Author's note: I just want everyone to know that I had a blast with this chapter, especially with the Malfoys. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Not mine, JK's, don't sue.
Enough's enough, I've suffered and I've seen the light
Dear Draco,
I must say that I am rather, for lack of a better word, shocked at this revelation. However, I will simply say that I respect any decision you make. In all aspects of your life. I do believe I did not misinterpret that you will likely not be joining your mother and I as servants to the Dark Lord. (Trust me, that bloody Dark Mark is terribly unflattering. Long sleeves in the summer, and all that.) I just hope that you make the right decisions. Please know that your mother and I will be here for you always. Also know that if Potter hurts you in any way, shape, or form, I will have his balls bronzed and mounted in my study. Give my regards to Severus.
Love, Your Father
When he finished his response, Lucius summoned an owl from Owl Express so that it would get to Draco immediately. (Owl Express brings the post directly by floo.) He then returned to his desk to sort through the rest of the post. "Bill, bill, bill, oh, look, I have a free year's subscription to Playwizard. Rubbish. Bill, bill,bill-- wait a moment, what's this? Three thousand galleons for a facelift potion? Narcissa!" he bellowed. "That does it! Bring me your credit cards, now!"Draco sat in his room, thinking of Harry. He really wished he would hear from his father soon. He knew it was unlikely, but he hoped Lucius supported him. This entire week had been torture. Draco had heard the whispers in the halls, the classrooms and at meals. Blaise had told him about the argument Harry had with the youngest Weasley, and how Blaise had hid around a corner and listened to Harry declare his feelings for a Slytherin boy. He wished he had been there to hear that.A small whoosh from his fireplace startled Draco from his thoughts. An owl wearing a hat that said Owl Express was now sprawled on his floor, shaking off the floo powder. It stood and presented its leg to Draco. Draco took the letter and strode to his desk to find an owl treat. He fed the owl its prize and unrolled the parchment. Draco's face brightened as he read his father's words. He reread them just to be sure. With his father behind him, this would make things so much easier.Pulling his brush from his desk drawer, Draco thought about how he would give Harry his answer. Harry had said he didn't want to hide things, so it would have to be a way that would let the whole school know. May as well start things off right. As he counted his strokes, the solution struck him. It was almost time for breakfast. Perfect!Harry Potter was not having a good week. Not only did most of his House know about his feelings for Draco, but the Gryffindors weren't the only ones who had heard his outburst in the hallway with Ginny. It seemed like everywhere he went, someone was pointing and whispering. He knew he should be used to it, but it had never gotten any easier. Harry did feel grateful that the Gryffindors were the only ones who knew the identity of Harry's fancy. They had all sworn on their wands that they would keep it a secret. And if you could trust anything, it was the word of a Gryffindor.And this time in Potions, Harry been the one to get distracted and bugger up his potion. That was nothing new, although Harry had hoped he would cut down on the malfunctions this year. For all his trouble, Draco didn't even flinch. Not a sideways glance, nothing. The only snide comments Harry had gotten were from Snape himself. "Trying to outdo Mr. Malfoy, are we, Potter? That'll be detention this evening and twenty points from Gryffindor." Sometimes Harry wished he could just knock that bloody smug smirk off the git's face. All the while, Draco just kept his head down, avoiding him as he had been doing all week. So, here lay Harry, in his bed on Saturday morning, reeking of Snape's potions cupboard. Categorizing all of Snape's ingredients by size, color and texture just wasn't as much fun as it sounded. Harry debated on whether or not to get up and go to breakfast. He knew he really needed a shower, and if he took one now, he wouldn't have time to eat. He had a bad habit of doing this. However, if he didn't take a shower, he took the chance of killing everyone around him with his stench.. He decided to head for the shower and wait until lunch. He wasn't really all that hungry anyway.Draco scanned the Great Hall for Harry, with no luck. He turned to Blaise. "Where the bloody hell is he?" he growled.Blaise eyed him with amusement. "Calm down, I'm sure he'll be here. You know how he is, he's usually late.""But why now? Why can he not be on time just this once?" Draco stabbed his waffles impatiently. At that moment, Pansy strolled by with Millicent Bulstrode and a few other Slytherin girls. "Oh, yes, I know exactly who it is that Potter fancies. Isn't it obvious?" The other girls giggled.Draco turned and sneered at her. "Why don't you just enlighten us all, then? I'm sure everyone's just dying to know."Sticking her nose in the air, Pansy sniffed haughtily. "Oh, you lower yourself to speak to me now, Draco? It doesn't concern you, anyway."Draco scoffed. "You know something, you're right. I didn't think. I'll never sink that low again. Goobbye, then." Waving his hand in dismissal, he turned back to Blaise.Blaise watched Pansy's retreating back and gave Draco a knowing smile. "It just kills her that she can't get under your skin, you know that?""Oh, I know." Draco continued to search the Gryffindor table for Harry. "Where is he?" he whined.Harry toweled himself off and sat on his bed. Pulling on a pair of trousers, he felt his stomach growl. He checked his watch and realized he still had time to get breakfast. "It is Saturday, idiot," he told himself. He checked his reflection. Figuring that his hair was a lost cause, Harry pulled on a shirt and some shoes and left for the Great Hall."Whoa, Draco, give the poor waffles a break already!" Draco snapped out of his daze. "What?" He lowered his gaze to his plate to find that he had utterly mutilated his breakfast. "Oh.""Would you just calm down, mate?" Blaise laughed. "You will see him eventually, you know.""I can't help it, Blaise," Draco replied. "I'm ready to do this, and he's nowhere to be found. I can't stand the waiting!""Well," Blaise pointed to the Hall doors, "you won't have to wait any longer."Draco whipped his head around to see Harry strolling toward the Gryffindor table. 'He looks positively ravishing,' Draco thought. He had watched Harry walk through those doors thousands of times before, but this time felt. . . different. Draco could feel the corners of his mouth lift and his butterflies return. He couldn't wait any longer.Harry took a seat between Ron and Hermione and smiled at the two of them. "Morning," he muttered."How was detention?" Ron asked."Just smashing. I can't recall when I've had more fun," Harry deadpanned. "So, have you noticed anything about Draco? Any change?""Well, he has been glancing in this direction an awful lot," Hermione told him. "I think he's been looking for you.""And I think we're about to find out why," Ron added, jerking his head toward the Slytherin table. "Here he comes."The entire Great Hall, which had been chattering excitedly, had fallen completely silent. Everyone stared at the blond figure approaching the Gryffindor table. Harry gulped, all traces of hunger forgotten. He turned around in his seat, now facing Draco. Gulping again, he stood to look him in the eye."Well, Potter," Draco started, "still wanting for an answer?"Harry's face started to get hot. He knew he was beet red. Unfortunately, he had no control over his blush attacks. "That depends on your answer," he replied, voice trembling.You could have heard a pixie sneeze at that point. Every face in the Hall was focused on the two of them, including the teachers. The only person paying any attention to his meal was Dumbledore."I think we're being watched," Harry whispered."Well, then," Draco replied, "let's not disappoint them." And with that, Draco brought his hands up to the back of Harry's neck. He let his fingertips graze Harry's skin for a moment, and Harry could only close his eyes. Pulling Harry's face to him, Draco brushed his lips to Harry's slightly. Harry took a deep breath and parted his lips a little. Draco parted his own and tugged on Harry's bottom lip gingerly. Harry smiled at this and snaked his arms up around Draco's neck. And everyone in the Great Hall watched in stunned silence as the school's most infamous rivals kissed like they were the only two souls in the world.
