The Journal

Harry watched the sun setting outside his window. Outstretched in comfort on his bed with his knees bent and feet tilting toward his back. He chewed thoughtfully on his pen. Looking at a frest blank page in his green journal. He didn't know what he was really thinking, just that he was thinking a lot of things that made him feel overwhelmed.

September 14 2003

'I don't know if I feel happy that School has started or not. It seems that my problems just follow me. I feel like, I've let everyone down. My father, he gave up life in LA because of me. I think he thought I would be happier without the way mom had decided to react to my "lifestyle" Is it wrong that I feel so bitter about her disappointment? Dad says I should just be me. I don't know, I feel lost, too much has changed.'

Harry stopped writing in his journal and thought a moment. He debated writting about the boy he had met today. He smiled to himself and thought of the scene.

Draco couldn't help being distracted by the two people in the bleachers at practice. He didn't understand his fascination with the dark-haired boy. He found himself sneaking glances up at the bleachers about every minute or so to make sure he was still there. He couldn't focus at all. Snape eventually yelled at him that practice was over at least for the team. He stayed on the field, though not to practice, but to think of some kind of introduction to the boy. He wasn't thinking about why he felt that way, he just knew that his did. Draco eventually realized that he couldn't wait any longer and he waved to the others that he was going to the bench.


Harry sat in the stadium bleachers, finishing a sketch of the people out on the feild. Draco and Ron were playing catch, while Oliver Ran some diffent sets. It was playful and cheery the sun shown a bronze light that seemed to immortalize this moment. Harry was deep in his sketch he was startled when one of the kids came over to see him.

"Hi, my name is Draco Malfoy, you must be new here. What's your name?" Harry looked up at the smiling blonde and was shocked by the smile that seemed to melt him.

"I'm Harry Potter, I just moved here from L.A." Harry smiled sadly.

Draco eyed him a bit. "What are you drawing there?" Draco pointed to the sketch in the boy's hand.

"Oh it's nothing."

Draco got a look at the sketch. "Oh, so I am nothing, am I?" Draco grinned.

Harry giggled. "That's not what I meant." Draco waved him off.

"I gotta go back to my practice. I can show you around afterward, if you want me too?" Harry just nodded. "Great, see you later Draco replied, turning and walking back to practice. Draco let out a sigh of excitement and shook his head and went back to his friends, who seemed oblivious to why he had left. He was thinking about all the things he could show the boy after he was done with practice.

'As he walked me around the school, I felt his voice as if it moved inside me. He laughed and it made me laugh. I think I am in love, but he won't know it. I feel like everything might be ok if he is around me, I don't need his love to feel good.' Harry surveyed the words he wrote absolutely feeling as though he were a girl in love, if only he were a girl, Draco might love him.

Semptember 29, 2003

'I don't even know what to write about here. I got beat up at school again, but that isn't even the important part..


Harry felt himself pressed hard against a locker as the boy whom he didn't recognize forced his hands up to his neck.

"Were you looking at me faggot?!" The boy asked in a hissed growl.

Harry shook his head violently that he hadn't been, he tried to squirm against the grasp of the larger boy, but his grasp was so tight it hurt. Tears slipped down his cheeks. The boy smiled and them pinned him with one arm and punched him two or three times in the stomach. Harry coughed and tried desperately to force air into his lungs. He cried out as much as he could with his lack of breath.

"Hel-" He couldn't even finish the word and it came as a high pitched intake of breath rather then a cry for help. He felt a few moments pass and was prepared for the beating he would get. However, just as he closed his eyes, he felt the arm release his neck and he slid down to his rear, hugging his knees to himself, gasping for breath.

"Well well, picking on people again are we Blaise." Harry knew that voice and slowly opened his eyes to see Draco punch the boy sqaurely in the jaw. "I told you," Draco's voice was low and anger was in his words. "I didn't *punch* want you *punch* doing that anymore." Draco pressed the man into the lockers across the hall, the same way Harry had been pressed up against them.

"You know he's a faggot, he was looking at me." Harry's color left him, he mouthed all the things he wanted to say to stop the accusing eyes from coming his way. They didn't.

"The fuck do I care about that Blaise? If that's your only problem with him, get a better reason, then I'll kick your ass again." Draco let him go. Blaise left the hallway at great haste. The next thing Harry knew he was being offered a hand.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked him. Harry looked up as he took his hand. Tears of fear and gratitude attacked him both at once. The tears came with a bright blush of embarresment. The next thing Harry knew Draco's arm was around his shoulders. "Let's go somewhere private." Draco whispered softly. Looking around to locate the nearest empty classroom. He found one and they went inside.

"Come here." Draco's tone was very soft and warm. He extended his arms and pulled Harry to his chest. "Shhhh." He soothed. He felt Harry shaking in his arms and that made him extremely angry that Blaise had hurt him. "Are you alright?" He asked again softly.

"It happens all the time." Harry said into Draco's chest. "I'm used to it." Draco's arm began rubbing the length of Harry's back. "You don't have to help." Harry sniffled back a rather painful sob.

"But I wanted to Harry." Draco said softly. "It's alright, no one will hurt you if I can help it." He knew the words were true, he didn't care what people might think just now, it pained him to see Harry.

'He had seen my greatest fault, still he defended me. He doesn't know how I feel, but maybe, just maybe...he might be a best friend.'


December 17, 2004

'He's saved my life today, will he ever know that he has? How much he means? I was feeling particularly bad this morning after my Dad had a long fight with my mom about Christmas arrangments again. She wanted Dad to visit, but not me. He's been so lonely, I worry about him. I wanted him to go, but he ended up fighting with me too. I felt like dying, it has been a hard year for both of us adjusting without her and I can't help thinking that it was all my fault.

"Hello?" Draco said tiredly into his phone.

"Draco?" Harry's voice came to his ear.

"Yeah Harry, what is it bud?"

"I'm sorry, I know it's early, but I need you" Harry fought the tears in his eyes, but his voice was broken. "I-I-Just-ju-need to talk." He manged to force it out, but Draco heard the stifled sob.

"Harry what's wrong?" Draco's voice deep and powerful with concern.

'So I talked to him, I have never felt more powerfuly that I am supposed to trust anyone before. I know that it sounds strange, but I feel warm, safe, drawn by his voice and rested by his touch. We are connected, I know we were destined to meet, I am not sure why I know that.

He closed the journal, knowing he wouldn't see Draco for the two weeks of Christmas vaction and a pain of saddness spread across his chest.


End
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A/N: A few things, this is exactly two years before Draco confesses his feelings for Harry. They don't really hang out as close friends in the beggining, more like casual aquintances. Draco will spend the next two years discovering his feelings for Harry while Harry fears admiting his own feelings because he thinks Draco would hate him if he knew about them.

So this is the almost like prequel to The Game and LOve, but I think it's more like a companion piece because it's a one shot. Please review and if you have any questions please leave them as well. I am going to do a Q&A chapter for the game and love because so many of my readers had great questions that I think make the story much more fun.