"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Professor Moody barked, sweeping his eyes across the classroom of thirty or so students. Harry sat at the back of the class between Hermione and Ron, their bench diagonal to the one of Draco and his cronies. Running his hand through his hair, Harry let out a slightly frustrated sigh as he scrunched up the slip of paper in his hand into a ball.

   "Just do it already, will you?" Ron muttered in his ear. "Worst case scenario, he'll say no and then at least Mad-eye Moody would stop glancing at us with that eye of his every two minutes. I'm telling you, that eye gives me the creeps."

   Harry took in a deep breath and nodded. Amidst the sea of black and brown heads, he could see Draco's blonde one clearly. Small patches of wintry sunshine danced atop his silky blond strands as Draco Malfoy, the universal cause of sleepless nights, brooded over his textbook, his pointed pale chin resting on his hands.

   Yet again, he had been thwarted by girls of all years during breakfast. It was normal for him to receive his usual stack of his favourite Honeydukes chocolates every single day. But no matter how many times this incident repeated itself, Harry never got used to it and he'd always get annoyed. If only I could walk up to him as fearlessly as those girls, he thought. As professor Moody turned his back to the class, writing down ways to fight off the Imperius curse, Harry carefully took aim and threw the scrunched up note Draco's way. Most unfortunately, it dropped to the floor inches from his table. He looked up in confusion and then at Harry's face and then at the paper ball beside his feet. But professor Moody had heard the sound of the paper ball hitting the ground and was steadily advancing towards his desk.

   Harry looked at Hermione pleadingly, who sighed but raising her hand, said in a flustered voice, "Professor Moody, I have a doubt regarding one of the ways you stated would help fight off the Imperius curse."

   Moody immediately turned towards her, allowing Draco to stoop down and pocket Harry's note. Hermione pointed towards the blackboard and said in a slightly quivering voice, "I don't quite understand..."

   Her voice faded in Harry's ears as he looked at Draco who was reading the note, hoping for some sign of acceptance. Draco had to read the note twice to make sure he had read it correctly. It said: Hey Malfoy, can you meet me in Hogsmeade today? I'm fine with whatever time you're free. Just need to tell you something.

   He let out a shaky breath, and his face turned hot. But he clenched his jaw, and looked at Harry, his eyes cold. Harry knew that he would probably refuse, but was disappointed nevertheless. But he suddenly envisioned Draco surrounded by a horde of girls and hastily began scribbling something on a fresh piece of paper. He read through what he had written, and at the last second, crossed something out. He scrunched up the note and aimed once more for Draco's table. This time, his shot didn't miss and Draco opened the second note, his heart fluttering ever so slightly. This one read: Look, I'll just need ten minutes or so of your precious time, okay? Please?

   Draco couldn't help but smile at the crossed out smiley face and nodded in Harry's direction. He looked back at the board, indulging in the class on a much happier note.

   "Score, mate," Ron whispered, punching Harry on the arm as Hermione grinned. He beamed, looking at the two of them, finally uncrossing his fingers beneath the table.

   "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Professor Moody barked once more, causing the whole class to jump and signaling the end of the lecture.

   The class surged out, but as Harry passed Moody, he could've sworn the latter had given him the slightest of winks.

   Aah, right. He's got that eye of his, he thought. He flushed at the thought of it. But the upcoming Hogsmeade trip and what it had in store for him was even more alarming.

   "I'm not sure if Draco saying yes is better or worse," he whispered to Ron and Hermione as they sat in the great hall for lunch. "I'm more nervous now than I was when I had to ask him out in the first place."

   Hermione looked sympathetic and told him that he would eventually calm down and that everything would be fine. Ron, on the other hand, gave the food in front of him all of his devoted attention and didn't seem to notice the existence of other beings.

   "Ron!" Hermione said sharply.

   "Huh? What?" he asked distractedly, his mouth full of chicken.

   She let out a defeated sigh, but Harry was still a bundle of nerves. 

I could take on the Hungarian Horntail again and still not feel this nervous, he couldn't help thinking.

 But beneath all of his nervousness, he was excited. He had finally had the nerve to ask Draco out, and he had said yes too. He blushed at the thought of him, his heart beating fast all of a sudden. He kept thinking about how he would confess his true feelings to Draco, but couldn't seem to find the right way. It had taken him two months to make up his mind to confess in the first place. He wasn't afraid of what others would say or how they would perceive him. Hermione and Ron had long since shipped him with Draco and now that Ginny and Luna were dating, he had decided he would ask Draco too. Minutes passed by with such speed that they almost overlapped themselves in the hurry to make the hour's hand of the clock reach the number 5.

