"Can I tell you something, Harry?"

"Go ahead." Harry propped himself up on his elbow and gazed at his new lover. He felt surprisingly comfortable and unembarrassed, lying there with his naked body against Draco's. Their legs were entwined and their hips were pressed together. From the hips up they were leaning away from each other so that one could fully appreciate the beauty of the other. Harry smiled, he couldn't help himself. But his smile quickly turned to a heated blush as Draco said, thoughtfully,

"You are the best shag I have ever had." Harry opened his mouth to say something about Draco being a great shag too, but said instead,

"How many have you had?" It was Draco's turn to blush.

"Are you really expecting an answer?"

"Totally, I'll tell you if you tell me."

"Fine. Well the first you can probably guess, Pansy. After that I had a short affair with Blaise and then my relationship with Derek. And then there was…well, you know this... don't you?"

"Know what?"

"Well, you know the thing…at the ball…you remember? Oh god, don't tell me he never told anybody?"

"Probably 'he' did, just not me. Go on who was it?"

"You won't like it."

"Go on!"

"Well…I kissed…Weasley."

"You did what!"

"Told you you wouldn't like it."

"No, I'm just surprised that's all. Go on.

"Oh well that was at the ball, three years ago. That was after my break up with Pansy. After that there was Blaise and Derek and since then I've had a crush on you."

"Wow, that's very romantic. I only admitted to myself I liked you after you asked me about Ron by Hagrid's hut." Draco smiled.

"Well go on then, your turn."

"Oh god right okay well there was Cho. That would be the most disastrous relationship of the century, we kissed once but we kinda fell apart. Then there was Ginny. I liked her and we had some fun but we were better as friends. We kissed and stuff but we didn't have sex or anything. And you must know Seamus likes to have fun with every boy in Gryffindor tower, total slut but tons of fun at parties-not a lasting relationship. But he made me realise that I was gay. Anyway then that kiss and…stuff with Ron. And now you."

"I'm still waiting for Sirius to come up." Harry jumped and stared.

"You know about Sirius?"

"Sure, that day in fourth year that you, Ron and Hermione followed the dog on the mountain and it was Sirius Black? I was following in an invisibility cloak. I know he didn't do it. I know Pettigrew, unfortunately. So…should his name come up?"

"Erm…no. I tried to get his attention once but he wasn't having it." Draco noticed that Harry was looking at the floor carefully. Draco leaned over and kissed him possessively on the lips.

"You have me now," he said and turned Harry onto his back. Harry stared up at him, feeling strange that his ex-enemy Draco Malfoy could look this hurt at him saying he made a pass after someone. Draco leaned down and whispered softly into Harry's ear. "Come and stay with me for half term. I couldn't bear the thought of you here and me there. Father wrote to ask you this morning, if you want to come?"

"Your dad hates me!"

"He did used to, that's true. But he loves me and since I found you I have a purpose to my life. He knows how much I feel for you. He knows…knows I love you." Harry started and blushed. He looked at the flawless skin, the perfect floppy blonde hair falling into his blue-grey eyes, the pale, cool lips and the slim, perfect form. He looked at himself. His skin was tanned and calloused; it had none of the cool perfection that Malfoy paraded to Harry. His Hair was messy, while Draco's was perfect. His body was bulky with Quiddich muscles where Draco's was slim and smooth. He could not believe how lucky he was. Love? He did not know. But he wound his fingers into Draco's hair and moaned,

"I love you too," into his mouth, yearning to crush the lonely, hurt emotion out of his body forever. "And yes. I'd love to come and stay with you for half term. Thank you." And suddenly tears of joy were running down Draco's face and he was kissing every part of him, his body cool, refreshing and arousing against Harry's own.

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"What! I thought you were coming to Grimauld Place with us? Don't you want to see Sirius? Or is your arch-enemy too important for you to spend time with your family and friends?"

"Hermione, listen. You have to understand what it's like for me. You and Ron will probably get together sometime during this holiday, which is great, but it means you don't need me anymore. I get left out all the time. You go for walks together you spend the evenings and weekends together you sit together you even study together. The only time I ever see Ron without you is when he's asleep and the only time I've been alone with you since the start of this year is now! I don't mind it being the three of us; I just don't like playing gooseberry."

"Harry, you never-"

"Maybe it's not like that for you but I don't want to watch you two snogging." Hermione had the grace to look a little bit guilty. "Malfoy's nice. He really is and he loves me and…and I love him. You guys haven't been keen to see me for the last four weeks, why start now? I'm sorry I said that it's just…I know how it would be. You'd try to include me but you just want to be alone sometimes. And that means me being alone."

"And Sirius?"

"Sirius has a flat of his own now. Lupin told me. He wouldn't be there all the time even if I was. I just want to spend a bit of time with Draco and make up with his father. You never know, I could perhaps stop Draco from being a death eater. I've made up my mind, I'm going."

"I'm sorry, Harry." Harry smiled.

"Thanks, but I'm still going." He held out his arms to her and she hugged him tentatively. He knew this was hard for her, and even harder for Ron, but he was going to enjoy his life a little before the war took over.

"Look just…just be careful, won't you Harry."

