Warnings: Slash, OOC, Bad English (For detailed warnings please refer to the first chapter. Do not flame me before reading it.)
Disclaimer: If I owned them, I don't have to worry about not getting into Uni. _
A million thanks to my wonderful betas Skye and Aoi Me. Thanks to them now you guys don't have to endure my grammar mistakes and awkward wordings. ^_^
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Chapter Three - The Third Day
"Bye, Panse." Draco smiled, pulling Pansy into a hug.
Draco, Pansy, and Crabbe were at the front gate of Hogwarts, waiting for the morning train, Pansy and Crabbe's luggage at their feet.
He was just about to release her when Pansy suddenly tightened her arms around him.
"Oh, Draco… are you sure you are not coming with us?" Her voice was a little broken, and when she pulled away, Draco saw that there were tears in her eyes.
Draco laughed.
"What's the matter, Panse? It's not like we're not seeing each other again. You know, I might as well be home tomorrow."
"Yeah, maybe…" But something in her eyes faintly reminded him of the awkward look she gave him last night; it was like even Pansy herself didn't believe what she was saying.
Pansy murmured a levitating spell and both hers and Crabbe's luggage floated into the air.
"Well, then. Goodbye, Draco."
"I'll see you."
Draco thought that he heard Pansy whisper under her breath 'I hope not', but he must have heard it wrong. Seeing Pansy and Crabbe's backs diminishing in his eyesight was like throwing a weight on Draco's stomach; he felt it painfully heavy but oddly empty at the same time.
Feeling incredibly depressed, he put his hands in his pockets and turned away from the gate. But instead of going back to his dormitory, he walked towards to lake. There were some things he needed to clear out in his mind, and the lake sounded like a great idea. There are not many students at this time in the morning. They are either at class or… well, in their dorm. He was supposed to have Potions on Wednesday mornings. But Snape was the first one to leave Hogwarts; he left the day before war began, which resulted in one extra free period for every student. Once the war started, none of the professors bothered to fill in Snape's place; they all spent their time contributing to the war. It was a wonder why they hadn't been in the battlefield. Draco had a suspicion that the Headmaster refused to let them get involved directly, which was probably the reason why Harry Potter was still hanging around here. Dumbledore had insisted that Hogwarts was the safest place in the wizarding world and tried to maintain as much "normal activities" as possible. Sometimes Draco found it quite amusing, that the attention all of the students paid was more than he ever saw in his more than six years in Hogwarts. Some of them, mostly Gryffindors, decided to devote themselves into the war, while others simply wanted to learn more to defend themselves when the time came. Defence against the Dark Arts suddenly became the favorite course in school.
Speaking of favorite courses… Draco's eyes darkened when he thought of his favorite course and therefore, favorite teacher. Professor Snape's leave announced to the whole school that he, indeed, was a Death Eater. Although Draco had a faint idea that Voldemort might not be the one Snape was loyal to, he hadn't planned to consult anyone with his suspicion. He had known Snape since he could remember. Snape had always been the one he'd looked up to. Whenever he needed someone to talk to, the one he'd look for was not Lucius, not Narcissa, but Snape. In a way, Snape was more like a father to him than anybody else was. Nobody knew him better than Snape, and vice versa. They understood each other. In fact, they were probably the only one that understood each other. He only wished Snape were here with him.
It was Snape that led him out of the little castle that Lucius had built around him, it was Snape that made him question, and it was Snape that taught him not to absorb what other people told him like a mindless sponge. Snape was not some bloody Gryffindor; he was a Slytherin, just like him. If Professor Snape was really a spy for the Light side, there must be a reason… More than once that Snape had hinted at him, "Do not let other people control you, Draco, you are you and no one can change that. Do what you think is right, and you will always be right." He didn't want to disappoint his mentor and father figure.
That was the reason he stayed.
Draco looked down at his shoes, kicking the grass as he walked across the lawns. The green, fresh, wet grass told him that he had arrived at his destination, but he kept walking without looking up.
What are you when I needed you the most? Draco thought, irritated. I don't know what is right anymore, Severus, tell me what to do…
"Malfoy."
Suddenly a person's figure came into Draco's eyesight. That person was sitting on the grass, cross-legged, hands supporting his or her weight from behind. That person was wearing a Hogwarts uniform, so clearly he or she was a Hogwarts student.
He carefully lifted his eyes. Please let it not be the person I thought I heard. Please let me heard wrong…
He saw a pair of emerald eyes staring up at him, no emotion was revealed from those depths of green.
Draco thought he'd hate to see the face of the person in front of him. He thought when they see each other again, they'd forget everything that happened two nights ago. But when he actually did see him, all he can feel was panic.
What was he supposed to do now? Say "Hi, how's it going, Harry"? Pretend nothing happened and scold him as usual? Was there any point insulting him, after everything that did happened?
Clearly Harry was shocked to see him, too. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, no words escaping their mouths. Then Harry regained his composure.
"Sit." Harry offered.
Without waiting for Draco's answer, he turned his face towards the lake again.
"It's beautiful out here, isn't it? The lake… it calms you, especially when you have something on your mind." He added meaningfully.
Draco looked out at the lake. It truly was beautiful. The morning sun made the surface of the lake almost shining silver. He felt his heart melt as the soft ripples covered one another.
Sighing softly, he looked around and his eyes fell on the tree approximately ten feet away from Harry's position.
He walked over to the tree and sat down, back leaning against the tree trunk. He pulled his knees against his chest and wrapped his arms around them. But he wasn't looking at the lake. He was facing Harry.
Harry turned his head slightly, amusement in his voice.
