Draco's tongue flicked over his lips as he, once again, watched Harry enter the room in nothing but a towel, water droplets trailing down his slim but muscular chest. It didn't matter that he had seen the sight every day for the last week and a half; it still caused him to tense in anticipation, as if it was only a matter of time before one of them made the first move. As always, Harry blushed from his perusal.

Despite his obvious embarrassment, Draco knew that it didn't bother Harry as much it seemed. If it had, Harry would have begun to get dressed in the bathroom instead of continuing to come to the bedroom to parade in front of him…well, maybe not parade, but that's what Draco liked to call it since everyday Harry seemed to become more confident and just a little less shy.

"So, Potter," he said as Harry hid behind the closet door before slipping out of the towel. He smirked as he glanced into the mirror above his dresser; he hadn't had the heart tell Harry that it gave him the perfect view of his slim backside. Besides, while he might not like the brunette, he wasn't going to deny himself the opportunity to look at someone who had that hot of a body.

"Yes?"

"Have you ever wondered why we could never get along?"

Harry glanced around the door at him, surprised. "Not really, why?"

Draco shrugged, "I was just thinking about it." He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, closer to Harry. "Do you think it's because we're so different? Because you have savior complex and I believe in taking care myself before others? Or is it just because we were told that, you being a Gryffindor and me being in Slytherin, we cannot be anything other than enemies? Did we let opinions of everyone around us dictate what we chose? Do you think that, if were placed in the same house that we would've ended up friends?"

Harry pulled his pants on and came into full view as he buttoned them. He looked Draco over carefully, wondering what had brought on this line of questioning. Whether he was really curious or if he was ferreting (he couldn't stop the slight smile the unintended word brought to him) for information for Voldemort. But what use could the Death Eaters make the answer to a question like that?

Hesitating only a moment, he finally sighed and moved to sit next to Draco. "I think we would've had a difficult time being friends even if we had been placed in the same house. But I don't think it's because we're so different. Truth be told, we're more alike than you think."

Draco's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Why do you think that?"

"This is something that I haven't even told Ron and Hermione, but I was supposed to be sorted into Slytherin." He chuckled, "Supposedly I have a thirst for knowledge and want to prove myself. Personally, I think the hat was high. But since I had only heard bad about Slytherin, I asked to be put elsewhere. We both also have a tendency to do what's expected. You have the Malfoy name to live up to and I'm supposed to be some kind of boy wonder with great powers. I get so tired trying to be what everyone wants me to be. I don't have the kind of powers they think I do."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Potter. You've accomplished so much that wizards with a lot more experience would fail at. I mean, it was stupid of you to get into the situations in the first place, but you didn't let the fact that you were barely trained and they knew what they were doing get in the way of doing what you thought was right."

"That's the thing though, it was all luck. Every time I went up against something, things just turned out to be in my favor. Hell, I got away from Voldemort," While Draco didn't flinch like others did, Harry noticed a flash in his eye, "in the fourth year, I used expelliarmus. I mean, jeez, we learned that in second year."

"You know, some people would believe that it doesn't matter, that you won and it doesn't matter how lucky you were. You made it through and that's all that counts."

Harry looked at him and smiled. "You think?"

"I know."

HPHPHPHP

Lucius ran a hand through his hair, a very uncharacteristic gesture that Narcissa caught from across the study. She could see the toll that the Dark Lords return was having on her husband; see the signs of stress that he kept hidden from everyone but her. Closing her book and putting it to the side, she stood and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"You're working yourself too hard, dear. Why don't you take a break? We can have Cami bring up some tea and cakes."

Lucius looked up at her, his lips drawn tight and his eyes flashing. "I can't take a break, Narcissa," he snapped. "We have too much to lose! All because of one reckless, stupid decision I made years ago! How can you stand there and tell me to take a break when you know that if this spell fails, if I fail, then it will be our son who pays the price!"

Narcissa's eyes hardened at the implication that she didn't care what happened to Draco. "I can tell you to take a break because I know that if you don't, we'll be worse off. If you don't take a break, you're as good as useless, Lucius. I want Draco out of the middle of this just as much as you do. I want to have him home again, where I know he'll be safe and won't have to worry about what Potter might do to him. That's why I want you to rest, so that you'll have an easier time concentrating and finding a way to get him out of this mess."

Lucius closed his eyes and rested a hand where hers lay on his chest. "I'm sorry, Love. You're right; I'm letting the stress get to me." He stood up and gave her a light kiss. "I'm sorry that I got us into this situation. I should have listened to you the first time, shouldn't have become Death Eater. I never wanted this life for Draco, and the worst thing is that he thinks it's exactly what I want of him."

Narcissa kissed him lightly. "He might think that it's what you want of him, but at least he knows you would do anything for him. He knows that if he ever wants out, you will fight for him to get out."

HPHPHPHP

Harry jerked awake from a nightmare that sent chills down his spine. He knew it wasn't just a dream, knew that it was his connection with Voldemort that brought it to him. What he couldn't figure out, however, was if the vision had already happened, or was going to happen. He knew it wasn't happening now, though, since the subject of his nightmare was asleep in the bed next to his.

His body had broken out into a cold sweat as he stared at the blonde, wondering if it was too late to prevent his nightmare from happening. Without thinking he got out of bed to stand over Draco's, looking down at the slim figure. The blanket had been tossed to the side, covering a single leg. The loose shirt he wore to bed every night had ridden up, showing off slightly toned abs, proving that Draco stayed in shape while keeping the lightness that was prized in seekers. Light hairs, almost invisible, trailed into his boxers and Harry blushed as his gaze followed that trail and he fought the sudden desire to let his hands do the same.

