Not Just an Empty Emotion

Chapter 13- Christmas Gifts

Dinner on Christmas Eve was a noisy affair. Most of the teachers had stayed behind for Christmas, including McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Hagrid, Trelawney, Jupiter, Sinistra and of course Dumbledore. Firenze was living in his classroom on the first floor of the castle, and remained there at all times, only venturing out to speak to Dumbledore. Apart from Harry and Malfoy the other remaining pupils were all first years, meaning the excitement around the single table that had been set up was palpable.

Harry left dinner early to go to bed; he wasn't really looking forward to tomorrow. Without Ron and Hermione there to enjoy it with him it wouldn't seem right. And there was something else...when he had been in Hogsmeade buying presents (a wizard stationary set for Hermione, a load of joke stuff from Dervish and Banges for Ron and Dobby's usual pair of socks) he had seen the perfect present for Sirius...he had had to run all the way up the long lane and past the Shrieking Shack so that Ron and Hermione hadn't seen how upset he was.

As he walked into the Entrance Hall somebody grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a large statue.

"All right?" Malfoy was smiling shyly at him.

"Er...yeah. Hi...how are you?"

"I just wanted to say Happy Christmas to you before tomorrow," Malfoy ignored Harry's question. Perhaps this was because the answer was I'm dying inside and I feel like shite.

"Oh...yeah. You too, Malfoy."

Malfoy smiled at him. "Thanks," he said.

"Hang on," said Harry, "why can't you wait until tomorrow to tell me that?"

"I...um...never...I can...never mind," Malfoy stuttered. He clapped Harry on the shoulder and said, "Yeah. Bye," turned, and ran down towards the dungeons.

Harry stood behind the statue for a moment, completely stunned, before he remembered that he was meant to be in bed. He slipped out from behind the statue and ran upstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco sat on the end of his bed with a small, shiny box in his hands. He opened it carefully and examined the contents, prodding them with his wand. A low whooshing noise came from the box. Draco smiled softly, and snapped the lid shut again. He put the box in a black bag, and wrapped the whole package in delicate paper. He stretched himself out on his bed, put the package on the table and closed the hangings.

He cursed himself for his performance in front of Potter before.

What the fuck was I doing, I must be dumb. He probably thinks I'm a freak! Well he'd be right I am a sodding freak, look at me! He hates me.... he has no reason to like me. I hate me, for Christ's sake!

In his frustration he punched his pillow in the dark.

"Bastard!" he called out in the dark, to nothing and no one in particular.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas morning was cold and grey, and the snowstorm was growing stronger outside. When Harry woke up he found his feet being crushed by a pile of heavy presents. He groaned as he sat up and a large number of them went cascading down onto the floor.

He sat on his bed in his pyjamas to unwrap the presents. He bent down and picked the first one up off the floor. On the front was a scribbled 'Harry' in large letters. He tore the brown paper off and a large bar of Honeydukes chocolate fell onto his lap, followed by three huge bottles of Butterbeer and a note.

"Ow! Shit!" yelled Harry as they hit his legs. He wasn't sure whether the loud cracking he heard was the chocolate or his legs breaking. The note read,

Dear Harry,

Happy Christmas! See you later,

Hagrid.

Harry heaved the gifts under the bed and stored them next to his trunk.

Next was a small present wrapped in silver paper. He ripped the paper off and saw inside was an intricate wooden frame, with a photograph inside. It showed his mum, with Harry in her arms, and his dad standing outside their house. The ground and house were both covered in snow, and a pond outside the house was glassy-it had frozen over. Harry had never seen his parent's house before. It was a beautiful house. It was large, but not as large as the tree behind it who's who trunk was almost as thick as the house itself. It was like a large, gothic-style cottage.

Harry smiled, and looked at the picture longingly. He turned the frame over and saw on the back the words:

Harry,

Happy Christmas. We hope you like it; we knew you hadn't seen your house before.

Love Ron, Hermione and Remus.

