"So," Seamus said as they walked slowly down the path leading from the school to Hogsmeade. "What are we gonna do?"

"Well, I know I need to stick around until Ginny choses the bloody dress," Dean muttered tiredly. "No offense, Ron," he added quickly, sighing.

"None taken. I hate that stupid shopping thing," the red-haired boy groaned.

"Bloody ball," Dean nodded.

"Yeah."

Harry chuckled quietly at his friends depressed faces, shaking his head lightly. The sound he made effectively turned their attention towards him.

"Now that I remember," Ron squinted his eyes at him. "you haven't invited anyone, huh?"

Harry rolled his eyes, then shrugged. "Nah."

"Well then, aren't you going to ask Romilda?"

Harry frowned. "No."

"Eh? Why not?" Seamus asked, throwing him a quizzical look. "She's hot and all over you, mate."

Harry suppressed the inner cringe at the mention of the girl. Not that he didn't think the girl was pretty, because she really was, but her attitude didn't exactly appeal to Harry – it pretty much freaked him out. For once he wanted to go to that damn ball without any drama or gossips going around him and have fun with his friends. Eat, drink, dance. That's it.

And maybe sneak out to make out with Malfoy for a bit.

"Oh, damn it," Harry muttered under his breath so that no one could hear him. He was so losing it.

He turned his head to look at his friends. "I don't know, I don't really want to, I guess."

"You're crazy," Ron shook his head at him, sighing with resignation.

"Huh," Seamus muttered, watching Harry through his squinted eyelids. "Unless you fancy someone else."

The reaction of the others was immediate. And way too loud for Harry's liking.

"Huh?!" Ron yelled, stopping in mid-step, shooting Harry a wide-eyed stare.

"Can't be!" Dean pointed his finger at him. "We would've known! Wouldn't we?!"

Harry couldn't force the blush off his face, but he managed a very irritated growl.

"I don't fancy anyone," he protested.

"Yeah, sure," Seamus barked, his throaty laugh filling the air around them.

"What's her name?"

"Is she a Gryffindor too?"

"She hot?"

"Seamus," Dean hit the other boy jokingly over his head, shaking at him with faked disapproval.

"What? We all want to know."

"Ugh, I'm telling you, I'm not into anybody, alright?" Harry hissed, clenching his fists and trying to ignore the handsome face of a certain Slytherin that for some reason appeared in his mind right at the moment.

No.

"I believe you, Harry," Neville said, shrugging gently as he sent Harry a reassuring smile.

"Thanks, Neville," Harry muttered quietly, shooting daggers at the rest of their group.

"Oi, don't get your knickers in a twist, Harry," Ron patted his arm.

"Yeah," Seamus nodded. "You keep her for yourself for now."

"For the last time, there is no 'her'."

"Alright, alright," Dean chuckled. "So you're going alone?"

This time it was Harry's turn to shrug. "Yeah."

"I'm never gonna get him," Seamus mumbled with a sigh of resignation, causing the boys to chuckle quietly.

They walked a couple of minutes longer before they reached Gladrags Wizardwear, where they were supposed to meet the girls.

Hermione and Ginny were inside, talking to a young shop assistant, their faces wearing excited expressions. They're eyes flickered with enthusiasm when they noticed the boys cluttered at the door.

"Dean, here!" Ginny waved.

With a soft sigh, the boy moved towards his girlfriend, the rest following quietly, shuffling their feet.

An hour later, the group exited the shop, carrying several bags. Both Hermione and Ginny got the dresses, while Dean and Seamus bought new dinner jackets. The girls also practically forced Harry into buying a new waistcoat which they claimed fitted him just perfectly.

Hungry and happy that the shopping was over, boys proposed going to the Three Broomsticks, to which the rest of the group gladly agreed. They made their way to the pub, crossing the small and not-so crowded streets of Hogsmeade.

They were walking past Honeydukes when Harry felt it.

Something touched his shoulder, gently but enough to make him notice.

He turned his head to the side, thinking that someone brushed him while walking by, but there was no one anywhere near him. His friends were a bit ahead of him, only Neville walking silently by his side. Harry frowned and looked over at the other Gryffindor. Was it him? It didn't seem so, as Neville looked lost in his thoughts, completely ignoring Harry's presence.

