Game Over

Chapter 9

Harry Potter sat next to Ron the next day at school, his back facing the Slytherin table; convincing himself he didn't want to see Draco, but in reality he knew he sat facing the doors so he could see him as he walked in.

It was a win-win situation, this just didn't make it suspicious. Harry smirked to himself.

"Hey, Harry! They started serving fudge for break again!" Ron leapt up and raced to the end of the table, stealing the whole bowl. Hermione smiled softly behind her book, still trying to look disapproving at Ron and Harry's eating habits.

"Come on 'Mione, you know you looooooove fudge!" Ron swept the smell of the chocolate pastry under Hermione's nose, which she crinkled in disgust.

"Not for breakfast I don't." She said, closing her book and setting it next to her plate. "Anyways, I want to talk to Ginny more than eat fudge." Hermione looked at the doors hopefully; searching for her closest female friend.

"Doesn't it ever bother you that your best friend is a guy? You can't talk about hot guys with him." Ron began to scoop some fudge onto his fork.

"I don't think that's the case."

Ron mentally slapped himself. "Well, I mean...well, you can't talk to Harry about makeup and stuff like that. And plus, isn't it funner to talk about guys...or something?"

Hermione laughed. "Stop trying to understand the ways of women." And with that Ginny slipped into the seat next to Hermione. "Took you long enough, I thought I was going to be stuck with these idiots forever." With that the two girls launched into conversations of their plans for the night.

"She's right you know. It's hopeless for you to know anything about woman and remember it." Harry stuffed his face with fudge. Ron shot him a glare and began to snarf down a plate of fudge.

Harry continued to look at the doors for any sign of Draco, but breakfast came and went with no sign of the Slytherin Prince.

"Ginny and I will meet you in the dungeons, we gotta run to Gryffindor Tower real quick."

Ron gave a thumbs up, and Harry swung his bag over his shoulder.

"Come on, lets try and get there before them. It'll be the first time and we need an excuse to do a victory dance." Harry jerked Ron up, who started laughing.

"Right-o! First, we need a victory dance..." Ron pointed out matter-o-factly before grabbing his bag and starting after his best friend.

"Well, you see it can go a lot like this..."

And the two teenage boys made their way out of the hall, laughing and making up their wonderful victory dance.

Hermione and Ginny made their way down the winding dungeon hallways, chatting about the boys residing in Hogwarts when Ginny brought up the boy that never made his way into their conversations.

"What about Malfoy? He's a hot blonde." Ginny brought up. Hermione smiled.

"There's no denying that, but he's an ass and we hate him. Or at least I know I strongly dislike him." Hermione's eyes flashed with something Ginny didn't recognise.

"If Ron was here to hear us now, he'd kill us." Ginny stated turning another corner that led down the corridor to the Potions classroom, and she stopped dead. Ron and Harry stood outside the classroom, looking very smug.

"How'd they get here before us?" Hermione whispered through the corner of her mouth.

"They must've stolen the fudge." Ginny responded, laughing to herself.

"They're surprised." Harry smiled widely and Ron began to smirk in a Weasley way.

Hermione started forward and Ginny followed, they stopped in front of their friends and Harry and Ron began to dance about madly. The two ladies watched with raised eyebrows at the array of kicks, twirls, and childhood dances. The two finished and said in unison;

"HA! We were here before you were!" And they ran into the classroom. The two looked at each other and burst into hysterical laughter before following the two boys.

"Why do I have a feeling this is going to be a bad double potions today?" Ginny asked.

"Because you're not even supposed to be here." Hermione replied. The red head blinked once, swore under her breath, and ran from the room, leaving Hermione with Harry and Ron. So, with a small smile she made her way to Harry and her boyfriend.

"Everybody, be quiet! We're going to go through role call, and then you are going to make the Rejuvination Potion by heart as your test." Snape turned to his desk, and drew out a piece of paper with his students' names on it. He started to call off names in his presice greasy tone.

"Draco Malfoy!" Snape looked up from his sheet and raised his eyebrows. "Has an unexused absence." The teacher said through gritted teeth; hating to do something against his own house.

Snape finished up calling the names, and began to explain the scoring system for the test they were about to take when Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Granger?" Snape growled through his throat; making most of the students edge away.

"You never called Pansy Parkinson and she isn't here today." Hermione knew she would be called a know-it-all again, and she wasn't going to point it out, but since Draco was also gone she found it strangely suspicious.

"That, Ms. Granger, is none of your business." And Snape returned to the class. Hermione looked ponderous and went off into her own little thoughtful world.

"And, start."

There was a rummaging for ingrediants and the class divied into threes.

"Wonder why he put us into threes today?" Harry questioned.

"Shuttup and work." Hermione snapped. The two looked at her, bewildered at her sudden outburst, but she just smiled weakly. "Sorry, but we only have an hour to do this, and it's an hour and a half potion."

"Then we'll be just fine. We've got the smartest person in this class. We'll live." Ron replied; beginning to go through the list of supplies they needed and taking them out.

