Harry dropped his head upon his desk with a deep exhale. The cool touch of the board tingled against his warm, throbbing forehead. Inside, his entire being was spinning with confusion. He closed his eyes and the darkness revealed the memories like an opening stage curtain. He remembered the bath, the kiss, then Myrtle. Next was the fight, the slap, the lonely night.

It's been a week, Harry thought in another sigh. He didn't really apologize, but we are still together.

Together… The word echoed in his head. Of course this felt like a relationship, but was it? Normal couples were like Ron and Hermione, well a little different, actually. But still. They would hold hands occasionally, always seen together, and people knew about them.

Harry clenched his eyes tighter and remembered the last time he saw the white haired boy. They were in the Gryffindor lobby, a small room in the Gryffindor corridor used for little gatherings. It was late at night so they were alone. They sat side by side on a couch before a tiny table. They had books spread out and papers all over for their projects. They talked, but not about them or Myrtle at all. They discussed their project, the notes, and the books. As Harry sat close to him, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. He felt like the string they were clutching onto was fraying too quickly and was about to snap.

"What about this?" Draco had asked, but Harry didn't answer. When he looked down at the brunette beside him, his head was down and he was lost in another world, eyes closed and silent. "Harry?"

Harry then leaned slightly to the right so their shoulders bumped. Draco watched as Harry silently rested his head on his shoulder and leaned against him more. He dropped the paper in his hand and turned as Harry turned. Harry grabbed at Draco's chest and Draco tugged at his shoulders until he was completely against him. Draco then leaned back against the couch, holding the brunette tight in his arms. They clutched onto each other as if they would lose them forever if they ever loosened their grips. They said nothing because no words were needed. They were in a knot that couldn't be undone.

The bell chimed and Harry reopened his eyes. This isn't good… Harry thought as he forced himself to stand. I miss him…

…...

After a week of checking in, Harry returned to the library one last time to the library. The books he had left in the bath had disappeared when he returned to get them the next day. His only hope was that someone would return them to the library so he could receive them again. He approached the front desk once more and asked the only skin and bones lady behind it.

"Excuse me, are those books back in yet?"

The lady pressed a single button on the computer and then nodded. "Someone checked them in this morning." She pointed to the far back isle behind her. "Back there. Third isle, top row."

Harry nodded and said, "Thanks." He rushed down the isles, counting in his head as he passed them and turned abruptly onto the right one. Suddenly he was face to face with Luna Lovegood at whom he almost ran into if he hadn't have pulled his weight back. "Luna! Wha-Uh, hi…"

"Hello, Harry," she said in that sweet, monotone of hers that seemed to add a hint of curiosity to everything she said. He stood puzzled for a second, trying to sat something and coming up short on words. Instead he forced a weak smile and pushed past her for his books. "How's your relationship going?" She asked slowly.

Harry whirled back around in an instant. "Relationship? Uh, right, y-you mean the… the project. Um.. Good, I guess. Just looking for research right now." He clenched his hand into a fist behind his back. He was a nervous wreck! It was so obvious of him!

Luna smiled, hugged the books in her arms closer to her, and sauntered past him. "You don't have to act so nervous. It's not like your hiding something."

Harry tried to relax. "Uh, yeah…"

She kept her head slightly low for a second, then raised it high in that absent-minded way. "You know, my father said that partners are like pen and paper. No matter how hard they try to stay away from each other… they always end up as one piece… a book or even a note." She didn't meet Harry's eyes as she spoke; she merely looked around the rows of books and ran the very surface of her fingertips across them. "Sometimes… the paper crumbles… or the ink spills. Still, they are fixed and reunite again." She finally faced him with the small crook of a smile in the corner of her lips. "Funny, isn't it? How something could completely fall apart… for something they were meant for…"

Harry stood, mesmerized by the words and tried to find something to say. "Sure, Luna…"

Her eyes dazzled as she looked away again and down to the books in her arms. "That's why partners should stick by each other…because no matter what, they will always need each other."

"Luna, why are you telling me this?" Harry asked deeply.

Luna gave him a soft shrug. "I don't know. It's another one of those things… that I needed to say…" Her eyes darted from the floor to his eyes and she smiled that way again. "I think I'm gonna go take a nap now." Without another word, she handed him the books in her arms and walked away, her bleach-blonde hair bouncing as she skipped.

Harry gave her a glance as she left, then stared down in pure confusion at the books on the wizard he had lost last week…

…...

An awkward blanket rested over the middle table in the study room. Harry sat beside Ron where Hermione sat on his right. Across from them was none other than Draco himself. There was a messy pile of books at Harry's end with papers spread all around the boys. Meanwhile, by Hermione was a perfect stack of books and folders of papers, organized and ready to go. As Harry and Hermione struggled to take good notes, Ron's sharp gaze was glaring hard at the white haired fiend across the table. Draco was trying to read one of the books before him when he noticed the red head staring. Hermione bumped his elbow and Ron looked back down to the papers in his hand, but his eyes soon returned back to the enemy across the table.

