Title: Like It Like That

Author: Yih

Disclaimer: All rights are JK Rowling, just borrowing the characters for some slashy goodness!

Warning:  This is slash!  M/M relationship!  Don't bother flaming since this is your warning, got it? 

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6: Life is Love (July 24, 2003 to July 25, 2003)

Persuading time was over.  Decision time was here.  Harry didn't want to give in.  Harry didn't want to let Draco do this for him.  He wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing.  He was all about self sacrifice and that whole shebang.  There was no ruddy way he was letting Draco give his life for his worthless self.  But it was happening; everything was spiraling out of his control.  Damn them all. 

"You don't love me," Harry repeated and repeated.  "You can't love me."

"Unfortunately," Draco drawled, "I do."

"You're barking mad."

"I must be," Draco reflected calmly.  This Ron and Hermione took as their signal to depart, giving one last lingering look at Harry they left their friend to deal with a persistently stubborn Draco.  They had no doubt of the outcome.  Draco was going to bend Harry to his will.  It was all that Malfoy ingrained Slytherin breeding.  Malfoys always got what they wanted. 

"You're seriously barking mad."

"Can you say nothing else?"

"Why?"

"Don't know."

Harry scowled and ran his hand through his dark raven locks violently, just giving his hands something to do.  Anything to do.  "I can't take you seriously.  You can't do this for me.  It's not like you, Draco.  Slytherins are about self preservation."

Draco shrugged, moving closer to Harry--- hypnotizing the Gryffindor with his sensual gracefulness.  "True, very true," he agreed.  "We're also about getting what we know we want.  That's precisely what a Slytherin is about.  I want you; therefore, I will have you.  And when a Slytherin falls in love, they fall hard.  You're mine Harry, I've said it often enough.  You're mine and no one else's."

"I don't love you." 

Draco sighed with disappointment, but that didn't stop him from lifting his hand and tenderly caressing Harry's cheek.  "It doesn't matter.  But I think," he whispered softly into his lover's ear, "that at the very least, you care deeply for me.  You like to think it's all about the fucking, but it if was just that--- I wouldn't have fallen for you.  It wouldn't be tearing me up inside to know what I was losing you. 

"And," he continued throatily, "I think you want to continue living for me.  What in this life did you seize to live your life thoroughly and fully?  Me.  Not your friends Weasley and Granger, but me… Draco Malfoy.  And I'm going to show you why.  Follow me, Harry.  Let me show you my love."

Intoxicating.  Overwhelming.  Passionate.  This was the Draco that he knew that was hidden underneath the icy and cold exterior.  This was the Draco that made him burn like a mad crazy person.  This was the Draco that he didn't want to die for him.  This was the Draco that made life worth living. 

He found his feet shifting and shuffling their way after Draco.  He couldn't stop himself; he wanted this.  But how could Draco want him?  The skeleton that he was?  The dead body he'd become?  He turned his head to the side, shame flooding his being.  He hated to look at himself in the mirror, what about Draco?  The vain, narcissistic gorgeous blond… wanting him?  Unbelievable.

"Believe it," Draco whispered, as if reading his mind.  "I want you more than I've ever wanted you.  Let me love you, Harry."  Because there was nothing in his life worth living for without Harry, Draco realized in a bittersweet epiphany.  No one saw him as more than a Slytherin traitor no matter which side was looking at him.  To the Death Eaters, he'd done the unthinkable.  To the rest, he was still the former Death Eater.  There was no salvation for the tainted. 

No salvation but in Harry, he saw.  Harry wanted him despite the stain.  Why hadn't he seen his love earlier?  Why didn't they have more time?  This solution of Severus would work.  They would have years together.  He was strong, not the strongest, but he was strong.  He'd sustain them.  They'd love together.  Happily.  Not ever after, no never that.  But they would be happy.  And he'd make Harry love him.  Harry would love him, and he would finally be complete. 

But first he had to show Harry his love, the love he'd just realized when Ron had said that he loved Harry.  What else could this unthinkable emotion be that pounded in his veins, that paralyzed him inside when he thought that his Harry was dying?  It was love, that heated emotion that froze him unmercifully. 

"Will you?" Draco murmured softly. 

"Yes," Harry breathed out.  "Please."

[938 words cut out due to NC-17 reasons.]

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Author's Note: Either join the Mirror_of_Paradox Mailing List to read the NC-17 scene (in the file section) or you wait for me to post it @ Ink Stained Fingers.  I would recommend reading it, b/c there is a plot to the NC-17 scene, it's not a PWP.  D/H have important words said between them.  And to those that did read the NC-17 version, what did you think of it?  Bland?  O-o good?  One more chapter to go!

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Thanks to Rings of Saturn (Both are stubborn asses), Kiwii2, Azn Eyes, chocolatesprinkles, Tempest8, Lunadeath, Squifi, Abraxis (Heh, glad I do Hermione well ;p.  I totally adore her.  Sev has a small part in this one unfortunately), Quickjewel (this is only my only angsty one no complaints!).