I honestly thought it would take longer than it did. He nearly ran
straight into me as he burst out of the Great Hall. I could hear the
familiar laughter of the Slytherin table before the doors closed.
Wondering what they would be laughing at him for, I watched in amazement as
he paused and closed his eyes. He stood there silently, fists clenched and
took a few deep breaths before finally heading off toward the Slytherin
dungeons.
I followed, of course.
~of course~
Now is not the time. I want to follow him to make sure he's okay. To see if he needs..
~a kiss? A hug? A warm romp in the..?~
Stop! I sighed.
I didn't mean to actually sigh aloud, but I did and apparently Draco heard it. He turned and looked directly at me, directly THROUGH me.
"Harry?" he said quietly. Now, how could he possibly have known I was there? I looked down to make sure I was still invisible. Yep, nothing there. How could Draco know and why would he look so hopeful? I mean, I know we're friends now (of sorts) but I didn't realize he would actually WANT to see me..
~like you WANT to see him?~
Yes, okay, I admit it. I'm finding Draco Malfoy to be quite the object of my lustful affections. I guess it started when I did a mental/magical exercise called 'Opening the Darkness Inside' where the wizard is instructed to focus on all the 'taboo' acts, everything from stealing or cheating to sex of all sorts to cruelty and unforgivable curses. With each act, you have to imagine yourself doing it and explain to your conscience why it's okay to do it. Only then did I realize that I wanted to do many 'taboo' things to that pale skinned, well toned body. And I wanted to stare deeply into those steel eyes while I did them.
Draco was still looking around the corridor, occasionally stopping to make direct eye contact with me while looking directly through me. How odd that he could know me so well that he would recognize my sigh, know the height of my eyes, feel my presence. I looked into those eyes of his, looked him over head to toe actually, and took the opportunity to notice a few things myself. For one thing, he was breathing just the tiniest bit faster than normal. For another, he seemed a little - scared. It seemed so very unlike Draco, having only seen this side of him that night with the snake.
~let's hope he's not afraid of ALL snakes~
Oh, that voice in my head is really beginning to bother me.
I watched quietly as he turned again, apparently having decided I wasn't in the hall with him. He walked the same as usual, swiftly and smoothly, with a fluid-like motion that almost gave the impression that he was floating. His head was held high, shoulders back, accentuating his perfect posture and aristocratic background. He exudes such power it makes me jealous. It used to make me angry because I thought he was a phony. I thought it was all for looks, but having worked with him in potions, having studied with him in private, I finally realized it's REAL power. It's a deep, natural power and he has no problems with using it to get what he wants. That's the Slytherin in him. That's what I'm jealous of.
For the thousandth time, I wonder what would have happened over the last few years if I had allowed the Sorting Hat to put me in Slytherin. Would Charlie and Cedric and Justin still be alive? Would Lavender be in that coma? Would Hermione have been tortured? Would I still have been Snape's least favorite student?
"Good evening, Master Malfoy." I look up to see that Draco is being addressed by a portrait of a rather foreboding wizard in silver dress robes. "Password?"
"Potter" Draco says quietly. I'm shocked. He's using my name as his password? I suppose that's somewhat logical, no one would ever guess it. I'm stunned, but I follow him into the room through the portrait hole. Looking around, I see that the Head Boy definitely has some privileges. Not only does he have his own room, but he's got his own adjoining bathroom as well. The room is decorated in Green, Black and Silver, but what else would you expect from a Slytherin?
Draco flops into a big, cushiony armchair and leans back, staring up at the ceiling. I'm standing around wondering how to best reveal myself now that I've stayed invisible this long. Powerful magic. It's much easier to BE invisible, than to wear an invisibility cloak. I'm becoming more and more grateful for the decision to "rethink my allegiances" and increasingly pleased with how quickly I seem to be picking up these dark tricks. I realize that my friends would go nuts if they knew about this, but my goal is that they'll never know - and that they'll be safe. That's what powerful magic can do.
So, just as I'm wondering if I CAN consciously decide to be seen, if it's really that easy like the book said, Draco starts talking to himself.
