Picking Wildflowers

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, so I do NOT own Draco (Gorgeous) Malfoy, or Harry (Equally as Gorgeous) Potter. I DO, however, own the plot. Please do NOT sue, as all I can give you is a stick of sugar-free gum (which I want…::looks around nervously:: MINE!).

Beta: I would like to thank my Beta, Draco’s Desire, for making sure all of my sentences flow, and that there will be no grammar mistakes...but if there is, let me know and I will be sure to slap her. Thx!

A/N: Yes, I know this chapter is SOOO bloody long, and I'm sorry. Well, I know you all like your long chapters, right? -__- This is actually chapters 12 and 13, so get used to it!

To Reviewer I. Drowned. My. Goldfish.: ... I have no idea what you're talking about, for this is my first Solo!Scene, and I didn't know it turned out that well. I originally thought it was too crude, but then I got all these reviews telling me it was hott... ::shrugs:: Glad you like it!

To Reviewer Jojo: Again, thanks for the review on the wanking scene, and, again, I'm glad you liked it! I have been adding hints since the first chapter that yes, Harry has been raped. By who, I'm not telling, (though I think it's quite obvious...it might just be the whole 'I'm the writer and you don't know what is going ot happen, but I do so ha ha ha!' thing...) but it will eventually be revealed. Hope you continue to read!

To Reviewer Ningchan: I realize that you wanted to check out my other stories, and when you reviewed, I had no others, but now... I DO! Make sure you check it out...the next chapter to it will be posted soon, I hope.

A/N: Thank you to all 71 reviewers who have, well, reviewed. Obviously, I cannot list all of them here, but I would like to especially thank Anon, Kermit, Draco's Desire, (Yes, she's my Beta...I still like her feedback!) L.C, Medra, Anti-Ginny/Harry (Though I haven't heard from her in a while...::tear::) RoxiRose13, and Dracosboi (Again, I haven't heard from him in a while...::tears up at actually cries:: Is my story that bad?)

Okay, so...Really long chapter. Hopefully you all don't get to discouraged; and this isn't even the party scene! Damn. You know how you plan for a certain scene to be on a certain chapter, then you find something that would make the story longer or would help give more detail? Well, that's what happened to me...repeatedly. DON'T WORRY, NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE PARTY SCENE! Okay, so...on with the story!

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Chapters 12 and 13: Prep for a Party

Draco woke up early in the morning, his eyes blurry from the artificial sunlight of his window in the dungeons. Yawning, he rubbed his eyes and turned to his clock and read the three read numbers on it. ‘6:45’ it read. Draco yawned again and sat up, stretching lazily. He opened up his curtains and swung his feet over the side of the bed to stand.

As if called for, Blaise swung open his curtains, too. “Morning, Draco.” he mumbled sleepily, wiping sleep out of his eyes to look at Draco properly.

Draco raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing up so early, Blaise? Especially on a Sunday?” he asked, knowing Blaise usually got every minute of sleep possible. Draco got up and padded over to his wardrobe, where he stood and tried to pick a suitable outfit for Harry’s party.

Blaise sat up in his bed, and leaned his head against the wall behind his headboard. “I wanted to ask you something.” he replied, also looking from a distance at Draco’s clothing in his dresser.

Draco turned to Blaise, and arched an eyebrow. “You woke up, before seven in the morning on a Sunday, to ask me a question?” he asked disbelievingly. “Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” Draco asked sarcastically, and turned back to his clothes, leafing through them.

Blaise scoffed. “You’re going to be around with Potter today, so I couldn’t ask you at, lets say, three this afternoon.” Looking at the clock again, which now read seven o’clock, he added, “Unlike this ungodly hour of the morning.”

Draco rolled his eyes without turning to Blaise. “Yeah, well.” he said, “The party is at three today, so Weaslette wants Harry out of the tower early enough for them to get started decorating.” after a moment of silence, Draco sighed and turned to Blaise. “Will you ask your sodding question? I need to get going,” He asked, as if Blaise was the reason he couldn’t find an outfit.

“Chill, Draco.” Blaise ordered and got out of bed. He shivered slightly at the coldness of the floor, but proceeded to walk to Draco’s wardrobe anyway. When he got there, Blaise looked in for a minute, before picking out a pair of faded, but nice, blue jeans, along with a white wife-beater. He put them in Draco’s arms and then grabbed a red silk, button-up t-shirt and also giving it to Draco. “Now, can I ask you a simple question without you going spastic?” he asked sarcastically, going back over to his bed and sitting on the comforter.

