Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Notes: Originally written for aoifene's cancelled Seven Deadly Sins Angst collection. The prompt I chose was Envy. Thanks to aoifene, weasleywench and nocturnali for their unwavering support and encouragement. The title is a line from Dante's The Divine Comedy: Purgatory, Canto XIII. Translated by The Rev. H. F. Cary, M.A.

Thanks to everyone for their reviews, I really adore reading how you like my story.

Enjoy

jamie xxxxx

The next afternoon, after a day being feted around Diagon Alley and fending off reporters' questions about why Potter wasn't with him, Draco collapsed relieved, into a chair and relaxed. He felt buoyed by all the adoration and attention he received, but the day had been tiring because he'd felt disgruntled at Potter's absence. He hadn't missed him but Potter's evident determination to protect Draco, demonstrated in the way he'd stopped Draco eating the dessert, meant that he just didn't trust the others to deflect an attack like he trusted Potter. That revelation had come as such a shock to Draco that he'd spent much time and energy during the day not thinking about it.

'This is why you didn't organise an engagement for tonight, isn't it?' Draco complained to Pansy. 'You knew about the Weasel's party and Potter wanting the evening off, didn't you?'

'He did mention it, yes,' Pansy agreed easily.

'Why would you do that?'

'Because even he deserves a night off,' she replied bluntly. 'If you don't give him time off occasionally, he'll come to resent you and then you'll have no chance of seducing him.'

'His feelings for me are not the priority here.'

'No, of course not.' She rolled her eyes at him. 'But why make your job harder than it should be?'

His mother entered the room then, which stopped the discussion. While Draco knew Pansy was right, he was still annoyed about the whole situation. When he tried to examine why, nothing felt right. He certainly didn't miss Potter's company, nor did he care that Potter was having fun with the Weasel. Merlin knew Draco was only glad he didn't have to suffer being surrounded by redheads. Nor was it the loss of the opportunity to continue his attempt to get Potter into his bed; they had the issues of Potter's attachment to the ginger bits and the kiss to deal with first.

And it was definitely not that his stomach rolled over at the thought of Potter getting his cock sucked by the ginger bits.

Surely it was merely that he was annoyed Potter was being derelict in his duties? Though that didn't sit well, either, because Pansy, damn her, was right. He sighed and gave up thinking about it, wearied by too much thinking.

He would have preferred a quiet evening by the fire with a snifter of brandy and perhaps a good book, but his mother and Pansy had different ideas and wanted to finalise more plans for the ball.

Blaise, the traitor, begged off and went to leave but stopped at the last moment. He dragged Draco off to one side for a private conversation.

'Rumour has it that Potter and his girlfriend are on the verge of a break up,' Blaise said quietly so that Draco's mother and Pansy, who were chatting over table placements, could not hear.

'Oh, and where did you hear this juicy piece of gossip?' Draco asked.

'I heard them arguing in a shop this afternoon. Very loudly and about you.' Blaise gave Draco a knowing smirk. 'You kissed Potter.'

Draco started and then glared at Blaise. 'Was that a question or an accusation?'

'I'd say that response only confirms what I heard in Gladrags.'

Blaise was infuriating when he had that 'I know your secret, so there,' smirk. Much as Draco loved him as a friend, it also made him want to smack that look right off his face.

'Just tell me what happened, Blaise,' Draco insisted.

'Then you have to tell me what snogging Potter was like,' Blaise argued.

Growling, Draco agreed, ignoring the triumphant look that shot across Blaise's face. It was a small price to pay to discover the situation between Potter and the ginger bits.

'Well, I don't know what they were arguing about exactly,' Blaise started, and Draco groaned thinking there was no substance to what Blaise claimed after all. 'Potter cast a Silencing charm but as any good Slytherin worth the name knows how to lip read, I could understand most of what they were saying.'

'Well…?' Draco pressed impatiently.

'Apparently, Miss Ginevra Weasley thinks that her hero Golden boy is cheating on her with you. She insists that as Potter spends all his time here, there is something more than common gratitude driving it. She claims that Potter could easily assign more guards to you if he really wanted and, because of his name, could twist the Head Auror around his little finger and wriggle out of having to guard you twenty-four hours a day.'