Then the sensation was back.

The light touch trailed down his spine, causing Harry to stop abruptly. He turned around.

No one.

Harry frowned again.

And then he almost choked at the idea that came to his mind.

"Draco?" he hissed quietly, looking around, trying to notice any proof that the Slytherin was actually there.

"Mmm?" the soft murmur came in reply, barely audible, from right behind him.

Harry turned immediately, eyes wide with surprise.

Of course Malfoy would use his cloak to do something stupid. Merlin, how long had he even been there?

"What the hell? What are you doing here?" Harry asked in a whisper, trying to look normal while talking to empty space around him.

Before the blond managed to answer, however, Neville finally realized that he was missing a friend. The boy turned over his shoulder and looked at Harry.

"What happened?"

"Uh, nothing," Harry replied quickly, walking up to the tall brunet. "Nothing, I just thought I saw something."

"Huh," Neville nodded as they started to walk towards the Three Broomsticks, everyone else already at the door to the bar. Right before he entered, Harry looked back, searching surroundings for any sign of the blond or at least any suspicious movements of an invisible figure.

Without really thinking about it, he held the door open for a longer moment, as if to ensure that Malfoy could come in if he wanted to. Eventually, he turned back inside and let the door close with a soft thump, making his way towards a large table in the very corner of the bar, where his friends were.

He slipped into a free seat on the couch that formed a spacious, U-shaped sitting area around the table, taking his jacket off.

"Oh, don't sit, Harry!" Seamus yelled, making the raven-haired boy jump in his spot.

"Why?" he asked, looking confused.

"Won't you go order for us?" Seamus asked, shrugging at the roll of eyes Harry gave him in reply. "What, you're sitting closest to the bar!"

"Yeah, whatever," Harry muttered, getting up again. "All drinking butterbeer?"

"Yup."

"Mhm."

"Yes, please."

"Me too. Thanks, Harry."

He nodded and made his way towards the bar, greeting Rosmerta and placing his order.

"Be right back with you, Harry," the woman said, giving him a friendly smile.

He nodded and braced his elbows on the counter, leaning his weight against it.

Then, the subtle touch was back at his shoulder, almost making him shout out in shock.

"Dammit," he huffed under his breath, hoping Malfoy could hear him. "Stop scaring me, idiot," he muttered.

Harry actually jumped when he felt a soft swat to his backside.

"Watch out, or I'll spank you against that counter, Potter," Draco said in a low murmur.

Harry ignored the heavy blush that heated his face.

"What are you doing here?"

Draco smirked under the cloak. "Not happy to see me?" Even though it was a whisper, Harry could detect the hint of amusement in his voice.

"Technically, I can't see you."

He could hear Malfoy rolling his eyes.

"I thought I could join your little horde to entertain myself for a while," the quiet voice mused.

"Entertain how exactly?" Harry asked skeptically.

Several glasses filled with the creamy drink were placed in front of him. He looked up and saw that Rosmerta was giving him a strange look.

Damn.

"You said something, Harry?"

"Uh, no," he answered sheepishly, taking as many beers as he could, then coming back for the rest and taking them to his table.

"Oi, finally," Dean cheered, his arm wrapped loosely around Ginny. "I'm so bloody thirsty."

Harry chuckled under his nose and slipped back into his seat, leaving a lot of space next to him. He didn't know if Malfoy would take the spot, until he felt a soft brush of the blond's arm against his.

"So," Seamus started, taking a sip of his butterbeer. "Harry here doesn't want to take anyone for the ball," he complained to the girls.

"Oh, not this again…" Harry groaned.

"What's the problem? Let him go alone if he wants to," Ginny shrugged, sending Harry a supportive smile.

"Two years in a row?" Seamus asked, "Come o-"

"What's wrong with that?" Harry asked, frowning at the boy.

Seamus blinked. "Well, nothing, mate. I just thought there are so many girls fawning over you that you could fina-"

"You mean Romilda?" Harry muttered.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Seamus, let go," Hermione said shaking her head at the Gryffindor.

"Yeah, she's not the kind of girl Harry would like," Ginny shrugged, taking a sip of her beer.