"I just don't get it. I can't..I can't do this..it's.." He's silent. I wonder what he's talking about but my train of thought is quickly broken when he gets up from the chair and begins stripping on his way across the room. The shoes, robe, pants, shirt, tie, they end up scattered around the floor. Before I realize myself, I'm following him across the room, a sudden need to be near that beautiful body.
He stopped and turned so quickly that I ran directly into him. I automatically put my hands around him to make sure he didn't fall and I could swear that I saw comfort in his eyes amidst the confusion. I couldn't help myself. I kissed him.
DRACO's POV
Bastards. They're all bastards. I can still hear them laughing as I storm out of the Great Hall. I feel like screaming. I feel like running outside and jumping in the lake. I feel like pulling out my wand and putting them all under the Cruciatus Curse.
Get a hold of yourself Draco. Such emotion is not befitting a Malfoy. I stop and close my eyes, fists clenched in anger and center my breathing to bring the emotions in check. After a moment, I'm feeling better, more in control (as much as I can be these days) and I turn towards my room.
Control. It's something I've been losing my grip on lately. Harry and I have been friends for a few months. It's become a fast friendship, and probably the first true friendship I've ever had. Crabbe and Goyle are imbeciles that I would never associate with if not for our family ties. Pansy is a giggling little twit that I can barely tolerate in a crowd, much less in private (despite what she seems to believe about a relationship between us). No, Harry's definitely different.
Harry challenges me. He's always been a powerful wizard, a well known fact since he survived the Dark Lord's curse as a baby. But now, he's really beginning to come into that power. He's got a sudden thirst for knowledge of all things dark. He's asked me for tutelage on potions, curses, hexes, astral projection and more. He's been reading any restricted books he can get his hands on. His drive and focus is almost frightening.
Though I consider him my friend now, we haven't made a public display of our camaraderie. I still don't know how my father or our Dark Lord will react to Harry's desires to change sides. For that matter, I still don't know what Harry's true desires are. Does he really want to change sides? It seems odd to me that someone who's spent so much time as The-Boy-Who- Lived and the Savior-of-the-Wizarding-World, someone who's fought for the 'good' team in so many battles would suddenly decide that joining the Dark Lord and becoming a death eater is the thing to do. I haven't asked him about it yet. I know I should, but somehow, every time I think about asking him, I catch sight of his eyes.
Those glittering emeralds are going to be my undoing, I can feel it. There's so much in his eyes, so much that I doubt he'll ever tell me. I wonder if he's talked about this to his friends. I wonder if they would understand it, because I certainly don't.
'What was that?'
"Harry?" I turned, fully expecting to see Harry standing directly behind me. I can almost feel his presence. I heard a sigh, correction, I heard HARRY sigh. I'd know that sound anywhere. I've heard it in class when he's frustrated with an assignment, I've heard it in the halls when we used to fight so much and he'd get tired of my snide remarks, I've heard it recently when we're discussing the Dark Arts and he's getting tired, but most of all, I've heard it in my dreams. I've dreamt about Harry so often lately, I'm beginning to think I'm obsessed. I keep looking around, waiting, hoping for him to step out of the shadows somewhere. I finally decide he's not there, I'm certainly not blind, so he CAN'T be there. I know he's not using his invisibility cloak because he loaned it to me three nights ago and I haven't returned it yet.
Apparently others in my house are beginning to notice something unusual as well, because they're commenting on changes in my behavior. Changes I thought I was concealing. Pansy's comment tonight about me getting soft was just too much. I know what she meant, just as I know the double entendre was intended. Everyone else knew it as well. The little wench will pay for that comment, eventually.
"Good evening, Master Malfoy" I barely pay any attention to this portrait anymore. He's some heir of Salazar from about 500 years ago and I can't remember his name 90% of the time. "Password?"
"Potter" I almost whisper it. I'd be humiliated if anyone from Slytherin knew it, but that's not why I feel the need to whisper it. It's hard now, really hard, to call him Potter. I've gotten so used to calling him Harry, both in my head and in person - hell even in my dreams.
Once inside my blissfully quiet, private room, I fall into my big comfortable chair, my favorite chair, and decide to think. I'm thinking about what's going on with Harry and me. I wonder if maybe it's time to send an owl to my father. I have the feeling that he and the Dark Lord would be pleased with the turn of events. After all, that's what they wanted of me six years ago. If Harry had accepted my friendship then, he would have been training in Dark Arts by the end of first year. He would have probably been invited to Malfoy Manor for holidays so he could continue to train.
