Harry sat on the stairs, wearing a dark blue shirt with a silver dragon on the back - Draco's choice - and faded blue baggy jeans with doc martins. He didn't want to interrupt the two friends on the sofa, but soon Draco went as white as snow and moaned.
"Draco? What's wrong?" Blaise asked, panicking, "Dray, talk to me, man!"
"Harry." Draco managed to gasp , closing his eyes as he did so and going limp.
"Shit! Potter! Harry!" Blaise called, terrified. Harry leapt down the stairs and darted over to Draco, shoving Blaise out of the way as he did so. He gripped Draco's hand tightly and ran the fingers of his free hand through Draco's platinum hair, but it didn't seem to work.
There was nothing for it. Harry glanced at Blaise, who was staring at the still form of his friend in shock, before leaning down and kissing Draco full on the lips. After a few seconds he drew away and watched with a fond smile as Draco's silver-blue eyes opened.
"You ok, love?" he asked softly.
Draco's eyes widened. "Love?" he repeated shakily.
Harry's stiffened in shock and he stuttered incoherently. "I.. uh. um. I. well. er."
"Hey, it's ok! Its ok, Harry," Draco said soothingly.
"I didn't mean it like that, exactly. At least I don't think I did. I'm not sure. Uh, can we have dinner now?" Harry asked, turning red.
Draco smiled at him. "Sure we can. Blaise?"
"Yeah, I'm hungry. And here's food."
"Huh?" Harry asked, staring in astonishment at the table that had suddenly appeared at one edge of the room, laden with plates and plates of food. Blaise cheered.
"Roast Potatoes! Good old Dobby!"
Draco sat up slowly, blinking. "Well, he did say he was making your favourite," he murmured softly. Harry helped him up with an arm around his waist, and they made their way to the table together. Blaise was already sitting down, piling roast potatoes, roast chicken, peas and carrots onto his plate. He topped the plate off with gravy, and then looked at Draco questioningly.
"Go on, bon appetite," Draco said, smiling. Blaise grinned, and began to eat.
Harry served Draco a bit of everything, and himself the same. They began to eat, with less relish than Blaise, but they were hungry and lunch seemed a long time ago now. Blaise and Draco chatted, sometimes in English, sometimes in French, while Harry listened.
"Are you sure you don't feel left out?" Draco asked, concerned. But Harry simply grinned.
"I like watching you two. Carry on. I don't mind."
"Well, if you're sure."
"I'm sure."
After dinner, Blaise got ready to leave. He hugged Draco quickly goodbye, and muttered in his ear, "Voulez vous couché avec Harry, ce soir?"
"Blaise!" Draco cried in mock horror, pretending to be scandalized. He dropped the act after a moment, and grinned, shoving his friend towards the exit. "Leave, now. And. oui."
"I knew it!" Blaise had time to exult, before Draco shut the portrait.
"He knew what?" Harry asked.
"Never mind. Come on, I'm sleepy. Lets go to bed."
Harry looked at him suspiciously, but let himself be pulled up the stairs. Once they were in the bedroom, Draco turned round and kissed him, full on the lips.
"I thought you said you were sleepy?" Harry asked, cocking an eyebrow as Draco pulled away.
"I need a shower," Draco explained. "And I'm not sure how long I could hold on, so I thought I'd better kiss you."
Harry looked thoughtful, and worried. "You won't be able to hold on."
"I will," Draco assured him, although he wasn't too sure of the answer himself.
"No, you won't. Look, I'll have a shower with you."
Draco managed to look relieved, anxious and worried at the same time. "Are you sure?" he questioned. Harry had never been less sure in his life, but he nodded anyway. Draco looked like he was going to protest, so Harry leaned forward and briefly kissed him on the cheek.
"I order you to allow me to have a shower with you," he said softly, looking into Draco's eyes.
"No fair, you know I can't disobey you," Draco complained, pouting.
