A/n to Lydia: Hi darling :) I am so happy to see you here, enjoying something I've wrote. Again. Goodness gracious. I hope you're doing well! You and your words are one of the reasons I have come back to writing like this. Thank you! ~kiz

A cool breeze washed across the Hogwarts grounds, as Harry stood there in the middle of the pitch with his broom by his side.

"So, what happens when we kick your ass, Potter?"

Harry felt a smile cross his lips, and he looked over to the right where Draco stood in his practice clothes. "Whatcha looking for, Malfoy?"

"Hm," Draco chuckled, lifting a shoulder, "who knows?"

"I'd say you ," Harry quipped, inwardly groaning when he saw Blaise, Theo, Ron, Neville and Pansy joining them. He knew what would happen, as soon as they got close, the same thing that happened all week since he and Draco walked back into Hogwarts after their date Saturday evening.

He'd pull away, he'd practically go back to how things had been before he told Harry to let him on that couch with him, almost a week ago. They hadn't been alone, much, Harry was sure Draco had been the one to make sure of that, but Harry couldn't be around them all, all the time.

Sometimes Harry just needed to be alone, or well, he wouldn't have minded being alone with Draco.

Draco watched Harry turn away, and raised an eyebrow, what the fuck? He cleared his throat, holding his broom by his side, "I was going to suggest the winner gets whatever they want," he shrugged, "but, it's okay. Just for fun, and all that, right?"

Harry hummed, glancing at Draco. "Yeah?"

"Potter!" Blaise said excitedly as he jogged up to them, throwing his arm around Harry's shoulders, "Pansy is already complaining," he groaned, "Longbottom handles it well, though."

"Sure he does," Harry smiled, relaxing, "he's the most easy going bloke you'll ever meet, Zabini."

Blaise laughed, "I'd agree with that, he's a good one." He rubbed his hand down Harry's back, "so, what's the plan, Coach Potter?"

" Coach Potter?" Harry shook his head, watching the others approach, "it's wishful thinking, to think people want to play, hm?"

"Just for fun," Blaise leaned on his shoulder, "so, let's have fun!"

"Yes, let's have fun ." Draco said, his voice low, his eyes trained to Harry and Blaise. I'll fucking kill him. He thought, as he watched his friend manhandling his Harry Potter. I'll kill them both. Right now.

"Malfoy, is always a little competitive," Blaise rolled his eyes, ignoring his mates mood quickly, "Pansy, all you gotta do is sit over there and look pretty," he added as the girl dropped Neville's arm.

"Easy as could be," Neville turned to her with a grin, "buy you a drink after, hm?"

"Bloody well hope so, Longbottom," she huffed, glancing at her watch, "you have an hour."

"An hour ?!" Ron groaned, "Merlin, thanks for letting us have fun, mother." Theo laughed, loudly, shaking his head.

Harry snorted, shaking his head, "go on, go on," he waved his hand, finally getting out of Blaise's hold and grabbing his broom off the ground.

The others got in the air, Blaise calling out that Dean and Seamus were on their way once he was up, before Ron and him went flying around the pitch in a hurry. Neville was chasing after, giving apologies he wasn't all that great on a broom.

Draco hovered near Harry, his eyes trained to him, as the man was laughing at Blaise, Theo, and Ron taunting Neville playfully, he saw Dean and Seamus both shooting across the pitch, next, Harry taking off to join them.

Draco felt the ugly parts of himself trying to fight their way out, as he watched the others having fun. He couldn't be this person to Harry Potter, he couldn't be the selfish person Harry asked him to be that night after kissing him, he couldn't be the selfish person he promised Blaise he would be. Because, Draco knew that selfish person would never let Harry Potter be alone. He'd never let someone, even his best mate, put their hands on Harry. He'd never let Harry ignore him, for a whole fucking week.

Or, was I ignoring him? Draco thought, closing his eyes for a moment, Potter was right. We are better out in the forest, alone. Draco frowned, lowering himself towards the ground, going unnoticed by the others as he climbed off his broom and took a step off the pitch, heading back towards the castle.

Draco had been sharing a bed with Potter, for the week, and he noticed the other was definitely sleeping well. He enjoyed those moments, more than anything. Harry holding him behind the closed canopy of the bed, cuddled up together in the darkness of the night. Neither saying a thing, just there together.

Those feelings didn't carry over once the daylight came, Harry hid a lot. He was alone a lot. And Draco, well, he wasn't one for chasing.

He didn't want to just be Harry's when they were alone. He wanted Harry Potter, all the time, all to himself. Fuck Potter! He thought, his anger flaring, stupid git! He made me feel things, he made me feel sorry for him, and fuck he looked so bloody good doing it too, and I— No! Draco jerked himself away from those thoughts, he couldn't let himself go down this road.

