Almost Willing

CHAPTER #6

Harry gazed blankly in the direction of Professor Trelawney. He was slightly disappointed by being put back into her class after having the very competent Firenze teaching classes last year, but she did seem to be more vigorous and sure this term, trying to prove her worth, Harry supposed. Well, either way, he still couldn't think straight in her classroom. There was just way too much incense.

Her instructions finally finished, everyone stood excitedly and gathered around the store cupboards. Ron turned to him expectantly.

"So, what are we supposed to be doing?"

Harry looked at him.

"You didn't really think I was paying attention, did you?"

Dean and Neville laughed, pulling up chairs next to them and plunking four candles down in front of them.

"We're finally getting down to the Pyromancy," Neville said.

"Yeah, after reading about it for a week."

Trelawney gazed around the class through her enormous magnifying spectacles and linked her hands, reminding Harry, as usual, of an oversized praying mantis.

"Now remember to focus as you light the candles. Concentrate on the spreading light, from your wand to the candle, and remember, don't take your eyes off of the flame once it has been lit," she breathed, in her misty voice. "You will each take notes of the flame's actions in order to later interpret them."

The class became very silent as everyone began to light their candles. Harry turned to the smelly pink square of wax in front of him and pulled out his wand. This shouldn't be too hard; he thought he knew many of the symbols by now. Carefully, he lit the flame and watched as it caught light with a dramatic crackle.

So, there was dawning change or something.... He watched as it began a steady side-to-side swing... what did that mean again? Suddenly, the motion paused and began to rock violently in the opposite direction. Did it matter which way it was going?!

He stared, appalled as it began to flicker and swing and pause in a completely random pattern. How was anyone supposed to follow this?!

He glanced at Neville, who was sitting next to him, whose candle seemed almost completely still, then looked back at his own rapidly oscillating flame.

This was impossible!

Eyes wide he leaned over to Ron on his other side.

"Is there a breeze in here?" he asked.

Ron glanced at his candle and laughed.

"Counter clock-wise, that just means lack of clarity and/or bad decisions."

Harry stared.

"What?" Ron asked.

Harry stared.

"I was stuck with Hermione for hours last night, she made me! Why weren't you there anyway, your meeting with Malfoy is tonight?!"

"Okay everyone," Trelawney said in her soft voice. "Extinguish your flames now and try to record everything that happened to your flame in the past five minutes, and then set to work interpreting it. You're report will be due next Thursday."

Harry groaned and opened his notebook; maybe he would get Ron to do it for him.... Hmm, not likely.

They dropped their books in the common room and headed straight for the great hall for lunch.

A shoulder knocked into him roughly as it passed.

"Watch it, Potter," Malfoy sneered.

Harry stared at his retreating back for a moment, first confused, then extremely annoyed. He somehow had not noticed the fact that Malfoy had stopped with his usual taunts and torments lately.

"What a tosser," Ron muttered. "Come on Harry."

Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table and glanced up at where Malfoy was sitting, his head resting on his hand, and looking bored out of is mind as he listened to Pansy rattle on next to him.

Hermione peered up from her Arithmancy book, just then, following his gaze.

"What is it?" she asked.

Malfoy suddenly looked up and caught Harry watching him. Harry waited for the sneer, but instead he just turned away reverting his full attention back to Pansy.

"Well," Hermione said, sounding satisfied. "Looks as though Dumbledore's little plan is working out."

"Maybe," he said. It was true, Harry couldn't remember the last time the Slytherin's smug sneer, or the bored expression he kept giving Pansy had been shot at him. Not since... not since that night.

His so-called enemy had held him all the way down the hall just to help him out; he'd had no reason to do that, but had anyway.

Harry shut his eyes and with a groan, leaned his head against the table.

"You alright Harry?"

He glanced up at Hermione and nodded.

"Divination fumes," he muttered.

He sat eating quietly for a minute when Malfoy stood up from the Slytherin table and left the great hall.

Harry's heart sped up a moment before he stood up to follow.

*

Draco sat at the Slytherin table trying to ignore the tingling at the back of his neck and listen to Pansy's yipping.

"Someone's watching you," came a whispered, calculating voice to his side.

Draco glanced at Blaise in annoyance, and then at Potter just as he plunked his head down on the table.

He frowned and looked at Blaise, who grinned knowingly.

"Don't you have anything better to do, than bother me?" he asked, trying not to grimace.

"About what?" Pansy asked.

Blaise grinned.

Glowering, Draco placed his fork down and stood up.

"I can't eat like this," he proclaimed.

He could hear Blaise laughing irritatingly as he walked away grimacing.

This whole situation needed to come to an end. It was ridiculous the way that his stomach had started to squirm around Potter. Draco turned into the dungeons, heading in the direction of the Slytherin common room. He hated Harry Potter... it was easier that way.

"Draco, wait!"

Draco froze and turned apprehensively as Harry drew up beside him flushed and panting.

"What do you want, Potter?" he asked casually.

Harry looked down. "So, I'm back to Potter now, am I?"

"What else did you want me to call you? Would you rather the usual, Golden Boy, Hero, headmasters pet...?"

