It Felt Right

It Felt Right

By Phoenix Benttelor

Chapter One

Life was never easy for anyone, Muggles or wizards. The only thing that bound to trap these two souls are the faith that they have in themselves. Being powerful, wise and prestigious are not what makes the world interesting and challenging to live in. To be the one responsible for protecting the good from evil is way too depressing to think of and that reflects the image of someone, that certain someone, which was destined to fulfill the so-called prophecy - Harry Potter.

The-Boy-Who-Lived. Since the day he vanquished the Dark Lord from the face of the wizarding world, he became a celebrity, somehow like an actor or a famous writer in a Muggle sort of way. It was thrilling at the beginning but it soon turned to be a much complex situation and he hated that. Things that he must do and things that he was not supposed to be handling were limiting the freedom of his lifestyle and it bothered him. It bothered him so much, and when it finally reached the peak of his patience, he was willing to do things his own way.

~~~~~~~

It was a perfect day for a short walk. The air was soft and gentle and the breeze was simply tender, as it brushed lightly against his cheeks. His eyes blinked slowly and currently opened wide, viewing the surroundings across the grounds of Hogwarts. He clutched his robes and pulled it closer to his body. Nothing could change this moment. The previous days might be dreadful and miserably led but it can only be healed by something so beautiful as what he was witnessing it right now. Precious. So precious that he would never let anyone ruin this picture. Mother nature is unique. It won't change. It has to...or so he thought.

The morning sun was streaming down, showering Harry's features as though it was exploring the very last existing creature on earth. He didn't mind it at all. He was actually used to it and it sends some awkward shivers every time the heat invaded him. The warmth of the sunrays was quite exquisite and charming. Harry was grateful for he was able to be alone, without Hermione and Ron always on his back whenever he was feeling depressed and asking questions that he himself did not know where the real answers lay.

"We can't just let it be forgotten Harry," Hermione hissed, concerned. "This is hard on me too. Have you considered talking to Ron about it? "

Harry raised his eyebrow and cast her a desperate look. "We are not going to tell Ron anything Herm!" He paused as if searching for a breath, "This is not something that Ron will take into account easily. He hates him! How in the world will he even accept him...skip the sense of torturing and loathing over him in an instant?"

"But we can't just let it be lost," Hermione was getting tired. "I know...I do know how Ron will react but think about it Harry. He's been with us since the beginning. I'm sure he'll understand."

Hermione was trying hard to gain Harry's trust. A trust that was seemingly diminishing from the surface of this brave boy. "He might be an arse sometimes for certain problems Harry, but he's the closest friend we'll ever have and he has his eyes fixed on you lately..."

--Silence--

"What?" Harry scoffed.

Hermione tried to open her mouth, to say something, but Harry was already hurrying away and did not care to listen for the explanation.

" Everything happens for a reason "

That was all Harry needed to bear in mind.

Harry had lost count of the hours he spent lingering around, occasionally lifting his head towards the sky, trying to make ends meet on the tale shown perfectly well in numerous form and stages of the clouds. Fascinating. With eyes transfixed to one particular clump of white floating cloud, he sat himself up on the ground, legs folded and hands remained where it was. He inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly and calmly.

"Hah..."

Failure was detected. The jigsaw puzzle was hard and confusing but tempting. His hands started to wiggle and making transparent shapes and soon, unintentionally, it was in sight, interpreting every single curves performed right before his eyes. Up down, up down...stop. Again. Up down, up down...

"I give up"

Carefully laying down his body, stretching the stiffness of his legs, his right hand was still up, focusing and concentrating hard on the familiar object. A brief cold wind swept through, bringing Harry's front messy hair to his eyes. Making no attempt to move it away, Harry instead pushed his glasses up to his nose, indicating urgency in settling this matter.

"Let's get this over with," Harry muttered.

He scanned the object, watching out for any changes that might occur. Without warning, simply a sudden reflex emotion, unexpectedly, Harry smiled. A smile. He hadn't done it for a long time. A Long Time.

"Now don't get me wrong Harry, I didn't mean it that way!" Hermione's eyes widened.

"It better, 'cause if you did meant what you didn't actually meant, which in this case I prefer the other option, Ron is going to find the bedroom very very empty tonight," Harry said shockingly and hopefully.

