Draco left detention, but felt as though life wasn't real. That he and Potter didn't just kiss. That he was dreaming. He had to have been. 

But it felt so real.

He walked aimlessly in the halls until he ran into Pansy on the third floor. "What are you doing?"

"Checking my pulse." His fingers were pressed into his neck, and had been for quite a while.

"Why?"

"My heart won't slow down... should I go to the Hospital Wing."

"What happened?"

"I-I just feel sick, I feel weird." Good, which was bad and gross.

"Your lips are swollen."

Finally, Draco looked up to her, and her eyes widened. "You two..."

"Yeah. We did."

"Are you okay?"

"I... I dunno."

"Was it good?"

Draco looked at her, and then bit his still tingling lip. He didn't answer.

"Are you okay? Honestly?" Pansy dropped to a serious tone.

"I just... I need to think."

"Are you going to plan revenge?"

"No. No more plans. They don't work."

-----------------------------

It took a few days to calm down after the incident in detention. Draco locked himself away in his room for the rest of break. He hated himself. He hated himself because of Potter. He hated that he hated the boy enough to fall for him.

It was nonstop Potter running through his mind. He attempted to think of bad characteristics for each part of his body, but his subconscious took over telling him what he knew was true.

1) His eyes are a disgusting puke-green; No, his beautiful green eyes are absolutely perfect.

2) His mouth is too tiny, and he is a horrid kisser; No, it fits yours perfectly and you wouldn't of had your first kiss any other way.

3) His hair is too messy; No, you love every lock of his raven hair, and you know you want to put your fingers through it.

4) He is way too scrawny; No, he just kicked your living arse at the Yule ball.

Draco always tried to push these thoughts away, but they kept swimming around his brain like sharks around prey.

And it was driving him mad.

At lessons, Draco remained entirely out of focus and sometimes his eyes drifted to the back of Harry's head. The second his thoughts started to wander to running his fingers through it, he woke up and snapped his eyes back to the board, only for his eyes to drift back in a terrible, vicious cycle. 

As for Harry, he refused to even look any direction towards the ferret. His plan went well and now he was on the road of recovery to back to hating Draco, and even with his feelings still slightly present, it was a smooth drive.  

"Get to work," Professor Snape said as he finished explaining the complex antidote for uncommon poisons.

The Slytherin strayed away, however was woken by a bag being slammed to the seat next him. Looking up, Draco found that the person whom he wanted to see the least throwing his stuff to the floor with a scowl on his face.

"Wh-what are you doing here," Draco stuttered. 

"Getting the ingredients. Snape paired us together again. I know I'm a bit slow, Malfoy, but I know when someone hates me enough to put me through torture," Harry bit as venom stung his words. 

While the Gryffindor turned to the supply closet, Draco wiped his unreasonably sweaty hands on his thighs, swallowing with a lump in his throat.

Harry came back with all the ingredients needed, numerous vials and boxes protruding his arms. Draco just stared at the cauldron in front of him, knowing that this was to be a living hell. Harry poured dragons blood into the kettle to get the potion started.

"Pass the rat tails," Harry said smoothly, knowing whatever fight that was going on was in his favor.

Draco seemed scattered and he frantically looked for a slender jar that had simply ran away considering it was no where to be seen. "You didn't grab it," he said, trying to calm himself, however he failed miserably. Why was he so damned nervous?

"Malfoy... It's right next to you," Potter corrected with a tone of such mockery that it seemed to visibly drip down his wonder- horrific mouth.

He just grabbed the jar and passed it Harry, not saying a word. It was like this most of the class, until Harry chose to further Draco's torturing.

"Oh, Draco dear, pardon me for bothering you but I was just wondering why is it that you freak out when your eyes turn color?"

"Shut up," he bit, just wanting the hour to be over with.

"Awww, is wittle Draco afraid to tell Hawwy an answer," Potter taunted, and it bit at him to the point of such annoyance, if he wasn't around witnesses, he would have knocked them out on sight.

"I said: shut up, Potter," Draco threatened. 

"What happened to 'Oh Harry, I've had a crush on you since you refused to be my friend-'"

"SHUT UP!" That hit a nerve, and Harry could only smirk, ready to test further but was interrupted by a droning, yet scolding, voice from behind him.

"Mr. Potter. Stop being a pest to other students while they're working. Five points from Gryffindor," Snape said behind him.

