A thousand thoughts raced through Harry's head as his eyes met Draco's across the Great Hall. Harry thought Draco had become a Death Eater - no, he was sure of it - but in that moment, something changed. He saw more of the boy he used to know; always
superior, yet equally quick-witted and impish. The boy whose hand he rejected first year and who would meet him insult for insult. The boy who at one time, knew love.

In a flash, it was over. Draco averted his eyes and resumed his cold sulking, but something was definitely there. Perhaps there was more behind the Death Eater facadeafter all.

Draco felt a color rising to his cheeks as the thoughts Harry Potter and love crossed his mind at the same time. Surely this boy whom he despised he could not possibly love! Potter caused him nothing but pain and anguish, and had ever since
the moment they met and he had chosen Weasley and Granger over him. Draco still couldn't wrap his mind around why he had been rejected so strongly that day - was he not a high-caliber wizard who came from a good family? Still, he had to admit that
the Golden Trio looked well together, even if they were a constant inconvenience. It was becoming quite clear that Granger was infatuated with Weasley, even though he was constantly snogging that Lavender Brown. Draco was sure the two would be a couple
by next year.

Draco had always prided himself on his ability to spot a couple before anyone else could, and it was just this skill he was thinking about when his eyes came to rest on none other than Harry Potter. Rumor had it that the Chosen One had a thing for Ginny
Weasley, but Draco wasn't so sure. In his months of scouting out the castle for his part in the Dark Lord's plan, he had become quite adept at noticing things others did not. One thing in particular he had noticed was the unusual amount of time Ginny
was spending with Luna Lovegood. Although this in itselfwas of nogreatconsequence, it was a little-known secret around the castle that Luna was into girls. This led Draco to believe that perhaps the She-Weasel felt the same way,
or was at least open to the idea.

Draco himself had always been open about his sexuality and the fact that he liked blokes. He had known for a while, and although he didn't advertise it, many people knew. The wizarding world was quite accepting of the gay community, so Draco never felt
any pressure to act or think a certain way that was untrue to the way he felt. Potter, however, had grown up in the Muggle world, where people were far less accepting of non-heterosexuals. Draco had often wondered if perhaps Potter wasn't quite as
straight as he seemed, but he had no definitive proof.

Gazing at him across the Hall, Draco wondered again whether Potter might be gay. It would be unfortunate if he was - Draco had always found Potter attractive, albeit somewhat of a git. Now would be an unfortunate time to find out he was available, as
Draco had more important things to worry about. Still, the word love kept nagging at him, and the more he stared, the more he came to realize the awful truth: he was in love with HarryPotter.

Unbeknownst to him, Harry was having very similar thoughts at his own table. For a long time Harry had struggled with his sexuality, but just in the past several months he had come to terms with it: he just wasn't into girls. This created an interesting
atmosphere for him around the castle; now that he was comfortable admitting he liked blokes, every male in the castle had become infinitely more attractive. Draco, in particular, had captured his fancy; although he would never admit it, he missed
the banter they had had throughout the years. Without the constant insults, he didn't know how to talk to him. Part of him knew he shouldn't - after all, Draco now served the one person who was forever trying to kill him - but he still found himself
infatuated with the blond, unable to keep his thoughts from drifting to places they ought not to go. Maybe that's what's changed, he thought bitterly. He knows I'm in love with him and he hates me for it as much as I hate myself.

Still, Harry couldn't keep the silence forever. He'd cursed Draco and accidentally landed him in the hospital wing, so that at least deserved an apology. He still felt like he was going to vomit every time he thought about Draco's nearly lifeless
body lying on the bathroom floor, so he decided to craft a letter explaining his feelings. Certain that this would help clear the air and perhaps help the recurring nightmares of that night to cease, he pulled out a piece of parchment and began
to write.

Draco,

I know what you've become. Don't ask me why I'm trying to save you, but you're better than this. I'm sorry about the other night. I didn't know what that spell would do. I miss talking to you. Please speak to me again.

-HP

Folding up the parchment, Harry cast a quick delivery spell on it and watched it flutter across the Great Hall to land in front of Draco. He, too, had watched the parchment flit into the air and was dumbfounded when it landed in front of him. Incredulous,
he opened it.

Draco stared at the letter for what was probably far too long, unable to comprehend what he had just read. Potter misses me? Unsure of just how to proceed, Draco pulled out a piece of parchment of his own.

Harry watched in anticipation as Draco read his note for an unnervingly long amount of time, and actually felt his heart skip a beat when he pulled out a piece of parchment presumably to respond. Harry watched the blond write for what felt like an
eternity, and watched anxiously as the parchment fluttered down to land gently in front of him. Practically tearing it open, Harry read his response.

You're a piece of work, Potter. I suppose I can make some time for you. Library, 3:00. Don't be late.

-DM

Harry felt like his heart might beat right out of his chest. Taking deep breaths, he tried to convince himself that this wasn't that big of a deal. Deep down, however, he knew this was the one thing he had been craving all year: a conversation with
Draco Malfoy.

3:00 couldn't come soon enough. Harry arrived 10 minutes early, unable to contain his excitement any longer. At 3:00 precisely, Draco waltzed into the library and over to the table where Harry sat, waiting.

"Please tell me you didn't say you missed me, Potter."

Although Draco's words stung, this was a starting place, Harry thought hopefully.

"Actually I did, Malfoy, but only because I knew it would get your attention." This was a lie, but Draco didn't need to know that. Not yet, at least.

"What, are you trying to lure me in so you can bend me over andtake me violently behind the stacks?" Draco retorted, snorting. He would never admit how amazing that sounded.

Harry tried to keep the color out of his face as he, too, thought of how pleasant it would be to do exactly that. But no, he was just trying to establish a relationship. He'd have to try and hide the bulge in his pants for now.

"I just want to talk, Malfoy," Harry replied. Draco politely ignored the hitch in his voice and his subtlereadjusting of his trousers.

"About?" Draco prompted, unsuccessfullytrying to keep his mind from going places it shouldn't.

Struggling to find the right word, Harry eventually blurted out, "Us."

That came as a surprise. Draco had expected many things from this impromptu meeting, but this was not one of them. If he wasn't mistaken, it almost sounded like Potter was talking about them as a couple. Draco tried to remain casual,
but internally his mind and heart were racing. Could it be? Was he really that lucky? Then again, this was rather poor timing; still, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to get with Harry Potter.

Forcibly lowering his voice in order to sound more calm, Draco replied by saying, "Us? I didn't realize there was an 'us,' Potter. We've hated each other for years. Last time I checked, there wasn't an 'us' to speak of."

"Yes, well," Harry answered, choking slightly on his words, "I want there to be an us. I'm tired of hating you for no reason, and even though I know you're one of them now, you don't have to be. You can choose to be one of us instead. You can choose
me."

Harry could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth. Was he confessing his love to Draco Malfoy, while simultaneously calling him out on being a Death Eater?

Draco's cheeks colored, unable to hide the shock and embarrassment from his face. This certainly sounded like a confession of love, but it also sounded like an accusation. What, Draco wondered, is the appropriate response to this? Finally realizing
that he was taking far too long to respond, Draco answered him in the only way he knew how: by telling Potter to go stuff it and high-tailing it out of there, leaving Harry sitting alone.

Just as he had crossed the threshold into the now-empty corridor, Draco felt a hand on his shoulder. He was suddenly whirled around and greeted with the most wonderful kiss he had ever received - from the one person he knew he shouldn't be receiving
it from.

"Potter, we can't - " Draco began, but was quickly silenced with another kiss.

"I know," Harry responded, breathless. "I hate it too. But I can't help that I'm in love with you."