Harry gasped, and felt a sudden, overwhelming rush of love for all three of them. He placed the present very carefully on top of the cabinet next to his bed, looked at it for a moment and turned to the next gift. Ron had sent him a box of Every Flavour Beans, Hermione a giant sized box of Honeydukes toffee, Mrs Weasley his usual jumper, this time with a large Gryffindor Lion on, and the Dursleys a note (telling him that Dumbledore had written to them, and informed them that Harry might not be back home for the first week of the Summer, which was fine by them because they were finally able to shop for a holiday home in Majorca) and an empty biro pen. That was odd, thought Harry, why wouldn't he be home until late? He resolved to put it out of his mind, and write and ask Lupin.

His pile of presents gone he stood up and stretched to get ready to go down to the Great Hall. Something fell onto the floor. He stooped down quickly to pick it up. It was a letter written on ordinary Muggle paper. Harry looked at it suspiciously for a moment before slitting it open with his wand. The letter inside was not long. It was written in a very neat hand.

Harry,

Dumbledore has written to me about why you aren't coming home for the summer as usual. I know you don't know why, but it's for the best.

You have probably guessed my situation, somewhat. I know more than Vernon knows I do, and I am ashamed of that. However, events in recent months have forced me to rethink my position. I will explain when you get back for the summer, but for now DO NOT write to me, I don't want Vernon getting suspicious.

I just want you to know that I didn't hate your mother, though I told myself that I did. And I don't hate you either.

Have a good Christmas,

Aunt Petunia.

"Oh my....fuck," said Harry. He felt faint, "no way.... this...this is mad."

If he was honest with himself he had realised that Aunt Petunia may not be letting on all that she knew, especially after her performance the summer before last...

"Shit..." he muttered to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco was surrounded by litter from all of his presents. He felt ill. His gifts from fellow Slytheirns had been the usual...chocolate, sweets, joke presents, quills...but he had received a present from home. It was not large, but oddly shaped and heavy. The note with it said,

Draco,

You will find this useful. Do not abuse it. I will contact you soon.

Mother and Father.

Not even a 'Merry Christmas'...Draco had thought bitterly, though he hadn't expected much more. And so formal-'Mother and Father'.

He had opened the present without much enthusiasm. What had fallen out of the paper made his jaw drop and his stomach turn.

A small crystal ball, on a solid gold stand, and a book of dark curses-his father wanted his to use it to learn curses that only Voldemort's followers used...

His father was a total bastard. What the hell did he want Draco to use it for? He was trying to train him into a little copy of himself. Well it's not going to happen! Draco thought, chocking on tears, I'm not your son-I have no father!

He had thrown the present into the very bottom of his trunk, and covered them with old clothes. The only thing which made it slightly easier to bear was the note which he had opened last;

Draco,

I am so sorry about what your father has sent you.

Merry Christmas, son.

Mum

Draco gulped when he read that, and he cursed himself for being so Goddamn sentimental. But he couldn't help feeling happier as he slipped the note in between the pages of his mother's book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The table in the Great Hall looked amazing, and in front of each place was a large gold candle in a base of holly. The candles would burn all day.

In Harry's mind the only thing he could think was to get the day over with as soon as possible. He took a seat next to Swan Jupiter.

"Merry Christmas, Harry," she said.

"Thanks, you too."

Opposite him, he noticed, sat Malfoy. They smiled at each other.

"Merry Christmas, Malfoy," Harry mouthed.

"You too."

Harry thanked Hagrid for his present as dishes and bowls and tureens began to get passed around the table. The food was delicious, and during the first helpings nobody spoke much at all. During the second helpings Swan took the opportunity to speak to Harry.

"So," she said, "how are you?"

"I'm fine. No different really."

"And how's he?" her eyes slid over to Malfoy for a second, who was eating slowly and seemed to be staring at the table with a blank look in his eyes.

"As far as I know he's great."

"He's not," said Swan suddenly.

"What?"

"He's not great. He's not happy at all. He tries to be brave, and keep his 'I'm-a-bastard' face on, but it's all a lie. He's confused, for a start, about you. He wants to know what you want. He knows what he wants, he just doesn't know he knows."

