Draco arrived early to charms class. As he waited for the rest of the class to arrive, he sat doodling pictures of Harry on his notebook paper. Well, it was supposed to be Harry... he wasn't exactly much of an artist. Of course, the scar would definitely give it away to anyone who saw it, so he had better not let anyone else see it. He wasn't overly keen on trying to explain why he was drawing pictures of Harry Potter naked and kissing someone all over his paper.

So the moment the first of the other students arrived he quickly shoved the sheet of paper into his notebook. But when class started, Draco was too busy wondering how he was going to tell his friends about Harry to do more than pretend to pay attention. It had also occurred to him to wonder what his father would think when he found out about their relationship, but he was hoping that the man would be contented by the fact that his son was at least dating a very prominent figure in the wizarding world and with luck he could appease any homophobia by promising that they would find a way to have children together. This was, after all, the wizarding world and Draco was fairly certain that in the unlikely event that no one had come up with such spells before, they couldn't really be all that hard to invent. And if all else failed, they could always find a surrogate mother or something.

So Draco wasn't really all that worried about what his father would say. At least not right now. No, now he was mostly worried about his House's reaction. Ever since his first year, he had been the unofficial leader of the Slytherins and he was even beginning to gain the respect of some of the older students. Even if the discovery that he was gay didn't shake their support and trust in him as his leader, the fact that he was dating a Gryffindor - Harry Potter, no less - was sure to smash everything he had built up over the last three years to little bits and pieces unless he was very careful.

Charms seemed to drag on forever as Professor Flitwick, who he usually found quite interesting, rambled on and on about whatever it was they were supposed to be learning. But by the end of class, he had reached a decision as to how to deal with his House. He would start by telling one of the more influential and intelligent students in his year... privately, so that he could bring them around without distractions. If it didn't seem to be going well, he would erase their memory and try with someone else. And once his House knew, he would simply continue to maintain his authority the way he had been for years. By not letting anyone get away with challenging him and by continuing to act like he was in charge.

That settled he set about considering who to tell. A girl would probably be better - that way he wouldn't have to worry about insulting their masculinity or something dumb like that. And if the girl had a crush on him, that might make it easier to get her to support him... especially if he presented it as him trusting her with his 'secret'. At least a few girls in Slytherin seemed to respond better to boys who seemed vulnerable than really macho guys.

Pansy would probably be a good choice. She was the leader of most of the girls in their year, she'd had a crush on him since they were six, and he had long since found that the best way to get her to do something for you was to make her think you were too weak and helpless to do it on your own. And didn't she have a gay uncle or something who she was always talking about? Yes, Pansy was perfect. He could tell her before dinner and come out to the rest of his House by tomorrow.

When charms was finally over Draco followed Pansy and her hoard of giggling friends out of the classroom.

"Hey, Pansy," he called casually. It wouldn't do to seem flustered here in public.

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you?" He glanced at her friends and added, "Alone?"

The girls burst into fits of giggles, just as Draco had know they would. Pansy nodded, smiling sweetly. "You guys go on to dinner. I'll catch up in a bit."

"Maybe more than a 'bit,'" laughed one of her friends and they all burst into more fits of giggles. Pansy made a shooing motion with her hand and they left, still giggling.

Pansy followed him into a deserted classroom. Draco closed the door behind them and turned to face her.

"Pansy... there's something I need to tell you," he began, looking as helpless and desperate as he could. "Well, I mean... I have to tell someone and your the only one I can trust, but..."

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

He bit his lip uncertainly. "Promise.... promise me you won't tell anyone else. Please? If my dad ever found out..." He looked at her imploringly.

"I promise."

"I... well I... I mean..." he stuttered, fumbling for the words. He figured that if he just said it - 'I'm gay and dating Harry Potter, deal with it' - she wouldn't really buy the whole helpless boy routine. "You see... I'm..." He looked at her, giving her the most desperate puppy-dog face he could manage and lowering his voice until it was barely audible. "I'm gay..." He even managed to blush furiously as he said it.

She blinked in surprise. "...oh." She didn't look revolted, and she wasn't yelling at him that he was a pervert, but he figured it couldn't hurt to go a little farther.

