Chapter ThreeExplanations and Realisations
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Harry was too busy thinking about Draco and their meeting in the library to focus in lessons. At lunch they didn't discuss what Harry had wanted to talk about, and Harry was just as happy to leave it until that evening. Maybe even tomorrow, or the next day…
Soon enough, Harry found himself in the corridor on the way to the library, after having exchanged glances with Draco every five seconds all through dinner. He had given Draco one last meaningful glance, before telling Ron and Hermione he'd meet them in the common room later and getting up.
He arrived in the library shortly after, spotting a table in the back corner and making for it. He sat down, facing the door, just as Draco entered.
"Hi," said Draco, smiling slightly when he arrived at the table where Harry was sitting.
"Hi," said Harry, "have a seat," he waved his hand vaguely at the chair opposite him.
"So. I read your letter. You don't know how much it means to me to have you be so forgiving after everything I've put you through." Draco said in one breath.
"Whoa, hold up! I want to hear the truth about everything first. Right from when we first met in Madam Malkins."
Draco took a deep breath, nodded, and began his story. He told Harry how he had been taught by his father to hate Harry and everything that Harry represented. Although he had at first been accepting of his father's prejudices, after second year he began to see Harry in a different light. Not the way everyone else sees Harry, not the 'Boy-who-Lived', but a Harry who just wants to be normal but can't. But Draco knew by then that he couldn't ever be friends with Harry, as much as he might want to, because his father would punish him severely, and would then use him to get to Harry. Draco made it clear that Harry understood that he had kept up the pretence of hating Harry for Harry's own protection.
"But ever since the end of second year I've wanted to be your friend. And then when you sent my father to Azkaban, I realised it could finally happen. I've waited for so long, Harry. I know you're a good person, I just feel terrible about how I've acted. I hate myself for it. I'm sorry." Draco finished.
"I feel bad too. If I'd looked deep enough, I would have realised that it was all an act and I would have tried to help. But I can see that I would not have been able to stop the way your father treated you at home. I don't understand how someone can be so cruel. Did he really use Cruciatus on you?" Draco nodded.
"That's sick." Harry said, sighing. He glanced at his watch; it was 9.00. Curfew ended in half an hour.
"Wow, it's already 9 o'clock. We'd better get back to our common rooms, I need to do my homework. How do the Slytherins treat you now anyway?"
"Oh, most of them just ignore me. Parkinson the cow has taken over the ruling of Slytherin, and Blaise is my only real friend. Turns out he refused the Dark Mark too. The rest of them accepted though. Idiots. Anyway, better be off. G'night, Harry." Draco said, and turned to leave.
"G'night, Draco," Harry replied, leaving shortly after. When he exited, Draco was nowhere to be seen.
Harry wondered if Draco would stop following him under his invisibility cloak now that they were friends as he walked down the corridor. A soft hand on his shoulder answered his question. He turned to see, predictably, nothing. He beckoned, and turned to walk into a classroom.
"Harry," he heard the whisper. Harry smiled.
"Come here," he replied. He knew his request was obliged when he saw a pale hand reach out to cup his cheek.
"I want to see your face. I dreamed about you last night, you know."
"I've dreamed about you every night for many years, Harry,"
"I figured," Harry said. "Let me see your face."
"You're not ready." The voice said, the hand still caressing his cheek.
Harry sighed; even though he knew it was Draco, perhaps he shouldn't rush things. He was barely sure of his own feelings, anyway. He decided to let it be this time.
"OK," he agreed, "but on one condition." He may as well make the most of it.
"What?" The voice asked, then, leaning closer, added in a whisper, "You know I'd do anything for you, Harry." Harry shivered agreeably.
"Kiss me," he whispered.
"With pleasure, but I have to cover your eyes – I can't kiss you through my cloak."
"OK," Harry said, and next thing a blindfold was conjured over his eyes.
He waited a moment…and then he felt the most wonderful sensation as a pair of soft lips brushed his own. He whimpered, and felt the other boy's lips smile against his own, before flicking his tongue over Harry's lips and pulling away.
"That's not fair," Harry complained, trembling.
"What's not fair?" the voice sounded slightly shaken.
"You got to look at me while you kissed me, and I couldn't see you. And… it wasn't long enough. You better – mmmph!" Harry was cut off as he was kissed again, slightly more forcefully than the first time.
