"I'm sorry for freaking out on you like that." The sound of my voice breaks the silence in the Black Box some hours later.

Demonstrating a lack of embarrassment I never thought possible, I had actually fallen asleep in my cellmate's arms while he was comforting me. I awoke only a few minutes ago to find Draco sound asleep. I carefully disentangled myself and moved away when he began to stir from slumber.

"I didn't mean to act like such a Hufflepuff," I continue apologetically, listening to him yawn and shift about in the dark as he slowly regains consciousness.

"Forget it, Pot-Harry," he brushes off casually. "Anyone would have done the same after what you went through, or almost went through, yesterday."

"Well, thanks anyway, for helping me. I wouldn't have thought…" I stop.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what? You were going to say something."

I sigh and shift, stretching my legs out in front of me, my back resting against the dirt wall behind. "I just wouldn't have expected you to be so…"

"Helpful?" Draco snaps tersely.

"No. Self-less."

"Oh."

"Those guys are not small, they could have really hurt you."

Draco snorts and I can hear him shifting again. "I've had years of practice dealing with big over-grown thugs. Their kind may be big, but they're always dumb as doornails."

I chuckle, the tension easing. "The first time I saw those Carnal Boys I immediately thought of Crabbe and Goyle."

"Maybe they're related." I can hear the smile in Draco's voice.

"Yeah." I smile in return.

Silence falls once more.

"Hey, Malfoy-"

"What happened to first names?" he interrupts.

"Sorry, it's a hard habit to break – a habit of seven years, to be exact." I shake my head in disbelief. "I can't believe I've known you for that long…"

"Yeah, and you still don't really know me."

I smile wryly. "No, I guess not."

"What were you going to ask?" He says after a pause.

"What? Oh…I forget."

"Typical."

"Oh, wait! I was going to ask why you were there yesterday?"

"Where? In the loo?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want a number?"

I frown for a second then burst into laughter. "I thought that was a Muggle expression?"

"Probably is." Draco chuckles. "You'd be surprised at how many Muggle things have filtered into the Slytherin house. Being who we are, we have always been drawn to the forbidden, and what's more forbidden to us than the Muggle world? I suppose you could say that it's our way of rebelling."

I shake my head in amusement, still smiling. "You're right, I hardly know anything about you."

"Well, we do have two days of this torture, so we might as well make the best of it."

"True," I acknowledge. "Should we take turns spilling the goods, then?"

"How about a little game of Truth?"

"What's Truth?"

"It's Truth or Dare without the dare. I don't really think this little hole of a cell will afford much in the way of imaginative dares."

"Alright, who's going first?"

"I'll ask first, you just got that Muggle admission from me."

"Fine. Ask away."

"Hmm…" Draco is silent as he obviously tries to think up a really good question.

I suddenly feel a little apprehensive about this game. It could either end horribly; with us fighting and then not speaking to each other, or then again, maybe it could bring us closer together.

This whole trial situation is liable to build a really strong bond between us – if we let it, that is. After today, I actually find myself wanting to have Draco as a friend - or maybe more importantly, think that we actually could be friends.

"Okay, got one," Draco announces. "I'm going to start you off easy, though, Potter."

"Harry," I immediately interject.

"It might be Potter again after this dangerous little game." I can practically hear the smirk.

"That's what I'm afraid of," I say dryly.

"Okay, question one for the famous Harry Potter: is it true, that you are Dumbledore's great grandson?"

"What?" I don't know whether to laugh or not. "Are you serious?"

"Just answer the question."

"No. I am not in any way related to Dumbledore. Satisfied?"

"I suppose."

"Just where in the hell did you hear that?"

"Just one of the many rumours going around about you."

"Great." I roll my eyes, preparing myself for a long night of ludicrous questioning. Although, I will gladly take ludicrous over embarrassing any day.

"Your turn," Draco prompts impatiently.

"Wait a second." I purse my lips, thinking hard. What do I want to know about Draco Malfoy? Hmm… Oh, I know. "The question on every Hogwart's student's mind is: do you, Draco Malfoy, dye your hair?"

"What!" Draco practically screeches with indignation. "I do not, nor have I ever, dyed my hair! I am naturally blond, and therefore naturally perfect."

"Sure." I roll my eyes, even though he can't see it. "Your turn."

"Dye my hair…" I can still hear him grumbling as I wait for the next question.

"Are you a virgin?"

Here we go. My body immediately tenses and I feel on edge. These kinds of questions can only going to lead to something bad.

"You have to answer," Draco prompts.

"Fine. Yes, I'm a virgin. Happy?" I say testily.

"Very," he replies smugly.

"Okay my turn," I say. "Are you a virgin?"

"No."

"Should've know…" I mumble.

"My turn," Draco says happily. "Have you ever kissed someone?"

Now it's my turn to feel smug. "Yes."

"Who?" Draco demands immediately, sitting up with interest.

"Sorry, it isn't your turn," I remind him unctuously. "Now let me see…" I say, drawing it out, taunting him, making him wait before he gets to ask his next question. I know he's just dying to know who it was that I kissed. "Okay, my question is: are you part Veela?"

