Ludus: a love that is played as a game or sport

Song: Lost the Game by Two Feet

"And what can I do, I do, I do? I know it's over. Because I lost the game, I can't get lower, because your pain it's taking over"

"You did not make her fall in love with you!" Harry hears Pansy shout.

Draco spreads his arms, a self-satisfied grin on his face. "What can I say? Love is a game, and I'm the fucking winner."

"But Hermione Granger? In love with you? Impossible."

Harry's jaw drops. Draco smirks.

"I'm that good, love," he says, winking.

"No way."

"Way."

"Damn."

Draco grins. "I can make anyone I want fall in love with me."

"Wanna bet, Malfoy?" 

Harry's voice is cold, even to his own ears. Draco turns around, surprised.

"Harry, please, join us," Pansy says, her voice smooth. Harry enters the room, eyes locked on Draco.

Draco leans forward, licking his lips. "Potter, you doubt my abilities?"

"I think you're a damn liar," Harry replies coldly.

"Fine. Pick anyone our age, let's be reasonable, and I can make them fall in love with me. Anyone of your choosing."

Harry thinks this over. He had really thought Hermione was the last person on earth who could love Draco Malfoy. 

Ron? The thought makes him shudder, but if Hermione was susceptible, who's to say Ron isn't?

Neville, Parvati, Luna, a dozen names go through his head, but only one is guaranteed to not work.

"Me," he says calmly.

Draco's eyes widen dramatically. Blaise whistles. Pansy "ooo"s.

"You're throwing your own heart on the table?" Draco asks, incredulous. "Typical Potter. Sacrificing himself instead of his friends."

"Nah, I'm just the last person on planet earth who could even like you, Malfoy," Harry says coldly.

"Two weeks. If you fall in love with me in that time, you lose and never doubt my abilities again. If you don't, I will stop breaking hearts."

Harry nods, holding out his hand. Draco shakes it.

"You're in for a hell of a ride, Potter."

Harry doesn't doubt it.

******************* 

The entire first week, Harry stands his ground. Draco brings him flowers, takes him on beautiful dates, buys him things that Harry could never even consider buying.

But never once does Harry relent or let himself feel anything.

And then Draco comes over to the Gryffindor table one morning and asks Harry if he wants to come with him.

Harry shrugs. He knows he doesn't have a choice, it's part of the deal, he has to agree to go where Draco wants, but he doesn't really mind.

Draco doesn't talk much as they walk through the hallways, but as they reach the huge oak doors at the front of Hogwarts, he laces his fingers with Harry's and pushes one door open.

It's snowing, and Harry smiles at the cliche of it all. Draco holds out his hand, catching a few snowflakes in it. His grey eyes study the falling snow with a beautiful fascination.

Harry can admit at this point that he thinks Draco is beautiful. He can no longer deny that, but he knows he doesn't like him.

He's so lost in thought he doesn't even realize Draco has let go of his hand until he feels cold snow hit him on the arm.

"Hey!" he cries out, laughing despite himself. "No fair! I wasn't paying attention!"

Draco shrugs. "Fair game, Potter." He throws another snowball, and Harry manages to duck away from this one, making and throwing one of his own. 

Draco's laugh is contagious, and soon both boys are laughing hard as they throw snowballs at each other.

Draco throws one that hits Harry in the chest, before running forward and grabbing his arm.

"Let's ice skate," he says breathlessly, his smile brightening his face.

Harry grins, caught up in the rush of the air as they run towards the frozen lake and Draco's laugh as Harry immediately slips on the ice and lands on his ass.

"You should stay near me so you don't hurt yourself," Draco laughs. He helps Harry up and holds his hand as they skate together.

"Fuck you," Harry laughs. "I can skate, I just have to get used to the ice first."

"Sure, Harry. While you 'adjust to the ice,' I'll be over here skating." Draco smirks at him before taking off, spinning in a perfect circle and skating fast circles around Harry.

"Fuck off!" Harry shouts, grinning. "You suck."

"You swallow," Draco says with no hesitation.

"I suppose we'll see about that," Harry retorts.

This surprises Draco so much that the blonde stumbles over his skates and crashes onto the ground.

"Fuck!" he shouts. "Damn, Potter. You've got a mouth on you."

Harry is too busy laughing to care about the playful glare Draco sends him.

****************

The next day, Draco takes him on a walk through the Forbidden Forest.

"Not my ideal date, but you do you," Harry says, watching sunlight attempt to crawl through the thick trees.

Draco just smiles sadly. "Sorry. It's just so quiet, and I like to come here to think. I thought I'd take you."

The statement is so genuine that Harry almost stops walking. Draco had only ever joked with him, never really been so open with him.

"Is something wrong?" he asks quietly, swinging their joined hands.

"My father," Draco says quietly. "He's being freed from Azkaban today."

Harry stops their walk, tugging Draco's hand so the other boy has to look at him.

