The Bet

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Chapter III - Plan B

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19 September 2003

I realise that this is my second journal entry today...but I don't care.

Damn Potter. Damn him and his bloody problems.

What was Raven thinking? Did she even realise what she was setting me up for? Bloody woman.

Bloody hell to everything.

Ok, now that I let all of that out-let's get back to business.

Potter. And how to get him to want a Malfoy.

This is not going to be easy. While I'm keeping a separate journal with only the events between Potter and I, I can't help but talk about it here, as well. He's like a ticking bomb...I thought what I was doing was working, but apparently there's more than enough shit underneath Potter's façade to kill over a hundred Dark Lords in one go.

I started out with trying to open communication. And I really didn't want to do it, to talk to him, but I have to. Logically, it'll be better once I do, regardless of the bet. I know that. And it scares me. I hate admitting that I have a security blanket in Potter of all people, but I do.

Raven says we have to both want it. I can't take it from him by force. I think she's trying to get me to warm up to him for the...'other' things she has planned. Like just getting him to sleep with me has to involve emotion, or else it doesn't count. No unattached fucking allowed.

It makes me feel sick just thinking about it.

And I was truthful, with what I said to him. I realise now how much he's done for the world, how much he had to sacrifice...and I still can't believe he blames himself. I just can't believe it.

No one, not even Potter, should believe something like that about them self. Ever.

~~~~~

"So? How goes it?" Raven said as she plopped down next to Draco, who was busy in the library finishing off the homework he missed the day before. Instead of going to class like he could have (seeing as the 'talk' didn't go as planned), he sat, locked up in his room, going over 'Plan B'.

"Not well," was the boy's short reply.

"Oh? What happened?" Raven sounded slightly concerned.

"Well, I finally followed your advice; to talk to him and 'sort out our differences'. I figured it would help break the ice."

"And it didn't work." It was more of a statement than a question.

"No. It didn't. It...wasn't going too bad at first, but then I said something to piss him off."

"What did you say?"

Draco sat back for a moment before speaking. "Did you know that Potter blames himself for all those deaths during the war? Some of the ones we caused?"

Raven's jaw dropped. "What? He does? He blames himself?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah. I hadn't expected that. I told him that he couldn't blame himself, that there was nothing he could do, that he couldn't fix it. They're all dead."

"And that's when he snapped."

"Yes."

"Draco, if I didn't know you any better, I'd almost say that you actually sound concerned about Potter."

Draco glared. "It was just unexpected, that's all. Besides, it seems like you might care about him yourself."

"Actually, I do." Draco raised an eyebrow at that. "Do you know what you're going to do now?" Raven said before Draco could utter a word.

"Yes. I sat in my room all day yesterday, trying to figure out what to do."

"And?"

"And...I've decided that not only do I need to apologise, which I really don't want to do, by the way, but I also need to appeal to his romantic side."

"His romantic side?"

"Yes. All Gryffindors have one. It's the only reason Weasley and Granger ever hooked up."

"Yes, I heard they're finally engaged."

"Really? Well, as much as it disgusts me, it's about bloody time."

"Draco..."

"What? Look, I'll try to put aside differences with Potter on your behalf, but don't expect me to go graveling to the Mudblood and the Weasel any time soon."

"I'm not saying I particularly like them either, but honestly, Dray, your prejudices don't hold anymore. Not after all we've done to help the muggles."

Draco uncharacteristically slumped back into his chair, and looked up at the vaulted library ceiling, his arms dangling at his sides. "I know," he said resignedly. "Its just...do you know how hard it is to break old habits?"

"Yes, I do. And I have, for the most part. You're stronger than me, Draco. I know you can do this."

He looked over at her in mock accusation. "Was this another one of your hidden agendas?"

She smiled. "Possibly." What Draco realised then was that although he had control of the situation with Potter (or, at least, he was supposed to), Raven was the Queen of this situation. She just kept throwing new shit out at him, and he was supposed to bend over and say 'yes please, Love,' and deal with it. Goddamn she was devious; she manipulated him like it was nothing. And it was so hot. Draco didn't know what to do with himself anymore. It was a love-hate relationship with the woman. When had he become so bloody soft?

Eventually he sighed. "What am I to do with you?"

"Sate my lust for the things I want in life, and I'll be happy." She made it sound like he should already know this.

"You're incorrigible, you know that?"

"But you still love me."

"And you know it."

There was a pause and then: "Dray?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatcha going to do to Potter next?"

Shaking his head he said, "Oh, no. You'll just have to read about it," while sitting straight up in his chair.

The dark-haired girl pouted. "Aww..."

"You can't do the hurt puppy-dog thing with me, babe. It won't work." Draco was glad he still had something up on her.

"Fine. But I want to read it as soon as you finish writing about it," she said as she stood from her chair.

"It'll be hot-off-the-press."

"Thanks, Love." She gave him a hug from behind and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Anything for you."

"And don't I know it."

"Yes. You exploit it whenever possible."

"Sorry."

"No you aren't. And don't you ever say that again. I don't care how much we've changed. We're still Slytherins. We don't say 'sorry.'"

Raven gave a little laugh. "You're right. I'm not really sorry. I'll see you later, babe."

"Bye." Watching her walk away, he thought to himself, Maybe I should become a eunuch. It would save me a whole lot of trouble. Then he shuddered at that unpleasant thought. I think I'd rather fuck Weasley.

