So Far Away

So Far Away
By: Gwen
Rating: NC17 overall
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Warning: AU/Slash/Drama/Angst/Romance
Betas: Tracy & Dorothy
Feedback: Much appreciated
Disclaimer: The \"boys\" belong to JKR. I just borrow them on occasion. No money is being made from this little adventure.

Summary: Interesting things can happen when you\'re away from everyone and everything you know.


Chapter 18 - Saturday Sports

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hamilbustbustled with activity at an unusually early hour that Saturday morning; not only did rowing and Quidditch open that day, but it was also Halloween. Other sports had kicked off the previous weekend, and while the four suitemates opted not to attend those eventhey hey were sure to go to the ones today.

The school was decorated with all of the hoopla that reminded the boys of Halloween at Hogwarts. The hallways were full of flaming orange streamers that danced along the ceilings and illuminated carved pumpkins that hovered above the tables, while black bats played games of chase overhead in the Great Hall. The sixth and seventh years would be attending a Halloween party (costumes optional) at Club Hush while the lower years would celebrate in the Great Hall after the Halloween Feast had been cleared away.

There had been much discussion about the ‘costumes optional’ portion of the evening, and Allen and Chad had decided to dress up for the occasion. Allen was going as a surfer, complete with board shorts and bleached blonde hair, thanks to a handy little hair coloring charm that a witch friend of theirs told them about. Chad had mentioned that he might go as a cowboy, complete with hat and boots, and Allen heartily approved, under certain conditions - he had to cut the sleeves from the shirt and the jeans had to be muggle Wranglers. ‘Real cowboys wear Wranglers,’ he had said with a wink.

The three agreed that Draco should be a vampire but he adamantly refused to dress up and then Harry suggested that Draco could wear a shirt that said ‘Harry Potter’s Bitch’ across the front. Draco quickly nixed that idea and in turn, stated that Harry should wear one that said ‘Draco Malfoy’s Fuck Toy’ on it. Harry laughed and said that he couldn’t wear that just yet, but maybe sometime soon. They decided that they would just go as themselves, sans costumes, although Draco said that Harry could go sans everything and he’d be happy.

\"Draco, if he went like that, everyone would want a piece of him,\" Chad pointed out.

Draco shook his head. \"Oh, you’re right. Forget I mentioned that. Harry is mine and I don’t share,\" he said as he dove back into the Quidditch magazine that he had been reading.

As soon as everyone had finished their breakfast, Allen leaned over and asked if Chad would walk with him to the boathouse so that he could begin preparing for the racest wet were set to begin at ten that morning.

\"Kind of like sending my man off to battle?\" Chad asked with a grin.

\"Something like that,\" Allen said as he took Chad’s hand in his own, linking their fingers together. \"What about you guys?\" he asked Harry and Draco, who were sitting across the table from them. \"Want to walk down to the boathouse with us?\"

\"I can’t,\" Harry said with disappointment. \"I’ve got some things to finish up before I can play the rest of the day. I’ll meet you down there before the races start.\"

Allen nodded. \"I’ll see you guys then,\" he said as he led Chad from the Great Hall.

\"I thought you finished everything,\" Draco said as he and Harry made their way back towards the boy’s dorm.

\"I didn’t get one of my essays finished because someone decided to hang out in my room last night and badger me while I worked,\" Harry said as he nudged Draco with his shoulder.

\"It was either that or stay in my room and watch Allen and Chad snogging all evening. Harassing you was the lesser of two evils,\" he said as he shoved Harry back.

\"So I’m evil now?\" Harry asked with a grin.

\"Of course you are. You were almost sorted into Slytherin, for Merlin’s sake. There has to be some evil in you somewhere.\"

* * * * *

Harry and Draco met up with Chad at the boathouse at 9:30, and after wishing Allen good luck, made their way up the hill and chose a spot to watch the races. The boys took a seat on the leaf-covered grass, scanning the view in front of them, which included the most important parts of the lake - the start and the finish lines.

\"So explain this rowing thing to me,\" Draco said as he fell to the ground beside Harry, who was leaning back on his arms for support, looking out over the lake.

Chad picked up a leaf and twirled it between his fingers. \"Each team has two squads, primary and secondary. What happens is that the primary squad from each of the four teams race the 1000m sprint first and then the secondary squads will do the same.\"

\"Two races. That’s it?\" Draco asked.

