The Astronomy Tower

"Hey, Greg?"

"Wha'?"

They were lying on thier backs on Draco's bed. Draco had told them to wait here, and wait they would.

"What'cha think he's doin'?

"Dunno. Why? What you think he's doin'?

"Dunno."

More silence. They had been lying there for hours. Felt like hours anyway. Probably just minutes. Vincent clicked his tongue. Greg cracked his fingers. Vincent had an idea.

"Hey!"

"Wha'?"

"It'sTuesday!"

"So?"

"So, where does Draco go to on Tuesdays?" Greg just kept looking at the canopy of the bed. "He meets Pansy in the Astronomy Tower."

"Oh yeah, eh?" Greg sat up. "So let's go."

"I dunno. 'Member the last time we interupted him and Pansy? I couldn't change from green to normal for two weeks!"

"At least you were green." Greg almost shivered at the idea of being bright pink again. "I'm bored. Let's go."

"I guess we don't have to go in. . . would just wait listen outside for a second, see if he's there. . . "

"Le's go."

They went to the Astronomy Tower, and listened outside the door.

"I don't hear anythin'."

"Let me listen then." Vincent pressed his ear to the door. "I don't think he's in there." He paused, listening harder. "Let's check." and he pushed the door open and stepped inside. Greg followed and they felt a sudden draft from the wide open window, and the door slammed shut. "They're not here." Greg crossed to the window and leaned out.

" 'S cold."

"He's somewhere else then. Let's go." he pulled on the door handle and felt resistance. "Oh, bugger."

"Wha'?"

"Door's jammed."

"Nah, your jus' a wuss. Move" Greg pulled hard on the door, and felt it give a little. But not enough. He pulled harder, and when he felt nothing move, he kicked the door as hard as he could. "Ya' got your wand?"

"Nah. left it in the room."

"Me too." He swore loudly and called out.

Vincent leant out the window. " 'S useless callin' like that. No one'll hear you. But I'm not staying up her tonight. There's a feast in the Great Hall tonight and there's no way I'm missin' that."

"Whatta you gonna do. Fly away?"

"Course not. Gonna climb." Greg widened his eyes.

"Yer not."

"Yep." He swung a leg over the sill. "I jus' gotta climb across this ledge across til there, get on the roof and then i can climb into that window. It's got a light on in it. Someone's there."

"Yah can't do that. You'll fall."

"Nope. It's easy. Anyone could do it. A Griffendor could, even. You coming?"

"I ... I dunno. I ... I don't ... like ... heights, ... ya' know..."

"Come on, Greg." He swung his other leg over and was gone from sight. Swearing, Greg ran to the window. Vincent was sliding across the ledge towards the roof. " 'S easy. Promise."

"Oh, sod it." He swung a leg over the ledge and held his breath. Not looking down, he began to follow Vincent. He was moving so quick he was unstable. Vincent landed with a thud on the roof and watched Greg finish the last bit of the ledge. He was so close, that they were both surprised when he started to tilt backwards, his hands slipped and he started falling. Greg didn't have time to yell, and Vincents hand wrapped around his wrist, having barely caught him. They're eyes locked. Vincent's hands were clammy, and Greg was sliding a little more second by second. Vincent's grip was so tight Greg's wrist would be red for days. If he didn't fall, then it wouldn't matter what color his wrist was. Vincent's hand tightened.

Vincent pulled up and Greg scrabbled for a grip on Vincent, on the wall, on anything. Vincent pulled up suddenly, strong. Greg's legs had just found purchase, and pushed up, and the forces combined propelled him onto the roof, . . . and onto Vincent. He knocked Vincent's breath out of him, and Greg's eyes were wild and his breathing shallow. He rolled off and lay beside him.

"It's easy. Anyone could do it. Bloody hell, Vince. I coulda died." There was a silence. Then Vince's voice came low

"I know. I was so scared. . . Oh, sod, Greg, I was really scared." They sat up and faced each other.

"That was the scariest thing in my life."

"I know. It was the scariest thing in mine, too."

Vincent grabbed Greg's robes and pulled him to his lips, harsh and demanding.

"If you ever come close to dying like that again ... I'll ... I'll jus' kill you." He pressed his lips against him again.

Greg had never kissed Vincent before. Oh, he knew he was gay, and he knew Vince was too, but they had never kissed, never thought about each other that way. Greg had never even realized he had felt that way about Vincent. Until now. He wrapped his arms around him and leaned his body into him. He knew now, and he wouldn't forget. He just hoped that next time it wouldn't take him almost dying to realize something so important and obvious.

They never did make it to the feast that night.