Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc still belongs to JK Rowling, plot still belongs to me.

Author's Note: This is going to be tricky, as I'm not quite sure how to follow up that last chapter. Please bear with me.

Extra A/N: I think there is some kind of subtext to the word 'lemon' on this site. When I use it here, I mean 'idiot'. Please someone tell me what the subtext is?

It was a strange few days that followed Harry and Draco's conversation. When they saw each other in corridors, they acted in the usual way; that is, they either ignored each other or threatened to curse each other. No one had cause to suspect that anything out of the ordinary was going on. To realise that, one would have to watch like a hawk for the moments when the two of them exchanged subtle but significant glances. There were quite a few of these moments.

It was not until Thursday that they had the chance to speak again. At breakfast, Harry received a note, carried by one of the school owls.

Meet me, same place. Pull a sickie and skip Potions.

The note was unsigned, but Harry understood it.

"Guys," he said. Receiving no reply, he tried again, more loudly. "Ron! Hermione!" The two of them had been going off into lovestruck trances every now and then, just staring happily at each other. It made Harry want to retch a lot of the time.

"What?" Hermione asked at last.

"I don't feel too great, can you tell Snape I'm not well?" He made a great effort to look slightly ill. "I think I'm just tired, so I won't bother Madam Pomfrey..."

Hermione nodded. "OK. See you at lunchtime then."

"Thanks," Harry smiled, picking up his bag and leaving the table. He walked back to Gryffindor Tower, dumped his bag in the dormitory and picked up the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map. He waited until he knew everyone had gone to lessons, then put on the cloak and, once again, headed for the Room of Requirement. He walked quickly, and it was not long before he arrived. After doing the necessary pacing up and down the corridor, he entered through the newly placed door, made himself comfortable in an armchair, and waited for Draco.

Draco arrived about ten minutes later, looking rather ruffled. "How did you get here so fast?" He demanded. "I had to creep along like a burglar so no one saw me!"

Harry debated with himself for a moment, then held up the Invisibility Cloak.

"Merlin!" Said Draco in a low voice. "These are really rare! How did you get one?"

"It was my father's," Harry replied. "He left it with Dumbledore years ago and Dumbledore gave it to me."

Draco continued to look at the cloak for quite a while. "You know, Harry," he remarked as he handed it back, "you really do have some surprises up your sleeve."

Harry grinned. "So, is there any particular reason why you made me skive off Potions?"

"Do I need a reason to want to see you?" Draco answered.

"Of course not. Sit down, make it look like you're staying."

Draco obliged, smiling back at Harry. "I've hated this week, you know. Having to act like I still hate you, and like you still hate me... I wish we could tell people." He stood up and moved over to Harry's chair, perching himself on the arm and resting his hand lightly on Harry's, making the Gryffindor blush a little.

"You know, Draco," Harry said slightly nervously, "with this whole 'going public' thing, you're making us sound like-" He broke off suddenly as Draco swiftly bent and kissed him.

"- a couple," Harry finished, about an octave higher than he had been before.

As he drew away, Draco's face turned an interesting shade of beetroot. "I..." He looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Would you object greatly if I put a Memory Charm on you, just so you forgot the last thirty seconds?"

Harry laughed. "I wouldn't risk it, you might make me forget who I am or something."

"Are you saying I'm bad at Charms?" Draco asked in a tone of mock hurt.

Harry swatted him on the arm, still smiling. "Of course not!"

"Good," Draco replied, "because you don't want to make me angry."

"And why not?" Harry challenged.

"I don't know, I didn't think that far ahead," admitted Draco.

"Well think about it now, I'm curious."

Draco's forehead furrowed slightly as he considered his answer. "Because I know some good hexes, and I'm not afraid to use them," he said finally.

"Oh really? Let's see them then." Harry gave a mischievous smile.

Draco took his wand from his pocket and raised it. Pointing it at Harry, he made it shoot out a small ray of pinkish light, which seemed to Harry to go right over the top of his head.

"Draco, what was the point of that?" He asked.

"I'm not quite sure, to be honest," Draco smirked, "I just thought it'd look cute."

"What would?" Harry said suspiciously. Draco handed him a mirror off of a nearby table. "Oh my... you...!" On top of Harry's head, set at a jaunty angle, was a pink, frilly bow. "I'll get you for that!" He sent a similar ray of light, lilac this time, at Draco, who responded to the attack immediately.

A few minutes later, the two of them had run out of ideas, and simply stood there like a couple of lemons. Well, pink and lilac lemons. The mixture of spells they had used had left them both covered in bows, ribbons, butterflies and such other things, all of course in very feminine colours. Oddly enough, they didn't look too bad.

"I think lilac suits your complexion," Harry told Draco, struggling to contain his mirth.

"And that shade of pink really compliments your hair," Draco replied.

"What shade of pink?"

"That one," Draco said, pointing at Harry's face. Harry grabbed the mirror again and discovered that he was wearing pale pink lipgloss, as well as some other very flattering makeup. "You should wear lipgloss more often."

"You... That was uncalled for, Draco!"

"On the contrary," Draco smirked, "I think it rather suits you. Brings out your-" he stepped closer to Harry and touched his face with one fingertip "-cheekbones."

Harry glared at him, but his face was softening slightly.

"You look so sweet when you pout!" Draco smiled. "But if you really hate it that much then fine, I'll take it off for you..."

Author's Note: Well there you have it. Another utterly stupid chapter. They're great fun to write, and my betas loved the last stupid chapter (that's Chapter 6), so I thought I'd have another go. Hope you like it!