Chapter Six: Small Miracles

The chirruping of his watch alarm dragged Draco out of a deep, dreamless sleep. He lay in bed, eyes closed, as the memories from the night before came rushing back. He didn't want to get up, didn't want to open his eyes, didn't want to think about anything. Of all the things that might have been going through his head just then, the only one that mattered to him was "Oh god, I so totally messed up my chances with Potter." He had had such high hopes that his new relationship with Potter would turn into more than a friendship but then everything had gone wrong. Harry had nearly died because of him. Draco still went cold when he thought of how close that Killing Curse had come to hitting Harry. After that was all over, Draco had humiliated himself by freaking out and bawling all over Harry's shirt. Real smooth, Draco.But, god—the feel of Harry's arms around him had completely undone him. When was the last time anybody had actually held him? And, he can't forget that when the first explosion had startled them, Harry's first instinct had been to pin Draco to the wall, shielding him with his own body. Draco's cynical side said that it had just been Harry's hero-complex taking over, but maybe, just maybe Harry had been genuinely concerned for Draco's safety. Draco sighed, then frowned as he realized that he couldn't remember actually getting to his room last night—or, he supposed, earlier this morning. Which meant that Harry had had to help him. He groaned inwardly and wondered if anyone would miss him if he didn't get out of bed today. He registered vaguely that his watch was still chirping at him.

"Will you please turn that damn thing off?" a groggy voice muttered beside him, causing Draco to nearly fall of the bed. He turned his head and found himself staring into the face of a miracle.

"Potter?" he asked, dumbfounded. The raven-haired boy frowned at him.

"What happened to you calling me Harry?" he asked, though his question was cut off by a yawn as Harry stretched. Draco's eyes snapped to the hem of Harry's shirt, which was riding up just enough to give Draco a quick glimpse of Harry's well-toned stomach.

"Sorry," he said, tearing his eyes from the fascinating view. "Habit."

"What time is it?" Harry asked as he stifled another yawn, climbing out of Draco's bed. Draco glanced at his watch.

"Almost 6:40," he replied, looking curiously at Harry as he froze.

"In the morning? What the hell?" Harry demanded. "Are you completely and totally insane? We were up to god-knows-when last night and you wake me up at six-freakin'-thirty in the morning?"

Draco had a hard time smothering the smile he felt forming from Harry's shock and indignation. "I'm sorry, your Highness," he said, allowing himself a small smile. "Now you'll have an entire hour to get ready for the day before breakfast starts."

"I don't need a bloody hour to get ready!"

"Well," Draco replied, smiling wider in spite of himself, "maybe you can actually do something decent with your hair for a change."

Harry started to growl and answer, then noticed that Draco was almost—laughing! "What's so funny?" he demanded, but Draco's smile was infectious.

"I just think you're very amusing when you're indignant." No, his brain told him, you think he's extremely cute when he's indignant. Draco told it to shut up.

"I'm here to entertain," Harry said dryly, now fully resigned to being awake at some godforsaken, early hour after maybe three hours of sleep. "I guess I might as well go back to my dorm and get a shower, since I didn't get one last night."

"You can use mine if you want," Draco blurted. Harry looked startled, then seemed to consider it before shaking his head.

"I don't have any clothes to change into," he pointed out, and Draco nodded. It was probably for the best. The thought of Harry in the shower was distracting enough without thinking of Harry in his shower. "Hey, I've got a question," Harry said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Draco prompted.

"Do you want to keep this... friendship... a secret or is it all right if people know?" he asked. Draco thought for a minute, then shrugged.

"I don't care. It would completely ruin my reputation if it became public knowledge that I was... friends... with a Gryfindor, but it would also be highly amusing to see the looks on their faces. Speaking of which, what are you going to tell Weasley when he asks where you were last night?"

Harry snorted. "He won't be up until five minutes before breakfast at the very earliest. He probably won't even know I never slept in my own bed." Without warning, he smiled a very evil, very sexy smile.

"What?" Draco asked, ignoring the sudden speeding of his pulse.

