Usual Disclaimer: Unfortunately this world and it's wonderful inhabitants does not belong to me, they belong to J. K. Rowling, I'm just borrowing them. I am making no money from this it is purely for the enjoyment of those few who choose to read it. Thanks J. K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.

Extra Disclaimer: Song Words belong to Leanne Rhymes or her songwriter (I think - it's in Coyote ugly anyway if that helps) Not me!

A/N: Longest chappter yet! I'm excited! 3500 words approx! It was going to be over two chapters but I didn't think it split up very well so I let it roll out into one long chapter. Oh and sorry for the occasionally coarse language in this chapter. Hope you like!

Thank you to:

Bastian Blair Cute was what I was going for - glad I'm pulling it off. Thanks for taking the time to review. Quick question - did you mean to send the same review 25 times or was it a glitch in ff.net? I laughed when I seen them all in my inbox!

Vicouspixie - You'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Pheniox1 - Thanks for taking the time to read and review my story.

rockerwithanosering - Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it so much!

Alexis-Greenleaf - Thanks for your continued great support. Glad you liked the chappie!

tamachan444 - Thanks for taking the time to read and review.

shortygirly - Thanks for reading and reviewing.

neko - Ooh, I like cake - but don't worry, I try to update as regularly as possible. Usually on Saturdays :-)

Slytheretta - I know it has taken ages but the title of this chapter should be a relief :-) Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Senri -Thanks for your advice. I am trying to lengthen chapters slightly (although I tend to just break up the story where I feel it should be broken) and work on description but as it is turning out the story is taking a while to get anywhere. Hopefully a plot will come into play at some point (although I'm not sure when :-)). Right now, I'm just enjoying setting up the romance. Thanks again and I hope you'll continue to review because it really helps me.

If I have missed anyone out who reviewed chapter nine, please forgive me. If you have read the FF homepage, you will realise it is because the reviews are delayed due to their backlog of emails and therefore I haven't received your email before I posted this but thanks anyway! Please read and review, constructive criticism is very much appreciated - I always like to improve my work! Anyway - Enjoy!

"They say you're something I should do without.

They don't know what goes on when the lights go out.

There's no way to explain - all the pleasure is worth all the pain.

And loving you isn't really something I should do,

Shouldn't want to spend my time with you,

I should try to be strong...

But baby you're the right kind of wrong."

Chapter 10 - Gifts and Getting Together

"What was wrong with him? He kept staring at me and grinning at you." Draco voiced once Remus had left.

"I don't know. Maybe it's this house, maybe it brings out the Marauder in him."

"The what?"

"The Marauder. Ah.... I haven't told you about Messrs Moony Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs have I?"

"No."

"Do you want to know?" Draco nodded at this. "I hope you're sure because you're in for a long night."

"Nothin better to do." And with that Harry began at the beginning, telling Draco everything he knew about the Marauders. This included telling him about his third year, Sirius and Pettigrew. Draco listened intently to every word and it was the early hours of the morning before they made their way to bed.

As usual Draco waited an hour or so before creeping through to Harry's room. Again he sat just inside the doorway and to the side slightly so that he could lean against the wall. He sat silently listening to Harry's breathing and occasional moaning or murmuring. He ran over all the things that Harry had told him that night in his mind. He felt closer to him now than he would have ever thought possible. Before he knew it the soothing sounds of Harry's breathing had lulled him into sleep.

When Harry woke at four o'clock that morning (having only gone to bed at two o'clock), he got the fright of his life. He heard a soft snore from the other side of the room and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Jesus wept!" He cried grabbing his glasses and putting them on.

"What? Hmm?" Draco mumbled bringing his head up from his knees, his eyes slowly widening at his obvious mistake.

"Shitting Hell you gave me a fright!" Harry gripped the bed sheets around his naked lower half. 'Why don't I lock the door at night?' He thought to himself.

Draco opened his mouth to say something but could not think of a lie quick enough so he closed it again, lost for words and actions.

"What are you doing? Have you been coming in here every night?" Harry asked, remembering the flickers of shadow that he thought he had imagined each night he awoke.

Draco could not bring himself to lie and so he nodded slowly. Harry's face softened, Draco looked nervous and lost.

"Why?" He almost whispered the question.

