"Did you hear? Malfoy was caught kissing Potter in the library..."

"Are you bloody serious!"

"Nah... I heard it from a group of little third year Ravenclaws. What a bunch of idiots."

"Ravenclaws are rather smart, actually. Might explain why they were put in that house."

"Okay, okay... so yeah, they claim that they say them kissing. Rather... intimately, at that."

"Oh my god..."

"Someone's definitely going to hear about this..."

A few days had gone by since the scene in the library, and both Harry and Draco were shocked to find out that a rumor was flying around the school. A rumor of them kissing in the library. Even at meals, Draco heard small snippets of conversation talking on how Harry and himself had gone as far as shagging on top of a table. Bloody hell; it was ridiculous.

"I am going to start cursing people if I keep on hearing this," Draco said coldly. He was seated at the Gryffindor table. He figured that it was safer not to be eating with his own housemates.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Harry muttered. "Just let them think what they want."

"But they think we've bloody fucked!" Draco exclaimed. He slammed a fist on the table. Several of the Gryffindors jumped, looking at him irritably. Draco didn't notice. He was angry. He hated how his life seemed to be the only source of gossip at this school, or Harry's life, for that matter.

"Is it true though?" Seamus asked, suddenly coming up from behind them. He took the empty seat beside Harry, grinning from ear to ear.

"No, Seamus," Harry replied tonelessly. "None of it is."

"So you're telling me that the Ravenclaws made it up?"

"Yes, they did!" Draco said, annoyed. He started mounting piles of food onto his dinner plate, trying to distract himself from the whispering around them.

"Why would they do that?" Seamus asked curiously.

"They probably want to make our lives a living hell and believe we're gay so they have something to fantasize about at night," Draco growled. He began glaring at his dinner roll, looking murderous.

There only was one thing that was bothering him about this, however. He didn't care if the school thought he was gay, or if he was kissing Harry Potter where everyone could see. It was Blaise and his father he was worried about. He didn't want them to do anything to him again, and with this sort of information floating around, they were bound to do just that.

And if the Death Eaters weren't caught by the time he left this school, there was no doubt his father would hunt him down and do whatever possible to change his 'queer' son's ways.

Draco suddenly felt sick to his stomach, and he quickly pushed his food away from him, hiding his head in his arms. He wanted to leave right now, but he didn't want to without Harry.

"Can you leave already?" Harry asked Seamus with narrowed eyes.

"But--"

"Nothing is true! You can tell everyone that, alright?"

"Alright! No need to get a temper!" Seamus replied, putting his hands up in a surrendering motion. He got up with his plate and moved to sit at the other end of the table, nearer to the other Gryffindors. Harry turned back to his own food.

"Sorry about that, Draco," he said quietly.

Draco stayed silent, causing Harry to look over and see that the boy was resting with his arms on the table, his head buried inside them. He thought that the Slytherin was crying. "Draco? What's wrong?"

"Everything," Draco said in a muffled voice.

"It's okay... it'll eventually die off, you know."

"Sure, it will. And what about my father?"

Harry's heart sank. He had nearly forgotten about Draco's father. He had forgotten that the Death Eaters still weren't captured, and that Blaise was still keeping in touch with him. It was a time like this where Harry wished he could walk over to the Slytherin table and tear that bastard apart.

And he knew that if he told Dumbledore about Blaise keeping in touch with Lucius, he wouldn't be able to do much to stop it. Was he going to trap every owl that came with a letter? Was he going to keep watch on the Slytherin fireplace, or follow every place that Blaise went? Harry doubted it.

"He'll be caught soon, don't worry..." Harry comforted. "You should eat something."

"I'm not hungry anymore," Draco responded dismally.

"Do you want to go back to the dorm?"

"Yes."

"Okay, fine, let's go." Harry stood up, waiting for Draco to get up as well. He managed to do so very slowly. He looked miserable.

They made their way back to the dorm, and Harry could feel all those eyes follow them out. He knew that they were most likely making up more stories as to why they were leaving.

