Let the Darkness Take You

Harry noticed that the entire crowd was silent and a beam of light shot towards Draco, hitting him just before he hit the ground; he hit with a sickening crack that echoed throughout the stadium. Screams were heard all around from every house and people were beginning to run onto the field. Harry could do nothing but watch in detached amusement, though he forced his face to look shocked. He was really smiling inside.

He had done this. Harry Potter had purposely made somebody fall off of his broom, possibly to his death. It was a rush, having this sort of power. With a jolt, he realised that the voice was right. It felt like he was spinning and would never stop. He would do anything to keep the feeling up. Why in the world had he denied this for so long? It was a question that he would probably never be able to answer to himself. After a few moments, he realised that he was going to have to act like his normal self. So, upon this realisation, Harry hurried to the ground and ran after Madam Pomfrey, the stretcher that held Draco, and the teachers.

They arrived to the hospital wing first, and when Harry arrived, he slammed through the door, threw down his Firebolt down and attempted to get by Snape to see Draco. “You are not allowed in there, Potter.”

“But I have to know if he’s going to be okay, Professor! Please let me see him!” he said desperately, while congratulating himself on his acting skills.

“There is nothing that you can do,” he said quietly.

“Well, is he alive? He fell over fifty feet!”

“He’s alive, Potter. No need to worry about that. And I’m perfectly aware of how far he fell. You should know as well,” he said even more quietly with a menacing look in his eyes. Harry stepped away and put on his best incredulous look.

“What are you implying, Professor?”

“I’m implying that you knocked him off.”

“What?” Harry asked quietly. He took a deep breath and looked in Snape’s eyes defiantly. “You were not up there and you do not know what happened. We were just racing for the snitch and the next thing I knew, Draco was falling. I have no idea what caused it. If you actually think that I could do such a thing... The very idea of me pushing him off of his broom is ridiculous. I wanted to win, but not that badly. Surely you have more respect for me than that?”

Snape sighed and ran a hand through his greasy hair. “I’m sorry, Potter. I do know you would never do such a thing. It’s just that I was watching you two and it seemed a little suspicious.”

“Trying to catch the snitch is suspicious?”

“No. Never mind. Look, I’ll let you stay here but you’re not allowed to see him until the nurse says it’s okay. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Oh, and Potter, make sure none of the Slytherins come in here. Draco can’t stand his closer friends,” Snape muttered under his breath as he left.

So, Harry stayed in the hospital wing all day, and even fell asleep. Madam Pomfrey had long since given up on making him leave since he was so adamant on staying until he was able to see Draco. Harry had given the argument that he felt guilty about not being able to do anything to stop Draco from falling. Because of this, Madam Pomfrey had not seemed suspicious for Harry’s presence. It wasn’t until the next morning that Harry finally went to take a shower and change out of his Quidditch uniform. The same routine was repeated every day for the next week. He went to classes, visited Draco, ate, visited Draco at night and most of the time slept on the bed near him. It was exactly a week later when Draco finally began to stir from his coma and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Harry sitting in a chair beside him, looking out the window.

“Harry?”

Harry jumped and looked down at the Slytherin. “Draco! You’re finally awake!”

“What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” Harry asked, barely keeping the joy from his voice. At Draco’s affirmative shake of the head, Harry continued. “You fell off of your broom. You’ve been unconscious for a week now.”

“Oh.” Harry jumped off of his chair and sat on the edge of Draco’s bed.

“Draco, I’m so sorry. I should have noticed that you fell. I should have tried to catch you, but I didn’t. My eyes were too fixed on the snitch. I’m so sorry.”

“Harry, it wasn’t your fault. Having your eyes fixed on the snitch wasn’t a bad thing. That’s what good seekers do. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“Yes, but you could have died.”

“But I didn’t. Look... about our fight before the game, I’m sorry. I should have grabbed my snitch while I had the chance. I’m just sorry I missed it.”

“Who said you did?” Harry smiled as he leaned down and kissed Draco. “I’m glad you’re awake,” he whispered against his lips.

