Chapter Eight - The Moments of Happiness

Over the next two weeks, Draco found himself steeling away any chance he could with Harry. It was insane, it was more than insane - it was lunacy.

One morning after a particularly knee trembling kiss, he had gone into the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry had just looked at him and grinned. It was such a sincere and beautiful smile that Draco lost his breath. He hadn't been able to resist the urge to smile back. Harry's grins were contagious. And the more and more they looked at each other the wider their smiles got, till Draco laughed softly and coughed into his bowl of fruit. He smothered his grin from his fellow Slytherin's. He should be more careful, and grinning like that? It was so unlike him. Laughing at someone else's expense yes…..but grinning for the sake of grinning? No.

Of course with the exams coming up, he managed to sneak off with Harry under the ruse of studying. Harry did the same. Draco just couldn't get enough of Harry. It was madness. Kissing. His whole day was consumed about thoughts of kissing or kissing in the act itself. If anyone had told him a few weeks ago that this would be happening, he would have hexed them into oblivion. But here he was….kissing.

Harry Potter.

It was as If he wanted to weld himself to those luscious lips and in those arms forever. The strange part was that it wasn't just about frantically groping for Harry every time he saw him. Often than not, Harry would just simply put his arms around Draco and hold him gently, before moving his lips to Draco's.

It was simple acts of affection like that that left Draco reeling. He was not used to this kind of emotional intimacy and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Harry had told him that he cared for him and that had made Draco feel strangely wonderful but he couldn't utter such words back to Harry. It would be wrong to say such things out aloud, let alone feel them. He desperately tried to maintain some kind of distance and balance. but rapidly could feel himself slipping. It was so difficult at times to remain aloof when Harry was so forthcoming with his affection.

They had been in the library one time, tucked away hidden in a corner. Draco had got some books out and sat down for a few moments with Harry, who was reading. Harry had reached over and absentmindedly grasped Draco's hand in his. His thumb gently running over Draco's fingers as his other hand turned the pages of the textbook. Draco stared at their hands entwined, wordlessly. Harry wasn't even aware he was doing it and it was just small touches like that, which made warm shots pass through his body.

His feelings were out of kilter, and he tried to keep them in check, but as it happened, he could feel his emotions spilling out of control, and that made him uncomfortable. He had never felt jealously in all his life but he was feeling the full extent of it now. He hated it when Ginny talked to Harry, when Luna-tic talked to Harry. Ron and Hermione made him wretch something awful. That stupid Colin Creevy hovering around Harry. The amount of time Harry spent with all those other Gryffindor's.

He couldn't stand anyone looking at Harry let alone touching him. He wanted to snarl and growl and rip them apart. It was so primitive and scary, and Draco was supposed to be the cool one; he had never been like this about anybody.

He wanted to claim Harry as his. Mine. All mine.

He knew it was completely irrational but he didn't want Harry to care about anybody but him, didn't want him spending time with anyone else but him. Draco.

That was impossible obviously and Draco would never dream of telling Harry how he felt. It scared him to realise the intensity of his emotions, but as long as he kept them to himself, it was all right.

They often met in a disused staff room on the sixth floor that Draco had stumbled across accidentally. It was a warm and cosy room and it became a safe haven for the boys.

Harry had been lying on the couch with his head on Draco's chest one night. His arms wrapped tightly around Draco's waist. Draco was slowly running his hand up and down Harry's back, and with the other, stroking Harry's hair. He could never have imagined that he would ever feel so warm. Harry lifted his head up and placed a soft kiss on Draco's lips.

' I don't know what to say to you sometimes.'

'Is the silence so unbearable?' Draco could see his face in Harry's glasses.

' No, just…..I wonder if we could just talk…'

Draco wondered if the silence was in fact a whole lot more comforting than the words that they could ever say to one another.

'Have you ever been to a Muggle cinema?'

'Mmmm,' Draco mumbled, kissing Harry back. 'No. Why?'

'I'd just really like to go with you is all. Even if we only went once.'

Harry snuggled back on Draco's chest.

'Do you go to the cinema a lot?' Draco asked.

Harry slightly shook his head,' ummm er….not really'. He paused. ' But you and I'd have fun. We could get popcorn and watch a really lame movie and…it would be great, if you know we could one day…somehow…'

Draco didn't say anything. Harry slipped his warm hands under Draco's shirt, softly caressing his skin.

' I can't wait till I start to take Apparating lessons. It would make travelling so much simpler. I'm taking them this summer.'

'Mmmm,' Harry nodded. 'I still want to learn how to drive though, if I'd be able to maybe.'

