Some Dangerous Liaisons

A/N Ok, I've been on a roll this week. Gotta move with the flow when it hits. I'm moving this week, so in between packing a box, I sit down to write a sentence. LOL! I hate moving. Maybe my hatred is stirring my creative flow. How interesting. Anyway...read away and don't forget to review. I see people that blackmail their readers by telling them they won't update until they get so many reviews. mmmmm... (wicked smile)


Shout outs to:

Cristy: I'm happy you like it. I love my baby Snape. I had to get him in on the action.

Draco Lover: Thanks for reading and reviewing, glad that you like it!

DxH4ever: I do plan to bring Blaise back into the story, I'm just haven't quite decided on what I want him to do yet. And yes, Ginny will be back on the scene. Do you really think she is going to let Harry go? I think not! :)

Chastity: Thank you for your clarifying review. I always feel kind of weird, thinking that no one likes the story. But I know I can't please everyone. So I am always thankful to those who do take the time to review. Oh and most definitely I will complete my story. I have put this much effort in it, trust that I will finish it! :)

thrnbrooke: You get around, doll! Glad to see your support on the other site. :) This chapter is for you.

Elric Maxwell: So glad you are hanging in there with this. Yeah, Draco is probably going to get addicted. He would probably do just about anything for Harry at this point, don't you think? :)

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Review please!



Deceptive Alliances

The large eagle owl banged irritably at the window. It had been there for several minutes, its large eyes staring at the occupant in the room. It gave another loud hoot.

Draco finally stirred. He gazed at the window, his eyes settling on his mother's owl. He groaned.

He retrieved the parchment and the owl gave him another angry hoot before it flew away. Draco snorted. Even the owls are mad at me.

He reluctantly opened his mother's letter.

Draco,

I am most displeased with some of the things that have been reported to me. Mrs. Parkinson informs me that there has been very little progress in your relationship. Pansy has stated that you spend very little time with her and that nothing has been discussed regarding wedding plans. Must I remind you, yet again, of your obligations to the family? It would seem that there is speculation that you may be involved with another person. If there is any truth to that allegation, I would pray that she is "acceptable". I will not force your hand to marry Pansy, if you have found another suitable companion.

If not, then I must demand that you end the relationship now. Please do not force me into harsher methods for dealing with this situation. You are the future of the Malfoy name.

I have also heard that your marks are not as high as they once were. What is going on, Draco? I know that you may still be dealing with your father's absence, but you must maintain the family legacy. There is much to discuss. I will see at Christmas.

Love,

Mother

Draco fell back on the bed, crushing the note in his hand. This was fucking crazy! Pansy was leaking information back to his mother. Shit! This was not good. He dreaded going home for Christmas. Once Narcissa sunk her claws into him about this Pansy thing, he was done for. She would make that marriage happen and he wasn't going to be able to get out it; not without some serious family drama.

Draco felt like his insides were shredded beef. The last two weeks had been pure hell. Harry had barely acknowledged his existence. Draco, full of Slytherin pride, had kept his distance, telling himself the same lie. But it was torture to see Harry in class. Draco's heart ached and he longed to talk to him; to apologize. But he felt that Harry wouldn't listen to him anyway. So why bother?

Draco hadn't been sleeping, barely eating and had closed himself off in his room. He had been caught off guard by a visit from Pansy. She had stood her ground with him and he weakly acquiesced to her demands. He wanted some normalcy back in his life. He forced himself to endure the evening, but their kisses were hollow. Her fingers felt alien on his flesh. He had to make sure he didn't flinch every time she touched him. When she went to give him some head, he practically shoved her across the room.

He immediately apologized, citing a magical outburst of emotion. He couldn't believe that she believed him. He barely managed to get an erection, which she rode enthusiastically. She was oblivious to his nausea. After the ordeal was over, she fell asleep, snuggling against him. Draco barely made it to the toilet before he threw up.

He sat on the floor of the bathroom, shaking violently, his stomach in knots. Why was this happening? Why couldn't he move on from this? Ever since the night of their fight, and he had that wonderful hallucination of Harry, Draco had been taking the drugs every night to try and re-create it. Harry in his arms, Harry touching him, Harry fucking him, Harry whispering, 'I love you, Draco'. It had kept him from going completely insane.

Now here he was, getting scolded by his mother like a little kid, hiding in his room with a broken heart and his drug supply was now gone. Draco tossed the letter onto the bed. What was he going to do? He did not want to marry Pansy. If he had the smallest chance of being with Harry, being engaged or married would surely kill that. Draco had finally had to accept the idea,(and not the truth), that he may be hopelessly in love with Harry. He couldn't go on like this.

He had to talk to him.

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The loud banging in Harry's head went on and on. He twisted under the covers, moaning. He was stuck in the dream, the weirdest one yet. His dreams of late had been very disturbing. Images of darkness, fire, ghostly figures, some of his friends in crazy sexual situations, Justin polyjuiced to look like Draco trying to kill him, graveyards…the images were endless.

