Warnings: possible male/male intimacy, possible swearing
Disclaimer: JKR owns these toys. I'm just playing with them.
A/N: Thank you to all who have story/author alerted or gave favorites, and reviewed this story! I continue to be amazed at the support this story is getting. Thanks again!
Italics = thoughts
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Chapter 4
Harry woke up late the next morning. He turned over, prepared to sleep through the rest of breakfast if he had to, for a little more sleep. He had slept better and deeper than he had in a long time and didn't want to get out of bed. But it was the first day of lessons and he figured he should probably eat something. His instincts were telling him he had Potions first thing that day and he needed all the energy he could get for that lesson.
He rolled out of bed with reluctance and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. He put on one of his dark grey, long sleeved shirts and some black trousers before putting on his Hogwarts robes. He stopped by his bed to grab his bag and then started the trip to the Great Hall. He did not run into anyone on the way and if he had, he was too distracted to engage in any form of conversation. He was still thinking of what he discovered yesterday and he was looking forward to his friends interrogating him all about it. Hermione would probably be in the library before the day was out, dragging a reluctant Ron along. Harry chuckled at that thought as he imagined Ron complaining about being in the library on the first day of lessons. He entered the Great Hall a moment later and walked toward the Gryffindor table. As he got closer he noticed the table was quieter than normal for Gryffindor during mealtimes.
"Morning guys." Harry greeted as he sat down facing the other houses, Hermione to his right, and Ron sitting right in front of Hermione close to the ends of the table. He started piling food onto his plate and before he took a bite out of his bacon and sausage bap he asked, "How was your holidays?"
Those settled around him gave mumbled replies before distracting themselves in their food. Others further down avoided his gaze and those who didn't offered strained smiles and greetings.
"Guys?" Harry asked uneasily after he swallowed his food. He shot a questioning look around the table at his fellow Gryffindor housemates. Hermione wiped at her mouth with a napkin and cleared her throat before turning towards Harry.
"Good morning Harry. We have quite a bit to catch up on I think." Hermione said as she spied the clothing under his half –closed robes. She leaned in closer to him. "Sorry about the others. Everyone went to bed somewhat late. Now, where were you yesterday? We didn't see you at the carriages or the Welcoming Feast. You cannot skip the beginning of the school year like that. It sets a bad precedent for the rest of the year and I for one will not help you with your homework if you don't plan on starting the school year right."
Harry smiled at her fondly, glad that whatever that awkwardness was had passed. "Relax I have a good reason for that. I mostly remember the carriage ride, some dizziness and then waking up to Madame Pomfrey. It has to be some sort of record for earliest admittance to the hospital wing. I need to talk to you and Ron about why I was there in private."
He looked over at Ron who still hadn't said anything, busy stuffing his face. Hermione must have kicked Ron in the leg under the table because the next second there was a yelp from him and some flying food. Hermione gave him a pointed look when he glanced up. Ron shot a brief glance at Harry before he swallowed the rest of the food in his mouth and grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry mate. I was a bit preoccupied there. Felt like I was starving and you know me and food right?"
"Yeah," Harry said in a drawn out tone. He was getting that weird vibe again and he didn't know why he kept getting them, especially around his friends. He shook it off and continued, "Oh yeah, what went on this summer holiday? For some reason, Professor Dumbledore said I shouldn't contact you. It has only been a day, but I haven't heard of anything major happening. I haven't had a chance to read the Prophet or anything either."
Hermione opened her mouth then closed it. She opened her mouth again then looked up and saw Professor McGonagall headed their way. She seemed relieved that the professor interrupted them as she handed out their schedules. Professor McGonagall walked away after giving Harry a small nod and small. He set his schedule down without a glance, determined to eat a little more. All around him his housemates started to leave, some heading back up to the houses to receive missing school supplies and others deciding to head to their lessons early. Ron finished wolfing down some more food and then mumbled something before taking off as well. Harry stared after him, confused, before turning to look at Hermione who had just stood up as well. She lightly patted Harry's hand and gave him a weak smile.
"Don't worry Harry. Everyone is still tired and preoccupied with the upcoming school year. Give them time to adjust to the new term alright?" Hermione then turned around and hurried after Ron.
Harry sighed before picking up his schedule and taking a look. He groaned. He wasn't upset that he had Potions first, as he had guessed that. Harry groaned at the fact that it was double Potions with the Slytherins. He puts his elbow on the table and drops his face into his palm with a heavy sigh. Harry uses his other hand to get a few more bites in before he succumbs to playing with the remaining food on his plate. He stares around at the other emptying tables before looking back at Gryffindor. He spots Neville as he stands up and catches his eye. Neville gives him a smile and a wave before heading for the entrance doors. Harry tries to finish a little more on his plate before he grabs his bag and heads to Potions.
He arrives with some of the stranglers and takes a seat close to the back of the room, a few seats open around him. He noticed Ron and Hermione sitting up close to the front along with a good portion of other Gryffindor students. He supposed being semi-isolated was a good idea as he wanted to try his hardest to stay off Snape's radar so that he wouldn't fail too horrifically this year.
The chamber door clicked shut just as the last student made it to his seat and Snape strode through his office door. Snape took a slow look around at the students with a sneer on his face. His eyes flashed to Harry but otherwise made no move to insult him. The roll was pulled out and he started calling out names as he started the lesson. The potion master then waved his wand and put the potion instructions on the board. The potion, Shërim Lëkurë, was from the end of last year and only required one person to complete, lucky for him.
