Cobra

After his fifth year, Harry's behaviour and rationality had gone noticeably down hill. If one were to look at him they would not see a short, skinny boy, with black hair and glasses. No, definitely not. These days, in his seventh year, Harry's hair had grown to his shoulders and was more or less neat. He had found a charm to fix his sight so he no longer required glasses and had conned Hermione into casting it for him. He'd grown rather quickly over his sixth year and now stood a very imposing six feet and one inch tall, that fact alone he was very proud of. Also, adding to the fact he no longer wore glasses, Harry had been brave enough to have his left eyebrow pierced, much to Hermione's despair.

'What if it gets infected!' she'd warned him. He shrugged and replied with a very off hand

'I'll live.'

As way of rationality, Harry had become rather the opposite. Within the last year and half, Harry had, how you'd say "been with" ninety five percent of the female population of Hogwarts. The other fiver percent consisting of Hermione, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode and a few of the other girls that he hadn't even thought of looking twice at. He had even gone as far as a few members of the male population, although this fact he kept more or less to himself.

Harry slowly made his way back to the Gryffindor common room from his latest encounter. Thankfully she was still sleeping when he snuck away. And with any luck, she wouldn't pursue him tomorrow. He mumbled the password to the Fat Lady who asked why he looked dishevelled.

'I don't think I need to inform you of my night time activities,' he responded and the portrait swung open. Upon entering the common room, he found Ron still sitting up pouring over his Charms homework. 'How many times do I have to tell you? You really don't need to wait up for me,' Harry said smirking and sitting down beside his friend.

'I wasn't waiting up for you. I was trying to finish this damned essay so Hermione wont go postal when she finds out I didn't do it,' Ron replied nonchalantly. He set his quill down and looked at Harry expectantly. 'So who was it tonight?' he asked. Harry smiled. He should have known.

'Didn't actually get her name. Pretty little Ravenclaw. Sixth year I think.'

'You didn't know her name?' Ron looked shocked. Harry shrugged.

'She definitely knew mine. That's all that counts.'

'You know, one of these days, you'll actually fall for someone and you wont know what to do with yourself,' Ron told him. Harry scoffed.

'Yeah right. I've gotten this far through the school and still haven't fallen. I don't think I will any time soon,' Harry said doubtfully.

'It doesn't necessarily have to be someone you've shagged you know,' Ron said matter-of-factly, 'you could be in love with Hermione and not know it.' Harry sighed.

'Ron, we've been through this before. Hermione is my best friend - besides you - she's more of a sister to me if anything. I'm not in love with her.' No matter how many times Harry tried to drill this into Ron's head, he just wouldn't accept it.

'You on the other hand...' Harry smiled when Ron blushed.

'I've told you before; I'm not into Hermione. Nor she me. Just leave it,' he said, trying to concentrate on his essay again.

'Ron, answer me this; how long are you going to tell your self that? I'm no relationship counsellor or anything - seriously, I've slept with almost every girl in the school and haven't actually dated anyone since Cho - but even I can see you're madly in love with her. And as for you doubting she feels the same way...open your damn eyes. A blind guy could see the way she looks at you,' Harry preached.

'Look, Harry, I'm really busy. Can we talk about this tomorrow?' Ron said trying to sound unfazed, but Harry could tell he'd been listening.

'Yeah. Night,' Harry said walking up to his dormitory. When he entered, he found the other three occupants still wide-awake. They all looked at him curiously when he opened the door.

'Hi, Harry,' Neville beamed. Harry smiled. 'Busy night?' Neville chuckled. Harry knew what he meant. Everyone in the school besides the Professors (Harry hoped anyway) knew him as the Hogwarts "Play Boy". Harry grinned lopsidedly at him.

'Yeah. You could say that.'

'Who was she?' Dean asked, sitting on the edge of his bed. Harry shrugged.

'Can't remember.'

'You're lucky you know,' Seamus joined the conversation. The others looked at him.

'Meaning what?' Harry said taking off his pants and shirt now left clad only in black slattern boxer shorts.

'You don't even have to know her name and she'll jump into bed with you. Lavender pretty much said I'd have to marry her first,' Seamus replied. Harry chuckled.

