Play The Game

Draco felt like he was about to pass out. 'Busted.' Suddenly, it seemed incredibly funny, especially the horrified look on Harry's face. Draco roared with laughter, back sliding down the wall until he sat on the floor with his knees up to his chest.

"I think we just got caught," he laughed, hooking the back of Harry's knee and pulling his support out. Draco folded his arms and leant them across his knees, resting his chin on them.

"Good afternoon, Miss Granger," he grinned.

Harry let out a strangled yelp as Draco pushed the back of his knees and collapsed next to the boy. He grumbled and poked Draco in the side before pulling his legs out from underneath himself and crossing them. "Hey 'Mione," he greeted, having the grace to look flustered.

"Hello," Hermione squeaked, eyes wide. "If I'm interrupting, I can go..." She looked desperately at the open door behind her.

Harry, using the wall as a support pushed himself into a standing position and walked over to Hermione. "Ah, well, I think we need to sort something's out first, like why are you here?"

"There's a party, Harry," she reminded him, glancing between the lasciviously smirking Draco and the flushed Harry. "People are expecting you to come." She looked at the floor. Draco's shirt was totally unbuttoned and his hair messed up. The knowing smirk on his face made her feel quite weak.

"You can go if you want to," Draco murmured, resting the inside of his forearms on his knees so his hands hung together in the middle. His damp hair fell across his face as he watched Harry and Hermione unblinkingly. "I'll understand."

Harry frowned, his hands nervously playing with the fabric of his shirt. "Can't you come?" he asked, before answering himself. "I guess not. Hey, 'Mione, don't tell anyone about us?"

Harry looked at Draco sat against the wall, his open calmness making him, if it was possible, more attractive. He smiled as he turned back to Hermione. "Well, at least not Ron."

"Yeah, don't tell Ron. He might go off Longbum and start following one of us," Draco agreed. He dropped his head back against the wall. "Can I wait here?"

"You've never been to a Gryffindor party, they last well into the morning. The Professors try and stop us, but they give up in the end." Harry shared a knowing grin with Hermione before turning to look at Draco again. "You can stay here tonight, if that's what you mean."

"I'll wait for you," Draco promised. "I need to wash all this mud off, anyway," he added, lifting the hem of his jeans up to show a muddy calf. "You party as long as you like. I'll be making use of your bathroom."

Hermione thought it was slightly scandalous for Draco to be staying in Harry's room, but then Harry was sixteen and Draco was seventeen. She couldn't be protective over him. She wouldn't think of it this way if he had a girlfriend.

"Bye Ma... Draco," she smiled. He nodded regally to her. "Are you coming, Harry?"

"Let me get changed quickly." Harry walked over to his wardrobe and pulled out a black silk shirt and a pair of black jeans he'd not wore yet. "I'll see you there in a minute if you want, 'Mione. I need a wash first."

Hermione pursed her lips, glancing at Harry and the positively smug Draco doubtfully.

"Okay," she sighed. "I'll meet you there."

Casting only one restrained look backwards, she walked out and shut the door softly.

Splashing his face with cold water to clean off the mud Harry called out to Draco, "You sure you're going to be alright here by yourself?"

"I'll find something to do," Draco replied.

Harry ran a hand through his hair, spitting the toothpaste out and wiping his mouth on a towel before exiting the bathroom. He sat down on the sofa and pulled on his shoes, shirt still unbuttoned. "I'll try and come away early, but I doubt they'll let me."

"I'll miss you," Draco said, holding his arms out in mute supplication. Harry rolled his eyes and walked over to him, crouching down. Draco buttoned up Harry's shirt and organised his hair. He planted a quick kiss on the end of Harry's nose and tapped him on the shoulder.

"You'll do," he smiled reluctantly. "See you at some unearthly hour."

Harry laughed and stood up, chewing the inside of his lip. "The House Elf normally comes around nine o'clock, so if you want anything ask him."

He picked a red sweater up off a chair and left, pulling it over his head and messing the hair up. He walked briskly, avoiding the staircases as best he could till finally he was outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Well hello, Harry dear. I haven't seen you in a while," she said cheerfully.

Harry grinned. "I've been busy. Fluxweed."

"Always is nice to-" The rest of her sentance was drowned out as she swung open and the roar of noise from the Common Room blasted out. Taking a deep breath Harry climbed through the Portrait hole.

Back at Harry's room, Draco rose slowly to his feet. He began to re-button his shirt half-heartedly, giving up after the first two. He retrieved his wand from his kitbag and lit the fire. Flickering warmth filled the room and Draco sighed. How long would he have to wait? He'd need something to occupy his attention.

"Now Potty's out the way..." he murmured aloud, moving over to Harry's bedside table and opening the 'knicker drawer'. Rifling calmly through Harry's underwear, Draco felt along the bottom of the drawer.

"Interesting," he muttered, rubbing a hard leather book cover. He retrieved it, grinning broadly. "A diary? Well, well, well..."

Flipping the cover open, he began to read.

