Title: Vinculum

Date: July 08, 2004

By: NinjaBubble (L. King)

Warning(s): None

-

Stuck on You

The grey white light of winter floated through the window through the glass to softly illuminate the room that held five, four-post beds. Outside the December sky was hidden by a heavy fog, so heavy, that the ground at the bottom of the tower could only barely be made out. A boy with jet-black hair and dulled green eyes sat alone on one of the beds in the all but empty room. Six-teen year old Harry found himself alone for the Christmas holiday. Ron's mother had been in a household accident of some sort and broken her leg. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George were all away, surprisingly busy during the holiday season. Arthur had been called away on business and would be getting home just before Christmas, so Ron had made his way back to the Burrow to take care of his mother. In all the rush of getting ready (for it had only happened the previous day), none of the Weasely's had asked if Harry wanted to come as well; and he had felt it would have been far too rude to ask. Hermione had wanted to stay to give him some company, but her parents had already made plans to go to Hawaii for the holidays and the tickets were non-refundable and in the end she felt too obligated to go.

So Harry was on his own, staying in the Gryffindor house alone, he was the only Gryffindor staying at the school. It seemed to be the most deserted Christmas vacation ever, he had yet to actually come across another student. Of course, it was only the first day of vacation and he hadn't been out of the room since saying good bye to Ron and Hermione. His stomach growled in hunger. He hadn't eaten much of anything that morning, having been too crest fallen about staying by himself. But the holidays wouldn't be that bad, he thought. Hagrid was still on the grounds (he had never left during a holiday) and there were presents to look forward to. Feeling a little better, he picked up his cloak and pulled it over his shoulders as he stood. Not bothering with shoes (what was the reason when he might be the only student in the castle), he left his feet in warm socks and padded to the halls and started to make his way to lunch.

It was a pleasant surprise to find himself running into another person as he turned a sharp corner in the hall. Harry had been watching his feet as he walked, somehow finding it entrancingly amusing. Of course, it didn't sound fun when you were thinking about it. The force of impact made the black-haired boy step back and, unbalanced, fall to the ground. Despite the slight pain that went through his ass and spine on impact with the stone floor he smiled and looked up. Having somebody to at least talk to for a little bit was better than no one at all. Or so he had thought.

"Watch where you're going Potter." Malfoy was sneering down at the other sixth year with a look of disgust etched into his features.

Harry's smile faded into a frown as he quickly pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself off. "I could say the same for you Malfoy. What are you doing here? Your parents finally got sick of keeping you around the house?" His retort was amazingly bitter and seemed to surprise the other boy nearly as it surprised himself.

The stunned look on Malfoy's face did not last more than a few seconds, his cheeks already flushing with anger and his response was fired quickly, making up for the momentary delay. "It's nothing to you why I am or am not here Potter. What about you? Your friends," he spat out the word, "seem to be so awfully supporting of you," he smirked, looking at the gaping air on either side of Harry where Ron and Hermione normally were.

Barely able to speak with anger Harry's hand curled up into fists. "Ron's mother is ill, and Hermione couldn't stay," he explained, voice strained as he tried to keep himself calm. He was failing miserably.

Malfoy shrugged, his smirk becoming even more smug than before. "No need to be making excuses for them Potter. I'm sure there's a perfectly legitimate reason why the Weasely's didn't invite you to join them." He chuckled coldly. "It tells you something when a lot like that doesn't want you in their trashy little shed."

"Shut up Malfoy!" Harry ordered, his own cheeks flushed. The last thing he wanted was Malfoy finding out that he had actually struck Harry's doubt dead on.

The blond boy looked haughtily at Harry. "The least they could have done was just plain out tell you that they didn't want you shoving yourself into their family get together instead of leading you on to think they just forgot," he said off handedly. "But you can't blame them for wanting some time without you. You're like a leech. Always there with them, following them around everywhere. Just-"

Malfoy's sentence suddenly cut off as Harry's fist smashed into the side of his face, knocking the unsuspecting teen to the side and into the wall. Silence fell. Harry was breathing heavily in anger, Malfoy seemed to be trying to get over his shock at having been hit. And suddenly he launched himself at Harry with a snarl, his own fist landing in the black-haired boy's face, no doubt the hit would result in a black eye. They fell on the ground, fighting viciously, shouting at each other. Their wands had fallen from their robes and lay, scattered away from them, completely forgotten.

