Argh, no excuses or notes or (excuse my bad grammar) Nuthin! I'm going straight to the story. You guys have waited much too long!

Chapter: 10

Could it be? Is it Truly Over?

Knock, knock.

Draco and Harry quickly broke apart from their kiss as Professor Snape walked into the room.

"…so, I was thinking that you should do just a little bit of extra credit to raise your grade to an A+. I mean, if you going to start something, you may as well go the whole way." Draco improvised with ease, as if they'd been speaking the entire time.

"Erm…yes. I think you're right." Harry said, still trying to hide the slight flush in his cheeks.

"Oh, hello, Severus. I didn't hear you come in." Draco said, a wide smile plastered on his face.

"I knocked." Severus answered, in a monotone voice.

"Well, I was speaking with Harry. I guess I just didn't hear it."

"I'm sure," was the biology professor's response, a slightly suspicious glare resting atop the surface of his onyx black eyes. Draco simply continued to smile amiably towards Severus, while Harry decided to play a silent staring contest with his shoelaces, neither knowing what to say next.

"Well, then," Severus began again. "Principle Dumbledore simply wanted me to ask if you would be volunteering for next Friday."

Harry vaguely wondered to himself what it was the Draco would be volunteering for as Draco replied with a grin and answered, "Of course."

"Very well, then." And Severus left with a curt nod. Harry couldn't help but smile a little at how much Severus had looked like a butler of sorts at that very moment, before breaking into bouts of laughter when he realized just what Severus had nearly caught them doing.

"Oh my God! Do you realize how close that was!"

"Yes," Draco said, grimacing slightly and stretching out his jaw.

Harry tilted his head and gave Draco a confused look. "What are you doing?"

"Putting on such a hugely fake smile every time Severus comes in isn't exactly the easiest of jobs." Another grimace, and he continued. "It's just so out of character for me. But alas, Harry my love, I must do this if I am to make sure we are never taken away!" Draco declared dramatically, and subsequently continued to pull Harry back into his arms and place what would have been a long, passionate kiss.

But Harry pulled away slightly, with an apologetic look to his face. "Sorry, but I told Hermione that I just wanted to have a quick word with you about last night's homework assignment to make sure I did it correctly, and that I would then meet up with her at lunch. If we keep this up any longer, I'll still be here when the bell rings."

Draco gave a long, melodramatic sigh, as if wallowing in complete and utter despair. "Well, is you absolutely must leave me-"

"Yes, I must." Harry cut in, giving Draco a peck and then pulling out completely, from his embrace. "And do me a favor," Harry added, as he made his way to the door. "Keep the dramatics to a minimum. It really doesn't suit you all that well, if you ask me." And then he was gone, leaving a look of indignation on Draco's face.

DHDHDH

Things had gotten undeniably better between Draco and himself, Harry thought, as he made his way down the hall towards the cafeteria. Harry would make a small excuse to leave his friends every once in a while, and catch up with Draco for a quick snog, and Draco would keep him after class to "talk about his grades".

Of course, they didn't always just kiss. Sometimes they just talked, enjoying each other's company. Harry could feel little butterflies bubbling up inside of him. Draco just always made him feel so utterly perfect. He couldn't deny the fact that just the thought of Draco brought a smile to his lips.

The young brunette felt a stronger connection between himself and Draco. It was almost as if nothing could ever go wrong. No one suspected a single thing, as far as Harry was concerned, and Draco was just better than words could describe.

Harry couldn't recall ever having felt so complete in his entire life. Had he always been attracted to guys, or was Draco just the one special guy that stood out from the rest? Harry couldn't tell. He didn't even know if he was still attracted to girls anymore. All he knew was that his world revolved completely around Draco. It was a bit obsessive, the youth admitted to himself, but he simply couldn't help it.

I guess this is what a person's first love feels like, he silently thought to himself, with an inward sigh of content. Harry's footsteps suddenly halted and gave a look of shock. What was wrong with him! He might possibly be gay, (Who knew. He could still be bisexual.) but he was most certainly not a girl. He had to stop this infatuation. It was alright to like Draco, but Harry feared he might be just a little over his head.

