How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

Chapter Four - Saturday - Day Three

What would happen if we kissed?

Would your tongue slip past my lips?

Would you run away?

Would you stay?

Or would I melt into you?

Mouth to mouth

Lust to lust

Spontaneously Combust

~What would happen, Meredith Brooks

All morning long, Harry could feel Hermione's eyes burning into the back of his head. He rose early, like normal, and did his normal routine before returning to the castle for breakfast. He ate quickly and left to go upstairs. He didn't speak to the Head Girl and when he returned to the Common Room after his two hour long shower, her and Ron had already left for Hogsmeade. He felt guilty for ignoring her but he wasn't quite sure any more what was going on. In just two days, Draco Malfoy had managed to turn his world upside down. He ended up wandering around the grounds, Hedwig flying high above him. He never knew he was being watched until he sat on a rock beside the lake and saw the boy's reflection in the water. Harry didn't turn to look at his stalker; he was too confused to talk to the boy that had caused all of this to happen. He tried to recall the last time that Draco had been horrible to him and not his friends. It had been a long time since his rival had directly attacked him. Long before Christmas and the fall of Voldemort.

The reflection disappeared and Harry looked over his shoulder to watch as Draco walked slowly back towards the castle.

"I might not know what I want," Harry told his owl as she landed beside him, "but I know how I can find out."

* * *

"I'm worried about Harry," Hermione confessed.

Hermione and Ron were sitting on the ground outside the Shrieking Shack. The Shrieking Shack held great importance to the trio. The main reason being that in their third year this Shack had been where they had discovered Sirius Black was not responsible for the deaths of Harry's parents. And secondly, it was where Ron and Hermione had shared their first ever kiss.

Ron had been lying out in the sun daydreaming when Hermione had spoken and he sat up.

"Wha?"

Hermione glared at him for not listening.

"I'm worried about Harry," she repeated, "he is getting involved with things he shouldn't be."

"You mean by what happened last night?"

Hermione had given Ron a slightly detailed description of what had happened between Harry, Zabini and Malfoy. She hadn't told him of the nature of the new developing relationship between Harry and Malfoy. She feared that by telling him, he would end up trying to kill Malfoy, and she didn't think that would go down well with Harry.

"He is avoiding you," Ron pointed out.

"That's because he is scared of me."

"No, he is scared of what you might do to him."

Hermione sighed. "It's too much, Ron."

"Herm, Harry is a big boy now, he can make up his mind on things, even if right now he is being really thick and not seeing the danger that Malfoy means. But we have to trust him to do the right thing when the time comes. He'll see in time that Malfoy and him can't possibly be friends, it just would not work. We just need to make sure that we are there for Harry when he needs us."

Hermione beamed at her boyfriend.

"That has to be the most sensible thing that I have ever heard come out of your mouth!"

She then proceeded to put that mouth to other uses.

* * *

Harry was late and Draco was already waiting when he finally arrived. He had spent a little too long outside with Hedwig after Draco had left, and he could tell that Draco did not like to be kept waiting.

"You're late," he accused.

"Tell me something I don't know," Harry snapped. "I'm sorry I am late, Malfoy, but there was stuff that I had to do."

"Like avoiding Granger and the Weasel?"

Harry just shrugged and sat down; he couldn't be bothered to tell Draco off for using the nickname he had given to Ron.

"I'm here now so stop complaining. Do you want me to help you or not?"

It was Draco's turn to shrug.

Harry sighed; it was going to be a long day as far as Draco Malfoy was concerned.

They sat in silence for a while before Harry finally broke it.

"So now that you know the basics you can either learn the advanced stuff or we could try and put the spell into practise, if you wanna."

"It is what to, not wanna!"

Harry pulled a face as Draco corrected his grammar; he could recall that just days before he had done the same thing to Hermione and it was kinda scary to have Draco do it to him.

"And I don't want to do either."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"Let's talk about you. Let's see if we can work out what is it that you want."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you are a fucking asshole and I want to know some stuff about you."

Harry fixed Draco with a cold hard glare.

"Swearing is not becoming of a Malfoy."

"Piss off, Potter."

Harry lent back on his chair and smirked.

"You aren't so keen to hear all about me then, if you want me to piss off."

Draco copied Harry and lent backwards returning the smirk.

"Let's see what you got then?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"What? My life story? I thought that even you would know that one."

Draco sneered. "I was brought up with a tale of a Great Baby who conquered the Dark Lord, and that everyone one day would worship this child. But my Father had a different tale to tell, he told me of the boy who only rid the Lord of his power, and that the Lord would rise again, and I would become the famous boy because I would be at the Lord's side when he destroyed that Great Baby."

