throat when he turned and saw.

***

He looked up again at the sound of footsteps running towards him, confused mercuric eyes meeting with wild green ones. "Harry – ?" was all he got out before Potter grabbed him by the shoulders, shoving him against the wall, hard, before pulling him into a ferocious kiss. And another. And another. And another, until they couldn't stop, Potter's hands weaving through this long silver hair, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs, trailing down his back to press them closer together.

Draco was dimly aware that he was making little sounds, purring into Potter's mouth as Harry kept on moaning, "Draco, Draco, oh, Draco…" over and over as they kissed and kissed and kissed and it didn't matter that it was almost half past six and that was when the stupid Muggle lovers in Harry's dorm would begin to wake up, nothing mattered any more, just Harry and more Harry and as much of Harry as he can get his hands and his lips and his skin on –

"Wait." Draco pulled back as Harry's hips pushed against his slightly. They were both panting, hands tangled in hair, in robes, in each other. Draco took a deep breath, trying to regulate his breathing once more. "Wait," he said again.

Potter nodded. "I know. You're right. I just couldn't resist."

"Oh?" Draco refused to look at him, and desperately fought the blush that threatened to appear.

"Yeah." Potter sighed. "I guess I should be going now," he said, moving away.

"I guess."

An intense stare was shared between the two of them. "Breakfast, then," said Draco.

Potter nodded. "Breakfast."

And the two of them turned, and refused to look back.

***

Dammit


He had crossed a line. He knew he had because Malfoy had pulled away.

Dammit!

He had rushed too fast. Malfoy clearly hadn't been ready – fuck – they hadn't even on speaking terms until that night when he walked in on Malfoy in the music room. And now – things progressed so quickly – too quickly – and he didn't know what to think, or feel, or do, except wonder at how they came to be like this.

DAMMIT

The final goodbye he shared with Malfoy had been uncharacteristically cold – well, uncharacteristically cold when compared to events at dawn. He banged his head on the bathroom tiles.

DAMMIT!

What should he do now? By the Gods, but was he lost. And confused. And a little scared, too, because this was nice and everything, but it was so fast, and there were exactly thirty-eight days until the end of term and exactly forty-two days until Malfoy's Christmas Eve birthday. He sighed.

He stood, thinking, until he heard the distinct sound of Dean's snooze alarm go off in the boys' dorm next door. Shaking his head, Harry reached for the tap and turned the water off.

Outside, it began to snow.

***

Hermione eyed Harry at breakfast. Strange. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him carefully until the pretence of looking at a particularly thick tome. She then sneaked a look at the other Gryffindor boys, who were rubbing their eyes sleepily. Seamus was trying to finish off a Herbology essay, Dean looked as if he was going to detach his jaw with his yawns, Neville had the Early Morning Stares, and Ron was asleep in his scrambled eggs. Harry was hunched over the table, taking small, even bites of his porridge. Nothing seemed to be out of place, everything seemed to be in order.

Except for the exceptional case of Shifty Eyes Harry had this morning. The Shifty Eyes seemed to scan the table to check if anyone was looking, before flitting across the Hufflepuff table and landing in a particular area on the Slytherin table. Strange, especially since Harry didn't have his Death Glare in place.

Now, Hermione was nothing if not observant. And she was also the farthest thing possible from stupid, and so it was not difficult to locate who exactly it was that Harry's Shifty Eyes kept Shifting towards.

To her credit, she did not even flinch upon the realization of who it was, but merely raised an eyebrow as she sighed and turned the page. No wonder Harry was being so secretive this past week. Their midnight escapades to the kitchen and various expeditions around the school had lessened to none at all for the past eight nights. While Ron accepted Harry's excuse of tiredness and need for rest, Hermione would take one look at Harry the next day, and know – he had been out the night before.

Hermione sighed again, and Harry looked over at her. She hadn't realized her sighs sounded so piteous until the worried eyes of her friend were on her as he said, "Are you alright, Hermione? You really shouldn't be working so hard – you'll wear yourself out soon."

She shook her head. "I'm alright. Just…thinking."

Even as she said those words, Harry glanced around him before looking towards the Slytherins once more. But this time, when he turned back, he met the knowing brown eyes of Hermione, who sighed and shook her head slightly.

Harry blinked. Once. Twice. And then realization sunk into him and a fierce blush flamed his cheeks. "Oh," was all he could say.

"Oh." A confirmation of her suspicions.

"Oh." Surprise that she figured it out.

"Oh." Surprise that he couldn't figure out that she would figure it out.

"Oh." A strange urge to bang head against table, muttering, "Stupid, stupid, stupid…"

"Look, Harry, I just…" Hermione sighed again. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded earnestly.

