4. Weakness of Deception

Harry slipped into the last carriage in line, Draco followed reluctantly behind him and sat across from Harry, his dislike for the situation he had gotten himself radiating from his being.

Harry sighed, "Should you like me to tell you what I intend in the dining hall or do you prefer not to know?"

Draco stared out the carriage darkly, "I don't want to know how you're going to humiliate me in front of everyone, thank you very much."

Harry nodded and sat in silence. The carriage slowly came to rest and the lights from the castle illuminated the dark night. Harry stepped from the carriage, holding the door for Draco. Their walk to the castle was slow an seemed to stretch infinitely, the whole thing seemed ominous and portent. Draco glanced out of the corner and studied Harry. There was something very dark about him that made the hair on the back of Draco's neck stand up. He had never seen him so silent even in the past when he didn't speak it wasn't like this. Those times it was like any other person's silence. Now, Draco wasn't sure Potter was even beside him unless he looked. He couldn't hear the other boy's steps or his breathing. Draco felt his gut clench in some sort of unknown fear. Afraid of what? Not Potter. He's a joke, right? Draco stopped his train of thought there and concentrated on what lay ahead.

The noise of the hall rolled over them like a wave long before they reached the door. Entering the dining hall was one of the hardest things Draco had ever done though he would never admit it to anyone. He staked everything on this chance and if something went wrong he might as aim his wand at his own chest and perform the killing curse.

Potter showed no emotion, once they stepped into the dining hall, however, a grin split his face and his eyes came alive, almost as if he had been that way the entire time. Draco on the other hand had more trouble not looking like he normally did. As people began to take notice Draco didn't try to suppress the embarrassment, knowing that he could but the flush that colored his cheeks were the best he could manage to 'play his part'.

Harry stopped suddenly in front of his table and turned to Draco. He ducked his head slightly and whispered, "Go eat at your table for tonight, I'm sure you'd love to explain this away to your friends. Meet me after dinner, ok?"

Draco started to nod but Harry caught his chin and pulled him in. He brushed Draco's lips gently and as he pulled away he caressed his cheek. Draco stood shocked for a moment, not because of the kiss but because of the tenderness that it held, was hypnotized by those intense green eyes that were so utterly soft. For a fraction of a moment that seemed to stretch on into eternity, Draco felt like someone actually cared about him. Then Harry turned away and the noise of the hall returned in force. Draco remembered his reality and retreated to his house table.

"What the fuck was that!?" Blaise demanded as soon as he sat down.

Draco set his eyes coldly and glared at Blaise, sending the look to everyone that looked his way.

"Fucking the enemy now are we? Or are you the enemy now as well, Draco? Have double-crossed us?" Blaise demanded icily, the entire table was hushed a deadly quiet, many of the eyes looking at him reflecting the same sentiment as Blaise.

Draco lowered his voice and locked eyes with Blaise, "I will tell you this once and what I say here will not go outside this table or the one that talks, I will kill personally. Do we all understand?"

All those around that could hear Draco nodded silently.

"Good. Now I had originally planned only to gain Potters trust, to become his friend and use that to pry out all his secrets. One of the first secrets I managed to take was the fact that boy wonder has some…nontraditional tastes in the way of sexual partners."

"You are fucking him then!" Blaise interrupted angrily.

"Yes!" Draco hissed angrily, "Now shut up I'm not done! Potter is a fucking sap when it comes to relationships. If I tell him I love him he would jump through god damn flaming hoops for me! By the end of this week I plan to give him to Lord Voldemort, gift wrapped and placid. So don't any of you screw this up! He thinks I'm breaking it off with you losers so put up a good act and keep looking pissed. I screw this up and it will destroy everything, understand?"

Everyone nodded and the word was quickly passed down the table but Blaise simply sat and stared at him darkly. Then picking up a pitcher of pumpkin juice he poured it over Draco's head and pulled out his wand, aiming it at Draco's chest.

"Good luck, Malfoy." Blaise muttered quietly as Draco stood up from the table, dripping wet and walked away from the table.