AN: Another chapter down another to go. Remember people, the more you review the more I write! Not much to say so: on with the chapter!

"Bruce! Hurry up or I'll be late!" Sixteen-year-old Harry Potter exclaimed as he rushed to platform 9 3/4. "If I miss the train it'll be you'll have to explain to Draco why his 'human pillow' wasn't there for his trip back to school."

Bruce Wayne sighed as his charge rushed himself and his trolley through the gateway to the secret platform. He glanced to his side when he hard his friend chuckled. "As eager as ever, I see. Have you finally been able to convince Dumbledore to allow Harry to assist your classes this year, Master Bruce?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. Because Harry wants his mastery in Defense he needs to learn various forms of the subject. It helps that the course is no longer mandatory ever since Voldemort's downfall." Bruce inwardly smiled to himself. Finally, a chance for Harry to legitimately show off his skills.

"Understood sir. Masters Sirius and Remus will be visiting every weekend and Master Dick plans to make an appearance at the end of the month. Everything has been arranged as per your request."

"Thank you, Alfred. Well, we'd better help Harry find Draco and get on the train before he gets in trouble." Bruce smirked and headed for the platform.

Meanwhile, Harry had been chatting with Ron and Hermione as Draco had yet to make his presence known. He was beginning to worry. Draco's never late. He thought to himself. Harry managed to keep up conversation with his other two best friends and at the same time scanning the crowd for a glimpse of platinum blonde hair. "Harry!" Hermione shouted and waved a hand in front of his face. Apparently, he wasn't conversing as well as he'd hoped.

"Sorry, Mione." Harry smiled sheepishly.

She smiled in return and giggled. "That's quite all right, Harry. After all, we wouldn't want to lose sight of our adorable blonde, now would we?"

Harry hummed distractedly as he spotted said blonde making his way towards them. "Draco!" He called out. The youngest Malfoy seemed to hear him and smirked at him before quickly making his way towards them...only to walk right past them and to a group of Slytherins. A sharp stinging pain went through Harry's chest at his best friend's blatant show of ignoring him. Ron and Hermione exchanged worried glances before taking up a position on either side of him. "Come on, mate, let's find a compartment before they're all taken." Ron said and glared at Draco as the group passed them.

Harry nodded and took a calming breath. He knew this would happen some day. Just not like this or this soon. He thought as he put on an expressionless mask. Never mind him then. This will only give you a better opportunity to study train even harder this year.

As the trio walked onto the train Bruce frowned at the previous display. Draco had been acting strange lately ever since Harry's party had ended. He mentally sighed. It looked like a year full of drama ahead. As he said goodbye to the three friends he leaned over towards the window of the compartment to whisper into Harry's ear, "You know where mine and Severus' offices and rooms are. Don't hesitate to come to us for anything." Before the train could start to pull away he discreetly placed a kiss on Harry's cheek before giving him a reassuring smile and getting a tiny one in return. With that, he turned and walked away to get ready for the new school year.

On the train, Harry had passed up the several attempts to cheer him up by Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna. He had opted to sit with the Gryffindors and Luna instead of the Slytherins for obvious reasons. Sighing for the umpteenth time Harry decided to take out his MP3 player and listen to music to pass the time. He had begged, pleaded, and made puppy og eyes until Bruce allowed him to magically alter the device so he could listen to it at Hogwarts without having to worry about magic interference. The first song began to play and he snorted in amusement at the artist. It just had to be Dashboard Confessional, didn't it? Oh well, at least it's perfect sulking music. Harry mused to himself. About ten minutes later all conversation stopped when they heard faint singing become louder and louder from Harry's hunched form.

So long sweet summer,
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays.
So long sweet slumber.
I fell into you now you're gracefully falling away.

Harry leaned against the window and looked out at the passing scenery. He could tell just by looking outside that they were an hour away from Hogwarts.

Hey thanks, thanks for that summer.
It is cold where your going
I hope that your heart is always warm.
I gave you the best, I gave you the best that I had.You passed on the letters
and passed on the best that I had.

