CHAPTER SEVEN

Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D

A/N: I'm almost at the end of their Hogwarts years, but worry not, for the story will continue after they leave. Thank you to the people who haave reviewed! I send you virtual cookies!

'Blaise...don't.' Harry muttered, pushing him away. 'I can't...'

Blaise shrugged, a strange grin on his face.

'Fine Harry. I don't mind. I was only dating you because Draco asked me to. I mean, you're cute, but a little too...abstinent for my taste.'

Harry pushed past Blaise, having not heard a word after "Draco asked me to." That git! he thought, that slimy ferrety scum-bag!

'MALFOY!' he screamed from outside the Slytherin rooms. 'Come out here now you bastard! Or are you scared?'

Draco stepped out, looking cool, calm and collected, only to have Harry fly at him, knocking him over. He felt a fist connect with his mouth, copper springing into it as his lips crushed against his teeth. Other punches rained down on him but all he could do was stare in surprise at a pair of tear-filled emerald eyes.

'How could you? Why would you? Don't you think sometimes I deserve to make my own decisions? I hate you Malfoy! And I don't get the joke!'

Draco watched silently as Harry ran off. He stood up and gazed nonchalantly toward the spectators.

'That was fucking weird.' he snarled.

General laughter meant he was off the hook, for now at least, and he strolled off in the direction Harry had run in, wishing that he could be running after him. He had recognized the look in Harry's eyes...but would he go through with it? Draco hoped not. He knew instinctively where Harry would be: near the Quidditch pitch. As he neared it he heard the sobs, saw the crumpled figure lying beneath the stands. Rushing forward he rolled Harry onto his back, gasping in dismay at the jugged cuts down his forearms. He pressed his hands to them, panic throwing propriety out the window.

'HELP!' he cried. 'Harry, hold on. HELP! Harry, look at me. What's my name? HELP!'

'M-malfoy.'

'No! What's my name Harry?'

'M-malfoy.' he whispered again, weaker this time.

'No! SOMEONE HELP! Focus Harry, you can do it!'

'D...draco...' Harry whispered, slipping into unconsciousness surrounded by snowstorms and the scent of mint.

--

Draco had been sitting in the same position for two days, staring at Harry and hoping that he would wake up. Merlin, I killed him... Draco was still in the same clothes, he was still bloody. Only Hermione knew why. She always favored him with a wan smile, a pat on the arm and the whispered words 'he'll be ok.' Draco hoped so. He wasn't going to move until he was. He refused to consider the alternative. So when Harry opened his eyes the first thing he saw was Draco, still covered in his blood. He quickly closed them again, hoping Draco hadn't nooticed. He had come to a realization. Draco had been the person under the Quidditch stands. And...as much as he didn't want to admit it, Harry knew he wanted Draco. He opened his eyes again and the fear and concern he'd thought he'd seen on Draco's face were gone, replaced with his trademark sneer. Draco stalked from the room, happy that Harry was ok, hoping he couldn't see how badly he was trembling. He knew for Harry to survive he would have to avoid him as much as possible.

--

The Christmas holiday break arrived. Families were closer after the war, and so everyone was going home. Of course, that wasn't quite true; both Harry and Draco were staying behind. Harry because he didn't think he could stand being with anyone and celebrating, Draco because he didn't want to go home to the Manor; too many bad memories. Neither boy knew the other was staying. Harry stared at the empty beds in the dorm, feeling somewhat relieved that noone was there and yet guilty for feeling that way. He sighed, straightening his bed. He pulled on jeans and an extremely wrinkled t-shirt, combed his fingers through his hair and thanked Merlin that those at St Mungo's had fixed his eyes for him so he would never have to wear his damn glasses again. He yawned sluggishly, debating whether or not to go down to the kitchen and eat. Almost of their own accord his feet took him from Gryffindor Tower through the school and to the kitchen. Unfortunately, lost in his thoughts Harry didn't notice the door swinging open until it smacked him in the head. His eyes widened with surprise, not because it hurt but because he wwas now face-to-face with Draco, the last person he'd have expected to see over the break. Harry's mouth opened once but he slammed it closed before anything he was thinking about the way Draco was licking his fingers could escape. Draco raised his eyebrows and dropped his hand from his mouth. Harry closed his eyes and touched his forehead, smearing the sticky trail of blood that had appeared.

'Ow...?' he whispered softly, almost a question.

Without opening his eyes Harry turned away and walked toward the bathroom that was on this floor. He pulled his shirt off and wadded it up, pressing it to his forehead to staunch the blood flow. He stared blankly into the mirror, dismayed that this hadn't hurt. He heard the bathroom door open but wouldn't turn around. He knew he should say something scathing, perhaps 'come to cause more damage', but he couldn't bring himself to. Instead he remained focused on his own reflection in the mirror. Draco stared at Harry, an involuntary gasp breaking free. He was so thin...his ribs and spine were clearly distinguishable, his shoulder blades sticking out like knives.

'Ha- Potter?' Draco asked.

Finally Harry looked at Draco, his gaze questioning.

'You can call me Harry you know. It is my name after all.' he said softly.

'Wouldn't you prefer Saviour?' Draco spat out.

Almost immediately he wished he could take it back. Harry's face paled and his eyes dulled. I'd take it back if I could. Draco watched in disbelief as Harry collapsed, cracking his head on the sink as he fell.

