*****Notes for the rest of the story******
*Denotes thought*
//denotes the beginning or end of a dream sequence\\
************************************************************************
Harry and Draco had exactly two weeks to muse over their last encounter before the came face to face again. Well actually, before they were alone enough to even consider discussing their kiss. Their many meeting with Dumbledore had been necessary to properly digest and employ the new information Draco had brought into the fold. However, they left the boys little time to themselves, especially in the height of the Quidditch season. Their eventual meeting did come, and now here they sat, side by side in an abandoned classroom somewhere in the musty dungeons, totally at loss for words. The silence permeated both teenagers until Draco took it upon himself to finish what he'd started.
"I'm sorry." Harry blinked in mild surprise, although it is uncertain whether he was surprised at Draco's voice or the words themselves. There was a moment's pause and then he replied.
"You've been apologizing a lot lately, haven't you?" As soon as he said it, Harry kicked himself mentally for sounding to aloof, although Draco didn't seem to notice.
"I have a lot to apologize for." He mumbled, eyes downcast. Harry reached over the tipped Draco's chin up with two gentle fingers so they were eye to eye.
"Maybe you do, and I have to admit I like the new Draco." Harry spoke in even, level tones, his voice just above a whisper, and when the talking was don he got about to the real business; kissing Draco. With a soft exhalation of surrender, Draco allowed himself to be kissed, tentatively sliding his arms around Harry's neck. Harry could have sworn there was magic crackling in the air and in his lips for Draco's touch.
Even when the kiss broke a few seconds later, no words were spoken for the rest of the night. None were needed.
************************************************************************
Alas, time passes rapidly in the years of youth, as our boys soon found. Autumn leaves quickly gave way to winter's chill and Christmas spirits, which themselves eventually gave way to spring warmth. All the while the boys were together at every spare moment, often seeking each other out in the dark of the night for a few minutes of talk and maybe a kiss. There newfound compassion was kept a well-guarded secret from all, mostly for Draco's safety. Slytherins do not take kindly to change of that sort, and that wasn't taking Draco's father and his... affiliations into consideration. It was noted by all, even the occasional reporter Hogwarts entertained, that Draco and Harry's previous animosity have all but disappeared. In the publics eye they were no longer enemies, if not anything more than casual acquaintances, perhaps worth a nod or quiet "hello" when passing each other in the halls. If only you were to witness them in private though...
The boys had moved slowly, held back by their own fears, doubts and insecurities. Neither sure of what the future would hold for them, the inexperienced youth fumbled their way through their mutual attraction blindfolded. They were pleasantly surprised to discover a great number of similarities between them, as well as many complementary differences. While Harry was somewhat known for his quick comebacks, Draco's humor was far more morbid and strange. They often had each other in fits of laughing, only to be suddenly sobered back to reality. Most often, their conversations were about the future and the threat of Voldemort. They also spoke of the past, of what had been, or what could have. They analyzed and dissected each other before reassembling again, discovering new facets and angles to their own personalities. They found each other, in the truest sense of the word, and although their physical explorations had been confined to a few shy, sweet kisses every now and then, they had a bond almost to a molecular level. Draco for one was sure that he could hear Harry's heartbeat from across the castle. No matter where they went, their was magic.
Harry was truly a wizard of great strength, and with Draco by his side to channel; they could've moved mountains. Indeed, the air fairly sparked with it when they touched, and the pair could always feel a low, steady hum of power between them, no matter how great the distance. It was almost like one person in two bodies, completed now more than at any point in their lives before. Harry had even begun to think about it like that, dividing his life into two neat sections; before Draco, and after Draco. With the pale young man's help, Harry was fighting his own inner demons, especially his guilt over Cedric's and his parent's deaths. The boys were unstoppable, until it all came to a crashing halt.
************************************************************************
"We need to talk."
Those words alone should have been warning enough for Harry; something big was coming. Talking was not a new activity for him and Draco, but the latter had never began a conversation so bluntly before. Harry just shrugged casually, seating himself on the floor alongside his... *boyfriend?* before responding.
"What's eating you?" Harry's eyebrows drew together in a frown when Draco's fidgeted, eyes set on the floor.
