Disclaimer:of course, you all know none of these characters belong to me. If they get into any trouble you can contact the lovely JK Rowling to post bail . . . :)

Just so you all know, this story will be one in a series of stories all about Harry and Draco - some other characters might just be added in later, but that will probably be in another story.

For Anyone Who Cares: this story is rated PG-13 for later chapters and is SLASH! Yes, SLASH! If you don't know what SLASH is, you probably should not continue reading until you go find out.

So, this is just sort of a prequel to a series of stories I have planned - please R&R so I know if I should continue with these or not! Thanks

DracoLurve

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He didn't know how they expected him to handle it all. He wished he only had normal stuff to worry about. Like homework. And Quidditch. And what kind of music he liked. Normal teenage boy stuff. But it wasn't that simple. It probably never would be, for Harry. Add to his list of worries the death of Cedric Diggory, and that of his godfather, Sirius. Oh, and one small thing. Don't forget he was the Savior of the Wizarding World. The archnemesis of the most evil wizard the Wizarding World had seen in at least five hundred years. Harry, of course, had to pretend it was all going to turn out right in the end, whether he felt it or not. The Wizarding World was depending on him. He was their peace of mind. As long as Harry believes, we'll all be ok. Harry wanted to scream, to tell them all to run while they had a chance of surviving. But he knew he couldn't. Maybe that was part of being a Gryffindor. As much as he hated it, he knew he would continue to put on a brave face. He carried the hopes of the Wizarding World on his shoulder. The burden was becoming very warisome. He wasn't a fucking saint.

Without fail, every time Harry felt he was reaching his breaking point, a new burden seemed to appear. Now, for instance, he had this...thing...with Malfoy. And Ron. Don't forget sweet Ron. Oh Gods. Life, it seemed to Harry, was exceedingly cruel.

He just couldn't keep it in any longer. Harry knew he shouldn't be surprised. This was always his way. He would spend days, weeks - telling himself everything was OK. Lying to himself, really, pretending he wasn't about to crack under the pressures piled upon him at too early an age. And then, one day, he would break. He would find himself wandering the halls of Hogwarts at 2 a.m., silent tears streaming down his face. And it would help, for a time. Of course, he couldn't let anyone else catch him like this. Especially not Ron. Not now. He knew Ron would somehow blame himself for Harry's tears, and Harry couldn't bear to hurt his friend any more than he already, unknowingly had.

So he cried alone in the moonlit alcoves hidden along the corridor. No one to shock or worry. No one to comfort or care. It was always that way. Alone. Harry supposed it always would be.

He continued to walk. Turning a corner into a deep alcove, along an unused hallway, Harry let his guard down a bit. He removed his invisibility cloak and turned to the window seat. It was a favorite spot of his for these solitary sessions. Imagine his surprise to find the seat already Occupied.

Draco looked almost ethereal, Harry thought. His fair skin tinted a blue by the filtered moonlight, his hair reflecting the same light so as to appear to be glowing, casting a faint halo around his shoulders. In the pale light, Harry thought, he looked beautiful.

Draco turned at the movement to see who had disturbed his solitude. Harry saw the wet trails of tears on Draco's face, identical to his own. Draco just stared at him silently.

"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Harry said quietly. "Seems like it always comes down to the two of us, doesn't it?" Draco remained silent.

"Don't suppose we can make this easy and just try to beat the crap out of one another, like old times, eh?" Still, Draco was silent, his liquid silver eyes still gazing intently at Harry.

"Well, I suppose you'd like me to leave you alone, so I'll just...go then," Harry said, starting to don his cloak again. He was tired of playing this 'Silent Draco' game, or whatever it was. Turning to leave, stepping away, he heard Draco finally say,

"Is it him?"

"What?"

"Is it him."

"Who? I don't.."

"Is he the rule you won't break?"

"What are you on about?"

Draco turned and glanced out the window. Harry followed his gaze an noticed he could see a fair bit of the Quidditch Pitch. In fact, he could see the bit he and Ron had been on earlier...Ron. That was it. Draco must've seen them. Holy Hell.

"Ron? Is that what this is about, then?"

At the mention of Ron's name, Draco's gaze fell to the floor.

"Draco, look at me," Harry said, tilting the blonde's head up with his fingers. "Ron's just my friend. My best friend, yes. But only that. You have to believe me."

"What is it, then?" Draco asked, sounding pained. "Why are we both standing here like this? Why are we both

having so much trouble coming to terms with this...thing?" He sounded confused.

"Why? Why. Well, we've spent the better part of our time here learning how to hate each other. It's not an easy habit to just throw away. And, I don't know about you, but I don't think anyone, including our family or friends, is prepared to see us as anything more than rivals."

"I see," Draco said, looking downcast.

"But I suppose," Harry ammended, quickly, "If we started small - maybe try not to kill each other in public - perhaps we can at least learn not to behave so poorly around each other. I don't know."

"I'm not sure if I can just start being nice, all of a sudden. I'm not a very nice person. Not to anyone."

"I'm not expecting us to change like that. I'm thinking, maybe - just - small steps. Like starting over."

"I think we should at least try. Who knows. I might find that I AM able to go a full day without wanting to strangle you. It would be like a challenge." Draco lifted one eyebrow in an elegant smirk.

Harry wanted to act like Draco's comment upset him, but he couldn't. In fact, he found he had a hard time not chuckling at the sarcastic jibe. *I guess he's feeling a bit better, then.* thought Harry.

"Alright, then," said Harry, extending his hand to Draco. It reminded Harry of one of the first times he and Draco had spoken. Draco had offered Harry his hand and it had been refused. Would Draco remember the sting of that rejection and choose this moment to retaliate, refusing Harry's hand?

"Ok." Draco placed his hand in Harry's, the shorter, tan fingers grasping his slender hand in a relieved way.

Both feeling better than they had in a day and a half, they sat together in comfortable silence, looking out the window at the darkened grounds.

Draco stayed until Harry fell asleep. He fell into the shadows and waited, still watching. Ten minutes later, he watched as Harry awakened and left. He was always watching Harry, it seemed.

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A/N Well?!! Sorry it took so long to get this update out! Just wanted to give a little apology concerning the 'hand-shake' moment. I know it's a little cliche, but I absolutely REFUSED to use the word 'truce' when writing this. I think it's overused a bit! Anyhow, next chap should be up pretty soon! Hope you liked it!

DracoLurve