"I got used to your company at night. I don't like being alone. It reminds me of how lonely I was and the Manor." The reply tumbled out. Draco avoided eye contact with Harry and looked ashamed of the truth. Harry didn't know what to say. Draco silently got up and left the room. Harry sat stock still for a moment before getting up and dressed and following Draco. He found him in the drawing room.

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Harry asked quietly. Draco was just standing in the centre of the room looking lost. He shrugged still not making eye contact with Harry. "You need to let your guard drop sooner or later." Now Draco looked up.

"You mean the one that shields everyone from you true feelings? The one that blocks emotions, stops you from crying and stops those around you being hurt by who you are? The one you, like me, have perfected?"

Harry couldn't hide his surprise that Draco had him figured so well. "Yes that one. I dropped mine for you. I don't know how, but you have that effect on me. I can't hide things from you. Why don't you let me into that head of yours? You know everything, if not more than, that Ron and Hermione know about me. And I'm only beginning to learn about you. We need to accept that we're on the same side now." Draco turned away from Harry so he wouldn't have to look at him as he knew his eyes could no longer block the feelings he was trying to force away. "We have so much more in common than either of us could have guessed... or hoped." Harry continued, putting his hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco spun round.

"Don't you think I know that? I don't understand my own feelings! It's...weird being so close to you! Wanting to be close to you!"

"I, of all people, know what you're feeling! I know it's hard to get close to people. Especially when that other person is supposed to be your enemy." Harry searched Draco's eyes, his hand still on his shoulder. The guard that protected what was behind Draco's eyes was slipping. "What do you want?"

"I don't know." Draco breathed lowering his head, his golden locks falling to hide his face. Harry moved closer lifting Draco's chin and looking deep into his startled silver eyes. He didn't have to look far to find consent for what he was about to do next.

The kiss was a long, soft and exploratory one. It seemed to go on for an age, tongues exploring, hands caressing and bodies fitting perfectly together. Draco let out a low moan.

"Shh." Harry murmured pulling away slightly and nodding towards a portrait on the drawing room wall that, although still sleeping, shuffled slightly.

"Dumbledore." Draco whispered as realisation hit of what Remus had been talking about. Harry nodded and silenced Draco with another kiss; he didn't want to talk. The moved onto the plush couch and kissed till they fell asleep together.

Harry woke alone as he knew he would. Draco would need time to think. He himself needed time to think. Harry sat up but stayed where he was, falling into one of his states of deep thought that he had been so prone to prior to his departure from Hogwarts. He became utterly wrapped up in his thoughts. Asking himself questions and chiding himself for what he'd done. There were so many risks. What would everyone think? The Boy Who Lived was gay.

That simple statement could cause so much hassle and could possibly ruin everything.

What would everyone think of him? His Parents? Sirius? Surely they would be looking down on him in disappointment? What about Dumbledore? Ron and Hermione? Everyone else he cared about. What was he thinking? What was wrong with him? Did he really want to jeopardise everything for Malfoy? There were so many people to think of and there he was acting as if his attraction to Malfoy was no big deal. It is a big deal! He told himself. A huge deal.

How can something this wrong have felt so right?

Draco sat by himself at the kitchen table, his hands clasped around the cup of tea he had just made himself. He was staring blankly at the wall opposite him, not noticing that the hot teacup was scalding his hands, turning them bright red. Thoughts of the previous night taunted him. He felt ashamed, scared, and happy all at once. He had been relieved and glad when Harry had shown he felt the same way and kissed him but he was scared of what it would mean. He was scared and ashamed to think of what people would think of him if they knew that a) he was gay (or rather more gay then straight) and b) that he was in love with Harry Potter.

The Boy Who Lived. Yes, he Draco Malfoy was crazy about the saviour of the wizarding world.

Hours passed and neither boy moved. Both deep in thought. Both forgetting their plans to explore Grimmauld that day. Both thinking of each other.

Eventually, late into the afternoon, Harry was roused from his thoughts by the largest portrait in the drawing room.

"Really! This is worse than watching paint dry, and believe me I know! Aren't boys your age supposed to be full of energy?"

Harry merely frowned and went back to thinking and staring at nothing in particular and seeing nothing in particular.

"Well! How rude!" Came the portraits annoying voice again. "I hope you get bedsores, you lazy child!" Harry frowned again, but this time he got up and headed towards his room thinking of trying to sleep off his mood. Thinking the same thought he had thought every night from when he was one till he turned eleven 'things might be better in the morning'.