'Some girls are like that. If you love her, you respect that.' Seamus, Dean and Neville stared at Harry.

'Since when have you worried about that?' Neville asked.

'I don't. If they're willing, I'm willing. Simple as that. It's not like I'd commit to any of them,' Harry said waving his hand.

'You are a God, mate,' Dean said, settling back in his bed. 'You have girls practically jumping on you and you take no notice. Not to mention some guys as well.' Harry's head shot up.

'What?'

'Yeah. I heard some Hufflepuff guy talking to his friend yesterday. Saying something like, "what I wouldn't do to have him in my bed" or something. Made me gag.' Dean shuddered. Harry didn't know what to do. He'd been with guys before, but not all that many. Just a few.

'Well that's comforting,' he said sarcastically. 'I'm going to have nightmares now.' And with a wave of his wand, Harry turned all the lights in the dorm off and the four boys went to sleep. Four only because Ron was still in the common room trying to do his charms. It was well after two o'clock when Harry heard him go to bed.

__--__

'HARRY POTTER! HOW DARE YOU!' a shrill voice broke the pleasant silence at breakfast the next morning. Harry lifted his head to see Miss Pretty Ravenclaw storming towards him.

'You did it again didn't you?' Harry vaguely heard Hermione hiss.

'Good morning,' Harry smiled at Miss Pretty Ravenclaw.

'GOOD MORNING MY ARSE!' the girl screamed. 'YOU LEFT ME!'

'I was never actually with you to begin with. Last night was...great, but that's as far as it goes,' Harry said.

'I HATE YOU!' the girl continued to yell.

'Is there a problem Miss Warren?' Professor McGonagall asked, interrupting their little argument.

'Apart from Harry's utter non-consideration for other's feelings, Professor, no. There is no problem,' Miss Warren said. She glared at Harry one last time and stormed off, knocking a small first year over on the way.

'Mr Potter?' McGonagall said expectantly. Harry shrugged.

'You heard the girl. No problem here.' McGonagall sighed and walked away. No more than three seconds later, the owl post arrived. A large black owl landed on Harry's plate of Bacon and dropped an envelope onto an egg.

'No, I didn't want that or anything,' Harry said to the bird opening the letter. The owl flew off, leaving Harry's breakfast all over the table. Harry unfolded the letter and read it

I love the dark,

You might not,

I like you and...

I forgot the rest,

But I think you're hot.

Meet me in the Astronomy tower at ten to midnight on Friday.

The note wasn't signed. Harry looked around the Hall for any sign of the sender, but came to no conclusions.

'What's that?' Ron asked, sitting down next to Harry. Harry handed him the note and he read it. 'Who's it from?' Harry shrugged.

'I have no clue. You'd think, if someone sent something like that, they'd sign it, right?'

'Yes, well, in case you haven't noticed, Harry, people - girls in particular - are a little...how should I put this? Nervous, when it comes to you,' Hermione entered the conversation.

'Nervous? Why should they be nervous?' Harry asked. Hermione shot him a look that quite clearly stated he should know.

'You sleep with them, and then break their hearts!' she said, rather loudly.

'I do not!' Harry retorted.

'Look, it's nearly time for class anyway. We'd better get going,' Hermione said, rather like she didn't want to continue the conversation. Harry and Ron groaned and followed her into the dungeons.

'Potter!' Snape yelled half an hour later. Harry jumped a little.

'Sir?'

'What on earth is that supposed to be?' Snape asked, looking into Harry's potion.

'Uh, a hair colouring potion?' Harry replied. 'At least that's what it says on the board.'

'Ten points from Gryffindor for your impertinence, Potter. Another ten from you, Miss Granger, for not telling him he was wrong,' Snape said angrily. Harry temper exploded.

'You have no right to take points from Hermione, sir. She didn't do anything wrong.'

'Excuse me?' Snape whirled around and glared at Harry. Harry glared straight back. He wasn't afraid of Snape anymore.

'I said, you had no right to take points from Hermione. It's my fault my potion sucks, not her's,' Harry repeated.

'Fine. Ten points for Miss Granger,' Snape said, a few student's mouths dropped open. 'And twenty off from you, Potter, for shooting your mouth off.' Harry just shrugged. No one spoke for the rest of the lesson.