\"Yeah. What were you expecting?\"

Draco shrugged. \"I don’t know. Maybe more?\"

\"It’s not like Quidditch, Draco. They don’t keep rowing until they catch something,\" Harry said as he looked at Chad and shook his head.

\"It’s a timed event,\" Chad explained. \"The 2000m is the standard race distance and is long enough to have a large endurance element, but short enough to feel like a sprint. Average times are somewhere between 5.5 to 7.5 minutes. But due to the size of the lake we have, they only race for 1000m and the average times are 2.3 to 4 minutes, and that’s on a slick lake. Times will vary based on the turbulence of the water, but it’s a perfect day for their first race. Not a ripple on the water that they didn’t make.\"

\"Looks like someone’s been doing their homework,\" Harry teased.

Chad blushed. \"Yeah, well, when Allen made the rowing team I decided to do a little research on it, so sue me,\" he said with a grin.

\"The only research Draco ever did with Quidditch was to read a book on how to cheat,\" Harry said with a grin.

\"You mean he didn’t know that already?\" Chad asked.

\"Shut up you wanker,\" Draco said as he lunged for Chad across Harry and ended up sprawled in Harry’s lap, arms flailing as he tried to catch his suitemate before he scuttled aside. \"Come . back . here,\" he said, when two arms wrapped around his body and held him still.

\"You keep doing that and you’re going to permanently damage something,\" Harry whispered into Draco’s ear, feeling the other boy’s body relax immediately. \"And I don’t think you want to do that, do you?\" he asked as he reluctantly slid Draco back to his place. Having him in his lap again was quite nice, if he would have just been a bit more unenthusiastic about attacking Chad.

Draco eyed Chad as he moved back into his spot. \"You’re lucky Harry was here to save your arse,\" Draco said with a toss of his platinum locks.

\"Oh please, Draco. You’re all bark and no bite,\" Chad said as he leaned back on his arms to look at his friend behind Harry’s back.

Harry turned his head and looked at Chad. \"I wouldn’t go that far, Chad. I’ve been on the receiving end of Draco’s anger more times than I care to remember. When he gets riled up, it’s not a pretty sight.\"

Draco sniffed, his chin raised a bit. \"I’ll have you know that I’m beautiful no matter what I’m doing, whether it’s fighting with you or just sitting somewhere.\"

\"Merlin! I thought that after all these years you would finally get over yourself,\" Harry commented, as his green eyes found gray.

Draco leaned close to Harry. \"I’d love to have you over myself anytime,\" he whispered against Harry’s neck, causing goose bumps to spring up on Harry’s arms.

Harry shrugged his shoulder to keep Draco away from his neck. \"Dammit Draco, would you please stop doing that?\" he asked as a shudder ran through his body.

\"What, this?\" Draco whispered again.

\"Draco,\" Harry said between clenched teeth.

\"What?\" he innocently asked, an angelic smile playing on his pale pink lips.

\"Just remember that payback will be ten times worse,\" he warned, which effectively shut Draco up.

\"The races will begin in ten minutes,\" came the announcement over the public address system. \"Ten minutes everyone.\"

Chad quickly stood and surveyed the ramp that led from the boathouse down to the water and easily picked Allen out of the people gathered there. \"There he is,\" he said as he pointed to his boyfriend who was wearing a pair of black rowing shorts and his royal blue Cobras team jacket. He watched as Allen unzipped the jacket and slid it from his shoulders, revealing a royal blue tank top with the Cobras insignia on the front.

\"Merlin,\" he quietly whispered as his eyes roamed over his boyfriend’s toned body.

Harry and Draco stood as well and were quick to agree with Chad’s comment, but wisely kept their observations to themselves. Everyone watched as the teams took turns launching their boats, or sculls, as Chad had called them. The eight rowers slid into their positions and pushed away from the dock, maneuvering out into the open water. It was like watching poetry in motion as the team took their time and moved to where the race would begin at the opposite end of the lake.

Allen took a few deep breaths and moved into the starting position- legs straight and body upright, arms straight in front, with his oar out of the water and the blade feathered (or, parallel) to the water. It was the first race of the season an was was nervous as hell. Not that he wasn’t nervous before any of the other races, but he always wanted to start the season off with a win. He took a few seconds to clear his mind of everything except the job ahead of him and listened for the starter gun. With a loud pop, they were off.

