Crossing the Line: by GiddyGirl15
Warning: SLASH! If you don't like it, kindly spare me the flames! Harry/Draco.
Disclaimer: Erm…I own nothing and I'm broke as a shattered piggy bank, so don't sue!
Author's Note: Well, here it is! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! You have no idea how much it makes my day to see that you took the time to give me some feedback. Thanks for all the constructive criticisms and I hope this chapter turns out a little less…well, boring. I realize that the whole 'Harry being concerned for Draco' thing is happening a little fast, but I was just kind of trying to play on Harry's being a really sensitive, compassionate guy who, no matter how hard he tries, can't push the fact that someone is hurting, even if that someone is Draco. Does that make any sense? Anyway, I really hope you enjoy my next installment of Crossing the Line. Please review!
P.S. No, I didn't make up International Day of Slash, it's an actual day! (Or so I'm told)
Chapter Two: Too Close for Comfort"Okay, let's review," Hermione looked up from her notes. "First, tomorrow night at the tail end of dinner, you will walk by the Slytherin table and 'slip', spilling Veritaserum into Malfoy's pumpkin juice. Once he drinks it and gets up to leave, you and I follow him, sneak up, and force him into the nearest empty classroom where we'll interrogate him!" She said excitedly with a maniacal glint in her eye.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, is all this really necessary? Why don't I just try talking to Malfoy and see what happens? Maybe, if I catch him while his guard is down, I'll be able to get some answers," he yawned. This first week of school had been very draining, and now that it was midnight on Friday night, he really just wanted to go to bed.
Looking slightly put out, Hermione agreed and set off for the girl's dormitories, quietly muttering to herself about Harry being too sensible for his own good.
Harry yawned again. He stared into the dancing flames of the common room fire. Less than a year ago, he had been talking to Sirius in this very spot. He took it for granted, then, having someone like Sirius to go to for help. Ever since freeing him from the Dementors, Harry had continuously gone to him whenever he had a problem, thinking that no matter what, Sirius would be able to help him. But now Sirius was gone. Harry would not be able to go to him again, tell him how much he meant to him, and make wise cracks about what a big slimy git Professor Snape was. Never again would the bark-like laugh echo in Harry's ears. Never again would he feel the comforting warmth of his Godfather's embrace. Never again would he question Sirius on how his seemingly more-than-friends relationship with a Mr. Remus Lupin was going –
"Harry, mate, are you coming up?" Ron stepped into the common room. Quickly snapping out of his stupor, Harry stood up and followed Ron up to the dormitories.
The next day dawned with thunderstorms and pouring rain. While for many people the rain was a depressing scene that induced a sorrowful mood, to Harry it was beautiful. He loved the familiar sound of the droplets colliding with the roof of the school, and the pitter-patter of drops on the lake. The rain always made him slightly wistful and happy. No matter how hard he tried, he could barely concentrate on anything else.
As the day drew to a close, Harry decided it was time to seek out Malfoy and attempt to get some answers as to why he was in such a horrible state. After finishing dinner, Harry set out to find him. However, upon inspection of the entire castle and a thorough questioning of Malfoy's former Slytherins, he found that Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
Disappointed, Harry headed back up to his dormitory. As he passed the window, however, his disappointment rapidly vanished. Standing at the edge of the lake, hands in pockets, was a thoroughly drenched Draco Malfoy. Quickly changing courses, Harry hurried outside to where the forlorn young man was standing.
Walking slowly up behind Malfoy, Harry said quietly, "beautiful, isn't it?" He wasn't sure if Malfoy had even heard him, as his eyes were partially glazed over and he looked to be in his own little world.
To Harry's surprise, Malfoy responded without venom or malice. He seemed to be completely oblivious as to who it was he was talking to. "Yeah, beautiful," He said almost breathlessly. He seemed lost in thought as the rain continued to pelt his face. His hair and clothes were drenched as if he'd been out there for hours. Harry looked a little closer and discovered that there were tear stains on his cheeks. He looked so vulnerable, so innocent. Now seemed like the perfect time for Harry's little interrogation.