“Me too.” Draco surprised Harry by pulling him down and kissing him deeply. Harry pushed away and smiled.

“We don’t want you overdoing yourself. You did do a lot of damage to yourself.”

“Oh, who cares? I’ll kiss you as much as I please.”

The two began kissing again but abruptly pulled away when somebody cleared his throat behind them. Harry jumped up and turned around with wide eyes to find Professor Snape looking very cross.

“I know I asked for that it in my office but you shouldn’t be doing it in public, you know. Do get out now, Potter. I have some things to discuss with Draco.”

“But he just woke up, Professor. Let him rest.”

“If you want him to rest, then you should leave as well because he wasn’t getting any rest before I came in.” Both Harry and Draco flushed red. “You will leave, Potter. This cannot wait.”

“Fine,” he replied grudgingly. He leaned down again and gave Draco a chaste kiss before leaving. Snape raised an eyebrow at Draco and sat in a chair.

“You two are getting along, I see.”

“Boy, what gave you that idea?” Draco asked, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, well... it’s good to see. In a sense,” Snape grimaced and decided it was time to change topics before he made himself ill. “Tell me, Draco, have we underestimated him all these years? Is that why you like him now?”

“He’s just good for a nice snog, is all.”

“Draco.”

“No, we didn’t underestimate him in every way. He is an annoying selfish, stuck-up prat. But he isn’t dumb like we always said. He’s worthy of an intelligent conversation.”

“Indeed. Now...” Snape started, his voice getting lower. “I won’t waste my time in telling you that a certain man wasn’t too happy with your absence. Especially since you just joined, but I did make your excuses. But you’ll be lucky to get away with nothing.”

“Merlin, I hate that man,” Draco muttered.

“You and me both. Madam Pomfrey also saw your Mark. She didn’t take it well so I had to memory charm her and I put a glamour charm on your wrist to hide it for the remainder of your stay here.”

“Oh, just great.”

“And Draco... have you noticed anything strange about Potter? I mean, before your accident, was he acting stranger than normal?”

“I don’t know. He freaked out on me for no reason the day after Christmas. I still don’t know what it was about. Why?”

“I’m not sure. Just keep an eye on him, all right? He may be becoming unstable.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him. Don’t worry about it.”

~*~*~

As much as Harry liked Draco, he was finding his company to be somewhat overbearing as of late. Ever since his release from the hospital wing, Draco had started checking in on Harry at every possible moment. Sometimes, it was just to snog, and that part, Harry didn’t mind. Then the other times, Draco would just barge in, asking Harry what he was up to and how life was treating him. Harry would get extremely annoyed by this and push the annoying Slytherin out of the room.

He did this because he was in the middle of formulating a plan. A plan to not get him killed when he attempted possibly one of the more brave, or stupidest things he could possibly attempt in his lifetime. The first step to this, was to get a black, hooded cloak. Since a trip into Hogsmeade would be nearly impossible, the only way to get what he needed was to steal it. Though from whom, Harry had yet to figure out.

Two weeks after Draco’s release from the hospital wing, Harry was sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts, not paying attention. It suddenly occurred to him the exact person from whom he could steal his cloak, and he cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner. The only way the answer would be more obvious was if the solution were to hit him over the head with a hammer. A broad smile broke out onto Harry’s face and Sirius had immediately taken twenty points from Gryffindor for pleasing oneself in the middle of class. Of course, Harry’s classmates fed off of this for the next few days.

Harry ignored all of this to the best of his ability, though some unfortunate people had been sent to the hospital wing with boils on their bodies. The second part of his plan was to speak with Professor Snape. It would do no good to try to go somewhere if he didn’t know where he was going. So, he’d have to coax the information out of Snape without arousing suspicion. As the first part of his plan couldn’t be carried out as of yet, he decided to implement part two of his plan first. After dinner on a Wednesday night, Snape had swept out of the Great Hall, no doubt heading for his office. Harry quickly left Gryffindor table and followed him.

“Professor Snape!” he called after him.

“What do you want, Potter?”

“I... don’t I have a detention to serve with you tonight again?”