Harry frowned as he worked out what she was saying.

"Secondly," Swan went on, "he's received some things from home today. One thing made him very happy, one made him angry and upset. And thirdly, he's lonely. He has distanced himself from all of his old friends, the only person he feels at all close to at school is you, and he doesn't know if you want that. At home he only has his mother but they're both scared of his father."

"Wow..." Harry breathed, "that's a lot of stuff...too much emotion..."

"Indeed it is, he needs looking after, Harry, and you know who the only one who can do that is, don't you?"

Harry sighed. "Me," he said at last, "Me." Poor git...he thought, having to rely on me of all people...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, at last after four hours of Christmas lunch, Harry was able to go back to his dormitory. He climbed the stairs slowly. It hadn't been that bad after all. He had a lot to think about but the food had been good...

He was on the fifth floor about to climb another staircase when he heard a noise. It was a kind of sobbing crossed with rustling. He stopped dead. Looking from left to right he saw a classroom with the door closed-all the other doors in the corridor were open. He crossed over to it and grabbed hold of the handle. He tried to turn it but it wouldn't work, perhaps it was because it was locked or perhaps because his hands were sweaty. He took out him wand, tapped the door and muttered a spell. The door opened noiselessly, and Harry stepped inside making no noise at all. Draco Malfoy was leant against the wall, his forehead against the stone, and his fists raised against it. His hands were red and there was blood on his robes and the wall. He was sobbing in dry, angry bursts.

Shit, thought Harry, look at the poor bastard.

He stepped forward cautiously and put his hand on Malfoy's shoulder.

"Malfoy," he said quietly.

Malfoy jumped and spun round, his eyes wide. Rain had begun to pour on top of the snow outside. Thunder clapped and at the same moment the room, with its surreal scene, was lit up with lightning.

"Noooo, no, go away, Potter. Leave me alone!" he moaned.

"No. I'm not leaving you like this. What's wrong?"

"I can't tell you."

"You have to."

"Piss off, Potter! I was getting along fine without you! Everything was fine until you came along!" he screamed.

Harry didn't move.

"Shit! Why does it have to be like this?!" he yelled, and collapsed forward into Harry's arms.

Harry held him close as Malfoy sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Potter," he whispered, "I'm so, so sorry for ruining your life like this."

"Don't be stupid, you're not ruining anything," Harry said. He held Malfoy tighter, his arms around his waist.

After a few moments Malfoy pulled away, hiding his face in his bloody hands. "Thanks, Potter."

"That's OK, Malfoy."

"I'll just-"

"You're not going anywhere. Let me see."

Malfoy turned away.

"Stop it, Malfoy-let me see!"

He swivelled Malfoy around and pulled his hands gently away from his face. He was very pale, and looked dizzy. A sliver of blood was running down his temple and cheek onto his neck. His hands were grazed and still bleeding freely.

"Fuck, Malfoy, what the hell have you done to yourself?"

"I don't know," the boy sobbed.

"Let's get you out of here."

Malfoy didn't complain but didn't seem to be able to walk either. Harry put his arm around Malfoy's waist tenderly to help him walk.

"We went to your common room last time, it's time you paid a visit to mine..." he said as he steered Malfoy out of the room and up the two flights of stairs.

As they reached the Fat Lady she looked at them suspiciously.

"Repeat what you're seeing to anyone and I'll bring the Knight and his Pony back, is that understood?" Harry warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" she replied.

"Sure...Golden Star"

"And you...you said Slytherin was unoriginal..." Malfoy managed to gasp.

Harry laughed as he heaved the other boy into the room. He placed him gently in a chair by the fire, and ran upstairs. A few minutes later he was back, with a large chunk of chocolate. He forced it into Malfoy's mouth. As he chewed Harry bent down and healed Malfoy's hands and face with his wand. Malfoy looked and felt immediately better.

"Thanks, Potter," he whispered before falling asleep in the chair.

Harry smiled, "It's okay, Malfoy. Any time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had missed Christmas tea, but Harry didn't care. He had sat in the common room all afternoon examining his presents, and then had fallen to watching Malfoy sleeping. It was a beautiful sight.

