It was warm. One of the hottest days of the school year, from the feel of it. Draco sighed, wiping the sweat off of his hair. He didn't like the heat. He enjoyed being in the damp dungeon, away from the sun. But today, he was feeling restless. Restless and angry. His life was falling apart. What right did he have to be comfortable in his common room? No, he deserved to suffer in the heat. So he wove random paths in the field, his fingers rustling the reeds. His family was succumbing to the Dark Lord's powers. His home was taken, his freedom was gone, and his parents were nothing more than slaves. He was glad for Hogwarts. He was glad for its many faces. He could be the conniving Slytherin in the morning, a hard-working student in the afternoon, and a wandering ghost at night. He did not need to cower. He did not need to stoop down. He was a Slytherin, after all. Which Slytherin, in their right minds, would want to obey? Definitely not Draco. But he weighed his options well. Disobedience led to pain. Pain was one thing he did not want more of.
He stumbled upon an already flattened trail. It didn't look like his trail. He followed the path, wondering where it led. He found the unexpected. Harry was sitting in the clearing with an added wrapped around his leg. "Whoa! You have an snake on your leg, Potter," he said before he could stop himself. He was supposed to leave the boy to die, wasn't he?
Harry jerked and turned his head quickly to look at Draco. The Slytherin noticed the slight confusion, which quickly turned to recognition and loathing. "Really, Malfoy?" Harry asked caustically.
"It's an adder. Best not to worry it." There he goes, his mouth running off on him again. Let the boy worry it and get bitten. Why should he care?
"I'm not worrying it," Harry muttered, turning back to the snake.
"You're so strange," Draco mumbled to himself. Now would be a good time to leave, he supposed. He froze when he heard a low hiss from the snake. His heart stopped when he heard Harry replying. He breathed in sharply.
Harry suddenly remembered that Draco was still behind him. He glanced at him and blushed. "I – er… Sorry," he said, looking mortified.
Draco's mind was rather slow to process Harry's words. "Why?" he asked.
Harry's back was turned to him. He heard a low murmur that sounded like, "Never mind." The snake spoke again. By the way Harry's back stiffened, Draco knew it was nothing good. He heard Harry's terrified hiss, feeling slightly lightheaded. Parseltongue. This was the second time Draco had heard Harry use Parseltongue. The first time, he had been slightly awed and scared of the boy. This time… the snake flicked its tongue out, drawing out its words enticingly. Harry's intonation was enough for Draco to know that Harry was near hysterics. "What are you saying?" he asked quietly.
Harry let out a low groan and hid his face in his hands. "Trust me, you don't want to know, Malfoy," he said sullenly.
Draco watched the snake shift, causing him to jump in fright. Harry didn't seem the least bit bothered that he was about to be bitten to a very painful death. He merely clicked his tongue in irritation, trying to stop the snake from making its way up his leg. Draco's eyes fell on the slithering adder who looked comfortable against Harry, as though they were best friends. It slid up Harry's hand that was trying to push it away. It wound around the arm. Draco saw the tongue licking Harry's ear gently, whispering secrets. He moved in closer, crouching down unconsciously. He wanted to hear every word out of Harry's mouth. He wanted to make out every soft resonance. He noticed Harry blushing even more. His eyes slid from Harry's red ears to the sweat-slicked shirt. Then there was silence. He waited.
Harry suddenly started to vehemently try and unwrap the snake from himself. The reptile had offended him in some sense. Draco wanted to know. He wanted to know what the boy and the snake were talking about. He wanted to know the snake's secret. He wanted to be here, listening to the quiet conversation, forever. What a thought… He heard Harry breathe in loudly. He wasn't prepared for the Gryffindor to turn to him so quickly. He caught Harry before the latter could fall over in his surprise of seeing the Slytherin so close to him.
He had never been this close to Harry before. Who was this boy? He searched Harry's face for some recognizable feature. Soft green eyes, plain nose, and disproportionate lips. This was Harry Potter? Is that all he was? He wasn't scary at all… Then he spoke. Draco gasped slightly, his fingers tightening around Harry's arm. His heart beat erratically as his mind clouded over. What was this? He saw Harry's jaw twitch as though the raven-haired boy was gritting his teeth. Had he done something to anger the Golden Boy? Another short hiss escaped between them.
