Here's that slash I've been promising (a little?)! Sorry it's been a long wait, I've sorta got a hurricane going on... anyways, because the gaps are so long between chapters, I was wondering if you guys would like for me to tack on a reminder of what's happened at the beginning of the chapter? Let me know :)

For some reason, I haven't been able to get Draco out of my head. It's only been a day since we last talked, and I'm embarrassingly eager to see him again. I keep telling myself it's because I want to find out my answer for Dumbledore as quickly as possible, but I know it's not that. I'm only starting to realize how little I know about him. And although he still is a pompous, arrogant, spoiled, pureblood brat, he might actually be more as well.

I'm becoming increasingly anxious to see him again, but nervous as well. He said it was my turn to tell a story, and I don't know what to say. Also, I can't keep using Dumbledore as an excuse if I talk to him about me, because that's not part of the plan. And we never set a time to meet again, I don't know if one day is too soon.

I don't have to decide if it is because I hear a faint sobbing noise from under the stairs. I curiously peer under and see a flash of blond hair. I grimace, wishing these were not the circumstances I had to see him in, but force myself to go under the stairs.

When he hears me he looks up, frightened, evident tear streaks on his pale face. He quickly wipes them away, and makes to stand up, but I grab him and pull him back down. Impulsively he leans into me, which startles me, but doesn't bother me, so I hold him there.

"Sorry," he mutters, not meeting my eyes. I awkwardly try to pat his back, but give up.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. You don't want to do this."

"But I don't have a choice. And I'm failing, I can't do it. I can't do it, and he'll kill me."

"You do have a choice, and I'm going to help you make it. And, not that I want you to if it means helping Voldemort, but you probably can do it. You're one of the brightest wizards in our year." He seems to be shaking less, so I gently push him away so I can look at him. He looks even sicker, and like he's barely eaten at all.

"Draco, it's going to be alright. You have to trust in that. But it won't be if you don't stay healthy. Please eat, you look like skin and bones." He nods, although I doubt the words really reached him. He looks like he wants to say something, but is clearly hesitant. I instinctively take his hand, encouragingly, then, realizing what I did, try to pull away, but he grips my hand back. He looks down when he asks, blushing.

"Will you tell me a story?" He blushes darker, and hastily adds, "I mean, it is your turn..." Unsure of what he means, I ask for clarification.

"About what?"

"You. I mean, nothing from school, because I know a lot of that... what about your family?" I roll my eyes.

"Draco, I think you know about my family, everyone does."

"No, not your parents, I mean the people who raised you."

"Oh, well, I don't really consider them family... and those are some stories I'd rather not tell."

"Were they that bad?" I nod, and he bristles. "But you're a wizard, the bloody boy-who-lived, and they're just some muggles!"

"Well, not from their perspective. To them I was a freak. But that's not how it is with all muggles!" I add hastily, not liking how Draco talked about muggles,

"They're all different, my aunt and uncle just happen to be particularly horrible muggles." He thinks about that for a second, then moves on.

"What did they do?" When I hesitate, Draco goes red, "I don't mean to ask personal things, if you don't want to tell me you don't have to."

"No, it's okay... they, well, they treated me like a freak. I grew up thinking I was wrong for being who I was. The people who raised me hated me and tried to keep me out of sight, and I didn't understand how strange things always happened around me. Everything's so different here, but every summer I have to go back, and it reminds me of how things were."

"Why do you go back? Why can't Dumbledore let you stay with the weasels? Or Granger? I can't believe he'd make you go back to those people." I hear anger in his voice, and I quickly try to calm him.

"Dumbledore's doing it to keep me safe, it's the only way."

"It's not right. Don't they know what you did?"

"It's not like they really care. They'd probably rather the wizard world fall, actually."

"Of course they would, those ungrateful muggles, so stupid." I poke him, and he rolls his eyes. "Okay, not all muggles, just yours." I nod, grinning, glad he's able to joke again. I hesitate, before giving him my offer.

"Draco, I really want to help you and your family. And I think I can help at least you. I feel like you'd really switch sides and help us." he nods, and I see that he means it. "But, until I can help you, I want to... well, help you. I know things must be bad if you go to Murtle. I mean, I just want you to know, I'm here if you need me." Draco rolls his eyes, and pushes away from me.

"Oh, so you can be the hero? Is that what all this is, you trying to boost your image by making the bad guys good?"

"What? No, the last thing I want is to boost my image, that seems to happen on it's own."

"Then why do you care!" Draco shouts, angry tears threatening to come to his eyes.

"Because-" I glance around, looking everywhere except at him, hoping the answer I've been looking for will appear. I don't know why I care, or maybe I do but I don't want to. Draco cautiously takes my hand.

"Look at me... Harry." I gasp in surprise when he says my first name, and will myself to look at him. I start to feel like I know my answer to his question, and for the first time I allow myself to feel the tingles on my hand where he holds it. Slowly I raise my eyes to meet his smooth grey ones.

"Because..." I raise my hand slowly to his face, slightly hollow from not eating, and gently rest it on his cheek. I lean forward, and so does he, until our lips brush. Just as soon as they touch, he pulls away wide eyed, and lets go of my hand. I get up, bright red.

"I'm sorry, Draco, I didn't mean to-" He gets up, and backs away.

"You don't understand, Potter, you can't just do that, and mess with people like that. Just because you're you doesn't mean you have the right to make me think you want to help, then just do...that!"

"Wait, I'm not messing with you! I think, I mean I'm not sure, I just realized, but I would never do that to hurt you."

"Why would you do it then?" Draco asks, his voice slightly choked.

"Because, well, I've been seeing you a lot, and well, you're not who I thought! And, I don't really know why, it just felt right, and I, I mean-"

"You're rambling."

"I just want you to know I meant it." He nods, and turns to leave, but I could swear the he's smiling.

Yay for a long chapter! Review?