He woke at about 6 o'clock.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry!" cried when he found out the time. "I should go-"

"Don't even consider it, Malfoy."

"Huh?"

"You're staying."

Harry got up and pulled Malfoy back down onto a chair. He sat opposite him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine now...a bit stupid but fine."

"Good," Harry said. "Look, Malfoy I've got something to give you..."

"Oh...yeah. Me too."

Harry raised his eyebrows; Malfoy didn't strike him as the generous type.

Harry took a parcel from the deepest pocket of his robes. "Merry Christmas, Malfoy," he said.

Malfoy took it, looking suspiciously at it. "What is it?" he asked.

"Malfoy, have you ever received a gift before?"

"Of course I have!" Malfoy said, frowning. He wasn't thick.

"Well then open it and find out."

As Malfoy took the paper off Harry closed his eyes, praying he would like it.

"Fuck, Harry!" he breathed. "It's...beautiful."

Harry opened his eyes to see Malfoy hold the fine metal chain up to the firelight, where it glinted impressively. On the end was a light stone figurine, depicting a snake wrapped around a wand. Malfoy put it around his neck immediately.

"Thank you, Potter. Here," he handed Harry a parcel.

Harry took it, marvelling at its beauty and the obvious care that had gone into wrapping it. He took the paper off carefully and found a black bag inside. In this was a heavy black box, which Harry took out slowly, glancing at Malfoy.

"Go on," said Malfoy, a slight smile on his face.

Harry flicked open the clasp and looked inside. Immediately his face was lit with a warming glow coming from whatever was inside the box. It was a light liquid, which reminded him of the substances in a pensive, and was a translucent blue-black. The strange thing was it gave off an odd light.

"Oh, shit, Malfoy...what is it? It's beautiful..."

"Thanks," Malfoy blushed. " It's Carmol. Basically the substance is the most calming thing known to man-no one really knows what it is. But if you look at it, then it sorts out your head, and calms you down. And it's meant to show you things...it helps you make decisions and if you want to see something badly then it will show you..."

"Wow, Malfoy, this is amazing. Really- it's fantastic."

Malfoy turned even more pink, and said "Not as good as your gift-"

"It's far better than my gift, Malfoy."

Malfoy shook his head, but he still flushed more than ever. Harry closed the box gently and the light went out immediately.

The lightning outside lit up the room again.

"Are you going to tell me what all that was about?" Harry ventured.

"I... I can't. It's so stupid. It's nothing. It doesn't matter."

"It isn't nothing and it does matter, Malfoy. You can't lie to me."

"I...I can't, Potter..."

"You can. Believe in yourself, you can tell me. We're friends, remember? You have to trust me."

"I do trust you."

"So tell me."

"No."

"Malfoy! Look, is it something about Christmas...something about what you received

for Christmas?"

Malfoy looked at him almost sulkily. "How did you know?" he asked.

"I guessed," said Harry. "Now spill."

Malfoy sighed. It looked as though he would have to tell...

"I got something off my Father, no doubt he thought I'd like it. Well I don't..." he told Harry about the crystal ball, the book, and both the notes. When he finished Harry was stunned.

"So...so your dad wants you to be a proper Death Eater, then?"

"Looks like it, doesn't it?"

"Yeah...yeah. God that's so sick!"

"I know. That's what I thought. I hate him!" he burst out.

After a minutes silence Harry said, "I'm going to tell you something but you have to promise me that you will keep this secret, I want you to swear on your life, Malfoy."

"Okay...I swear, Potter."

"Right...." Harry took a very deep breath closed his eyes and began to talk. He started with the fact that Sirius was his Godfather and that last year Harry had been there when he died in the Ministry of Magic, and how he had seen it all. Then he told Malfoy why he had been there in the first place: because of the prophecy.

When he had finished Malfoy didn't say anything.

"Promise you won't tell anyone? No one else is meant know to."

"Of course I promise, Potter but....damn!"

"I know. I'm only telling you because I trust you. And I think you have a right to know."

