Coercion and Confusion

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Harry spent the next week agonizing over Draco's action. He hadn't made a snide comment, in fact, he hadn't said anything at all. Draco hadn't done anything much else the rest of the week. Harry watched him closely, but he didn't make any signs of recognition.

"What are you staring at, Potter?" Malfoy drawled one day outside on the front lawns during break. Harry had been lost in thoughts about Draco and hadn't noticed that he now had a glazed look gracing his features.

"Wha...What?" Harry asked, taken aback at being addressed by Draco. Draco sneered. Ron appeared at that moment and glared at Draco from his position beside Harry.

"Sod off, Malfoy," Ron said viciously. Draco chuckled evilly.

"I thought I was pretty clear in Hogsmeade, Potter," Draco drawled slowly, enjoying the horrified look spreading over Harry's face and Ron's look of utter confusion and rage. "Only if you're good, and I've had no references." Draco smirked and walked away.

Harry stared after him, horrified at what he'd nearly revealed. Ron's eyebrows were furrowed as he tried to work out what had just happened.

"Uh, Harry?" He asked, and Harry silently panicked. "What did he mean? What was he talking about?" Harry gave a nervous laugh and desperately looked for a way out. None were visible, so he decided to lie.

"Oh, you know, he's making things up as usual," Harry said, praying Ron would take the bait. Ron didn't look convinced.

"Is there something you're not telling us?" He asked. Harry bit his lip nervously.

"Er...of course not."

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, Ron. Why would I lie to you?" Harry asked, playfully hitting Ron on the shoulder. Now Ron looked uncomfortable.

"Harry..." Ron paused, trying to think the best way to put it. "Me and Hermione were talking and...we..."

"You what?" Harry asked suspiciously. Ron shifted guiltily.

"We think you might be...gay." Ron watched Harry carefully, fearing an explosion like the one of 5th year. Harry blinked several times, trying to process everything. Everyone knew before he did!

"What?" He asked in a dazed voice. Ron avoided Harry's eyes.

"It's just a thought, I mean, if you're not, it's okay too, we just thought, you know...You haven't dated anyone since Cho and...You kinda watch Malfoy a lot."

"But I hate Malfoy! That's why I watch him!" Harry said, more to convince himself than Ron. Ron shrugged.

"Maybe, but there's not much reason to hate him anymore, is there?" Ron asked. Harry glared at him.

"I...You...But you hate him too!"

"Eh, Hermione keeps telling me I should be more accepting," Ron rolled his eyes at the idea. Harry stared at him in disbelief. This was all wrong. Everyone is going crazy. Ron accepts Malfoy, Malfoy's not being incredibly evil, and Harry was gay.

Harry couldn't take it anymore and stormed off down the lawns toward the Quidditch pitch to let off some steam. Ron watched him go with sadness. He shook his head sadly and turned to go into the castle.

"This is crazy!" Harry ranted to himself as he paced up and down the pitch. "I do NOT like Draco Malfoy! I am going crazy! And even if I did like him, which I don't, he doesn't want me!" Harry walked up and down the pitch, practically seething with rage. "Stupid Ron and Seamus! Why does everyone always know before I do!?? Is it just because I'm the 'trusting Gryffindor'? What is wrong with me? I used to be the one who always knew first. Maybe it's Voldemort's fault. Ever since I killed him I've become less suspicious of people."

Harry contented himself with blaming Voldemort for about five minutes, before he corrected himself. "No, it's my fault. Nothing is important anymore. It sucks." Harry sat down in the middle of the field and drew his knees up to his chest and stared at the darkening sky. The sky was a dusky orangey-red color, interspersed with pink slashes.

He didn't know how long he sat there, gazing at the darkening sky. He was laying on his back, looking at the stars. He watched a shooting star flash across the sky and made a silent wish. 'I wish I could figure this all out.' He closed his eyes tightly, focusing on his wish.

He lay there with his eyes shut for quite a while and didn't notice the soft footsteps of someone coming over the grass. He felt rather than heard someone sit down next to him. He didn't open his eyes, praying it was Hermione or someone else.

Who ever it was didn't speak at first and Harry kept his eyes closed. He felt the person next to him stir, but he refused to look.

"It's a beautiful night." The person spoke softly and Harry immediately recognized the voice, but it wasn't the usual voice he connected with this person. It was soft and unassuming. It made the simple statement sound as if it were a profound announcement.

