Using the invisibility cloak his father had given to him on his sixteenth birthday, Harry quietly slipped out of the Gryffindor common room. It was well past midnight and several hours past curfew, but that didn't matter to Harry. He wasn't as much of a rule-breaker as his dad had been back in his school days, but this was one rule he felt compelled to break.

He wasn't sure why. It happened innocently enough when he and his friends were in the Astronomy Tower after hours, which was the only exception for being out after curfew. They had been working on some classwork, when Harry got distracted, which wasn't unusual for him. He wandered to the edge of the tower and looked out over the Great Lake down below. The wind whipped at his hair, making it even wilder than usual.

Down below, he spotted a figure far off in the distance. It should have been impossible to see in the dark, but a faint glow lit up the person, making it clear to Harry who it was. Draco Malfoy with a Lumos spell. Malfoy's back was against a giant tree. He was facing the Great Lake and just sitting there. Doing nothing.

That fascinated Harry and made him wonder if it was a one-time thing.

Harry never told his friends what he saw, but after that night, he came back, again and again, each time finding Malfoy, each time, Harry just watched him.

He had no clue why he even cared, but he felt like a moth drawn to a flame. He couldn't stay away.

It wasn't like he could go ask Malfoy. They weren't in the same house, and the two houses were always bickering back and forth about winning the house cup at the end of the year.

Making it to the tower, Harry walked over to the side of it and looked down. Sure enough, there was Malfoy, Lumos spell cast, just sitting as still as a statue.

Harry stayed longer than usual and watched as Malfoy finally moved, lying down and looking like he was settling in for sleep. The Lumos went out, plunging Malfoy into darkness.

"How alarming," Harry murmured. Why would Malfoy want to sleep outside? It couldn't possibly be safe. Of course, he probably used spells to help with that, but still.

He watched Malfoy closer than he had in a long time, noticing he didn't seem as chummy as usual with his friends. He was currently ignoring everyone and barely even touching his food.

Everyone in the Great Hall was laughing and carrying on. Malfoy wasn't doing anything.

Parkinson said something to Malfoy, and Harry watched him barely glance at her, shaking his head. He didn't answer. Parkinson frowned at him and huffed, turning to talk to Nott.

"What's up with you, Harry?" Ron asked, breaking Harry's focus on Malfoy.

Jumping, Harry looked at Ron. "What do you mean?"

"Harry, you've been acting strange for weeks," Hermione said gently. "Is something on your mind?"

Had he been acting that odd? Harry thought he was keeping it in decently enough.

"You're out of your bed late at night every day. Don't think we haven't noticed. Where do you go?" Ron asked. Hermione gave him an alarmed look.

"You go somewhere, Harry?"

Feeling awkward, Harry avoided looking at them. How was he supposed to tell them that he had become obsessive… no, worried about Draco Malfoy? The very Malfoy that annoyed the shit out of Harry and his friends ever since they were eleven because everyone took the house point system way too seriously.

It frustrated Harry. He wished they could compete without all the childish bickering, but that seemed to be too much for half the population at Hogwarts. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were above it for the most part, why couldn't Gryffindor and Slytherin?

"It's going to sound ridiculous, but something is wrong…" Harry looked toward the Slytherin table at Malfoy. "With him."

They didn't get it at first. Him who? It was a table full of boys and girls. Harry sighed. "Malfoy."

A fork fell out of Ron's mouth, clattering in his green beans. "Why do you care?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, sounding more reasonable of the two. "Of course, he cares. It's human to care about people."

"But Malfoy?" Ron didn't hate Malfoy, per se, but it was Malfoy and a Slytherin. They hardly had anything to do with him, except when idly annoying each other.

Harry groaned. "He's ignoring his friends, has been for weeks, and he hasn't had that stupid trademark smug smile for as long as I can remember." Harry looked at Malfoy as he was saying this. Ron and Hermione were giving him calculating looks as if they were trying to figure something out.

"His hairstyle changed…"

Ron burst into laughter, yelping when Hermione swatted his arm. "Sorry, but what's the big deal about that? It's just hair."

It was an odd thing for Harry to be worried about, but for some reason, it bothered him. Instead of his hair being slicked back with not a strand out of place, it was loose and wavy, longer too, reaching his shoulders.

His hair actually looked really good like that, but it just wasn't the Malfoy Harry was used to seeing.

Malfoy had always been particular about how he looked and portrayed himself, but now it looked to Harry that he suddenly didn't care.

