This is a portion of the artwork that inspired this story. Thanks glockgal for letting me trim and post here. This story is for you! *snug*.

Harry Potter: Harry/Draco
PG-13

spoilers: None. Set in 5th year, but I have no idea what is really going to happen.
disclaimer: Not mine and never will be.

Thanks to dara and glockgal for beta of the most supreme kind. And special thanks to lise for egging me on and feeding the bunny!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You gave me a present
The paper was blue and green
I unwrapped it with pleasure
These are the best shades I've ever seen...

- 'Shades' by Iggy Pop

The package dropped with a thud beside Harry as he gathered up his book bag to go to Potions. He looked up in time to see a dark grey owl fly out the window. He picked up the package, it was small and light and addressed in a script he didn't recognize.

"C'mon, Harry," Ron called

He fingered the string holding the package shut, but quickly tucked it into his bag and hurried with Ron out of the great hall. Hermione strode ahead of them, reviewing antidotes out loud. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had been surprised with a quiz this week and the rest of the students were on edge waiting for Snape to spring one on them.

Harry tuned her out, she'd just confuse him more if he listened to her. Ron walked beside him rolling his eyes at her, but with a look of desperation on his face as he knew that if there was a quiz today, he'd be grossly unprepared.

Harry looked out the window as they walked through the hall toward the stairs to the dungeon and suddenly stopped in his tracks. Oliver was zooming around the Quidditch pitch on his the new Firebolt he'd gotten for his birthday. Madame Hooch held her stopwatch in her hand and timed him as he wove between the hoops and around the stands. Fred and George Weasley cheered him on from the sidelines.

Harry looked wistfully at the bright blue cloudless sky. He wished they didn't have double Potions, he'd do anything to be out there with Oliver practicing for their match against Ravenclaw this weekend. With a final glance out the window he reluctantly descended the stairs to the dungeon and Potions class.

Snape wasn't in the classroom when the students entered so Harry decided to look inside his package. It contained a pair of sunglasses. Harry gave them to Ron who looked at them as Harry searched for a note.

"Wonder who they're from?" Ron asked as he handed them back to Harry.

"There's no note. Sirius? Why would someone send me a pair of sunglasses?" Ron and Hermione both shrugged as their answer.

Harry took off his spectacles and put on the sunglasses just as Snape walked in slamming the door behind him and barking orders at them to put their books away. Instantly the world around Harry seemed clearer, more in focus. Harry felt good like he'd just won a prize or something, but he also felt restless. The longing to be outside on his broom suddenly overwhelmed him. Why was he stuck here in Potions with Snape on such a nice day?

Ron said something to him, but he didn't hear him. He kept thinking about his Firebolt and how he longed to be outside with the warm sun on his face and the wind in his hair as Wood was doing right now.

"Mister Potter, please be so kind as to remove those ridiculous sunglasses immediately," Snape said.

Malfoy whispered something to Goyle and Crabbe and they both sniggered, Crabbe turning to laugh at Harry, his slack jaw nearly drooling as it gaped open. Harry smiled back and mouthed 'sod off'. Crabbe's eyes grew wide then he turned toward Malfoy to tell on him.

"Right," Harry gathered his books and stood up. "I'm off."

"Harry," Hermione whispered after him. "Where are you going? We have a quiz!"

"Out," he said over his shoulder and started making his way toward the door.

"Are you going somewhere, Potter?" Snape sneered at him.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Murmurs ran through the classroom as Snape glared at Harry.

"Ten points from Gryffindor. Now, sit down. I do not have time for your insubordination."

"No."

Snape leaned over his desk, his mouth tightened to a thin line. "Excuse me?"

"No. I don't want to be here right now. I'd rather be outside enjoying the day."

"Twenty points from Gryffindor. If you're not in your seat in five seconds, it's another twenty and detention."

The Gryffindors started whispering at Harry to sit down while the Slytherins egged him on.

"See you." Harry turned around and walked toward the door.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor and two days detention!" Snape growled after him.

Harry swiftly turned around, his wand held high, new and dangerous thoughts running through his mind. "Petrificus Totalus" and Snape froze on the spot still leaned over his desk, a scowl on his face. The class collectively gasped. "You said twenty," Harry said as he put his wand away. "That's cheating."

"Harry!" Hermione yelled but Harry was out the door.

