How idiotic can I be? bows head in shame. I cannot believe how much of a fool i've been (you will not believe how stupid I feel right now, lol). My greatest thanks to elisebanana for pointing out in her review that 'I hate you' and 'I love you' actually differ in three letters, not two! I've gone through these chapters and edited the phrase as appropiate, but I can't help but feel incredibly stupid right now, lol. Hope you can forgive me. However, am I the only one that feels the phrase just doesn't have the same ring to it anymore?
A/N; here we are, the 2nd and last chap. Enjoy!
xxXXxx
"I'll be back in a few hours. I expect those desks to be sparkling when I return."
Professor McGonagall shut the door to the storage room with a softclick, leaving the two teenagers alone for the duration of the detention (though numerous charms had been activated to stop them leaving or using magic).
Upon arriving at his head of house's office a few minutes after eight, Harry and Malfoy had been led down several corridors and a flight of stairs before being ushered into a large storage room where the examination desks had been set out for them to scrub. Each desk was covered in graffiti from bored students who had finished their exams early in years gone by, and whilst the writing could be removed with a simple charm, it seemed that the Professor's of Hogwarts were vindictive enough to save the task especially for students who got bored during lessons.
"I can't believe you got me into this!" Malfoy snapped, crossing his arms angrily.
Harry groaned, walking over to where the cleaning materials had been laid out on one of the desks, and gathered his set of supplies.
"Don't start that again, Malfoy," he replied, taking his bucket of soapy water, a clean cloth and a bottle of a magical cleaning agent to a nearby desk. Setting the bucket down on the floor, he dipped the cloth into the water, wringing it out before dropping it onto the hard wood of the desk and beginning to scrub.
It was going to be a long night.
He looked up as he heard the rustling of clothes, startled to see the blonde standing a few desks away in a pair of black jeans and a green sleeveless shirt, the top three buttons left open to reveal an expanse of pale skin with a light dusting of blonde chest hair. He watched as the other teenager carefully folded his robes over the back of one of the chairs, tossing his hair out of his eyes as he did so. The blonde then proceeded to walk over to the other set of supplies, bending over a little to reach for the other bucket, causing the tight material of his jeans to hug his taut ass for one perfect moment before he straightened up, gathered his other things and taking them over to a desk across the other side of the room, facing Harry so they could continue their argument.
"I wasn't starting anything again," he replied, not realising Harry was still staring at him in shock "I was merely stating a fact. I really can't believe you were stupid enough to get caught with a note in class."
Harry blinked a few times, trying to tear his eyes away from the personification of sexy that was Draco Malfoy, not having heard the words the other teenager had spoken.
Malfoy finally looked up from where he had begun cleaning, raising his eyebrows at the Gryffindor.
"What, no attempt at a witty comeback? I'd almost be disappointed, if there was anything to miss."
"Huh?"
The blonde rolled his eyes. "Pathetic," he sneered, scrubbing the desk at a leisurely pace "you can barely string together an intelligible syllable, never mind an entire sentence."
Harry finally snapped out of his haze, berating himself for being so distracted by a little bit skin (a very nice bit of skin, mind you), quickly forming a reply.
"Piss off, Malfoy."
He never claimed it was a good reply.
"Merlin, it does more than just get innocent people into trouble – it swears too!"
Harry ignored the jibe, taking a deep breath to dispel the thoughts of Sirius that the other teenager had conjured.
"Don't you have anything better to do than insult me? I would have thought you would too busy kissing Voldermort's ass to rehearse what you're going to say the next time you see me."
To his credit, the Slytherin barely flinched at the comment, his retort already slipping from his lips.
"Hah, do you really believe you're so important I spend every minute of my day thinking of only you? Despite what you and your swarms of fans may think, the world does not revolve around you."
Harry put a little more force into his work, trying to stay calm. The dark haired teenager realised that, actually, he really did spend almost every minute of the day thinking of the blonde, a fact that was rather embarrassing now he thought about it.
"That works both ways, you know; despite what your parents may have led you to believe, the world does not revolve around you either."