Harry swallowed, holding his groan at the want to tease Draco more and more. 

"It best you do well tomorrow, Potter the second task might be worst than the first one," the teacher warned before telling the class they were dismissed. Harry completely forgot about the second task the next day. He had been studying so much that his brain was malfunctioning, and of course, revenge on Malfoy was always fun.

The students got up to leave for their next class but Draco, in which Harry knew of this and went towards the door, taking caution as he did so to ensure the Slytherin wouldn't commit hi-jinks.

"Draco," Snape spoke up unexpectedly. "What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on, sir," Draco lied as Harry dipped behind the corner so he was unseen.

"Stop lying to me. Your eyes are different color. That must mean-"

"None of your business."

"As your god father it is my business. I haven't seen you in the Great Hall for weeks now. You look ill. Who is it?"

"I don't know, okay! I just don't get it," Draco shouted, frustrated, before he sprinted out the door, establishing his godfather wouldn't catch him, turning the blind spot, and Harry wasn't seen.

There was something more to this than either of them thought.

---------------------------------------------- 

Days later, Draco loaded into one of the many boats that took the students to the platform in the center of the Black Lake. Draco, frustratingly and surprisingly, was nervous that Potter would be going into a lake which held creatures from nightmares and cold-blooded killers. What if Potter died? What if he was swallowed by an octopus or attacked by a grindylow?

Pansy and Blaise were the only ones who knew about the kisses. He couldn't trust anyone else. No one could know. Because if his father found out... 

He didn't want to think about it.

Before he knew it (since he was off day dreaming about Potter's mouth), they arrived; Draco and Pansy climbed out of the boat and onto the diving platform, being followed by Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle. Draco knew he couldn't tell the 3 how he was made a fool out of. His pride was already toiled enough.

The group made their way up the highest level away from all the noisy children. It wasn't long before everyone else found their way onto the platform and the champions loaded in position.

Draco watched Potter, and he how pale his skin was. The poor kid was probably horrified, but damn did his hair look good in the wind.

The boom of a cannon broke Draco from another fantasy that he was having about his own fingers meeting Potter's locks, and the time for the champions to dive into the water arrived, but Potter was still on the platform.

Draco saw that he was choking and clung onto the bar tightly, and he stood out of pure worry, only for Pansy to grab him arm and yank him down so she could see.

Potter splashed into the water, looking as though he suffocated his way into it. Although he didn't notice nor mean to, Draco's breathing got so heavy, in fact it was almost violent, but it wasn't until there was a huge splash and a very-much-okay Potter plunged up from the water, did a mid air flip, diving back to the bottom, in which Draco let out air he didn't know he was holding in.

And then they waited; and waited and waited.

While everyone else was having a fantastic time, Draco's stomach acid burned sour when the clock hit 4:50. Only Fleur and Krum surfaced, leaving the Hogwarts champions still under the water. It was 4:58 when Cedric came up with Cho Chang.

When the clock struck 5:00, Draco stared at the black depth, eyes almost watering, his breathing shallow and fast. He swallowed again, his throat making it harder and harder to do so, his adam's apple bobbing enough for his best friend to see.

"Draco, what's wrong," Pansy asked in a whisper so that no one else in the group could hear, but Blaise saw his face and got the message. Draco shook his head and continued to stare down at the inky water below. Then it hit Pansy. "You care about him, don't you?" 

She waited for a bomb to explode but instead recieved a small, microscopic "yes," a crack radiating in his voice. In fact, it wasn't even a whisper, but she heard the pale blonde loud and clear.

Weasley, as well as Fleur's sister surface, but no Potter. Draco stood again and practically wanted to scream and rip out his heart for beating so fast, the bastard. "Damn it, where is the prat," he said in haste under his breath, not realizing he said it aloud. 

"You need to tell him," Blaise said, and Draco looked at him with uncertainty before glancing back at the pool of water.

And the boy surfaced. 

-------------------------------------------

Harry got off the boat with Ron and Hermione, laughing and shivering due to the aggressive wind and biting cold.

"It's freezing" Hermione smiled, huddled between her two favorite boys who were also soaking. He was about to comment when Harry then heard something.

"Psst, Potter," the whisper said, "Potter over here." It was a tree.