The Gryffindor Party was in full swing by ten o'clock that night. Harry, the guest of honour, was drifting from group to group, talking to everyone, but for some reason never straying far from the brown haired girl, Hermione Granger.

Ginny laughed, leaning in closer to hear Harry better as they danced in the middle of the room. "Someone's spiked the punch!" she giggled, "Tastes a helluva lot better."

Harry, who had hardly drank anything nodded, grabbing Ginny's hand so they stopped dancing and collapsed into two chairs. "Who did it?" he asked.

"Dunno. Hehe, Lavender and Parvati have been eyeing you up all night. Ooh I bet one of them asks you to dance."

Harry paled as they were joined by Dean Thomas. Dean asked Ginny for a dance, more of a romantic drunk than a giggly drunk like Ginny and handed her a rose. As the two walked off Harry closed his eyes and pushed his glasses up his nose.

Hermione weaved through the room to Harry, cheeks flushed and eyes bright.

"Harry, I meant to ask you about... Well, you know," she slurred, wobbling and falling into a seat.

"Not now, Hermione," Harry answered, offering a hand to steady her. "We can talk tomorrow when you're not drunk."

'And Ron's not glaring at me'

"I'm not drunk!" Hermione protested, mouth dropping open. She plonked her glass down on the table. "Come and dance with me," she insisted, heaving herself onto her feet.

"Fine, fine," Harry replied, unsure of what Hermione might have made public if he'd said no. "Have you danced with Ron yet?"

"Not sure," Hermione said, wrinkling her nose. "It's not important."

She twined her fingers through Harry's, putting the other arm around his shoulders and leaning against him.

Harry, trying not to feel uncomfortable, wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist. "Enjoying yourself?"

Hermione nodded contentedly. She looked up at Harry out of slightly crossed eyes.

"You're my best friend," she said happily. "And you're very pretty too." She rose up onto tiptoes and made to kiss his cheek.

Across the room, Lavender called out, "Harry!"

Harry turned his head to look at Lavender, not noticing Hermione was leaning up to kiss him until it was too late and their lips touched. Harry froze, his eyes widening.

'Panic, Panic, Panic, Panic, oh shit... Panic."

Hermione sighed happily, continuing to kiss Harry drunkenly.

'Shit, she's still kissing you. Shit. Panic. Draco!' That last word brought him out of his state of temporary paralysis and he pushed Hermione away roughly.

"You're drunk," he stated, nerves and body on fire. That kiss had felt so wrong, he felt violated.

Hermione pouted. "Possibly," she conceded. "But it seems like everyone else is kissing you..."

People were parted like waves around a rock as Ron came storming through the crowd.

"What the fuck's going on?" he yelled, shoving Harry in the chest.

"I kissed him," Hermione sighed resignedly. "I'm less than sober. I'm sorry."

She looked at the floor, gnawing on her lip and blushing.

"The hell you are," Ron spat. "What's going on here?"

"I told you," Hermione moaned. "I kissed him. Don't blame Harry."

Ron looked doubtful. "Harry, just... Hermy... Oh hell." Ron grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled her away into the crowd.

Harry started shivering and took several deep breaths. Hermione had kissed him. Hermione. Had. Kissed him. 'Urgh! Why does this always happen to me?'

His shaking got slightly worse as he moved away from all the staring eyes and over to the table. He picked up his drink, his mouth was suddenly dry, but his shaking hand caused him to spill most of it on his shirt. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and stop the fire racing around his body, invading him.

'I need to see Draco,' he thought urgently and as fast as was humanly possible, sprinted out of the Portrait hole and ran back to his room.

Draco had long since fallen asleep. He lay on the floor by the fire on his stomach, cheek pillowed on Harry's open diary and a contented little smile on his face.

Harry grasped the door handle in both hands and pushed, letting himself into the room. His eyes darted around the room to see Draco passed out on the floor, fast asleep. A small grin tugged at Harry's lips as he placed his jumper on the sofa and knelt down next to Draco, tapping him on the shoulder lightly. After a few seconds, he began to get slightly scared again as he remembered what had just happened and began to shake Draco.

"Come on Draco! Wake up Dammit!"

"Heh?" Draco grunted, lifting his head slightly. A page of the diary was stuck to his cheek and his eyes were unfocused.

"Draco!" Harry exclaimed breathlessly, his hands digging into Draco's shoulder. "Hermione kissed me."

"That's nice... Isn't she a lesbian?" Draco mumbled, putting his head back down and closing his eyes. He started into a sitting position. "Hermione kissed you?!"

Harry nodded, clasping his hands together and looking very, very lost. "I'm sorry," he said, not knowing why he was sorry.

"That's alright," Draco murmured, snuggling into his folded forearms.

"But it's not!" Harry protested. "It felt so wrong! She's my best friend!"

"That's nice."

"Argh!" Harry yelled, jumping up from the floor and pacing up and down. How would he act around Hermione now? Did she like him more than was customary? Ron was going to be pissed...

