HARRY

If you're me and if you were in my family situation, when you felt fingers around your neck, they were probably Uncle Vernon's.

I was still half asleep, thinking that he apparated or went on the Express to come here because Dudley encountered another dementor attack. But Vernon was a muggle, so it was impossible that he apparated his way here, and I've been told by Hermione many times that we couldn't apparate or disapparate at the Hogwarts grounds. He was supposedly choking me out of anger out of the fact that his son had another attack. I just didn't expect to see a flash of red hair and an angry face.

Ron was on my four poster, strangling me. Hermione was there too, she locked her arms around Ron's torso and pulled, "Geroff me!" roared Ron, readying to charge at me again. "Harry, get out!" screamed Hermione. My first instinct was to get my wand, which I grabbed and flung myself out of the bed. I pointed my wand at Ron as he fell out of Hermione's grasp and bolted to my bed. Ron's wand was fitted tightly in his hands, he opened his mouth to scream a spell, but I quickly countered.

"Expelliarmus!"

Ron's wand shot out as a jolt of white light grazed his hand. He was wandless, and that was as good as it was going to get.

"You bloody bastard!" he roared, "I could say the same to you!" I yelled back. Ron slid off the bed, he easily topped by a half of a foot or more, "I swear Harry, I will punch you until you bleed." Ron snarled. Hermione gave a scared squeak an d said, "N-no! Let's not do that! P-p-please, let's r-reason!" Ron ignored her and he raged, "Harry, you swapped spit my mortal enemy!"

I had originally planned to deny anything that Ron said, because he usually did it out of anger or jealousy. This time, though, it was the truth. Pushing aside that, I wondered frantically of how he was able to see Malfoy and I do things that weren't supposed to see. I wished that I had brought the invisibility cloak with me while we were at it. Then I called myself an idiot for that thought. Kissing Malfoy under the cloak was slight kinky and greatly wrong to think about.

It was also a little bit arousing.

I brushed away the thought before the cascade of perverted thoughts became reality. "H-how did you find out?" I looked around frantically, half confused and the other half angered. My eyes searched the room as I caught the look of a guilty Hermione.

"She told me!" yelled Ron, Hermione wiped away tears and shook her head, "I had to Harry! I had to!" she sobbed. Ron stared right through me; his ears were the most intense red that I ever saw them. I didn't stare back, instead I shot a look at Hermione who cried, "Ron and I were looking f-for you out of w-w-worry..! I p-passed the Slytherin dungeon rooms, and got the feeling that y-you were in there! So I ch-checked and I s-saw..."

"I know what you saw," I muttered. Hermione, her face full of worry and tears again, flung herself in front of me and scolded at Ron, "I told you, Ron! I told you to listen to me; I know for sure that it wasn't Harry that wanted to kiss Malfoy! I'm sure that Harry was lured in there, or something!"

Ron's anger remained but hit a bump and faltered. He bit his lip, still staring at me with intensity. "Is this true?" he muttered darkly.

I considered lying to them saying that he pulled me in and did as he liked. But this was a notion of covering up my own arse. Surely if I said that, Ron would run straight to the Slytherin dungeon rooms and hunt Malfoy down until he was on his last legs. And now that I was more sympathetic to Malfoy, I didn't want that to happen.

"We were both pulled in there and were dared to kiss for about fifteen galleons," I said, pulling out a lie. It was sort of worded lamely, but the mention of money should get Ron to believe a little bit better, "Galleons?" he said. I nodded. "I wouldn't kiss that idiot now that I realized it." I lie again. Ron slowly backed away, almost convinced. "Where are you going to get the galleons?" he asked, I countered, saying, "They said that they'll give it to me at the end of the year." Ron pressed his lips, "They probably won't, Harry."

"I know," I answered. "I'm stupid."

Ron's anger subsided and Hermione's sobs turned into something of a beam. She ushered out murmuring a happy, "I told you so, Ron!" and I dressed, Ron sat on the edge of his bed and murmured, "Sorry, mate." I brushed the shirt over my head, "Its okay, Ron." I fumbled with my trousers. Ron bites his lips and he rubs the back of his neck as I dress.

"How'd it feel?" he asks.

I don't know what he's talking about, and I look at him with a confused expression. "Y'know, the kiss." Ron murmurs. I feel warmness spread in my cheeks, this was something to consider.