Chad, Harry and Draco watched as the team became one moving entity, each pulling their weight during the race. Over and over the oars dipped into the water, the rowers pulling back each time, slicing the water with their scull, bringing them closer to the finish line with each movement.

Throughout the race, Chad had been alternating between cheering and telling Allen to be careful and not lose his concentration, as if he were standing right beside them. When they crossed the finish line first, Chad let out a shrill whistle and yelled, \"All right!\" and the proceeded to grab Harry and Draco in a hug.

Once they extricated themselves, Draco turned to Harry. \"If you even think about hugging them after my game this afternoon, we will have a serious problem on our hands,\" he said with a grin.

\"And why is that?\" Harry cocked his head to the side.

Draco slid a long finger from Harry’s temple down his cheek to stop at his chin. \"Because I don’t like people touching what’s mine,\" he said before softly caressing Harry’s bottom lip with his thumb.

\"Come on guys, let’s go congratulate the winner,\" Chad said as he tugged on his roommate’s arms and led them down the hill towards the boathouse where everyone had gathered.

Although the moment was lost, Draco knew that there would be plenty of other opportunities to snog his boyfriend.

The guys worked their way through the crowd and waited until Allen pulled himself away from his well wishers.

\"Congratulations,\" Chad said as he shook Allen’s hand and pulled his friend to him. \"You’ll get your reward later,\" he whispered before pressing a kiss to Allen’s neck.

\"I’m counting on it,\" Allen said before breaking away. \"So, what did you two think about it?\" he asked Harry and Draco as he wrapped his arm around Chad’s waist and listened as they gave their insight of the morning’s events. Draco said that there should be more races while Harry admitted that there was no way he could do what Allen just did. Once the crowd dispersed, the teams stored their sculls and went into the boathouse to shower and change, and the guys waited for Allen outside. When he joined them, they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

\"Draco, you need to eat,\" Harry said as he watched his boyfriend poke at the food on his plate.

\"I can’t. I’m too nervous,\" he said in a quiet voice.

Allen laughed. \"You? You’re nervous? I thought you only got nervous when you were playing against Harry,\" he said as he picked up a roll.

Harry’s eyes snapped to Draco. \"Seriously? You were nervous when we played against each other?\"

Draco nodded, his platinum hair bouncing. \"Yes, believe it or not, I used to get nervous before we played. Even got sick once or twice,\" he said with a shrug, but not meeting Harry’s gaze.

\"I had no idea,\" Harry said as he sat back in his chair, reeling somewhat from his admission. Draco Malfoy nervous. You could never tell it by looking at him, but, then again, looks could be very deceiving.

\"Nobody did, really. I hid it pretty well,\" he said as he shoved his plate away from him. \"I can’t eat a bloody thing.\"

Harry understood how he felt because he was always nervous befa maa match, regardless of who he was playing. It was worse when they were playing Slytherin.

\"What time do you have to be at the pitch?\" Harry asked as he looked at his watch.

\"We have to be dressed by 2:00 and the match starts at 2:30.\"

Plenty of time, Harry thought to himself. He quickly finished his lunch and then rose from the table. \"If you will excuse us, I think I have something that might help our nervous friend here,\" he said as he stood behind Draco’s chair, settling his hands on a pair of tense shoulders.

Draco looked up to find an upside-down Harry looking back at him. \"What are you talking about?\"

\"Do you trust me?\" Harry asked as the corner of his mouth lifted into a grin.

\"Do I have a choice?\"

\"You always have a choice, Draco. Do you trust me?\" Harry asked again.

Draco lowered his head and looked at their friends. \"Well boys, it seems that I’m about to be whisked away for a secret assignation,\" he said as he stood to join Harry. \"Although it’s not much of a secret if everyone knows.\"

Allen and Chad laughed. \"Well, whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,\" Chad said as he stood and pulled Allen up with him. \"And while they’re out doing their thing, I think we have some unfinished business to attend to,\" he said as his blue eyes caught Allen’s darker ones, earning a nod from his partner.

\"Definitely,\" Allen said as he pushed his chair in. \"Draco, good luck with the game and Harry, we’ll meet you at the pitch. Be sure to save our seats.\" Harry nodded.

