Chapter Three

In Over Our Heads

Will they get together before school starts you ask… do you think I would tell you? Silly people. The plot bunny said if I told you he would kill me, sooo, sorry I'm going with self preservation.

Why was he dreaming about Malfoy? Harry had seen him at meals for the past week and he had talked about him with Hermione and Ron some, but that was no reason to be dreaming about your arch nemesis.

Harry was sitting in the library looking at books on Carpathians. He had looked up the bonding thing that Dumbledore had mentioned and after the initial blush and the murmured "thank Merlin" that he was alone, he read it in its entirety.

Harry had to sleep with his mate and they had to exchange blood. Then Harry could use him to feed and he would share Harry's immortality, or longevity; they wouldn't live forever, just longer than most. The book said the bond would only be formed when it was right. What did that mean? Harry assumed that it meant the bond could feel his and his mate's emotions and would progress in a pace they could handle.

After reading in the library became to boring and quiet he went to sit out on the lake. Hermione had Ron held captive because he hadn't started his summer homework so Harry was free to think… not good.

Harry walked out onto the grounds and without realizing it sat in the exact same place he had seen Draco crying in, a week ago. Harry had actually gone to the window every night since to see if the blond was there, but he hadn't returned.

Harry wasn't sure how he felt about Malfoy. Harry knew that the long time grudge he had against Malfoy had gone away. Harry had never hated Malfoy or wanted him dead, but their relationship had held definite animosity.

Harry was starting to feel sorry for Malfoy. Zabini talked to his friend during meals and Harry sometimes saw them in the library, but Harry never saw Malfoy answer back to Zabini or do anything but look distracted. In fact, the first time Harry was alone in the hall and he saw the pair he had prepared for a fight that never came… they just walked by!

Harry understood that Malfoy understood that it was over. The fighting, the insults, was over. Malfoy hated Harry because Harry had bested him in everything and had all this fame, nothing to be done about it; it was over, this was their last year of school anyway. Harry hated Malfoy because of his involvement in the Dark Arts. Now Harry knew that it never existed. Besides the fact that they were in different houses, there was no reason for their hostility.

But, could they be friends? Was there a point to friendship? Did they have anything in common? Did Malfoy want to talk to him? Why was Harry thinking about befriending Malfoy?

Hermione would be all for it, but would Ron make it hard. Harry decided he was going to ask Malfoy to sit with them at diner tonight. No sense in making Hermione do all the work. He was curious to see if the blond would listen to him instead of Hermione.

Harry started to throw rocks into the lake, now that he had made up his mind to befriend the Ice Prince. It seemed to Harry that, with each rock he threw, his heart got lighter and lighter.

Harry was seated at the dinner table 10 minutes earlier then anyone else. None of the staff had been eating with them for the past couple of nights and although Harry assumed they got food in their rooms, he didn't know.

Ron and Hermione entered first and a few minutes later, in came the two mysterious Slytherins. Harry waited until they were close to the table but still a ways away. The table was at least 20 feet long so Harry raised his voice slightly, "I know Hermione keeps asking you, but it really is ridiculous for us to sit at opposite ends of this long table. Why don't you join us down here?"

Their was silence for about two whole minutes and if you don't think that is a long time you should sit in a tense silence for that long. Then, Malfoy looked a Zabini, Zabini smirked at him, Malfoy growled and strode down the table and sat down right beside Hermione. Zabini sat down on the opposite side by Harry.

The silence was tense for a while, but then food appeared on their plate and everyone, especially Ron seemed relived. After more awkward silence, Zabini asked Hermione a question about their transfiguration essay and they immediately immersed themselves in intelligent talk. After about ten minutes they were still talking and Harry looked from the study couple to Malfoy. The grey-eyed boy raised an eyebrow and Harry just kinda shrugged and smirked.

Harry noticed that Ron was looking at Hermione and Zabini in a jealous kind of way. Malfoy had apparently noticed this also, if his comment was anything to go by, "I wouldn't be too worried Weasley; Zabini is as gay as they come."

Ron chocked on air and then had to cough for a few minutes and Harry couldn't help but laugh at the comment. Hermione looked up from showing Blaise something in a textbook she had "on hand" and then they both went back to the essay.

