"Kiss Me"
 

Harry looked out over the lake that bordered the grounds of Hogwarts. The sun glistened across the water, painting the serene landscape before him with soft golden colors. Sighing, he turned his head and studied the white marble monument which marked the gravesite of Professor Dumbledore. Sadness boiled up within his gut as moisture filled his eyes. The funeral had been over just a short time ago. Everyone else had returned to the castle to finish preparing to go home. Home, he thought as a shiver passed through him. The Hogwarts Express would be leaving soon.

The sight of the white marble tomb represented a double death as far as he was concerned, his mentor, Albus Dumbledore and. . . . Swallowing the lump in his throat, he wondered where his life journey would lead him now. It was official, the war was here. Today, he would be leaving Hogwarts for the last time. Thinking of the Horcruxes and the search for the four remaining vessels of Voldemort's soul brought his mind to an inevitable point.

Turning back to the water before him, Harry muttered, "Damn prat . . ."

"Aw," a voice behind him drawled, "what sentimental emotions you have, Potter."

Harry set his jaw in a tight line as he brought his chin up. He would know that voice anywhere. That sneering drawl had haunted his dreams for ten months now. It was like a devilish caress on his soul, heating him into passionate oblivion. Gathering his Gryffindor courage, he turned around slowly, making sure his expression was one of anger.

Draco Malfoy was standing on this rock just as casually as if the last few days had not happened. Leaning slightly on his Nimbus 2001, he looked the part of a rakish Quidditch player. The blond nimbus around his head slightly mussed from flight, danced on an afternoon breeze.

Harry's heart skipped at the vision Malfoy presented before him. Arching his brow, he waited for Malfoy to tell him why he was at Hogwarts today. After the battle and their subsequent disappearance, no one had heard from Draco Malfoy or Severus Snape.

Smirking, Draco drawled, "Did you miss me? I saw the other broom that night, you know." Stepping closer to Harry, he asked, "Why did you remain silent? Scared, Potter?"

Draco's cool breath wafted over him, sensual and teasing in its assuredness. Bristling with unexpressed rage and desire, Harry pushed Draco away from him roughly. "You wish," he sneered. They had been here before, it didn't matter, each encounter created a greater fissure between them. Harry was sure it could never be bridged. Attempting to push past Draco, he continued speaking in his angry tone, "I can't believe you have the nerve to show up here, Malfoy. Sod off, now." Turning away, he started to walk back to the castle.

Draco's voice cut through the air between them. "You don't get it, do you?"

The words hit Harry on his back as if he had been hit with the Cruciatus curse. Turning and glaring at Malfoy, Harry felt as though his emerald eyes were on fire. Inhaling a deep breath and letting it out didn't help. "Get it? Are you saying I don't get it?" Harry was breathing rapidly now, staring at Draco Malfoy in furious disbelief.

Draco stepped closer to Harry once more. "That's what I'm saying, Harry." The inflection of Draco's voice was a caressing purr when Harry's given name came forth from his lips.

The sensual tone danced over Harry for the first time as though energy shared by a lover. Squaring his shoulders, Harry locked his eyes with Malfoy's.

Draco arched his blond brow, realizing he had Harry's attention. Although their eyes were locked, Draco could see just a small amount of white at the edge of his vision. The realization that Harry was biting his lower lip compelled him to speak. "Don't you wonder why I didn't say anything about you being there? Do you know what a prize you would be for the Dark Lord? Have you forgotten about that?" Draco moved to within a breath's space from Harry as he finished speaking.

Heated needles of rage jabbed under Harry's skin as he yelled, "Damn you, Malfoy! You're the one who doesn't get it!" Harry felt explosive, like one of Neville's cauldrons. His voice rose in pitch. Unable to pull his emotions in, he pushed Draco again, and shouted, "Ok, so you didn't kill him! That doesn't let you off the hook! Fuck you, Draco!" Overwhelmed, Harry swung his fist in an attempt to hit the beautiful face before him. His heart's passion was deadly as far as he was concerned. He needed to make the fissure permanent. It could never work out between them now.

Ducking Harry's fist, Draco dropped his broomstick and threw his arms around Harry, forcing him to the ground.

Gasping in shock at their impact, Harry swore some more. "Fucking bastard," he shouted and then paused with a rasping breath. "You don't know what you have done!"

They rolled on the ground, sharing in physical contact and virulent swearing. Their presence here today at the lake was a strong representation of their inner turmoil.

"Fucking, Golden Boy . . ." Draco managed to hiss out, grabbing at Harry's shirt; he pulled him closer.

"You took the mark! The fucking Dark Mark! Damnit, Draco!" Harry rolled them once more, coming out on top. With his heart racing and breath hitching at their exertion, he held Draco's hands tightly on either side of his flowing silky blond locks. Looking down at Draco beneath him brought a wrenching twist to his heart. Emotions and the physical response to Draco's proximity caused his head to spin, rushing him on his way to feral desire.

Draco, sensing Harry's dilemma, stilled beneath him.

Harry stared down into Draco's silver eyes. A portal to Draco Malfoy's soul, he thought with a sharp inhalation at the epiphany. He saw everything. Absolutely everything. He saw the painful fear Draco experienced in the possibility of losing his parents or even his own life to Voldemort. Harry exhaled his held breath slowly when he saw the heartache and rejection Draco had experienced. There was something else there within those depths. Harry's heart paused, just for half a beat, and then flew forward into a Wronski Feint.

Draco was shaking his head slowly, keeping his eyes in a tightly locked embrace with Harry's.

Harry slid his hands down Draco's forearms in gentleness, seeking atonement for his previous roughness. "Draco . . ." he whispered, only to allow his voice to trail off, his soul lost within Draco's gaze.

Draco's head stilled. Gazing up at Harry, he finally said, "Can't you feel it, Harry?"

"I - I . . ."

"Don't you get it? It has always been here," Draco, said softly, his gaze falling to Harry's lips.

"No. . . . "

Draco tilted his head slightly, still looking at Harry's enticing lips. "Just shut up and kiss me."

Home

Next Segment

Visit my Guestbook

Potter and Related Indicia (c) 2001 Warner Bros. "Harry Potter", and all other proper names from the Harry Potter book series are trademarks of Joanne Kathleen Rowling and the TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, L.P." IceKat & FyrToehhers is a non-profit, volunteer-run Web site that is in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, Carlsen Verlag, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros.