A Little Tied Up - Part 8/?
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Disclaimer: The characters totally belong to JK Rowling; I don't make any profit from this.
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Adult content
Word count: around 3300 for this chapter
Summary: Our boys are still trying to keep their relationship secret, but have to face each other on the quidditch pitch.
A/N: This hasn't been betaed as I had itchy posting fingers. Any mistakes are all mine, I hope there won't be many. Do LMK if you spot any howlers.
The next few days passed fairly uneventfully. The boys managed to meet up a few times over the weekend, but didn't risk another full night together.
The invisibility cloak was making Draco's life much easier. Blaise was livid at having been immobilised so humiliatingly on Friday night and was still watching Draco like a hawk. Draco just smiled sweetly at him and ignored his glares. When he was due to meet Harry, he simply donned the invisibility cloak somewhere private and slipped quietly away, leaving Blaise frustrated and bewildered, searching the Slytherin dungeon fruitlessly for his elusive housemate.
Draco was slowly coming to terms with the shocking realisation that he was in love – properly, inescapably, ridiculously in love. Once he'd got over his initial embarrassment at these unfamiliar Hufflepuffy feelings, the knowledge had settled in his chest like something warm and comforting. He wasn't quite ready to share his epiphany with Harry, and Harry had never actually expressed how he felt about Draco in words. But the Slytherin was quietly confident that his feelings were reciprocated. Harry was an open book and his emotions were usually plainly visible in his vivid green eyes. Draco smiled, picturing the expressions that flitted across Harry's face when they made love. Yes – he was pretty sure that Harry felt the same.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning Draco was fidgeting restlessly in his bed, unable to sleep properly. Every time he dozed off he would dream of messy dark hair and warm golden skin and wake with an uncomfortable erection. Finally he gave into his relentless Harry craving and stealthily slipped out of his bed. It was a warm night so he just pulled the invisibility cloak over his low slung pyjama trousers and tiptoed barefoot out of the dormitory, pausing to silently close and lock the curtains of his bed behind him.
He slid through the night time corridors like one of the Hogwarts ghosts. The cloak whispered as it trailed behind him, stirring the air as he passed. When he reached the portrait hole of Gryffindor Tower, he popped his head and shoulders out from the cover of the cloak and muttered the password. He had heard Harry use it earlier that night, when he'd walked him back under the cloak after curfew.
"But you're not even a Gryffindor!" the fat lady hissed in outrage as the portrait slid aside to allow him entry.
"Shhh!" Draco put a finger over his lips. "He'll be pleased to see me, don't worry."
"I expect so," she sniffed disapprovingly, "are you actually wearing any clothes under that cloak?"
"That's for me to know, and him to find out," Draco grinned at her, his teeth gleaming in the dim light, "and is not really any of your business."
"You're so mean... denying me my vicarious pleasures," she sighed. He chuckled and slipped through the hole and disappeared into the darkness of the common room.
Draco cast a silencing charm on the door to Harry's dormitory, to prevent any sound as he opened and closed it. He risked casting a dim lumos and tiptoed through the room, peeping through curtains until he found Harry, curled on his side with one hand cupped under his cheek. Draco smiled to himself and wasted no time. He carefully let the cloak fall from his bare shoulders and slipped into the bed behind Harry, without waking him. He flicked his wand at the curtains around the bed ensuring that they were closed, locked and that no sound would escape. Once he was satisfied with his precautions he moved up behind Harry and pulled him close.
Draco was pleased to find that Harry was only wearing boxers in bed. His back was warm against Draco's cool skin as Harry murmured and shifted in his sleep. The Slytherin began to stroke him gently, tracing careful patterns with his fingertips as they slid over Harry's shoulders and down to the curve of his hip. He felt his erection swell and press against Harry's arse and grinned in satisfaction when he reached and curled his fingers over Harry's cock and felt it growing under his hand. Harry sighed and stirred, turning onto his back then reached to tangle a hand in Draco's hair.
"Draco?" his voice was confused and husky with sleep, "are you really here?"
"Mmm," Draco hummed in response and captured Harry's lips with his own in the darkness, "really me... really here."