Draco stared harshly for a second, waiting to see who would look away first, but the fierce gaze remained. Soon he raised his head and spat, "What are you gawking at, Weasley?"

"Just a slimy cockroach-"

"Ron!" Hermione whispered harshly, smacking his arm again.

Draco slapped the book down from his hands and leaned across the table to the red head. "If you want to start something, I'd suggest not. You wouldn't last very long."

Ron whipped out his wand and muttered out between clenched teeth, "We'll see who turns to ashes first." He was ready to jump to his feet and fire at the white haired boy, but Hermione yanked him back down, cursing at him under her breath.

Harry kicked the nearest shin he could find and he soon learned who it was when Draco flinched and smacked his knees against the table. His glare quickly moved to the brunette at which he scowled at. "You want to say something, too, Potter?"

"Knock it off, Malfoy," he snapped.

"Maybe you should tell your ugly friend here to stop giving me the evil eye."

"Gosh, enough already!" Hermione groaned. "You're all acting like children!"

Draco laughed slightly and returned his eyes to the book, muttering loud enough for the whole table to hear, "Mudblood."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise and hurt and Ron finally jumped to his feet. "That's it! No one talks shit like that about Hermione without getting their face ripped off!"

Draco was on his feet in a flash, wand out and ready. "Let's go, ginger. Everyone knows the Weasley pussies can't fight to save their mudblood lives."

"Stop!" Harry shouted and shoved Ron back, along with Hermione at his side. "This isn't working. Ron, Hermione go ahead and study somewhere else." He turned his glare to Draco across the table. "I can handle someone as low as him until lunch is over."

Draco smirked devilishly and with the flick of his wrist, he sent every paper on the table flying into the air. The organized books crumbled to the floor and the perfect papers went scattering all over the library. Hermione gasped then cried in frustration, "You're despicable!"

Draco scoffed and turned away proudly. "As if words from someone like you matter to me."

Ron went to blow his bloody head off if it wasn't for Harry pushing him back. "Stay here. I'll deal with him."

"But, Harry-"

"Just go."

Harry used a small spell to regain his own papers, grabbed his books, and headed over to the far back table where Draco now sat at. As he set the pile down with an irritated slam, he whispered harshly, "What the hell's your deal?"

Draco didn't answer. Instead, he shoved a small scrap of paper in his face. "Here are the facts I got from that lousy book. Can we use 'em or not?"

Harry quickly saw past his trick when he saw the scribbled down note.

I had to do something to get away from those freaks.

Harry sighed and took a seat across the table from him. "Yeah, they are fine," he lied as he used his wand to erase the words. "But this one's spelled wrong. It's like this."

Don't call them that and you could've been a little nicer.

"I'm pretty sure, it's spelled right."

As if. If I was nice, they wouldn't have believe me.

"I said, it's wrong. And we need the date here."

I guess. But aren't they going to be suspicious if we are suddenly getting along right now?

The moment Draco read the words, he groaned loudly and tossed the book at Harry's chest hard enough to make it look like it hurt, but gentle enough to barely leave a scratch. "Damn it, Potter, if everything I do is wrong then you fix it!" He screamed.

Harry gave a quick glance to Ron and Hermione who were staring in disgust. Then the note was slid in front of him.

That good enough for you?

Harry shook his head and responded, "Whatever."

"Just stop speaking for God's sake."

This isn't going to last forever… Harry wrote and slid the paper to Draco who only stared. He added more from across the table. They're gonna find out soon enough. We already got caught twice and it's a miracle we got out of it without anyone else knowing. I talked to Luna today, too, and it seems like she knows, but doesn't at the same time. It worries me. What the hell are we suppose to do? This can't go on…

Draco crumbled the note up in seconds and tossed it across the table. When Harry stared in confusion, he motioned his head to the staring couple across the room and he understood. It wasn't long before another paper was slide to him with the last words he expected from him.

Harry, come to my room tonight.

Harry's eyes widened, but he said nothing. He raised his eyes to the golden ones staring at him across the table. He quickly looked back down at the note to see if the words he read were correct. Slowly, his strength faded and his irritation settled into a strong emptiness. With nothing more said, he simply nodded.

…...

Harry gently plopped down on the green and white bed the moment his shirt was removed. His arms laid above his head in an inviting sense as Draco slowly crawled on top of him. Their eyes met gracefully for a minute, staring without the need for words. They didn't smile nor frown, instead a mellow straight face sat across each of their expressions, showing a deep sense of acceptance and withdrawal at the same time.

They kissed softly, their lips just barely touching and taking their sweet time moving throughout the kisses. Draco's hand slowly retracted from Harry's cheek as he separated their lips. Their narrow gazes met for a second before Draco leaned down and delicately kissed his neck. Harry felt the goosebumps follow Draco as his lips left tender, amorous kisses down his chest. He kissed from the start of his collar bone to between his ribs, to the tip of his belly button. After that he let his tongue drag down his navel to the rim of his boxers. Harry shivered at the chill running through his body when Draco started to remove them.

