The Vampire Malfoy

Chapter Six

Our Little Secret

I said maybe, I don't really want to know

How your garden grows

'Cos I just want to fly

Lately, did you ever feel the pain?

In the morning rain

As it soaks you to the bone.

Maybe I just want to fly, want to live I don't want to die

Maybe I just want to breathe, maybe I just don't believe

Maybe you're the same as me; we see things they'll never see

You and I are gonna live forever.

***

Hermione glanced over at Harry, who was half heartedly losing to Ron at chess.

Even Ron seemed to notice Harry was distracted. When Harry made a stupid mistake, which caused Ron to checkmate him, Ron frowned at him.

"Harry?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

Harry continued to stare at a point over Ron's shoulder. The red-haired boy turned around, following Harry's gaze to the huge clock on the wall of the common room.

He waved his hand in front of Harry's face, and watched as his best friend focused on him.

He shook his head, as if waking up. "What?" Harry asked absently.

Hermione sat down next to him and peered at him in concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked in concern, resting her hand lightly on his arm. He placed his hand on hers for a moment and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Ron shook his head slowly. "No, you're not. What's wrong?"

"Is it You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked in a whisper. She reached out her hand and brushed back his fringe. "Does you scar hurt--?"

Harry stood up abruptly, knocking her hand away. She gave him a hurt look, and he touched her shoulder apologetically.

"Sorry. I- I just have somewhere to be."

He turned and hurried up the stairs.

"What on earth is going on with him?" Hermione asked, watching him leave.

Ron shrugged, and began to pack up his chess set.

"I don't know. He's your boyfriend," he muttered.

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, and then snapped it shut, and hurried over to where Harry had just appeared at the foot of the stairs. He was dressed for Quidditch and carrying his Firebolt.

He hurried towards the portrait hole. Hermione stepped in front of him, and he looked at her in surprise.

"Hermione! Hi!"

Hermione frowned at him.

"You can't possibly be going to play Quidditch. It's past nine o'clock and--"

"It's past nine?" Harry asked anxiously.

Hermione nodded, giving him a strange look.

He leant down and kissed her quickly.

"I'll be back soon. And...I'll explain everything."

He started to push past her, but she placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

"Promise?"

He smiled. "Promise."

She stood on tiptoe and gave him a lingering kiss. He tried to pull her close, but she pushed him away.

"I thought you had somewhere to be?"

She chuckled as Harry reluctantly let her go, then watched as he hurried out of the common room.

***

Harry hurried across the grounds to the Quidditch pitch. He turned the corner and came to a halt. The pitch looked magnificent at night. The stands were eerily dark, but the grass was bathed in brilliant moonlight. In the centre stood Draco, facing the other end of the pitch. His Quidditch robes ruffled softly in the night breeze. Suddenly he turned, and Harry gasped involuntarily.

Beside Malfoy, the moonlight paled in brightness. It seemed as if there was an inner light inside him. He was luminous. The sight was beautiful.

It was radiant.

It was inhuman.

Hesitantly, Harry walked over to him.

"You're late," Draco stated simply, as Harry reached him.

"I'm sorry," Harry responded. "I was..."

"Snogging your Mudblood girlfriend," Draco finished for him.

Harry bristled. "Don't call her that," he hissed.

"Sorry," Draco said with a shrug, not sounding sorry at all.

Harry looked at him curiously. "How did you know?"

Draco made a face. "Enhanced senses. Another wonderful upshot of this...situation."

"You mean you can smell her scent on me?" Harry asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

Draco nodded.

Harry made a face. "That's...gross."

"I guess I'll get used to it," Draco said. "But right now, sharing a room with Crabbe and Goyle is not fun. Those guys hardly ever shower."

Harry chuckled.

"Shall we play?"

Harry nodded, and released the Snitch. "May the best, uh, man win."

Draco smirked and shot up into the air.

***

A few hours later, Harry was lying on the Quidditch pitch, staring up at the stars. His brow was covered with a thin film of sweat and he was exhausted, but he hadn't had so much fun in ages. They'd chased the Snitch numerous times. And almost every time, Draco had won.

Draco said it was natural talent. Harry was insisting it was unnatural night vision.

"That was... fun" Draco said quietly.

Harry sat up, and looked over at him.

"It was."

"Thank you, Potter."

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What for?"

"For this. For coming out here tonight. For not telling everyone," he paused for a moment before continuing, "And for not treating me like a freak."

"Oh," Harry said, unsure what to say. "Who treats you like a freak?"

"My mother."

"Oh," Harry glanced away, feeling uncomfortable.

"Potter?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember her? Your mother I mean?"

Harry turned and looked back at the stars.

"Only in my dreams," Harry paused. "And when there are Dementors around."

"Dementors?"

"Yeah. I can hear Voldemort killing my parents."

"Oh."

There was a pause. Then, "Sorry about that trick in third year."

"What trick?" Harry asked.

"When we dressed up as Dementors? And you practically killed me with that huge stag ghost thing."

"Oh yeah. I'd forgotten." Harry thought for a moment. "Strange, isn't it, how things that were such a big deal at the time, are so easily forgotten."

"Yeah," Draco said, nodding. "Strange."

They smiled at each other.

Harry stood, brushing grass off himself, and began to pick up his Quidditch gear.

"I'd better go. I need to explain to Hermione where I was tonight."

Draco paused. "Potter?"

Harry looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"Could you maybe...I don't know, not tell her? About the whole vampire thing? I just don't think I want other people to know."

"Oh. Of course," Harry said with a half smile. "It'll be our little secret."

"Yeah, " Draco echoed. "Our little secret."