Well, this is my first fic in a very long time. This chapter (unfortunately) contains no smut. That's the next chapter.

Of all the people in the advanced potion class, Slughorn had to put Harry with him. The one and only. Slughorn, had named them as partners with his usual happy chortle, going on and on about how they could "challenge each other" and some other shit. Harry hadn't listened. He was too busy being stunned over who his new potions partner was. It was the most stuck up asshole and Harry's sworn enemy, the undeniably sexy Draco Malfoy. Harry promptly decided that he would just go and let Voldemort have at him. Anything, anything but being stuck with Draco for the rest of the school year. He had feebly protested, the rational part of him knowing it was no use, and the other part needing to try anyway. Slughorn only waved away the protests with a smile and went on to explain the next class project, which everyone would be working on with their partner.

Which is how Harry and Draco ended up in the restricted section with a note from Slughorn to research their project. The restricted section creeped Harry out every time he went there. It was quiet, faintly dusty, and smelled of old books. But it had a sort of air of forbiddeness about it, an air that made Harry wish that he was with Hermione and Ron, instead of his enemy. As they descended further and further into the book stacks, Harry became increasingly aware of how alone he was. It was just him and Draco. Not his most ideal situation. Not. At. All.

Harry glanced occasionally at the letters on the shelves. "S... Sb... Sd..." He read aloud, hoping to ease some of the silence. "Here we are, St.... Stephens. It should be around here somewhere." He continued to search the shelves in vain as Draco leaned nonchalantly against the shelves opposite him. Finally Harry, exasperated, turned around and said "Well, aren't you going to help?"

And Draco, quite simply said "No." The word was punctuated by his trademark smirk as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Harry's eyes were drawn irresistibly to the other boy's lips as they curved into his teasing smirk. "Why would I?" Harry's eyes snapped back off Draco's lips as the Slytherin spoke again. "You seem to have everything under control."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Do I? Then why exactly have I been searching this bookcase for the last twenty minutes?"

Draco shrugged. "I'm sure you'll find it eventually."

Harry was just inches away from losing his temper completely. "Well, it would go a lot faster if you'd just get off your ass and help a bit," he spat.

"Nope." Draco's gray eyes stared unnervingly into Harry's. He couldn't quite pin the expression in them, other than a tinge of amusement. Harry opened his mouth to retort but Draco cut him off. "I'd rather watch you look for it. It's kind of amusing, actually."

"Fuck you." Harry muttered under his breath before turning back to the books. Suddenly there was a slight rustle of fabric and Draco was close beside him. He reached up and plucked a book off the shelf high above Harry's head. He handed it to Harry the smirk more smug than ever.

"Looking for this, scarhead? The Chosen one who can't find a book on shelves that happen to be in alphabetical order. Wow, if you're supposed to save the Wizarding World then I think I'd better get out of here, because clearly you're useless Potter."

Harry snatched the book from Draco's hands, turned around, and took a couple of deep breaths. When he whirled back on Draco, he found his face inches from the other boy's. His breath caught in his chest, and he stared into Draco's bottomless eyes. Neither one of them moved. Then Harry cleared his throat, took a step back, and spoke.

What Harry meant to say was "Draco, if we're going to work together for the rest of the year, can't you at least pretend that you don't want to kill me?" But what actually came out was: "Draco, can't you at least pretend that you don't want me?" He reddened as he realized what he had said, and immediately started stammering gibberish.

Draco's smirk turned into a grin, and Harry shut his mouth in surprise as Draco leaned in close to him. "Why?" He whispered seductively. "I'm man enough to admit what I want."

Harry's mouth dropped open, and Draco took the opportunity to kiss him.

--More to come--