Disclaimer: You know. Blah-blah-blah not mine… JK's and WB… I'm just a crazy fan.

Thanks a lot: to Jamie and Lildove, my beta readers! All to all of you who reviewed, THANKS: Ezekiel Klitiras ; Kuraii Koneko ; kazillion ; Brucie Ancelin (thank you so much!! When I first wrote that kiss, I thought it was so lame. And then I rewrote it. So that is the result. I tried my best with it! I'm glad you noticed it!!) ; Maia-Eala (the answer is: yes!); DemonessOfPunishment ; Daphne Pessanha (logo, logo você muda de idéia. Eu espero! Lol!); Brenna8 (yes!); Youko Gingitsune (Of course I like Bill!); CuriousDreamWeaver ; Mistal: The Poisoned One (Well, you'll see!); SilverDragon161 ; midnightprowler tyrinibrat (don't worry. I will!); sniff (sorry about your long review! I'm glad you decided to review again!); Okami-chan ; Arwen Applestone (I will make Bill happy!); dirty dancer (XD); R. (Wow. You really captured the essence of the characters! I loved your review! You truly understand them! When you wrote that Harry has a few things to teach Draco as well, you were totally right. In fact, I was planning to write about it in future chapters. Draco has his own problems to overcome too, and Harry will make him realize that.); YK kt ; i n c o h e r e n t (no alternate endings, even though the idea is really interesting!); JKH ; katiejo362 ; willow (I hope you don't forget about the story! Lol!); Mary grrrr ; twinsoul (No, Bill won't get psycho! Lol! And yes, I will write Harry's backstory. Let's just say that his main reason for being so angry with the world is because of Sirius.); Hydrangea777 ; someonesgurl ; ririka1 (Bill needs to realise some things too. And he will).

I really appreciate everyone's support and reviews, especially R.'s review. She really captured the characters' souls!

I know a lot of people are cheering on Bill now, but give Harry a chance!! . Although I also like Bill! I read this fanfic a long time ago called Duality, and I fell in love with Bill then. By the way, the story is slash! And it's beautiful! For anyone interested, here's the link:   . The author is J. Marie. There's a prequel, but you don't need to read it in order to understand Duality. And now, here's the chapter!

Chap. 16 – The Games People Play

'Have fun with the girls.'

Harry scowled. He would have done just that if it weren't for the fact that he was feeling butterflies in his stomach and he felt like throwing up. He also couldn't understand why his body couldn't stop shaking. Maybe he was catching a cold. He wrapped his arms around his body and sat on the windowsill of his bedroom.

He could understand why a pure-blood family like the Blacks had chosen this muggle neighbourhood to live in. It was so quiet and peaceful in Grimmauld Place. With the exception of his next-door neighbour, he rarely saw muggles walking on the sidewalk. The only crowded place was Grimmauld Park, just two blocks away from his house. It was the same place Draco had taken him jogging.

He embraced himself tightly at the thought of Draco. No matter how much he tried to refocus his thoughts on more important things, every little thing led him back to Draco, like he didn't have enough to worry about at the moment. He needed to concentrate on his nightmares and the terrifying fact that his scar had throbbed. He hated to admit that he was afraid of the meaning of those dreams. Voldemort had looked right at him. Not at baby Harry, but at the full-sized version of future Harry Potter.

He was afraid for the first time in his life, because the only theory he had come up with was that maybe, just maybe, Voldemort was living inside of him. That would certainly explain why Harry had strange mood swings all of a sudden. It would explain why he looked like he was ill. Or maybe he only thought Voldemort was inside of him because he was becoming him. He was bitter and hopeless. He had let darkness take over his being. Maybe Fudge had been right when he had accused him of wanting to be the next Dark Lord.

He shook his head. That was bullshit. He wasn't Voldemort. He was just overreacting. It was all a bad dream. Just a very bad dream… Hermione didn't need to know about it. Nobody needed to know.

Draco had seen his scar throbbing though. Would he tell Hermione about it?

