Chapter Fourteen: Part I

Harry yawned quietly when he woke and snuggled closer to the calming warmth, feeling content. He wasn't really awake yet as he did not realize what he did - seeking comfort from another being was instinctive, but under normal circumstances he'd never have done it - too scared of rejection.

"Laures…"

Someone sighed. The voice sounded resigned as if he knew of Harry's affection and, although he didn't return the feeling, didn't want to turn him away.

Harry recognized the voice and blushed fiercely. Sitting up he moved away from Draco.

"Sorry" he apologized softly, picking nervously at the bedspread with two fingers. He was worried about Draco's reaction and confused about his feelings. He liked Draco, no questions there, but his mind told him it was wrong. Draco was a Malfoy, a supporter of the Dark Arts, if not Voldemort himself. Remembering Draco from his past, he couldn't find anything likable about him except for his looks, but that was no reason to like somebody. When he thought of Draco and the way his eyes shone when he was smiling in the picture a warmth spread through him that lightened his heart.

"Don't say sorry all the time." Draco chided annoyed. "Although I do would like to know what excuse you have to be here in my bed." Harry heard that he wasn't really angry, more like concerned and Harry knew he didn't want to receive another scolding from Snape, so he was trying not to scare him.

"I had a nightmare and I don't know where Snape's rooms are to get a sleeping potion. You were asleep and I didn't want to wake you." Harry answered truthfully, although he was desperate not to get yelled at for crawling into his bed unasked.

"Jeez, calm down, would you? I'm not about to bite your head off." Draco was clearly annoyed.

"Really?" Harry hated being so insecure, but when you have no sight to varifie what you are told, you have to trust that people are honest which was difficult for Harry seeing who he was with. To ward off the chill and not to feel so exposed, he wrapped the blankets around his shoulders.

Protests were immediate, of course.

"Hey! No stealing the covers. Give me back my half."

Harry blushed and losened the hold on them so Draco could pull them back, but he was smiling lightly.

'He is so childish sometimes, it's cute.' He would have liked to ruffle Draco's hair, but he thought that would go too far. It was still a nice thought. He wondered what Draco would look like with disshelved hair.

With an abrupt jerk, Draco had his covers back.

"Hmpf." Harry's smile widened at his frustrated huff.

"Tell me, why did you want to do all this by hand again? The house elves could do that." Harry was amused by Draco's panicked attitude to find everything as well as annoyed.

"The house elves are not touching my things."

"That's stupid. They touch them all the time. For example when they tidy up or something."

"Laures," Draco said with an irritated sigh, probably turning to set an penetrating stare on Harry as if that would make him understand. "House elves have magic, they don't need to."

"Well, then they don't need to touch them to pack your suitcases either." Harry concluded. Another sigh was the only answer for a long time. Finally Draco got himself to reply again.

"I want to have everything arranged my way, okay?"

It was said in such a way that indicated the conversation was closed. To distract himself from Draco's constant walking, Harry tapped his cane lightly against the desk he was sitting on. He had gotten it from Snape this morning at breakfast. The way back to his room was a lot easier now, but he still turned the wrong corridor twice. Snape had informed them that today was the last day before school started again and Draco had promtly announced that he would need at least the whole morning to pack. He had only been at Snape Manor for a few days, but his stuff still got strewn about the room, the parlour, the potion labs and various other rooms. Harry was wondering how someone like Draco could be so messy when he grew up a Malfoy and pureblood. Then again, he thought, Draco grew up with house elves as well. They probably cleaned up after him all the time.

His own stuff was all in one trunk that the house elf gathered for him. He had no problems with elves, especially because he was in no mood to grope and fumble with his stuff to get it into his trunk.

"Laures, stop it!" Draco nearly screamed.

"Sorry." Harry apologised, but he wasn't really sorry. Listening to Draco was quite funny. Harry really couldn't understand why he made himself so agitated. He was always so neat and particular, he wouldn't even do the folding of his clothes with magic. Harry wisely didn't question it, because it most likely originated from his lack of talent in charms which meant he sucked at packing spells.

"Have you seen my potions book for next year?" Draco asked him, although he seemed to be looking for something different already. Harry decided to try his magic and let it search for the book. The magic made him feel and know where the textbook was. It lay on the table in one of the labs. He accioed it silently. It arrived a short time later.

"Draco?"

"Not now. I'm busy."

"Draco!"

"What!"

"Here is your potions text." Harry said sweetly which seemed to annoy him greatly, because he snatched it roughly out of his outstretched hand and chucked it carelessly on the bed. It landed with a ploff and he quickly walked into the bathroom.

Eventually, Harry had had enough of his frantic behaviour and saw only one solution to calm him down. He called Draco to himself where he sat on the desk. When he was within reach, he pulled him betwee his legs. Draco seemed quite confused, but complied not knowing where this was leading.

Harry slipped his arms boldly around Draco's waist and hugged him close. At first, Draco appeared to want to extricate himself, but acquiesced soon and put his arms around Harry's shoulders, too.

His breathing deepened and tranquility settled over them like a blanket of silence. Harry relaxed, not having noticed that he had tensed up while Draco became more hectic.

The sat an endless time in this position until Draco got a bit restless, obviously remembering his packing adventure. Harry did not release him, though. He slowly skimmed along his sides and reached up to cup Draco's cheeks gently. Then he pulled him down and their lips touched softly. It was only seconds, but they left a tingling feeling of pure bliss and ecstasy in Harry. It was perfect. Their mouths moulded together like they were made for it.

Draco seemed petrified, but not in fear. He didn't know how to react, lest he hurt Harry.

Harry ended the kiss slowly and then pressed his face into Draco's broad chest. He inhaled deeply to get to know Draco's unique scent. This and the parfum of his clothes made Harry relax all subconscious tension and feel content.

When he felt Draco getting restless he let him go and sat back. He waited for a reaction, but Draco seemed to be speechless. Harry waited for him to come back to earth, enjoying the silence which was only permeated by their slow breaths.

After Draco did come back to himself, however, he ignored the incident and went on packing. Harry didn't know what to think of that. It could be that Draco was really shy, but Harry rather thought that he didn't like him that way or he was angry and hated him.

Harry tried not to let his nervousness and anticipation show, but it was hard. Draco shouldn't know about his disappointment if the kiss meant nothing to him, because Harry did not want him to change his mind in pity. He wanted true love and affection from him provided he felt that way for Harry.

Harry really did not want to force himself on Draco. That was one of the most horrible things he could imagine somebody could do to someone else.

sorry everyone. i'm really really sorry. i had a kinda writing block. it was not so much that i didn't know what to write, more like i couldn't get myself to go on with it. i'm really sorry that this is so short, too, but it is what i had written previously. i sincerely appologise to all my readers but the next chapter will have to wait, i'm afraid.
i just posted this so you know that i didn't abandon you.

cyu as