This was gold, Draco thought, and almost exactly how he'd hoped their relationship would slide. Trust the ginger bits to completely overlook the fact that Potter was being guarded as much as he was guarding Draco. If memory served him correctly, Robards had said Draco and Potter were easier to guard if they were together. Draco wondered then, amused, if Potter had conveniently forgotten to inform the ginger bits of this fact. Draco's anger at Potter's absence almost completely evaporated. 'What did Potter have to say about that?'

'He was angry. I have no idea what you did to him, but he said something scathing that made Weasley go pale. That was when she launched into the cheating diatribe.'

'Potter admitted to cheating?' Not that he had really, Draco had been the one to initiate the kiss, but Potter's self righteousness would insist that he'd cheated anyway. Especially as for a second he'd kissed back. It was definitely time to exert some more pressure on Potter, drive that wedge between him and the ginger bits deeper.

'No, but he flushed redder than Weasley's hair. He mostly just got angry and told her that she didn't know him very well if she expected him to use his name to get what he wanted. She didn't like that, that's for sure, shouting that she was entitled to expect he use every ounce of influence he had so his girlfriend got to see him once in a while.'

Draco laughed. It was too perfect. Potter thought himself above using his name to get him what he wanted, did he? If he did, then it was only because people fell all over themselves to make sure Potter had what he wanted before he thought to ask for it.

'Potter calmed down then a little and tried to make nice by telling her they had the party that night to look forward to being together and they should make the most of it instead of arguing. She agreed but, Draco, she is not happy.'

'It sounds like it. I bet she's not pleased that she and the rest of Potter's hangers on have been shoved aside out of the spotlight now they prefer me.'

Blaise laughed. 'You could be right. Even I get more attention from the media these days than that lot of Gryffindors do.'

That gave Draco an idea. 'Blaise, best friend, how would you feel about doing something about that attraction you had for the ginger bits back in school?'

'You're attempting to break the Golden couple up?'

'With as much publicity as possible.'

'What about the bloke I'm seeing?'

Draco raised an eyebrow. 'Seeing as you don't care enough to even tell us his name, he can't be that important to you. Will you really miss him?'

'Point.' Blaise considered for a moment. 'Draco, that's devious,' he said. Then he smirked. 'You really do want Potter, don't you?'

Draco gave him a long stare. 'Only long enough to make the fool fall for me so I can teach him what it feels like to be rejected and dumped.'

Blaise shook his head. 'Is that worth all the trouble it will cause?'

Draco nodded. He hadn't told Blaise about everything, and he wasn't going to. He loved Blaise, but he trusted Pansy with his life. Having Potter right where he wanted was worth more than just about anything to him and definitely worth any trouble it took to get him there.

'Then I'll do it. Might be nice to find out if the collars and cuffs match.'

Draco's grimaced. 'I really don't want to know that, thanks.'

'All right,' Blaise gave in, grinning. 'Now, tell me about snogging Potter.'

'It was an accident. He was being an arse about having the night off and I just kissed him to shut him up.'

Blaise laughed. 'I thought you were more organised than 'an accident', Draco.'

'Oh, shut up and go and lure the ginger bits away from my Potter,' Draco shot back, disgruntled because Blaise was right; he generally went about his seduction with a lot more finesse than how he'd been handling Potter. Damn, but Potter always did manage to stuff up his plans.

'You do realise you just said 'my Potter', don't you?' Blaise snickered.

Draco merely glared at Blaise until he relented and left.

…..

The Potter who returned from the Weasel's birthday party had something on his mind. Draco noticed it right away at breakfast the next morning, as his houseguest was distracted, often staring off into space and not hearing when questions were directed to him.

Draco couldn't afford to have Potter slacking off on security and not paying attention to Draco's wants and needs, and so reluctantly he realised that he'd have to speak to Potter about it. He assumed that Potter's argument with the ginger bits was occupying a great deal of his thoughts and giving him some grief.

Never one to miss an opportunity to for a dig at Potter, Draco said, 'Potter, how are your eggs?' Draco thought he'd start off with something innocuous, as Potter was paying no attention to what he was eating and had somehow poured pumpkin juice over his eggs.

'Hm? Oh, fine.' Potter didn't even look at him.

'You do realise you've made them unfit for human consumption?'

'Hm? That's good.'

All right then, normal conversation was going absolutely nowhere. Draco stood and moved to Potter's side and leaned down to whisper in his ear. 'Potter…IHarry,/I I want you to throw me onto the table and fuck me senseless, right now!'