"And what kind of girl would Harry like, huh? Because so far it doesn't seem he's interested in them at all," Seamus muttered before he managed to bite his tongue.

Harry held his breath, taken aback by the remark. He didn't notice, but he wasn't the only one; Hermione and Ginny were shooting daggers at Seamus, while Ron stared at him wide-eyed, Dean choking on his drink. Neville sat completely frozen.

Seamus quickly realized the mistake he'd made, but before he could open his mouth to say something, he saw the features on Harry's face harden.

"What the hell, Seamus? Have any problem with me not dating?" Harry hissed, suddenly getting defensive.

"N-no, Harry, sorry, mate, I-"

"And what if I said I'm 'not interested in them at all'?" he growled, ignoring the gasp he heard coming from Neville.

Silence fell upon them heavily, stretching from seconds into a very long minute while everyone stared at Harry with confused expressions.

"What do you mean?" Seamus found the courage to ask finally, his voice much more quiet and calm.

Harry could feel his breath speeding up uncontrollably just when his hands started to shake.

What the hell am I doing?

"I don't have to explain myself to you," he snapped, pushing himself up, forgetting that Malfoy was still there. He didn't care. He needed to leave.

Thankfully, when he turned to slip out of the couch they were sharing, he found no resistance, realizing that the blond must have understood his intentions and had stood up before Harry moved.

Ignoring the worried looks on his friends' faces and the soft calling of Hermione's voice, he made his way out of the pub, not bothering to look back.

Once outside, he took a deep, shuddering breath, letting it out through his nose, his eyes closed as he tried to calm down.

He needed a place to think. To get away.

Without thinking, he let his legs carry him towards a spot near the line of the nearby forest overlooking the Shrieking Shack. He was relieved to see that no one was there at this time of the day.

He sat down under one of the trees, ignoring completely the snow that quickly melted into the fabric of his trousers, making him shiver from the cold. He leaned back, letting his head rest against the tree trunk, his eyes closed.

They opened again when he felt a soft brush against his shoulder and then the warmth that settled there.

Malfoy.

Instead of opening his mouth, Harry decided to remain silent, looking straight forward, his eyes not focused on anything in particular. He let the silence last, letting Draco know he appreciated the company by gently pushing his shoulder into his. The Slytherin didn't acknowledge the action but Harry knew he felt it and understood the meaning behind it.

They sat there in complete silence, still and quiet. Draco let Harry focus on the thoughts in his head, as both of them knew the Gryffindor had to figure out this battle of feelings on his own.

Harry didn't know how to even wrap his head around what had just happened. He hadn't been planning to burst like that, but emotions had taken control over actions; he was scared of the direction the conversation had been going to and then he'd said something that made them reach the point even faster. Harry knew he should have bit his tongue and dismiss Seamus's remarks with a shrug or a joke, but he'd suddenly felt so attacked and lost that he immediately slipped into defensive mode, in the process giving his friends a reason to suspect something anyway.

Fuck. What the hell did I do it for?

He hated the feeling that started to develop deep in his guts – the fear of facing his friends. If he came back to the castle later, would they ask him right away if he was gay? Or would they pretend they hadn't heard anything? Or maybe they didn't really figure it out, maybe…

Dammit.

He didn't even know if he was gay, so how could he go around telling his friends? After all, maybe it was just Malfoy that Harry found attractive. But he definitely couldn't say that to the others. So what was he supposed to do?

Harry sighed.

He tried to redirect his thoughts, looking around, sweeping his gaze over his surroundings.

When he finally spoke, his voice was much calmer than in the Three Broomsticks, but hoarse from not talking for so long.

"Hey, remember that time on our third year when you came here to taunt Ron and Hermione?" he asked. He was surprised when Malfoy slipped the cloak off his head, revealing his face.

Harry could see from the corner of his eye how Draco's brows furrowed as he thought about it. "Yeah," he replied, remembering the day Harry was talking about. His look, however, was still rather confused when he looked over at the Gryffindor, "but how do you know that? You wer-…"

Draco stopped short, understanding flicking in his grey eyes.

"Oh, you little shit," he breathed out. "It was you! Fuck, I knew somebody else was there!"

Harry grinned, giving him a small nod.

"You used the bloody cloak, didn't you?"