"I'd love to see the look on his face if I told him I spent the night with you." His smile grew even wider. "Especially that I slept in the same bed as you."

Draco let out a short bark of laughter. "Good lord, he'd have an apoplectic fit." He hesitated, then started to frame a question around the subject he was dying to know, no matter how slim the chances where of the answer being a good one. "Would he even believe for a moment that you'd sleep with a guy?"

Harry gave another undignified snort. "He'd just have to ask Hermione and Ginny, considering he's the only one of my friends who doesn't know that I'm gay."

Draco's jaw dropped. "Seriously?" he asked incredulously, inwardly thrilled. "I always thought you and Granger..."

Harry laughed. "No, Hermione is Ron's girl, or will be as soon as he stops being so dense. Is it really that surprising that I like guys?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Draco said slowly. "I guess not. I just never thought you'd have that in common with me." It took a second for Draco's reply to sink into Harry's brain.

"Seriously?" he asked, echoing Draco's earlier exclamation. "What about the whole 'Malfoy the Sex God' thing—and Pansy?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Stories told by jealous girls who want to boost their reputations, that's all that is. And Pansy's been my best friend forever. Pansy, Snape, and now you, are the only ones who know that I'm gay."

"Wow," Harry said. "You learn something new every day." He started pulling on his shoes. "I've got to go if I want to have enough time to get a decent shower."

"All right then, I'll see you later," he said, getting out of bed himself to see Harry out. Harry nodded and opened the door to a silent hallway.

"Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"What time is it now?" Puzzled by the question, Draco glanced at Harry, then back down to his watch.

"It's 6:55 now. Why?"

"Breakfast starts in almost half an hour. Shouldn't more people be awake?"

"Yeah," Draco said, frowning. "There should be people going back and forth between the showers and such by now."

"Draco, what day is it today?" Harry asked hesitantly. Draco thought for a moment, then looked down at his watch again, which also told him the day, month, year, and so on.

"Shit. It's Saturday," he said, looking back up at Harry, waiting for him to freak out again. Harry nodded slowly, closing the door gently. Then, in one movement, he turned around and launched himself at Draco, surprising him and sending both of them toppling backwards onto the bed. Draco looked up at Harry, very aware of every line of Harry's body that was pressing him into the bed. Harry's eyes shone with amusement, and he blew a little puff of air to get a dark lock of hair out of his eyes. Draco loved how Harry's eyes showed his every emotion, happy, determined, compassionate, indignant. Amused. Harry had no mask, and Draco envied his ability to show his emotions.

"Not only," Harry began in an ominously low voice, although a contradictory smile of amusement still played on his lips, "did you wake me up at six thirty in the morning, you woke me up at six thirty in the morning on a weekend. After three hours of sleep. You will pay for that." His fingers somehow ended up on Draco's sides. Draco's eyes widened.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I so would, my dear."

"No—" Draco's retort was cut off by Harry's fingers as Draco squirmed and squealed. Fighting to get away, he managed to roll over so that he was now sitting on top Harry. Harry wriggled beneath him, eyes still glowing, laughing freely. He took Draco's breath away. Harry managed, with much interesting squirming, to get one of his arms free of Draco's body. He reached up, and before Draco realized his intent, ran his fingers through Draco's blond hair, smiling evilly.

"Oh no," Draco gasped, appalled. "You messed up my hair, didn't you?" Harry nodded, then grabbed Draco's ankle as he made a dash for the mirror and pulled him back down on top of him. After a few more minutes of wrestling, Harry was back on top and both boys were panting, completely worn out. Harry yawned as the lack of sleep began to catch back up to him and he snuggled his face into the bend of Draco's neck. Draco listened as his breathing evened and he began to sleep. He closed his eyes as well, but was sure that sleep would never come, not when every nerve in his body was singing at Harry's heartbeat against his chest, at his warm breath tickling his neck. He closed his eyes just for a minute, and passed softly into sleep.