'Why did you do that, Harry?' Hermione hissed on their way to Gryffindor tower in their break.

'Because he didn't have any right to take points off of you like that,' Harry replied.

'Fillywobble,' Ron mumbled to the Fat Lady.

'That's not the point, Harry. I didn't care,' Hermione said, sitting her bag down on the floor.

'Well I did,' Harry said sternly. 'I'm sick of that git picking on me and my friends, just because my dad picked on him.'

'Whatever. We'd better finish our essay's for charms, they're due tomorrow,' Hermione told Harry and Ron, pulling her book from her bag. 'How far did you get on it yesterday, Ron?' Ron mumbled something incomprehensible, and they all set to work.

Harry sat alone in the common room that night, staring blankly at his unfinished charms essay. What exactly was the incantation for an Easy Sleep charm anyway? Harry could remember. He was just about to pick up a book and look it up when someone came down the stairs. Harry turned in his seat to see a very tired looking Hermione.

'What are you doing up?' Harry asked, happy for an excuse not to pick up the charms book.

'I, uh, I couldn't sleep,' Hermione stuttered. For some reason, he thought Hermione sounded nervous.

'Something I can help with?' Harry asked, patting a seat next to him on the couch. Hermione sat down, wringing her hands in her lap.

'Actually, I was hoping you could,' Hermione replied, looking at Harry.

'What is it?'

'Well, I, um, well the thing is, uh.' Hermione was definitely nervous. Why? Harry had no clue. 'Harry, I need your help,' Hermione said finally. Harry smiled at his friend.

'We established that. What exactly do you need my help with?'

'Well, that's kind of hard to say. It's actually quite embarrassing. See the thing is, I want to - have wanted to for a while actually - um...you know,' Hermione said, going slightly pink. If she was saying what Harry thought she was saying, no wonder she was going pink.

'Hermione I don't actually know - '

'I want to have sex!' Hermione blurted out. Harry stared at her in shock.

'Why are you telling me this?' Harry asked. Hermione looked nervous again.

'Well I was kind of thinking that...' It seemed that she didn't want to finish her sentence. But Harry knew what she was going to say.

'Hermione, are you saying you want to sleep with...me?'

'Well, I, uh...yes,' Hermione replied.

'Why?' Harry had no idea what to say. What would you do if your best friend suddenly decided she wanted to sleep with you?

'Well because you've done it before - a lot - and you're my best friend - ' she began but Harry cut her off.

'That's exactly why I haven't slept with you, Hermione. You're my best friend, it would completely ruin everything.'

'Harry,' Hermione began seriously. 'You've been my friend for seven years. I love you, and you know that. I've thought long and hard about this and I've been fighting with myself for the last six months trying to decide weather or not to actually do it.'

'Look, Hermione, I know - well actually I don't know - why you'd want your first to be me, but even I know about my reputation as Hogwarts slut. Do you really want to sleep with a slut, Hermione?' Harry said, taking Hermione's hands in his own.

'I don't know. I honestly don't know why I asked you that. It was wrong, I'm sorry.' Tears were forming in Hermione's eyes.

'You don't have to be sorry. Yes I have slept with about ninety five percent of Hogwarts girls. The other five percent is made up mostly of Slytherins because it makes me shudder at the thought, and you Hermione. You're part of that five percent too. Not because the thought of sleeping with you makes me shudder, but because you're my friend and I love you like a sister. Plus Ron would kill me,' Harry told her. 'You don't have to be sorry Hermione. We'll just forget this ever happened.'

'You know, there was another reason for my wanting to sleep with you,' Hermione said looking up.

'What was that?' Harry asked.

'Because I'm the only virgin left out of the seventh years here,' Hermione told him. 'Most of Gryffindor you mean.' Harry thought.

'And you wanted it to be me because everyone else's was, right?' Harry added. Hermione nodded and Harry chuckled. 'Hermione, you're different from all the other girls here. I know I'm not one to talk, but your first time should be with someone special. Trust me, if it's not, you'll regret it.'

'But you're special to me,' Hermione told him. Harry shook his head.

