So much has happened in the last couple months. I got ill twice, hurt my hand and had to take my dogs to the vets multiple time the last couple of weeks(both of them are good; Rags just needed medicine put into temporarily sewn shut eye and Belle had to get spayed). Got to go finish the next chapter of Open Your Eyes.

Chapter 03

I Want to Know What Love Is

Draco hummed happily. Thomas had done what he said and delivered preliminary sketch for his tattoo. So far his favorite was of the Antipodean Opaleye with its iridescent, pearly scales- though Pansy found the pupil-less eyes creepy -and the Welsh Green. Pansy really liked the Romanian Longhorn for it's dark-green scales; she couldn't understand why Draco wanted such elegant design instead of something fierce but he already had the mark of one violent wizard killer, he didn't want to replace it with another.

The pair had retreated once again to the safety of Draco's bedroom to go over the designs. Pansy had quickly commandeered the majority of his bed leaving him with just a small space at the the foot of the bed. He lounged elegantly against the footboard- as Malfoys were known to do -in the space available while Pansy sprawled uncaringly on her front; her sock clad feet firmly on his pillow much to Draco's displeasure.

Flipping to the last page Draco realize that there was another stuck to it; very carefully he peeled them apart only to gasp in surprise. It wasn't a tattoo design, well it could be, you just wouldn't want it any place where everyone could see it.

It was a sketch of a very fit, very male and very naked figure was posed on a bed, draped over a pile of voluptuous pillows, looking very relaxed and natural. His hair was beautifully tousled and his eyes portrayed a deep longing; as if he was waiting for his lover to return. Overall it wasn't a very sexual picture but draco could feel his groin reacting with interest. This creature was something from a dream.

"What is it?" Pansy asked as she set down the Chinese Fireball design and tried to snatch the paper out of Draco's hands. He brought his arms just out of reach; wanting just a few more seconds to gaze upon perfection.

"Come on, share!" Pansy whined as she made another attempt to grab the paper. This time Draco reluctantly let her have it. "Merlin." She breathed as her eyes scanned drawing. Moving awkwardly she sat up onto her knees. "I thought Thomas was good but this-"

"Find me someone like this and I'll never complain about you and Longbottom sucking face again." Draco said with a snort.

"Wait-" Pansy brought the drawing closer to her face. "Is that Potter?"

Draco's eyes widened. "It can't be." He snatched the paper back; looking for any sign that this mysterious figure was his ex-rival.

"It is! Right there-" She pointed to just above his eye. "It's his scar. I can't believe that's what he's been hiding beneath those rags. Makes me wonder if I'm with right Gryffindor."

"Pansy!" Draco exclaimed scandalize. In a few short days he was supposed to help Neville pick out the first courting gift. Was Neville the only one who thought things were serious?

She giggled as if expression. "I'm only joking. Neville's more than enough for me." She gave him a playful slap on the arm. "Just means there's more for you."

"As if I'd want Potter!" Draco said indignantly.

"And I'm a Potions Mistress!" Pansy said as she rolled her eyes. "I saw the way you were ogling that picture a few minutes ago."

"I wasn't ogling it." Draco sneered; he knew he was lying through his teeth but maybe Pansy wouldn't notice?

"Draco," Pansy gave him an exasperated look, "I've known you since we were in nappies together. You're going to have try harder than that to lie to me."

"Ugh!" He flopped sideways onto the bed; his feet dangling off the edge of the single bed. "I don't want Potter!" Draco said loudly, the palms of his hands pressed against his eyelids. This time he wasn't trying to convince Pansy but himself. "He wouldn't want me..." The words were barely audible in the now silent room.

"Draco do you..." She bit her lip uncertainly as she reached out to comfort him. "Do you have a crush on Potter?"

A humourless laugh escaped from be blond. "You don't spend so many years fixated on one person just because you dislike them."

"And what was Potter's excuse?" Pansy smiled with amusement as she played with his pale dandelion hair. "If my memory is correct he was just as obsessed with you as you were of him."

"He had them, he didn't always see me." Draco's arms fell down to his side. He refused to look at his best friend and see the pity in her eyes.

"How long?" She kept her voice soft and her touch feather light.

"Since that damned tournament."

"Is that why you want a Dragon to cover-"

"No! No…" Draco's head shook negatively. "Mother calls me her little dragon…" His face bloomed into a brilliant shade of red as he admitted this. Narcissa had only called him that in the privacy of the manor; even when the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters moved into the manor she still would call him that when they were alone in their rooms. It made him feel like a child and in those stressful moments that's what he needed.

"You miss her, don't you little dragon?" Pansy teased him as he batted away her hands.

"Like you don't miss your father!" Draco said angrily as he sat up but regretted it immediately. He had been lucky and both of his parents were sentenced only to house arrest for 5 years, at least he could see them during holidays and weekly letters. The Parkinsons family hadn't fared so well; Mrs. Parkinson died during the battle of Hogwarts, while Mr. Parkinson was given a life sentence at Azkaban. The only silver lining was that Dementors no longer guard the horrible prison. "Pansy I'm sorry-"

"Don't." She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "They'd both made their choices and in the end they didn't make the right one."

"Still I shouldn't-" He moved closer to her as if to pull her into his arms, she'd pull away.

"I said it's fine Draco." She said putting on a brave face. "Now how are we to go about getting you and Potter together."

"What about the match-thing you made me do?" Draco asked; quite happy to go along with the change of topic.

"A backup, of course."

-`ღ´-

To be Continued

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