Draco stood in shock as Blaise pulled out a fashionable outfit in seconds. After he had all three pieces in his arms, he heard Blaise ask if he could ask his question. Draco numbly went over to his bed and took of his pajama bottoms, and began getting dressed for the day. Blaise took this as a sign to continue.

“Okay, well, I was wondering about this party…” he trailed off for a moment, thinking. Sighing, he blurted, “Is it going to be lame? I mean, it’s a Gryffindor party.” he noted obviously, running a hand through his black hair. Draco had asked Blaise, Pansy (Who was more than eager to go, mind you), Nott, Crabbe and Goyle, and a few girls to attend. They were the lucky ones; any party with Draco in it made every Slytherin want to go.

Draco clucked his tongue gracefully and turned to the Italian. “I know Gryffindor’s are running it, but it’ll be a Slytherin party. That’s why I asked you for the booze.” he said, buttoning up the red shirt. “And Pansy’s taking care of the games; the party will be Slytherin, don’t worry.” he mock-comforted, and moved into the bathroom.

Blaise let him alone in the bathroom for a moment, but after he heard the toilet flush and the sink run, he opened the door and walked in, watching Draco comb his short blonde hair. “I contributed to the games, too, you know.” he pouted playfully.

Draco smiled slightly, “All you did was get the Veritaserum, Blaise.” he chuckled.

Blaise shrugged. “I didn’t see anyone else getting it, and it’s so…pointless playing ‘Truth or Dare’ without Veritaserum.” he noted, still watching Draco do his hair. “I hope Pansy can get the MSMD, though.”

Draco nodded his agreement. MSMD, or Monkey-See, Monkey-Do, was a new Wizard drug, used similarly like the Imperious curse in pill form. It was illegal, mostly, unless the Ministry of Magic gave special permission to use it. At least, with the MSMD, the user didn’t have to do anything life-threatening, or anything farther than just an innocent prank.

“Pansy’s a Slytherin, she’ll get it one way or another.” Draco drawled, now putting his ‘Merlin’s Magix Gel’ in his hair so it wouldn’t get mussed easily, yet it still felt soft and blew in the wind…it just didn’t get mussed.

Draco smirked into the mirror and let his hands fall from his hair, turning slightly and examining his look from every angle. He turned to Blaise, and asked, “How do I look?”

Blaise let out a wolf-whistle mockingly. “Gorgeous, Draco. I just don’t know how I’ve managed to keep from jumping you all these years.” he teased, walking out of the bathroom.

Draco smiled and followed. Smirking, he asked, “Maybe it’s the fact that you’re straight?”

Blaise laughed, “Who says a straight man can’t change his mind?” he asked Draco smoothly.

Draco arched his perfect eyebrow. “Am I sensing a,” he gasped in mock surprise while covering his mouth with his hand, “confession?” he whispered, staring with teasing wide-eyes.

Blaise laughed fully at the picture that Draco made, and actually fell back on his bed, holding his sides. Draco chuckled too, but just stood there, waiting for an answer. After a few moments, Blaise straightened up and looked Draco in the eye. Shrugging, he said, “I might be bisexual. Dude, you could make the straightest man totally gay.” he noted.

Draco took this as a compliment and puffed out his chest proudly. “Thank you.” he preened gracefully.

Blaise rolled his eyes. “Remind me never to feed your ego; it’s too big already.” he muttered, but Draco heard him, and he received a slap to the back of the head from the aristocrat. Blaise caught sight of the time and warned, “Draco, you’re going to be late, dude.”

Draco looked curiously at Blaise before glancing at the clock, and sprinted out the door when he realized he only had ten minutes to get up to Gryffindor Tower. Blaise chuckled at the door to the dorm he and Draco shared. Shaking his head and laying back down on his bed, Blaise mumbled, “Just like a love-sick puppy.” and fell back asleep.

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‘Damn it,’ Draco thought when he got to the front entrance to the Gryffindor Tower. ‘I forgot Harry’s gift… oh, never mind. I didn’t realize I put it in my jeans…’

Draco was brought out of his musings when the portrait of the Fat Lady that guarded Gryffindor Tower asked, “And just what might a Slytherin be doing at Gryffindor Tower at eight o’clock in the morning? Well, on that subject, what would a Slytherin be doing here at all? I haven’t seen a Slytherin in this tower since Marcus Flint.” she rambled. “Who are you coming to see, dear?” she asked, noting the way Draco was promptly not listening to her ranting.

“Harry Potter, ma’am.” he answered, mentally scowling at the portrait.

