(a/n: I mentioned this in my profile but I probably should do it again. In my mind there is neither a book five or six nor will there ever. Please keep that in mind when reading this. Thank you.)

8. Weakness of Thought

Draco awoke in the grey predawn light. His whole body ached slightly but he couldn't really find any reason to complain. To complain would be to say that last night had not been worth the pain or the pleasure, to say he regretted it. He didn't, he could never regret such a thing.

He let his eyes wander over to the small clock on the night stand. It was six, he should have know that though, his body had been programmed to wake up at six for so long that it wouldn't let him sleep any longer. He wished it had. It had only been, what? Five , six hours since they had gone to sleep. It had been such a deep sleep, it had been years since he had slept so well and without any nightmares.

Harry shifted slightly in his sleep causing Draco to freeze. He didn't want to wake him, not yet. He could still sleep for another hour before classes started and Draco didn't want to deprive him of that.

He felt so safe in his arms. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt safe. Harry had been so gentle to him. Harry may have said he would throw his life away for him but words couldn't compare with the kindness and tenderness. Actions speak so much louder than words.

He couldn't give this up. He hadn't realized how very much he desired to feel loved. How alone he had felt before. Looking at the past he saw how far he would go out of his way for any kind of attention good and bad but mostly just bad. His mother had been the only one to ever love him, truly love him for good or ill. Now she was gone. Now he had Harry and he be damned if anyone tried to take him away from him. He wasn't going to be left alone again.

He began to doze and drifted into a light sleep. He was awakened by a soft beeping and by Harry shifting over to turn off the alarm. He collapsed back next to Draco, his head buried in pillow.

"It's too early." Came the muffled groan from the pillow.

Draco smiled, he had forgotten that Harry wasn't a morning person. He ran his fingers through Harry's hair and down his neck, over his shoulder and arm.

Harry turned his head slightly to look at Draco, "You're making it really hard to go back to sleep."

"You can't go back to sleep, I'm afraid. Class starts in an hour and we need to shower and eat. If nothing else we really need to shower."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying I stink?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "I wouldn't go as far as stink but we do smell a bit funky."

Harry pushed himself up and rubbed his eyes, "Can't we just skip class? The first day is usually a waste of time anyway."

"No," Draco sighed, "It's not good to start off the school year on a bad foot."

"You aren't at the top of the class for nothing." Harry muttered under his breath, scanning the floor for his sleeper pants.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco demanded sounding slightly cross.

"Just an observation. I didn't man anything by it." Harry fished the pants out from under the bed, wondering how they got there, and pulled them on.

"Oh, don't do that." Draco pouted.

"Do what? Observer or put on pants?"

"Put on pants. An ass that good shouldn't be covered."

Harry looked at Draco in disbelief for a moment then his face split into a grin. He shook his head, "You go from being an absolute prick, and completely in denial to saying something like that in less than twelve hours… you are unfucking believable."

"You say that like it's bad thing." Draco put on a hesitant smile.

"It's not. It's probably the best thing that's happened to me in my entire life. As for my ass, you can look at it all you want in the shower."

"The shower?"

Harry smirked, "I'm not getting up this early for nothing." He quickly scooped Draco up from the bed and made his way to the bathroom.

Draco pouted, "After last night? I'm exhausted."

" I am too" Harry said as he opened the shower door, "Just seeing you all wet and soapy will be reward enough."

Draco laughed, "You pervert!"

"I know." Harry grinned and kissed Draco gently, "I just can't help myself."