As soon as Harry and Draco entered the common room, Draco made his way over to his bed and collapsed onto it. He turned to lay on his side, one of his arms rising to rest over his head. "I don't want to leave this room anymore."

"Draco," Harry said tiredly, "Hiding in here won't make all this go away."

"Yes, but it'll let me ignore it all."

Harry sighed, and walked over to Draco's bed to sit on the edge. He watched the Slytherin quietly.

"I can't take everyone talking about me like I'm object. They don't even care about what's happened to me, or why I might be with you. They just make up stories as to what sort of sick and twisted sex life we lead. And it'll all go to my father, who'll eventually kill me, I know."

"Draco--"

"And Blaise is the one who started it all... that bloody imbecile." Draco turned over onto his back, his arm dropping over the side of the bed. He gazed over at Harry, his eyebrows furrowed. "Do you care about any of this?"

"Of course I do! Why else would I be here?"

Draco shrugged. "You could be feeling sorry for me."

"I'm sorry about what's happened to you, but I really do want to help you." Harry's expression remained serious. As he sat there, he leaned against the bedpost, trying to get comfortable. "Is this one of your depressed states? Because it's getting me depressed. You know you could be cheerful to make all of this easier."

"Me? Cheerful?" Draco questioned. "When have you ever seen me cheerful?"

There was a long moment of silence in which Draco waited for an answer, and then Harry closed his eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen you cheerful."

"That's right." Draco sighed again.

"Could you stop that?" Harry complained. He opened his eyes to send Draco a pointed glare.

"Stop what?" Draco asked innocently.

"Sighing."

Draco smirked. So maybe he could let the atmosphere get a little more 'cheerful,' as Harry put it. Thinking about his father, Blaise, and the rest of the school was only making him want to attack something himself. Toying with Harry would probably help him feel better. It always seemed to.

"But why?" Draco sighed again. He shifted restlessly on the bed. Harry narrowed his eyes at him.

"What are you trying at now?"

"Nothing," Draco replied, his feigned innocent tone returning. "You know what?"

"What?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"I should re-enact the other night. When you were dreaming, you know. I need to get my mind off of things."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened. "Have you gone insane, Malfoy?"

But the boy already began to writhe about on the bed, his body arching slightly forward as he tried imitating Harry's voice. "... Draco?" He whined, "Keep going..."

"Draco!" Harry exclaimed, jumping off from his seat on the bed. "What the hell are you doing!"

From where Draco was lying, the Slytherin smirked over at him. He closed his eyes then, giving a small moan. "Keep going... please..." His hand started venturing downward. Harry eyed him as if he'd just gone completely nutters.

"Hey, wha-- it wasn't like that!" Harry said, shocked. He tried ignoring the way his face was heating up, and the way that the warmth shot straight to his groin when he watched Malfoy on top of that bed. "Stop!"

With the same amused smirk on his face, he stopped. His hand drew away from where it had been heading, and he turned onto his side, resting his head on one elbow as he looked over at Harry. "Too much for you?"

"I think you've gone mad, Draco."

"I was only doing what you were doing."

"Yeah, right," Harry said, sounding unconvinced.

Draco shrugged. "Believe what you want, but you gave me a right scare that night."

"Yes, and it's just like you to remember the vivid details, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is." Draco rolled his eyes, bringing himself into a sitting position. "I'm trying to lighten the mood. It's making me feel better, though. Even if you're getting all hot and bothered by it."

"I'm not hot and bothered!"

"Well, you're blushing rather deeply..." Draco paused, his gaze flickering downward for just a second, "... and, it seems that you can get easily aroused." He motioned casually toward Harry's lower half. He fell back down on the bed then, smiling to himself. He didn't get to see Harry's reaction. The Gryffindor let out a small, startled sound as he looked down. How bloody humiliating.

"Ok, fine, you win," Harry muttered darkly, "I'll be right back." Slowly, he started making his way toward the bathroom. Draco glanced up quickly.

"Want me to help you?" He asked curiously.

"No, just stay!" Harry said sharply. There was the sound of the bathroom door opening and shutting, and Draco went back to relaxing on the bed. A few minutes late, he could hear faint sounds coming from where Harry had just disappeared.

