CHAPTER 3

INTRIGUING EYES

Harry wondered, as he knelt on his hands and knees, scrubbing the floor of Snape's office with a soapy rag, what on earth had come over him that morning. He had actually taken the blame for something that was Malfoy's fault. He couldn't believe it. What in the world had possessed him?

So far, he had done a fine job of avoiding everyone but he knew that when he returned to his common room after detention with Snape, talking would be unavoidable.

Draco paced up and down in front of the Slytherin common room's roaring and crackling fireplace, his hands shoved firmly into the pockets on either side of his stylish black pants to stop them from fiddling with his hair and robes. What if it was all a big joke concocted by the Terrible Trio and the rest of their friends to put him to shame? What if one of the teachers had seen? What if–

"What's the matter, Drakey-poo? What happened in the hallway with Potter?" Pansy said, pronouncing the last word as if it were something extremely foul smelling, stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

The girl flounced out of her room (since she and Draco had been made Slytherin prefects, they both had their own separate rooms) and fell into a nearby chair in what she viewed to be a seductive manner. Draco paused in his pacing to give her a disinterested look, noting the fact that she had donned a see-through top made out of a light, silky material. He went back to his pacing.

This apparently made pansy very cross. She squirmed in the chair, rearranging her position so that her skirt was hiked up above her knees. She leaned forward, to give Draco a good view of the cleavage her shirt already did very little to hide.

"Drakkey," she said in an airy voice, willing him to look over at her.

It seemed to work, but not with the outcome she had intended.

"What do you want, Pansy? I have my own problems to deal with!" He said sharply, halting abruptly and turning to take in her new, provocative pose. Instead of having the desired effect on him, it only caused to annoy him even more.

"I..." Pansy said uncertainly, gazing up at him through her long, magically enhanced eyelashes. Perhaps this was not a good time to bring up that morning's Potions class.

"Well, I was wondering if you could help me with my Transfiguration homework. You're always so good at everything and I can't quite get a grasp on the new spell we learned yesterday."

Draco strode forward and placed one hand on each arm of the chair Pansy sat in and leaned down so that their noses were almost touching. Pansy could feel his warm breath on her cheek and she closed her eyes, inwardly rejoicing.

She had almost seduced the most sought after boy at Hogwarts. "Drakey..." she whispered.

She recieved a nasty surprise when Draco lifted one of his hands from the chair arm and gave the long wavy hair falling gracefully about her shoulders a painful yank.

"Go ask Blaise. I'm sure he would be delighted to help you with your... homework."

He pushed off from the chair with his other hand and strode off, intent on getting rid of the memory of Potter's soft lips brushing against his own...

Back in the chair where he had left her, Pansy slowly brought a hand up to feel her tender scalp. Her nose prickled as it always did when she was about to cry.

"Ow," she whispered tearfully, rubbing the side of her head. "Bastard. Why do I even bother? Nobody ever notices me anyway." She straightened her skirt angrily and curled up, hugging her knees to her chest. Would she ever find somebody who appreciated her? A tear rolled down her cheek.

Harry walked slowly down the cold, deserted corridor. He could hear the extremely faint sounds of laughter coming from behind a large portrait that was really the entrance to the Slytherin common room. He knew he shouldn't be here, but he was dreading the thought of returning to his own dorm room.

He could picture what everyone would be doing at that moment.

Hermione would be finishing up next weeks reading assignment and worrying about having enough time to make a few hats for the house elves. Ron would be avoiding his schoolwork as usual, most likely talking about Harry with Dean and Seamus. And Neville? He was probably sitting by the fire, pretending to be clueless.

As Harry walked by a small passage, a pale hand reached out and grabbed him by the arm. Another hand came up to cover his mouth before he could cry out and he was dragged bodily into the alcove.

"Well, well. What's this? What are you doing snooping around in the dungeons at this hour, Potter?"

The cold voice was unmistakable. Harry shook off the offending hands and turned to face Draco Malfoy's arrogant form.

The corridor they stood in was one Harry had never noticed before. True, Harry had only been by here twice before in his second year (once on the way to the Slytherin dorms and once on the way back to Myrtle's bathroom). In both instances, though, he had been in too much of a hurry to actually take in the details of his surroundings. It was narrow and stuffy inside the passageway.

In such close proximity, Harry couldn't help but notice the way Draco's cheeks had a very subtle but lovely pink tinge to them and how long his eyelashes were.

The two boys stared at each other for a moment without saying anything. It was unlike Draco to be so quiet around Harry, but Harry was too busy staring to notice.

Draco took in Harry's slightly disheveled appearance. Messy hair (nothing new there), large glasses covering up his brilliant green eyes...

Draco had a sudden urge to look into those eyes without the interference of Harry's glasses. Angry at himself, he reached up, yanked them off of Harry's face, and they fell to the floor with a clatter. Harry instinctively reached for his wand, feeling very vulnerable without his glasses, and tried to take a step back. The narrow corridor didn't allow him this luxury, and he found himself backed up against the cold, stone wall, Draco's gaze piercing into him.

Since Draco made no other move to disarm him, the two boys stood there, an awkward silence filling the space around them.

Draco thought he had never seen anything more beautiful than Harry's eyes. He did not want to admit to himself that he found Harry's unkempt features rather cute, and he told himself that now was the time for a strategically placed insult. A curse. Anything to stop the silence.

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He was not used to this look; this look of confusion and curiosity. He had never seen anything but hatred directed at him from those green eyes, and he didn't know what to make of the lack thereof.

"What are you doing, Draco?" Harry whispered. Half of him was thinking Harry, what the hell are you saying? Where's the insult? The shove?

The other half of him, however, was thinking How come I never noticed what an amazing, flawless face he has? If I just lean forward about three inches...

Harry did not know what came over him. He leaned forward. About three inches, to be precise.

Did he call me Draco…?

Draco was shocked. All he could do was wach, spellbound, as Harry leaned forward, his eyes fluttering closed. For a split second, the thought occurred to him that this could be another dare, but all thought was erased from his mind when their lips met. The same feeling of excitement that he had experienced in the hallway that morning rushed through him. He could feel Harry's breathing quicken. Draco, not knowing what else to do, took advantage of the other boy's slightly parted lips and slipped his tongue inside Harry's mouth.

The green eyes opened wide in shock. It was obvious that Harry had never been kissed or kissed anyone before. Draco's lips twisted upward in a smile. He was Harry's first kiss. He didn't know weather to be horrified or amused. Well the situation could not possibly be any worse. He might as well have some fun with the innocent boy's emotions.

Harry drew back, not sure whether to feel excited or revolted by what had just happened, but when Draco trailed a row of tiny kisses down his jaw-line, all thought left his mind.

TBC