He practically flew up the stairs from the dungeon. People stepped out of his way as he swaggered down the hall toward Gryffindor tower. "Lazy Susan," he said to the Fat Lady and the portrait swung open. Up in his dormitory he threw his books on his bed then got his Firebolt out of his trunk. He caressed it lovingly for a moment then put it over his shoulder and went downstairs.

He met most of his class in the hallway between the stairs to the dungeon and outside. Hermione held his spectacles in her hand.

"What did you do to Professor Snape?" Malfoy sneered at him.

"I did what I should have done long ago."

"Harry," Hermione started, "Whatever you cursed Snape with wasn't a simple Petrificus curse. I can't break it!"

"He's the head of our house, Potter," Malfoy said. "Undo the spell at once."

Harry laughed, "Make me!"

Goyle reached for his wand, but Harry socked him in the jaw before he could take it out of his pocket. Goyle fell to the floor clutching his face. Harry stepped over him and walked outside and into the sunshine.

The sky had never been bluer. He could smell the earth and fresh cut grass and the breeze was gently brushing past his face. He smiled into the sunshine as he made his way toward the Quidditch pitch. When he got to there, he noticed Cho leaning against one of the stands watching Oliver. Harry stood right in front of her, his broom still slung over his shoulder.

"Hey Cho."

Cho smiled at him. "Hey Harry, nice sunglasses."

Harry pushed them up his nose and smiled up at her. "Thanks." He leaned in and fondled the fabric of her robes near her neck then looked her up and down. "You want to go for a ride on *my*...Firebolt?" He sniggered lewdly.

Cho laughed nervously. "What?"

"You and me. What do you say?" Harry ran his fingers down the front folds of her robes then leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I can make it worth your while."

She gasped then moved away from him. "Er... Harry I have to go now." She quickly turned and fled back toward the building.

Harry looked after her for a moment, then turned around to face Fred and George. Oliver Wood was now on the ground behind them, Madame Hooch showing him the times that she'd written on her clipboard.

"Alright, Harry?"

"Alright, George."

George nudged Fred and the twins looked at each other for a second before Fred spoke. "Nice shades, Harry!"

"Thanks, Fred."

Harry swiftly walked out of the shadow of stands, swung a leg over his broom and started to kick off when he heard Ron.

"Harry!" Ron ran up beside him. "Bloody hell are you in trouble! You're going to have detention for a week! Or maybe even expelled! What the hell is going on?"

Harry sighed with annoyance this time. "Ron. Sometimes you just have to live a little." Then he kicked off.

The sun shone on his face as he zoomed up into the air, the ground swiftly falling behind him. He closed his eyes for a second as he shot higher and higher then opened them as he leveled off. He stayed there for a moment, surveying the landscape. The mountains were to one side of him while the forbidden forest was on the other.

Harry felt great. He never remembered feeling better. Not even winning Quidditch matches or the cup. No, this feeling was something else, something he couldn't describe. It was if his fears and misgivings had all melted away leaving him all warm and fuzzy inside. He felt invincible.

Turning toward the forbidden forest, he sped toward the ground until he was very close to Hagrid's cabin then pulled up at the last minute, flattening himself along the broomstick. Hagrid came out of his front door and looked after Harry, his large hand shielding his eyes from the sun. Hagrid called after him, but he was too far away by then to hear what he said.

Harry stayed low over the trees; scaring birds and owls and flying low to scatter a herd of unicorns. He could fly like this all day and thought he just might. Circling around, he noticed someone on a broom coming after him. Whoever it was moved too fast to be Ron. As they neared closer he realized whoever it was had bright blonde hair.

"Malfoy," Harry muttered under his breath and dipped down into the trees to land on the ground hoping he wouldn't be seen. His hopes were dashed, however, when Malfoy landed beside him a moment later, his ever-present scowl on his face.

"You think you can do whatever you want," Draco sneered at him. "Just because you're Harry Potter."

Harry took a step toward Draco, "And you think *you* can do whatever you want just because you're Draco Malfoy."

Draco opened his mouth to respond, but Harry cut him off.

"Draco Malfoy, the one with his nose in everyone's business, the one who runs to Daddy when he doesn't get his own way. The spoiled little brat who wants everyone to pay attention to him."

"Shut up," Draco fumed, his eyebrows rising high on his forehead.

Harry took another step. "Well your father's not here to help you now."

Draco stepped backwards, "You're the one who keeps breaking all the rules."

"Since when do you care about rules? You're just jealous that I get away with it." Harry kept moving forward.