Harry sighed and his lips parted. They kissed lazily, tongues touching and exploring gently and hands pulling each other closer. He spoke against Draco's lips,
"I thought I was just dreaming again."
"I missed you," Draco whispered, "couldn't stay away."
He rolled on top of Harry and kissed him again, hot and hungry, their hard pricks pressing together. Draco pulled his lips away from Harry's soft mouth and nipped down his jaw to nibble and suck hard on Harry's neck until he moaned, then clapped and hand over his mouth.
"It's OK," Draco muttered licking the bite on Harry's neck, "silencing charm... you can make as much noise as you want," he lapped at the pulse point below his tongue, feeling the insistent throb beneath the delicate skin.
Harry chuckled, "probably very wise," he bucked his hips up and ground their erections together making them both gasp.
Draco claimed his lips again and they lost themselves in the hot slide of tongues and stroking hands on sensitive skin. Their movements became gradually more urgent until they were pushing their cocks together in a desperate rhythm. Impatient hands pushed fabric down and away to tangle around legs. At the first searing touch of Harry's hot shaft against his own achingly sensitive flesh, Draco whimpered, his balls tightening. Harry reached between them and took both of their cocks in his hand, circling his strong fingers around them. His other hand clutched Draco's hip, fingers digging in as they thrust against each other, slippery and throbbing with need.
"Fuck Draco... so close," Harry hissed, his breath grazing Draco's cheekbone.
Harry tightened his grip and swept his thumb over the wet tips of their cocks. He let out a strangled cry and his hips bucked up. The sensation of Harry's hot spurts tore Draco's own orgasm from him without warning. He tensed and shuddered, gasping Harry's name as his cock pulsed, adding to the slickness between them. He collapsed on top of Harry and panted into his neck, until Harry shifted to reach for his wand.
"Better sort this mess out or we'll be glued together."
"I can think of worse problems," Draco grinned, but rolled to lie beside Harry and braced himself for the cool whisper of the cleaning charm.
They finally kicked off the boxers and pyjamas that were still caught round their knees; then lay together in companionable silence for a while, Draco idly running his fingertips over Harry's chest, while Harry carded his fingers through Draco's silvery hair.
"We have to play quidditch against each other on Saturday," Harry broke the silence. "That's going to be weird."
"I guess..."
Draco frowned, he hadn't really thought about it but realised that Harry might be right. The fierce rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin on the quidditch pitch was undeniable. He and Harry would need to play their parts well to avoid arousing suspicion. It was unfortunate that as they both played seeker, they would be pitched against each other in the forthcoming match.
"It's going to be hard to fly against you and look as if I mean business," Harry said quite seriously.
"When all I'll be able to think about is how much I want to fuck you into the quidditch pitch."
Draco chuckled into the darkness. "I see the problem, but I'm sure your competitive urge will help you get over it."
"Maybe," Harry sounded unsure. "We'll see."
"I'd better get back," Draco said reluctantly. "It'll be morning soon."
"I wish you could stay," Harry's arms tightened around him. "I hate all the sneaking around."
Draco gave Harry a soft kiss, "me too," he sighed as he reached for his clothes. "I'll see you later."
Draco pulled the cloak over his head with a rueful wave as Harry watched him go. When he got back to his cold bed in the Slytherin dungeon he hugged his pillow and lay awake, missing Harry. As the dawn came, he finally drifted back into a restless sleep.
XOXOXOX
Saturday dawned fine and warm with clear skies. The conditions were perfect for quidditch. Harry was relieved it was clear – flying in the rain was awful when you wore glasses. He couldn't shake the anxious knot in his stomach at the thought of playing against Draco though. He tried and failed to concentrate on his homework during the morning, unable to be distracted from his worries.
He sighed and pushed his lunch around his plate, uneaten. Everyone was used to the fierce competition and rivalry between the two houses. Although Harry still wanted to win the match – he was a Gryffindor after all – he feared that he wouldn't be able to keep up the act fool his team mates.
He cast his eyes over to the Slytherin table, Draco's fair head was easy to spot but he didn't look up. Harry's brow furrowed and as he pulled his eyes back to the Gryffindor table he saw that Hermione was watching him. She gave him a small smile, but said nothing.
