Disclaimer: See previous

Story Talk: For those of you that read this under the penname slashing-leo I changed the very end. The only difference is that there isn't somewhere else they need to go. There is something important to the sequel in this chapter. So keep an eye out for possibilities.

Authoress Ramble: So I found out that I am going to be busy as crazy this summer. Between my job and color guard, made guard this try-out by the way, not to mention I plan to get a second job I am not going to have much time left for anything. Except for stuff before one on Tuesdays and Thursdays and some Fridays. And I have homework for my AP Classes. Stupidly I signed up for four of them. One being Pre-cal, pre-trig. The others should be pretty easy though. But I am going to be really stressed. Not to mention I am retaking the ACT in October. I got a 26 and I want a little better.

Chapter 7

At the end of the date Draco did get his kiss goodnight as well as a promise to meet him tomorrow. Harry was a bit worried about the sudden change in Draco, but part of him just didn't want to worry about that anymore. He just wanted to be happy and regardless of what would happen later. He was happy now. Happier than he was with Blaise and definitely happier than he had been since their break up.

However his complete happiness didn't last for long. When he returned to his room he found Ron sitting on his bed waiting for him as the others slept.

"What do you want Ron?" Harry whispered.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ron asked. Harry had forgotten about his 'new look' upon seeing Ron. He didn't want to fight, but he knew it would happen so he just wanted the whole conversation over with.

"You didn't stay up to ask me about my latest fashion decision. What do you want?"

"I want you to listen to me without me having to explain everything."

"Go on."

"Don't date Malfoy."

"You're too late Ron."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Look I don't want to fight over this, but I am going to date Draco. He was great today and I am happy."

"Yeah but what about afterward?"

"I've already thought about that."

"And . . ?"

"I don't care. I am happy now and right now I need to be happy. I'll deal with the later pain, when it comes. If it comes."

"But Harry you don't understand. Look who you're talking about. It's Malfoy, why would he go from hating you to suddenly liking you? It just doesn't make sense. And what says he's not using you?"

"Nothing."

"Okay now answer this what says that he is?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Everything Harry, everything is sayinghe is. All of his past actions, all of his friends, everything."

"There is a possibility he's changed. I'm not saying he has, but he could have."

"He hasn't changed Harry. He won't change for your love. You'll think that he will and you'll think that one day he will love you too. Then you'll tell him how much you love him and tell him that you want to be with him forever and he will leave because he will never change." When Ron had finished talking tears were running down his face.

"Ron, I don't love him-"

"You don't, but I did and you will and then he will leave you just like he did to me." Harry's eyes widened.

"You dated Draco?"

"Yeah."

"Is that why you don't want me to date him? If you still love him Ron I won't take it any further."

"No it's not that. I am over him; completely. I just don't want you to get hurt like I did." Harry didn't reply for awhile.

"I understand your concern, but I'll be okay. I'm prepared for him to leave me Ron and I promise if I start to fall too far in I'll get out."

"Ok."

"So is everything okay with us now?" Ron paused for a moment tyring to regain his composure.

"Yeah, so you wanna go to Hogsmeade and hang out tomorrow?"

"Well, I told Draco that we could hang out, but it won't just be us two so you can come. We're all meeting in the R.O.R. at eleven. I'd understand if you didn't want to, but-"

"No, it's cool I'll be there. What are you guys doing."

"Just playing random board games. But I swear if you gloat once about winning I will kick you out."

"It's not my fault you're a sore loser."

"Yeah Ron that's it." Harry said, pushing Ron off his bed and crawling in himself.

"Goodnight."

LeoleoleoleoleoleoLeo

As Harry and Ron were about to leave for breakfast the next morning Hermione walked in.

"Are you just getting in?" Harry asked.

"Um . . . I just went out for a walk."

"In the same clothes you were wearing yesterday."

"All of my clothes are dirty." Hermione said holding her forearm and not looking at either boy. Harry took this chance and grab her hands as though to draw her attention. Hermione's head shot around toward him and she tried to pull her arms away, but Harry held them too tightly. Noticing that Harry was looking into her eyes and not down she stop struggling.

"I'm not into anything bad or anything that will get me killed, most likely, so just let's go to breakfast." Hermione looked at Ron to let him know that she was talking to him as well. Harry took that moment to look at her forearm and saw the same mark that was on his. Releasing his hold on Hermione's hands Harry pulled up his sleeve to reveal his.

"Welcome to the Stalls." He whispered. Hermione smiled and gave him a hug. "Stop by the bathroom and wash it and nobody will be able to see it unless you want them to. In time it will disappear at will."

"You know if you are going to keep stuff from me you could at least not do it right in front of me." Ron called from behind them.

"Sorry Ron." Hermione said walking over to him. "You just wouldn't understand. Give me two minutes to change and I will head down to breakfast with you."

Luckily Hermione was true to her word unlike the stereo typical girl and she only took a few minutes. Ron wouldn't have lasted much longer he practically ran to the great hall as it was.

"Apollo, Ron you can't be that hungry." Hermione said as Ron shoved another muffin in his mouth.

"I just have something to do that I forgot about and I need to hurry." Ron said around a mouthful of food.

