AN: Sorry this took so long! Real life has been interfering. I hope to update more frequently. Summer's coming and that means more writing time! Thanks to all who have read and reviewed. I really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 7: The Repercussions of War
Draco walked back to the Slytherin common room feeling slightly worried. He had seen the look on Potter's face when Dumbledore had spoken of the dead Muggles – had seen the look of worry and apprehensiveness. And Draco had only one thought on his mind: now what? Would Potter want to continue their tryst or would the nobility of his Gryffindor persona finally kick in? Draco could not allow Potter to get rid of him. He was not done yet.
Draco was drawn out of his thoughts by an obnoxious giggling. "Did you even hear what I said, Draco?" Pansy asked from his left, refraining from giggling long enough to question him.
"No," Draco muttered, hardly in the mood for Pansy, of all people, right now.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "I said that I can't believe people actually care that those Muggles are dead."
Draco nodded. He very much agreed with her. Why would anyone care if a bunch of random Muggles were killed? Draco could see why people felt remorse when it was their own loved ones – even if it was a Muggle – but why care about someone you didn't even know? Draco shook his head. It was hard for him to understand why people put so much time and effort into things that would not help them in anyway.
Draco reached the Slytherin common room and went up to bed, feigning a headache. The rest of his house was sitting around the fire and discussing the Muggle killings and what You-Know-Who might do next. Their voices were laced with admiration and fear. Always the fear.
Draco lay down in his four-poster and his thoughts once again returned to Potter. If Draco was honest with himself, he could admit that there was something besides sexual need that kept him in contact with Potter. Potter offered a challenge. With Potter it was a game of manipulating and control…all the while receiving pleasures Draco had only dreamed of. It was quite nice, really. And to know that Potter was lying to his friends and making excuses just so he could sneak around with Draco; it was all very nice.
The problem came from the damn conflict going on outside the walls of Hogwarts. While Draco supported You-Know-Who, he was also a true Slytherin in all aspects, and the question remained: what was in it for him? The only benefit Draco could see was power and even this was a weak claim at best. Was his Father powerful? To a degree…but he had also been powerful without Voldemort. Draco didn't like the idea of being tortured and taking orders from someone other than himself. Many times Draco had weighed the advantages and disadvantages of joining Voldemort's ranks and it seemed fairly obvious to him that staying neutral was much less likely to get him killed and much more likely to keep him happy.
Draco sighed and tried to clear those thoughts from his head. For a fleeting second he wished that Voldemort no longer existed, if only so he and Potter could continue their secret meetings without the fear of any real consequences. Sure they came from different social circles and had polar opposite beliefs, but that all didn't really matter if Voldemort no longer existed.
He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Voldemort did exist and there was nothing he could do to change that…not that he really wanted to. Draco continued his circle of thoughts long into the night and eventually fell asleep with visions of Potter in his head.
Harry woke up the following day feeling like he had not slept much at all. The night had been spent mulling over the day's events and it had seemed like forever before he had fallen asleep.
After Dumbledore's announcement, Harry had gone back to Gryffindor with Ron and Hermione and discussed the events of the day in the common room for a bit before heading up to bed. It was only then that he had begun to think on his…"relationship" with Malfoy.
Harry knew that Malfoy had become a rather large part of his life. In a week, Malfoy had become Harry's sole source of pleasure and satisfaction in life and Harry knew that a large part of him did not want to give that up. But he was also aware that Malfoy intrigued him, kept him guessing, and more than anything, Harry had just started to relax and enjoy his time with the other boy.
And now it had to end.
There was no other choice. Harry had spent the better part of the night thinking it through and trying to find someway for them to stay as they were without Harry feeling like a traitor. It was simply impossible. By staying with Malfoy, Harry was a traitor.
Harry would meet with Malfoy one last time to end the thing. He had considered doing it by owl, but that did not really seem fair. It was something that needed to be done face-to-face.
So Harry had taken his Invisibility Cloak last night and went to the Owlery and sent a school owl with a note for Malfoy telling him to meet Harry in the Prefects bathroom during lunch so they could talk. Harry's insides were already squirming nervously at the thought of the meeting.
