A/N 1: Okay, the next few chapters are gonna be pretty shippy. Both H/D and R/Hr. So you're warned! If you really don't want to see it, skip until Chapter 10. But I'd rather you didn't...

It was three days before Christmas and Hogwarts was eerily silent. All the parents who could take their children home seemed to have chosen to do so. There were perhaps twelve students left, and most of the Professors too seemed to have left to visit loved ones. Harry was staying of course. Ron and Ginny had presented their staying as a fait accompli, but Harry suspected that both had pleaded to their mother that Harry needed company. Hermione disregarded the pretence and flatly told him that he would not be alone at Christmas. Draco was staying as well, but would not be pressed as to why.

So tonight it was just Harry and Hermione in the common room, the two Weasleys having vanished to shoot goals in the dark. Ron was already getting ready for the February match-up with Hufflepuff, and always relished the opportunity to get a little extra practice in. Ginny assured him that if you cast a spell to illuminate the Quaffle, it was no harder than playing in the daytime.

Harry was peaceably reading (or rather re-reading) 'Quidditch through the Ages' when an owl flew down the stairs. Something dropped onto his lap, and the owl flew back up the staircase for the window without waiting for a response. The something was a piece of parchment wrapped around something small and heavy. Harry opened the page curiously.

Meeting tonight. Don't help (or look) unless I ask.

PS. Look after this for me. I can't risk carrying it around.

He wrapped his fingers tightly around Draco's DA galleon. Harry's own was on a chain around his neck, it was easier than risking spending it by carrying it in his pocket. Silently he drew out his wand and whispered a charm at Draco's coin. The galleon sizzled as a hole was burnt into it. He threaded it carefully onto his own chain, and tucked both coins carefully under his robes again. He placed a hand over them both against his chest.

Hermione looked up from her own book. 'Is everything okay?'

Harry nodded. 'Hope so.' He passed her the note.

'Draco?'

'Yes. I think it's the first time Voldemort's been able to call them. The ones still at Hogwarts.'

'Well that makes sense,' she noted. 'Otherwise people would wonder where they were all disappearing to at night. Why do you think he doesn't want you to help?'

'Snape thinks we're relying on each other's magic. Draco probably wants to prove he doesn't need mine.'

'And what do you think?'

Harry knew she was trying to help, but he didn't want Hermione's best therapist voice right now. 'Dunno.'

'Harry!' Oddly, her exasperation was more reassuring.

'I really don't know. We do use each other's magic sometimes. I don't even think about it. I just try to help. But I'm not worried about it.'

'Why not? Something could happen to Draco and you wouldn't be able to protect yourself.'

'Why is no one ever worried that I'm going to die and Draco won't be able to protect himself? Because if I get the choice I'm picking that one.'

'Harry...'

'No! It's stupid. He won't let me help because he needs to be able to help himself, and not pull me into trouble. But when I say I want to do something on my own so no one else gets hurt I'm not allowed?'

'Harry, listen to yourself a minute. You're not making sense. I said that you need to be able to do the spells independently. I'm not telling you to rely on Draco.'

'But you still think I shouldn't try and do things on my own.'

'That's true. But it's not the argument we're having right now,' she said calmly. 'You can't argue that Draco should let you help, while arguing that you need to do things on your own. And before you say anything else he's not a spy because of you. He's a spy because of who his family is. It's stupid and unfair, but it's not your fault.'

'I'm saying that other people won't let me do things on my own, but they're willing to let him do it. Like I'm worth more than him. Like it wouldn't matter so much if he got himself killed.'

Hermione scrutinised Harry carefully. 'A few people probably do see it that way, yes. They don't know him as well as you.'

Harry whispered, 'I don't want him to get hurt.'

'I know that. Neither do I.'

'It's not the same.'

'I know that. I'm not in love with him.'

She said the last part so casually that Harry had answered, 'No.' before he noticed what she had said. When he did, he looked at her wide-eyed.

'What?' she asked innocently.

'Did Ron...?'

'No, he didn't. You told Ron!'

'I needed a bargaining chip. How did you...?'

'Last year. When you made up after your fight.' She shrugged. 'I could just tell.'

'I didn't like him then!' Harry protested.

'You didn't know you liked him,' she corrected confidently. 'So when did you know?'

'The train here this term.'

'In other words when you saw him again and realised he'd grown a foot and was finally as good-looking as he was always promising to be? Boys are all the same,' she teased affectionately.

