"So, is there anyone you're just dying to shag?"
I snort in response, my fingers still idly carding through Draco's blond hair as we lie side by side on the top bunk in our cell. We had been talking (amongst other things), for a few hours now, mutually deciding to spend some alone time together even if it meant we had to stay up all night to do it safely.
"Come on," Draco is encouraging now, eyes sparkling. "Who was the recurring star in all your wet dreams growing up?"
"Besides you?" I dead-pan.
Draco rolls his eyes and gives my arm - which is currently draped over his chest - a pinch.
"Ouch," I cry, trying not to laugh too loud.
"Do you want to know mine?" he asks.
"Only if it's me."
"Well, it's not," Draco says with an annoyance that I'm hoping is actually affectionate – deep down.
"Okay, who should I get all jealous about?" I finally relent with a smile.
Draco grins. "David Beckham."
"The football star?" I say in surprise. "The Muggle football star?"
"Oh yeah, he's hot."
"You know he's straight, right?"
"Who cares, with that gorgeous arse."
I laugh and tug a little harder than necessary on his hair. "Watch it," I warn. "Or you might be sleeping on the floor mat tomorrow."
"Not tonight?" he asks innocently.
I smile at his perception. "No, I think I want you right here for tonight. What's left of the night anyway."
"Then we should make good use of our time," Draco says with a raised brow.
I chuckle as Draco drags me back down beside him and firmly wraps his arms around me, throwing a leg over mine for good measure. He keeps his eyes open as he softly kisses my lips a few times; slowly, reverently, and without hurry. That wonderful feeling starts tingling away in my stomach again, filling me with a pleasant warmth. Draco begins to move his welcome mouth down to my throat, kissing and sucking at intervals, slowly driving me crazy.
I moan and tilt my head back. "Oh…that feels good."
"Good." Draco smirks against my skin. He continues his downward trek and I gasp quietly as his lips move over my collarbone.
"Wait." I sit up and quickly begin unbuttoning my grubby prison shirt.
Draco sits up and puts his hands over mine, stopping me. "Let me do that," he whispers.
I nod and drop my hands, staring into his eyes as he frees the last of the buttons and pushes my shirt open to expose my bare chest. Draco's eyes roam over my body and I start to feel a little embarrassed, I hope he's not disappointed.
"Not quite abs of steel like Beckham," I say nervously.
Draco smiles softly and pushes my shirt the rest of the way off, slipping it down my arms and then setting it aside.
"Perfect," he whispers, bringing his wandering gaze back to mine.
I blush, and reach for the buttons on his shirt for something to do. I push it off of his shoulders like he did mine, and now it's my turn to look.
Draco's pale skin is luminescent in the dark, his rosy pink nipples standing out on the smooth, hairless expanse of his chest.
He's beautiful.
Draco smiles and tugs me back down to the bed beside him. Our bodies become a hopeless tangle of warm limbs, and our lips meet over and over again, trying to possess the other.
I close my eyes and moan quietly into his mouth, my hands now rubbing up and down the smooth, naked skin of his back. Draco shifts his hips closer, trying to find solid contact to ease the aching in his groin. I slip my hands down to his arse and pull him up against me, hard.
"Merlin, Harry…" he gasps, pulling his mouth away from mine, eyes closed in ecstasy.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to stop," I pant back, thrusting against him again.
"Who said anything about stopping?" he smirks a little breathlessly.
I stop moving and open my eyes. "But…we can't…um-"
"You'll just have to be very, very quiet," Draco purrs into my ear, using his teeth to lightly nip my earlobe.
"Uh…" I groan. "Not if you're going to be doing things like that."
Draco looks down at me with an evil grin. "Oh, I can do much, much worse than that."
I smile in anticipation and pull the blond down on top of my body. Draco leans in to quickly capture my lips once more as I wrap my legs around his waist and allow him to settle between my thighs.
"Tell me what you want, Harry," he whispers between kisses.
I bite my lip as he gives another downward thrust of his pelvis. "Fuck…" I gasp quietly, closing my eyes. "I want…"
"Yes?" Draco encourages while leaving his mark on my neck.
"I want you to touch me."