"Thank you, Potter. Jesus, I still don't believe it...that's so horrible..."

"I know. But you have to deal with it I suppose...."

"Yeah...yeah, I guess you do. What's happening about it?"

"Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do."

"What, not even Dumbledore?"

"No. It's out of our hands..."

"Fuck, that's so harsh..."

"I know. But hey, it's Christmas, let's not talk about it now..."

"Oh, yeah. 'Course."

They fell silent and Malfoy reached into his robes and pulled the chain out. He examined the snake, whose black eyes were glinting. As Harry looked at his the snake seemed to say something to him in a series of hisses that Harry understood.

Do it now.

Harry sat still for a moment. Then- "Yes," he replied.

"What?" Malfoy asked.

"Oh, nothing," he had spoken to the snake in parseltongue, but averted his eyes from the snake and switched back to English again. "I was just thinking..."

Malfoy smiled, "This is amazing you know. Thanks-"

"But-" he stood up defiantly, "-I have something else for you too."

"Oh?" Malfoy seemed wary.

Harry motioned to him to stand. Malfoy obeyed immediately.

"I've wanted to give you this for a while. This is what I want. This is what I've always wanted. I've wanted this my whole life, I just didn't know it..."

He stood in front of Malfoy, and very slowly he pulled Malfoy's waist towards him. His heart was beating faster and harder than it had ever done before. He could barely breathe. They were so close...He could feel Malfoy's warm breath on his lips. His eyes closed for a moment in ecstasy.

"This is what I want," he whispered, their lips brushing together.

He wrapped his arms around Malfoy's waist and bought their lips together. Harry opened his mouth and Malfoy's tongue slid in gently. They kissed slowly, and Malfoy brought his own hands up around Harry's neck, his fingers nestling in Harry's soft black hair. As their tongues met again and again they moaned softly, yet with a repressed urgency.

Malfoy tipped his head down, breaking the kiss. Harry moaned, but Malfoy put a finger over his lip.

"Shhh," he said. "Potter, are you sure that this is what you want?"

"Yes. I am. Please, Malfoy..."

"Thank you, Potter. Thank you so much."

They kissed again, deeply and faster than before. Every time their tongues met moans escaped from between their locked lips.

When they finally broke the kiss, their lips swollen, both boys were smiling.

"So," said Malfoy, "since when?"

Harry knew what he was asking.

"I don't know. I guess I've always known really, I just wouldn't admit it. And then.... something happened and I made up my mind."

They sat down, and Harry looked at Malfoy. It clarified what he already knew: Malfoy was gorgeous. His hair was silver-blond with darker flecks, adding maturity to him. His face was perfect, his eyes a piercing dark grey, his lips red and sexy, his pale skin was perfect with no blemishes, and his cheekbones were so sharp you could cut yourself on them. His body was covered by his clothes, but Harry already had a picture of that in his head...he wasn't tall, but he was damn sexy.

"What?" asked Malfoy after a while.

"Huh?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm not," said Harry, immediately turning away, embarrassed.

Malfoy laughed. The sound was wonderful. "Have it your way then..." he said.

"Fine. I will do."

"You do that."

"I will,"

Malfoy smirked and leant over to Harry, putting his hand on his thigh. Harry looked up.

"You do that."

"Malf-"

He was silenced with a kiss. When Malfoy moved away he said, "What does this mean, Potter?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well...what are we?"

Harry didn't understand.

"Oh for God's sake it's not difficult, Potter. What. Are. We? Are like a...a...couple?"

"Oh...yeah...yeah, I suppose we are..." Harry looked at Malfoy and smiled. "God you're hot..."

"I know. You're not so bad yourself."

"Gee, thanks."

"Any time."

"You're hopeless."

"Am not."

"You are!"

"No I'm not!"

"You damn well are!"

"I'm not! I feel hurt Potter!"

"You-oh never mind," Harry sighed. He stood up and walked towards the stairs leading up to the dormitories.

"Hey! Where're you going?"

"I'm going to get changed, I'll be back in a minute."

He disappeared up the stairs.

