Now, Sakai Michiba presents,

The Dragon Who Lived

Chapter Four

Harry blushed and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "I would...like it if you did that again."

These words echoed in Draco's mind. He hadn't meant to kiss Potter in the first place-it just happened. Now it seemed that Potter was...well...He shook his head and backed away. "What's wrong with you, Potter? When did you turn all gay on me? I mean, sure, one would suspect you and the Weasel, but never, EVER the two of us. What would people say? The Boy Who Lived and the Boy That Lived would make quite a pair, you think? Just because you think you understand me doesn't mean that you DO" he spat.

Harry gave a sad smile and inched over until he and Draco sat side-by-side again. "I think I understand you enough to know that you want this, no matter what you say. I see it in your eyes, Malfoy. That scar makes everyone look at you differently, including yourself. You see that in the mirror and wonder about me. You wonder if it feels any different for me and then you hate me, but you think of me every time it twinges, every time it gives you pain. I am right, aren't I"

Draco was unnerved by this statement of Potter's. Was it really that obvious? He slowly turned his head to look up and see the person that seemed so much like him. It was as if they were two halves of the same being-the light and the dark. Harry was the tall, built, dark side and he was the shorter, thin, white side. The only thing that connected them was their twin scars, but really, that made all the difference. He reached up to touch the flaw on Harry's forehead, feeling his own give off a strange, pleasant heat when he did so. Harry reached up to move his smaller hand down to his cheek, then moved in to take Draco's lips captive with his own.

He didn't immediately move away this time, but wrapped his arms about Harry's neck and moved only closer, his scar burning gently as he did so. He felt larger, stronger arms slip around his thin waist and pull him against Harry's slightly built chest. A light blush tinted his cheeks as Harry coaxed his lips and teeth apart with his tongue, and after a few moments of exploration, Harry pulled back and looked into Draco's grey eyes, clouded with confusion.

He came to his senses a moment later, a playful sneer crossing his lips. "Ah, Potter, where'd you learn to do that" he asked, brushing a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

A similar expression came over Harry's lips and he replied"Seamus Finnigan."

Draco burst out laughing and tossed a sheet of blonde hair over his shoulder, eyes watering with mirth. "Seamus Finnigan! Next you're gonna tell me that Granger and Weasel's little sister are gay, aren't you" he sniggered, opening his eyes to see Harry not an inch away. He yelped in surprise and fell on his back on the bench.

"It doesn't matter right now, does it" Harry asked before kissing him again. Draco giggled and playfully bit Harry's bottom lip. The taller boy pulled him back to a sitting position and entangled his fingers in Draco's silky strands before moving to nip and suckle at his neck. Draco moaned and wrapped his arms about Harry's shoulders, jumping as the other boy bit a little too hard.
"Y-you know, Potter, people are going t-dammit, that hurt-they are going to ask who I've been snogging and-I'll punch you if you do that again-and I might tell them" he declared, grinning as Harry stopped and came up to look him in the eye.

"You would not. You'd ruin your own reputation, and I could just deny it anyway" he smirked.

Draco shook his head. "You wouldn't be able to."

"Why, exactly, is that"

The blonde sneered before leaning forward to assault Harry's neck and collarbone for a good ten minutes. He felt the other boy writhing beneath him, laughing and trying to fight him. "You prat, that hurts" he exclaimed, finally grabbing a fistful of Draco's hair and giving him a false angry glare. "I should kill you for that..."

Draco shrugged and checked Harry's watch. "You should, but you don't have time. I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed."

Harry nodded and placed a gentle kiss to Draco's lips before giving him a little shove. "Go on, then. Good night, Draco."

"'Night..." With that, he stepped out the door.

It was raining. He grumbled as he made his way up to the castle, shivering in the downpour. What had he just done? It was Potter, for God's sake. Once inside the castle, he hurried to his dungeon common room. After a quick hot shower, he went to bed, still trying to figure out why he had done what he had.

What would Potter expect? He sure as hell would be walking hand-in-hand with him down the corridors, that was sure! They wouldn't be passing notes during class, or sharing food from the breakfast table, or anything else! He shook his head in his pillow and closed his eyes.

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Draco took longer than usual getting dressed and bathed the following morning. Being out in the rain the previous night had made him sniffly and he really didn't want to go see Potter today. Mind you, he didn't want to see anyone else, either. Even those in his dorm were skirting around him, pointing and laughing and sniggering. He just looked past them as if they weren't there while he fixed his damp hair in a ponytail. Now that he'd abandoned his bandage, attention wasn't brought immediately to the scar, now of deepest black.