Draco moans at my words, and the sensation of his erection pushing against my own makes me harden further. He kneels up beside me and deftly unties the tie on my trousers, then his own. He lies back down beside me, and we face eachother in the dark.
I lick my lips and watch him carefully. "Is this…okay?"
He looks surprised. "Of course, why shouldn't it be?"
"I just don't want to rush you into anything."
Draco smiles and strokes a finger down my cheek. "If I didn't want it, I wouldn't have suggested it. Besides, you're the virgin here, Potter, not me."
I chuckle and kiss him hard on the mouth. "I'm going to make you forget all about her," I say with determination, stroking a hand down his naked side. "You'll never want to sleep with another woman again."
"I didn't the first time."
I smile and our kisses are definitely more heated this time, tongues coming out to stroke and arouse. Little breathy moans and sounds of pleasure issuing forth without really knowing whose mouth it's coming from.
Draco slowly slides his hand down my back and lets his fingers brush the curve of my arse just below the waistband of my trousers. I do the same with him, allowing my fingertips to explore and touch, acquainting myself with Draco's firmly rounded backside.
He finally loosens my trousers a little more and brings his wandering hand to my front, his fingertips now exploring the wiry curls of my pubic hair.
I moan into his neck and bite down on the sensitive skin to keep quiet. "Please…" I whisper, now licking over the bite mark I'd just left.
Draco rubs his cheek on the top of my head, like a cat, and drops his hand lower to wrap his fingers around my hard shaft.
I clench my eyes shut and bite my lip – very hard. I have just enough sense to guide my hand around to Draco's neglected erection to reciprocate.
He gasps as I roughly begin to fist him, loving the feel of the hard, velvety flesh in my hand. I desperately want to look down and watch, but I know it would send me over the edge, and I don't want this to end just yet.
I thrust into Draco's hand as he pumps, his grip tightening as his entire body suddenly stiffens.
I guess this will be ending now.
I increase the speed and pressure on his cock, and decide to look down to watch as he comes.
Draco buries his face into my neck and cries out as he spurts out over my fist, the warm liquid now slicking his prick and making it easier for me to stroke as he comes down from orgasm. He shudders against me and I let go when he becomes soft in my hand.
Draco slowly opens his eyes and smiles muzzily at me. "That was…nice. Short, but nice."
"Hmm…I'm glad."
Draco kisses me on the lips then pulls back and watches my face as he runs his hand through the mess on his lower abdomen then brings it back to my trembling cock.
"Oh god…" I moan, throwing my head back, as his now slick hand begins to pump me with enthusiasm.
We both nearly scream when the morning whistle suddenly pierces through the early morning silence with an ear-shattering screech.
"Shit!" I curse as I quickly sit up and stuff my still achingly hard prick back into my trousers and tie them up. I grab my shirt and do up the buttons with shaking fingers.
"Sorry about that, Harry."
I nod and look up. "What…Draco!" I exclaim angrily when I catch sight of the look on his face; his top teeth biting into his lower lip as he vainly tries to hold in laughter. "This isn't funny!"
Draco quickly grabs his own shirt and jumps down to the ground, away from me, laughing loudly.
I narrow my eyes at him, then smirk. "At least I don't have explain to anyone why I have dried semen all over my uniform."
Draco's eyes widen and he looks down at himself in horror. He runs over to the sink and tries to wash away the sticky mess staining his clothes.
I finish with my shirt then hop down to the ground to carefully glance into our cellmate's bunk. He's still out cold. I don't know how he can sleep through that morning whistle blast, but I'm sure glad he's a heavy sleeper.
I lean against the wall and watch Draco frantically rub at his stained trousers.
Draco glances at me and glowers at my smug expression. "At least I don't have to walk around with a hard-on all day, like some kind of walking target."
My face quickly loses its smugness.
Draco winces and turns off the water. "I'm sorry, Harry," he says remorsefully. "I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay, I know you didn't mean it like that," I say, forcing a brave smile onto my face.
Draco walks over to me as he slips his wrinkled shirt back on over his shoulders.
"I'll make it up to you tonight," he promises quietly.
"See that you do."
Draco smiles as he finishes buttoning his shirt. I watch as the last of his pale skin is covered up.
Draco smirks as he follows my gaze. "Don't look so sad, you get to see me naked in the shower."