He felt the presence before the hand touched him, trying to shake him. Harry's hand flashed out like lightening and loud crash shook the room. Harry sat straight up, eyes darting wildly. What the fuck was going on? A low groaning sound came from the floor. The crumpled figure of Neville assaulted his vision.

"Neville?" Harry jumped from under the covers, nearly falling himself as his feet tangled in the blankets. He kneeled down by his friend.

Neville groaned again, his eyes flickering. "Harry", he whispered. There was an ugly lump forming on the back of his head. "I was just trying to wake you up. We've been knocking on your door for so long. I came through the bathroom."

The banging had now ceased. Harry turned to see Ron and Dean entering through the bathroom door.

"Harry! What's going on? What happened to Neville?" Ron came over to look at the boy.

"I don't know. I just tried to wake him up. All of a sudden I was across the room."

Ron looked hard at Harry. "You're doing it again, aren't you? This wandless magic thing. You can't even control it, can you?"

Harry stood up and returned Ron's hard look. "I can control it. I just don't like people barging into my room and hovering over my bed. It was reflex, that's all. I didn't mean to hurt Neville."

Ron reached down to pull Neville into a standing position. He swayed a little, but kept upright.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't want to barge in, but…they asked me to." Neville bit his lip.

Harry, still looking at Ron said, "Perhaps you shouldn't be so eager to jump every time someone asks. I may not be so forgiving next time." He heard Neville's gasp.

Ron and Dean exchanged glances. Something was very wrong with Harry. They all knew it. The last couple of weeks had revealed that Harry was acting and doing some very strange things.

First, he had completely stopped coming to Quidditch practice. They didn't have a game coming up for awhile, which was good, but for the captain and Seeker to not even bother to show up, did nothing to help team morale. The team finally demanded that Ron talk to Harry about it. He had reluctantly approached him. Harry's response was to step down as captain. Ron was flabbergasted. He had begged Harry to stay in the position, but he flatly refused. The team had been up in arms about Harry's decision.

The second weird thing was that Justin Finch-Fletchley had practically glued himself to the front of Gryffindor Tower one evening, demanding to be let in to see Harry. It became pretty obvious to all of them that Justin was completely obsessed with Harry. Ron had finally told the Hufflepuff to get lost, but Justin clearly announced his intentions of staying around. At that time, no one knew where Harry was. By the time Harry showed up, Ginny had staked out her claim on Harry over Justin. A shouting match had ensued, resulting in a smug Justin informing Ginny that she didn't have the "right stuff" anymore.

Ron had pulled his wand. Here was another accusation of his mate being with a guy. But Ginny beat him to it. She had lunged at Justin, screaming about his "lies". Ron had pulled her away. Hermione yelled at Harry, demanding to know where he had been. The look that came over his face silenced them all. Harry then started babbling about "picking the flesh from their bones". They all looked at him fearfully. Justin was the only one brave enough to approach him, asking if he was ok. Ginny hissed malevolently at Justin's actions, but Ron held her tightly. Harry had then blinked, looked at them and gave them a wicked smile. He stroked a finger down Justin's cheek, causing the boy to shudder in delight. Ron and the others gaped; Ginny resumed her struggle and Hermione's eyes narrowed to straight lines. Harry never said another word.

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After that day, Hermione had paid much closer attention to Harry. He still wasn't eating and other than seeing him in class, he disappeared often. She noticed that Justin stared at Harry as much as Ginny did, which wasn't a very good thing. She had noticed that there was a change in his interaction with the Hufflepuff, which got her to really start thinking. Had Harry done something with him? His odd appearance at the Tower with such confidence certainly gave that impression. His smug words to Ginny also told an even story.

But the even stranger thing was that a certain Slytherin was also staring at Harry. His stare was not full of the hatred and bitterness that was typical for him. It was a look of desperation, of heart ache and a longing so strong, it almost took her breath away. In fact, he looked just like Ginny.

Hermione thought back to Ginny's accusation of someone leaving Harry's room. The person had been tall and blonde, and Malfoy certainly fit that description. Had something really been going on between them? Had Harry been in a relationship with Malfoy?? It would explain some things; like Harry's disappearances and how secretive he had become.

She had then taken the time to watch them in class to see if there was any type of clue. Malfoy looked even more desperate, and he would try hard to ignore him. Harry often became tense and angry as soon as Malfoy was anywhere in the vicinity. Justin would also provide telling clues. He would get very happy when he saw Harry and the two would talk briefly. The minute Malfoy entered the picture, Justin's face would darken. If Malfoy got anywhere close to Harry, Justin would look positively ill with worry.

Hermione had her answer.

