Daniel Radcliffe never thought he'd be reduced to begging like this -- but he also never anticipated this sort of all-consuming need.

"Please," he whimpers again. "Please."

Daniel drops his eyes as Elijah shakes his head yet again. Daniel despises Elijah's calm rejection. Doesn't Elijah ache for this the way Daniel does?

"Please, Elijah," he hears himself plaintively whisper, "One kiss. Just one kiss."

Elijah's eyes on him are not cold, but they definitely don't burn the way Daniel knows his own do.

"No, Dan," Elijah says once more, and Daniel closes his eyes against the aching need. He will not beg again. He. Will. Not.

"OK," Daniel says in a small voice, and Elijah comes close and kisses Daniel's forehead. Pleasure rushes through Daniel's veins so quickly that he fears he'll pass out.

He can't quit now, not with his goal so close. Begging hadn't worked, so Daniel -- throwing caution to the proverbial wind -- goes for the direct approach, throwing his arms around Elijah's neck before the older boy can pull away.

And then Daniel's lips are on Elijah's and he's claiming Elijah as his own and the desire isn't abating it's growing and Elijah is pushing him away but Daniel is ignoring that because it feels so good so good so good --

Daniel finds himself pushed up against the wall with Elijah holding him there at arm's length. This time Elijah's eyes are cold. "Daniel. No."

The icy shower of Elijah's voice snaps Daniel out of his reverie in an instant. "No," Elijah repeats, and Daniel echoes him.

"No."

Elijah lets him go.

As Elijah walks away, Daniel suddenly realizes what he's done. He swallows hard and calls, meekly, "I'm sorry," to Elijah's retreating form.

Elijah does not turn around.