Disclaimer: Obviously, the characters don't belong to me. I wish. But the plot is mine! Muwahahaha!

To Jamie and Lildove, my betas, a big thank you! And to Jade: welcome back!

Thanks a lot to the reviewers: silverXserpent ; Melissa-O ; DemonRogue13 ; Mistal: The Poisoned One ; hermoine21 ; dracophiliac86 ; SexySiriusBlack (hehehe! I loved the quote! And yes, all Harry needs is love! Lol!); smirk (sorry about your tests! I hope you're ok! I know what a pain Math can be…); Elyzchan (I read 'Welcome to the Real World'. It's a great story, even though the violence in it made me shiver. I guess, in a way, this story was an inspiration to my own version of a depressed Harry. I don't like violent Harry. But confused, cute and sometimes annoying Harry is ok!); CuriousDreamWeaver ; sumisweet (the big moment will come!); Ceineikia ; Kuraii Koneko (the answer is: yes!); Rowenna (thanks for correcting me!); grrrr ; Dragenphly (Harry is not dense, just confused! Hmm… maybe just a little dense! Lol!); ura ; RedXTears (well, Bill is hot!) ; dirty dancer (I hope you could get some sleep! Lol! About Draco… he will bite Harry! Wheee!); Serpencencia (yay!); Daphne Pessanha (Ah, o passado... Logo, logo o Draco vai se encontrar com Narcissa, e aí muitas coisas sobre ele serão esclarecidas!); Hayley; heartsdesire3267; tapsfootimpatiently (Bill is a mystery even for me!); ziona2000; SilverDragon161; Skyla gerdes (no problem!).

Chap. 18 – Routine

If there was something Harry praised a lot in his life it was his daily routine. Everything that disturbed his schedule was mostly unwelcome. Harry thought Draco would be one of those disturbing things, but as the week passed by, he realised that Draco's presence, far from upsetting him, was easily incorporated into his life.

The way they seemed to be adjusting to each other's habits was amazing to Harry. Instead of jogging, Draco had convinced Harry to walk with him. So every morning they got up at 6:00 A.M. to walk in Grimmauld Park. Harry still didn't like the eyes of pity upon him, but Draco's quiet company made up for that inconvenience, especially when Harry realised that Draco didn't seem aware of the fact that people eyed the blonde with desire. Harry wondered when the world had become so upside down. A world were Draco wasn't aware of his own power of seduction was a very weird world. Draco had been the sex god of Slytherin. Harry remembered quite well how Draco had bragged about it. And yet now Draco didn't seem to care.

After walking, they had breakfast together. They didn't speak much, but Draco's constant presence by his side every morning was very soothing.

It wasn't everyday that Draco came back from work to have lunch with him, but Harry was always surprised to see food on his table at lunchtime. Draco had hired an owl to bring him his lunch. Harry had been very touched by this. He wanted to thank Draco for being so considerate with him, but the words always got stuck in his throat.

Conversations were still an issue between them, and Harry still snapped very easily. But Harry was beginning to learn how to control his impulses, and for every rude comment he made towards Draco, he compensated by apologising and telling Draco something personal about himself. Draco never made fun of his vulnerability, which surprised Harry a lot. Draco was always a gentleman. He had matured in such a way that Harry felt ashamed of himself. Draco was constantly surprising him. Living together was turning out to be very interesting, and not as difficult as he had thought it would be.

Their truce had shown Harry just how much Draco had changed. Now that they were trying their best not to get on each other's nerves, Draco was showing Harry a new side of him.

Those changes were definitely making Harry feel unsettled. For one thing, Harry started to consider that maybe Hermione was right about him and his feelings for Draco. For another, that same knowledge was infuriating him. He didn't want to have feelings for Draco.

Another thing that upset Harry was the fact that, even though sometimes he told Draco something personal about himself, Draco, on the other hand, never told him anything about his life. Harry still knew nothing about Bill, and about what had happened to Draco in his past that seemed to disturb the blond so much. And Harry was surprised to realise that he wanted to know Draco better.

He wanted to ask about Draco's parents. He wanted to know about what had happened to Draco when the blond had vanished from the wizarding world for a short period of time after their graduation. Above all, he wanted to know if it was true that Bill and Draco would move in together when Draco left Harry's house at the end of the month.

He damned Fred for telling him that. But then again, it was Harry's fault. He shouldn't have asked about Draco's relationship with Bill. What he had heard from Fred had made him very jealous. Fred had found it amusing, but the situation was anything but that to Harry.

Sometimes he caught Draco on the phone with Bill, and he always felt tempted to listen. Only one time did he give in, telling himself he would listen just a little. But Draco had caught him in the act, eavesdropping. The blond had frowned and had slammed the door in Harry's face. Harry had felt his face burning, both from anger and embarrassment. But what was a man to do?