A few hours later, Draco awoke again, smiling at the wonderful dream he'd just had, then smiling even wider as the weight on his chest told him that it hadn't been a dream at all. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into Harry's still-sleeping face. He looked so peaceful. His still form struck Draco as odd, and he realized that whenever he saw Harry he was always full of energy, always moving. It was strange to see him still for once. As if sensing Draco's gaze, Harry's amazing emerald eyes flickered open. Draco watched, fascinated, as those expressive eyes filled with joy.

"Hi," Harry whispered sleepily.

"Hi," Draco replied, almost too soft to hear. They were both startled by a knock on the door. Draco groaned and slid out of the warm bed and away from Harry's warm body to see who it was. He swung the door open just far enough to look out. Weasley waited on the other side of the door, freckles standing out clearly in a face paled by nervousness.

"M-Malfoy," he stuttered, then furrowed his brow in determination and glared. "What did you do to Harry?" he demanded.

"What are you talking about, Weasley?"

"I know Harry came to talk to you last night. I told him it was a bad idea, and no one has seen him since then. What have you done to him?

"I've done nothing to Potter," Draco said with a smirk. He glanced over his shoulder and caught Harry's wink. He almost slipped and let his smirk turn into a smile, but he wasn't the master of masks for nothing. "At least, nothing he didn't want done to him."

"What do you mean by that? Let me talk to Harry!" Weasley insisted. Draco sighed heavily.

"Wait here. I'll go ask him if he wants to talk to you." He closed the door and turned back to Harry. "You've got something up your sleeve, don't you?"

"Yeah," Harry said, grinning wickedly. Draco really wished he would stop smiling like that. It was wreaking havoc with his self-control. Nobody should look that incredibly sexy when they're up to no good. His jaw dropped open as Harry began to tug his sweatshirt over his head.

"What in the name of Merlin do you think you're doing?"

"Tormenting Ron. Do you mind?" Harry asked, once he'd pulled it off and tossed it on the floor. Draco shook his head, speechless. He'd been dying to see Harry shirtless since the day he got sick and sure enough, he looked as amazing as he had the first time. Tugging off the shirt had messed Harry's hair up even more than usual and he'd had bed-head in the first place. Harry glanced in the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair to stick it up some more, then slid his belt out of his pants and unbuttoned the top button. Draco watched, entranced. After one last check in the mirror, Harry turned back to Draco and smiled that smile again. Oh God, if he wasn't careful, Draco was seriously going to jump him right here, right now.

"How do I look?" Harry asked in a low, sultry voice. Draco swallowed convulsively, then grinned back.

"Scandalous."

"Perfect," Harry smiled again and repeated "Are you sure you don't mind? I'd just love to see his face." Draco smiled wider.

"Let me go out first. This will be too good to miss." Harry nodded and Draco slipped back out to the hallway.

"Harry will be out in a moment," he told the impatient Weasley. He's just making himself a bit more... presentable."

"What do you mean by that?" Weasley demanded. Draco shrugged, fighting hard to keep a gleeful smile off his face. After a moment, the door opened again and Harry sauntered out. The look on Weasley's face was priceless. His jaw dropped nearly to his knees.

"Hey Ron," Harry said, stifling a fake yawn. "What's up?"

"H-Harry," the very white red-head stammered. "What the hell?"

"You really should work on that stutter," Draco advised.

"Thanks for the concern, Ron, but I really am fine. I just spent the night with Draco last night."

"What do you mean you spent the night? Like, you slept with him?"

Harry shot an amused look at Draco. Technically, that was correct. "Yeah, I slept with him. Why?"

"But he's Malfoy! And a guy!"

"No, he's Draco, and I know very well that he's a guy. I happen to like guys."

"You can't be serious!"

"Why not? You're not like homophobic or something are you Ron?"

Weasley fell silent for a moment. "I don't know. I guess not. It's just awful... sudden. And it's Malfoy."

"You seem rather stuck on that point. Anyway, it's not all that sudden. Hermione, Ginny, Dean, Seamus, and god knows who else, all know that I'm gay. I was just afraid you wouldn't want to be friends with me anymore if you knew. I know how you are about things that go against the normal social structure."

"Did everyone know about you and Malfoy but me?" Weasley demanded.

