How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

Chapter Five - Sunday - Day Four

There's a new wind blowin' like I've never known,

I'm breathin' deeper than I've ever done,

And it sure feels good, to finally feel the way I do,

I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you.

An' I'm lettin' go of all my lonely yesterdays,

I've forgiven myself for the mistakes I've made,

Now there's just one thing, the only thing I wanna do,

I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you

~Keith Urban, Somebody like You

His head buzzed and he groaned as he sat up. The light green sheets slipped off his body, revealing his well-toned chest and a glimpse of just below the waist. He looked around the room in slight puzzlement. Why was everything green?

He drew the curtains back on the bed and looked into the room properly. The first thing that caught his eyes was the sleeping forms of Crabbe and Goyle on the beds across from him. The second thing that caught his eyes was the very green Slytherin symbol that was hanging from the wall above the door.

"You are awake then?"

He looked over at the other door in the room, which led to the bathrooms. Draco stood there, dripping wet with a small hand towel wrapped around his waist. He gulped and gave a nod.

"Where am I?"

"You don't remember?" Draco asked and he walked across the room, leaving a trail of droplets. The slit in the towel (where the two ends met) slid upwards with each step, revealing a teasing amount of thigh.

"No."

"You are in my bed. Remember, you snogged every guy in the common room last night. You allowed Finnigan to lick cream off your belly button. You couldn't stop kissing me, and in the end, well, one thing lead to another," at this point, Draco gave the confused boy on the bed a wink and he turned round.

Draco stripped off the towel, and bent over. The boy on the bed couldn't see the look on Draco's face but it was one of pure evil. He knew that the boy was staring.

"So, um... did we?"

Draco pulled on a pair of black boxers and turned around. The boxers had a picture of a green snake on them.

"It was great, you were fantastic..." the look on the boy's face went into a look of wide shock... "Up to the point where you passed out."

The boy flopped backwards with a sigh and stared up at the green canopy.

"Next time," Draco appeared in his line of sight, "try not to drink anything that Crabbe drinks, got it Potter?"

He gave a small nod.

"Good boy. You'll make a good dog one of these days."

Draco continued to get dressed, ignoring the look of annoyance that he was receiving from Harry Potter, who (and Draco's Inner Muse was very happy about this fact) was lying on his bed, naked under the covers.

* * *

Hermione was not happy, again. Ron sighed as he sat beside her. He hated the fact it was him who had put her in this mood and he cursed the day he ever laid eyes on Draco Malfoy.

Harry had not returned to his dormitory last night.

Rumour had it that neither had Malfoy.

Neither boy had appeared for breakfast, but that could mean anything seeing as most of the upper Slytherins hadn't come for breakfast.

Hermione was silently fuming, she was still pissed at the way Harry had treated her and now she was even more pissed that he had done this. She was going to explode very soon.

* * *

Harry exited the shower, towelling his hair dry. Crabbe and Goyle were still fast asleep and Draco was spread out on his bed reading a book. Draco's eyes stopped focusing on the book as soon as the Gryffindor entered the room, although he didn't put the book down. He watched silently as Harry pulled on his jeans and turned to Draco, another puzzled look on his face.

"Where's my t-shirt?"

"Well, um... I do believe Seamus ripped it when he was trying to get to your belly button."

"Well then, can I borrow one of yours?"

Draco was very tempted to say no. He liked the look that Harry was currently showing off. Low slung jeans that revealed slender hips and a naked chest that allowed Draco to admire the Seeker's build, and with wet hair that hung loose around Harry's face.

"You should grow your hair out more," Draco commented as he put his book down and stood up. "It would look nice a little bit longer," he walked over to Harry and touched his shoulder, indicating how long Harry's hair should be.

The simple touch sent shivers all over Harry and he reached his own hand up to tangle into Draco's soft damp hair and pull the boy down. Their lips met and Harry discovered that he simply loved to kiss Draco. Draco's touch became more demanding and he held Harry's head still as their tongues duelled.

This, both boys decided, was something they could definitely live with.

* * *

Seamus was sitting in the Slytherin Common Room when Draco entered, followed closely by Harry.