"He never destroyed me."

"I never joined his side."

The two lapsed into silence.

"I'll make you a deal Malfoy: for every question that you ask me, I get to ask you one too."

"It's only a deal if we can leave this Hell Hole."

"I have no problems with that."

They both stood up and left together. They strolled down the many stairways until they came to the Entrance Hall and they exited the building into the courtyard. Draco led the way across the paved courtyard until they reached the grass and strolled once again side by side towards the lake. The same place where Harry had sat earlier with Hedwig.

"Why do you want to know about me?" Harry asked as they sat down finally.

"Seeing as you don't know what you want, please indulge me in getting to know what I want."

The double innuendo was not lost on Harry and a faint blush crept over his face.

"You're cute when you are embarrassed," Draco commented without thinking and Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You think I'm cute?"

Draco gave a catlike grin, "I think you are damn sexy, Potter, as do over half the girls in this school."

"You've never been denied anything before, have you? You always get what you want and I'm the first to not give you what you want."

Draco glared at the boy who was sitting calmly on a rock beside him. Harry, however, was far from calm inside.

"You're wrong, well it's half and half. I have been denied something before. You denied me your friendship on our very first train journey to Hogwarts."

"You insulted the first friend that I ever had, and you expected me to jump at the offer of being your friend?"

"Before that day, I had never been refused anything. But I always get what I want."

"I'm not your friend," Harry pointed out.

"No, but there is something happening between us."

"Malfoy..."

"I know, Potter, you don't know what you want and you don't have any real sort of a clue as to what is happening between me and you, but I suggest you just go with the flow."

"Seven years is a long time to hate someone."

"I've already told you that I don't hate you."

"I may not hate you neither, Malfoy, but I hardly trust you."

"We came out here to spill secrets. Ask your first question Potter."

"My name is Harry."

"And mine is Draco."

On impulse, Harry held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Draco."

Draco took it, "How do you do?"

"Quite well, thank you, and yourself?"

"Spiffing."

"Spiffing?" Harry giggled slightly; it seemed a strange word for Draco to use.

"So, let's start this simple, are you a virgin?"

"That's personal."

"That means yes."

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes it does. Just like maybe means no or yes depending on the question."

Harry glared down at the boy.

"So you are completely innocent?"

"No."

"You have done stuff but never gone all the way?"

"What happened to one question each?"

"I haven't finished my first question yet."

"You just asked me three questions in a row!"

"Yeah, and you asked me two, and a load more before we had even begun."

"Two?"

"Yes and that was your third, you asked me about the word Spiffing, and about the one question each. You get your fourth in a minute. Answer my question."

"Which one?"

"See that's your fourth question."

Harry stared in amazement at Draco. The boy was so calm about this question business and, technically, Harry had asked Draco four questions even if they were not about him.

"Ok, yes. The answer to your question is yes."

"With who?"

Harry raised an eyebrow and Draco rolled his eyes in retort.

"Fine, ask your question."

"Are the rumours true?"

"Depends on which ones you are talking about."

"The one where the Slytherin Prince was able to receive a blowjob in the middle of the Slytherin Common Room and not make a noise even when he came, and kept up the conversation he was having the entire time." (1)

"One of my many talents," Draco smiled, "it was Pansy who was giving me the blowjob and she is shit at it. And it's my turn. Who have you done stuff with?"

"I can't say, for her privacy."

"I won't tell anyone."

"I don't trust you."

"Why not?"

"You have given me no reason to trust you."

Draco gave a nod.

"Why did you break up with Weasley's sister?"

"She isn't my type. Why didn't you join your father as a Death Eater?"

"I enjoyed taking the piss out of Granger and other Mudbloods but there is no joy in the murder of innocent people. How did you kill Voldemort?"

Harry took a deep breath and replied, "I told you last night: I killed him with my bare hands."

"That's not the real story is it? It's certainly not the whole truth."

"You're right, it's a complete lie. It's none of your business, if truth be told."

The two boys fell back into silence. Harry watched the sunlight play on the water and Draco watched his hand as he played with grass. He sneaked a glance up at the serious looking boy who never saw the evil smirk form on Draco's face until it happened.

"HEY!"

Draco laughed as Harry shook his head, trying to dislodge the many blades of grass that now lay in his raven hair. He slowly turned his head to glare at Draco.

Draco's prank had done the trick, Harry was no longer thinking about that fateful day six months ago. In fact, he was now planning revenge on Draco.

"You are going to pay for that."

Draco's grin spread wider.

