Chapter 5

6:00pm

Draco was embarrassed to say that the first words that came into his head were, "Merlin, Potter had a nice dick," followed by numerous curse words. He breathed in deeply, focusing on the clean carpet underneath him. He felt his pants tightening and he moved, his robes hiding his growing erection. He felt like hitting himself on the head with something hard. Oh merlin, of all the words he had to use, did he have to pick 'hard'? Ugh, he was acting like he was a freaking teenager. Stop thinking about Potter or his dick, he ordered himself firmly.

Why was he freaking out about a dick again? Oh, right. It was Potter's. Who happened to be standing there, not even moving to cover himself. He forced the image from his mind, trying to focus on something , his mind refused to oblige and the clock on the wall ticked slowly. A second passed. Two. Three. He exhaled again, determined to not seem as flustered and confused as he felt.

"Potter," he said calmly. "What are you doing?"

"Er, um, I couldn't find a towel so I. uhm, came outside to transfigure the sheets here into one – "Potter laughed nervously.

"Couldn't you just have cast a drying charm?" Draco was pleased how unaffected he sounded compared to Potter's blundering. Well, he was naked. In front of his rival. For Potter's standards, this was pretty calm.

"Oh..yeah," Potter said and there was awkward silence for a few more seconds. His shoes were starting to look scruffier, he decided. He needed a new pair. Draco was examining his soles when Potter cleared his throat.

"I'll just turn around?" Draco offered, facing the door without waiting for an answer.

"I was just going to go into the bathroom and get changed…but okay," Potter said, and Draco heard rustling. He didn't dare turn around, though. Fuck. He wasn't even going to start thinking about Potter's prick. Shit. Say something, his mind screamed. What, like how he wanted to keep looking at Potter naked? Wait, where did that thought come from? He shook his head.

"It's my fault, though, I asked one of the elves to move the towels and make my bedroom look like I've been using it because I've been sleeping in here because I can't sleep in my old room and I can't have Father knowing, he's got enough on his plate with Mother and – " he stopped. What the hell has gotten into him? Not Potter's dick, his mind supplied. Oh, fuck.

There was more silence and Draco was desperately wishing he could just accio his robes, but his wand was downstairs. Tick. Tick. He was about to punch something when Potter finally said "You can, um, turn around now?"

Draco turned around, bracing himself. Potter was dressed, and was fastening his tie. His hair was scruffy and his glasses lay on the bed, but Draco couldn't see his eyes. Potter was staring at the tie determinedly as if his life depended on it. Draco shook his head, again. He studied the robes, realising they must be new, as they looked stiff. But they were good quality, anyway.

"Are you just going to stand here and stare at me?" Potter questioned.

"I came here to get into my robes, and it's not like I'm going to start undressing in front of you, Potter," he replied, walking over to the wardrobe on the other side of the bed and taking his robes out. They weren't wrinkled, thankfully.

"Ha, ha," Potter replied sarcastically, unknotting his tie again. "Ugh."

Draco watched him for a few seconds, feeling exasperated. He carefully placed his robes down again and strode up to him. He slapped away Potter's hands and tied the tie perfectly, adjusting it once more before stepping back.

"There," he said, feeling proud and then stupid. "The only reason I did that was because I wanted you out of here, obviously," he clarified.

"Right," Potter cleared his throat. "Do you want me to obliviate your thoughts or something?"

"No!" Draco exclaimed, and hurried on, still not looking up. "As much as I wish I could forget the thought of seeing your - body, I'm not going to give you that power, you could literally erase all of my memories…"

"Do you really think I hate you enough to do that to you?" Potter asked.

"Oh, right. I forgot that you're the Saviour of Us All and would never hurt –"he looked up and stumbled over his words. For the first time since entering the room, Potter's eyes were on his, and they were so- so piercing, so vulnerable, so full of confusion and so many clouded emotions that he couldn't try and unravel and his words caught in his throat. And the fact that Potter was wearing his glasses didn't help. With the green robes he was wearing, they seemed greener than usual and Draco wanted to stand there i

"Anyone," he finished, a little breathlessly and regretting it as Potter's eyes clouded over with hurt and anger. Potter stepped back and picked up his glasses and wand from the table.

"Stop making assumptions based on what others say about me," Potter said coldly, slamming the door behind him. Draco blinked, snapping out of his haze. Regret washed over him and he buried his head in hands.