The Gryffindor could almost feel Malfoy's glare, and regretted his statement immediately; it was obviously a rather touchy subject for the blonde.
"I really hate you!"
"Yeah, well, you can hardly say you love me, can you?" The two teenagers stopped simultaneously, catching each other's horror-filled eyes as the words echoed in both their ears. Draco broke the eye-contact first, scrubbing at the desk with terrified vigour as he brushed off the comment.
"Why the hell would I want to say that to you, Hero? Apart from the fact that I hate you, love is a thing of children's' tales, invented to beautify sex and give dirty old men a bargaining chip for getting pretty young girls to sleep with them."
Harry studied the Slytherin's half hidden face, watching as Draco pushed his blonde hair behind his ears, his expression almost one of careless disgust…almost.
"Do you really believe that?" He asked softly, causing Draco's hands to still as he looked up again, narrowing his eyes as he tried to chip away at Harry's curiously bewildered emerald eyes to see if he was hiding venomous motives behind a caring façade.
"You Gryffindor's are too goddamn nosy – and bloody stubborn too," he sighed, rolling his eyes at Harry's answering grin "if you really must know, I don't believe that. But I know that, and I also know that Malfoy's aren't capable of love. Go look for the little bit of good in some other lost cause, Hero; my heart's made of ice, remember?"
Harry furrowed his brows as the Slytherin started working again, unable to comprehend how Draco could be so cold and yet so deep at the same time.
"And if you did fall in love with someone, would you tell that person?"
Draco sighed, looking up with a scowl on his face.
"What the fuck does it matter to you, Gryffindork?"
"Would you?" Harry pressed, his work completely abandoned now, all his concentration centred on the blonde and what he was saying. Draco snarled at him, dropping his own cloth and leaning back on the table behind him.
"Merlin, I've never known anyone so bloody irritating. Of course I would tell them."
"What about your father?"
"Lucius? What about him?"
"What would happen if you fell in love with a Gryffindor – or worse a Hufflepuff?" Harry mentally hit himself for feeling a pang of jealousy at the thought of his Draco loving someone else; just because he had resigned himself to the fact that he was in love with the blonde, he didn't have to become a jealous love struck fool who stabbed everyone who came within a few meters of his man.
"I never would."
"Why not?"
"Because – because – because I'm a Malfoy!"
"Because circumstances won't allow you to?"
Draco's eyes flew wide in surprise, realisation crashing down upon him in a tidal wave of shock. Harry bit the inside of his cheek nervously, cursing himself for being the reason the blonde was currently looking so distressed, and was hardly surprised when the blonde's lips began to straighten out, his eyebrows falling neatly back into place as he moulded his features into a neutral expression.
"No, because Gryffindors are idiotic and fool-hardy, always running off and getting themselves into trouble with no thought for those of us left behind!"
"Shouldn't you rejoice when we do that? When we run off to get ourselves killed, I mean?"
Draco was startled by the reply, obviously expecting that to be the end of the conversation, so much so that his lips twitched into a grimace as he thought over his last statement. The 'us' hadn't meant anything, really, but it had given the darker haired man something to cling on to, and he knew it was foolish of him to let such a personal word slip into the sentence.
"No, we always mourn because somehow you always manage to survive."
"Oh." Draco rolled his eyes at Harry's flat reply, moving to pick up his cloth.
"But what if you did fall in love with a Gryffindor?"
Draco growled at the dark haired teenager, dropping the cloth and hoisting himself up so he was fully sitting on the desk.
"What if I did?" He snapped, the scowl on his face daring Harry to probe further. The Gryffindor in question was momentarily startled, not having expected such an open reply, but recovered quickly, smiling a little as he mimicked Draco's earlier action of leaning casually against the desk behind him.
"Would you openly date them?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Draco took the offensive position in the conversation, his eyes narrowed again as he tried to figure out just how much Harry had thought about the whole thing. The Gryffindor cocked his head to one side, shrugging a shoulder as he replied.
"I figure your father wouldn't be too happy, is all."