Potter startled so much he almost fell out of his chair. Draco bit his lip hard trying not to laugh at the expression on Potter's face. Priceless!

'Draco, you…' Potter spluttered and then stopped and looked confused for a moment, before narrowing his eyes and scowling at Draco.

'Thought that might get your attention. Care to enlighten me as to why you look like a single thought used up your brain's capacity to function?'

'I don't know what you're talking about,' Potter huffed.

Draco sighed and wondered why in hell he was even thinking about seducing this idiot. 'You have not paid attention to a word I've said all morning.'

'I just have a few things on my mind.' Potter scowled at his plate.

'Well, if they're going to affect your judgement and ability to do your job then those few things are obviously fairly serious.' Draco attempted to sound considerate and concerned, but wondered if he just came across as impatient when Potter merely flashed him a glare and went back to eating the disgusting mess on his plate.

'Potter, you'll make yourself ill if you continue to eat that concoction,' Draco insisted. He called Pippy to replace Potter's plate with a fresh one, ignoring Potter's protestations. 'Talk,' he demanded when Pippy left.

'Draco…'

'Don't 'Draco' me! Your inattention could get me killed, so let's get this sorted out.'

A pained look crossed Potter's face, and Draco braced himself for a long, drawn out emotional outburst as he returned to his chair.

Surprisingly, the only thing Potter said was, 'I think Ginny and I are breaking up.' Then he went back to eating his breakfast.

'And?'

Potter glared at him. 'I don't owe you intimate details of my relationship.'

'No, but I thought we'd become friends throughout this ordeal,' Draco replied, putting as much hurt into his voice as he supposed he could get away with.

Potter replied with a calculating look, as if he didn't quite believe Draco. Several seconds went by before Potter shook his head.

'Ginny was right. You are taking advantage of this situation.'

'I beg your pardon?' How dare she?

'I wondered if she was right, you know. Right up until you kissed me.'

Draco ducked his head, just as he had learned to do when reporters asked him questions that should embarrass him. He wasn't embarrassed about the kiss, but Potter didn't need to know that.

'Then I knew she was right,' Potter added. Draco snapped his head up to look at Potter in outrage. But he saw Potter grinning and subsided into a frown. 'But maybe for a different reason, yeah?'

Things are moving along very nicely, then, Draco thought, smiling.

'Anyway,' Potter dug into his fresh lot of eggs as he spoke, 'I told her about the kiss and she wasn't happy with me. I'm just not sure what to do about it yet.'

'Why not?' Draco asked softly now, not wanting to say the wrong thing to endanger the progress he was making.

Potter looked up at Draco candidly. 'Because I liked you kissing me and I can't for the life of me work out why I want you to do it again.'

Success! Draco's felt the thrill of victory as a shiver along his spine. He almost rose to do just what Potter suggested in order to press his advantage, but Potter continued.

'Most of the time you're rude and arrogant and you insult people, me specifically, like you'd been practising…and yet…' Potter shook his head, clearly bemused, '…you love your mother and your friends and…I-I think I like you.'

'Oh.' Draco wasn't sure whether to be insulted or flattered.

'But it's Ginny. We've been together for years, and I do love her.'

You keep telling yourself that, Golden boy. 'I'd be quite happy to kiss you again, Potter,' Draco said, deciding on being flattered after all. Seeing as it worked in his favour.

'Harry.'

'Right, Harry.'

'Just because I want you to do it again, doesn't mean I want you to do it again,' Potter said, which just confused Draco. 'Oh, you know what I mean,' he amended.

Draco thought for several moments and then nodded. 'You mean that while your body would very much like me to kiss you again, your brain is telling you that you don't want it at all. At least not until the ginger bits is out of the picture.'

'You were doing really well up until that last sentence,' Potter said as he ran a hand through his hair, frowning. 'And I wish you'd stop calling her that. She's done nothing to you.'

'On the contrary, Harry, she is preventing me from getting what I want. Therefore I reserve the right to call her whatever I like,' Draco said light-heartedly.

'But…'

'No buts. Tonight, I am forgoing dinner at Eric's and instead I'd like you to escort me to a nightclub.'

'As long as you don't make me dance, that's fine.'

'Why does it not surprise me that you don't dance?' Draco asked, amused.

'I have no idea, I'm sure,' Potter replied back in a similar tone.

Draco rolled his eyes. 'I'll have Pansy pick up some clothes for you to wear.'

