Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

WARNING: Male/male relationship that includes incest. Harry and Draco are angsty and sentimental in this story so that means they're OOC. Ron and Hermione are nearly nonexistent in this story.

A/N: I got a new Livejournal. Yay. Anyways, chapter 3's revised and in the bag. I'm trying to post everyday but my school is resuming on Monday! sob sob The Remus and Sirius in the PoA movie looked a lot more different than what I thought they'd look like. But I still see them as two young handsome men.

The Hardship That Brothers Face

Chapter 3

(The arrival of Monsieurs Mischief Managed)

It was Monday. Classes had ended for that day and the following night was the night of the Masquerade. And Draco had yet to get a costume for the party.

The students and staff of Hogwarts were chatting amiably and gaily amongst each other. Rumours concerning the Masquerade were on everyone's lips. Students were discussing what type of enchanted decorations Dumbledore had prepared this time. Would it be fairies again? Or perhaps they would bring in doxies this time.

Draco couldn't care less. Still, his stomach churned at the mention of the Masquerade. He was reminded over and over again that he was still unprepared. He felt eyes on him. To his right across the table, Harry was sneaking glances towards him. Worried glances. Draco avoided eye contact with his brother and tried to eat. But he didn't really feel like eating pizza right now.

The doors of the Great Hall opened. Cold night air blew in and extinguished several floating candles. One of the two figures who were standing just outside the Great Hall chuckled softly. "I'm so sorry. Let me fix that." He waved his wand once and fire returned to the candles. The two figures stepped into the Great Hall and closed the doors behind them.

In the light of several hundred candles, the faces of the figures could be seen and they were both easily recognized as Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

"Lupin! Sirius!" cried Harry in joy as he got up from his seat and ran towards his godfather and friend. Harry hugged Sirius first, then the Animagus' lover. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? This is a great surprise!"

'Well, we did inform someone,' said Remus, his twinkling blue eyes directed at Draco. Draco drank deeply from his goblet and left the Great Hall, ignoring the two newcomers' presence altogether.

'Uh oh, he isn't happy,' thought Remus. He nudged Sirius and the dark-haired man merely offered him a sheepish smile and a shrug.

Draco walked at his normal pace; keeping the cool exterior on his face and looking nonchalant when inside he was trying his hardest to keep the frozen look on his features and his strides a reasonable pace. Remus, that darned werewolf… Sirius, that irritating Animagus…

"Why did you come?" wondered Draco aloud. "Argh!" He paced through the corridor and made a left turn into the fountain place. Wind blew through his hair and down the corridor, howling softly as it went. 'I may not be a coward, but in the face of the truth, I dare not even speak. Mother,' he said.

As though something was being summoned, the wind suddenly howled loudly and blew stronger than ever. It wasn't strong even to chill Draco through his layers of clothing but enough to shaken him.

"Draco, what are you doing?" howled the wind.

"Mother?"

The wind died down to a breeze in the night. "Draco, what are you doing?" the wind repeated.

"I–I don't want Harry to hate me," said Draco.

"And that is why you made your brother cry?"

Draco hung his head. "I had no choice."

"Why do you torture yourself by creating this nightmare in your head that Harry would hate you?" asked the wind which, in Draco's mind, resembled his late mother.

"Because I am afraid. I am too much in love with him to lose him now."

"So is this how you see Harry? As an insensitive person to considered not your feelings? A cold-hearted fool who rejects affection simply? Is this what Harry looks like to you?"

Tears threatened to break. "No! No, never! He is perfect! Which is why I can bear him be tainted by me!"

Thunder cracked in a distant with the promise of rain. "Harry loves you, dear," whispered the wind. "He loves you."

"He does?" But it was almost too much to hope for. Draco put on a small smile. "It'd be nice if that were true. I…love…"

Rain started to fall in a drizzle. Loud footsteps were heard coming down the hallway, closer to the fountain place. Footsteps that belonged to the wearer of heeled boots. Remus was, least to say, startled when he saw Draco standing before the fountain in the drizzle, paying no heed that he was getting drenched.

"Draco!" he yelled. But the blonde boy did not hear him.

Remus wasted no time in running out and pulling Draco into his arms. He urged Draco to go back under shelter. The both of them stumbled into the corridor, slightly drenched.

Draco was slumped against the wall and he slowly slid to the ground. "Harry," he whispered, eyes closing.

Remus looked mournfully at the youth as Draco passed out after whispering, "I love him."

"Oh Draco," whispered Remus, lifting Draco up, one hand on the back of his neck and the other tucked in the back of his knees. "Why torture yourself for someone who already loves you?"

"For the melodrama of it all." Sirius appeared from the shadows with a warm cloak which he draped over the shoulders of his boyfriend. "You know these youths of today."

"No, I think Draco's problem run far more deeper than melodrama," replied Remus with a smile. "More on denial than melodrama, wouldn't you say?" Sirius returned the gentle smile and tucked a stray wet hair behind the werewolf's ear. "Well, that's why we came," continued Remus. 'To help him. How's Harry?"

"Before I completely left to run after you, I think I see him nearly hysterical asking everybody about the whereabouts of Draco. You weren't wrong about him. He does love Draco."

"Brotherly love or a love like ours?" asked Remus.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

Remus pecked Sirius on the lips and transferred Draco into the taller man's arms.

"Have you seen Draco?" asked Harry.

Seamus waved off Harry irritably and tried to concentrate on his book. "This is the fifth time you've asked me, Harry," he said in a thick Irish accent. "Quit bugging."

"I haven't seen him since dinner. You have to tell me if you see him," pleaded Harry.

"I will. Now will you just sit down and enjoy the fire?" Seamus turned away from Harry and continued reading his book.

Dean patted Harry's back good-naturedly. "Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure he'll turn up."