~~~~~

Harry Potter woke with a start, thinking he had heard something. Looking blearily around the dark room, he figured he must have imagined it and had just started to drift off again when he heard it again: a soft tapping sound. Now he knew he wasn't imagining things. Immediately, his wand was found from underneath his pillow and his glasses were put on his nose. Slowly, he moved his covers aside, easing himself out of his bed. Standing for a moment, he surveyed his room, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He saw nothing amiss. But then he heard it a third time: a soft tapping on glass. Whirling around to the window next to his bed, he held his wand out before him; ready to take whatever it was down.

But when he approached the window, the last thing he expected to see was a levitating Draco Malfoy, sitting cross-legged in the air like he was on the soft bed of grass below, haloed by the moonlight. So he let out a little yelp of surprise, dropping his wand. Quickly, he opened the window, leaned forward and said in a fierce whisper, "Malfoy! What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

Malfoy just grinned at the mixed look of surprise and irritation on Potter's face. "Oh," he said in nonchalance, "just waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?"

"Yes. Now c'mon. Or we'll miss it."

Harry stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Malfoy, I thought I told you to leave me alone. I want nothing to do with you. Go away." Then he moved forward to close the window, but Malfoy levitated himself forward, blocking the way.

"Well I'm not going to go away, Potter. Now get some pants and shoes on. We're going on a walk."

"Another one? And I don't have any say in the matter?"

"Nope."

The Gryffindor glared. "I hate you."

"Yeah, I hate me too sometimes. Now let's go."

Harry stared at the other boy for a long moment. Sighing in resignation, he said, "Fine. Just give me a second." Then he turned around and grabbed his jeans, sweater (a red one this time) and shoes from earlier that day, slipping them on quickly. Draco had to agree with Raven, that seeing Potter down to his knickers and shirt wasn't all that bad a sight. Not that he'd admit it to anyone, of course. He wasn't gay, and he wasn't going to start now, even for this bet. And that's all it was: a bet. Just because he was going to eventually have sex with the bastard, didn't mean he would become gay. Or bi. Or anything other than straight. Yeah. That's it, Draco. Welcome to the Land of Delusional Denial.

As soon as he was ready, Harry grabbed his wand and slipped it in his pocket. "I'll meet you downstairs," he whispered to the Slytherin, who was still hovering in the window frame.

"And take the chance of waking anyone else up? I don't think so. Come over here to the ledge, and I'll levitate us down."