Back in the privacy of his curtained bed after lunch, Harry scrawled a quick message on his slate.
I have a bad feeling about this.
He didn't have to wait long for a reply in Draco's slanted writing.
It'll be fine, stop worrying.
Harry frowned again and wrote: I wish I could. I just want it to be over
Me too, came the reply, just insult me a lot and I'll meet you for hot make-up sex in the ROR later xx
Harry grinned despite his misgivings and stashed the slate in his bedside drawer as he started to pull on his quidditch gear.
The first half passed quickly. The teams were well matched and both sides played with characteristic determination. The Gryffindors were more obviously aggressive, attempting to dominate the game, while the Slytherins managed to block and frustrate them in their efforts.
Harry tried to stay out of the action and circled the pitch warily, keeping a watch for the snitch while trying to avoid any contact with Draco. The Slytherin wasn't making it easy, flying close to Harry and getting in his way as much as possible.
"For fuck's sake Harry," he hissed as he flew alongside, jostling him. "Will you at least try and look convincing? You're not behaving normally at all. You're usually all over me, and I don't mean that in a sexual way."
"Sorry," Harry half-heartedly shouldered him back and pretended to glare. "It's just hard, OK"
"It will be later," Draco grinned wickedly and broke into a swooping dive, leaving Harry blushing and trying to ignore the tightness in his breeches. Not fucking helping at all.
At half time the scores were very close. The snitch had remained elusive but both teams had scored several goals. Slytherin were leading with ninety points to the Gryffindors' seventy.
Harry slumped on a seat at the side of the pitch. He was hot, thirsty, and tired of pretending to hate Draco. He put his head in his hands and tugged at his hair.
"Bit slow for you in the first half eh? I expect the snitch will show up soon," Ron nudged him sympathetically. "And don't let that poncy git get to you. He always tries to wind you up, don't give him the satisfaction."
Harry sighed. If only you knew. "Yeah," he muttered. "I'll do my best."
It was a relief to get back in the air. The Gryffindors were playing with new ferocity, painfully aware that they were twenty points down. Coote and Peakes, the burly beaters were slugging the bludgers at the Slytherin players with impunity. The chasers kept making the most of the distraction and going for the hoops, only to be bested by the skilful Slytherin keeper.
Harry realised that the Slytherin team had the edge today, and that it was going to be up to him to save the match when the snitch finally showed. Draco was still buzzing around him like an angry wasp, trying to provoke Harry into a typical display of temper, but Harry found himself unable to respond with his usual aggression. He was distracted by Draco's fierce beauty as he flew, and if he was honest with himself, he was afraid of hurting him if it came to a mid-air scuffle.
He dodged Draco as he shot across his path yet again, then finally his eyes picked up a golden shimmer at the far end of the pitch near the Gryffindor goal posts. A blur of green and silver zoomed past him and he realised that Draco was already after it. Harry moved into a crouch and wheeled round in a tight arc, following hot on the Slytherin's heels.
As they approached the snitch it seemed that Harry would never be able to catch him up, Draco had it for sure. But then Harry heard the ominous rush of an approaching missile, he flattened himself onto the handle of his broom instinctively and gasped a warning to Draco but the speed and rush of air whipped the words from his lips. Harry watched helplessly as a bludger hurtled into Draco and knocked him from his broom. Harry cried out in horror as the Slytherin fell, limbs flailing helplessly as he cart wheeled down and landed in a crumpled heap on the grass far below.
Ignoring the snitch that fluttered tantalisingly close, ignoring the cries of his teammates, get it Harry, catch it... it's right there Harry. Harry turned the nose of his broom down and let gravity take him, just pulling up at the last minute to avoid crashing into the grass beside Draco.
He was the first to reach Draco's motionless form. He was sprawled on his front, head turned to the side. Harry pushed the blonde locks of hair aside and moaned as he saw the pallor of the Slytherin's cheeks.
"Draco," he said urgently. He gripped a limp hand stroked the slender fingers, desperate to feel movement but there was nothing. "Draco... please," his voice broke.
