(Harry Potter does not belong to me. It belongs to the very wonderful J.K. Rowling. You're the best girl!)

Aria: Hello everyone! I'm so happy with the feedback I'm getting on this!

George: Who would have thought people would actually like it?

Aria: What's THAT suppose to mean?!? (looks at Draco) What did he mean?

Draco: Hey, I'm not getting in the middle of your little fight.

Aria: I'm going to let you all get to Chapter 2. Enjoy! Now what did you mean by that George Weasley.....

Unexpected Attraction

By Aria Black

Chapter 2: Unexpected Feelings

Several weeks have passed since that night, and George was no closer to screwing his head on straight then he was three weeks ago. He never would have expected it, but he actually LIKED being around Draco. Since that first night, a friendship had developed between the two, a friendship that neither had had before. Sure, they didn't talk much, and if they did, it was mostly about magic and Quidditch, but it was nice, not having to hide anything.

"Yo George! Earth to George!"

George came out of his haze when Fred snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Huh?"

"Dude, you're spacing out again! What's up?"

"Nothing up. Can't a guy space out once in awhile?" George asked, picking up his broomstick and putting it in his locker.

"Sure, but you've been spacing out almost everyday!" Fred leaned against the lockers the looked at his brother. "Do you need to talk about something?"

George closed his locker slowly. "No, but thanks anyway Fred." He picked up his jacket and put it on. "I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?"

"Out." The door slammed closed behind George.

"What's up with him?" Fred turned to look at Oliver.

"I'm not sure. He sure has been acting strangely lately though."

Oliver was quiet for a moment. "Isn't it around that time of year that Lee died?"

Fred’s eyes widened slightly before smacking himself over the forehead. “Bloody hell, I completely forgot! Some brother I turned out to be. I better go see how he’s doing.” He started to leave but Oliver grabbed his arm.

“Leave him be,” he said softly. “He probably needs to be alone right now. When he wants to talk, he’ll come.”

Fred looked at Oliver before sighing. “I hope you’re right.”

George hated this time of year. Two years, and it still hurt as much as it then. Kneeling down, a bouquet of flowers in his hands, he placed them next to Lee’s grave. “You know, when you first left me. I didn’t think I could live through it. It hurt so much, it was like a knife was going through my heart.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “Now I can at least get through day to day without it hurting so much, but…” A small sob escaped before he could stop it. “Dammit! You’d still be alive if I had stopped it!” He buried his face in his arms and started to cry.

Draco was walking past the cemetery, talking on a cell phone with an associate. It was such a nice day that he decided to walk home from the office today. “No, I’m telling you, those forms need to go out…” Just then he heard the heart-wrenching sob. “What the…” His heart nearly stopped when he saw someone with bright red hair and a leather jacket, shoulders shaking as he sobbed uncontrollably. ‘George…’

“Mr. Malfoy?”

“Huh?” He was brought back to the conversation at hand, but it no longer held any importance. “I’ll call you back,” he said and ended the call and shutting off the phone before the associate could protest. Quietly walking over, he knelt down and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “George?”

George’s head slowly lifted up and Draco noticed his eyes were bloodshot from crying. “D-Draco”

Draco looked at the gravesite they were at and immediately understood why George was so upset. Without another second’s though, he put his arms around the older man and pulled him close. “It’s alright George,” he said softly, letting his hand stroke the red head’s hair softly. “Just let it go.”

George buried his face in Draco’s shoulder and continued to sob.

Draco walked into the living room with two mugs of tea in his hands. His heart contracted painfully when he saw George curled up in the corner of the couch, head resting in his knees. Sitting down next to him, he held out one of the mugs. “Here.”

Lifting his head up, George took the cup from Draco and softly said, “Thank you,” before taking a sip. His hands shook as he did so.

Draco noticed. Putting his cup down on the table, he took George’s out of his hand and did the same. “George, talk to me,” he said softly, putting his hand on the back of his head comfortingly. “What’s wrong?”

“It still hurts Draco,” George whispered. “I think about it all the time, and whenever this time of year comes around, it hurts even more.” He buried his face in his knees again. “If I had stopped that bludger, Lee would still be alive. It’s my fault he died.” The next thing he knew, his head was yanked back up and he let out a soft gasp as he stared into Draco’s intense gray eyes, inches from his own.

“You listen to me,” Draco whispered harshly. “It wasn’t your fault. You tried to save him, but there was nothing more you could do.” His face grew soft. “It wasn’t your fault George.”

George shivered slightly at how gentle Draco said his name. “Draco…” He was silenced when Draco pressed his lips against his.

Neither of the moved for a moment before Draco finally pulled away. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I couldn’t help it.” He stood up, breaking the gentle hold he had on George. Without another word, Draco left, and a moment later George heard his door close.

