The Lion and the Serpent
A/N- Well, I originally had this chapter written very differently, but when you read the end of the Half-Blood Prince, and see Ron and Hermione's true test of friendship with Harry, you'll see where I got the inspiration to make them much more understanding and loyal. I really hope you like this, and thanks to all my reviewers!
Warning- This story has Harry/Draco slash, self-harm, and swearing.
Disclaimer- I don't own anything even remotely related to Harry Potter. We can all dream though, right...
Chapter Three: Love or Lust?
Harry's brain seemed to have temporarily frozen, and he barely noticed Draco getting up off the floor, pulling him up with him. He slowly realised that his friends were looking for some sort of explanation, but Harry had no idea what to say. He hadn't felt this happy in a long time. Harry thought it had felt so right being locked in Draco's warm embrace, but worry now filled his heavy heart as he wondered if Draco would walk away and pretend that this hadn't happened, only to leave Harry more broken then he had been before.
Draco on the other hand, felt that his mind was working in overdrive. He felt the exact same hostility towards Weasly and Granger that they felt towards him, only for once in their lives, they were in power. They controlled how this situation would play out by either their acceptance or rejectment of him and Harry being together. Secretly, Draco wondered how horrible it would be if they ditched Harry, leaving the Golden Boy to him... but heknew hehad a deeper feeling towards Harry then pure lust, and he also knew that if that happened, Harry would be severely unhappy. Not that he wasn't now.
Draco very relectantly let go of Harry's hand, waiting for a respone from either Ron or Hermione. Harry was not so much worried about Hermione's reactions as Ron's, though he knew, or rather hoped, that both of his friends would stand by him no matter what he did. After a silence that seemed to last a century, Hermione spoke first, her voice shattering the silence like glass.
"So...erm, Harry. Are you two, uh, dating then?"
Harry and Draco were both startled by this question, but even more so by the lack of anger and resentment in her voice. Ron quickly added,
"Sorry for shouting mate, but I mean... you could've told us if you were with him. We wouldn't - we wouldn't hate you or something.
Again, Harry and Draco couldn't believe how well Ron and Hermione were taking this. Harry knew then just exactly how wonderful of friends he really had in those two.
"I -" Harry started, looking nervously at Draco, "I wasn't, you know, trying to hide something from you. I just... it just, sort of - happened." He stopped, unsure of what to say next seeing as he had no idea how Draco was feeling now in the aftermath of their kiss.
Harry plucked up his courage and looked Draco directly in his silver eyes, asking him quite plainly without words, whether he had felt just a momentary lust, or something more. Draco's eyes widened a little, and his cheeks flushed pink, feeling very awkward with Harry's friends still standing there. He decided though, that being with Harry meant more to him then whatever embarrasment he would endure from Ron and Hermione, and he slid his hand into Harry's and kissed him ever so lightly on the lips.
Harry's cheeks glowed scarlet as he smiled at the platnium haired boy. He then looked over at his friends to see Ron fighting the urge to laugh, much as he had when he heard of Harry kissing Cho, and Hermione giving him a matter-of-fact smile that was both annoying and anticipated. Harry turned back to Draco, loving the way he looked when he smiled, and said, "You wanna get out of here?"
"Sure," Draco answered, trying to remember the last time he'd felt this happy. "I'll get your, uh, stuff."
Harry's face fell a little, remembering that he had definetly not been okay before Draco had showed up, but before he could worry about his friends seeing Sirius' bloodstained pocketknife, Draco had stowed it away in the font of his robes and picked up the rest of Harry things, handing them to the raven-haired boy with a tiny nod. Harry's secret was safe.
Taking Draco's answer as their cue, Hermione said with a note of amusement, "Well, we'll just leavethen tooHarry -"
"Mind you behave -" Ron chimed in.
"And don't do anything stupid."
Harry laughed. "Shut up."
And Ron walked out of the bathroom, closely followed by Hermione.
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After checking to make sure they were really alone, Draco took Harry by surprise again, wrapping one arm around Harry's thin waist, and using the other to play with Harry's hair, which was much messier then it usually was, even for him. Draco had clearly forgotten about Harry's previous offer to leave... he wanted Harry now.
Harry looked thoroughly pleased and quickly pressed his lips against Draco's, loving his tongue inside the other boy's mouth, longing to taste him again. Harry then swiftly removed Draco's shirt, enjoying the sight of the blonde boy half-naked, and started to kiss his way down Draco's neck, chest, and stomache, loving that Draco was moaning ever so softly, gripping his waist even tighter. Just as Harry's mouth reached Draco's lower stomache, his hands itching to undo his pants, Draco pushed him away gently, closing his eyes so that Harry could not see how reluctant Draco was to part with him.
When Draco opened his eyes again, he saw Harry's emerald ones looking very plainly confused and slightly hurt. Draco sighed and hugged him, kissing his forehead.
"Harry...don't ever think that I don't want you," Draco said, locking their eyes together again. "I just think that you really need to go to Madam Promfrey... now,before you get infected and end up stuck in the hospital wing overnight. I can tell that's no ordinary, non-magic knife you had there."
Harry leaned into Draco, liking the feeling of the blonde boy's hands slowly rubbing his back. "Okay," Harry said softly, not at all wanting to break this moment. "I'll go. But only because you want me to."
Draco laughed a little. "Okay."
A/N- Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I keep trying to make it longer, but end up failing. But besides that this chapter was short, and you're all probbaly very annoyed since I keep promising to make it longer, I hope you'll still review. Remember how much I love you all! )