Chapter Two: Expecting Unexpectedly

Disclaimer: Mine. My Precioussssssss... *hides Gollum-like clutching stolen characters to her chest*

Not mine, anymore than Gollum really owned the One Ring. (And if you don't get the references, I must seriously question your reading choices, or at least your movie-watching ones.)

Warnings: Sex. Gay sex. Get over it. Also, this chapter mentions MPreg.

A/N: This is continued, after MUCH time off for personal reasons. The response to this story blew me away - it was far, far beyond what I was expecting. In fact, the response to this story was better than any other story I've ever written - except perhaps In The Stacks; but that's a chapter fic. Well of Erised is getting a similar response to this fic; but hasn't caught up yet. Regardless; this fic is undoubtedly one of the best I've written, and one of the most loved.

This will be an MPreg, because I love MPreg (went from being squicked by it to loving it by virtue of reading a lot of it), so I'm sorry if that bothers you. But it's my story, and I'm doing my best to make it interesting and fun. And I really, REALLY want to write an MPreg. Plus I had no other ideas for continuing it. :P

Enjoy, and don't forget to review! *loves and cuddles you all*

Harry kissed Draco, with force and intensity. Draco moaned into the kiss. He'd never kissed or been kissed by anyone like Harry before. The fact that it was Harry Potter who was kissing him was just that much hotter.

Not that Draco had a wealth of experience with kissing. He'd only ever snogged Pansy, and that had been worlds different. Pansy had been soft and pliable under his hands. Harry was firm, yielding only when necessary to further their activities.

The lone time he and Pansy had had sex, at the beginning of sixth year, it had been a traumatic experience for them both. He'd broken down and cried afterwards, telling her he was gay. Not what a girl wants to hear from her boyfriend of two years after losing their virginity together. She'd refused to speak to him afterwards, and he'd lost the only person he'd been willing to confide in about his problems.

His sixth year had subsequently been lonelier and colder than ever.

Blaise was alright; a decent friend, but neutral in the war. Funny, considering he was best friends with Theodore Nott. Vince and Greg were important to him, but much too dumb to share secrets with. Pansy had been his best friend, the one he traded barbs with, who kept him sharp. Who kept his secrets.

While they had patched their friendship up after the war, two years of not speaking had taken its toll. Part of why he had been so heavily fixated on carrying on his rivalry with Potter had been because he was so damn lonely.

Now, things would change. Potter was his.

Draco smiled against Harry's mouth as he deepened the kiss.

Harry was straddling him, his already hard cock sliding roughly against Draco's smooth stomach. Draco was hard, too, and getting harder. Harry was beautiful atop him, moaning into his mouth; he wanted to grab this moment and immobilize it, keep it forever.

Harry was rocking against him, his cock rubbing against Draco's stomach and the cleft of his arse brushing against Draco's cock.

"I want to be inside you," he whispered, and Harry's eyes darkened.

Harry lifted his hand and silently, wandlessly summoned the lube. Draco's eyes darkened at this display of power. Harry had been holding back on him. He smiled and Harry's gaze softened.

"Merlin, you're beautiful," he whispered, staring down at the blond. He swooped down and attacked Draco's mouth with his own. "So. Bloody. Gorgeous," he hissed between kisses.

Draco felt like he was flying. The intoxicating rush, the thrill, the exhilaration of it was flooding through his veins as if he'd been in the air, competing with Potter for the snitch. All of the pleasure, none of the frustration. He moaned loudly against Harry, surrendering control.

Harry broke the kiss and straightened. He took some lube from the small jar, smearing it over his fingers and reaching behind to stretch himself. He groaned as his fingers breached his hole and his eyes fluttered shut. Draco settled back and enjoyed the show, entranced by his dark-haired lover. Harry was ethereally beautiful.

"I love seeing you like this; straddling me, stretching yourself for me," he said breathlessly.

Harry removed his fingers, eyes dark and filled with lust. All for me, Draco thought with a rush. The thought was intoxicating.

He lifted himself and took Draco's cock in hand; and Draco gasped at the sensation of Harry's slick hand on him, rubbing the lube up and down his length. Harry positioned himself and lined up Draco's cock before sinking down on it.

The tightness and heat of Harry's body made him gasp. "Merlin, Harry!" he groaned out. "You're so tight. So hot. You feel so bloody good!"

Harry hissed a little at the burn. It took Draco a moment to realise Harry was speaking parseltongue, but the sound went straight to his cock and he whimpered, desperate for Harry to sink down all the way; to impale himself on Draco's throbbing erection. it was all he could do to keep still.

