Chapter 8 – Give and Take

The following morning, Harry drifted slowly into consciousness. He could feel Draco's warm breath on the nape of his neck and his own arms around the blonde's warm body. Slowly he opened his eyes, taking in the sight of Draco sleeping. Draco's forehead was nuzzled into Harry's neck and a small smile graced his lips. Harry smiled at the sight and gently caressed Draco's face. 'Mmm this feels so nice. I wish I could wake up to this every morning.' Harry sighed and watched Draco for a moment, contemplating the situation. 'I really like him,' he thought. 'I have to tell him but I don't want to scare him away...oh to hell with it. I'll tell him that I like him once he wakes up. Merlin I hope this goes okay.' With that, Harry watched Draco in nervous anticipation.

Draco had been dreaming. More precisely, had been dreaming of waking up in Harry's arms. Draco's mind drifted slowly from his dreams to reality and he was surprised to find that he was, in fact, in Harry's arms. Hoping that this wasn't a dream, Draco tentatively opened his eyes and found himself looking into the bright emerald eyes that he knew belonged to Harry. Harry smiled at Draco who smiled back.

"Morning Draco."

"Morning," a very sleepy Draco mumbled back.

Harry really had no idea how to tell Draco how he felt and he was getting more nervous by the second, but he gathered all his Gryffindor courage and ploughed forward. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Hmm?" was the response.

"I like you Draco. As more than a friend." Harry waited for a reaction.

That shocked Draco out of his sleepy state. He didn't know what Harry was going to tell him but an exchange of feelings never crossed his mind. "Harry I...I like you too," Draco replied, looking into Harry's eyes.

Harry was ecstatic. Like Draco, he had not expected his feelings to be reciprocated. Now that he knew how Draco felt he was overwhelmed with shyness, but wanted so badly to kiss Draco.

"Can – can I kiss you?"

"Always," whispered Draco with a playful smirk.

Harry planted a chaste kiss on Draco's lips and Draco kissed him back. Harry found himself being pulled on top of Draco, their kiss remaining unbroken. Draco parted his lips and ran his tongue along Harry's bottom lip, memorizing Harry's taste, wanting more. Harry opened his mouth receptively, enjoying Draco's tongue dancing with his own. The boys kissed passionately for a moment before panic filled Harry's mind. He pulled away from Draco abruptly.

"Don't stop Harry," Draco said, opening his eyes which were met with the panic in Harry's own. "What's wrong?"

"We can't do this. It's a mistake. I'm sorry." Harry climbed off of Draco quickly and started towards the door with Draco at his heels. Draco grabbed Harry's arm and spun him around.

"What do you mean you can't do this! This is a mistake! You said you liked me five minutes ago and now it's a mistake! Was that some kind of joke because it certainly wasn't funny! How could you do that to me!" Draco was furious and beyond hurt.

"It wasn't a joke Draco." Harry tried his best to keep his voice steady but found it rather difficult. "I do like you but I can't be with you. We can't be romantically involved."

"Why not! You like me and I like you. What else do you want!" Draco's anger rose as he spoke.

"I want you to be safe! Us being involved would put you in danger."

"I don't care if I'm safe. I've liked you for too long to throw it away because you want me to be safe." A tear rolled down Draco's cheek. He had lost his family and now he was going to lose Harry as well.

"Draco, try to understand," Harry pleaded. "If you and I get involved then Voldemort will target you as well as me. I can't let that happen."

"I'm already a target for Voldemort. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here with you! Stop trying to save me. You don't have to be my hero as well as everyone else's."

"I will NOT be responsible for your death! I've already lost too many people close to me. I won't lose you too." Harry felt tears coming to his eyes.

"Those deaths couldn't have been prevented. They weren't your fault either. And no matter what you say or do, I'm going to be by your side when you face Voldemort. Whether you like it or not, I'll be there." Draco's frustration was echoed in his voice. Harry could be so stubborn sometimes. He expected an argument from Harry but there was only silence.

Harry was shocked that Draco would put himself in harms way for him, that Draco wanted to fight Voldemort at his side. Harry didn't want Draco to do that, but he could tell Draco was determined to be there. Harry stared at Draco for a moment before speaking again. "I need some time to think about everything. Please don't try to find me. I'll be back when I'm ready." With that, Harry turned and walked out of the dorm, Draco staring at him as he left.

Draco threw himself onto the bed that he and Harry had shared the night before and started to cry. 'Why is he doing this to me?' Draco thought angrily. 'I love him. I told him that I like him and now he's pushing me away. I supposed it's a good thing that I didn't tell him my real feelings. Why does he have to be the hero all the time? Can't we just like each other without worrying about Voldemort? Gods I'm worried. What if he decides that we should just be friends? I can't know he likes me and just be friends. But I don't want to lose him either. I feel so helpless and I hate it!' Draco sighed in frustration and continued to cry.

Harry left Gryffindor tower and walked blindly through the castle, his feet leading him on their own as his thoughts took over. 'I like Draco and I want to be with him but I don't want him to get hurt. I can't let him die because of me but he wants to be there with me. Merlin I wish I knew what to do. I wish I knew what I wanted.' Harry stopped for a moment and found himself in front of the Room of Requirement. 'I should have known this would show up. Wishing in this castle always gets you something.' Harry opened the door and stepped inside.

Harry was surprised to find that the room was completely bare except for a single object to his right. He walked towards the object and immediately recognized it as the Mirror of Erised. Harry expected to see his parents once again when he stepped in front of the mirror. Harry gasped at what he saw in the reflection: he and Draco were standing together over the defeated Voldemort's body and the Death Eaters were either dead or dying around them. Harry stepped away from the mirror for a moment. Perhaps there was something wrong with the mirror? He could believe, even though it was selfish, that he wanted to be with Draco more than he wanted him to be safe but wanting Draco with him when he fought Voldemort was another thing altogether. Stepping in front of the mirror once again, Harry saw the same image, sighed and turned away. He walked slowly out of the room and back towards Gryffindor tower. He would apologize to Draco and tell him what he had seen. He just hoped Draco could forgive him.