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Chapter Twenty

No need for a siege

"It was really, just...odd. Please, Hermione, don't tell my brother, though, because then he'd confront Harry about it, and...Malfoy may not be the best of persons, but Harry was there in the hospital wing, so he must care. Then again, maybe not. He might've been just curious, or...oh, I dunno, Hermione. But I felt the need to tell someone."

Hermione nodded, gazing thoughtfully past Ginny, saying, "Well, I wouldn't mention it to anyone else. Maybe I'll talk to Harry about it. But I really think it's best if I don't. So, just forget about it, alright? Harry wouldn't want to be the cause of you being distracted as a Chaser. It's his business, so just...act normal to him during Quidditch practices and such, alright? There's nothing to worry about. Harry would never hide anything serious from us, especially if it involved Draco Malfoy."

-----*-----

Harry wondered, eager and apprehensive, why Draco wanted to meet him in their secret room after dinner tonight. So restless was he that he almost bolted over to the room right then, but knowing it was much too early, and that he'd only get disappointment due to an empty room, he stopped himself.

Slowly chewing his treacle tart, he gazed wistfully in Draco's direction. Then he remembered: Draco was still in the hospital. He imagined that he could see in its usual spot, the head of silver hair amongst the other Slytherins; a little smile quirked the edges of his mouth remembering how it had felt sliding his fingers through that silver mane. He was jolted out of his reverie, however, as Hermione beside him asked, "Harry? What are you staring at?"

Shaking his head and turning to look into the chocolate gaze, he mumbled, "Er, wha? Oh, I wasn't staring at anything. Just, you know, thinking up new strategies for Quidditch, that's all." He saw from his peripheral vision the bushy head nod as he looked away again, eyes glazing as he fantasized about the coming evening's possible events.

-----*-----

Letting the invisibility cloak slip down from his shoulders, Harry padded in crimson socks to stand behind Draco. Sliding his arms around the other boy's waist, he kissed the Slytherin's neck in greeting. Chuckling, Draco clasped Harry's hands underneath his, saying, "I knew you were there but was wondering what you'd do."

Then Draco turned around to face Harry, their hands still held together. Brows furrowing, Draco's eyes traced Harry's face, before he said, "You know, I can never seem to find your hairline in that insane mop of hair you have. Also, it's hard to tell, but I think you may be taller than me!"

Harry laughed at the anger with which Draco grinded out his last three words. Smiling, he replied, "Well, it may be just because my hair stands taller than yours. We could actually be the exact same height, but maybe it's hidden because my hair isn't gelled back like yours is."

Draco raised a brow, saying, "Are you implying you don't like my use of gel, Potter?" Harry threw back his head in laughter, and then, gazing back at Draco, emerald eyes sparkling, he murmured, "No, I love your hair, your gel...everything about you." He paused, wanting so much to kiss the other boy, but catching himself for fear of the barrier that still separated them.

He knew that Draco's indecision to accept Harry's love, and Harry's indecision to try any tactics to convince Draco to do this...this indecision was dangerous. Their magically linked scars were special, meant something, and this link, combined with Draco being a Summoner, both were very important in the world. Not uniting could cost them everything!

Brushing aside Harry's bangs to caress the lightning bolt scar with smooth lips, Draco's hands gripped Harry's tighter. Leaning in to lightly kiss Harry's ear, Draco whispered, "No need for a siege. The barrier between us is broken...Harry." Blinking away the tears, all Harry could do to express his gratitude and love was encircle Draco in a hug.

At that moment, all feelings that had ever separated the Slytherin and Gryffindor pair washed away, and in their place was simply a mutual, loving uniting. One hand sliding up to stroke the nape of Harry's neck, the other tightly clutching the Boy Who Lived against him, a smile of pure happiness lit Draco's face for the first time.

Reluctantly the two broke apart, and Draco sat down on the stone window ledge. Eyes shining with a light Harry had never seen in them, Draco sighed, "Well, glad that's all fixed up..." An awkward silence hovered above them for a few moments.

Taking a seat on the windowsill, leaning against the wall, Harry slid his socks off and playfully began to slide his toes underneath the hem of Draco's shirt. Wincing, Draco yelped, "Gah, get your smelly feet off of me you hot blooded Gryffindor! Why is your skin always so hot...while mine's freezing cold? You and your bloody warm skinned wiles...forcing me to rub up to you because you're warm!"

Laughing, Harry slid around with dexterity born from years of Quidditch, and sat in Draco's lap, laying his head against the other boy's shoulder. Sighing, Draco scooted to lean against the windowsill wall; they sat there for a long while, quiet. Suddenly Harry's voice broke the silence, saying "Draco...we don't have that much time left. How about we do something? Or you do something?" The Slytherin wondered what they could possibly do, hidden in an empty old room as they were.

Then, a wolfish grin devilling his features, Draco whispered sultrily, "How about a striptease?"

Eyes bugging out, Harry squeaked, "What?? I-I didn't mean that! I-I...don't be so.......just don't suggest things like that!"

Smiling, Draco said, "So, the little Gryffindor's shy, is that it? Well...what if I let you do it for me--strip me, I mean--that way it won't be so...teasing."

Face hot with embarrassment, Harry quavered, "D-don't tempt me like that! I don't want us going overboard in the beginning..." Just talking about it made the air around Harry get hot with repressed hormones.

Acceptant, Draco drawled in reluctant finite, "I guess I'll have to break you out of the shyness some other time, then." Harry nodded, wondering when that time would be. Both boys remained, sitting there, basking in each other's appreciation of each other, hormones bubbling, repressed, in the air, half the night spent without sleep.