"Yeah I will. Hey, I think if I'm gonna be with Malfoy and you're still gonna be my best friends you're going to have to learn to love him a bit. Why don't we meet up in the three broomsticks this weekend in Hogsmeade? I know, I know you and Ron have something planned, so do me and Draco, but after, like right at the end, just for a half hour?"

"I…sure Harry, I'll talk to Ron."

"No. Thanks but I think it's better if I tell him"

"Okay. I'll try not to hate him." Harry laughed.

"Thanks, you're a great friend." And the two of them returned to the castle and to breakfast.

That evening Harry found Ron in his dormitory, resolutely reading his transfiguration text book. Harry went to him and sat on the end of his bed. He pulled the book tiredly away from him and Ron stared at him, defiantly.

"Ron. I know this is hard for you. It was always going to be hard for you. But you have to understand that I can't help who I love, and nor can Dra…Malfoy. I'm not going to ask you to like him, I can't do that, but I've asked Hermione, and I think it's even more important that I ask you, to come to the three broomsticks at the end of the weekend visit to Hogsmeade and meet him. At least give him a chance to prove that he's a good guy." Ron looked totally baffled by this last speak and stared up at Harry in amazement. Harry planted Ron's transfiguration book back into his hands, obscuring Harry's face from Ron's and got up. One step at a time.

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"Hey guys! Harry and Draco were sitting at a small, round, four-seater table in the far corner of the three broomsticks. Draco was wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans. Harry was wearing a black shirt and some dark blue jeans. He stood up, raising himself above most of the crowd. Hermione spotted him and pushed Ron in the back towards their table. Ron's face was expressionless. Draco stood up to greet them with a meek,

"Hiya." Hermione gave a week smile. Ron looked unimpressed.

"Hello Malfoy," said Hermione in a forced voice. Ron merely nodded. They all sat down in silence and Harry began to wonder if this had been such a great idea after all.

"Erm…Weasley, Granger…I' just like to say that I'm really sorry for how I've been to you in the past. Ron, our families have never got on in the past but it doesn't mean they never can. Grang…Hermione, I revise what I said before about mud…muggle-borns. You're the best in our year at potions and you're supposed to be really good in loads of other stuff too and…well, being with Harry has made me get of my high-horse I guess. I'm sorry guys." Draco sat down with a thump and Harry slid an arm around him under the table. Ron and Hermione looked amazed. Slowly Hermione held out her hand to him and Draco took it, eagerly. Ron, however, merely scowled.

"Four butterbeers?" Draco stood up yet a third time. "

Yes, thanks, I'll pay." He pulled a black string bag with a Hungarian horntail out of his pocket and paid her with a galleon from it. Replacing it into his pocket he handed round the butterbeers, offering it to Ron first. Ron took it grudgingly and Draco smiled at him.

"Cheers, Draco. Hey guys do you remember the time when Ginny told Romilda Vane that I had a Hungarian horntail tattooed on my chest?" Draco laughed, and Ron laughed. Hermione smiled and Harry felt a little relieved.

"Why did she do that?" asked Draco.

"Oh Romilda asked if Harry had a Hippogriff," replied Hermione. Draco laughed again and soon they were chatting happily. Ron occasionally gave input to the conversation but only in reply to Hermione's speeches and avoiding Draco's eyes. Harry felt as though all the worry and upset inside him was being eaten up by the words and laughter of the other three. He glanced at his boyfriend, who was chatting animatedly with Ron about the chudley cannons. He felt a wave of immense gratitude to them all.

Later, when they were all walking up from the village, laden with shopping and chatting happily, Ron began to be more and more quiet. Harry dropped his pace a little and let Hermione and Draco go ahead.

"Are you alright mate?" he asked Ron.

"Yeah I'm fine. Malfoy's not so bad. I mean I'll never like him but he's growing on me. Do you really love him, Harry?" The question was direct and meaningful.

"I…I dunno really," he answered truthfully. "I like him very much and I'm attracted to him. I like spending time with him and I always like his company. I'm happy with him but I'm not quite sure yet."

"Okay mate-no gory details please." They caught up with the other two, grinning at each other and Harry fell into step with Hermione instead.

"He's really nice. I like him. And he's really smart and hardworking. Nice choice Harry."

"Oi, hands off! I'm glad you like him though. I don't know what I'd do if I was asked to choose between you two and him." Hermione smiled and for the rest of the trip Harry walked with Draco and Hermione with Ron. They did not speak, Harry merely said,

"Thanks." And they left it at that.

When they reached the entrance hall, Hermione quickened her pace and pushed Ron in front of her up the first flight of stairs and around the corner.

"Smart girl, that Hermione," grinned Draco, slipping his arms around Harry's waist and resting his forehead against Harry's. Harry smiled against Draco's skin. He cupped Draco's face in his hands and kissed him gently, trying to convey all the gratitude he felt towards him.

"Goodnight. Sleep well, I love you. Oh and thanks." Harry smiled and headed up the staircase. Draco replied,

"I love you too," and pushed open the heavy stone door that lead to the dungeons. Harry found Ron and Hermione just round the corner, giggling and whispering. They had apparently been watching and listening to everything that had happened. Harry pretended to slap Hermione round the face and punched Ron playfully on the arm as they headed upstairs. Ron got a little ahead and turned round, sticking his tongue out like a five-year-old and making little kissing impressions. Harry and Hermione snorted with laughter and they chased each other all the way back up to Gryffindor tower.