As suddenly as the fight started it stopped, strong hands landing on each boy and wrenching them apart from each other and holding them that way. Hagrid's huge boy stood between them and Professor McGonagall stood off to the side staring at them in shock. "What is the meaning of this?!" Though a strict Professor, it was rare of the woman to ever truly get angry, and when she did it was never a pretty site. This was one of those rare times. Her lips were pressed in a pale, thin line as she glared at both boys. Harry's eyes flickered to Hagrid and he felt shocked and hurt when he found now sympathy in those eyes, and only a confused sternness. He had never thought he could ever describe Hagrid as 'stern,' but the expression seemed unmistakable. McGonagall was still waiting for her response and Harry's gaze returned to her. "Well?" She asked expectantly.

Neither of the boys said anything, they stared conveniently at the ground, not willing to make eye-contact. Seconds of silence ticked by, each one feeling like an hour. Malfoy spoke first and Harry instantly got the sinking feeling that he shouldn't have let the other do so. "It was Potter's fault Professor McGonagall. I had run into him in the hall and was talking to him and he suddenly hit me." He pointed to the dark bruise that had already formed on the left side of his jaw.

McGonagall turned on Harry, thin brows raised. "Is this true Harry?"

Harry was most definitely regretting letting Malfoy having the chance of speaking first. He opened his mouth to deny the statement but realized that, how Malfoy had put it…he was telling the truth. Green eyes flickered over to the other boy, anger clear in their depths. A moment later they returned to McGonagall and he hesitantly answered. "…Yes Professor. But-"

"Harry Potter! I never would have thought you would do something like this," McGonagall said, looking severely disappointed in him. As if he hadn't felt bad enough with Hagrid's first look, when he glanced at the friendly giant again he saw a deeply saddened face. "I hate to do this during the holiday season, but I have no other choice but to give you detention, and take fifty points from Gryffindor."

"What?!" Harry gaped. He could practically feel Malfoy's smirk from the other side of Hagrid. As for fighting, Harry could barely see out of his right eye it was swollen so much, not to mention it hurt like hell. "But Malfoy- He- I was just-" To say it was unfair was an understatement. Malfoy had been antagonizing the fight, if he could just say that maybe McGonagall would understand.

Malfoy chuckled. "Well Potter, I guess you should have controlled you temper better."

McGonagall turned on the blond boy who suddenly stopped talking. "I wouldn't look so smug Malfoy, you're going to detention as well; and for that smart retort of yours, fifty points from Slytherin." The teen stammered, much like Harry had before, but she cut off any protests. "Harry may have hit you, however, you continued fighting, and fighting is strictly against the rules. It's hard enough to keep students up and feeling well with everything else that goes on here." She eyed both of them harshly and shook her head. "Sixth years at that. I would have hoped you would be able to control yourselves." Her lips were still pursed as she gave another good look over, eyes going up and down each bruised and battered boy, noting the blood that had dried down Malfoy's chin from his split lip and the trail coming out of Harry's ear from his head being smashed on the stone floor. "As for what the punishment will be, we'll talk to Dumbledore about that," she declared with an air of finality. She turned to Hagrid and nodded her head before turning around and walking toward the dinning hall, Hagrid kept his hands on their shoulders and pulled them in tow.

When they entered the dinning hall Harry saw only four students were sitting at the tables. Two at Ravenclaw, looking to be maybe a second and a third year; and two at Slytherin, two fourth years by the looks of it. He was the only one who was alone in his house. The four students had turned their heads up and were looking at the procession. Harry looked up at the teacher's table and saw two men seated there. Dumbledore, who looked at them inquisitively; and Snape, who was glaring maliciously at Harry as though he was the source of the trouble.

