Chapter Eleven

Harry scrambled to his feet and held out his hand for Draco. Once they were both standing they reached for their clothes, but Mrs. Norris was standing on top of the heap of discarded clothing, hissing.

"Get off," Draco threw a kick at the cat's head, but it merely bit at his bare foot.

"It's no use. Let's just hide. Quick!" said Harry, but it was too late. Filch was in the doorway. He look from one sweaty boy to the other, then to the pile of clothing on the floor.

"What the?" Filch growled, "Come here, Mrs. Norris. You two, get dressed!" Harry and Draco put on their clothes faster than either knew was possible.

"Come with me," Filch demanded. They followed him down the steps. Harry felt so stupid. What had he been thinking? Anyone could have come in on them. On the bright side, it wasn't Ginny.

Filch seemed to be leading them to his office. When they arrived, Harry and Draco were shoved into chairs opposite the ancient desk behind which Filch sat.

"I don't want to know what you were doing," That's a first, thought Harry, "but I want you to know that if I ever find you two like ... that again, I will hang you by your ears from the ceiling. Now, GET OUT!" Harry and Draco were so relieved simply to have received a warning that they ran from the room before Filch could change his mind.

Once they were a safe distance from the door of Filch's office, they stopped to catch their breath.

"So stupid!" Gasped Draco, "That can't ever, ever happen again!"

"I thought it was great," slipped out of Harry's mouth, "I mean before..." A smile slid onto his lips. Draco looked stunned.

"All of it has to stop. What if he tells someone? Let's just pretend all of this never happened and ignore each other." Draco looked heartbroken at his own words.

"Forget it? Didn't we already say we couldn't? What about yesterday?" Harry didn't understand why everything had to be so complicated and painful.

"We could have been caught yesterday too. Honestly, the Entrance Hall? Harry, I have fucked up my life enough. I'm not letting this happen anymore. It's over."