Draco took another step back and found himself against a tree.

"That's why you hate me so much, isn't it, Malfoy? You can't stand someone else being the center of attention. The poor little prince has to share his spotlight."

Draco took a breath, but Harry stopped him again. "Or..."

"What?"

"Or maybe there's another reason you pay so much attention to me." Harry leaned in closer. "Maybe you fancy me?"

Draco's eyes widened, "What?"

Harry fondled the front of Draco's robes as he had earlier with Cho. "Do you fancy me, Draco?"

"Get off!"

Draco slapped Harry's hand away and reached for his wand, but Harry caught his hand and spun him around to push him face first against the tree. Draco cried out as the bark scratched his face.

"You stare at me all the time, Malfoy. You know every move I make. In fact if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were obsessed with me.

Draco whimpered and struggled as Harry leaned into him. "You're mad."

"Am I?" Harry laughed. "I think I'm right."

He tilted his head close and whispered in Draco's ear. "You want me so bad, come and get me". Then he spun around, jumped on his broom and kicked off, leaving Draco still pressed up against the tree.

Draco wasn't still for long, kicking off and zooming up to catch Harry in a short few seconds, his Nimbus 2001 dodging and weaving beside Harry. Harry knocked into Draco, nearly sending him off his broom. Draco shoved him back.

They grappled as if they were on the Quidditch pitch, each trying to the throw other off of their brooms. They were so intent on smashing into each other that they didn't notice they were coming up rather quickly toward the stands. Both of them hit the fabric at the same time and bounced off then landed hard on the ground.

Harry faced a now seething Draco. His cheeks were red with anger and his left one sported a cut from the tree earlier. "What are you playing at, Potter?" He reached into his pocket and drew out his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry disarmed Draco before he could even think of a spell.

A look of panic briefly crossed Draco's face but was replaced by anger. "Give it back."

"You didn't answer my question. Do you fancy me? But you did follow me so I guess that's my answer."

"Piss off, Potter." Draco's fists clenched at his sides, but he didn't move. "Accio Wand!" he suddenly said and his wand quickly flew through the air and into his hand and he poised himself for a duel.

Harry started to laugh. "You don't know how to really fight, do you?"

"Put your wand up, Potter."

"A wand is no real way to fight, put up your dukes."

Draco sneered, "Your filthy muggle habits make me sick."

"Well your self-righteous wizard ways make *me* sick."

"Shut your mouth."

"Make me!"

Draco tried to curse Harry, but Harry deflected it just in time. He ran forward and tackled Draco, pinning him up against the wooden structure under the fabric of the stands. "Get off of me, Potter!" Draco cried. "Get your filthy fucking hands off of me."

"Such language, Malfoy. I never thought you'd use such a vulgar muggle word."

Draco struggled as Harry punched Draco in the stomach and wrestled the wand out of his hand again. As they fought, the sunglasses slid down Harry's nose.

Finally he got a hold of Draco and held the wand underneath his chin. "Which curse should it be, Malfoy? A simple slug curse? Or would you like to be a ferret again? Or shall it be the Cruciatus Curse?"

Draco swallowed. "Do your best, Potter. When my father hears about this... "

"There you are running to Daddy yet again to solve all your problems."

"At least I have a family."

Harry dug the wand into Draco's chin, making him wince. "Well, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?"

Draco looked Harry in the eye and said, "Your parents and friends shouldn't have been nosing around. Maybe they wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Harry dropped the wand and grabbed Draco around the neck and brought his face close. "Your family and their loyalty to Voldemort helped kill my parents." Spittle flew from his lips onto Draco's face.

Draco's eyes widened as Harry squeezed Draco's throat. He struggled and knocked the sunglasses off of Harry's face. At once, Harry's grip loosened and he stepped back, his head swimming. The anger still lingered, but the violence that raged inside him subsided.

Harry looked at his hand then reached out and touched Draco's cut cheek. Draco winced and slapped his hand away. Harry started to say something but let his breath out in a slow sigh. Finally he turned his back on Draco, gathered his Firebolt and disappeared around the corner of the stands, leaving Draco behind.

Draco reached down toward his wand and saw the sunglasses lying on the ground. He picked them both up, putting his wand in his pocket. He studied the sunglasses for a moment and put them on. A smile crept across his face and he nodded as he looked around. He took a deep breath before collecting his own broom and walked toward Hogwarts smiling to himself.

end


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