Chapter 12 – Freak Me

"Harry!" Ron was at his side the moment Harry stepped through the portrait hole. "Harry have you heard what they're saying?!" he cried, "this is getting really out of hand."

Harry looked at his friend bewildered for a moment; unable to quite comprehend what he was talking about. Ron pushed Harry roughly towards the boys' dorm staircase and didn't stop until he, Harry and Hermione were safely away from the other Gryffindors in the empty boys' dorm.

Harry sat down but Ron remained standing, pacing up and down as if trying to make sense of things, "They're saying you and Malfoy are together…" Ron muttered barely able to say the words.

Harry shrugged, "They've been saying that for ages Ron, you know that."

Ron looked up and stopped his pacing, his face aghast, "Harry they're saying that you kissed him in Hogsmeade! You snogged Draco Malfoy in Hogsmeade!"

Harry's face frowned and Ron was glad of it; a frown meant he wasn't happy and that the rumours were completely unfounded. "Snog him?" he spat, "I didn't snog him!" Ron breathed a sigh of relief but Harry wasn't finished, "I hardly touched him! It was only a peck on the cheek."

Ron's mouth opened and he looked at Harry with utmost shock before he spluttered, "and holding his hand?" his voice came out in something like a squeak as if he were afraid of the answer.

"Oh yes I did that," Harry's cheerful reply came sending his best friend of so long into a frenzy, Hermione just remained silent.

"What were you thinking?!" Ron yelled, "What in God's name were you thinking?!"

"Ron," Harry said calmly and coherently staring straight at his friend, "I am in love with Draco Malfoy."

Harry didn't see Ron before he left for Christmas which hurt slightly. Hermione had been to see him and said that he was too confused and hurt to see Harry. At first Harry had found it hard to see just why Ron was the one who was hurt but then Hermione had explained that Ron too had felt the gap growing since they had come back after the summer and the fact that Harry had never once talked about his feelings or any possibility of him being gay made Ron feel pretty low. So Harry told Hermione to tell him just how sorry Harry was but still Ron would not come. Harry was left alone without a goodbye from his best friend but on the other hand Neville had told Harry that he didn't think any different of him and Seamus had congratulated him for coming out of the closet and joked about the way Harry looked at him when Seamus was in nothing but boxers. Luna and some of the others from the old DA also gave their support and even offered a hand to Malfoy which Harry could tell touched him.

Harry had been touched too. After Ron had walked away with Hermione Ginny came to him. They had sat for a while talking about it and he assured her that he had loved her completely and whole heartedly and she knew him too well not to believe him. She went away disappointed that they would never reconcile and love each other again but happy that he had found his true love even if it was Malfoy and more importantly even if it was a Slytheryn.

"We've got the whole school to ourselves," Malfoy exclaimed the following week after all the students had left to be with their families save for a handful including Harry and Draco. Harry smiled at him and they resumed their walk. They had taken to walking together more thank they had before simply because they hardly knew a thing about the other and it was nice to get to know each other. Malfoy had take advantage of the completely deserted Slytheryn common room and set up all his potions equipment so he could practise to perfection for the NEWTS. Harry had just spent most of his time there watching Malfoy work there was nothing to say that students from other houses couldn't mingle in each other's common rooms but even so it was rare that they did. Now it was rare for Harry or Draco to be in one or the other's room either just talking or just lying beside each other. They were wondering whether to take their relationship to the next level while the school was this deserted and they had free reign of their bedrooms without worry of interruption or disturbance. But they had silently agreed that even though such an amazing opportunity had arisen they would not do anything before they were ready. They didn't know if that would be before the students returned or after but they would not regret any decision they made if they waited.

In the end it happened sooner than they thought.

"We are going to be so late!" Malfoy sighed watching Harry throw his robes on after Malfoy had only just arrived to wake him up.

"We'll be fine!" Harry said with more conviction sounding in his voice than he felt. They both sprinted from the Common Room running down to the Great Hall where Christmas dinner was waiting for them. They weren't that late, there were four empty spaces at the teacher's table where Christmas dinner was usually eaten. Harry and Malfoy slipped into the chairs opposite each other and waited patiently for a little while longer for Professor Black and her boyfriend who hadn't appeared to left the school since the Ball.

"Now that we're all here," Dumbledore said, smiling warmly at them all and winking at Harry, "Merry Christmas to you all…" a chorus of 'merry christmasses' rose from the table before Dumbledore finished with, "so tuck in and enjoy!"

The table descended into the usual chatter amongst the teachers and the four students on the end strained to listen whilst wondering whether they should venture an opinion or not. There had never been so few students left behind before: Harry, Draco and two Ravenclaws. At least they could pair off and chat to each other.

Malfoy blushed; he simply couldn't think of anything to say even though Harry and he spent their time talking now his mind seemed to go blank. Not that it mattered as Black and her boyfriend started talking to them so they were distracted from each other…that was until Malfoy's foot innocently, Harry shivered at the touch something that only Malfoy noticed. Malfoy smirked behind his forkful of turkey breast and saw the effect that he had on the younger boy.

He took advantage of the effect he was having and this time let the side of his foot caress Harry's lower leg. Malfoy was chuckling away into his meal while Harry flushed a deep shade of scarlet as a shiver went through his body as he realised that the blond was purposely teasing him. Black and her boyfriend chatted away clearly not noticing Harry's discomfort.

Harry tried to ignore Malfoy and more importantly Malfoy's foot sliding seductively up and down his inner leg. He couldn't help but let out a small yelp when Malfoy traced a line further up his leg.

"Harry?" Black asked concerned, but Harry just mumbled into his Christmas pudding save giving her a real reply. He glared at Malfoy but his eyes were not filled with hate or annoyance so Malfoy just carried on with the teasing. Before everyone else had finished Malfoy excused himself though everyone was too interested in second helpings of pudding to pay any attention to him. He winked at Harry as he left and waited in the Hall; silently he counted down the seconds until Harry joined him. He got to five before Harry walked as quickly as he possibly could without running.

"I hate you," Harry growled as Malfoy left a lingering kiss on Harry's lips but pulled away before Harry could respond.

"So what do we do now, in this big lonesome castle?" Malfoy asked, provocatively but he didn't really finish the sentence before Harry was dragging him up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Common Room which of course was conveniently…lonesome.

TBC