While Ron and Hermione chopped and measured Harry absent-mindedly stirred the potion. It was to be stirred for fifteen minutes straight, then the ingredients were to be added which took about fifteen minutes, then stirred for another fifteen, and then left to sit for fifteen, add some more ingredients, and let sit for twenty-five minutes.

He had a lot of time to think. And that currently wasn't a good thing for Harry Potter.

His mind drifted from the potion, his arm mechanicaly moving around the cauldron to stir up the potion. His thoughts settled on a face that hadn't been seen since Harry let him go to the infirmiry.

Draco Malfoy. His face when Harry saw him laying next to the pool. His face when he snapped at Harry, his face when he stood on tip-toe to kiss Harry. His thoughts were whirling like a tornado in his mind, and a headache started from the back of his head and worked its way forward.

He needed to know where Draco was.

'Yes, I'm sure its a life or death situation.' The voice in the back of his head piped up.

"It is." Harry murmured under his breath, too softly for anyone else to hear.

'Yeah, well then, lunch is coming up. Search for him then.'

"But I don't know the password to the Slytherin common room." Harry hissed.

'Your point?'

Harry gave up arguing with his conscience and his conflicting thoughts was completely useless. He tried to concentrate on the potion at hand, but his eyes kept wandering over to where Draco Malfoy was usually sitting. Front row, pathway seat.

"Harry!" Hermione snapped her fingers in front of Harry's eyes, and he shook his head; refocusing on the cauldron.

"You can stop stirring, we add the ingredients now." Hermione grabbed the spoon from Harry's hand, and he smiled softly.

"Sorry, got a little distracted there." Harry sat back in his chair and watched as Hermione added and mixed the potion.

"On what? The floor?" Ron asked. "There's really nothing in here worth being distracted with." Hermione shot him a glare. "Well, at least for you." Ron smiled sheepishly.

Harry closed his eyes and tried to block out the noise of the people around him and calm his headache, but it wouldn't budge.

"Mr. Potter!"

"Fabulous..." Harry muttered.

"What did you say?" Snape's robes swept around him as he made his way towards Harry.

"I said fabulous! Meaning I have a headache, and now your talking to me, which just makes it worse!" Harry stood up angrily.

The whole class took an intake of breath. Did a student just talk back to Professor Snape? Harry Potter, Snape's least favorite student at that?

Yes. Yes he did.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor and a detention, Mr. Potter!" Snape turned to his desk and took out a piece of paper.

"Excuse me, I replied to what you asked. At least I didn't lie."

"Another ten knocked off for that one, Potter. Now get out of my classroom!" Snape smacked his hand onto his desk. The whole class held their breath.

"Fine!" With that Harry swung his bag over his shoulder, and left the room; fuming.

"If I get a detention for being a bit cranky to my teacher, he should be in Azkaban!" Harry whirled around the corner. "He's always got something stuck up his ass." Harry emerged from the dank dungeons and made his way up the main staircase. Suddenly he stopped.

'You wanted out of that classroom and you know it.'

"Shuddup." Harry sat down on one of the steps and thought for a moment. "However..."

'Looking for Draco now, are we?'

Harry gritted his teeth together. He hated it when his inner voice was right. He got back up and decided to check the infirmiry. It would make sense if they boy was still there.

But he wasn't. Neither could he find him in any empty classrooms. He snuck into the Slytherin Common Room, but there was no sign of Draco, even in the dorms. He searched every nook, every crany. He searched the kitchens and the Room of Requirement.

"This boy is impossible!"

'Then why don't you give up?'

Harry thudded the back of his head against the wall he was leaning against. "No! I still haven't checked the Great Hall and the library."

'Why would he be in the Great Hall?'

"I don't know! He's Draco Malfoy, he goes where ever the hell he wants when he wants to." Harry pushed off the wall, and hurriedly made his way up another flight of stairs and down another corridor. "Anyways, the Great Hall is a last resort. He's more likely in the library." And with that Harry Potter pushed open the doors and made his way past the tables lining the beginning of the great library. He offered a small smile to Ms. Pince, who simply glared at him in return, and made his way down the aisles.

That's when he saw it, robes whipping around a corner and silver-blonde hair. Harry smiled grimly in triumph and raced down the aisle. They were in the Defense Against the Arts section. Harry approached the blonde from behind who was oblivious of Harry's existance still.

"Hey." Harry said quietly; pulling a book off the shelf and pulling out his still not finished DADA homework. Draco looked a bit startled, but said nothing. He just kept browsing the shelf, and pulling random books off of it.

The two worked in silence, Draco Malfoy beginning to look agitated, as none of the books had what he was looking for.

"Probably in the fucking restricted section." He muttered angrily, slamming the last book shut.

Harry looked up at Draco and took in his figure of the day. He looked slightly messier than the other day. His hair was alittle ruffled, and dark circles were beginning to develop under his eyes. He looked hurt emotionaly, and physicly, but he was doing a good job of hiding it.

Draco stood and circled around the other side of the bookshelf, and making his way alittle further back to the History section. Harry glanced over his shoulder, and back at Draco's stuff. He reached out a guilty hand, and grabbed a crinkled piece of paper sitting next to Draco's bag.