Harry continued to hiss in parseltongue, lowering himself slowly. He rose a little and fell, a little deeper each time. He finally came to rest with his arse against Draco's balls. His head was thrown back, his toned body outlined in the low light. The sight took Draco's breath away. It was almost too much, and the Draco squeezed his eyes shut.

"Open them," Harry commanded softly, and Draco obeyed.

He groaned as Harry rocked against him, slowly.

"Oh, Merlin, Draco," Harry moaned. "Merlin. Draco." His name fell like a prayer from Harry's lips. Harry raised his head and locked eyes with Draco. His breath hitched.

Draco was lost in a sea of green. Harry's eyes captivated and held him.

Harry began to rise and fall, and the Draco was lost.

Harry's movements started slowly, gaining speed and rigor as he went. He was making soft, breathy noises that drove Draco wild. Draco bucked his hips, and Harry cried out. He began riding Draco harder, faster, and Draco thrust upwards into the heat,

"Oh, Merlin, Harry!" he cried. He moved faster, and so did Harry. He felt a tightening in his balls and reached out to stroke Harry's cock, moving in time with their thrusts. Harry whimpered and bit his lip, his movements faltering for a moment before he continued.

"Come for me," Draco whispered, staring into Harry green, green eyes, the command in his voice unmistakable. With a shudder Harry cried out again, almost screamed, and began to shoot streams of pearly white come all over Draco's chest. There was a crackle of magic around them and a shimmering field of light enveloped them, tingling their skin and making the moment that much more intense. Harry's body spasmed around Draco, and with a final thrust, he cried out as well, emptying himself into Harry.

Harry sank against him, boneless. He wrapped his arms around Harry and shivered. Draco honestly believed it might have been the single most incredible moment of his life.

It was much later, after their heated snogging session that had evolved into another bout of shagging, that Harry and Draco reluctantly prepared to leave the Room of Requirement. They dressed silently, sneaking furtive looks at one another, Harry blushing when he was caught, Draco smirking.

Draco moved towards the door, but Harry caught his arm.

"We should probably figure out what we're going to tell people," he said, wrinkling his brow.

"What we're going to tell people?" Draco blinked at him in confusion.

"You know. So they don't freak out." Ronald Weasley figured prominently in Harry's thoughts. "We should probably think up a good cover story. Since we won't be hating on each other anymore."

It took a moment for his words to sink in. "You don't want to tell anyone," Draco said flatly. He felt like a newly caught snitch; snatched from the freedom of flight to be cruelly, mercilessly grounded.

"It isn't like that," Harry protested.

"Then tell me, Potter, what it's like. Because that is exactly what it sounds like to me." Draco glared at him.

Harry felt his temper flare but kept it in check. This… thing… between them was too new, too fragile, for them to start fighting just yet. He ground his teeth. "Listen, Draco. This thing – us – it's too new. We have no way of knowing how long it'll last. And I don't know if it's strong enough to stand up to the scrutiny of everyone finding out about it just yet."

Draco barked out a bitter laugh. "You mean you think that your friends will talk you out of it if you give them the chance."

Harry winced. Put that way, it did sound bad.

"Don't worry, Potter," Draco sneered. "I'll just save them the trouble, then, shall I? He shook his arm free and strode towards the door.

Harry`s temper won out. "Look, you insufferable prat-"

"Oh, I'm insufferable, am I?"

"Right now, yes."

"Well you needn't 'suffer' my company anymore, so don't worry." Draco seized the door handle.

"What-"

"It was nice shagging you, Potter, but I think we're quite done here." The coolness of Draco's tone was matched only by his expression.

Harry looked stricken. "But I thought- Merlin, Draco; you said you loved me!"

"Did I?" Draco smirked. "You really are too trusting for your own good, Potter. A word of advice, for next time: don't believe everything a bloke says to you in bed."

Hurt and anger flooded Harry. "You bastard!"

"My parents were married long before I was conceived, sorry," Draco tossed his head. "See you round, Potter." He pulled the door open and left, striding for the dungeons. His head was held high, and years of practice kept his expression carefully neutral.

Inside the Room of Requirement, Harry slumped down on the bed where he'd lost his virginity not two hours before, too stunned to cry.

The following four weeks were a nightmare for Harry. Draco was his usual smirking, sarcastic self; but he found himself unable to rise to the bait. The blond seemed to be going out of his way to make Harry miserable, yet Harry couldn't bring himself to retaliate.