"...please... don't hate me..." His eyes were filling with tears now and his lower lip was quivering.

"No, I don't hate you!" she said quickly, as reassuringly as she could. "It's fine... I'm just a little surprised, that's all." She reached out and touched his shoulder.

He took a deep breath. "There's more," he said softly, looking away from her as if ashamed to go on.

"Yes?" Her voice was gentle, comforting. That was good.

"I'm... I love Harry."

Her hand dropped from her shoulder. "You're joking, right?"

He flushed again, staring pointedly at the floor.

"...you're not joking."

He shook his head. "No… we've been together for about a month now." He looked up at her. She didn't seem to revolted or angry. Just stunned. "That's where I've been during lunch and stuff. With him."

"You mean... it's mutual? I'm not even going to ask how that happened."

Good, cause I'm not telling you. Draco thought, but he held his tongue.

Pansy caught his hand, looking into his eyes. "You really do love him, don't you?"

Draco nodded sadly, thinking irritably, I thought we'd already established that. "I'm so tired of lying to everyone," he whispered. "I love him so much... I just want to be honest about it. But I can't trust anyone. Anyone but you."

She caught his hand. "I'm sure you could make them understand. Everyone respects you."

He looked at her sullenly. "They wouldn't if they knew."

"You don't know that. I'm sure my friends would support you, if you'd let me tell them."

"Would you?" he asked eagerly, his eyes filling with hope.

She nodded. "Sure. Is there anything else?"

Draco shook his head.

"Then I'll see you at lunch."

Draco nodded. "Thanks," he said, smiling at her. Then he quickly kissed her on the cheek. She gave him a warm smile and left. Draco watched her go, very pleased with himself. That had gone better than he had expected. If she could get her friends to support him, and he had no doubt that she could, they could get their boyfriends to at least tolerate him. And then he could deal with everyone else.

Harry, on the other hand, wasn't having quite such an easy time of things. When he arrived at his next class, transfiguration, Hermione was already there. She looked up when Harry entered.

"Hi."

"Hi," Harry responded seating himself next to her.

"So, where were you during lunch today?"

Harry looked away. Now was not the time to tell her the truth. Not when class was about to begin. "I'll tell you later," he told her, hoping she'd let it drop.

"No. You've been dodging Ron and me for weeks. Where were you during lunch, and don't tell me 'looking at something in your dormitory' because I know that's not it."

Harry winced guiltily. He had hardly thought about his friends since getting together with Draco beyond hoping they didn't figure out about him and Draco. He didn't want to tell her here. Not when the rest of the class could come in at any minute. "I'll tell you after class. I promise."

"Why not now?"

Harry gulped. "It's… personal. I promise I'll tell you and Ron after class."

Hermione gave him an appraising look, then nodded. "You'd better."

A few minutes later, Ron showed up along with Dean and Seamus. "Hey Harry," Ron greeted him, sitting down next to him. "Where were you during lunch?"

Harry sighed. "I'll tell you later, okay?" Dean opened his mouth to protest, but Harry cut him off. "I'll tell all of you. After class."

Seamus and Ron exchanged a look. "You'd better."

After class, Harry managed to convince them to go up to the common room. His friends had been arguing between him telling them right there in the classroom or going down to dinner and telling them there. In the end, Hermione had taken pity on him and suggested that they go up to the common room so they could have a little privacy.

When they arrived in the Gryffindor common room, everyone else was down eating dinner, much to Harry's relief. At least he wouldn't have to explain to his entire House all at the same time.

He closed his eyes, steeling himself. When he opened him, all five of his friends were watching him expectantly.

Just remember, he reminded himself, once you tell them you can be with Draco all you want. You won't have to lie or make excuses any more. And the sooner you tell them, the sooner you can be with Draco again.

"Well?" Ron prompted impatiently.

Harry opened his mouth. "I…" he swallowed. Dear god, he had been less frightened the when he'd faced Voldemort.

"Where were you during lunch?" Hermione tried when it became apparent that he wasn't going to continue.