The rest of dinner went well. Hermione and Zabini continued to talk and Ron and Harry had a Quidditch talk with Malfoy commenting about every twelve sentences. It wasn't much, thought Harry, but it was a start.

After dinner Ron was the first to stand up, "I got to go do more homework." After this sentence he mock glared at Hermione who just gave him a grow-up look.

"Ok, I think I'm going for a walk. I don't feel up to homework right now and plus I'm almost done with mine." Harry got up and walked with his friends to the doors.

"Thanks for letting us sit with you guys and thanks for the help… Hermione." All three of them turned to see Zabini sitting in front of Malfoy setting up a board of wizards' chess he must have conjured up.

"You're welcome Zabini." Hermione smiled and added, "Good night Malfoy."

Malfoy looked at her and gave a half genuine smile before nodding his head and turning back around.

Harry thought once again, it was a start.

After that the summer flew by. Hermione and Ron and Blaise had started meeting in the library so Hermione could coach them through their homework and summer essays. Harry and Malfoy, or Draco, had taken to playing silent games of wizards' chess.

Blaise and Draco never spoke of why they were there, but every once in a while Draco would get a far away look in his eyes and Blaise would look at him with worry until something, usually a loud noise, brought him to his senses.

Harry looked out the window every night and sometimes he saw Draco out on the lake shore, but most of the time the spot was empty.

One night, Harry went to the window and saw the spot, once again, empty. He was about to go back to bed when he saw a figure running on the lawn towards the lake. The figure was Draco, Harry knew that without a doubt, but Harry didn't understand why he was running. When Draco got to his spot by the lake he stood there for a moment and then collapsed onto the ground in a heap.

Harry instinctively knew that Draco was having an even worse emotional break down than usual and without thinking he threw on some jeans over his boxers and a t-shirt and took off barefoot for the lake.

Ten minutes later Harry was just a few feet from Draco and he could here his sobs. Harry was torn. He didn't know how Draco would take to him being there and the blond hadn't seen him yet.

Harry moved stealthily up to Draco and then without further thought bent down, heaved Draco up by the shoulders, sat down, threw his legs out, and then pulled Draco up against him. Harry put his arms around Draco's waist and then started breathing deeply. He hoped by breathing deeply that Draco would feel it and subconsciously copy the rhythms.

Amazingly enough Draco didn't fight any of it and after a few minutes Draco's choked sobs stopped and were replaced with a breathing rhythm that matched Harry's.

"You didn't have to come out here Blaise. I would have been fine on my own." Draco's voice was laced with annoyance but held a deeper gratitude.

Harry didn't know what to say, no wonder Draco hadn't fought. This was about to get ugly, "Draco, I'm not Balsie. But, I guess, I can go get him… if you like."

Draco stiffened in Harry's arms, but then surprisingly he relaxed again against Harry's chest, "What are you doing out here… Harry?"

Harry took a little while to breathe and think about his answer. He was having the strangest sensations all over his body, like his skin was tingling, but in a good way. His heart felt like his navel felt when he apparated. It was the strangest sensation. He was also trying to get over the fact that he wasn't going to have to deal with Draco screaming and yelling at him.

"I have been watching you come here sporadically at night from my window. Tonight you seemed particularly out of shape so I came down here to check on you. I have realized lately that our opposition has no purpose and well, I'm a sucker for emotionally distraught people. You should know that… s'what gets me in trouble." Harry decided that honesty and a little bit of sarcasm would get him a long way.

"Yes, you are always trying to bloody save people, sometimes from themselves." Draco's tone of voice was a little mocking, but not overly scathing.

Harry was still trying to figure out what his body was up to when Draco spoke again, "So, have you figured out who your mate is?"

Harry froze, "Excuse me?"

"Dumbledore told Blaise and me about you. He made us take a vow not to tell anyone, but he thought we should know, since we are sharing space with you. I looked it all up. Have you found your mate?" Draco seemed so comfortable. The only way that Harry could tell this whole situation was throwing Draco a bit was that his voice trembled just a tad when he started a sentence.

"No. Dumbledore said I would know who it was. What does that mean? I would know. How will I know? Sometimes he just doesn't make any sense."

"The book I read said that the Carpathians find their mate through three different ways. Some by touch… they feel this pull when they touch their mates. Some by a kiss. Some by the taste of their mate's blood. You are only a little bit Carpathian so I don't know what your way will be. It could be two out of three or all of them, or you might not even have the ability to find them."

