Sorry this one took so long, bloody writers block. Maybe more reviews would get me to hurry up…hint hint

Chapter 3

Sadistic Tendencies

Harry strode to the other side of the castle toward a little alcove below a window on the western side. Here was the place that he came to stew over his anger and to cry. Countless nights he had sat on the wide ledge watching the sunset or the torrents of clean rain that came down in sheets, pounding on the windows. These were the times that he most yearned for a normal life. A life free of duty and expectation. A life in which he could be who he wanted to be, not what everyone else wanted him to be.

Suddenly, two arms with long, pale fingered-hands snaked their way around Harry's chest, briefly startling him. Smooth lips descended on his neck and shoulder muscles, exploring the silky skin over taut muscle. Harry turned his head to the side, exposing the rest of his neck for Draco's pleasure. He turned his head back, so he was facing Draco, and pulled his lips toward his own into an aching kiss. Breaking off the passionate embrace after a moment, for need of air, Harry glanced down at his shoulder, still gasping for oxygen.

"You branded me!"

Draco began to laugh and sat down next to the Gryffindor. "You better get used to branding, Leo," His voiced dropped lower, "It makes you look sexier."

Harry rolled his bright green eyes, "I didn't know you were such a sadist, Malfoy."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Potter."

With a sly smile, Harry replied, "Well, I guess I'll just have to find out."

Draco shifted so he was more comfortable and pulled Harry against his chest. "Are you okay, Leo?"

Harry could hear the genuine concern that laced Draco's voice, "Yeah. Snape's such a bastard, though. God, I hate him."

The blond shrugged. "He's alright." At Harry's pointed look, he clarified, "He's my godfather."

Dark eyebrows shot up, "You're godfather?" He asked, in disbelief. Draco smiled, and Harry leaned back against him. A moment later he spoke up again. "Why is this working?"

Draco pulled out a cigarette and lit it with a red lighter he also pulled out, "What's working?"

" This," He motioned to the two of them, "us."

The Slytherin thoughtfully dragged on the cigarette before handing it to the young man in his arms. "I don't really know." He paused for a moment. "Maybe it's the fact that you defy anything and everything that stands in your way. I wish I could be like that."

"What the hell are you talking about? You are by far the most controversial person I've ever met. Well, except Voldemort. I guess a psychotic lunatic who has plans for world domination is pretty controversial."

Draco snickered. "Yeah, I can stand up to other students, but never my father. Goddamn Crucio hurts too much."

Harry stared at him in shock. "Your own father put Crucio on you?" Fuck, Dray, Voldemort is one thing, but your own father…"

"How long did Voldemort have you under it?"

Harry laughed cynically, "Which time?"

Draco met his eyes, the grey orbs filling with painful understanding.

"The longest was 23 minutes, back in fourth year when he returned." Draco's pale eyebrows shot up in amazement. Harry sighed, "What about you? Why didn't you join him?"

The blond shook his head, "Because I'm too fucking proud. I'm too proud to get down on my hands and knees to kiss the robes of a bastard whose alter ego is a snake."

"And here I've been thinking for years that it's your life goal," Harry replied, smirking.

"Most do. The whole fucking wizarding world is nothing but one big stereotype."

Harry smiled at him, feeling another connection weaving him closer to the young man in front of him, and then remembered the amount of work waiting for him. He clambered off the windowsill, leaving the warm cocoon of the other boy's smooth body. "Thanks, Dray. I feel a lot better." He paused, "But Snape is still a bastard."

Draco burst out laughing and pulled the Gryffindor's head back down for a gentle kiss.

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Harry strode down the stony corridor out of the Common Room, his laptop in a dark bag hanging on one broad, tan shoulder. Heading into the darkened Great Hall, he was glad to see that the tables were still open in their long parallel rows far below the stars, glittering in their high vaults above.

He set up his laptop on the table and then waved his hand above it, muttering 'Electrium'' to himself. Harry had figured out that magic is simply another force in the universe that is generated, just like electricity. In this manner, he had figured out a way to get muggle electronics to run off of magic. In truth, he had gotten the idea from Mr. Weasley.

Harry opened up his organic chem book, and started reading where he had left off, taking notes on his laptop. After a couple of hours he took a break and emailed Kevin, the guy he met at the hotel, inquiring as to if he could really help him find a way to take the SATs.

Grinning to himself, Harry went back to his work, not noticing a dark figure silhouetted in the doorway of the Great Hall.

