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Harry didn't know what to think when he woke up the next morning-not that he really could with his throbbing headache. He blinked his eyes once, then twice to refocus on the blank ceiling above him, and noticed from the little amount of light spilling into this room that it was early in the morning. He pushed the covers off of him and sat up, quickly making him regret the sudden action as the pain in his head seemed to almost double at once.

Harry groaned. What the hell had happened last night to make him suffer such pain like this? He wondered. The last day's events beginning with his and Ron's conversation in the morning began to replay in his head. He remembered being alone afterwards with Malfoy during breakfast, and then he remembered answering questions while strolling along the beach. The two had noticed a bar, he recalled. They had walked inside…Malfoy began teasing him, which wasn't new at all…they had ordered a few drinks…danced…and….

He froze.

No.

They didn't.

They couldn't.

Harry's breathing increased rapidly.

Had Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, actually kissed Draco Malfoy!

Draco opened his eyes slowly. Bright light stretched throughout his room, and the blonde winced as it hit him directly in the face.

Bugger, he thought. He would definitely have to rearrange this room, or order very dark curtains. Either way, he hated to have to be woken up so rudely this way. He'd rather have a very handsome brunette sucking and licking his raging morning hard on, looking up at him with those lust filled emerald eyes…

Draco groaned.

Stupid, bloody Potter. Who gave him permission to make this cold, stoic Malfoy act like some crushing little school girl?

Not that he really was, mind you…

The blonde huffed under his breath and climbed out of bed. He needed a cold shower if he was going to get rid of his morning wood, and thoughts of Harry. Thinking of the bashful brunette reminded him of last night's events, and Draco grinned a soft smile. He knew that the shy Gryffindor had had it in him, but he never thought that such wonderful, protective attention would ever be directed towards him. When that burly red headed man had been groping him, Draco had been sure that Harry would feel upset or insecure and just leave him there. However, that had not been the case at all. Green fire had ignited wildly in those eyes, and Draco was sure that he himself had turned so hard that he could've hammered nails. He was even surer that he would definitely be buggered into the floor when they had returned home.

But, Draco thought sadly, Harry had abandoned him instead. He hadn't been drunk enough and had realized exactly what he was doing. Kissing Draco Malfoy, son of a Death Eater and archrival in school, wasn't likely to be found on the top of Golden Boy's To-Do list. He should have expected this, but the booze as well as his stupid feelings had gotten in the way. If anyone was to blame for last night's events, it was him. Harry had figured that out and was probably doing so right now-blaming all of his sorrows on the blonde son of a Death Eater.

Draco sighed as he stepped outside of his bedroom and walked down the hall into the bathroom.

Man, he had really fucked up.

When Harry Potter was upset he did one of three things—sulk and stay in his room, get angry and start yelling, or clean obsessively. He rarely ever cleaned, but that's exactly what he had been doing for a while now. While his bedroom and all of the bathrooms were now spotless, he had gone downstairs to the living area. Once he had finished that room, he had cleaned the downstairs bathroom, the dining room, and the kitchen. All this had taken two hours, and it was still early in the morning. He only had the back porch to sweep and the windows left be cleaned, which he was currently finishing up now. Everyone was still asleep, leaving him to roam free around the house. Not even Ron had been in their bedroom, and Harry assumed that he was with Zabini in his bedroom.

Harry cringed at the thought of only him and Malfoy being the only single gay men in the house. Under different circumstances and if not for the fact of who they were exactly, it would've been perfect to hook up with each other

He sighed. Even after school, his life had somehow turned complicated beyond all reason.

"Harry?"

Harry glanced to the side to see Hermione standing near the door way, wearing shorts and a blue camisole. She looked like she had just woken up, which she probably had judging by her loosely placed up bun.

"Yes, 'Mione?"

The girl walked closer to him, her eyes narrowing as she took in his sullen, haggard appearance. "What's wrong?" Straight to the point, that Gryffindor. "You look like you've just woken up from a terrible nightmare. Did something happen?"