"Yeah, but I'm not exactly allowed to look then, am I?"
"True," he concedes.
The door suddenly slides open behind us and I sigh as we walk out and join the line.
"I'm really starting to fucking hate this place."
Draco glances sideways at me, bemused. "Only now?"
"I'm just…so tired of it all, I guess. I don't know. It just feels as though the Ministry is playing with us, with our lives, and nobody seems to care that we're still here."
Draco smiles softly. "That's only because we're stuck in here without seeing the effect our arrest is having on the outside world. Don't worry, people know we're in here. Your adoring public won't forget about you."
"Thanks," I say sarcastically.
"Nor will Dumbledore," he adds with conviction.
I heave another sigh, Hogwarts seems so far away now. Did I ever really live outside of these walls?
"Shh!" Draco suddenly hisses out of the corner of his mouth. "Vark."
I turn to see one of the guards striding towards us along the upper deck. Instead of checking us off on his list and walking by, he stops to face us.
"You two are wanted in the visitor's room," he says.
We glance at eachother in bewilderment as the guard leads us down to the bottom level and through the corridors towards the tiny visitor's area.
We've never had a visitor this early in the morning before, nor have we had a visitor of any kind for quite a while now. It must be Dumbledore if we're both being summoned. I hope it's good news.
I should've known better.
"Remus." I smile as the door closes behind us with a click and I spot my old professor standing by the steel table.
He looks agitated as he looks up, his hair sticking out in all directions as if he'd been running his hand through it numerous times. I notice he's holding what looks like the Daily Prophet in his hand.
"What's wrong?" I ask hesitantly, searching that young face that holds too many lines for his age.
Remus unfolds the newspaper and throws it down on the table, the front cover facing towards us.
I stare at him a moment then drop my eyes to the newspaper.
There, in all its black and white glory, is a larger than life photo of Draco and I snogging in the towel room.
My jaw literally drops as I can only stare in shock at the unmoving photograph that is now being seen by every witch and wizard in our world. People everywhere are only now sitting down to their breakfast, paper in hand, and reading the bold print letters spelled out across the front page:
'HARRY POTTER IN HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH DEATH EATER SON.'
I stumble over to one of the metal chairs and collapse into it, my eyes still staring at that accusing picture. I'm vaguely aware of a buzzing in my ears as I finally tear my gaze away and look to Remus, pleading for what I know not.
"How…?" I whisper hoarsely.
"I guess that answers the question of whether it's true or not." Remus sighs and sits across from me. "I think you should read it, Harry," he says in a very dead sort of tone. "Both of you."
I blink and glance over at Draco as he comes to sit beside me. I try to gauge the expression on his face, but his emotionless mask is firmly in place. I dearly hope that it's because of Remus' presence, and not a wall that he has put back up to keep me out. I don't think I could stand returning to the way things were between us, but with this new revelation, Draco might be scared off for good.
I push away those thoughts for later, and turn back to read the article beneath the taunting photograph.
'It seems the Boy Who Lived has been caught red-handed in the arms of well-known Death Eater son, Draco Malfoy. The two were recently imprisoned for the murder of Hogwarts Professor Severus Snape, sentence of which has yet to be determined, and are now engaging in lewd acts in the dark corners of the Woodward Correctional Institute, where they are currently being held.
The Prophet's secret inside source has said that the two young teens are now sharing a bed and are rarely seen without the other, even going so far as to conduct their immoral dalliances in the showers and locker rooms of the Institute. When asked to comment on the nature of the boy's relationship within the Institute's walls, Walter Sneed (Woodward overseer and manager), had this to say: "We do not condone relationships of this nature by any means, but can do very little in the way of stopping it from occurring. The men within these walls are the dregs of society, and, unfortunately, are prone to such acts when left to their own devices. We will of course make a full report in the case of Mr Potter and hand it over to the court to decide if further disciplinary action should be taken.'
My hands begin to shake as I read on.
'Past classmates of the two accused have told the Prophet that Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy were never friends during their days at Hogwarts, some even said that they were considered rivals. So what the wizarding public should be asking themselves is: has the Boy Who Lived turned to the side of the Dark? Has he joined the ranks of He Who Must Not Be Named?