"That's why I said it. I don't like controlling you like this, but it's for your own good; you'd never survive a shower on your own, and I need one too anyway," Harry said finally. "Now, go get the towels and I'll start the water."
"Yes, boss," Draco said sarcastically, the twinkle in his eyes taking away the sting of his words.
A short while later Harry was in the shower, getting the water just right. He's discovered that there were about five jets, so water came at you from all sides. That would be useful; it meant that no-one was going to freeze because only half their body was under the spray. He whipped round when he heard the door open.
"Harry?" came Draco's voice, accompanied by a soft thump as the blond dropped a heap of towels on the floor.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, you started already?"
"Naw, I'm fiddling with the water. I think I've got it now. Are you coming in?"
"Uh, yes."
"Why the 'uh'? Are you worried?"
"Yes," Draco whispered. Harry could barely hear him over the water.
"Why?"
"I'm scared that I'll do something I'll regret."
"Like?"
"Use your imagination." Draco said grumpily, unbuttoning his shirt.
Harry paused for a minute, making up his mind. "Its ok, I won't mind," he told his partner.
"But what if you do?" Draco asked, working himself into a state. He was standing in just his boxers, and the room was cold, despite the steam wreathing through the air. The idea of a hot shower had never been more welcoming. And the glimpses of Harry he could see through the misted, frosted glass were enticing. but he didn't want to scare Harry.
"I can hear you tying yourself in knots, you know," Harry commented.
"What?" Draco asked, startled.
"Come on in here, now, before you freeze. Right now, Draco Malfoy."
Draco hesitantly moved to the door, and slipped in. He tried his hardest not to look at Harry, but the dark haired Gryffindor had other ideas. Standing firmly in front of the blond, he took his chin in a strong hand and turned the part-Veela's face to look at him. The wondering, admiring look in the green eyes took Draco's breath away.
"You're beautiful," Harry breathed, leaning forward and capturing Draco's lips in a soft kiss. Both boys moaned at the contact, and pressed together, the water heightening the sensation of skin sliding on skin. Harry managed to keep his mind from melting, enough to at least think partially straight. He reached out behind Draco for the shower gel.
The first thing Draco knew was warm, slick hands running down his back. He gasped, and arched into Harry, pressing their bodies together intimately.
"Turn around," Harry muttered.
"What?" Draco asked, slightly worried as to what Harry meant. He knew he had a dirty mind, but still.
"You're all tense, after meeting Narcissa and telling Blaise. I'm going to massage your shoulders and back. Now, turn around," Harry explained.
"Ok," Draco said, willingly turning and presenting Harry with his smooth back. Harry squirted more gel onto his hands and rubbed up, from the base of Draco's spine to his neck, pressing his thumbs in firmly each side of Draco's spine and spreading his fingers. He repeated this action several times, rubbing some of the knots out of Draco's back, before placing his hands, fingers splayed, on Draco's shoulders and massaging firmly. Draco sighed, and arched his back as Harry's skilled fingers soothed his tense muscles. He moaned as Harry's thumb caressed a spot just behind his ear, and Harry grinned, marking the reaction. He would have to remember that one. The foam covered Draco's back, partially masking the dragon tattoo emblazoned across it. Flicking his eyes down, he was surprised to see how far down the tattoo actually went. he would only be able to see the tip of the tail if Draco was in rather a compromising position.
Once Harry had finished on the serious massaging, he began to run his foam-covered hands over Draco's pale body in exploration. Draco, sensing that the massage was over, leaned back against his future mate, tilting his head and stealing a kiss. Harry ran one finger in lazy circles over the blond's flat stomach as the other hand slid up and found Draco's nipple. Draco shivered at the contact and bit Harry's lip, then soothed the small hurt with his tongue.
This action excited Harry more than he cared to admit, but Draco knew anyway, as the reaction was currently pressing into his lower back.