Harry paused, not wanting to tell her anything about what had happened last night and yet yearning to do exactly that. But he knew that he couldn't tell her. She didn't even know that he was gay. He sighed. "It's nothing, Herms. Don't worry about it." He turned away from her and continued cleaning the windows.

Hermione, though, being the stubborn Gryffindor she was, glared at him. "Judging by that sigh you just just gave, Harry, I know that it's not nothing. Now, are you going to tell me what happened or are am I going to have to force it out of you?"

Despite the fact that she was much shorter than him and not as powerful when it came to dueling, she knew that Harry would give in like a hurt little puppy in need of care. She knew that he knew that too. And he knew that she knew that he knew that too. So it was to neither of their surprise when Harry walked over to her, slumped against the wall of the house in defeat, and poured out the last day's events to her.

The bathroom was very, very clean, Draco noted as he took his cold shower. It almost seemed as if someone had cleaned it from top to bottom just that morning. But of course that was impossible.

Who would do that this early in the day?

Once he was finished and had dressed in his room, he went downstairs. He almost regretted doing that when he realized who exactly would be down there cooking breakfast, but there was no sign of a messy mop of black hair, or anyone else for that matter. Deeming the kitchen safe and empty, Draco pulled open the refrigerator door and peeked inside. Immediately he was assaulted with the rich smell of cheese, ham, various fruits and vegetables, and pudding.

He inhaled each scent deeply before breathing a deep sigh. Such a simple act of smelling various foods, but to Draco it was like breathing in life. It reminded him of the kitchens at Hogwarts, which made him recall all of his years spent there. It felt like such a time ago when he and Harry stood and faced each other in the halls, angry sneers etched into each of their faces. To Draco it had always been an act. Every glare and snicker towards the brunette has been about as real as Draco's loyalty for the Dark Lord, and he knew that his feelings were carefully hidden as such. He played his part in the war, as a loyal son and as the Ice Prince of Slytherin. He did his duty, as was expected of him-just as it was expected of Harry to defeat the Dark Lord and to go on with his life merrily and gay. Draco snickered at the little pun, breaking himself out of his little reverie as he continued his critical search for food.

Hopefully, he pondered while gazing upon a small bowl of fruit, Harry would soon forget the past and remember Draco for who he was now. He had changed, the brunette had to admit that. Their talk last night proved such. Draco was no longer a sniveling little Slytherin, or a wannabe, stuck up Death Eater (not that he had ever really been). Harry must have realized that.

Then why did he run away from you?

Well, obviously the brunette hadn't changed all that much from being the virtuous Gryffindor he always was. It would just take time, Draco knew. Getting him drunk hadn't been the answer. Oh no, that had proved to be the wrong tactic towards his little Gryffindor. No, he would have to take things extra slow for Harry, which wasn't all that upsetting. Not really. Not when Draco knew that the outcome would be entirely worth it. All he had to do now was just prove himself changed for the better to Harry, Draco wistfully thought as he rummaged through the food. And then Harry would come to his side. At least, he really hoped he did. Because he knew he was falling for the Golden Git, even though he would never admit it to anyone for a very long while. Harry would be his, he mused with a soft smile. It was only a matter of—

"What!" a sudden cry sounded from outside.

Draco stood straight, frowning as he looked outside in the direction the voice had come from. It had sounded like Granger's voice-high pitched and girly. But what would Granger be doing outside? He wondered. Theo was still upstairs, according to what he saw through the crack in the doorway to his room. Draco closed the refrigerator door and crossed the kitchen floor towards the door, his natural curiosity conquering his need for food. But another different voice, this one more masculine, spoke outside and Draco froze.

"Shhh, Hermione! Everyone is probably still asleep inside. You might wake them up."

"Oh, sorry, Harry," Granger's voice replied back.

Draco mused. Oh, it was just Harry and Granger outside. No big deal, he thought as he turned back around to continue his quest. He rather eat breakfast than listen to their antics anyway. Draco deaded the things Gryffindors gossiped anyways...