He found himself frequently the butt of the Slytherin's jokes and pranks, often on the other end of Draco's stinging tongue. The blond ignored him whenever he wasn't humiliating or ridiculing him, and Harry honestly couldn't decide which was worse.

He was forced to admit that his feelings for Draco were deeper than he'd previously thought. He'd always known he was obsessed with Draco Malfoy, perhaps to an unhealthy degree, but now he couldn't seem to stop thinking about him. Noticing him. Watching him. On the rare occasion when Draco caught him watching, Draco narrowed his eyes and looked away.

Harry found his emotions spiraling out of control. He'd never have believed being heartbroken over Draco Malfoy could turn him into such a Hufflepuff, but then, he'd never imagined he'd be heartbroken over Draco Malfoy in the first place.

He found himself struggling with an increased need to use the washrooms, though not all of it was due to his need to find a private place to fall apart. It was as if his bladder had gotten the memo on his emotional state and had shrunk to oblige him by providing a valid excuse to hurry off and use the loo.

On top of that, he seemed to be developing a stomach bug. He was sick to his stomach with greater and greater frequency, finding many of his favourite foods turned his stomach as often as not. Smells affected him more strongly than he had ever noticed them doing so before, and his life was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

He finally allowed his friends to drag him to see Madam Pomfrey.

She gave him a thorough check up, before pronouncing him in perfect health. He was slightly puzzled.

"Then why do I feel like this?" he asked.

"Are there any symptoms you've left out?"

"Smells bug me, I get sick to my stomach all the time… I need to pee a lot. And, uhm," he paused flushing. "My nipples hurt. My shirt chafes." He rubbed the offending body parts absently with the heel of his hand as he spoke. It didn't exactly help; the increased pressure just made the chaffing less noticeable for a little while after he did it. He'd actually stopped noticing how often he made the gesture; it had simply become habit.

"He's also quite emotional," put in Hermione slowly. She was beginning to get "the look", which usually signified she was getting an idea. "Madam Pomfrey, may I make a suggestion? When you checked Harry for illnesses, did it occur to you to check for any… conditions?"

Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened. "But that would take-"

"A very powerful wizard," Hermione nodded. "And who more powerful than the defeater of Voldemort?"

Harry began to protest, but Madam Pomfrey whitened. "You're right," she whispered. "I just never thought…" She turned back to Harry and began a few, swift wand movements and muttered incantations. A moment later, his abdomen glowed pink.

Harry squeaked in surprise, Ron burst out laughing, and Hermione and Madam Pomfrey both gasped.

"Mate, your face!" guffawed Ron. "It's priceless!"

"Ronald!" snapped Hermione, and he sobered quickly.

Madam Pomfrey recovered her composure. "Well, Mr. Potter, it appears congratulations are in order."

Harry shot her a quizzical look. "Because I glowed pink?" He grinned cheekily.

"Because, Mr. Potter," she said soberly. "You're going to be a father."

It took a moment for her words to sink in. When they did, he laughed. He was surprised that Ron didn't join him, and turned to his best friend, expecting to see amusement, not horror, on his face.

He glanced between the three of them, trying to work out why they were all looking at him… like that.

"That's impossible," he stated flatly. "I've never slept with a girl; any girl who shows up here saying different is lying."

"I didn't say anything about a girl being involved, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said, but her eyes softened as she looked at him. "You're the one pregnant."

Harry blinked. Then he laughed again. He couldn't help it. It was ridiculous. Men couldn't get pregnant. The very idea was preposterous. And so is the idea of flying on broomsticks, or people transfiguring into animals, but that happens in the wizarding world all the time, his subconscious reminded him. He told it to be still and shook his head. "That's absurd." He looked beseechingly at Ron. "C'mon, mate; quit having me on."

"You're a poof?" managed Ron weakly. Harry blinked again, then flushed. Hermione elbowed Ron, but he continued. "Why didn't you tell me, mate?"

"I only just figured it out not long ago, and I wasn't sure how you'd react," replied Harry truthfully, if a trifle awkwardly. The whole day was beginning to feel a little surreal to him.

"You'll need to see me once every two weeks for a check-up, Mr. Potter. Male pregnancies are unusual, and you'll be more susceptible than a woman would be to complications," Madam Pomfrey continued as though he'd simply accepted her pronouncement.

"Wait," he held up a hand. "Men can't get pregnant. It's impossible."

