Chapter Four

Frost on the Grass

Harry looked at Draco, who was sitting on one of the beds "deeply engrossed" in a Transfiguration book.

'Deeply engrossed, ha,' thought Harry, 'Avoiding talking to me is more like it.' Two days had passed since the afternoon they had worked on Draco's Patronus, and Draco hadn't said more than six words at a time to Harry. Harry was getting fed up. Sooner or later they'd have to come to an agreement, and Harry hoped it would be sooner.

Draco was sitting, pretending to read his Transfiguration book, but he kept sneaking sidelong glances at Harry, and Harry hadn't noticed...yet. Draco hadn't said more than a few words at a time to Harry, and he knew it was making Harry angry, but he had been thinking. What had happened to them? It couldn't be, not that Draco didn't want it to, but what if someone found out?

Harry felt like he was being watched. He looked up and found himself staring into a pair of gorgeous, storm gray eyes. He coughed politely and Draco sighed.

Draco got up, abandoning his Transfiguration book on the bed, and stood looking out the window.

Harry watched Draco's every move, and Draco, noticing this, smiled to himself. "Harry," Draco began, "I'm sorry I've been and idiot, not talking and all, but the day we worked on your Patronus, I've been thinking about it." Draco paused to collect his thoughts, "I want this to happen, Lord knows I do, but-"

"I knew there was a but in there somewhere," Harry said sadly.

Draco leaned his forehead against the glass, "I know, I know, but will you let me finish?" Draco sighed, "But what if someone finds out? Or worse, what if we get caught? There are things we have to consider Harry!" Draco sounded stressed between his hearts desire and his public appearance.

Harry quietly got up and walked over behind Draco. He placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "I'll stand by you, Draco, there's no question of loyalty from me, even if the entire school knew. I would be there, no matter what, honest. Would you be able to say the same thing, Draco?" Harry said softly as he caressed Draco's shoulder.

Draco paused, an emotional turmoil boiling inside him. It was so confusing... He thought to himself, 'Who cares what everyone thinks?' but then he realized, he did. Draco turned around and smiled sadly at Harry. "I don't know." Draco raised his hand and placed it lightly on Harry's cheek, but Harry brushed it away.

"No Draco. If we don't have loyaltyit just doesn't work. It can't," Harry said, turning and brushing tears from his eyes.

Draco looked after Harry, an expression of dismay on his handsome face. His head lowered as he sank to the floor. He couldn't believe what he'd just done.


That night Harry lay in his bed, and Draco lay in the bed opposite him. Neither was sleeping, but neither was speaking; each was lost in his own train of thought; though they didn't know it, they were both thinking the same thing.

"Harry," Draco said, and at the same time from the second bed came-

"Draco," Harry said quietly. They smiled sadly at each other. "You first," Harry said.

"Was just wondering if you were still awake," Draco replied, a little too quickly, as Harry noticed.

"Yeah," Harry replied, in a slightlytimid voice, "Obviously... Draco, I was wondering if it seems like they've turned down the heat in here."

Draco thought for a second. "Nope," he said quietly.

"Hmm... if you're sure," Harry grumbled, "I'm freezing."

Draco smiled to himself, "You know, I think that's the first time I've ever heard you openlycomplain about something."

Harry snorted, "That just means you haven't hung around me much." Harry yawned. "I'm tired." With that, he rolled over and fell asleep.

Draco rolled over and tried to fall asleep, but without success. As Harry's snores filled the room, Draco tossed in his bed trying to get to sleep. Sighing, Draco resigned himself to the fact it would be another sleepless night. He got up and stood in front of the window, looking out at the lake. The moon was reflected on the lake,and the giant squid was bobbing around in the lake, and it was a beautiful gorgeous night for flying. It was almost as beautiful a night as the night he and Harry had stood at the window watching the unicorn.

"Draco?" came a tired voice, causing him to jump.

"Yeah?" Draco replied.

"What are you doing up?" Harry asked, sitting up slowly in bed.

"Couldn't sleep, thinking too much about us..." he paused, slightly embarrassed about that revelation. Harrysmiled atDraco's embarrassment. "So I decided to get up and try and clear my mind... It's as beautiful as the first night we were here... Harry, I thought you were asleep." Draco turned to face Harry.

"I was," he admitted, climbing out of bed and going to stand next to Draco, "But only just, and when you walked by me, I heard you and woke up." He shrugged.

