Entwined Secrets

| A Dangerous Game

The chill of autumn had settled over Hogwarts, and the air buzzed with excitement and curiosity. The Triwizard Tournament was underway, bringing an extra layer of tension and spectacle to the castle. For Harry Potter, however, the most thrilling part of his fourth year had nothing to do with dragons or enchanted tasks. It was the stolen moments and secret smiles shared with Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin prince, that kept his heart racing.

It was early morning, and the Gryffindor common room was still quiet as Harry tiptoed down from the boys' dormitory. He had promised to meet Draco by the lake before breakfast, and the anticipation of seeing his boyfriend filled him with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Their relationship was a dangerous game—one slip, and their secret could unravel, exposing them to a world not ready to accept their bond.

Harry hurried through the empty corridors, his heart pounding with each step. When he finally reached the lake, he saw Draco waiting for him, leaning casually against a tree with an impatient look on his face.

"You're late, Potter," Draco drawled, though a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Sorry," Harry panted, coming to a stop beside him. "I had to sneak out without anyone noticing."

Draco's expression softened, and he reached out to touch Harry's arm. "I missed you," he said quietly, his voice losing its usual edge.

"I missed you too," Harry replied, feeling a warmth spread through him at Draco's words.

They stood there for a moment, enjoying the peace and solitude of the early morning. But as the minutes ticked by, they knew they had to return to their respective common rooms before anyone noticed their absence. With a reluctant sigh, they pulled away from each other.

"Same time tomorrow?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded, but as he did, he seemed to notice something. "Wait, Harry, your tie—"

Before he could finish, the distant sound of footsteps made them both freeze. In a panic, they turned and hurried back toward the castle, their minds racing with thoughts of getting caught. It wasn't until Harry was halfway to Gryffindor Tower that he realized what Draco had been trying to say: they had accidentally swapped ties in their haste.

Harry's heart sank as he looked down at the green and silver tie now hanging around his neck. How could they have been so careless? He could only hope that no one would notice before he had a chance to fix it.