Harry had gone very still. A pull? Draco had said he might feel a pull. Like the one behind his heart right now? Or the pull he had to talk to Draco? Or the pull he got to think about him. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit…

Harry was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed Draco had tilted his head to look at him. Draco was slouched down some because technically he and Harry were the same height.

"Harry? Hello? Bloody hell, what is going on in your brain?" Draco had sat up now and had turned so that he and Harry were about 6 inches from one another. Harry was still staring at a point behind Draco's head and hadn't realized he had been silent for so long.

"Look, Harry, I know this is weird, us talking like old friends or something, but don't fucking shut down on me now ok?"

"You said a pull?"

"Um, yeah, that's what the book said. Why?"

"I… oh shit, oh shit."

Draco looked confused, "Have you been having funny feelings around someone? Who?"

Harry looked up into Dracos' eyes and just stared at him. Harry didn't know how to tell him. What were they going to do? This was to fast? They hated each other not that long ago or at least disliked strongly. Draco Malfoy was NOT his mate. Harry couldn't say it; he could only stare into silver eyes. But, Draco read him loud and clear.

"Oh shit!" Draco was looking at Harry in horror. They just stared at one another.

"Draco, I'm sorry. I just… I don't know… I can't help it… it just happened… I just now…" Harry lost his nerve to talk and went back to silent horror.

"Oh shit. You have to kiss me or something. We have to be sure. I know its weird, but we have to be sure." Draco was trying to breathe calmly. Harry could tell he was freaked. They both tried to slow their breathing down.

Harry was the first one to recover and he steeled himself for what he was about to do. He was about to kiss fucking Draco Malfoy! Harry was about to find out if he was going to spend the rest of his life with a Malfoy. Bloody hell, he didn't even know if he liked boys!

Draco looked at Harry with questioning eyes then he slowly shifted so that he was straddling Harry's, now closed, legs. He sat back on Harry's thighs so they were an even height and then he tilted his head to the side.

Harry decided that it was his life and his curse and he should take the next step, so without another thought he leaned in and kissed Draco on the mouth.

The minute their lips touched Harry felt a shiver of desire shoot down his spine and he knew that Draco felt it too because he twitched. Harry slowly ran his tongue along Draco's bottom lip and Draco opened his mouth for Harry to invade with his tongue. Draco tasted of peaches and mint. Harry slid his hands up Draco's back and Draco placed the palm of his hands on Harry's chest. The kiss intensified and every time one of them groaned they would both get a flash of raw desire down their bodies. Finally Harry pulled away.

"Oh shit." Harry couldn't think.

"Oh shit." Draco stood up and without hesitating, started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Harry stood up and looked Draco in the eyes as Draco spun around.

"I need to think about this."

"I'm sorry." Harry didn't know what to say. Fucking hell, this was all to fast.

"It's not your fault."

"You hate me?"

"I never hated you, really, it was jealousy. I just need time. I didn't hate you, but this is still all to fast. I'm Draco Malfoy and your Harry Potter." Draco said this like it was obvious and the answer to everything.

"Yeah."

Draco started up to the castle and Harry dropped back down onto the grass. He could hear the lake water slapping the shore. Why did it have to be Malfoy? Why did Harry's life always seem to come crashing down on him?

He had defeated the Dark Lord! Wasn't that enough? Wasn't that fucking payment and now he could just live his life? NO! Apparently NOT! Now he was stuck with Draco Malfoy as a mate. A vain, emotionally distraught, snobbish, Draco Malfoy, so what if he hadn't been on the other side of the war. He was still Draco Malfoy.

Harry had been willing to be friends, so had Draco it seemed, but could they be lovers? All Harry knew was that Draco didn't have to accept him and right now Harry didn't know what HE would do if the roles were reversed.

This was not good… as the muggles say; they were in over their heads

Thoughts, comments, anything?

Let me know all the questions you have so I can answer them and tell me if I'm pushing this, if I'm going to fast. I just don't see the point in making four chapters of "let's be friends"… it works for some people, but I just can't do it. And let me know if I'm still stressing the dialogue. I did a quick name transition with the characters on purpose…

Ash