"Where did that come from?" Draco asks, distracted.

"Just one of the many rumours going around about you. I'm not the only one who can induce gossip at that school."

"Well, the answer is no. There are no Veela in my family."

"Okay, you're turn." I sigh in resignation.

"Just who were you snogging Potter?" Draco asks immediately. I can just imagine the sparkling curiousity in his grey/blue eyes.

"It was more than one person," I answer loftily. "Which name do you want?"

"Your first one."

"Cho Chang."

"Cho Chang?" Draco repeats dumbly. "That Ravenclaw seeker?"

"Yep."

"But-"

"My turn," I interrupt smoothly. "Who was the lucky girl to steal your virgin status?"

"Pansy Parkinson," Draco answers stiffly, some underlying emotion clearly present.

I frown, but decide to leave it alone. "Your turn."

Draco is silent for a minute, then, "Are you really gay?"

Fuck. I knew this was going to come up at some point. I close my eyes bracingly. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because," he replies simply.

"Please ask me something else…"

"You are, aren't you?" Draco's voice isn't triumphant or cruel, just quiet, as if he was merely confirming a truth.

This boy isn't my friend yet. He could do any number of things with this information once we're out of here, and even while we're still in here. This could ruin the rest of my life. What would Ron and Hermione think? Or Dumbledore? Or Hagrid? I know they would be severely disappointed, along with the rest of the wizarding world.

But I can't deny it. He'll know I'm lying.

"Please don't tell anyone," I ask, hoping with all my heart that there is enough good in Draco for him to not hold this over my head.

"But…you kissed that Chang girl," he points out questioningly.

"No, she kissed me. I just went along with it - and hated it."

"Is that when you knew?"

"Knew what?"

"That you were, you know...queer."

"No, I had known it for awhile. That incident just confirmed it even more, just in case I was having any doubts."

He is silent, mulling over these new revelations.

"Your turn," he finally says aloud.

The mood in here has definitely shifted to something more serious.

I decide to go along with it.

"Why do you hate gay people?" I ask.

He sighs, and I get the feeling that he knew this question was coming. "Because…because they're sick, and it's wrong."

I wince and am suddenly glad that Malfoy can't see my expression. His words are like a sharp slap to the face. "So I disgust you?"

"No…I don't know…it's complicated," he says in frustration.

"What's so complicated? You either do or you don't. I don't like flubberworms, and probably never will, but I know I don't like them."

"No, I don't like gays, but-"

"But what? If you hate gay men, then why did you help me yesterday? Why didn't you just let the Carnal Boys do what they wanted with me? I would've thought that as a gay person, I deserved that kind of punishment."

I am angry now. I've never been allowed to vent my feelings and outrage on this subject - one so close to my own heart - and now I find it erupting all at once. I want to understand the logic of people like Malfoy. I truly want to know what makes them think the way they do, how they can be so closed-minded about the human race and not think that individuality is a wonderful and refreshing thing that makes the world such a interesting place to live.

"Look, Potter, men and women are supposed to be together. That's the way the world is supposed to work. They get married, have babies, and that is what makes a family. Not two men together doing revolting things with their bodies."

"Sex?"

"It's not sex when two men do it." Malfoy shudders in disgust. "It's not natural."

"But it sure feels good," I add vindictively.

"How would you know, you're a virgin."

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Malfoy!" I exclaim. "Why would they have sex if it didn't feel good? It's just as good as when straight men have sex – if not better."

"Better?" he chokes in disbelief.

"Yes – better. As a male, I know what feels good on my own body, so in theory, I know what also feels good on another man's body, much more than any girl would know. Plus, there aren't any of those stupid female head games involved."

"How do you know-"

"Cho," I answer simply. "She was a typical girl. We went out on a date and she spent the entire time gazing wistfully at another guy, then burst into tears and ran out on me."

"Why would you go out with her if you knew you were gay?"

"Because of people like you, Malfoy," I say, my words laced with steel. "You make people repress who they really are and force them to live a lie, to create a false front for the world. Do you really think that people would accept the Homosexual-That-Lived as their bloody hero?"

I hear a heavy sigh beside me. "Why does everything have to change? Why must people go looking for something they know is wrong?" He sounds as if he is speaking more to himself than to me.

I shake my head. "It's not a choice, Draco. Believe me, I would not have picked this for myself, I have enough to deal with."

He doesn't understand. He'll never understand.

"Look, I know I can't change your feelings, but I have to know if you'll keep my secret for me."

Another heavy sigh as I wait, feeling slightly nauseous with the tension.

"Alright. I promise I won't tell," he says finally.

I close my eyes, weak with relief. "Thank you."

There's an awkward silence.

"Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think that we could still be friends?"

"What are you, six years old, Potter?"

"You know what I mean." I smile hesitantly.

"Yes, we can still be friends," he says witheringly. "I'd ask you round for tea but I'm afraid I'm in prison at the moment."