That day he had made a silent note to ask Fred for some Extendable Ears. Then he had shaken his head, astonished. He wouldn't spy on Draco. What was he thinking? But he really wanted to know more about Draco and Bill. In fact, he was becoming obsessed over it. So against his better judgment he had asked George for an Extendable Ear, making sure that George wouldn't tell anyone about it.

He didn't have the courage to use the magical device though. He hadn't gone so low that he would now listen to private conversations that weren't any of his business.

But maybe he should. Or at least he should swallow his pride and ask Draco more things about his life. Harry didn't even know Draco's cell phone number. What if something happened to the blond? For example, today Draco was running late. Harry was used to him arriving at precisely 6:00 P.M. Then he and Harry would order something to eat, and they would chat a little about trivial things.

But it was 8:00 P.M. already and there was no sign of Draco. Harry grunted, telling himself not to care. But he did care. It was Friday. Draco hadn't said anything about staying for the weekend. Perhaps he had gone out with Bill and hadn't bothered to tell Harry. That thought made him jealous. He clenched his fists, exasperated.

"What are you doing?" asked Mrs. Black staring at him reprovingly.

Harry stopped pacing and raised an eyebrow. "It's none of your business."

She snorted. "You really disappoint me…"

Harry sent her a cross look. "Was there a moment when I didn't disappoint you?"

She looked up thoughtfully, and then said, "No."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Then shut up."

Harry began to pace in the corridor again, and from time to time he looked at his watch and sighed. Mrs. Black shook her head disapprovingly. She knew exactly what was going on.

"He's late, isn't he?" she asked, not sure why she was bothering. "The young Malfoy always comes home at 6:00 P.M., but it's almost 8:15 and still no sign of him. And you, stupid half-blood, don't have his phone number. What if something happened to him? The poor kid might be all alone outside, wounded. In this cruel world, you never know. And he chose such a horrible profession! Auror!" she snorted. "He could have been great! A true member of aristocracy never works! They make those beneath them do the work. Clearly, Narcissa didn't raise Draco properly. Why does he have to work? He's rich! Look at you! You're lower than him and yet you do nothing all day. You should be working, not him!"

Harry glared at her, wondering if he should respond to her rudeness. In the end he decided to ignore her. But Mrs. Black didn't stay quiet.

"Why don't you go after him? Isn't that mudblood his partner? Why don't you call her?"

Harry looked at her, astonished to hear her talking about phone calls. Mrs. Black hated everything muggle-related. When Harry had first moved in, she had complained all the time about a phone line being installed in her ancient house. She had called him a blasphemer many times after that.

Another thing that surprised Harry was her suggestion that he call Hermione. He had thought about that, but he didn't want Hermione thinking stupid things. They had already argued enough that week. If he called her asking about Draco, she would wonder why he wanted to know. Harry didn't want to give her ideas. He didn't want Fred and Hermione thinking that their plan was working.

But what had astonished him the most was Mrs. Black. It was obvious that she was worried about Draco's whereabouts, too. Apparently, Harry wasn't the only one who had gotten used to Draco.

"You like him!" Harry said as if he had discovered something that would change the history of the world. At the time he wasn't aware of the fact that his sentence was an accusation to himself.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Mrs. Black blushed. Harry didn't know paintings could blush. He was fascinated by it. "I just think that it isn't too late for him to change his mind and go back to his Manor. He's a pure blood and a Malfoy. I still have faith in him. I've heard through the grapevine that Narcissa wants him back."

Harry stood still at the news. "How would you know something like that?"

Mrs. Black smiled briskly. "Paintings talk, Potter…"

Harry was about to reply when he heard a knock on the front door. He made his way to the door quickly, but opened it calmly after confirming that it was Draco. In that brief moment, he wondered why he hadn't given Draco a spare key. Then he realised that if he did that, Hermione would be thrilled. Harry didn't want to give her that satisfaction.

He stared at Draco holding his urge to demand explanations about his lateness, and trying to look as indifferent as possible. But he almost had a heart attack when he saw that the right side of the Draco's face was dripping blood.

"What happened? Where were you? Why are you bleeding?" Harry asked hastily.

Draco entered the house slowly. He was holding a handkerchief that was soaked in blood. "It comes with the job," Draco sneered. "I'm always telling Hermione to stop doing favours for everybody, but she doesn't listen! And this," Draco pointed at his eyebrow, moodily. "This is the result of her damn obsession with work!"

Draco made his way to the stairs, ignoring both Harry and Mrs. Black. He kept grunting impolite things all the way to his room.

"What are you doing standing here?" Mrs. Black asked. "Go after him!"

Harry sent her an astonished look before following Draco, not sure of what to do.

"Why didn't you go to St. Mungo's?" Harry asked.

