See disclaimer in Chapter One.

"Like the flush that has stained Harry's cheeks for the past couple months."

Harry looked around the dusky hallway, making sure that he was alone. The thick carpet muffled his steps, but it was much more difficult to dissuade someone of what they saw, rather than what they heard. Seeing no one, he opened the door the old professor's office, and hurried inside. He took his time closing the door, making it as soundless as possible. Harry looked around the small room. He was the first one to arrive.

A month ago he had been perusing the Marauder's Map, and had seen this room, far away from his normal routes. The next day he had searched for, and found the room. It was protected a weak locking charm that shattered at his first (map-suggested) spell. The room had been the same as now, just with more dust. It had a richly colored desk towards the back, and a low, domed ceiling. There were bookshelves, mostly empty, along the walls and a door that was not a door at all, just an enchanted piece of wall near the back. There was a tall chair behind the desk, with its back to him. They must have left it like that last time. A wide window that let in noon light was behind the chair, facing the lake.

Harry started pacing in the space between desk and door, from one bookshelf to the other. He was too full of nerves to sit down in the chair, even though he knew it would give him a semblance of control over the situation. Maybe he could try to practice what he would say again? He had been dong so all morning and the right words still had not come.

"Malfoy, I…" he mumbled, then swore. " Draco, I….Damn, this should not be so difficult!"

"What should not be so difficult?"

Harry jumped back and pointed his wand at the voice. In the chair sat a seemingly calm Draco Malfoy. Harry lowered his wand.

"You were there the whole time!"

"Yes, I was" Draco smirked.

"You could have told me!" Harry crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

Draco moved his hand to the desk, leaving it there as he swiveled the chair. Harry could not take his eyes off the finger tips that moved along the desk, dragging slightly at each change of direction.

"I would have said something, had you done the typical Gryffindor thing and asked if anyone was here. I must be rubbing off on you." He raised his eyebrows in a suggestive manner a looked satisfied when Harry broke eye contact and looked down at his feet.

"Yes, well…"

"And what was it that you were saying to an imaginary me?" As he was saying this Draco got out of the chair a walked around to the front of the desk, leaning against it and using his hands for support. Harry's cheeks reddened in embarrassment. He took a deep breath.

"Well, I wanted…I would like…"

"Yes?" Draco sounded like he was barely holding onto his control. Harry firmed his resolve and looked Draco in the face, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Draco" His voice was shaky. He tried again. "Draco" better "I would like you to know that I am accepting your offer to be boyfriends, lovers if you will."

One moment he was standing in front of Draco, and the next he was pushed back towards the door with an armful of blonde, pure-blooded, wizard. He wound his arms around Draco squeezing tightly. Draco's head was buried in his neck whispering nonsense. Harry tugged on the small hairs at the back of Draco's neck, and Draco turned his face up and they met in a bruising kiss.

Harry broke away, grinning like a loon, when Draco's stomach grumbled. Draco looked slightly ashamed, but Harry just laughed and spun Draco around, setting him down lightly. Draco kissed him on the cheek, and took a step back.

"You know that we can't—"

"I know."

"Yes, well," Draco brightened "Beat you to lunch!" he dodged around Harry, ripped open the door and ran down the hallway. Harry just shook his head and continued at more sedate pace. How playful Draco could be.

When he walked in through the doors to the Great Hall, Harry chanced a glance at Draco, to find him laughing uncharacteristically loud. Harry made his way over to Hermione and Ron, sitting across the table from them.

"Blimey mate, did you run here?" Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron's question.

"No,why?

"Your cheeks are all red."