His lips were really soft. And he tasted amazing. His tongue kept on darting into my mouth without any restraint. Every few seconds he would move his lips across mine and continue to kiss me. It felt so warm, and so good. His hands gripped my waist and his palms felt smooth and secure against my thighs. My whole body was trembling, I didn't understand out of want or excitement. Sometimes he would stop and press his lip against my neck, letting the warmth of his tongue channel through my skin.

Cho's kiss was worth nothing compared to the recent one.

"Gross," I replied.

Ron chuckled, and I smiled weakly. There's a pit of guilt in my stomach as we head out of the dormitories and over to the grand hall. The food is still there, thank god, but I'm not hungry due to the fact that I was quite scared if Malfoy was there or not.

I mean, he's not stupid. So he wouldn't do anything, especially in front of Ron or Hermione. Hermione was reading Hogwarts, A History in a happier mood. As Ron and I took our seats, Hermione butters a toast for me and says, "Holidays start in three days, what are your plans?" I blink, the recent events made me forget all about my break. I took the buttered toast and Ron murmured, "Me and Harry could go to the Burrow, you can come along, Hermione." Ron replies, shoveling bacon into his mouth.

Hermione shakes her head, "I'm going to France again with my parents." I shrug. "The Dursleys don't care as long as I don't come back." Ron wipes the grease off of his mouth and Hermione winces, "You can come over. We can practice on you Quidditch skills, the match is coming around after the break is over, yeah?" Ron offers. I consider that.

"I think Harry shouldn't stay," says Hermione. "With Her around," Hermione gestures to the pink toad. She was sitting on the end of the teacher aisle and daintily cooling porridge, an evil woman under a nice act. "it's going to be a lot harder practicing." I smirk, "As if, she hates me even if I am the Chosen One, I don't care about being the 'Chosen One', I'm just trying to get the truth out. She'll think I'm handing out fliers to believe that Voldemort- seriously Ron? That Voldemort's back. She'll keep me in, nice and safe from spreading 'rumors'."

Ron looks slightly frightened, but it douses off as he shoves half a toast in his mouth. "Well, it can't hurt to try to ask her, the worst thing she could say is 'No.'" Ron says, I rolled my eyes, "That would also be the thing to ruin my entire break." Ron sighs and continues the conversation with a, "I can stay at Hogwarts with you," I shake my head, "It's your decision, you could stay at the Burrow, but I'm ending up here either way."

The large door opens and groups of sleepy Slytherins pile out, I see Ron tense up as his eyes searches the group. But he doesn't seem to notice that Malfoy is within the group, he catches my eye and gives me a grin. But the smile is short lived when Parkinson touches his arm lightly and pulls him over to the table.

I don't like that, at all.

Malfoy is forced to look away but there's slight regret in his face as he bites his bottom lip and reluctantly goes to the Slytherin table. I want to give her the most evil of the glares, but a person blocks my way and doesn't bother to move.

"H-hey! Can you move?" I gasp, wanting one more glance at Parkinson, but the figure doesn't budge. I realize I'm looking at the stomach of Cho Chang. I look up and she says, "How rude, Harry! I was just going to say hello!" Her face changes to a pout but breaks out in a smile. "I was wondering," her hand reaches up to twirl her black locks of hair, "if you wanted to hang during the break? I'm staying, since my father and mum have places to go anyway."

Hermione's shoe went into my shin as a 'No!' at the same time when Ron's sneaker sunk onto my foot as a painful 'Yes!' I however uttered a loud, "Ow!" Cho was staring at me amused, but her expression turned slightly offended. "Excuse me, Harry?"

"N-no, I-!" My true intentions were to kindly tell her 'No thank you,' because I honestly had no interest in dating with Cho Chang. "I-I'm kinda busy in the break. Training for Quidditch, you'd understand right?" Seeing that she was a Seeker herself, she probably had to train also, even if my match came earlier.

Isn't Malfoy a Seeker too?

Cho pursed her lips, I saw her black hair whish back, and she turned to walk to the Ravenclaw table, "We'll see Harry.." Turning back to the table, I received a punch from Ron and an appreciative pat from Hermione. "Can you stop hitting him?" Hermione scolded Ron, "I'm happy for you, Harry. You did the right thing." Ron looked bewildered and a little bit disturbed, "Are you mad, Hermione? Harry should go out with Cho, ever since Cedric died and Harry's encounter with You-Know-Who, it's a load to get off! It's killing two birds with one stone!"

I winced, "But Volde- really, Ron? He's not really gone, is he?"