"Hey guys I have to go," Harry said abruptly, "I'll catch up with you in a bit, I need to check something."

Harry approached the trunk, leaves crunching beneath him, "Tree," he asked, feeling as a moron.

"Behind the tree, you idiot," the voice snapped. Harry walked behind the plant to find a white haired, pale faced ferret.

"You," Harry shouted, a bubble of anger overcoming him. He turned to leave but was stopped when a hand grabbed his wrist.

"Potter," Draco remained earnest. "Please." 

Harry paused and let his curiosity take him over and he nodded, although he wore a look of distaste. Draco bit his lip and held onto Harry's wrist, leading him deeper into the forest. He let go of his wrist.

"What do you want," Harry said when they were out of everyone's path of descry. 

"To apologize," Draco swallowed, "I shouldn't of done that to you. All of it."

Harry waited a bit before speaking again. "Is that it or is there a punch line?"

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just that I'm surprised you haven't exploded yet since you actually apologized, or I'm waiting for the joke."

"I'm not joking," Draco said. "Really, I am sorry. You didn't deserve what I gave you, and I didn't realize I would... I would be the one to.. I would... Listen, will you just give me a second chance?"

"Right! So you can laugh at my idiocy again," Harry mocked. "I'm not that gullible Malfoy!" 

"No. It would be real. I promise." 

"And give me a solid reason as to why I would ever- could ever want to go on a date with a sick git like you."

"BecauseIthinkilikeyou." He said as fast as possible, but Harry didn't miss a beat.

"Genuinely?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"I.. I don't know."

"Is it because I kissed you, or is it because you want another," Harry said cheekily, and Draco glared a him.

"Shut up, Potter."

"A bit cruel to a crush, aren't you, Malfoy," Harry teased.

"It's better than being fake," he sneered, feeling ridiculously uncomfortable. 

"That's very true," Harry leaned up against a tree trunk. He looked off into the forest, trying to make of the situation.

"You were great today," Draco said coy, his heart beating so loud, he thought Harry could hear it. "Relentlessly stupid... but fantastic." 

Harry's eyebrows raised as high as they could go. "Really?"

"Really. You could have gotten hurt," Draco swallowed. 

"Because I'm so brave and courageous," Harry smirked. 

"Because you're a bloody twit," Draco corrected and Harry gave a small laugh, but ended with a shiver. "I forgot you must be freezing," he scoffed at himself, although he didn't want to say it out loud. 

"It's fine," Harry shook, pulling his damp towel tighter to him. Draco, without thinking, unbuttoned his wool waistcoat and Harry watched him do it, only to look at him bizarrely when he held it out. 

"Take it," Draco said almost sheepishly. Harry kept staring as if he had grown three heads. Draco scoffed and did they only logical thing he could do with the least embarrassment. He threw it at him, Harry almost dropping it as he caught it last minute. 

"Are you not feeling well? Is it poisoned?"

"Oh shut up, Potter," Draco snapped. "I'm not.. I'm not a hufflepuff-"

"No! You had me fooled the whole time," Harry laughed sarcastically, putting the jacket on over him, warmth engulfing him.

"I don't... I don't... l-love or do whatever you sick Gryffindorks do."

"Then why are you here?"

"To get this.. mad feeling to go away."

"Mad feeling?"

"It... feel weird... everywhere. And it's only you.. It's been only you."

Harry snorted into a laugh. "So you do have a crush? A big one, I predict."

"Potter," Draco blushed.

"Ha! A really big one, huh? Plan backfired?" 

Draco crossed his arms. "Potter," he bit dangerously.

"Was it the kiss?"

"Ugh! I'm so stupid, why would I even talk to you about this," Draco growled, and he started walking away.

"Wait," Harry called. "I'll do it."

"Huh?"

"I'll give you a second chance," he said. 

"You will," Draco almost.. not smirked, but the other thing. His heart sped. 

"Don't you dare think that I trust you even a teaspoon, Malfoy. You have one chance, and that's all you get. Mess it up-"

"I won't."

"Alright. Tomorrow at seven." 

Harry started to walk way, and Draco watched him go. "Wait," he called.

"I want my coat back by tomorrow, and I swear if there is even one wrinkle, I'll hex you blind." 

Harry just tugged on it tighter, continuing on his way, smiling when he wasn't in Draco's view.

And little did Draco know, one chance was all he needed.