The Plan

Harry came into consciousness with a rapidity that was almost frightening. One minute he was sleeping peacefully, the next he was wide awake, and contemplating the boy next to him. Draco really was beautiful, Harry decided as the other boy slept on, unaware of the emerald gaze upon him. Beautiful, but cruel. Sighing slightly, Harry disentangled himself from the blonde's grasp, careful not to wake him. He had some thinking to do. He looked around the room for the best moping spot, and with a small grin decided on the one area most of the actual thinking really seemed to take place: the bathroom.

Harry went into the bathroom and sat on the counter. Lifting his legs to the counter as well, he rested his arms on his knees and put his head in his hands. He had done a very, very stupid thing. He had fallen for Draco. And not "I want to screw your brains out" type love, either. Not even the "I actually want to be with you" love. No, this was "I want to hold you, touch you, walk down the halls holding your hand and marry you" type of love. The type that you couldn't get away from.

When the hell had this happened? Harry wondered. When he'd brought Draco here it had been with the sole intention of seducing Draco and getting the arrogant blonde out of his system, not to have any actual feelings develop. Then, when Harry hadn't been looking, the Slytherin had crawled even farther under his skin; so far in fact that Harry never wanted to let him go.

And therein laid the problem. Because though it seemed Harry had accomplished his mission, that wasn't all he wanted anymore. He wanted Draco to be just as in love with Harry as Harry was with him, and that was never going to happen. Oh, he could probably have the blonde for one night, but then what? Draco would go his own way, denying everything and leaving Harry a wreck. Harry let out a soft groan. Why oh why couldn't he have fallen for someone else, anyone else? Hell, even Cho would be a better choice than Draco, and she had more emotional baggage than anyone he knew...and that was saying something.

Hell, Harry thought wryly, if I knew I was gonna be having an all out mope fest, I'd have chosen a room with a view...hindsight's a crying bastard. The thought barely made him crack a smile. Sighing again and running a hand through his already messy hair, Harry made a decision. Giving his reflection a mock-salute and cursing whatever god was in charge of Brilliant Plans, Harry left the bathroom.

~****~

When Draco woke Harry was seated in one of the plushy chairs, fully dressed and calmly eating breakfast. He looked up and Draco smiled at him.

"Morning," he said sleepily, and Harry smiled back.

"Good morning," he replied, and took a deep breath to ready himself for what he was about to say, putting his hands in his lap so neither boy would be able to see if they shook. "By the way, the door is unlocked."

Grey eyes widened in surprise and flashed to the door, then back to Harry's face. "You mean..."

Harry nodded. "The way I see it, you have two options. One, you can get dressed and walk out the door, and we'll never speak of this weekend again. Two, you can get dressed and spend the rest of the day with me, leave at midnight and-" here Harry paused to swallow hard; he was so nervous, and he hated it, "-we don't ever have to speak of this weekend again, if you don't want." Draco simply stared at him, so Harry continued quickly, "It really is up to you. Do whatever you like, but for the record I-I want you to stay." Finished, Harry went back to his breakfast, trying to appear calm but his stomach in knots as he watched Draco out of the corner of his eye.

The blonde stared at him for a little while longer, and then when Harry didn't say anything or even look up from his breakfast, he stood and went into the bathroom. Harry let out the breath that he'd been holding. Would Draco stay? Harry hoped so fiercely, but he had to admit that it was doubtful. The other boy would probably run to the door, waiting until he was safely out of Harry's reach before yelling out some insult or comment that would cut Harry deeper than any other insult from him ever had. Harry really loathed this being in love business.

Hearing the bathroom door open, Harry quickly went back to his food, trying to look as though he hadn't been worrying about the other boy's choice at all. Who cared, really? Right. He kept his head bent over his plate, not looking at Draco, listening to the sound of the blonde's footsteps as they moved from the bathroom to the bed, and finally the place Harry had been dreading: the door out into the hall. The footsteps reached the door; it opened and closed, and still Harry didn't lift his head up. He had gone then. Harry knew that he really shouldn't have expected any different, he had known that Draco would leave if given the choice, but that didn't stop the ache in his heart.

Sighing wistfully, Harry got rid of the breakfast and the chairs and table. He got rid of the bathroom as well. Turning towards the bed, he was about to get rid of that too when a voice behind him said, "I think we might be needing that."

Startled, Harry turned around to face Draco, who was smirking. "What, you didn't think I left, did you Potter? I just wanted to make sure you weren't lying, is all." Draco walked until he was face to face with Harry, and stared at him. Harry stared back without saying anything, and after a few moments Draco reached up and stroked a hand down the side of Harry's face, startling him so that his mouth fell open and he gaped at the Slytherin. Draco smiled. "I did some thinking last night, Harry Potter," he said softly, moving his hand to stroke through raven tresses. Harry closed his eyes in pleasure and Draco continued, "I did some thinking, and I realized that there is a chance that I might possibly be attracted to you. Maybe. And maybe I shouldn't let you throwing yourself at me go to waste...maybe."