"Oh... I'm sorry," Draco murmured.

"For what?" Harry looked surprised.

Draco looked out the window, and said nothing for a few momentsbefore Harry suddenly realized Draco seemed to be hiding something.

"Draco? Is there something that you're trying to say?" Harry asked softly.

"I've been thinking a lot, and I've realized I've been an idiot. I can say the same thing as you, and I will. I can and will be there for you Harry, no matter what," Draco said, looking into the deep green pools of Harry's eyes.

Harry took a breath. Draco actually said it. "Thank you, Draco."

Draco smiled. "You're welcome... I mean, who cares what everyone else thinks? I used to," he admitted, "But not anymore. Well, not too much anymore... This doesn't mean I'm not going to care what people think about how I look, my hair has to be perfect. No arguments."

Harry smiled, stiffled a laugh, and pushed past Draco gently, to get a better view of the sight outside. He started slightly as he felt Draco's strong arms wrap around him, but relaxed after a split second.

"Beautiful night for flying, isn't it?" Draco murmured in Harry's ear, "If only we weren't locked up." He rested his chin on Harry's shoulder, looking out at the lake.

Harry rested his hands on Draco's and leaned into him. They stood there, comfortably, for quite some time, when Harry sighed and shifted in Draco's arms.

"What is it?" Draco asked, a note of concern creeping into his voice.

"I didn't get my Transfiguration homework done," Harry admitted.

Draco grinned, "Me neither. We can do it tomorrow."

Harry smiled and turned to look at Draco. "Thank you Draco, for everything."

"You're welcome, and I did mean every word of what I said." Draco said in a voice just above a whisper.

Harry smiled, "I know you did; you told me, and I believe you."

"And I'm glad," Draco replied simply. He gently kissed Harry's ear and he felt Harry shiver in Draco's embrace. He gently kissed Harry's neck, leaving little love marks here and there.

Harry turned around to face Draco. He smiled, leant forward, and gently pressed his lips against Draco's. Draco returned the kiss with a gentle intensity; he tightened his grip around Harry's waist and pulled him closer. The kiss deepened and Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's neck. Suddenly Draco picked Harry up off the ground. Harry momentarily froze, but then, almost naturally, he wrapped his legs around Draco; trusting that Draco wouldn't drop him.

Draco carried Harry over to his bed and continued to kiss him. He set Harry down on the bed and gently rested next to him. Being almost the exact same height, Draco a little taller,their bodies fit perfectly together. Harry ran his hands over Draco's shoulders and gently massaged the tension away. Draco pulled Harry closer and Harry stopped rubbing Draco's shoulders as they snuggled together. Finally, reluctantly, Draco broke the kiss. He looked into Harry's deep emerald eyes and saw thefeelings he felt reflected in them.

Harry smiled softly. "Do you think you can sleep now?" he asked slightly teasingly.

Draco smiled and kissed Harry again. "Yes, I think I can," he whispered in Harry's ear.

"Good," Harry said, stifling a yawn, "'Cause I know I can."

They snuggled closer together and slowly fell asleep, still entangled in each others arms.

The next morning, Draco awoke and sighed. He looked down in his arms at Harry. Draco gently kissed on the forehead. Harry stirred and snuggled closer to Draco. Draco tightened his hold on Harry, who smiled in his sleep. Draco grinned at how cute Harry looked. Suddenly Harry yawned and opened his eyes with the innocence of a newborn lamb.

Draco smiled, "Morning."

Harry reached up and brushed Dracos hair out of his face. "Morning," he replied, "Sleep well?"

"Very," Draco said, and he leaned down and kissed Harry gently. He could feel Harry responding to his kiss as he ran his hands up Harry's back. It was Harry who broke the kiss this time.

"As much as I love doing that, we have four days left in which we can do that," Harry smiled, "But I need a shower."

Draco gave Harry an appraising look as he hooked his ankle around Harry's calf. "Alright," he said slyly, "But it'll cost you."

Harry sighed smilingly, "How much?"

Draco smirked coyly, "Five more minutes."

Harry looked at Draco incredulously, "You mean, you're going to make me pay for taking a shower by making me spend five more minutes with you! That's hardly a bad sentence at all." Before Draco could say anything, Harry had locked lips with him again.

Draco melted. Five more minutes of Heaven...