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Severus had noticed a change in them as well. For the last two weeks, an oppressive cloud had descended upon his classroom like a blanket. Severus knew that something had happened between them. There were a lot of furtive glances. Harry looked angry and tense; Draco troubled and desperate. Neither looked they had slept much. Severus had also noticed the Hufflepuff boy fawning over Potter. Severus had eyed this with much distaste. After a few spying sessions, he had come to the conclusion that this boy had somehow snagged Potter. This irritated Severus more than anything. Despite his feelings on their doomed relationship, a stronger and more basic emotion took over his objections; pride. That damned Slytherin pride. He was not willing to allow Draco to lose his lover to a Hufflepuff. And he doubted Draco even knew it was happening. It was time to rectify that. He had become annoyed with the tension in his classroom.

Severus walked amongst the students, eyeing their potions. Justin's potion had too thick of a consistency.

"Twenty points from Hufflepuff," he sneered. That felt good.

Justin gaped.

He moved towards Draco, who was angrily hacking his roots.

"I'd like a word, Mr. Malfoy. Stay after class." Severus had barely moved his lips. Draco nodded.

When class was over, everyone got up to file out. Severus's brow furrowed when Draco stared miserably at Harry's retreating back. The Gryffindor never even looked in his direction. Draco closed his eyes, pain written all over his face. Severus noticed that Justin was practically falling all over himself; almost running to catch up to Potter. Severus forced himself to not give the boy a month's worth of detention. He decided he had enough of this nonsense.

"Draco, I'm concerned. Your marks have been declining this term. Your work here is uninspired. What is going on?"

Draco winced. "NEWTS are keeping me pretty busy. I guess it's been a little harder than I thought. I will do better. I know Mother still wants me to have the best marks. She tells Father my reports."

"Oh, I see. I had expected you to tell me that you were in love. You glow as if you are. But now you seem…unhappy. Are things not going well with Miss Parkinson." Black eyes bored into him.

Draco swallowed a huge lump. He knew Severus was a Legilmens. If he read his mind…

"Oh, Pansy and I are doing well. Mother is most pleased with the relationship. I just received a letter from her. We just had little fight, that's all."

"Really? How interesting, since the letter Narcissa just sent me says how displeased she is with you about the progress that is being made with Miss Parkinson. Apparently, you have not been paying her any attention this year. The families are getting concerned".

Draco broke out in a sweat. How was he going to get out of this one?

"Her letter also says that she has heard that you may be involved with someone else. She has asked me to look into the matter, Draco. Do I need to look into this? Should I have a little peak into your thoughts? Or are you going to tell me what is really going on?"

Draco's heart was thumping a mile a second. Severus's eyes were burning holes into his face. He shifted slightly, not wanting to show his god-father that he was at a complete loss of what to say. He finally decided on a modified version of the truth.

"OK, yes. I have been seeing someone else. It's not a big deal though." His stomach twisted with the lie.

"Oh…and who would this person be?" Severus had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at Draco's look.

"What? Just a girl I met."

"Does this girl have a name, Draco?" The black eyes continued to burn him.

Draco struggled to think of a name. "Audrey Tinsdale." He prayed Severus didn't know who that was.

"She's a lesbian, Draco."

Fuck! "Millicent Bulstrode"

"Longbottom's girlfriend? I hardly think so."

"Parvati Patil?"

Severus glared hard at Draco. "Enough! I see that I am going to have to report to Narcissa that you are deliberately shirking your family duty. Whoever you are "seeing", is obviously unacceptable. Narcissa will of course forbid you to ever see this person again. She can perform a spell to make sure it doesn't happen." He waited patiently for the stammering to begin.

"Severus! Please don't tell Mother that. I-I-I can't tell you who it is. I want to, but I can’t. You wouldn’t understand."

Severus looked at Draco casually. "Would this person happen to be…say…male?"

Draco jerked up as if he had been stuck with a pin. He eyed Severus suspiciously. Had he read his mind?

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I offend you? Things must be different now. At one time, it was acceptable, almost expected that the most powerful wizards had lovers of both sexes. It was important to know both fully. Sexual relations only increase ones' power anyway. I just thought that perhaps you were doing so. I apologize, Draco." He said silkily.

Draco eyed his god-father evenly. "So what you're saying is it's not disgraceful to have a male lover?"

"No Draco, it's not. Your father even had one, many years ago. The Dark Lord has had several, for obvious reasons. I don't know about Dumbledore, but seeing that he is 150 years old, I am sure he probably did at one point. Bellatrix had a lesbian lover for years, even after her marriage. She was actually going to leave Rodolphus and marry her. Unfortunately, Avila was killed by Frank Longbottom. I dare say that is what sustained Bellatrix's hatred for the Longbottoms and sealed their fate. As you know, Bellatrix never really recovered. She became quite…fanatical."

Draco's mind was spinning. "My father had a male lover?? Who was it? Does Mother know this?"

Severus grunted. "Of course she knows. She has had a lover herself. You are friends with the woman's son, Blaise. I don't recall Lucius's lover at the moment."

Draco listened with renewed hope. His own parents had same sex lovers before. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad that he liked men. Well, that wasn't exactly the correct statement. He liked one man and one man only.

But that man didn't like him anymore. There were plenty of guys here at Hogwarts that wanted him. Perhaps it may be time to make his presence known.