"I just don't get it. I can't..I can't do this..it's.." There you are Malfoy, talking to yourself again? You've gone and lost your head this time, might as well run into a bludger for all the good your brain's doing you right now.
In my frustration I decide that a nice long shower would be perfect. I jump up and head to the bathroom, pulling my clothes off as quickly as possible. I know that a shower will calm me down, I'm very much a water person and can be easily calmed by the flowing water (not to mention the fact that I can adjust the temperature if a certain dark-haired Gryffindor invades my mind again). Just as I've almost reached the bathroom, I realize that I'm too particular to leave my clothing lying around like that - even for a few minutes.
I stop and turn to pick them up, but I'm unable to, suddenly finding myself up against an invisible body-shaped mass. The force of the impact nearly knocks me over, but I'm quickly caught and steadied by a pair of strong and comfortable arms. I can feel the robes, I can feel the torso against my own, I can feel one leg against mine, and I can feel the arms around me. The hands, resting on my back, just above my waist, are the only part of this mass that connects to me, skin to skin. It's nice. I can't explain it but I feel comfortable with those hands on my back. Before I have time to register this and say anything, my mouth is covered by invisible lips.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
Author's Note: Thank you to all my readers (even if you didn't review) This being my first fanfic, I'm a bit nervous about it. Please, if you read, send a quick review, just so I know what you think about it. What's working, what's not, etc. PLEASE??????
Specifics, since I haven't replied to any specific reviews yet, I'm going to do it now.
Delie: Are you still reading? I hope so. Please let me know if you're still interested.
Lanevaly: I hope you're still reading, too. As I guess you can tell by now, I'm not actually pairing James/Lucius together. All will be revealed in good time!
Aranami: Thanks so much for your continued reviews. It's wonderful to know that I'm holding your interest. I hope you like both of these chapters I'm posting today. And thanks for the cookie!
She-Who-Is-Not-To-Be-Psycho: Thank you for both reviews, I hope you check back and read the updates, I think you'll like where Harry and Draco are going. sly smile
Keitorin: Thanks! I think there's a bit to keep you busy now!
I followed, of course.
~of course~
Now is not the time. I want to follow him to make sure he's okay. To see if he needs..
~a kiss? A hug? A warm romp in the..?~
Stop! I sighed.
I didn't mean to actually sigh aloud, but I did and apparently Draco heard it. He turned and looked directly at me, directly THROUGH me.
"Harry?" he said quietly. Now, how could he possibly have known I was there? I looked down to make sure I was still invisible. Yep, nothing there. How could Draco know and why would he look so hopeful? I mean, I know we're friends now (of sorts) but I didn't realize he would actually WANT to see me..
~like you WANT to see him?~
Yes, okay, I admit it. I'm finding Draco Malfoy to be quite the object of my lustful affections. I guess it started when I did a mental/magical exercise called 'Opening the Darkness Inside' where the wizard is instructed to focus on all the 'taboo' acts, everything from stealing or cheating to sex of all sorts to cruelty and unforgivable curses. With each act, you have to imagine yourself doing it and explain to your conscience why it's okay to do it. Only then did I realize that I wanted to do many 'taboo' things to that pale skinned, well toned body. And I wanted to stare deeply into those steel eyes while I did them.
Draco was still looking around the corridor, occasionally stopping to make direct eye contact with me while looking directly through me. How odd that he could know me so well that he would recognize my sigh, know the height of my eyes, feel my presence. I looked into those eyes of his, looked him over head to toe actually, and took the opportunity to notice a few things myself. For one thing, he was breathing just the tiniest bit faster than normal. For another, he seemed a little - scared. It seemed so very unlike Draco, having only seen this side of him that night with the snake.
~let's hope he's not afraid of ALL snakes~
Oh, that voice in my head is really beginning to bother me.