   Before he knew it, Argus Filch, the irritable caretaker of Hogwarts, was rushing students out of the Hogwarts gates. He wore an annoyed expression on his face, as if the sight of the students' happy faces tortured him, which it probably did. Everyone stepped out into the snow in groups of twos or threes. Excitement and nervousness coursed through Harry's veins as he thought of the prospect of meeting Draco. He looked pale so Hermione advised him to take a few deep breaths. But that just made him feel more sick. Harry wondered when Draco would be free and how he'd inform him. He would probably be free two or three hours later. It was impossible that Draco would be waiting for Harry so that he could meet him before anyone else. But he was. Draco stood right outside the gates, leaning on one of the stone walls. He looked bored, and didn't seem to notice the group of girls behind him. His skin was of the purest white; it paled the snow in comparison. His slightly oversized grey coat made him look small even though he was at least two inches taller than Harry. He was so cute he made Harry's heart throb.

   Most of his hair was covered by the dark grey cap he wore, and his high white cheeks were a rose pink from the cold. His beauty was overwhelming and Harry could feel his face burning.

   "No way. Bloody hell, he's actually waiting for you, Harry. The high and mighty King actually put you first," Ron whispered disbelievingly.

   "Shut up," Harry replied, smiling slightly.

   He couldn't help but feel pleased all the same. Draco noticed Harry and his face lit up.

   But it was soon replaced by his cold demeanor as he walked towards him saying, "So, what is it, Potter?"

   Hermione grabbed Ron's elbow and the two of them seemed to melt into nothingness as Draco walked towards a nervous Harry.

   "Oh, um hi," Harry said in a small voice. Although Draco himself was quaking inside, he didn't let it show.

   He noticed how nervous Harry was and his cold behavior dissolved immediately and with a small smile, he asked, "Would you like to go to the Three Broomsticks? I could do with something to drink."

   Harry was taken aback, but nodded eagerly. The two of them set off and Harry looked back as he walked only to find Hermione and Ron looking at them. Hermione showed Harry a thumbs up as Ron grinned from ear to ear. Harry smiled and looked ahead.

   I can't believe Harry Potter is walking by my side. And we're going to the Three Broomsticks. This is too good to be true, Draco thought, his cheeks turning red as he glanced at Harry.

   The moment they entered, the warmth and pleasant smells enveloped them. Surprisingly, there weren't a lot of people. Harry and Draco found themselves a table at a far corner of the pub, and Harry went away to get their drinks. He returned with two butterbeers and the they set to work. Harry finished his, but Draco pushed his half-full bottle away from him with a sigh.

   "What?" Harry questioned.

   "I'm full. Can't drink anymore," Draco murmured in a sleepy voice. His silvery grey eyes drooped sleepily as he slacked on the stuffed couch they were sitting on.

   A minute later, his blonde head lightly touched Harry's shoulder. Harry stiffened, not knowing what to do. His heart had begun racing so fast, he was scared Draco might hear it.

   "Move your head, will you? You're too heavy," Harry said, a little rudely than he wanted to.

   Draco let out a small frustrated sigh and immediately leaned onto the wooden wall of the pub instead. Harry suddenly wished he hadn't said what he did.

   He cleared his throat and said, "Um, sorry, I didn't mean for it to come off so rudely. But what I really wanted to say was that um, Draco I-" he broke off uncertainly, unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say.

   The door of the pub suddenly flew open as a group of students bustled in. The draughty air filled in and Draco gave a small sneeze.

   "Are-are you unwell?," Harry asked.

   "Yeah, a little. I'm just really cold, Harry," he mumbled.

   Before thinking twice, Harry made the most impulsive decision in his life. He turned Draco's face towards him with a hand and kissed him. His kisses were warm and his familiar scent filled Harry as he held his face with both hands. They broke apart, and Harry looked at Draco. His face was an inscrutable blank.

   Harry realised what he had just done and his face burned crimson red as he said, "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't ha-"

   He broke off when he saw Draco smirking. He looked at him in nervous confusion. Draco said cockily, "I'm not cold anymore. Thanks."

   Harry gaped at him, but then his face broke into a smile. Draco leaned towards him and kissed him once more. His hands slipped to the nape of Harry's neck, brushing his jet black hair lightly. The latter, though surprised at first, now pushed himself upon him and returned his kisses passionately.

***

   Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room an hour later. He hadn't been able to stop smiling ever since he bid Draco goodbye. Ron and Hermione were sitting anxiously by the fireplace, awaiting his return. One look at his face made their expressions smug. Harry rolled his eyes but his flushed pink face said it all. Ron wolf-whistled as Hermione cheered.

   "Shut up, you two!" he mumbled between smiles. He bolted towards the dormitory, seeking solace to let the fact that he was going out with Draco Malfoy sink in.