Hahaha. My friends have dubbed me Ms. MayorMcReviews because I check my e-mail like, every ten minutes hoping for a new review. You all have me under your thumbs! Anyway, just a small update on the story. I just finished writing chapter 12 on Friday night/Saturday morning (I seem to write best when it's around 4 AM lol), but I haven't had it all checked with my Hatchy yet. I went for about a week or two of not writing anything, but now I'm back in the game! I have finals this week, and then I'm heading home for Christmas break. I'm hoping this won't interfere too much with the story. I had a big issue with that when I went home for Thanksgiving (but I'll spare you the details). Again, I'm predicting about twenty chapters or more. Now, onto the reviews!

Immortal Tears of - Could you send Werewolf Ron over anyway? ;)

fanficfan4life - Oh, Draco cracks me up all the time. I'm glad you liked the ending! Draco will get the better of Harry a few more times, I can promise that. (And I can promise it in this chapter ;) )

PW - lol I hope that's a complimentary laugh!

willow - Agreed, Harry is definitely not being professional. I think it's bugging him more than it's bugging Draco though, haha. Harry has a bad habit of using his job as a defense mechanism. But we'll see how things unfold :) Thanks for the review!

blusorami - Haha! Thanks so much!! :) Slashy!Draco is the best Draco to be, in my opinion! I'm actually kind of planning a few one-shots in my head (one isn't slash though, more of just Harry thinking/writing) and I'm also being forced to write a Ron!Hermione story. I'm not sure what my next Harry!Draco story will be, but I promise there will be another!

phyllis - Thank you!!! I'm kind of a grammar nazi, to be honest, and as an English major, I guess I have no choice! haha. Anyway, thank you for the compliments! I worry that sometimes people will read my story and be like, "Wtf? I don't get it." I'm glad people ARE getting it, though! And as for my updates, I pretty much update whenever I get a free chance. I write the chapters in advance so that I don't fall behind and people don't have to wait a week or two for a new chapter. So far, I've been posting every few days. I guess it just depends on how much a new chapter is demanded!

M'Lady - Good point! I actually hadn't thought of Harry's motives being Slytherin-like, but that makes perfect sense, really. After all, the Sorting Hat did want to place him in Slytherin! And yes, Draco may not be as spiteful as he once was, but he definitely has kept several of his Slytherin qualities. Harry's curious, no doubt about that, but just how curious is he? That, along with Draco's old feelings, will be revealed soon! :) Thanks for your review!

And now... the story!


Chapter 7

Here I am in my insecurity
Here I am with my damaged dignity

The second Harry turned off the shower and pulled back the curtain, a stream of cool breezes ran over his entire body. He reached beside him to a towel rung on the wall. Quickly wrapping the towel around his waste, Harry stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror hung above the sink. He could see the blurred outline of his figure in the foggy glass. Reaching out, he wiped his hand across the surface–enough to see his eyes, nose, mouth, and, of course, his scar. Harry couldn't see anything very clearly however until he put on his glasses.

He blinked at his reflection. Harry had worn a scowl on his face for the past eighteen hours. Draco had never come out of his room the night before, and Harry had half a mind to storm into the room and chew him out for the Veritaserum incident. Instead, Harry tried to put his mind from it. In the end, it did nothing but cause the scowl that now faced him in the mirror.

Harry sighed and walked out of the bathroom. Getting dressed quickly, he laid down onto his bed and buried his face in the crook of his left arm. Not even a minute later, he heard a knock on his bedroom door. Harry didn't respond. There was another knock. Harry let out a breath and called, "Come in!" although it was barely comprehensible with his mouth covered. He didn't bother looking up when Draco came strolling into the room.

"What?" Harry mumbled, still hiding his face.

"Good morning to you, too," Draco replied flatly. Harry grunted in return. Draco rolled his eyes and glowered at Harry. "What's your problem today?"

Harry rolled over on his back and returned Draco's angry stare. He then sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. Before he replied, Draco interrupted.

"You're not going to stand? My eye-level is above yours," he stated. Harry stood and raised an eyebrow at Draco, the scowl on his face turning more harsh.