I watched quietly as he turned again, apparently having decided I wasn't in the hall with him. He walked the same as usual, swiftly and smoothly, with a fluid-like motion that almost gave the impression that he was floating. His head was held high, shoulders back, accentuating his perfect posture and aristocratic background. He exudes such power it makes me jealous. It used to make me angry because I thought he was a phony. I thought it was all for looks, but having worked with him in potions, having studied with him in private, I finally realized it's REAL power. It's a deep, natural power and he has no problems with using it to get what he wants. That's the Slytherin in him. That's what I'm jealous of.
For the thousandth time, I wonder what would have happened over the last few years if I had allowed the Sorting Hat to put me in Slytherin. Would Charlie and Cedric and Justin still be alive? Would Lavender be in that coma? Would Hermione have been tortured? Would I still have been Snape's least favorite student?
"Good evening, Master Malfoy." I look up to see that Draco is being addressed by a portrait of a rather foreboding wizard in silver dress robes. "Password?"
"Potter" Draco says quietly. I'm shocked. He's using my name as his password? I suppose that's somewhat logical, no one would ever guess it. I'm stunned, but I follow him into the room through the portrait hole. Looking around, I see that the Head Boy definitely has some privileges. Not only does he have his own room, but he's got his own adjoining bathroom as well. The room is decorated in Green, Black and Silver, but what else would you expect from a Slytherin?
Draco flops into a big, cushiony armchair and leans back, staring up at the ceiling. I'm standing around wondering how to best reveal myself now that I've stayed invisible this long. Powerful magic. It's much easier to BE invisible, than to wear an invisibility cloak. I'm becoming more and more grateful for the decision to "rethink my allegiances" and increasingly pleased with how quickly I seem to be picking up these dark tricks. I realize that my friends would go nuts if they knew about this, but my goal is that they'll never know - and that they'll be safe. That's what powerful magic can do.
So, just as I'm wondering if I CAN consciously decide to be seen, if it's really that easy like the book said, Draco starts talking to himself.
"I just don't get it. I can't..I can't do this..it's.." He's silent. I wonder what he's talking about but my train of thought is quickly broken when he gets up from the chair and begins stripping on his way across the room. The shoes, robe, pants, shirt, tie, they end up scattered around the floor. Before I realize myself, I'm following him across the room, a sudden need to be near that beautiful body.
He stopped and turned so quickly that I ran directly into him. I automatically put my hands around him to make sure he didn't fall and I could swear that I saw comfort in his eyes amidst the confusion. I couldn't help myself. I kissed him.
DRACO's POV
Bastards. They're all bastards. I can still hear them laughing as I storm out of the Great Hall. I feel like screaming. I feel like running outside and jumping in the lake. I feel like pulling out my wand and putting them all under the Cruciatus Curse.
Get a hold of yourself Draco. Such emotion is not befitting a Malfoy. I stop and close my eyes, fists clenched in anger and center my breathing to bring the emotions in check. After a moment, I'm feeling better, more in control (as much as I can be these days) and I turn towards my room.
Control. It's something I've been losing my grip on lately. Harry and I have been friends for a few months. It's become a fast friendship, and probably the first true friendship I've ever had. Crabbe and Goyle are imbeciles that I would never associate with if not for our family ties. Pansy is a giggling little twit that I can barely tolerate in a crowd, much less in private (despite what she seems to believe about a relationship between us). No, Harry's definitely different.
Harry challenges me. He's always been a powerful wizard, a well known fact since he survived the Dark Lord's curse as a baby. But now, he's really beginning to come into that power. He's got a sudden thirst for knowledge of all things dark. He's asked me for tutelage on potions, curses, hexes, astral projection and more. He's been reading any restricted books he can get his hands on. His drive and focus is almost frightening.
Though I consider him my friend now, we haven't made a public display of our camaraderie. I still don't know how my father or our Dark Lord will react to Harry's desires to change sides. For that matter, I still don't know what Harry's true desires are. Does he really want to change sides? It seems odd to me that someone who's spent so much time as The-Boy-Who- Lived and the Savior-of-the-Wizarding-World, someone who's fought for the 'good' team in so many battles would suddenly decide that joining the Dark Lord and becoming a death eater is the thing to do. I haven't asked him about it yet. I know I should, but somehow, every time I think about asking him, I catch sight of his eyes.