Taking a more relaxed posture, "Listen, Ron is...fine. I mean, yes Harry, I didn't mean what I said. He had been watching your back for a couple of times though."

Hermione took a deep breath and swept her hair that lay on her shoulders to the back. Looking serious, Hermione continued, "Especially when I insisted that you two start on that Herbology research earlier, in which you neglected and played chess instead..."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Harry argued.

"Well, he saved you from me of cause!" she cried. "I have lots and lots of..."

"Correction! Tons is the word" Harry cut Hermione off with a smile, ignoring the fact that Hermione hated that behaviour.

"Hmph!" Hermione snorted in frustration, as expected by Harry.

Both remained still until Harry moved, uncomfortably, "Harry..." Hermione broke the anomalous moment with a much softer voice, "I...I know it's difficult..."

And she paused.

"We'll be here, you know that don't you?" she asked, with a comforting tone.

"Yeah. I know" Harry replied almost whispering, with no intention of telling anyone what happened in the first place.

*Sigh*

Life was unbelievable. He was unbelievable.

Building a relationship is easy. Maintaining it for years is tough. Sinking to the depths of the unrevealing truth, Harry noticed that it needs just a little bit more love, a little bit more affection, and this is how it should begin, skin on skin, 'cause he believed that this was not a sin. It's actually the path, the right path that leads to better understanding of the meaning of true romance.

Harry closed his eyelids tight. Tighter.

Love is like chasing a moving train and wanting the clouds to find the sun. Unreachable.

"Clouds"

Harry abruptly opened his eyes and brushed his fringe away, exposing the lighting scar to the world. He traced the cloud again and began figuring it out. It looked so fine, fragile and delicate. How odd. For a moment there, it reminded him of the other boy.

"Why does he keep smirking at you," Ron whispered, irritated.

"What? Who?" Harry raised his head up and gave him an innocent glance.

"Malfoy of cause. That bloody git has something on his mind for you Harry," Ron explained. "You better watch out."

Looking directly at Malfoy, who was sitting just opposite Harry at the Slytherin table, "Tell me something new Ron. He's always like that. Nothing interesting between Malfoy and me except for making death wishes and deadly glances at each other," Harry replied, confidently.

"Oh, yeah?" Ron shot Harry a challenging look. "Then what do you call an enemy who looks at his nemesis delightedly every time you stand up and make that adorable stretch...or! Or when you started to lick your lips like this!" Ron said, not wanting to lose, showing it to Harry.

Ron was grinning and made a disgusted expression on his face. "He looks like someone that is sad, available and desperate to be loved. By anyone...male and female." He shrugged and snapped, "Although that would not surprise me when it happens!"

Confused, Harry giggled at Ron's attitude and remained smiling. Turning his head towards the boy, "He really is staring at me," Harry said suspiciously. "Cute though"

"Cute?" Ron said, casting a disbelieving feature. Harry startled at his friend's response, in which he was not paying attention at. "You call this cute?"

"What?" Harry asked, a bit annoyed. "Erm...no...I don't think it's cute"

Ron lowered his eyebrows as though trying to figure out what made his friend change his mind quickly, but was altogether satisfied at Harry's reply. "Yeah...you were giving me...mmm...a heart attack there Harry."

Harry took a long sigh and continued devouring his morning breakfast. But choked when he heard Ron continued, "If anybody thinks that it's cute snuggling and kissing that insufferable Malfoy, which I reckon anyone wouldn't want to, bloody hell! I'll puke to death!" Ron said stiffly.

Harry, on the other hand had his jaw opened, with food inside his mouth and both hands holding the fork and knife up straight.

"Hmm"

Harry was getting confused. He didn't want to be stuck in this situation. Problems seem to be following him all through the years. Voldermort killed his parents, leaving him parentless and he had to live with the Dursleys. The burden of having been recognized by every one and named as the 'Saviour-of-the-world' was getting heavier... and now this. He tried to forget all of it. But, at this moment, even swear words failed him...and he felt something instead.

"Potter"

Harry didn't reply, instead, "If you touch Harry or even place the slightest hand on him, I swear I'll take your eyeballs out and turn it into a snitch, and you won't know how much fun that would be ferret face!" Ron's hand was molded into a fist.

