Part 6: Patience is a Virtue...sometimes

Two weeks went by and Draco hadn't heard from Harry. He was getting frustrated. He'd tried phoning him after getting his number from Ron and even went as far as going to his flat - but his aunt wasn't very helpful.

It was near Christmas and Draco was wandering aimlessly around Surrey Proper. Christmas had never been one of Draco's favorite holidays. Ron and Hermione insisted he join them for dinner on Christmas Eve and they were not going to take no for an answer.

His walk took him past a bookstore. He stopped and looked in the window. Hermione's smiling face stared back at him, waving him inside.

"Hello 'Mione."

"Draco, this is a nice surprise. Christmas shopping?"

"Browsing." He looked around.

"What do you think?"

"Very impressive. You've done well."

"This was more Harry's idea than mine." At the mention of Harry, Draco's face fell. She noticed the change instantly and brought him into her office to sit. "What's wrong?"

"I don't think he cares." His voice cracked and a single tear made its way down his cheek. "I'm not crying. I'm not." Another tear fell. "Bloody hell! I'm crying like a bloody baby and I don't care! All over one bloody Gryffindor git who's got me so tied up in knots, I don't know who I am anymore!" And he finally broke down, sobbing harshly. Hermione folded him into her arms to comfort him and he welcomed her motherly attention.

His sobs tapered off and he sat back. His eyes and nose were red and his face was flushed.

"Feel better?"

"A little. Thank you." She looked at him a moment and made a decision.

"Wait here." She went to the fireplace and put in a call to the local Quidditch pitch. Ron's coach came into view.

"Afternoon Mrs W."

"Hello Octavius. Can you pass a message to Ron for me?"

"Fire away."

"Tell him I've gone to Hogwarts on some personal business and that Mum's watching the girls. I should be home at a reasonable hour."

"Right."

"And tell him I have Mr Malfoy with me. He'll understand the message a little better."

"Yes ma'am." She ended her spell and looked at Draco.

"Care to see an old chum?" she asked cryptically. Thinking she was referring to Professor Snape, he was agreeable. He drew his wand.

"Front gates?" he asked.

"On 3...2...1...Go!" With a loud crack, they Apparated.

Hogwarts looked the way Draco remembered it. The school ramparts fluttered in the breeze and he could see mist rising off of the lake behind it. He looked toward the Quidditch pitch and saw several students flying about. Another turn of his head and he spied Whomping Willow. He sighed. Hermione stepped through the gates with ease, the wards recognizing her as a teacher. She waited for Draco. He raised his wand, expecting to be rejected. He felt magic swirl around him in comfort and then it was gone. He looked at his escort, clearly confused.

"The wards recognize you as a former student." she explained as he walked through.

"Where are all of the students anyway?"

"Studying for exams or in Hogsmead. It is Saturday after all." They entered into the main hall and then up the stairs to the third floor.

They stopped outside the door to Defense Against the Dark Arts. So Snape finally got his wish. he grinned. Hermione knocked once before poking her head inside.

"You look like you could use some company." she said to the unseen person. There was a murmured reply. "You work too hard. You need a break and I'm providing one." she continued. She grabbed Draco and shoved him inside, swiftly closing and locking the door behind him. He heard the lock click and wondered at her odd behavior. Shrugging, he turned, his greeting to Snape on the tip of his tongue. And simply stared, his mouth open in shock.

The person sitting behind the desk also froze in shock. He was the last person he expected to see. Draco recovered first.

"So Harry. How long have you been the DADA teacher?" Draco sneered, his Malfoy glare resting on his face like an old comfortable pair of shoes.

Harry had been purposely avoiding Draco since Draco's admissions to him. He wanted the space to think things over. But because it was near the holidays, he was working extra hard with his students so they wouldn't be lax in their studies when they returned after Christmas. He was also trying to push thoughts of Draco from his mind.

Hermione showing up when she did, hadn't seemed odd to him. But when she pushed a sputtering Draco Malfoy into his empty classroom, he'd been surprised. And then he felt her spell when she locked the door from her side, trapping them both. He couldn't keep the look of shock off his face...that is until Draco opened his mouth.

"So Harry. How long have you been the DADA teacher?" Harry heard the venom in his voice and saw the sneer aimed at him. He sighed and put down his quill. He didn't want to fight but if Draco wanted a fight, he would try and help him.

"If you want to argue, fine. But for the love of Merlin, don't sneer at me."

"Sod off, Potter!"

"Or you can leave." Harry smirked.

"Fine I will!" Draco spun on his heel and tried to open the door. It was locked. He tried Alohamora. Nothing happened. He beat on the door with his fist. "Open this bloody door, Granger and let me out!"

"Weasley, thank you. And you're not getting out of there until the two of you talk. I don't bloody care if it takes all bloody day but seeing as how Harry has a tutoring class in 3 hours, that's all you're getting." Hermione tossed back. Draco's look was one of stunned shock. He looked at Harry, who was trying not to laugh and failing miserably.

"Think that's bloody funny do you?" he scowled. That made Harry laugh harder. He was bent at the knees, his hands on his thighs, laughing like a loon. "Bloody Gryffindors!" he growled. Finally Harry's laughter tapered off to a few hiccups and then he was calm.

"I'm sorry, Drae. That was just as funny as the time she punched you in the face in our third year."

"It's not that bloody funny, Potter." snorted Draco. But he felt his anger leave him.

"Why did you come here, Drae?" Harry asked, sitting on the edge of his desk.