Hell, who was he kidding? It stood out like a Quaffle on the grass and there was no drawing the eye elsewhere. Maybe if he got some fringe-no, that was a stupid thought. Only girls got fringe, or boys with very long hair. He shook his head and sighed in frustration. He didn't like all the negative attention. He had expected to come back this year as the most desirable person in his year, but all plans were ruined. He'd only managed to catch Potter.
He sniggered at that thought and slipped on his shoes before sulking out of the Slytherin dungeon. He was thankful that the Great Hall wasn't too far a walk, but he still hesitated before he passed through the huge double doors. Would the Slytherins let him sit with them today? He doubted it very seriously, and took a deep breath before walking in.

Every head turned but one-Potter's. He was grateful to Potter for that, for not looking up and gawping at him as he made his way across the hall. He cast a look over to the Slytherin table to find everyone glaring at him and their wands poised under the table in case he attempted to come over. Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, but he choked them back. It would be stupid to cry in front of the whole school, especially in front of the people who wanted to see him suffer. He reluctantly took a seat beside Potter again, setting down his bag and silently fixing himself some food.

"Morning, Malfoy" Potter said in between bites of toast. Draco only nodded before shoving some bacon in his mouth. He was thankful that Potter didn't say anything about what had happened the night before or even recognize him as anything but 'Malfoy.' The silence after the greeting was nothing less than amicable.

"Harry, Harry! My God, look at this"

Both Draco's and Harry's heads turned to look at Hermione as she came rushing into the Great hall, a paper clutched in her hand and a scowl on her face. "Look at this! I can't believe that she's at it again" she exclaimed, brandishing her copy of Witch Weekly under Harry's nose. The Gryffindor took it and started reading the article, the colour draining from his face as he did so. He handed it weakly to Draco when he was finished.

A Fly on the Wall by: Rita Skeeter

The fall of You-Know-Who has brought much celebration and joy among the magical communities in the past few days. We all owe our thanks to young Draco Malfoy, though some of his classmates have their own opinions of this miraculous boy. "He killed his own father to bring down You-Know-Who. Who knows what he'll do next" asks pretty seventh-
year Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin house. She isn't the only one who has a negative view of our new hero. "Malfoy is happy to be in Dumbledore's pocket now. He's the new Golden Boy, and many of us can't stand his arrogance any longer" says Neville Longbottom, a handsome and witty seventh year Gryffindor.

Draco Malfoy can now be found in the company of one Harry Potter, who coincidentally has the very same scar. Their newfound friendship seems at first to be innocent, though this reporter has seen otherwise. It seems, when the two boys are alone, it is anything but innocent. "It doesn't surprise me at all" sneers Terry Boot, a smart seventh-year Ravenclaw. "I always knew that there was some kind of spark between those two. It was only a matter of time before things got romantic." Indeed, it seems that the two boys have found consolation in one another. A secret rendezvous in the Quidditch locker rooms just last night began in violence and ended in a passionate embrace, followed by a fiery kiss and a regretful bid good night. This reporter has seen enough to believe that the relationship between these two boys may very well lead further than it should, and suggests that Headmaster Dumbledore keep a close eye on them.
Draco weakly lowered the paper and gave a frightened look to Potter, who stared back at him. By this time, he could see several people pointing and whispering about them and he bit his lip. He should never have helped that atrocious woman out in his fourth year! He picked up his things and held his tongue as he stood and stormed out of the hall.

Once out of earshot of anyone in the Great Hall, he fell to his knees and buried his head in his arms, cursing and yelling something horrible. He should have checked for beetles-it was stupid of him that he hadn't. What really bothered him was that this was one of the only articles that Rita Skeeter had written that had been almost entirely true. "GOD DAMMIT" he exploded, his shoulders sagging.

Suddenly, he felt strong hands on his shoulders and heard a gentle laughing. He looked up with a scowl to find Potter, an amused smirk on his face. "Come on, Malfoy. You get used to the laughing and jeering-you'll be her favourite subject this year, I'm sure. It's nothing to get upset about, really" the taller boy tried.

Draco shook his head before burying his face in the crooks of his elbows again. "You're only causing us more trouble by being around me, Potter. We'll be a walking gossip article."

"Then why not give her something to talk about, if she's going to talk? At least make it worth it" Harry dared, a malicious grin present on his face when Draco looked up, bewildered.

"What in the HELL do you mean by that" he demanded, eyes wide and blinking in confusion. He'd never heard the innocent Golden Boy speak like this, and it scared him. He had always been so dependent on Potter being the same all the time-stuffy, snobbish, and boring. His whole life was falling apart right before his eyes and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

"I mean exactly what I said, Draco. If she's going to talk trash about us, at least let it be something that's true. Come on, you know you want to..." He gave a suggestive wink that made Draco very, VERY uncomfortable. Why was Potter acting like such a whore!

"I think you are crazy. Like you said, it's nothing. The laughter will pass" he dodged, standing up and starting for his first class. "Besides, why would I want to do anything with YOU" With that, he flipped his ponytail and headed off for Transfiguration, leaving Harry giggling like an idiot in the middle of the Charms corridor.