7:00pm

The clock above the fireplace read 7:00pm and Harry was sitting down on a sofa. He drummed his fingers over the edge as Malfoy paced the living room. He crossed his legs, sighing. He didn't know how to act around the man anymore. One second it was all helpful and friendly and the next was cold insults and silent treatments. To say he was confused was just the beginning. He wondered why no one was here yet, he was sure the invitation had said 7:00pm but there was no one here except him.

"Why isn't anyone here yet?" he asked, and Malfoy stopped to look at him.

"Because, Potter, this isn't an official meeting. Also, purebloods like to be fashionably late." Malfoy replied, turning his back to Harry and sitting cross-legged in front of the fireplace.

"Really?"

"No, mostly they just take time to finish washing the blood from their hands after beheading their house-elves."

"Wait, what?"

"Yes, there's a beheading ceremony and everything. It all started with Elfeo and Elfiet, who were star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet, obviously, and their families just chopped off their heads before their masters could do it."

"Elfeo?" replied Harry. He started laughing, and Malfoy joined in.

"- And Elfiet, yeah," he chuckled.

"I think you're losing your talent at shooting witty sarcastic responses, because that wasn't good at all," Harry said as the laughter died down around them.

"Shut up, Potter," Malfoy replied, and they laughed again. The atmosphere around him seemed warmer as the fire sparked.

Harry looked at the crouching figure in front of him, lost in his own thoughts. Malfoy had grown quite tall, actually. He was thin but still manly. Harry wondered if the man still played Quidditch, studying Malfoy's arse without thinking Oh, Merlin, why was he looking at Malfoy's arse?

"- flustered around you," Malfoy was saying.

"What?" Harry asked, sitting up. Before Malfoy could reply, the fire spit out sparks and Malfoy jumped up, scooting backwards toward Harry. The fire glowed green and Lucius Malfoy stepped out, straightening his robes.

"Apologies for taking so long, Draco, they wanted to examine your mother seemed stable and the medi-witch forgot to write down something the first time, so they had to repeat the whole thing over," The man rolled his eyes.

"You can sit down, they're bringing your mother in a wheelchair. I asked for a healer who will be with her at the party. You can mingle and enjoy the ball rather than worrying about her."

Malfoy nodded quickly and Lucius turned around as the fire started to glow green again. Harry tried to look anywhere but Malfoy's arse, but it was smack in his line of vision. He gave up, flushing with embarrassment and standing up.

The fire crackled and a wheelchair was pushed out by a healer, who looked distressed and hurried. As they watched, another healer in lime-green robes and St. Mungo's crest on the back of their robes carefully led Narcissa out and with the other healer's help, sat her down in the wheelchair.

The first healer exchanged a few words with the second one, and with a backward wave vanished inside the roaring fire. The fire died down to a low red, still spitting sparks of green as the healer turned around Narcissa's wheelchair.

"Hello, I'm Healer Elmcroft, but you can call me Renee," greeted the Healer, shaking Malfoy's and Harry's hand.

Her grip was firm, which surprised him. She was quite young, in her mid-20s. Her black hair was neatly stacked into a bun, but some strands had gotten out and there were shadows under warm brown eyes. She looked tired, but still alert. Harry decided he liked her. She seemed nice enough and she was treating Narcissa in a gentle and caring way.

"How long will this ball be? I think it's best she is not moved around the rooms too much…" Renee asked Lucius but Harry had stopped paying attention, because he was now offered a full sight of Narcissa.

She was sitting up, but barely. She looked crumpled, and her hair was grey and she stared at them with her eyelids heavy. She seemed to have gotten worse and she opened her lips then closed them again, blinking slowly. Malfoy made a sound, and Harry walked closer to him and put his arm around the man, not knowing why.

This was the only time when Harry felt comfortable with the man, when he could see him in emotional distress. And without all the walls of cool mask, he knew it was breaking Malfoy inside to see his mother withering away in front of him.

"Tomorrow, I swear, we'll start going over the names and we will track him down, we will capture him and we will save her," he whispered in Malfoy's ear. He pushed away all of his confusing thoughts and pulled him closer as Renee and Lucius chatted on.

The doorbell rang and they jumped apart, faces red. Malfoy cleared his throat and stood up straighter and walked to the front door. Renee and Lucius were looking at Harry now and he shrugged, embarrassed. After a beat, he turned around and caught up with Malfoy.

