Chapter 11 – Drive

Hermione was reading in the Common Room. Everyone else was packing their things ready to go home for Christmas. Every now and then she would glance up at the portrait hole, so obviously waiting for someone and then she would let her eyes drop to the book, a small knowing smile on her face.

Harry came through the hole about an hour after she had been sitting there. He glanced around himself almost from guilt hoping that no one would notice him sneak in. If he could get to the dorms without anyone noticing he could pretend he had been there all along and that in the confusion of packing no one had noticed him. He managed to get to the staircase when Hermione's voice rang out, "You didn't come back last night."

Harry froze and turned on the spot. His smile said it all. "Where were you?" she asked, not looking up from her book. Not taking to the idea of having this conversation from opposite sides of the room Harry joined her on the sofa.

"I was…I…"

"You were with Malfoy?" Hermione prompted. Harry opened his mouth and then closed it again before he decided just to nod. Hermione sighed, "Don't you think you're rushing things?"

Harry looked at her for a moment he couldn't quite understand what she was implying, then as it dawned on him he shook his head, "We didn't do anything!" he cried, "We just kissed and…fell asleep next to each other. I was so happy…"

He broke off lost in the blissful memories of that same morning. Waking up Harry couldn't quite remember where he was; he was slightly disorientated waking up in a place that wasn't his dorm. He shifted slightly and rolling over found himself looking up at the sleeping face of Draco Malfoy. He had smiled inwardly at amazed himself when he realised how far they had come in such a short time. He leaned up and softly kissed Draco before snuggling down into his arms. They had drifted in and out of sleep until they heard movement outside the room. It felt nice to be able to lie like that without worry of interruption and just drinking in each other's company.

"Harry…Harry…Harry!" Hermione brought him back to the real world. "I think it's great but don't go rushing things."

Harry raised his eyebrow, "Like you and Ron did?" Hermione flushed a deep shade of scarlet, not many people knew that the two of them had slept together before they started dating. "Nothing happened Hermione, honestly."

Harry was glad when he managed to get the last word in before Ron came back to join them. Rather than discuss his new romance with his best friend…at least he would do that when Ron came back from the holidays and Harry knew exactly what was going on between him and Draco.

"I'm going for a walk," he said, briskly before Ron could ask why he hadn't returned the night before, it was only after Harry had left the Common room that he realised that he hadn't exactly been in there long but he didn't care, instead he made his way outside hoping a certain blond boy would be waiting.

Malfoy was indeed wandering outside. He had walked around and around the lake for a while before he had sunk to the floor and stared across it hardly daring to believe the twist in his fortunes. Just the last week he had been moping about his love for Harry and now he found he could celebrate. The thing that he had never dared to hope had happened, Harry was in love with him. He paused, Harry hadn't said that he was in love with him, there had been no mention of love, they hadn't even talked about whether they liked each other that much; there had been no talk about feelings. But the night before had been so perfectly romantic that Malfoy had no reason to doubt Harry's sincerity, he may not be in love but they barely knew each other…there was plenty of time for falling in love.

I wish Harry was here, he thought to himself. I wish Harry was here to hold my hand, I wish Harry was here to stroke my hair or kiss me the way he does or…he broke off when he felt someone sit down beside him. He glanced over and found he had to do a double take. Harry was there even though it hadn't even been half an hour since they had parted ways outside the Room of Requirement. Malfoy's smile couldn't have been bigger if he'd tried.

"Hi there," Harry said softly.

Malfoy fought every urge he felt not to lean in and kiss him. Harry smiled back and looking around he saw that there was no one anywhere near them and anyone who saw anything would no doubt think of it as normal considering the rumours that had been thrown around. So not caring about the possible repercussions Harry leaned forward and forced his lips onto Malfoy's. For a moment Malfoy was completely taken aback, he thought that the last thing Harry would be wanting to do is throw himself into the hub of the rumours especially now that the gossip about his battle with Voldemort had finally died down. Harry drew back quickly when he realised that Malfoy wasn't returning the kiss but one look at the boy's bemused face realised he was more shocked than reluctant. Harry laughed and kissed him again and this time Draco joined in.

"Let's go to Hogsmeade," Harry said suddenly. Malfoy looked at him with a raised eyebrow Harry was beaming, he doubted Harry had ever looked that happy in his entire time at Hogwarts.

Malfoy frowned, "What's in Hogsmeade?"

"Come on!" Harry moaned childishly, "Let's go out somewhere together!" Malfoy smiled despite himself Harry wanted to spend time with him; Harry wanted to be with him!

"Alright then!" Malfoy sighed exasperated by the younger boy's sudden enthusiasm for their relationship which was touching if not contagious and they both laughed together as never before.

Harry's initial thought that Hogsmeade would be the perfect opportunity to take Draco away from the prying eyes of the school where they could talk about their newfound love together without looking over their shoulders quickly disappeared. On the last day of term it seemed that every seventh year and indeed every pupil with a permission slip was out in force desperately trying to buy Christmas presents before they caught the train home. Harry rolled his eyes this was probably the last thing he wanted for Draco. He wanted him to forget that the school hated him now it seemed Harry had just enforced the fact that he was shunned as much here as anywhere.

Malfoy kept his head down and tried not to look up. People were staring at Harry and Malfoy and an odd hush seemed to surround him. Everywhere he went people would stop talking, look and then the air would be filled with slanderous whispers. Harry could feel his temper rising as he tried to ignore them and the effect they were having on the increasingly distressed Malfoy.

"Why don't we just go back, Harry?" Malfoy asked reasonably, they didn't have to buy anything they had the walk back to Hogwarts to talk with each other and soon they would have pretty much the whole school to themselves when the majority went home. Harry wasn't going to the Burrow with Ron and Hermione mainly because he had no intention of being a third leg while Ron and Hermione did their thing. Malfoy wasn't exactly welcome at the Malfoy household so he had decided to stay at Hogwarts too.

Harry was having none of it, he scowled as he walked restraining himself from cursing them all into oblivion and back again. Malfoy's cheeks were burning it was he they were all talking about Harry was just the add on.

"Oh to hell with them," Harry growled and snatched Malfoy's hand into his. He leaned over and kissed the blond on the cheek but didn't let go of his hand, "There!" he shouted at the students who gaped at him open mouthed, "Now you've really got something to talk about!" Harry let out a frustrated cry and glaring at them all he stalked off, glaring at his fellow students daring them to say something and all the while he never once let go of Draco's hand.

TBC