"You mean me and Draco as a couple?" Harry asked, and Weasley nodded. "Well, actually, I'm not even sure we are one. Hey, Draco?"

"What?"

"Want to be my boyfriend?" he asked.

Draco looked startled. He looked into Harry's expressive eyes and saw that he was dead serious. This was no joke. "I'd love to be your boyfriend," he said, then felt dazzled by the smile Harry gave him.

"There," Harry said, turning back to Weasley, "you're the first one to know about me and Draco. Does that make you feel better?"

"It shouldn't," Weasley said, a small smile starting, "but somehow it does. I'm sorry if you thought I wouldn't want to be your friend because of who you like. I can't say I'm happy about it, or comfortable with it, but you're my best mate. It's take a lot more than you revealing that you like guys to change that. Now, dating Malfoy is pushing it a bit, and I wouldn't suggest snogging in front of me, or anything disgusting like that because otherwise, in order to protect my sanity, I'm going to pretend nothing's happening between you two. OK?"

"Sounds fair to me. Thanks for understanding, Ron," Harry said, giving his best friend a hug.

"You being gay does explain a few things."

"Like what?"

"Like the way you act with Hermione. I'm actually a bit relieved that you like guys 'cuz for awhile there I was really afraid that you might have a crush on her. And that would be awkward."

"Why?" Harry asked, grinning impudently. "Do you have a crush on Hermione?" Weasely's face turned as red as his hair.

"Don't play all innocent with me. I know you know I like her."

"Yeah, since like first year."

"Seriously?" Weasely asked, brow furrowed. "I only figured it out when she was dating Krum and I felt so bloody jealous."

"That's because you're dense, Ron."

"Hey!" Weasely protested indignantly. "I am not. Hey," he said suddenly, "has Hermione said anything to you about me?"
"Maybe she has and maybe she hasn't, I'm not telling," Harry declared in a sing-song voice. "Ask her yourself." Weasely growled at him playfully.

"Well, I guess I'm going to go have breakfast."

"You came to find me before getting breakfast? Good lord, now I really feel loved. Not much deters you from your breakfast." Weasely made a face, then smiled.

"I'll leave you two alone then. See you, Harry." Harry and Draco watched Ron ascend the steps to the Entrance Hall.

"I can't wait to tell Hermione!" Harry said with a squeal the instant that Ron was gone. Draco shook his head at him.

"I really can't believe anyone thinks you're straight if you act like that."

"Well, around Ron I usually tried to tone that sort of stuff down." He grinned. "I guess I can act however I want now."

"So you really want me to be your boyfriend? You weren't just saying that to shock Ron?"

"Draco, I'd give just about everything I have just to have you as my boyfriend."

"Really?" Draco asked, feeling oddly warm and snuggly inside.

"Definitely. Especially considering I've liked you... for almost as long as Ron's liked Hermione."

"Seriously? Since like first year?" Draco asked, thunderstruck. Harry nodded sheepishly, an attractive blush creeping across his cheeks. "Wow. That's cool." Draco turned around and led the way back into his room, closing the door softly behind them.

"So what do you want to do today?" Harry asked, sprawling himself across Draco's bed. It reminded him very forcibly of Harry's current attire.

"Well, you know, I've been dying to see you shirtless since I got to take off your shirt the other day in the infirmary."

Harry quirked a dark eyebrow. "Really now," he said in a deep, sensuous voice. Draco nodded with a blush. "Well, looks like you're in luck."

"Yes, I'm very lucky." Draco hesitated for a moment. "Can I..." he gestured to the empty spot on the bed next to Harry, blushing even deeper. Harry nodded.

"It is your bed, after all." Yes, that was right. Harry Potter was in his bed. Lord Almighty, miracles did happen. Draco sat down next to him, unable to pull his eyes away from the sight of his bare chest. "This isn't very fair, you know," Harry said suddenly.

"Huh? What's not?"

"I'm shirtless and your not. I think we should even the score a bit."

"You don't want to see me shirtless."