The Fat Lady raised one of her eyebrows. “Aren’t you Draco Malfoy?” she asked suspiciously.

‘Oh, JEEZ.’ Draco thought. ‘This portrait ACTUALLY has a brain. NOW we’re in for it.’ he thought mockingly. Plastering on a fake smile, he replied, “Why, yes, I am.”

Her eyes narrowed and she looked him up and down. “And just why do you want to see Harry?” she asked, again with suspicion.

Draco rolled his eyes. I SO do not have time for overprotective paintings. he thought. “Owlery.” he told her, and waved his hand to signal her to open.

“Tell me why -”

“OWLERY, YOU FAT EXCUSE OF A PORTRAIT!” he yelled menacingly. “I have things to do today, mostly keep Harry Potter out of his sodding dorm so his friends can begin setting up his Sixteenth Birthday Party!” he gritted loudly, curling and uncurling his fingers.

The Fat Lady seemed to take this into consideration, before narrowing her eyes again. “A likely excuse…” she muttered.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake!” he swore, putting his face in his hands. Looking up again, he demanded, “Just tell someone that I’m here, would you?”

The Fat Lady huffed and went into a portrait in the Common Room. Seconds later, Hermione opened the door from the inside. “Hello, Malfoy.” she greeted, not as cold as usual. “Come in; Ginny said you were going to be keeping Harry company while we decorate.”

Draco nodded and stepped into the red and gold room. Ron, Fred and George, Seamus, and countless Sixth Years were awake or beginning to wake up, all of them sitting around an unlit fireplace. Draco was not really shocked, just a little surprised that most of the Sixth Years were helping to run Harry’s party. Ron looked up heatedly at Draco when he entered, and almost said something, but Draco saw - out of the corner of his eye - Hermione shake her head ‘No’ warningly at him.

Draco smirked and walked further in, before turning to Hermione and asking, “Is Harry awake yet?”

Ron scowled, but remained silent under Hermione’s glare. “He hasn’t come out of his room, so I’m guessing not. Come on,” he ordered, and proceeded up the stairs to Harry’s room. Ron almost got up to follow Hermione, probably thinking that Draco would try something. He didn’t, though, and Draco only raised his eyebrow mockingly before following Hermione up the stairs.

They walked in silence, Draco kept his eyes averted towards the wall and Hermione went on, until they both were in front of Harry’s door. Not knowing Draco knew the password, Hermione told the door, “Hinky-Puff.” The door swung open, and immediately, Hermione asked, “Does it smell like…” she sniffed in again, “…green apples in here to you?”

Draco’s eyes widened and took a deep breath through his nose. The room, indeed, smelt like green apples. Draco’s heart raced as he thought of what could have possibly happened in the room the night before. He shrugged to Hermione, and glared at her.

Hermione was oblivious to Draco’s glare, but she did notice that Draco could wake Harry on his own. Turning to him, she said, “I’ll leave you to wake him up. Be gentle, sometimes he forgets where he is, and sometimes he’s expecting to be woken…you never know, so be aware, alright?” she asked, but didn’t stay to hear Draco’s answer.

Draco watched her walk down the stairs and around a corner. He waited until he was sure she was a safe distance away before stepping into the Head Boy’s room, and closing the door softly behind him.

Draco smelt the room again as he walked quietly over to Harry’s bed, and stood by the side. Draco took in Harry’s sleeping form; Harry’s mussed-up hair, that suggested he’d just gotten thoroughly shagged, and his bare, hair-less chest, golden and slightly muscled due to his years of Quidditch. Harry’s silk comforter was down near his naval, which was also exposed. Draco gulped audibly as his suspicions of last night were that much closer to being confirmed.

Draco sat down on the side of the bed, and smiled at Harry’s innocent features. Heeding Hermione’s words, Draco carefully put his hand on Harry’s naked arm and called softly, “Harry?”

Harry’s eyes fluttered, but he didn’t wake up. Instead, Harry smiled and mumbled dreamily back, “Draco…”

Draco beamed, and almost shuddered at the sensations coursing through him. Draco idly wondered whether or not Harry was having wet dreams about him, because of that oh-so-beautiful way he moaned out Draco’s name. Draco cautiously looked down Harry’s body to his neither regions, but the comforter was bunched up and it was impossible to tell if Harry was hard.

Deciding he’d find out, Draco called again, “Harry?”

Harry’s eyes fluttered again and he smiled, not like last time, but more of a sloppy grin. Harry turned his head to the side facing Draco, and murmured, “Draco,” then sighed.

