It\'s Only Love, What Is Everyone So Afraid Of?

Disclaimer: not mine





Disclaimer: not mine. Don't sue
&n
 

 

Here is chapter two. I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

 

Chapter two....What are you doing here?

************************************************

 

 

 

Harry stared at the obviously terrified blonde for a moment
before opening his mouth and managing to sputter out a single word.

 

 

"Malfoy?"

 

 

"Potter?" Draco blinked a few times and slowly
turned back around to face forward.

 

 

Harry tentatively came up and sat beside him.
"Um...hi?"

 

 

"Hi" was the dry reply. "How are you?"
Draco remained facing rigidly forward, not wanting to look directly at Harry.

 

 

Harry turned his gaze forward as well. "I'm fine I
guess."

 

 

Silence.

 

 

"Fag?"

 

 

Harry whipped his head towards Malfoy and began his 'fish
out of water' impression. "Wha?!" He
blinked and noticed Draco was holding open a pack of cigarettes, offering one
to him.

 

 

"Oh....no thank you" Harry watched as Draco took
one out of the pack, put it to his lips and lit it. After taking a long drag
and slowly exhaling the smoke outwards, he began to speak.

 

 

"I don't know what I was doing....it was just
silly...no big deal right, I mean....you didn't know what you were doing either
right?" Draco seemed to be rambling before ending abruptly and looking at
Harry expectantly.

 

 

"Riiiight." Harry
shifted nervously.

 

 

"You don't mean you're...I mean....you are a...."

 

 

"Pouf?" Harry finished for him. Draco just nodded.


 

 

Harry just looked at him, 'no point in denying it now' he
thought before nodding his head and facing forward again. He let out a quiet.
"Yeah"

 

 

"Fuck me!....I mean....I just
didn't....Fuck me!" Draco, obviously flustert tht the sudden innuendo in
his often used explicative, just let the sentence drop and fade
away.

 

 

"Look, you want to get some tea or something?"
Harry thought maybe he could make some sense out of the situation.

 

 

"I don't like tea"

 

 

"Oh"

 

 

"If you want to head back, we could talk in your room
though, you're a prefect too right?" Draco seemed surprised that those
words were coming out of his own mouth.

 

 

Harry blinked in surprise. "S..sure."

 

 

"Alright, I have some er...things
to take care of; I'll meet you there in an hour?"

 

 

Harry, still at a loss at just how he had ended up in this
situation just spit out a lame "okay" and nervously got up and headed
back towards the school.

 

 

***********************************************

 

 

Draco had been in Harry's room for 15 minutes already and
the two had just been standing around awkwardly. Finally Draco sat down on the
edge of Harry's bed and looked at the wall behind it at all the pictures of the
muggle athletes.

 

 

"I didn't know you were fan of muggle football."

 

 

Harry grinned. "I'm not"

 

 

Draco just stared stupidly before the meaning hit him and he
turned away.

 

 

More uncomfortable silence.

 

 

Draco leaned back on his elbows and came into contact with
something. Rooting around for the object, he came back with a rather ratty
looking teddy bear.

 

 

"What's this Potter? A gay teddy bear?" The words
held no malice, only amusement and a mild, playful mocking tone.

 

 

Harry blushed. "Um...that's....Hermione's?" He
could tell the Slytherin wasn't buying it, so he lunged for the bear, reaching
across Draco as he did so and landing next to him on the bed.

 

 

"Hey, give it back" Draco whined and this time it
was he who leaned over Harry to claim the stuffed animal.

 

 

At some point during the mock altercation, Harry found
himself precariously close to Draco and looking solidly into his face. Harry
knew that look. He may not know how to make a potion without causing nuclear
fallout, but he knew that look…he knew what that look meant. Before the
implications of said look had time to reach his brain, however, Draco's hand
was on his belt buckle, tugging at it. Harry felt his heart do a back flip in
his chest and breathing hitched. He put his hand on the side of Draco's face
and began to lean into him.

 

 

"I've got to go" Draco jumped up as though he'd
been bitten and literally ran from the room, leaving behind a blinking,
confused, and painfully aroused Harry Potter.

 

 

**************************************************

 

 

The next day Harry was passing quietly down the hall,
mulling over the oddness of the atioation with Draco Malfoy the previous night
when as if on cue the boy was headed his way followed by his usual entourage of
adoring Slytherins.

 

 

"Draco, hi...." Harry trailed off as he realized
the blonde whizzed right past him without so much as a
sideways glance.

