Reappraisals

Chapter Four

For the next few weeks, Ron and Hermione rarely saw Harry outside classes. Every spare moment Harry had, he spent with Draco, preparing.

"Where does he always go off to?" Ron asked Hermione as they watched Harry leave the Great Hall after a fast dinner.

"I don't know," Hermione frowned.

"We hardly ever see him anymore," Ron complained. "He leaves at seven, eats breakfast - then we don't see him until classes, and he disappears until at least midnight!"

Hermione nodded.

"I haven't said more than five words to him for a week," she commented to her boyfriend.

"Maybe we should follow him one time," Ron suggested.

"No," Hermione replied, shaking her head. "If he wants to tell us, he'll do it in his own time."

"But Hermione," Ron protested. "He's doing so well in all of his classes, even Potions! It's so unlike him!"

"Yes, I noticed that too," she replied calmly. "But that's a good thing. I bet you he's studying the whole time he's away from us. It is a very important year, after all, what with our N.E.W.T levels coming up..."

Ron rolled his eyes. Only Hermione would think something so optimistic as that. Knowing Harry, he was off saving the world or something, yet again.

In fact, Draco had been tutoring Harry in Potions and they had been doing their homework together. Draco was exceptionally intelligent and often explained things to Harry patiently; Hermione, however, just left Ron and Harry to their own devices, preferring to add an extra inch or 10 to her Transfigurations essay.

"But, Mione," Ron began again. Hermione gave him the Look and he harrumphed, but left it at that.

_

Harry dashed up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room, grabbed his things from where he had left them - next to the fireplace, covered by his Invisibility Cloak - and left again for the Room of Requirement.

For once, Draco wasn't there before Harry. He shrugged and sat down at the table, pulling out his Charms homework.

A few minutes later, he thought he heard the door open.

"Draco?" he said, lifting his head to look around. It was empty.

Again, Harry shrugged and went back to his work.

Before he could wet his quill properly, however, he felt someone blowing on his neck - because that was definitely someone's warm breath, almost-there lips brushing the annoyingly sensitive skin where his black hair began.

Frowning, he turned around, but still saw nothing.

"Draco," he said, "take off your Cloak."

No answer. Harry rolled his eyes and pretending to begin working again.

This time, he felt hot lips, over his throat, his neck and under his right ear. Shivering involuntarily, Harry turned his face to the side slightly, meaning to pull the Cloak off Draco. Before he got a chance to, though, the other boy's lips caught his own.

Thinking that there was no point in doing homework anyway, he smiled as Draco caressed Harry's lips with his own.

When Harry felt a tongue tentatively - nothing he'd ever usually associate with Draco Lucius Malfoy - sweep across his lower lip, he opened his mouth and felt Draco slip his tongue it. It felt strange, kissing someone who was invisible.

Smirking to himself, Harry made as though to stroke Draco's cheek with his thumb. As he rubbed it over the fabric, however, he pinched two pieces of the slippery material together and pulled it all the way off, revealing a very flushed and tousle-haired blonde Slytherin.

"Hello Harry," said Slytherin grinned cheerfully. "Having fun there, were you?"

Harry blushed slightly. Draco smirked.

"Obviously," he drawled. He brushed his lips chastely over Harry's and straddled his lap, leaning down so his face was only millimetres away from the other boy's.

Harry took a deep breath. Needless to say, he was very conscious of Draco's hips on his legs, hands on his chest and face so close.

"You've become very bold," he heard himself commenting. Draco's smirk grew wider. His tongue darted out and flickered against Harry's neck. Much to Harry's chagrin, he shuffled forward further and lick the hollow behind his earlobe.

Drawing back slightly, he whispered into Harry's ear.

"We have homework to do."

Harry moaned.

"You're cruel," he told the Slytherin. Draco seemed to contemplate this for a moment and nodded.

"They didn't call me the Slytherin Sex God for nothing," he said. Harry frowned.

"I never heard anyone call you that," he said.