McGonagall led them straight up to the teacher's table before having Hagrid stop. "Dumbledore, I found these two," she gestured behind her with a swift hand movement. "Fighting like two rabid dragons in the halls. This has gone on too long, these two boys and their constant harassment of each other," she explained, moving to the side as the silver-haired man nodded in understanding.

"Ah, it would seem Professor McGonagall is quite right about this. The two of you have been fighting ever since you stepped foot into this school." The man stood and looked at each of them in turn before waving his hand, and Hagrid released them before moving to the side with McGonagall. "I was quite fine with leaving things as they were, considering you seemed to be doing well enough with your verbal banter back and fourth. However, we cannot tolerate fighting, it only shows me that if you remember you have your wands one day we may have a very unfortunate, irreversible incident on our hands." He spoke with a cool intensity that kept Harry and Malfoy rooted to the ground where they stood, unable to speak.

Harry was almost panicked. Was Dumbledore going to suspend them? Expel them?! It was only a fight, but Dumbledore seemed far more concerned about it than Harry thought he should be. And by the way Hagrid looked… None of the omens were good. Green eyes flickered over to Malfoy and it seemed that the other teen was just as concerned as he was, though he was managing to hide it well.

Dumbledore continued. "There is no need to worry about expulsion. Professor McGonagall just called for a detention of some kind, and I agree with her completely."

"But Potter started the fight!" Malfoy protested, but he did not step forward or make any other statement under the Head Master's gaze. No doubt he was hoping that Snape would come to his aid with the knowledge of Harry having been the first to strike, but Snape did not move or speak, he simply sat in his chair and stared at the two boys.

A few seconds passed before Dumbledore spoke again. "Maybe it's misunderstanding that makes you two dislike each other so, perhaps caused by the fact that you spare no more time together than it takes to throw sharp words and fists. As a result, a fitting punishment comes into mind." The older man eyed Snape and McGonagall who both nodded knowingly, Snape though rather reluctantly, looking at Malfoy as though he felt very sorry for the Slytherin student. "It will be a rather extended detention that will last the duration of this holiday. With hope that will be long enough." Brandishing his wand, he pointed it at the two boys. "Vinculum!" He said gravely. A cold tickle ran through Harry, starting at his head and running through his body, exiting through his fingertips and toes. Well, that wasn't too bad. Of course, that was not all. "The two of you are now under bonded quarantine."

"Are you serious!" "What's that mean?" The two boys said at once, Harry confused, Malfoy looking outraged.

"It means," Dumbledore said, eyeing them both sternly as he slid his wand away. "That you are stuck together. You have a six-foot leeway between you two, but you will not be permitted to go any farther. I ask you not to test these limitations, you will surely only make it worse for yourselves." He looked most utterly serious.

Harry turned and looked at Malfoy, a form of terror in his eyes. He had to spend his entire Christmas vacation six feet away from Malfoy! "How… What… When will we be able to go back to normal?" The Gryffindor asked hurriedly, already looking as though he would do anything to have Dumbledore just let him go. Malfoy looked the same.

Snape and McGonagall were still staring at their students. Dumbledore spoke to answer. "When you're ready," as all he said before sitting back down. "Now, I suggest you go ahead and eat some lunch, I suspect you're going to be very hungry when dinner rolls around." McGonagall and Hagrid took their seats as well. Harry gave Hagrid a pleading look, but the giant could only shrug his shoulders and look most sorry for the black-haired teen.

"Come on Potter, I'm hungry." Malfoy spun away and started storming off. He got to six feet and nothing happened. Maybe Dumbledore had been bluffing… But sure enough, when he passed they each jumped, feeling what appeared to be the slightest shock go through their bodies. Apparently it was a warning. Harry stayed where he was and Malfoy stopped before turning around, looking vicious. "Come on Potter!"

"I'm not going to eat at the Slytherin table," Harry said stiffly. The two teens glared daggers at each other. So began their Christmas vacation.

tbc...