 

 

He sighed and continued down the hall, just as confused as
ever.

 

 

***************************************************

 

 

Harry glanced around the Headmaster's office. Although he'd
been there many times before, he had no idea why Dumbledore wanted to see him
now. Finally, the elderly man made his way to his desk and sat down to talk to
Harry.

 

 

"Harry, thank you for waiting. I'm sure you're
wondering why I've asked you here."

 

 

Harry nodded.

 

 

"It's nothing terribly important, I assure you, and I
just have a favor to ask you. I'm sure you are aware of the Daily Prophet
article coming up on the Hogwarts Quidditch teams?"

 

 

"Yes, sir, Colin took pictures of the Gryffindor team
last practice."

 

 

"Ah yes, Young Mr. Creevy is actually the reason I'll
be needing your assistance. It seems the boy has
managed to break his hand, and due to a not so gracefully cast spell in
attempts to heal it himself is in the hospital wing regrowing
his bones."

 

 

Harry winced at the mention, remembering the pain of having
to do the same thing in his second year.

 

 

"Mr. Creevy was to take the last needed photos, photos
of the Slytherin team, at today's practice, but, as I'm sure you can infer, he
is now unable to do so. I have been told you are not so bad with a camera
yourself Mr. Potter, and I wondered if you could take the photos in his stead.
The Prophet needs them as soon as possible, and I'm afraid we don't have anyone
else to ask. Rest assured, though, that Professor McGonagall will attend with
you to keep the situation from beco an an altercation."

 

 

"Sure, I'll do it."

 

 

"It shouldn't take you long, and I'm willing to give
you a Hogsmeade pass if you will agree, although I cannot blame you if....you
say you'll do it?" The Headmaster seemed somewhat confounded; having
thought it would take a lot more convincing to get Harry to agree.

 

 

"Was that all, Headmaster Sir?"

 

 

"Almost....how are you, Harry?" Dumbledore looked
at his prized pupil with a bit of concern. The boy had been acting a little
strangely this year, and although he did know much more than he usually let on,
Harry, too, was a very powerful wizard and seemed to block others from prying
into his life or whereabouts.

 

 

"I'm...fine....why do you ask?" Harry wasn't sure
how much the old man knew, he could never tell if he knew more than Harry had
allowed him. He always just had that damnable twinkle in his eye.

 

 

"No reason, well, my boy, I suppose you'd better get to
class then."

 

 

"Yes, I suppose so."

 

 

********************************************************

 

 

Out on the pitch, McGonagall sat near the back of the stands
mulling over some papers while Harry snapped a few shots of the Slytherin team.
Luckily, it appeared as though the players had not even noticed he was there.
He went down to the ground to get another angle and was cleaning his lens off
when a certain blonde flew to the ground on the opposite side of the pitch and
hopped off his broom.

 

 

Harry stared at Malfoy. The young man obviously didn't know
he was there, did he? Harry watched him dismount his broom and prop it against
the bottom of the stands. He shook out his blonde sweaty hair and a few rogue
strands clung to his forehead, slightly obscuring his eyes. Then he did the
unthinkable.

 

 

Draco Malfoy lifted his shirt ovis his head and tossed it to
the ground, exposing what was probably considered to be more coveted than sor sorcerer’s stone for all the world to see. For Harry to see. Harry swallowed
hard. He lifted his camera and zoomed in for a better look and snapped a photo
while he was at it. There was just no sense in not capturing the sigh fil film.

 

 

Just then the Slytherin glanced over and caught Harry's eye
and quickly looked away before getting back on his broom and flying back up
with his teammates.

 

 

'Well, I guess he didn't know I was here' Harry thought.
Regardless, he continued taking his pictures in relative peace and delivered
the film to Dumbledore when he was done.

 

 

********************************************************

 

 

Harry walked slowly towards his room; the Headmaster had
given him copies of the pictures he took. He thought that, although it is
widely known that Harry has no fondness for the Slytherins, that the photos
were taken so well that Harry might want them should he choose to do anything
with his photography skills later. This way, he'd have an example of his work.

 

 

He silently flipped through the snapshots with half
interest. Bullstrode looking like...well...a bull, Crabbe whacking the bludger,
Zabini playing keeper, ‘That guy is *such* an asshole'
Harry thought. Then Harry froze, the movement his legs
were previously involved in no longer an option. Malfoy, Malfoy on his broom,
smiling like he hadn't a care, Malfoy giving plays to his team, Malfoy reaching
out his perfectly manicured hand just millimeters from the snitch, Malfoy
sweaty and shirtless.