With a quick shake of his head, he continued walking, this time, concentrated on non-Draco thoughts, though images kept jumping into his head. Images of Draco's eyes, and lips, and body and...

"Harry! What took you so long? Lunch is nearly over," came Hermione's chastising tone.

"Oh, sorry. Draco was started talking to me about some extra credit I could do so that I could make sure to get an A+"... well, it wasn't exactly a total lie.

Hermione gasped. "Extra credit! Why didn't he tell me about this? I'd better go right over and see him about-"

"Hermione, Hermione! Relax. You're already guaranteed and extra credit." Ron said, albeit with a slightly muffled voice, as he was currently chewing around a sandwich.

"Well, you never know. I think maybe I should just-"

"Ron's right, Hermione. Besides, I'm not going to do it anyway."

"Oh, but you should!"

"No, I'm okay with an A. Besides, I'm erm... busy."

"Busy? Busy with what?" Hermione asked curiously.

Harry froze for a second. He hadn't actually thought about what he was going to say. The youth had been around his blond teacher for so long now, that he'd noticed the way the older man lied with such ease, and decided to try out for himself. However, Harry now realized that wasn't exactly the best way for him to go about dealing with things.

Note to Self, Harry thought mutely, Think before you speak. You suck at lying.

"Oh, I know why." Ron said teasingly, waggling his brows, and giving Harry a friendly nudge with his elbow. "It's because of you-know-what, isn't it?"

"What?" Both Hermione and Harry asked at the same time. Thankfully, Hermione has spoken more loudly, and so Ron had only heard her ask. This was a good thing. Now Ron could answer both Hermione and Harry in one, and Harry could just pretend he had known all along.

I'm too good, Harry thought to himself, smugly.

"It's a guy's thing, Hermione. We can't tell you. It'll ruin the surprise."

What? No! Ruin the surprise! Ruin it, I tell you! Harry's inner voice demanded desperately.

"Oh, come on, Ron. Don't be so immature. Just tell me." Hermione said.

Yes, tell her, Ron. Tell her.

"Nope. You'll just have to wait along with all the other girls."

"Oh, fine. I'll just find out on my own, then." Hermione replied stubbornly.

"You do that," Ron replied, with a confident smile.

Hermione simply glared.

BRING! BRING!

"Oh, crap." Harry moaned, as the end of lunch bell rang.

"It's your own fault for taking so long, Harry. I told you…"

Sometimes Harry just felt like taking Hermione's head and smashing it open like a walnut. But of course, he couldn't. It was illegal, as so many things in life were. Sometimes the law was just plain unfair, Harry thought to himself. But there was nothing to do about that now. He didn't particularly feel like going to court and fighting these laws at the moment.

So instead, he settled for a long sigh, as he ignored the protesting growls of his empty stomach.

DHDHDH

"Harry! What is going on with you?" Coach Rabble shouted.

The youth did not answer. Instead, he continued to stand in the middle of the court, hunched over, with his hands on his knees breathing in and out, and trying to regain some energy.

"Coach," Ron volunteered to answer for Harry. "He didn't have lunch."

"And why the hell not?" Coach Rabble hated when his team members did anything to jeopardize their games or practices.

"Well," Ron began, thinking quickly. "He was talking with a teacher about his grades. He wanted to make sure he was passing, that way he could be sure he wouldn't be kicked off the team without warning or anything like that."

It's a good thing Ron's better at lying, than I am. Harry thought to himself. Although Ron had believed that Harry was speaking to Draco about his grades, Ron knew that there was no way Harry was failing in any of his classes. However, Coach Rabble didn't know that.

The middle-aged man seemed to accept this answer, believing that Harry has been, ultimately, looking out for the team's best, so he let out a quick sigh and said in slight resignation, "Alright, Harry. I'll give you a break this time, but this is the only break you get. Now go sit over on the bench and wait till practice is over. You may not be playing on the court, but you can still watch with me and look for any possible improvements."

"Thanks, Coach."