"How much did you lie about yesterday?" Harry interrogated. Draco rolled his eyes.

"What does it matter?"

"I need to know–I have my report. Am I going to have to give you Veritaserum again?"

"Potter, don't threaten me like I'm a child. I was still under the spell during all of that. It's not my fault that you didn't notice the spell was wearing off," Draco said coolly. Harry knew he was right. Draco had begun showing the signs–beginning to show emotion through his words and gestures, asking questions back rather than just answering them. Draco continued, "Are you even mad because the potion wore off? Or are you just pissed that I got the better of you? Just because I wasn't under the spell any longer doesn't mean that I stopped telling the truth. You're still arrogant, and you still refuse to admit that you fucked up. You'd rather blame me because you forgot to keep track of the time."

"Fuck you, Draco," Harry spat. He paused, and then quickly corrected himself, "Malfoy." Draco didn't respond to this in any way. For a moment, Harry was beginning to think that the burning hate he held for Draco Malfoy had rekindled. He realized, however, that it wasn't Draco that he hated, but the fact that Draco was right.

"Anything else?" Draco asked stiffly. Harry glared at him for a second, and then lowered his eyes to the floor.

"I'm going to take my report to Tonks," he muttered. "I'll be back in a few hours. Don't do anything stupid." With that, Harry turned on his heel and left the room.

Without Draco, Harry was free to apparate, which was much easier–not to mention cleaner–than flooing. Once Harry had taken his report to Tonks, she promised to speak with Mr. Weasley about it so that Harry could return home. Harry also asked her to see if the charges for Draco could be dropped. It was clearly not a murder, but self-defense. And although Harry hated to admit it, the Wizengamot would drop the charges on the simple fact that Harry Potter said to.

Harry did not return home, though–at least not immediately. Instead, he sat in his office, holding the moving photograph of himself and Jeremy, his ex-boyfriend. Harry gently ran his thumb over the picture frame.

Harry hated how he was feeling. All of a sudden he was no longer a 25-year-old Auror with a firm grasp on his life, but a seventeen-year-old student who couldn't handle the truth. He didn't hate Draco, not at all, but rather he hated that Draco was smarter than Harry had ever given him credit for. After all these years, Draco Malfoy was right about everything. Harry was arrogant and was trying to avoid being the one to blame. The fact that Draco may or may not have lied to him was Harry's fault for getting caught up in the situation and not checking his watch. In fact, he was even more at fault for straying from the subject of Nott Jugson in the first place. What was he thinking, asking Draco the questions that he did? But who was Draco to tell Harry that he actually had a crush on him? Draco was in no position to be toying with Harry's feelings, after all that Harry was doing for him. Harry could have thrown him back on the streets!

You idiot! You don't have any feelings toward Draco. MALFOY! Why am I calling him Draco?

Harry's mind wrestled violently. He groaned to himself and laid the picture onto the desk. He had to admit, he was seeing a different side to Draco. Of course, he was still a jerk who was a pain in the ass. But for some reason, this didn't bother Harry anymore. What bothered him now was why Draco was even there. Why did he choose to come back into Harry's life? Things were going fine without him. His life was nothing but his job, and that was working just splendidly.

This Malfoy thing is part of my job, though, Harry reminded himself. He stole a glance at the photograph on the desk. It had been two years since he and Jeremy ended their relationship, and Harry was realizing just how much he missed being loved and allowing himself to love. He admitted to not being in love with Jeremy, but it was a beautiful thing to know that someone was thinking about him, and that he had someone to come home to each night.

Harry shook his head quickly. This was a very, very bad time for Harry to be thinking about relationships. He had other priorities to be taken care of first.

-----

Harry apparated to the front of his home in Chora, Greece. He slowly walked up to the house, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. Once he was inside, he was taken over by the smell of peppers. Harry followed the smell and found himself in the kitchen, where Draco was balancing two plates beside the stove.

"Perfect timing," said Draco. "Watch yourself," he warned as he walked past Harry. Harry stepped out of the way so that Draco could carry the plates into the dining room. Harry came in after him and watched as Draco sat two plates of stuffed peppers across from each other on the middle of the table. He sat down on one side, and looked up at Harry.