"I do hope so."

Harry moved quicker than Draco could see. Harry's wand was in his hand within seconds and pointing straight at the Slytherin.

"Rictusempra," he chanted and red sparks flew at Draco. As the spell hit him, Draco dissolved into uncontrollable fits of laughter. Somewhere in the depths of his mind Draco felt slightly ashamed at himself that he was unable to block the charm or even fight off the effects of a first year spell. But then he realised why Harry had used such a low power charm. After their quick conversation about Death Eaters and Voldemort, it seemed that Harry wanted to prove to himself that not all magic is evil and not all magic causes pain. With such a low power charm like Rictusempra there was no need to worry that he might hurt Draco in what looked like was going to be a small play fight.

After a few minutes, Draco regained control over his body and located his wand.

On his rock Harry sat with his green eyes fixed on Draco's face, calmly observing the other boy. He made no move to defend himself. It was the Gryffindor Honour, Draco mused, an eye for an eye, a spell for a spell.

Draco flicked his wand and muttered an incantation and Harry gave a yelp in shock.

Freezing cold water drenched over Harry and the boy screwed his body up against the cold. Every last bit, from his toes, to his fingers, to his boxers were soaking wet. His hair was plastered to his face and Draco sniggered as Harry struggled to sweep away the hair from his glasses.

"T-t-t-h-h-h-at-t w-w-as-s-s-s col-ld-d-d," Harry's teeth chattered together.

"So sorry," the boy grinned.

Harry preformed a warming spell on himself and glared at Draco.

"Tell me, Draco, how well can you swim?"

"Quite well... why?"

"I think it's time I took you for a swimming lesson."

If there was one thing in the world that Draco hated the most was getting wet when he hadn't planned to. But he was too slow and as he raised his wand to defend himself, Harry had already cast the required charm.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

Harry's eyes twinkled as he made Draco float above the ground. It was seven years of revenge all in one shot.

Draco's protests and demands fell on deaf ears as Harry flicked his wand, and a strong wind began to carry Draco out towards the middle of the lake.

"Let me down you little piece of shit!" Draco yelled.

"Very well, as you wish." With a neat little twist and flick, Harry finished the spell and dropped Draco into the water.

Splash

Draco made his way slowly to the bank, covered in green underwater plants and Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling.

"That's seven years' worth of pay back," Harry informed him as Draco came to stand just inches from him.

"I'll give you pay back, Potter."

Draco lunged at Harry who rolled off the rock and began to run away, Draco following him hot on the heels. Towards the Forbidden Forest they ran until Draco finally reached out with stretched fingertips and caught hold of Harry's wrist. He tugged the Gryffindor backwards and they tripped over each other and ended up rolling down the hill until they finally came to rest at the bottom, Draco half laying on top of Harry, both of them laughing and breathing heavily.

Harry met Draco's eyes and they both stopped at the same time. Harry's eyes flicked between Draco's closed lips and his grey eyes that were staring deep into Harry's. Draco placed a hand beside Harry's head and bent down. Harry lifted himself up slightly and his lips touched Draco's.

Harry had been kissed before, but nothing had ever felt like this. Draco's lips were soft against his, moving gently in time with his. Draco's hand that had been clamped round his wrist moved to take hold of Harry's hand. His lips parted as he felt Draco's tongue seeking entrance. Draco swept his tongue into Harry's mouth, coaxing his counter-part to join him in a dance. Harry's free hand worked its way into Draco's wet hair and it held the boy there as Draco continued to kiss Harry.

* * *

Hermione was waiting.

Ron was scared to see his girlfriend looking quite so fierce. Her lips were thin and her eyes were narrowed. She looked very much like a younger version of Professor McGonagall and Ron pitied the boy that was the reason for her glare.

A whole day had gone past without them seeing Harry, and according to Ginny and Dean, Harry had not been seen in the Common Room at all. And according to Seamus, although Hermione had forced him into silence after he had informed her, he had seen Harry leave the library with Malfoy in tow. Seamus had grinned evilly and Hermione feared that the Who-Harry-Is-Snogging-In-The-Library-Bet was about to intensify and Seamus was going to milk it for all he could.

Hermione was sitting on the nearest chair to the Common Room doorway, her hazelnut eyes were fixed on the door, and Ron was positive that the Fat Lady could tell someone was watching her.

When the boy of the moment finally did arrive, all hell broke loose.

* * *

After their kiss, Draco and Harry laid beside each other, Draco holding one of Harry's hands. It was a very odd moment for Harry, but he found it strangely comforting. He stared up at the cloudless sky. A finger was slowly tracing patterns on the back of his hand and he wanted to laugh at the tickling sensation, but he felt that if he made a sound he would ruin the private moment currently being shared.

