A/N: So, this is a giftfic for BritishVampiress. Us both being massive HP fans, as well as yaoi fans, spawned this idea...and now I'm writing it.
Let's give a quick disclaimer: firstly, I only own the plot of this story. J.K. Rowling (a.k.a. the Nerd's Goddess) is the creator of everything else.
Secondly, this story involves some rainbow romance. If that offends you, get out and don't bother leaving flames. A simple Aguamenti will take care of them anyways.
Anyone still left? In that case, cast a spell with me! Repeat: Accio yaoi!
Set in the theoretical eighth year, when most of the main cast returns to finish their schooling. For example, Harry, Draco, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron are all back at Hogwarts. The story is told from a third-person Harry-centric POV. I should add, in this particular timeline, Harry and Ginny never got back together after the war.
Techno is my god. Just putting that out there. All hail techno!
Eliza Loves Yaoi is proud to present...
Paradigms
a Harry/Draco fanfic dedicated to BritishVampiress
-Why am I here?- He couldn't help but ask himself as the gates loomed out at him. -I'm of age, I defeated Voldemort, I am quite possibly the most influential wizard in Britain, and I still have to go back to school and 'finish my education.'-
The familiar booming voice of Hagrid echoed out, "Firs' years! Firs' years!" The thestral-pulled carriages were lined up neatly along the road as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger walked up to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They had decided to skip the usual battle on the Express, and simply flew to Hogwarts. None of the trio wanted to deal with the Slytherins this year, especially not Draco Malfoy. They had discussed (read:argued about) this course of action at length earlier in the day.
"I think it's wise to use other means to get to Hogwarts this year," Hermione called from inside her closet. "I don't particularly feel like dueling today."
"But...um...we should protect the other students!" Ron scrambled to find a good reason to take the Express.
Harry smiled to himself. "Yeah, like Padma Patil?" he yelled at his best friend through the wall. He was sure that Ron would be a nice shade of beet red at this comment, and was not disappointed as he entered the room that they were in.
"He's got a point, Ron," giggled Hermione.
Said Weasley rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up, you two. Let's just finish packing. We can decide once we're on the Knight Bus."
Whilst on the bus, they easily convinced Ron to just fly there. Harry was quite sure the Bambi eyes Hermione had been perfecting assisted in this, and had trouble not outright laughing in Ron's face. But now that they were at the school, they were open to attacks from the Slytherins once more.
The feast was amazing as usual. The trio wasn't fooled, however, and remained paranoid. McGonagall's speech was quite dry and amusing. They worried, casted furtive glances around, but began to think that maybe they were in the clear. The house induction ceremony was, unsurprisingly, ridiculously loud although it was short (not many families held too much confidence in the school at the moment). The three relaxed more and more, and ultimately thought that the wrath of the infamously 'evil' house had finally gone down.
As they headed up to the Gryffindor common room, something caught their eye. A dark classroom's door was open, and footsteps were clearly heard from inside. The trio looked at each other. Harry gestured: 'you two head along, I'll check this out.' Ron and Hermione nodded, and Harry drew his wand as he sneaked in the door.
He couldn't believe what he saw.
Draco Malfoy was crying. Admittedly, it was silent, and not sobbing, but...Draco was crying. He just doesn't cry. Harry contemplated this for a moment, standing there awkwardly. Draco suddenly turned and pointed his wand at him.
"Why are you here?" he asked, voice slightly hoarse.
"Door was open into a dark classroom. Clear sign of either trouble, or someone trying to hide. I see this was the latter. What's wrong, Draco?" Harry folded his arms.
The wand pointed at him shook. "You wouldn't understand, Potter." His next statement was quietly muttered, barely loud enough for Harry to hear.
"Nobody understands." Draco sat down facing away from him, head in one hand.
For reasons Harry didn't really understand, he went over to his rival. And gave him a hug. He felt his robes being slowly soaked, but he didn't really care.
-Is there something up with my head? Why am I seeing him as someone who needs comfort, and not rivalry? Dammit. Why am I not even caring anymore?-
Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes at this last thought. Especially as he took the time to observe the other. He finally styled his hair intelligently. The word that came to mind was "cute." Harry mentally smacked himself at this thought.
Maybe this year would be more interesting than he initially thought...
After this rather awkward encounter ended and Draco fled away for the Slytherin dungeons, Harry started the long walk to Gryffindor Tower. However, he was intercepted by a couple of ghosts before he could reach his familiar dorm.
"Harry Potter!" boomed Nearly Headless Nick, "I didn't think I would be seeing you this year! What brings you back to Hogwarts?
Harry sighed. "Well, seeing as how I missed pretty much all of last year, I'm required to actually finish my school career."
"I wish I could've finished school," whined Moaning Myrtle. "All the curses I could've learned...and used..."
"Careful, Myrtle!" chastised Nick. "If you keep talking like that, the staff may have to banish you! The students need all the cheer they can get!"
"Relax, Nick," Harry smiled. "Most of the students are just fine."
"Most?" Nick raised an ethereal eyebrow. "You imply that you know someone who isn't."
Harry blushed lightly. "It's n-nothing! And making assumptions is bad manners!"
"Is it that Weasley girl? Ginny, I think?" Moaning Myrtle looked pensive.
"NO!" yelled Harry, quite done with the conversation. "I'll see you two later!" he called as he stormed off. The walk to Gryffindor Tower was otherwise uneventful, for which Harry was eternally grateful. When he entered the tower, Ron and Hermione were waiting for him. Kind of...they were wildly snogging on the couch. Fortunately, this behavior had quickly driven out any other students. Harry patiently waited for a few moments with eyes rolled high. He folded his arms and cleared his throat, and the couple flew apart.
"Sorry, Harry," Ron said somewhat breathily.
"It's fine. Just...you two..." he laughed quietly.
Hermione sat up and adjusted her robes. "So, what was up with that room?"
Harry started slightly. -Stupid, stupid, stupid!- he berated himself, as he had neglected to form a cover story.
"Well, uh..." he racked his brain for something useful and plausible. "Peeves was in there! The moment I walked in, he started throwing chairs and screaming 'Potty's back! Potty's back!' So I hexed him just a little bit. He shouldn't bother me for a while." Harry smiled. That would do.
"Oh." said Hermione, somewhat downcast.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron.
"Nothing, just...I kind of miss it." They all knew what "it" was referring to: their hectic assortment of adventures.
"Us too, Hermione," sighed Harry. He intentionally ignored the part of his brain that was screaming: -You know where you can find an adventure! And without them, too!-
Harry stood up rather suddenly. "I'm going to bed."
The other two gave him a look. "You doing okay, mate?" questioned Ron.
"I'm fine, just tired, and I don't really want to be here...I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"G'night, Harry!" called Hermione cheerfully as Harry started climbing the stairs. As he lay in his bed, two thoughts kept circling incessantly through his brain. One was -Please, God, don't let them bang on the couch!- The other was more simple, and somehow oddly less disturbing. -I wonder what Draco's doing right now.- Now, whenever he had thought this in previous years, it was directly tied to Voldemort and his activities. But why, now that the threat of Tom Riddle was gone, did his mind keep drifting back to the infamous Malfoy child?
-Good question.- he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Wow, this is fluffier than I thought…and I love writing Myrtle. She's probably my favorite minor character in the series.
Love you, BritishVampiress! Now read this damn thing and tell me what you think so I can write another chapter.
Review! Seriously, review. Lets me know y'all care! ^-^