Sighing, Harry got out of bed and began to dress robotically. He met Ron and Hermione for breakfast. Neither of them commented on his unusual silence, probably chalking it up to the attacks of the day before. Harry did not look at Draco as the morning post came. He was afraid that Malfoy would be able to see his intentions just by looking at him.
The morning classes passed by in a daze. Harry barely remembered sitting through Flitwick's lecture on Diligence Charms. He didn't recall one question from the test they took in Transfiguration. The only thing that remained on his mind was Malfoy and their impending meeting.
When the lunch bell rang, Harry muttered something to Hermione and Ron about going to the Owlery and took off in the direction of the Prefect's bathroom. When he arrived, Draco was already there, perched precariously on the edge of the tub. Harry could tell immediately that Malfoy knew something was up. But then, it must have been easy to figure out. Harry's note had said that they needed to talk.
"So, what's this about, Potter?" Malfoy asked, a note of contempt in his voice.
"I can't do this anymore," Harry began. "There's a war going on. I'm on one side and you're on the other. There's nothing else to say." Despite this pronouncement Harry did not turn to go.
Draco sighed and for a moment Harry thought he had detected a hint of regret in his eyes. But a second later it was gone and Harry assumed he had imagined it. "This wasn't a problem a week ago," Malfoy said scathingly.
Harry's face burned. He had let his impulses guide him and Draco knew it. "Yeah, well I lost sight of things. I didn't-"
"Why did you lose sight of things?" Draco interrupted. "What happened?" He seemed to be searching for a particular answer.
"I-I don't know," Harry stammered. "I suppose I was just…enjoying myself." He felt his face turning hot once again.
Draco smirked. "Exactly, Potter. For once, you acted like a Slytherin and saw the good in it for you."
"That's not exactly the punch line you want to use if you're trying to make me stay. I don't want to be part Slytherin," Harry muttered.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Too bad. You know you are. Everyone is part Slytherin. Every time you helped yourself, you were a Slytherin. You've saved the world already. Let someone else do it this time. Do something for you."
"It's not that simple," Harry said through gritted teeth, thinking of the prophecy.
"Fine. Maybe you feel the need to do this for whatever reason, but that doesn't mean this has to stop," Draco said coldly.
Harry gave a fake laugh. "How can you even say that? This is a war Malfoy. This isn't make-believe. My side is fighting against your side. My friends want to kill your friends. This can't happen!"
Draco slid off the edge of the bathtub and came so close to Harry that he felt the need to take a step back. "Listen to me Potter," he began angrily. "I do not have a side! You think every person in Slytherin wants to be a Death Eater? Some of us are smart. We can see that there is no benefit in this for us. Do I want to join your side? Hell, no. Do I believe that the Dark Lord has the right idea? Yes. Do I want to fight battles for him? That's a whole different story."
He was panting heavily as he finished his rant. And for the first time, Harry felt he had seen Draco Malfoy come undone. His face was slick with sweat and his hair was falling into his eyes.
At that moment, Harry found Draco Malfoy to be more attractive than he had ever looked before.
So it wasn't that surprising when Draco kissed him and Harry didn't pull away. Draco was kissing Harry in a furious manner as if this was the last time they would do so…and perhaps it was. He threw Harry's robe to the ground.
Harry moaned as Draco kissed his neck and nibbled on his ear lobe. A small voice in the back of his mind reminded him that this was not what he had come here to do, but Harry ignored it.
Soon both boys were shirtless and Draco let out a satisfied groan as Harry licked his nipple. Draco pushed Harry up against the wall and Harry let out a noise of pleasure as he felt Draco's erection grind against his own. They continued kissing in the same fierce manner and Draco let a hand wander down to Harry's pants and unzipped them.
Harry pulled his pants off and groaned loudly as Draco stuck a hand inside his boxers. Draco ran a hand vigorously over Harry's arousal and Harry let out a low whimper as he climaxed.
As Harry's breathing returned to normal, he suddenly remembered his purpose for being there. He looked at Draco's half-naked body and swore. Once again, he had let his sexual desire take over in the decision making department.
Harry was going to make sure that this was the last time it happened.
"This is over," he said firmly as Draco attempted to kiss him again. "We're through." He put his clothes back on and without another word left Draco Malfoy in the Prefect's bathroom.
AN: Please review!