"I came here because I was under the impression I was meeting with Snape. Defense Against the Dark Arts and all."

"Snape is quite content with his potions, thanks."

"Still a git?"

"Just with me. But it's a routine now. We just do it because we know it makes us comfortable around each other."

"So mature, Potter."

"I'll ask that you stop calling me, Potter." Harry stated. "I do have a name."

"Point." Draco sighed, remembering how he'd asked him to do the same nearly 3 weeks prior.

"Now why does Hermione think locking you in with me was a good idea?"

"The truth?"

"That would be a start." Harry nodded.

"Did she tell you I had dinner with her and Ron?"

"Yes. I suppose you met my godchildren?"

"The Terrible Trio I think Hermione called them." This got a laugh from Harry.

"That they are. And I adore them."

"I can see why." There was a silence and he saw Harry look at him. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You're staring at me."

"So?"

"It's making me nervous."

"I make you nervous?"

"You always have you brainless twit! All I have to do is look into those gorgeous green eyes and I turn into a puddle of goo." Draco was suddenly blessed with one of Harry's rare genuine smiles. "I shouldn't have said that." he groaned, mortified. Harry sighed.

"You never answered my question. Why did you come here Drae?" Now it was Draco's turn to stare. "What?"

"That's the third time you've called me Drae."

"Will you get on with it already? I have class in 2 hours."

"Fine! Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I have not!" Harry lied.

"You could never lie very well. Gryffindor. Hearts on the sleeve. Ring a bell?"

"Ok I admit it. I've been avoiding you."

"Why?"

"I needed to think."

"3 weeks, Harry? How much more thinking time do you need?"

"Draco, this whole situation is a bit much for me."

"So tell me you don't want me then I'll leave."

"I didn't say that. Don't be difficult."

"I'm being difficult? You run away for 3 weeks and I'm the one being difficult? Don't make me laugh!"

"Well I wouldn't call it running away, exactly."

"You idiot Gryffindor! You're going to make me mental!" Draco shouted. "I had a nervous breakdown because of you! In the middle of your bookstore, on Granger's shoulder no less!"

"Weasley, thank you." came through the door.

"Don't you have somewhere to be, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Nope." came her reply. Harry could hear the smile in her voice. He looked at Draco.

"You cried? Over me?"

"Like a bloody baby."

"I'm sorry." Harry replied, meaning it. As private as he was, he usually tended to forget there were other people involved in his life. And now, for some reason he couldn't fathom, that seemed to include Draco.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Draco asked softly.

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Oh not that argument again!" he snorted, turning to stare out the window.

"Listen you arse! I've been avoiding myself!" Draco looked at him.

"What? Why?"

"Because I didn't want to admit I had feelings for you." He moved closer to Draco and touched his cheek. Draco resisted the urge to kiss his palm and closed his eyes instead. "I do have feelings for you, Drae...I'm just trying to sort them all out and make sense of them in my own mind first. You just need to have patience with me and give me time. Can you do that?"

"I'll wait forever if I have to. I've already waited 10 years and you are worth it." he sighed.

"Thank you." They stood that way a moment, Harry rubbing his thumb across Draco's cheek.

"Harry?" Draco opened his eyes and looked into Harry's green ones.

"What?"

"Would you kiss me? I'll understand if you say no. And I don't want to rush you into anything-"

"Draco." Harry cut him off softly.

"What?"

"Shut up."

"Oh." Draco had time to say before Harry's lips covered his own. Draco didn't dare breathe as Harry sipped from his lips. It was brief but Draco felt it in his soul all the same. His eyes opened when Harry pulled away. "Thank you, Harry."

"I wasn't finished." Harry whispered, stepping closer. Draco's eyes widened then closed on a sigh as Harry kissed him again. This time he ran his tongue along Draco's bottom lip, drawing a gasp from him. Draco's mouth opened under his and Harry deepened the kiss.

Draco went from warm to hot in a matter of seconds as Harry plundered his mouth with his tongue. Flames of desire danced up his spine and his thinking became muddled. His whole awareness was focused on Harry's mouth and what it was doing to his body.

"Harry." he groaned as he felt those lips licking and kissing his jaw and neck. Harry pulled back slowly.

"Look at me." Harry commanded. Draco opened his passion-glazed eyes. "Be patient with me, love. I guarantee it will be worth it." Draco couldn't find his voice and simply nodded.

"I'll wait. I promise." Draco rested his head against Harry's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Harry folded his arms around him. Draco heard a soft click but didn't associate it with the door being unlocked.

"You can stop staring, Hermione. I didn't kill him." Harry said. Draco glanced over and saw the smile she was giving him.

"It was quiet. I just wanted to make sure."

"We talked. Happy now?"

"And?"

"I'm going to wait for him." Draco answered. "For as long as it takes."

"Good. I'm sure you can find your way home then." She headed for the door.

"Thank you, Granger." Draco grinned as she rounded the corner.

"Weasley, thank you!" drifted back to them. They laughed.

"I better let you get back to work." Draco reluctantly stepped away.

"Drae?"

"Yes?"

"Merry Christmas." Harry smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Harry." Draco replied. Then he was gone.

Harry sat down behind his desk, collapsing in his chair because his legs were so weak and touched a hand to his lips. Kissing Draco had felt as natural as breathing.

"But do I love him?" he asked himself. There were only 2 people who could help him sort out his feelings and he made it a mission to visit them when his tutoring class ended.

As it were, Harry was tired at the end of the day so he went home to get some rest, deciding to visit his friends on Sunday.