With a scowl Draco replied, "Do you really have nothing to do Weasel? If you don't, you might as well be off, now." Realizing that Ron was still shooting daggers at his face, "(Sigh)...I have no interest in playing stupid games with you, besides, I do not want any stupid mistakes made during this hour," Catching a naughty glance at Harry on the corner of his eyes, continued, "If that wouldn't be any trouble to you Potter."

"It won't" replied Harry, weakly.

Ron placed a hand on Harry's arm, leaned in and said something briefly before sitting on his place beside Neville, the boy that spelled- D.A.N.G.E.R.O.U.S

Giving no feedback to Ron's statement, Harry slowly took his parchment out and scribbled something on it. It looked important and raised suspicions to his partner, study partner.

"I hate being honest with you Potter, but I don't think writing anything down on your parchment will do any good, since you don't read," Draco said, a tad more proudly.

"And since when does your thoughts matter to me Malfoy?" Harry asked, without facing Draco at all.

Draco was taken aback, not because of what Harry had said but the idea of Harry talking to him, to a Malfoy, without looking at him.

"Now, isn't that peculiar. The-Boy-Who-Lived is actually unable to survive without his pathetic friends sticking up for him. That is one hell of a method Potter. I must say, did you made that speech Weasel just said or did you lend it from I'm-A-Loser-If-You-Look-Carefully book?" Draco sneered, and hoping that this time, Harry would look at him.

Indeed Harry did.

Better.

"Malfoy"

"Draco Malfoy"

Harry was not aware that his fingers were playing with each other, making circles and gently pulling its nails. He intuitively sensed that something had altered between them. He didn't know what it was because it was indescribable.

Flushed and turning pink, "It is very obvious what this cloud reminds me of," Harry announced to himself.

It's...

"What's your problem Malfoy? Since you don't have any friends to babble about, I suggest you leave mine instead...and No! I didn't have to make a speech for Ron. He's well off without me...or didn't you notice?" Harry commented, rage flirting in his heart.

Draco looked at Harry and made a devilish grin, "Ooo...I noticed it quite well Potter. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if something fresh turns up in your relationship with Ron...which I envy so much."

Harry's eyes flickered in surprise before a look of curiosity settled on his feature. Trying desperately to hide his mixed emotions, he then rolled out his parchment and put it back

where it belong and stayed...silent. His head is now facing up front, hands on his lap and right leg began shaking.

-"Damn this leg...stop shaking!"

"What is it Potter? Suddenly remembered that you did something that you should regret but somehow find yourself unable to stop?"

Harry jumped, spun his head around, and locking his eyes with Draco's.

"Rotten luck. How in Merlin's name would Malfoy know what I'm thinking?" Harry thought about it for a while. "What?"

"Sod it, never mind," Draco snarled, rolling his eyes

-"Huh...now that's something..."

"Could it get any worst?" Harry asked to himself, hands dropped from his tummy, down to both sides.

It took only minutes for Harry to recover from the flinch of tension. He was done with figuring the clouds but remained still in that position. He closed his green eyes once more and tried to erase whatever possible data in his mind that was not welcome. A sheepish smile curved on Harry's pink lips and he opened his eyes...

Harry saw a figure...a boy...facing down on Harry. He couldn't see who it was for the sun was shinning directly to his eyes. Finally, blocking the sun with his head, a familiar face appeared, with a satanic smile.

"Well well well...what do we have here? A lost sheep?" Draco said with his usual drawling voice.

Harry was paralyzed. But, quickly raised his body, out of Draco's consistent stare.

"Malfoy!" Harry sputtered, utterly stunned from the appearance of Draco without any sound. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"In case you're wondering Potter, this is a free world and I chose to be wherever I please," Draco said darkly. "And I choose to be...here."

Harry wanted to be invincible. He felt exposed and vulnerable, but the thought of it made him highly erotic. Savoring the subtle aroma of the air gave him the power to perform miracles. That was why he liked venturing alone to the refreshing and quiet place he was in.

But

The sudden appearance of that shimmering silver hair had allowed a generous feeling of sensation to shift from the mind to the beating heart. How bizarred. Harry glanced sharply at the movement in his direction and that brought back the senses of reality.

"What?" Harry asked, sneaking a glare at Draco.

Harry was always lost for words. Those words that were supposed to be expressed, something liked a Kiss-And-Tell game.