This reporter is of the opinion that Harry Potter can no longer be a role model for our children, nor an icon for the Light. It is clear by the photographic evidence, that Mr Potter is participating in activities that can only be described as heinous and perverse. I can only hope that this will have an affect on his impending trial and that the truth of Severus Snape's murder will come to light. It is dark times indeed when the hero we put all our trust and faith in has now fallen into the dark.'
My blood runs cold as I finish the last sentence. I set the newspaper down on the table, my hands now shaking worse than ever, and look up at Remus. I don't even know what to say. I simply stare at him, a million thoughts running through my brain, but not a single coherent idea to focus on. This is a dream - a nightmare. Like an out of body experience, only…I should have expected this. When have I ever been allowed to be happy for more than two seconds altogether?
I startle when Draco quietly slips a hand into mine, holding it tight and laying our two intertwined hands on my thigh.
I look over at him, and I don't see a wall of indifference; his grey eyes are strong and…loving.
I smile weakly at him and can feel a little of the tension flow out of my body, my hands stilling their frightened trembling.
Remus slowly pulls the paper back towards himself and slips it into his bag, out of sight.
"So, we're doomed, right?" Draco asks lightly.
Remus sighs and flashes a reluctant smile at the blond. "Not quite, Mr Malfoy. I don't hear the fat lady singing just yet."
"What did Dumbledore say?" I ask.
"Not much," Remus admits. "He says that there isn't much we can do except to try and repair the damage. I'm not going to lie to you boys, it isn't going to be easy. The wizarding community, while far advanced in most matters, is still in the dark ages when it comes to matters of sexuality. It is archaic, and I don't agree with it, but I'm afraid that's what we're up against."
"What about the Auror's working our case?" Draco asks intently.
Remus shakes his head. "I'm afraid they're not much different than the majority. There are of course a few exceptions, like Tonks, but on the whole, they will not…react favourably to this news. But, they will still do their job. They can't tamper with evidence or stop altogether because of this. They will still be professional in that sense."
"Okay," I say slowly. "Damage control… Maybe if Ron and Hermione come here tomorrow, I can see what…" I trail off at the look on Remus' face.
A horrible thought suddenly strikes me.
"They read the article, right?" I ask, hesitantly.
"Yes," he nods, not quite meeting my gaze.
"And did you…talk to them?"
"Harry…" Remus leans forward in his chair and clasps his hands together bracingly on top of the steel table. "Ron is from a very old, very traditional, wizarding family. His views simply coincide with what his family and what his community believes as a whole. I don't know if you knew, but he and Hermione are dating now. I know she's from a Muggle family, but you know that not all Muggles are proud supporters of gay rights. It would seem her family is one of them, or maybe Ron has influenced her, I don't really know. I think people react this way because they don't understand it, they're not taught at a young age that men and women can love whomever they wish. They're inundated with films and books and television shows that portray the perfect way of life as being a woman, a man, and a couple of kids. Their warped, Disney-fied view of the world is not realistic. It's hurting the people they are repressing, and it's hurting themselves not opening their eyes to the only thing that really matters at all: the freedom to love whomever you wish. Forget conformity, forget society – you only have one life to live, so you might as well be yourself."
I stare speechless at my ex-professor.
"You should run for office," Draco finally says, smirking.
"Yeah right." Remus smiles, sitting back in his chair. "I can see it now: New Minister of Magic is a Werewolf and Proud Supporter of Gay Rights."
"And friends with the notorious Harry Potter; dark wizard to be," Draco adds, chuckling.
"Harry?" Remus turns to me, looking concerned. "Are you alright?"
I still can't quite wrap my brain around the fact that my best friends have abandoned me.
"Do Ron and Hermione think I killed Snape?" I ask.
Remus frowns thoughtfully. "I don't think so, not really. You've been accused of turning to the Dark many times before."
"So it's just because I'm gay," I say dully.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"It's okay." I shrug, feeling hollow. "It's not your fault. I don't know what we'd do if we didn't have you, Remus."
"It seems you're our only ally," Draco says to Remus, while giving my hand a quick squeeze beneath the table.
"What about Dumbledore?" I ask suddenly, my heart in my throat. I don't think I could stand it if one of the wizards I look up to most hated me.