Draco smiled and moved closer to Harry’s head, where he kept his right hand on Harry’s left arm, he moved his left hand to the right side of Harry’s ribs and snaked it underneath the smaller boy. “Harry? Come on, it’s time to wake up.” he told him.

“I don’t wanna,” Harry grumbled, and tried to turn over. Being in Draco’s hold, however, stopped him. “Wanna keep dreaming, it’s a good one.”

Draco smiled softly again. “What are you dreaming about?” he asked, knowing Harry was talking in his sleep.

Harry smiled and sighed before he replied, “Draco.”

Draco’s stomach did a flip-flop. “Well, you need to wake up now.” he said reluctantly, running his hand up and down Harry’s arm. “Come on, wake up.”

Harry pouted in his sleep. “But I don’t want to leave him,” he pleaded. “Why should I wake up, anyway? I wanna stay with Draco forever.”

Silence ensued after Harry finished pleading, Draco ran his last sentence in his head over and over, just to make sure he had heard Harry correctly. ‘I wanna stay with Draco forever.’

Draco took a deep breath, but smiled all the same. Harry really did like him, at least, he did now. Who knows what would have happened had Harry not gotten his accident, though Harry supposedly searched Draco’s mind of all the bad things Draco had done of the Golden Trio.

Keeping his smile, Draco leaned in towards Harry’s ear and whispered, “You need to wake up because Draco’s here.” he told him. “I’m here, Harry. Wake up,” he ordered again, softly.

Draco moved back to see Harry’s face, and watched as sleepy eyelids parted and unfocused green orbs pierced through him. Harry smiled and looked over to his clock, which told him it was around eight-thirty; he couldn’t really tell because he didn’t have his glasses on.

Draco noticed Harry’s squinting to read, and instinctively grabbed Harry’s glasses off the end-table. He gave them to Harry, and Harry put them on and blinked a few times before looking up at Draco and smiling again. “Good morning, Draco.” he greeted unnerved, albeit sleepily.

Draco frowned slightly, ‘Does he not remember the dream?’ he thought sadly to himself, but plastered a grin on for Harry’s sake. “Morning,” he replied back, and eased his had out from underneath the naked body.

Harry’s eyes widened when he realized he was naked, and quickly willed clothes on. Harry felt a nice cotton t-shirt wrap around his upper body while a pair of boxers wrapped around his lower, followed quickly by a pair of jeans forming snuggly around his legs.

Draco’s eyes also widened as he saw Harry’s t-shirt come out of thin air and wrap fittingly around Harry’s small form. “Wow, that’s a shocker first thing in the morning,” was all Draco said.

Harry smiled a lopsided grin, “Yeah, I guess so.” he chuckled. Looking up at Draco, Harry sat up and asked, “Why are you here so early? Is something wrong?”

A small smirk came over Draco’s features as he unemotionally replied, “Yes, Lord Voldemort is standing outside Hogwarts with over a thousand Death Eaters, and he’s been firing ‘Avada Kedavra’ at unknowing students.” and Harry would have been up in a flash had Draco not said all of this with a blank face, and his eyes laughing.

Harry was laughing so hard is eyes were watering. “HA HA HA!” he cried, falling back on his bed and holding his sides. “Oh, that’s good! Voldemort, HA!” he laughed.

Draco smiled and jumped fully on the bed on his knees. “Are you ticklish?” he asked randomly.

Harry stopped laughing immediately. “N-no.” he replied, hurriedly. Draco gained a sadistic expression as he crawled further towards Harry on the bed. “D-Draco? Don’t, hey…what… HA HA! Stop! Please! HA HA!” Harry screamed as Draco pounced on him, tickling his sides with skilled fingers. “HA HA HA, DRACO!” Harry pleaded, “Draco, STOP! HA HA, I can’t breathe!” he laughed.

Draco eased up on Harry and leaned back on his heals as the smaller boy took in deep breaths. Smiling innocently, he asked, “Are you going to die? Wouldn’t that be a shocker, if the Boy Who Lived died from seemingly-harmless tickling, but the all feared ‘Avada Kedavra’ couldn’t do squat to him? Sheesh, Voldemort would be pissed!”

Harry doubled over in laughs again. ‘I’m a really funny guy this morning.’ Draco thought absently to himself. As Harry collected himself once more, Draco shifted his hand cleverly to see if Harry’s Birthday gift was still safely in his pocket. Assured that it was, he sighed silently and waited for Harry to become coherent.

“So,” Harry started as soon as he was able to talk without laughing, “if nothing’s wrong, what are you here for?” he asked curiously.