"Stop pacing," Draco murmured. "The floor's noisy."

"Stop being so damn calm!" Harry shouted, bordering on hysteria.

Draco chuckled softly. "You're funny when you're hysterical," he observed.

"I'M NOT HYSTERICAL!"

Draco rolled onto his back, lifting the diary up over his head and flicking through it.

"You say yourself that you get hysterical sometimes," he reminded Harry. "Here - 'I know I get a little overwrought sometimes. Things get to me easily...'"

Harry's face dropped as he heard Draco reading parts of his diary and dove across the floor, landing on top of Draco and reaching for the diary. "You read my diary?!"

Draco grunted as Harry landed on him, holding the book out of reach.

"Yeah," he squeaked, pushing Harry off him.

Harry frowned, reaching over Draco for the diary. "You had no right."

"Well, you were the one who deserted me for the Mudblood," Draco pouted, rolling onto his side and hugging the diary to his chest.

"I did not! She kissed me!" Harry crawled over on his hands and knees and looked at Draco piercingly. "How much did you read?"

Draco turned a few pages.

"Up to last Monday," he said, hugging the journal protectively again.

Harry scowled and climbed up off the floor, dusting his knees down. He turned away from Draco and walked over to his bed, rooting around for some shorts and an oversized t shirt he used as sleepwear.

Draco shrugged and continued reading, the firelight warming his pale skin to gold and gilding his hair.

Harry swapped his jeans for the shorts and began unbuttoning his shirt, staring moodily across the room. 'Doesn't he even care?' he asked himself over and over again.

Draco finished the diary presently. The last line throbbed in his head. 'Doesn't he even care?' It suddenly struck the rather insensitive boy that he treated Harry like shit. Putting the diary carefully down, Draco rose to his feet and ran both hands back through his hair. He lifted the back of Harry's shirt, running a finger up his spine.

"Promise me you won't let Muddy kiss you again?" he murmured. "And definitely not Weasel or Weaselette."

"I promise," Harry replied, sparks of electricity shooting along him from wherever Draco touched.

Draco smirked, bending slightly and hesitating before pressing his lips to the small of Harry's back. He grinned evilly and ran his tongue up Harry's spine instead of his finger.

Harry shivered and leaned back against Draco, his eyes fluttering shut. "Draco..." he whispered quietly as the hairs on his arms prickled and stood up on end.

Draco laughed softly. He leaned his forehead against the vertebrae at the top of Harry's back, letting the baggy shirt fall down over his head.

"Harry," he replied, tracing his fingernails down Harry's sides.

Unable to stop himself, Harry reached behind him and grabbed hold of Draco's wrist, pulling the boy around and into his lap.

"I can see you," he grinned, slipping one hand under Draco's shirt and leaning forward to kiss the startled boy.

Draco licked his lips and reached up to wrap his arms around Harry's neck. Before their lips met, he whispered, "I'm sorry for being such a shit to you."

"I forgive you," Harry breathed, his lips touching Draco's tentatively, one hand tracing the lines of the muscles on Draco's stomach and the other reaching up to support the back of Draco's neck.

"I know you do, otherwise I wouldn't be here," Draco breathed. His eyes slid shut as he lost himself in their kiss.

Harry smiled against the kiss and ran his tongue along Draco's lower lip, gaining himself entrance. 'Now this, this is right.' It never occurred to him that people could think otherwise.

Draco could taste fruit - strawberries, cherries, peaches, apples - and vodka. Vodka. Harry was probably pissed out of his skull. Draco was suddenly riled. He hated the taste of second hand alcohol and, even worse, what it implied.

Unraveling his arms from about Harry's neck, Draco stepped back.

"You're pissed," he accused Harry. "I can taste the Mudblood."

He wiped his mouth ostentatiously with the back of his hand.

Harry's eyes opened slowly as Draco pulled back and he shrugged his shirt off, pulling on his nightwear one. "Don't call her that."

Draco looked sullen. He mumbled something inaudible, then cleared his throat.

"Do I need to be jealous?" he asked in a subdued tone.

Harry blinked, and then pulled Draco down next to him on the bed. "No, because unlike with Hermione, I like kissing you."

Harry rested his head on Draco's shoulder and picked one of Draco's hands up in his own, holding them both out and entwining the fingers. "Hermione's my friend. But you, Draco Malfoy, are a lot more."

"She's one of the few people who's shorter than me," Draco mumbled grudgingly. "I suppose I should be thankful for that."

He leaned back against the pillows, slipping his arm around behind Harry's back and stroking his fingers up and down the other boy's arm.

"You know, being shorter automatically makes you cute," Harry said thoughtfully, studying the contrast between his own tanned, slightly bigger fingers and Draco's pale, manicured ones.

"I was cute anyway," Draco protested mildly. "I was taller than you in first year. Only thing is, I haven't grown since third year..."