“What? You have no detention with me tonight. Get out of my sight before I give you one.”

“But Professor! I know it’s highly unusual for a student to ambush you like this for their detentions...”

“Oh, no Potter. I get it all the time. Don’t worry about it,” Snape replied dryly.

“You’re aggravating. I just... don’t I...” Here he looked looking meaningfully into Snape’s face. “Have a detention to serve with you tonight? You know about that one thing I did a couple days ago.” More blatant stares and Snape finally got it.

“Oh! You mean when I caught you doing some very questionable activities with a centaur?”

“What?” Harry screeched as a few people pointed and laughed at him.

“You know what I’m talking about. Come along, Potter. We’ll go to my office.”

Harry followed angrily in Snape’s wake. Of all the obscene things Snape could have come up with, he came up with that. “You’re disgusting,” Harry muttered as he plopped himself into a chair.

“You’re the one who wanted a detention.”

“But you didn’t have to say that! Why can’t you be nice to me like you are to Draco?”

“Because you’re not Draco. If you were my godson, Merlin forbid, I’m willing to bet that I’d be the same with you. Fortunately you’re not my godson.”

“He’s your godson? That’s why you’re so close?”

“Oh, you mean he hasn’t told you?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

“I thought he trusted you more than that. It’s a secret. That’s why he probably hasn’t told you.”

Harry seethed at the trust remark. Why wouldn’t Draco trust him enough to tell him who his godfather was? He knew that Sirius was his godfather, why couldn’t he know that Snape was Draco’s? All the more reason for him to follow through with his plan. If even Draco was also going to turn against him...

“Are you okay, Potter?” Snape asked suddenly.

“What? Yes, I’m fine,” he replied shortly.

“Okay. Now, what did you want to speak with me about?”

“Oh! I um...” Harry had not thought this far ahead. He cursed himself for not being smart enough to think up a fake conversation. If only Draco were here. His thoughts scanned to the ‘Know Your Enemies’ book that Draco had given him for Christmas and his mind fell on the first potion that he remembered. “Do you... do you think that the Semi-Vivus potion could be doing all of this?”

“Semi-Vivus? Well, it is quite possible but probably not. It would be very difficult to administer it to everybody.”

“Well... you said in class earlier this year that it knocks you out and somebody can place a spell on you. What if that is what happened? Draco said that Ron and Hermione woke up in the middle of the living room floor and they suddenly hated me. Isn’t there some sort of spell that you can place on people to hate a person?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but I’m beginning to believe that there may be such a spell. You could look it up if you wish. If there is one, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.” Snape leaned back in his chair and surveyed Harry critically before his mouth turned up into the smallest of smiles. “I must say that I’m impressed, Potter. I’m not willing to bet on the Semi-Vivus potion, but we won’t deny it as a possibility as it’s pretty much the only idea we’ve come up with so far. Very intelligent thinking. Draco may be right about you after all. And if you tell anybody I said this to you, you will most certainly be cleaning out every bathroom in this school with a toothbrush for the remainder of the year.”

Harry smirked. “Thanks for warning me in advance.”

“Was there anything else that you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Er - yes, actually. I was just curious.... Well, where do you go to meet Voldemort when you have your meetings?”

Snape narrowed his eyes and leaned his arms onto his desk. “Why do you want to know?”

“I said I’m just curious. And plus, if I ever had a vision of you in trouble again, I want to be able to help.”

“I don’t believe that....” Snape studied Harry’s face for a few moments. “What’s the real reason you want to know?” he finally asked.

“I’m just curious!” Harry said, trying to keep his voice low and calm. He didn’t know how he was going to get Snape to tell him this information.

Potter.

Harry almost yelled for joy at that moment. You can tell me where Voldemort hides out now! he exclaimed to the voice in his head. A lengthy silence followed.

I don’t know where it is.

Snape was speaking, but Harry didn’t register it. Why wouldn’t a Death Eater know where Voldemort was? Harry asked this question to the voice.

When I’m needed beside my Master, he sends for somebody.

‘Why? Can’t you Apparate?’