'No I'm not. I'm no more special to you than I was to Lavender or Parvati you just think I am. I've been there and done that, Hermione. You deserve someone better than me, and you'll find them. You're beautiful, smart, funny - a little over bearing I'll admit - but that just makes you even more special. Someday someone will see that.'

'I hope you're right,' Hermione sighed then something occurred to Harry.

'You know and I know that someone special is Ron. Don't even try to deny it.'

'How did you know?' Hermione was beet-red.

'It's not that hard to tell Hermione. You didn't want to sleep with me in the first place. You wanted Ron, I get that.' Harry smiled.

'What am I going to do, Harry?' Hermione asked, slouching slightly.

'Well, first, you're going to go back to bed and rid yourself of any thoughts concerning sleeping with me and in the morning, you're going to tell Ron exactly how you feel,' Harry told her, helping her stand and steering her towards the girls dormitories.

'What if he doesn't feel the same way?' Hermione asked him, turning around. Harry smiled.

'Trust me, he does.' Hermione's face brightened and she smiled. She kissed Harry on the cheek before turning and running back to her bed. Harry smiled to himself and went back to the couch to resume his essay but after looking blankly at it for five minutes, he gave up and went to bed as well.

__--__

The next morning, Harry walked into the Great Hall earlier than usual. It was Friday morning, and they had Charms first up. He thought maybe he could get the last bit of his essay finished while he ate breakfast. Harry sat down at the table and instantly, a mug of steaming coffee appeared in front of him. He pulled his charms book out of his bag along with is half finished essay and quill.

'Getting an early star I see, Harry,' a soft voice said from Harry's left. He looked up to see Professor Dumbledore smiling down at him.

'Yes sir. I couldn't sleep and I have a Charms essay to hand in today and I still haven't finished it,' Harry told Dumbledore, who smiled again.

'Could I be of any assistance?' Dumbledore asked, sitting down next to Harry.

'If you could tell me the incantation for the Easy Sleep charm and it's origin, then yes, you could,' Harry answered.

'I believe the incantation is Simple Snorum the origin is Latin I believe. Of course when it was invented, it was spoken in Latin, but a wizard by the name of Gregor Rekkit translated it in the early seventeenth centaury and found that in had the same effect. He used it on his wife because she had terrible insomnia and so the charm came in very handy indeed,' Dumbledore explained. 'I my self have used it once or twice.' Harry's eyes widened.

'When?'

'Mostly on Christmas eve.' Dumbledore smiled. 'I still seem to have trouble awaiting the morning.'

'Well, thank you for your help sir,' Harry said. 'I can finish my essay finally.'

'I'm glad I could be of help,' Dumbledore replied and left to take his seat at the Staff Table. Harry stared writing franticly. He almost didn't notice when Hermione joined him.

'Harry?' she said quietly. Harry quickly finished writing the rest of his sentence and looked up.

'Morning Hermione,' He smiled brightly.

'Look, about last night, I just wan - ' Harry held up his hand.

'Forget it,' he said firmly. 'It never happened. Have you spoken to Ron yet?' Hermione shook her head.

'No. I haven't seen him all morning.'

'Well here comes your chance.' Harry nodded towards the door through which Ron had just entered. Harry heard Hermione gasp. 'Don't worry, Hermione. Just tell him.' Harry went back to finishing his essay as Ron sat down. Luckily, Harry had established the talent of writing and listening to something else at the same time.

'Ron, can I ask you something?' Hermione was saying.

'Sure. What's wrong?' Ron replied through a mouthful of bacon.

'Um...well first off, I like you Ron. A lot,' Hermione said unsurely.

'I like you to Hermione.' Ron sounded off hand. Harry grimaced and kicked Ron under the table and looked up at his friend, Hermione didn't seem to notice. 'Oh.'

'I don't think you understand, Ron.' Hermione was speaking again. Ron interrupted her.

'Yes I do.' Just as Harry looked up, Ron kissed Hermione right on the lips. Much to Ron's surprise, Harry thought, as Hermione's. Harry looked back down at his essay, pretending her hadn't seen anything and continued to write. A minute later, he put down his quill.

'All done,' he said happily. 'So did you two sort yourselves out or what?' he added slyly.

'I think so,' Hermione smiled at Ron and Ron smiled at Harry.

