sesheta66 | When Nice is Just Not Right (H/D, PG-13)

Title:   When Nice is Just Not Right
Author:   sesheta_66
Word Count: 1687
Rating:   PG-13
Disclaimer:   HP world belongs to JK Rowling. No money made by me - I am only playing.
Warning:    No beta.  Feel free to point out any mistakes you see.
A/N:   This is a birthday fic for icyaurora8.   Happy Birthday and I hope this meets your expectations! She requested: "Harry doing something fabulously Slytherin to get Draco's attention... which results in a fight (which Harry doesn't usually instigate but does on this occasion)... and therefore snogging/groping of some sort."

“Arrrggh!” Harry screamed at the empty dorm room. He was frustrated, irritated, aggravated, and just plain fed up. What had happened to the snarky, annoying, and ever-present Malfoy? Honestly, ever since joining the side of the light, he was positively boring. The only way to describe him now was … well … nice! And Harry hated it.

He didn’t realize it at the time, but ever since coming to Hogwarts, one of the constants in his life was Malfoy. An annoying, arrogant, insufferable presence to be sure, but he was to be counted on. Get up, go to class, spar with the git, plan revenge, start again. It was part of the plan. Didn’t he get that?

Now he was this tolerable, pleasant, blend-into-the-background student that was just one of many at the school. And it drove Harry to distraction! Okay, he didn’t want the Slytherin to go back to being a Death-Eater-in-training, of course. He was glad that he was on their side now, but what was up with the attitude? It was mind-numbingly boring to be around him now. Harry had to do something about it.

In the past two weeks, he had tried unsuccessfully to get under the blonde’s skin with comments that had, in the past, sparked a heated, if not violent, response. But all he got was an eye roll for his troubles. Time after time after time Harry’s former rival simply walked away. What was wrong with him?

Hermione had suggested that perhaps he had actually grown up. Well, Harry ignored the blatant insult, and scoffed at her. Ron had suggested that he was simply doing the sneaky, slimy Slytherin thing by sucking up to anyone and everyone that could help him, even if it meant Harry himself. That seemed more plausible, but it still didn’t make Harry feel any better about it.

As his frustration grew, so too did a rather empty feeling inside him. There was something missing. Harry figured he must have been some sort of closet masochist to actually miss the conflict, but there it was. And now he was determined to do something about it.

After Potions class, he finally had his chance. Snape had left the classroom ahead of the students, and Harry told Ron and Hermione to go on without him, that he needed to take a detour. As he watched Malfoy put his papers into his bag, he pulled out his wand, directing one of the blonde's papers under the desk. He fumbled around with his own notes, so that he was the last one to leave the class - with Draco's paper in hand.

At lunchtime, he approached the Slytherin table. "Malfoy." The blonde looked up, confused at seeing Harry there. "You left something in Potions this morning. I grabbed it for you."

"Well, give it over, then," Draco replied in his newly-acquired pleasant tone.

"I didn't bring my bag down here. You can come with me after lunch, and I'll grab it from my dorm."

"Okay," Draco agreed. Harry's plan was working out perfectly. The rest of his dorm mates were having a game of muggle football, since they had a free period after lunch that day. He would just tell them he wasn't up for it.

"Ready?" he asked Draco.

"Sure." He turned to his house mates. "I'll catch up with you lot later," and they left the Great Hall together.

If the sight of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy walking down the halls of Hogwarts together was unusual, nobody let on.

Harry whispered the password so Draco couldn't hear it, and they made their way up to his room. "Here," he said as he handed him his paper. Draco took it, and made to leave. "Wait a minute," Harry said, now not quite as confident as he had felt earlier.

"What?"

"Well, here's the thing. You didn't exactly leave the paper behind." He was met with a quizzical look from the other boy. "I ... well ... I sort-of made it fall under your desk, so I could get you alone."

Draco's face went through several emotions ... confusion, irritation, and then ... what was that look? "Oh, really?" he drawled, as he walked closer to Harry. "And why would you want to do that ... Harry?"

"What did you call me?" he asked, glaring at Draco. "Wait a minute ... oh, God, no. No, no, no - that's not what I meant! You've got this all wrong."

"Oh, I don't know Harry ... maybe I've got it all right." He took another step towards Harry. The room suddenly seemed very small. And was it getting warm in here?

Harry shoved him in the chest. "No, you most definitely got it WRONG! I wanted to ask you what the hell is wrong with you lately!"