"Did you sleep down here?" Draco asked, "I noticed Blaise didn't sleep in his bed last night."

Seamus blushed and glared at the Slytherin. "I noticed that you had company too, last night."

"Well, look who finally came out of the lion's den. When, Malfoy, did you start to play with Gryffindors?" Blaise slinked into view.

"Are you not contradicting yourself there?" Draco asked, waving a hand at Seamus. "A Gryffindor and a half-blood?"

"Hey," Harry slapped the back of Draco's hand and removed his touch. "Don't think you can insult me and my friends like that. I'm a half blood too."

Draco shut up on the subject.

"We need to head upstairs, mate," Seamus stood up and nodded at his boyfriend before he began to head towards the door.

"I'll see you after lunch, outside."

"Ok, bye."

Harry turned to leave but Draco caught his hand and spun the boy back into his arms. Harry gasped but it was lost in Draco's mouth.

After released, both Harry and Seamus left together.

"My, my, my, don't you make the perfect couple?"

"How many fucking people has Pansy told?"

"Me and Millicent."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm telling the truth. What's to gain from lying about that?"

"You make me weary."

"It is all a game right? You aren't actually thinking that you and Potter would go well together?"

Draco turned sharply and glared at the other boy.

"You are," Blaise laughed. "I always had respect for you, Malfoy, but surely even you know that a Lion could never love a Snake. Gryffindors and Slytherins don't go."

"You are wrong, I'm not fallen for anyone. I have Potter right where I want him."

Draco stormed back to his room, denial flooding his system.

"Well?" Pansy asked appearing beside Blaise.

"He's in over his head."

"And your own Gryffindor Friend?"

"Is no concern of yours!"

"You know why we are doing this."

"For the money?"

"I want revenge for what he did to the Dark Lord. Draco may have forgotten what the boy did, but his Father hasn't. And revenge will be received."

"You lie. You are doing this because Malfoy screwed you over and for nothing else."

Pansy just glared.

* * *

Seamus followed Harry up the stairs.

"Well?"

"Don't start, I have a headache fit to burst."

Seamus laughed. "Do you remember anything of last night?"

"I can remember up to when I kissed ten guys in one go and I know the few things Draco told me."

"Where are you two going?!"

Both boys turned to face Hermione, who had her hands on her hips and was glaring death at them.

"To the Common Room."

"I have just been speaking to Terry, and I hear a few things about you two which I need to confirm are not true."

"What did you hear?"

"Alcohol, drugs, dares, sex, the whole lot!"

"Sex? No one had sex."

"Speak for yourself."

Hermione's glare darkened at Seamus' comment.

"You two have a hell of a lot of explaining to do."

"Oh, so the Head Boy can do it but we can't?!"

"He returned to his own House and own Bed. School rules state that you must sleep in your own beds."

"I'll tell that to you next time I wake up to find you dressing after spending the night in Ron's bed," Harry snapped back. Hermione was not helping his hangover.

"What is wrong with you, Harry?" Hermione pleaded, "I don't know you any more."

"Of course you don't. I'm a murderer, no one knows me."

"That's not what I meant. You and Malfoy..."

"Make a very cute couple, and I can honestly say that nothing happened last night. Harry passed out and there was nowhere we could get him back up to his bed. Draco spent the night on the sofa."

Hermione's eyes lessened their sharpness and Seamus suddenly understood slipping quietly away.

"Harry, I need to talk to you and we need to be honest with each other."

Harry sighed. "Look, I'm sorry Herm, I don't know what has come over me the past few days but for once I'm happy, can you not be happy for me?"

Harry turned and hurried after Seamus and Hermione sighed.

"I'm trying," she whispered at his retreating form. "But you're not helping."

* * *

"You are late!"

"Well, you were late yesterday. Now we are even."

Harry was too tired to argue and he simply waved a hand at the boy standing over him and closed his eyes.

"Hangover gone?"

"Yes."

"Made up with your friends?"

"No."

"Potter..."

"Harry..."

"Potter..."

"Malfoy..."

Draco gave a small smile, one that Harry couldn't see.

"Harry James Potter!"