Though, another minute into it, another sound drowned it out. It was a sharp tapping at the window. Draco lazily brought himself off of the bed to go and check what the noise was. It appeared to be an owl, but Draco didn't recognize it. "I think you've got a letter!" Draco called.

He walked closer to the window to draw it open, and the owl fluttered inside, landing on one of the empty bedside tables. He waited until Draco came over to untie the letter from his leg. He left a moment after. And the Slytherin was just about to put the letter on top of Harry's bed, when he saw the writing on the front. It was addressed to him, and the handwriting...

"Oh god," Draco whispered. He sat weakly down on the bed nearest him, staring apprehensively at the letter in his hands. He knew who this was from... and he knew that he didn't want to open it. It'd been a long time since the last time Lucius had sent him something; and the result of following the directions on it had ended painfully. Draco shut his eyes tightly, willing himself not to remember anything. It failed to work.

"I'll be out in just a second!" Harry called out. Draco heard soft shuffling from behind the bathroom door. He opened his eyes, quickly tearing open the letter with shaky hands. Almost instantly, he could feel his eyes burning. Please... don't let it be anything bad... let him be in trouble...

Draco,

I've heard about yourself and Harry Potter. Not a very good decision, I must inform you. I thought I'd gotten it quite clear to you that you'll be joining me as soon as you leave that school. I'm afraid more is in order to get you to change your mind. It'll only hurt for a day or two.

L.

Draco didn't waste any time in crumpling the letter up and tossing it across the room after he had finished reading it. His tears were definitely urging to spill now, but he paid no attention to it. He was furious. Furious at his father for doing this to him; for ruining his life and threatening even more pain.

With an angry yell, Draco grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it against one of the bedside tables. It didn't do much. It only caused an alarm clock to topple onto the floor. He didn't know of any other way to vent out his frustration, but that hadn't made him feel any bit better.

"Draco?" Harry asked tentatively. Draco hadn't noticed him leaving the bathroom, and the boy was standing a bit of a ways away, watching him worriedly. "What happened?"

The Slytherin didn't answer, and instead rested his elbows on his knees so that he could bury his face in his hands. They eventually held tightly onto his hair, as if pulling it would help calm him.

"My father..." Draco said softly, through gritted teeth. "He just sent me a letter."

Harry frowned and began scanning his eyes over the room. He finally spotted a crumpled up piece of parchment over in the corner. Though he didn't go over to get it. He walked over to Draco instead, sitting down beside him. "What did it say?"

In a rather swift movement, Draco left the position he was in and instead threw himself onto Harry. Arms wrapped around his neck as he buried his head against the Gryffindor's shoulder. His legs were folded on either side of Harry's as he brought himself into the boy's lap.

Harry's eyes widened for only a moment, before he realized that it was just another one of Draco's hugs. He heard the boy sniff, and didn't doubt that he was trying not to cry again. Slowly, Harry brought up an arm to rest gently on Draco's back. "It's okay... you don't have to tell me... you just... have to let me know if it's something someone can help you with."

Draco gripped Harry's robes tighter. "He just wants to make sure I'm still with him... he knows about you helping me... he's going to do something to me..."

"No one will let him do anything to you," Harry replied, his tone serious.

"You can't know that..." Draco whispered.

"Yes, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything."

Harry could suddenly feel the soft rise and fall of Draco's chest against his own. He seemed to be calming down. A few minutes went by in silence.

"Harry..." Draco said abruptly, "I feel sick."

"Sick? You mean not feeling well?"

"Yes... my head hurts..." Draco pulled away from the hug then, and began moving his way off of Harry. An attempt was given to stand, but as soon as he did, he swayed to the side and nearly fell onto the floor.

Harry caught him by one arm before he did, and then tugged him back toward the bed. "Be careful. You should--" Harry started nervously.

But the Slytherin's eyes fluttered closed as he collapsed limply onto the bed beside him. Harry shook him lightly, saying Draco's name in a panicked voice, but the boy didn't respond.