'I, um, have to go, uh, get my books,' Ron stuttered. 'Thank you!' Ron mouthed to Harry and then he ran off.

'How did you know he had feelings for me?' Hermione asked as she watched Ron leave. Harry shrugged.

'I just had a feeling.'

'You know Harry, if you're this good at sorting out other people's love lives, imagine what you could do with your own,' Hermione said, buttering her toast.

'Hermione, in case you haven't noticed, my love life sucks. Any chance of fixing it is absolutely banished,' Harry replied.

'What about that letter you got yesterday?'

'What about it?' Harry began eating his bacon.

'Why don't you find out who it is and just date them for a while, maybe it'll help,' Hermione advised. Harry thought this over for a moment.

'What if it's a Slytherin?' he asked.

'Give it a go anyway, you never know.' Hermione shrugged. Harry nodded and continued with his breakfast.

A few minutes later Ron, Harry and Ron were waiting outside Professor Flitwick's classroom for their lesson to begin. As luck would have it, their lesson's had been changed around and they no longer had Charms with the Hufflepuffs. Now they had it with Slytherins. Needless to say, there were a lot more injuries now on account of odd - usually fairly solid things - flying across the room from the opposing house.

'Dumbledore helped you with your essay? I didn't think he was allowed to do that,' Hermione was saying. Harry had just explained how he'd gotten his essay done in time.

'Well he did. Thank God he knew about them too or I'd be - '

'So Potter, who was she?' Draco Malfoy's drawling voice said from down the hall a bit.

'Who was who, Malfoy?' Harry replied, though he knew very well whom Malfoy was talking about.

'Don't play innocent with me, Potter. Everyone knows you're a slut. So who was she?' Malfoy smirked.

'It's none of your business. Even if it was I wouldn't tell you, because - unlike some people I know - I don't kiss and tell,' Harry bit back. 'Note; I use the word "kiss" in the loosest sense of the word.' Malfoy's face dropped.

'What's that supposed to mean?' Malfoy said dangerously. Harry was surprised. For once, Malfoy didn't have a come back. Harry just smirked.

'Think about it, Malfoy. I may be a slut; but at least I admit it.'

'I don't admit to being a slut, because I'm not,' Malfoy insisted. Just then, the classroom door opened. Harry walked through the door past Malfoy.

'Keep telling your self that,' he mumbled and took a seat between Hermione and Ron.

In Care of Magical Creatures, the last lesson of Friday's line-up, the same black owl swooped down on Harry and landed on his shoulder.

'I know you,' Harry mumbled, taking the letter from the owl, but it didn't fly away. Harry opened the letter and read it.

-Harry

Today I love you.

More than I did yesterday.

But tomorrow I'll love you,

More than I do today.

Let me know if you'll be there tonight.

-Yours

'Do you think it's from the same person?' Hermione asked when Harry showed her the note.

'I know it is. It's the same owl and the same handwriting,' Harry replied.

'What are you going to say?' Ron asked, just finishing reading the letter.

'I'm going to say I'll go. What else can I do? I want to know who it is,' Harry told him, picking up his quill and writing a reply. He read it over again.

Thank you for your letters.

I'll be in the tower tonight.

Who are you?

-Harry

'Is it okay?' Harry asked Hermione. She snatched the letter off of him before he could tie it to the owl's leg.

'You can't just blurt it out like that!' she said, looking up.

'Huh?' Harry said taking the letter from her.

'"Who are you?" You can't just say it like that,' Hermione told him, looking scandalised.

'What was I supposed to say?' Harry asked as the black owl flew off. Hermione didn't answer.

'Put yeh hands up who's Jellybug's still alive!' Hagrid's voice boomed. Harry, Hermione and Ron raised their hands. 'Good, good.' Hagrid nodded around at the class. 'I want yeh to write an essay about their habitat for homework to be handed up this time next week. Class dismissed!' The bell rang up at the school and the class packed their things together and headed back to the castle.

'How are you going to get to the tower tonight, Harry?' Ron asked.

'Does he have to answer that Ron?' Hermione asked, looking at Ron and smiling.

'No I guess not,' Ron said going slightly pink. Hermione took his hand and the three of them made their way up to the Gryffindor common room.

