Eyes on the Prize

The first task had come and gone; the Yule Ball, long-since past.

Suddenly, the school seemed to be split in two. Most supported Cedric; however, there were others who began to root for Harry. Of course, Draco managed to convince all of the Slytherins to cheer for Cedric. "At least he's of good stock," Draco would argue, "for a Hufflepuff, at least." Anything was better than cheering for Potter, after all.

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It was a cold night. Draco waited until he heard the combined snores - roars more like it - of his eternal shadows: Crabbe and Goyle. He slowly slipped out of his four-poster, careful not to wake the other less-sound sleepers (Zabini and Nott, primarily) and quietly gathering his winter duster. Hogwarts tended to be colder than should be allowed, especially afterhours, and he was going up to the Astronomy Tower, which would be even worse. He crept to the door, placing a hand on the flat of the door and the other on the knob. He pulled, slightly, wincing at just how loud the 'click' was. Crabbe stirred, but didn't wake. Draco slipped out of his sleeping quarters and through the common room before exiting the dungeon altogether.

"Lumos," he whispered, cupoping the tip of his now-lit wand to prevent too much light from escaping. The portraits, after all, hated being awakened by wandering students. He walked up the stairs, careful to be as graceful as possible, and made his way towards the front entrance. From there, he thought, he'd take the far stairwell (unused by most men and beast) up to the Tower by the back route.

As he passed a room, the door swung open and a hand grabbed the lapel of his silk pajama shirt. Draco almost dropped his wand as he was yanked inside. He was disoriented as he was swung around pressed hard against the wall. Before he could mutter his objections, a tongue had invaded his mouth and cold slight hands opened his jacket. The kiss was wet and sloppy, and slightly rough. Draco's eyes bulged. He reached out, grabbed the shoulders of his assailant and pushed him back.

"What the f--"

But before the explicative could escape his mouth, a hand cupped over it.

"Be still," he heard, "be silent."

Colin Creevey leaned back into him and whispered, "Moody..."

Indeed, the thud "klunk" of Moody's peg-legged gait could be heard coming closer and closer; louder and louder. Draco began to squirm, but Colin leaned in harder, edging his knee between Draco's legs and rubbing against his crotch. Draco couldn't help but wonder when Colin got so strong? He could feel Colin's heart beating against his own chest.

The 'klunking' suddenly stopped mere feet from the room they occupied.

Draco held his breath; he was sure they were going to get caught. A myriad of excuses came to the front of Draco's thoughts, some way to either excuse breaking curfew or, in the very least, pinning it on the Gryffindor. But these thoughts couldn't stop his cock from swelling in his pyjama bottoms. Colin looked up at him, smiled, and then cupped his hand along the front of Draco's pants, whispering "Glad to see me, then?"

Before Draco could answer, the sound of inhuman screeching filled the hallways like a thousand fingernails dragged across the chalkboard. Draco winced. Colin leaned in harder against him.

'What?' Draco wondered. 'Did he think I was going to run away?'

Colin eased up once he heard Moody limp away, perhaps heading to investigate that horrid sound. At that moment, Draco had pushed Colin away from him.

"Hands off, Creevey. What do you mean by it?!" Draco began smoothing out his silk pajamas.

Colin gave him a mock-hurt look, pouting his lips and bowing his head; his brown nipples standing pointedly on his flat, shirtless chest.

"And don't look at me with those puppy eyes of yours," Draco continued. "I kick puppies."

Colin's pyjama pants hung low along his narrow hips. Young though he was, Draco could see a faint trail of blond hair collecting from his bellybutton and disappearing in the waist of his pant. Colin hadn't grown out of his baby fat, quite yet. His stomach looked soft to the touch. Draco entertained the notion of giving him a raspberry - but that was beneath him.

Colin's eyes were bigger than should be allowed on a boy, like some horribly beautiful Japanese Manga character. And, despite himself, Draco almost couldn't stop a grin from playing across his face.

"Aww, did I hurt you, dragon?"

"Don't call me that."

Colin was on him again, grabbing his shoulders and attaching himself to Draco's neck. His expert kissings and gentle sucking made Draco's eyes start to roll in the back of his head. He was obviously trying to say something, but he couldn't catch his breath. Where did Colin Creevey learn that?

Draco managed to gather strength enough to push Colin away again, huffing with an indignity he couldn't truly say he honestly felt.

Colin's eyes narrowed; he was not amused. "That's the thanks I get, then?"

"You were supposed to meet me in the Astronomy Tower."