\"Thanks guys. I’ll catch you after the match,\" Draco said with a smile as the two pairs left the Great Hall through separate doors.

\"So tell me, where are we off to?\" Draco asked as they walked side by side, shoulders brushing the other as they made their way back outside.

\"You’ll see,\" was all Harry said as he took off on a path that led away from the school. They walked for a little while, Draco talking about the upcoming match, Harry offering his opinion when asked for it. They finally came to a line of pine trees that signified the school boundaries.

\"Planning on doing some tree climbing?\" Draco asked as he took in the surroundings.

Harry cleared the ground of the fallen pine needles and sat down with his back against one of the large trees. He gently tugged at Draco’s hand, bringing him to the ground beside him.

\"Take off your jacket and sit here,\" Harry said as he indicated the space between his open legs.

Draco smiled. \"I like your idea much better than climbing trees,\" he said as he crawled over Harry’s leg, his gray eyes roaming over Harry’s body. \"Much better,\" he clarified as he moved closer to Harry.

\"No Draco,\" he said as he stopped him from coming too close. \"Turn around and then take off your jacket.\"

Draco sighed in defeat. \"Fine, but I’d much rather snog you,\" he said as he did what Harry asked. He settled himself on the ground between Harry’s legs and removed his leather jacket, revealing his long sleeved t-shirt that hung from his lithe frame.

Harry laughed as he slid his hands around Draco’s waist and pulled him backwards, closer to Harry. \"And you used to tease me about my baggy clothes,\" he said as he ran his hands down Draco’s long arms.

\"No, I used to tease you about wearing your rotund cousin’s cast-offs. Merlin, Harry, I cannot believe that those people would not buy you decent clothes,\" he said as a chill snaked down his spine from Harry’s touch.

\"Cold?\" Harry asked as he moved his hands to Draco’s back, lightly caressing him through the blue t-shirt, back and forth across his shoulder blades, down his spine, over to his sides.

\"No.\"

Harry smiled. \"Then what’s with the shivering?\"

\"You’re causing it,\" Draco admitted as he gave himself over to Harry’s gentle touch.

The breath on Draco’s neck startled him. \"Then I’d suggest that you hang on,\" Harry said before gently lifting the hem of the t-shirt and sliding his cool hands under the fabric, laying them against Draco’s pale skin.

\"Merlin, Harry,\" Draco breathed as his head fell forward and he concentrated on strong, tanned hands roaming over his back. He felt Harry’s fingers separate and run lightly up his spine and settle on his shoulders, kneading the stiff muscles that had gathered there from his worry about the game. Draco smiled to himself as his body responded to Harry’s touch and he was glad that not only was his shirt a bit too big on him but that his jacket was long enough to cover the bulge that was steadily increasing.

Harry listened to Draco’s breathing as he continued his pathetic attempt of a massage and guessed that he was doing something right. lon long digits worked the muscles that had knotted on Draco’s shoulders as well as between his shoulder blades. Every now and then a low moan could be heard, but for the most part, all was quiet except for the wind blowing through the treetops. Harry’s hands continued to dissipate the knots until Draco’s shoulders and upper back were smooth once again.

\"Better?\" Harry quietly asked as his hands drifted down Draco’s sides and slid his body back a bit more so that he was now resting against Harry’s chest.

Draco nodded. \"Much. Thank you,\" he said as he let his head fall back on Harry’s shoulder and closed his eyes. Harry had settled his hands on the taut skin of Draco’s stomach.

Harry’s chest shook with quiet laughter. \"You’re welcome, although I’m sure that it’s a far cry from what you’re used to getting from your personal masseuse at Malfoy Manor.\"

Draco stiffened as he remembered what he had told his roommates about that, but the warm finger that was now trailing circles around his belly button and gently teasing the fine line of hair just below calmed him. Actually it tickled a bit but he didn’t dare move. Any chance to have his boyfriend’s hands on him he would not pass up.

\"It’s okay Draco. I don’t think any less of you for that,\" Harry said as he placed a small kiss against Draco’s neck. \"What’s done is done, right?\"

\"Thank you,\" Draco said quietly and placed his hands over Harry’s and snuggled into his warmth, enjoying their quiet time together.