He ignored the stab in his heart at the thought. Why couldn't he get over this?? Damn him! It had been two weeks since they had talked! He should've moved on from him by now. Who was he kidding? He didn't want anyone but Harry.

Severus's voice brought him back to reality. "So Draco, am I to assume you have a male lover?"

Draco swallowed and took a chance. "Yes, I-I had one. But we ended things." He looked very unhappy, but tried his best to cover it up.

Severus nodded, and then spoke again. "Is that what you wanted? For things to be over?"

Draco stared down at the floor. "It doesn't matter now. It's over. It was just sex anyway. I'll find someone new." He looked up into Severus's face.

Severus looked at Draco; his anguish so clear, even as he struggled to hide it.

"You may go, Draco. I will not tell Narcissa this, yet. I want to see your marks and your work improve." He sat down at his desk to grade his papers.

Draco picked up his bag to leave the room. He had just made it to the door when Severus's voice called out to him.

"Oh, Draco, those Hufflepuffs really have gotten bold this year, haven't they? I think it may be time that Slytherin puts them back into the shadows."

Confusion settled over Draco's expression. He turned around to face Severus, who was still looking down at his work.

"Hufflepuffs? I don't even notice them. They never give me any trouble."

Severus looked directly at him, his icy black eyes glinting with excitement.

"Are you sure about that?"

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Draco found himself staring at the Hufflepuff table during dinner. Severus's cryptic comment had him baffled. The Potions Master hardly paid any attention to Hufflepuffs except to take points from them. What was he going on about?

Draco only knew of the Quidditch players, and he remembered Cedric Diggory, but that was about it. Oh, and then there were a couple of girls he had slept with last year, but both of them had graduated. His eyes rested on Justin. That was the guy that was in Blaise's room a couple of months back. Draco never did get the full story on that situation.

Draco studied him. He was an average looking bloke, not his type of course, but he wasn't exactly ugly. Draco remembered he had been petrified back in 2 nd year. That meant he was a mudblood…er..muggle-born. He couldn't imagine that anything was going on between him and Blaise. Blaise might be a little eccentric lately, but would he go far as to have sex with a muggle-born Hufflepuff? Blaise could definitely have his way with someone like Justin. Draco smirked; he would have to ask him.

As he watched, Justin perked up considerably. His eyes were shining like a lovesick puppy. God, he looked ridiculous! He was practically drooling over himself. Draco grimaced. Who had gotten his panties in a bunch? Justin's attention was transfixed to the entrance hall doorway. Draco turned and felt the same drool that he had just condemned Justin about.

Harry was coming through the entrance for dinner. Draco hadn't seen him in the hall for the last three days. Seeing him now felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach. His eyes followed him as he headed towards the Gryffindor table. Before he sat down, he looked directly at him.

Draco's heart dropped into his stomach. Harry had acknowledged him! He leaned forward, heart beating rapidly. Did this mean Harry wanted to talk to him again? Hope burned in his chest. He looked down at his food, trying to hide the blush that was spreading over his cheeks. He looked up again and a jealously he had not known he was capable of possessing erupted inside his body.

Justin had appeared at the Gryffindor table and was standing next to Harry. The git was all over him, his hands were touching Harry's back, practically giving him a back massage right there in the dining hall. Harry didn't look bothered by the touch, and he actually turned and smiled at the Hufflepuff. Draco's heart lurched. That smile melted him and Justin as well, because he then tried to pull Harry up. He talked briefly to the other Gryffindors. Harry then shrugged, got up and followed Justin back to the Huffletable and sat down with the fawning boy.

Draco was incensed. What the fuck was this shit?? Jealousy ripped through Draco's heart. He slammed his fork down so hard, that it bent the metal handle almost in two. Pansy looked up from her spot.

"Draco? Are you OK?" She had been afraid to approach Draco lately. He had been in such a foul mood. She had never seen him so angry and brooding before. Not even his losses to Potter at Quidditch had come anywhere near his recent mood swings. He had the whole House walking around on eggshells.

Draco ignored her, his eyes fixed on the Hufflepuff table. Pansy turned to see what he was looking at. She glanced towards the Hufflepuffs. Why would Draco be interested in them? They were nothing. But then her eye caught the familiar raven hair. Potter was sitting with them. Now that was odd. She had never known him to sit at other tables, even though many students did.

She glanced back at Draco, who was staring at them with a fury that scared her. It took her a moment to make the connection. Draco was staring at the Hufflepuffs, a table he never noticed before. Now that Potter is at the table, he is…angry? Why would he be angry at that? Why would Draco care that Potter was sitting at another table? Why would Draco care about Potter at all? She had only seen one other person look at Potter with the same amount of fury and intensity and that had been Ginny Weasley.

She realized that Draco was getting up. She stood up too.

"Draco, where are you going?"

"Leave me the fuck alone, Pansy." He hissed.