"I saw Moody roaming about. I think he knows people snog in the Tower. I jumped in here to avoid him and wait for you. Figured I'd stop you before you were caught."

Silence.

"You're welcomed," Colin added sarcastically.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome for the kiss."

"You liked it and you know it."

"If I didn't like it, biscuit, I wouldn't be meeting you in the Astronomy Tower."

Colin pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Don't call me 'biscuit'," he muttered, but it was little more than a whisper.

Draco Malfoy loved it when Colin pouted. He wondered if his brother, Dennis, pouted - and kissed - the same way. Draco chuckled at the thought. 'Maybe I can make a habit of collecting brothers? The Weasley twins aren't half bad...'

Colin stuck his head out of the room, peering both ways down the hall. "It looks like its all clear," he whispered, then stepped out of the room. Draco followed, his eyes darting down Colin's backside.

Colin had the kind of ass that would fit snuggly in a large wine class; high and tight. In his cotton pyjamas, his arse seemed to jump and twitch and ... flex??? Were those dimples on the sides of his cheeks? And what of Colin's back? It was lithe and smooth, like polished ivory; the perfect back for a boy. Draco couldn't help but stare as he followed him down the hall. Between Colin's back and arse, Draco could almost forgive Colin's annoyingly constant jubilation and the fact that he was a ruddy Gryffindor.

As they turned a corner and made their way towards the stairwell leading to the Tower, Colin managed to knock into the cabinet of old Divination and Astronomy awards. Draco grimaced and looked up as Colin tried desperately to stop the cabinet from rocking. The noise seemed to be amplified with every reverberation.

'At this rate', Draco thought, 'he'll wake up the whole bloody castle!'

It seemed to take forever for the cabinet to stop rocking, longer still for the resulting noise to stop. Draco shook his head in disgust. Colin flashed his saucer-sized eyes earnestly, mouthing the word 'sorry' back to Draco.

"Hello? Anyone down there?"

They heard the voice call from atop the stairs leading to Tower. Colin's eyes bulged in panic as they heard the steps of the Tower occupant getting closer. Draco began to turn to run, but Colin grabbed his lapel (again), dragged him into the doorway (again), and pushed him back away from the door (again!). Draco made a mental note to remind the boy that Malfoys aren't to be manhandled thusly! They stood in the stairwell, once again breathing harder than they should.

Draco could hear whoever was upstairs was still walking towards them. Despite being back from the door, all it would take was a simple tilt of the head and they'd be seen. Colin leaned into Draco again, lifted his wand and whispered 'Inumbravi'. Shadows danced around them like butterflies before finally engulfing them in its dark embrace.

"Where did you--?"

"Shh," Colin's sibilant whisper was more authoritative than Draco was accustomed to. It rather turned him on.

Not only was it amazing that Colin knew this spell, but the mechanics of the spell were queer, too. Although Draco knew they were covered in shadows (or some form of dark energy) and that no one would be able to see them, he could still see everything as if his eyes weren't obstructed by the shadows.

"Is someone down there?" the voice said, louder and closer. It was Cedric Diggory.

"Harry, is that you? I've been waiting..." but his voice trailed off. He was standing just a couple steps from the bottom. Draco and Colin watched as Cedric's face fell when he realized Harry wasn't there. The Hufflepuff champion took a deep breath, then turned on his heel and walked back up the stairs.

Draco was dumbfounded. 'Cedric...? Waiting for Harry Potter? In the Astronomy Tower???'

He looked at Colin's face and saw that he, too was thinking the same thing.

Colin was about to make another incantation when they heard rushed footsteps coming from the hall. The smell of lavender, flowers, and bubble-bath infiltrated their nostrils.

"What the hell is that smell?" Colin asked, his nose scrunched up.

He was answered by the sight of Harry Potter, covered in a cloak, holding his Champion's Egg. The shadow spell allowed them to see even through invisibility cloaks. Draco was truly intrigued, now.

Harry gave one last look back into the hallway before flinging off his cloak. He stood at the bottom of the stairs. Colin's breathing increased, his heart beating harder.

'So, the rumours are true, then,' Draco thought, 'Colin really does fancy Potter!' Draco couldn't help but smile; he was, after all, learning so much tonight.

Harry inhaled deeply, holding his breath for a moment. He was shaking with nerves. After steeling himself, he put one foot on the bottom step and proceeded up the stairs into the Tower.

"Maybe we should go," Colin whispered, obviously taken aback by what he had witnessed.

"Are you kidding me?" Draco asked, louder than was necessary. A slow smile stretched across his face. His eyes were narrowed, like a hawk who had found its prey.

"This is going to be good."

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