Before they realized it, their time alone came to an end and they reluctantly left their secluded spot and slowly made their way to the Quidditch pitch.

\"So, you think Allen and Chad had a nice afternoon together?\" Harry asked as they walked under a group of walnut and red maple trees that were quickly losing their leaves.

\"I would hope so,\" Draco answered as he bent and picked up a fallen leaf, his blonde hair falling in his face. With a quick flick of his head, it settled back in place. \"Just the two of them and a choice of four beds to shag on? If they didn’t, then there’s something seriously wrong with them.\"

\"Remind me to cast a cleansing spell on my bed when we get back,\" Harry said with a laugh. \"So what do you think everyone will say about the four of us being together now?\"

Draco’s silver gaze slid to Harry. \"Didn’t know you were into the group thing, Harry,\" he said as he gently nudged the shoulder that was touching his.

Harry nudged back. \"You know what I’m saying Draco. Don’t try and pretend otherwise. But seriously, everyone seeing Allen and Chad together was one thing, but to see us together like that, don’t you think people will talk?\"

Draco crushed the leaf and watched as the wind lifted the tiny pieces from his palm and scattered them around. \"Hate to tell you this but they already are. They have been for a while now. Seeing us together in public that way won’t affect them as much as you think.\"

Harry wasn’t worried about people talking about him; he was used to it. What he didn’t like was that they would be talking about Draco. Back at Hogwarts, he would not have cared less. But now things had changed and he knew he wouldn\'t stand for it if someone hurt Draco, physically or otherwise.

\"Well, this is my stop,\" he said as he looked at the field house and then back to Harry.

\"Yep, looks that way,\" Harry said with a smile. \"I’ll leave you here so you can go get ready for the game, and I’m going to get myself a good seat since the stands are practically empty. I love it. Everyone sits together and not separate according to their houses.\"

Draco nodded. \"Just remember what I said earlier about those two roommates of ours hugging you when we win.\"

\"Getting a bit territorial, are we?\" Harry teased, his emerald eyes shining.

Draco slid his arms around Harry, their bodies touching from chest to hip. \"No. Territorial would be when you have ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’ tattooed on that arse of yours,\" he said as he winked at Harry.

\"Not on your life, Draco,\" Harry said as he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Draco’s lips. \"That’s for good luck,\" he said before pulling back.

\"If I win can I have what Chad gave Allen?\" Draco asked, mischief filling his gray orbs.

Harry reached behind him and unlocked Draco’s hanholdholding them in his own. \"I guess, as long as your roommate doesn’t mind sharing his boyfriend that way,\" he said with a grin.

\"You wanker!\" Draco exclaimed. \"I can’t believe that you’d share ME like that!\"

\"Don’t talk about me like that, Draco. It’s not nice,\" Harry said as he backed down the walkway towards the stands, his eyes never leaving Draco.

\"I never said I was nice,\" his friend fired back at him as he watched Harry walking away from him.

\"Your actions say otherwise,\" Harry said.

Draco grinned. \"Get up there and find a seat so I’ll know where you’re sitting. And be sure to tell the others what I said about touching you,\" he said before turning towards the field house.

\"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Malfoy,\" Harry teased as he walked away.

\"Potter!\" he yelled as he spun around to face Harry. After getting no answer, Draco turned again and stomped down the path, muttering under his breath, \"they’d better not touch him or they will have Malfoy to deal with.\"

Harry made his way under the stands and then up the short ramp that led to the seats. He stood at the railing that surrounded the pitch and smiled. This was his e, he, his domain. This was where he could leave all of his problems on the ground while he ruled the air. He stood there for some time and enjoyed the quiet that surrounded the pitch. There were a few people that had come out early, but not enough to send him scrambling for a seat just yet. He’d enjoy his time here while he could.

Allen and Chad had found Harry sitting in the center of the bleachers, their seats saved on his left side.

\"Wow, great seats Harry,\" Allen commended as he slid into the seat next to Harry, leaving Chad toe the the one on the other side of Allen. \"I don’t think you’ll miss seeing Draco at all from here,\" he commented, and ended up with an elbow to his ribs.

\"So, how was your afternoon?\" he asked his friends and laughed as the tell-tale stain of blush crept up their necks and settled on their faces. \"That good, eh?\"

\"So what are you going to give Draco if he wins?\" Chad asked.