Harry looked away, intently studying his hands. "I was… with Draco," he whispered too quietly for his friends to make out.

"What? Could you say that a little louder?"

Harry wished the floor would open up and swallow him. Why was he doing this again? "I said…" Just think of Draco… think of being with Draco… He closed his eyes, picturing Draco in his mind. He felt a warmth spreading through his body from his lower belly at the thought of Draco that had nothing to do with the fires burning in his cheeks. "I said I was with Draco." Now he looked at them, meeting their confused gazes. "I'm gay and I love him and we've been together for about a month."

There. He'd said it. Now he just had to deal with their responses.

But to his shock and amazement, they burst out laughing. "All right Harry, enough joking," Dean chuckled.

"But I'm telling the truth!" Harry protested.

Seamus snorted. "Sure."

Harry could only gape at them. He'd finally gotten up the courage to tell them the truth and they thought he was joking!

Hermione smiled at him. "All right, Harry, if you really don't want to tell us, you don't have to."

"But I'm serious!"

Ron shook his head in amusement. "Come on guys, let's go down to dinner."

Harry followed them numbly down to the Great Hall.

"Hey Potter."

Harry and his friends turned around to find Draco and his cronies standing behind them. Draco was standing with his arms crossed, a lock of silver-blond hair falling over his eye. Harry's felt his heart skip a beat.

Draco arched an eyebrow at Harry, a subtle question in his eyes. Harry gave him a helpless look. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.

I hope Draco's taken care of telling his friends, Harry thought briefly before stepping forwards. If he thought too much about what he was about to do he'd chicken out for sure.

So he didn't think, he just acted. He was better at doing things, anyway. Draco's eyes widened in surprise when he realized what Harry was doing, but Harry didn't give him time to protest before pressing his lips against that sweet little smirk and slipping his arms around the boy's waist. After a moment, Draco relaxed into the kiss, his hands settling comfortably on Harry's hips.

After a moment, Draco pulled away, raising an elegant eyebrow. Harry rested his head against the boy's shoulder, touching his lips to Draco's pale neck.

"I hope you've told your friends," he muttered into Draco's ear. Draco laughed softly, his throat vibrating slightly under Harry's lips.

"I take it you told yours."

Harry nibbled his earlobe. "Yeah. They didn't believe me."

Draco glanced passed Harry and grinned. "I think they do now."

Suddenly Harry didn't want to turn around and see his friend's reaction. The thought of standing there with his arms around Draco until everyone else left was suddenly a very appealing one. But he had to face his friends eventually, and his stomach was now reminding him that he'd missed lunch.

With one last kiss, Harry stood back and turned around to face his friends. Trying his best not to blush, he met their shocked gazes calmly as Draco, cool and confident as ever, made his way into the Great Hall. After another moment of stunned silence, his friends followed him.

Harry looked at his own friends, silently praying that they didn't decide they hated him now.

"Well," Ron began, hesitantly breaking the silence. "I guess you really were telling the truth."

Dean grinned. "Either that, or that was a really elaborate joke. But I don't see how you'd get Malfoy to go along with it."

At that, they all laughed. Hermione smiled at him. "Well… congratulations? Though I'm not entirely sure I agree with your taste in boyfriends, but…"

"What I want to know is how you two got together in the first place," Seamus broke in.

"Maybe some other time," Harry told them and together they walked into the Great Hall.

To those who reviewed: thank you so much. I'm glad you liked the first chapter.
Inuko Metallium, here's my next update. I hope you like it. Stars-n-moons91, it's Harry and Draco because Harry's the one who got the note in the movie. Though it would actually be interesting if Harry had accedentally recieved a note meant for Ron... hmmm... goes off to consider how to write that story.
Monica, maybe I do like thinking (and writing) about 'those things.' And I thought we already knew I was sick... Dancerdude, yup, I've got way to much time on my hands... six hours every day during the fall, winter, and spring... (i think it's commonly referred to as going to school). And as I said so Monica: I thought we'd already established that I was sick.
And to Orange, thanks for editing these. Love ya dearly. (sirius, remus, and sesame street!! whee!!!)
With luck I'll be able to update again some time tomorrow.