"Not for very magically powerful wizards, Harry," said Hermione softly. He turned to look at her in surprise. "I've researched it, as I found the subject fascinating once I uncovered it. Male pregnancy is impossible in the muggle world, or for ordinary wizards. Only very powerful wizards can get pregnant."

Harry's head spun. "But I'm not-"

"Harry." Hermione's tone was exasperated. "You're pregnant. You're powerful. Get over it."

Harry laughed again; he couldn't help it. "Merlin," he said softly. "Pregnant. Why can't I just be normal, for once?"

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said. "I'm afraid nothing about you will ever be normal."

"No," said Harry bitterly. "That's become glaringly obvious."

"Since male pregnancies are so rare," put in Madam Pomfrey in a comforting tone. "You might want to bring the other father in to see me, before you tell him. He might not know about them, and it would make it less awkward to explain if I were the one to do it."

Less awkward. Another way of saying, 'he might not believe you otherwise', Harry thought. He thought of Draco and a pang shot through him.

"Don't worry about it," he said blandly. "It won't be necessary."

"Harry," began Hermione. "You don't know if he'll be as skeptical about male pregnancy as you were or not. It's a good idea to have Madam Pomfrey there, at least, to explain."

"There's nothing to explain," replied Harry. "I'm not telling him."

"What do you-"

"It was a one-off, Hermione. He doesn't," Harry swallowed. "He doesn't want anything to do with me now. It was just a lark to him." He tried to keep the misery out of his tone, but from the look on his friends' faces, he hadn't succeeded. His eyes were suddenly full of tears and he blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.

"Oh, Harry," said Hermione, putting her arms around him. He wiped at his eyes.

"Merlin, look at me; I'm like a bloody girl. I really am pregnant." He tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob. Hermione's arms tightened around him.

"Who is it, mate?" Ron looked murderous. "Who do I kill?"

Harry tried to imagine telling Ron that the other father was Draco, and shuddered. He did not need his best friend going to Azkaban. Whether for killing him or for killing Draco was the only question.

"No one," Harry replied. "As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't exist."

"Harry," Hermione spoke hesitantly. "He might want to know, though. He might want to be involved in the baby's life. It's not your place to deny him that."

"No." Harry was very firm on this. "He doesn't get a say."

"But Harry, he's going to find out, anyway. All of Hogwarts will."

"No. Because you're not going to say anything, and school robes can hide a lot."

"Err, hate to break this to you, Harry, but the other boys in the dorm are gonna notice, mate," Ron put in.

Harry nodded. "But they won't say anything, either. There's no reason for the whole world to know my business."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a look. "But Harry," Hermione began.

"No buts, Hermione. If you're my friends, you guys won't say anything. To anyone."

"The headmistress will need to be informed," Madam Pomfrey put in, frowning.

"She won't say anything, either," Harry was confident. "She'll respect my privacy."

"Well, you know I'm with ya, mate. Good riddance to the tosser." Ron sounded disgusted. "Ditching my best friend; can't be anyone fit to be a parent, anyway."

Hermione shot him a disapproving glare, but he ignored it, and Harry smiled at him. "Thanks, Ron. You're a true friend." He gave Hermione a pointed look, and she let out an exasperated sigh.

"Alright, Harry. But I think you should at least give whoever it is a chance. You don't know-"

"But I do," put in Harry. "And it's my baby."

Hermione still looked troubled, but she nodded. "I just hope you know what you're doing, Harry."

Harry smiled. That makes two of us.

"What's the matter, Potty; hit your head one too many times? Oh wait; I forgot – that happened at your birth," Draco sneered as he noticed Harry and his friends leaving the infirmary.

Weasel looked mutinous, and even Granger looked like she wanted to hex him. But Harry just looked tired.

"Malfoy, I don't have time for your shit today," he said without looking at Draco. "Just get it out of your system and move on." He walked on without glancing at Draco even once.

Draco frowned. Normally Potter couldn't take his eyes off of the Slytherin; and that suited Draco just fine. What he didn't like was the way Harry dismissed him, as if he were nothing.

His frown deepened into a scowl.

"What's wrong, Potter; not capable of witty repartee right now? Oh wait - you never have been one for wit except by halves."

Potter ignored him and continued on his way. Draco didn't like that. He didn't like that one bit.

Ginny slid into her usual spot beside Harry at the table during lunchtime - or tried to. Ron and Hermione were guarding him like a phalanx, stationed on either side of him, without budging. Ginny wrinkled her nose.

