Title
: Bruises"Harry's got a new boyfriend." She could hardly stand to say the sentence.
They stopped in front of a large tree. "I know."
"Do you know who it is?" She hoped she didn't have to say it. She didn't even want to think it.
He nodded. "I'll talk to him, Hermione." Kyle laughed, and smirked at her. "Didn't I say I'd warn his next lover, even if it was Malfoy?"
"I never thought it would be." She leaned against the tree trunk. "It's so hard to believe that a boy so loved by so many is so full of pain there's no room for anything else."
*****
"Draco, I'd like to talk to you." Draco was alone for once, and Kyle thought it was the perfect chance to have a talk with him.
"About what?" It was a Monday morning, and Draco was trying to think of a way to keep from telling Harry he was being taught the Unforgivable Curses. He didn't need to deal with Kyle Stuart right now.
"Harry."
Draco bit his tongue. "What about Potter?"
"Oh, come off it. I know what the two of you are doing." Kyle smiled at Draco's discomfort, then let it fade. "Draco, you don't know what you're getting into with Harry. He doesn't want the same things from a relationship as other people. He isn't looking for forever, or even next week. You're only going to get hurt."
"Hurt?" What the hell was Kyle talking about? Harry was the one that was going to get hurt. "You're out of your mind, Stuart."
"He's not going to love you. Ever." He sat down across from Draco. "He just can't. There's no distinction for what you feel for a lover, and what you feel for a friend."
No, Kyle was wrong. Voldemort's plan was foolproof. "You mean he couldn't love you. That's why you're trying to sabotage us."
"I told him I wasn't going to fall in love with a martyr. Truth is, I wouldn't have minded, except he would have taken that beating for just about anyone. Did you know, he's never initiated a relationship? Fifth year, he didn't feel anything for Ginny, and she knew it, so she left him. He figured it was just because he didn't fancy girls, so when Justin offers, Harry accepts. They broke up when Justin finally realized Harry was buddy fucking him. But I wanted a piece of the Boy Who Lived, so I went after Harry, even after Justin warned me."
"Who doesn't?" Draco grinned, hoping Kyle would continue. If he figured out what Kyle and Justin had done wrong, it could only help him in his mission.
" He warned me, but I didn't listen. He can't love you, or anyone else, like he should. He doesn’t have the emotional depth the feel anything but friendship." Kyle paused for a breath. "You can't make him feel."
"Is that a challenge, Kyle?" A Malfoy never lost a bet, and Draco hoped he wouldn't be the one to break tradition. His life depended on it.
"No, Draco, it's a fact. And no one likes you enough to pick up the pieces that will be left after you figure it out."
*****
They had discovered a secret bedroom that was on the second floor on odd numbered days of the month. They were using it instead of going to the dorms, because Hermione was sick of her cat waking her up. Harry was lying with his head at the foot of the bed, nude to the waist, studying for a herbology test. "What are you doing for Easter?"
"Going home, of course." Draco was laying in the opposite direction, going through his Arithmancy.
"Maybe you should stay." Harry sat up, and grinned at Draco. "We'll be all alone in the dorms…. And you won't have to deal with that prick of a father of yours."
"Maybe I should stay." He returned the smile, his more of a leer. "We'll come up with something. You done with your work?" He trailed a finger down Harry's chest.
"I can be." And so began their usual wrestling match for top. It was mainly a manner of principal at this point. Neither one like to submit to the will of another, it reminded them of things they'd both rather forget.
Draco pinned Harry's hands above his head. "I win?"
"You win." Harry stopped squirming, and let Draco kiss him.
It was time for the second test. He leaned close, pressed his lips to Harry's ear, and whispered, "What would you do if I said I was falling in love with you?"
Harry went from pliant to stiff in a matter of seconds, shoving Draco away. Unprepared, he almost fell off the bed. Harry just stared at him for a moment, and then spoke. "If you ever say that again, I will leave, and never come back. Do you understand?"
"No." Kyle had been right, and Draco knew nothing good would come of it.
"People like us aren't supposed to fall in love, especially with each other. So, say it again, and it's over. I like you alright Draco, but I'll never love you. You get it?" Harry acted like he was talking about homework, instead of emotions.
"I get it." Harry had just signed Draco's death warrant, and he didn’t even know it.
Harry leaned back, and seemed to be waiting for something. He blinked after a moment. "Aren't you going to leave now?"
That had been unexpected. "Why would I?"
"They usually leave when I give that speech." Harry seemed pleasantly surprised when Draco curled up against him again. "Actually, they always leave."
"I'm not going anywhere." And he wasn't. Where would he go? If he failed, he was a dead man walking. If he succeeded… he would very soon be alone. He was going to miss Harry when Voldemort killed him.
****
Easter. Harry sent Ron and Hermione home to spend the holidays with their families, and Draco 'missed' the Hogwarts Express.
On the morning everyone left, Draco found Harry staring out the window. "Something wrong?" He was clutching a letter in his hand.
"I have to go away for a while." He looked at the letter. "They need me in France."
"Need you?" They were students. What could Harry be needed for in France? A little voice in his head whispered, 'There go your break plans. You are so incredibly dead, Malfoy.'
"The wolves want to meet with me. Remus has them pretty convinced, but the pack leader has decided he won't sign until he's met the Boy Who Lived."
"Werewolves?" Draco was in disbelief. "You're spending Easter with wolves?"
"I'd much rather spend it here." Harry finally turned away from the window. "Help me pack?"
"Sure." Damn it, he was loosing a good two weeks to a bunch of werewolves. Voldemort was not going to be happy.
It was as Harry was climbing into the carriage, giving Draco a kiss goodbye, that he muttered, "I feel like I'm forgetting something."
*****
'This is sentimental drivel! I am going to fall asleep, in my own bed. I don't need Harry, and I'm definitely not feeling the compulsion to go sleep in his bed.' Draco wasn't fooling himself. Every time he fell asleep, he had a nightmare and woke up. "Fine, I give in!" But he was just going over there to steal Harry's pillow. 'If I can't handle two weeks, what the hell am I supposed to do when I have to turn him over to Voldemort?'
After being refused entry even after giving the Fat Lady the pass, he finally bribed her with a re-framing. Courtesy of Daddy Lucius, of course. "Uppity portrait. Like I didn't have the password. And what was she talking about, Grand Central Station during break? No one else is here. She never was the same after that maniac cut her up."
A voice startled him. "You don't know how much I apologized for that. Now, Mr. Malfoy, do tell me what you're doing here."
Draco's heart just about stopped. "Sirius…Sirius Black?"
"Yes, Draco." A shabbily dressed figure stepped out of the shadows. "Now, where the hell is Harry?"
End Chapter Five
~ When I look into the mirror, and see a face I don't recognize, I am no longer surprised.
Choose Your Poison at www.angelfire.com/weird/cobalite/index.html
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Author's Note: Conversation in // are Draco remember a past conversation with Lord Voldemort. Also, I am a Slytherine with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named as her top match. Be warned.