"Most of the time I'm nice, half the time I'm not Potter, so don't try to light the fire," Draco shock his head tiredly. "So would you stop giving me that blurry face?" Draco said, sarcastically.

"Oh" Harry spatted, his tone so low and head facing down. A paused. "Go away", snapped Harry, bringing his head up.

There was no effect on Draco. He seemed to be so absorbed by the beauty and that was his priority. Main priority. Harry, on the other hand was...jealous. No, nothing liked that. Harry was jealous because that beauty was his and no one should be receiving the pleasure that was bestowed upon him. Harry found his head on the same direction as Draco. Abandoning the view, he focused back on the boy. He was tall and his muscles had become more defined, even when his expensive robes covered them. His face...his face was...sweating? No offence, but that was not Malfoy.

-"Why is he sweating? I've been here for hours and the sun has not gotten the best of me. Has he been running? In that outfit? Well, that might be the reason rather then saying he's been running looking for me. Could he?"

-"Whoa...thinking about Malfoy that way is so wrong"

So wrong, yet mesmerizing.

"Don't you just love how we blend?" A question popped out from Draco, still inspecting around. The look of pure dismay overcome Harry's look. That was the first rhetorical words that Draco had ever used. That was a good sign...for a common reviler.

Draco stirred and brought his pale face upwards, stretching his long neck, as though trying to understand the dialogues of nature spoken in low frequency. He closed his eyes and brought his palms to his face. Then, carefully, almost like wiping clean a brand new diamond, he brushed his hair backwards. Centuries of experience in styling made Harry admired Draco...from afar.

Harry was a bit caught up with the way Draco re-arranged himself that he hardly noticed what Draco was saying, "They say the best things in life are free. The moon, the stars...call this ridiculous art a hopeless romantic, but they are finally right." Draco fell into a sullen silence, and then continued, "Do you think I have everything, Potter?"

Silence---

Draco was making a fool of all of this. Wriggling his head, "Oh, bloody hell. That was an easy one. You don't have to say anything, I know I look good."

That stunned Harry and snapped him from looking at Draco's figure and for not paying attention, again. -"That was not what I had in mind". Harry moved from behind so that he was aligned, side by side with Draco. Not too close. Putting his hands into his pockets, Harry played with the grass, making small kicks and stomping on them lightly.

Cute.

"Don't you think you are being too emotional here Malfoy? Nice trying, but you sucked," Harry replied, nosed wrinkled.

Draco looked at Harry, briefly, "Nothing good than the satisfaction isn't Potter? Your humiliation on me will never happen." Guessing that Harry was pissed, "Still, it doesn't take a genius to read between the lines what I meant."

That was it. Harry was so damn confused. Was he becoming dumber and dumber each minute or the enemy was just paying tricks on him, which in a way was so intriguing.

"I believe you have some issues to work out Malfoy. Nothing seems to fit. Being a prick in class and in another, being so less appealing. I do hope you leave me out" Copying Draco's way, continued, "Still, it remains a mystery doesn't it Malfoy?"

A smirk formed on the corner of his lips. Draco knew there was a distinction between Harry and him "Welcome to the real life Potter. There is nothing more appealing than making the music that the people can't ignore. Commotion is my middle name."

That was...different. Harry would never think that he would take it so calmly. In the most unlikely situation, Harry found his hope. Hope that this will at least relieved his tension. A small talk.

"You have something on your hair." Draco turned his head, towards Harry's messy hair.

Moving his soft grey eyes all over his hair, "Grass".

"Wha...oh" scrubbing off the grass, while Draco was still watching. "There's another one...here, let me help you" offered Draco. Trembled with the hand reaching to him, "No!" Harry returned, fast. "I...you wouldn't want to stain your lovely hands on my dirt, now would you?" Harry explained, not really wanting to hurt Draco's feeling.

Draco felt a heat wave traumatizing him. It was not hate. It was incredible.

Draco looked at his hand that was about to touch Harry, then at Harry himself. "True. I wouldn't want to get any unwanted virus from you."

"No" Harry answered automatically, and saw the expression harden on Draco's face.

Draco took a deep breath, "Well then, that was a sensational talk Potter. I'm sure you have another life you have to concentrate to. I'm going...see you around and enjoy your rotten view" Draco snickered.

With that, Harry was left alone again with his emotion. Draco walked gracefully back to his dorm excessively happy.