Petra: I wasn't sure for a while, if I was going to put this fic up or not.
Kati: We had conflicting emotions about it.
Petra: I wasn't sure if I liked where it was heading but, for now, I think I'll put it up.
Kati: We figure if, later on, we really don't like it, we can rewrite it.
Petra: However, for now, I've reached a compromise between people who wanted just a friend fic and a shonen-ai fic.
Kati: Basically, for now, we're going to have one sided shonen-ai.
Petra: Whether or not it will ever grow into more... shrug
Kati: Like Draco, we don't know either.
DEDICATED: To those who find that those most perfect moments never last long enough.
WARNING: VERY, very slight one-sided shonen-ai. Slight angst.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter. JK Rowling does.
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Fifteen Minutes that Last but a Moment
"His eyes close and the two of them stay there, suspended between seconds of time, mesmerized in a moment that could last forever or have ended forever ago . . . " -Lily; Breathless (GW)
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TIME: Harry and Draco's Seventh Year, Christmas Eve
To say Draco was worried is an understatement; to say he was an absolute nervous wreck would have been more along the right line. He still wasn't sure what he'd been thinking when he'd bought the necklace. He knew it was beautiful, who wouldn't, but he could keep it… It had cost quite a bit of money, he thought as he looked at the small wrapped package. How could something so… small hold so much importance? Though one could look at Harry and ask the same thing… Draco shook the thought off. He'd been thinking about Harry too much lately and he really needed to stop; sure, it was okay to think about your friends once in a while but… Draco hadn't been able to get Harry out of his head. It had become even worse after that conversation by the lake, when Harry had called Draco his "beloved enemy."
Draco sighed and leaned back against the wall. So, here he was, one o'clock on Christmas morning, waiting for Harry to come so that Draco could give the smaller boy his present. Sometimes Draco cursed Harry for bringing up friendship, for bringing the two boys together but that was rarely, if ever, because Harry had quickly become a very important person in Draco's life…
"Draco," Harry said, stepping through the doorway and closing the door quietly behind him. Harry smiled and that smile alone made it okay that Draco was losing sleep.
"Harry," Draco said, smiling also; unable to stop himself from smiling.
"Merry Christmas," Harry said with a bright smile, holding out a package. Draco took it in surprise; sure, he'd gotten Harry something but he hadn't been expecting anything from Harry himself.
"Merry Christmas. Thank you." Draco stared at the present and looked up when Harry laughed.
"Well, aren't you going to open it?" Harry asked, laughing softly.
Draco smiled and then carefully, he wanted to save the paper, opened the present. His mouth formed a soundless "oh" as he stared at the beautiful silver ring that was revealed. A beautiful, strange script sprawled across the outside of the ring. "What is it?" Draco breathed.
Harry's face was suspiciously red as he replied, "It's Chinese, a protection spell… I had Professor Dumbledore make sure that the seller didn't lie to me. I'm sorry that it's not much but I only have a certain amount of money and… it needs to get me through the next couple years."
"No, it's… beautiful…" Draco said, slipping it on his finger, and it was… It was so… simple but that's what made it beautiful, because Harry hadn't gone out and just bought the most expensive thing… He'd bought something that he wanted Draco to have; because he thought Draco would like it. "Thank you so much…"
Harry smiled brilliantly and Draco felt like he'd just told Harry his parents were alive. "You're welcome…" he trailed off, smiling.
"Um…" Draco felt slightly uncomfortable as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his own package. "Here."
Harry smile and thanked Draco but… Draco realized he wasn't surprised and… that made Draco feel wonderful. Harry considered them good enough friends that they should just expect presents… Draco couldn't help the soft smile that graced his lips and, from the returning smile, Draco knew that Harry knew what he was thinking about.
Harry, as Draco had, carefully unwrapped the paper and stopped breathing as he pulled the necklace out of the box, letting it dangle between them. A silver dragon hung from a silver chain, wrapped around a half-inch emerald, its claws and tailing keeping in place, wings spread as though it were about to launch into flight. "Oh my God… Draco… I can't take this…" Harry whispered but Draco noticed how the necklace moved slightly toward the raven-haired boy.
"No… I saw it and thought of you… and knew I had to buy it for you…" Draco said, smiling… God, the look on his face made him feel so good…
"I… Thank you…" Harry said, giving Draco a smile that the boy had never seen before. Draco felt a light blush color his cheeks at the smile and then jerked in surprise when he was pulled into a hug. "I've never gotten anything this beautiful before. Thank you, Draco," Harry whispered in Draco's ear, causing the other boy to shiver.
"Your face was worth it," Draco replied truthfully.
"I have to tell Ron… it's killing me to keep it from him." There was silence for a moment before Harry continued, "But I'm scared. I'm scared that he'll get mad at me again. I don't want him mad at me again."
Draco pulled Harry closer, knowing that the other boy needed the comfort, as he soothed, "He'll forgive you. Maybe not right away but eventually. He's your friend and he loves you; he won't give you up to me that easily." Draco smiled as he felt Harry laugh.
They stayed like that for a while, simply holding each other, drawing comfort from the simple contact. Draco knew that in a few minutes they would separate, go their individual ways, and go back to ignoring each other. He knew that eventually they would have to tell the rest of the world and the rest of the world wouldn't approve of their friendship. He also knew that soon the other feelings, the feelings that were coming more and more often, his feelings that came with wishes of more than friendship, would probably ruin what they did have. So, for now, while he could, on Christmas morning, he held Harry close and cursed the fact that the sun was rising… wiping away the dark and, with it, the moment that it had hidden…
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IMPORTANT NOTE: For those of you that wish it, DUE TO MY SPORADIC postings, I am offering you, the readers, A MAILING LIST to sign up to. When I finally UPDATE, I will SEND OUT AN EMAIL informing those of you that are on the list that I have finally updated. I need you to EMAIL me, telling that you wish to sign up, and whether it's for ORIGINAL FICTION or FANFICTION. I WILL NOT accept those people that ask to be up on it in a review because I can't be sure that email is real. The mailing list will ALSO OFFER the TITLES of those works that I am posting, the COUPLES (if any) that are in it, which FANDOM it is from, and whether it is a SEQUEL to anything.
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Petra: So... what'd you think?
Kati: sighs dreamily So kawaii... Poor Draco...
Petra: I hope you all enjoyed this latest installment.
Kati: Please, feel free to check out our website while you're at it.
Petra: And, for those that take the time to review, thank you:
CURIOUSDREAMWEAVER: laugh Draco? Adorable? Totally not his style, I'm sure, but... shrug What the hell...
YANA5: Everyone keeps saying that. Sweet. Am I decaying people's teeth? laugh You'll have to warn me if I'm getting too sweet.
KEEPERSHEIR: Yeah... I mean, even between your own friends, wouldn't it be nice to have just five minutes where you could say whatever you wanted and then never have it come back to bit you in the ass. sigh More? Well... here's your more!
C-CHAN1: laugh There's not really any slash yet, though, is there. Draco, as it appears in this one, definately has a serious crush on Harry but, as of yet, it's unknown (both to you AND me) whether Harry returns his feelings. shrug I dunno. We'll have to see. And, if you really like slash, you should check out Rhysenn. The woman is a poet, even though she writes HP fanfiction. sighs with jealousy
"I dream of a day when I can open my eyes, and my dreams won't disappear."
-Rose Marie Ledam
Petra Megami Assari
The Gentle Tiger Goddess