Harry gave him an incredulous look. "Are you completely mad?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Some have thought so." Then he floated away from the window. "C'mon. I promise I won't drop you."

Harry still looked hesitant, but stepped forward anyway. Taking a rather huge leap of faith, he climbed up on the stone ledge of the large cottage and perched there, looking down. He had never been afraid of heights before; he was one of the world's greatest Seekers, for crying out loud. (And really, it was only about twelve feet down.) But he usually had a broom beneath him, not a prickly-looking bush. He chanced a quick look at Malfoy, who hovered a few feet away, the patented smirk in place.

The blond reached out his hand, palm up, at made a beckoning gesture. Harry felt a strange pull at his solar plexus, and suddenly, he was moving forward, away from the window frame and into the air. He held in another yelp of surprise, and immediately held out his arms for balance, but he didn't need to. Malfoy had complete control over his body's balance.

"Relax, Potter. Or I might actually drop us." Harry looked at him, startled, and saw a genuine look of concentration on Malfoy's face. So Harry stopped struggling, and tried to move his body into the same position as Malfoy's: cross-legged, but found that trying to sit cross-legged when you don't have anything under you was hard, so he stayed in his crouched position.

Slowly, the two boys floated down onto the grass. Malfoy let the boys down gently, and released his magical hold on them after he made sure Harry wasn't going to fall on his arse as soon as he did. Both Harry and Draco let out a breath they were holding when the magic was released.

As Harry stood he said, "You've never done that before, have you? Levitated two fully-grown people at once?" He tone was awed accusation.

Malfoy looked up at him. "No, actually, I haven't. In fact, I think that was the most wandless magic I've ever performed at one time."

Harry's look darkened. "That was rather dangerous, Malfoy."

The smirk was back. "I know. That's the thrill of it." Then the Adonis stood, brushing off his black trousers. He was also wearing a high-necked black sweater, both of which blended into the dark night, but accented his pale features. The moon made his hair glow like a small halo around his head. "Come on. If we don't hurry, we'll miss it." Then he turned and started walking into woods behind the dorms. The entire town was encased in woods, it seemed.

"What will we miss, exactly? Where are we going?" Harry asked, hurrying to catch up.

"The sea." Was the only answer he received.

They walked for a few more minutes, going deeper into the woods. Because the leaves on the trees had not yet begun to fall, the farther they went, the darker and colder it got. Harry shivered slightly, keeping a few steps behind the other man. Draco walked with a sense of purpose, like he had walked this path a million times before, never breaking his stride.

"Malfoy?"

"Yeah, Potter?"

"Um...isn't the sea west of here? We're going north, aren't we?"

"Actually, it bends in up here a bit. There's a little alcove. That's where we're going."

"Oh."

They walked another five minutes, and then the trees started thinning out. Harry could see the moonlight filtering through the trees again. Then Malfoy suddenly stopped, and Harry almost ran into him.

"Malfoy, wha-"

"Shush!" Malfoy whispered, turning slightly and placing a hand over Harry's mouth. Harry's senses were suddenly hit with Malfoy's distinct smell, something spicy and soft all at the same time. Then Malfoy removed his hand and moved forward a step, shifting his weight slightly. Harry could barely see it, but it seemed as though Malfoy's bright eyes were darting around, looking for something. He pulled out his wand from his sleeve, and when Harry saw this, he slipped his own out as well.

There was a snapping sound off to the right, and Harry's senses were suddenly keen on the area, searching with his eyes, ears, and magic. Reaching out with his magic slightly, he felt around the area, sensing for anything strange. This was a skill that he had learned during the war. When he found what he was looking for, he muttered, "It's nothing, Malfoy. Only a badger."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, very."

The Slytherin relaxed slightly. "Good. You still can't be too sure these days."

"I agree."