He thought back to when he and Draco horsed around before they had to go back to school. When he looked closely Draco had been acting differently around him the day after his birthday ended. He was guarded and wary all the time. Even Severus was more open to him than Draco was. However, soon after the blonde had gone back to his normal self.

So long sweet summer,
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays.
So long sweet slumber.
I fell into you now you're gracefully falling away.

Had he really become so dependent on Draco? Was it so hard not to have the blonde by his side even though he had other great friends surrounding him?

I hate the winter in Lexington
I hate the winter in Lexington
Lexington,Lexington,Lexington

Harry sighed and noticed in the reflection of the window that everyone had been staring. Hermione and Ginny had been crying. "Oh Harry," Hermione sniffled, "that was so beautiful. I didn't know you liked Chris Carrabba."

"He's got some good music. I've liked American rock bands ever since I was old enough to listen to a CD player without breaking it." He chuckled and turned down the volume on his MP3.

Ron's faced scrunched up in a confused expression, "CD? What's a CD player?"

So, for the remainder of the trip the group discussed different means of muggle music devices. When they approached the Hogsmeade the party had changed and made their way to the carriages and up to the castle for the opening feast. During the feast, Harry had tried to get Draco's attention without making a fool of himself but the blonde was relentless in avoiding him. Fed up with his fruitless attempts, as soon as the sorting was over and the feast was well under way Harry stood up abruptly and made his way out of the Great Hall. Bruce shot Severus a concerned glance before nodding and heading out through the staff doors in search of his sidekick. Fortunately, he knew exactly where he was going. Severus watched his family leave with a scowl before turning his attention to his godson. He was the only one to noticed the pain that passed through Draco's eyes before going completely blank.

Harry had been sitting on the ledge of the Astronomy tower for about fifteen minutes when he sensed someone approaching him. "I thought he cared about me, Bruce." Harry's voice was thick and guttural with emotion. Bruce never worried about Harry's obsession with heights. "They're calming, soothing." Harry had said when he turned nine. "Everything seems so small when you're up high, you know? It's like all your problems and worries are so small. Like an ant. Yeah, just a colony of tiny ants. You know they're there but then you almost forget that they are." Places like that were almost like Harry's happy place.

"I'm sure he still does." Bruce wanted to say but he wasn't sure. "I don't know, Harry. I do know that you have to fight for what you want because if he sees that you've given up then he may not think you're worth his time. I don't mean for that to sound harsh but that's the reality of it." He chuckled to himself.

"How do you think I've been able to stay with Severus all these years?"

Harry's lips quirked and his eyes sparkled but only for an instant. Just as quickly as the laughter came, it went. "It's just so hard Bruce. He was my first friend, my best friend, and recently..."

Bruce frowned in confusion. He had a sneaking suspicion. "Recently...what, Harry?"

Harry looked pensive for a moment before he sighed. "Recently, I've started the think of Draco as more than a friend. Lately, I can't help but notice him. I mean, really notice him, you know? Like, his hair is perfect when it's not slicked back with gel and his eyes! Oh Bruce! His eyes are liquid mercury and when he laughs they crinkled in the corners only just slightly. It's the little things I've begun to notice and they just make him even more...beautiful."

Bruce's eyes softened and he settled himself beside Harry and wrapped an arm around him. He smiled gently as Harry rested his head on his shoulder for comfort. The stars sparkled and lit up the clear sky as the two allowed themselves to be wrapped in silence with naught but the whisper of a gentle breeze.

That was how Severus found them after the feast was over. In a father-son moment enjoying the silence together. "Bruce? Harry?" Severus called gently. The two looked over their shoulders to the man in acknowledgment before climbing down from their perch. "I apologize for disturbing you but it is passed curfew and Harry was absent from my welcoming lecture in the common room."

Harry had the decency to look abashed but Severus immediately waved off his apology. "Don't let it happen again. Next time it will be a week of detention scrubbing cauldrons. I'll escort Mr. Potter down to the Slytherin dorms, Professor Wayne. Good night." Severus said curtly and headed down towards the dungeons.