"So long as she's a pureblood witch with a good breeding, an influential family and the proper etiquette, I'm sure Lucius wouldn't mind enough to cause much of a fuss. True, he may try to heavily influence my decisions, but he wouldn't disown me for dating her, if that's what you're getting at."
Harry bit his bottom lip, storing away the fact that Draco called his father 'Lucius' for further deliberation when his mind was preoccupied deciding whether or not to ask his next question. His mouth was open and his lips beginning to shape the first word before he had even come to an appropriate conclusion.
"What if it was a wizard?"
"Excuse me?"
"I said, what if-"
"I heard what you said!" The blonde's face was a picture of pure shock, his mouth forming a grimace as he thought of the consequences of his father finding out if it was a wizard "how could you even ask such a thing?"
'There goes any chance of him loving me'Harry thought, copying Draco's grimace.
"Would it really be such a bad thing?"
"A bad thing?" Draco shrieked, jumping off the table with a thud "of course it would be a bad thing! Did Weasley ever bother to teach you anything about being a pureblood? Merlin, I know they're muggle lovers and all that, but surely even they must see…no, I don't suppose they would…" the blonde trailed off, staring at the ground as he calmed down, eventually taking a deep breath and leaning back against the table again, throwing his head back to stare at the ceiling as he explained.
"I suppose, really, not all parents would have a problem with their child being…well, you know…Pureblood parents, however, are interested only in upholding the glory of the family name and producing an heir to carry on the noble blood line. To be in love with a man…"
Draco shook his head, risking a quick glance at the various emotions flittering across his rival's face before speaking once more.
"Look, Potter – Merlin, I can't believe I'm telling you this – I'm betrothed to Pansy."
"Betrothed?" It was Harry's turn to raise his voice, his eyes flying wide in shock as the word reverberated off the stone walls.
"Keep your voice down will you!" Draco hissed, looking back at the Gryffindor "It's not like I want to be! It was decided before I could even talk – it's just business. Every time I say I love her I really mean I hate her, but it's not like I have a say in it!"
'I hate you' and 'I love you' differ in only three letters, and the circumstances in which they are said.
So that's what his secret had meant; he didn't love Pansy. It had never been about Harry at all. The Gryffindor scowled at the realisation, cursing himself for the misunderstanding, but suddenly so much more angry at Pansy for having his beloved trapped in something he obviously despised.
"How can you marry someone you don't love?"
"Oh, Harry, marriages aren't based on love!" Draco cried, gripping the table with white knuckles in agitation and leaning forward as he spoke. "Do you really think my mother married Lucius because she loved him? Our parents arranged the marriage when we were younger to cement the bond between the families, and to keep the money and power within the pureblood lines. So long as we keep up the image of a devoted couple and produce an adequate heir, we don't even have to sleep with each other more than once."
"And if you fall in love with someone else?"
"Then I take them as a lover!"
"And if they refuse to be second to your wife?"
"What would you have me do, Harry? Sign my own death warrant by divorcing my wife and dismissing my family before riding off into the sunset with my beloved? You've been reading too many muggle fairy-tales."
Harry stared at the blonde in silence, registering the use of his first name and the reference to muggle fairy tales whilst thinking through what had been said. So that was it? That was the summary of Draco's life? He tore his gaze away from the other teenager, unable to look at him anymore; he had thought…he hadhoped…
The blonde sighed after a few moments of silence, prising his fingers from the wood in favour of crossing his arms protectively over his chest.
"Harry, it's counter-productive to fall in love with anyone who isn't Pansy, especially a man. Purebloods – well, purebloods like Lucius – see only the fact that two men cannot produce an heir, and therefore cannot carry on the family name. He would have no objections to me taking a male lover, so long as it created no ripples in the water, but to openly love and date a man…he would have myself and my lover killed before he let the Malfoy name be tarnished by such a scandal – and I haven't even mentioned the Dark Lord yet."
Harry raised his eyes to look at his love, taking in his resigned expression and defensive stance before formulating a reply.
"Are you scared? Is that what it is?"