Draco smiled, “I’m here to make sure you aren’t.” he replied importantly. “Your friends are setting up your Birthday Party in the Common Room, and I’m supposed to keep you busy while they decorate.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t even try to hide it? I mean, you came right out and said it…that completely ruins the surprise!”

Draco rolled his eyes. “And I can just assume you wouldn’t have just read someone’s mind as we walked out of the Common Room, and found out then? Plus, that would make me look like a liar.”

Harry shrugged in agreement. “Good point. I need to use the bathroom, but we can leave right after that, okay?” he asked, getting off the bed.

Draco nodded and also swung his legs over the edge as Harry padded bare-foot into the bathroom and shut the door. Immediately, Draco hopped off the bed and went searching. On instinct, he dropped gracefully, and quietly, to the floor and looked under the bed, and found a box. Biting his lip, Draco cautiously looked up over the bed and made sure Harry was still in the bathroom, before pulling the box out and looking inside quickly.

Sure enough, a small, almost non-existent moan escaped Draco’s lips as he looked at the lube and the cock-ring. He opened up the container and let out a slightly louder moan at the sight of the dildo, but didn’t act on it. Draco’s eyes snapped to the door to the bathroom when he heard the toilet flush.

Draco quickly shut the container and stuffed it back into the box, before shoving the box under the bed again and shuffling to his feet. He quickly sat down on the bed, trying his best to look comfortable. Harry came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, having washed his hands and brushed his teeth after using the toilet.

Harry walked over to the side of the bed and sat down next to Draco, and found a clean pair of socks by the end table. “What are we going to do, then?” he asked Draco as he slipped on a sock.

Draco swallowed nervously. “Well, er…” he started weakly. “I thought, well, that we could go flying?” he asked hopefully.

Harry smiled, now putting on his shoes. “Yeah, that sounds like fun!” Harry exclaimed, quickly tying up his laces sloppily to get out to the pitch faster. He finally got them tied, and stood up hurriedly. “Come on, Draco!” he said, going over to the door.

Draco stood up, “Harry, are you sure it isn’t to soon to go flying again? I mean, you were just released from the Hospital -” he second guessed himself, but was cut off by Harry’s insistency.

“Nah, I’ll be fine!” Harry said hurriedly. “Come on!” he pleaded again, waiting anxiously by the door. Draco shook his head and moved over to the door by Harry. Harry beamed and sprinted down the stairs to the Common Room. “Bye everybody!” he said, then bolted out of the Tower.

Hermione raised an eyebrow over the book she was currently reading, and looked up at Draco, who came down the stairs at a more graceful pace. He saw her look of curiousness, and sighed. “We’re going flying,” was all he said to the Gryffindor Common Room, then followed Harry’s lead out of the portrait hole.

“Jeez, you’re slow!” Harry told him as he exited the Common Room. “Come on, lets go flying!”

“Harry, calm down,” Draco insisted as Harry pulled on his sleeve, “We’ve got all day; the party doesn’t even start until three. We’ve got loads of time.” he told him, walking slightly faster so Harry nearly tripped.

Harry stopped his insistent pulling on Draco’s sleeve, and stared at him. “We’ve got until three?” he asked, “SWEET! Come on, this is faster.” he said, and immediately Disapparated he and Draco to the Quidditch Pitch.

“Harry, don’t you want breakfast?” Draco asked as he and Harry continued to move towards the broom shed. “I know I do.” he added with a slight whine in his voice.

Harry scoffed. “Can’t we eat after we go flying?” he asked, pouting innocently.

Draco stared into the wide emeralds, but couldn’t help himself. “Fine, Harry.” he sighed. Damn, his pout’s as good as mine! Draco thought absently. He knew right then, that whenever Harry pouted in that fashion, he would get what ever he wanted from him.

While Draco was pondering the pout, Harry had already went into the broom shed and got his and Draco’s brooms. Handing Draco his, Harry asked, “Are you just going to stand there, when we could be flying?!”

Draco smiled. “Give me that broom,” he said, and he and Harry mounted and kicked off at the same time. Draco went up and sat about fifty feet from the ground, where his broom stopped, and he looked up to see Harry hovering over him by about twenty feet or so. Draco immediately went up along side him. “Wanna play a game?” he asked, circling Harry’s broom.

Harry kept rotating his head to see the blonde. “Sure, what kind of game?” he asked.

Draco smiled sadistically; Harry really preferred the smirks. “Slytherin Broom Tag,” he answered, and looked as if this was supposed to mean something.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure?” he asked. Harry knew how to play; being a Slytherin in the other dimension/reality thing. Draco nodded.