"Honestly Weasley do you have no manners?" Draco commented as he sat down next to Harry and placed a kiss on the Gryffindors cheek.

"Draco." Harry said warningly.

"I'm going to go. I'll talk to you guys later." Ron said standing up to leave.

"Ron-" Harry started.

"No really it's ok. Like I said I have something to do. Bye Hermione." Hermione gave a wave and a worried look to Ron as he walked out.

"So do you know what that was about?" Hermione asked.

"I might, but I'm not sure if that was why." Harry said as he watched Ron walk out the door. Once he disappeared Harry turned back to Draco. "So what are you doing over here anyway?"

"What can I not sit with you? We are kind of dating you know. Not to mention I heard there's a new member in the Gryffindor house."

"New member?" Hermione asked looking up and down the table in search of a new face. "We didn't get any new stu- oh." Hermione said recalling last night.

"So how does it feel?" Draco asked.

"Like heaven." Pansy replied having just walked up behind Hermione. The Slytherin wrapped her arms around Hermione's neck and gave her ear a nibble. "After all it was me that she fucked."

"Ew." Harry said pushing away his oatmeal

"Oh shut-up." Hermione said as Pansy sat down beside her.

"I'm on Harry's side." Draco said pushing away his own food.

"You didn't have a problem with me when we were dating did you?"

"I never fucked you did I?" Draco replied cocking his head to the side.

"Shut-up. Anyway, we're meeting in that room at eleven right?"

"I actually have something to do, but I should be there around eleven thirty. I hope." Hermione said.

"What do you have to do Mione?" Harry asked as the food on his plate disappeared.

"I'm not sure. Snape saw me in the hall on the way to the tower and said that he needed to see me and to be in his office by eleven."

"Oh. Why eleven anyway?" Harry asked Draco. Draco was the one to decide what time.

"There is something that we need to do before we meet up with the rest."

"When you say we do you mean you and me?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks for telling me."

"I just did." Harry sent Draco a look to which Draco shrugged. "Anyway we need to be going. We'll see you later."

"Bye Mione, bye Pansy."

"It's a bit chilly today so you might want to get a heavy robe."

"We're going outside?"

"Yeah. So hurry up." Draco started to head to the direction of the Gryffindor common room. He didn't know exactly where it was, but he knew that it was on the seventh floor. Harry however headed outside. "What are you doing?"

"There are too many steps."

"You're going to get pneumonia because you are too lazy to walk up the steps." Harry rolled his eyes.

"One it's not that cold. More importantly you cannot get pneumonia from cold weather you have to be sick first."

"I was exaggerating to prove a point. My mother is a mediwizard you know."

"No actually I did know."

"You sound surprised."

"I am. From the way your whole family acts and the attention your name has you seem like old rich. You know you have all this money and did nothing to get it. Most of the time those families don't work because they don't need to. So it is kind of surprising." Draco gave a small smile.

"You're right that is what it is like. They half jokingly call my mother the bad egg."

"Half?"

"They say it as though they aren't serious, well as unserious as they get, but really they don't like that my mother works. It's mostly my father's side. They think the man should provide and-" Draco's eyes slightly widened and he stopped talking. "Er . . . yeah you got the gist of it."

By the time the conversation had halted the boys were outside. Harry turned once they had reached the grass and walked closer to where his common room was located. When he could see his window he pulled out his wand.

"What are you doing?" Draco called from where Harry had left him.

"Accio cloak." Harry watched as Seamus nearly flung himself out the window in attempt to keep Harry's cloak from breaking through it. Seconds later it was in his hand.

"Show-off." Draco said. His tone made Harry wonder if that was the half serious thing Draco's family did to his mom.

"I only did so I didn't have to walk up seven flights of stairs."

"I'm sure it has nothing to do with your need to impress me." Draco said, gracefully placing his hand against his chest as he said 'me'.

"Don't flatter yourself."

"Excuse me. Fine." Draco turned and walked away from Harry.

"Where are you going?" Harry called after the blonde.

"Somewhere to find a better date. One that thinks I am worth impressing." Harry rolled his eyes at Draco. Before stopping and pulling out his wand.

"Accio Draco." He whispered. Harry watched as Draco was lifted off his feet and floated gracefully to Harry's arms. As soon as Draco was cradled in Harry's arms he wrapped his own arms tightly around the other boys neck. "Scared."

Draco looked up from his hiding place in Harry's neck and glared at the smiling Gryffindor.

"Don't do that again."

"Oh come on you fly higher over the ground and fast when you are playing quidditch."

"I trust myself." Harry set Draco down.

"Well you can trust me too."

"Do you trust me?" Harry paused a minute before answering.

"No I don't."

"Then tell me how I am supposed to trust you when you don't trust me?"

"Point taken."

"So you ready for some sailing."

Reviewers: Thanks to all of you that have reviewed I am sorry that I haven't been able to respond to you, but I wanted to get this all up as fast as possible.As I said earlierthis is a repost so if you haven't seen your name in the review responses it's not because I didn't think your review was worthy of reply all of those are from the first time this was posted. I don't know if I will have time to respond like I used to, but if I run across anything that I find important to answer for everyone I will respond. Again thanks your reviews keep me going.