They shared a look for a moment, and then moved on, both of them putting their wands away. After a minute, the trees finally broke, and Harry found himself looking out over a large alcove. He and Malfoy were standing on the rocky cliff above, and from where he was standing; he could see the water lapping the small strip of sand below. The rocks around the alcove almost completely encased the area; Harry didn't even think a boat would be able to get in from the Irish Sea. The moonbeams were still partially blocked by the trees and the cliff, but the view was still quite spectacular.

"Malfoy...this is..."

"Shh..." Malfoy said. "It's about to start."

Harry looked out into the alcove, just as the moonlight fully hit the area, reflecting off of the water and illuminating everything in pale light. Slowly, as Harry watched, small coloured lights glowed into being around the alcove and moved away from the rocky walls from whence they came.

Harry watched in awe as the little lights started dancing to this enchanted music that seemed to fill the alcove. Harry wasn't even sure he was actually hearing it; it seemed to be a accumulation of the natural sounds around them; the lapping of the water, and rustling of the breeze through the trees; and some tranquil tinkling the multi coloured lights seemed to be giving off.

The two young men stood there entranced by the dance of lights going on below them. Neither dared to breathe, let alone talk, for fear of alerting the enchanted lights of their presence. The lights kept up their dance, changing with the alteration of the sounds around them. After about a half an hour of standing there, Malfoy moved, ever so slowly, taking Harry's hand in his and leading him back into the woods.

Once they were about five minutes away, Harry finally realised that Malfoy's hand was still in his, so he squeezed it slightly and stopped walking. "Malfoy?"

The blond turned around and looked at Harry. "Yes, Potter?"

"I..." He paused, unsure of what to say, or how to say it. "Why did you bring me here?"

The genuine smile that graced the Slytherin's lips surprised Harry. As did his answer. "Because I thought you'd like it."

"How...how did you know it was here?"

"I take walks sometimes, when my nightmares wake me. I've stayed up all night, watching them. It's never the same. They leave when the moonlight is no longer flooding the alcove."

"What are they?" Harry asked in a hushed whisper.

"I'm not sure. I think they may be fairies of some sort."

"Oh."

They stood there for a moment, looking at each other in the darkened forest. Then Malfoy asked in a soft voice, "Would you like to continue? I'm afraid the cold is starting to get to me."

"Oh! Oh yeah. Let's keep going." Then Malfoy turned around and started walking again, still holding onto Harry's hand.

They reached the back of Dormitory One with no more interruptions, and in complete silence. Only once they were standing next to the wall of the cottage, underneath Harry's window, did they stop and look at each other again.

"I..." Harry started. "I'm not sure what's changed about you Malfoy, or why you seem to have this sudden urge to be nice to me, and talk to me...but thanks. It was...beautiful, what you showed me tonight. Thank you for sharing it with me." He felt his cheeks heat up a bit, and he looked down.

"You're welcome, Potter. Think of it as an apology. For what I said yesterday. You're the only one I've shown. Not even Raven knows about them."

"I...oh." Was all Harry could seem to say. Oh, that was brilliant, Potter.

Malfoy suddenly released his hand, stepping back. "Goodnight, Potter."

"Er...goodnight, Malfoy." Then the bright-haired boy turned around and walked away into the night, heading for his own dormitory, two buildings around the circle. Harry stood there for a moment, at a loss of words, emotions, anything really. What was he supposed to think? All he knew was that Malfoy was acting very odd these last two days, and that one of the most pleasant experiences he's ever had in his life had been shared with the Adonis by his side.

Shaking himself from his confused thoughts, he looked up to his window. "Damn," he muttered. Sitting cross-legged on the grass, he used his wandless magic to levitate himself back to his open window. Crawling inside, he realised just how chilly it was in the room, so he quickly shut the window and cast a temporary warming charm on the room, seeing as the bedrooms didn't have fireplaces.

Shucking off his pants and shoes, but keeping on his sweater, he slipped some pyjama pants on and climbed back into bed. His dreams were filled with enchanted lights that sung and twinkled like stars, and the enticing smell of spicy softness.