George just sat there, in absolute shock. Draco… Draco kissed him! He would have though he would have been angry, but in truth he wasn’t. He had wanted it to happen. His eyes widened in shock as the realization hit him. “I… I have feelings for him.” His body went limp against the couch. He didn’t expect this to happen. ‘Lee… what do I do?’ George closed his eyes and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.

“Hn?” George felt someone shake him awake. “Go ‘way,” he grumbled, shaking the hand off his shoulder.

“Wake up Red, before I do something that I’m not going to regret.”

George’s eyes snapped open. Only one person called him that. “L-Lee?”

Lee crossed his arms as he looked at the man before him. “Who else did you think it was? You’re mum?”

“But aren’t you…”

“Dead?” Lee nodded. “Yeah. One of the cool things about it is you get to visit people while they’re sleeping.” He sat cross-legged on the floor next to George. “So, I hear you have feelings for Draco Malfoy?” He grinned. “Who would have thought?” The grin left his face. “But seriously mate, what are you going to do?”

George groaned as he laid back on his back. “I don’t know. I wasn’t even expecting it…”

“Don’t bullshit me George.” Lee’s face came into George’s view. “You knew something was up that first day. You just didn’t want to admit it.”

George blinked as he sat up and looked at Lee. “You’re saying… I’ve had feelings for him this whole time?”

“Right, but you felt guilty about it, because of what happened to me.” Lee’s face softened. “George, stop blaming yourself. You wouldn’t have saved me from that bludger, no matter how hard you tried. It was my time to go.”

Tears welled up in George’s eyes. “I just… I miss you Lee.”

Lee brought his hand up to George’s cheek and smiled softly. “I miss you too, and we’ll be together again one day, but right now, you need Draco, and he needs you.”

“He… does?”

“Yeah, he real vulnerable right now, because he’s having to fight his own growing feelings for you. He still feels guilty about treating you and your family so badly when you were younger. Well,” Lee said, standing up. “I better get back. Cedric is probably getting worried about me.”

George blinked in surprise. “You and Cedric?”

Lee grinned. “Hey, it gets lonely in the afterlife. Take care of yourself George.”

George smiled back. “You too Lee.”

George’s eyes snapped opened, fully awake. ‘Was that…’ Getting up, he went upstairs to Draco’s room. Standing in front of the door for a moment, still debating if he should do this or not.

‘He needs you…’ He heard Lee’s voice echo though his mind.

‘And I need him.’ Without another moment’s hesitation, George opened Draco’s door softly. What he saw next made his heart break. Draco was asleep, curled up around a pillow like it was a life preserver, dry tear streaks on his face. Quietly trekking across the soft carpet, George gently sat down on the bed and watched the white haired boy sleep. ‘Even behind that tough façade, he really vulnerable.’ George let his fingers run over the boy’s soft features, his heart pounding hard and fast. ‘He’s so beautiful…’

Draco stirred slightly and murmured, “George…” Suddenly, as though he knew he wasn’t alone, Draco’s eyes snapped open and he found himself looking into George’s blue eyes.

George smiled softly. “Hey, you’re finally awake.” He pulled the pillow out of Draco’s arms and moved it back with the others.

Draco blinked in confusion. “You’re still here? I thought you would have left after what…”

“Happened?” George finished for him. “I’m not going to leave over something like that.” He brushed Draco’s bangs off his forehead, even though they would just fall back into place. Laying down next to the younger man, George let his forehead brush against Draco’s.

Draco couldn’t believe what was happening. “George, what…”

“Draco, you’re the only one that really understands what’s going on with me,” George said softly. “Not even my brother and family understands. I’m not going to leave just because you did something that I wanted.”

Draco’s eyes widened slightly and before he knew it, George’s lips were pressed against his own. Draco’s eyes fluttered closed as George deepened the kiss, making his heart pound rapidly. He never expected George to return his feelings.

George pulled away slightly, looking Draco in the eyes. “I need you Draco,” he whispered softly. “Please, let me stay with you.”

Draco looked back at him for a moment before nodding. “I… I need you too George,” he choked out, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He buried his face in George’s chest, not wanting the older boy to see the flood of emotions running through his eyes.

George held Draco close, and smiled slightly. ‘I don’t know if that dream was real or not, but Lee… thanks for screwing my head on straight.’

Aria: I am SO sorry everyone! I know it’s been almost eight months, but I wanted to make sure this came out exactly how I wanted it to. I want to thank everyone who posted reviews for it. I never expected so many of you to like my fanfic. I will try much harder to get next chapter out a lot sooner than this. Please email me at aria_black@hotmail.com or post a review and tell me what you think. See you next chapter!

Chapter completed June 21, 2003