And there he was again, thinking about Draco. He distractedly brushed his fingers on his lips as the memories of the kiss came back to him. It was almost as if Draco was there, kissing him again, tempting him, making him melt. Harry trembled. He couldn't understand what was going on with him. Never had a kiss left him in such a trance. He remembered when his heart used to beat faster at the sight of Cho, and later with Ginny. He remembered his palms sweating when he had asked Ginny to marry him, and the way he had flushed when he had first asked her on a date. He remembered feeling nervous. But the sensations he had felt because of Draco's kiss were new to him.

He had felt his heart throbbing, which he had felt before. But before, his heart didn't seem like it would come out of his mouth and bounce off the walls. He had felt nervous, after all, he always felt nervous when facing a new situation. But he had never felt dizzy when kissing a girl. He had never felt those delicious tingles running through his body. Draco's kiss had snapped his control. That was certainly something that had never happened to him just because of a kiss. Harry had never lost control over a simple kiss.

He leaned his head against the window and sighed. He had waited for so long to feel those things. It wasn't fair that Draco was the one to awake those feelings in him. Harry was straight. He had never felt any kind of attraction towards other guys. If only it wasn't Draco. If only Harry hadn't lost his mind and accepted that stupid challenge he saw in Draco's eyes. He should know better than to trust his bad temper by now.  He always did the wrong thing when he was angry.

Was he gay? Maybe it wasn't just Draco. Maybe he had a thing for guys, he had just never really noticed. He made a face. Wouldn't the Daily Prophet love to hear that the Boy-Who-Lived was gay? It would be the gossip of a lifetime.

He cursed Draco for messing with his head. Harry didn't want to be gay. He didn't want one more thing to make him different from the rest of the world.

He shouldn't have sent Cindy and Mindy away. Their presence would have reassured his manhood. At least they would have kept him company for the weekend. He always felt so lonely on weekends. He didn't know why. It wasn't as if his weeks were any different. But somehow weekends were quieter than usual in Grimmauld Place.

It was Saturday night. He still had time to call the girls back. They had been so disappointed when they had left. But he didn't feel like calling them back. He couldn't get Draco out of his mind. What if he fantasized of Draco while sleeping with them? It would be awful. 

He desperately needed a drink. He got out of his bedroom and went downstairs. Mrs. Black only stared at him thoughtfully on his way to the living room. Harry barely paid attention to her. He took a bottle of bourbon from the bar and turned on the stereo.

'It couldn't be that hard to live alone

But I'm all, all alone again

Thinking you'll never say

That you'll be home again.'

He wrinkled his nose. He didn't want to hear sad love songs at this time of night, especially songs about being lonely.

"And it's gonna be a long night

And it's gonna be cold without your arms

And I'm going get stage fright caught in the headlights

It's gonna be a long night

And I know I'm gonna lose this fight.' ()

No, he wouldn't lose anything. He would fight those upsetting feelings and win. Then he wouldn't feel hot and feverish when Draco kissed him again.

'What am I talking about? He will never kiss me again! His lips will never touch mine; his fingers will never stroke me like he is afraid of breaking me. I won't let him hold me in his arms and…' He felt slightly dizzy. And he hadn't even drunk anything yet. He felt feverish again. Maybe he was getting sick, and that sudden heat had nothing to do with Draco.

He sat on the red satin settee by the fireplace and a few torches that were strategically placed around the room lit with just one look. He was about to take a sip of the bourbon when he heard someone knocking on his door and shouting for him. He rested the bottle on the floor, upset. He considered not answering it, but the knock only became louder until he heard 'Hot Stuff' being played like a doorbell. He couldn't help but smile. He knew who it was. He walked towards the door – hearing and ignoring Mrs. Black in the background complaining about how distasteful young people were – and opened it.

"Fred, what the hell are you doing here on a Saturday night?" Harry asked. Fred hugged him fondly and then entered the house without waiting for Harry's invitation.

"I need your signature on a few papers… That's what you get for having a share of our joke shop, partner."

"I never really asked for that share…"

"Well, you got it, so you might as well take advantage of it and help us out. You know, it would be great if you dropped by our shops from time to time. George and I have new ideas for that instantaneous party of ours." Fred stopped next to Mrs. Black and smiled wickedly. "How are you, old hag?"

Mrs. Black snorted and stuck up her nose. She hated the Weasleys. To her, they were the worst sort of wizards.

