'The More I Learn, the More I Learn'

Harry stared at Oliver, stunned. "What?" he managed to say after a moment.

Oliver laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "I said you're in tonight Potter."

Harry swallowed and licked his lips, his mouth suddenly dry. "A-Are you sure?" he managed to ask, his heart pounding in his chest.

Oliver smiled gently. "Of course Harry. You're ready."

Harry nodded, trying to rein in his fear. He loved quidditch, he'd played in front of loads of people before and he could do it again now.

Oliver smiled in satisfaction. "Good, I'll go let the officials know that I have to play my reserve seeker tonight and then we can warm up. Why don't you go get dressed and I'll meet you in the change room?"

Harry nodded mutely. Still feeling a little wobbly, he walked off towards the team change rooms. The rest of the team greeted him enthusiastically.

"Don't worry Potter," Warren said, coming to sit next to him, his right wrist cradled against his chest in a white sling. "You're definitely ready for this. I just hope Oliver doesn't replace me full time after he sees you play tonight."

Harry smiled, feeling slightly better at the praise coming from the veteran seeker. "Thanks Warren. Just heal as fast as you can though okay?"

Warren laughed and clapped him on the shoulder before getting up and moving off.

Harry looked up from strapping on his arm guards as Oliver walked into the room.

"Alright team," he started, looking around at all of them. "This is our first game of the season against the Kestrels and we don't want to give them the starting advantage like last year. We need to hit hard and hit early. They feed off an early lead and run with it so we need to come out strong." He stopped and turned to Harry. "As you all know, Warren is injured and Harry will be stepping in for him tonight. Harry, the Kestrel's seeker is not their best player but he is their sneakiest. He will try every trick in the book to try to distract you or cause you to go in the wrong direction. My advice is to just ignore him and trust your instincts."

Harry absorbed this with a nod. "Right."

Oliver smiled proudly as he looked around the room, his eyes lit with the same manic excitement that Harry remembered from Hogwarts. "I have a good feeling about tonight boys. Let's get out there!"

Harry stood and took a deep breath as he grasped his trusty broom. With determination, he fell into line with his team mates and walked out into the corridor towards the huge noisy arena.

. . . . .

Harry couldn't stop grinning as he made his way back to the Puddlemere change rooms, the roar of the crowd followed him and the golden snitch was still clutched tightly in one gloved hand.

"Bloody hell Potter," Oliver yelled as he threw an arm around him and pulled him into his side as they walked. "That was amazing! You were brilliant. I thought the place was going to explode when they announced your name at the start of the game and you still managed to play perfectly with all that pressure. How on earth did you manage it mate?"

Harry's grin threatened to split his face. He was walking on cloud nine, the adrenaline still coursing through him. "I don't know, I just kinda blocked everything out and just focused on the snitch."

Oliver laughed. "Well that was perfect; I thought the Kestrel's seeker was going to have a heart attack trying to break your concentration. It was fantastic!"

Harry laughed as he drew near the team's bright blue change room door.

"Harry!"

Harry turned to see Draco approaching; his official visitor's pass bouncing around his neck as he jogged towards him. The blond threw his arms around Harry and nearly swung him off his feet in an unusual display of public affection.

"You were amazing," the Slytherin said into his ear. "I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

Harry smiled and hugged him back as the rest of his team left them alone in the hallway. "I didn't know you were here," Harry said, pulling back to look at him. "I didn't have time to let you know I was playing."

"Oliver notified me straight away," Draco explained. "He thought I might not want to miss it and he was right. I was so worried about you until I saw you out there Harry. You looked so professional and the concentration on your face… wow. You were flawless love."

"Thanks," Harry replied, feeling his cheeks heat up at all the compliments. "I was so nervous, I thought about saying no but then they would have had to forfeit the game." He grinned. "I'm so glad I played, it was so exhilarating! I'd almost forgotten what it was like to play in an actual game. I think I'm hooked again."

Draco smiled at the happiness radiating out of those emerald eyes. "Go get changed and then we'll celebrate properly."

Harry gave him another quick hug before disappearing into the change room.

Draco smiled at the explosion of cheers that greeted Harry upon his return. He leaned against the wall to wait, feeling as though life couldn't get any better.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as Draco linked their hands together in the back seat of the taxi.

"A very special place for dinner," Draco replied surreptitiously.

Harry smiled and leaned back in the leather seat. He was feeling distinctly lethargic after the night's excitement and he was quite content to have a quiet dinner with Draco, just the two of them. He closed his eyes and relaxed into Draco's warm side.