'I can sort out my own clothes, thanks.'

'Not for the club I have in mind. And just so you know, you will be dancing, but only with me. I don't plan on letting you out of my sight.'

….

The nightclub Draco chose was an eye-opener for more than one reason. In the past when Draco decided he needed an escape from the constant derision he faced in his daily life, he'd used a Glamour and lost himself in the frenetic dancing of the club scene. This was the first time he'd attended such a place without a Glamour. Having Potter on his arm was certainly a plus for publicity, but one he no longer needed, he was happy to learn. In the current climate, it was Draco's presence people were flocking to; Draco was the one they fussed over to ensure he had free drinks and whatever else he might require.

Draco waved them aside, pretending humility but inwardly he bathed in the attention.

Surprisingly, Potter scrubbed up well in the clothes that Pansy had chosen for him, not looking out of place wearing black denims, dragon hide boots and a black fitted t-shirt. In fact, when Potter threw on the black blazer, Draco had to admit that he looked pretty fit.

When they first arrived, they were shown to a table and drinks were quickly delivered. But Draco wanted to get Potter on the dance floor. The way some people did not respect personal space in the darkened corners left Draco feeling rather vulnerable, considering someone was out to kill him. At least on the well-lit dance floor with Potter up close and the guards able to keep a clearer eye on them, he'd feel safer.

'Come on, Harry; we're dancing.' Draco grabbed Potter's hand and dragged him into the writhing mass grinding on the dance floor.

Potter didn't protest much, but Draco caught the look on his face and could see he was worried. He stopped and pulled Potter to him so he could yell into his ear over the thumping music.

'Don't worry, with so many people dancing, no one will notice your two left feet. Besides, there's barely enough room to move.' Draco smirked and licked Potter's ear. 'We'll just have to stand here and sway together.'

With his hands on Potter's hips, Draco could feel him faintly trembling. He knew Potter was close to surrendering. It was probably only Potter's do-gooder Gryffindor honour that kept him from grabbing Draco and grinding into him.

Draco thought to help him out by sliding his hands down over Potter's bum while they swayed in a mockery of a dance, made more difficult by the closeness of the other patrons. When Potter tried to pull away, he backed into someone and immediately stepped forward again. Draco held him tighter to prevent him going anywhere.

'Draco, this is hardly dancing,' Potter called.

'Doesn't matter, I like being close to you. I can feel your heart against my chest, beating madly.' Draco buried his nose in Potter's ear and inhaled. 'Is it beating so fast because of me, or the music?'

Potter's little shiver made Draco smile. 'Ginny will see photos of this in tomorrow's paper.'

'Po-Harry, we're only dancing so closely because of the crowds. And you have to protect me, remember?'

Draco's hands wandered over Potter's firm bum, and he was pleased at how Potter sighed and relaxed fractionally, placing his hands on Draco's waist.

'I'm going to be sleeping on the couch for a month after this,' Potter complained.

'No, you won't.' Draco laughed. 'You're staying at my place remember? You could even share a bed with me if you'd like.' He deliberately pressed his lips to the soft skin under Potter's jaw, annoyed when Potter moved his head back.

'Draco, I know what I said about you kissing me, but not now, not here in public! Besides, I'm with Ginny and you have to respect that.'

Draco narrowed his eyes and glared at Potter, seeing his face through various hues under the flashing lights. Respecting anything about the ginger bits was abhorrent to Draco. 'I am serious,' he growled, furious at having his plans thwarted.

Potter refused to back down, though, so Draco sighed and gave in. 'Fine, no kissing in public, but I will not be denied the chance to dance so closely with you.' He could at least salvage something from his failed seduction attempt.

'Draco this is all a bit…'

Potter still looked worried and Draco began to wonder if it was all worth it. Potter was just too…uptight. 'There are so many people here, no one even knows who we are and they care even less,' Draco insisted.

Potter glanced around to confirm that no one was even watching them. With a short nod, Potter gave in and Draco flashed him the dazzling smile reserved for the public. Then he began to grind his hips in time with the music, pressing himself as close to Potter as he could and guiding Potter's hips to move in time.

By the end of the evening they were both hot and sweaty and Draco would swear to Merlin that Potter was more than half hard in his denims. Draco knew his own cock was aching.

…..

It was a very satisfied Draco that fell asleep that night after wanking at the thought of a hot and sweaty Potter on his knees sucking Draco's cock.