"Like that?" He murmured teasingly, shifting his hips and hearing Harry's breathy gasp in his ear. He didn't have to see Harry to know that the other boy was blushing. "I love the sounds you make, I want to hear you moan." he whispered seductively, turning in Harry's embrace and pushing the other seeker against the magically heated shower wall. It was his turn to reach for the shower gel.
Rubbing the red liquid over his hands, creating a pure white lather, startled him more than he cared to admit. He had expected the foam to be pink or orange, not white. It was as if the 'blood' that covered his hands had been turned into something good, cleansed. But he saved those thoughts up for later. Now there was a naked Harry Potter staring at him with wide green eyes as his breath came in short gasps and the steaming water beat over the two of them.
He leaned forward and nibbled on Harry's lower lip as he ran his hands over Harry's torso. The teen was slim but muscular, toned through hours of Quidditch, and yet his skin was soft. Draco placed a line of kisses along Harry's cheek and neck, sometimes just using his lips, sometimes licking, and sometimes nipping with his teeth. His fingers found the nipple ring, and he smiled at the gasp that sounded in his ear when he fiddled with it.
Harry had one hand tangled in blond hair, the other sweeping up and down Draco's back. It hesitated for a second, before reaching down and pressing over Draco's arse, making the Slytherin press against Harry tightly, and bringing their erections into contact with each other.
"Draco!" Harry gasped. Draco bit down on his shoulder in response, and began to rub against Harry.
"Woah, Dray, hold on," Harry managed to gasp.
Draco stopped moving, and pulled away slightly. "What?" he asked, confused and concerned.
"Too fast," Harry said, panting for breath. "It was nice and all, but too fast."
"Sorry," Draco said, blushing and looking away. Even with the heat of the water, he felt suddenly cold without Harry's warm skin against his own.
Harry stepped closer and once again tilted up his chin. "I didn't mean it like that," he said softly, green eyes radiating love and comfort. "But it's too soon. We should wait a little. C'mon, I'll wash your hair."
"Ok," Draco said meekly. And after a pause, "Sorry."
Harry was massaging the gel into Draco's hair and trying not to get it in his eyes. "Don't be, s'not your fault. Tilt your head back, or this'll go in those lovely silver eyes of yours."
Draco did so and Harry manipulated one of the shower heads to wash away the white foam from Draco's blond head.
~*~
A short while later, Draco was lying flat on his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Harry came back from brushing his teeth and smiled fondly at the teen wearing nothing but boxers and gazing pensively at nothing.
He clambered onto the bed, and stroked his fingers through Draco's soft hair. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly.
"Love is a mutt from hell that I can't live without," Draco said sulkily, pouting slightly.
"What?"
"Never mind."
"Seriously, what?"
"Its from a song."
"Oh." Harry said, sliding into the bed. "Who by?"
"Wheatus."
"Can I hear it?"
"Can't it wait 'till morning?"
"No. What is with you? I'm trying to understand you a bit here, and you're just blowing me off. At least I'm making an effort. Its not like I asked to be your ideal soulmate intended person," Harry said, beginning to get annoyed by Draco's apathy. Draco gave him a 'look' and grabbed his wand.
"Accio!" he said, and the music player flew in from the bathroom. "Wheatus, Love is a Mutt from Hell," he said clearly, before tossing it to Harry, who caught it with a seekers precision.
This is a story about a friend of mine; he is abnormally intelligent; he could burst a phatty rhyme, even when he got up in the blunt; but that all changed when the girl who he lives with came to town, he let her take him away from me so I had to ask him how; that when he said, "She takes advantage of me! She takes advantage of me! She takes advantage of me! She takes advantage of me! She even knows when I pee! I think eventually she'll make a meal out of me!"
Chorus
Because her love is a mutt from hell that I can't live without;
Your love is a mutt from hell that I can't live without; one of these days I swear I'm gonna get out; 'till then your love is a mutt from hell that I can't live without. That's why I'm talking to you now.