"Are you okay?" he asks seriously, concerned for the blond.

"Yeah. It's just kind of a shock, is all. He deserves to be there, he shouldn't be freed."

Harry can see how hard this is for Draco. The boy appears to be fighting back tears.

"It's okay, Draco," Harry whispers, pulling him in for a hug. "You'll be okay."

He can tell the other boy is crying, even though he can't see his face, and he just holds him tighter and makes a silent promise to put Lucius Malfoy back in prison.

*****************

Draco doesn't appear to want to do anything the next day. He just sits at the Slytherin table for breakfast, staring blankly at the table.

Harry says fuck it, stands up, and despite Ron's protests, walks over and sits down at the Slytherin table in front of Draco.

Draco gives him a strange look. "Um, hello?"

"Hello," Harry says cheerfully, making a plate of food.

"Why are you here? Nothing against you, but this is kind of like a break day for you. I would think you'd be staying as far away as possible from me."

"That's ridiculous. Deal or not, we're friends now, and friends care about friends." Harry sets the plate in front of Draco. "Eat, bitch."

Draco's blond eyebrows raise, and he laughs slightly, shaking his head. "You are something else."

"Shut up and eat, Malfoy." Harry grins at him.

"I thought you said you were the last person on planet earth who could even like me?" Draco says with a cocky grin.

"That's funny, I could have sworn what I said was shut the hell up and eat, bitch."

Draco laughs at that, and Harry can't help but smile, proud of himself, when Draco starts eating his food.

******************

The next day, they have class, which is sad because Harry was sort of enjoying their stupid dates.

He's starting to realize he likes the blonde, but Draco only has three more days and Harry is far from in love with him.

So he assumes he's in the clear. Maybe after this stupid deal is over, him and Draco can date for real and he will fall in love with him eventually, but there's no way anyone can fall in love in three days.

This thought fades from his mind as a small note lands on his desk, a stupid, childish heart scribbled on the front.

Harry shakes his head, laughing to himself as he unfolds it.

You look cute.
~D

He writes his response quickly, grinning at himself, before tossing it onto Draco's desk.

You look desperate.
-H

The response lands on his desk seconds later.

I was trying to be romantic, bitch
~D

Because calling someone bitch is the epitome of romance
-H

You're my bitch ;)
~D

Smooth. Not.
-H

Oh come one! That was smooth as fuck!
~D

Smooth as a rock
-H

Maybe your rock-hard chest ;)
~D

That was lame
-H

You're lame bitch
~D

Again with the bitch, Draco. Very original
-H

Fine. Dickwad.
~D

D for Dickwad
-H

H for Hoe
~D

You see, I'm not that insulted by that
-H

That's because it was subtle and you are the worst at understanding subtlety
~D

You keep telling yourself that, bitch.
-H

Oh, so it's original when you say bitch?
~D

Of course. I'm original as fuck
-H

Language, Mr. Potter.
~D

Oo. Mr. Potter. I like the sound of that
-H

You would, kinky bitch
~D

Only for you
-H

Draco laughs, covering it quickly with a cough as McGonagall glares at him.

Well well, Mr. Potter. There's a whole other side to you.
~D

But of course
-H

We should explore that other side of you ;)
~D

You can explore me any time Draco ;)
-H

Holy shIT
~D

;)
-H

I think I'll take you up on that offer
~D

Only if you call me Mr. Potter
-H

What if i call you Daddy instead? ;)
~D

Harry chokes and starts coughing, hiding the note in his pocket as McGonagall comes and check up on him.

You BITCH she almost caught us!
And that's kinky as shit Draco, you fiend
-H

I'm kinky boy, Mr. Potter ;)
~D

I don't believe you, vanilla bitch
-H

Why don't I show you? ;)
~D

McGonagall excuses class, and Draco laughs loudly at the bright red blush on Harry's face.

*************

"Potions can kiss my ass," Harry mutters.

"That's my job," Draco says absentmindedly, writing something in his notes.

Harry snorts, but his smile drops as he realizes something. "Oh, fuck me!"

"I'm not even going to say what I could have said in response to that," Draco replies calmly. "What's going on?"

"I just did the last five fucking questions on our Potions study guide wrong," Harry groans, hitting his head back against the headboard of Draco's bed.

"Want some help?" Draco offers, looking up from his desk.

"Could you?"

Draco smiles. "Of course." He stands up and sits on the bed, very close to Harry. Harry feels his face flush at their proximity.

"Oh, you see, you said wormwood instead of waxflower on this one. They have different properties in this potion..."

Harry lets the sound of Draco's voice wash over him as he studies the other boy's face. He watches grey eyes flick across the page, pink lips moving as they say words Harry is probably supposed to hear, soft strands of blonde hair falling into his face as he concentrates on the task, fingers absently tracing circles on Harry's thigh...

"Harry? Are you listening to me?"

"You're beautiful," Harry murmures.