"I'd say we were more the same size." Harry dropped his hand and moved onto his front, looking at Draco with the smile he couldn't seem to lose when he was around the Slytherin boy. "Then you're due for a growth spurt."

"Some people grow in other areas," Draco said loftily.

Harry raised an eyebrow with a suggestive smirk. "I think you'll have to prove that to me one of these days."

He dropped his head onto Draco's chest and let out a small yawn. "What time is it?"

Draco sniffed. "I meant areas such as academia and personal integrity," he said in an aloof tone, then laughed. He lifted Harry's wrist. "Two a.m."

"Two a. m?" Harry yawned, closing his eyes. "I'm tired."

"So sleep," Draco said, closing his eyes briefly and letting out a long breath through his nose.

"Will you be here when I wake up?" Harry asked, snaking an arm around Draco's waist and moving to get comfier.

"I'm not planning on leaving," Draco smiled.

"Good," Harry murmured, sleep washing over him.

***

Sunlight shone through the window, moving lazily across the embroidered cover of the bed and up Draco's legs, over Harry's curled up form and onto their two faces. Draco was awake. He had hardly slept at all, but Harry had slept right through. Draco decided that it was probably time to get up and make the most of the private bathroom.

He sidled out from beside Harry, laying the boy's head gently onto the pillows and pulling the rumpled eiderdown over him. Draco watched Harry as he unbuttoned his own shirt and hung it over the back of the sofa, followed by his belt, trousers and underwear. He walked softly into the bathroom, fiddling with the shower until he found the right temperature, then stepping under the jet of hot water.

Harry mumbled something incoherent in his sleep and rolled over to get closer to Draco. His eyes shot open as he realised that the other boy was gone and he blinked blearily, looking around before he noticed Draco's clothes on the sofa and heard the running water that was the shower.

He yawned, stretching his arms above his head and cracking his jaw.

Draco groped about the shelves and cabinets for the soap, finding it only to drop it. He swore, bending to retrieve it as it slithered merrily towards the plughole.

"Oh, come here you little git," he told it, swiping at it and missing. Water was hitting the back of his head and running round into his eyes. He blinked and wiped it away. "I said come here! Can't you hear me?"

Harry swung his legs off the side of the bed, half awake and half asleep. Rolling his shoulders and rubbing at his eyes he pushed open the door of the bathroom. "What?" he demanded.

Draco yelped, hands leaping to cover his manhood. He flushed, looking at Harry out of huge eyes. His hair, pushed forward by the water, was plastered in spikes pointing at Harry.

"I was.... talking to the soap," he said, blinking and blushing darker.

"Talking to the soap?" Harry asked, confused. He wondered why Draco looked so startled then realised that he was completely butt-naked in the shower.

Draco's body was complete eye-candy. His neck was long and smooth, with little trace of an Adam's apple. Firm muscles rippled gently underneath a pale layer of satin skin as the water from the shower poured down, blurring and distorting the view slightly.

Letting his eyes wander lower, Harry noted the slender, gently tapered waist that was so trim he knew he could encircle it effortlessly with just one arm. And there were those hips, smooth and narrow, lightly curved to perfection. Beyond that were Draco's hands, followed by long and lean legs. Harry couldn't help but stare, hand reaching behind him for the door handle, and unable to find it.

Draco felt incredibly scrutinised, and tipped his head back so he didn't have to watch Harry gaping at him.

"I... Soap was... Going down the plughole," Draco mumbled. He gave a pathetic 'heh' of laughter and said, "You need a shower curtain or something, Potty."

Harry nodded wordlessly, finally finding the door handle and pushing backwards, stumbling out of the bathroom and shutting the door again. He knew Draco was beautiful, but he never knew he was that beautiful.

Distracted beyond belief, Draco retrieved the soap and continued his shower.

When he was done, he wrapped a towel around his waist and put a shaking hand on the door. He took a deep breath, making sure that the towel was secure, before assuming a confident expression. He pushed the handle down and walked into the room, combing his wet hair with his fingers and consciously tensing his stomach muscles.

Harry looked up from his bed, he was lay on his front, diary open and quill poised, ready to write. "What's the date?" he asked calmly, trying not to stare again.

Draco paused, "Sixteenth. Can I borrow some underpants?"

Harry thought it over. "Can't you go commando?"

Draco grinned. "I could, if you want to keep your knicker-drawer sacred."

"Then there you go, you have your answer." Harry began to write again, the sound of the quill scratching the only noise in the room.

Draco growled and snatched his jeans from the back of the sofa, pulling them on under his towel and doing them up. He threw his towel into the bathroom and rubbed his chest to see if he'd dried off yet. He never bothered to dry his torso, preferring to wander around for a while and get used to the temperature of the room, so he did just that.

Deciding that asking Harry's permission didn't often get him very far, Draco rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. His hair spiked up at the back and he glanced sidelong at Harry, frowning.

"What are you writing?" he asked, slipping his belt through the loops on his jeans and buckling it.

"How do you define 'writing my thoughts, feelings etc in my diary'?" Harry asked, blowing on the ink to let it dry.