The last word was barely a whisper. Harry's eyes flew open in surprise as he felt Draco's breath ghost over his lips, and they widened when he realized that the other boy was almost kissing him. Harry looked at Draco, and wasn't surprised to find those grey eyes watching him, studying him. Harry so desperately wanted to close the gap between their lips, but he kept himself still, knowing that Draco was working himself up to do something and not wanting to place any pressure on him.

Draco frowned slightly as he studied Harry's face, and suddenly he looked unsure. Then his face screwed up in determination and he leaned in, giving Harry a small chaste kiss. Once again Harry had to struggle with himself; he wanted nothing more than to pull the other boy closer; to tangle his hands in that perfect blonde hair and force his tongue into that waiting mouth, but he kept still, hands at his sides, waiting for Draco once again.

Draco did not disappoint. Slowly, the blonde's mouth opened and his tongue ventured out to trace Harry's lips, asking for entrance. Harry gave it willingly, and Draco began a tentative exploration of his mouth that drove Harry wild. Closing his eyes, he made a soft noise in the back of his throat, silently begging Draco to stop teasing him and kiss him properly, but Draco, seeing the power he held over the Gryffindor, kept kissing him lightly, softly, so that Harry almost felt he was imagining it.

Finally the torture became too much, and Harry reached up; grabbing the back of Draco's head he forced that delicious mouth into firmer contact with his own, and this time it was Draco who made a small noise in the back of his throat as Harry forced his own tongue past the Slytherin's lips. Draco's hand tightened in Harry's hair, and his other wrapped around the darker boy's waist as he began moving forward slowly, forcing Harry to move backwards until his legs met the bed and he fell back onto it, bringing Draco with him. He felt Draco grin against his lips and wondered if that had been the other's plan from the very beginning, but then it didn't matter because Draco was grinding into him in a way that was highly reminiscent of the day before, and both boys' clothing was disappearing at an alarming rate, and then the only thing in the world that mattered was Draco, Draco, Draco...

When it was over Harry fell into a peaceful sleep, a contented smile on his face. Draco was his, and that was all that mattered.

~****~

For once in his life, Harry woke slowly, and he stretched languidly, turning to smile at his Draco. Only to find that there was no one beside him. The room was dark, the bed was cold, and Draco was gone. Harry stared for a second in disbelief, then shook his head at his foolishness. Of course Draco wouldn't be here; he'd gotten what he wanted out of Harry, hadn't he? Calling himself every kind of fool for believing that Draco might actually love him back, Harry got up and got dressed, hating himself as he looked hopefully for a note or something that Draco might have left him. Anything to prove that the Slytherin didn't regret what had happened.

There was nothing there. Harry had known there wouldn't be, and he loathed himself for hoping. It hurt, was the thing. Harry had allowed himself to believe that Draco might actually have feelings for him, and the sure knowledge that he didn't stung. His eyes stung with tears; Harry blinked them back furiously. No way he was going to cry over Draco. No. Malfoy. After Harry left this room it had to go back to Malfoy. Harry was not a moony person by nature, and there was no way in hell he was going to start now.

With this in mind, Harry got rid of the bed and left the Room of Requirement to go back to his old life, Draco-no, Malfoy-free.

~****~

When Harry reached the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower, he didn't even need to say the password, because the last two people he wanted to deal with at the moment came out at the same time he reached it: Ron and Hermione. Oh, goodie, Harry thought sarcastically, just who I wanted to see. He really didn't feel like explaining where he'd been all weekend, and more important, who he'd been with.

The two didn't notice him at first; they were too busy with something Hermione was holding. It looked like-surprise, surprise-a book, but why on earth would Ron be interested in some book?

Harry didn't have time to ponder this, because right at that moment Hermione looked up, spotted Harry, and grinned, stopping and reaching out to stop Ron as well. Ron looked up, startled, then grinned at Harry. "Sooo..." he started, raising his eyebrows, and Harry gave him a skeptical look.

"Sooo...what?" he asked. Ron's grin grew wider, and he winked at Harry, who gaped. "You okay?" he asked, and Ron winked again.

"You know..." he said, trailing off once again.

By now Harry was really confused, and it must have shown on his face, because Hermione heaved an exasperated sigh and said, "He wants to know if you and Malfoy shagged."

Harry's mouth fell open and he stared at them, first Hermione and then Ron, in complete and utter shock. "How...How on earth did you..." he stuttered, and Ron's grin spread even more, if that was humanly possible.

"We're not complete idiots, Harry," he started, but at Hermione's glare, quickly added, "at least, 'Mione isn't. She was the one who thought to use the Marauder's Map when you didn't show up at all yesterday. We saw you and Malfoy in the Room of Requirement..." Ron shook his head in complete awe. "I have to say, Harry, that I never thought you'd get the guts to kidnap Malfoy of all people, but...wow."

Harry just shook his head. "Ok, who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" he asked, and Ron frowned at him.

"What on earth are you talking about?" he asked, and Harry sighed.

"Look, Ron, I get that you're trying to be supportive, but if you want to yell at me for liking bloody Malfoy, go ahead." Ron's frown faded and the grin returned.