He needed to get away. Away from all of it. Away from Harry Potter, who was calling out to him, who was flying towards him, who was running towards him. Draco didn't notice, though, he was too consumed in his anger to notice anything as he stormed towards the castle.

"Get off me!" He screeched when he felt a hand wrap around his arm, he jerked around to find Harry standing there and he felt a sickness crawling into his body. "Uhm." He blinked, taking a step back, his eyes wide, "Potter."

"What… Why did you leave?"

"Odd number."

Harry studied him, taking a step closer, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing, why?"

"You just screamed at me," Harry said, confused. "Malfoy," he sighed, closing his eyes, "so fucking difficult, all the time."

Draco narrowed his eyes, huffing in annoyance. He knew he wasn't wrong, he was being difficult, but well, " fuck you, Potter!"

Harry chuckled, "ah, you're cursing me again?" Draco startled at the question, realizing he had said it out loud, his thoughts slipping through his lips. "How about this, Malfoy, you tell me what you want from me?"

"What I want from you?" Draco scoffed, "I don't want anything from you!"

"Ok," Harry nodded, sucking a breath through his teeth, "look, Malfoy, I mean fuck . Ok. Let me give you an example." He groaned, taking a step closer to the man, "I want to kiss you. Right now. Right here."

Draco stared at him, before dragging his eyes around them. The few people out on the grounds had definitely shared a few glances at them, he saw a couple people off towards the lake blatantly watching them. He sighed, shaking his head, "Potter."

"That's the problem, though," Harry shrugged, his eyes never leaving Draco's face. "I want those things, and if you do you won't let us have those things. You told me you'd be selfish, you told Zabini you'd give it a shot. Whatever it was. And you said that it was me."

It is you.

"So, I, well… fuck if I know, Draco." Harry rolled his shoulders, looking at the man. He had thought it before, when he heard Draco ranting about him in the locker room that first week back at school, his cheeks tinted and him going on about how stupid he was, and how annoying he was. Harry thought it then, it'd never work , but like he told Draco he wasn't great at leaving things as they were.

Fuck , he wanted it to work so damn bad. He wanted his nights wrapped around this man, but Harry wanted more than that. He wanted his days wrapped around this man too, he didn't want Draco ignoring him. Running off with their friends every chance he got.

How was he supposed to look at Draco Malfoy and tell him that? How was he supposed to tell him he wanted to be as selfish as he could, and he wanted Draco to keep him all to himself? How could he look at Draco and demand something like that?

Draco's face flushed, his eyes focused on Harry. "Why do you run away from me?"

"Why don't you come with me?"

"You said you like to be alone." Draco whispered, confused, "why would I go with you?"

Harry chuckled, closing his eyes and taking a steady breath, "Malfoy," he breathed out his name softly, and then Draco reached for him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling him closer, he pressed his lips to his once Harry was close enough.

Harry grasped him, by the arms, holding him in place in case he got the crazy idea to run off. When Draco pulled back from the kiss, Harry gave him a small look, "did you leave because Blaise touched me?"

Draco felt a smile pull at his lips, letting Harry's shirt from his grasp.

"You get this look in your eyes when you're pissed," Harry arched an eyebrow.

"Do I?"

"Yeah, it's a bit hot, really." Harry shrugged, sliding his hands from Draco's arms, deciding he wasn't going to run off now. "I've seen it enough over the years."

"You do piss me off a lot, Potter."

Harry smiled, tilting his head back towards the quidditch pitch, "I know it's just for fun, and all, but I was under the impression you thought you'd… kick my ass, was that how you said it?"

"I will," Draco answered hotly, "I'm a fair flyer, Potter, and quite quick."

Harry grinned, "then by all means, Malfoy, please kick my ass."

"Ya know," Draco took a step past him, throwing his broom over his shoulder, "if you weren't so fucking annoying, Potter, I might have just played for fun. But now?" He laughed, looking back with a grin and that look. "I'm going to make you wish you had never opened your bloody mouth."

Harry laughed, his loud laugh, his carefree laugh, before hopping on his broom and taking off with a yelled, "race ya!" behind him, hearing Draco yell out a curse at his back.

Harry let out a breathless laugh as Draco shot him a wink, "so that's how it is, huh?"

"Merlin, you thought I was kidding?" Draco flew closer, rolling his eyes, "thought I'd go easy on ya, Potter?"

"No, not at all," Harry smirked, shaking his head, "though, I was hoping you pushing me off my broom wasn't an option."

"Ah," Draco chuckled, flying around Harry, his eyes scanning the area, "we're up, ya know?"

"I do," Harry agreed, the others playing around them, "do you know where the snitch is, Malfoy?" Draco hummed, watching Harry reach for his broom. The other wrapped his hand around the broom handle, and pulled him closer, "you dirty cheat."