Harry flipped open the textbook belonging to the half-blood prince and then headed toward the ingredients closet to gather what he needed. On his way out someone bumped into him and a few of the jars in his arms hit the ground. Harry mumbled an apology before trying to maneuver to pick the jars up. A pale hand in his peripheral beat him to it, picking everything up. He looked up to see Draco Malfoy holding the ingredients.
"Come on Potter. I'll help you take these to your station." He didn't wait for a reply before turning around and heading to Harry's seat.
Harry was stunned, and hurried to follow, arriving as Draco turned to leave from his area. "Thanks Malfoy." He muttered.
"They're only potions ingredients Potter," Draco answered and quirked a slender eyebrow. He shook his head a little and Harry noticed how the light caught in his hair.
Kill the thought Harry; you've been doing well all this time. He tore his eyes away with difficulty, turning his attention to his textbook before he replied.
"For last night, thanks." Harry said with a nod. Draco stared at him for a brief moment before heading back for his ingredients. Harry glanced up, gazing after Draco before shaking his head. He thought he heard Draco say 'you're welcome.'
The next few hours went by smoothly as he worked on his potion with the modified instructions from his textbook. For once, with his concentration aimed toward the completion of his potion and no one close enough to mess with him, it looked like the potion would turn out well. He finished the potion early and just as he put the cap on a bottled sample, a loud bang echoed through the room. Harry turned around to see Neville whose potion had blown up. Snape looked ready to murder the Gryffindor, but before he could even say anything, a dark cloud emerged from the cauldron along with a smell quite like rotten eggs, wet dog, and oranges. Severus shouted at them to leave the room before he turned to clear the air of the smell.
Harry's head was pounding as he placed his completed potion on Snape's desk. He quickly finished cleaning up his station area before he grabbed his bag and followed the rest of the students out into the hallways. Harry fell behind as he stopped to make sure he had everything. As he started to walk again, he's steps became more unsteady. A few feet from the next corner his legs gave out. On the way down, his hand scraped on the wall from trying to catch himself and his knees throbbed from the hit they took on the cobble floor. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. It didn't seem to help at all. Harry remembered what Madame Pomfrey said about coming back if he didn't feel well and he pushed himself up off the ground. With the wall as support, he took a few more steps before everything suddenly went black.
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Draco gave a small wave to Professor Snape on his way out of the schoolroom. He had stayed behind to help with the cleanup from Longbottom's mess. He sighed as he turned around and stated to walk. He stopped almost immediately, for just at the end of the corridor lay a student. Draco rushed over to check the student and noticed that the boy, Potter, emitted a pulsing heat. He ignored it for now, checking to see if he was still breathing. Good, there's a pulse and he's not seriously injured, but he is a lot paler.
Draco stood back up and rushed back into the Potion's room. "Severus! Come quickly, I need your help. Potter's outside motionless on the floor!"
Severus pulled his emergency kit out of his robes as the two of them made their way to the fallen body. Snape also checked to see if he was breathing and for other injuries while Draco watched close by, a familiar emotion starting in the pit of his stomach.
"We'll head to the hospital wing. You come too, Draco. Depending on what Poppy says, I might need you there to help fetch me some other potions." Snape ordered.
Draco observed as Severus cast a levitation spell on Harry, elevating his head and turning him sideways so his feet and head adopted a bridal style pose. He caught a flash of something in Snape's dark eyes that was familiar to him yet foreign at the same time.
The walk to the wing was done in silence and they didn't run into anyone on the way. As the hospital doors came into view, Draco finally realised why the emotion in Severus' eyes was familiar yet alien to see. It was a look Draco had seen only directed at him: concern.
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A near silent groan escaped the sick boy as they neared the Hospital Wing. His eyelids fluttered half-open to look at the man walking above him. "P-professor?" He muttered, confused.
"Rest Potter. We're almost to the hospital wing." Snape said in an almost soothing voice. Harry blinked at him slowly and gave a small nod in acknowledgement before he dropped his head back and passed out again. Draco raised an eyebrow at Severus as he watched the interaction. Snape gave a small shake of his head at his godson. "Later, Draco."
They entered the hospital wing a few moments later and almost immediately were intercepted by Madame Pomfrey.
"Potion's lessons was about to end when that twat Longbottom destroyed the assignment we were working on. I don't know if it was Longbottom's potion, but I found Potter outside a little ways from the schoolroom on the ground. I went back for Professor Snape's help and we brought him here right away." Draco explained before Pomfrey could open her mouth.
The elderly woman clucked her tongue as she led the men further inside. "Place him on that bed over there. The poor dear, I told him he should stay and rest another day. What type of potion were they working on specifically?" she asked turning to Snape.
"Just a simple fifth year healing potion Shërim Lëkurë. It shouldn't have been too damaging, but knowing Longbottom he probably turned it into poison." Severus answered.
The matron shook her head before she shooed them away and started to work on Harry. Draco turned to face Severus, a question in his eyes.
"Is this later?" he asked in a soft voice, referring to Snape's earlier behavior.
"No, I will explain when we are in private. For now, I believe you have lunch to attend to, as do I. Meet me in my rooms after your lessons end." Severus said, and without another word, the Potion's master strode out the door, his robes billowing behind him.
Draco raised another eyebrow as he left. He spared one last look in Harry's direction before he followed the professor's orders and headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.
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Shërim Lëkurë: Irish for healing the skin, according to google translate.
Please let me know if you find any grammar mistakes. I reread and edited this like three times but who knows.