"I don't know," Harry said, shrugging. "It just feels off, I guess."

"Sounds like you have a bloody crush or something," Ron said, laughing.

Harry flushed. "Don't be a jerk. Why would I…"

"Harry, forgive me, but you are noticing a lot of things that people don't usually notice in someone unless they like them," Hermione said gently like she was talking to a child. "There's the fact that you've been obsessing over this for weeks, too."

"But I can't…" Harry blinked. "I'm not…"

"You can say it," Ron said, "it's not a dirty word."

"But I'm not…" Harry looked down at his food. He did feel confused about why he cared so much about seeing Malfoy struggling, but he wasn't into him. How could he be into someone and not know it?

"We can't tell you if you're gay or not," Hermione whispered, so that she wouldn't out Harry, whether for real or falsely. "We also can't tell you why you seem to care about Malfoy. You're worried about him, so that does mean you care about him, Harry."

"I don't know what to do with all this stuff in my head," Harry said, lowering his eyes. He never thought about girls in a romantic way, but that didn't mean he wanted to think about guys like that, let alone Malfoy.

Still, he was confused, because he couldn't stop looking at Malfoy and wanting to do something to help him. Wanting to be his friend.

"We've got your back, mate. Whatever you figure out, we're here," Ron said. "I mean… even if it is Malfoy." He grinned and reached across the table to pat Harry's hand.

"Thanks, I guess."

"Ron's right. We're not going anywhere, no matter what the outcome of all this is." Hermione leaned over and shoulder bumped Ron. Sometimes, he said some really great things, even if a lot of the time, he put his foot in his mouth.

"Thanks. Let's say if I am into him, what then?" Harry glanced over at Malfoy and was startled when their eyes met. Malfoy was looking at him, and he didn't look hostile at all. He didn't smirk or make any rude gestures. He just blinked owlishly at Harry, before looking down at his uneaten food.

"You find out what he feels," Hermione mused. "You should talk to him."

That was easier said than done. Harry chanced another glance at Malfoy, looking at him over the top of his goblet as he slowly sipped. As if feeling the burn of his gaze, Malfoy looked back at him.

It might have been Harry's imagination, but Malfoy's cheeks looked flushed as he looked away.

"I can casually take a stroll by the Great Lake and bump into him," Harry told his friends in the common room. He finally admitted why he left the Gryffindor Tower so often. Hermione was against sneaking out, but she finally gave in to the idea, seeing how much this meant to Harry.

It was already quite clear to her that Harry liked Malfoy, though his thoughts about the Slytherin greatly confused him.

"I mean, he's out there, so he won't have any room to talk about another student getting up to 'no good' you know?" Harry bit down on his lower lip.

"I dunno," Hermione murmured. "I guess it can't hurt since you have the cloak."

"It would probably be the only chance to get him alone, so I reckon it is a good plan," Ron said, grinning. "Think you'll confess your love?"

"Ron!" Harry groaned. "There isn't any love."

"Sure, sure…" Ron wasn't convinced.

"You act like you want me to be in love with him," Harry said, playfully shoving Ron.

"It will make the year less boring." Ron smirked.

"Boys, shush. Harry, go. Good luck and be good." She winked at him, making Harry splutter.

"Hermione! You're supposed to be the reasonable one."

How do you do a pretend casual stroll? Harry felt like a fool as he invisibly made his way to the Great Lake. The moon was full, so it wasn't pitch black out tonight. He saw the giant tree Malfoy always sat against, and sure enough, he saw Malfoy.

"Do I whistle?" Harry mumbled under his breath. "Trip over a twig and go, oh, Hey Malfoy."

He took off his robe and shrunk it, before putting it in his pocket. "Just… hm…"

Taking off toward the lake, he decided to not look Malfoy's way; but to walk along the edge of the water and act oblivious. He'd let Malfoy see him first. Surely, that would make Malfoy curious enough to do something. Harry wondered if he should bribe the Giant Squid to drag him into the lake and see if Malfoy would try and help.

Deciding that was not an option, even if the Squid was usually nice, Harry just walked, but kept his head down. He kicked at the dirt and rocks, some of them landing in the water with splashes that sounded far too loud as it was an eerily quiet night.

Knowing he was directly in front of Draco now, he fully turned toward the lake and then sat down, pulling his knees to his chest, and hugging them. He decided to just use this time to think. He wasn't quite ready to turn around and pretend to be shocked to see Malfoy.