"Like that," Draco shrugged. He took up Harry's comb and combed his hair, shaking it up and watching Harry. 'I'm not the centre of attention. What can I do to change this?'

Harry chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully as he contemplated getting a lock for his diary, just in case. Draco was on the verge of a tantrum, but concealed it well. How could he combat Potter's lack of attention?

"Harry," he said abruptly.

Harry quickly wrote something down he had just thought of. "Yes?"

"Pay attention to me," Draco ordered. "I'm feeling left out."

Harry blinked, then started laughing loudly. "You're jealous because I'm writing instead of talking to you?"

"Frankly, yes," Draco said indignantly. "I can go now if you've got better things to do."

Harry closed his diary with a snap. "It can wait." He rested his chin on his hands and looked across the room at Draco. "About this rematch?"

"Yeah, what did we decide on?" Draco asked, hooking some hair behind his ear.

Harry shrugged. "I don't think we did."

"Hmm... What do you know how to play?" he asked. "Seeing as poker appears to be out of the question."

"Eh, Quidditch?"

"Apart from Quidditch," Draco said flatly.

"Ron kept trying to teach me Chess, but I suck." Harry frowned and picked up the diary, slotting it into the drawer and turning back to Draco.

Draco rolled his head back, stretching languidly.

"How about..."

He walked across the room to Harry, dropping his head forward and looking up at Harry under his eyebrows.

"I don't want a rematch," he murmured. "I'm happy to let you win."

Harry grinned, reaching up to wrap his arms around Draco's neck and pull the boy down on top of him on the bed. "What's my prize for coming first?" he asked.

"Me," Draco grinned, holding himself up on his elbows. "And did you have to come in while I was having a shower?"

Harry had the decency to blush. "No, but that's quite the body you have."

"I know," Draco beamed. "Are you planning on taking a shower this morning?" he asked archly.

Harry chuckled, slipping his hands into Draco's back pockets. "Maybe."

Draco smirked. "We'll just have to see if you lose the soap too, won't we? I'm feeling distinctly singled out just now." As he spoke, his hand smoothed Harry's shirt and traveled down to rest on his lower abdomen, about as far down as it could get.

"You're cute when you sleep," he told Harry.

Harry smiled, blowing a piece of hair out of his eyes. "You make a nice pillow."

"Hmm," Draco murmured, half-closing his eyes. "I get to sleep on you next time."

"Deal," Harry promised shifting his weight under Draco a little to the left.

Draco overbalanced and fell down beside Harry.

"I don't want to go," he murmured, nuzzling Harry's shoulder.

Harry pulled a hand out of Draco's pocket and lifted it up to play with Draco's hair absently. "I don't want you to go," he replied softly, tilting his head to look at the ceiling of the room.

"I can stay tonight too," Draco said earnestly. "Fuck school."

Harry laughed. "Would you go to lessons if I did as well?" he asked, twirling a lock of the silvery blonde hair around his finger

"Only the ones you go to," Draco said, lowering his eyes. "I don't want to be anywhere without you. In fact, I've decided that when you go and have a shower, I'm coming too."

Harry started laughing loudly, and lifted Draco's head up. "What if I need the toilet?"

"I can settle for being in the same room," Draco smiled.

Harry placed a finger on Draco's lips. "What do you say to going for a walk with the invisibility cloak?"

"Sure," Draco smiled. "Am I allowed to put any more clothes on?"

Harry suddenly became aware that he had refused to lend Draco any underwear and that the pants he was wearing were very thin. Just the thought made Harry blush. "You better had."

Draco smirked and rolled into a sitting position, hooking his shirt from the back of the sofa and pulling it on.

"You'd better have a shower as well. I don't want to be squished against you under that cloak if you smell," he told Harry, wrinkling his nose.

Harry stuck his tongue out at Draco before jumping off the bed and grabbing a change of clothing. He wandered over to the bathroom and slipped inside, making sure to lock the door, incase Draco tried to come in.

Draco grinned and lolled back, raiding Harry's knicker-drawer for a pair of socks and pulling them on. He laced up his boots and went through Harry's wardrobe. He failed to find anything vaguely presentable, and therefore gave up. He buckled his own cloak about his shoulders and walked over to the bathroom door. Draco leaned his back against it and slid down until he sat on the floor.

"Harry," he called.

There was a pause before, "Yeah?"

Draco took a deep breath. "I think I'm in love with you," he said.

"You... what?" Harry's voice floated out weakly.

Draco groaned. "Do I have to say it again?"

After a few minutes of silence the shower turned off. There was the sound of Harry brushing his teeth, then getting changed. "Are you leaning on the door?"

"Yes," Draco replied.

He heaved himself to his feet and walked away to sit on the windowsill.

Harry appeared from the bathroom, and quickly sought out Draco sat on the windowsill. He walked over to stand facing the boy and knelt down on the floor, seeing as there wasn't enough room for him to sit on the windowsill. He picked up Draco's hands and twisted their fingers together. "Do you really mean it?"