It was a note from his mother. Harry looked back to where Draco disappeared. No sign of him. He began to read.

Dear Draco,

Your father wants you home for the holidays. I know you don't wish to come, but there is no way out of his predicament. He is angry with you and I needed to tell you before hand. The punishment will be harsher than usual. I am perfectly aware that you don't think that the punishments could get any worse, but I know they can.

How are things? I know of what happened last night, and I feel deeply sorrowful. I'm sorry for the loss, although I'm glad you weren't initiated. Don't mention that around your father.

I miss you and I hope you have a good time at school. Be presentable upon both boarding and getting off the train.

Your mother

Harry blinked and crumpled the piece of paper again; setting it back where he found it.

'She talks to him like a good friend, not a mother. For fuck's sakes, not even a good friend. Just an informing device.' Harry thought.

Draco turned the corner and set down a stack of books next to his seat. He sat, and began to skim through the first one. Harry stared at him until he realised Draco knew he was, and then quickly returned to his work.

But he couldn't work.

Why would Narcissa say 'The punishment will be harsher than usual. I am perfectly aware that you don't think that the punishments could get any worse, but I know they can?' It made Harry wonder about Draco and his family. Would Lucius really punish Draco? Yes. If Draco didn't do something Lucius wanted him to, or made him angry. That could be him not getting initiated. But what would Lucius do? Give him lots of chores? Ground him to his room?

It just didn't seem like a thing Lucius would do, punish his son more than just that. He wouldn't even give him chores, that would make Draco look like a house-elf.

'You know Lucius wouldn't do that. It's right infront of your face you dolt! Think! You know Lucius is harsh, and would do anything for power and control!'

Yes, yes Harry did. And yet, he wouldn't admit it.

Harry stood, and walked over to Draco as the confusing boy also stood; planning to go put his books back.

Harry took the books, and turned to put them back. Draco stood there, stunned.

"Potter, I am perfectly capable of bringing the books back myself." Draco made a move to get them back, but Harry dodged away, and made his way down the bookshelves. "Potter!" Draco hissed angrily. "Fine!" He shot at Harry's retreating back. He turned and flopped into his chair. He rested his head on the table, and began to drum his fingertips on the surface of it.

Harry returned and sat across from him. He had his mind set on asking Draco the question he had been yearning to ask since the day of the 'incident.'

"Why did you kiss me?"

Draco blinked. "Why do you think I kissed you?"

"Hormones..." Harry looked down at the table.

"Maybe." Draco responded. He smirked at Harry's helpless look, and stood. "You ponder on that, I need more books." Draco made his way around the table, but as he passed where Harry sat he felt a hand grab his wrist. Draco looked down at Harry's hand and back at Harry's face. "Let go."

"No."

"Potter. I just want more books."

Harry stood up, and turned Draco around harshly. "No! Why did you do it? Stop playing mind games and just tell me damn it!"

Draco made to get away, but Harry grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Why?!"

"Your going to get us thrown out!" Draco hissed, finally breaking free.

Harry set his eyes on Draco's. He had to know, he was beginning to lose control of himself. He had been waiting to know for so long, and now Draco wasn't going to tell him! Just because he wanted to fuck with Harry! It was obvious then. It was just a kiss, nothing more. Draco wouldn't try and make Harry angry, or confused otherwise.

'Or would he? He is a Malfoy after all. He goes where ever the hell he wants, remember? So why doesn't he just do whatever the hell he wants too?'

"He already does." Harry hissed back.

"Excuse me?" Draco asked. He was a bit taken aback by Harry's violent behavior, but he was beginning to get angry too.

"Tell me why you kissed me." Harry gritted his teeth together.

"You want to know?" Draco asked, his voice raising a notch. "You want to know?! Well thats too bad, because even I don't know. So just sod off!" Draco twirled around and was about to stalk off back to the History section when Harry grabbed his arm, and pulled him back into him.

It was a spur-of-the-moment kiss. Harry had to stop Draco from leaving, and he wanted Draco's lips on his again. But it was also a violent kiss. He held Draco's wrists tight, and he crushed their lips together. Biting, licking, and kissing him harshly, bruising his lips. Draco returned the kiss however, and this encouraged Harry.

Harry began to gentle the kiss, he stopped forcefully snogging him and began to gently lick at Draco's bottom lip. The jet-black haired teen positioned his hand behind Draco's head and incircled the blonde's waist with his other arm.

Draco responded gratefully, circling his arms around Harry's neck. Neither was sure what they were doing. The sweet serenity of the kiss had taken them to their own world. They were no longer in the library, and Harry wasn't aware he was kissing Draco, just that it felt good, and Draco wasn't sure why he was kissing Harry. He just knew it felt good.

And they broke apart for breath, and thats when their gaze met.

The two stood there for minutes staring into each other's eyes. Searching each other. Harry was seeing Draco, and Draco was seeing Harry. The hate they had been taught to give had dropped, and their walls had crumbled down.

They leaned forward, slowly closing their eyes. And they kissed.

And they knew why.