"Oh, will you now?" Malfoy muttered, grinning. He left it for a few minutes, then raised his wand and muttered, "Internus Mobilus." There was a loud BANG! and suddenly Harry was in front of him once more.

"You bastard," Harry said calmly.

"Nope. Not bastard."
"Er...yes, I think you'll find you are."

"No I'm not."

"I'm leaving, Malfoy. I'll be gone minutes. You can survive without me that long," he headed towards the staircase again, unbuttoning his shirt as he did so. Malfoy caught his arm.

"No you're not," he said quietly.

"What?"

"I said-no you're not."

Harry blinked at him. Malfoy moved him back to the middle of the room.

"You're staying here," he said. He walked closer to Harry and slid his arms between Harry's now open shirt and his trembling body. Malfoy himself was shaking, but he hid it well. Harry moaned as Malfoy hugged him around the waist.

"On second thoughts..." Harry breathed.

Malfoy kissed his lips delicately, before moving his mouth down to Harry's neck. He licked it, and bit gently. Harry moaned with need.

"Sshh..." said Malfoy. "Are you okay with this?"

Harry gulped and tried to speak, but nothing came out. Eventually he managed to croak, "I'm more that OK, if you are. I need this."

"Good," said Malfoy, straightening up and putting his hands on Harry's shoulders. He stood close to Harry as he slid the shirt over his arms and let it drop to the floor. Harry's body was immaculate. It might look skinny through his clothes but it certainly was not. The years of Quidditch had toned it perfectly, without too many muscles, yet with just the right amount of strength.

Harry reached out and clicked his fingers. Immediately Malfoy's robes disappeared, and he was standing in front of Harry wearing only a pair of dark jeans and a black tee shirt. Malfoy lifted his arms as Harry took the shirt from him. The scene below was amazing. The skin was creamy-white, and smooth.

"My God..." Harry breathed. He leant forward and kissed Malfoy, wrapping his arms around his waist as before.

They stood like that for a while, like the perfect handsome couple, kissing gently by the light of the fire, topless. Malfoy leant his forehead against Harry's, taking in the beauty. The eyes were closed at the moment, but beneath they burned a deep, alluring green. The skin seemed untouched, and was slightly tanned. The messy hair was, as always, adding to the features throwing in a scent of mischief. Harry's lips were red and swollen, just waiting to be kissed again. His face was slender and delicate, but sexy as hell.

The eyes opened. Malfoy's heart stopped for a moment at the sight. He moved his hand down Harry's back, stroking it gently, bringing it to rest on his backside.

"Do it," Harry said in a low voice.

Malfoy gave him a wet, lingering kiss before undoing the buckle on Harry's belt. He unzipped the jeans and Harry helped him pull them over his waist. They repeated the action on Malfoy, Harry moving slowly...seductively.

They stood there in the middle of the Gryffindor common room in nothing but their underwear as they kissed, entwined in each other's embrace. Malfoy broke off the kiss. He was nervous, they both were, but he wanted to do it. He had been more turned on than he ever had been in his life. He forced Harry onto the floor, kissing him, their tongues meeting, both groaning softly all the while. Malfoy moved his tongue down Harry's neck slowly, onto his chest. He kissed the boy's chest, exploring his body with the tips of his fingers. As he licked each of Harry's nipples he heard a desperate moan from somewhere above him.

Malfoy took in every detail, every crevice, every bump, Harry's wonderful scent, and all the contours of his delicate body. He had never wanted anything so badly in his life...and it was his. One of Harry's hands was in Malfoy's hair, the other was stroking his chest gently, making Malfoy gasp with pleasure. He moved back up to eye-level with Harry.

Harry touched Malfoy's neck delicately with his fingertips before sliding them down his chest, past his stomach and finally coming to rest on his boxer shorts. He stroked, feeling a large bump similar to his own. They smiled at each other as Harry slid his hand through the waistband, into the place beyond. His hands were cold, the feel of them almost made Malfoy come on the spot. But Harry wouldn't let him. He deliberately didn't do enough. Instead he pulled first Malfoy's underwear off, and then his own.

