Draw The Line

The Beginnings: Chapter 24

"The Forbidden Forest."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Oh you know, just a few minor reasons. Like, I don't know, I don't want to die."

"You wouldn't die."

"I could, you don't know."

"I'd be there."

"Real comforting, Potter."

Draco and Harry had been arguing over what they were going to do for their punishment for the day and Harry had suggested they go into the Forbidden Forest.

"We wouldn't go in too deep, just around the backside of the lake. It'll be fun."

"How on earth would that be fun? I think we have different definitions of fun, Harry."

Harry smiled at the use of his name. They'd been doing more and more things other than homework during their punishments lately, and as a result, Draco had been calling him Harry more. He loved the sound of his name on his tongue.

"You won't get hurt or die, I promise."

Draco looked at him skeptically, "It's freezing out there, it's October."

"We're wizards aren't we?"

Draco looked at Harry for a long moment and Harry was beginning to feel awkward when Draco let out a long sigh, "Fine, but if something happens to me, you'll have to answer to my father."

Harry smiled that bright smile, that made Draco's heart flutter, at him. "Alright, it's a deal! Now get your jumper!"

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

The trek out to the edge of the forest by the lake was a bit long and Draco had to redo the heating charm on himself twice before they got to the far side of the forest.

"Here we are!" Harry shouted.

"Where is here?"

"See where the rock slopes toward the beach over there?"

Draco squinted at where Harry was pointing. There was a bit of a rock formation that did seem to slope towards the beach, but it seemed a bit more like a cliff than anything else.

"What about it?" Draco asked as he followed Harry towards it.

"I found this spot at the beginning of the school year. See how it slopes down, but you can't see any of the beach? It looks kinda like a cliff huh?" Draco nodded a bit, "Well, that's 'cause it's a bit of a secret cove. There's a hole in the rock that you have to squeeze through a bit here on the side," Harry pointed to what was, sure enough, a hole in the side of the rock formation, as they got closer. "Then, when you go through there, it opens up into a little cove with a small private beach."

Harry grabbed Draco's wrist and pulled him through the hole. They both had to crouch a bit to get through and when Draco looked up he found himself in a small cave. Just as Harry described, it was completely closed off on both sides, so if you wanted to get out without going through the hole in the rock, you'd have to get a bit out into the water and swim around.

"Wow," Draco breathed. It was really pretty, especially with the moonlight filtering in and bouncing off the walls.

"I know right?" Harry smiled at Draco's awed expression.

"It's really pretty."

"Come this way," Harry said and led him to the edge of the water, so Draco could get a view of the whole lake and the moon in the sky above the castle.

"It's beautiful," Draco whispered, wide eyed as he stared.

"It's really pretty in the water too," Harry said with a smile and took off his shoes and robes.

"You're seriously going swimming?" Draco asked, incredulous, "It's October!"

"So? The water isn't bad with a warming charm."

"It's still October."

"Get in with me."

"No."

"Please?"

"No," Draco frowned as a nasty smirk spread across Harry's face.

Harry got out of the water and walked towards Draco who started backing up, "Don't you dare."

Without another word, Harry scooped him up and dropped him in the water, robes and all. Draco came up sputtering and shivering a moment later.

"You soaked my robes!" Draco sputtered.

"You should've taken them off then and come in. They'll dry anyway," Harry laughed, and splashed into the water next to Draco who glowered at him.

"If I had known you were going to throw me into the water, I wouldn't have come."

"Well I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, I'm sure you are," Draco grumbled, picking at his robes. Harry quickly casted a warming charm on Draco as he tried to peel his robes off himself. "Thanks," Draco said with a sigh as he warmed up.

"'Course, now time to swim!"

"I don't want to-!" was all Draco managed to say before Harry yanked him under again.

Two hours later, they found themselves leaning against the wall of the cave next to each other, a fire burning in front of them.

"I've got to admit, this was pretty fun," Draco said, sitting up a bit to look at Harry, a rare smile gracing his features.

Harry immediately got lost in his eyes as he looked at him. They seemed to be glowing in the moonlight and Draco's hair was messily hanging in his face. Harry really was hopelessly in love with him.

The seconds seemed to drag on as they stared at each other. Harry didn't know who was the first to lean in then, but Draco's lips were suddenly pressed against his and he had no complaints.

This was unlike any of their kisses they had shared before, this time they were both sober and no one was forcing them to do so. They just were.

Harry leaned further into Draco, bringing his hands up to run them through Draco's hair. Draco's hands went to Harry's head, as he cupped his face, deepening the kiss. Harry ran his tongue across Draco's lower lip, asking for entrance and Draco eagerly granted it. The kiss deepened further and Harry's hands dropped from Draco's hair to his hips and Draco moved his own to Harry's hair. Lips traveled over cheeks and down to necks before making their way back to each other's mouths. It was intoxicating and Harry felt drunk.

The kiss seemed to go on for ages, but it still wasn't quite long enough when Draco slowly pulled away. They both kept their eyes closed for a moment after, a sigh escaping Harry's lips. Then, suddenly realizing what he'd done, Draco's eyes shot open and he jumped up mumbling about being sorry. He quickly grabbed his wand and was gone before Harry could even react.

Harry stared down at Draco's soaked robes on the bank that he'd forgotten in his rush.

A/N: this was one of my most favorite chapters to write so far, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

*image not mine, it belongs to Nedjem on Instagram*