Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers

It's simple, really. I love J.K. Rowling, and I would never attempt to take any credit for her beautiful characters or stories. I'm just borrowing them, so please don't take offense.

Chapter 9: The Search for Something More

Draco had gone back to ignoring Harry now that the Gryffindor had broken up with Blaise. If the Potter cared or was even confused, he didn't show it. Of course, when he ignored Draco back, the blonde Slytherin grew frustrated and thought that Harry had forgotten about him. Eventually, the Gryffindor started sleeping around again. Every time the dark-haired boy emerged from a classroom looking happy and ruffled, Draco's heart tore itself up a little more, from the inside out. Still, he refused to acknowledge what the little voice had tried to tell him: that he was falling in love. Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Ice Prince, did not fall in love.

* * *

You don't fall out of love with Harry Potter.

The thought ran constantly through his mind. It was another reason he couldn't be in love.

Blaise did it. Blaise fell out of love.

Not really, the little voice whispered. He wants to be able to forget, but he still cries for him at night when you can pretend not to hear him.

Guilt crawled up his spine, along with realisation.

What if I've waited too long?

What if he's really moved on?

What if it's too late?

Draco had to talk to Harry. But first, he needed to talk to Blaise.

* * *

"I gave him my heart. And you took him from me," stated Blaise, calmly.

Things were not going well.

"Blaise, I told you. I didn't want this to happen. That night...I was going to let it go. You're my best friend. I was going to pretend it hadn't happened!"

"How entirely noble of you, Draco," Blaise scoffed. "You kiss my boyfriend, fall in love with him, and do me the grand favour of pretending it hadn't happened."

"I'm not- I didn't- I'm not in love with him!" Draco sputtered.

"Maybe not yet, Malfoy, but you'll be there soon enough."

"That's ridiculous, Blaise, I- "

He was cut off as Blaise whirled around, finally showing his anger.

"You think I don't see the way you look at him?" he spat. "You think I haven't been noticing since the beginning of the year? I gave you an entire month, Draco. I gave you the bloody whole of September because I could see how much you wanted him. That was why I hadn't told you how I felt about him. You've wanted him for years now, and you just couldn't face it. You didn't do anything about it. A whole month, I waited. I was a damned good friend to you, Malfoy. You'd have thought you would be up to reciprocating."

"Blaise, he cheated on you in the broom closet! With me! I'm your best friend! How can you forgive him and not me?"

Draco knew it was a stupid question the moment he asked it.

"Come on, Draco," Blaise snarled. "Do you really think he hadn't told me about that? We had an open relationship before that night."

Draco blinked, stunned.

"What?" he whispered.

Blaise ignored him and then shook his head, as if he was irritated with himself.

"I made a mistake, Malfoy. I forgot that we were Slytherins." He paused, studying Draco carefully. "We don't fall in love. We don't get our hearts broken. We have allies, but we don't have friends. Rest assured that I won't make the same mistake again."

"Blaise- " Draco started.

"No," Blaise said sharply, interrupting him again. "I was foolish to forget. If you want him, go get him; he won't wait forever. But remember, Malfoy: you and I aren't friends anymore. We are on the same side of the war. Allies. That's it." Zabini stood and walked to the door. He paused.

"Two more things," he said, back still turned.

Draco waited, not daring to breathe.

"Remember that you, too, are a Slytherin before all else. That won't change." He stopped speaking for a moment, and when he continued, his voice was soft. "And Draco, if you get him, don't let him go. He's worth fighting for with everything you've got. I should know."

* * *

Over the next few days, Draco watched Harry. All of Potter's lovers, the ones he had cast aside for Blaise, were back. They were all over him during meals, hanging on his every word and adoring him. Every time Draco saw them, a wave of jealousy would consume him. As he saw one of them whisper into Potter's ear, giggling and nodding when he responded, Draco gripped the edge of the table so hard that his knuckles turned white. He knew what would come next. The girl would get up and leave the Great Hall, Harry following a few minutes later. There was no need to be discreet; everyone knew what was going to happen. Sure enough, Harry was standing up a few minutes later. Draco hissed and made his own way out after him. He didn't notice Blaise's sad eyes following him out. Even if he had, he wouldn't have guessed that they were sad for him.

* * *

The girl, Lavender Brown, pulled Harry into a broom closet. Their broom closet. The door snapped shut just as Draco rounded the corner. He snarled, tugging the door back open.

"Brown, get out. Now."

The two occupants of the broom closet gasped and turned to look at him. Seeing the unmasked fury on the blonde Slytherin's face, Lavender didn't need to be told twice. The door slammed behind her, leaving the two wizards in darkness.

"Malfoy," Harry said, obviously trying to control his temper, "what the hell is going on?"

"What's going on Potter," Draco spat, "is that a few weeks ago, you felt something for me, and I want to know what exactly it was that you felt, and how the bloody fuck it vanished so quickly."

"Draco- "

"No, really, Potter. I fucking betray my best friend, who, by the way, hasn't spoken to me in over a week, because I, for some unknown reason, actually want to be with you, and you don't even have the courtesy to tell me that you've returned to your old habit of sleeping with half the bloody school!"

Draco paused, giving Harry a chance to defend himself. The Gryffindor didn't even try. In fact, Draco couldn't hear a thing, barring his own breathing and the pounding of his heart.

"Potter?"

Silence.

"Potter, if you left or fell asleep or something while I was yelling at you- " Draco was cut off by Harry's mouth, which was pressed against his.

"Potter, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Draco snapped, trying to push him away. Harry held on, burying his head in Draco's neck. "You were in here with someone else less than five minutes ago. I wasn't joking when I said I wasn't going to be another bloody notch on your bed post," Draco huffed, trying not to notice how good Harry felt pressed up against him like that.

"I don't want that, Draco," the dark-haired boy stated, smiling into Draco's neck.

"Excuse me? You just kissed me. Either I just heard what you said completely wrong, or I'm crap at reading signals."

Silence again.

"God, Draco, I love you," Harry said into Draco's shoulder.

"What did you just say?" whispered Draco, both afraid that he had heard wrong and afraid that he hadn't.