Yes. I... I don’t know how to answer that. It’s just the way it is. Snape should know where the Dark Lord hides out. Why don’t you ask him?

‘I’m trying right now, but I don’t think it’s going to work.’

Then just put him under Imperius, the voice answered easily.

Harry grinned and looked up at his Potions professor. Snape raised an eyebrow. “Have you been listening to a word I’ve been saying, Potter?”

“Erm- not really,” Harry replied, reaching into his robes for his wand. “What were you saying?” Snape scowled and began speaking again, but since it didn’t have anything to do with what Harry wanted, he paid the words little attention. Harry pulled his wand completely from his pocket and slipped it up his sleeve. Kiana, who was wrapped around his wrist, hissed angrily at the intrusion, but Harry ignored her, and pointed the wand discreetly at Snape so that he wouldn’t notice.

“Imperio,” he murmured. Snape’s eyes went blank and he quit speaking.

“Tell me where Voldemort is hiding out.”

“He is at the Riddle house in Little Hangleton.”

“Thank you.” Harry released the curse and smiled at the professor who looked a little dazed.

“Potter. What did you just do to me?”

Harry adopted an innocently confused face. “I didn’t do anything, sir.”

“Then why did I just tell you that?”

“Where Voldemort is…? I asked you and you were kind enough to tell me.”

Snape appeared to be battling with himself, but finally just sighed. “You listen to me, Potter,” he said, pointing a stern finger in his face. “You are not to set a foot near that house. I don’t want to be responsible for your death.”

“Don’t worry. It’s just for the sake of knowledge.”

“Oh, and Pot...” Snape took in a sharp hiss of breath and latched his hand onto his inner wrist. “I’m sorry, I need to go. If there was anything else, come find me here some other time.” With that, Snape flew out of the room and into the corridor. Harry could have sworn that he heard Draco’s panicked voice yelling his godfather’s first name and Snape grumbling something along the lines of, ‘Come on,’ but Harry dismissed it and almost left when he stopped in the doorway and smiled. No time would be better than now. He stepped up to the wall that would allow his entrance into Snape’s chambers and put his hand on the part that Draco had when an injured Snape had returned from Voldemort. His hand sunk into the wall and his mind cast around for possible passwords and said the first thing that came to mind.

“Slytherin pride.”

Harry laughed with at his sheer dumb luck as the wall slid open. He crept into the rooms, even though he knew that nobody would be there and lit a few torches on his way to the bed chambers. Throwing the door open, Harry was met by a room of dark greys. It was a very depressing room but he had expected no less from the Potions master. The wardrobe was large and Harry smiled brightly upon sight of it. He flung the doors open and by the light of his wand, began to rummage through the clothing. Not surprisingly, everything was black. Which in turn, included an high abundance of black, hooded cloaks.… just what he needed to hide his identity for a short amount of time. He grabbed one, tried it on and found it to be too long. After magically shrinking it to his size, he folded it up into his robes, closed the wardrobe and crept back through Snape’s office, the classroom and finally back to his room.

The third part of Harry’s plan was slightly more difficult. Learn how to Apparate correctly. So far in their lessons, Harry and Draco were making the most progress and were very close to succeeding, but it just wasn’t good enough. They would both leave behind one part of themselves every time. The first time, Harry had left his hair behind and had to deal with his classmates’ taunts on being bald. When he had found his hair, it looked exactly like a wig. The Ministry wizard that was teaching them had to magic it back onto his head. Now when he Apparated, it was just one of his shoes, or a piece of clothing he left behind. Harry thanked his lucky stars that he had not Apparated himself naked to his destination yet. Only Neville Longbottom had done that so far.