"Harry, you're not listening to yourself-"
"No, I'm too busy listening to the nonsense that you're parroting! Forget Voldermort, forget Lucius, forget the fact that you're a pureblood – now tell me why you can't love a guy."
Draco slowly shook his head, trying to smile but managing only to twist his lips into an expression similar to that of a man who was trying not to insult his girlfriend when she asked if she looked okay (and didn't).
"I can't just forget all that, Harry, because I am a pureblood with Lucius for a father and the Dark Lord for a master."
"Try," Harry pleaded, walking around the two tables that stood between him and the blonde "just for a minute, try."
Draco cocked his head in confusion, his hair framing his dull grey eyes as he thought, watching Harry move closer until they stood just a few feet apart.
"Why can't you fall in love with someone else if there's no blood to slip on?"
"Harry," Draco murmured, uncrossing his arms but not moving closer "think of what you are asking me. I'm a Malfoy, I'm betrothed, I'm set to become a Death Eater as soon as I leave school – what would you do if you were me? What would youdo if your task were to hand your love over to someone who's only goal in life is to kill him?"
Harry let the question roam around his mind for a moment or two, thinking over each of the words in turn, knowing he'd missed something but not quite…
Draco rolled his eyes, managing a small smile at the confused expression on Harry's face.
"You're such a Gryffindor," he said softly "but you can't expect everyone to be like you. We can't all be heroes, otherwise there'd be nothing special about you."
"There isn't anything special about me," Harry replied, his words just as soft as his companions "and I'm no hero."
"No, I don't suppose you are. But you're kind, you're honest, you truly care about people, you would no doubt give up everything to be with the one you love – that makes you special, Harry, it really does. Ginny is lucky to have you."
"Ginny?" Harry furrowed his brows "she doesn't have me."
"She doesn't?" Draco raised his eyebrows, relaxing a little as they fell back into an easy conversation "there goes Hogwart's couple of the year. I thought you two were dating."
Harry smiled, shaking his head and letting out a little chuckle, following Draco's example and sitting upon the desk, trying to ignore the shiver that went straight down his spine as their knees brushed together.
"Naah. We dated, last year, but we broke up."
"Why?"
Harry couldn't help but blush, only a little disappointed that he hadn't figured out what the blonde had meant earlier now that they were talking normally again.
"Well, erm…I sort of, um – Jeese, she's great an' all, but I love her more like a sister, and it was just plain weird dating her. Besides, I suppose I prefer guys."
Draco raised his eyebrows, his eyes sparkling as he taunted the Gryffindor.
"You suppose? What, are you in love with a cross-dresser or something?"
Harry let out another laugh, shaking his head as he leaned back using his arms to support him.
"No, not at all! But I'm in love with a guy, and he's the only guy I've ever been attracted to so…" Harry shrugged, still blushing furiously as Draco grinned at him.
"Well, do you still get turned on by tits?"
Harry burst out laughing, giving the boy opposite him a kick for the remark.
"I am so not answering that!"
Draco was laughing too, leaning forward a little as he became more comfortable with the situation.
"Oh come on, it's a simple question! Ah well, I suppose you'll just have to wait till you bed a guy then you can compare the experience to shagging a girl."
Harry's blush, to his horror, deepened, the dark red flush spreading down his neck as his cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Oh my god!" Draco cried, his eyes wide with amusement as he continued to laugh "you're a virgin? You can't be serious! Have you really never fucked anyone?"
Harry took in the sight of Draco fully at ease, committing the details to memory for fear of never seeing the sight again.
"Um – well…how can you be so crude?!"
Draco burst out laughing again, leaning back as the room filled with the proof of his joy at the discovery.
"Oh, now that's good! You're the most famous guy in school and you can't get laid?"
"Shut it!" Harry tried to scowl at the other teenager, but the smile shone through anyway as he rewarded the Slytherin with another kick. "It's not like I've not had offers or anything…it's just…" Harry shrugged, shaking his head a little "I can't believe I'm discussing this with you!"
"Awe!" Draco cooed, still chuckling a little "So innocent! You never talk about who you like with Weasley?"
