Chapter 2

4th December. Hospital Wing. 1AM.

Seamus lay, battered and bruised, on the most uncomfortable hospital bed he had ever had the misfortune of testing. He had spent so much time here over the past five years that he knew most of the staff by name and could usually use his frequent injuries as a way of securing the most comfortable beds and nicest food, but Professor Dumbledore had been so unamused by their antics that he specified to Madame Pomfrey that he and Malfoy be put in the least comfortable beds and be treated to no luxuries. He had managed to nod off for a couple of minutes, but a snoring student in the next bed made sure that those would be the only minutes of the entire night. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but knew it was of no use because he couldn't stop playing through that moment over and over again. Had Draco noticed the contact? He must have. He must have felt it. Seamus could still taste Draco's blood in his mouth.

It surely didn't qualify as a kiss though. It was completely involuntary. It was unintentional. Besides, Seamus had a crush on Cho Chang – how could he suddenly just... kiss someone else. A Slytherin. A boy! A Malfoy! No, he wouldn't think about it any longer. He would give it no more thought, because it deserved nothing more. It was an accident. Malfoy would be seen dead before he'd be seen kissing a boy. Seamus swept it from his mind, desperately thinking of something else to occupy his mind. Perhaps the way he'd been working on the desk opposite Cho in Potions and she'd given him a kiss on the cheek after he helped save her poor attempt at brewing a Polyjuice Potion. Or the way he had brushed past her in-between the bookshelves of the library and their bodies had touched. Or the way she had worn that short skirt a few weeks back and he'd followed her up the stairs to Professor Trelawney's Divination lesson. He let his hands reach down his body and feel that he was aroused.

He couldn't forget. He had kissed Draco. Even now, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Seamus bit his lip, knowing that Draco's blood had been there, knowing that he had tasted something that no other boy had, and it excited him. It aroused him. No, no – he couldn't. He pulled his hand from underneath the blanket and sat up in bed, hanging his head in shame.

Echoing footsteps on the ward caught Finnigan's ear. He was supposed to be asleep. Subtly, Seamus began manoeuvring, but the springs of the bed creaked loudly, and the footsteps stopped. Seamus froze. They started again, getting louder and louder. Shit, he thought. Madame Pomfrey's gonna be so mad...

A hand reached around the curtain separating his bed from the next, and drew it open. Seamus's stomach churned, terrified that he was going to be further punished. This isn't who he is. He just wanted to do well in his studies, become a good wizard, be liked by the Professors. The figure drew the curtain closed behind them, and moved closer to Seamus. It wasn't a member of staff. It was Malfoy. His hair was messy and out-of-place. He was wearing nothing but pyjama bottoms, leaving his bare torso exposed. Seamus refused to look. Seamus didn't want to look.

'What do you want, Malfoy?', Seamus announced.

'Shut up, Finnigan,' whispered Malfoy. 'You're gonna get us in more trouble than you already have.'

'I got us in trouble? You're the one who attacked me, who punched me, who...'

'Who what, Finnigan? Kissed you?'

'We didn't kiss, I fell because you moved your arm.'

'No, you forced yourself on me. You tried to kiss me, but I moved away.'

Seamus laughed. 'Why would I want to kiss you, Slytherin? Even if I was gay, you Malfoys would hardly be my type. Everyone knows I like Cho, anyway.'

'Cho Chang? That Ravenclaw that Potter's been lusting after? C'mon, Finnigan. Don't fool yourself. You tried to kiss me.'

'Get fucked, Malfoy.'

'You'd like that, wouldn't you.' Draco sniggered to himself. 'You queer.'

'I'm not gay, Malfoy.'

'Finnigan, I think we both know tha...-'

Footsteps. Somebody was on the ward. Only staff are permitted to walk the wards this late.

'Shit', whispered Malfoy, who looked around desperately for somewhere to hide. His eyed darted back and forth across the room, desperately seeking somewhere to hide. The curtain was too thin to disguise his figure. The space under the bed was filled with various medical apparatus. Finnigan looked at Draco's vulnerable, exposed frame before him. His ribs showed clearly though his pale skin, and his arms were trembling, either because he was cold, or he was scared of being caught.

'Move over, Finnigan,' he whispered, lifting up the bedsheets.

'What the fu...- No, Malfoy! You're the one out of bed, not me! You get out of this yourself.'

'C'mon, I need to hide! Where am I gonna go? Please, Finnigan.'

Seamus looked at Draco before him, surprised at having heard him use the word 'please' for the first time, but trying not to show it. The footsteps were getting louder. 'Fine,' he said 'but just until they leave.'

Draco clambered into the bed, hearing it squeak loudly as he did so. The footsteps got quicker, approaching the bed. He climbed in, moved under the sheets, and drew them over his head. Seamus could feel his semi-naked body pressed against his, and felt glad that he was facing the other way so Draco couldn't notice that he was aroused even more so by this. He shut his eyes tight.

The noise of the rungs at the top of the curtain clanging together hurt Seamus's teeth. He felt Malfoy grip him tighter beneath the covers. The footsteps got closer. Somebody was stood right above the bed, so close that he could hear them breathing. He could feel Malfoy's breathing on his back under the covers. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, praying that the observer would leave and not find him stowing somebody beneath the covers. Everybody would find out. His friends, his family... everyone would know that Seamus had hidden a semi-naked Draco Malfoy under the covers of his bed, to protect him, as if it was some kind of duty.

The footsteps started up again as the person walked away. They remained frozen in position until they heard the door close at the end of the ward. Awash with shame and embarrassment, Seamus lifted the covers and looked into the terrified eyes of Malfoy. For a second, he wanted to comfort him, tell him they'd gotten away with it, tell him he was safe. But only for a second.

'They've gone,' Seamus uttered, in as emotionless and cold a voice as he could summon.
Draco poked his head above the covers and looked around, making sure the room was clear. He sighed loudly, and shuffled upwards.

'Thanks, Seamus', said Draco. They both knew it was the first time Draco had used his name.

Their heads crept closer on the pillow. Both disbelieving what they were doing, but both having never wanted anything so much in their lives. Their lips met again, this time voluntarily, and they embraced. Neither felt any shame as Seamus ran his hand down Draco's bare back, and kissed him compassionately, wantingly. Their lips separated. Draco ran a finger through Seamus's hair.

'You say nothing. Nothing, Gryffindor.'

Seamus said nothing.