Hermione fiddled with her glass of pumpkin juice and gave me an almost reassuring smile. "That's why DA is for, isn't?"

After breakfast, Hermione and Ron head off to the common room to catch more winks of sleep. This almost odd for Hermione to skive off of studying, but she could cram ten textbooks in thirty minutes, so I shouldn't say anything.

The snow isn't that heavy, and it's not pouring white fluff. I run back to my four poster to put on my Quidditch uniform. I get my Firebolt and head to the arena; I need just one more essential, the Snitch itself. But I can't seem to find Wood anywhere, so I figured I'd spend today on dives and strategies.

The arena is caked with snow, clumps of it falling down due to massive weight. It looks friendly, like a winter wonderland with sugar.

Forget I even said that, what happened to me after that kiss?

I launch myself on top of the Firebolt, and flew around for a warm up. The air is biting cold, but somehow I don't feel the ice cold. My whole body is actually reacting to the heated vibration of the broom. It feels good to let it all out. I amused myself with a dive and striding towards the clouds. In my happiness and joys about being with my best mate, Quidditch, guffaws and jeers bellowed beneath me. I glanced down and saw burly males dressed clad in green and black Quidditch uniforms. I dove down and their calls grew louder.

Malfoy was following them, his face had a blend of regret and sort of sadness. As he looked up, he smiled and then an idiot beater elbowed his arm, whispering something and pointing at me. His smile took a leap back as he forced a smirk and a mean grin.

It was so similar to the ones he gave me before. Perhaps it was all an act? "Hello Potter," snarled Montague. I gave a sarcastic friendly wave. "Hey you dunderheads, are you ready to make fools of yourself?" I said coolly. Montague snarled and hissed, "Watch it, Potter. The field is reserved for Slytherins only." He jabbed my chest, wolfish growls emerged behind him. Malfoy's pale lips pursed and I frowned. "Gryffindor's going to stepping on your faces after this match." The beaters jeered, "As if, Potter!" I strolled away from the field; I was upset by the fact that I didn't get any practice at all.

'No, calm down. All you have to do at the game is to catch the Snitch before Malfoy does.' I reminded myself solely, this was a task I've done before.

But it was totally different feeling now. One part of me urged me to get the Snitch before Malfoy did. The other nestled itself in my feelings and told me to let Slytherin win. If I carried on with my 2nd opinion, Angelica would attempt to throw me off a cliff, or rather, throw herself off the cliff. And the Slytherins would find more of a reason to make fun of us.

I stalked off back into the common room to find Ron in a deep sleep. His snores were loud and long, Hermione wasn't anywhere in the common rooms, she was probably asleep in the female dormitories. I didn't want to wake Ron, he was stressed after the whole fact that Hermione told him about the kiss. I stripped off the uniform, grumpy. I grabbed my clothing, and slid the soft fabrics. I rummaged my group of books finding Which Broomstick? and stowing it under my arm. My wand lay safe in my pocket.

I had a load of homework to do; I wasn't looking forward to it. By telling myself that the Qudditch match will be much harder in the snow, I procrastinated and avoided the homework that I was given. 'You're lying to yourself,' I can hear Hermione chanting at me.

I went off the library with Which Broomstick? and continued my thirtieth time of rereading the book. Of what seemed like an hour, my eyelids were dropping, I was slowly delving into sleep…

A gentle touch brushed against my shoulder, with woke me up. A blurred vision of a blonde figure was focusing and thickening in my sight. "L-Luna?" I murmured, shifting in my chair.

"Who is that, Loony Lovegood?" Malfoy was smiling slightly. He looked a bit elfish. His cheeks were a bright red from the cold air. Some snow made his way on top of his shoulders, and some were clumped again his clothed knees. His blond hair covered of what could be tall, pointy ears. "Don't call her that." I murmured rubbing my face, "What d' you want?" Malfoy shrugged. His gray eyes approached the cozy area of the library. Madam Pince was scowling in her office, and various students were in the further areas of the library.

He pulled out something small and gold out of his pocket, 'A galleon?' I thought. But my sight was mistaken, it was the Snitch. I took it from him, examining it. Its wings fluttered happily and there was a pull from the Snitch as if it wanted nothing but freedom. I glanced at Malfoy, he was studying my face with a small smile. I hastily redirected my attention to the Snitch. My cheeks were growing red, 'Just look away Harry, just look away.'

"How'd you get it?" I turned in my chair; I don't want to meet him in the eye. My emotions were running around, scattered. Should I be genuinely happy that he was conversing with me? Or was my heart set on being angry for his existence.

