~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Impedimentia!" The curse shot just past Harry's shoulder and hit a fly, which stopped mid-buzz and dropped to the floor. Harry nudged the stunned fly with the toe of his trainer before turning back to Neville.

"Um. Okay, that was good," Harry decided, and Neville beamed at the compliment. "You keep improving like this and work on your aim, and you'll be good in no time." He allowed Neville to join Ron and Hermione, pausing for a moment to watch Hermione stun Ron with practiced ease. He wandered around the room, correcting techniques and offering suggestions. He accidentally caught Cho's eye and offered her a tentative smile, but she just gave him a cool look and turned her head away. After the Valentine's Day debacle, however, he really couldn't blame her.

"Okay, everyone, that's it for tonight. You all did really well," Harry announced. A few of the students grinned their appreciation, but most of them only sighed, putting their wands away and slowly leaving the room in ones and twos. "Gee, don't be so excited, we might have to put a damper on your enthusiasm," Harry muttered irritably as he looked around for Ron and Hermione. They were just exiting the room, already in the middle of what looked like yet another argument. He exhaled loudly and jumped when a hand landed on each of his shoulders.

"Don't worry, mate," Fred declared cheerfully.

"We'll escort you to Gryff tower ourselves," George finished, winking as Harry blinked in surprise.

"Er. Thanks." Harry mumbled. "Just need to clean up a bit, and then I'll be ready to go..." He darted a disappointed look at Cho's back as she left without a word and scanned the rest of the room. He picked up a book that someone had left behind as the twins kicked a couple of cushions out of their way. By the time Harry was finished making sure nothing else had been left behind, he and the twins were the only ones left in the room.

"Oi, that took you long enough!" Fred complained, rising to his tiptoes as he stretched.

"You didn't have to wait for me, you know," Harry retorted. "I don't need a babysitter."

"Harry, Harry, Harry," George shook his head mournfully as they stepped out of the Room of Requirement. "You're an investor. We can't let anything-"

"Like Peeves or worse!" Fred interjected.

"-happen to you," George finished. "And besides, we have a couple of new ideas to tell you about." Harry nodded absently, tuning the twins out as they rambled happily about new possibilities for the Skiving Snackboxes, such as a promising piece that induced diarrhea, and another that gave the eater bloodshot eyes.

"Unfortunately," Fred said regretfully; "sometimes the blood floods your eyes and then blood vessels break and everything gets really messy."

"That's... really odd," Harry said awkwardly, but the older boys didn't seem to notice his discomfort and continued prattling at each other over his head. Gradually as they walked down the hall, the sound of a whistle slowly danced over the sound of the twins' voices, and Harry groaned as he recognized the piping tune. George and Fred narrowed their eyes as Draco Malfoy turned the corner, hands clasped behind his back as he leisurely strolled down the hall, whistling Weasley is our King absently. Harry slowed down and slumped his shoulders as he unconsciously tried to hide behind the twins.

Draco caught sight of the twins and grinned maliciously, whistling louder as he stared at the two boys. "Well, if it isn't more Weasleys," Draco sneered; "Can't walk around school without at least one underfoot."

"Sod off, Malfoy," George scowled at him, and Draco's smirk deepened.

"I am quite sure that I am not the one who has to go, isn't that right?" Draco crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow. "I'm a prefect, and a member of the Inquisitorial Squad. Five points from you both for standing there in my way." Draco paused, considering. "And five points for having your shirt untucked, it really is unbecoming. And five more points because you're sweaty and smelly." Draco grinned sharply. "My, what have you two been doing? I'm not sure I want to know-" Fred stepped forward and opened his mouth to retort, and Harry winced as Draco's eyes slid past Fred to rest on him. "Potter. I didn't see you, hiding back there. Were you three involved in a little ménage a trois?"

George gaped, his face squinching in disgust. "That's sick, Malfoy, I can't believe-"

"I really must say I'm disappointed in you, Potter," Draco continued without pause, as though he hadn't been interrupted, "I always thought you had better taste than this rabble."

"Don't you have better things to do than annoy me, Malfoy?" Harry asked, irritated and a little embarrassed at the flush that colored his cheeks.

"At the moment, no," Draco shrugged and offered him a small, malicious smile.

Fred and George showed equal scowls and stepped in front of Harry protectively. "Well he has better things to do that bother with you, Malfoy, so you'd best shove off."