"Is it wise?"

Harry frowned.

Hermione sat back, letting her book rest on the table, and folded her arms. "We need to talk."

All the colour drained from Harry's cheeks.

"Now."

***

Draco sat at the breakfast table, actively trying to ignore Potter's stares. It wasn't as if he didn't want to look over, but he knew if he did, a silly grin would spread of his face, and for such a thing to happen…well, such a thing wouldn't happen, and so he wasn't looking over.

He could still feel the stare on him, though, warm all over, and it made him feel special, loved, invincible. Except maybe against his father and the Dark Lord and Potter himself, as well as maybe Dumbledore, and Snape, of course, and maybe even McGonagall, and…

He shook his head slightly. Potter always made him babble, even in his head, and in a most unattractive manner.

There was a flutter of wings, and a stupid first year at the Hufflepuff table shouted, "Mail!" and everyone looked up as hundreds of owls descended upon them. Draco could see his family owl making his way towards him and held out a hand for the parchment that was dropped directly into it.

Unfolding it, his face turned ashen, and he gathered up his book bag and swept from the Great Hall.

***

"Why?"

They were in the Transfiguration classroom, using the half hour before class for their talk.

Harry shrugged. "I can't explain it…it just, sort of…happened."

Hermione gave him a sceptical look. "So, one day, you and Malfoy took one look at each other and decided that you two would…would…" She gesticulated wildly to convey her meaning. "…you know, just…Oh, forget it." She crossed her arms, giving him a hard stare. "So. Tell me how it happened."

Harry blushed.

Hermione sighed. "I don't want to know, frankly, but I want to hear it from you so I could somehow understand why you could possibly…you know…" She sighed again. "It'd be easier to understand. Don't you at least want a chance to explain how it happened? He is a Slytherin, and not just any Slytherin, you know. I just…I just want to understand why."

"I know, I know, I just…"

She leaned back and quirked an eyebrow at him. "Go on, Harry. If you tell me now, it'll make it a lot less painful for you." She gave him a Look. "Believe me."

"Er…I know." Harry took a deep breath. "It just…started last week. Well, not exactly last week, more like the Friday before last week. I was taking a walk around school, at night, and I went into a room and Malfoy was there." His eyes glazed over, remembering the past, and the words that followed were savoured as much as the memories that accompanied it were. "He was there, and he was playing the violin, Hermione, the violin!" He almost squealed. "And I was there, under my Invisibility Cloak and the music was so beautiful, Hermione, it was so beautiful, and Malfoy was creating it…he was creating such beautiful music, and he looked different, somehow, I think it was the music that was coming from him, but it gave me such strange feelings." Harry's right hand rested over his heart as he looked down, embarrassed.

"And then I just knew I had to show him I was there, and so I did, and we didn't fight, Hermione, but I asked him to play a song for me, and he refused at first, but when I turned to leave he said he would, and it was so beautiful, Hermione, I can't describe it to you, I can't…"

Hermione cleared her throat. "Harry, are you referring to Malfoy or the music?"

Until that day, Hermione had no idea that any human being at all – Muggle or Wizard – could blush plum. Apparently, it was possible.

Refusing to answer, Harry went on. "And so I went back the next night, and the next, and the next, for the past few nights." He deliberately glossed over the events of last night, not knowing if Draco wanted anyone to know or not. Besides, he was still worrying over the last kiss he shared with Malfoy – if he had gone too far, how was he going to make things fine again?

Hermione's voice shook him out of his musings. "I guess some things happened in between, right?" Harry nodded. She sighed, again. "I won't ask what happened – it's between the two of you. But, if you really think that it's safe for you to do this, then, the only thing I can think of to tell you is congratulations, and…you'd better tell Ron, somehow."

A little shocked, Harry could only sit for a minute. Then he relaxed, and a smile lit up his face. "Thank you, Hermione."

"One last question."

"Yes?" Harry was busy taking his quill and books out.

"Why?"

Harry smiled to himself. "Simply because, Hermione."

Simply because I do.

***

Draco threw his books across his room, shattering a lamp on the dresser. "Fuck you! I'm not, I'm not, I'm NOT!!!!"

He grabbed onto a little cupboard he had, and hurled it against the wall. "NO I WON'T I'M NOT I WON'T!"

And so he went on like this, until his already hoarse voice was gone, and his room was broken and shattered, much like himself, and he flung himself against the wall, beating, kicking, cursing, until all the fight drained out of him and he just sat.

And sat.

And sat.

And sat.

To Be Continued!

Notes: If thou must love me, let it be for nought – poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning, also used without permission – my apologies!