A/N: Part 2/3. Yes, I decided to split this into three parts. Mostly because this part got really, really long, and the second half is giving me a bit of trouble. So, here's what I've got for you. Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for the nice reviews! If I haven't gotten back to you, and you'd like me to, feel free to throw things at my head until I do.

Our Story So Far: During a night of drunken fun, Harry got hit with a magical dare—he must snog Malfoy. Unfortunately, the counterspell was lost in a tragic Neville-related accident! How will he ever survive? (insert dramatic music here)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, not me. No money being made here.

Taking the Dare

Chapter 2

Two days later, Harry was practically crawling up the walls. He was tired of fighting against the urge to shove Draco—dammit, Malfoy—up against the closest wall, tired of how he shivered whenever Malfoy was close, tired of imagining how silky that blond hair would feel when he—

No! Bad Harry, very bad.

He groaned, and hit his head on the table in front of him. After two days, hardly any of the Gryffindors were surprised when he did this. People had managed to link his new habit to Malfoy—probably shouldn't keep muttering his name all the time—but the consensus in the school seemed to be that Harry was worried over some Slytherin plot.

Sighing, Harry lifted his head from the table, absently looking across the Hall at the Slytherins.

Mistake. Note to self—don't look at Dra—Malfoy when we have anything with syrup for breakfast. I should look away. I will! I can…

His thought slipped away as he watched Draco take a bite of pancake, tongue innocently darting out to catch a bit of syrup before it could drip on his robes.

Harry whimpered softly, drawing a concerned look from Hermione. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glad for once for the extra space he had in Dudley's old cloths.

"All right there, Harry?"

"Fine." Harry tried to smile at Ron. From the look on his friend's face, he'd failed miserably.

At least my voice didn't crack this time. He scowled at his untouched breakfast. So far, he'd managed to convince Ron that the effects of the game were just an irritating constant, but that wouldn't keep working for long. Even if Ron didn't realize that Harry's reactions went beyond annoyance, Hermione would. She already looked suspicious, but…

As long as she doesn't say anything to me or Ron, it'll be fine.

Besides, he couldn't tell them. If they knew that that stupid game had turned Ron's dare into an obsession, it'd be a disaster.

Hermione would say it's dangerous—well, yeah, she'd be right. But she'd probably owl Ron's mom, like she threatened to do in fifth year, and then Fred and George would get in trouble. And—Harry felt his face pale as a horrible thought occurred to him—she'd blame Ron for what's happened to me! She'd send him a Howler, and I just know she'd say what the dare was. I can just hear it… "Ronald Weasley, how dare you tell Harry to… to snog Draco Malfoy? And under a compulsion charm!" Screamed through the Great Hall, in front of Draco and everyone…

Harry groaned loudly, letting his head fall back to the table. He tried to be comforted by the fact that no one asked him what was wrong, then remembered that most of his house just thought he was slowly losing his mind. He thought he was losing his mind.

Maybe I should write to Fred and George again? I'm not sure how much of this I can take.

He raised his head, eyes drawn once more to the Slytherin table. Draco was swirling a finger through the syrup on his plate. As Harry watched, the blond boy brought his finger to his lips, licking it delicately and then sucking the tip into his perfect, perfect mouth…

"Oh, bloody hell!" Harry leapt to his feet. He looked around at the sudden silence in the room. He blushed. Didn't mean to say that out loud. "I, uh… Ihavetomailaletter," he muttered, then fled the room.

xxxxx

Dear Fred and George,

If you guys don't tell me how to get this STUPID dare off me, I swear I will NEVER talk to you again. And you can forget about me endorsing any of your products. And how could you think making an incomplete dare into a total OBSESSION would be a good idea? Did you consider, for one second, that your idiot brother would be stupid enough to dare me to SNOG MALFOY? I'm going crazy here!!!

Harry

xxxxx

Draco wiped his hand on his napkin, frowning thoughtfully.

This pretty much confirms it. Potter's… lusting for me. Wonder why Weasel and the mudblood haven't figured it out yet?

Of course, Potter's friends didn't matter in the least. What did matter was Potter. Potter lusting for Draco. And how Draco could use that to his advantage.

Obviously, it would do my social standing some good to be seen with the Golden Boy. Seen as a friend, not a mortal enemy. Wouldn't be necessary if Father hadn't shackled himself to a madman, but there's nothing I can do about that.

"Draco? Did you hear me, darling?"

Draco was jerked back to the present by Pansy's voice. That's another advantage—dating Potter would get Pansy off me. Although I'd have to tolerate his insipid friends. Even trade? Almost… I think Pansy's a little worse than those two.

"Sorry. I was thinking about something. What did you say?"

"I said, what do you think is up with Potter lately? He's acting weirder than ever."

"Mmph." Draco tried to return to his thoughts, but Pansy was still nattering away in his ear.

"I'm starting to think it has something to do with you… I only ever see him acting weird around you."

For some reason, the idea that Pansy might figure it out annoyed Draco. "Did you ever think that you only see him acting weird around me because you only see him when you're hanging around me? It's not like our houses mix, Pansy, dear," he said, voice dripping with disdain.

Apparently, she hadn't noticed his displeasure.

"You're right, darling. I think I may have to start observing Potter a bit more. I can get some of the third-years to keep an eye on him when—"

"You will do no such thing!" Draco's command came out a bit more sharply than he intended. Carefully, he lowered his voice to the slow, threatening drawl that got absolute obedience from his house. "Anything relating to Potter goes through me, Pansy. He's too popular at the moment for any sort of move against him. Is that clear?"

She was looking at him speculatively. He narrowed his eyes threateningly.

Finally, she waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. I suppose I should be concentrating on studying for the NEWTs, anyway."

With a last glare in the girl's direction, Draco settled back to avoiding thinking about why he was feeling protective towards Harry Potter.