Tears filled her eyes. "Fuck you, Draco Malfoy!" She screamed. Everyone in the hall turned and stared. Draco gaped at her, appalled. She picked up her plate and hurled it at him. Pieces of chicken, potatoes and salad flew in all directions. Goyle was hit by a flying chicken leg. Draco ducked and the plate slammed against the wall, shattering into hundreds of tiny pieces. Draco whipped around, goggling at her.

She marched over to where he was standing, even though they were separated by the long wooden slab. As she approached, Draco saw that Harry was watching him, his expression unreadable.

"I'm tired of you treating me like shit! Mark my words, Draco, you're going to be sorry one day. Narcissa is on my side. You'd better watch your back!"

"I would watch your own first, Pansy." Draco said with a sneer.

Pansy frowned, and then turned. Professor McGonagall stood behind her, eyes blazing.

"Miss Parkinson! I will not tolerate that sort of language or destruction in this school! Do you understand?" She hissed like an angry goose.

Draco took that opportunity to look at Potter again. The boy was gone from his seat. Draco twisted his head quickly. He looked just in time to see Harry leaving the dining hall, Justin on his heels. Draco snarled, his hands curling into fists. He glanced at the dais where the teachers were eating. He locked eyes with Severus. The man gave him a slight nod, his lips curling into a smirk. He had just unleashed his little dragon.

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Draco had no idea where the Hufflepuff common room was. He finally had to resort to following a few of the gits to their House. They were too far away and he didn’t really feel like calling out to them. It was too undignified for a Slytherin to call out to some young Hufflepuffs. He laughed as they kept nervously looking behind them as he trailed them. It was like a fox in a chicken coop. Their House was not far from the dining hall, which surprised him. They disappeared through their portrait. Draco sighed. Now he would have to wait until someone came along.

He didn't wait long. Ernie MacMillan came shooting out of the portrait, seconds later. His eyes widened when he saw Draco. He approached the Slytherin nervously.

"What do you want, Malfoy? Why are you bothering us?"

"Where's Justin?" Might as well get straight to the point.

Ernie started. Draco was looking for Justin? This couldn't be a good thing. He knew it had something to do with Harry.

"I don't know where he is, but I'll let him know you came by. What is it regarding?"

"The end of his sad little life," Draco snarled viciously.

Ernie gulped. "Pardon?"

"Just tell him I want to talk to him, tonight! Don't make me have to come looking for him again."

Draco spun on his heel and walked away. Ernie stared after the blonde. What the hell had Justin got into? He knew that this thing with Harry was going to be big trouble. Now Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin Prince, was at their common room door. And he looked pissed.

When Justin showed up, Ernie relayed the message. Ernie watched as Justin's face drained of color.

"Malfoy actually came here?" he asked, incredulously. He had not expected that.

"Yes, and he was pissed to high hell. Justin, what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything wrong. Harry left him fair and square. He can't blame that on me."

Ernie did a double take. "What?? Harry and Malfoy?? You're joking, right?"

"No, I'm not joking. They had a thing."

"Wait a minute, you're telling me that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are having a thing?? The Draco Malfoy?? And Harry Potter??

"Yes, Ernie. They had a thing. It was just a couple of months."

"A couple of months? Oh my God, Justin! You've been seeing Draco Malfoy's boyfriend? He's going to kill you."

"It was over with Malfoy. He's with me now."

"Harry left Malfoy for you? And now Malfoy knows that? And are you sure it's over? He didn't look like it was over."

"Oh, come on Ernie, you know how he is. He’s a rich and spoiled brat. Yes, it's over. Harry was just a toy for him."

"Justin, it's not over. I saw his face! Either Harry is lying to you about the relationship being over, or Draco hasn't gotten the news yet. He didn't come to our dorm to sing Christmas carols! He was coming to fight you to the death!"

"Well, let him come." Justin said stubbornly. "Harry's mine now. He'll make the right decision. He’ll choose me over Malfoy."

Ernie groaned louder. "Did Harry tell you that it was over with Malfoy?"

Justin sighed wearily. No one understood. "Well, no. But he hasn't exactly discussed his relationship with me. He wouldn't be with me if he was still with Malfoy. I'm going by Gryffindor a little later, I will talk to him about it and then you'll see."

Ernie felt weak. His hands flittered behind him like little birds, trying to find a couch to sit down. Hufflepuff prided itself on staying out of trouble and not causing drama. In one fell swoop, Justin had managed to bring Draco Malfoy's wrath down on their House, by bringing one very unavailable Harry Potter into his bedroom, another amazing feat unto itself. It didn't matter if the relationship was over. Malfoy didn't think it was over. He looked ready to murder somebody. That boy was in love.

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Draco had paid a couple of knuts to a first year Slytherin to keep an eye on the Hufflepuff common room for him. The boy was to notify him as soon as Justin came or went to the dorm. He didn't have to wait too long before the boy dashed to the library, where Draco had been waiting. The breathless boy told him that Justin had left Hufflepuff and had headed towards the east part of the castle.

Draco knew that he was heading for Gryffindor. He left the library to head him off.