"Thanks and good night, Bruce." Harry gave him one more hug before running off to catch up with his head of house.

As soon as he caught up with Severus he stayed a few steps behind the Potions Master. It wouldn't do to be caught in a friendly position with the dour professor. However, to Harry's surprise, Snape was having none of that. "Would you mind stepping into my office for a moment, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked quietly. Without waiting for an answer he strode into his office, leaving the door open for Harry. The young man entered and closed the door softly behind him.

"Harry," the young man started at the use of his first name, "I know I'm not the most approachable man nor am I a kind man. There are things in life I regret and things that I would never trade for all the treasures in Gringotts."

Harry felt a little awkward having Severus talk about his feelings but this was a moment he would never forget. He suddenly remembered that night in the graveyard.

"I've noticed," Severus continued, "that you and the young Mr. Malfoy haven't been speaking to each other."

"I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, sir-"

Severus held up a hand for silence. "In my office, and private chambers for that matter, you may still address me as Severus. Back to the matter at hand. Harry, I know I'm not the easiest man to approach but if you should ever need to talk to someone and Bruce isn't here-"

"I know. Thank you, Severus. May I go back to the dormitory now? I'm tired and would like some sleep before my classes tomorrow." Harry smiled slightly.

He nodded. "Off you go then. Good night Mr. Potter."

A month into school Harry had drastically improved his work ethic, eventually surpassing Hermione in her studies. His professors would've been highly impressed if they didn't notice their student's lack of social activities outside of class. Even in class Harry had sat quietly and only spoke when addressed by his teacher. Bruce had been frustrated about the entire situation and would've said something if his lover had refrained him from doing so. "He needs to realize that he needs to speak to someone about this on his own. Give him time. Now, stop pacing holes in my floor before I bind you to a chair!"

Bruce merely grinned, "You'd like that wouldn't you?"

For the next several hours Bruce had been tied and gagged to a wooden chair...while Severus brewed potions for Madame Pomfrey. Oh yes, the silence was quite nice.

Over the next couple of weeks Harry had taken Bruce's advice and had persisted in trying to get Draco to talk to him again. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't get the blonde to given him the time of day. And don't think he didn't do that either. Draco just ignored him like he usually did. It was in the Gryffindor common room, lying down on the couch with his head on Hermione's lap and his legs propped over Ron's when he got inspiration of another kind. Dean and Seamus had been arguing as to what they were going to dress as for the first Halloween Ball when Hermione had finally lost her patience with them.

"Why don't you both dress in drag and be done with it?!" Hermione rolled her eyes.

The common room went quiet for a moment before resuming activity again. The quarreling couple had looked at each other and then to Hermione before laughing. "Sorry to burst your bubble Mione," Seamus said in between guffaws, "but we did that last year for something entirely different."

"Whatever it was we don't want to know." Ron scowled trying to hide his blush.

Harry, however, had sat up in rapt attention. "Wait! I was wondering, do either of you have an idea as to how I can impress someone at the ball?"

Dean smirked, "It wouldn't happen to be tall, blonde, and handsome would it?"

Harry blushed but ignored his question. "Can you help me or not?"

"Harry, mate," Seamus winked, "we've been hoping to take on this project for a while."

The green-eyed man raised his eyebrows and shook his head. Why am I not surprised? He thought to himself then mentally shrugged. At least he'd have a costume. He suddenly smirked.

"What do you guys know about muggle authority uniforms?"

An hour had gone by and Draco was bored out of hi mind. The festivities had been well under way and there was no sight of Harry anywhere. He knew he'd been a right bastard to his best friend ever since the summer holidays but he couldn't let his friend know how he felt about him. For all he knew Harry was straight and rather than being humiliated he pushed Harry the only way he could without hurting him too much. It would've killed him if I started treating him lower than dirt. This way I can keep an eye on him without him knowing and still be able to watch him from afar. Oh gods, how I miss him. Draco sipped his punch miserably and tried to pay attention to whatever Nott was saying. That was until he noticed a change in the air. People began whispering, then wolf whistling, and then cat calling. Draco frowned and looked at the people seated at his table. They were all staring at the entrance to the Great Hall.