At that same moment, Draco had similar thought of going to bed and they met in the hallway as each made their way out of the rooms they had been in for the best part of five hours.

Both boys paused awkwardly. Draco looked at his feet while Harry searched his face. Seeing him reminded Harry of the previous night. How vulnerable Draco had seemed, it was the first time Harry had seen the emotional side of Draco, the first time he had been allowed to. He remembered how gentle he had been, how soft and sweet his lips were, the silkiness of his platinum hair. Harry knew he had broken the barrier, he had seen into the depths behind Draco's usually emotionless eyes. Despite the shame and confusion he felt, he couldn't help but want to touch the body he had been so close to no more than twelve hours ago.

Harry debated whether to take a step forward, towards Draco. He didn't know if Draco would want him to. Surely he too would have been thinking the same thoughts and feeling the same feelings as Harry had been that morning. Draco had his family to worry about - they were Malfoy's for god's sake. A bigger link to Harry would put Draco in danger. Another innocent in Danger just because of knowing Harry? Harry didn't know if he could do that, having his friends and family [The Weasleys] in danger was already too much.

Despite all these thoughts rushing through his head as he studied Draco's profile, Harry took a step forward. He felt pulled towards him, magnetised even, like he could no longer bear to be away from him. Again he felt that longing he had felt before leaving Hogwarts. He needed Draco to talk to him. He wanted Draco to tell him things would be okay, even though he knew they weren't.

Draco looked up and opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, lost for words. Their eyes locked and neither boy moved for what seemed like an eternity. They were only inches apart and both longing to be closer but neither daring to make the move.

Harry searched Draco's eyes for a hint of what he was feeling. He could see something there but whatever it was flickered out as Draco put up that oh-so-familiar guard that they were both so skilled in using.

"Stop hiding from me." Harry said hoarsely and barely audibly. He didn't need to explain himself; Draco knew what he meant. Relief, shame, confusion, admiration, they all flooded so quickly and settled at a look of insecurity.

"What do we do?" Draco whispered.

"I don't know. I don't know what I want. There's so... It's just so...."

"Complicated." Draco finished his sentence for him.

"Hmm." Harry agreed, now dropping his eyes to the floor. He couldn't look at Draco any longer without being overpowered by urges to touch him, kiss him, feel his hair, his chest, his gentle fingertips, everything he had experienced last night.

"Can we... I mean... could we..." Draco stumbled over his words, "make it work... us I mean?"

"I don't know." Harry answered honestly, appreciating Draco's attempts to sort out the mess they had made for themselves.

"Are..." Draco feared the answer to his question, "are you willing to try?"

Harry looked up, into the fear in Draco's eyes and nodded. "Are you?"

Draco responded by moving forward and pressing hip lips against Harry's in a rush of relief and need. Harry stumbled backwards at the suddenness of the move but Draco, followed, their lips not parting. They moved backwards until Harry's back came flat against the wall behind him and he steadied himself.

For a moment, they became oblivious to their surroundings. They were incapable of comprehending anything else outside the existence of each other. All problems and obstacles disappeared in a moment of delirious pleasure.

Harry felt giddy, he felt as though he may have collapsed before now if it had not been for the support of the wall behind him. He fought to keep his hands from shaking as he caressed Draco's hair and brushed his fingers down the side of the face.

They parted only due to lack of oxygen, both gasping for breath and full of a desire that seemed insatiable. Their faces were barely a centimetre apart and they were just about to continue where they left off when, with impeccable timing, the doorbell went and Mrs Black went into one of her screaming fits.

"Typical." Harry breathed. Rather unwilling to leave the safety of each other's arms, they reluctantly parted with a last lingering and lustful look and went about the routine of Draco calming Mrs Black and Harry answering the door.

When Harry answered the door the person standing outside seemed to have a large television in place of the upper half of their body.

"Help us in then." Came the voice from behind the TV. Harry smiled, recognising Remus' voice and opening the door wide and guiding him inside. It was only then that Harry noticed Dumbledore's presence. Remus had previously hidden him from view and Harry stood back and let him in. Dumbledore too came bearing gifts - in the form of a large cardboard box. Harry and Draco followed Remus and Dumbledore into the lounge, raising their eyebrows questioningly at each other as they did so.