"That's because you're a Gryffinbore," Draco said patiently. "Pure, untainted, you know the sort. Well, except for Parvati and Lavender, and that Weasley wench. She was gagging for it ..."

Harry blinked.

"You'd be wise to never, ever mention that in front of Ron," he said.

"I don't have a death wish," Draco responded. "Anyway, you have to finish your Charms essay."

Harry pouted.

"Do I have to?" he whined. "I can think of much more fun things to do..." he added, pulling Draco closer.

Draco wriggled out of his grasp and stood up.

"Not until you've finished your homework," he said.

Harry sighed and began to write extremely quickly, not even sure if what he was writing made sense.

"And it has to be up to my standards," Draco said, grinning evilly. How he loved being a tease.

Harry growled and threw his screwed-up parchment on the floor, pulling a fresh piece towards him. Draco continued to smirk and sat down across from Harry, beginning his Potions essay.

_

"There, I'm done," Harry said, throwing his quill down and partially spattering his Herbology diagrams with black ink.

"Let me see," Draco replied, holding outhis hand. Harry gave him the homework and waited as he read over it.

"You act like a bloody teacher," he said, snickering at Draco's prim manner regarding his schoolwork. "Or a parent."

Draco threw his ink lid at the Gryffindor absentmindedly, still reading.

Once he had finished, he put the pieces of parchment down and looked up.

"I do not act like a teacher or a parent," he replied. "I'm simply concerned for your grades. Merlin knows, someone has to be. Is that such a bad thing?"

"Well, not exactly," Harry admitted. "It's just you seemed so... I don't know. Protective, I suppose."

"Protective?!" Draco sputtered. "I am not protective of you, or anyone else bar myself, for that matter!"

"Well, maybe that's not the right word," Harry mused. "Perhaps...more...eh. I don't know. I'll tell you when I think of a word."

Draco rolled his eyes and leaned over to the couch, taking a pillow and throwing it at Harry.

Harry ducked and poked out his tongue. "Nice aim," he teased. "What did you think of my work? Up to scratch?"

Draco pretended to think on it.

"I suppose it was okay," he said finally. "Worth a kiss or two, at least."

Harry brightened. "Really?" he said.

"No," Draco said. "More than that, I think."

And with that, he leaned across the table and brushed his lips across Harry's.

Harry slid his hand around the back of Draco's neck and pulled him closer. Draco, however, resisted.

"There's... a bit of a problem," he said hesitantly.

Harry looked concerned.

"What is it, Draco?" he asked.

"There's something stopping me," Draco replied. "From kissing you."

"Like what?" Harry asked, looking extremely worried.

"The table," Draco smirked. "Well, unless it's always been one of your fantasies to snog the sexiest person ever to grace Hogwarts' hallowed halls of education on a table."

Harry blinked. Draco perked up.

"Has it? Because I can always fulfil that fantasy, and then we can act out some of mine..." he said eagerly. Harry burst out laughing.

"Oh, Merlin, Draco," he said finally, letting go of his stomach.

"What?" Draco asked.

"You're hilarious," Harry replied.

"I was serious!" Draco said indignantly.

"What about Sirius?" Harry asked, feigning innocence. Draco sent him the Look.

"Harry, that is so cliché..." he said, picking up another pillow. He began repeatedly hitting Harry with it.

When he had finally ceased, Harry looked up at him thoughtfully. "You know, I never picked you as one for partner abuse."

" was not abusing you!" Draco replied. "That was just such a bad joke, is all!"

"But I did pick you for having good grammar," Harry continued. "I guess I was wrong about that, too."

"I do not have bad grammar!" Draco cried. "ARGH! You're doing this on purpose!"

"Don't think you're the only one who's cunning," Harry replied.

"Oh, I'd hardly call that cunning, Potter," Draco drawled.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said.

Draco leant down again and kissed Harry, who responded eagerly. Thus began an intense session of snogging for the two boys, which lasted for most of their 'study' time.