DHDHDH

"Harry and I were watching you guys. You made terrible mistakes every other minute! Terry's jump-shot was completely off, today! Right, Harry?" The Coach was chastising the team after bringing them in from practice. Asking Harry for his opinion, however, was about as beneficial as talking to a brick-wall though.

"Erm … yeah. Yeah, coach." Harry stuttered. He hadn't paid an ounce of attention throughout the entire game. Instead, he'd been too busy trying to push away the hunger that still clung to him just ever-so stubbornly. Coach Rabble, luckily, didn't seem to notice.

"…Wouldn't you agree, Harry?"

Oh, God. Is he still talking? Harry inwardly moaned to himself.

Pushing away another growl of his stomach, he nodded his head, feigning enthusiasm. "Definitely, Coach. Definitely."

Fred and George could not be fooled, though. They noted Harry's lack of attention and struggled to muffle their bouts of laughter. Harry, in turn, merely glared at them.

DHDHDH

"Finally!" Harry exclaimed, as they walked into the lockers. "I thought he would never end his ranting!" Ron laughed, but Harry was too hungry to laugh along. He wasted no time in taking his bag and heading towards the exit.

Forget the shower, he thought to himself. I'll take one at home. Once I have sufficiently replenished my tired body with food. He smiled at the thought.

Opening the door, he already has his mind going through a list of possible options for food to gorge out on, when he heard Ron ask Oliver, "So who are you asking to the dance?"

Dance! Harry's mind shouted. What dance!

"Oh, no," Harry quietly whispered to himself. This could not be happening. Harry could not believe it. Everything had been going perfectly, and now this.

"I'm not sure yet. Probably Mary-Anne. And of course, you'll be asking Hermione. What about Harry? Do you know who he's asking?"

Harry froze as he waited for the response.

"I'm not sure. Harry's been sort of weird lately. I don't want to say distant, but he's been well, a little…distracted. Yes, that's the word. Distracted." Ron replied.

"How so?"

"Oh, I don't know, but he's always busy with out literature teacher, Draco. Always making sure his grades are perfect and stuff. I don't understand it."

"Maybe he's just really trying to raise all his grades."

"That's what I'd thought at first, too. But he only cares about literature and nothing else. It's odd. He's like, bloody obsessed with it."

There was no response from Oliver. Harry pictured the team captain probably giving a shrug in response. After another moment's silence, Ron added, "I don't know what it is, but something strange is definitely going on between those two."

Then, Harry heard footsteps coming in his direction, and he quickly turned to make his leave, running at break-neck speed. This could definitely be a problem.

DHDHDH

Harry sat on his bed, thinking. He hadn't even thought that Ron had noticed his absence all that much. Ron had always seemed so nonchalant about it every time Harry had made a quick excuse to leave. But obviously, that was not the case. Now he knew that Ron was suspicious.

He'd had a bit of dread, wondering about how he was going to make up an excuse for not asking anyone out to the dance. He didn't want to, after all. He was dating Draco. But now he had to.

And speaking of which, how had Draco not known about the dance. The faculty was always notified of such events ahead of time; before any of the students. Unless… unless Draco had known. Unless Draco had known all along and simply hadn't told Harry.

Of course! That's what Snape had been talking about when he'd asked Draco if he'd been willing to volunteer. And Draco had answered him, right in front of Harry, and still, he had said nothing to the young brunette!

Suddenly, Harry wasn't upset about dealing with the dance; he was angry at Draco; angry because Draco had not told Harry about this ahead of time. They should have talked about it together, to come to a decision on what to do.

Harry let out a growl of frustration and anger. Why hadn't Draco told him?

Well, whatever the answer, he would find out tomorrow.

DHDHDH

At 7:45 am, Harry was waiting inside Draco's classroom. He had arrived early, so that he wouldn't have to make any more excuses for Ron and Hermione. They were curious enough as it was, already. He would have a quick talk with Draco, and then head outside, and wait for his friends to arrive.

Five minutes ticked away before Draco finally walked into the classroom, acquiring a look of surprise as his eyes rested upon Harry.

"Harry, what are you doing here?"

