Disclaimer: Not mine, J.K's.

Chapter 5

Harry and Draco were released from the hospital wing just before lunch. The swelling on Harry's left eye had reduced significantly, but there was still a rather odd purple-green sort of colour blooming underneath his eye. According to Madam Pomfrey, Harry would have to live with this sickly looking bruise for another 2 days. Draco, as usual, was the image of perfection. While Harry was undoubtedly happy after Draco's proposition in the hospital wing, he couldn't help but feel a little bitter that he had to bare such an embarrassing souvenir from their brawl when Draco didn't have a scratch. He almost felt like asking Draco to limp a little just so people would know Harry had given just as much as he got during their fight.

When Harry stepped into the Great Hall at lunch time Hermione was the first one on him, cringing while gently examining his bruise and hugging him tightly. Harry could only imagine how much she thought he was hurting after such an encounter with Draco Malfoy, the boy who'd broken his heart by using him and casting him away so harshly. She questioned him tenderly about how he was feeling.

Harry gazed warmly into her eyes, as she squeezed his hands tightly to show her support. "Hermione, stop fussing," he said. "We talked, it's sorted and I've never been happier." Harry gave her a genuine smile and she knew that, at that particular moment, he meant it – he was happy.

Hermione gave a weak smile back to appease him, but in her heart she wasn't happy for him; she was worried – very worried. Draco Malfoy was trouble with a capital T and she knew he would only end up hurting Harry more the more he let himself get attached. No good would come of this, no matter how happy Harry was right now. Unfortunately for Hermione, she and Harry were soon joined by the other Gryffindors eager to see Harry's black eye and she wasn't able to quiz him for more details about his talk with Malfoy. Harry felt her disappointment at the abrupt end to their brief conversation and decided to make a point of not being alone with her any time soon to continue it. He knew what she would say and it wouldn't be what he wanted to hear.

After their last class for the day (History of Magic), Harry met up with Draco in a relatively large closet in a rarely used corridor of Hogwarts. Harry was understandably nervous, he felt like he was stepping into something brand new with Draco and he wasn't entirely sure he could get back if he changed his mind later – but it was too exciting to walk away from. Harry checked to see if anyone was watching before he slipped inside. There was practically nothing stored in the closet so there was plenty of room for Harry and Draco to get cozy. Draco was already there when Harry arrived and wasted no time in wrapping his arms around Harry to pull him into a hug.

"I wondered if you'd ever let me do this to you," he whispered to Harry.

"So did I," Harry admitted. "You know there's a lot we should talk about first, before this goes too far." Harry was trying to maintain some kind of sensible thought process while his heart was beating out of control.

"Harry," Draco breathed, his lips were so close and it was hard for Harry to concentrate. "Do you really want to talk right now? We'll have so much time later…" Draco pressed up against him so that Harry could feel how much he wanted him.

Harry felt his knees start to buckle and his senses were overwhelmed with Draco; his touch, his smell and, as Harry kissed him, his taste. Harry was incapable of talking now, even if he had wanted to.

As Harry recalled that secret encounter with Draco again later that night, he realized he didn't have any clear memories of what actually happened. It was like Draco's presence was so intoxicating that Harry could only remember fuzzy details – lots of kissing and lots of hands going everywhere. In a way, Harry was really rather disappointed with this; he wanted to remember every moment and wished they had taken their time. He wanted to be able to recall what it felt like to slowly unbutton Draco's shirt and truly appreciate every newly exposed patch of skin as it revealed itself. But all Harry remembered was the intense giddiness he felt as Draco ripped open his school shirt hungrily kissing and sucking Harry's chest leaving more than a few hickeys there (not that Harry minded, they were like proof that night when he wondered if it was real). Harry vaguely remembered doing the same to Draco, but more carefully as he inspected and kissed his scars. He wasn't sure if he should hate those scars for hurting Draco or appreciate them for bringing them together. As delirious as Harry was during their entire 25 minute encounter, their actions were not so blurred that Harry didn't notice Draco making moves towards undoing Harry's pants. Suddenly, it all felt toomuch and he reached down to still Draco's hands with his own.

"I've never done this before," Harry paused before he continued; feeling very vulnerable in that moment. "I haven't – um, with another guy… you know." (Harry hadn't really done this with a girl either, but he was uncomfortable enough without admitting how thoroughly inexperienced he was). He flushed pink as blood rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment.

"Too far?" Draco questioned, his hands still gripping the top of Harry's trousers.

"I don't want to do this in a closet that's all." Harry wasn't sure that was all, but that was all he said to Draco; he'd deal with his performance anxiety on his own.