\"Funny thing that,\" Harry said with a quick laugh. \"He told me he wanted the same thing that Allen was getting. Of course I told him that he had to talk to Allen about it because I wasn’t sure if Allen wanted to share you or not,\" he said with a quirk of his lips. \"Then he yelled at me because he thought that I’d share him like that, as if I’d let that happen now that I have him. Merlin, it’s still strange to think that I’m dating Draco Malfoy,\" he said with a shake of his head.

As a loud roar swept through the crowd, Harry jumped to his feet as his eyes flew to the doors of the field house that had opened to allow the teams onto the pitch. His heart fluttered in his chest as his eyes fell on the shock of white-blonde hair that only Draco could pull off. He didn’t realize that he had grabbed onto the arm of Allen’s coat until he felt his hand being removed.

\"Oh, sorry about that,\" he said as it was now his turn to be embarrassed.

\"Don’t worry about, Harry. We know how you feel,\" Allen said as he slid his hand into Chad’s.

Harry watched with pride as Draco’s team, the Falcons, walked to the center of the pitch. His eyes roamed over Draco’s form and noticed not for the first time how good he looked in the revised Quidditch uniforms. The robes had been completely done away with, as were the ill-fitting trousers and bulky sweaters. In their place was black form fitting pants that had been designed for flying and a white long-sleeved shirt that was covered by a black sleeveless jersey which bore the tmascmascot of a gray falcon on the front and the player’s name and number on the back. Malfoy - number 6 - his boyfriend.

He felt his body tighten as his gaze was drawn to Draco’s most flattering asset, according to its owner anyway. His arse. The pants were designed for comfort, not exhibition, but somehow that was how Draco’s appeared. His bum was toned to perfection, rounded just a bit, but not overly so, and Harry wanted nothing more than to slide his finger between the pert globes. Merlin, he hoped that no one else was thinking of Draco’s arse like he was. He’d have to remember to talk to his boyfriend about getting another pair of flying pants that didn’t show everyone what was his. Harry smiled to himself. If Draco could play at being possessive, he sure as hell could too.

He watched as the players took to the air and was a bit embarrassed as his roommates yelled, \"MALFOY!\" in unison, just as Draco flew in front of the stands. He circled back around and hovered there for a moment, his steely gray eyes pinning Harry to the spot. Draco smiled and winked at Harry and then took off for the opposite end of the pitch.

Harry could not wipe the grin off of his face until much later when Chad and Allen would not stop teasing him about it.

\"Boy, you’ve got it bad for him,\" Allen said as they watched their roommate zip back and forth across the pitch, weaving between the players in search of the snitch.

Harry shrugged. \"Probably,\" was all he said and went back to watching Draco. It was strange to be sitting in the stands actually cheering for the team that his boyfriend played on, to be cheering for Draco himself.

He had watched Draco for five of their six years together, studying his form in the air, watching for the little signs he gave before executing a move or a particular play - but now it was different. Harry could take the time to appreciate the way that Dralew.lew. He was magnificent, as if he was born to it. He had heard the rumors about Malfoy’s father buying his son’s way onto the team with the donation of new brooms during their second year of school, but he didn’t care one way or the other. Draco was good and he knew it, just as Harry knew that he himself was good. But now he was seeing Draco in a very different light and realized that whether or not the rumors were true, Draco belonged in the air just has Harry did.

Harry sat back and watched Draco fly, watched the way his long legs were bent at the knee, the muscles of his thighs outlined by the snugness of his flying pants, watched as those same thighs gripped the broom that he was riding, the way his perfect arse cheeks hugged it. He could see Draco’s long, elegant fingers encased in the riding gloves, gripping the end of the broom and he suddenly saw an image of those same fingers wrapped around something else, sans gloves, of course. Merlin, what he wouldn’t give to be that broom just now.

Reluctantly he pulled his mind from that train of thought and tried to focus on the game instead of Draco, as hard as that might be. His Seeker\'s gaze searched the sky for the elusive golden snitch but found his eyes wandering back to Draco, no matter where he was over the pitch.