Draco looked out of the window fixedly. "I think I do."

Harry raised one of Draco's hands to his lips. "I think I do too."

Draco's eyes were wide and liquid blue-grey as he looked at Harry in disbelief.

"My god," he murmured, dropping to his knees beside Harry. "I thought I just made a total prick out of myself."

Harry shook his head. "I'd say you just said one of the nicest things possible."

"I'm good like that," Draco grinned, confidence slightly restored. "Let's go out."

Harry pouted, not sure he wanted to go out anymore. He stood up slowly, pulling Draco with him. "Do we have to?"

"No," Draco said, frowning. "I thought you wanted to..."

"What I want is to spend the rest of my time with you." He dropped Draco's hands and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Draco's neck. "We could always try and see how many places we can get away with snogging," he suggested.

Draco choked. "Potty, worldly though I may seem in my actions, I only feel unintimidated by such activities when I'm the one suggesting them... I thought you were... Well, a dork!"

Harry grinned into Draco's hair. "Far from it when you get to know me."

"Sounds like fun... Oh! I know what we can do," Draco smirked.

"Oh?"

"Truth or dare," he grinned sinisterly. "Totally up to you, of course."

"Ok then," Harry agreed, trying to figure out just what Draco was up to.

"You first, or me?" Draco grinned, unbuckling his cloak and taking off his shoes. He put them by the door and walked to the rug in front of the fire. He re-lit the embers and sat cross-legged, waiting for Harry.

"You," Harry decided, lying down on the rug facing Draco, legs crossed at the ankle, and leaning back on his elbows.

"Truth," Draco said promptly.

"When did you first start liking me?" Harry asked curiously, realising that he didn't even know when he had started liking Draco that way.

Draco pondered the question. "Hmm, towards the end of fourth year," he answered presently. "When you were doing so well in the Triwizard."

"Doing so well?" Harry snorted. "I put everyone else before myself, and you won't believe how much help I got. It was all rigged anyway, and Cedric died because of me." He closed his eyes, remembering the Hufflepuff boy who would now be a seventh year had he not died. "And truth."

"You really do blame yourself for everything, don't you?" Draco frowned. "Okay, truth." He looked at Harry then grinned. "In second year when there were all those troubles and people thought I was the heir, was it you and Weasel under Polyjuice, pretending to be Crabbe and Goyle?"

Harry smirked. "Of course we were. Though it didn't happen to be much use, seeing as it was Voldemort in Ginny's body anyway."

"Really? Well, well, well," Draco smirked. "Truth again."

"The duel in second year, did you go easy on me?" Harry wondered, remembering Gilderoy Lockhart with a grimace.

"Yes," Draco answered. "It was still a bit much, it seemed."

"I wouldn't have known I was a parseltongue if you hadn't. Dare."

"That must be quite useful. I dare you to..." Draco rose to his feet and walked over to the window. "Climb onto the roof and fly your underpants from that flag pole."

"You have to be kidding me."

"Not at all," Draco grinned. "It was my turn anyway, but you seemed so keen to jump the gun that I thought you'd be up for it."

Harry blinked. "I asked you if you went easy on me, and I asked for a dare. It wasn't your turn." He looked over at the window then at the fire with a pout. "Can't you think of something better?"

"Oh yeah, and I probably could, but I can't be bothered. If you think of something, I might consider it."

Harry looked thoughtful and climbed to his feet, walking over to Draco. "We should have just gone on the walk."

"We should, any last requests?" Draco asked, pushing the window open.

"Hmm," Harry pretended to consider and slipped his hands into his jean pockets. "Will you give me a haircut?"

"A haircut?" Draco frowned incredulously. "Yeah, if you really want one..."

"My hair's getting too long and I can't do anything with it," he elaborated further. "Isn't Blaise going to be wondering where you spent the night?"

Draco looked almost pityingly at Harry.

"I've spent the night all sorts of places during my time here, as has Blaise. We don't worry about each other until after forty eight hours."

"Lovely relationship you've got there," Harry commented sarcastically.

"It's a relationship based on mutual requirements," Draco shrugged. "We can give up on the dares and play truth while I cut your hair."

"Sure." Harry fell back onto the floor on his knees and moved into a sitting position with his legs crossed.

Draco conjured a few things with some flicks of his wand. Harry's hair was still wet, so he combed it back and began to arrange it about his head.

"Seeing as you won't do the dare, care for a truth instead?" he asked, starting to trim with a pair of scissors with purple handles.

"Ok then, truth me."

"Do you, as a dark-haired person, have very hairy pubes?" Draco asked directly, combing and snipping off a lock of hair critically.

"What kind of question is that?" Harry asked. "Yes, and careful where you're pointing those scissors."

"Yes?" Draco laughed. "Ok, truth me up."

Harry shifted position, watching the fire was making him drowsy. "Why me?"

Draco frowned. He hadn't been expecting that question.