Draco let out a laugh, the bubble of it wrapping around Harry and his eyes light and bright as he looked at him, "I figured you were having a blast, Potter. Giving you your moment."

Pansy had already called up, a while ago, that it had been an hour, but it seemed everyone had been too enthralled in the game to pay any mind. She was joined, at some point by Hermione, and Luna Lovegood, and Ginny, and finally let it die down that they were taking too long.

Harry smiled, "it's not a fair fight, this way."

"You gave me Longbottom," Draco rolled his eyes, "I need all the advantages I can get."

"Cheating isn't an advantage, baby," Harry shook his head, releasing the broom, before he looked around them, " fuck !" He groaned, Blaise having scored again. "Give me a hint at leas—." He started but when he turned back to look at Malfoy, he noticed the blonde was zooming away. "Malfoy!" He laughed at his back, urging his broom to follow.

Did he just call me baby? Draco thought as he shot across the pitch, his heart hammering in his chest. Or, was it just a word? I am sure it was just a word. Of course it was just a fucking word! He felt Harry was close to him, and he pushed his broom as fast as he could. The snitch just up ahead, glinting in the setting sun, flying just out of reach.

He figured, by now, Harry had seen it as the man behind him let out a triumphant laugh. Though, if Harry grabbed it, it wouldn't be a win. It'd just be an end to the game, at this point Draco had won their bet. But, no, no Draco wanted it all. He wanted the snitch.

He stretched, his arm out in front of him as snitch gave a jerking motion to the left and Draco narrowed his eyes, his arm stretching ahead, his hand open, a real genuine smile on his lips at the sound of Harry's gleeful laugh behind him, "no you don't, Malfoy!" Harry was close, so close, his own arm stretched out, his fingers grasping for Draco's shirt.

Both men making contact at the same time.

Draco wrapped his hand around the snitch, as Harry wrapped his hand in Draco's shirt, grasping the material.

"Mine!" Draco called, feeling Harry jerking him back towards him. Harry was laughing, holding on to Malfoy's shirt, and when the blonde turned to look at him, with that happy, eat-shit-Potter, smile, Harry felt his heart skip a beat.

Fuck, I love when he laughs. Harry grinned, watching as Draco held the snitch between his fingers, "sorry, Potter, but it seems—."

Harry cut him off, pressing his lips to Draco, who returned the kiss. Briefly. "You've won whatever you want, Malfoy."

"Yes, that," Draco cleared his throat, tilting back, feeling the hand on his shirt loosen, "whatever my heart desires."

Harry hummed, watching Draco lean closer to him, "well, I'm dying to hear whatever that may be, Malfoy."

Fuck, I am too, Draco thought, he hadn't really had anything in mind, but then Potter had to go run his mouth and now? Now, Draco won. Whatever he wanted, as the prize.

"How about that Weasley!" Blaise was goading Ron just off to the left, "get fucked, mate!"

Draco chuckled, shaking his head as he heard him, "Zabini!" He called to his friend, watching the man waving him off as he flew towards the ground.

Harry watched the others descending, and let his hand drop from Draco's shirt, "Malfoy," he said as they started to descend.

"Yes?"

Harry looked him over, smiling, "joining your mates tonight?"

Draco chuckled, shaking his head, "oh, no."

"No?" Harry asked, his feet finding the ground. Draco glanced over, lifting an eyebrow, "you always run off with your mates."

What the fuck? Draco stared at him, "what?"

"You always run off with your mates," Harry repeated, "I figured you would tonight, as well."

"Is this about me not following you around when you sneak away?" Draco asked, keeping pace as they started towards the locker rooms.

"Well, when you put it that way." Harry chuckled, "would you like to, I don't know, have a quiet evening in?"

Draco looked straight ahead as they walked, quiet, his thoughts on the question. He thinks I 'run off' with Blaise and Pansy? He's the one that has been running off. What a git!

"I, uh, well… I meant with me."

"I assumed you did." Draco finally spoke up, "yes, we can have a quiet evening in, as you call it."

"Great," Harry grinned, "wait for me!" He added as he hurried through the doors on the right to get changed.

What else would I do? Draco thought, looking down at the snitch in his hands, a small smile sliding across his face, fuck you Potter, he grinned as he stepped into the Slytherin changing rooms, and over to his locker.

"What's got you all smiles, Malfoy?" Blaise asked, watching him.

Draco chuckled, shaking his head, as he opened the locker door. "We're not joining you," Draco said quietly reaching into his locker.

"Oh, you're not, eh?"

"We're having a quiet evening in," the blonde rehashed Harry's words, and glanced at Blaise, lifting a shoulder, "so."

"You two talked earlier?"

"Barely," Draco turned back to get changed. "Honestly, we don't do a lot of talking Zabini."

"Why not?"

"I…." Draco pulled his jeans up, fastening them, "maybe we're just not the talking type?"