"What's wrong with me?" Draco asked incredulously. "I've been perfectly civil to you ... almost pleasant." The last word was accompanied by a brief shudder.

"Exactly!" Harry fumed. "What the hell is that all about?!? You are NEVER nice to me. I don't even know who you are any more."

"Potter, what's your problem? I thought nice was what you wanted."

"Not from you!"

"Aaarrrgghh! You are infuriating!"

Harry smiled. "See? Now that's more like it!"

Draco shoved Harry in the chest this time. "There. Is that better? Is that what you want?"

"Don't push me!" Harry shoved him back.

"Well, what is it?" Draco shoved him again. "Do you want to fight?"

"I'm not sure." Harry hadn't really thought this far ahead.

"Well make up your mind!" He pushed Harry again.

Harry pushed back. "I don't know, Draco." The blonde's name was practically spit out. "All I know is this nice business is driving me to distraction! You and I aren't nice to each other. It's just not right."

Draco laughed maniacally at this comment. "You are unbelievable, Potter! I have been practically killing myself to be nice, as you put it. But all I really wanted to do was pound your face, after all those comments you've made."

"So why didn't you?"

"C'mon now, Potter. Even you can't be that stupid. I have no desire to be turned away, into the clutches of that madman Father follows around like a lost puppy. No, I like my neck too much for that, thanks."

"You stupid git!" Harry yelled. "We are not like the Death Eaters, you know. You don't get pushed out the door for acting like ... I dunno ... like yourself! God, Malfoy - you don't need to be someone else!"

Harry didn't see it coming. Draco's fist landed square on his left cheek, causing his glasses to fly across the room. "THAT was for all the bullshit you said last week." He landed another punch, which caused Harry to fall over. "And THAT was for this week!" Harry got up, and grabbed Draco by the legs, causing him to fall backwards, releasing a loud "oof!" as he landed.

Draco pushed Harry off him, and they both got up. Breathing heavily, staring at Draco, Harry felt more alive than he had in a long time. "That's more like it," he said, wiping his had across his face.

"You're nuts!" said Draco, but with a bit of a smirk tugging at his mouth.

"Yeah, well, what can I say? I don't like to be caught off guard. And you being nice was just too weird."

A strange look came over Draco's face, a wicked twinkle in his eyes.

"What now?" Harry asked, his voice a little shaky. That look didn't bode well for him, he was sure.

This time, Draco pushed Harry so hard he fell onto his bed. Harry didn't move.

"What indeed," Draco drawled as he approached Harry. "I think I have a few things left up my sleeve to - how did you put it? - catch you off guard."

Harry tried to swallow, but his mouth and throat were too dry. He stared wide-eyed as the Slytherin approached him. He couldn't move. He was completely immobile.

Draco bent down, putting one hand on either side of Harry's head, and leaned in to whisper in Harry's ear. "I bet you weren't expecting this, Harry." His tongue reached out and tickled the lobe of Harry's ear, before his teeth nibbled on it. Lifting his head up slightly, he continued, "or this." His breath was hot on Harry's cheek, as his mouth made its way to Harry's. Their lips brushed against each other's softly, before Draco licked Harry's lower lip. Harry let out a soft moan, as his lips parted to let Draco's tongue gain entry.

Oh, God, what's happening? So wrong. Feels so good. Oh, God.

The kiss was soft and tentative at first, growing more passionate, tongues swirling over each other, tasting, teasing, savouring the other. It went on for what felt like forever, but was only moments, before they broke apart to look at each other.

"That was ... " Harry began breathlessly.

"Surprising?" Draco offered.

"Mhmm. Definitely caught me off guard."

"Well, I am nothing if not unpredictable." His old smirk was back in place.

Harry laughed. "You are that." His face fell, and he furrowed his brow.

"What now, Potter?" Draco asked, clearly exasperated.

"Was that the only reason you did it? To catch me off guard?"

"What do you think?"

"I think --" Harry started, as he mustered up the courage to say what he really felt. What he really wanted. "No, I know that was the best kiss I've ever had. And I, for one, want to do that again." He looked hopefully up at Draco.

"Well, if you insist," came the reply, in the perfectly snarky tone that Harry was thrilled to hear again. He grabbed Draco by the robes, and pulled him down onto his bed, where they spent the next hour discovering just how nice they could be to each other. As they got up to go to their next class, Draco chuckled.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I was just thinking. I should have been nice to you a long time ago."

When Nice is Just Not Right (H/D, PG-13)

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