Authors Note: I'm baaaack! You all thought I had forgotten about this fic didn't you? Well I didn't and I do plan on trying to update more often. I dont think it will be extremely often mind you, this fic will probably get updated once a month for the next while, I have exams and things to do as well. But I do have an outline of the following chapters, so at least I have a plan. Some of you may want to read the start of the fic again, before continuing, I know I had to. I still want to update the first few chapters, but that will have to wait. I just want to say that I am sorry for the MASSIVE gap between this update and the last, I am going to try my very best not to have it that long again. Oh and this chapter was un-beta'd and I dont think I will be having this fic beta'd at all to be honest. Anyway, on with the fic!

DISCLAIMERS: I am not JK Rowling and I do not own the characters in this fic. I merely play with their personalities and make them do things that Jo couldn't have put in her books without losing that G rating!

"It wouldn't be so bad" said a voice at the back of his head. "He's actually an ok bloke; you just don't know him very well. You never know you could adjust to it"

Harry shook himself mentally. He couldn't understand what was happening, everything was coming at him from all angles.

As usual his subconscious reminded him. Harry tried to make sense of what he had just discovered. He was used to processing information quickly, but this was too much. He needed to get away, to think.

"I'm going to fly. I'll talk to you guys later." Hermione nodded, she understood how Harry was feeling. Ron however was still in a state of shock and simply stared at Harry. As Harry stepped through the portrait hole he could have sworn he heard Ron say

"At least this will keep him away from Ginny." But it could have just been his imagination.

Harry walked slowly to the Quidditch pitch. He grabbed his broom out of the shed and walked onto the pitch. He mounted the Firebolt and took to the sky. He circled the pitch a few times, reveling in the feeling of the cold air on his face and the rush of the wind in his hair. He did a few weaves around the goal-posts before heading higher into the night sky. At the higher altitude he slowed down. It was easier to think from there. He tried to organize his thoughts; to figure out where his priorities lay. He had already accepted the fact that he could not run from this. He had learned before that it is impossible to fight the truth when it is staring you straight in the face. But he still had problems. What about Ginny? What about the animosity between Slytherin and Gryffindor? What about all the things that had happened in the previous years? Could it really all just fix itself so easily? Harry doubted it. The most pressing question on his mind however was Ginny. He had kissed her just this afternoon, and he had liked it. Even as he remembered the kiss Harry found himself wondering what it would be like to kiss Malfoy. Who would have the upper hand?

Probably Malfoy. He mused. Then Harry realized something much more significant.

Why am I not freaking out about this? I mean, its Malfoy! He's a guy!! As usual his subconscious had the snide answer ready for him.

Oh cop on! You've had a thing for him for years and you know it. You've always had just as much interest in blokes as in girls.

Harry sighed. He knew this was true. But it didn't make it any easier. How was he supposed to put behind him the last 5 years of animosity and threats? How could he just forgive Draco for everything he had said and done? It felt strange to use Draco's given name, but not in a bad way. Harry had to admit that even thinking the name gave him a nice feeling. The fact that he had been thinking about Draco while kissing Ginny only seemed to strengthen this feeling.

Ginny.

What was he going to do about her?

She's not going to like this one bit. I know it was only a temporary thing, but I don't think she will understand that. Although . .Veela bonds are supposed to be absolute, unbreakable. Ginny couldn't possibly fight with that could she?. . .Then again, she really does seem to like me. . .ugh WHY are women so damn complicated? Do they actually try to make life for guys difficult?

By this time Harry had flown in many loops around the pitch and it was getting very late. Although he still hadn't decided exactly how he was feeling, he touched down and stowed his broom back in the shed. A glance at his watch told him that it was well after midnight. He glanced up at the castle. Many of the rooms were dark, but most of the lights in the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw towers were still on. Harry could see that the light in Gryffindor common room were still on. He figured Hermione and Ron were waiting for him, but he didn't want to talk at the moment. He wanted to figure this out on his own. He walked inside and immediately headed up the nearest stairs, kicking himself for not bringing the map. On the fifth floor he met Ms Norris. He stood still at the top of the stairs as she stared at him. Sh turned away and walked the opposite way down the corridor. Harry quickly bolted up the next flight of stairs, no doubt the damned cat was gone to get Filch. Harry made his way, as quietly as he could, to the corridor on the seventh floor where there was a blank stretch of wall opposite a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by a group of trolls. The door appeared as he approached, almost as if it was expecting him. He opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was fairly small it contained a small comfortable looking couch, a small table and shelves of books. Harry threw himself on the couch and sighed. He had no idea what he was supposed to be thinking or feeling. He was just very very confused. No, confused wasn't the right word, conflicted was closer. He knew that if he was right and Draco Malfoy really was his mate, then there was no way he was going to be able to ignore it. Even if it wasn't for the slight crush he had on Draco, Hermione was right; he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he knew someone had died when he could have stopped it. But there was a part of him that longed for Ginny all the same. He enjoyed being with her, he enjoyed spending time with her. He couldn't think of a time when he wouldn't want her with him.

But only as a friend. You know that deep down. You have never liked her as more than a friend. You need something more than that, you need the strong comfortable relationship where you will take care of your partner and be taken care of in return. You need the sort of bond that you have been offered. You wont admit it to anyone, but you need a stable relationship and the love and support that comes with it. No amount on friends can ever fill that space.

Harry sighed again. He knew what he had to do, even if he didn't like it. He rose from the couch and left the room. He made hi way towards the portrait hole.

"And what are you doing out this late?" the Fat Lady demanded of him.