Remus smiles. "You have two allies, boys."
I exhale in relief and glance at Draco. He smiles at me, looking relieved as well.
Remus watches us with a fond expression. "As much as you might think that it's more trouble than it's worth right now, I'm really glad you found eachother. There's hope for the both of you yet if you can still find some glimmer of happiness in here."
"Thank you," I say sincerely, smiling at Remus. "It's been a long journey."
Draco laughs quietly. "A very long and bumpy journey," he adds.
"Makes it all the more worth while in the end, don't you think?" Remus winks.
We turn to look at eachother. "Definitely."
"Oh, that reminds me," Remus suddenly exclaims, digging in his worn, brown bag on the floor. "I brought something for the two of you. I already had it cleared with the guards, and checked over for any magic. I know it's in here somewhere…"
I watch curiously as Remus continues to rummage around in the large bag.
"Aha!" he cries triumphantly.
I lean forward with interest as Remus removes two packages. He hands one over to each of us and sits back with a secretive smile.
I pull the drawstring on the cloth pouch and reach inside. I pull out my hand and stare, then start to laugh.
"A toothbrush?" I exclaim in amusement. "Why Remus, what on earth are you trying to say?"
"Or more likely, what on earth are you trying to encourage." Draco smirks.
I reach back in and pull out a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash, a tube of toothpaste, and a small box of mint-flavoured floss.
"Thanks," I say, still grinning, as I place it all back in the bag and slip it into my pocket.
"Very much," Draco reiterates, leering at me lasciviously.
I giggle and roll my eyes at the ridiculous blond. But he's my ridiculous blond.
"Well then, I'll leave you to it," Remus says, standing and gathering his things. "Don't give up all hope yet, I'm still scheduled to meet with the Minister and some other officials about the idea of letting you out on probation."
"Well that's something, at least," I say, not really believing that anything would come of it. Especially when it concerns Fudge, he's always been easily swayed by the public, and this new article on me does not bode well for any lenience he might send our way.
"Goodbye, Remus." I hug him fiercely. "Thank you for everything."
"Goodbye, Harry." He returns the hug with just as much force. "Be happy."
Remus shakes hands with Draco, smiling warmly even though the action is so formal.
"Thanks for taking care of him," Remus says quietly.
Draco looks surprised, then smiles. "My pleasure."
I grasp Draco's hand as we walk back through the corridors, one of the guards marching along behind us. I don't care what he thinks about our joined hands at the moment.
"Where are you going?" I ask, as Draco veers away from the dining hall and towards the yard.
"You're not honestly hungry, are you?" he asks.
"No, I guess not," I admit.
We are the first inmates to step out into the yard, and the guard quickly leaves us as we begin to aimlessly wander the barren landscape; still hand in hand.
"Harry, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
Draco looks ahead as we walk, our pace meandering and unhurried. "How far did you go with Colin?"
I raise my brows. "Just kissing, mostly."
"Mostly?" he questions.
"You know, some touching and stuff." I shrug. "But nothing below the waist."
Draco nods. "It doesn't bother you that I'm not a virgin, does it?"
I smile and squeeze his hand. "No."
He nods again, then stops walking and stares into my eyes intently. "I want to go further with you."
"You mean…all the way, further?"
"Yeah… do you?" he asks, looking unsure for probably the first time in his life.
I think about it for a second then slowly nod. "Yeah, I do," I say, meaning it.
He smiles a little, then frowns, glancing back at the ugly building that is Grace. "I just wish we could do it without worrying about ending up on the front page of the Prophet."
I can't help chuckling at the thought. "I think that would really scare people."
"No, it would be beautiful," Draco says, stroking a finger down my cheek. "If they could only see the beauty that was in that photograph today… I thought it was breathtaking, myself."
I smile and glance around before wrapping my arms around Draco's waist and snuggling into his warm body.
"What are we going to do then?" I ask, closing my eyes with a yawn.
"I don't know…"
We're silent as we both try to figure out a way to be alone, without worrying about the Prophet's spy.
I sigh. "I think it's impossible."
Draco grimaces. "Well, I am not having sex in that bunk bed with our cellmate below, probably wanking off to the two of us."