"Don't tell me you two are fighting," she said, exasperated.

"No, Gin, I just got some... shocking news from Madam Pomfrey. They're feeling protective." Harry sighed. He cast a privacy ward and motioned for her to sit. After a moment's thought, he widened the ward to include Seamus, Dean, Neville, and Luna, who had chosen to sit with them.

"Listen up, guys; I may as well tell you all at once, since you'll find out eventually. But I need you all to swear you won't tell anyone, first."

At their nods of assent he continued. "I'm pregnant."

There was a stunned silence, before Dean and Seamus burst out laughing. "Right, mate; you had us worried there for a minute," Dean chuckled.

Harry shook his head. "I'm not joking."

"But that's impossible," Seamus protested.

"So is flying around on a broomstick after magically charmed balls. So is transfiguring a leaf into a sofa. So is a professor who transfigures into a cat."

Dean and Seamus paled.

"Men can get pregnant," Seamus said, weakly. "You're serious."

"Trust me; I wouldn't joke about this. It's not funny." Harry stared at his plate, feeling vaguely ill.

"I didn't even know you were gay, Harry, but congratulations!" Luna smiled warmly at him. As usual, she took everything in stride.

"Wait; Harry's gay?" Dean's jaw dropped.

"Of course," said Luna. "He couldn't have gotten pregnant otherwise. Unless he's bisexual, but I don't think he is."

"No," Harry's cheeks flamed. "I'm gay."

"Gay," repeated Dean faintly.

"Why do you think he and I never got back together?" Ginny asked, amused.

"You knew? Ron sputtered.

"Of course." Ginny grinned. "How else do you think he got me to back off?" Her eyes narrowed. "Last I knew, though, you were a virgin, Harry. So spill; who's the other Daddy?"

"No one," Harry answered, still staring at his plate, stirring the contents around disinterestedly with his fork. "It was a one-off four weeks ago, and he wants nothing more to do with me."

He looked up, and his eyes met Ginny's, whose own eyes rounded in horror. "Oh, Harry," she breathed.

The others commiserated with him, but he could feel Ginny's eyes on him, demanding an explanation. He resigned himself to giving it later. It would be nice to have at least one friend who knew about Malfoy.

"So, Harry's gay." Dean couldn't seem to get over that.

"Yes, Dean," Seamus snapped, suddenly. "Gayer than a unicorn dancing over a rainbow to Madonna while wearing pink sequins and backlit by strobe lights under a disco ball!"

Hermione and Harry both snorted with laughter. The purebloods at the table just looked at Seamus' flushed face with blank expressions.

Seamus huffed and stared moodily at his plate.

Dean cleared his throat. "I'm sorry; I just… I've never met anyone who was, before." He bit his lip. "So how did you know you were gay?"

Harry raised a brow. The question itself wasn't unusual, but something in Dean's manner, and his eyes, gave Harry pause. He wondered if there were more to his friend's question than simple curiousity.

"How did you know you were straight, Dean?" Seamus asked sarcastically, and Dean's face turned as red as the trim on his scarf.

"I didn't- that wasn't-"

"He's fine, Seamus," said Harry. He wondered about Seamus' vehemence, and if there was something the Irish boy was hiding.

"So, Harry - pregnant. How'd that happen?" Neville looked at him with undisguised curiousity.

"Oh, that's very simple, Neville," answered Luna serenely. "Harry let another boy put his-"

"Not that!" squeaked Neville. "I didn't mean that!"

Harry chuckled, grateful that he'd chosen to tell Luna as well.

"I meant," Neville was still blushing to the roots of his hair. "That I've never heard of a man getting pregnant before."

Harry explained what Madam Pomfrey had told them.

"Apparently," he finished awkwardly. "I'm an, erhm, a very powerful wizard." He blushed. There was just no modest way to say that, he thought.

A shadow fell over his plate and he looked up, only to see Headmistress McGonagall standing there, looking severe. Then again, Harry thought wryly, when didn't she look severe. He cancelled the privacy spell.

"Yes, profess- headmistress?" he asked.

"I'll need to see you in my office, Mr. Potter, once you're finished here."

Harry stood. The smells were getting to him, anyway. "Of course."

She turned and marched away; Harry followed. He failed to notice a pair of grey eyes that watched as he left the room, trailing in the headmistress' wake.

"I understand you're in a unique situation here, Mr. Potter." McGonagall fixed her gaze on Harry, and he flinched.

'Erhm, yeah," he mumbled articulately.