I laugh. "God…I would kill for a cup of tea right now."

"Me too," Draco says wistfully.

I shift a little on the cold dirt floor. "Ouch," I hiss under my breath.

"What's wrong?"

"These bloody handcuffs are killing me," I explain. My arms are twisted and tender, my shoulders knotted and tense, and a dull headache is now pounding away due to the increasing soreness in my neck. "Let's talk about something else, I can't think about it or else the pain gets worse."

"I believe it's my turn, then," says Draco.

"Your…? Oh, the game," I reply listlessly.

'We don't have to-"

"No, it's okay. I think it's a good way for us to just get it all out in the open and be honest." I wince, rolling my head around in tiny circles to try and relieve the tight muscles.

"Yeah, okay…um, why aren't you mad at me?"

"For what?"

"You know, for saying that I don't like gay people."

I reflect carefully on his question before replying. "I'm not going to lie to you and say that what you said didn't…upset me, but I also know that if we're going to make it through this alive, then we need to put our differences aside. You already showed that it pays to have someone else watching your back in here. We help each other – that's how it works. And if you can ignore the fact that I'm gay, then I can ignore the fact that you are a prejudiced bigot."

"You are mad," Draco states quietly.

I sigh. "No, I'm not. Just try to refrain from any more rude comments and I'll be fine. Really."

"Harry, I want you to know that there's a reason beyond what I told you, about why I don't like gay people-"

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you if you don't interrupt," he snaps. "But you can't tell anyone. You trusted me with your secret and I need to trust you with mine."

"It won't leave this room, er, hole. I swear."

He sighs, and I can tell he's working up the courage to proceed. "When I was home for the summer after our fourth year at school, I…I saw my father having sex with another man."

I raise a brow in surprise.

"I was trying to find my father to take me to Hogsmeade, and I accidentally walked in on him in his private study. He…he had this guy up against the bookshelves, and they…he…"

I listen, stunned, as Malfoy stops and shakes his head.

"It's okay, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," I finally say, feeling awkward.

"I just wanted you to know why," he says shakily. "I never do anything without reason. And while I can't tell you everything, you have to understand that I was only fourteen and my carefully constructed world was crashing down all around me."

"S'okay." I smile. "This is as good a place as any to release your demons."

"Yeah, I suppose it is." Draco's breathing is still a little shaky, but he also sounds relieved.

"Is it my turn now?" I ask tentatively.

Draco smiles weakly. "Sure, why not?"

"Is that why you were even more horrid to me in fifth year?"

"Yeah," he admits quietly. "After that, I hated that you had this seemingly perfect life; where everyone loved you and no one kept secrets from you. I was so jealous." He pauses. "I can't believe I just told you that…"

I laugh. "You were jealous of an illusion, Draco. My life is far from perfect, very few people actually love me – I have yet to actually hear those words from someone's lips, by the way – and even Dumbledore has kept very important secrets from me. Secrets that affect my life – literally."

"The grass is always greener…" he surmises.

"Yep." Isn't that the truth.

"My turn. Who else have you kissed?"

I can't help but smile. It's almost as if the past few minutes and all its dramatic revelations never happened at all. We're back to gossiping about secret snogs in the Astronomy Tower. "Just one other person," I admit. "A boy."

"Who?" Draco asks curiously.

"I thought you didn't want to hear about things like that?"

"I don't want details, Potter. But I do want to know if it's someone we went to school with."

I sigh. "Alright. Yes it was someone from school, Colin Creevey to be exact."

Draco erupts into laughter as I blush horribly.

"Stop it!" I exclaim. "He had a huge crush on me and I wanted to know what it was like to kiss another bloke. He was also the only other gay person that I knew of at Hogwarts."

"Well, people don't go around advertising it," Draco exclaims between snickers.

"Would you stop laughing?"

"Sorry," he says, not sounding sorry at all.

"It's my turn," I say huffily. "Why did you sleep with Pansy Parkinson?"

That causes the laughter to stop. "I'm not answering that," he says with finality.

"What? You can't do that!"

"If I stop playing the game, I can." Is his only reply.

"Draco-"

"No, I don't want to play anymore."

"What happened to trusting me?"

"This is personal. Can we talk about something else now?"

"Fine," I agree grudgingly. "Like what?"

"Like how we're going to get those Carnal Boys back."

"Huh? Are you mental? I am not going after them."

"We could enlist the help of your new found friends," Draco persists.

"I don't know…we could get into trouble again."

"Don't you think they'd help out if we tell them what happened?"

"Probably. Well, Jack would anyway," I say, considering.

Draco pauses. "Do you like Jack?"

I blush for the second time in ten minutes. "No," I say feebly.

"You have a crush on him, don't you?"

"Sorry, we're not playing the game anymore," I answer, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. "I'm under no obligation to tell you anything."

"Ooo…Potter wants to kiss the tall, dark convict," Draco sing-songs teasingly, then starts to laugh at his own joke.

"Malfoy?"

"What?"

"Shut-up."