Blaise didn't say anything for a moment, he got changed as well, his eyes flitted to Draco, slowly, as the man changed his shirt, "is this what you promised me?" He finally asked Draco, watching the man turn to him, "if it is, okay. I stay out of it."

"And, if it's not?"

"Then I ask you to come with us tonight."

Draco nodded, and sat himself on the bench beside his locker, "I think it's what I promised you, Blaise," he said his name softly, slowly. The words hanging there, the intention hanging there. "I well, I feel happy when I'm with him, and fuck, Blaise, I want to be selfish as hell with him too."

Blaise had a smile sliding across his lips, "alright, then I let it be."

Draco was pulling on his shoes, now, and bending to tie them. "Mm," he hummed, quietly, "what if… well, what if it's nice?"

"And, what if it's not?" Blaise watched his friend, thinking how just a little over a week ago, Draco who hadn't wanted to address these feelings was standing there ranting about Perfect Potter and everything else.

"Yeah, exactly. Scary isn't it?"

Blaise lifted a shoulder, slipping his jacket on, "I think that's the point."

"Being scared?" Draco gave him a look, shaking his head.

"Finding someone to have faith in, in the uncertain." Blaise smiled, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "I mean, hell Malfoy, you've been obsessed with him for years." He held his hands up when Draco glared, "it's not a bad thing, a little unhealthy maybe, but at some point you either do this or you just find something else, someone else."

"We're supposed to be doing this, we're young!" Blaise laughed, "so, do it! Damn it. Be selfish and annoying and demand things from him and take the things he gives because when this year ends and we all walk out of here finally graduated we have to join the real world and if you can walk out with some friends and, I don't know, a good relationship? That's even better."

"Yeah, well, I'm Draco Malfoy."

"You are," Blaise nodded, "and he's Harry Potter."

"He is supposed to be with someone fun and happy and living life." Draco whispered, "I can't get any more selfish and demanding than I have, right at this moment, wanting to spend my time with him."

"Good," Blaise sighed, and he took a step towards Draco, "so, don't talk. Don't… I don't know, don't think. Just be together, it'll work out. And, it may hurt in the end but just enjoy it."

Draco chuckled, "Merlin, Zabini, when did you get so dramatic on me? That's my job."

Blaise smiled, giving a nod towards the door. "You two have fun tonight and use protection," he teased in a stern voice, earning a glare from Draco.

" Blaise !" He growled, "you know, one of these days, I'm going to fucking kill you. I am, I'm going to do it."

"Ah, I'm scared." He laughed, clapping his shoulder, "all yours Potter, have a good night, kids."

Harry was laughing as Blaise hurried away from them, "ah, Draco, he's harmless!" He said when the blonde turned his narrowed eyes to him.

"He's a bloody nuisance, Potter." Draco shook his head, though he smiled at the sound of Harry laughing. "Ready for a quiet night in?"

"Merlin, yes." Harry's laughter died down, and he nodded with a tired sigh.

"What does it?"

"Hm?"

Draco cleared his throat, walking slowly next to Harry, "I mean, what makes you want to be alone? Like this?" Though, it's not really alone since I'm here.

"Ohhh," Harry looked straight ahead, quiet, then he reached out and took Draco's hand, "the truth?"

"I'd like that." Draco tried not to think about the fact Harry was holding his hand tight. Like he was grasping on to him for dear life.

"It's awfully exhausting, sometimes." He said honestly, "people, I mean. I just need quiet, and comfort."

"The noise or something else?"

"The noise, sure," Harry nodded, "but, well," Harry chuckled quietly, and pulled Draco half a step closer as they got closer to the school, his voice dropping, "I'm supposed to be okay, aren't I?" Draco didn't respond, he just listened. "I'm supposed to be fine. And, sure, I am. I guess. But, Draco, there are a lot of things that get to me, that work their way through my head, and sometimes it feels hard to be fine. "

"I don't expect you, or anyone to be fine, Potter. I mean things have been tough for us."

Harry smiled, "I know you don't," he paused, in the middle of the right wing entrance. "it's nice. I don't have to pretend around you."

"So, when you say you want to be alone, you just mean you want to be somewhere you don't feel like you have to be solicitous of those around you?"

"Yes," Harry smiled, a wide smile, feeling Draco pull their hands apart. "You get it."

"Of course I do, you think I feel fantastic all the time?"

"No, I don't." Harry tilted his head, "you get quiet, and immerse yourself in a book."

Fuck, the amount this man knows about me is a little creepy, Draco thought, before offering a tight smile. He could argue he was pretty solicitous of Harry, but he wasn't going to say that. "And, you go off. Alone."

Harry smiled, "let's go be alone, together, Draco."

"First, dinner." Draco said softly, resuming their walk, "we'll go to the kitchen."