Harry's smirk widened. "Yeah."

"Dammit, Potter," the blond squinted his eyes at him, "You're so going to regret that."

With that, he pushed Harry flat onto the ground, the brunet's whole back getting wet from the cold snow. Malfoy hovered over him.

"Oh yeah?" Harry challenged, lifting his brow at the other boy.

"Yes," Malfoy responded curtly, mirroring the rise of Harry's eyebrow. "You're in for a spanking," he said keeping his voice low and dangerous.

Harry tensed for a moment, hoping that Malfoy wasn't going to conduct the spanking right there, but relaxed instantly when the blond leaned down and pressed his lips to his. Without thinking, Harry let his eyes flutter close and responded to the kiss, brushing his mouth against that of Malfoy. It was a short kiss, and soon Draco pulled back, though he still hovered over Harry, his hands gripping at the brunet's wrists.

"But for now," he said casually, freeing one of Harry's hands and reaching his arm to the side, "I'll settle for this."

Harry's frown disappeared from his face, his voice coming out in a strangled cry as Malfoy grabbed on snow and, without warning, shoved his hand down Harry's pants.

"God, no, no, no!" Harry bellowed, his eyes clenching tight, hands coming down to clutch onto Draco's ice-cold hand that touched his soft member, trying to stop him and force the hand out of his underwear. Malfoy let go, withdrawing his arm, but the snow he'd shoved there remained in its place, slowly melting into cold water, causing Harry to hiss.

"You bastard," he breathed out, his chest rising and falling in quick, shallow movements.

Malfoy smirked. "Watch out, Potter," he murmured, leaning down to Harry's ear. "That just earned you ten extra smacks."

Harry cursed under his breath.

"Gods I hate you."

Draco hummed above him. "Keep telling yourself that."

He leaned down a bit, bumping their lips together, letting Harry enjoy the kiss for a longer moment before pulling back.

"Dammit. I'm cold," Harry muttered, shifting uncomfortably on the snow.

Draco raised a brow at him. "Not my problem," he said with amusement.

Harry rolled his eyes at the response and pushed the blond off himself, sitting up. He reached for his wand, taking it out of a back pocket of his trousers, and cast hot-air charm on himself, sighing with relief when his clothes were finally dry.

Boy, did he love magic.

He then looked up at the Slytherin, who was still just a head floating in the air. Harry sneered at the sight but said nothing. Instead, he stood up.

"I'm heading back to the castle," he said, turning around. He managed to take two steps before he felt Malfoy's presence next to him.

"Not going back to your little friends?" the blond asked, though he kept his voice neutral, without a hint of sarcasm.

Harry frowned. "And tell them what?"

Draco didn't answer right away. He walked silently next to Harry, thinking about how to response.

"I don't know," he said eventually, the honesty of his tone surprising Harry a bit.

"Yeah, me neither."

They remained quiet for a longer moment before Draco spoke up again.

"Weaslette knows," he said quietly, shrugging his shoulders, which Harry couldn't see. And she seems fine with it. "Plus I'm convinced that Granger figured it out too, with that brains of hers."

Harry shot him an apprehensive look. "You think she knows?"

Draco shrugged again, before remembering the Gryffindor couldn't see him. "Probably."

An uneasy, sick feeling settled in the pit of Harry's stomach. He groaned with frustration, causing Malfoy to look at him.

"What's the problem, Potter?"

"What do you mean, 'what's the problem'? he asked, his voice a bit harsher. "Everyone seems to know what's going on, but I don't," he said. "Ginny said it's alright if I'm…but I don't…I don't know if…" he clenched his jaw. Why the hell did he have to have this conversation with Malfoy?

Draco grabbed Harry's arm, stopping both of them and urging the Gryffindor to turn and face him. He tugged on the cloak, once again revealing only his head.

"Do you like blokes, Potter?" he asked, his voice casual as if he was asking about Transfiguration notes.

"I don't know," Harry hissed, his hands curling into fists. "That's the problem!"

Draco observed him for a longer moment, searching his eyes for something.

And then, his face split into a smirk.

"You don't know if you're gay or if it's just me, huh?" he asked.

Blood rushed to Harry's face, but he refused to blush. He looked away, his teeth clenched.

