Disclaimer: I don't own anything hp related.

Title: Because I Never Gave Up

Author: Spideria

Chapter: 12

Thank you to: All my wonderful reviewers! I hope you haven't given up on me and my story because I took so long to update! Sorry!!!

Chapter:

Knock, knock, knock.

One second went by, two seconds went by, three seconds went by...

Finally, Narcissa Malfoy opened the door to an impatient-looking Harry Potter.

"Oh, hello, Harry," Narcissa greeted kindly, oblivious to the argument Harry and Draco had had at the dance.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy. Can I go up to see Draco, please?" Harry asked, pushing away his impatience. It wouldn't do well to disrespect Draco's mother. She could really get angry when she wanted to.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry, dear. He just went out a little while ago. Would you like to stay and wait until he comes back?"

He left? Harry thought to himself. Where would he go?.

While Harry wanted to stay with Narcissa and wait for Draco to come back, he had a feeling that Draco wouldn't come back for a while. Whenever he went "out" without telling his mother where he was going, he usually stayed out for hours before coming back.

Well, Harry hadn't actually asked if Narcissa knew where Draco was. It was worth a try.

"Could you tell me where Draco went?"

"I don't know, actually. He didn't tell me. He simply said walked down the stairs and left. No good-bye or anything. I assumed he was still upset about whatever it was that happened to at the dance. By the way, do you know what happened?"

Uh-oh. First, Draco didn't tell his mother where he was going, so that meant Draco could be anywhere, and definitely wasn't coming back for quite some time; and Narcissa had just asked about what had happened the night of the dance. How the, in the name of God, was he supposed to answer that one?

Oh, I'm sorry Mrs. Malfoy, but it turns out that I'm such an idiot that I only just realized Draco's feelings for me yesterday. And, being the idiot that I am, I did everything wrong and broke your precious son's heart. Now, how about a cup of tea?

Yeah, like that would really go well. Harry thought to himself.

Harry had to think of something quickly. A lie would, of course, be the best option. Harry, however, was the worst liar in the existence of mankind.

I suppose I'll just have to play dumb.

"I'm not exactly sure, Mrs. Malfoy. That's why I wanted to see him. I thought maybe I could cheer him up from whatever it was that made him so upset." There, Harry thought, triumphantly. I didn't lie entirely.

"That's so sweet of you, Harry." Narcissa answered, smiling at Harry, fondly.

"Yeah, well, what are best friends for?" Harry felt like the lowest piece of scum as he heard his own words. He felt like such a hypocrite.

"Well, Mrs. Malfoy, I'm going to go look for him."

"Alright, Harry. I hope you find him."

Harry nodded with a weak smile as he turned to leave, hearing Narcissa close the door behind him.

He let his head hang low, as he walked on, aimlessly, running everything over in his head.

Everything used to be so perfect; so easy and carefree. Harry and Draco would just have fun being together. It was never as complicated as this. Harry had always been oblivious, and Draco had just gone along with it. Harry had never felt anything intimate toward Draco; only friendship.

But then, something had changed.

Harry had started to notice little things about Draco that he liked. The way his smile could light up a room. The way his eyes always had a certain mischievous gleam in them, where you could never tell exactly what he was thinking. The way he was always so sweet and kid to Harry, no matter what. The way Draco would always comfort Harry even if it were really Draco who needed to be comforted.

How could he have been such an idiot? Such a moron? Such an imbecile?

All those times when Draco had really felt depressed Harry had been to caught up in thoughts about Oliver to even notice.

When Draco had needed him, Harry had let him down.

Oh, what Harry would give to take it all back and change everything. But he couldn't. He couldn't change the things that had happened, that things he had done, the way he had acted.

All Harry could do was hope that Draco would forgive him and give him another chance.

Draco had been walking for only a few minutes, but already he felt exhausted. He wasn't surprised, though. All the crying he had done had certainly required a lot of energy.

He walked into the park and took a seat in a nearby bench. It was a lovely day, and the birds were chirping. Draco was trying to see the good in everything and cheer himself up, but, unfortunately, neither was happening.

His thoughts kept going back to Harry and Oliver dancing so intimately.

Curse that stupid Oliver! Draco thought to himself, angrily.

Draco took in a deep breath to rid himself of his angry thoughts. He shouldn't be getting so worked up about this. If Harry would rather be with Oliver, then that was his loss. Not Draco's.

However, Draco knew that none of this was true.

Draco couldn't stand to be without Harry.

He was already feeling so helpless...

He shook his head hazardously. He refused to let Harry control his life like this! He had to be strong! He had to be-

"Draco?" came a voice. Could it be...?

Draco's head whipped around only to see...Oliver?

What the hell is that twit doing here? Now, Draco, calm down.

