The last things Harry was aware of were the shouts of his men and the dark coldness which closed over his head.

When the ship had lurched, Draco was also thrown off, but unlike the mysterious human, he had the good sense to remain concious. Not that Draco could blame him, it looked like he'd hit his head on the way down.

But that was really the least of his worries. Draco didn't know much about humans, but he did know that they needed air to live. And this man had to live. He just had to. For some reason, Draco felt certain that he would never survive if this man died.

So he threw himself after the brunette into the inky depths. He wasn't sure how much time he had, but he knew it wasn't long. Frantic hands grabbed at the floating material surrounding the body of the man and hauled him back up to the surface. Their heads broke the surface at the same time, Draco gasping from the exertion and the human from lack of oxygen.

"Whu-" Harry spluttered, flailing around, almost hitting Draco, who was clinging to him from behind to stop him from drowning again. And if he happened to be subtly exploring the rather firm chest of the man, where was the harm in that? He was saving his life after all.

"It's alright, it's going to be okay. Just don't pass out ... urgh! what did I just say?" Draco shouted at the now unconcious man.

Draco was a little spoilt, how could a prince not be? So when he was scared or worried, he tended to come across as rather more arrogant and grumpy. But he really was terrified. What if it wasn't okay? What if Draco couldn't get this human to land and safety? And even if he could, what then? Surely such a beautiful face and perfect body would never betray his saviour's people, but how could Draco engineer them meeting again? Because he needed to meet this man.

He could worry about that later, for now he had to concentrate on getting them both out of the sticky situation. Glancing over his shoulder he could see the unfortunate vessel fighting the waves. It seemed like it would just about make it to harbour, and Draco really did have more pressing matters.

Whilst he furiously swam for shore, two thoughts swirled around his head -

'Please don't die on me'
and 'Father is going to kill me'

Eventually they made it to land, some beach that seemed close enough to the fortress, but far enough away that they would not be discovered before Draco could return to the sea.

But he was finding it very difficult to actually leave the man.

He had checked that the man was still breathing, and he looked like he would be alright, but still...

The man was so handsome, the moonlight glancing off his cheekbones and threading highlights through his ebony hair. Draco had never seen anything or anyone like it. He lightly ran his hand down the heaving chest of the man. The frantic heartbeats he could feel were almost reassuring, but they did seem like they were racing a little too fast.

Suddenly the man lurched up, gripping at Draco's arm and yelling out. At firt Draco thought the man had seen his tail, but when the man started crying he realised something else was wrong.

He seemed to be having some sort of fit, like a waking nightmare, and his bottle green eyes were wide with fear as he stared straight through Draco. The grip on his hand was painfully tight, but Draco didn't care, all that mattered was helping this stranger who so fascinated him.

"Just breathe, calm down, try to breathe," he said in his most soothing voice, but that didn't seem to help. The man was still hyperventilating, and he'd now started thrashing around, although he hadn't let go of Draco's hand.

In desperation, Draco threw his arms around the man and pulled him close to his chest. Rocking him back and forth he scrubbed his hand through the man's soaking locks and beginning to hum.

As the man calmed, Draco's voice grew stronger and his mouth began to form words he didn't recognise.

I don't know know you

but I want you all the more for that

words fall through me and always fool me

and I can't react

And games that never amount

to more than they're meant

will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home

we've still got time

Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice

you make it now

By now the man had fallen back into a peaceful sleep, and Draco's voice faltered as he felt the man nestle further into his embrace. Draco had never been responsible for anything or anyone in his life, but right here, on this dark beach, he felt a surge of protectiveness flood through him and he gazed down at the man in his arms.

But then, interrupting this moment of calm, several things happened at once. The man's beautiful eyes fluttered open once again, and the fast approaching sound of men and dogs reached Draco's ears. Shocked out of his reverie, he laid the awakening man back down on the beach and dived back into the ocean, swimming out until he was hidden behind the nearby rocks, still just within earshot of the shore.

"Prince Harry, Prince Harry, my lord! Are you there?" The calls of the men and the flickering of their torches came closer. "Harry! Are you alright?"

"Yeah," the man, Harry, replied blearily. "What happened? Where's..."

"Come on, lets get you back to the fortress my lord. There was a storm and you went overboard. Yound Ronald's going spare."

As the small group moved off, Harry supported between two of them, Draco tried to come to terms with what had happened, and calm his heart, which had almost jumped out of his throat when he'd heard Harry ask for him. Or at least, that's what Draco was going interpret that interrupted question as.

More coming soon I promise :)

reviews very much appreciated xxx