"What're you all staring at?" He demanded.

"Draco," Zabini had been trying not to drool, "it's Potter and the Gryffindors."

Malfoy mentally patted himself on the back for resisting to look towards Harry's general area. Then he mentally gave himself props for seeming to not care. "What about him?"

If it weren't for the fact that Blaise knew of Draco's obsession with the Potter heir Draco would've ignored his next comment, "I highly suggest you either make your move or completely forget about Potter, though that's highly unlikely in the state he's in now."

"What are you blathering on about, Blaise?" Don't look. Don't look. No! I'm looking!

"The entire population of single men and women will be after his arse real soon if you don't claim that." Blaise licked his lips, a hungry look in his eye.

Unable to resist the urge to look Draco's eyes fell on Harry and immediately felt his mouth and throat go dry. Oh gods! Did he have to dress like that? Why me? The blonde cursed whatever deities he could think of as he felt his trousers begin to tighten uncomfortably. I just had to be a dragon tamer this year, didn't I? Damn these leather pants!

Harry had sauntered over to a group of his friends from Ravenclaw and felt numerous eyes on his form. Smirking, he thanked Dean and Seamus before hand for his outfit. The ridiculously tight, leather, short shorts were strangely comfortable and he thought he looked delicious when he stood in front of his mirror. The silver badge on the left breast pocket of his black dress shirt gleamed along with his spelled chest. He didn't find chest hair too attractive so he opted for a hair removal spell. He took Hermione's advice and used lotion on his chest to make himself glisten just a bit. Here is where I get banners to wave and say, 'Harry Potter! The flaming homo!' in bright colors and sequins. He giggled to himself and bent over to tie his black Timberland boots. Out of the corner of his eye he glanced at Draco and caught the blonde staring with a lust-filled gleam to his eyes. And Bingo was his name-o!

"Harry?"

Smirking, Harry whirled around and played with his officer's hat and watched as Colin Creevey followed his movements. His obsessed fan dressed up like a muggle newspaper editor and carried his camera with him around his neck. "Hullo, Colin," Harry eyed his prey before playing with the handcuffs hooked around his belt loop, "having fun so far? You did a bang up job with the decoration committee. The DJ's not that bad either."

"W-well, i-it helped t-that P-Professor Dumbledore was s-so accommodating. Um, I was wondering-"

"Would you like to dance Colin? Maybe, if you're good, you can take pictures later." Harry winked and grabbed the stammering boy's hand and dragged him to the dance floor. If he wanted Draco to get jealous he would have to just go with the flow and try to look like he was having a good time. Before long, he didn't really have to act.

Draco sat and tried not to openly seethe in fury as he watched Harry dance with several people. He even allowed that Creevey vouyer to take pictures of his Harry! His Harry! "Malfoy, you all right?" Nott asked a bit nervously.

"Fine." Draco hissed and nearly threw his fork down onto the table. That's it! Draco fumed as he saw Harry sandwich himself between Finnigan and Thomas. He'd had enough and got up and stalked towards the three dancing men. Theodore Nott swallowed nervously as he looked at Draco's fork that had been bent so much that the spokes had touched the actual handle.

Harry had been enjoying himself immensely with Dean and Seamus when he was unceremoniously yanked from in between them. "Oi!" He exclaimed in annoyance but cut off whatever scathing remark he had when he looked into the eyes of an infuriated Draco Malfoy.

He smiled sweetly. "Draco, how nice of you to drop in. Care for a dance?"

"No, you git!" Draco hissed angrily as he dragged Harry out of the Great Hall and into a hidden alcove. He hastily put up a silencing charm before he rounded on his friend. "What are you playing at?!"

Harry glared and crossed his arms. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me Potter!"