He arrived around the corner from the Gryffindor entrance just as Justin did from the opposite direction. Draco moved back into the shadows. A few moments later, Harry emerged from the entrance. They were talking loud enough for him to hear.

"Justin, I'm pretty tired tonight. I don't really feel like any company, OK? I'll talk with you tomorrow." Harry was languishing casually against the wall.

"Harry, I just have to ask you something. I know you never really talked to me about your previous relationship, but I wanted to know if it is really over."

"Why are you asking me that, Justin?"

"Well, Draco Malfoy came by my dorm today looking for me."

Harry's eyes widened. He pulled away from the wall. "He did? What did he want?"

"I haven't seen him yet. Ernie said he was kind of…pissed off."

Harry didn't say anything. Draco watched with interest.

"So, it is over, right? You guys aren't still together? I know you don't want to talk about it, but I need to know, Harry."

Harry looked towards the ceiling and sighed. "Justin, I don’t want to talk about Malfoy. It’s…complicated. I told you that I wasn’t ready for anything more than friendship with you. I know it must be kind of messed up because of what we did, but I just need some time alone."

Justin looked stricken and Draco silently thanked the gods. "Harry, no! Things have been going ok. I promised you that I wouldn't push you. But don't turn back now." He inched closer to Harry and it took all of Draco's will power to not rush him.

Justin’s hand snaked under Harry’s shirt. A red fog dropped over Draco, completely obliterating any sense he may have had. He instantly knew he was going to have a wonderful future in Azkaban. He was about to murder one of his classmates and seriously and permanently maim his ex-lover. Sorry wizarding world, but you are going to have to find another savior. Harry was about to be permanently incapacitated. Maybe he could get a cell next to Lucius. He pulled his wand, ready to end all their suffering.

A hand closed around his arm. Draco jerked hard and almost shouted out in fright. He spun around, eyes bulging.

Ginny stood there, a grim expression on her face.

“I’m not even going to ask why you are lurking in the dark, Malfoy. But since your focus seems to be on that Hufflepuff toad, I wouldn’t have interfered. I would rather enjoy his demise. However, knowing your history with Harry, I can’t risk you missing your shot. Harry’s demise would be an added benefit for you.”

“What are you doing here, Weasley? Are you spying on Har…Potter?” He had to catch himself.

“Ummm…the better question is why you are here? I live in Gryffindor, remember?” She studied him closely. “Is something going on with you and Justin?”

Draco stared at Ginny in shock. “Justin?? What do you take me for? Of course no-…” And then he stopped. She had no idea. A small smile played over Draco’s lips.

“Justin has some pretty interesting ideas on Potter. He’s telling people that he can get him to be his boyfriend, now that he available. Now that Potter is single, he’s fair game on the market. Since Potter didn’t quite cut it with a girlfriend, maybe he needs a boyfriend. I don’t know if Potter is going to go along with it. I’m sure you did your best with him. Potter can be quite stubborn. I’m here to make sure Justin didn’t cast any spell on him. It has to be genuine.” Draco knew he had hit the right buttons.

Ginny’s face had turned red. She turned furious eyes to Justin. “That little fuck! I’m going to rip his intestines out! Oh, he is gonna die!” She whipped out her wand and moved up the corridor. Draco reached out and caught her arm. She tried to twist away, but Draco held fast to her.

“Weasley, Weasley…calm down. Don’t go flying off like that. You have to be smooth. Do you think Potter will appreciate that? No. But perhaps you can speak to him on a more adult level. At least let him know what Justin has been saying. You are the queen of espionage, from what I’ve been told. Find out some things, and then let Potter know. After that, then handle Justin. I’m pretty sure you are quite capable of dealing with that foul, uncouth git.” He gave her a well practiced smile.

Ginny eyed him uncertainly. Malfoy was being a bit too helpful. That was not like him at all. “Why are you helping me, Malfoy? You hate me and Harry. What do you care?”

“I don’t care. I’m doing this for me. I don’t like losing a bet.”

Ginny gave him a sinister smile. “OK, Malfoy.” She put her wand away and looked towards the portrait entrance. “I suggest you leave. Justin is coming this way.” Her looks turned dark. “I’m going to destroy that fucker.” She moved back towards another corridor, slipping into the shadows.

Draco smiled to himself. He now had Weasley taking care of Justin for him. He eased back into the shadows as well, waiting for him to pass. He had his own words for the git. But he didn’t want to do it too near the Tower, in case Harry came back out.

Draco set out behind Justin. He came around the corner and he saw Justin leaning up against a wall, looking terribly upset. He looked up when he saw Draco. A look of fear briefly crossed his face, then stubbornness.

"I heard you were looking for me, Malfoy. I can guess what it is that you want."

Draco pursed his lips. "Can you? And what would that be?"

"You want to know what's happening between me and Harry. Just so you know, we are together now.”

He fixed Justin with a cold gaze.

"He doesn't love you. You must know that."

"I know he doesn't love me, yet. But I have one thing that you don't. His trust. You lost that by being self-centered. He'll never go back to you."