Those glittering emeralds are going to be my undoing, I can feel it. There's so much in his eyes, so much that I doubt he'll ever tell me. I wonder if he's talked about this to his friends. I wonder if they would understand it, because I certainly don't.
'What was that?'
"Harry?" I turned, fully expecting to see Harry standing directly behind me. I can almost feel his presence. I heard a sigh, correction, I heard HARRY sigh. I'd know that sound anywhere. I've heard it in class when he's frustrated with an assignment, I've heard it in the halls when we used to fight so much and he'd get tired of my snide remarks, I've heard it recently when we're discussing the Dark Arts and he's getting tired, but most of all, I've heard it in my dreams. I've dreamt about Harry so often lately, I'm beginning to think I'm obsessed. I keep looking around, waiting, hoping for him to step out of the shadows somewhere. I finally decide he's not there, I'm certainly not blind, so he CAN'T be there. I know he's not using his invisibility cloak because he loaned it to me three nights ago and I haven't returned it yet.
Apparently others in my house are beginning to notice something unusual as well, because they're commenting on changes in my behavior. Changes I thought I was concealing. Pansy's comment tonight about me getting soft was just too much. I know what she meant, just as I know the double entendre was intended. Everyone else knew it as well. The little wench will pay for that comment, eventually.
"Good evening, Master Malfoy" I barely pay any attention to this portrait anymore. He's some heir of Salazar from about 500 years ago and I can't remember his name 90% of the time. "Password?"
"Potter" I almost whisper it. I'd be humiliated if anyone from Slytherin knew it, but that's not why I feel the need to whisper it. It's hard now, really hard, to call him Potter. I've gotten so used to calling him Harry, both in my head and in person - hell even in my dreams.
Once inside my blissfully quiet, private room, I fall into my big comfortable chair, my favorite chair, and decide to think. I'm thinking about what's going on with Harry and me. I wonder if maybe it's time to send an owl to my father. I have the feeling that he and the Dark Lord would be pleased with the turn of events. After all, that's what they wanted of me six years ago. If Harry had accepted my friendship then, he would have been training in Dark Arts by the end of first year. He would have probably been invited to Malfoy Manor for holidays so he could continue to train.
"I just don't get it. I can't..I can't do this..it's.." There you are Malfoy, talking to yourself again? You've gone and lost your head this time, might as well run into a bludger for all the good your brain's doing you right now.
In my frustration I decide that a nice long shower would be perfect. I jump up and head to the bathroom, pulling my clothes off as quickly as possible. I know that a shower will calm me down, I'm very much a water person and can be easily calmed by the flowing water (not to mention the fact that I can adjust the temperature if a certain dark-haired Gryffindor invades my mind again). Just as I've almost reached the bathroom, I realize that I'm too particular to leave my clothing lying around like that - even for a few minutes.
I stop and turn to pick them up, but I'm unable to, suddenly finding myself up against an invisible body-shaped mass. The force of the impact nearly knocks me over, but I'm quickly caught and steadied by a pair of strong and comfortable arms. I can feel the robes, I can feel the torso against my own, I can feel one leg against mine, and I can feel the arms around me. The hands, resting on my back, just above my waist, are the only part of this mass that connects to me, skin to skin. It's nice. I can't explain it but I feel comfortable with those hands on my back. Before I have time to register this and say anything, my mouth is covered by invisible lips.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
Author's Note: Thank you to all my readers (even if you didn't review) This being my first fanfic, I'm a bit nervous about it. Please, if you read, send a quick review, just so I know what you think about it. What's working, what's not, etc. PLEASE??????
Specifics, since I haven't replied to any specific reviews yet, I'm going to do it now.
Delie: Are you still reading? I hope so. Please let me know if you're still interested.
Lanevaly: I hope you're still reading, too. As I guess you can tell by now, I'm not actually pairing James/Lucius together. All will be revealed in good time!
Aranami: Thanks so much for your continued reviews. It's wonderful to know that I'm holding your interest. I hope you like both of these chapters I'm posting today. And thanks for the cookie!
She-Who-Is-Not-To-Be-Psycho: Thank you for both reviews, I hope you check back and read the updates, I think you'll like where Harry and Draco are going. sly smile
Keitorin: Thanks! I think there's a bit to keep you busy now!