Grey

That was a very bad way of getting my attention, Harry says and frowns.

You had been ignoring me. I hate it when people ignore me, Draco says. He is shuddering from the cold. Gusts of snow fall around his frail figure. He is wearing only green and silver Quidditch robes and looks as though he might break in two if he stays outside much longer.

I was not ignoring you. I was just trying to keep it secret. Are you trying to upset me?

No.

You really shouldn't have done that. Well, now I'm here. Will you come inside now?

I was wondering when you were going to notice that I didn't come back from the meet.

And did you ever wonder when everybody else was going to notice it too? This is going to make them very suspicious, you realize.

I don't care. I wanted to see you. It had been two weeks.

Harry sighs and moves in towards Draco and gives him a hug. He is dressed in a warm winter jacket and his red and gold Gryffindor scarf. He puts gloved hands on Draco's face and lifts it to meet his eyes.

How long have you been out here? he asks.

Three hours. Maybe more. You took a bloody long time, you know.

Come inside.

No, I waited out here for you and here you are. I want to make the most of it.

He puts his own hands on Harry's and turns his head upward for a kiss. Harry sighs, but responds and places his lips on Draco's. Draco's ice cold hands wander to the buttons of Harry's coat and begins to unbutton them.

Harry does not swat them away, although he knows he should not encourage this type of behavior from Draco.

Harry's coat falls to the snow on the ground in a heap. Underneath is a black sweater, and Draco removes this too. A white undershirt. Draco takes it off in one swift motion and Harry is left naked from the waist up except for his scarf.

Now we're even, Draco says and gives him a small smile.

No, Harry says. He takes off Draco's Quidditch robes quickly, and Draco is left in a heap of clothing. All is left is his underwear.

Now we're even, he says.

Draco smiles and places his hands on Harry's torso, who gasps. Draco's hands are very cold.

It was all worth it though, Draco pants and dives into Harry's mouth.

They are explorers, these two boys. They had never done anything of this nature before and here they are, enjoying themselves ardently. They gasp as they reach a simultaneous ecstasy and collapse into one another, forgetting the cold, forgetting their freezing bodies, and only concentrating on pleasuring one another.

I'm glad you came out to find me, Draco says. He nuzzles up into the crook of Harry's neck.

You shouldn't do this again. You could have died if I...

But you did come. I'm happy. I don't care about the rest.

You make me worried.

Obviously not worried enough to send me a note.

I don't want to get caught.

Nobody wants to get caught. Do you know what my father would say?

No.

He would disown me. He would throw me out on the street and my inheritance would be gone. That's how much I want to do this, Harry. That's how much this means to me. I'll sit in the snow for ten days if it means that I get to see you and kiss you and touch you.

Draco leans into kiss him. Harry's forehead is furrowed into small lines of worry but he kisses back.

I think I have more to lose than you, even, when you look at everything, says Draco.

I have the respect of thousands of witches and wizards to lose, Harry says and looks down. I should go. I'm leaving. He's on his knees now, ready to stand up.

There is loads of time. Lie back down. Draco takes a hold of Harry's wrist.

No, let's go. Look where the sun is. They'll come to find me. I could be in trouble, though I guess for you it's no trouble at all, that kind: it doesn't count. You don't care--all you want is a quick, a quick--

Come on, spit it out.

You know what I mean, Harry says in a tired voice.

It's not true. I'm sorry. If you must go, you must.

Harry rests his forehead against his knees. After a minute he says, What am I going to do?

You could keep coming to see me.

It's just so hard.

What is?

Making excuses. For them. They would never understand.

I know.

Nobody would ever understand.

I know. That's why we tell no one.

Harry pauses and bites his lip. I'm afraid, he says.

Afraid of what?

Afraid of this. Afraid of what I might feel.

It's too late, you already feel it, I can tell. And I feel it too.

I know.

Draco is shivering but pretending as if he is not and Harry can tell. You go first, he says. You go first so they won't suspect. You might freeze to death if you stay outside much longer.

But what about them?

I'll make something up. Go back inside. I don't want you dead.

Draco gives him a disappointed look, but puts back his clothes and picks up his broom anyway. Should I give you a letter? He asks.

No, too much of a chance they would find it.

Then you must promise to give me a letter. Or else I will do something like this again.

Fine, Harry sighs and gets dressed himself. Don't be sad, he says, and kisses Draco.

The two say their goodbyes. Draco kicks up on his broom and flies back towards the castle as light and free as a bird.