"Cute as always," Fred said. "I think I have something for you to use on her, Harry. We are still working on it, so if you ever feel like helping us test our new products, could you lend her to us?" Fred asked with a phoney sweetness. Mrs. Black made a horrified expression, and her list of curse words began to be recited.

"I'll definitely keep that in mind," Harry said, grinning. Mrs. Black told him to go to hell and join his stupid family. Harry sent her a threatening look and then took Fred to the living room.

Fred took a few folded papers from his shiny blue jacket - that kept changing colours from time to time - and handed them to Harry. Harry didn't bother to read them. He never did. That usually annoyed Fred and George, but no matter what they said, Harry never listened.

"I sure as hell hope our stuff is the only thing you sign without reading, Harry. What if this was your will? What if we were trying to rip you off?"

Harry shrugged. "Then have a good life with my money."

"You're a crazy bastard."

Harry finished signing the papers and handed them back to Fred. "I don't deny it. You could always buy my share."

"Nope. You helped us out. It was your money that made our dream possible. That place is yours as much as it is ours. It's only right that you're our partner," Fred answered while putting the papers back in his pocket.

Harry didn't bother to reply. He had tried before without any success. "Is there anything else?"

"No, that's pretty much it." Fred looked around. "Where's Draco?"

Harry shuddered slightly. "I dunno. Why do you ask?"

Fred cocked his head. "I know he's been living with you."

"He isn't!"

"That's not what I've heard."

Hermione and her big mouth would pay. Harry clenched his fists.

"So, is he living here?" Fred insisted.

Harry remembered how uneasy he had felt when he had seen Draco coming to his place with luggage in his hands and then unpacking his things in the room next to Harry's.

"Yes, he is," Harry answered grimly. "But he isn't here now."

"Oh, that's a pity. I'm sure he would have loved to come with me to this new night-club that opened today in Diagon Alley."

Harry felt his mouth dry. "I didn't know you were close with Malfoy."

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing." Fred winked. "But hey, things change. Draco sure changed a lot. We always have fun together."

Harry didn't like to think of Draco and Fred having fun, because he knew exactly what kind of fun Fred liked the most. And with that thought, it suddenly struck Harry that Draco might have someone in his life. He might have a boyfriend. And that boyfriend could be Fred. His heart skipped a beat. 

"Draco and I used to go out together quite a lot. We slept together," Fred said with his usual honesty. Harry ignored the sudden jealousy that possessed him. "But it didn't work out. I don't like to go steady. I'm too young, if you know what I mean. And Draco… Even though he denies it, he's looking for a steady relationship."

"Is he seeing someone?" Harry asked against his better judgment. He bit his tongue hard and crossed his arms. "Never mind. I don't really want to know. It isn't as if I care anyway. I mean, I don't give a damn about him," he said at once, knowing very well that Fred would notice how nervous he looked. "I just wanted to know because I have the right to. I mean, the guy is living with me now… And who knows? Maybe he's dating a Death Eater or something."

Fred didn't laugh. He just looked at Harry as if he knew something Harry didn't. He looked at Harry as if the brunette were a little child who knew nothing about the world. Harry felt uncomfortable being the object of that look.

"He's seeing Bill," Fred said after pondering if it was wise to tell Harry the truth.

Harry felt short of breath for a moment. "Bill?"

"Yeah, Bill."

"As in Bill Weasley? Your brother Bill?"

Fred nodded. Harry was shocked by the knowledge that Bill was also gay, but the fact that he was dating Draco – the same Draco who had kissed him with such passion – was ten times worst. But then, what did it matter? Harry didn't care about Draco. He was only feeling outraged because Draco had cheated on Bill.

"That bastard!" he exclaimed.

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Who? Draco or Bill?"

Harry's mouth opened and then closed. He was too angry to speak. He raised his arms and then let them fall with a sigh. "Is everyone gay now? When did this happen?" He didn't really expect an answer so he kept going with his rampage, "Are they going steady? Because Draco doesn't behave like he's in love at all!" Didn't he? Harry didn't know that for sure. "But he kissed me!" he answered to himself. "He bloody kissed me! Did he think of Bill? He didn't say anything! And what was that look of disgust he threw at me when he saw me with Mindy and Cindy?"

