Millions of thanks to Jamie and Jade, my beta readers and dear friends; and thanks a lot to all of you who reviewed last chapter, and have been reviewed since the first one has come out. Your words of support and appreciation keep me going!

Chap. 27 – Little by Little

A grumpy Draco arrived at number 12, Grimmauld Place, at precisely 5:00 P.M. after being scolded by his chief Jonah Garfunkel for pretending to work all day. In fact, continued the chief, Draco had been doing that a lot for the past few months. Jonah ended his harsh speech insinuating that it was no wonder Draco was a Malfoy, because everybody knew that Malfoys had a problem with ordinary hard work. And if Draco had a problem with that, he might as well go back to his Mansion and become a true aristocrat by doing nothing but ordering people around with absurd requests. That was what rich people were for.

Draco had swallowed his anger for two reasons. One, Malfoys had really never worked in their lives but actually lived by other people's work – and the family business had always been doing something illegal. Second, because he didn't want to get fired. Even though he was a lazy Auror, he liked the profession. He had found himself there.

Unfortunately, his family past would always testify against him, no matter what he did or where he went. There would always be people like Chief Jonah to throw the Malfoy dirt on his face.

Before he entered Harry's house, he took a deep breath and counted to ten to cool down his head. His anger was still wavering. Since Harry also had mood swings, Draco wanted to be prepared. He didn't want to fight Harry anymore, especially after the weekend they spent together. But with Harry you never knew. Draco's doubts were making him feel vulnerable and therefore more defensive than usual. His state of mind was so disturbing that his head began to ache.

He was about to go to his room and sulk when he heard a guitar being strummed and a soft but tuneless voice singing. The sound was coming from the living room. He walked towards it as if he was enchanted, and for a moment he stopped to frown at Mrs. Black, who was wearing big earmuffs and cursing under her breath. She snorted when she saw him and looked the other way. She had been ignoring Harry and Draco ever since they had passed by the corridor half-naked the previous day.

He rolled his eyes at her, thankful that she wasn't shrieking in his ears about 'obscenities being made in her ancient and conservative house' anymore. He began to walk again and only stopped when he reached the door of the living room.

The first thing that shocked him was to see Harry in brand new clothes instead of his usual faded jeans and old white T-shirt. The dark blue jeans and red shirt seemed to fit him perfectly. The untamed raven hair was fashionably messy, giving Harry a 'ravish me now' look.

Draco felt his heart beating faster and he wondered if Harry had dressed up because of him. He took that as a good sign. It meant that Harry wouldn't freak out about the weekend, call Draco names and then throw him out. His headache suddenly didn't seem to bother him so much. But that lasted just a few seconds before he noticed the second shocking thing about Harry.

The brunet had a guitar in his hands and he was singing. And if that wasn't shocking enough, the lyrics to the song were. Gulping and clenching his fists on the strap of his briefcase, he listened, "... love is a special thing, lovers only need honesty... two hearts the same beating in the name of romance. And I don't care who gives in... 'cause it's only a game, the end it's just the same... what remains is why you're crying alone... so alone..."

Draco didn't like the last sentence at all. It was like Harry was already describing exactly how Draco would be after their month together was over. They were only at the beginning and Harry was already thinking about their break-up. Draco felt his head throbbing and the ache came back again.

'We are not in a relationship! Just wake up, Draco. No matter what Harry said to you, it was only a fuck. And in the end, when Harry's curiosity fades, you will be left alone.' This thought made him feel depressed. Their relationship was only a game after all.

His briefcase escaped his fingers and landed on the floor creating a sound loud enough to make Harry jump at the sudden interruption and then flush furiously at the sight of Draco. There was an awkward period of silence broken by Harry's voice when he stated, "You're early."

"And you're a bloody genius for noticing that," Draco replied with a sneer.

Harry frowned at the sudden attack. "Someone's in a bad mood and it isn't me for a change. And yes," he continued as he saw Draco opening his mouth, "I know I'm a bloody genius. You don't have to remind me again. I wasn't expecting you back so soon. What's going on? Does your mood have something to do with the fact that you are here earlier than usual? Did something happen at work?"

Draco was startled by Harry's relatively calm reaction and he felt bashful about his stupid behaviour. Harry was innocent this time. He had done nothing but sing a song about broken romances. Draco shouldn't have taken it personally. Harry didn't even know Draco was there when he began to sing it. Draco blamed it all on Jonah for opening old wounds from his past and making them bleed again.

Draco sighed heavily before saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take out my anger on you. My day wasn't so good."

"Oh." Harry put the guitar back in its case as if pondering what to say next. "Erm... I... You... Do you want to talk... about it?"

Draco smiled a little. He wasn't sure if Harry really meant to ask that, or if he was just being polite by showing interest in Draco's life, but whatever his reasons were, Draco was touched by it.

