Sorry for the long-ish wait! I had some troubles with my pet snake, but now it's all good again. Hope you like this chapter, although it's a bit 'depressing' at the end!

Safely curled up in Draco's bed, Harry enjoyed his peaceful slumber which was only interrupted by Draco who occassionally walked into the room. From time to time, Harry dared to throw a glance over at the blond and found him smiling fondly, obviously thinking that Harry couldn't see it.

The sky outside was obscured with pale clouds and snow was still falling, although not as heavily as before. Harry couldn't tear his gaze from the distant outlines of Hogwarts and his heart was aching to go there, but Draco had refused to do so for another couple of days.

For yet another time, Draco came into the room and looked over at Harry who looked back, grinning.

"Are you watching me in my sleep? Isn't that a bit creepy?"

The blond blushed and Harry's grin grew only wider. He still wasn't sure what exactly was going on, but something was happening between Draco and himself. He felt ridiculously comfortable around the other man and dreaded the day when he was allowed to go back home.

"No," the other man sniffed and turned around again in an attempt to leave the room.

"Stay," Harry called out and now blushed himself when Draco looked back at him with raised eyebrows.

Harry drooped his head and looked down at his hands, "Please. Stay..."

He heard Draco walk over to the bed and looked up again. A small smirk lingered on Draco's lips and he sat down on the bed.

"I was just checking on you because I was afraid that you were going to be sick again."

"Why would I?"

"Because you should've stayed inside. A Dementor attack isn't somthing you should take too easy."

Harry shrugged and found himself watching closely when Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"You have really nice hair."

The words had left his mouth without him wanting to and he blushed furiously. Draco frowned and looked speechless for a moment.

"Potter, I am not a girl. Your charming flirt attempts do absolutely nothing to me."

For a moment Harry thought that Draco was angry, but then heard the distinct tone of amusement in his voice and grinned.

"What a shame... I thought I could somehow charm you."

Wide, grey eyes stared at him, "Don't make jokes about things like that."

Harry looked Draco straight in the eye, "I am not joking."

He wasn't entirely sure if he wasn't just imagening it, but he thought that Draco blushed a light pink shade.

"Oh just shut up Potter."

Draco got to his feet and walked over to the window, leaning against it's frame. Harry watched him, wondering what he had done wrong.

Both of them kept silent for several minutes that seemed endless to Harry and he opened his mouth a couple of times, but then decided against talking and shut it again.

No need to say that he was more then surprised when the blond suddenly turned around, came back to the bed with a few, long strides and cupped Harry's face between his hands.

Harry just stared at him, completely taken aback by the sudden movement and held his breath. Draco's eyes were unreadable and he leaned closer, his breath brushing over Harry's lips, causing him to shiver.

"You're an unbearable git, Potter... I tell you that."

Before Harry could make any sense of those words, Draco pressed his lips to Harry's, leaving him breathless. His hand found its way into Draco's silky hair, pulling the blond closer who responded with a low grunt. Harry had the feeling that his blod was boiling in his veins, he was overly aware of Draco's lips on his own while his other had slowly crept under Draco's shirt, caressing the soft skin.

The other's scent made his had spin and he gasped into Draco's mouth, his lungs screaming for oxygen. Draco moaned softly and took his chance to let his tongue slip into Harry's mouth.

Just when Harry was sure that their kiss would last forever and suffocate them, Draco pulled away, panting heavily. His eyes were glazed over and his gaze sent a shiver down Harry's spine.

Even though he still felt that burning desire in every fibre of his body, he cracked a grin, "So ... I am a git, yeah?"

The blond nodded, still seeming breathless. Meanwhile, Harry's thoughts drifted off and he wondered why he had no problem with kissing a bloke... That he, actually, had just kissed Draco Malfoy and, even more important, had enjoyed it thoroughly.

He absent-mindedly reached out and touched Draco's cheek. He was blushing and Harry admired the soft skin beneath his fingertips.

"What about Astoria?"

Draco looked at him, his grey eyes still showing a passionate glint, but he frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Harry looked back, dumbfounded, not sure how to express what was going through his mind. He had troubles to focus on one, clear thought because so many things were racing through his head.

"Well ... What will she say about this? ... Us?" he couldn't keep an uncertain undertone out of his voice and felt foolish for what he had just said. What was he talking? How could he even think that a single kiss meant anything and that there was something happening between them? It was still like it had been before. Like nothing had happened. People often kissed and never talked about it, right?

Right.

"Us? I don't think there's an 'us', Potter. This was just a kiss."

The word 'just' made Harry flinch involuntarily and he withdrew his hand from Draco's cheek. The happy bubble around him burst as quickly as it had come to live and he avoided to look at the other man.

"Right. You're right. I got carried away. Sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Draco whispered and got to his feet, "Just keep it to yourself. There's no need to bother others with it, okay?"

Harry nodded, "Sure."

Without another word, Draco left the room and closed the door behind himself. Harry let out a groan and hid under the heavy duvet.

He was so stupid! Just because they had kissed, he was thinking there were feelings involved" When had he fallen for Draco? Without even realizing it...?

Harry was thinking about that for a while, but didn't come to a conclusion and he eventually had to admit that his feelings wouldn't be returned. He didn't blame Draco... Not at all, but the black hole Harry was stuck in, just had become a bit deeper again.

With a feeling of hopelesness he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, overshadowed by weird, twisted dreams.

(Draco's PoV)

He walked down the stairs and into the back garden, stepping out into the piercing cold. He bit down on his lip and looked up into the sky, tears obscuring his vision.

He was such an idiot!

Why had he kissed Harry? Couldn't he just hold back? No, he had to give in to his feelings and screw everything up. He had hoped that they could be just friends and maybe, with time, Harry would've felt the same as Draco, but now... Now it was all over. He had seen that his words had hurt the other man, but maybe it was better after all. He probably wouldn't be what the other one deserved. Wasn't good enough, anyways.

He closed his eyes and drooped his head, his tears falling into the snow.

Yes, it was better like that. Once Harry was feeling good again, he would go back to his friends and Draco wouldn't bother him anymore.

It wouldn't have worked out, what with Astoria and all. Besides, it would've caused an uproar among the wizarding community to see Harry Potter involved with a former Death Eater.

reviews appreciated...