He forced his gaze upwards, to Draco's face and he felt his breath catch in surprise at the childlike innocence that showed there. One hand was curled loosely beneath his chin and a slight smile was formed from full pink lips. The sliver of moonlight that entered through the slit in the curtains fell across the pale skin in a way that caused a glow that one would expect from a fairy, not a seventeen year old boy, and his hair to shine. For a brief second, Harry wondered if the hair was as soft as it looked.

Not giving it a second thought, not wondering what would happen if Draco woke up; Harry ran his fingers through the blonde strands. It was softer than he'd ever thought, like silk slipping through his fingers. He moved his hand slowly, cupping Draco's cheek as his thumb traced the blonde's lower lip.

The realization that he found Draco attractive hit him with the force of a stun gun. While he'd had small crushes on the occasional guy, he'd never thought that he might be gay because he hadn't been able to find one who really stirred his blood, who could get such a reaction out of him. Yet as he looked down at the boy on the bed, he realized that Draco had always gotten a reaction out of him, always found a way to stir his blood. Harry had chalked it up to mere hatred, but ever since Draco had show up on Privet Drive, he had learned that there was far more to the blonde than anyone had thought; had learned that he could make Harry feel things for him other than hatred.

Not letting him think of the situation any further, not caring about the differences between them nor that many would condemn him for the action, he leaned down and kissed Draco lightly, sweetly. Despite the gentleness of the kiss, the contact sent a shock through Harry, raising goose bumps along his arms and a tingle down his spine. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling, trying to remember it because he knew he would never feel the likes again. When he opened his eyes, he was staring into the silvery-blue of Draco's.

"Don't stop now," the blonde said, his voice a bit hoarse as he grabbed Harry's pajama top and pulled him back down.

HPHPHPHP

Draco had come awake at the feel of a hand slipping through his hair before moving to cup his cheek. He opened his eyes the tiniest bit, finding Harry leaning over him, transfixed as he stared at the blonde hair. After a moment of contemplation, Draco closed his eyes again, wondering just what Harry would do…and hoping that he would go farther.

Those hopes had been answered when he felt Harry's lips brush against his own, and though it was light, it sent a need through him that he'd never felt before. He'd been entertaining thoughts of messing around with the brunette ever since they'd come to their truce, for lack of a better word. But what he'd had in mind had been a fling, something that ended as quickly as it would start. But the power behind that single kiss wiped the thought from his mind. This wouldn't end easily. If the two began something, it would be heated, full of emotion. There would be no way around that because their relationship had always been powerful, whether in anger or, as now, lust and longing.

Draco knew that he couldn't start anything lightly because it could, and most probably would, change his whole life. He was supposed to be working for Voldemort, which meant he was against Harry. But as he opened his eyes and stared up at Harry's blissful face, he wondered if the brunette could be worth leaving behind everything he knew. When Harry's own eyes opened and he saw the passion and surprise in the emerald orbs, he didn't need to question it any longer.

He knew without a doubt that they would fight and, at times, might even think they still hate each other. But he also knew that there would never be a dull moment with Harry, that if they could get past their anger and hatred, then maybe, just maybe, they could be what Draco had always looked for but had never found with the lovers he had taken among his friends.

When he saw the passion slowly dim into shock and fear, saw Harry about to pull away, he grabbed the brunette's top and said, "Don't stop now," before pulling him down. This time there was nothing gentle about the kiss they shared. All the anger, all the hatred that resided between them came rushing out into that bruising kiss, as if trying to punish each other for years of taunting and mocking.

Despite the pain, however, was intense pleasure. Draco had never felt anything as intense as the power that was rising between them. A strong wind whipped around them, mussing their hair, and Draco wasn't sure which one of them had conjured the strong force, though he suspected that it was both of them.

Harry grabbed Draco's wrist in a hard grip as he moved to straddle him, then forced his hands over his head before pulling away long enough to whisper a spell to keep them there. Looking down into Draco's eyes, Harry ran his hands down the blonde's chest, circling his nipples, before tracing them across toned abs.

Raw hunger flashed across Draco's face, cheeks flushing in desire. "Do you know what you do to me, Harry?" he whispered. He arched his back slightly so that his erection pushed against the brunette's thigh, causing him to groan. "See? Every time you come out of the shower and parade me in front of me, every time you just come near me, this is what happens. I want you, Harry."

Green eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Is it really me you want, Malfoy?" he asked in a low growl, "Or is it the idea of a conquest with the Boy-Who-Lived that has your blood boiling? Are you going to run to your flunkies to brag as soon as we're done?"

Draco glared at him. "I may be a prat, but I'm not that cruel, Potter," he snapped. "I don't brag about who I choose as lovers." He muttered the counter spell that released his hands and sat up, pushing Harry backwards, switching their positions. "When I take a lover," he whispered in his ear before taking a nip at the lobe, "I give them all the same opportunity for privacy in exchange for the mutual pleasure that we share. They're the ones who brag about what we do. I'll offer you the same privacy, I won't spread what we do. What I will do is make you feel things you never dreamed possible." He grabbed Harry's hips and ground his erection against the brunette's. "I'll give you what you never knew you wanted."

Now it was Harry's cheeks that were flushed. "Can you tell me just one thing?" he asked as he closed his eyes. "Then we'll see where we can go."

"Ask away Boy Wonder."

"Are you Voldemort's heir?"

HPHPHPHP

DUM-DUM-DUM! And I am back! I've missed working on my stories, but ever since graduating from high school two years ago, I haven't had much time for anything aside from first work and then married life. I have finally gotten used to my new life and have found a way to fit my writing into it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter…I really loved writing it. Review!