"How do you feel about me?" Harry took a long, deep breath. He'd just been hit out of left field, and was now trying to catch the fumble.
"How am I supposed to feel?" *Real smooth there, genius.* Draco was frowning too now.
"I don't know, I just thought if I did, maybe you did too." Harry blinked.
"How do you feel?" A long silence stretched between the two as Draco chewed nervously at his lip. When the response finally came, it was so soft that Harry barely heard it.
"I think I love you." That was the moment the shit hit the fan.
"What you do mean, you think? How can you just think, don't you know?" Harry hadn't meant to sound like such a prat, honestly, but he'd been blindsided by a sudden wave of discomfort, and with it was anger. Anger at Draco for saying that, for putting Harry in this position, for making him FEEL...
"I mean you've always been this great fucking hero, this golden boy everyone loved and admired and all I saw the whole time was you, YOU! Small for your age, skinny, with tape on your glasses and hair that gladly defies gravity." Draco paused for a breath before continuing with somewhat less force. "I felt it the moment you walking into the robe shop when we were eleven, Harry, and I've been feeling it since. I've only just put a name to it." His voice had a diamond hard edge to it now. "If that is a PROBLEM, well then you can go. to. Hell." Robes swirling around him angrily, Draco swept out of the room, leaving Harry behind for the first time in six months. Shell-shocked and dazed, Harry made his way back to his dorm, falling immediately to sleep and into a dream where Voldemort appeared and killed Draco. Once. Twice. Again and again and again... Harry awoke the next morning with a scar that ached only slightly less than his soul.
Draco never showed up for breakfast, or potions class afterwards, or lunch, or care of magical creatures, or Quidditch practice, or dinner, or curfew. He didn't show up the next day either, nor the day after that. Actually, it would be another two years before Draco showed up again.
************************************************************************
Yay, another chapter finished. Joyful, joyful. This one was hard and took forever because I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it. In the end I just wrote and look where it took me... sorry about the cliffhanger, and the lack of sex for those who were waiting for it, I already told you I don't do NC-17. I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but guaranteed it will be action. Only two more chapters until the end folks. Once again, reviews are more than welcome, and thanks to those who have. Until we meet again....
*Denotes thought*
//denotes the beginning or end of a dream sequence\\
************************************************************************
Harry and Draco had exactly two weeks to muse over their last encounter before the came face to face again. Well actually, before they were alone enough to even consider discussing their kiss. Their many meeting with Dumbledore had been necessary to properly digest and employ the new information Draco had brought into the fold. However, they left the boys little time to themselves, especially in the height of the Quidditch season. Their eventual meeting did come, and now here they sat, side by side in an abandoned classroom somewhere in the musty dungeons, totally at loss for words. The silence permeated both teenagers until Draco took it upon himself to finish what he'd started.
"I'm sorry." Harry blinked in mild surprise, although it is uncertain whether he was surprised at Draco's voice or the words themselves. There was a moment's pause and then he replied.
"You've been apologizing a lot lately, haven't you?" As soon as he said it, Harry kicked himself mentally for sounding to aloof, although Draco didn't seem to notice.
"I have a lot to apologize for." He mumbled, eyes downcast. Harry reached over the tipped Draco's chin up with two gentle fingers so they were eye to eye.
"Maybe you do, and I have to admit I like the new Draco." Harry spoke in even, level tones, his voice just above a whisper, and when the talking was don he got about to the real business; kissing Draco. With a soft exhalation of surrender, Draco allowed himself to be kissed, tentatively sliding his arms around Harry's neck. Harry could have sworn there was magic crackling in the air and in his lips for Draco's touch.
Even when the kiss broke a few seconds later, no words were spoken for the rest of the night. None were needed.
************************************************************************
Alas, time passes rapidly in the years of youth, as our boys soon found. Autumn leaves quickly gave way to winter's chill and Christmas spirits, which themselves eventually gave way to spring warmth. All the while the boys were together at every spare moment, often seeking each other out in the dark of the night for a few minutes of talk and maybe a kiss. There newfound compassion was kept a well-guarded secret from all, mostly for Draco's safety. Slytherins do not take kindly to change of that sort, and that wasn't taking Draco's father and his... affiliations into consideration. It was noted by all, even the occasional reporter Hogwarts entertained, that Draco and Harry's previous animosity have all but disappeared. In the publics eye they were no longer enemies, if not anything more than casual acquaintances, perhaps worth a nod or quiet "hello" when passing each other in the halls. If only you were to witness them in private though...