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“GOT YOU!” Harry shouted in the air to Draco, after hitting him with the Quaffle and flying off at top speed.

Draco hurriedly grabbed the Quaffle before it could fall out of his hands. “You so didn’t! I caught it! Come here, Potter, you’re still on the offensive!” Draco called to Harry, but Harry kept flying around maniacally. “Potter! Get your sodding arse over here and get this Quaffle; you didn’t get me!” he exclaimed playfully.

Harry laughed as he flew down towards the ground and jumped off his broom, then threw said broom over by the shed as he put his fingers up by his head and stuck out his tongue, teasing Draco. “You can’t get me! NAH NA NA NAH NA NA!” he teased, laughing and running around in circles on the Quidditch pitch like a five year old.

Draco frowned slightly, ‘Why does Harry go into childhood at the weirdest times?’ he vaguely thought, then saw Harry teasing him again. With a smirk, Draco threw the Quaffle over by the broom shed, and raced down to where Harry was standing. He jumped off when he was about four feet from the ground, and knocked his broom away before running over to Harry and knocking him to the ground.
“Ooof!” Harry said as Draco landed on top of him. “Damn, Draco! You’re heavy; get off!” he laughed, pushing half-heartedly on Draco’s shoulder to get the boy to move.

Draco lifted his upper body onto his hands, and smirked as he said, “I think another round of Tickle Torture will put you in your place!” before pulling his knees under him to hold him up; one knee near Harry’s groin and the other on the to the right of Harry’s legs. Draco could feel Harry’s boner from the game of tag on his leg, and let himself soak up the feeling of it as he tickled Harry mercilessly to tears.

“HA HA HA!” he laughed, panting as he tried to struggle out from under Draco. “Draco, HA HA! Knock that, HA HA, off!” he demanded.

“Fine! But it’s food time, now. I’m half-starved,” he complained, rolling off Harry and staring up at the slightly clouded sky. Harry sat up on his forearms and nodded. Turning to look at the raven-haired Adonis, Draco asked, “Did you have fun?”

Harry laughed slightly. “Yeah, I love flying.” he said absently. Draco continued looking at Harry. Harry plucked some grass from near where he was and turned partially onto his side to use his other hand in helping rip the grass blades. “I think I like flying most of all when I’m flying with you, though.” he continued, refusing to meet Draco’s questioning gaze. “You were always the worthy opponent weren’t you? The one person I actually have to work hard to beat.”

Draco smiled slightly, “Yeah. Same here,” Draco said, also turning on his side to look better at Harry, “You were the only person able to beat me, you know.” he said softly, resting his head on his arms.

Harry looked guiltily over at Draco. “Draco, you remember when I asked to go through your thoughts about when we were younger; to see all the bad things you did to me and my friends?” he asked nervously. Draco looked over to him and curiously nodded. “Well, I need to tell you something about that,” he said, biting his lower lip.

“You don’t forgive me, do you?” Draco asked softly, eyes slightly misting over with emotion.

Harry’s head snapped up, “No! No, I mean, well…the thing is, Draco,” he started, nervously plucking at grass and biting his lip simultaneously. He took a deep breath and sighed, “The thing is, I never actually saw those memories,” he said steadily, surprising himself that his voice didn’t weaver.

Draco’s eyebrows shot into his hairline and he was sure, if he’d been standing when he received that last, he would’ve been on the ground, haven fallen over in shock. As it was, he simply stared at Harry from his laying position.

“I - I was listening to the thoughts you were having with yourself instead…the internal battle that you were having…” he trailed off, but picked up again with, “I heard how you knew you only did all that bad stuff to me because you liked me and, well,” he paused, trying to get the right words out, “I realized that it didn’t matter what you had done, because after hearing that, there was no way I could’ve hated you…” Harry sighed, trailing off again.

Draco bit his lip nervously. ‘Harry hadn’t viewed my memories?’ he thought to himself, instantly forgetting his hunger. ‘But…but, he likes me now right?’ he wondered, still biting his lip.

Harry looked over at Draco, seeing the civil war behind Draco’s glazed expression. Speaking up, he assured, “I still like you, you know,” Draco looked up, snapping from his daze. “I really don’t care what happened; it was so long ago, and, well, I don’t remember.” he smiled humorously, but it quickly vanished, as he was trying to be serious, “So, can we just forget about the past, and live in the present?” Harry asked hopefully, again tearing up blades of grass, since he was nervous.