"Did you hear? Padma Patil lost her virginity to Pansy? There are lesbians amongst us!"

Merlin.

Draco stilled, as he heard his name being spoken.

"Draco, Harry? Seriously?" Granger's tone of voice was one of disbelief.

"Yeah, I know, Herms," Harry muttered. Draco could just imagine him reaching his hand up to brush back his hair, only acting in vain as he messed it up even further and having it fall back into place. The blonde chuckled.

"So what are you going to do, Harry?" Granger asked. "Does he like you back?"

"I'm not sure," Harry replied. Draco snorted, wanting to go out there and speak for himself. He could just imagine the look on their faces if he did. Priceless. The thought made him do just that, too, but Harry's next words made him freeze completely. "But it's not like it matters anyways. I can't like him, Hermione. I just can't."

"What? Why?"

"Well, look at who he is!" Harry exclaimed. "He's a Slytherin, Hermione. They're selfish prats with awful attitudes and high standards for everything. Not just that, but his father is in Azkaban prison. His father is a Death Eater, and he almost became one in sixth year. We were rivals since we've met, and not once has he probably ever thought me to be anything else. We have a past filled with negativity and hate, and I highly doubt any good can come from that. Five years ago-hell, a year ago if you'd told me that I'd be considering having a relationship with Malfoy, I'd have hexed you right there. Or checked you for spells or potions."

"But Harry..."

"Either way, Hermione, it's not a problem if he likes me or not. I can't be with him. Anyone else, yes, but not him. It wouldn't work out between us. Last night revealed that. I'm glad that I didn't go all the way with him last night. It would've made things just so much worse."

"Harry!"

"Don't try to talk me out of this, Hermione," Harry warned.

"I'm not. It's just…why act so hostile now? I thought you said that you might like him."

"I did, but I see now that it was a mistake."

Draco scowled from inside the kitchen.

"How?" asked Granger, demanding to see Harry's reasoning. "Despite all of his faults, he's changed!"

"Are you defending him?"

"Well, no, but…look, Harry, he's not the same Malfoy he was in school. You know that."

"Yeah, well he's not completely changed either. He's still Malfoy. He's still an aristocratic, potion loving git."

And you're still a spectecled, broom loving, Dark Lord killer! Draco wanted to shout.

"But Harry," Granger softly said. "If I can be with Theo, and Ron can be with Blaise, then can't you—?"

"No." The word was said with such finalty that made Draco flinch violently. "He's Draco Malfoy, Hermione," he said, his voice dropping. "It...It will never happen."

Draco's heart broke.

He never, ever thought in a million years that his stone cold heart could ever be broken, much less by a Gryffindor. Much lesser by Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Would-Supposedly-Die-For-Anyone-Except-Draco-Malfoy. Draco's eyes turn empty and bleak as he listened to Granger fruitlessly trying to talk some sense into her friend, and he soon felt the tell-tale sign of tears burning around his eyes. He mentally screamed at himself to move, quickly before he was caught by either Granger or Ha-Potter. His feet didn't want to react at first, but eventually the link between his brain and his limbs mended and he didn't waste any time rushing upstairs. He ignored Blaise, who had left his room and opened his mouth to speak to Draco, and burst into his own bedroom. He slammed the door, cast the strongest silencing spell he knew, promptly fell to knees, and screamed his heart out.

Hermione sighed as she walked upstairs. Poor Harry, she thought wistfully. He has it bad for Malfoy, and he doesn't even see the damage that he's doing to himself. Her friend had always been really slow with relationships, and even slower when it came to his feelings about love. Harry had no idea, she bet, that he was in fact coming to like the blonde Slytherin. And not in a purely friendly fashion.

It seemed, the Gryffindor mused, that she would have to interfere a bit in Harry's love life. She had tried to prevent herself from doing it so far, but that was before she realized that Harry and Draco could actually be matched together. They were completely opposites, had completely different childhoods and beliefs, and had nothing short of a hatred-filled past with each other. And yet, Hermione could picture those two walking down the beach holding hands, gazing upon each other with so much love it almost hurt, talking all the way into the night, and then retiring together in a nice, warm, land-surrounding home.