Draco was taken aback. "What the fuck do you know about it? Harry trusts me!"

Justin smiled wickedly. "Does he now? So if he does, why is he with me now and not you?"

"You really think Harry's with you? He’s only with you because he didn’t get what he wanted. So don’t think that your little tryst means anything.”

"Did yours mean anything? Does he love you, Malfoy? Did he ever tell you that?"

Justin’s question silenced him. His hands started to hurt from where he was digging his nails in his palms. He didn't know if Harry loved him or not. They had never talked about it. There was no fucking way that Harry loved this shithead.

But Justin was still talking. "You probably told him that it was nothing but sex, right? So why would he put his heart into something like that, knowing he would get hurt. Harry's not stupid. You are incapable of allowing anyone to get close to you, so you would have effectively shut him out. You are unable to lower your guard and be honest with him because you are always trying to have the upper hand. I know all about you, Draco Malfoy."

"You don't know shit about me! You don't know what I'm capable of!"

"And apparently, neither does Harry, which brings us right back to where this conversation started. It's over, Draco. You lost Harry and now it’s time to be a big boy and accept it and move on."

Draco couldn’t believe that Justin was talking to him like this. Fury invaded his blood stream; if felt like his veins were ready to explode. Anger coiled around his guts and strangled them.

"Listen here, you little shit! I decide when it's over and not you! You don't know anything about our relationship! It was…more than sex!"

"Do you love him?"

"What?"

"I said, do you love him?"

"That's none of your business!"

"And that's why Harry is with me. I love him! And I tell him that. And I'll tell anyone who asks me, that I love him. He has no reason to question my motives or actions. I give of myself willingly, anything to please him. As I said before, you aren't capable of that. You aren't capable of love, Malfoy. It's not in you to love someone else. You are cold and unfeeling and Harry needs someone who can show they love him. Someone who is willing to sacrifice and give everything of themselves and not hold back! I can do that. So I already know the answer. Harry was just another one of your conquests and a toy. You don't love him and he’ll never go back to you. Leave us alone, Malfoy. We can be happy. Just keep on pretending like it never hap-"

Draco's fist whistled through the air and connected with Justin's mouth. His eyes widened in shock and pain and he fell backward into the wall. Blood spurted from his mouth. He clapped his hands over his mouth. Blood ran between his fingers and down the front of his robe. Justin pulled his hand away. Two of his teeth were in the palm of his hand. He looked at Draco, and gave him a wry smile.

"You can hit me all you want, Malfoy. It doesn't make what I said any less true."

Draco backed away from Justin, his heart racing. It wasn’t true! He could love someone! He did! He wanted nothing more than to continue smashing this bastard's head in. But he knew that Harry would never forgive him if he seriously hurt him. Besides, once Ginny got a hold of him, that smug look on his face would get wiped away.

Justin grinned at him, looking like an oversized jack-o-lantern. “I know it’s difficult to let him go, Malfoy. But I have every faith that you can accomplish it. You are Draco Malfoy, after all.”

Draco almost laughed. Despite the fact that this nobody of a wizard had managed to silence him for the moment, he did remind him of that basic fact. He was Draco Malfoy. And what Draco wanted, Draco got. Even though Justin didn’t know it, he had given him the keys to winning Harry back. He gave the boy a devilish wink, turned on his heel and strode off.

Justin watched him go, slightly unnerved. He was just beginning to feel that he had won the battle, but then Draco abruptly left. He wasn’t stupid enough to think that he was as ruthless as Draco Malfoy, but he had held his own against him. Justin knew that Draco did love Harry, even though he had wanted to plant the seeds of doubt in the blonde’s head, by reminding him of the “it’s only sex” justification. That jab had been a stab in the dark, but he figured that Draco and Harry wouldn’t have been comfortable enough to admit their relationship was anything but sex. He wasn’t blind to the fact that Harry did have strong feelings for the Slytherin.

---------

The weekend came to Hogwarts. There was only one more week of school until the Christmas holidays. Harry sat on his bed, reading through the various spells and potions that he would need for the complete Summoning spell. He had managed to get most of the ingredients for all of it, but was still missing a few items. He had run into a small problem. The owls.

He couldn’t go to the owlry anymore. They all sensed his “visitor”. The minute he stepped foot into the place, the owls went berserk; flapping their wings and giving off loud hoots. Hedwig wouldn’t even come near him, not even for a treat. This made sending off for items rather difficult. He didn’t trust anyone to send or receive things for him, except maybe Draco. But he didn’t want to think about him. He had been trying hard to move on from the blonde. It wasn’t working very well.

The only reason he hadn’t sought the boy out yet was mainly because of his guilt over Justin. Harry had only caved into the Hufflepuff’s sexual advances twice since the night he had argued with Draco. Both times, all he could think about was Draco.