"Brought you something to keep you occupied." Remus stated as he put the TV in the corner and he and Dumbledore began to unpack the box.

An hour later, Harry and Draco were standing back to admire their very own muggle entertainment system. A wide screen television, DVD player, stereo, and an assortment of DVD's and CD's to accompany them. They were, of course, running slightly differently to the muggle way. When Harry had mentioned 'wires' Remus and Draco had looked confusedly at him. Dumbledore however had just smiled and said: "Why on earth would we need wires?" And taken his wand from his pocket.

"That's one way to dodge TV licensing." Harry had commented but again, Remus and Draco had just looked confused.

Dumbledore and Lupin stayed for Dinner and neither missed the furtive glances passing between the two boys - some nervous, some confused, some embarrassed, some longing.

They also stayed on after dinner to watch a movie.

"Charlottes Web!" Dumbledore had exclaimed. "A classic and one of my favourites!" His eyes sparkled and it was impossible to refuse the old man so they agreed and settled down to watch the cartoon film.

It struck Harry how strange the scene was. The headmaster of Hogwarts, a werewolf, a seventeen year old Gryffindor and a seventeen year old Slytherin, all sitting watching a muggle children's movie.

When the movie was done neither boy nor Remus would dare to admit it but they had enjoyed it. These simple childlike pleasures were sometimes fun, especially if you hadn't had much of a childhood.

"I suppose we had better get going Albus." Remus said stretching as he stood up, switching the movie off.

"Yes, I suppose you are right." Dumbledore agreed as they made their way to the door. " Only nine days until Mr Weasley and Miss Granger are to join you, oh and before I forget, I have granted permission for Miss Weasley to join you also, I do hope that is alright."

Draco groaned but Harry elbowed him and said, "no that's fine. The more the merrier."

"I think that is what Molly is afraid of." Remus contributed to the conversation.

"I don't doubt it." Harry replied.

"So I expect you'll be making the most of the time you have left alone." Dumbledore commented and Harry felt his heart plummet through the floor. 'Shit! He knows!' A surge of emotions coursed through his whole body and he fought to stop his hands shaking with nerves, He could sense Draco tense beside him too. "Only a few more days of peace and quiet and I don't imagine you'll have finished your homework already but if you have I'm sure professor Snape would be happy to oblige." He continued. The relief in Harry's body was instant and he felt sure he would pass out. But he managed to pull himself together, also hearing a discreet sigh of relief emit from Draco.

"Oh... Yes we'll make the most of it and no I don't think any extra homework will be necessary." He laughed lightly.

"Good good. I shall bid you goodnight then." He smiled and left.

"You been exploring yet?" Remus asked when the headmaster had left.

"No not yet, tomorrow maybe."

Remus just smiled 'wonder what could possibly have held them up' he thought sarcastically to himself. "See you soon." He said as they closed the door behind him.

Once they were alone in the hallway, both boys laughed in awkward relief, the same thought running through both minds - 'too close'.

They made their way back to the lounge and sat down. Previously, in the company of Remus and Dumbledore, they had sat apart but now they sat together.

"Another movie?" Harry asked, breaking the silence and slight awkwardness between them.

"Okay." Draco shrugged. Harry got up and started reading off some titles from the pile beside the TV. They chose a film called Coyote Ugly and turned off the lights, settling on the couch. At first they sat at opposite ends of the two-seater couch but as the movie began, Draco curled his legs up onto the couch and Harry followed suit, he swung his legs up and rested his feet, only clad in socks, on Draco's lap. Both boys found themselves surprisingly comfortable and content with just this small amount of contact with each other.

When the movie finished Harry switched off the TV with the remote and they were left in darkness. Draco moved his hand and it brushed against Harry's hand. They silently touched their fingertips together, surprised at how good this simple touch felt. They linked their fingers and Harry moved his legs around to allow himself to be pulled towards Draco. Draco's free hand stroked the side of Harry's face and neck. Harry was leaning in close to Draco's neck as he did this and the only noise to be heard was the sound of each other's breathing. Finally they brought their lips together and silently moved so that they were lying comfortably side by side on the couch. Like the previous night, they kissed until they fell asleep in each other's arms.

A/N: "At last!" you say? Me too. It took a while but finally we're getting somewhere, and I'm glad to say that although it was halted by exams, this story is cooking with gas! Yipee! R&R please!