Draco stopped in the middle of the corridor, surprised to see Harry by his side. "I don't like St. Mungo's. Besides, this is nothing."

"You are fucking bleeding! I'm surprised Hermione didn't send you straight to the hospital!"

Draco shrugged. "It's just a small cut. It won't kill me. And Hermione, that bloody…" Draco took a deep breath and then continued, "She wasn't with me. It's so bloody typical of her! Someone from the Improper Use of Magic Office asks her to check on something, and since she's busy with thousands of other tasks that are from other departments, she sends me!" Draco was so irritated that Harry thought he saw steam coming out of his ears. "And since I'm an idiot and can't say no to her, I always go! A two-year-old kid is a bloody menace, Potter. Oh, yeah, it was a very easy mission indeed. Just to check on some muggle artefact that had been enchanted by some evil-minded wizard. Evil-minded… Hah! I had to go to a muggle house, and the woman who answered the door handed me her little brat while she took care of the other one. And the damn pest hit me with some sharp toy! I'm so pissed right now! If Hermione calls, tell her that I'm dead and that she's responsible for it. Better yet, tell her that one of my best robes is ruined, and that she's going to pay for it!"

Draco strode away. Harry bit his lower lip to suppress his laughter. He was still worried about Draco, but he couldn't help finding the whole episode funny. He could only imagine the look of horror in Draco's eyes when the woman made him hold a child in his arms. The image of a little kid hitting Draco was even funnier, and a chuckle escaped Harry's lips. There he was, thinking that something dreadful had happened to Draco, when in fact Draco had been attacked by a two-year-old.

"Don't laugh!" Draco shouted, entering his room and slamming the door furiously.

Still smiling, Harry went to his own room, got his first aid kit and then went to Draco's room. The door was locked. Wondering why he bothered in the first place, Harry muttered an unlocking spell and entered the room. The kit slipped to the floor when he saw Draco standing in the middle of the room half-naked.

They stared at each other quietly for a long time. Harry gulped. He couldn't take his eyes off Draco's bare chest. Harry wondered if Draco shaved it. It was impossible for someone to be so bloody perfect. Harry wasn't hairy, but he did have a little hair in the middle of his chest. Draco only had a small trace of blond hair above his navel that disappeared underneath his jeans. It was like an invitation, an arrow pointing to the big prize. It tempted Harry to take a closer look. Harry felt his mouth dry. His hands were itching to touch Draco. But a drop of blood falling from Draco's face to the tapestry took him out of his trance.

Harry knelt down to take the kit, but Draco got it first.

"Is this for me?" Draco asked in a whisper.

Harry just nodded, because he couldn't trust his voice to speak. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. That lump stuck in his throat was annoying him. Irritated, he snatched the kit from Draco's hand and pushed Draco to the bed. The blond opened his mouth to complain, clearly upset, but Harry shushed him with one look. Then he opened up the kit and pulled out a few items from it. He cleaned up Draco's bleeding eyebrow and face, all the while aware of their closeness and how it made him feel.

Harry's hand trembled slightly when it first came in touch with Draco's skin, but he told himself to get a grip. He was surprised at how soft Draco was to touch, and just for a second Harry let his fingers caress him. He thought he heard Draco purr, but he wasn't so sure. His gaze met Draco's, and what he saw in his eyes made him shiver. Draco had called Harry bony and had stated more than once that he would never sleep with Harry, but Harry was certain that the sparkle he was now seeing in Draco's eyes was desire.

Harry almost moaned as his eyes fell upon Draco's parted lips. He felt out of breath as the memory of their kiss came back to him. Telling himself to come back to earth, Harry took out his wand and touched the cut on Draco's eyebrow. The cut was very small, so Harry didn't think it would be a problem to heal it with magic. With so many nights spent with Madam Pomfrey, Harry had learned one or two things from her. He muttered a spell and then the cut healed itself without leaving a scar. Harry felt proud of himself. His thumb stroked Draco's eyebrow gently.

"Done," he said, putting the items he used back into the kit, and making everything else disappear with a flick of his wand.

"Thanks," Draco said with a strange low voice. "I… I had no idea you knew healing magic."

Harry smiled at Draco's stunned expression. Draco wasn't the first to be surprised by Harry's ability to heal.

"I know a few things," Harry explained. "I spent so much time in the Hospital Wing that I ended up learning the basics from Madam Pomfrey."

"You clearly have a gift for it," Draco said, touching his eyebrow and finding it normal again. "You're truly a mystery, Potter."

"Did you at least recover the object that was being improperly used by muggles?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded. "Yeah, it turned out to be a singing tea cup. It was only dangerous to my ears! It was so annoying. The mother bought it in a muggle joke shop for her kids. They loved the damn thing. She thought the cup was electronic!"

"And how did you get it back?"