"I had some things to take care of. Lion heart." The Fat Lady gave him an appraising look and swung forward to allow him in. To his relief, Harry found the common room empty. He climbed the stairs to his dormitory, he opened the door quietly. Luckily the room was filled with deep heavy breathing and the sound of Ron snoring. Harry grabbed his cloak from under his bed and the map from the top of his trunk. He quickly covered himself in the cloak and left the room as silently as he had come.

He waited until he had gotten past the Fat Lady,

"If you get caught I knew nothing!" she called after him, and then pulled on his cloak. Once under it he pulled out his wand and laid it on the map,

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He searched the map. He found Filch patrolling the first floor, Ms. Norris was on the third floor near Umbridge's office and Snape was wandering around the dungeons. He couldn't find Malfoy anywhere and he really wanted to take care of this now. It took him a few minutes too locate Malfoy's dot on the map, accompanied by Mr. Malfoy and Madam Pomfrey. Harry was momentarily startled by the surge of panic and worry that flooded him when he though of what incident could have led to Draco being in the hospital wing. He hurriedly stored the map in his pocket and walked, a lot faster than he normally would have, in the direction of Draco Malfoy.

Upon reaching the hospital wing, Harry nodded gently on the door. He had no doubt that the quiet noise would echo in the room, or that the touch sensors on the door would alert Madame Pomfrey to a presence. Sure enough, about thirty seconds later the door opened.

"Harry, is there something wrong?" Madame Pomfrey whispered. She already had her wand out, ready to inspect him.

"No ma'am, actually, I'm here to see Draco." Harry could hear exactly how nervous he sounded, even in a whisper, and he knew that the medi-witch knew of the animosity between himself and the young Malfoy. Therefore he was nothing short of shocked when the woman stepped aside,

"I was hoping you would come. He needs you." Harry blushed slightly at this, what exactly did the witch know? "He is in the second last bed on the left, his father is with him. I will let them know you are here."

Harry nodded his thanks and followed her towards the bed she had indicated. The curtains were drawn so he could not see the boy in the bed behind them. There was however a whispered conversation being held. However, much as he hated to intrude, Harry felt more and more drawn to the bed with every step. The closer he got the more he realised that there was no way he would be able to turn away. The attraction he felt to the bed was like a magnet pulling him closer and closer, unrelenting in it's power. Harry paused outside the curtains and allowed the medi-witch to interrupt the conversation,

"You have a visitor Mr Malfoy." As she backed away she gave Harry a look. Harry didn't have time to even register the look, he took a deep breath summoned the famous Gryffindor courage and stepped through the gap in the curtains.

"Harry!"

Draco sat bolt upright in the bed when he saw Harry walk through the curtains. Harry stood shyly beside the bed. He felt compelled to touch the boy in the bed. To fall into the strong arms and remain there. The strength of the emotions washing over him and the worry the caused him must have been evident on his face, because Mr. Malfoy stood up from where he was sitting on the end of the bed and motioned for Harry to sit down.

"I know it's disorientating Harry, but trust me, you will get used to it." Harry was startled that man had used his first name, but nodded all the same. Draco moved so that he was sitting beside Harry facing him. He reached out slowly and took Harry's hand. As their fingers entwined together Harry sighed,

"What's wrong?" Draco asked. He was delighted that Harry did not flinch away from the physical contact, in fact he noticed that Harry even seemed to want it, but he couldn't ignore the waves of confusion and pain coming off the dark haired boy. Something was obviously troubling him.

"I just don't know what to think. This is all happening so fast. I mean this afternoon I was with Ginny and I was happy and now -" Harry was cut short by a hiss from Draco who was turning a violent shade of puce.

"You were with the Weaslette?"

"Yea" Harry answered, "We. . .erm . . .we. . ."

"Draco, relax my son." The elder Malfoy cut Harry off, "Let it go, nothing happened." While Draco looked down, studying the fingers that were still entwined with his own, Lucius gave Harry a look. Harry knew not to mention Ginny after that, he also knew that the long haired man cared deeply about his son and did not want to seem him hurt. Instinctively Harry gave the pale hand in his a gentle squeeze,

"I'm sorry ...Draco" Draco visibly relaxed and he let out a long breath,

"I'm the one who should be sorry, I over-reacted."

"It's ok, you have a good reason." Harry smiled weakly.

"I suppose I do don't I? I just can't stand the thought of. . ." he stopped talking. Draco knew that just because Harry was with him, it by no means meant that he would stay. Draco would have to be incredibly careful about what he said around Harry until their bond was consummated, Harry could still freely leave until that moment. Although, if his instincts were correct, and he highly doubted they were wrong, Draco could sense that Harry was already committing himself to the bond, he already wanted it, needed it. Draco smiled to himself as he studied the face of the boy beside him,

He's beautiful. He thought, how did I never notice before?

Harry was staring at the hands that now lay in Draco's lap, he liked the feel of Draco's hand in his. It felt comfortable, it felt right to be there. His eyes drifted to Draco's face, it was then that he noticed that he was being stared at.

"What?" he asked..

"Nothing. It's just . . . .you're beautiful." Draco answered, his voice filled with awe and admiration.

Harry blushed,

"Not compared to you." he replied without even thinking, he immediately wished he hadn't said anything, until Draco replied,

"Well then you need new glasses."

Sometime in the course of this conversation Lucius had left the cubicle and was now talking to Madame Pomfrey.

"I have reason to believe that Harry will want to stay here tonight."

"Of course sir. Draco will probably be fit to go to his own quarters tomorrow at lunchtime, Harry may stay until then."

"Thank you."

"Of course Mr. Malfoy"

Authors Note: Like it? Hate it? Wish it was shorter/longer?? Let me know! I haven't updated in ages so I need feedback, I need to know if this story is really worth continuing. Click the convienently over-sized button that in just under this page, please? Cookies for everyone who read it:D Love you all!

Yours in Fiction,

Nicole