"It's not funny, Malfoy," he said sharply, his features screwed in an angry grimace.

He turned to leave, but, once again, he was stopped by the blond, who forced him to raise his chin and look into the grey eyes. Harry let out an annoyed growl in the back of his throat at the amused twinkle in the silver orbs.

And then, before Harry could protest, he leaned in.

"You like it when I kiss you…" he murmured, brushing Harry's lips in a slow, gentle movement, hot breath ghosting over Harry's mouth, melting him down, "…when I touch you…" Draco's hands travelled down Harry's body, one snaking around his waist, while the other stroked up his side, sending shivers of pleasure through his body. "You call my name when you come…" the low voice whispered huskily straight into Harry's ear before planting a small, moist kiss on his earlobe.

"Draco, stop…"

He didn't stop.

"Do you think any girl can make you feel this way?" he asked with sincerity indicating that the question was nothing but honest.

Harry closed his eyes. His heart was thumping in time with the stroke of Malfoy's fingers on his side that had managed to slip under the hem of his shirt. His skin prickled under the touch, so warm against his trembling body.

"…no," Harry said finally. But I don't think any other man could either.

He needed to stop this.

He gathered all the willpower he possessed to reach his arm up, placing his hand on Malfoy's shoulder, trying to push him away.

"Draco, stop…"

"Do you really want me to stop?" the blond murmured against his lips.

"I know I want you to stop."

Both young wizards jumped in their spot, stumbling away from each other immediately. They turned to the source of the voice and whined in unison, Harry from fear, Draco from annoyance at the sight of a certain red-haired girl.

"G-Ginny!" Harry choked out, his eyes going wide. The girl smiled at him before turning her gaze to the Slytherin.

She squinted her eyes at him. "Hey, asshole."

To Harry's surprise, Draco didn't take out his wand to curse her; in fact, he didn't move at all. He just let a half-smirk to blossom on his face.

"Weaslette," he noted, his voice a bit annoyed and a bit amused.

Ginny rolled her eyes at the nickname before raising one of her thin eyebrows at the blond. "Where's the rest of your body?" she asked, eyeing him quizzically before settling her gaze at Harry when understanding got to her. "Seriously, Harry? You wouldn't lend me the cloak when I asked, but you gave it to him?" she pouted.

"…you wanted it to use it fo-"

"I know what I wanted to use it for, thank you very much," the girl said quickly before more information was revealed to Malfoy. She shook her head lightly and then looked at Harry, her eyes softening. "I'm so sorry for what happened back there, Harry," she said. "Seamus was acting like a total wanker." She ignored the snort that Malfoy let out at the remark.

Harry looked away, shrugging. "Doesn't matter."

"Yeah, right," Draco snorted again. Ginny sent him a sharp look, then gazed at Harry.

"We both know it's not true, Harry," she said.

Harry didn't reply. He chose to remain silent, until Ginny sighed.

"I take it that you're going back to the castle?"

"Yeah, I don't really want to talk to everyone right now."

"I know, I know. Don't worry about that, Harry." Ginny send him a warm smile. "Alright, I'm gonna head back," she said, making to turn.

"Wait, Gin."

The girl turned around and raised her eyes at him. "Huh?"

"After I left…" he said, looking away again, his hand playing nervously with his coat, "did they say anything?"

Ginny blinked and then smiled.

"Hell yeah," she said, making Harry's heart sink before she quickly reflected on her answer, "I mean, Hermione and I told Seamus off for even opening his stupid mouth."

"Oh," Harry nodded, his face flushing. Did he seriously need girls to defend him? "And…about others?"

"Well-"

"Wait, don't. I don't want to know," Harry said quickly, too afraid to what the girl would say, especially that he was very aware of Malfoy's stare on him.

"Harry…"

"No, forget it," he pressed, shaking his head lightly. "Really, it's alright."

Ginny watched him for a moment, finally giving a small nod. "Alright. I'll be going then," she said softly. Before she turned, she send Malfoy a pointed look. Then, she was gone, walking back towards the village.

Harry watched her go, before he felt a small tug at his sleeve. He lifted his gaze at the blond next to him.

"Let's go," he said. Harry nodded, starting towards the castle in an unhurried pace.