DISCLAIMER: Not mine, not mine (and if I'm happy and skipping) not-not mine, not-not mine.
DISCLAIMER PS: reference Friends. Also not mine. I think you get the drift.
Once again wow with the reviews. Feel so loved and who cares if my revisions going down the pan? Not me! I'm writing the next chapter regardless. Oh, I'm reckless.
Reviewer comments and stuff at the end. Suggest you read these as there is kind of spoiler type things and answers to what seem to be common questions.
Still can't get over all the comments and feedback and stuff.
On with chapter three. Hope you like it.
Enjoy.
~ ~ Chapter Three ~ ~Wednesday 16th October
While Harry was plotting the slow and painful demise of Fred and George, Hermione and Ron were working in the library. Or at least that was the plan.
"'Mione, you alright?" Ron's concern was not misdirected for his studious girlfriend was staring off into space, book lying forgotten on the desk.
"Yeah Ron, just thinking?"
"About," he prompted.
"Harry and Blaise. Don't you think it's a bit strange that they're suddenly all pally? It's a bit odd don't you think?"
"Not really 'Mione. I mean, don't you think Blaise is the one?"
"No that's my point. I mean at first I thought yeah, maybe Blaise is the mystery guy because it fits. He's good looking, a Slytherin and anti-Voldemort. But now … it doesn't feel right. None of it feels right."
Her boyfriend just stared at her blankly. Frankly he thought it made sense. They decided a long time ago that the guy Harry was seeing – and even though Harry had never specifically said so they both knew it was a guy – was in Slytherin because only a Slytherin knew enough about the war and Voldemort to understand. And it was clear that Harry's mystery guy was hearing a lot about Voldemort because he never talked to them, not ever looked like he needed to. In fact, when they'd challenged him about his silence he had smiled the smile that only came out when they talked about They Didn't Know Who and replied "don't worry, I am talking to someone, someone who understands. And it feels good." And he'd wondered off, goofy smile firmly attached.
For her part, Hermione did not believe she would ever cease to be amazed at Ron's easy acceptance that Harry was in all probability gay and dating a Slytherin. As much as she loved him, she had been convinced that there was something of the homophobe in Ron. But when they had been discussing Harry's lover Ron had no problem with either of her assumptions and when she had asked him about it he had given a surprisingly mature answer. He had explained that the wizarding world was far more tolerant of things like homosexuality and single mothers and other such things that had at some point in muggle past made you a social pariah. Wizards, he explain, made a point of accepting what muggles could not, decades before muggles would, in an attempt to prove themselves superior. But it was his closing comment which had made her smile.
"And anyway 'Mione, it's Harry."
Because that had been Ron's mantra since they met on the train on the first day of school. Yes I'm marching towards certain death but it's for Harry so its really ok. And for both of them it was.
Smiling she pushed the doubts to the back of her mind and picked up her pen, resolving to observe Harry and Blaise before letting her doubts flood back. After all, while Harry was important she couldn't neglect her NEWTs.
***
Blaise Zabini was having a blast and he wasn't about to stop any time soon. 'After all', he mused, 'how often do you get to out-Malfoy Malfoy.' And added to this was the highly edifying fact that he was visibly getting to Draco.
"So Blaise," Draco drawled, "what are your intentions towards the local hero?"
It was an innocent enough question but Blaise read as much into it as ever Harry could have done. "Whatever do you mean Draco? My 'intentions' should be quite evident." He couldn't help smirking inwardly at this for the exact nature of his relationship with Harry was driving half the school crazy. On a side note it was also scuppering the book on Harry and Draco to the disappointment of the Weasley twins
"And I am a Hufflepuff."
"What is it to you anyway."
"Well I think I am entitled to be told if my best friend is planning on playing nice with the Gryffindors. Or did you think I would leave you to brave the lion's den alone?"
"Oh Draco, that's so sweet," Blaise mock swooned, "but maybe I'm not playing nice, maybe I'm planning on stringing the golden boy along for my own ends. Using him, loving and leaving and other things Slytherin. And what would you do then?"
He had said it in a teasing tone but he did not miss the flicker of anger that escaped his friend's walls, nor the hard voice with which he replied "ah then in that case I would feel obliged to warn our hero. Can not let the reputation of Slytherin be tarnished after we fought so hard for it now can we?"
"You would do that?"
Draco studiously did not answer, staring at his friend in silence. 'Damn it,' Blaise thought angrily, 'so close to … something.' Finally he broke the silence.
"Well as my intentions as you so delicately put it are purely honourable does that mean you'll enter the lion's den with me tomorrow."
Draco recognised a challenge when he saw one, and anyway he liked the Gryffindor common room. "Yes" he replied raising his chin slightly in determination.
***
Thursday 17th October
By now the Gryffindors were used to seeing Blaise Zabini in their common room as he was there most nights. However what they were not expecting was to find Draco Malfoy in their common room. As Dean muttered to Seamus it was indeed ice skates in hell time.
Draco's appearance caused far more disquiet amongst the males than the females however. Much as they had welcomed Blaise's good looks as an added extra in their common room, so they welcomed Draco for the same admittedly shallow reason. Both boys were good looking. Both stood at six foot, surely an impressive feat for people living in the dungeons, both were well toned from Quidditch. Blaise's colouring was dark to Draco's light, his brown hair and eyes contrasting the blonde hair and grey eyes of his friend. As such the female contingent in Gryffindor was quite happy to welcome them into the common room. After all, from a purely aesthetic point of view, they completed the colour scheme blending in with the black hair of Harry Potter and the red hair of Ron Weasley.
Anyway, when Draco entered the Gryffindor common room silence fell. In a very non-subtle way. Undaunted however Draco simply looked around drawling, "carry on, please. Really, despite what you may have heard I do not command silence upon entry." Having said his piece he sat down on a sofa near the fire, suppressing any prior memories that the sofa conjured up.
