A/N: This is my Christmas gift to all of you. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. I heart fluff on occasion... and this is unadulterated fluff in its purest form. I've left the realm of the challenge and this is now a story. With only two more parts left, God willing. Anyway, read on and enjoy!

Dedicated to Draeconin, because I can. (There's an explanation, I'm just too lazy to recount it.)

DISCLAIMER: Please believe me when I say that you sueing me over the matter of me borrowing the characters and setting that belong to JK Rowling et al would be futile considering my financial status. Unless you want to inherit my credit card debt. You can have that.

Dear Diary 4

By Lizzie

Harry left the latest encounter with Draco feeling shaky. He couldn't believe how… forward he'd been. He was usually very hesitant to talk about anything that even hinted at feelings, so hearing the words come out of his mouth was a bit of a shock. Harry was scared, but he never backed down from a challenge.

Oh, Harry wasn't scared of Draco. He knew perfectly well that he could handle him. Well, handle him in any familiar encounters. Fights, competitions, anything of that sort. Harry wasn't so sure about this new development, and the implications of it were what scared him. He tended to keep a professional distance from most people, except for Ron and Hermione, and so the thought of getting closer to someone else was somewhat intimidating, and frankly sounded emotionally exhausting. Still, he had told the truth to Draco, and was more than willing (if not a little apprehensive) to face the consequences of opening his big mouth. And a small part of him was intrigued. So he would sit back and see what Draco had in mind for his little seduction, a little smug in the knowledge that he had a weapon against Draco.

That is, he did if he could keep the cards in his favor.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Draco put a final flourish on the parchment he was writing on and blew on it to dry the ink. Once he was satisfied, he pinned it up on the wall above his desk. Admiring his work, he set his quill down and got up to leave his dorm. The parchment rustled slightly in the wake of his movement, and once it settled, the room was silent.

A predatory gleam was in Draco's eyes as he left his room, intent on finding his target. He had just spent some time penning 'Operation Seduce Harry Potter,' and it was time to implement the next step. There were four steps, and before he could get to step number 4 – 'Bow chika wow wow,' he had to pass through steps 2 and 3 (having accomplished step 1 – 'Ingratiate yourself with him') – 'Get him used to your presence' and 'Make him miss you.' So far, he felt that he was doing a fairly good job.

He had been thrown for a loop the day before, when Harry had out-and-out challenged him after he had clearly stated his intentions (he heard from someone in passing that Harry appreciated honesty). While unexpected, this new development had pleased him. He did indeed love a challenge (it irked him that Harry knew him well enough to know that, though. He liked the idea of being an enigma), and he always rose to the occasion when Harry was involved. But this time Draco was determined to come out the victor in this competition.

Draco knew Harry well enough to know by his parting words that the brunette thought that he had the advantage, but little did he know that he had played right into Draco's hand. Once his hand had been adjusted to accommodate the new circumstances, of course.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Harry was in the Great Hall, once again writing in his journal. At least he'd had the intention of writing, but hadn't as yet put quill to paper. He couldn't help the feeling that told him the moment he started to write Draco would show up and interrupt.

'Dear diary, I think I may have done something stupid the other day when –'

"Yes, I'm four for four," Draco's dry humor interrupted his very first sentence. The sound of a body plopping down into a seat immediately followed.

"Should have known," Harry sighed as he carelessly tossed his journal into his bag. "Would it be too much to hope that you're on your way somewhere and just stopped to irritate me?" his voice was half amused and half annoyed.

Draco pretended to think before answering. "Yes. You should know by now that I love nothing more than your irritation. Especially when I've interrupted some personal ritual of yours."

Harry made a face at Draco, who grinned back maliciously.

"Do you have an actual purpose for being here?"

"Not really." Draco examined his nails for a moment in an offhanded manner. "Not that I mind or anything, but I thought you were going to stop doing this in public places?"

"Couldn't get any privacy in the dorms. Don't make me elaborate." Harry's nose wrinkled. Draco laughed.

"I'm sure my overactive imagination can come up with the appropriate scenarios that would drive you from Gryffindor country."

"Whatever your twisted mind comes up with, please don't share."

A companionable silence fell over the room for a few seconds before Draco ventured another question.

"The Great Hall?"

"No one generally comes here during holidays between meals."

"Except you of course. And now me."

"Excuse me? Are you planning on following me around or something?"

"Maybe. It seems that I have nothing better to do for the next few days. You're as good a person as any to annoy."

For a few seconds, Harry thought that they were back to the status from the solstice – casual acquaintance. He could almost pretend that the whole 'seduction' conversation never happened…

He didn't realize that silence had fallen again and that he was staring off into space until Draco waved a hand in front of Harry's face.

"Wakey wakey Potter."

"Hm? Oh, sorry, got lost in my thoughts there for a moment."

"I thought your diary –"

"Journal."

"Diary was to help you organize your pesky thoughts so you wouldn't get lost in there." Draco smirked at Harry's consternation over the use of the word 'diary.'

"Just because some of us," Harry looked pointedly at Draco, "have fewer thoughts than others, doesn't mean we're all like that."

"If that were true, I'd be insulted. Really Potter, a diary? How girly can you get?"

"This coming from the guy with the manicured nails. If that doesn't scream girl, I don't know what does."

"Excuse me, there is nothing wrong with being well-groomed."

"Uh-huh." Harry looked at him with a skeptical expression on his face. "Well Malfoy, it's been…pleasant, but I really have to be going now. Let's not do this again." Harry stood, picked up his bag and, feeling a little smug, started walking out of the Great Hall. He didn't notice his journal fall out of his bag.

Draco did.

"Wait up, Potter. I'll walk you to wherever you're going." Draco discreetly leaned over to pick up the fallen book and hid it in his robes before jogging to Harry's retreating form.

"Must you?" Harry whined playfully, but didn't protest.

"I insist."

"Hope you like climbing stairs."

"I do it every day for classes. Remember, I live in the dungeons."

"Oh yeah…" Harry had the grace to blush at his mistake.

It was a short walk, far too short in Draco's opinion, to Gryffindor Tower. Most of it was spent in silence, with the occasional comment from one of them.

"Well, we're here, you can go now," Harry told Draco as they approached the portrait marking the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"What, you're not going to invite me in?" Draco faked a hurt look.

"Not on your life, Malfoy."

"Whatever. Your loss, you know." Draco shrugged. "See you." The blond turned to leave, and was three steps into his downward trek when Harry's voice stopped him.

"Hey, Malfoy?" Draco turned his head to look at Harry, who looked shy all of a sudden.

"Yes?"

"Well… I… I thought that seduction was more… well… sexy."

Draco bit back laughter as he formulated his response. His eyes half closed and his voice dropped nearly an octave.

"Do you want me to be… sexy?" he crooned as he slunk toward Harry.

Harry's mouth went dry and he instinctively took a step backward. "No, I'm good." He cringed internally when he heard how squeaky his voice had come out.

Draco blinked and smiled slightly. "You seduce your way, and I'll seduce mine." He raised his hand in a tiny wave and continued his almost-forgotten journey back to the dungeons.

Harry stood in front of the Fat Lady until Draco was out of sight, trying to get his bearings. Finally, he gave the password and crawled inside the common room, gratified to see that it was empty.

"That was… interesting," he whispered to the emptiness.

-v-v-v-v-

More to come at a later date! (with any luck, before New Years)