"Oh, that. Don't worry, mate, I've had plenty of time to reconcile myself with that idea...though I will keep that whole yelling bit in mind."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "What? How?" he asked, and Hermione laughed.

"You're not that hard to read Harry. Besides, it was obvious, even for you. If you didn't want anyone to know that you had a thing for Malfoy, you really should have stopped staring at him all the time. Honestly." Hermione rolled her eyes and tossed her head, Ron next to her copying the movement perfectly. Catching it, Hermione turned and slapped Ron upside the head. "Prat," she said, just as Ron cried, "Yeeouch!" Then they looked at each other and started to laugh.

Harry cocked his head to the side and studied the two of them while they laughed. He noticed for the first time how close together they were, how they had been reading the book, their heads almost touching, and-Harry looked lower and a small smirk appeared on his face-were they holding hands? Smirk growing wider, Harry asked, "You two are shagging, aren't you?"

Ron choked, and Hermione, eyes wide, disentangled her hand from his to smack him on the back. Ron stopped choking, and they both looked up at Harry with identical deer in headlights expressions. Harry laughed. "You are," he crowed triumphantly. "Since when?"

Ron started choking again, and Hermione sighed impatiently. "What Ron means to say is that no, we are not shagging, but we have been together since...well, Friday, I guess."

Ron turned as red as his hair and mumbled, "Yeah, what she said."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Gee, Ron, if a little thing like admitting to your best friend that you fancy me gets you this worked up, imagine what'll happen when I tell him what you said to me in the library." Hermione put a hand to her heart and deepened her voice as much as she could. "'Oh, Hermione, I realized when you took up with that idiot Krum--'"

"Okay, that's quite enough," Ron said, putting his hand over Hermione's mouth. "We're not here to discuss us, we're here to discuss Harry and Malfoy. Promise you wont say anything?" Hermione nodded, eyes dancing, and Ron released her. Turning to Harry he started, "So, you and Ma--"

"'That I didn't want you to be with anyone but me--'" Hermione continued, until Ron's hand was once again over her mouth.

"Right, no more out of you", he said, redder than ever. Giving her his best glare, he once again turned back to Harry, and keeping his hand firmly over his girlfriend's mouth, he said, "So do I have to start being nice to Malfoy, or are you going back to staring across the classroom at him?"

Harry clenched his jaw as pain shot through him. Bullocks to this love business, he thought angrily, it hurts too damn much. "Don't worry, Ron," he hissed, "You don't have to do anything to Malfoy, and there definitely won't be any staring in Potions. There'll be nothing more to do with Malfoy at all." With that, Harry stormed through the still open portrait and into his room, where he flung himself on his bed and pulled the pillow over his head in a mixture of pain and rage. It was all very angsty and dramatic.

About two minutes later, right on cue, Hermione and Ron entered the room and sat down by Harry, one on either side of the bed. Harry knew that they were waiting for him to explain, but he didn't want to, so he didn't remove the pillow from his head. They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Hermione--of course it was Hermione, who else would it be?--gave up and asked, "Okay, Harry, what happened?"

Harry finally removed the pillow from his head and turned to look at his friends. "I did something stupid," he stated, then immediately put the pillow back over his head.

Childish, but effective, as Hermione instantly started petting his hair and cooed, "What is it? Surely it can't be that bad." Harry didn't even bother pulling the pillow from his face.

"Trust me, it is", he replied, and next to him, Ron groaned. Suddenly Harry's eyes were being stung by light, as Ron had pulled the pillow from his head.

The other boy's face was pale. "Harry, just do me one favor. Tell me that you didn't do something completely crazy like fall in love with Malfoy, okay? Just that one favor."

Harry looked up at Ron with pleading eyes, and Ron shook his head. "I can't believe you, Harry. Why the hell did you want to go and do something like that for?"

Harry sighed. "I didn't mean to Ron," he said pitifully. "It's not like I wanted to. It just happened."

Ron frowned. "But Harry..." he started. Hermione sent him a glare. He sighed.

"That offer to yell at you still good?" he asked weakly, trying to smile, and doing a pretty good job of it considering how much Trauma he'd just suffered. Harry tried to smile back, but it failed, and Harry grabbed his pillow back from Ron and once again buried his head.

"Could you guys just leave me alone for a little while?" he asked softly, trying to sound as pathetic as possible.

It worked, for Ron immediately said "Sure thing, mate," and bounded out of the room, and Hermione grabbed Ron's pillow from his bed.

Placing the pillow under Harry's head, she asked, "Anything you want before I go, Harry?"

He peeked around the pillow hopefully. "Some ice cream from the kitchens?" he asked.

Hermione smiled and nodded. "I'll send Dobby up with some," she said, petting his hair one last time before leaving, pausing to call, "Feel better, Harry," before leaving.

Ten minutes later, the pillow was once again pulled off of Harry's head, this time so the that he could enjoy some of his favorite snack food: vanilla ice cream smothered in chocolate syrup. He thanked Dobby, barely registering the little house elf's cries of gratitude. He was too busy eating his ice cream. Mmm...ice cream Harry thought happily, thoughts of Draco forgotten for the time being...and all was right with the world.