Harry opened his eyes. "How did you know my middle name was James?"

"I know a lot of things about you."

"Oh, like what? I don't like this invasion of my privacy."

"I won't tell a soul."

Harry glared at him and sat up. "What do you know about me?!"

"Nothing."

Harry's eyes darkened. He didn't like this new development; he didn't know much about Draco other than him being the slut of the Slytherin House.

"It's no big deal."

"Maybe not to you."

"Come on, scarface, there are some things that people are meant to know and others are not meant to know."

"People are NOT meant to know about my private life."

"You are the Boy Who Lived, everyone knows about your private life whether you like it or not."

"Don't call me that."

"What? The Boy Who Lived? Or ScarFace?"

"Neither."

Draco sat down and studied the other boy closely. Angry lines had appeared around his eyes, which had narrowed.

"I'm sorry."

"You are always fucking sorry," Harry snapped. "You made my life hell for seven years and you think a kiss and one word will make it all better."

"What the fuck?! We talked about this the other day and I thought it was all cool between us, and now you say it's not?"

"I don't know. I've lost Hermione over this."

"Because you are too far up your own arse to actually speak to her about this."

Harry ducked his head, suddenly ashamed. He didn't understand what was going on anymore, it was all so confusing. He had Hermione and Ron telling him one thing and Draco telling him another, and if he listened to them all he found himself lost in the middle of it all not knowing which way to go.

"Don't tell me that you still don't know what you want? Yesterday you were all over me like a bad rash and you seemed to know what you wanted then. Why the sudden change in mind?"

"It's so easy for you isn't it? You don't care what other people think, but I do, and..."

"And Granger and Weasley don't think I'm a good match for you? You are wrong, Potter, I do care what people think. The name Malfoy is held in high respect, even after my father dragged it through the dirt. But I don't listen to people I listen to myself. I go with what I think is right, not what my so-called best friends think."

"How can you? You don't have any."

Draco glared and stood up. "You are out of your mind. You can't even decide if you are happy or sad. We had fun last night and fun this morning and now, suddenly you are like this again. You can't accept me to let you do this. No one fucks around with a Malfoy more than once. If you want something to happen between us you better decide what you want quickly. I have made my feelings clear again and again. Stop being a self-righteous Hero. Yes, you killed Voldemort and it's fucked you up pretty bad, but now it's your turn to live your own life. Isn't that what you told Granger what you wanted to do? So do it, live your own life. Make up your mind. But don't think for one second that I am going to stay around and let you mess me up until I'm as mad as you!"

Draco turned and began to sulk away. Harry watched him go, confused once again and then he suddenly stood up and raced after Draco.

"Wait?!"

"No."

"Please, Draco, stop."

The boy spun round.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I guess you are right but I do want something to happen. I want this to continue, but you need to understand that I don't like people prying into my life. I've had that for seven years now. Promise me that you won't do it again."

"I promise, no more prying, as long as you stick to what you say now. There is no going back."

"Ok."

They stood in silence for a few minutes before Harry took a step forward and took hold of Draco's hand. He tugged the boy close to him and gently kissed him.

Draco's hands wrapped around his waist and held him tightly.

Neither of them noticed the boy that watched them, or the flash of a camera.

* * *

"What do you think he wants to talk to us about?" Ron asked, nervously as he paced the floor of Hermione's office.

"Draco."

"Great, great, great!"

"We need to hear him out."

"I don't..."

There was a knock on the door and Hermione stood to open it. Standing there was Harry and hand in hand with him was no other than Draco Malfoy.

The two boys looked nervous.

"Come in."

Ron growled in his throat at the sight of the Slytherin and Draco returned with a glare, his hand tightening around Harry's.

"Well?" Ron snapped. "What do you want?"

"I want to apologise, for my behaviour. I've been so confused that I don't really know what direction I am going in."

"I'm to blame for that. I have rushed this on him and mixed him up more than I imagined and, well..."

Harry shhed him and turned to face Hermione who had one of her hands wrapped tightly around Ron's as if she was making sure he didn't try to do anything stupid like attack Draco.