Two days after completing his first two tasks, the Gryffindors and the Slytherins went to their Apparition lessons at the edge of Hogsmeade. Everybody started into it right away, not paying attention to each other. Harry’s destination was always right behind Zonko’s, and sometimes Draco would meet him there to compare notes on what they had left behind. Harry concentrated on his destination, and then imagined himself there and in the next moment, he was behind the joke shop. He checked himself over and found that he forgot his tie and socks. Growling to himself, he ran back to his starting point, put his clothes back on and tried three more times, without much success. By the time he was on his sixth try, he was becoming very aggravated. He knew that if anybody looked at him, they would probably be a little intimidated by the murderous look on his face. He scanned the crowd of students and found Draco just coming back from his Apparition point. They caught eyes and Draco, upon seeing the look on Harry’s face, gave a start, but then smiled at him encouragingly while eyeing Zonko’s.

Harry took this as his cue and Apparated there. Moments later, Draco appeared beside him and wrapped him in a warm hug. “You should lighten up about this. It’s only Apparating, you know.”

“I just want to learn how. It’s extremely aggravating.”

“I know. Trust me. Damn, I think I left my boxers out there.”

Harry broke out into uncontrollable laughter and had to lean on the wall of the store to remain standing. After he had controlled himself, he looked at Draco. “Do you want me to check for you to make sure?”

“Sure.”

A devilish gleam settled in Harry’s eyes and he moved towards Draco. He moved his hands around Draco’s waist and slid his hand down Draco’s trousers, causing a startled squeak to come out of the Slytherin. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure they aren’t there.” Draco began to struggle away from Harry, and to Harry’s surprise, the Slytherin’s face was twisting into one of pure terror. With a final pinch of Draco’s bum, he removed his hand and stepped away. “And nope, you left your boxers.”

Draco was breathing deeply and taking calming breaths. Harry raised an eyebrow at his behaviour. Draco took a final deep breath, settled into his indifferent mask and replied, “I thought you were going to go back and check for me, not stick your hand down my trousers!”

“And I thought I was the innocent one in this relationship.”

“You...” Harry muffled Draco’s words with his mouth and kissed him deeply. When he pulled away and looked at Draco, his eyes were still closed and he again had a scared look on his face. “You are the innocent one,” Draco finished lamely.

“Um hmm. I bet. Now, what did I leave behind?”

“I’ll make you pay, Potter,” Draco said and then made an extra deal out of checking over Harry and what he had left behind. Harry gave out a few surprised yelps, and was having a hard time keeping control of himself by the time Draco had finished checking him over. Draco looked at him with a weird look in his eyes.

“Harry...”

“What?”

“I don’t think you forgot anything.”

That statement officially brought Harry out of his semi-aroused stupor and made him check himself over. Draco was right, every piece of clothing was still with him, as well as his wand, a piece of candy that he stuffed into his pocket that morning, his glasses, and most importantly, his hair. A broad grin broke out onto on his face and he let out a triumphant whoop. Without another word, Harry Apparated back to his starting spot.

“I did it!” he cried to the Ministry wizard. The wizard came running over to him from where he had been helping Neville and gave Harry a few tests just to be sure.

“Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You’re the first student in this class to achieve it. Since you’re not seventeen until July, you’ll have to travel in the means provided for underage wizards.”

“Don’t worry. I have no where to go anyway.” Harry smiled.

“Well, you may leave then. It’s been nice working with you and good luck with taking the test. I don’t think you’ll need it.”

“Thank you.”

Harry smiled at Draco and took off for the Three Broomsticks to get some more bottles of butterbeer and then to Honeydukes to get some candy. He then crept into the cellar of the candy store and went through the secret passage. Fifteen minutes later, he climbed out through the hump-backed witch and immediately ran into Professor Snape, who narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

“Mr. Potter. What may I ask, are you doing? You are not allowed into Hogsmeade without permission.”

“Actually Professor, I just came from my Apparition lesson.”

“I see. That lesson isn’t over for another half an hour. What are you doing back so soon?”

“Well, I successfully Apparated today, so I was dismissed. I just thought I’d get some butterbeer and candy for a little celebration tonight with a friend. I hope that isn’t a problem, sir.”

“Next time, come in through the front doors if you have permission to be in Hogsmeade. It doesn’t seem quite so suspicious.”

“Sure thing.” Harry began to go in the direction of his rooms but Snape stopped him again.

“Oh, and Potter?”

“Yes, Professor?”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting strange lately.”