Harry opened his eyes again when he felt the car come to a stop and looked around. "Where…" He suddenly spotted the familiar wrought-iron gate and tree-lined driveway.

"Welcome home Mr Potter," Draco smirked as he opened the door and pulled Harry out after him.

Harry smiled as he looked up at their new house, every window shining with a warm welcoming light. "It's officially ours?"

"Yes." Draco opened the gate with a flick of his wand and they walked up the drive hand in hand.

Draco pushed open the front door and led Harry on through to the kitchen. There on the floor was a blanket, a pile of cushions and a candle-lit dinner for two.

"Draco…" Harry said thickly, feeling emotional.

"I wasn't being romantic, I just wanted to get lucky tonight," Draco replied, but the softness in his eyes belied the flippancy of his comment.

"How did you set this up while you were at the game?" Harry asked in amazement as the two settled down on the cushions.

"I have people that cater to my every whim."

Harry chuckled. "Which is doing amazing things for your ego."

Draco laughed as he lifted the covers off of their plates, revealing the delicious looking meals steaming beneath them.

"I'm starving," Harry said as he tucked right in to the roasted chicken and warm buttery rolls.

Draco let Harry eat in silence for a few minutes before speaking again. "So how did the game feel, now that the adrenaline has lessened and you have some perspective?"

Harry looked up to meet Draco's inquisitive gaze. "Still feels amazing. I think I'm actually doing what I'm meant to do."

Draco smiled. "That's a pretty big statement."

Harry shrugged. "I used to think that I wanted to be an Auror but… I don't know. I don't think I would want to continue to fight "bad guys" for the rest of my life. I feel like I've put myself in danger enough for one lifetime."

"Hmm…" Draco nodded interestedly. "I agree, but I'm a selfish bastard so that probably comes as no surprise."

"I still like helping people," Harry said as he swirled his glass of ice water, watching the cubes clink together. "And you're not selfish, look what you've done for me."

"Purely selfish reasons," Draco dismissed. "I wanted you and I'll do anything to get what I want."

"I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't come along?" Harry pondered as he chewed on the tender garlic gnocchi.

Draco's expression darkened. "Don't even think about it Harry. I can't stand thinking about you in that place."

Harry looked at him with a tender smile. "See? Not selfish."

Draco's expression cleared a little. "No, still selfish. It makes me crazy thinking about you with other men, I want you all to myself."

"Forever?"

Draco met his gaze firmly. "Forever."

"Because of the bracelet?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco frowned. "Of course not, I used the bracelet to get you out of there." He shuffled around to sit next to Harry and touched a finger to his cheek. "I love you Harry, when are you going to believe me?"

Harry smiled, embarrassed, and placed a hand over Draco's. "I don't doubt you, I doubt myself. You're so perfect and I feel like such a mess sometimes."

"Hey I had a pretty shady past too Harry," Draco reminded him. "I'm still not perfect but I'm certainly a better human being than I used to be."

Harry looked up. "I guess we're a pretty good match then."

Draco smiled gently. "We are that Potter."

"Together we're perfect…" Harry murmured distractedly as he leaned in for a kiss.

Draco's hand slipped to the back of Harry's neck as he returned the kiss.

"Mmm…" Harry tilted his head and deepened the kiss, thoroughly tasting his lover's lips and mouth.

Draco nearly swooned at the erotic kiss, it had been so long since Harry had initiated anything, and now it felt like the brunette was trying to eat him alive through his kisses.

Harry pulled back, panting. "Let's christen this place properly, right here on the kitchen floor."

"You read my mind Potter," Draco replied breathlessly, reaching for the hem of Harry's t-shirt.

Harry grinned as Draco pulled his shirt off over his head and threw it aside. He quickly began unbuttoning Draco's shirt and pushed aside the thick silk material to reveal the Slytherin's pale chest, flickering in the candle-light.

Draco slipped his arms out of the sleeves and immediately returned to kissing his lover, arms wrapping around each other, skin to skin. Harry's skin was still silky and soft from his post game shower and Draco' s hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they wandered over the smooth muscled planes of Harry's back.

Harry moaned into the heated kiss and lay back, pulling Draco firmly down on top of him. Draco mirrored Harry's moan as his pelvis unconsciously thrust against the hardness in Harry's trousers.

"Oh god," Harry gasped out as Draco continued to thrust against him and nibble his way down Harry's throat. "I need you. Now."

Draco didn't need asking twice. He kneeled up and quickly unzipped his fly as Harry wriggled out of his jeans and boxer shorts beneath him. Draco feasted his eyes on Harry's hard and ready body a minute before leaning down to kiss him tantalizingly slowly as he used his fingers and a quick lubrication spell to prepare his lover.