Sarah lives with Bradley now, I guess that's how she wants her shit; he needed a place to stay, so it's of mutual benefit; I stopped by on my way to Pomona yesterday; she sat down and spilled her guts to me; that's when I thought she would tell me she's gay; instead she said, "He takes advantage of me! He takes advantage of me! He takes advantage of me! He takes advantage of me! He even knows when I pee! I think eventually he'll make a meal out of me!"
Chorus
That's why I'm talking to you now; talking to; that's why I'm talking to, that's why I'm talking to, talking to; that's why I'm talking to, that's why I'm talking, talking, talking to you now!
Chorus
That's why I'm talking to you now; That's why I'm talking to you now; That's why I'm talking to That's why I'm talking to you now; That's why I'm talking to you now;
(the word 'talking' now makes no sense and looks all wrong. Ah, well. ED)
They were silent for a minute after the song ended, then Draco said,
"Sorry."
Harry didn't respond, still angry at the way Draco had snubbed him. The part-veela was the reason he was doing this after all. He was the only thing keeping Draco sane, so the blond Slytherin might as well be courteous about it!
"Harry, I really am. I was. it was stupid, and rude of me. I guess I was beginning to take you for granted, to forget all that you've done for me, and all that you're doing. I'm sorry. I won't treat you like that again. I was. a bit frustrated, I guess," he confessed, blushing. "I wanted to carry on, in the shower. Um. sorry. Its not a good excuse, I know. I really am grateful, for you staying with me and everything."
"Lets just go to sleep," Harry said, a little coldly, and rolled over. Draco shivered, and tried to snuggle under the covers, but he knew that they would not warm him up; nothing would but Harry's touch, but he didn't dare reach out to the other teen, however much he longed to do so. He rolled over and clasped his hands firmly together.
But for all his trying, he couldn't stop shivering, or hold back a whimper. It was so cold.
~*~
Harry was angry. All he had tried to do was get inside Draco's head a little, try to see what made the blond the way he was, see why he did the things he did so he could understand him better, and know what he needed, when he was upset for example. He hadn't expected Draco to completely blow him off. It had seemed that he was returning to the old Malfoy, not the Draco that Harry had come to know and like. All of Harry's doubts, that his mind had pushed firmly away, began to rise to the surface.
He had been thinking that it had been too good to last.
But after a few long moments of doubt, he remembered Blaise. Remembered how he had interacted with Draco, how easy and flowing their conversation in two tongues had been. How familiar they had been with each other. How they had laughed at old jokes, so wrapped up in each other that they had sometimes seemed to forget Harry completely; they were so wrapped up in their own little world. Harry didn't know Blaise, but from what he had heard, Blaise Zabini was one of the most easygoing and yet secretive Slytherins in the current house. Everybody knew of him, but hardly anyone knew him. He didn't seem the sort of guy to open up to just anyone; anything private or personal that dinner had been said in French, and Harry only knew it was private or personal because of the tone. Also, he had not given any secrets away during the conversation, yet managed to be completely at home and not at all on his guard.
Harry also remembered the conversation the pair had shared on the sofa. There was obviously a deep bond between the two, a good, solid friendship that the 'almost-relationship' on the side had done nothing to spoil. No-one truly evil had ever had such an open friendship as that, Harry was sure. So.
"Dray?" Harry asked, rolling over and looking at the blond, whose shoulders were shaking. "Oh, Gods, Draco!" he gasped, worried. The ebon-haired Gryffindor scooted over in the bed and spooned up behind Draco without a second thought, wrapping his arms around the shivering teen. After a few minutes the shivering stopped and Draco dropped into a calm and peaceful sleep.
Harry lay awake a little longer, thinking, but soon he too surrendered to the deep calm depths of slumber.
Short, I know. I have Exams coming up, and all my coursework appears to be due at once! Plus I've been ill, so I was banned from the computer for a week. I'm not finishing this story yet! However, there may be longer gaps, cos the teachers say that coursework's gotta come first!