Draco was studying Harry. The kiss, he admitted, was the best he had ever had, and he had kissed a hell of a lot of people. He was still trying to convince himself that he didn't like Harry in this way and that all of this was just so he could win the bet.

"Have you ever talked about it?"

Harry started slightly at Draco's voice and looked at the other boy.

"Talked about what?"

"Last Christmas."

"I talked to Dumbledore, that was all that mattered."

"You never told anyone else?" he asked.

"Why do you care?"

"Because everyone can tell that it troubles you. You are no longer the boy we all knew."

Harry sighed and returned to staring up at the sky.

"That's because you can't walk away from something like that without losing something inside." Harry suddenly shook his head as if trying to rid himself of some kind of confusion charm.

Draco smiled slightly; he had managed to get Harry Potter to open up, something that even the Weasel had failed to do. But he couldn't understand why it made him feel so good to have gotten that little bit closer to Harry.

"It's late, I need to get going," Harry pulled his hand away from Draco's and sat up. Draco's eyes narrowed.

"Are you running away? The conversation has gone into a place where you don't want it to go, and you are running away."

"No, it's late. Hermione and Ron will be wondering where I am."

"Stuff them, stay a little longer."

"I need to go, Draco." Harry stood up quickly, his eyes now looking anywhere else other than Draco.

"Ok," Draco sighed, "there's a party tonight in the Slytherin Common Room, all 7^th years invited, bring your friends, I don't care who you bring as long as you come."

Harry gave a nod, "I'll come."

"See you then."

"Bye." Harry then fled towards the castle.

Draco sighed, he had made some progress but it was beginning to feel like he was up against a brick wall when it came to Harry and the boy's emotional side.

* * *

Harry hurried up the stairways and corridors towards the Gryffindor Tower, his mind still reeling from that kiss. It had been utterly amazing. A wide smile made its way onto his face and he entered the Common Room grinning from ear to ear like an idiot, but it was soon wiped off his face when he came face to face with a very dangerous and very angry Hermione.

"Where Have You Been Harry James Potter?!"

Harry recoiled and everyone looked round to see what was about to take place.

"The library?" he asked innocently.

Hermione huffed and glared at everyone. She caught Harry's upper arm and pulled him back out of the Common Room. She strolled pulling him behind her towards her office.

"HERMIONE!" Harry protested but she paid him no attention until he was sitting in front of her desk and she was pacing behind him.

"Tell me, how long have we been friends?"

"Seven years."

"And when have I ever lied to you in that time?"

"Never."

"So why are you lying to me now?"

"Herm..."

"You were seen. Seamus told me that he saw you leaving the library with Draco Malfoy."

"So? Can't I have other friends than you and Ron?"

"Of course you can, just not Malfoy."

"Why not?"

"He is a bastard, if you excuse my language."

"But he hasn't been for a few months now."

"A zebra doesn't change its stripes."

"Voldemort is gone, so is Lucius Malfoy. Draco never became a Death Eater."

"Shut up and listen to me."

Harry sank into the chair and Hermione sat opposite him.

"For seven years, we have been friends, for seven years, Malfoy has been our enemy, you cannot trust him. His Father is still alive as you know. Becoming your friend could just be a plot."

"It's not," Harry snapped, his hand unconsciously reaching up to touch his lips. Hermione's eyes widened at the gesture. She could tell what it meant, she had done it herself after Ron had first kissed her. Harry saw her look and quickly lowered his hand and his gaze.

"Oh Harry," Hermione breathed, "What is going on?"

"I don't know, that's the truth. He likes me and he confuses me, I don't know what I want but..."

Hermione sighed, interrupting Harry.

"No good will come of this. Malfoy is not a nice person."

"But you said..."

"I know what I said and I should not have said it."

Harry crossed his arms and fell silent. Since year three him and Hermione hadn't fallen out, but he could tell that an argument was about to happen.

"I have supported you through everything, but I can't support you through whatever you are doing with Malfoy."

Harry remained silent.

"What will you tell Ron? You know how he feels about Malfoy."

Harry bit his lip, forcing himself to keep quiet.

"Have you seriously thought about what you are doing?!"