Harry gave him a winning smile. “Of course I’m okay. Couldn’t be better. Ah, Professor Snape, I didn’t know you cared,” Harry taunted.

Snape’s cheeks turned a little pink and he narrowed his eyes. “Five points from Gryffindor. You are speaking to a professor, Potter. Show some respect. Now get back to your room.”

“Right-o, Professor Sevy Pooh.”

Harry took off in hopes that Snape wouldn’t take away anymore house points but Snape yelled that he was taking another ten points off for use of that name. Harry only laughed and ran faster to his destination.

After dinner that night, Draco went to Harry’s room and they both started to eat all the candy that Harry had bought, along with the butterbeer. By the time Harry had gone through his sixth bottle, he was starting to feel just a little tipsy. He figured he would need to go through about another ten bottles to be close to being drunk. Draco was also just a little tipsy with eight bottles under his belt. Harry started to get up from the couch but Draco pulled him back down and put his face very close to Harry’s.

“Did I remember to tell you that I brought some more alcohol for us?” he asked.

“You did? Well, bring it out, we need some.” Draco grinned and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

“It’s the very best that you can buy. Father sends me bottles every month but I never drink them.” He opened the bottle and took a drink, wincing as it went down. Harry grabbed the bottle, took a drink and spluttered.

“That’s disgusting!”

“You don’t know good when you taste it, Harry. You’re just not used to it.” Harry shrugged and took another drink. They spent the next fifteen minutes, passing the bottle back and forth. Harry, not being used to drinking so much, became very drunk and every word that came out of his mouth slurred, and then spent a few minutes laughing at his stupidity, talking again, and then laughing for another couple minutes.

Draco, on the other hand, was getting very touchy with Harry and was laughing along with him. Draco straddled Harry’s lap, taking another drink from the bottle. “Harry,” he pouted. “I’m bored.” Harry’s eyes lit up and he leaned closer to Draco.

“I know what we can do.”

“What?”

“We can have sex!” he exclaimed and then broke out into hysterical laughter.

An unidentifiable emotion crossed through Draco’s silver eyes, but it went just as quickly as it came. “Haarrry! Drunk sex is so sloppy.” Draco stared up at the ceiling, seeming to be very confused. “Of course... I’ve never had drunk sex, or sex with you, so I wouldn’t know if it’d be sloppy or not. It has to be better than... Never mind.” The Slytherin closed his eyes tightly for a moment and then smiled and leaned down and started kissing and nibbling Harry’s neck. Harry moaned and pulled Draco to him and made their lips meet in a crushing kiss. Their tongues slid out of their mouths, met, and started having a fierce battle. It seemed Draco was warming up to the idea of having sex when he pressed his hips into Harry’s, but almost as sudden as the kiss was initiated, Draco pulled away.

“Oh! I know what we can do!” Draco exclaimed.

“What?”

“Let’s take your Invisibility Cloak and go out into the hallways and run around!”

“Okay!” Harry jumped up, forgetting that Draco was on his lap and sent him crashing to the floor. They both ended up in hysterics for a couple minutes before Harry was able to grab his Cloak and wrap it around themselves. They left the room in a tangle of limbs, both having a difficult time in staying upright, but somehow they managed to control themselves. The two began running through the halls, laughing loudly and shouting at the portraits who dared yell at the invisible people running through the halls. They were tearing around a corner on the fifth floor when they ran straight into another person, sending all of them to the floor. Draco and Harry looked at each other and began laughing again, but when Harry looked over and saw who they had run into, he immediately stopped. It was Professor Sirius Black and he was looking murderous.

“Harry Potter, I know that that is you. Step out of that cloak right now.”

Draco was still having a hard time stifling his laughs but he managed to say something. “Don’t know who Harry Potter is, sir. Don’t know what cloak you’re talking about so go smear some hippogriff dung on your face.” Harry clapped his hand over his mouth and started snorting from trying to hold in his laughter. Draco pulled Harry up and they began running down the hallway again, laughing loudly once more, not paying attention to the angry shouts from their Defence professor.