_

Ron and Hermione had reached a decision. They were going to talk to Harry.

On a rare night when he was in the common room, Harry was approached by his two best friends.

"Um, hi," Ron began eloquently. Harry looked up and flashed the couple a warm smile.

"Hey," he replied. "I haven't spoken to you two properly for ages!"

"That's what we want to talk to you about, Harry," Hermione said. Harry sent her an inquiring look.

"What do you mean, Mione?" he asked.

With a sideways glance at Ron, Hermione bit her lip. "Well," she said hesitantly. "Ron and I are worried about you."

Harry's face was blank. "Why are you worried about me?"

"We never see you anymore," Hermione answered.

"You're always disappearing off somewhere, before meals, between classes, at night..." Ron trailed off.

Harry's face hardened.

"So what's your point?" he asked belligerently.

"We just want to let you know that if there's anything you need to talk about," Hermione said kindly, "we're always here for you."

"Yeah, mate," Ron chimed in eagerly. "Anything at all."

"Did you ever consider that perhaps I don't want to talk to either of you two about my problems?"

The words came like a whip - sharp, sudden and stinging.

"What do you mean, you don't want to tell us?" Ron asked, confused. Harry rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Are you always so stupid, Ron? I think the general meaning of the phrase is "No, I don't want to tell you, so bugger off and leave me alone." Better?" Harry spat the words out, and even as they were coming out of his mouth, he was inexplicably confused as to why they were.

Hermione adopted her PMS'ing-bitch look.

"If you're going to be like that," she said snidely, "You obviously don't need us here."

"I thought I made that obvious before?"

"Come on, Hermione," Ron snarled, sending Harry a dirty look. Together, they left the near-empty common room, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.

_

Harry lay on his bed, thinking. Naturally, he hadn't meant to be so nasty to his two best friends; lately, he had been ignoring them, certainly, but not to a deliberate extent. Besides, what right did that give them to pry into his private life?

They're your best friends, a voice said. They love you, and they value you. They were worried about you.

That doesn't mean they can go and question everything I do! another argued.

Harry's face hardened. He had never liked people prying into his personal business; what did it concern them, truthfully? He had always had a sneaking suspicion that all people were out to do was find out information he didn't want them too; it had always seemed that people were only out for their own personal gain. This only cemented that feeling.

_

When dinner came, Harry was alone, sitting at the head of Gryffindor table. Evidently, Ron and Hermione had spread the word about Harry's outburst - a few of the less forgiving Gryffindors were also looking at him with disgust, but most of the others were shooting him looks of pity - Ginny, Dean and Neville, mostly. They didn't feel like they should go against the pack, so they had left him by himself.

Eventually, Harry grew tired of having no one to talk to, and left the Great Hall. Draco, seeing him leave, excused himself from his friends and followed Harry, catching up with him halfway to the Gryffindor dorms. He snuck up behind the other by and began tickling him.

"ACK!" Harry yelled, pulling out his wand and swiftly turning, grabbing the front of Draco's robes.

"Meep," Draco said.

"Oh, it's only you," Harry sighed, letting go of the Slytherin's robes and putting his wand away.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's not just me. I'm offended."

"Drop it, Draco. I'm not in the mood," Harry replied succinctly.

Draco pouted.

"What's wrong, then, darling love of my life that I absolutely adore and cherish?" he said cheekily. Even Harry smiled at that.

"Ron and Hermione," he said.

"Ooh, what are they doing now? Lovers tiff? I've always thought Hermione was much too pretty for Weasley..."

"No," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I went off at them for no reason."

"Really?"

"Draco! You're such a gossip-monger."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

Draco grinned at the Gryffindor and gave him a big hug, without warning.

"Don't let them get you down," he said softly.

"They're my best friends, Draco," Harry replied, tentatively returning the hug.

"Yeah, but you've always got me. And besides, would either of them snog you senseless?" Draco asked.

Harry turned a faint shade of green.

"I don't want to think about that," he said.