We fall back into silence, and I'm about ready to give up when-
"I've got it!"
"What?" I pull back and look into Draco's excited face.
"We'll fight!"
"Huh?" I reply intelligently.
Draco grabs my hands in his and he looks a little manic as he stares at me very intently.
"If we get into a fight, then the guards will punish us, right?"
"Yeah, but…" Oh. A smile slowly spreads across my face. "And then we'll get sent to the Box for a couple of days."
"Exactly. It'll only be the two of us, no chance of any lurking spies with cameras. Or anyone else, for that matter."
"You're brilliant," I proclaim, smacking a wet kiss on his smug lips.
"I know. Now, come on."
I follow Draco back across the yard, closer to the entrance doors, and we stop and face eachother. I pray that our friends stay indoors long enough for us to stage our mock fight so that they won't come running over and interfere.
"Fuck you, Potter!" Draco yells into my face.
I quickly school my features into an angry glare. "Don't you dare yell at me, Malfoy!"
"It's about time somebody did, Golden Boy."
"You're just jealous," I shout angrily – mock angrily. It's not hard to fall back on our old school day sparring ritual. "You think the whole world should bow down at your feet and worship you. You're just a spoiled brat who gets whiny when he doesn't have enough attention."
"At least I don't have people stepping all over themselves to congratulate me on something I only managed to do with luck."
"Maybe you would have people congratulating you for something if you had ever managed to win a Quidditch game, but oh, it seems I always beat you at that, too."
Draco bites his lip to keep from laughing at that one. "Fuck you."
"Good one," I say sarcastically. I can see a couple of the guards standing nearby, watching us warily. Good, it's working.
"Quidditch is just a game, Potter," Draco spits out my name with contempt. "At least I wasn't a dismal failure at the classes that mattered."
"What? Like potions?" I quip. "Oh yeah, it takes real talent to have your extremely biased head of house hand out points to you for sitting correctly, or for throwing newt eyes at me."
"Don't you dare talk about Professor Snape like that!"
At first I think he's serious, and I pause uncertainly, but a minute shake of his head lets me know that it's okay.
"I can say whatever the hell I want," I challenge loudly.
"Not to me, you can't."
I'm surprised when Draco suddenly launches himself at me and tackles me to the ground.
"We have to make this look even," he whispers into my ear.
I use my knee and ram him in the gut, effectively throwing him off of me and to the side. I pounce on him and push him into the ground. Draco grunts when his head hits the earth, then pulls back and punches me in the jaw. I cry out in exaggerated pain and fall off of him.
Draco rolls back on top of me and pretends to choke me as he leans down close to my ear.
"Are you okay?" he pants quietly.
"Yeah." I smirk for a second, then reach out and pull his hair.
"Ow!" he yelps.
I almost feel like smirking in triumph, but then a pair of black clothed arms suddenly come out of nowhere and grab Draco by the arms, roughly dragging him off of me.
Another guard grabs me and hauls me to my feet.
"What the hell is going on here?" my captor demands furiously.
"Ask him!" I spit, pretending to lurch forward towards Draco again.
Draco's eyes narrow with rage and he struggles to break free.
"Enough!"
We both stop, breathing heavily, still glaring at the other.
"This isn't the first time you've caused trouble here, Potter," the guard says threateningly.
I'm a little worried about the fact that he's just saying my name. I glance at Draco, hoping his brilliant plan doesn't blow up in our faces.
"You boys obviously didn't learn your lesson the last time," Draco's captor says with relish. "Looks like you need to learn some more."
I swallow, waiting for what's to come. Maybe this was a bad idea…
"Yeah," my guard agrees gruffly. "I think a week in the Box should do it."
I almost sigh in relief.
"No!" Draco screams, struggling against the guard.
Oh yeah. I'm supposed to be unhappy.
"No, please!" I beg as they drag us towards Grace.
"Shut it!" my guard barks at me. "Or I'll make it longer."
I whimper and sniff as we're led down into the bowels of the prison. It all comes back to me as that foul stench fills my nostrils.
I chance a glance at Draco, keeping my head down towards the floor, as we walk along. He catches my eye and the left-hand corner of his mouth quirks up in a secretive smirk.
I try not to grin.