"Did anyone give a fuck about me when I followed Voldemort to the Chamber of Secrets?! I didn't think about what I was doing that day yet I saved the World and never questioned it!" Harry jumped to his feet. "You've supported me? What shit is that? You supported me when the time was right, you supported me when I went to my Doom! You didn't question it twice that this was what I was meant to do, did you?! I didn't question Dumbledore when he told me it was my Destiny to kill Voldemort. No one supported me when it was just he and I. I am not questioning what is going on between Draco and me, I don't even understand it! Just like I never really understood Voldemort and what was happening with him. I am doing what I always do, and I am following my instincts, they have kept me alive so far. And you take care to remember it was me who got you and Ron together, and I never questioned that you two were not meant to be. Stop thinking things over, you try to work it out and it never happens, it never comes clear because there is nothing to come clear about! You are my friend and I love you, but this is my life, and everyone else has led it for me and now it is my turn."

"Harry..."

"Don't bother."

Harry left the room quickly, leaving Hermione in silence.

Hermione was torn between crying or yelling in rage. She wasn't trying to lead Harry's life; she was trying to be a friend, why couldn't he see that?

* * *

Harry didn't bother with dinner, he wasn't interested in eating and he didn't want to see either Ron or Hermione. He knew he shouldn't be mad with his best friend but Ron was sure to take Hermione's side of things and there was no use in him trying to make his friend see his view. Hermione was right about one thing: Ron would never be able to take news of him and Draco well.

He ended up summoning his broom to him and flying around the Quidditch Pitch aimlessly.

Harry didn't know how long he had flown for, but after a while he discovered he was no longer alone. In fact, Draco was standing on the pitch, leaning on his own broom casually, his grey eyes fixed on Harry.

Harry pulled his broom steady and looked at Draco who raised a clenched fist. Draco smirked and opened his hand. Harry watched as the Golden Snitch flew up and away and Draco mounted his broom. He kicked off hard and joined Harry in the air.

"One last game, Potter?"

"One last time to kick your arse?"

"If you can."

"With ease."

And Harry shot forwards and up. He had already spotted the Snitch, behind and above Draco. He darted around Draco, who quickly gave chase.

"Oy!" Draco yelled as Harry's hand closed around the Snitch.

"Too easy," the Gryffindor laughed and he released the Snitch and counted to ten before him and Draco gave chase.

Neck and neck they raced after the small golden ball.

They reached for it at the same time and while Harry's hand enclosed the Snitch, Draco's enclosed his.

There was perfect silence for a second before Harry's head exploded in pain.

Draco snatched his hand away quickly; his eyes wide in fear as Harry's eyes rolled and the boy began to faint. He gripped hold of Harry and pulled both of them to the ground.

The boy laid still on the slight damp grass before he opened his eyes.

"What was it?" Draco asked and Harry shook his head at the question.

"What's the time?" he asked in reply.

"Tempus," Draco whispered to his watch and it informed him that it was seven minutes to eight.

Harry took a few deep, calming breaths.

"I'm ok," he reassured Draco.

"Are you sure? You don't want me to go get Dumbledore or someone do you?"

"No," Harry waved his concern away, "it's gone now."

"HARRY!"

Draco looked up at the call to see Hermione and Ron rushing across the pitch towards them. Harry snarled under his breath and he forced himself to stand up.

"We couldn't find you," Hermione panted, "we were worried."

"I'm fine, like normal," Harry snapped at the girl.

Ron was eyeing Draco with disgust.

"Why are you here with him?" he asked Harry.

"Who else would I be here with?" Harry replied and Ron looked puzzled. "I'm sure Hermione will fill you in, meanwhile, I believe we have a party to get to, don't we?" Harry turned to Draco.

Draco's grey eyes were filled with concern and worry. Something had caused Harry pain but the boy wasn't about to admit anything. He wondered if Hermione and Ron knew about it and had come looking for him. If so, then how had they known?

"Draco!"

"What?" he shook his head, dazed.

"The party?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Right then, good night Granger, Weasel."

Draco finally moved, drawing Harry with him. They strolled past Ron and Hermione and headed back to the castle.

"Mind telling me what the fuck just happened back there?" he hissed at Harry.

"Me and Hermione had a disagreement."

Draco's lips thinned, he had not been talking about that but it appeared that Harry had nothing else to say on the matter.

* * *

Ron raised an eyebrow at Hermione.

"Mind telling me what the hell is going on? Why is Harry with him?!"

Hermione sighed; it wasn't fair that Harry had forced her to do this.

"It should be Harry's job to tell you this, but seeing as he is too stuck up his own arse right now, I guess I have no choice."

(1) I loved the fic Matinee by LadyVader, I hope she doesn't mind me using this small little idea. I am paying homage to her great fic, if you haven't already read, I suggest reading it, one of the first HP/DM NC-17 fics that I ever read and I will never forget it.