Fred was thunderstruck by everything Harry had said. He suppressed a grin. Hermione would be very happy to know that their plan was working. He asked for Bill's forgiveness in silence, but he wasn't at all sorry for sending Draco there. Draco and Harry belonged together. Bill loved Draco, but Draco wasn't the only one in his heart. Fred knew his brother's heart very well. He knew Bill's heart beat faster for somebody else, somebody out of his reach. He also knew he could be wrong about the whole thing. He and Hermione were playing a very dangerous game, but they couldn't help it. Not when he saw Harry snapping like that.

"He kissed you?" Fred asked quietly, making Harry pale.

"Erm… No… I mean, it wasn't… Well, he really pissed me off… If Malfoy hadn't challenged me…!"

"He kissed you then." Fred smiled and enlaced Harry's neck. "You don't have to make so many excuses."

"I'm not!" Harry exploded. "I don't like him. I hate him. He's everything I've ever despised in this world. And I'm not gay! Am I?"

Fred looked deeply inside Harry's sparkling eyes and then kissed him. Harry's eyes opened up wide, his whole body freezing at Fred's touch. Fred let go of him after a few seconds and then smiled sadly. "Well, you're not gay after all. No one can resist my kiss. It's either that or I'm losing my touch, and I'd rather go with the not gay thing. So, you are straight."

Harry took a while to get back to normal. He was very confused now and he didn't know if his lack of reaction to Fred's kiss was a good thing or not. He wasn't relieved. Because if he didn't feel anything for Fred… then he was doomed.

"What does it mean?" Harry asked in a whisper.

Fred frowned. "What do you mean?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know." He leaned his head against the wall and stared into space. "I… Dammit. I just realised… I just realised why…" He closed his eyes. "Hermione, that… She has no right to play with my life."

"Harry… What are you talking about?"

Harry threw him a sharp look. "You know damn well what I am talking about. Hermione once told me, a long time ago, that she thought that deep down I was in love with Malfoy, because I hated him so much. If you hate someone that much, she said, then you must love them. She saw my angry face so she quickly told me she was kidding. But she wasn't! And by sending Draco here, she expects me to realise my true feelings. You joked about this once too. So you are both playing with my fucking life!"

"Harry…"

"Shit!" Harry slid to the floor and buried his face in his hands. "I'll curse you and her forever!"

Fred sighed and knelt beside him. "You don't mean that."

"I do!" Harry groaned.

"He makes you feel different, doesn't he?" Harry shook his head and Fred patted it. "Yes, he does. If he didn't, you wouldn't be feeling so edgy. He makes you feel. Hermione and I noticed it that a long time ago."

Harry looked up, his eyes fuming. "This isn't a game! It's my life, you know?"

"Well, yeah. And I realise that we are playing with fire. But really, I was always attracted to flames… I can't help it."

"Fuck you, Fred! I don't want to play this game!"

"Why not? I mean, think about it. If you really don't feel anything, what are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid," he said, but his words sounded meaningless.

"Then what's the harm in my wicked plan?"

Harry licked his dry lips. "Even if I did feel something for Malfoy, he's with Bill. Don't you have any shame? He's your brother! And even knowing this, you send his boyfriend to my house hoping that we would hook up? How fucked up is that?"

Fred scratched his head. "Well, I realise I am evil… But I also know that Draco doesn't love Bill, and that Bill loves someone else. They do like each other. But they are not meant to be."

"You're playing God."

"I know. It's a very risky bet, Harry. But… I just want you all to be happy. You felt something when he kissed you, right?"

"No."

"No?"

Harry sighed. "Maybe I did… But it didn't mean anything. You said it yourself, right? I'm not gay."

"The label doesn't matter when it comes to love, Harry."

Fred's words cut deeply inside of him and they kept coming back to him even after Fred's departure. Harry went back to his room feeling gloomier than ever. He even forgot about drinking. The only thing on his mind was Draco and the kiss they had shared. He wondered if Draco was feeling the same way he was. 'It's going to be a very long night…' he thought tiredly.

TBC…

The music Harry's listening to is called Long Night, by The Corrs.

A/N: I agree with Fred, you know? Not about playing with Harry's life like that, but about the love thing. I really believe that love has no labels. What about you? Review!!!