"I'm not going to jump you, you know. You don't have to avoid me like that."
Draco doubted if he'd really care if Harry jumped him. He thought of the incident two nights ago. He couldn't help but wonder, what was Harry thinking when he kissed him? Did he even realize that he was kissing Draco Malfoy, his supposed archenemy, and not some pretty Gryffindor or Ravenclaw girl that he was thinking of? Did he regret it…?
Of course he did. It's not like it's something Harry Potter would dream about everyday. As he just said a second ago, it wouldn't happen again.
Apparently Harry was thinking along the same lines, because he saw Harry lay down on the grass, his hands folded under his head, his face turned towards the sky and a slight pink tinted his cheeks. For the longest time, they just sat there with each other's company, feeling each other's presence, Draco staring at Harry, and Harry staring at the sky.
Then suddenly Draco shifted, feeling uncomfortable with his current position.
"Stay. Please." It was the first time ever Harry said the word "please" to him, and it was because he thought Draco was leaving.
Perhaps that was the reason he said what he said.
"I'm not going anywhere." He said, using a soft tone that he didn't know he was capable of.
Then he realized what he just said.
"I didn't mean it that way… I mean…"
Harry chuckled.
"It's okay, Malfoy."
Draco didn't trust himself to speak for a moment, and then Harry spoke again.
"Can you imagine, Draco, that while we are watching the lake and the sky, people are fighting and dying at this very moment?"
Draco's heart leaped, at Harry's first time use of his given name, or at the topic he brought up, he didn't know. Perhaps both.
"Why are you here, Potter? Why aren't you out there and fighting?" He asked slowly, making sure every word came out of his lips clearly. He wasn't just asking for fun.
"Dumbledore wouldn't let us." He said simply.
Just as Draco had suspected.
Just then, Harry spoke again.
"But we are invited to the meetings of the Order," he turned his face so that he was looking straight into Draco's eyes. "We usually meet at ten in the morning, in the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor."
"Why are you telling me this?" Draco asked almost angrily. He did NOT ask to know the secrets of the Light side.
Harry shrugged.
"Just thought I'd tell you."
He paused. When he spoke again, it was softly, almost hesitantly.
"Have you ever consider…" He pushed himself off the grass and walked slowly towards Draco.
"… 'Staying here' staying here?" He was right in front of Draco; their faces merely inches away from each other. Draco could feel Harry's breath on his face when he spoke.
Draco suddenly lost all ability to move, to think, to look anywhere except at Harry's eyes.
"Why are you even asking me this, Potter? You know I…"
"I know that you are still here." Harry cut him short.
Draco opened his mouth, but no word came out.
"Why are you here, Draco?" Harry asked softly, as if luring him into some kind of trap.
Draco tore his eyes away from Harry's.
"That's none of your bus…"
He didn't finish his sentence because his lips were covered with Harry's.
Unlike the kiss they shared two nights ago, this one was simply a touch of lips. No tongues, not even friction. They were only pressing their lips together, as if to share warmth. Or maybe it wasn't warmth that Harry wanted to share with him, but a message.
Draco heart was beating so hard that he was sure that it would jump out of his chest. And before he could do anything, Harry pulled back.
"It is. Believe me. It is." He whispered, the tip of his finger lightly scraped down one side of Draco's cheeks. Then he stood up and turned away, after murmuring, "It's ten fifteen already. I have to go."
Draco watched Harry's back dumbly, his heart pounding against his vocal chords. Should he call out to him? Would Harry turn around? What should he say when he turned around? What did he want to say? Is there anything to be said…?
Harry was gone.
Draco looked out at the lake, but the soft, gentle ripples couldn't calm him anymore. His heart was fluttering, dancing, beating at the base of his throat, as if wanting to jump out of him.
Harry had seen through him. He knew exactly what Draco wanted. Maybe even more than Draco himself knew about, or was willing to admit. He knew about Draco's deepest secret and desire, the one Draco had tried so hard to conceal.
Draco shut his eyes tightly, as if to block out the million things that was going through his mind.
Harry had left him no choice but to admit to himself, that…
He wanted Harry.
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A/N: … I have nothing to say about this chapter…*dizzy* (I swear this is not how I planned it to be. I don't know what I'm writing anymore…) Except thank-yous to all my reviewers, if not for you guys it might take even longer…*sweat* Sorry this took so long. To my reviewers:
Luci Shadow: Thanks. I'm so happy to hear it! I think them falling in love with each other and staying in character at the same time is practically impossible. *faint*
Nanashi: Thank you for understanding it… Cuz even I didn't. Lol.
GaBrIeLa2: Yay! I love Draco on bottom, too! So happy to know someone has the same interest as I do!
Curious Dream Weaver: Wow. I didn't think anyone ever used those words to describe my writing. Lol.
Skye & Aoi Me: Thank you so much for volunteering to be my beta!
Your name & GordosGirlie: Thank you! I'll try to get the next one out as soon as possible.
Sweet Sorrow1: Of course they're gonna go further than that. What did you think the R is for?! Lol.
Bakachan17: Hmm… I didn't think someone who supports uke Harry would like my fic… Interesting. But this is great! I'm gonna poison you with Harry/Draco… Lol. Just kidding. ^_^ And I'm gonna change the mistakes you were talking about, too. Thank you!
Lil' Eowyn: Thanks. I planned to continue it, but you'll never know what happens, right? Ps. I'm not only a huge Harry/Draco fan; I'm addicted.
LilRedHeadGinny & Redmeadow: Thank you! I tired to improve my English by writing… That is reason why this is here… Lol.