The Falcons were leading the Wolverines 100 to 80 as the game passed the one-hour mark when Harry spied the snitch at the opposite end of the pitch from where Draco flew. He desperately wanted to catch Draco’s attention and point it out but knew that his boyfriend would probably be upset with him, saying that he could have done it all on his own, so Harry held his tongue and watched Draco, again. It wasn’t but a few seconds until Draco caught sight of the golden ball and made a mad dash towards it, dodging players left and right as well as the bludgers which appeared to be trailing him. As soon as the Wolverine’s Seeker saw Draco heg ofg off at a quick clip, he tailed him relentlessly. He was on Draco’s left and a bit lower, but quickly moved in next to him, making sure to give a few quick punches in Draco’s direction.

\"Get off of me you bloody git!\" Draco yelled as the opposing Seeker attempted to grab his jersey and he quickly knocked the offending hand away from him.

\"That’s my snitch, Malfoy, now leave off!\" he said with a shove. \"You think you’re so much better than everyone because you’re fucking the famous Harry Potter,\" his opponent yelled.

\"You bastard!\" Draco said as he swung his left arm and caught the other boy across the chest, almost knocking him from his broom. A flash of gold whizzed by Draco’s head and he quickly turned to the right and gave chase. The opposing Seeker had taken a second too long to right himself after their altercation and was just now making the turn to follow Draco and the snitch.

\"What in the hell is going on up there?\" Chad asked as he saw the exchange between the two Seekers.

Harry laughed. \"Draco probably said something that pissed him off,\" he said as he watched the blonde make the turn and head back to the other end of the pitch. \"Go Draco,\" he said quietly. \"You’ve got a good lead on him, now catch that snitch.\"

Draco could see the snitch just ahead of him and held his right hand out and accelerated quickly. His heart thundered in his chest as he felt the golden ball hit his palm and he quickly closed his fist around it, it’s silver wings beating furiously against the sides of his hand.

\"And Draco Malfoy of the Falcons has captured the snitch!\" the voice said over the public address system. \"Falcons win 280 to 100 over the Wolverines!\"

The crowd cheered and one very happy Draco Malfoy circled the pitch with the golden ball still in hand. He was approaching the section of stands where his roommates were seated when he saw Allen pull Harry between Chad and himself and proceed to hug him. Harry’s emerald eyes were filled with laughter as he held his hands up and shrugged. Draco smiled and gave a quick nod, then was off to finish his victory lap.

\"Merlin, am I glad that’s over with,\" Harry said as he watched Draco fly off and then land on the pitch with his teammates. \"That was nerve wracking and I wasn’t even playing,\" he said as they joined the others and left the stands.

Chad clapped Harry on the back. \"Welcome to our world, Harry. It will be like that every game he plays, so get used to it.’

They made their way around the Quidditch pitch and headed back towards the school. \"I’m going to wait for Draco to change and then we’ll be up,\" he said as he stopped at the path that led to the Field House.

\"No problem,\" Allen called as he and Chad continued on their way. \"We’ll see you guys in a few.\"

Harry moved to a waist-high stone ledge near the field house and hopped up onto it to wait for his boyfriend. He watched the students as they passed by, some glancing his way while others were completely oblivious to his presence. After several minutes of people-watching, he saw familiar blonde hair coming his way.

\"Always one for theatrics, eh Malfoy?\" Harry teased as Draco approached him, a scowl marring his normally happy face. \"What’s wrong?\"

\"It’s nothing,\" he said as he stopped beside where Harry was sitting. \"We’ll talk about it later. Right now I just want to get changed and get out of here,\" he said.

Harry nodded and watched Draco enter the Field House, wondering what had happened to cause his sudden change in mood. He had seemed fine after he caught the snitch, but now he was mad about something. He would just have to wait until Draco wanted to talk about it.

A few minutes later, Draco emerged in his street clothes and Harry hopped off the wall.

\"So, where to?\" Harry asked, hoping that Draco would understand that he was giving them a chance to talk.

\"I don’t care, just somewhere away from here,\" Draco said as he slid his hands into the pockets of his jacket and focused on the ground, not wanting to meet Harry’s probing gaze just yet.

\"Lake?\" Harry asked.

\"Sure.\"

Harry nodded, not that Draco could see it, but did so just the same. They walked the gravel path that led to the lake in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They finally stopped at a picnic table and Draco slid onto the top while Harry stood beside him, waiting patiently to find out what put his boyfriend in such a foul mood. The afternoon sun playing on the water sent shards of golden light in different directions, temporarily blinding those who looked at it too long.