The boys had moved slowly, held back by their own fears, doubts and insecurities. Neither sure of what the future would hold for them, the inexperienced youth fumbled their way through their mutual attraction blindfolded. They were pleasantly surprised to discover a great number of similarities between them, as well as many complementary differences. While Harry was somewhat known for his quick comebacks, Draco's humor was far more morbid and strange. They often had each other in fits of laughing, only to be suddenly sobered back to reality. Most often, their conversations were about the future and the threat of Voldemort. They also spoke of the past, of what had been, or what could have. They analyzed and dissected each other before reassembling again, discovering new facets and angles to their own personalities. They found each other, in the truest sense of the word, and although their physical explorations had been confined to a few shy, sweet kisses every now and then, they had a bond almost to a molecular level. Draco for one was sure that he could hear Harry's heartbeat from across the castle. No matter where they went, their was magic.
Harry was truly a wizard of great strength, and with Draco by his side to channel; they could've moved mountains. Indeed, the air fairly sparked with it when they touched, and the pair could always feel a low, steady hum of power between them, no matter how great the distance. It was almost like one person in two bodies, completed now more than at any point in their lives before. Harry had even begun to think about it like that, dividing his life into two neat sections; before Draco, and after Draco. With the pale young man's help, Harry was fighting his own inner demons, especially his guilt over Cedric's and his parent's deaths. The boys were unstoppable, until it all came to a crashing halt.
************************************************************************
"We need to talk."
Those words alone should have been warning enough for Harry; something big was coming. Talking was not a new activity for him and Draco, but the latter had never began a conversation so bluntly before. Harry just shrugged casually, seating himself on the floor alongside his... *boyfriend?* before responding.
"What's eating you?" Harry's eyebrows drew together in a frown when Draco's fidgeted, eyes set on the floor.
"How do you feel about me?" Harry took a long, deep breath. He'd just been hit out of left field, and was now trying to catch the fumble.
"How am I supposed to feel?" *Real smooth there, genius.* Draco was frowning too now.
"I don't know, I just thought if I did, maybe you did too." Harry blinked.
"How do you feel?" A long silence stretched between the two as Draco chewed nervously at his lip. When the response finally came, it was so soft that Harry barely heard it.
"I think I love you." That was the moment the shit hit the fan.
"What you do mean, you think? How can you just think, don't you know?" Harry hadn't meant to sound like such a prat, honestly, but he'd been blindsided by a sudden wave of discomfort, and with it was anger. Anger at Draco for saying that, for putting Harry in this position, for making him FEEL...
"I mean you've always been this great fucking hero, this golden boy everyone loved and admired and all I saw the whole time was you, YOU! Small for your age, skinny, with tape on your glasses and hair that gladly defies gravity." Draco paused for a breath before continuing with somewhat less force. "I felt it the moment you walking into the robe shop when we were eleven, Harry, and I've been feeling it since. I've only just put a name to it." His voice had a diamond hard edge to it now. "If that is a PROBLEM, well then you can go. to. Hell." Robes swirling around him angrily, Draco swept out of the room, leaving Harry behind for the first time in six months. Shell-shocked and dazed, Harry made his way back to his dorm, falling immediately to sleep and into a dream where Voldemort appeared and killed Draco. Once. Twice. Again and again and again... Harry awoke the next morning with a scar that ached only slightly less than his soul.
Draco never showed up for breakfast, or potions class afterwards, or lunch, or care of magical creatures, or Quidditch practice, or dinner, or curfew. He didn't show up the next day either, nor the day after that. Actually, it would be another two years before Draco showed up again.
************************************************************************
Yay, another chapter finished. Joyful, joyful. This one was hard and took forever because I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it. In the end I just wrote and look where it took me... sorry about the cliffhanger, and the lack of sex for those who were waiting for it, I already told you I don't do NC-17. I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but guaranteed it will be action. Only two more chapters until the end folks. Once again, reviews are more than welcome, and thanks to those who have. Until we meet again....