The portrait entrance of the Gryffindor common room slid open and Draco stepped in, looking as neat as ever save for his hair which looked a bit messed up.

"You see?" said Dean smugly.

Harry looked at Dean squarely in the eye and hugged the boy. "Thank you." He released Dean almost immediately. Draco had stiffened when he saw the hug between Harry and Dean and automatically moved towards his dorm. But his way was blocked.

"Where have you been? I've been worried sick when I didn't see you at the end of dinner," said Harry.

For a moment, some emotion entered Draco's icy blue eyes but it went away so fast Harry could not place what it was. "Sorry," was all the reply Harry got.

"Where did you go?" asked Harry. Harry took in the slightly messed up hair and battled with himself whether to look disappointed or smirk. In the end, he opted to smirk. "Did you go to the Astronomy Tower?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why would I go there?"

"Well, you know," hinted Harry cheekily. "I understand that we at this age tend to have hormonal urges and um- attractions towards the opposite sex."

"Are you hinting that I went snogging at the Astronomy Tower with a nameless person of the opposite sex?" demanded Draco.

"Well I wouldn't say nameless – "

"How dare you!" burst out Draco. His cheeks coloured. "You know I'm not that type of person. Harry! You're my brother!" The last sentence sounded ironic coming out of him.

"I'm sorry," blurted Harry. "I'm sorry I made the wrong assumptions."

Draco was frozen. He, Draco, was the one who had sinful feelings for his brother and there Harry stood apologizing for something that really did not matter much. Draco hung his head like one who was humiliated. "Harry please," his voice shook. "Don't do this. Don't apologize. Don't sympathize. Don't do any kind things for this sorry excuse of a little brother."

Harry gripped his brother's shoulders. "Draco?"

Tell him, Draco recalled Remus saying to him. Tell him the truth.

Should he tell him? One part of Draco felt that Harry had the right to know. But the other part felt afraid of how Harry might react when he knew. A moment's pause.

No. I don't want to tell him. I don't want him to hate me.

"It's nothing, Harry," said Draco. "If you still trust me, then trust that I will tell you when I am ready."

Harry released Draco's shoulders. Draco trudged up the stairs to his dorm. He looked back and saw Harry's sad green eyes fixed on him.

You remind me, thought Draco, of a fresh summer field that I could die in.

Draco closed the door behind him and Harry was left staring at the door. Harry retreated to an armchair at the side and sank into the velvety furniture. He sighed and chose to stare at the ceiling of the common room.

It pains me to know that you don't trust me with your secrets anymore, Draco.

Draco stared at the roof of the canopy of his bed. He held his hand before him and stared at his fingers. They were long and slender, like a lady's. He turned his hand and now could be found staring at the lines on his palm.

He was reminded of the time he spent with Remus and Sirius after Remus found him the rain.

"One of these lines tell how many companions in marriage you will have," said Remus amiably, tracing the lines on Draco's palm with his forefinger. "Ah, here it is. It says that you will only have one companion which you will marry."

"Of course," snapped Draco, snatching his hand away. "What do you take me for? Some kind of womaniser?"

"No, of course not," replied Remus. "This just tells that you're loyal to love."

Sirius appeared from the bathroom. "The hot water's ready."

Draco nodded his thanks and bathed in the warm tub while Remus dried his clothes with magic. When Draco reappeared, his cheeks were flushed pink from the bath and he looked more presentable than he did out in the rain. Draco tried to smooth his hair with his hand but his hair remained messy. Nothing much can be done without a comb.

"No, I do not want a brush," said Draco, shaking his head at the brush Remus held in his hand. Remus' hair was slightly curly and some had split ends. Draco could see why with that abomination of a brush Remus used.

Sirius came in and laid two flat boxes on the table. Draco looked at the boxes curiously as he sipped on a cup of tea. "What're in those?"

"Our costumes," replied Sirius, plopping down in an armchair beside Draco. "For the Masquerade. You have to have one if you're going. You do have one ready, right?"

Draco shook his head and downed the rest of his tea as Sirius sighed, muttering, "You're hopeless."

"Well, it's a good thing we came prepared," said Remus. This got Draco's attention. "Come to us before the Masquerade tomorrow and we'll dress you up."

"I'm not a doll," spat Draco. "I can choose not to go to the Masquerade if I want to. Maybe that's why I don't have a costume."

"We both know that's not true," said Sirius with a knowing smirk. Draco sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Don't give me anything fancy or eye-catching," warned Draco. Remus smiled and his blue eyes twinkled. Despite his polite and gentlemanlike poise, Remus was, after all, a Marauder. Never underestimate the Marauders. "You hear?" Remus nodded. Sirius was trying to hide his grin behind the rim of his teacup. Draco gave up. They would listen but they would not heed. Like a pair of dumb dogs. (A/N: No offense.)

"Just remember to come to us," said Remus. "Oh, you'd better get going. Harry must be getting worried."

Draco shot him a disapproving glare before disappearing from the room.

Draco turned on his bed. He lifted his head and looked out the window. The rain had not yet ceased and the wind accompanied it. Draco had placed a Heating Charm on his bed and around his canopy so that he would be able to stay warm. The wind reminded him of the conversation he had earlier at the fountain place. Was that really his mother confirming Harry's love for him?

What did it matter? It wasn't like Harry would ever reciprocate his love anyway.

Next chapter: The Masquerade

Teaser: The person in front of Harry was dressed completely in black velvet and had a black satin mask covering the upper part of his angular face. Gold thread was lined into the mask. Blue eyes stared out of the eyeholes of the mask and blonde hair tickled the nape of his neck. The lips curved into a smile but their moment was spoiled by the uproar of clapping hands as the stage curtains opened and the first act began.