'You think he's good-looking?' Harry asked in astonishment.

'Harry, let me tell you a secret. Among the girls of this school, Draco Malfoy is probably joint top of the handsome men. You're the other one of course.'

Harry blushed deeply and Hermione grinned. He glared at her. 'Did you just want to see me do that?'

She smiled. 'That was funny, but it's still true. You're going to disappoint hundreds of girls when you start dating each other.'

'Hermione, we're not...I don't even know if he's...not you though, right?'

'Harry,' she sighed, 'as you have apparently noticed, I like another equally oblivious guy. And Draco does like you. He's less obvious than you, but it's there. You should tell him.'

'Can I not just wait for him to figure it out?' Harry asked unenthusiastically.

'If you wait, you'll be waiting for ages. I have experience in that area.'

Harry smiled at her in commiseration. 'He'll tell you. You know Ron - some things take him a little while.'

Hermione was going to reply when a house-elf popped out of thin air. 'Harry Potter!' Dobby exclaimed. 'Professor Snape is wanting you to go to his study now. Dobby is telling him that it is very late, but he is very insistent!'

'Draco,' Harry murmured anxiously.

'I'm sure he's okay,' Hermione said. 'But go on.'

Harry left at a run.

Snape met him at the door. 'He's alive, don't look so apprehensive. I need to fetch some potions from my private store. Go and sit with him.'

'He needs potions?'

'Why do you think he's staying at Hogwarts over Christmas? With his father officially "missing" he can't buy the potions they should have. And luckily I offered to deal with anything that happened to Draco here. Now I need to go and get supplies so I can do that. Go and sit down. Don't let anyone in.'

Harry nodded reflexively, but said nothing more as he slipped past to see Draco. He didn't hear Snape close the door.

Draco was shivering. Harry moved further into the room and took a closer look. Not shivering. Shaking. After-effects of Cruciatus. The familiar tug of anger came.

'What did you do?' Draco met his eyes, and at the glazed look Harry reined his anger in. It was misdirected anyway.

'Didn't bow fast enough,' Draco answered.

Harry paused a few steps from the sofa.

Draco smiled in humorless resignation. 'Yes, do stay over there. Can't have Saint Potter infected by the nasty Death Eater.'

'You're not a Death Eater,' Harry answered reflexively. He came to sit at Draco's side.

'I don't want your pity, Potter.' Draco spat, leaning back from Harry.

'It's not pity. You're not a Death Eater.'

'You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen me tonight. "Yes, my Lord" and "No, my Lord" in all the right places. Crawling in the mud like an insect. You wouldn't have been able to pick me apart from my father. It seems they're right after all. Blood will out.'

It was Harry's turn to shiver. Draco's appearance was at odds with itself. Offended pride matched with revulsion at what he had done, and the pain of the curse. All the while he rubbed a hand compulsively at the mark hidden behind his robes.

'I could tell you apart from the rest even in robes and masks. I recognized your back.' Harry pointed out in a reassuring whisper. 'And if you play the role so well how'd you end up getting the Cruciatus?'

'I told you,' Draco answered. 'I wasn't quick enough. None of them are. And if they were, he would just change the rules so they weren't. He makes it up. What you need to do to please him. No one can keep up. Maybe that's why my father follows him...they share that …' Draco blinked away the tears of pain and humiliation that dared to form in the corners of his eyes.

Barely thinking about it, Harry leant towards Draco. He reached up, and kissed the taller boy gently.

As they broke off, Draco glared at Harry. 'I told you I didn't want your pity.'

'I'm not offering pity.' Harry kissed him again, deeper this time. 'Not forgiveness or penitence or punishment either. Gonna have to go and find someone else if that's what you want.' He pulled Draco towards him, and whispered fiercely against his lips. 'I just want you.' He pulled down one shoulder of Draco's robes, reaching inside until his hand was gripping Draco's upper arm. Harry's thumb traced the tattoo reverently as he kissed Draco again.

Draco initiated the kiss this time, one gently to Harry's forehead, in a mirror gesture. Then to his lips. 'Well then I supposed that you're lucky that makes two of us.'

Harry felt Draco smirk. 'What?'

'What would you have done if I had said no again?'

'Tried for third time lucky.'

A/N 2: Thanks to Cithara, HecateDeMort, angel of chaos, Serpent of Light, Love Alchemist for lovely reviews. And to Geraldine/Helen hugs - many, many thanks for the e-mails!