'We'd better get started on those essay's for Hagrid,' Hermione said, pulling her books out. 'Where did he say Jellybugs come from?' The trio had come up from dinner and sat down at a table in the common room.

'Ireland.' Seamus Finnigan had joined their table also pulling out his books.

'Thanks. I guess we'd better go to the library to find more books then,' Hermione said.

'Can't it wait 'till tomorrow? It's Friday 'Mione,' Ron whined. Hermione smiled knowingly.

'Maybe you're right.' She sighed. Ron looked thunderstruck for a moment before quickly re-composing himself.

'Of course I am.' He nodded. Harry chuckled.

'You know, I think you two dating is going to be good for everyone.'

'Why's that?' Hermione asked, putting her books away.

'Because now Ron can talk you out of doing homework.' Harry grinned as he ducked the small book being thrown at him by Hermione.

'You two are together?' Seamus asked, looking from Hermione to Ron and back again. Both nodded and blushed. 'Took you long enough didn't it?' Seamus smiled and got up and left their table.

'Who's for a chess tournament?' Ron asked. Harry nodded and proceeded to ask everyone in the common room. Many were brave enough to play, but most declined when they saw Ron was playing.

'Oh my God! I don't believe it!' Hermione screeched five and a half hours later. As it turned out, more people had decided to play then either Harry or Ron had counted on, thus drawing the tournament out. What was even more surprising was that Hermione was the finalist, playing, of course, against Ron.

'What?' Ron asked, faking a confused tone. Ron grinned at Harry who had seated himself behind Hermione. Hermione was positively ecstatic about something. 'What can't you believe?' Ron asked again, frowning at the chessboard. Harry knew very well - and he knew Ron did as well - what Hermione was excited about.

'Checkmate!' Hermione said triumphantly, moving her queen and successfully beating Ron for the first time ever.

'I don't believe it!' Ron said sounding scandalised. 'How did you do it, Hermione?' he asked.

'You've been beaten, Ron,' Harry said. 'Congratulations, Hermione. You are officially the new Wizard Chess Queen. May we all raise our wands to you?' Harry, Ron and the other spectators each held his or her wands in the air. Hermione blushed slightly and shrugged.

'Beginner's luck.'

'Okay, okay!' Ron yelled over the cheers. 'Shows over folks! Nothing more to see here!' With that, everyone slowly dispersed and made their merry way to bed. Once Ginny had said goodnight and walked up the stairs and out of site, Ron turned to Harry.

'Have you got the cloak?' he asked. Harry nodded and pulled it out of his bag he'd conveniently forgot to take to his dorm.

'What's the time Hermione?' Harry asked.

'Half past eleven,' Hermione answered. 'You'd better get a move on if you're going to make it by ten to.'

'Yeah. Don't wait up for me.' Harry winked at his friends and threw the cloak over himself and went out the portrait hole and headed towards the Astronomy Tower. Going as fast as he could while making as little noise as possible. What felt like forever later, Harry was standing in front of the door to the Tower. Breathing heavily he took the cloak off and pushed the door open. He looked around, the room was pitch dark and he couldn't see a thing.

'Hello?' he almost whispered. 'Is anyone here?' There was no answer. Harry pulled out his wand and held it out in front of him. 'Lumos,' he muttered and his wand tip came alight.

'Put it out,' a voice said from the darkness. 'The light, put it out.'

'Who are you?' Harry asked. 'Where are you?'

'Put the light out, Harry,' the voice commanded. Harry did and turned to where the voice was coming from, squinting into the darkness. Did the person have an invisibility cloak? Or was he just not looking hard enough?

'Who are you?' Harry asked again. He heard a chuckle and then movement from behind him. Harry made to turn abound but the voice stoped him.

'Don't turn around,' it hissed and Harry froze.

'Why not?' Harry asked, feeling increasingly stupid for talking to someone he couldn't see. 'Why wont you let me see you?'

'Because I want it to be a surprise,' the voice said sweetly.

'Okay. So why'd you pick me? What's so special about me?' Harry stood still, not looking around.

'I thought you would have picked that up by now,' the voice said. Harry heard movement again and felt a hand touch the back of his neck. 'I've been in love with you since the first day I saw you.'