--

Harry awoke slowly, the corpses in his dream reluctant to release him. He groaned and buried his head in an unfamiliar pillow. He opened one eye cautiously and saw green and silver. Slytherin. He sat up slowly and almost fainted again as his gaze fell on Draco. I am in Draco's bed...what am I doing here? He slipped out of the bed quietly and almost made it past the sleeping boy but tripped, slamming his already agonizing head into the door.

'Merlin, you're clumsy Harry.' Draco murmured drowsily.

His eyes flung wide as he realized what he had said. What is he doing in my room? Oh...right... Harry, meanwhile, had decided that it was infinitely more comfortable on the floor than having to meet Draco's eyes...especially after hearing him speak his name. Harry was sure he was losing his mind.

'Are you ever going to get up from there?' Draco asked, barely managing to disguise a soft chuckle.

Harry wished he had heard some malice in Draco's voice but couldn't find any at all.

'I find this quite the safe position,' Harry mumbled into the rug, 'Because then I don't have to think about how or why I am here.'

This time Draco did chuckle softlyy.

'Are you hurt?'

'I don't know. As long as I am not bleeding I suppose I am fine. My head hurts like hell though.'

'You have smacked it twice.'

Harry groaned and sat up, rubbing his forehead, muttering 'three times' under his breath. Suddenly Draco was on his knees beside Harry, touching his forehead gingerly.

'Doesn't seem to be damaged...'

Harry stared wide-eyed at Draco as his fingers trailed down his jaw line. He realized his breathing was becoming ragged.

'D-draco?' Harry whispered.

'Shut up.' Draco hissed.

Harry blinked slowly, staring at the promise in Draco's eyes. This can't be happening, Harry thought. Draco tore his gaze away, shaking his head.

'Merlin...' he whispered shakily.

Harry seized the opportunity to flee. Draco looked up, wondering what he had done. He quickly followed, heading toward Gryffindor Tower. He saw Harry duck in but was stopped by the Fat Lady. She frowned at Draco contemptuously.

'I hope you do not think I would let you in Mister Malfoy.'

'I...er, was kind of hoping...'

She clicked her tongue, earning a scowl. Draco sighed heavily.

'When he comes out could you at least tell him I'm sorry?'

'A Malfoy apologizing? I would love to be a part of this monumentous occasion.'

Draco snarled before stalking away.

--

A week had passed without Draco even catching a glimpse of Harry. And now even the Fat Lady was ignoring him. Draco thought he was going mad, having successfully annoyed a portrait so much that it ignored him. He hadn't thought that possible. Since that fuck up with Blaise he had vowed to leave Harry alone, but now... He grabbed his broom and stalked to the Quidditch pitch, wanting desperately to forget about the other boy. He flew lazily for a while, but his heart wasn't in it. He stared into the sky as something hurtled toward the ground. Horrified, Draco realized it was Harry, and he showed no sign of stopping. Draco sped into Harry, sending them both flying off their brooms, landing tangled on the ground.

'What on earth were you trying to do?' Draco gasped when he finally got his breathing under control.

Harry stared sullenly, chewing his bottom lip.

'I wanted to see when I would feel afraid.'

'You could've died!'

'I've served my purpose, Malfoy. Or have you forgotten that?'

Harry laughed dryly. Draco sighed, realizing that he didn't really mind lying on top of Harry this way. Even stranger though was the fact that he hadn't been pushed off yet. He leant in so his lips brushed Harry's earlobe, nipping at it gently.

'Do you really want to feel something?' he whispered headily.

Harry sighed, his heart pounding so fast he thought it might break free of his chest at any moment.

'Can you make me feel?' he whispered in response.

As Draco's mouth pressed against his a moan escaped and Harry had to admit that he could. Of course he could. He gasped, his mind finally realizing how much his body wanted this. Draco pulled away and stood up, grinning softly.

'Feel anything yet?'

Harry leapt up and, grasping hold of Draco's shirt, pulled their bodies together, a low growl escaping. Draco chuckled, meeting Harry's mouth again. Harry ground his hips into Draco's and this time Draco moaned.

'Merlin...' he gasped as Harry fumbled with his belt. 'Harry, slow down.'

Harry lifted his eyes to Draco's, gauging his seriousness. Sighing he stepped backward.

'How do you do this to me?' he asked, running a hand through his hair. 'No one else, ever, has made me feel this way...and since the war...I haven't felt a thing except when I'm with you.'

Draco stared in silence. He didn't know how to respond to that.

'We can't do this.' he muttered.

'Just once, please. Let me feel alive again, just one time. I know we can't...but won't you?' Harry pleaded.

Draco leant in close.

'I can't help you Potter.' he growled regretfully before walking away.

I could never have you just once, he thought, because then I'd wantt you forever.

--

The remainder of the school year passed torturously slow for Draco. He had changed. He could no longer accept anyone into his bed. His "mean streak" faded and he moped around. Harry had changed as well, hoping to fill the hole within him with an endless parade of lovers. Both boys passed and, whilst Harry became an Auror as expected, Draco faded into anonymity,

A/N: Alright...so I don't actually know if a door can hit you in the head hard enough to make you bleed. But it did here, so ner. Also, yes Harry and Draco seem to be switching moods alot, but I'm trying to indicate how difficult it is for them to accept this. They were enemies, remember. Hope you are enjoying it. Reviewers get candy!