"I've listened to you and I understand your fears and concern. I'm grateful for everything you have done for me, and it's not fair that I've taken out anger on you."

"It's ok. This year has been a tough shitty one."

It was more Hermione swearing that made the atmosphere lighter. It wasn't very often that Hermione swore.

"So, you two are together then?" Ron asked, his eyes were narrowed as he stared at Draco. He sat himself down.

"Yes," Draco replied abruptly.

"We've decided to see what happens. We are both going to Oxford, so you never know what could happen. I understand this will be hard for you two to accept, but please?"

Harry stepped backwards and pressed the heel of his foot into Draco's toes and he gave an unmanly yelp.

"Draco."

"Alright, I'm getting to it." Draco took a very deep breath, like it was hard for him to get out what he wanted to say. "I'm sorry what I have done to you three over the past few years. I don't expect you to forgive me, but for Harry's sake, can we try and get along?"

Hermione smiled softly and gave a nod.

Ron grunted. "Fine, but this is only for Harry and I swear that if you hurt him in anyway, I will stop at nothing to remove certain pieces of your anatomy off you!"

Draco smirked. "I hope you do." His grip tightened again on Harry and he wrapped his arms around the younger boy. Only Hermione noticed there was a look of regret and sadness in Draco's eyes.

* * *

"I got it."

He held out the picture and she took it off him. "Well done, thank you." She glared at the moving picture before her of the two boys kissing.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

She eyed the boy before her with a look of disgust.

"What about Slytherin Honour?" he quirked, "You made me a promise, now honour it."

"Very well. I'll give what you want. Meet me tonight, on the quidditch pitch after dinner."

* * *

They spent the afternoon in Hermione's room. Normally Draco would have protested against willingly spending time with Gryffindors. He had actually just sat there, as the three best friends fought and talked and laughed and had a generally good time. Draco normally would have been annoyed at having lost Harry's attention but he was happy to have the time to just watch the other boy. The way he smiled and his eyes shone with joy. The way every now and then he would brush an innocent hand against Draco's and smile at him. Draco flinched every time Ron looked at him. He couldn't get the boy's warning out of his head. It was only four days into the bet and he was already worried that Harry would find out about it. Last night had proven that Pansy was determined to make him lose the bet. She had informed Harry what a slut he was without even speaking. But Harry hadn't cared and her plan had backfired. He hated to think that he was actually beginning to care about the raven-haired boy, but there was something so charming about Harry. Draco knew that if he did end up falling head over heels for the boy (he was refusing to admit he was already falling) then he would have to end the bet. But as Harry shot him one more smile, Draco suddenly realised that it didn't matter if he fell for Harry, it would be no loss because the boy was... Draco didn't know how to sum the Gryffindor up in one word, but as they stood up to the leave the room, heading down for dinner at Granger's suggestion, and Harry took his hand carefully, grinning shyly at his own daring, Draco decided to let these feelings develop. After all, come Saturday, he would not have only won the bet, but also would have the boy of his dreams to go along with the 100 Galleons. As long as Harry never found out, and Draco began to work out a plan so that he would never know.

* * *

They had shocked the school when they had entered the room hand in hand before going their separate ways. Everyone began to gossip about the two and what was going on between them. Seamus found himself in the middle of a crowd as people demanded to get money of them for the bets everyone had made on who Harry's mysterious boyfriend had been. It was Dean who had asked Harry about a rumour.

"Is what true?" Harry turned in his seat to look at the other 7^th year boy.

"That you and Malfoy, you know... spent last night together?"

Harry's eyes widened a bit. "You mean did we have sex last night?"

Dean blushed but nodded.

"No, we fucking did not!" the outburst caused several people to look around at them.

"You sure? There's a picture in circulation and a rumour with it. They say you're a fireball in bed."

Harry's mouth dropped open and he stared at Dean in confusion.

"What did you just say?" Harry asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Sorry mate, just passing on what I've heard."

"Dean, who said that they did?" Hermione asked, suddenly interested.

"Padma told her sister and she was there last night. I also think Pansy said something to Padma about what Malfoy had told her."