Draco shot the twins an annoyed glance. "Are you two imbeciles still here? 10 points for being idiots and wasting my time." Draco attempted to look down his nose at the two Weasleys, and Harry found the sight funny, as both of the older boys were taller than the Slytherin, and he looked vaguely cross-eyed.

"If you think we're just going to leave Harry with you then you're bloody delusional," George spat.

"Not that we didn't already think you were bonkers," Fred added gamely.

Draco rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "I know that Potter must be generous with his handouts to the needy, but you'd think you'd have enough dignity not to sit around and beg for scraps," Draco sneered again. "Then again, you're a Weasley, so you're probably used to scraps, aren't you?"

Harry looked nervously between the twins and noted the rising flush of anger creeping up their necks. He put a hand on Fred's shoulder, and shook his head. "He's not worth it, guys. Let's just go. I don't want any more points taken off."

"You'd best keep your pets under control, Potty," Draco said loftily. "After all, animals that bite are normally put down." He looked at his manicured nails and smirked. "As lovely as it's been taunting you, I have things to do." He gave them all a sly look. "Headmistress Umbridge said I get to make a fire tonight, and as you're not going to use your brooms for the rest of-oh, your lives, I think they'd make spectacular kindling-"

"I'm going to clobber you, ferret boy," Fred snarled, unable to keep his temper. He raised his fist threateningly and took another step forward. Draco squeaked slightly in alarm and flinched, cowering as he raised his arms to cover his head.

"No, don't!" Before he realized what he was doing, Harry stepped protectively in front of the blonde. Fred and George were looking at him with twin expressions of horror, and a quick glance backward showed that Draco had pried open an eye to peer at him in surprise from under his raised arms. "What I mean is," Harry backtracked hastily, "is that we can't afford to lose any more points, you know? I can handle him-your mum would go ballistic if she found out you guys got in trouble again."

Fred took a step back, bewildered. "That's true, but-"

"No buts, Fred. Hermione'd kill me if she knew I let you guys beat on another prefect, even if that prefect is Draco Malfoy."

George scowled. "You're sounding entirely too reasonable for us, Harry! Come on, Fred, he obviously wants us to go, so let's go."

Fred frowned angrily at George. "But-"

"Fred," George insisted, looking at his brother intently. "Let's go."

Fred's expression lightened suddenly. "Okay." He turned to Harry. "We'll be going, then."

"Good," Harry breathed in relief. "I'll catch up." Harry turned to find Draco standing straight, tugging on his robes, smoothing his hair down as he gave Harry a superior smirk. Harry gave a disgusted sigh and watched the Weasley twins turn the corner before yanking Draco into an alcove that was semi hidden by a large statue. As he moved to face Draco, he started, "Malfoy, are you trying to-"

Hot mouth, wet tongue running along his bottom lip, hands eagerly skimming his sides, and oh Merlin, Draco hadn't done that last time- Harry tore himself away and glared at Draco. The blonde was flushed, panting slightly, his eyes shining with feral enjoyment. "What the hell are you doing, Malfoy?"

Draco grinned, damp lips up-turning easily, and Harry's tongue darted out to wet his own mouth unconsciously. "You rescued me, Potter. Heroes always get a reward."

Harry scowled. "If you think I wanted you crawling all over me, you're crazy."

"I don't think it's that farfetched," Draco stated knowingly.

Harry felt his cheeks burn and his scowl deepened. "Well, I don't care what you think, so sod off!"

Draco took a step closer, his mouth turning down in a pout as he tilted his head to the side. "But Potter," he whined. Harry had never found whining attractive, and right now was no exception, except for the fact that Draco was dancing his fingers along the edge of Harry's trousers, brushing his stomach, and the look in Draco's eyes wasn't wheedling, but dark with promise. Harry swallowed and reminded himself that whining was not sexy. Not at all.

Draco took a step closer. "You said you would handle me," he said, and now his voice was lower, huskier. He pressed against Harry in a long, slow, sinuous movement that made certain parts of Harry's anatomy stand up and take notice. "So handle me."

It's easy enough to push him away, Harry reasoned as he and Draco stared at each other. Just say no. Be a Gryffindor. Be noble. Be courageous-

"God, Malfoy, when did you get so hot?" Harry blurted out breathlessly.

--Be stupid.

