Chapter 9:: Oh Lordy, Now what?
Draco scoffed. "You love me?"
"No Draco, I was caught up in a moment of anger, and since I was blinded by my hate for you – decided... HEY! Why not tell him that I love him and not mean it. Maybe that'll make us friends again."
Draco suddenly burst out into laughter. Harry looked at him with wide eyes. He was being serious.
"Why are you laughing at me? It's not enough that you have to hurt me, but you have to mock me by laughing at me?"
"No Harry, I'm not mocking you. If you heard that from my side – you would be laughing too." Draco had managed to quiet his laughing at the clear distress on Harry's face.
"Well... Yeah, I do love you, and I do mean it. That's why I am so bloody upset with you. I know we aren't dating or going to be dating – but I still feel really betra-"
"Harry! Christ – stop being so pre-menstrual with me."
"Pre-menstrual Draco? Where in heavens name did you hear that?"
"From some girl named Melissa... anyways – that's not what is important here. What is important is that you understand the way that I feel about you." Draco moved closer to Harry and crossed his arms. "The reason why I don't want people to know that I am gay is simply... yes – because it would ruin my reputation, and I happen to enjoy people idolizing me."
"You're so shallow, Draco."
"I am. But you love me anyways don't you?"
Harry looked at the ground. "...Yes."
"And I love you even though you are seriously pre-menstrual." Draco grinned.
"Will you stop with the pre-menstrual crap? I am not a woman – I can't experience things like tha........ Wait... Back up – you love me?" Harry backed up a few steps and felt his heart start beating wildly.
"Of course I do." Draco smiled at Harry and moved towards him. "I wouldn't have come after you tonight if I didn't."
"... Oh." Harry was at a loss of what to say. He had just confessed his love to Draco and Draco had confessed back. He decided to change the subject, but only for a short time. "This night is seriously messed up. Ron and Melissa kissed... Hermione punched Ron - quite like the time she punched you - good right hook."
Draco scowled at the last remark. "I would have put up a fight if she wasn't a girl. I don't hit girls."
Harry dismissed what he said and continued to talk. "Draco, if it gets out that we are... err... in love" Those words felt foreign on Harry's tongue, but he continued anyway. "- Your reputation will be smashed, and it won't have an effect on me – err, at least I don't think so."
"Well... if it is going to be smashed – you may as well be the one doing the smashing."
"But--"
"Harry..." Draco moved closer. "It does still matter to me – but... if it means that I can be with you openly then I suppose it's alright."
"You just completely contradicted yourself Draco. First you decided that it would be a horrible thing if people knew – now it's okay, as long as I'm with you? I don't get it."
Draco pursed his lips. "Yeah – that doesn't make much sense does it? I don't know what I'm saying."
"Draco, if it makes you uncomfortable for people to know, then we won't act on it anymore." Harry paused to regain his courage and went on. "You are clearly more interested in your social status than me, it happens when you are involved with a Malfoy." Harry turned to look at the lake.
After a short pause, Draco sighed."This isn't as easy as it is in the movies..."
"It isn't supposed to be... because this isn't a movie Draco." Harry turned back to face him with his arms crossed. He was putting up a barrier towards Draco, trying to save himself from being hurt anymore. "Let's just forget this happened, and forget my... err... jealous non-boyfriend rage alright?"
"I don't want to pretend it didn't happen Harry. If it didn't happen – then I wouldn't have known that you loved me." Draco advanced forward, took Harry in his arms, and prepared to kiss him. Harry's eyes suddenly turned from Draco's face towards the bushes. He was staring at Crabbe and Goyle. Draco turned to see what Harry was staring at.
Draco stood there and stared at Crabbe and Goyle. Before they could fit in a word edgewise, Draco had spun around and pressed his lips to Harry's. Harry unfolded his arms and didn't know what to do with them. He stood there with his arms hanging loosely at his side, and was torn between closing his eyes and enjoying the kiss, or doing nothing. With one last look at a very shocked Crabbe and Goyle, Harry closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Draco's thin body with a slight moan.