Around four he closed the chemistry book, powered down his laptop and put everything back in the dark bag. Deciding that he really had no desire to go into the boy's dormitories, Harry headed down to his favorite spot by the lake. He lay down on the soft cool grass and stared up at the bright stars looking down on him as the small waves lapped at his feet and muscular calves.

A light sleeper as always, the young man awoke with the rising of the sun peeping over the treetops in the pale east. Harry got up and stretched lazily, basking in the early morning wind and the feel of the warm sun on his face. Turning around his gaze caught the enormous black shape of the castle, and his face darkened once more with anger and resentment. He walked slowly back into the building, bracing himself for yet another day in this terrible prison.

Harry started up the steps leading toward Gryffindor Tower to take a shower, when he realized with a jolt that he had completely forgotten to meet Draco in the Astronomy Tower. Turning around, he raced down the stairs in the direction of the tower, desperately hoping that by some miracle Draco would still be there.

Even after ten minutes of sprinting up stairs and down corridors, his breathing was completely normal, due to the vigorous amount of running he did. Climbing up the last winding staircase, Harry opened up the heavy door to reveal the blond sleeping peacefully in one of the chairs. The rising sun shined its light though one of the windows, the rays illuminating the pale skin and glistening hair, making Harry smile. He silently went to Draco's side and ran his hand through the soft blond hair.

Draco's eyes fluttered open, heavy with sleep. He smiled faintly as he caught sight of the raven-haired young man kneeling down next to him.

"Hey", he said hoarsely.

Harry smiled. "G'morning", He replied.

Draco stretched his arms over his head until his back popped satisfyingly. He looked back at Harry, grey eyes meeting green. Harry shivered slightly, Draco's eyes, while looking at him with nothing but adoration also had a trace of a familiar emotion. An emotion that he saw every morning in the mirror. The chills ran back up his spine.

"What's wrong?" Draco inquired, noticing the other young man's odd look; he was staring at the blond, but his eyes were looking far beyond the beautiful face in front of him.

Harry shook his head, as if shaking out thoughts that he didn't want in his mind.

"It's nothing."

Draco stroked his thumb down the graceful curve of Harry's neck. "C'mon, Leo. Tell me." He replaced his thumb with his mouth, sending lightening down Harry's body.

"Do you get nightmares?" Harry blurted out, afraid to lose his nerve if it didn't come out now.

Draco sat back, comprehension dawning in the silver pools. He stared at Harry for a moment, his features empty of emotion. He leaned forward and ran his hand through Harry's dark hair, pulling their heads together until their foreheads were touching. Harry closed his eyes, tears running down his cheeks. Neither one spoke; no words were needed.

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Harry Potter opened his green eyes to stare into the darkness of the dorm. He tried to stop the wide grin spreading across his face, but to no avail. Harry turned around and buried his face in his pillow, trying not to laugh like a maniac.

He had just woken from an amazing dream of a certain blond-haired Slytherin, and waves of giddiness were rising in his stomach. Ye Gods, I'm acting like a love-struck thirteen-year old girl.

Yes, you most certainly are.

Shut up!

You suggested it in the first place…

Yeah, but you didn't have to encourage it. Shit, I'm arguing with myself again. Bloody great.

You need me. You know it. I know it.

SHUT UP! THERE'S ONLY ONE FUCKING PERSON HERE!

Harry shook his head violently, and rolled over to look at the clock. 3:38. He groaned out loud and hit his pillow with his face in frustration.

A moment later he decided to just admit that he was not going to get back to sleep. Harry tumbled out of the bed and pulled a pair of dark blue basketball shorts over his boxers, put on his contacts in the dark, stabbing himself in the eye without an mirror, and tiptoed out of the dorm.

He stumbled down the darkened stair and through the common room, climbed out of the Fat Lady's portrait, waking her up.

Running out of the large stone front doors, he breathed deeply the early morning air. A cool breeze blew through his rumpled hair and he glanced up at the stars, bright in the dark blanket of the sky.

Harry walked down to the lake and washed his face in the freezing water. He got up from the shore and stretched out his muscles starting with his neck and going all the way down to his quads and calves, purposefully cracking his neck, back and knuckles as he went.

All stretched out, he started his usual path around the castle, encircling the forbidden forest, and coming up near the lake at a reasonably fast pace, enjoying the steady beat of his trainers against the hard ground.

Just before eight o'clock, he slowed down into a jog and then into a walk, cooling down. Harry ran a hand across his forehead wiping off the sweat threatening to drip into his eyes. He wiped off his hand on his bare chest, which was already covered in a sheen of sweat that him glow in the early morning light.

Please, please, please review! I need it. I want it. So do you.