Transition

It felt like forever to Harry as he stared into the depths of silver eyes; it felt like time did not have a place in the dungeon.

If the eyes of a man could be the windows to their soul, I find sorrow lurking in their depths. He responded to his instincts and found himself cupping Draco's chin for a soft kiss. He could feel the slightly leaner wizard tremble against him, but Draco was the first to break their intimacy.

"Were you thinking of buying a candle?" Draco asked softly, keeping his eyes on Harry's chest.

"Yes … I was." Harry stared blankly at him for a second. "Draco, I would appreciate it if you would accompany me to the lake."

The sadness that he saw quickly vanished from the Slytherin's eyes to be replaced by slyness. "To pay respects to the dead?"

Harry smiled slightly and nodded. He went back to the candle-room and let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the candle he had sighted earlier was still there. He picked that one up and walked around the room to choose another candle, one that he would use to honor those he loved. Finally, his eyes rested on a bluish-white candle, engraved with the figure of a phoenix in flight with the sun above its head.

"That's an expensive piece; my father is a chandler and this is one of his best works," a witch informed him. "Unless you're wealthy and willing to pay, I suggest you pick another candle."

"It's all right. I'm taking these," he told her, giving both candles to her.

"Don't say I didn't warn you. The blue candle costs one Galleon but the phoenix candle costs six Galleons," the witch replied smugly.

Harry narrowed his eyes and summoned quietly for his money-pouch. He gave the auburn-haired witch the seven Galleons and waited for Draco by the entrance. Placing the two candles in between his feet so that he didn't have to juggle his wand and pouch, he tapped the former on the black leather pouch and his moneybag disappeared. Harry hoped that it would return to his desk, and not on top of one of the beams on the ceiling as it had a year ago. Luckily, Dobby had found it collecting dust and rather diffidently asked the emerald-eyed student if the purse belonged to him.

Harry turned his attention to the light blue candle and magicked it away. He had charmed it so that it would be resting on the small table in his dormitory. Then he tucked his wand back into his pocket and picked up the bluish-white candle.

His timing was incredible since Draco was already walking towards him, and holding an ivory-colored candle negligently in one hand. They walked out of the dungeons without speaking and entered a strange-looking Entrance Hall. Harry was held back by a cautious Draco just as a water-filled balloon smacked the rough stone wall and exploded, splashing its contents all over the area.

"Thanks," Harry said shakily and looked back over his shoulder in gratitude. He stared again at the tables and the rapidly drying moisture. Funny, they look like barricades. Are they playing some kind of water-sport?

"Oi! Get the hell out the way!" Ron the pirate yelled at both of them. Harry and Draco jumped quickly to the side just as a water-filled missile pierced the air and smacked squarely on Peeves' chest. The poltergeist hollered obscenities, swore vengeance, and pelted after the pirate.

"Let's get out of the battle zone," Harry said quickly to Draco and grabbed his hand before the Slytherin could object. The flamboyantly-dressed Gryffindor and the austere Slytherin walked hand in hand as Harry led Draco to the place where he had nearly died; once when his soul was nearly stolen by Dementors during his third year, and again in his sixth year, when Death Eaters dragged an exhausted Harry Potter to Voldemort.

There were many couples about; some of them were dancing to their own music, some were strolling up and down the bank. From Harry's vantage he could see the tiny flames from the candles, flickering steadily with the soft breeze. The light from the candles, the odd jack o' lantern and the stars were the only sources of illumination, for it was a new-moon night.

The young wizards' mood was somber as they reached the place. There were only three candles on their side of the lake. Harry knelt near the water's edge. Instead of ‘borrowing' the fire from the available candles or using his wand and an incantation, he concentrated on the neatly trimmed wick.

The air went still and the silence deepened. The Gryffindor's eyes were closed as he pictured the candle clearly in his mind. Light the candle, he whispered into the stillness of his mind. Illuminate, so we shall not be totally enveloped by the dark. The faint smell of smoke and melting wax hit his nose, and he opened his eyes. He smiled as he took in the small writhing flame and felt Draco sit next to him.

The slender boy reached out and lit his candle using the flame on Harry's candle. Draco closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his fingers firmly clasping his candle. Harry took a closer look at it and found that it was decorated with a carving of the Slytherin's insignia. His eyes stung suddenly but he did not fight the tears. He focused on his own candle and thought about Sirius, his parents, and people he did not know, but who had all died to help him.

By all the Gods that rule the earth, I miss you Sirius. I had hoped that no matter what happened, I could still be with you and see you smile.

He placed the candle on the bare earth and stared out in the distance, unaware that his companion had already placed his and was looking at him. Harry did not ask for it, but when the Slytherin draped an arm over his shoulders, he did not push the limb away. Draco pulled him closer and Harry rested his head on the Slytherin's shoulder.

Draco made a small move and Harry saw that he had taken his mask off. The latter sighed in relief. "Take yours off too," the silver-eyed wizard suggested. Harry took it off and placed it on the ground. He took his glasses off and wiped his face of the remaining tears. "Merlin, you're such a crybaby … and at your age," Draco admonished.