His stomach was churning with nervous butterflies. Harry could feel eyes on him. He knew Malfoy saw him. Shuffling came from behind him as Malfoy shifted, but he didn't acknowledge that he had heard anything.

What was he even doing? This was so stupid. He was so out of his depth here. Was he a child or something? Ignoring the whole Malfoy situation and just focusing on his preferences, why didn't he just know? The only thing he knew with certainty was that he wasn't straight, because looking at girls did nothing. That only left one other option, didn't it?

"The hell if I know," Harry muttered darkly, not meaning to speak out loud. He flushed and then mentally shrugged. Who cared if he talked? Malfoy wasn't meant to know he knew about him. People talked to themselves all the time.

Frustrated, he kicked one of his feet out in the sand and then flopped back, staring up at the stars.

"What's wrong with you, Potter?"

A blonde head was suddenly hovering over Harry. He looked up at him, his mouth hanging open. It would have been comical if anyone else witnessed it. Harry hadn't actually thought Malfoy would take the bait, considering how he had been acting recently.

"Huh?" Harry said, blinking a few times. "First time I've heard your voice in weeks."

For some reason that made Malfoy blush. "You noticing me, Potter?"

"Right now or in general?" Harry asked, deciding to play dumb. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked you first, and of course, I meant in general," Draco huffed, sounding more like his old self.

"Secret rendezvous," Harry answered, pointing to the Giant Squid who was slapping her tentacles on the water. "She's so charming, you know?"

A surprised snort came from Malfoy. Harry felt rather pleased that he made him laugh. From watching him the last few weeks, he hadn't even seen Malfoy smile, let alone laugh.

"I think the size of her tentacles would split you in half, Potter."

"Shit," Harry cursed. "I didn't think that far ahead. So now you know why my brain is all frazzled. Figuring out confusing feelings and realizing it's not meant to be all in one go. Ugh!"

"You are…" Malfoy trailed off. Harry saw he was struggling to keep his annoying mask up, but Harry had already seen the amused look flicker across his face.

"I'm what?"

"Nothing."

Malfoy's cheeks were warm, but Harry had a feeling it wouldn't be a good idea to bring that fact up, but now Harry was feeling warm, too. Malfoy was still hovering over him; it was a strange look for the both of them.

"You going to bend over me like that much longer?" Harry asked.

Moving back, Malfoy instead sat down next to Harry and rather close too, like he didn't know what personal space was. Harry raised up, brushing dirt out of his hair, surprised when Malfoy reached out and removed a leaf stuck near his ear. Harry felt his fingers brushing the tip of his ear and something flipped in his stomach.

"Why are you really here? I somehow don't peg you for the beastality type, Potter, though Gryffindor are brave, so maybe you'd give it a try."

Harry wanted to be honest, but would that scare Malfoy off? Would Malfoy call him a stalker?

Finally, Harry sighed. "I have a confession to make." He looked behind them at the Astronomy Tower. Malfoy followed his gaze.

"I knew you were here and I was going to ask if you were okay, but then I chickened out, and sat here and got to know the Squid, talked out loud on accident and you heard me, oops, and now here we are, oh and hi," Harry said in a rush, not taking any time to breathe. He was winded when he finished, his face reddened and his heart pounding frantically because he was so nervous.

His leg involuntarily twitched, and he was aware that Malfoy's leg was touching his. He looked down at them and then back over at the Squid. It was safer than looking at Malfoy.

Malfoy blinked. "What? Potter, you said that so fast I only heard a few words."

"Why did you… um…never mind. I'm just being stupid, which you know… you've said just as much to me before, so no surprise there!" Harry said, his voice rising in pitch.

"I'm sorry about that."

That got Harry to turn his head and look at Malfoy again. "Did you really…"

"I did. You're not stupid." Malfoy bit on his lower lip. "Maybe I am. Anyway, wanna run by me what that tornado of words was?"

Instead of doing that, Harry blurted, "I'm a total creep!" and then he burst into tears, which he hadn't felt coming on at all. "What the fuck, don't look at me. I don't know where these came from. Sorry… uh…" He tried to stand up, but Malfoy grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down.

"Why do you think that?"

Malfoy was still holding his wrist, and Harry wondered why. He blinked down at his hand and then back up at the blonde, his eyelashes glistening with tears.