"Using my charm, of course," Draco sneered. "Nobody can resist me."

Harry certainly believed in that. He himself was having a hard time resisting Draco. But being attracted to another man was too disturbing for him. He didn't know how to deal with it. He didn't know how to act or what to do. He wasn't so innocent that he didn't know what sex could be like between the two of them. But the thought of it terrified him.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked hastily to keep his thoughts away from improper things. "It's on me."

Draco seemed surprised by his question. "Alas! You're being so nice I'm beginning to think that this is a dream. Are you really the same Harry Potter that keeps telling me off all the time? I know you've behaved nicer than usual this week, but this is too much. First you take care of me, now you're buying me dinner?"

Harry flushed slightly. "Don't push it."

"I can't help it. You're like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Harry made a face. "Just shut up and tell me what you want to eat before I change my mind."

"Why can't I enjoy your good mood a little bit? Oh, I get it!" Draco sneered. "You're happy because I was attacked by a kid and you thought it was amusing, right? You just can't miss a chance to make of fun of me, can you? I honestly think that…" Draco's voice vanished when he noticed Harry's fuming eyes. "Ok! No stupid jokes then. How about pasta? I know a very good restaurant…"

"I know one too," Harry said, cutting him off. "Leave the rest to me."

Draco shrugged. "Ok. Although I do have a better taste for food than you As a matter of fact, my tastes are better than yours in everything, Potter. Clothes, furniture, books, shoes, perfumes…"

"You really like to piss me off, don't you?" Harry said, upset.

"I'm like you, Potter." Draco smiled sweetly. "I just can't help it."

Harry clenched his fist. He wanted to be nice to Draco, but the blond didn't make things easy for him. He took a deep breath to calm down and then looked at Draco again. The blond looked so beautiful with only his jeans that it took his breath away. Harry didn't think his body would react so strongly to the mere sight of Draco's naked chest. He wondered what it would be like if Draco was totally naked.

"You're staring at me, Potter. You've been doing that a lot lately," Draco said thoughtfully.

Harry gulped. "I'm not."

Draco sneered. "Could it be that you're attracted to me?"

"Hell will freeze over when I find myself attracted to you," Harry stated. But he knew he was lying blatantly. He couldn't help to think that hell had frozen over when they were working together for the Order. He felt horrified at the thought.

"Whatever," Draco shrugged. He suddenly looked very tired.

Harry felt the strange need to come closer and comfort Draco. The same questions that had been chasing him all week came back to him. What had happened when Draco had come to visit him in St. Mungo's? What had happened to Draco after he left the Malfoy Manor? More importantly, was Harry's confusion caused by their bond? Draco could answer most of his questions, but every time Harry tried to ask him something, he found himself voiceless.

He stared at Draco and then exclaimed, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Draco was calmly unzipping his jeans and taking them off. Harry went stiff, in more than one way. The green eyes travelled down Draco's body involuntarily, making him swallow hard. Draco's underwear was made of cotton and was probably very soft to touch, but it wasn't the way Harry had imagined. Harry had thought of Draco as a man who wore something more daring and provocative, like the finest silk. Cotton seemed so ordinary for a man like Draco. But the ordinary underwear was just as provocative, if not more.

"I'm going to take a shower," Draco explained as he opened up the closet and took out a black T-shirt, white shorts and a pair of blue jeans. "I asked you to leave twice, but you seemed to be spacing out, so… I don't have all night. I figured you wouldn't mind me undressing in front of you. After all, we are both men. It isn't as if you never saw a man naked."

Draco was right, except for one tiny little detail. Harry had never seen Draco naked. His breath quickened. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. Draco walked towards him, preoccupied.

"Potter? Are you ok? You look so flushed all of a sudden. Are you ill?" Draco tried to touch Harry's forehead, but Harry jumped back and almost stumbled. Draco frowned. "You still haven't got over the fact that I'm gay, have you?"

"Don't be stupid," Harry said, his heart pounding like crazy. He didn't care about Draco. The problem was him. He was beginning to think that he was gay, and he certainly didn't know how to get over that. "Just take your shower. I'll call the restaurant." Harry turned to leave clumsily, almost hitting his face on the wall.

When he was finally gone, Draco bit his lower lip, his hands on his waist.

"You drive me insane, Potter! What was that all about?" Draco asked himself.

TBC…

A/N: I guess I don't have to tell you that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a famous book written by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story has been told many times. Resume? It's about good and evil split in one person's soul, creating two different identities in the same body. Or something like that! XD For more information, search in the web!

All right. So now Draco is acting clueless. Honestly, Draco, can't you see Harry wants you?? /mutters about stupid blondes/

So, how was it? Did you like confused!Harry? Isn't he adorable?? Come on!!! He is. And the big moment is getting closer… Mwahahaha! So review!!