Harry shrugged carelessly, blushing a little again "he always rants about 'Mione – never stops long enough for me to get a word in edgeways. Besides, he ah – he doesn't know I like guys."
Draco furrowed his eyebrows, his voice curious but unthreatening.
"I thought he was your best friend?"
"Oh, don't get me wrong, he is! It's just…he might freak out a little to begin with, and I just don't know how to tell him. You're – you're kinda' the only one who knows so far."
"Honoured, I'm sure," Draco's tone was careless, but the smile on his face and the light blush that stained his pale cheeks told Harry he was pleased.
"Well, I haven't left you as long as I planned – hope you two haven't killed each oth-oh my god!"
The two boys jumped in unison as the door clicked open and their professor strode in, stopping dead in her tracks as she saw the two boys sitting opposite each other on the tables, legs brushing together with smiles on their faces.
Harry spun his head around to look at his shocked teacher, taking in her wide eyes and pale cheeks as well as the hand she had laid over her heart and the surprised 'o' shape her lips had formed. Grimacing a little, he turned back to face Draco, who, unsurprisingly, had already jumped off the table, face blank again as he busied himself straightening his robes. Giving a small sigh, Harry sombrely placed both his feet back on the floor, turning around fully to face the still silent woman.
"Professor," he greeted, a wry smile on his face "had a nice evening?"
Beside him, Draco gave a quiet snort of laughter, passing Harry a small grin as he stepped past to gather their cleaning materials.
Professor McGonagal gaped at him, blinking rapidly a few times before shaking her head a little and rubbing her temples with her fingers.
"Just go, boys. Go on, out with you."
Draco sent Harry another smile over his shoulder as he left the room, knowing the Gryffindor was closely on his heels.
"And go straight back to your dormitories!" their professor called after them "no duelling in the corridors!"
Once they had rounded the corner, Harry burst out laughing, using the wall to support himself. Draco allowed himself an indulgent smile, raising his eyebrows at the dark haired teenager before leaning against the wall facing Harry.
"Well, that was awkward."
The blonde's dry statement only made Harry laugh harder, his mirth being infectious enough to make Draco chuckle a little at the sight.
"Did you see the look on her face?" Harry gasped, one hand over his heart as his pulse began to slow again. His chuckles died out along with the blondes, sobering completely when he saw the almost distressed grimace on his – what, enemy? –'s face.
"What's the matter?"
"W-Why-…" the Slytherin hesitated long enough for Harry to know that for once the blonde was nervous, his eyes skating the distance of the wall between them but never once looking into Harry's own.
"Why were you asking me all those questions?"
Harry pursed his lips (mentally hoping he didn't look anything like his Aunt Petunia), waiting until Draco met his eyes before replying.
"Why did you answer them?"
Draco looked taken aback, straightening up and schooling his features into an expression of aloofness.
"Hah, you'd have to be a fool to believe any of that!" He sneered, though they both knew it was too late "oh, wait, I forgot; you are a fool."
Harry grinned at him, shrugging lightly as he turned to face the blonde.
"Well, what can I say – I am a Gryffindor after all."
Draco let out a quiet laugh, his expression faltering for the slightest moment.
"Well – goodnight, I suppose."
Harry tried not to let his disappoint show, but the quirk in Draco's right brow told him he was hopeless at masking his emotions.
"Yeah. Yeah, goodnight then."
When he didn't move, the blonde rolled his eyes at him, turning around and walking down the corridor that would eventually lead him to the entrance hall, and on to the Slytherin common room.
"Oh, and Potter?"
Harry hadn't moved yet, but the surprise didn't show on Draco's face as he turned back to talk to him.
"I still hate you, you know."
And there it was – that secret little smirk of his; only now the joke wasn't so private, because Harry knew it too.
"I know," Harry replied, giving a small nod. Draco's smirk fell a little, but he was too far away for the Gryffindor to be sure if it meant he was disappointed with the reply, and the Slytherin returned the nod before walking once more.
