𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒

III

Act III.

In flagrante delicto.

Caught In the Act

He was running again. Running so fast that he was out of breath and turning a peculiar shade of red from the lack of oxygen, but he still ran. Knowing that stopping was not an option because that particular action would get him into thinking and he didn’t believe he could stand the headache that would ensue when he started doing that again. Nothing was making sense to him anyway and those blasted silver-grey eyes still haunted him with confusing thoughts and unsettling sensations. And he wasn’t about to waste any more bloody time sitting around brooding over the whole thing when this night would probably be the last time he would have any hope in finding at least some of the answers to the many bewildering inquiries buzzing around his head. So he ran…

He was so focused on getting to his destination that he forgot all about using stealth. He even neglected to get his enchanted map in his desperate haphazard attempt to hunt the git down. For some reason, his feet knew where they were going although his mind would be damned if it knew how.

A flash of blonde. A shot of white.

Is that Malfoy? Harry stared at the small figure that was plunging rapidly head first into the ground. But before his horrified reaction could be expressed audibly, the figure abruptly went on a full stop only to streak up a few seconds later straight into the sky. Is that Slytherin crazy? Harry thought, aghast. He could have killed himself with that stupid stunt! Of all the arrogant, most flamboyant things to do! He raged inwardly, completely missing the fact that he was actually more concerned Malfoy was endangering himself so recklessly than was proper for so called bitter rivals. He was about to ‘accio’ his firebolt and fly up there to give the stupid prick a piece of his mind when suddenly he heard something that made him forget all about killing Malfoy.

Someone was laughing. A sharp sound that hit the still air like a whip and then the biting sound faded into gales of innocent laughter, the kind that made anyone who heard it want to burst out with guffaws in kind. In fact, Harry’s still lips twisted itself upwards a little on its own volition. He caught himself before any sound could come out since he was quite sure it would be detrimental to his health not to give into the impulse because if the Slytherin ever found out that he was out here stealing another personal moment he would be a dead man. But what could he do? He couldn’t help it! He had never seen this side of the usually cold and aloof boy and it intrigued him. Harry shook his head as he ducked quickly behind an oak tree that was two feet away. He was positive that the reason of ‘I couldn’t help it’ would not help his case with Malfoy at all if he found him.

He’s beautiful. The startling thought invaded his mind as his dazed emerald eyes stared at the recklessly graceful boy flying above and it escaped his notice until he had all but thought of it. Did he just think that of bloody Malfoy? Thump. Thump. He bashed his head thoughtlessly on the tree he was hiding behind, forgetting for a minute that the purpose of his hiding there in the first place was because of his need for stealth. He stopped immediately when he saw from the corner of his eye that the Slytherin had stopped his haphazard flying in order to glance at what seemed to be his direction. Inwardly panicking and berating himself for his stupidity, Harry crouched lower behind the tree and he flattened himself against the undergrowth. Why on earth had he thought to come after Malfoy tonight? And since he had decided to indulge in asking himself stupid questions that would never be answered, why the hell did he think the ferret was ..choke… beautiful?

Ron was right. Apparently thinking was dangerous to your health.

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Draco, after getting over his laughing fit, zoomed quickly overhead in a dizzying crisscrossing fashion. Hilarity and exhilaration was bubbling again inside him as he let himself relax. He soared into the open sky and let the darkness wrap around him like a magnificent cloak. He smiled warmly. It was always up here in the air where he found his freedom. Here he was liberated from the dark expectations of his family, duty to his upbringing and even the suffocating tension that was mounting inside the castle. The skies had always been his home and he had never felt as jubilant and alive as he did right now and it was only that one day that came even close to comparing…