Draco’s eyes were still downcast and he was nervously picking at a nonexistent thread on the bottom of his jacket. Harry knew the tactic well. Draco didn’t want to talk about what had happened, but Harry knew better.

\"You played a good game today,\" Harry offered as an opening for Draco to begin speaking.

\"Thanks,\" was the reply.

This was going to be like pulling teeth, Harry thought to himself.

\"Draco, please talk to me,\" Harry said as he moved to stand in front of his friend, his index finger lifting Draco’s chin so that they could see each other.

Draco lifted one shoulder. \"I was mad about something Woodson said to me.\"

\"What did he say?\" Harry asked, concern etched in his features.

Draco took a deep breath and released it. \"He said that I think I’m better than everyone because I’m shagging, no, he said fucking, the famous Harry Potter.\"

Harry shook his head and laughed. \"That’s it? That’s why you’re in a bad mood?\"

\"Isn’t that enough?\" Draco asked, his eyes full of anger.

\"Honestly, I’m surprised you even deemed it worthy of your anger. You said it yourself earlier that everyone was already talking about us. So why the sudden change? Why would this bother you now? Is it because he said it to you directly or is there more to it than you letting on?\" Harry suggested. When Draco didn’t answer straight away, he asked him, \"Is there, Draco? Is there something else going on?\"

\"No,\" he said with a shake of his head, his sweat soaked fringes brushing the back of his neck.

Harry moved closer to the blonde, standing in the vee of his open legs, his hands now resting on Draco’s jean-clad thighs. \"Talk to me Draco. I’m not going anywhere until you do.\"

\"I don’t mind that everyone is talking about us. Actually, I’m proud of the fact that we’re together. Pulled off a nice little coup with that move, didn’t I?\" Draco joked. \"It was the way he said it that made me mad. He was malicious about it. Most of the time when I hear people whispering about it, it’s good things they are saying. But what he did was the complete opposite and I got mad.\"

\"Defending my honor in mid-air,\" Harry said. \"That’s a first.\"

Draco smiled. \"Yes, well, imagine my surprise that I actually wanted to defend your honor, though only the two of us know that you have none.\"

Harry ran his hands up Draco’s thighs and settled them at the waist of his low-slung jeans, his thumbs inching the hem of his shirt up in search of warm flesh. \"My honor flew out the window, or off of the porch, a few nights ago when I decided to take up with you,\" Harry said as he pressed his chest against Draco’s, bringing their lips within inches of the other.

Draco slid his hands into Harry’s raven locks, enjoying the feel of Harry’s coarse hair sliding between his fingers. He slowly brought Harry’s face up towards his and covered his boyfriend’s lips with his own for a brief kiss. Harry’s hold tightened, his thumbs pressing into the soft skin of Draco’s hips.

\"I thought that I was supposed to be cheering you up,\" Harry said as he broke the kiss and loosened his hold on Draco.

\"You just did,\" Draco said as he brushed his lips against Harry’s a few times, their warm breaths mingling between their open mouths.

\"Good,\" Harry said as he stepped back and took Draco’s hand, pulling him from the table. \"Come on, we need to get back or they’ll be shagging on our beds again.\"

\"If we hurry we might get there in time to watch,\" Draco said with a grin as they headed back towards the school.

\"Draco!\"

\"Oh come on, Harry. Don’t tell me that you d lik like watching,\" Draco said as he slid his arm around Harry’s waist.

Harry blushed. \"You have no idea,\" he mumbled to himself.

Draco smiled at the looks they were receiving from passers-by. \"It appears that the first part of the rumors has just been confirmed. A few more to go and then we’ll be home free.\"

\"Draco, I draw the line at inviting our classmates into our room when we’re having sex, so don’t even go there,\" Harry warned.

\"No worries, Harry. I’ve already told you thadon’don’t share what’s mine,\" he said with a smile.

\"Good, because that goes for me too,\" Harry replied in kind as they walked up the steps and into the main building.

\"Speaking of what’s mine,\" Draco said with a grin. \"I do believe that our roommates are in for a good hexing when we get back since they couldn’t keep their hands off of you after the game today.\"

Harry’s laughter followed them down the hallway.

TBC

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