Harry moaned into the teasing kiss and thrust against Draco's fingers.

Draco smirked as he withdrew his slick fingers and slowly replaced them with something a little more worthwhile. Harry groaned and arched up, eyes clenched shut. The blond had to steady himself a moment, not wanting the sight of Harry in such ecstasy to end this encounter too soon.

Harry pulled his knees into his chest and opened his eyes to watch as Draco began to drive into him with firm deep thrusts.

"Oh fuck…" Draco gasped as he threw his head back and quickened his pace, unable to stop. "Harry…"

Harry fought to keep his eyes open as he rested one ankle on Draco's sticky shoulder and grabbed onto his own cock, pumping it with fervour, wanting to finish at the same time as his lover.

"Harry…" Draco panted again and Harry knew he was already on the edge.

Harry couldn't hold back any longer and gave himself one last rough pull before ejaculating thickly all over his lower abdomen.

Draco's intense grey eyes drank in the sight of Harry orgasming before he gave one last hard thrust and came deep inside of him.

The two collapsed beside each other, panting, Draco's trousers not even all the way off.

"Wow…" Harry exclaimed breathlessly. "That was intense."

Draco swallowed. "If that's another word for quick and dirty, then yes it was."

Harry snorted and turned his head towards him. "But good?"

Draco closed his eyes with a satiated smile. "Fuck yes."

. . . .

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Draco asked again as he quickly downed his cup of coffee and grabbed his briefcase from the kitchen bench.

"For the hundredth time yes," Harry replied with a roll of his eyes. "Go, I'll see you back here for dinner."

"Don't work too hard." Draco kissed him quickly on the lips before striding to the fireplace in their new dining room and disappearing into the flames.

Harry smiled after him before turning to the collection of boxes littering the marble floor. It was finally moving day and the movers had finished delivering all of their furniture and boxes to the house yesterday afternoon. Harry now had the unenviable task of unpacking all of those cardboard boxes and finding a spot for everything.

Harry ripped the tape off of the nearest box and lifted the flaps. Inside was a collection of Draco's knick-knacks. Harry sighed, knowing that Draco would probably move everything to where he wanted it later anyway.

Harry couldn't help but smile fondly at the thought.

Harry wiped his sweaty brow with one hand as he straightened up and stretched his sore back. The entire main floor of the house plus the master bedroom was now officially unpacked and ready. Harry looked around their new bedroom with satisfaction and decided to call it a day.

He was just wondering if he should wait to shower when Draco came home or not when he heard Draco come in the front door below. Harry walked out the door and headed for the top of the spiraling staircase, a smile already on his face. He'd missed his cheeky blond Slytherin.

"You're early…." Harry's smile quickly died upon seeing Lance standing in the foyer below him. "What are you doing here? Draco will be home any minute."

Lance smiled up at him. "I don't believe he will be home for at least another two hours. You know, you should really keep your door locked Harry, anyone could come walking in."

Harry slowly came down the steps with trepidation. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to see the new house Harry. It's very beautiful, just like you."

Harry cringed inwardly. "I don't think you should be here Lance."

Lance frowned down at him as Harry came to stop in front of him. "You don't think I should be here or you don't want me here Harry?"

Harry hesitated; he'd never seen such an angry look in Lance's eyes before. "Do you want me to come to your place now?" he asked calmly.

Lance's eyes narrowed as he stepped forwards to stand directly in front of Harry, causing the brunette to tilt his head back to look up at him. "No, I think we'll stay here. I'd like a tour, starting with the master bedroom."

Harry swallowed with dread. He and Draco hadn't even slept in that room yet, he couldn't possibly go up there with Lance. "How about in the dining hall? Or perhaps the garden?" Harry suggested coyly.

Lance smiled coldly and grabbed Harry's wrist. "No, the bedroom."

Harry winced in pain before nodding and leading Lance up the stairs to the large master bedroom. Lance let go of his wrist and Harry turned to look at him, wondering what the man wanted this time.

"This should have been our home Harry love," Lance said, looking around the sunny room with calculating eyes. "Malfoy doesn't deserve such an angel," he added, his eyes returning to Harry's nervous face.

"I'm no angel," Harry replied, hoping to stall him.

Lance sneered and unzipped his trousers. "Prove it."

Harry felt as though he were crumbling to pieces on the inside, as though the happy bubble he'd been in since his quidditch debut a week ago was now breaking with a devastating pop.

Harry forced himself back into that dark place in his mind as he walked forwards towards the other man…