"So," Harry began slowly. "Erm, penny for your thoughts?" Immediately Harry noticed the familiar walls snap into place. In a single instant, Malfoy had gone from defenseless, unguarded, innocent child to the cold-hearted bastard that Harry knew only too well. Harry quickly realized the stupidity of his plan. This was Draco Malfoy, what had he been thinking? Hmmm…maybe about how cute Draco was just a moment ago? Or maybe about how much better Draco's hair looked when it fell about his face like that, instead of being slicked back with unnatural amounts of hair gel? Or maybe he had been thinking about how beautiful his cloudy, blue-gray eyes were? Or, could it be he had been thinking about the porcelain beauty that was Draco Malfo – woah! Hold on! Harry violently shook his head rid of the horrid thoughts. What the hell was that!
"Go away," Dra – Malfoy said tiredly, looking away. For the first time, Harry noticed the pain in his voice. Someone had hurt him, and bad. Now Harry was definitely curious as to what had happened. He stayed put.
"Seriously, Potter. I'm not in the mood," Malfoy said threateningly. When Harry didn't budge, he stepped closer so that their faces were mere centimeters apart. "Leave, now! Before I do something I'll regret later," Malfoy glared, hate etched in his stormy eyes. Dammit, Potter, just leave! And stop standing there looking all pathetic and adorable – no…not adorable. Never adorable. Ugly. Wretched. Nauseatingly beautifu – stop that!
Harry gulped as Draco stepped closer. He could see the rain making curved streaks down his tear-stained face, the droplets dripping off his beautiful eyelashes. Stumbling back, Harry removed his glasses and rubbed the water off on his already rain-soaked shirt. (He did this whenever he was nervous or scared.) He turned his emerald-green eyes up to Draco's and their gazes met. For the life of him, Harry could not look away.
They stayed like that for awhile, eyes locked, pulses becoming rapidly more urgent, until an enormous bolt of lightening struck just between them, knocking them both off their feet. "Just stay away from me Potter," Draco muttered solemnly, getting to his feet. He turned on his heel and headed back to the castle.
What the hell just happened here? Harry asked himself, staring after the departing figure in bewilderment. Shaking his head, he headed back to the castle himself. He needed to talk to Hermione.
Back in the common room, Harry and Hermione sat talking about what had taken place earlier by the lake. Purposefully leaving out the part with the undeniable, awkward sexual tension, Harry told Hermione all about the confrontation. Draco's actions caused alarms to go off in Hermione's head telling her something wasn't right. The nonsensicalness of it all was enough to make her go insane.
"I just don't get it!" she exclaimed, plopping into the big armchair. "What do you think could have possibly happened? I mean, he's acting completely out of character. Malfoy's would never go out in public without looking like royalty, let alone stand outside in the pouring rain. What is up with him?"
"I know, 'Mione, it's really weird. Do you think that maybe it has something to do with his father or something?" Harry asked, voicing one of his many concerns.
"I don't think so. How could Lucius hurt him while he's in Azkaban?" Hermione said, logically. "Besides, why would Lucius want to hurt him? I mean, as far as we know, Malfoy is all ready to become mister hot-shot Death Eater any day now."
"Wait a minute, Hermione, I think you may be onto something. What if Dra – Malfoy refused to become a Death Eater? What if he decided not to play on the Dark side?" Harry pondered. Why would he though? Said a small voice in his head. What would he have to gain?
"I don't know Harry. I just don't know."
A/N: Well, there you go! I know it's kind of short, but it just seemed to end there. I definitely had more fun writing this chapter than the last one and I really hope you enjoyed it. I wasn't going to put in any Harry/Draco stuff until next chapter, but it just seemed to write itself! Anyway…I hope to bring Ron into the picture a little more next chapter, fill him in on what's going on. Let me know what you think so far! Now for the gratitude to all my wonderful reviewers! Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed… everyone has you to thank for the early update! I got a grand total of 13 reviews and you have no idea how happy that made me! I thought it fitting to reward you guys for that, so review some more and you'll get an early update in return! And remember, constructive criticism is always welcome;)