He could feel the other boy nibbling and sucking on his bottom lip, and he moaned. Then there was a tongue inside his mouth, gently exploring and playing with his own. This time the other boy moaned with Harry, and Harry let his hands wander up the boy's back and into his hair, which he ruffled thoroughly. Harry's body was being explored by hands also, and all the while their lips remained pressed firmly together.
Finally, out of air, they pulled apart, gasping and shaking. They sank to the floor in each others' arms.
"That was…amazing. Thank you," Harry said, still breathless.
"Wow, Harry, I… wow," the other boy said, clearly at a loss for words.
"You can't expect me to not be ready to see your face after that," Harry reasoned, regaining his thinking ability after the mind-blowing kiss he had just experienced.
"On the contrary, I still think it should wait. If you can wait 'til the ball, maybe I'll reveal myself there. Go with me?"
"There's a ball? When?" Harry asked, smiling as he felt a hand stroke his head.
"Yeah, a masquerade. It's on this Saturday night. Weren't you listening to Dumbledore's speech last night?"
"Ahhh… no, I was… distracted," Harry admitted, blushing slightly.
"Really? I wonder what you were thinking about…"
"Well, you, a bit… and… Draco Malfoy."
"Draco Malfoy?" said the voice sharply. Harry suppressed a smile. "Why would you think about him? Don't you hate him?"
"On the contrary, I hope to become quite good friends with him. Especially since my own friends are a bit… busy, at the moment. I'm not yet decided on the extent of my feelings for him… but… I think he's a great person, and I've only really had one decent conversation with him. Some things you can just tell, you know? I mean, I could tell just by looking at him that he's not who we all thought he was. It was all a mask, do you get me?"
"Yeah, I think I understand… Tell me, what do you mean about not knowing the extent of your feelings?" The voice asked, obviously trying to sound detached, but unable to keep out a hint of eagerness. Harry pretended not to notice.
"Well, I… um… I'm not sure what I meant… I guess… he is rather…. Never mind, it's not important."
"You can say it, Harry, I won't be offended… Do you think he's good looking?" The voice asked, sounding slightly unsure.
"Good looking? Hell no!" Harry exclaimed. The stroking stopped. Harry continued before he could stop himself "He's only the most beautiful creature I've ever seen, including a unicorn!" Harry blushed, realising that what he said was true, but that he probably shouldn't have said it, so he said hurriedly: "not that looks are the only thing about a guy. Personality is way more important..."
"I agree, but still, you can't help physical attraction, can you?" The voice said, somewhat matter-of-factly.
"No… I guess not. Do you think Draco Malfoy is good looking?" Harry asked, wondering what the former Prince of Slytherin really thought of himself.
"Well… I've never really thought about it…" the voice stalled. Harry saw right through it.
"Oh come on, admit it. You think he's good looking too, don't you?"
"Well, he is somewhat pretty… I suppose… but I've never been attracted to him. You are the only one for me, Harry," The voice added, huskily. Harry sighed, dreamily.
"Anyway," the voice said, as Harry felt himself pulled to his feet, "will you come to the ball with me?"
"Of course," Harry said, "but are you going to be invisible the whole time?"
"I don't know…"
"I won't go with you if you don't promise to take it off," Harry said firmly.
"Alright… I'll take off the cloak at some point…" the voice sounded sad. Harry wondered what further doubts Draco could possibly have after that conversation.
"You don't think I'll like you, do you?" Harry asked gently.
"Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. I'm scared! I've watched you in secret for so long. I'm just not sure if it's a good idea…what if you hate me?"
"How can I hate you, after that kiss, and all the wonderful things you say to me?"
"Well… we'll see… you'd be surprised," the voice sighed, resigned. "But until then, how about a goodnight kiss?"
Harry just nodded, smiling, and waited.
His knees gave way when he was finally kissed, and if it weren't for the strong arms encircling his waist, he would have fallen over.
Sighing, the other boy pulled away, whispering, "We should get back to our dorms."
Harry reluctantly agreed and sighed when he heard the familiar rustle of an invisibility cloak. Suddenly the blindfold was removed, but Harry could hardly see anything, as it was very dark.
"Goodnight, my love," the voice whispered in his ear, caressing his cheek before withdrawing.
"Goodnight," Harry sighed, before making his way out the door and up to the common room.
It was so sweet, and passionate, and romantic, and perfect. Later that night, in that stage just before falling asleep when you realise things that you wouldn't think of during the day, Harry was reflecting on the kiss. I love him, he realised. I love him already, after just a kiss…well, three. With that happy thought, he drifted to sleep.