'So why didn't you do what everyone else has done in the last two years and make a pass at me?' Harry asked, cocking an eyebrow at the blank wall before him.

'Because my love for you is about more than just sex. I've watched you from afar, knowing we could never be together. It broke my heart to see you with that snivelling bitch. You deserved better than her, you know,' the voice said. Harry had decided when he'd first heard his admirer speak he like the sound of their voice. I wasn't commanding or harsh, but soft and sweet.

'I figured that out for my self,' Harry replied. 'Why wont you let me see you?' he asked.

'Because I know you wont like it,' the voice replied. 'I've seen the way you look at me. And I don't blame you.'

'So why now? Why didn't you tell me how you feel before now?'

'Because I can't stand it any more. I've been in love with you for so long and I can't stand to walk by you and have you not know how I feel.' The voice sounded sad. It was full of what Harry could only guess was love and even a little fear.

'Can I turn around?' Harry asked softly.

'Close your eyes first,' the voice said.

'Why -?'

'Just close your eyes.' Harry closed his eyes and waited.

'Are they closed?' the voice asked. Harry felt the person's breath on his neck and he shivered.

'Yes.' A pair of hands grasped Harry's shoulders and turned him around slowly. 'Can I open them now?' Harry asked once he had stoped moving.

'No,' the voice replied sternly. The hands took hold of Harry's face. They were soft to touch, though a little cold. Harry shivered again. 'Is something wrong?'

'You're hands are cold, that's all,' Harry shrugged. Next thing he knew, there were a pair of lips on his, cutting off his next question. Harry deepened the kiss and his hands immediately went to the person's hair. But all he felt was the hood of a cloak. Smart-Arse Harry thought. This person obviously didn't want him to know who they were. The person ended the kiss, but Harry could still feel their breath on his face.

'Keep your eyes closed,' the soft voice whispered in his ear.

'Am I ever going to get to see your face?' Harry asked, eyes closed.

'Maybe,' the voice said offhandedly. 'I can't keep you in the dark forever, I suppose.'

'Can I at least know your name?' Harry asked. They laughed.

'That would ruin the surprise!' the voice chuckled. 'No. I won't tell you my name.'

'What do I call you then?'

'You can call me...' the voice went quiet for a moment. 'Cobra. Yes Cobra, I like those cars. Very speedy.' the voice said finally.

'Cobra? Fair enough.' Harry shrugged.

'Will you come again, Harry?' Cobra asked. Harry nodded.

'Yes, okay.'

'Wonderful. I think you'd better get back to your common room,' Cobra advised. 'It's getting late.'

'Good idea.' Harry nodded, eyes still closed. 'Can I open my eyes now?'

'Hold on.' There was a shuffling of noise. 'Okay, you can open them now, but go straight out the door.' Harry opened his eyes and looked around for a moment. He couldn't see anything but darkness and shadows. He walked towards the door.

'Sleep well, Harry,' Cobra said just as Harry was stepping out the door.

'You too,' Harry replied and closed the door behind him. He picked up his cloak, threw it over himself and ran back to the common room.

'They didn't let you see them?' Ron said incredulously. Harry had explained the whole thing to his friends when he returned to the common room.

'No. I have no idea why either. They didn't even tell me their name,' Harry said shaking his head.

'So what do you have to call them?' Hermione asked, moving her feet from Ron's lap.

'Cobra.' Harry sat back and tried to think of a reason why that name sounded familiar.

'Cobra? As in the snake?' Hermione said raising her eyebrows.

'No, the car,' Harry replied. 'I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed.' Harry stood up. 'Don't you two do anything I wouldn't do.' He grinned at his friends.

'That doesn't leave much you know,' Ron said. Harry laughed and climbed the stairs to bed.

Over the next few weeks, Harry met with Cobra more and more often. Never actually seeing the face of his admirer, Harry had employed the help of his two best friends to help him find out it was.

'Either it's someone who doesn't go to Hogwarts anymore, or they're really good actors,' Ron said one night after Harry had told them what happened when he met with Cobra no more than an hour before hand.

'I think there's a little more to the name. Why would someone nickname themselves Cobra?' Harry asked. Something obviously clicked in Hermione's mind because her face was washed over with the look of revelation.