"W-Wait." He quickly sat up and grabbed the snow white hair at his crotch. "Draco, don't-"

"Shhhh," he said quietly and grabbed his hand. He leaned back up and pushed the brunette back onto the bed. "Just close your eyes," Draco spoke quietly and placed Harry's hand back above his head, "and feel what I do to you."

Harry took a deep breath to settle his rattling nerves and trembling breathing while Draco went back down on him. He grunted as his boxers were removed and his bare crotch was groped. He shuddered and let out a short gasp when he felt Draco's tongue go rolling across the tip of him. His fingers curled around the sheets above him and tightened with every lick he received. Soon he was clutching onto the bed for the pleasure was too much. Draco licked all around Harry's length, up and down the sides and between every curve. When he took him completely inside his mouth, Harry let out a horny gasp and opened his eyes wide.

"D-Draco, stop-ahh…" His head turned sharply to the side where his glossy eyes shut once again. Draco sucked hard and made Harry moan. "Please," he begged in an erotic whisper, "I-I can't…"

Draco relieved the brunette and released him. He crawled back to him and return their longing lips. They kissed deeper than before, holding their faces close as their heads turned and slid into the other tighter. The way they kissed was more affectionate and desirous than lusty. There was a craving resting deep inside them both and it was merely to have the other; just to be this close was enough and they weren't letting go of it for anything.

Harry watched as Draco pulled out a tube of lube and covered his length in the slick liquid. As soon as he finished, they grasped onto each other, Harry dragging Draco down upon him as they dug into the bed again. He wrapped the brunette's legs around him again and quickly pushed inside. Harry cried out at the sharp pinch, but moaned at how easily and tightly Draco slid entirely inside. It was as hot and constricting as before, but there was also a new sense of pleasure stirring inside them both. It was a satisfying feeling, like they reached a goal they knew was impossible.

Draco squeezed Harry closer to him by wrapping his arms around his lower back. Harry slipped his arms tightly around his neck to keep their bodies as one. Their eyes met as Draco started to move, thrusting at a steady pace and slowly rocking the panting brunette under him. They called each other's names and clung to each other tighter as the pleasure took them over. They moaned and groaned with as much passion as there was lust.

As he jerked and rolled his hips with pleasure, Harry cupped his arms under Draco's, pulling his body as physically possible to him. Among the pants and cries, Harry forced their lips together, letting out a breathless gasp to escape his lips.

"I love you, Draco…"

Draco flinched, but didn't refuse the kiss. He even kissed him harder and clutched to him tighter. He buried himself deep into the other, allowing all problems and doubt to drift away without any regrets. Together, they were happy. Together, they were as one. Together, they were a true couple.

…...

As the night settled into morning, the dark blue was diminished by the orange rays and submerged the night sky into a settling baby blue. It was still cloaked with a cold shadow, masking everything in a calm, soothing manner. In the Slytherin dorm room, Draco sat against the headboard of his bed, knees up, and eyes out the nearest window. He had watched the sun slowly rise into the way it was now and he couldn't help the lonely feeling it gave him within.

His eyes glanced down to the brunette sleeping peacefully beside him. He was half naked, face down under the covers with his head towards Draco. He stared at his smooth face and gently brushed his fingers across the tender skin. He looked so open and helpless without his glasses, but at the same time he was utterly adorable. Draco remembered why he had done everything he had by staring at the beautiful sleeping face next to him…. Until his fingers pushed his hair out of his face and exposed his scar.

The scar… The mark was a permanent reminder of why he was in Slytherin, of why Harry was always right, of why they were at different ends of the rope. His side was helping to spread that scar until it split the very boy in half. Draco pulled away quickly upon seeing it, as if his hand was poisonous to the brunette and he could no longer be near him.

Something inside Draco ripped to shreds and tore him apart. It stung, it burned deep inside his chest straight down to his core to the point of pain where he had to grasp his chest to breathe again. If it hurt now… If it hurt him… He glanced to Harry and wondered how bad it would affect him by the end of the day.

As much as it killed him, Draco forced himself to stand. He got dressed and quietly left the room, locking the door to protect the sleeping bird inside. He stared at the boy in his bed carefully, examining him one last time before shutting the door.

Snape raised his eyes when the knock came at his classroom door. "Enter." The door clicked and the footsteps echoed as the boy approached the desk. Snape pushed the hair out of his face with a whip of his head and stared at the boy suspiciously. "I don't have to guess as of why you are here…"

Draco stared hard at the ground silently for a minute. He then fiercely darted his eyes up at the cold teacher and met his harsh stare evenly. "I want a new partner…"

Suspenseful enough? If you want the next chapter, keep reviewing. They are what keeps me going. Update coming soon.