"Oh, yes, I do. Trust me." Draco bit his lip and looked at the floor for a moment, then began unbuttoning his shirt. "May I?" Harry asked. Draco nodded, heart thudding. Harry's long, graceful fingers reached for the buttons. He fumbled for a moment at each one and Draco was sure he was doing it on purpose. His skin burned with the need to have those fingers touching it instead of the cloth of his shirt. The last button finally gave, and Harry slid the shirt off Draco's shoulders. He stared, frozen for a long moment and Draco began to feel self-conscious. That is, until he noticed the lust darkening his new boyfriend's eyes. Draco smiled cockily.

"Are you going to stare all day or are you going to use those fingers of yours?"

"Are you sure you want me too? We're going pretty fast for our first day as a couple."

"Well, considering you've liked me for nearly seven years, and I've liked you for about the same time..."

"What?"

Draco ignored him and continued, "we have the right to move at whatever speed we're comfortable at."

"You've seriously liked me since like first year?"

"Yes, I seriously have. Now, I'm going to mind if you don't touch me—and soon." Harry grinned at him and reached a hand to run his fingers softly across Draco's chest.

"I have no idea why you thought I wouldn't want to see you without a shirt on. You're—statuesque. Like you're carved out of beautiful, flawless marble. But no marble is so warm." He caressed his fingers down Draco's stomach and grinned. "Or shivers when I touch it." Draco closed his eyes and savored the feeling of Harry's fingers against his skin. Then, he opened his eyes again. Harry had a millisecond to catch the gleam in Draco's eyes and know he was in trouble before Draco reached his hand out and rested his palm against Harry's bare chest. He felt Harry's steady heartbeat begin to speed up as he traced lazy paths across his stomach with his other hand. Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. Draco groaned.

"Now what?" He went over to the door and opened it a crack. Pansy was standing there, purse on her arm.

"Hey, Draco," she said, looking startled. "Good lord, it's nearly ten o'clock and you're not dressed yet? That's not like you. You said you'd go to Hogsmeade with me today, remember?" Draco groaned again. He'd forgotten completely about the Hogsmeade trip. "By the way, you look amazing without a shirt," Pansy added with a brazen grin. Draco made a face, then closed his eyes as he felt an arm go around his waist from behind and a bare chest slide against his back.

"That's what I said," Harry told Pansy, resting his chin on Draco's shoulder. Pansy's eyes widened.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry Draco; I didn't know," she gasped. "You don't have to come to Hogsmeade with me if you don't want." She couldn't believe her plan actually worked. She wanted to go find a place where she jump up and down. Victories like this deserved a victory dance.

Draco shook his head. "A promise is a promise. Do you mind, Harry?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"No, not at all." Not quite true, Harry thought, but there was no need to be selfish.

"Do you want to come with us Pott- Harry?" Pansy asked, switching from his last name to his first name halfway through. Hey, if the boy was going to be her best friend's lover, she could call him by his first name.

"Are you sure I wouldn't be in the way?" Harry asked, looking adorably insecure.

"Of course not, silly," Draco insisted. "This way we can find you some decent clothes."

"Hey, what's wrong with my clothes?"

"The fact that they're terrible, that's what."

"OK, so I've gone shopping with Ron the last couple of years. So sue me."

"Huh?" Draco asked, not understanding the Muggle phrase.

"Never mind," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I guess I'll get dressed again and go back up to my dorm. I never did get that shower."

"That's OK, I like it when you're dirty."

"And exactly how many ways did you mean that?"

"A couple. Just don't come near me after a hard Quidditch practice."

"Well you've screwed yourself now. I'll purposely seek you out after Quidditch practice when I'm absolutely slick with sweat," Harry murmured, his voice dropping to the low, teasing voice that made Draco instantly rock hard. Draco covered his ears with his hands and groaned. He wasn't sure how much more teasing he was going to be able to stand today. Their romantic banter was interrupted by Pansy's laughter.

"I hope you guys aren't planning on doing that all day," Pansy said. "Or I'll desert you guys quick."

"You promise?" Pansy gave her best friend a sharp whack on the head. "Be nice," she told him. "Hurry up and get ready, you two, I want to go shopping!"