'You idiot!' Harry berated himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as he tried to calm his nerves 'you should have said it! You should have said anything other than that! Now he thinks you don't like him back! For fuck sake, tell him!'
"Draco!" Harry called, his mind still yelling at his mouth from inside his head – though now he had begun to doubt himself. The Slytherin stopped again, turning back with a – was it too bold of Harry to label that look hopeful?
"Yeah?"
"I – I…"
'Don't be a fool! Tell him!'
"I hate you too!"
The words echoed down the corridor, filling the space between the two teenagers with crackling tension as they both recognized the significance of the statement. Harry took another deep breath, his palms suddenly sweaty as the full weight of what he had said fell down on him. Oddly enough though….Harry knew he could have said something different. There was another word that described this feeling – this longing, this passion, this care and understanding -, one that Harry was cautious to use in public, despite there being no one around. But, still, they both knew what the word was, and they both knew what it meant.
'I love you'.
Draco was even further away now, and though Harry was sure the blonde was smiling, he couldn't be too sure.
"I know." The reply came in an amused tone of voice, and Harry could hear the relief in the statement.
'So…what now?'
Harry wasn't sure what he should do – the corridor was too dark down the other end for him to properly see the Slytherin, and he wasn't sure what was next – oh, sure, he knew what he wanted, but he could still hear Draco's words from earlier repeating inboth their heads, and he knew, he knew it would never work.
"Well…" Harry said, his voice quiet – he half wondered if Draco would ever hear the words they said. "Goodnight then."
He was the one who turned away this time, his feet falling heavily on the floor to create a soft thump that repeated the unsteady rhythm of his heart. So that was it?
"Harry!"
The Gryffindor stopped, his heart leaping to his throat as he heard Draco running down the corridor to catch up with him. He slowly turned, surprised to see the angry expression on the blonde's face.
"That's it?" The Slytherin asked as he drew near, one hand balled into a fist. "That's it?"
"Huh?"
Draco rolled his eyes, standing so close to the Gryffindor that Harry had to almost crane his neck looking up at him.
"You are such a fool sometimes."
"So you've sai-"
The rest of Harry's word was cut off by Draco's mouth, a startled squeal escaping him when he felt the smooth lips press against his own. He could feel the blonde's smirk as his eyes slowly fluttered closed, his mind shutting down in disbelief, leaving his body to deal with the situation by itself. One of Draco's hands tilted Harry's face to a slight angle, meshing their mouths together in a more comfortable – pleasurable – position so he could gently prise Harry's lips open with his tongue. Harry couldn't help but moan when he felt the other hand come to rest at the small of his back under his open robes, fingers splaying over the skin just under the waist of his jeans, pulling him closer. The Gryffindor didn't mind that their hips bumped together awkwardly for a moment, because the following grind banished any protests he might have considered having had his brain woken up in time (the part of his body that was beginning to wake certainly didn't have any protests).
Harry finally realised that maybe keeping his hands hovering in mid air either side of the blonde wasn't the best of ideas, and so let one of them snake its way to the back of the blonde's neck, playing with the smaller strands of hair that hung their, the other clutching at the rumpled fabric of the other man's robes. He parted his lips in response to Draco's teasing tongue, entangling his own with the other as he began to get the hang of the whole 'kissing' thing.
Kisses with Ginny had never been like this. They had, at times, been too light, chaste and lacking feeling. At other times they had been too messy, her lips pressing hard against his, her tongue almost choking him in her eagerness to please – though whether she was trying to please him or just herself was something he never liked to think about.
This kiss wasn't perfect, as far of kisses go; their nose bumped together before they repositioned themselves, and their teeth clashed for a time in their desperation – they had waited so long – and Harry could feel Draco's nervousness – like he thought that maybe Harry didn't mean it after all, as though maybe he had never really understood what it all meant.
Draco pulled away a little, his teeth nipping at Harry's lower lip and dragging it with him, sucking gently before letting go and placing several softer kisses at the corner of his mouth.