They lay naked on the floor, stroking each other's bodies with nervous fingers, which quickly became more confident. As they kissed Harry moaned in pleasure, each time their tongues met a new wave of pleasure broke over them like the crashing sea.

Malfoy stopped the kiss to follow a trail down Harry's chest with his fingertips. As he grasped Harry's erection he heard the boy let out a yell of pleasure. Malfoy moved his hand slowly at first, but then sped up as Harry's noises became louder as the boy savoured every touch.

"Oh shit..." gasped Harry, between quick breaths, "Oh shit..."

Malfoy gave in at last, his other hand moving to his own arousal, moving in rhythm. The noises the two boys made became tangled, indistinguishable, and louder.

With a loud cry of sheer ecstasy Harry came at last, shouting Malfoy's name. Malfoy himself followed a few moments later.

They held each other closely, while their breathing and their hearts relaxed, kissing each other gently every now and then. The common room was still and silent, reflecting what was in their minds.

"Fuck, Malfoy," Harry said, "You are so good...where did you learn to do it like that?"

"I didn't," Malfoy said lazily, his eyes closed. "I've picked bits up over the years and I've had enough practice on myself so...it came naturally..."

"I'll say..." Harry muttered. Malfoy laughed and poked him in the ribs.

They didn't know how long they lay in each other's arms, but it was a long while whilst they listened to each other's satisfied breathing.

"I should go," Malfoy said at last, kissing Harry's cheek. "It's late."

"No," said Harry. "Stay. Please."

"You know I can't, if I don't go back now I'll get caught and then we'll be in so much shit."

"Exactly. If you don't go now you can't go at any other time. So stay."

"What?"

"Stay with me. All night."

"Are you serious? You can bear me that long?"

"I could bare you forever, Malfoy."

"No you couldn't. But, OK. I'll stay with you," he kissed Harry's lips lightly, only a quick kiss.

"No," said Harry. "Don't stop."

"I have a better idea," said Malfoy mischievously.

Harry narrowed his eyes, "What now?"

"Come with me," said Malfoy in a dark voice. He stood up, and Harry did the same. Malfoy reached out and took Harry's hand in his own, both were shaking.

"We're so crap at this..." he said.

"No we're not. We're beginners."
Malfoy laughed and pulled Harry towards the boys' staircase. He climbed slowly, Harry following. They stopped when they reached the door with a sign proclaiming "Sixth years".

"In here?" he asked.

Harry nodded mutely. As they entered Malfoy looked around. Though he tried not to show it Harry knew that Malfoy fell in love with the room. He saw him looking around. Malfoy caught sight of the only unmade bed in the room.

"This one?"

Again, Harry nodded.

Immediately Malfoy pulled Harry over to the bed and kissed him passionately. They fell onto the mess of sheets and covers, and the hangings ripped, but right now Harry didn't give a damn. He was too busy massaging Malfoy's tongue with his own.

Harry shifted their positions so that he was on top of the blond boy. As his tongue concentrated on Malfoy's mouth and neck his hand slid down between their bodies, resting between their hard cocks.

"Go on," panted Malfoy, "Make me come."

Harry obeyed. He rubbed Malfoy gently at first, and Malfoy became more and more wound up.

"Just do it, you bastard!" he yelled.

"Patience, Malfoy. You wouldn't want me to spoil it now, would you?"
Malfoy simply groaned in response as Harry stared to move his hands faster. Harry could see Malfoy's body shaking-he was close. Without warning Malfoy grabbed Harry's excitement and started to work it.

"Maybe...maybe this will make you do it...faster," he panted.

It did. For the second time that night both boys came harder than they had ever done in their life, Malfoy first, and Harry seconds later, screaming into the night.

"You're such a bastard," said Malfoy after a while, "but I like it."

"You mean you like me. I like you too," said Harry as he poked Malfoy to make him move his arse so he could cover them up with his quilt and close the hangings.

They wrapped their arms around each other, warm in each other's touch.

Malfoy looked into Harry's eyes.

"Man," he said, "you're beautiful."

And then he kissed him.