A small wordless sound of appreciation erupted from Draco's throat as he covered Harry's mouth with his own, teeth pulling at Harry's bottom lip aggressively, tongue slipping against the slight gap of his teeth and prying an invitation from Harry to venture deeper into the wetness and heat. Harry clenched his hands tightly, gripping Draco's robes as their tongues intertwined. Draco had gotten better at this, Harry noted vaguely, his head swimming with sensation, and he wondered whom the blond had been practicing with.

Draco licked a trail over to Harry's ear, tugging on the lobe with his teeth before sucking on it gently. Harry shuddered involuntarily at the heat and clenched his hands in the fabric of Draco's robes again, catching his soft moan before it left his throat. So good, so good, and he'd almost missed this. Draco slid his hands through Harry's unruly locks, using his grip to tug Harry's head upward so that he could begin his assault on the newly revealed throat.

"Malfoy, we need to-oh, god-need to stop-" Harry bit back a whimper as Draco pressed closer, slipping a thigh between Harry's legs, pressing slowly, maddeningly against his arousal. Draco grunted something non-committal against Harry's pulse, loosening Harry's tie in an effort to get to the seductive line of the Gryffindor's collarbone. "I'm serious, Malfoy! Stop!"

Draco made a sound that was half whine and half reluctant growl as Harry pushed him away, and slouched against the other wall, crossing his arms. "I thought you were liking it," he pouted.

Harry scowled. "I don't care what you thought, Malfoy. I saved your arse back there because I felt sorry for you, not because I wanted to be groped!"

Draco blanched for an instant, two bright spots of color burning high on his cheeks as his mouth twisted in a sneer. "Oh, you feel sorry for me, do you? Well let me tell you this, Potter," Draco took a step forward and glowered, hands dropping to his side in clenched fists; "It wasn't me on my knees."

Harry's eyes widened and he stepped forward, nose to nose with the blonde. "You blackmailed me!"

"Oh, keep telling yourself that," Draco hissed. "I didn't blackmail you, I gave you incentive. You could have left whenever you wanted!"

Harry flushed in embarrassment at the truth of the statement, and frowned, as Draco's eyes seemed to take on a manic gleam. "You're enjoying this!" he sputtered.

Draco's smile was wide and sharp. "Yes, I enjoy seeing you humiliated, all right, Potter? I like having you on your knees-not so big when no one else is around, are you? What would all of your friends think, Potter, if they knew? Pretty little Golden Boy Potty Potter on his knees with my cock in his mouth? How do you think everyone would like you then?"

"Sod off, Malfoy. I'm warning you-"

"I'm bloody terrified, Potty," Draco sneered. "You just can't handle the-"

Draco's breath escaped in a muffled whoosh as Harry pushed him against the wall and covered his mouth with a hand, eyes narrow and fixed on the opening of their little alcove. "You have no idea what you're talking about Malfoy, as usual," Harry hissed, and stole a glance as Draco's eyes narrowed angrily. Harry ignored the sign of impending implosion, and darted his eyes intently back on the alcove opening. A little bit of flesh colored string wavered around the corner, and Harry paled, swallowing nervously. If there is a god, please please I'm begging you, don't let them have heard anything.

He jerked his head sharply toward the doorway as he continued, hoping Draco would get the message. "I saved you in the hall because you've already been beaten once this year, and I didn't think you needed it again, since I think it's impossible to thump sense into your thick head." Draco looked at the string and then back at Harry, his forehead creasing in puzzlement. Extendable Ears, Harry mouthed as he pulled his hand away from Draco's mouth, and the blonde's expression cleared.

Draco locked eyes with Harry and smirked, a hand reaching up to tug Harry's tie and move downward, following the line of his robe. "What you don't seem to understand, Potter," Draco sneered, moving closer to Harry. "Is that Malfoys do not take no for an answer. Ever." His hand came to a rest on Harry's belt, and Harry struggled to speak, his throat suddenly gone dry.

"You keep saying you're better than everyone else, but you know what?" Harry scowled at the blonde and grabbed his wrist. "You're the one that's inferior."

"You just don't know quality when you see it. That's what happens, when you're surrounded by those who settle for less." Draco nipped at Harry's lower lip and licked a line against his teeth. Harry shivered as Draco tilted his head, coaxing Harry to open his mouth, tongue moving in long, lazy strokes against his mouth. Harry's eyes fluttered closed, and his head fell back against the wall, lips parting hesitantly. A low moan began in his throat, and Draco brought a hand up to feel the vibration of the sound in his larynx, the other hand pulling from Harry's lax grip to slowly, inaudibly unzip Harry's trousers.