Draco turned his head back around, deciding to ignore him. Maybe he would get the hint and leave him alone.

"Draco, I know you're angry, but I'm not just going to leave."

Then again, maybe not.

"What do you want, Wood?" Draco asked, scathingly. "Why don't you just go back to Harry and snog him for a couple of hours?" Okay, so that didn't exactly sound cool...damn it Draco! Come on! You've got to be wittier than that!

"That's just it, Draco." Oliver answered, oblivious to the odd thoughts going on in Draco's mind. "This thing...about Harry. You really like him, don't you?"

Draco stopped rambling to himself as he heard Oliver's words' Should he answer Oliver with the truth?

Of course not, you baffoon! He'll only use it against you! Thought the little voice in Draco's head. (1)

"No." Draco answered, as though he were offended. "Why would I like Harry? He's an idiot."

"You and I both know that's not true." Oliver answered, seriously.

"So what if it isn't? Did you come here to just to boast about how you got Harry and I didn't? Or to tell me about just how much fun you two had after I left about the party?" Draco spat, feeling resentful.

"No. Are you as much of an idiot as Harry?!"

Draco was about to yell back, "Don't insult Harry!" before he realized that he, himself, had just been insulted. But before Draco could say anything, Oliver continued.

"When you left that dance, Harry ran after you and completely forgot about me. It's obvious that his true feelings for you are much deeper than either of us realized. And the same goes for you. I like Harry, yes, but not in the way that you do. Sure, I think he's attractive and I'd love to go out with him, but I don't love him. You do."

Draco's eyes widened slightly and his mouth went slack at hearing Oliver say this. But Oliver wasn't done yet. He continued.

"And, yes. Harry does think I'm attractive as well, and probably thinks that a date with me would be quite fantastic."

Draco growled at this, sending a flickered of fear through Oliver's eyes, making Oliver get to the point quickly.

"But that's just something stupid. A little fling. What Harry feels for you, though, is much deeper. He wouldn't just want to go on one date with you, or even two. He would want to go on a billion dates with you. He'd want to be with you forever and be happy, and I know I've never truly been in love, myself, but I can tell when someone else is in love. And Harry is. Harry loves you."

Draco's eyes were glossy and his vision was beginning to blur a bit at Oliver's words, but he quickly blinked them away. So what if Oliver can tell that he loves Harry? That's nothing knew.

"I would never get in the way of your love for Harry, or his love for you."

Maybe Oliver wasn't such a bad guy after all. Not that Draco was going to tell him that.

Draco remained silent, and said nothing in response to Draco.

After a few moments, Oliver turned around as if to leave, but Draco stopped him as he called out, "Hey, wait!"

Oliver turned back to Draco, raising an eye in question.

"Yes?"

"...thanks."

Draco quickly looked down, blushing of embarrassment. After all, he never thought he would be thanking Oliver Wood, the person he despised the most...or, at least, used to.

"Any time," Oliver answered with a grin. And he walked away, whistling.

Draco stayed there, seated, just staring at the bright blue sky, in contemplation.

Harry slowly made his way toward the park, deciding to sit on one of the swings in hopes of clearing his mind a bit.

He looked up to make sure there was at least one swing available, as they were usually all taken up by little children during the day, but before his eyes traveled to the swings, they scanned over a boy with platinum-blonde hair, sitting wonderingly on a bench.

Draco!

Harry's eyes widened with excitement and a burst of energy shot through him and he began running as fast as he could, to get to Draco.

With each step he took, he could feel the exhilarating rush of energy increase until he was finally standing right behind Draco, breathing heavily.

The sound of someone gasping for breath interrupted Draco's thoughts.

He turned around curious to see who it was, only to see a very out of breath, a very flushed, a very sexy-looking err....I mean, very ruffled Harry Potter.

TBC...

(1) Most little voices in the back of someone's mind give good advice. Draco's, unfortunately, sucks. So, yeah,...just wanted you guys to know that.

A/N: YES! I updated! I've been so busy with school, and homework, and filling out applications for school, cause I NEED a scholarship if I want to go anywhere, it's been very hectic and I've had no time to write. And it's been killing me! My fingers have just been itching to type some more story, but all they've been doing is typing essays! Ugh! Stupid school! Anyway, yeah. That was my little tantrum for the day. Now, I know I always say 'at least this chapter was longer than the last time" but this time, it's the truth! A full page longer, so yay for me! I hope you guys liked the chapter. I just wrote it up now since I'm doing laundry and I'm not really in the "romantic" mood, as you can imagine. That's for the next chapter, which, I think, will be the last, final chapter. Sad...I know. sniff, sniff lol.

Well, as always, please review!!!!

xoxo Spideria xoxo