"I've been…" Harry rubbed his eyes under his glasses with his free hand. "Okay, I'm a spy. Total stalker, I guess, but not for bad reasons, I promise."

It took him a moment, but Malfoy's eyes widened. "You came here knowing I was here, didn't you?" He didn't sound angry, so that was good.

Harry shrugged. "I suppose… I mean, yes."

"Why? How did you know I was here?"

Slowly, Harry told Malfoy how he saw him from the Astronomy Tower, and even before that, he had noticed that Malfoy was acting like something was wrong and he had started to worry. He told Malfoy how he went to the Astronomy Tower for a while to see if Malfoy was still showing up and then…

"Well, I just wanted to ask if you were okay and then I chickened out so I sat here."

"You really have been noticing me," Malfoy murmured, his eyes wide and confused. "How would you have even noticed all…"

"Your changes? I don't know. I just did. I shouldn't have stalked you like a creep, I'm sorry."

For reasons Harry didn't understand, Malfoy scooted closer to him, and now their legs weren't just grazing, but really smooshed together. Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he started to feel breathless.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Malfoy said, squeezing Harry's wrist. Harry blinked, looking down as Malfoy's hand slowly moved, until they were palm to palm. "Doesn't that sound like something you'd do for a person you care about?"

"Yes."

"Why would you care about an enemy?" Draco asked quietly, sounding like a child.

Harry giggled and then pressed a hand over his mouth, mortified by the sound. "Don't be so dramatic, Malfoy. Our houses can be dicks to each other, but this isn't some Muggle superhero movie."

"I suppose not," Draco said, smiling. Harry smiled back.

"I haven't seen you smile in weeks, Draco." The first name just slipped out so naturally.

Draco sucked in his breath. "I haven't."

"Why?"

"Ugh!" Draco groaned. "I'm dramatic like you said. It's stupid."

"Can't be if it's been bothering you."

"It's strange talking without…" Draco said, deflecting.

"The house stuff is stupid anyway. I think this is nice. Stop avoiding the question."

"Fine, the Squid turned me down," he said, sounding serious, though the small smile betrayed him.

Harry nudged Draco's shoulder like he would have done to one of his friends. "You can do better than her anyway. Remember the tentacles!"

Draco nudged him back. It felt like something between them had shifted, like in the first year when Hermione annoyed Ron and Harry, but then one day it clicked and she became one of their best friends.

"Fine, but… It's embarrassing. I've liked someone, and even though I knew I never had a chance, I heard they were dating someone, and I guess it got me a little down." Draco shrugged. "Not a big deal. I'll work through it."

"But why come out here every night?" Harry asked softly.

"I like the quiet, the stars, the lake, and even the Squid. It's comforting out here, Harry."

The pit in Harry's stomach told him all he needed to know. He was sad to know Draco liked someone, because not in a million years would he ever believe that someone could be him.

It just confirmed that his friends were right. He liked Draco Malfoy.

"Who do you like?" Harry asked, knowing talking can be helpful. Harry would be sad about it later. Right now, he just wanted to make Draco feel better.

"I'm… I'm holding his hand," Draco answered. Harry's mouth dropped open.

"Which some traditional purebloods might take as cheating behavior since I like you. I'm sorry," Draco tried to yank his hand away, but Harry held tightly, not letting him go.

"Me? You like me? You think I'm dating someone?" It was all so confusing and wonderful at the same time. Harry thought he might pass out.

"Aren't you? You're always hanging off of Ginny Weasley, and I heard…"

"A rumor, most likely. I am like that with all my friends! We're a very affectionate bunch, Draco." Harry knocked his shoulder again.

"Oh."

Harry let out a shaky breath. "I like you, Draco."

"Oh."

"You are dramatic, aren't you?" Harry asked, smiling. "You should confirm info when you hear it from second-hand sources!"

"I should, I really should. What does this mean?"

Harry mused. "Hmm, it means the squid will never get a second chance with either of us."

Draco burst out in laughter. "Harry, you're insane. I like you a lot."

The Giant Squid slapped its tentacles near where they were, splashing them, soaking them to the bone.

"Is this approval in squid language?" Harry asked, wringing out his hair.

"Disapproval," A cold voice came from behind them.

"Oh, hey… Filch," Harry said, looking up at the man who was looking down at them with his hands on his hips.

"In bed now! I will see both of you in detention tomorrow."

Laughing, Draco and Harry stood up. Holding hands, they ran back toward the castle.