Harry swallowed frantically and opened his eyes. "You're assuming that you're worth something, Malfoy," and he blinked, surprised his voice was so strong. "And really, you aren't worth anything at all."

"I beg to differ," Draco stated haughtily, and his hand vanished into Harry's trousers. "I am worth a great deal. It's a pity you can't see my value. But then, I always knew there was a reason you needed those horrid glasses."

Draco's hand closed around Harry's cock tightly, and Harry choked, sputtering on a gasp of surprise. He hastily turned the choked sound into disbelieving laughter, palms flattened against the wall behind him. "You are full of yourself, aren't you?" Harry asked as he licked his lips and helplessly adjusted his stance to allow Draco more room. Draco's hand was warm, fingers trailing lightly against him in the confines of his pants, and Harry shuddered violently at the sensation. He'd never been touched there by anyone but himself, and the novelty of the sensation nearly had him seeing stars. His hips jolted slightly, sweat easing his thrust against Draco's palm, and he bit his lip to keep silent a moan.

"Cat got your tongue, Potter, or are you admitting I'm right?"

Harry blinked and scowled. Stupid Malfoy-why the hell was he always talking? Harry thought about shutting Malfoy up, and his cock pulsed at the thought. Oh, he would look lovely silent, Harry decided, hips thrusting again. Silent and that mouth stretched around me and-- "Hardly, Malfoy. Just waiting to see when you'll finish spouting hot air." Harry stared at Draco and smirked, catching his breath as he moved forward. "What you don't seem to understand," he declared, his own hand going to Malfoy's trousers and squeezing the bulge he found there, "You'll never win against me. No matter how much you try."

Draco squeezed his eyes shut as Harry experimentally tightened his hold, his cheeks flushing with color. His eyes flashed open, molten and intense. "Don't you get it Potter?" he asked. "I've already won." He abruptly twisted his hand, shifting from the up-down motion to side-to-side and Harry swallowed a whimper, his legs giving out as all of his nerves sparked at the new motion and he vainly hoped that Malfoy would never stop moving just like that. He flattened his own palm against the bulge of Draco's erection and rubbed hesitantly, his actions feeling amateurish and disconnected compared to Draco's confident handling. Judging by the way Draco's teeth bit down on his bottom lip, however, Harry thought he might not be doing such a bad job after all.

"You've always been good at self-delusion, haven't you, Malfoy?" Harry was pleased beyond belief to hear that his voice was still steady, but that concern vanished instantly as Draco's thumb stroked over the head of his cock, and he brought his other hand to his mouth, biting hard on his hand in order to stifle his gasp.

"It isn't delusion when it's the truth," Draco declared breathlessly, hips pressing his erection against Harry's palm. As he struggled to catch his breath, Draco's legs seemed to crumple from beneath him, and he fell against Harry, pressing him harder against the cold stone wall. Harry whimpered helplessly against Draco's shoulder, sweat trickling from his temple as the back of his hand pressed against Draco, and Draco's hand squeezed tighter around him.

"Please," he begged, letting his head fall back against the wall, his hand caught with Draco's as he squirmed against the new friction. "Please. Do you really believe that?" He barely registered the words coming out of his mouth and then promptly forgot about the twins and the Extendable Ears as one of Draco's hands somehow tangled in his own. The other was pressed just so against the underside of his cock and suddenly he couldn't help the thrust of his hips against the other boy. His voice was muffled against Draco's shoulder as he cried out his climax, and he slumped against the wall bonelessly as Draco thrust once, twice more before shuddering his own release.

Draco panted against Harry's shoulder for a moment before pulling away and sneering. "You're lucky someone's coming, Potter," as he removed his hand from Harry's trousers and licked his wet fingers curiously. Harry rolled his eyes in disgust and Draco shrugged, flushed and almost pretty in the afterglow. "I'll be seeing you." He turned towards the alcove opening and deliberately stepped on the end of the Extendable Ear, using the extra noise to cover the fact that he was zipping up his trousers. Harry followed suit, and stayed in the alcove for an extra moment, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Twice. That was twice, Harry, he told himself. You're stupid. Really, really stupid. After a few more moments of mentally berating himself, he stepped back out into the hall. Any sign of the twins or the Extendable Ears had vanished, and Harry sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

He trudged his way reluctantly to the Gryffindor Tower and slunk in the door, hoping against hope that no one would see him come in and that he could just barricade himself in his dorm. As luck would have it, though, the twins were waiting on him the instant he stepped through the portrait hole.