Harry thoughts went along a similar vein when Draco chose the sofa he did but a nudge from Blaise bought him back and they join Draco.
"So, you braved the lion's den then Draco."
"You thought I wouldn't?"
"Never again will I doubt the impudence of an impudent man," Harry paraphrased, smiling.
"Indeed."
"So Mal-Draco," Ron joined in after a subtle nudge and less subtle elbow in the chest from Hermione, "Blaise says you play chess. Fancy a game."
His gaze flicking to Harry's face, remembering his promise Draco acquiesced and they embarked on the first game in what would be a mammoth competition.
Harry, who had decided to make it his personal mission to teach Blaise all the muggle games he knew, whipped out Backgammon and called to Seamus "hey Seam, come partner Blaise, Hermione's busy cheering for Ron."
Looking round and finding no assistance Seamus soon found himself teaching Blaise to play backgammon while Harry divided his attention between their game and the game of chess behind him.
After winning three in a row, and upon hearing a cry of anguish as Draco finally conceded to Ron, Harry decided to change the dynamics slightly.
"I think its time to bring out the big guns, to play a game I know will appeal to the Slytherin's amongst us and no," he saw Hermione about to interrupt "before you say anything we do not need to do homework on a Friday night 'Mione."
"Oh getting tough Harry, I'm impressed," Blaise teased.
"You were saying Harry," Seamus frowned.
"Hermione get out," he paused for drama and received heckles from the crowd, "Risk."
"What?"
"You're finally going to get the chance to conquer the world Draco."
"Now that I like," the blonde smiled and plonked himself on the sofa beside Harry as Hermione began setting up the game.
"Harry how's this going to work?" Hermione queried, knowing full well that only four of them had any idea how to play.
"Teams 'Mione dear, teams. You and Ron, me and Draco,"
"Draco and I," he interrupted, smirking.
"Draco and I, Blaise and Seamus, Dean and Parvati and," he looked round, "Jess, you and Lavender want in?"
"We're good thanks," came the collective reply from the girls clustered around the neighbouring sofa.
And the game began.
END CHAPTER THREEMalfoy Snogger: will Draco make a scene in front of everyone? Well that would be telling but can't help thinking that maybe Draco is too refined for that (well he thinks he is :-) and maybe he'll be looking into revenge. Or kissing Harry silly. Either works for him. And Snape … ooh hadn't thought about including him much. Must ponder that thought some.
Menecarkawan: will be looking inside Draco's head soonish but as he's not too sure what's going on in there I don't really like to pry. And now I'm talking about them like they are real and here talking to me. Oh dear!
Mak: thanks, I'm so flattered :-)
NayNymic: don't worry they won't suffer too much. And anyway what makes you think they'll be suffering? Well Harry might be but maybe Draco'll get something out of this. You never know. And don't worry no HP/BZ smoochies (and I can't believe I used that word!) They won't be crossing too many lines. Have a feeling Harry doesn't want to be 'outed' until he has Draco with him. Maybe just enough hinting to get people (Draco/Seamus) jealous! And if you're serious think'll totally take you up on your offer of assistance. Oh, and don't apologise for long reviews – they're great :-)
Quasy: thank you SO much. Totally forgotten to describe Blaise. I'm so dumb. But will blame JK for having a descriptionless character in her books (then again she didn't even assign a gender so what did I expect?!) Hope this is corrected now. Basically think young Rupert Graves (a la A Room With a View and Maurice) and you pretty much have Blaise. Basically yummy!
Xikum: thank you for the praise. Personally I see it as Blaise not interfering for two main reasons. Firstly, as he says himself, he does not want Harry so he is not pursuing him and secondly they won't be going out as such, just spending lots of time together and making sure people get the wrong idea.
AzureLuna: my best friend? How nice, they're always a good bonus to fanfiction so or I've heard. Guess I'll have to keep writing then!
SlytherinEvenstar: good question! I suspect it will depend on how long it take for jealousy to set in. And I think Draco likes it up in the clouds so who knows.
Alura: Thank you (blushes lots). And yeay for identifying the people. Must confess main reason for using them (apart from laziness) was to see if anyone else read Anne of Green Gables or if it was just me! Nice to know its not!
Also thanks to Akemi, Angie, Phayze, Dark Comet, Aqualily, Nilboriel, Saya, icklechuck, JoKeR, sparkler, Julie and Miseryslilwench.
PS just so people are clear, no one gets to kiss Harry but Draco, and maybe Hermione and Ginny as long as they're being platonic. Apart from anything else, Harry sees himself as taken, he's just kinda waiting for confirmation.
PS2 hope you noted that from the second chapter I spelt Zabini right! Somehow it got stuck in my head as BlaiZe ZaMbini – don't know how that happened. So hope that make people feel better – know I hate it when even the smallest details are wrong in fanfic and I'm guessing you're the same.
PS3 is Draco's eye colour specified anywhere? Can't find any reference so went with grey. If you know for sure otherwise please tell me (book reference too cus I wanna know!) Hope the discussion on looks wasn't too ham handed but it needed to be done.
PS4 thought I'd better clarify about the names from chapter two because they're not mine (don't want to get yelled at for leaving out any more disclaimers). So here goes: Anne Shirley and Giles Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery (love that book), Laura Farlie and Walter Hartwright from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (also love), Bella Wilfur and John Harman from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens (once again) and Beth Bennett and Will De Arcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (do I really need to clarify?)
Awaiting your reviews because I love both the ego boost and the excuse (reason!) to stop revision.
Feel free to ask any questions, point out any mistakes, etc.
Bye for now,
Louise