"Because you're the only one who's different enough from me, but still the same."

"That's a strange answer," Harry murmured, the fire creating strange patterns on the rug as it got darker outside.

Draco recalled his conversation with Blaise about north, south and ironic repulsion. He laughed. "Okay, why me?"

"Are you allowed to copy questions?" Harry wondered. "Because you're different from everyone else. You're beautifully dark and dangerous. A fallen angel."

Draco dropped his head and licked the side of Harry's neck. "Thank you," he whispered. "That's very beautiful."

Harry shivered. "Do you get along well with your dad?"

"I suppose so," Draco said, rubbing his jaw. "Sometimes he's a little demanding. He's just a proud father, really. He asks some things I don't want to do or give, but who doesn't?"

Draco sighed heavily, cutting Harry's hair in silence for a while.

"What did you think when you walked in on me in the shower?" he asked eventually.

Harry grinned into the fire. "Exactly the same as what I think every time I see you," he admitted. "You're beautiful."

Draco lowered his eyes demurely. "I try," he said modestly.

"Are you a virgin?" Harry suddenly burst out.

Draco roared with laughter. "No," he said, between laughs.

Harry grinned. "I know what my next question is."

"Are you?" Draco obligingly asked.

Harry chewed the inside of his lip distractedly. "Yeah..."

"Aww," Draco grinned. "It's alright, doesn't last forever... Are you really?"

"Yes, and doesn't that count as two questions?" Harry asked uncomfortably, small pieces of his hair falling to the floor.

"Ask me two, then," Draco offered generously.

"Were you jealous of Hermione last night and what made you suddenly say that before, when I was in the bathroom?"

"I was jealous that somebody else got to kiss you at a party, and I've never been to one with you. I said it when you were in the bathroom because I didn't have the guts to look at you while I said it."

"I wanted to take you to the party," Harry mused. "Have you finished yet?"

"Nearly," Draco said, snipping off a few more locks.

He thought for a moment.

"There's a party going on in London - 29th of January. Huge party. I've been invited plus one guest. Want to come?"

"Sounds fun, and it'll be a break from school." Harry began to fidget, his arse going numb.

"You're so immature," Draco laughed, ruffling Harry's hair and throwing the scissors onto the sofa. "You're done."

"Finally," Harry muttered, standing up and shaking his head to get rid of any little hairs that were left. "How do I look?"

"Better," Draco said unhelpfully. "I'm hungry."

Harry checked his watch. "Well, we have missed breakfast and lunch."

"We could go to Hogsmeade," Draco offered, checking his pockets. "I've got plenty of cash."

"We should just eat here, I need to talk to Hermione and Ron anyway." Harry frowned, trying to think of what exactly to say to them both.

"Okay... When are they next serving food?" Draco asked, rubbing his lean tummy.

"Fifteen minutes or so." Harry ran a hand through his slightly shorter and tamer hair.

"Hmph," Draco grunted. He grabbed Harry's collar and pulled him into a kiss.

Harry chuckled against Draco's mouth, hands on his chest for support.

"I don't think we should go down together."

"We probably shouldn't," Draco conceded. "Hey, I have one more truth for you. Do you like it when I do this?" He bent down and kissed Harry's stomach lingeringly, tongue flicking in small circles on the smooth skin.

Harry's sharp intake of breath was the only answer he could give at the moment.

Draco laughed. "I'll go first," he said, pulling his boots on and buckling his cloak. "See you around, virgin."

Harry scowled, still slightly dazed. "Meet me on the edge of the Forbidden Forest near the Lake in an hour?"

Draco nodded. "I'll be there."

He shut the door and walked down the corridor, feeling positively light-headed. He made his rather absent-minded way down to the Great Hall and fell into a seat beside Blaise at the Slytherin Table.

"Where were you last night?" Blaise asked as he picked up a chip and dipped it in some tomato sauce.

"With someone," Draco grinned, ripping a salad leaf in half and eating it.

Blaise rolled his eyes and ate the chip. "Goyle thought you were dead again and I'd hidden the body."

"Poor Goyle," Draco laughed. "You know, Potter's a virgin. He seemed surprised that I'm not."

"You're only just 17. And like I've said many times before, he's innocent." Blaise picked another chip up as the subject walked into the Great Hall. He blinked, looking at the new hairstyle that was attracting a lot of attention. "Though I'm guessing not for much longer if you have your way?" he smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Draco smirked. "I don't know about that. He's sort of cute when he's this innocent. And I haven't been a virgin since fourth year."

Blaise laughed, popping another chip into his mouth. "You know, with Potter sporting that new look you might have competition."

"Pah," Draco scoffed.

All the same, he peered over to see the reactions of people in the hall to Harry's haircut.

Harry nervously played with the material inside his jeans pockets as he walked over to the Gryffindor table and seated himself opposite Ron and Hermione, next to Ginny. "Hey," he greeted weakly.

"Like the hair," Ron said, flipping Harry's shortened fringe.