"Well?" Draco asked. Harry slowly joined Draco at the table, sitting down in his seat.

"You made lunch," Harry stated. Draco raised his eyebrows quickly before lowering them again.

"Keen observation," he replied. Draco placed a fork-full of pepper into his mouth. "I was starving and you were gone, so I just made food. I tell you, I hate cooking the Muggle way, though. I avoid it at all costs if I can."

Harry gazed at his plate, not feeling very hungry although the food looked delicious. He looked back at Draco.

"Why did you fake being under the spell?" Harry asked. Draco dropped his fork with a clatter onto the table and sighed.

"You certainly know how to kill a mood, Potter."

"I need to know," Harry said calmly. He was going to try his best to not lose his temper, although he was finding that very difficult with Draco present.

"We've been over this. You're angry because for once, you didn't have the upper hand. Okay? Are we finished?" Draco asked, annoyed.

"Why did you say that you had a crush on me in seventh year?"

"Because you asked. And so what? It was just a schoolboy crush. If I had never told you, you'd be none the wiser."

"So, it's true," Harry concluded. "You weren't lying." Draco narrowed his eyes.

"No, I wasn't lying. Can I eat now?"

Harry glanced back down at his plate, his appetite returning.

"Okay," he said softly.

The two of them continued to eat in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Harry said, "This is good." Draco didn't reply. It seemed that he was now the one in a foul mood.

When they finished, Harry pulled his wand from his pocket and flicked it at the dishes. The dishes flew themselves into the kitchen and into the sink with a soft rattle. Harry returned his wand to his pocket and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry for pressing the subject," Harry said. Draco met his eyes with a piercing gaze.

"You don't have to apologize for everything," said Draco simply.

"Sorry," Harry muttered. Draco let out a small laugh. To this, Harry allowed himself to grin as well.

"You were wrong about one thing, though," Harry said, standing from the table.

"What's that?" Draco asked, standing as well.

"I'm not a prude," Harry stated. Draco stared at him and laughed again, but harder this time.

"Whatever you say, Potter," he replied.

"I'm not!" Harry argued. He followed Draco out of the room until Draco turned around and raised his eyebrows again.

"So you admit you're arrogant and bossy, and an all-together git, but you're not a prude?"

"Oh, shut up," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "Fine. Yes, I know I can be arrogant and bossy."

"And an all-together git."

"Whatever, but no, I'm not a prude. I was in a relationship for three years, for Merlin's sake! How is that being a prude?"

"Are you kidding? I saw the picture. You two never shagged more than twice your whole relationship. And it was probably only because you felt obligated. 'Oh, we've been dating this long. Might as well go for the next step!' Look, I don't care how you are. You're not my boyfriend."

Harry glared daggers into Draco's eyes. Draco knew nothing about his relationship with Jeremy, or any of his other relationships. Who was he to assume Harry was so innocent and meek?

"I'm not a prude," Harry repeated. Draco smirked softly to himself and took a step forward to Harry, his face only inches away.

"Prove it," he challenged, his voice barely above a whisper.

Without thinking, Harry put a hand behind Draco's head and forced him forward. He captured Draco's lips with his own, kneading them hungrily. He pushed Draco's body backwards until he was caught between Harry and the wall. Harry ran his hand through Draco's hair, inducing a soft moan from the blonde's throat. Their minds were thinking on the same wavelength at this moment, because next thing they knew, they had their tongues in each other's mouth, moving dangerously.

After what seemed like hours, but what was only really a matter of minutes, Harry slowly pulled his lips from Draco's. Draco's eyes remained closed for a second before they fluttered open. Harry cockily raised his eyebrows–the way Draco had been doing all afternoon.

"Not bad," Draco said softly. "But I'm still not totally convinced." Harry blinked and had the expression of someone whose birthday party had just been cancelled. Draco gently pushed Harry back so that he could move away from the wall. Draco then turned and walked across the room to the staircase, and disappeared at the top of it.

Harry carefully touched his lips, wondering what the hell he had just done.



Please R/R!!! It keeps me going, dontcha know? ;)