"I stole it from our set."

"For what reason," I said smugly. "You aren't supposed to steal things."

"I know," said Malfoy, he brushed his hand against his shoulder, and snow toppled out.

"It was a risk I took for a good reason. I stole it because I want you to train me."

The only silence I the room was the brief flipping of pages of people reading or studying. And whispered giggles from second years who were reading a book of vampires.

I was turning the Snitch over and over, "We're on different teams, it couldn't happen." Malfoy ruffled his blonde bangs and shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not as good as a Seeker as you are," he admits shamelessly. "I just want to be better. You'll probably beat my team with one hand tied behind your back."

I blinked, "I did that before, in my second year. It's just that Lockhart decided to remove my bones afterwards." He chuckles, I bit my lip and pull the left wing of the Snitch gently, and it squirms in pain. "You seem to know much more about Quiddtich than my whole team put together." Malfoy says again.

He's piling up the compliments, flattering me to my knees. Hermione and Ron did the same awhile back with the idea of DA. Sooner or later, I will be forced to say yes. "Besides, you're the youngest person to be omitted into the team in the century in your first-"

"Alright, I get it!" I yelp, "I'll train you, just for today, not for tomorrow, or the day after." Malfoy's lips tilted into a grin; there was a lurch in my stomach, my heart progressing to beat faster.

'Stop smiling, stop being so stupid!'

DRACO

It's cold, but it's worth it.

Harry has his Firebolt tucked between his fingers; he's walking faster than I am. It doesn't seem like he'd like to walk in the same speed, or skip around jovially. As we reach the cold outsides, he stops in his tracks, "I forgot to get my winter coat." It's freezing, but I'm a bit warm to the load of fleece that I put on. Harry has a casual sweater, a pair of jeans, trainers and a light Gryffindor scarf. "Should we run back, or..?" I murmur, the cold was nipping Harry's skin, and biting his whole face. "No, it's alright," he answers heroically.

I snort, the rudeness of my personality edging its way it, "Whatever." I pushed my coat off and draped it around Harry's shoulders. He blinked, staring at me, "Wear it, isn't that what coats are for?" I smirked. Harry wrinkled his nose, "Is this your attempt to give a act of kindness, while being an arse?" I shrugged, "It could be."

He slips on the coat, and zips it on, "It smells like you," says Harry casually, "No it doesn't, it smells like Hippogriff dung." I say sarcastically, but a smile finds its way to my face. Harry rolls his eyes, "Get on your broom, and follow me."

He launches off, and I follow.

Our session was studying the dives and speeds for the first half hour. ("You need to know how quick you need to be," Harry says. "It depends on your opponent; he or she may be faster and slower than you are. A quick analysis in the first five minutes of the game should give you enough time to interpret that.) Then for forty-five minutes, determination and concentration took post. ("Slacking off? Not in my parchment, slacking off could bring your concentration down, therefore lowering your chances of catching the Snitch.) For one whole hour, both of us raced each other to who could catch the Snitch first, then for forty minutes, both of us attempted the Wronski Feint. ("I think when you're doing the Wronski's Feint, act a little. Widen your eyes as if you saw the Snitch, and dive down. Don't be an idiot and do it when the other Seeker isn't looking, if you do, honestly, there was a point wasted.")

It was so fun, extremely carefree. The way Harry's hair rippled in the air and the look of concentration as he dove down to catch the Snitch. It was all very attractive.

Both of us landed with hearts full of laughter. It died down as we headed out of the fields, Harry murmured cautiously, "Think anyone saw us?" I shrugged, pulling snow out of his hair, "Not if you count the snow." I joke. Chuckles were produced. I bent down to dodge the trees, Harry, in front of me, gradually stopped walking.

"What is it?" I whispered, Harry shook his head, he was a bright pink. "Nothing harmful," he uttered. Harry held up his hand over our heads, he pointed to a small red beady fruit, with locks of green leaves growing from the sides. I swallowed air, recognizing it.

Mistletoe.

We stopped walking completely, eyeing the plant growing from the trees. My brain wasn't working, the last kiss we had was last night. And I put too much intensity into it. Touching his thighs on the first kiss was probably the biggest no-no I could've done.

Harry glanced at me, and his face was unreadable. He leaned his face in a little but pulled it back, as if hesitating the fact that he wanted to kiss or not. I bit my lip and my hand gently traced the outline of pink on his cheeks. Me being taller than him, I leaned down and pressed my lips against him.

