Cold as Ice

Chapter 3.

Harry stared at Draco. Did he just say I look cute when I blush, He asked himself mentally. Despite himself, the sentence had made him feel warm and fuzzy, and not as uncomfortable as he would have thought.

'I... I've got to go... go back now...' Harry stammered, flustered at his lack of embarrassment.

'Oh...ok. Bye,' Draco looked crestfallen.

As Harry started to walk away, he couldn't help but feel guilty about leaving Draco after the blond boy had just spilled his deepest secret to Harry. Harry faltered, unsure whether to stay or to go.

'But I guess a few more minutes wouldn't hurt,' he said, settling back onto the grass next to Draco. For a few seconds there was silence, then Draco spoke.

'Thanks for staying, Harry. It means a lot to me. But I won't jump on you or anything, promise,' he added hastily, seeing the guarded look on Harry's face. Harry laughed.

'You know, you're not a bad person when you're not being a swine,' he grinned.

'Oi!' Draco said mock-angrily, hitting Harry playfully on the arm.

'You cheeky bugger,' Harry exclaimed, hitting him back. Pretty soon, the two boys were play fighting like old friends, rolling together on the grass.

'Pinned you,' Harry murmured, pinning Draco's arms to the ground.

Draco's heart pounded painfully fast in his chest. Harry's face was inches from his, his weight was pressed against the length of his body, and his subtle scent teased Draco's nostrils. Draco gazed into Harry's eyes.

'You gonna keep me here all night then?' he whispered, trying to wriggle free.

'Maybe.'

'Mean,' Draco pouted. Harry grinned and loosened his grip on Draco's wrists. Quick as a flash, Draco slipped his arms free and tried to push Harry off him. Surprisingly, the smaller boy was heavier than he had thought.

'Ha. You're not getting away that easily,' Harry smirked, placing his hands on the grass next to Draco's head. Draco bit his lip, then, throwing caution to the wind, he slid his hands around Harry's waist. Harry didn't seem to protest, so Draco lifted his head from the ground until it was just millimetres from Harry's face.

Harry knew what Draco wanted, and he knew he could give it him, but he also knew this wasn't like any normal situation. What he did now could change him forever, or have serious consequences.

Oh, what the hell, Harry thought, and kissed Draco on the lips. Just that kiss was filled with fire and passion, and set the very ends of Harry's nerves alight. Draco's arms tightened on his back, pulling their bodies closer together. The kiss got more urgent, and Harry knew he'd made the right decision.

Finally, the broke apart. Both boys were gasping for breath.

'Wow,' Harry said. Draco smiled.

'How corny was that, kissing by the lake in the moonlight,' he smirked. Harry laughed, rolled off Draco and got to his feet.

'We should get some sleep,' he said, brushing grass off his clothes. 'Then maybe we could meet up tomorrow?'

'Do we have to sleep? Why can't we just stay out here?' Draco pouted.

'Everyone needs their beauty sleep, Draco,' Harry said matter-of-factly. Draco just pouted more.

'Night, Draco,' Harry whispered, slipping the invisibility cloak around him.

Draco watched forlornly as Harry disappeared.

'Night,' he sighed. He really didn't want Harry to go. Not after his sudden turn around in feelings. But at the same time, Draco knew he should at least try and get some sleep.

So he made his way slowly back to the dormitory, relieving the kiss with every step. Harry had made him feel special. Wanted. All the things he had never felt before. And he knew that he wanted to be with Harry for the rest of his life.

He was still in his post-kiss daze the next morning when he got up. The bright Sunday morning sunshine was rippling through a gap in the bed hangings and making Draco's eyes water.

He got up, stretched and went to the bathroom to wash. As the water filled the basin, he couldn't help but remember kissing Harry by the lake. In fact, everywhere he looked, there was something to remind. A grin pulled at the corners of his lips.

He was still grinning when he got down to breakfast ten minutes later. He didn't realise his fellow Slytherins were giving him funny looks as he made his way over to his usual seat between Crabbe and Goyle.

'Hi Draco,' said a husky voice in his ear. Draco jumped and turned around. Harry was stood there, looking even sexier than he had the night before. Draco blushed. He could see Crabbe and Goyle watching him out of the corner of his eye.

'What do you want, Potter?' he snapped, loud enough for Crabbe and Goyle to hear.

Harry's jaw dropped as if Draco had physically slapped him in the face. Was this the same Draco who he had kissed the night before?

'Well?' Draco demanded.

'Draco, uh, what's wrong?' Harry stammered.

'Um, hell? You're talking to me for starters, Potter,' said Draco coldly.

'Draco...'

'Would you mind leaving me alone now?' Draco sneered, turning away and going to sit down. Harry watched him for a moment, then left the Great Hall as quickly as he could without running.

How could he do this? Harry thought. After everything he said, after what happened, after I... after I started to feel the same way.

Harry was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he walked straight into Hermione.

'Way to go, Harry,' Ron sniggered. Harry looked at him, and at Hermione. They were his best friends, but could he trust them enough to tell them why he was so out of it?

'Harry, are you alright?' Hermione said.

'Uh, yeah. Fine,' he muttered.

'Are you sure? You don't look it,' Hermione persisted.

'I just have a lot on my mind.'

'Like what?' Ron frowned. Harry sighed, shaking his head.

'It doesn't matter,' he said, starting to walk again. Hermione and Ron followed.

'Harry, come on. Tell us what's wrong,' Hermione begged. She and Ron were almost running to keep up with Harry's long, fast strides.

'You wouldn't understand!' Harry yelled, breaking into a sprint. Suddenly, Ron grabbed his arm and spun him around.

'Try us,' he growled.

Harry looked at the resolve in Ron's eyes and bowed his head.

'It's Malfoy,' he murmured.

'Well, that's a start. Want me to beat him up?' Ron said.

'No!'

'OK, calm down!' Ron looked slightly worried by the conviction in Harry's voice. 'What's he done?'

Harry looked at his best friends, took a deep breath and told them everything - how Draco had been drunk and admitted how he felt, how they had talked the night just gone, how they had kissed, and how Draco had snubbed him that morning.

Ron's initial reaction was to laugh, but he soon stopped once he saw how much it was killing Harry to tell them what happened. Hermione didn't seem, for once, to know what to do. She just stood in silence, even after Harry had finished talking.

'I always thought he wasn't all there,' Ron said finally. Harry looked at the ground. If Draco hadn't shunted him that morning, Harry would have defended him against Ron's comment. Now he didn't know what to say.