"What happened between you and Malfoy, Harry?" George asked.

"We were worried," Fred said, "If you were going to fight with him, why didn't you want us there? We could have helped!"

"Er," Harry mumbled helplessly, flushing red. "Fight with him?"

"We could have held him down for you, Harry! It's not like we really care about getting into any more trouble, after all. I really don't think we can."

"Hold him down?" Harry squeaked.

"Hold who down?" Hermione's strident voice cut through the chatter of the common room.

The twins whirled around instantly. "Don't you go blaming Harry, Hermione. It wasn't his fault-that nasty bugger Malfoy started it. He was singing that awful Weasley is our King song and he was insulting us something awful."

"You didn't get into a fight, did you?" she asked, horrified. Her eyes widened, and she turned a stern gaze to Harry. "Tell me you didn't get into a fight with Malfoy, Harry."

"Er?" Harry tried again.

"You should have heard him, Hermione!" Fred insisted. "The first thing he thought about was you being disappointed in him, can you figure that? He said he'd take care of Malfoy-"

"And we used our Extendable Ears to listen in," George continued, and then turned to Harry. "I'm sure you don't mind, but we wanted to listen just in case you needed us or anything. Because Malfoy's a prat, and we wanted to beat him off along with you!"

Harry made a choked, gurgling sound at that, hiding his face as it flamed red. "Now, see, I can explain, it's all really, really easy to understand-"

Hermione planted her hands on her hips. "You know better than to be fighting with prefects, Harry. I'm surprised at you-the twins, I'm not, but you?"

"I didn't touch him, I swear!" Harry wailed miserably.

"You should have heard him, Hermione," George continued cheerfully. "Malfoy was busy doing his old 'I am better than you' routine and Harry was all disinterested and cool and 'no you aren't' and I think Malfoy was going to start a fight with Harry, they were scuffling a little or something, but he stopped at the last moment. Can you believe he threatened to use our brooms for kindling? Next time you fight with him, Harry, you've got to let the rest of us come and watch."

Harry gurgled helplessly again, his face matching the drapes of the Gryffindor common room as he struggled for a deep breath. He counted to ten and tried for a disaffected tone. "Was that all you heard? Just us arguing?"

George turned curious eyes on Harry. "Well, yeah. Did something else happen? You kicked his arse, didn't you?"

"No, not at all," Harry declared hurriedly, seeing Hermione scowl. "I didn't do anything, Hermione, I promise."

Hermione gave a short, brisk nod. "All right, Harry, I believe you."

"Thanks, that means a lot." Harry gave her a grateful smile. "I think I'll go take a shower and then head off to bed, okay? It's been a busy day."

"Of course," Hermione said sympathetically, shooting a glare at Fred and George. "After the D.A. practice and your argument with Malfoy, I can see how you'd be tired." Harry nodded hastily and shot for the stairs, wanting to get out of the common room before being stopped with more questions.

He flopped onto his bed the instant he got to his dorm, and hid his head underneath his pillow, fervently thanking every god he could think of that he'd gotten away with nothing more than a reprimand. And that his secret was still safe.

"Oi, heard you were back," Ron said as he walked into the room, and Harry sat up, removing the pillow from his head.

"Yes, I'm back. Sorry I didn't come to the tower with you and Hermione."

"Oh, that's okay," Ron shrugged. "Spared yourself from another argument, anyway." Ron paused, sniffing at the air, and frowned. "Harry, are you wearing perfume?"

"Wha?" Harry blinked.

Ron sniffed the air again. "You smell kinda girly. Were you making up with Cho?" Ron beamed at Harry and winked. "So you're going out again, eh?"

"What? No, no," Harry shook his head vehemently. "Cho and I aren't dating or anything. She's still mad at me over Valentine's Day." Harry unobtrusively sniffed at himself and caught the barest hint of a scent: rain and sweat, and he suddenly remembered that Draco always seemed to wear that poncy cologne. "I'm going to take a shower now, I'll be back."

Ron shrugged. "I'll be in the common room playing chess, if you want to come down and hang out later."

"Sure," Harry agreed. "I'll be down." But first, he thought, I definitely want that shower.

~*~*~*~*~*~