Laughter echoed in the corridor as Harry approached the door. He heard several voices speaking over each other and as he got closer, he saw a female hugging Malfoy and two other men grinning at them. They were all dressed in smart, expensive-looking robes, and the woman's robes were glistening with what looked like crystals.

When he reached them, he realised that they were Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini and Goyle. Who were now all staring at him with confusion and then dawning on recognition. He watched silently as Pansy let go of Malfoy and stepped up to him. She looked at him, then exchanged amused looks with Blaise and Goyle. Malfoy cleared his throat loudly.

"Good evening, Potter. I assume you're here because you're his-supposed- boyfriend?" asked Pansy, her eyes twinkling with humour as she smoothed the front of her pale violet robes. The crystals dangled and made tinkling noises as Malfoy rolled his eyes. Harry looked at him in alarm, not saying anything.

"Pansy, if you already know the answer, why bother asking?" said Malfoy, crossing his arms and ignoring Harry's insistent stare.

"Wait, she's not kidding? Draco, Harry Potter is your boyfriend?" cut in Goyle, sounding as dumb as he had in school.

"Let the man speak for himself, eh, Goyle?" replied Blaise, slinging an arm around Malfoy casually and smirking. Harry felt jealousy shoot through him, and he tried to push it down when he realised they were all looking at him for an answer. What was the question again?

"Er," he started. Malfoy rolled his eyes again. "It's just for – for, Mrs. Malfoy…"

"Yes, yes, blah blah, etc, can we get to the party where there's dancing and alcohol?" asked Pansy, dragging Goyle and Zabini with her. Malfoy made to follow, but Harry caught his elbow and held him back.

"Malfoy, why are they all here?" he asked desperately.

"They're my friends, Potter. It's my birthday ball or party or whatever Father's making it to be," Malfoy replied, trying to shake off Harry's grip.

"But all the Weasleys will be here. And we all know how well Slytherins and Gryffindors get along."

"Potter, seriously, we're supposed to be adults here. I've made my decision, and I trust my friends to not attack anyone. I can't be to blame if any of you stupid Gryffindors decide to act on their instincts and curse someone."

"We're not stupid!" said Harry defensively.

"Well," said Malfoy, turning his head to look at Harry. For some reason, he felt blood shoot through his body and his face heated as the grey eyes bore into his. "Maybe not all of them are."

Harry blinked furiously, realising how close they were standing. He felt something inside him swooning. Kiss him, kiss him, kiss him his mind chanted. He leaned forward and Malfoy looked alarmed, opening his mouth but then closing it again. They were so close he could feel Malfoy's breath on his lips. He closed his eyes, reaching forward and -

"Draco! Where did you tell the house elves to put the 1987 French wine bottles?" shouted Lucius from the other room and Malfoy jumped, startled. He pulled away from Harry's grip and ran down the corridor, not looking back.

Harry ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. He had no idea what he was doing anymore. He didn't even want to think about what he felt or what he wanted and why he felt anything towards Malfoy. It was seriously messing with his head. He had to talk to Hermione. Knowing Ron, he'd probably check him into a mental asylum.

Yo, yo! It's me. Again. Hiya, I know I haven't updated in a few days, but I'm sooo sorry about that. I've written up the next chapter, and now I shall go on to hopefully write two more so I can update more! I've just been so busy with school, ugh exams and ugh homework and ugh school and just ugh life in general, right? Oooooh dayum it's getting hot in here (just kidding) but just you know the sex ain't happening next chapter. I know! I suck. But seriously, like it's going to be my first smut scene in my first freaking fanfiction and I'll probably read some drarry to get inspiration (who doesn't love smutty drarry anyway?) I think I'm gonna put this story in M rating from now on...see y'all soon!

Song for the chapter:

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud

Reviews:

Deegee- LMAO that's actually what one of my friends said, and you're v v right. and I will, thank you so much!

- Oh gosh, hi! I actually know a lot of German people and don't worry, your English is very good! English isn't my first language either so I know what you mean, hahah I've been there before. Thank you so much and honestly I don't think my writing is good at all, this is my first fic and all so it's not like I have any experience! But I'm just trying to get better, and I hope I will :)

As usual, free cookies for anyone who reviews :D (c'mon guys. they have chocolate chips)