Draco's senses sharpened in that instant. He suddenly became aware of Harry's proximity to him. He felt the heat from Harry's breath, the deplorable heat. And he wanted to feel more of it. Draco's eyes moved to Harry's lips, trying to force them into speaking. The snake was spilling secrets into Harry's ear. Draco wanted to do the same. He closed his eyes. He wanted to murmur all his secrets into Harry's ear, just so Harry would talk for him again. A strangled breath and a terrified sibilation left Harry's tongue. Harry was scared. Was Harry scared of him? Draco tried to let go of Harry. He tried to move away. He just needed to get away from this boy, from the heat.
Harry was calling to him.
"Hmm?" he answered, his murmur lost in his haze of confusion. He opened his eyes. He caught Harry's panic. Then Harry called him again. No… Harry caressed him with his tongue. "S – stop," he gasped, shaking as his eyes fell shut. He was falling apart. Harry was tearing him apart with his hesitant words. As each hiss sounded from Harry, Draco shivered. The heat was unbearable. What was he doing here? He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to be in the dungeon, working on his mission. He was supposed to be far away from Harry. Harry's faint question burned him. Should Harry stop? "Yes," Draco answered, pushing his fingers into Harry's shoulder to ground himself. He wondered what expression he was wearing at the moment. He needed to get away. Why wouldn't Harry let him go? Harry wasn't holding Draco down. Why couldn't he let go?
Harry caressed him again. His eyes sprung open, dilated. He wanted Harry. He wanted Harry now.
The words were directed to him now. The hisses wrapped around Draco. He shuddered under Harry's eyes. Then Harry touched him. Draco melted, pressing his cheek against Harry's fingers. He watched Harry's lips move slowly. He was aroused as never before. He tried to scramble away. Harry tightened his hold on Draco. Harry was moving closer. Draco couldn't make his eyes focus on the Harry anymore. He saw an apparition before him. He knew that Harry could hear his hear beating out of his chest. Harry apologized discernibly. Draco felt his breath shaking through him.
Harry caressed him.
Draco felt a breathless moan escape him. He could see no longer. He was in the dark, trying to find Harry's voice. He was afraid. "Harry," he panicked. Should Harry stop? Never. Draco didn't want Harry to stop, ever. He moved towards the hiss. "No…" he whispered. He wrapped his arms around Harry and pressed against the beating heart that mirrored his own rhythm. He hid his face against the crook of Harry's neck. Harry was holding him with his arms and his words. Harry was pushing him into the depths of ecstasy with the cajoling hisses. Harry was whispering secrets to him. He felt Harry's mouth against his ear, sending continuous shivers down his spine. Harry was confiding in Draco. The words flowed into Draco, making his weak. Harry strengthened his hold on Draco.
Love…
Harry was talking about love. Why would he do that? Draco couldn't breathe. Everything in him squeezed almost painfully, leaving him dazed. Why would Harry talk about love?
Draco.
Draco stifled his loud moan against Harry's shirt. "H – Harry… Please, I – I'm –"
Harry interrupted him with a soothing sibilant. Draco didn't want to let go. He didn't want this to be a dream. Harry's quiet hiss was making him weak with pleasure. How was this possible? Harry reassured him. And he knew. This was real. He was in Harry's arms. He wanted to be in Harry's arms forever.
Now.
Draco felt the arms pull him up. He drowned in Harry's lips. His climax caused him to cry out in near madness. He crushed against Harry, gasping for air and moaning. How was it possible to love like this? How was it possible to love like Harry? Draco fell into Harry's love without another thought. Waves of passion flowed through him, each ripple stronger than the last. Draco didn't want it to stop. He was falling so quickly. But Harry would catch him. Then Harry would help him fly again. He felt Harry's lips still against his. He wanted to freeze this moment. He felt Harry's soft heart against his chest. He felt Harry's hands running down his back. He felt Harry's breath on his cheek. Harry's lips stayed still, helping Draco capture the dream. Draco's strength left him and he slumped into Harry. Harry held him close. Their breaths started to synch. Draco felt sleep dragging him down.
I love you, Draco.
"I love you, Harry."