Ron shot a worried look at Harry who looked hurt. Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table where Pansy was whispering something in Draco's ear and the boy was looking more furious with every passing second.

Draco suddenly pulled back and swung a hand at the girl. Pansy's head snapped to the side with the force of the hit and Draco then hurried from the Hall. Harry watched him go and was debating if he should go after Draco or not when Lavender Brown appeared.

"Harry, do tell, is Malfoy good in bed?"

Harry growled and shoved the girl away and he raced after Draco.

"This," Hermione exchanged a look with Ron, "is not going to be good."

* * *

Harry caught up with Draco just as the boy reached the bottom of the steps and was running towards the lake. Without thinking, Harry threw his hand towards the boy and Draco was forced by magic to stop running and he looked around.

"What the fuck did you just do?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? I just got asked if you were good in bed."

"The rumour."

"Which you spread, Malfoy."

"No, Pansy spread, she told me. That's why I hit her. I would have killed her but I would rather not join my father in Azkaban."

"According to Pansy, you told her."

"I didn't say a word to her, and if I did, I would not have lied about something like that. If and when that happens between us, I swear I would not tell a soul."

Harry stared at him. "How can I trust you?"

"Because I didn't do it. I was with you all afternoon and there was no rumour about it this morning before lunch. When would I have talked to Pansy? She's shit stirring. She doesn't like you because I like you and she's jealous. She'll do anything to split us up," Draco explained, glad he was telling the truth for once. He knew Pansy had spread this rumour in hopes that it would break up any sort of a relationship that was beginning to develop.

Harry looked towards the lake.

"I trust you Harry and I promise on my life I didn't say anything to Pansy about us."

Draco moved towards Harry and touched his arm. The boy looked back, deep into his grey eyes and knew without a doubt that Draco had not spread the rumour.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I think I trust you too."

Now, normally at a statement like this, Draco would have kissed the boy, but instead he simply gathered the boy into his arms and held him tightly as if he never wanted to let him go.

Seven years of waiting, seven years of wanting, all lead up to this moment, and Draco didn't want to let go.

"I have something to tell you," Harry spoke, pushing Draco back a little. "My animagus form is interchangeable, that's why when you asked me about my animagus form I got annoyed."

"What?"

"I'm a mutuus-animagus. Most animagus can only take the form of one or two animals. I can take the form of any animal I want."

"That would be a neat party trick."

Harry chuckled.

"Not many know this, you have to promise to keep it a secret."

"Ok, I will, under one condition."

"What?"

"Show me."

Harry gave a nod and led Draco by the hand back towards the lake. Draco noticed that the lake seemed to be a focus point in Harry's life, and when he pointed this out, Harry turned with a smile and said.

"Water is interchangeable too. Water is free of magic. It is not a substance that can hold any form of anything. People swim in water because they say that it cleanses their souls and spirits. Water is a form of High Magic, which is not controlled by good or evil, light or dark. Water is, in a way, innocent of all the impurities of life."

"Is that why you swim in it? To get rid of the impurities of your soul?"

Harry shook his head as they came to stop on the bank.

"I haven't swam in the water for a long time. Don't get me wrong; I take baths and stuff but that water is different. That water is controlled by man, but the water in this lake and the water in rivers and seas is free."

"Why don't you swim?"

Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and the boy lent back into his touch.

"Because..."

"Because?"

But Harry never answered him. The boy fell silent and Harry disappeared from Draco's arms, and in his place a large golden phoenix took shape and its wings rose and fell as it took to flight.

Draco watched as the phoenix flew around the lake before coming to land by Draco's feet. Draco made no move towards the bird and it changed shape. He became an otter, a cat, a stag, a hawk, a white fox (which Draco thought was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen) and finally he became a large, black, shaggy haired dog. The black fur matched the exact colour of Harry's hair and its green intelligent eyes belonged to Harry and no one else.

The dog barked and leapt lightly at Draco, but never hit him. As Draco bent to stroke the black fuzzy head the dog leapt backwards and Draco laughed. The dog's head rose proudly at the sound and barked at Draco, telling him to laugh more.

The playful dog, Draco decided, suited Harry far more than any other form he had seen him take that night.

Tbc...