Harry sighed.

"Look, can we just talk?" he asked.

"No."

"Well, why not?"

Draco searched frantically for an answer.

"I can't be seen with you," he said quickly.

Harry frowned.

"Fine then," he snapped. "I can see I'm obviously not good enough for your time."

He spun around.

"Don't be daft, that's not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean?" Harry demanded, spinning back around.

A surge of anger rushed through Draco. "That it's the other way around!" he shouted.

Harry shoved him fiercely, forcing his back against the wall.

"I just came to apologize. Why do you have to be this way?!"

Draco smiled viciously. "I'm Lucius Malfoy's son, what else did you expect?"

"Something a little different! You know, like walking me to my dorm in the middle of the night, and calling me Harry?!"

"I don't know if you realize, but Lucius Malfoy wouldn't do any of that!"

"Yeah, but Lucius Malfoy wouldn't want to!"

"You think I-you-!" Suddenly he seized Harry by the collar and savagely crushed their lips together generating a gasp of pain.

With a sound akin to a battle cry, sharp teeth bit into his bottom lip. Draco moaned, and pulled Harry up against him, kissing him madly. With a groan, he pressed his tongue deep into Harry's mouth.

Harry froze.

His heart thundering at an almost painful rate, Draco realized that he wasn't pulling away. For a moment, both stood immobile, and then slowly, like movement would brake the moment, Draco ran a hand over Harry's tense arm, hoping it wouldn't shock him into reality.

Harry's lips suddenly softened.

With a sigh, Draco tilted his head, deepening the kiss; his entire mouth burning like it was on fire.

He opened his eyes to catch Harry's lashes fluttering shut, and a moment later gentle fingers wove into his hair. A loud moan reverberated through the hall.

Harry suddenly pulled back and looked at him. Belatedly, Draco realized he was the one who had moaned so passionately. He felt the blood rushing to his cheeks.

"What is it?" he asked hesitantly.

"I-I didn't realize-."

"What is it you didn't realize, Mr. Potter?"

Draco jumped in surprise, whacking the back of his head into the wall behind him, as Harry spun around, elbowing him painfully in the side.

Draco rubbed his rib and glared up at Snape, who stood sneering down at them both.

"Well Potter? What is it you didn't realize?"

Harry spluttered a moment, the back of his neck turning a deep shade of pink. "Perhaps you didn't realize where exactly you were standing; obstructing the way of a mass of student's who will be using this hall in only a matter of minutes?"

"Well I-."

"Or perhaps you didn't realize that I was standing here? Tell me Potter, do you realize the number of points taken away from students carrying out such ridiculous activities on school grounds?" he demanded now turning on Draco as well. "Or maybe you want to be seen? Want me to hand you over to Filch and McGonagall and allow them to deal out the consequences," he snarled.

"What do you want?" Draco demanded angrily.

"A word," Snape replied coldly.

"Right, well, I'll just-, I'll just go!" Instantly Harry was gone, obviously amazed that he was getting away at all.

"Why did you do that?!" Draco demanded.

"Please Draco; I do not want to see students fornicating in the hallways." "Fornicating?! We kissed!"

Snape grimaced.

"I don't want to know what you were doing; I told you before that it was dangerous!"

"Well maybe, I like it dangerous!" he snapped.

"Is that what this is?" Snape hissed. "A cheap thrill? Because if it is Draco, I suggest you drop it at once!"

Draco's face suddenly burned.

"It's not! That's not what I want."

"Then what do you want? Are you even aware of what you're doing because Potter most certainly does not have the brain capacity to be?"

Draco grimaced. He didn't care what his head of house had to say.

"Draco, look at me, do you have any idea what your father would say?" Suddenly seeming to hesitate he asked, "Do you know what would be done to you both?"

Draco turned away. From anyone else he could discard that, no one else knew his father for anything other then the Dark Lord's Right Hand Man. But Snape did. He knew him well.

"He's in Azkaban. He won't find out." He crossed his arms, glowering. "He wouldn't do anything to me."

He bit back at the conviction in his voice. After all these years, he still couldn't go a day without sounding like a spoiled, defensive seven-year old.

The sound of students moving through the halls suddenly met them.

"Come to my office," Snape said.

Draco shook his head. "No, I don't want to." He turned to walk away, and scowling, forced himself to a stop. He looked at Snape. "You won't tell, about...?"

Snape sighed. "Does anyone else know?" he asked.

Draco shook his head and then stopped.

"Blaise," he said. "But he wouldn't tell."

"Draco." He took him by both shoulders, forcing their eyes to meet. "Don't let anyone else find out, do you understand me?"

He nodded.

"Good. Oh, and Draco?"

"Yes?"

He pulled out his wand and touched it to Draco's lips, muttering a healing charm, and erasing all remaining flavor of Harry from his mouth.

Draco touched his lips.

"Stop blushing, it doesn't become a Malfoy," Snape growled as he turned away with a superior swirl of his robes.

Draco looked after him moment, then spun on his heels and went after Harry grinning like a fool.