Disclaimer: Do not own anything.

Chapter 3: The-boy-who-is hyphenated-a-lot-is-half-naked-which-Draco-want-to-see

Potter is cute.

That was the statement that turned Draco's life upside down. And Pansy Parkinson, his best friend, had uttered it.

And now everywhere he went, he saw Potter and realized just how cute he really was. What with him tripping this way and that and smiling away at the world.

Then Draco became paranoid. How many other people found his Potter cute? Or hot? Or sexy? Or handsome? Or pretty? Or rather beautiful? How many other people had inappropriate dreams plaguing them—most focused on what one could possibly do to Potter to make that keening noise again?

He turned to Pansy and gritted out, "He's just Potter."

"Yes," She said condescendingly, as if he was blind, "but look at how he smiles now. Like nothing could take away his happiness. He hasn't smiled like that in the past at all. Even when he was with his Gryffindorks, there was always a park of him holding out; you could see the strain in his movements."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "You sound as if you have been observing him quite a bit."

'She's a threat!' was a scream echoing in his head.

She was not fazed by the look he was sending her way, "There was no way I couldn't." She muttered before walking into the girls' dorm.

And Draco was left wondering what she meant.

"Guess what I saw?" Blaise sing-songed, "Or rather who?"

"What?" Pansy and Draco asked simultaneously as their kept their eyes on the chess board, where all sorts of destruction was taking place.

"Three words: Potter, swimming, half-naked."

"What?" Draco nearly yelled at the same time Pansy said, "Do you think he would swim with a shirt on?"

Draco trained his eyes on Blaise, asking for answers, "Why would he be swimming?"

"Uhh…because he wants to?" was the answer from Pansy.

"Do you think that's actually four words? Is half-naked two words if there is a hyphen—" The dark-haired boy watched in amusement as his best-mate zoomed to the window overlooking the lake.

"He's not there." Draco almost whined.

Pansy sighed, "Draco, Harry is not trying to show you up by going swimming."

"It's Harry now?" Blaise spoke up, taking up the game that Draco had abandoned.

"He's tutoring me." She giggled, "And he has a nice body."

"Why?" Draco asked and when she stared at him, he continued, "I could have helped or Blaise could have!"

Blaise narrowed his eyes, "Why do you care so much, Drake?"

"I do not!" came the hot denial.

As Blaise continued to grin, which was so wrong because Slytherins don't grin except in malice, Pansy interrupted upcoming Draco's lecture on conduct.

"In Rituals?"

"Potter's taking Rituals?" Draco seemed stunned to know that he didn't know that.

"Yes and he's quite good." She replied before getting up, "I have another session with him in a few minutes." She squealed, "He's going to be all wet from his swim and imagine his hair. Oh Merlin!"

"Pansy." Harry greeted her with a smile, which she returned tenfold. Then, he turned to her companion, "Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Now he was confused.

All he got was a grunt in answer.

Harry watched as the two took a seat. Pansy was smiling softly at him while Draco was glaring-no-so-softly at him. He tried to ignore the relentless stare the blond was sending his way and turned his attention on Pansy who was taking out her notes.

"Alright, where were we last time?"

"I actually read over the history; very interesting by the way. But I just don't understand anything Professor Jenkins is trying to explain in class. That woman-" It was clear that she hated Jenkins with fervor and most of the time she ranted about the Professor's fall backs to Harry.

Harry chuckled, "Pans, if you would listen to the prof instead of zoning off and daydreaming."

"I can't believe this, I'm the one zoning out? You never pay attention in class, why are you even passing?"

Harry shot her a smirk, "I'm a natural."

Harry heard a quiet snort emit from Draco and looked up to see the challenge in his eyes. He had the itch to say something—oh well; he could scratch it when he got back to his rooms.

He turned away to look down at the books and pretended like he could completely ignore Draco, "Okay, so the basic premise of ritual is letting go. If you don't surrender to the ritual, surely wanting whatever you are asking of the ritual, then it won't work. Or your unsure feelings will botch up the ritual and create unwanted consequences."

"So, like a sacrifice?" Pansy asked, her quill working on the parchment.

Harry continued, "If you want to view it as such, sure a sacrifice. In a sacrifice, you have to be willing to give up something. But I would say it's more of a self-sacrifice. Basically, you have to be sure of mind and heart. You have no place to waver or think about other options."

He fell silent for a moment and felt the pair of eyes staring at him, studying him. But it didn't matter. He was back in the forest and he was willing to die, so sure that the day was his last, and in he went, into the—

"Harry?"

"Yea, sorry. I was…thinking."

The two shivered and Harry pretended not to notice.

"Pansy, I'm going to tell you something. You are not going to be very good at rituals at all."

She startled, "Why?"She was already looking at her choices, ready to strike.

"You could never stop looking for a way out." She started to say something but he kept going, "I know it is your way; you were taught from the beginning of your life to be a—a…" He faltered.

"A Slytherin." She provided.

She nodded. She had calmed her anger dissipating. "Yes, a Slytherin and you excel at it." She smiled at this.

"Anyway, it has become a ritual for you, a habit to act this way in any situation." He laughed at his words and she, catching on laughed along to. Draco stared at him, as if there was no one else, as if there was nothing else.

Harry quivered inside, he felt like he was floating. When would he hit the ceiling?

"I can change my ways. I am not a stiff clay that will break at a change in design."

Harry had to smile at her determination, "I know, or I wouldn't have tried to help you."

She brightened and he spoke again, "Let's move on to today's lecture. The symbols carved represent…"

Draco stared on, not able to move or say anything. Potter acted so different, so much more different than the way Potter acted towards Draco. There was none of that barb; just soft smiles and wet fringe as his bright as death eyes glowed as he spoke, his hands gesturing trying to convey his words, his feelings, his self.

He stared on as his Potter pretended no to notice his presence. It irked him.

This is a reminder to all: Review!

p.s. You wonder why there has been no moans and groans—well, you know what to do ;)