"Why didn't you tell me about the dance?" Harry didn't feel like cutting around any corners. He was going to cut straight to the point and get the answer as straight-forward as possible.

"Oh, that." Draco said, setting his briefcase onto his desk, twiddling with it.

"Yes, 'Oh that'" Harry repeated, in a mocking tone.

"Don't get mad, Harry. It wasn't going to make a difference whether I told you then or now."

"Except that you didn't tell me now. I had to find out from Ron, who didn't even really tell me, either."

"What" Asked Draco, in confusing.

"Never mind that. Why didn't you tell me? We could have talked it over. I mean, what am I going to do? Did you know that Ron is already suspicious about us?"

"What? He knows?" Draco asked, his voice incredulous.

"No, of course not. But he's not stupid, either. He knows that something is going on. So now I definitely have to get a date!"

"So then get one." Draco replied nonchalantly. He walked around his desk and pulled out his seat, getting ready to prepare for the day.

Harry just stood there for a moment, uncomprehendingly, before exclaiming, "What do you mean, just 'get one'!"

"If you need a date to clear things up, then do so. It's no big deal."

Harry continued to stare as Draco sifted through several papers with different lesson plans written on each. Finally, realizing that Harry was still staring at him, Draco looked up and let out a light sigh.

"Harry, what is it? I really need to get ready for the day."

"I don't get you. You're sending me mixed signals here, Draco. I mean, one minute, we're all lovey-dovey, and then next, you don't even care enough to talk to me about this properly. Instead, you just tell me to find some random girl and try to push me away. It's like…it's like you don't even care."

Harry was beginning to feel dread bubble up in him. This is what a tiny part of him had feared all along. That he would fall for Draco and then the blond would simply move on. The teen could feel tears beginning to sting at his eyes, but he wouldn't let them fall; he wouldn't let Draco see him cry.

But that didn't mean that Draco couldn't see Harry's eyes begin to water.

"Harry," Draco called gently, trying to make amends. He had forgotten how emotionally insecure a teenager could get. He reached out to take Harry's hand, but the brunette pulled away hastily, almost in anger.

"Harry?" Draco said his name again, this time with confusion.

"You know what? Just forget it, Draco. Forget this whole thing." And with that, Harry turned around, heatedly making his way out of the classroom.

"Harry, wait!" Draco called out, running to the door, but Harry had already turned the corner and disappeared. "Forget about what?" Draco quietly whispered to himself.

Had Harry meant forget about jus their argument, or had he meant their entire relationship? Draco's eyes widened in trepidation. It couldn't be over; not over some silly little argument. Draco wouldn't let it end like this; he just couldn't.

There had to be something he could do to fix things. Something. Harry wouldn't truly leave him forever over one disagreement. Would he?

No, no, no. Of course not. Draco kept telling himself. The blonde teacher did not like this. He hadn't felt this worried in a long time. He felt as though he was reliving his high school years, all over again. There were so many tiny mistakes one could make.

Harry wouldn't leave him, he was sure of it, or at least, that's what he kept telling himself. Perhaps it was a lie; perhaps this truly was the end, but Draco wouldn't let himself believe it. Not yet. He wouldn't give up.

He would find a way to fix this.

AN: Ok, I noticed this as I was writing. Draco's character does seem a bit OOC, but I figured that it's only because he and Harry are closer now, so he can be more of his true self. The true self that we never get to see in the HP books. Also, it'd be pretty hard to write a romantic story if Draco's were stiff and cold the whole story. Also, I know that Harry is being way melo-dramatic here, but he's a teenager, and what teenager doesn't go a little overboard everyone once in a while? But at least you know that Draco really cares since he got all nervous and worried at the very end. But don't worry, I have a very cute surprise coming up in the next chapter.

Anyway, I hope you liked it. I felt it was a bit sucky for a chapter after an entire month of waiting, but I'm sorry. This chapter, somehow, didn't feel real to me. It was like some dramatic soap opera-type of writing that I never write. Like, I felt as though someone else was writing it; not me. Maybe I wrote it in a different style or something. I don't know. You guys let me know what you think. Please review.

xoxo Spideria xoxo