"Do you have some chocolate?" Draco asked instead of answering.

"I think so," Harry answered. "There is some in the kitchen."

"Great." Draco turned around and walked to the kitchen. Harry followed him. When they got there, Draco looked at Harry questioningly and waited for the brunette to give him the next coordinates to the treasure. Harry opened up a drawer full of chocolate bars. Draco raised an eyebrow at him, amused, and then asked sweetly, "Chocoholic?"

Harry made a face as he threw a chocolate bar at Draco. "Yeah."

Draco ripped the wrapping and smiled. "Me too."

Harry's expression softened at that. "Well, at least we have something in common."

"That's not all we have in common. You also don't like to talk about things that bother you, just like me," Draco pointed out. "This is why I didn't answer you when you asked me about my day."

Harry crossed his arms, annoyed. "I do talk. I certainly talked to you about very personal things."

"Yeah, you did." Draco took a bite from the chocolate and sighed in satisfaction. "But you didn't tell me what really made you the way you are today. Hey, chill out," Draco said, noticing Harry's tension. "I'm not saying this to irritate you. I'm just stating a fact. Running away from the past is not only your prerogative. I'm not judging you. I don't have that right. I would be a hypocrite if I did that."

Harry licked his lips thoughtfully. "Is this about Bill?"

Draco almost choked. "No! Dammit! Thanks for adding Bill to the equation."

Draco wished he could read other people's minds, because he really wanted to know what was going through Harry's at that moment. The thought that Harry might be jealous of Bill was something that put him in a good mood again. He wanted to point that out, but since Harry was being so nice to him he didn't want to ruin things. And since he didn't want to talk about himself, he decided to change the subject.

"I didn't know you play the guitar. And you even sing! I'm impressed."

Harry's cheeks reddened a little. "It's no big deal and I really suck at it."

"I wouldn't say that. Actually, I'm quite jealous..." Draco smirked. "As usual, you are good at pretty much everything you do, Potter. My mother paid for me to get piano lessons, but it was a really bad idea."

"Why?"

Draco smiled maliciously. "I fell in love with my male teacher." Harry's horrified expression made Draco chuckled. "Don't make that face. I'm joking."

"What face?" Harry asked defensively.

Draco only smiled at him and then wisely stayed quiet about it. "Anyway, you are good, Potter."

"Did you really have piano lessons?"

Draco nodded as he took another bite from the chocolate. He took a while to answer properly, and when he did he was quite stunned by how much he had given away about himself. "Everything I did was supposed to be flawless. I had to be perfect in school, in Quidditch, in piano lessons... But I wasn't. My mother wanted me to be the next Mozart. When I didn't fit her expectations, she was very displeased with me." Again, Draco wished he knew what Harry was thinking. Harry had such a strange expression on his face. Draco smiled sadly. "But never mind that. Tell me what made you learn how to play."

Harry took a while to answer.

"One of my therapists told me it would be good to have a hobby, something to spend my time on and relax. At first I was really annoyed and impatient. Then I began to like it and I've been playing ever since."

"Have you ever considered becoming a pro?"

"Don't joke around..."

"I'm serious!"

"No, you're not," Harry replied, upset. He was too embarrassed by being caught by Draco in such an intimate moment.

They stared at each other and Draco shivered at the intensity he saw in Harry's gaze. Flashes of them making love crossed his mind and he was instantly taken by desire. He put what was left of the chocolate bar on the table, wondering why he was eating chocolate to end his anxiety when he should be kissing Harry. Harry was way better than chocolate.

Draco walked towards Harry and stopped only inches away. He felt Harry's breath caressing his lips and closed his eyes, entranced.

"Do you want...?" Draco asked in a whisper, his voice getting caught in his throat.

"What?" Harry whispered back.

Draco opened his eyes and stroked Harry's face tenderly, his fingertips running down Harry's neck. "This?" And then Draco kissed him softly.

Harry gulped. "I do."

"Can you make me forget?" Draco's breathed answer sent shivers down Harry's spine.

"What?" Harry asked again, closing his eyes and throwing his head back as Draco sucked his neck.

"Everything."

Harry only had time to nod before being ravished by Draco. Their mouths met explosively, setting their bodies on fire, melting them away. They made love on the kitchen table, because their need was too strong to wait for them to get to the bedroom.

Harry's moans enticed Draco to thrust into him deeper and deeper, until they found relief in a mind blowing ecstasy.

TBC…

That song is called "Romance", by Level 42. Level 42 is my all time favorite music group, and I will beat anyone who speaks badly of it!!! XD Seriously, I love their songs. I listen to them when I'm writing. In a way – in everyway actually – you could say that their songs are the soundtrack for this story! XD Next chapter I'll make a list of my favorite songs, in case anyone is interested!