Draco smiled at him. "Let's meet at the Room of Requirement later tonight then, maybe we can get ourselves a nice bed and some privacy," he suggested.

Harry held his breath for a few seconds and his blushed faded quickly as he began to panic just a little. As much as he wanted to experiment with Draco and just let loose and enjoy himself, he was still nervous and this was still going way too fast.

"Or," Draco said, after seeing Harry's face, "we can meet somewhere else and just talk – you know, with no bed."

Harry relaxed knowing Draco wasn't going to rush him and pulled him into another kiss. "Thanks," he whispered. "Sorry I'm being such a girl about this."

"Hey, don't even worry about it," Draco said, running his fingers through Harry's hair. "This is still a little weird anyway; you're probably right about taking things slow."

Harry sighed, content with running his fingers up and down Draco's still bare chest as they talked about when they would next meet. He hoped that by tonight he would have gotten over some of his nervousness.

At dinner that night Harry pushed his worries aside and allowed himself to relax into the flow of conversation at Gryffindor table; he felt like his normal self for the first time in weeks. He laughed loudly with Ron at Seamus' antics, refusing to wonder just how long he would be able to do this before Ron found out about Draco and – well, who knows what would happen. He told himself to be happy and enjoy life while he felt this way; strangely whole. He had his friends and now a lover; everything else in his life – school and Voldemort – seemed to be pushed to the back of his mind, however unwise that was.

He could tell Hermione was still keen to continue their conversation so Harry made sure he was sitting in the middle of his friends; he had Ron and Neville on his left, Fred and George on his right, and Seamus and Dean directly oppose him. Hermione was sitting at least 5 people away from him with Ginny, Parvati and Lavender. Perfect, he thought to himself.

As people finished up their meals and settled into idle chatter about the day's events, the strangest thing happened. Harry looked at his watch and took note that the dinner plates would soon be cleared to make room for the dessert platters; it was right at that moment that the cutlery began to vibrate on the tables. It happened softly at first, nobody even noticed, then as it became more intense one or two people stared pointing out the odd behaviour.

Before long the goblets had started vibrating too, and then the plates began. Almost like an earthquake, Harry thought. People started to become anxious, some rising out of their chairs, most looking towards the teachers table for reassurance; but they didn't find it. The teachers were just as baffled as everyone else; earthquakes were not common in the wizarding world. It wasn't long before the intensity of the vibrations increased again; they doubled in only a few seconds. Suddenly, with no warning, all the glass in the room exploded showering the students in dangerously sharp sparkling shards.

The Great Hall was filled with the sound of fearful and shocked shrieks and screams as glass rained down on them from the high stained-glass windows surrounding them. Harry protected himself as best he could whilst surveying the room; investigating who was standing where and what they were doing. Most people crouched, covering their faces with their hands; there was no unusual behaviour that he could see.

Once the glass had stopped showering down people began to stand and look around the room; most checked on their friends to make sure they were okay, some (like Harry) were checking on who looked to most suspicious. No one was seriously injured, although some students had been hit by pieces of exploding goblets that they were unfortunate enough to be sitting too close to or, in the worst cases, still holding. Madam Pomfrey had a full ward that night as she saw student after student; carefully removing each piece of sharp shining glass from their faces and hands.

Harry was starting to feel claustrophobic with all the panic going on and, unfortunately, it took over an hour for him to escape since Dumbledore insisted that every student be examined by a teacher before leaving. Following their examination, students were either sent to their common rooms or the hospital wing at the teachers' discretion.

Harry tingled with lust when, in the midst of all the panic and commotion, Draco caught Harry's elbow stopping him so he might look him over to check he was unhurt – he was, as was Draco – and to confirm they were still meeting as arranged – they were.

A/N: Okay all, I have ended up splitting this chapter into 2 parts because it was far too long (this is the short half, next half is not quite, but almost, twice as long as this one). Good news: next chapter is already written. Bad news: I'm going to string it out for you because I am ridiculously busy this week. I'm doing my first lot of interviews for my research study this Wednesday and I have a 3500 word essay due Friday. Hence I'm going to try and pad out my lack of time for writing this story out a bit by postponing uploading the next chapter. Don't hate me for it!

Also, I have just updated my other chapters - i didnt change any of the content - I added in those page breakers since I only just discovered them (shh people! I'm new, dont tease!) and as someone mentioned my chapters are all bunched up and that can make it hard to read. Also added in the disclaimer for ch 1 and removed my note of forgetting the disclaimer in ch 1 in ch 2 (since it would look retarded if i didnt).

Okay, so what did you think of ch 5?