Draco raised his eyebrows, 'drive as in a Muggle car? Why on earth would you want to do that?'

Harry lifted his head again and looked at Draco smiling. Draco brushed back Harry's long fringe out of his eyes.

'I want to learn how to Apparate of course,' Harry said,' but there's just something about getting in a car and just driving. I've always wanted to be able to, even before I knew I was a wizard.'

'Seems like a waste of time to me. By Apparating you could get from A to B in a blink of an eye.'

Draco ran his fingers along Harry's cheek and neck.

'That's not the point,' Harry grinned. 'Granted you could get from A to B in seconds, but then you leave out the whole time and space it takes to actually get there.'

Draco smiled, 'your point being?'

'When I was younger, sometimes we went on like a Sunday drive through the country. Everyone was silent and my Uncle would be driving. I would just look out of the window and watch the whole world go by. The fields and the trees all blurred into one another. It looked peaceful and really pretty. And it wasn't the point of just getting from A to B, it was about the journey in between.'

Harry blushed as Draco watched him intently.

He smiled embarrassed, ' you know like you're actually travelling the journey and not just being there.'

He looked at Draco shyly, 'do you get what I mean?'

Draco smiled back softly, 'I think so.'

Harry grinned and Draco felt his heart quiver. It touched him to see how refreshingly innocent Harry sometimes seemed; yet Draco knew that Harry possessed powers that were far greater than for someone his age. He had faced the Dark Lord many times in his young life and lived through it each time. He was one of the most powerful wizards at only sixteen, yet at times like this you would think he was just another ordinary young boy.

Draco held Harry tightly and buried his nose into Harry's hair. He guessed that the end of your childhood did not mean the end of all innocence. And besides Harry hadn't experienced a lot of other things in his life. There were many things that were new to him as Draco had by now gathered - intimacy apparently being one of them.

'If I ever get to pass my drivers test one day, you can be the first person I take out.' Harry said lifting his face and kissing Draco's chin.

Draco slid down on the couch drawing Harry flush up against his body. The warm pressure of Harry on top of him was both comforting and arousing and Draco shifted slightly onto his side. They explored each other's mouths unhurriedly and Draco slid his own hands inside Harry's top and ran his fingers up and down his smooth back. Harry moaned and pressed his thighs against Draco's hips. Draco gently lay Harry onto his back and kissed him.

'We should be getting back,' he said and Harry sighed.

'I know.'

Draco sat up straightening his clothes and then smoothed down Harry's shirt.

' You go first,' he said to Harry.

Harry nodded and dropped a brief kiss on Draco's lips before opening the door and slipping out.

During the times they were in public, they maintained the same cold distance that everyone expected of them. The next morning they had crossed each other in the corridor, each unwilling to move out of the way for the other.

Draco had given Harry a chilly gaze and said smoothly,' has no one taught you manners Potter? Gryffindor's always make way for Slytherin's.'

Weasley had snorted and said something foul under his breath.

Harry had narrowed his eyes and given Draco a sardonic smile,' Slytherin's can only dream of that happening.'

Hermione prodded Harry in the back, 'come on Harry, leave it.'

Only then did Harry reluctantly move aside to the left and as they walked away from each other, they gave one another a contemptuous look. Draco smiled to himself as he heard Weasels voice drift down the corridor.

'That Malfoy! He needs a good beating!'

Harry's clear voice rang through the hallway, 'he sure needs something.'

That night Harry had been waiting for Draco in their room. Draco came in and slipped his arms around Harry's waist, nuzzling his neck.

'So what is it that I need?' he whispered against Harry's neck.

Harry let out a soft moan and tilted his head back to receive Draco's kiss.

'You need a good seeing to,' he murmured.

Draco nipped Harry's neck lightly with his teeth, 'and you're going to give it to me are you?'

' Oh yeah,' Harry turned around in his arms and pushed Draco down onto the couch, his lips catching him in a breathless kiss.

The days slipped by in a blur. They always tried to meet in the morning and then at least get an hour or so together at night. Draco was also practising a lot, for his upcoming match against Ravenclaw in the afternoons. He had asked Harry casually for whom he might be cheering for at the match. He tried to play it down but it mattered to him what Harry would say. Silly really.

Harry had smiled and said, ' well as a Gryffindor I should be cheering for Ravenclaw rather than you no?'

He had an amused glow in his eyes and Draco looked at him silently, smarted. So Harry would rather that appalling Cho got the Snitch? He still likes her! Draco really hated the girl.

He chewed the inside of his cheek and then said, 'so you would rather I lose to your ex-girlfriend then?'