'This,' Harry decided, his mouth curving into a grin as he opened his eyes 'must be what love feels like'. Because his heart was beating too fast, and he knew his cheeks were flushed, and his breath was coming out in harsh pants (and, speaking of pants, his were getting just a little too tight), and his eyes were probably slightly glazed over, and his neck hurt a little, and his brain still wasn't working right – but it was perfect, and he knew that this – this angel before him with a soppy grin (one that looked slightly out of place on the Slytherin's face), oddly pale cheeks, mused hair (the Gryffindor hoped he wasn't around when the blonde realised Harry had been the one to cause the damage) and swollen lips – was the man he was in love with.
xxXXxx
"-so unfair! I mean, she knows we have quidditch practise tonight – you would think she wouldn't give us any homework at all, so we could practise more; after all, she should want us to win! Do you think that maybe- Harry? Harry, mate, you alright?"
"Hmm?" Harry looked up at his friend's amused expression as he snapped out of his thoughts, suddenly realising Ron had been ranting about McGonagall on the way to their next lesson.
"Sorry, Ron, wasn't paying attention."
Hermione sent him a worried glance, but his bemused eye roll told her he was fine.
"Hey!" A voice snapped on other side as his arm collided with another. "Oh, it's you," the blonde Slytherin sneered, barely glancing at those accompanying the Gryffindor.
"Watch where you're going. You may be the Headmaster's golden boy, but you don't own these halls."
Harry tried hard not to grin at the irritated look that passed over his boyfriend's face at the amused grunts from the two oafs behind him, automatically opening his mouth to reply though he was cut off by the red head beside him.
"Oh, and I suppose you think that just 'cause your father is a death eater you do?"
The blonde scowled dangerously at him, but Ron didn't take the hint.
"You seem to have forgotten, Ferret – Daddy dearest is in prison now. I don't think he's much use in there!"
"Ron." Harry warned quietly, nudging his friend with his elbow.
"What?" The red head replied indignantly, glaring at the teenager opposing them "honestly Harry, the git thinks he owns the place. It's like the rest of us don't even exist – though, at the moment, it's his father who might as well not exist-"
"You little –" Draco's wand was out before Ron could even blink, but Harry's voice cut off his own.
"Ron!" He snapped, before ignoring the confused expression stare he was given as a reply and turning to the blonde.
"Ron's right, Malfoy – we have just as much right to be here as you do. If I did own the place, don't you think I would charge for its usage?"
"I would just kick him out all t'gether," came the angry mumble from beside him, and Harry couldn't help but smirk a little.
"Always knew you weren't as heroic as they made you out to be. Maybe this little golden-boy isn't so golden after all."
"I like to think of myself as bronze, actually."
The Gryffindor allowed himself a smug smirk as he caught the slight upturn of Draco's mouth.
"Though," he continued, "I don't think it quite has the same ring to it."
Harry was aware of Hermione's calculated gaze switching between him and the Slytherin, but at this moment he was having too much fun to care. He finally understood this feeling of elation that always followed his little spats with the young man he loved, and he knew now that these moments were always the high point of his day.
"Harry, come on," Hermione urged, tugging on her boyfriend's arm and pulling him ahead "we're going to be late."
"That's right, run along after your precious little muggle-spawn; ever the world's obedient star, aren't you?"
Harry began following his friends, making sure his arm 'carelessly' knocked into Draco's once more (and if his fingers happened to lightly skate across the palm of his hand, then it was purely coincidental and completely disgusting).
"Actually, surprisingly enough, I do have a mind of my own." He let the statement hang, sending a pointed look towards Draco's body guards. "Unlike some."
Again, Harry watched Draco fight back the smile, before giving him a small nod and walking off down the corridor.
"I hate you, Potter!" The Slytherin's scathing voice called after him, and he couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling up in his throat. He slowed his pace, adding a slight swagger to his step as he threw a cocky smirk at the love of his life.
"Trust me," he replied "the feeling is entirely mutual."
XXxxXX
A/N; ah, there it is, finally finished! cheers It's been a long time since I've finished anything I've begun, heh, so I'm really rather proud of myself for this!
Reviews are always very much appreciated!