"Mr. Potter, I must insist on knowing the name of the other parent. When something involves my students…"

"Who said it was a student, Headmistress?" interrupted Harry. "It could have been someone I met in Hogsmeade."

McGonagall looked taken aback for a moment, but recovered. "Could have been, yes. But I don't think it was, was it, Mr. Potter. You wouldn't be

"I'm not telling you unless you swear an oath not to tell him," replied Harry calmly. "I don't need the hassle and he doesn't want it either. It would only make both of us more miserable."

McGonagall pursed her lips, then extended her hand. "Very well, Mr. Potter. I give you my oath."

Harry was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to go so far. He hesitated, then spoke in a low, defeated voice. "It's Draco Malfoy, Ma'am."

Shock was not an expression the headmistress wore often.

"Mr. Malfoy?" she repeated.

"Yes. He's the only one I've... There's no one else."

There was an awkward silence.

"What do you intend to do about school?"

"My dorm mates already know. School robes are loose enough that I should be able to hide from the rest of the school. I'll be graduating before the baby's due." Harry shrugged. "Seems like there's no problem, that I can see."

McGonagall's face softened. "And after school?" she asked quietly.

"Well, I'm independently wealthy," Harry said. "Shouldn't be too hard to provide for the baby. And I own Grimmauld Place, so we have somewhere to live."

McGonagall's expression saddened. "I don't like the idea of you doing this on your own, Harry."

Harry started. It was the first time he ever remembered her calling him by his given name.

"I won't be alone. I'll have the Weasleys, and my friends." He lifted his chin and met her eyes. "It'll be enough." He wasn't sure who he wanted to convince by saying that, but he refused to listen to the small part of him that screamed for Draco to be with him, to go through this by his side. The blond had made his choice. The Draco he'd glimpsed in the room was merely a facade. The person who'd captured his heart wasn't real. He needed to remember that.

It would be enough that he had his friends. It had to be.

Ginny ambushed him as he left McGonagall's office. She was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and pounced on him as soon as he left. He pulled back from her in surprise.

"Don't you have class?"

"Sod class," she said, stamping her foot. "I want to know why four weeks ago you met with Malfoy in the Room of Requirement for a duel, and now you're pregnant! Please tell me it's not what I think it is!"

"Gin!" he hissed, looking around to make sure the corridors were empty. He pulled her into a nearby alcove. "I don't want this getting out! You know that! You can't just announce it in the halls!"

She rolled her eyes. "There's no one around, Harry. Now," her eyes narrowed. "Please tell me that it's not what it sounds like!"

"I didn't mean for it to happen," he answered softly. "He - Draco - was different. He was so... Tender. Caring. I'd never seen him that way."

"But he's not-"

"I know." Harry let out a defeated sigh. "But he sure fooled me."

Ginny looked at him sadly. "Oh, Harry." She put her arms around him. "You went and fell for him, didn't you?"

"I think I always cared more for him than I should have," said Harry with a bitter laugh. "Think sixth year, Gin."

She winced. "I can see that." She held him tight. "He's been especially awful to you lately, hasn't he?"

Harry laughed again; a sharp barking sound. He wondered vaguely if he would ever laugh without bitterness again.

"He's being himself." Harry shrugged. "What else do you expect?"

Ginny shook her head, then laid it on Harry's shoulder. "I'm here for you, Harry. Always. You know that, right?"

Harry swallowed around the lump in his throat and nodded. "Thanks, Gin."

He closed his eyes and leaned his cheek against her head. They stood in companionable silence, holding one another for a while.

"Well isn't this a touching picture," a familiar voice sneered. "Skiving off class to snog your girlfriend, Potter?"

They broke apart abruptly. Shame rose within Harry as he fought the desire to assure Draco that It wasn't what it looked like; reminding himself that Draco didn't care, that he didn't owe the Slytherin anything, least of all an explanation.

A tired, "Go away, Malfoy," was all he managed before Ginny whipped out her wand and hexed the blond. Draco shrieked as bats came flying out of his nostrils. Calmly, Ginny hexed him twice more before pocketing her wand. She grabbed Harry's hand and tugged, while he gaped at Draco.

"Come on, Harry," she said coolly. "Let's go somewhere where the air isn't so foul." She led him away, and he burst out laughing at the expression of outrage on Draco's face.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" he demanded. She smirked.

"Not often enough, Potter."

He laughed and swatted her, even as a pang ran through him at the similarity to another person calling him by his last name.