Forbidden Love

Hanging by threads of palest silver
I could have stayed that way forever
Bad blood and ghosts wrapped tight around me

Nothing could ever seem to touch me.

Did you know I was lost until you found me?

Draco shifted the package in his arms nervously. New feelings had sprung up from within him, and he wasn't sure he understood exactly what they meant. But he had every intention of finding out. He tried to calm down, relax, but he could feel the adrenaline pumping within him, his heart beating quickly. He cleared his throat, wiping his hands on his robes. He pulled at the collar of his shirt. It was his favorite shirt, the one he always wore on a first date, but suddenly the collar of the shirt felt very confining. He spotted the dark haired boy exiting from the locker rooms, freshly showered.

"Potter!" Draco choked on the word.

Harry Potter turned to face him. An expression of vague confusion passed over his face. "Yes?" he answered.

Draco stepped forward, clutching the package in his arms. "I uh, I just wanted to thank you for what you did yesterday," Draco said, trying to keep his voice steady. "And I wanted to give you this." Draco held out the package to Harry, who accepted it, apprehension clear in his features. "You said I owed you a new shirt, so...."

Harry's eyes widened. "Malfoy, I wasn't serious about that. It was--"

"I know," Draco interrupted. "But, I did. So, just accept it. Don't make me regret my decision." Draco flashed Harry one of his most charming smiles.

"Okay, well, thanks," Harry said. He shifted his weight uncomfortably.

"Are you going to open it?" Draco asked.

Harry blushed. God, he really is kinda cute, Draco thought.

"Yeah, sorry," Harry said. He awkwardly lifted the top off of the box, as if he was still a little unsure of the box's contents. He lifted out a long sleeve black button down shirt. "Is this silk?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Draco said. "I thought it would look good on you."

Harry eyed him, as if trying to figure out exactly what Draco was up to. Then he laughed, uncomfortably. "Malfoy, it was just a t-shirt. I mean...this..."

"Well, somebody's got to update your wardrobe. Did you really want me to replace that oversized rag?"

Harry blushed. "No...well, thank you, Malfoy. You didn't have to do this. Thanks." Harry turned to go.

"Potter!" Draco called.

Harry turned around to face him once again. "What?"

"You want to go for a walk?"

"Why?"

"I don't know. To talk?"

Harry opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. Finally, "Okay."

Harry and Draco turned, walking towards the stadium. Both tried to take cues from the other about where to walk, neither wanting to lead the way. Suddenly Draco stopped and turned to Harry. "Let's just sit in the stands," he suggested. Harry nodded and they started to climb the stairs that lead to the top of the stands. They sat for a few moments in awkward silence.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Harry asked. Draco stared at his shoes. There had been so much animosity between them for so long, he wasn't sure he could carry on a normal conversation. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He held it in his mouth as he spoke, letting it dangle.

"I don't know. Nothing in particular." There was a long pause.

Harry's voice was quiet. "Why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you...Not anymore."

"Why did you hate me?"

Draco sighed. "I don't know. Because everyone else loves you. Because you get special treatment."

"I do not get special treatment," Harry said defensively.

"Oh really? Please, Potter. Even you can't deny it."

"Deny what? There's nothing to deny!"

"How about first year? Caught flying on your broom after being specifically told not to touch the broom. Anyone else, they would have been expelled, or at least suspended. But not Harry Potter. No, they make him the youngest seeker in Hogwarts history."

"Have we forgotten why I was on my broom to begin with?"

"And not only that, but McGonnagal bought you a broom! The best broom on the market at that time. Then the end of the year feast. Despite Gryffindor being in last place, Dumbledore just happens to award you and your friends just enough points to take the lead."

"Those points were well deserved," Harry said cooly.

"Sure they were Potter," Malfoy said.

"And those were both first year. What about recently? Remember second year? Everyone in the school was afraid of me. fourth year, no one would talk to me. The Potter Stinks badges. Remember those, Malfoy?"

"Okay, what about the Rita Skeeter article?"