Irritated, Harry gave the blonde wizard a sharp jab and was rewarded with a muffled, "Oophf!" He saw Draco scowling at him darkly when he put on his glasses. "I was just teasing you, Potty!"

"Yeah … right," Harry replied sarcastically but went back to leaning on Draco for support. "As if you didn't mean what you said."

"I could pretend," the sharp-chinned Slytherin replied mildly.

Harry snorted derisively and they fell quiet.

"I must be crazy," Draco said finally, caressing Harry's hair gently. "I never thought that I would find myself in this position. Holding you, kissing you, and being attracted to you." His voice was soft, as soft as the wind that blew around them. Since Harry felt the same way, he didn't refute the Slytherin's words. "What are we doing? Do you know?"

Harry gazed out into the lake. Tendrils of hazy white mist swirled above its surface, the water rippling in all directions. He found that if he listened hard enough, he was able to hear the soft sounds of water hitting the bank before receding.

"I don't know," he replied quietly. "I feel that I still should dislike you, the way I did years before." He paused. "You know, if you want to make things easier for the both of us, we can start acting like the way we used to. Sneer at me. Jeer at my friends. Give me that look that always makes me feel violent." He looked up at the other wizard with an amused smile.

"I guess I could," Draco answered thoughtfully. "But I'm too tired to keep on sneering. There are nights when I feel as though I can't stop grinning, and it's as bad as the ache that lingers in my jaw every time I clench my teeth together."

Harry let out a sardonic chuckle. "Or maybe you enjoy being able to do those things to me."

"Maybe you're right," Draco said lightly. Then Harry gasped as his head made contact with the hard ground, and found himself looking up at the contemplative wizard. Draco's breath fanned out on his face and he forgot to breathe. "Maybe I do like our situation." Harry let out a whimper as the Slytherin kissed his neck. "I'd be a fool if I didn't think this is an improvement; we're kissing rather than wasting our energy thinking about hexing each other to oblivion."

Harry didn't care if someone caught them – the famous Harry Potter fraternizing with the widely disliked Draco Malfoy. The Slytherin's earlobe was within the reach of his lips so he caught it between his lips and suckled on it.

"I thought we're supposed to honor those we loved and had moved on," Harry whispered into Draco's ear.

"We are. We're living our lives," Draco answered with a fevered voice. "Come with me, Harry. I think I need you."

Harry was prevented from answering as Draco kissed him fiercely, whispering the words ‘I need you' repeatedly in between breaths. He couldn't even remember putting his mask on, but knew that both of them were running back towards the ancient castle. The water-missile fight was still going strong in the Entrance Hall, but Draco scarcely noted its presence. A couple of heads turned to watch them, but then shrugged and went back to their entertainment.

"Out of my way," Draco barked sharply at a couple of Slytherins who were loitering about the entrance to the Slytherin common room. The group parted quickly, watching Harry and the blond-haired wizard with mischief written clearly upon their faces. Harry hoped that Draco did not make it a habit to drag strangers into his room.

When they entered the common room, they found out that they were not the only ones wanting intimacy. Harry saw Zabini kissing a girl on the luxurious leather couch, and thought he heard more grunts and moans coming from behind the couch. Draco waved him through another false wall and they ascended a flight of stairs. Harry noted that unlike the Gryffindor tower, the staircase to the Slytherin dormitories was straight and not curved. Then both of them were in the bedroom.

"It's good that I've been a bad boy since my first year," Draco said as he locked the door with a spell and placed a couple of wards for good measure. He muttered a Silencing Charm about the walls and Harry was amazed at the Slytherin's thoroughness. He would have forgotten to place them up until it was too late to make any difference. "I'm allowed to have a room to myself."

Draco kicked off his boots and removed his mask. Then he slowly sat on the edge of his bed, gazing at Harry with a peculiar look. The Gryffindor took off his mask also and placed his footwear under a chair.

"Uh, Harry…" At the sound of his name, he sat next to Draco. "I am at a loss."

That abrupt sentence confused Harry. "What do you mean?" he asked, his black eyebrows creasing into the semblance of a frown.

"Well … I don't – I'm not … I…" the silver-eyed wizard stammered.

Harry pursed his lips, trying to guess what the Draco wanted to say. "Do you want to take the lead, or shall I?" he asked the question for the second time that night and to his amazement, Draco turned a vivid crimson. Harry finally knew why the Slytherin seemed unnerved. "Okay. I have a question: are you a virgin or are you merely inexperienced?"

Draco let out an audible growl and trapped Harry on the bed. "I am just lacking of practice."

"Well … all right then," Harry replied mildly and refrained from grinning. The Slytherin looked grateful for the few words, and resumed licking and exploring Harry's neck.

He should have stopped to think before committing himself to the one lying atop him. However, his heart was at peace and knew that this was what he wanted, or needed. He could not deny for much longer that he was severely attracted to Draco Malfoy. He could not pretend that he did not care for the almond-eyed Slytherin any more than he could stop breathing the air.

It felt natural to Harry as Draco touched him; it wasn't feigned and he was happy that it was Draco. His instincts seldom misguided him; he was sure that Draco Malfoy, his nemesis, could be his partner.

If Draco was willing.