'Something wrong, Hermione?' Ron asked looking at her.

'Harry, you know a cobra is also a snake, right?' Hermione said. Harry nodded.

'Yeah, so?'

'What house is obsessed with snakes? Particularly the vicious kind?' Hermione continued. Harry thought for a moment.

'Slytherin. Where are you going with this, Hermione?'

'Did you recognise Cobra's voice?'

'No. I think they'd probably put a befuddlement charm on it or something. Hermione, what are you getting at?'

'Do you remember back in our second year?' she asked sitting up straight.

'Yes - Hermione, if you're saying Cobra is Voldemort, I'll kick you,' Harry warned. Hermione shook her head.

'No. I'm talking about when you first found out you were a Parcelmouth. What breed was the snake?'

'A Cobra I think - oh.'

'And who conjured that cobra?' Hermione was grinning.

'Malfoy. Hermione, are you saying what I think your saying?'

'Cobra is Malfoy.' Hermione nodded.

'Hermione, Harry's a guy,' Ron pointed out.

'So?' Hermione shrugged.

'Malfoy's a guy too.'

'What does that have to do with anything, Ron?' Hermione sighed.

'They're both guys!' Ron exclaimed.

'C'mon, Ron. It's not like Harry hasn't been with a guy before,' Hermione said nonchalantly.

'How did you know?' Harry asked, stunned.

'No he hasn't!' Ron said at the same time. Ron stared at Harry in disbelief. 'You have?'

'Yes, Ron. Hermione, how did you know?' Harry said looking at her.

'I'm not blind you know. It was obvious.' Hermione shrugged.

'When? When was it obvious?'

'I saw you with Blaise.'

'You shagged Blaise Zabini!' Ron said, his eyebrows almost touching his hair.

'Several times actually. Don't get your knickers in a knot. You're not my type mate,' Harry told Ron. 'You really think Cobra is Malfoy?' Harry asked. Hermione nodded.

'I'm pretty sure. I've seen him looking at you. You know like that.'

'There's one bad thing about finally finding out who it is,' Harry said sitting back in his chair.

'You fell in love with Cobra, didn't you?' Hermione asked knowingly. Harry nodded. 'You're going to have to tell Malfoy you know it's him,' Hermione told him. Ron was still looking thunderstruck. Muttering things under his breath like 'My best friend's in love with a guy.' and 'Harry and Malfoy.'

'I know, Hermione. But now that I know, I don't want to wait. I want to tell him now. I'm going to tell him now.' Harry picked up a piece of parchment and a quill and scribbled a note telling "Cobra" to meet him in the Astronomy tower in ten minutes. He sent it with Hedwig and set off for the tower. He was waiting in there for five minutes when the door opened.

'Keep your eyes shut,' Cobra told him.

'There's no point,' Harry replied.

'Why not?'

'I know it's you, Draco, and I don't care. I love you anyway,' Harry said into the darkness. A hooded figure stepped out into the moonlight. 'It is you isn't it?' Cobra pulled the hood back and Draco's face looked back at Harry.

'How'd you know?' Draco asked.

'You conjured a Cobra in our second year. That's when I found out I was a Parcelmouth,' Harry replied. 'It was actually Hermione who worked it out.'

'I knew there was a reason you were friends with her. You honestly don't care?' Draco asked. He looked almost afraid. Harry shook his head.

'I've seen a side of you not many have. I fell in love with that side of you which means I fell in love with the rest of you.'

'You mean that?'

'There is one thing though,' Harry said. 'Why didn't you just come out and tell me before?'

'I figured if you found out by yourself, it's be less of a shock,' Draco replied.

'You almost gave Ron a heart attack, you know.' Harry smiled taking a step towards Draco. Draco shrugged.

'I'm sure he'll get over it.' Harry pulled Draco towards him and kissed him deeply.

'How do you think your dad'll feel about us?' Harry asked when he pulled away.

'I honestly don't care. But I wont let him hurt you. I'd die before I let anything happen to you,' Draco said firmly.

'Possessive type aren't you?' Harry mused.

'Don't ever forget it. I Love you Harry Potter,' Draco said. Harry smiled.

'I love you too...Cobra.'