Draco smiled immediately and nodded. “Yeah, that’s sounds great,” he acknowledged, “Come on, I want to get some food,” he said, standing up. Harry also stood and looked up at the sky curiously. “What are you looking at, Harry?” Draco asked, also looking up.

“The sun’s position,” he answered, still looking, “I’m trying to figure out what time it is.” he continued, glancing around different places in the sky.

Draco looked away from the sky and rolled his eyes, before looking at his Malfoy ring, and pulling out his wand. Harry saw the pull of a wand and looked down and over to Draco, when Draco muttered, “Tempus,” to it, and the ring promptly told them it was fifteen after noon.

“Your ring can tell you the time?” Harry asked as he and Draco were walking towards the school for lunch, “What else can it do?”

Draco chuckled, “My father put numerous charms on the Malfoy rings, Harry. ‘Tempus’ is only one of them, and even I don’t know them all; and that’s saying something.” he informed the shorter boy, as he opened the door to the Front Entrance.

Draco let Harry go inside first, Harry giving a curt, ‘Thanks’ as he entered. Together, they walked to the Great Hall, and went inside. Most of the Gryffindor Sixth Years were missing; as was to be expected, but it seemed some had came to bring food to the rest. Ginny wasn’t there, either, and Harry and Draco shared the same thought that she was with the Sixth Years, preparing Harry’s party.

“You want to sit at the Slytherin table, Harry?” Draco asked casually, just barely inside the Great Hall. Harry looked over to the table in question, but didn’t answer. “It’ll be alright, you know. They don’t all hate you,” Draco mocked, “Just the better half of them.”

Harry scoffed, “That makes me feel so much better, thanks.” he said sarcastically, staring openly up and down the Slytherin table.

Before he could really decide, Blaise Zabini came up behind Draco and he, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Potter, are you going to sit with us today? I mean, your friends are all gone, and all.” he asked, with the same casualness that Draco held.

Harry looked once over to the Gryffindor table, and, sure enough, his friends were vacated. He turned around to partially face the handsome Italian, and nodded. Draco beamed and he and Blaise led him to the Slytherin table before sitting down with him. Draco sat on one side, while Pansy sat on the other, and Blaise sat opposite him.

Harry didn’t feel at all awkward at the Slytherin table; having sat there in his coma-endorsed reality, so he instantly put a small amount of food on his plate, pacing himself. He noticed Pansy staring at him out of the corner of her eye every once in a while, but whenever Harry would turn in her general direction to grab, say, a biscuit or the juice jug, she would quickly look away and blush.

Harry looked questionably over to his left where Draco sat, and gave him a raised eyebrow. Draco rolled his eyes and made kissy-faces while his eyes laughed. Harry and Blaise chuckled, as well, but Harry found it flattering.

Turning his gaze back over to Pansy, Harry softly put down his fork and put his hand to Pansy’s face, caressing it. “Ginny didn’t hurt you too bad, did she?” he asked, letting something akin to worry lace his voice. He distinctly heard Blaise and Draco’s mocking laughter behind his back, though Draco’s laugh sound a bit strained; forced, even. He also heard Pansy gasp quietly as he touched her face, and she distinctly shook her head ‘No’. “That’s good,” Harry continued, now stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I was worried, that night after she hit you. I hoped you were alright. I’ve never been hit by her before, but, if the sound was anything to go by, I thought it must have hurt.” he said, then softly let his hand drop and picked up his fork to continue eating.

Pansy sat in silent contempt for a moment before putting the freshly-caressed cheek in her hand, looking like a lazy gesture, when she really wanted to feel her cheek after he had touched it, as if it was somehow different now. Harry smiled in accomplishment; barely a twitch upwards with his mouth, while he listened to Blaise and Draco snicker on the other side of him, and again, Harry realized Draco’s laugh was rather forced.

After the snickering didn’t stop for more than a minute, Harry was sure Pansy had heard them laughing at her, for she was sporting a deep-red blush. Sighing silently and rolling his eyes, Harry shifted and nudged Pansy, getting her to discreetly watch Draco. Once Harry was sure she was watching, Harry turned to his left, and put on a voice, used to talk to two-year olds. “Does Dwaco want his face caressed, twoo?” he asked with innocent, pouting eyes. Immediately, Draco stopped laughing and his face gained it’s blushing pink tinge. Blaise hadn’t stopped snickering, though, so Harry added, “What about Bwaise? Does Bwaise want his face caressed?” But, instead of blushing like Draco, Blaise only shrugged and looked intently at Harry, waiting for it. Pulling his normal tone, Harry mock-scoffed. “I don’t think so. You have to be REALLY special to get your face caressed by me,” he stopped and turned to Pansy, who was silently laughing at the blushing Draco, “Right, Pansy?” he asked, winking at her.