I suddenly didn't remember it being cold. Traces of freezing air let go, and was replaced with warmth. I certainly don't remember holding hands either. It was two minutes after when I pulled away.

Harry blinked, his fingers found his lips. Harry looked down and mumbled something, he quickly turned as I replied with a faint, "What?"

"H..Hermione saw us." Harry mumbled distantly, rubbing his neck. I was looking around our surroundings, my brain wasn't functionally correctly. But these words struck me immediately, "Granger saw what?" Harry pursed his lips, his hands rubbing his face in hope that the red would brush off. "Last night, we were kissing." Harry muttered hastily.

"Wh-wh-what?" I took a step back, shocked. "Granger saw us?" Harry waved his hand distantly. "It's alright, it's alright. I made a lie. Their not fully convinced but..." He treaded further ahead, I followed. "How did she-" I gasped, but Harry looked back with a furiously upset face. "She got the damn password to the Slytherin dungeons, and then- and then- I guess she saw us! Snogging and swapping spit!" Harry seethed. Angry tears streamed. He looked tortured, confused.

"How'd d'you think I'm supposed to feel? I am kissing, my best friend's mortal enemy. If he finds out why, he's going to kill me!" roared Harry.

A bubble of angry seemed to swarming viciously in my heart, "What's the point of waiting then? Confess to them!" Harry's hand flew up and gripped to a fist. He swung it to my stomach and I was surprised at the immense pain that was omitted.

I spat out spit and coughed. My right hand smoothed over my stomach, and my left grabbed a tree branch for support. "Dare to hit me, don't you?" I snarled. Forgetting the pain in my stomach, I was readying myself to slap him straight across the face. My hand flattened and I stood up, towering Harry.

His ravenous face had softened into fear, 'It doesn't matter,' growled the voice behind my head. 'Hit the bastard, show him how you feel!' My hand was drawing nearer to his face, Harry's fear had extinguished and he bit his lip, wincing. He was accepting the fact that he was going to be hit.

It's not like he hasn't been hit before.

'W-what?' I thought rapidly. Wait, why should I hit Harry? He's been through the clutches of the reanimation of the Dark Lord. Then he was facing a memory. In the next year, he fought the savage, Sirius Black. The year before this one, he battled several things, including the final reformation of You-Know-Who in the graveyard…

My hand faltered and fell to my side. I was suddenly staring at Harry was great sincerity. "H-Harry, I…"

"You what? Want to hit me, I suppose!" shouted Harry.

"N-no, tt's just that, I can't really tell Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle either. So, I'm in a tight spot too. Sorry for judging." I murmured. Harry blinked, his expression faltering.

"I suppose your parents too, right?"

"Yeah, they'll get their trainers in a knot. But," I glanced towards the teetering sunset.

"I think they'll understand someday."

I glanced back at Harry, who was staring at me with widened eyes. I blinked, waving my hand in front of his face, "Hey." I chortle. Harry's face returned to the pretty pink as it was before. "Don't 'hey' me," He fussed.

I smiled, "Is someone angry?" Harry shot me a look of flaring anger.

Shrugging, I tipped his chin up, and kissed him again. He shuddered, my arms wrapping around his waist, easing the tension. Harry's fingers touched the back of my neck. His mouth opened and he moaned; my tongue brushed in, coaxing him.

One part of me wondered vaguely of how long this was going to last.

Hi guys! Sorry for the wait. XD Slyther In is sort of a fanfic that I look forward to writing when a looong day is over. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter; it took me loads of write.

Harry's being tsundere, and Draco's wondering if he should take it to the next level. I think we should add Draco's mum and dad, yeah? :) and those of you who was waiting for the kuro fanfic, I thank thee for your elongated wait! XD it will come out hopefully in Tuesday, next week. Another chapter of Slyther In will be published probably at the Saturday, September seventeenth.

I don't know if you guys heard of the ship Gumball/Marshall Lee, but I plan to write that hopefully in the future. I also have some ideas of Albus/Scorpius oneshot. If you want to see this fanfics happen, happily write a review for this chapter! Thanks! C:

I hope you guys boarded the Hogwarts express safely! The wifi's great in the Gryfindor common room, and the sorting was wonderful as usual~

ALSO : I'm sorry to say that, I forgot Wood had already graduated in Harry's fifth year. The actual Quidditch Captian is Angelina for Harry's fifth year. Sorry for this confusion ;A;