Harry didn’t want a confrontation so he avoided Draco as much as possible. Draco had been surprisingly quiet. Harry began to wonder if Draco cared about him at all, he seemed so cool and collected all the time. But Justin had told him a few days ago that Draco had been looking for him. Harry was surprised at how he had felt to hear Draco’s name mentioned to him. He felt like a jolt of electricity had gone through him.

Harry sighed irritably. He was growing more restless these days, his thoughts and dreams full of scary images. He had run out of drugs the day before and he needed to get some more. The drugs helped the images to not be so vivid; it kept the beast within him asleep. He didn’t know how much longer that would work, especially when he completed the Summoning. Maybe he could try the owls again, just grab one of them and force them to take the parchment.

Harry left the Tower, praying he didn’t run into Justin, who would most certainly try to solicit him for sex again. Harry made it down to the main floor and began heading in the direction of the owlry. Just as he was passing the now silent Great Hall and the main doors he saw Draco.

The blonde had just come in. His pale skin was flushed from the chilly night air. He was dressed mostly in black, which looked so sexy against his blonde hair. Draco didn’t look up at first and Harry quickly decided to make a hasty exit. He was almost out of his line of vision when…

“Harry!” It was Justin, coming up from their dorm. Harry cursed inwardly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Draco focus in on him.

“Hey Justin,” Harry said uncomfortably. Draco was now heading towards him. Justin hadn’t seen him yet.

“Where are you going? I’m on my way to Hogsmeade to meet Ernie. You wanna come?”

“Nah, you go ahead. I have some things to do.” Draco was almost upon them. Harry held his breath, wondering what the Slytherin was going to do.

“Are you sure, Harry? I really want you to come. Maybe I can come see you lat-“ He broke off when Draco appeared around the corner. His lips tightened.

Draco inclined his head a fraction of an inch to Justin and then winked. He looked at Harry. “Potter, long time no see. I need to talk to you for a minute, if that’s ok with you.” He reached up and gently ran his fingers along Harry’s back.

Both Justin’s and Harry’s eyes widened, but for different reasons. Harry turned and stared at Draco. The blonde returned his look with a flirtatious smile. Harry’s lips parted with a small gasp.

“Is that a yes or no?”

Justin piped up. “He has things to do, Malfoy.” He had a very worried expression.

“He can answer for himself, Justin.” He looked at Harry, who now seemed irritated. “It will only take a moment.”

Harry looked at Justin. “I’ll talk to you later, Justin. Have fun in Hogsmeade.” He glanced at Draco. “I’m on my way to the owlry. If you want to talk and walk, then I’m leaving now.” He headed down the corridor.

Justin felt his stomach churning. He glared at Draco, who was smirking. “Bye, bye Justin.” He followed Harry down the hall.

They walked to the owlry in silence. Draco stayed a few feet behind Harry, deciding to not bridge the distance. A light misty rain had started to fall, covering them with moist droplets. Harry stopped when he reached the bottom of the stairs that led the owlry tower. His eyes traveled over Draco’s body and rested on his face as he caught up to Harry.

“What do you want, Draco?” The blonde noticed the use of his first name.

“You”. He stepped across the narrow space between them, wrapped his arms around his warm body and slowly brought his lips to Harry’s. He then quickly sucked Harry’s lips, causing them to part. Harry was so shocked, that at first he didn’t move. He gave a low moan and Draco sucked on his lips eagerly.

Harry came back to earth with a jolt. Draco had said he was degrading himself by being with him! Harry started to pull away, but Draco’s grip tightened on him. Harry squirmed, and Draco held him closer, his face in Harry’s chest. Harry began to hiss angrily, struggling to get out of his grasp, but Draco only held on tighter, as if his life depended on it. He never said a word, just held him.

“Let go of me, Draco! Stop!” Harry twisted violently, but Draco’s grip felt like a binding spell. He looked down at the top of the blonde’s head; the golden waves were loose and rubbing against his coat. He thought he felt him shudder.

“Draco?” Harry stopped struggling, feeling exhausted and frustrated.

Draco continued to hold him, his face buried in the jacket. He could smell his scent through the wool coat. He inhaled it deeply, the wondrous aroma alighting his senses on fire. He slowly stood up and looked at Harry; his silver eyes glinting in the faint moonlight.

He backed away from Harry a short distance. He unzipped his jacket and revealed a black button up shirt. Without warning, he ripped the shirt open, the buttons exploding off with small pops.

“What are you doi-“ Harry started. He gazed at Draco’s chest.

The normally flawless skin was now interrupted with a torrent of color over his pectoral muscles. Harry moved closer to inspect the site. A large green dragon with silver glittering eyes had had been beautifully tattooed onto Draco’s chest, but this one was charmed to move. As Harry watched the dragon emitted scarlet and gold flames; each one shaped like tiny firebolts, identical to the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Upon even closer inspection, the dragon’s green scales were miniscule letters that read

hphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphp

The entire dragon was made up of his initials.

Harry backed away from Draco, his mouth too dry to speak. He tried anyway.

“Why did..?” was all he managed to croak out.

“I’m in love with you, Harry”.