Hermione sighed.

Hopefully, the hike that she had planned later in the afternoon can cheer him up, she thought. She and Theo had been wanting to explore the woods lately and today seemed like the perfect opportunity for it. Maybe being around nature, and also being forced to travel alongside Malfoy will help clear Harry's mind a bit.

Blaise was awake, she noticed as she passed the bathroom he was currently brushing his teeth in. Ron was up as well, she saw, and he was beside Blaise visibly checking out his arse. If she had the strength, she'd giggle at the couple. Her conversation with Harry had made her mentally exhausted, however. Merlin, what a stubborn man.

She walked further down the hall until she came to Malfoy's room. It seemed that he hadn't woken up yet since his door was closed firmly, silent inside. She knocked on his door once. Twice. No answer.

"Malfoy?" Silence met her still. She heaved another sigh. "Well, Malfoy, everyone is awake now and Harry is down stairs making breakfast." She thought that hearing Harry's name might get a reaction from him, but there was still no answer. Hermione bit her lip. "Well, Theo and I were wanting to go on a hike later this afternoon. It will probably be around noon or so and I would like it if you would come with us."

Still no answer. Hermione let out a huff and left towards her room. Whatever Malfoy's problem was, she hoped that he'd get over it. It was too early in the morning to deal with such attitude from him as well as Harry's own troubles.

His throat was sore from screaming. He actually wouldn't be surprised if he had lost his voice. He had barely heard Granger's words throughout his screaming and had just stopped when she had mentioned a hike.

Draco glared.

Stupid Granger. Couldn't she just leave him alone in his misery? He just wanted to burrow under his covers and stay there until the end of the summer. Hell, he'd probably stay there until next year even.

But no. Malfoys couldn't sulk. It was unbecoming, as his father would say.

Draco frowned. His father. He was one of the many reasons Harry would never return his feelings. That, along with the fact that Harry has always hated him. Their bonding last night, if you could call it that, had meant nothing to the Gryffindor, it seemed. Draco let out a dark chuckle, the sound hollow even to his own ears. Odd how the Slytherin in this situation was the one who was dumped. Who would've thought?

It seemed that Harry would never get over their childhood rivalry, though. Even if Draco had and was willing to become so much more than friends, Harry would always hold a grudge against the blonde. Harry was so narrow-minded even after everything they had done over the last few days, after all they had shared while opening up to the other. He still hated Draco. He saw Draco as he always had. Filth, Death Eater scum, fag, disappointment, trash—that's what he was. He should've been used to this type of treatment, especially from Harry.

It was like being presented a delicious ice-cream cone. It was a cone you'd always stared at, longed for, especially during the most hottest, dreadful times of the year. And then you were finally able to touch it and hold it, and appreciate its sugary goodness. You go to lick it, to actually taste the heavenly deliciousnes on your tongue...

And then it was ripped away.

It being Harry made it seem so much more real. It hurt like nothing else ever had. He had put his heart out there, expecting for it to be cared and nurtured. Instead, it had been taken and twisted into nothingness...

Draco's eyes burned.

No. His eyes hardened.

He would not act like this. He did not come on this vacation to enjoy this time with Potter or his friends. He hadn't come to fall in love, if he recalled correctly. He definitely did not come to get his heartbroken. He came here to relax and take his mind off the people who treated him exactly like this.

Draco smirked as he crossed his room to the closet.

He was going to enjoy this vacation, damnit, and nothing, not even Potter was going to stop him from doing that.

Poor Draco…
I'm sorry that I had to end this on such a sad note. I really didn't want to. Please review and tell me what you think!

***ALSO! I have a question to ask you, my fellow Fanfiction readers. Mainly to those who have ever hiked out in the wilderness... What kind of dangers do you encounter when hiking? What animals do you meet?

I already have the next chapter ready to upload, so any answers to this question will definitely help me write out ideas for the next couple of chapters after that one. Thanks a bunch!