"What do you care, Malfoy? You haven't so much as looked at me since the beginning of the year and now you're suddenly breathing down my neck!"

"Don't Harry." Draco said, his voice hardened.

"Don't, what, Malfoy?"

"Stop with the Malfoy shit!"

"I'll stop when you give me a good reason." Harry hissed.

Draco grabbed at his hair in frustration and sat down on the stone bench with his head in his hands. Why is this so difficult?

"Draco?"

Harry stepped up to Draco before kneeling before him and lifting his chin.

The Malfoy heir had sighed and allowed himself to adorn a look of despair. "It's complicated, Harry."

"Then make me understand. It can't be that bad. I've missed you terribly, you know, and I'll do anything to get my best friend back."

Draco hung his head again. "Even if your friend is disgusting?"

"Disgusting? Draco, what are you going on about? You're not disgusting."

"Yes I am," he looked Harry in the eye, "Harry...I'm...I'm gay."

Harry was taken aback by the sudden admission and couldn't think of anything to say. Taking the silence as rejection Draco shuddered and took in a deep breath to steady himself. Might as well tell him. "I'm gay Harry and...I'm in love with you. Deeply, irreversibly, and madly in love with you."

He couldn't breath. Draco loved him? He loves me? Draco loves me? Draco loves me! He looked up to tell his friend just how he felt about his proclamation when he realized that he was suddenly alone. Footsteps echoed throughout the corridor and Harry immediately rushed to his feet and sprinted after his friend.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Now he'll never speak to you again! I might as well go down to the kitchen and get fat by eating my weight in ice cream and desserts. Goodbye gorgeous figure! Draco had reached the Slytherin dormitory and went ignored the greetings of his house mates in favor of taking off his costume.

A moment after the dorm room door close Harry rushed in, breathless, and asked, "Draco?" Several people pointed towards Draco's room and received a quick thanks for their troubles. Harry then rushed off to the Prefect's quarters in search of the blonde.

Draco had just gotten his pajama bottoms on when his door burst open to reveal a heavily breathing Harry. "You gasp left...wheeze...before I could...gulp...say anything." Harry closed the door and collapsed against it, leaning against it for support.

The other occupant merely raised a brow and placed his hands on his popped hips in a stance that purely screamed, "I'm waiting!"

"Okay," Harry began, "if I were to say that I thought you're disgusting would totally be hypocritical of me as my adopted father has a very male lover. Not to mention that both of my godfathers are gay as well as two of my friends. Don't get me started on my outfit which was put together for the sole purpose of seducing you, by the way. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is...I love you too, Draco."

There was a long pause before Draco and Harry simultaneously crossed the room and stopped just short of each other. The taller of the two smirked and then chuckled. "I made an arse out of myself earlier, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but all's forgiven. However, if you ever ignore me like that again I'll have to kill you."

Draco rolled his eyes. "God forbid I ever stop giving you the attention you crave."

"See? Now, you're getting the picture."

"Shut up so I can kiss you."

Harry stopped talking immediately and wrapped his arms around Draco's neck. He grinned. "Well, then, hop to it then."

Draco chuckled and encircled Harry's waist with his arms before pressing his lips against Harry's. Fireworks were flashing outside of the castle and behind their closed eyes. Warms lips and hot tongues were frantic against each other in a battle of dominance when everything stopped. Both participants breathless Harry was the first to speak. "Let's take things slow. There's no need to rush anything anymore. We've got our entire lives ahead of us."

Draco smiled and brushed a strand of hair away from his face. "That sound very nice but I think right now I'd like to worry about making you breathless again."

So that's what he did.

AN: Woooo! I'm done with the chapter and my wrists are on fire! Next chapter there will be

much citrus so stay tuned. Remember: the more you review the more I write.

P.S. I was thinking of doing a Snarry in the form of a parody for My Fair Lady. Snape would portray, you guessed it, Henry Higgins and Harry as the oh so sweet Eliza Doolittle. Let me know what you think!