 

 

"Oh god." Harry groaned inwardly and resumed his
trek. He had been trying to pacify himself when he saw the blonde, but to no
avail. He couldn't help how his breath sped up along with his heartbeat and his
groin involuntarily kicked into overdrive. Yes, this was going to be a long
night. The Ball was tonight, and Harry was not looking forward to it.

 

 

*********************************************************

 

 

 

The Ball was in full swing. The Gryffindor trio went as just
that, a trio. The last two years, Harry had gone with Hermione, but this year
they couldn't figure out why Ron didn't even try to get a date. Well, Harry had
a good idea, but felt it would be embarrassing if he just brought it up how
much Ron wanted Hermione, after all, he didn't want anyone prying into his love
life, so what would give him the right to do it to anyone else. He figured that
Ron would tell her when he was ready.

 

 

Harry looked out at the dance floor and noticed Draco
dancing with Pansy, that awful girl. As if he could hear Harry's thoughts,
Draco's eyes suddenly bore into him, piercing him to the wall, and just as
quickly he had looked away, like it never happened. Harry nearly growled in
frustration.

 

 

Hermione chose this moment to poke him in his well muscled
arm.

 

 

"Harry quit staring, you're being so obvious"

 

 

"Well, he keeps staring back!"

 

 

"Yeah, in your dreams!"

 

 

"Whatever, look, I'm going to go get some fresh
air." And he left the crowded hall for the quieter chill of the outdoors.

 

 

Just as he turned to head towards a bench to sit and think
he heard mild sobbing and saw a shock of red hair.

 

 

"Ginny?"

 

 

The pretty girl looked up and fitfully rubbed her eyes and
sniffled. "Who's there?"

 

 

"It's me, Harry."

 

 

"Oh"

 

 

"Are you alrigI meI mean, I wasn't trying to spy on you
or anything, I just came out here and there you were and...." He trailed
off.

 

 

"It's nothing; I was just having a bad day...that's
all. So, what're you doing out here?"

 

 

"I guess you could say I was having a bad day
too." He smiled at her and (unless you were Harry, oblivious to the
opposite sex Potter) the worshipping gleam in her eye was unmistakable.

 

 

"I guess we should get back inside..." she paused,
unsure of herself "Do you want to dance?"

 

 

"Sure I suppose." Harry offered the youngest Weasley his hand and together they made their way back
inside and to the dance floor along side Ron who was dancing with Hermione.

 

 

The quartet danced happily, as a group and occasionally
switching partners around, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the hall around
them. The song they had beeeatieating and smiling to suddenly died down and another slower song took its place.

 

 

Hermione went back to Ron and Ginny made her way back to
Harry who put his arms lazily around her. Of course he didn't notice her head
resting euphorically on his shoulder; of course he didn't notice her arms
circled tightly around his neck or the contented sigh she gave against his skin.
Of course Harry didn't notice any of this because his attention was focused
straight ahead of him, on the eyes of one Draco Malfoy who also had his arms
draped half-heartedly around his girl and who's eyes bore right back into him.

 

 

Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder, pulling him out of his
staring contest and eliciting a glare from Ginny at the loss of contact when
Harry pulled away from her. "Oi Mate, Mione and
I are going to go back to the common room and play some exploding snap, whadda ya say?"

 

 

"Sounds good, are you coming Ginny?" The red
headed gioddeodded vigorously and the four made their way back to Gryffindor
tower. When they reached Harry's room he announced to them that he was going to
change and then he would meet them in the common room. Ginny said she'd be back
in 5 minutes to walk him back to the common room. Although he really didn't see
the need for her to walk him, he agreed, figuring she must have her reasons. ste stepped into his room and made way to his trunk, removing his robes and button
down shirt en route. He heard the portrait beginning to open behind him and
called out.

 

 

"Hey, I'm changing, I'll be right out" Still he
heard the portrait hole continue to open and then to close. Turning around, a
very shirtless Harry Potter began to repeat himself. "I said I'm changing,
I'll be right...."

 

 

Draco Malfoy was in his room. Staring at him. In his room. A
thousand questions ran through Harry's head.

 

 

'How did you get in here?' 'Why were you staring at me?'
'What are you doing here now?' 'Can I snog you
senseless?'

 

 

In the end Harry went with "Hi".

 

 

"I need to use your loo."

 

 

"O....okay...."

 

**********************************************

 

TBC

 

 

Please read and review. Love and Kisses, Reika.