She nodded. “You guys aren’t worthy,” she noted, and looked down at her food again in fear that her blush would renew itself.

Harry nodded, then turned back to Draco, who was promptly deciding to ignore Harry for as long as possible. Well, that being said, Draco would be talking to Harry again in five, four, three, two, …

“Why did you go and embarrass me like that?” he whispered, still blushing.

…one.

Harry silently put his hand on Draco’s forearm, and leant in to whisper in his ear, “I just didn’t want Pansy to feel self-conscious, Draco. You know, make herself feel better?” he answered. “It had nothing to do with you, and I knew Blaise wouldn’t rise to the bait.”

Harry straightened up and resumed eating his food. Draco’s blush, much to his liking, went down considerably after that last. Though, there was still color in his cheeks; you just had to be looking for it to find it. All seemed well in the Great Hall, until…

“What the bloody hell?!” A voice exclaimed from the entrance of the Great Hall. Everyone immediately looked up at the entrance doors to find Ron Weasley, red in the face and staring directly at Harry; who was, not notably until now, sitting at the Slytherin table.

Harry stood before anything could happen, “Ron, calm down.” he ordered, and began getting away from the Slytherin table. “See? I’m leaving, it’s fine,” he continued, but Ron didn’t seem to think it was ‘fine’.

“It is bloody well not ‘fine’, Harry! You’re sitting with the Slytherins!” he stated the obvious.

“And what was I supposed to do, Ron? All the Sixth Years are in the Common Room! I was supposed to sit with the Fifth Years?!”

“At least they are Gryffindors!”

“Yeah? When was the last time you sat with the two people who ran your fan club, and who won’t leave you the hell alone, Ron? When was the last time you have?” he asked angrily. Ron kept his red face, and was about to answer when he realized the question was rhetorical. “I’m friends with Draco, and you know that! Draco and Blaise both offered me to sit at the Slytherin table, and no one was complaining, as far as I know. Merlin knows I would have took my arse to the Gryffindor table had anyone had a problem with it.”

After a pregnant pause, Ron exclaimed, “I have a problem with it!”

Harry had been so caught up with Ron, he hadn’t known Draco was standing beside him, now. Harry looked over to his left, and there was Draco, staring angrily at Ron. “You don’t have a damned say in what Harry does, Weasley. You’re being stupid, and you know it. We,” he motioned to himself and the rest of the table, “don’t have a disease; your precious Golden Boy isn’t going to catch anything. It’s just a table,”

“That you sit at, Ferret! I don’t want Harry by you and your…” he made a wave of his arms, as if that solved it. “Harry doesn’t need all this bullshit! He needs to be with Ginny, he needs to play Exploding Snap with his best friends, and he needs to hang with the rest of his house! He doesn’t need you and your lies!”

Harry stepped forward and glared heatedly at Ron before Draco could draw his wand. “Stop it, Ron! Draco’s right, you’re being stupid. Come on,” he said, and grabbed Ron’s arm before Disapparating them to an unknown place.

Dumbledore stood, just after seeing Harry Disapparate. “Silence,” he commanded, because the rest of the school had also seen Harry Disapparate, and at Hogwarts, no less. “Mr. Malfoy, and any others who may know something of what just happened, please follow me.” he ordered calmly, while walking down the center isle and out the Great Hall doors.

Draco exited, and looked back behind him as he continued to get farther away, and noticed that no one else had bothered to follow them. ‘That’s right,’ Draco thought mentally, again looking forward, ‘You all don’t know a damned thing about this; you all just stay there.’ he ordered mentally, then rolled his eyes at how paranoid he was being.

When he snapped out of his thoughts, Dumbledore was gravely ushering him onto the Gargoyle staircase up to his office. ‘Shit,’ Draco cursed, then followed his Headmaster up to the office. ‘I have a funny feeling this is going to be a hell of a game of twenty questions…’

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A/N: Long chaperm huh? Well, consider it a small 'thanks' for sticking with me on this; I don't know what I would do without my reviewers. College has taken it's toll, but with the first quarter over, I've been given a little time. I'll try to use it as wise as possible.!

Oh, and remember when some of you reviewed and voted for my next story? It's posted...::smirks:: 'I Want You To Want Me' is offically up. Read and Review, both here and there, to let me know how I did, okay? See you.