Harry was pushed aside as Madame Pomfrey and Snape arrived at the scene, but fought to stay close. He refused to release Draco's hand and twined his fingers with the pale lifeless ones of his lover. It was only when he glanced up and saw the shocked faces of his team mates surrounding him, that he realised his face was drenched with hot tears and his breath was tearing out of him in ragged sobs.
No one challenged Harry as he accompanied them to the hospital wing. Draco's still form was levitated with care by Snape, while Madame Pomfrey monitored him on the journey. Snape's black eyes met Harry's speculatively but Harry set his jaw and stared back until the dark man looked away.
In the large high-ceilinged room of the hospital wing, Harry stood by Draco's bed and watched as Madam Pomfrey worked over his unconscious body. Snape was still hovering and they had also been joined by Dumbledore. Harry bit his lip and dug his nails into the palms of his hands. Please Draco, please be OK, Merlin... please let him be alright.
"It seems that the bludger caught him here," Madam Pomfrey's voice was calm and efficient. "You see the bruise," she indicated a purple mark that was starting to bloom on Draco's forehead. "That will explain why he's still unconscious, he has quite a nasty head injury."
"And apart from that?" Snape's voice was tight, betraying his anxiety. Harry held his breath.
"Some broken ribs, and a fracture in his right wrist... easily fixed though." She made some notes on a chart. "It may be several hours before he comes round, but he will be fine." Her eyes flitted from the two men over to Harry and she smiled reassuringly at him. He sagged with relief and nodded gratefully.
"Should I inform his parents?" Snape addressed Dumbledore.
"Yes please Severus, best to let them know, but do assure them that there is no need for them to come," he paused. "Perhaps you could go and floo-call them now. Madam Pomfrey will keep us informed."
Snape nodded. He glanced over at Harry, looking at him as if he was something the cat had dragged in. He seemed about to speak, but appeared to think better of it and swept out of the room without another word.
"You can stay for a little while if you like Potter," Madame Pomfrey said. "I didn't realise you were friends," she raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Quite the opposite I always thought."
"Yeah..." Harry said weakly, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Things have changed rather a lot recently."
He glanced up and looked at Dumbledore and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. The headmaster looked at him appraisingly over top of his spectacles.
"Change is often for the better Harry," he paused for a moment then continued, his eyes twinkling with amusement, "I'm glad to see you embracing it."
Harry blushed, suddenly wondering how much Dumbledore knew. He had often suspected that the headmaster had ways of knowing rather more about what went on around Hogwarts than most people realised.
"Sometimes people can surprise you when you look beneath the layers." Dumbledore moved to look down at Draco. "I've always suspected that there is rather more to young Malfoy than meets the eye. I'm glad that you seem to be finding that out."
Harry cleared his throat awkwardly, not sure how to respond.
"I'll leave you now, Harry. I'll check back in later this evening." He turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, please let me know if there is any change in his condition in the meantime."
Madam Pomfrey nodded and Dumbledore turned to leave.
"Pull up a chair Harry," Madam Pomfrey said. "You can stay for a couple of hours but will need to go back to change before dinner."
Harry moved a chair and sat, close to the bed. He watched as Madam Pomfrey performed several healing spells, the glow and ripple of magic surrounded Draco's injured torso and arm as the broken bones knitted together. She frowned in concentration as she worked on the head injury but finally stood back, satisfied.
"That should do it," she put her wand away. "He'll be uncomfortable when he wakes but can have pain potions as soon as he comes round. That may not be until tomorrow though, but he's stable and just needs to rest and heal now." She smiled kindly at Harry. "I'll be in my office next door if you need me."
"Thanks," Harry replied.
As soon as she had gone he reached out and took Draco's hand, sighing with relief at the contact. He knew that soon he would have to go and face the fall-out from the events of the afternoon. But for now, in the quiet of the hospital wing, he allowed himself to relax. He couldn't find it in him to worry too much about how his friends were going to react. His concern for Draco simply eclipsed everything else.
He sat and absently stroked Draco's hand, smoothing the long fingers and tracing the blue veins with his fingertips. Mine. His lips curved in a smile.
End of Part 8
A/N: I hope you're still enjoying the story, please review and let me know what you think!