Harry stood up. "Oh yes, the one that said I was a head case. With nice little quotes from you, let's not forget. Malfoy, you really are an ass. I thought maybe, possibly, you were different from what I had thought. Thank you for setting me straight."

Shit! This was not going the way Draco had planned.

"Wait! Potter! I'm sorry. Don't go."

Harry hesitated. "Malfoy apologizing. This must be a dream...or some kind of nightmare."

"I guess I deserve that," Malfoy said. He sighed. "Potter--Harry--I don't hate you, and I never did. I hate the way other people make me feel inferior to you. I hate that you turned down my friendship."

Harry sat down again. "You insulted my only friends. And you continue to do so on a regular basis."

Draco bit his lower lip. This was hard. "I hate--I hate that you have everything I want. I hate that you represent everything I want to be, and everything I will never be."

"I have everything you want? I have only ever wanted one thing, and you have that thing. All I've ever wanted my whole life is to just have a family that cares about me."

"Believe me, you wouldn't want my family."

Harry nodded. "You just don't understand."

Draco ground out his cigarette and lit another. "Maybe I don't." A long silence ensued.

"Why do you hate me?" Draco asked.

"I don't hate you," Harry replied. "I just really dislike you...most of the time."

"Most of the time?" Draco raised his eyebrow quizzically. "Most of the time...but not right now?"

"Maybe."

The two sat in silence, leaning back in the stands, staring up at the bright blue sky. The seconds turned to minutes, and the minutes began to pass by with such ease that neither noticed.

"So, what do you think of Slytherin's chances in the upcoming Slytherin Gryffindor match?" Draco asked.

Harry frowned. "Hmm...not good. They need to get a better seeker." Although he was trying to hold it back, he couldn't keep the mischievous grin from spreading across his face. Draco elbowed him playfully.

"Very amusing," Draco said, grinning himself. "Really, very amusing."

Harry laughed. Draco realized how nice it was to see a smile on Harry's face.

"I'm just giving my honest opinion," Harry said.

"Yeah, well, we'll see about that," Draco replied. Draco's mood shifted. He looked at Harry with a sly grin on his face. "While we're being honest, any truth to the rumors about Harry Potter and Parvati Patil?"

Harry blushed. "No, no truth to those."

"Really?"

"Really. Any truth to the Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson rumors."

"Uh, no. Absolutely not." Draco grimaced. "So, who does The Boy Who Lived have a crush on?"

Harry shook his head. "No one."

"No one? Come on! You're the school's most shagable bachelor."

"I thought that was you, the Slytherin sexpot."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Draco laughed. Harry blushed even more, shaking his head. "But seriously, there's got to be someone who's caught the eye of famous Harry Potter."

"No," Harry insisted. He looked as if there was something he wanted to say.

"No one at all?"

"Who do you like?" Harry said quickly.

"Well, Harry, what would you think if I told you I find you attractive?"

"I'd think you'd gone mad," Harry said. "Are you sure you didn't lose too much blood yesterday?"

Draco turned to face Harry. They were so close. He stared at Harry, not blinking.

"I'm sure," Draco said. He searched Harry's eyes for a reaction. Harry turned away.

"Look, Malfoy--Draco--I think somehow there's been a miscommunication--"

"Oh," Draco interrupted. "I see." He stood. He pulled his pack of cigarettes once more, and lit one, drawing the smoke into his lungs. "Well, I wanted to thank you for your help yesterday. And I've done that. I should go. See you around." He turned his back on Harry and started down the stairs.

"Draco...."

Draco paused, turning to look at Harry.

"I didn't know you liked boys, Draco."

"I didn't either. Maybe I don't. Maybe it's just you. I like girls too. I just happen to like you at the moment."

"At the moment?"

"Maybe longer...if you give me a reason."

"And this isn't some kind of cruel joke?"

"Cruel joke? What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"I don't know."

"Get back up here," Harry said.

Draco smiled. He took the steps two at a time and took his place at Harry's side.

Stroke of luck or a gift from god?
Hand of fate or devil's claws?
From below or saints above?
You come to me now.