***

Harry turned his head and immediately wished he hadn’t. This is what it’s like to have a hangover. he thought dryly. The boy tried opening his eyes but had to shut them again as the bright light assaulted him. He groaned and buried his head in the softness that was beneath him... and it groaned as well. When Harry’s eyes opened this time, they stayed open. Looking up, Harry saw that he was lying on top of Draco and that they were lying on his bed, seemingly naked. Harry quickly scrambled into a sitting position beside him.

“Hey, where’d my blanket go,” mumbled Draco as he shivered.

“Malfoy, wake up!”

Draco opened blurry eyes and looked at Harry. “Why are ‘ou calling me Malfoy?”

“That’s your name.”

“My name is Draco.”

“Malfoy, did we sleep together?”

“Of course, why do you think we’re waking up together?”

“No! I mean, did we have sex?”

Draco thought, scratching his head. “Um... no, I’m pretty sure we didn’t.... No, we didn’t. We were undressing each other on the way to bed, kissing and stuff, but once we got to the bed, you passed out. Good thing too. I’m not ready for sex.”

“You’re a virgin?” Harry asked surprised.

Draco looked at Harry, but quickly looked away again, refusing to meet the Gryffindor’s eyes as he spoke. “Of course! Where do people get this idea that I’m some sort of pimp or something? Just because I’m damn sexy doesn’t mean I’m a sex god!”

Harry smiled and snuggled back into Draco’s arms and pulled the covers over them. “Hmm, that’s more like it,” Draco mumbled into Harry’s hair. “So warm.”

“If I asked you to, would you be my sex god?” Harry asked laughing.

“If you asked nicely, maybe I would. I make no promises.”

“You always say that but yet you promised to protect me from Ron.”

“I’m getting something in return though. So it’s not all for nothing.”

“Drake... can I ask you something?”

“You can ask but I’m not promising answers.”

“Okay. Do you like me?”

“I’m starting to see what Weasley sees in you, yes.”

“That’s not what I meant. I mean, do you like me? If you had the chance, would you turn around and betray me? Do you like me more than that?”

“Harry, you know where my loyalties lie.”

“But that’s just the thing. Would you betray me?”

“Of course not!” Draco reached up his finger and traced the lightning bolt scar on Harry’s forehead. It wasn’t the first time that Draco had touched it, but he felt a jolt of energy surge through his entire body, making him shiver in pleasure. Draco then leaned down and placed his lips over it. “I like you, Harry. A lot. And I’m not about to ruin what we are beginning to have to betray you.”

“Good. I like you a lot too,” Harry said quietly. Draco smiled and leaned down the small way to Harry’s lips and gave him a soft, lingering kiss. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you this entire year.” Harry continued.

“Probably gone mad. After this is all over, we can start being friends out in the open, and if you want, bring our whole relationship in the open...”

Draco continued to talk, with Harry nodding along. But Harry’s head wasn’t in the conversation. He still didn’t trust Draco not to betray him, especially since everybody else that he cared about had already done so. It just didn’t seem right for him to stay with Harry. Especially since Harry was so powerful and his power could be used against everybody on the Light side one day. That’s why everybody was pushing him away, and soon Draco would realise this and push him away as well. If only there was something Harry could do to soften the blow when it came. He then realised that he was ready to do something already. Not after too long, the two boys fell back asleep, to sleep off the hang over. After they woke up, Draco kissed Harry’s cheek and he left to spend the rest of the day in the Slytherin dormitories. Harry spent the rest of the day going over the plan in his head. How he would get out of the castle, what he would do if caught before he got to his destination, and most importantly, what he would say.

That night after dinner, Harry held a short conversation with Draco on the parchment, saying that he was just going to rest tonight and that he didn’t want any company. So, at around nine o’clock, Harry threw his Invisibility Cloak over his head and crept through the nearly-deserted hallways. Students were still making their way back to their dormitories from the library and detentions. Harry went silently out of the castle and ran through the grounds of Hogwarts. Once outside the gates, he took a deep breath.

It was time for step four: grovelling. And with a pop, Harry was gone.