"Oh yeah, it's nice," Hermione mumbled.

They looked like they were holding something in.

Ginny squeaked something inaudible. Harry frowned and looked at Hermione and Ron sternly, "What's up?"

"Where did you go?" Ron demanded finally.

"My room," Harry blinked.

"But why did you... I don't bloody know. Something's different and wrong. What happened?"

"Hermione kissed me. You were all pissed and I couldn't be arsed staying any longer, alright?" he asked.

Ginny shook her head next to him. "I don't think that's what Ron means," she said quietly.

"It's not. Who cut your hair? Where did you go after the Quidditch match? Why are you all flushed?"

"I cut it myself, I went for a walk, and I just ran here." Harry ticked them all off on his fingers. "Now, why are you mad at me? Why are you suddenly piling this all on me now?"

Ron floundered. "I don't know."

He looked at Ginny and Hermione for help.

Ginny grinned. "I know why." She looked pointedly at Ron and Hermione. "Someone's jealous."

"So?" Ron demanded, ears burning red.

Harry laughed loudly, as did Ginny. Parvati wandered over and placed both her hands on Harry's shoulders, lowering her mouth to his ear. "Hi, Harry. We like your new look."

Lavender appeared behind her, putting her lips to the other ear.

"A lot."

Harry froze, sending a pleading look to Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

Hermione shrugged and Ron laughed at him.

"You deserve it, mate," he said.

"I think those two sluts like it," Draco decided, returning his attention to the salad leaves he was dismembering.

Blaise smirked. "What's with the shirt?" he asked, pointing at the place where a crest would be.

Draco held his arms out. The cuffs completely concealed his hand, and he could have fitted another person inside the shirt. It had to be one of Harry's outsize ones.

"Shit," Draco said, frowning. "I must have picked up Potter's instead of mine."

Blaise's eyebrow's shot up. "Just what were you doing with Potter last night?"

"We just talked for a bit, then he went to some Dork party and then we fell asleep," Draco said, skipping out some of the details. "I invited him to Alexei's party in January as my guest."

"Ok, and at which point did you take off your shirt?" Blaise asked, a small smirk on his lips.

"Several points," Draco said, frowning. "I had a shower there this morning."

"He has his own bathroom?" Blaise demanded, completely giving up on Draco telling him the truth.

"Yes, he does, git," Draco said.

"Wait," Blaise's mind reeled. "He has his own room?"

"Yes."

"Hell you're lucky."

"Me? I get to use it occasionally. He's lucky that he has it to himself."

"Yeah, but you two get your own private room," Blaise replied enviously. "Man I hate you both. Where is it?"

"West Tower," Draco answered, not wanting to be too specific. "It's lovely."

"I'll bet it is."

"Bit ... festive. Green, red, silver and gold," Draco said critically.

Blaise wrinkled his nose. "Tacky." He rooted around in his bag and came up with a purple lolly which he stuck in his mouth. "You staying in the dorms tonight?" he asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder and preparing to leave.

"I don't know, maybe," Draco shrugged. "I didn't want to break the Forty Eight Hour pact and force you to come and find me. I might come back, I might not. I'll see you."

Blaise nodded. "Have fun... 'talking'." He got up from the table and left, looking at the ground.

"We will," Draco whispered. He settled to looking across the room at Harry.

"Hermione, can I have a word?" Harry finally asked, conscious of the time and the fact Ron was glaring from Hermione's other side. "Alone."

"Oh, alright," Hermione said, standing up.

Harry led her to just outside the Great Hall and fidgeted from one foot to the other. "Um... about last night..."

"Yes?" Hermione asked in an embarrassed tone.

"Well, Draco isn't mad, so if you were worried about him that's OK. And yeah, I understand that you were drunk, just, get together with Ron already?"

Hermione looked up like a rabbit in headlights, blushing. "I don't..."

Harry rolled his eyes. "No hard feelings, ok?"

"No, don't worry. So... Did Draco stay with you?" she asked.

Harry smiled, "Yeah."

"You like him a lot, then?" she surmised.

Harry's eyes took on a slightly vacant look. "I don't just like him 'Mione. I think I'm in love with him."

"In love?" Hermione asked, looking a little surprised. "Isn't it a little... hasty, to be saying that?"

Harry shrugged, moving his gaze to look slightly over Hermione's head. "I think I've been in love with him since he first kissed me."

"When was that?" Hermione asked curiously.

Harry laughed slightly. "Detention with Grubbly-Plank."

"Detention?" Hermione laughed ruefully. "You can be so silly. What did she have you doing?"

"Cleaning the Unicorn Paddock," Harry replied promptly.

"Oh... Oh, that's nasty!" Hermione said. "Draco kissed you while you were mucking out a paddock?"

"No, that was after I'd cleaned it using magic."

"Ah, well that's only slightly better."

"Anyway," Harry said loudly as people began to drift out of the Great Hall. "I have to go now."

"Alright, Harry," Hermione said, nibbling her lip. "I'll see you tomorrow."