Harry carefully opened his eyes and tilted his head to the side. There sat Draco, cross legged, leaning back, resting on his arms, gazing softly at the perfect stars overhead. Draco took his gaze from the sky and looked at Harry through his piercing silver eyes.

Harry gave him a confused look.

"Why are you out here?" He asked. Draco withdrew his gaze from Harry's face and replaced it back on the stars again and spoke to the sky.

"I'm out here a lot, but I don't usually have company," Draco said quietly. Harry watched him for awhile, contemplating what to say next.

"Malfoy, can I ask you something?" Harry asked cautiously, not wanting to scare off this new, nice, Malfoy. Draco sighed.

"I suppose," He said with a hint of a drawl.

"Why do you hate me?" Draco gave Harry a sideways glance as though sizing him up and deciding how much to tell him.

"I used to hate you. But now that the Dark Lord is gone, there's not much cause." Harry was silent, processing the information.

"Do you ever think about that first time we met on the train?" Harry asked, pushing his luck.

"All the time." Draco resumed his staring at the stars and watched a star shoot across the inky sky. "If you hadn't met the Weasel or been put in Gryffindor, we might have been friends." Harry shifted uncomfortably in his spot on the grass. He bit his lip, debating whether or not to tell Draco, but then again, he was being awfully normal, and sharing things with Harry, so he might as well reciprocate.

"Actually," Harry said, and Draco looked at him. "The Sorting Hat tried to put me in Slytherin." Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Really? I always knew you were one of us, Potter." Harry smiled slightly and Draco also gave a tiny smile. "Okay, my turn to ask a question."

Harry raised his eyebrows slightly, wondering what he would ask.

"Why Blaise?"

"What?"

"Why Blaise?" Draco asked again, more pressingly and Harry was slightly surprised.

"You told me to."

"Yes, but I didn't think you'd actually do it."

"Then why did you suggest it?"

"I was being sarcastic, Potter. You really need help discerning sarcasm from sincerity." Harry gave him a reproachful look but answered the question anyway.

"It was either him or Seamus, and I thought that I'm too good of friends with Seamus to ruin it over something stupid like this."

"Stupid? You're trying to figure out who you are."

"You laughed at me when I told you!" Draco rolled his eyes.

"When will you learn, Potter, that I have to keep up appearances. I can't have virgins snogging me in bookshops. It's not proper."

"Oh, and shagging Blaise in a closet during school is proper?"

Draco smirked. "I didn't know you saw that. You're sneakier than I thought." Harry blushed. He wasn't supposed to have said anything. "Don't worry, Potter. People know all about my trysts, which is why shagging The-Bloody-Boy-Who-Lived is not exactly the best idea, especially for your reputation."

Harry scowled. "It's not like I chose this life, you know. I don't particularly like all the fawning and the attention and the girls throwing themselves at me or the fan-mail." Harry ended his rant and huffed. Draco laughed at him and Harry scowled even more at him.

"What's so funny?" He asked indignantly.

"Nothing, it's just so funny how you adamantly deny you deserve any fame. You killed the Dark Lord, that's got to count for something." Harry stared at him, a little confused. Why was he being so nice? Harry decided to ask him.

"Malfoy, why are you being so nice to me?" He asked. Draco shrugged.

"I guess I'm just in the mood."

Harry gave him a doubtful look. Draco sighed and turned to face Harry completely. Harry raised himself off the grass and into a sitting position. He was about 2 feet away from Malfoy.

"Are you sure it's just a mood?" Harry asked.

"Maybe, maybe not. Don't expect anything like this ever again."

"Draco," Draco cocked his head to the side at the use of his given name. Harry paused, not sure how to continue. Draco watched Harry nervously chew on his lip. He raised a hand and placed it on Harry's cheek. Harry's eyes grew wide as Draco's thumb traced Harry's lower lip.

Draco gently pulled Harry forward to him and their lips met gently in a brush of a kiss. Draco's tongue flicked out and lightly traced Harry's lip. Harry opened his mouth slightly, inviting the tongue inside. Draco deepened the kiss, his tongue probing the recesses of Harry's mouth. Harry moaned softly, and Draco slowly pulled away.

"We should head back to the castle," Draco said quietly, looking deep into Harry's sparkling emerald green eyes. Harry's expression was one of confusion. Draco pushed himself off the ground and walked off in the direction of the castle, leaving Harry watching his retreating back vanish into the blackness.


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A/N: I can't believe it's taking me so long to update this thing, but I think I'll start doing it weekly just to keep myself on track!

Anywho, chapter 5 here we are! please read and review!