Harry turned to face Draco, ' ex-girlfriend? I'd hardly call her that Draco. We didn't even go out – not really. Of course I don't want you to lose to her, you can only lose against me,' he teased and then looked at Draco closely.

' Hey,' he said softly coming closer to Draco and slipping his arms around his waist. 'Of course I want you to win. I want you to show those Ravenclaw's just what an awesome player you are. I hope you get the Snitch before Cho even sees it.'

He placed a small kiss on Draco's closed lips, 'I don't want to watch you lose, how can you even think that?'

Draco felt instantly better and cursed himself for being so immature. He grinned then, 'except when it comes to losing against you,' he reminded Harry.

Harry winked at him,' sure, except against me,' and he laughed and pulled Draco closer to him kissing him sweetly.

Everyday Draco woke up looking forward to spending time with Harry. Harry this and Harry that. Draco could hardly stand being in the Great Hall when they ate. He always felt like grabbing Harry in front of everyone and laying him on the table, ravaging him. Just squeezing Harry and make him groan and see his beautiful eyes fill with desire, all for him.

Draco was very aware of his sexuality and good looks. But Harry was so completely unaware of how sexy and desirable he was. Also he had no idea of the sheer magnetism he possessed that made people react to him. Nevertheless, Draco took comfort in the thought that only he got to lick those lips, touch that face, feel that body; none of them did.

The night before the match, Draco had taken some books into their room a little earlier than their meeting so he could finish off an essay. When Harry came in, Draco was just ending it. He dropped a kiss in Draco's hair, and came up behind the chair. He bent over Draco's shoulder and wrinkled his nose.

' Euughh Potions, I hated doing that one,' his breath tickled Draco's ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

Draco felt Harry's gentle fingers knead his shoulders.

' You should get an early night,' Harry said.

'Mmm,' Draco sighed, relaxing under Harry's touch. He closed his eyes and felt Harry loosen the knots in his shoulders. He tipped his head back and Harry smiled bending down over his face. He blew gently on Draco's face, moving a few strands of his hair aside.

'Beautiful,' Harry whispered, sliding his hands down Draco's chest.

Draco closed his eyes again, feeling as if he was caught up in a soft dream. Harry cupped the back of Draco's neck supporting him and ran a hot tongue over Draco's open lips. He deepened his kiss and Draco snaked his tongue up into Harry's mouth, lapping the velvety sweetness. Harry could have asked Draco to do anything at that moment, and Draco would have done it gladly. His thoughts ran hazily in his head as he felt Harry massage his tongue with his own.

He moaned and Harry came around the chair, in front of Draco, nudging his knees apart with his thighs. He leaned in closer pressing against him and bent down, holding Draco's face up to his. He kissed Draco hungrily, edging his body even nearer.

Draco's breath caught in his throat,' Harry…' he moaned.

'Yes?' Harry said breathlessly, rubbing his legs in between Draco's.

'Oh….'

Draco's breath was coming fast, and felt his body arch towards Harry. It was almost painful, the sweet torture of having Harry so close and yet…..

Suddenly they heard footsteps in the corridor and they moved in a flash across the room behind the door.

'Finite Incantatum,' Draco whispered and all the light spells went out, leaving the room in complete darkness.

He felt for Harry's hand and smothered a laugh that was threatening to escape. They were standing next to each other up against the wall and Harry squeezed his fingers. He could almost see Harry's grin in the dark room.

They stood quietly for a few minutes and then Harry whispered, ' stay here for a second,' and he let go of Draco's hand.

'Harry where…?'

'Sshhhh,' Harry said. 'Wait,' and then saw Harry open the door a crack.

'What are you…..?' Draco whispered.

He blinked and Harry was gone. The door was open and Draco stood still. He waited a few moments and then saw the door open. Harry was suddenly standing there.

'Lumos,' Harry said and the light from the wand lit up the room.

'It's ok, there's no one outside. They're gone. I went up to the staircase so if we go now, there doesn't seem to be anyone around.'

Draco smiled and shook his head, and Harry grinned kissing him again.

'I was just getting into that as well,' his eyes sparkled mischievously behind his glasses and Draco kissed him and moved aside.

' Just as well then.'

He picked up his books from the desk and then came back to Harry and kissed him again. Harry caught his hand and brushed it against his lips.

'Good luck for tomorrow,' he leaned in and pressed another soft kiss on Draco's lips, 'not that you'll need it.'

Draco smiled, 'thanks.'

Draco slipped out and walked down the corridor. He waited on top of the steps of the landing till he heard Harry begin to walk up the hallway. Only then did he start to go downstairs towards the Slytherin common room.