Draco's grey eyes widen in surprise, and he blushes. "Erm, thank you, but we really need to focus on your study guide notes."

"Why?" Harry asks, almost drunk on how gorgeous Draco is.

Draco smiles. "Because grades are important."

"Not as important as kissing you right now," Harry responds. What even is he saying?

Draco's lips form a perfect O, and Harry wants to kiss him so badly, but Draco hasn't said anything, and Harry doesn't want to kiss him if Draco's not comfortable with it.

"You- you want to kiss me?" Draco stutters, self-confident, sarcastic boy gone. He is blushing a lot, and it's the cutest thing Harry has ever seen.

"So badly," Harry whispers.

Draco bites his lip, considering this, and then leans forward and kisses Harry quickly.

"There you go. Now back to your notes."

"Draco!" Harry shouts in protest.

Draco rolls his eyes, a grin spreading on his lips. "Fine. For every question you get right, you get a kiss."

"Everything's a game to you, isn't it," Harry mutters. "Fine."

"What are you supposed to use instead of wormwood?"

Fuck. Draco had just said this one. What is it?

"Waxflower!" Harry says triumphantly after a moment of thought.

"Perfect," Draco replies, leaning forward and giving Harry a soft, slow kiss.

Harry is dizzy when Draco pulls away. "What's the next one?"

"A combination of moonstone and Ashwinder dust makes what?"

"A Sleeping Draught?" Harry guesses.

Draco shakes his head. "A temporary mind-erasing potion."

Harry sighs, studying Draco's lips. He has to get another one right or he's going to go insane.

After getting several wrong out of distraction, Draco sighs.

"If you can get three in a row right, we can just toss your study guide and make out instead," he suggests.

Harry's eyebrows shoot up. "Fuck yes."

"Very well. How does one make a Draught of Living Death?"

Harry grins at the first-year question. "Powdered root of asphodel added to an infusion of wormwood."

"Perfect. How do you make a Polyjuice Potion?"

Second year. "Fluxweed, knotgrass, lacewing flies, leeches, powdered Bicorn horn, shredded Boomslang skin, and a hair from the peron you want to imitate."

"Good. How do you make an antidote to Veritaserum?"

Harry froze.

"I... have no clue."

Draco sighed. "Alright. Starting over. How do you make a Laughing Potion?"

"Alihotsy, flitterbloom, ginger root, and silverweed."

"How do you make a truth serum?"

"Jobberknoll feathers, belladonna, and armadillo bile."

"How do you make a memory potion?"

"Jobberknoll feather again, ginger root, tea leaves, honeywater, and... mandrake root?"

"Perfect." Draco sets down the notebook, smiling.

Harry grins."Does this mean I can kiss you now?"

Draco smirks. "It does."

Harry practically pounces on the other boy, kissing him hard.

********************

"I passed my test!" Harry practically screams when he sees Draco the next day.

"Good job, that's amazing!" Draco shouts back, laughing as Harry jumps into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you for helping me study. I couldn't have done it without you."

"I asked you like six questions and then we made out for two hours," Draco laughs, setting Harry down gently.

"Yeah, but all of those were on the test! And I passed!" Harry is bouncing up and down happily. Draco is beaming at him.

"I'm proud of you."

Harry kisses him quickly, dizzy with happiness. 

"Wanna go to Hogsmeade with me?" Draco asks him. "I was about to go get lunch."

"Hell yeah!" Harry cheers.

Draco shakes his head, laughing at Harry.

Harry holds his hand and swings it happily as they walk down to Hogsmeade.

He studies Draco as the blonde reads his menu, deciding what he wants to eat.

"You only have a day left," he says casually.

Draco looks surprised. "I totally forgot about the bet."

Harry smiles at that. Draco must have been being genuine then, and that makes Harry happy.

They order their food and enjoy their date together.

***************

Harry has accepted that he has lost the bet.

He's fallen for Draco Malfoy in fourteen days, but maybe it's been the last seven years that Harry has truly gotten to see Draco and maybe he's slowly been falling for him this entire time.

He wonders if he should tell Draco that he lost, or if he should let Draco believe that Harry won their bet. He's scared that Draco hasn't truly fallen for him too, but with how much they've gone through the past seven years and especially the last two weeks, and with the way Draco acts towards him, Draco has to like him.

Right?

He stares at Draco, who is currently sitting in front of him across the table, smiling at him with what can only be described as adoration.

He makes his decision.

"You win," Harry says quietly.

Draco looks surprised. "What?"

"You win the bet. I've fallen for you," Harry mumbles.

Draco's face splits into a wide grin.

"Told you I could make anyone fall for me, Potter. Even you."

Harry blinks at the different tone Draco's voice takes with the statement. "I'm sorry?"

"Aw, don't be sorry , Potter. No one can resist my charms." Draco downs his drink, smirks, and walks away.

Harry had lost.

And Draco had won, just like he always would.