Chapter 4: Harry Potter Adores the French!
"So… Any questions, Mr. Potter?" a rather stereotypical Englishman asked Harry from across a table while leaning forward in his chair.
"One has been plaguing my mind since you all started. What's the real reason for telling me all this? I know it isn't just to put things in prospective. You guys want something from me. It's the only reason people ever bother to explain… anything!" Harry said as the three in the room exchanged looks before a white-haired man sighed.
"You're right Harry. We do need something of you." the white-haired man said sadly as he looked down at the floor.
"What is it?" Harry asked as a tanned laid-back man took off his funny-looking straw hat, revealing his long and wavy brown hair even more while he laid the hat on the table. The young woman to the side, the one who had kissed him rather passionately earlier, was looking him dead in the eyes while the others didn't.
"We need you, Harry James Potter, to be our liaison for the Wizarding World and Soul Society. In essence, we need you to become the first Wizarding Soul Reaper."
And that did it, Harry jumped up in his bed like the world around him was on fire. His breathing was quick and erratic while his eyes darted all around for the four strangely dressed people. It wasn't until he couldn't find them did he calm down and take a deep breath. He finally gazed around and realized that he was in his bed at the Gryffindor dorm.
Had it all just been some crazy dream? Harry shook his head. No, he remembered the kiss from that woman too well for it to have been a dream. That and the magic sword the white-haired man, Jushiro Ukitake if he remembered correctly, had allowed him to hold. He could still feel it's power pulsing against his fingertips like the flow of the sea and the roll of thunder.
Harry looked around the dorm room for the Third Year boys. No one else was in the room, but Harry could hear voices down in the Common Room. He shrugged off the covers, seeing that he was still fully-clothed aside from his shoes, and got out of bed. Seeing that daylight was coming through the windows, Harry realized that he must have been placed in the dorm and slept through the night. After placing his shoes on he made his way downstairs.
And as soon as his feet touched the floor of the Common Room, everything went quiet. Hermione and Ron were exchanging looks as if they were debating on telling him something. Seamus and Dean looked to barely holding in laughter at some kind of inside joke. Neville still looked at him in apology for his slip of letting Malfoy hear that he had fainted while the twins were sending him amused looks, and Ginny seemed to be caught in a mixture of emotions. The others in the Common Room were either shocked he had appeared, or their normal wide-eyed whispering. Whether it was at his fainting spell with the Dementor, or at him just being Harry Potter he couldn't careless.
"Hey…" Harry said awkwardly, feeling slightly self-conscious with all eyes on him.
"Hey…" everyone in the room said back just as awkwardly. Harry sighed, knowing that it was going to be very weird for a while. He shook his head, and before anyone had the presence of mind to stop him, walked out the portrait hole that led to the dorm.
He had initially planned to go into the Great Hall for an early breakfast, but decided against it. It would only be a larger version of the Common Room incident, and he didn't feel like dealing with any of it.
He also thought about going up to the Seventh Floor and talk to the Soul Reapers for the day (since it was Sunday), but he wasn't sure if the door to their area would still be there or not. Plus he didn't want to have to come up with an answer to their liaison-thing just yet.
There was also the fact that he didn't think he could look at that Lisa woman without his face being red and thinking about the kissing they had done.
So, with almost nowhere to go, he decided to simply wander the castle until he was lost and needed help… which he doubted he'd be able to do (the getting lost part) and ask for (the help part)…
"…and bend your knees in tight, but it's the pelvic-thrust that really drives 'em insane! Let's do the Time Wrap again!" Harry sang to himself quietly as he wandered the castle. He wasn't even sure where he was in it anymore, only that he was somewhere in the dungeons.
"I'm telling you, he's back! And he's down here somewhere!" Harry heard, his head jerking upward to gaze down the way where the excitedly giddy voice was coming from. He had almost thought it was Malfoy, but it sounded even more girl-like than Malfoy's voice usually was.
Harry decided he didn't care who it was, because he was in the dungeons. That meant that nearly all of the people down in the dungeons were Slytherins and Harry didn't want to fight anyone; not even a Slytherin. He quickly ducked behind a giant stone serpent as he heard rapid footstep approaching his way.
"Draco, listen to yourself! Harry Potter down here in our dungeons? Not even he's brave or stupid enough to be down here for no good reason! Now come back into the dorm and drink your potion before somebody sees you!" another girl's voice, this one he recognized as Pansy Parkinson, said insistently as Harry listened to the first set of footsteps never wavering from their stride.
"I don't want that stupid potion! I want my man! He's down here, I know it!" the first girl snapped back at Pansy as Harry's eyes widened. That girl, whose voice was somewhat musical… was Draco Malfoy, the spoil arrogant brat of the Malfoy family? Then it really hit Harry like a ton of bricks. Malfoy was a girl and in love with him?
"Draco, even if he is down here, it doesn't matter! You can't just jump his bones, he has to want you!" another voice… Zabini, Blaise Zabini… if Harry remembered right…
"Ever since Draco hit puberty he's… she's been so moody and lustful for Potter. Just let her go after him. I'm sure she'll come crying back to us once Potter rejects her." those words made Harry a bit angry at their laid back tone as Harry recognized the voice of Theodore Nott. Harry knew he wouldn't just outright reject… well, anybody! Besides, if Malfoy was a girl and… in love with him, then he'd give him… Umm… her a fair shake… as long as she had some kind of an explanation for the past two years of utter jackass-ness.
"Shut up, Theo! Harry would never reject me! And I am not moody nor lustful!" Draco's voice snapped back as a cool chuckle was heard further back.
Harry was having a mental war with himself as he could choose between finding out what the deal was with Malfoy loving him and being a girl disguised as a boy for perhaps the past two years or staying hidden and dealing with it at another time. Finally, when the footsteps were nearing the corner and serpent he was hiding behind, Harry made his choice. He decided that since he had wanted a distraction from the awkwardness of the school and the events of last night anyway, he'd use the awkwardness of Malfoy being a girl and in love with him as a distraction.
Harry took a deep breath, readying himself for anything that might happen before he stepped out from behind the serpent. He pretended to be walking toward from the corner the group of four were coming around. He jammed his hands in his pants pockets, trying to look at ease, cool, and calm as possible.
However, nothing he did prepared him for the fact that Malfoy had skidded to a stop at the corner, and with a cry of his name, jumped on his back as if they were married and hadn't seen each in ages. Malfoy's friends came around the corner just in time to see him fall back with Malfoy atop him while snuggling into him and giggling like a school girl… which Harry supposed Malfoy was.
"Malfoy? What in the name of Merlin?" Harry said, playing the part of surprised easily because he truly was. He didn't expect the… daughter of the calm and cool Lucius Malfoy to flying-hug (or glomp as the term was) him like some Japanese cartoon from the television.
"Oh, Harry! I was so worried about you! I c-couldn't sense you anywhere, and I thought something b-bad had happened! I went to sleep thinking that Sirius Black had gotten to you, and even your friends didn't know where you were!" Draco said, or more of sobbed into Harry chest as Harry mentally realized that he was now taller than Malfoy; girl form or not.
"I'm fine, Malfoy… now can you please let me stand up? I think I hurt my back." Harry said as he gently got Malfoy off of him. Harry got up from the cold dungeon floor, dusting himself off as Malfoy's friends moved to Malfoy while she too stood up. He looked at her, and saw that she was and had actually cried on him while he had been trapped in her death-grip of a hug.
"Draco, maybe we should go back to the dorm. We don't want Potter to see the potion gone wrong, right?" Pansy hissed into Malfoy's ear, but all that got her was a cold glare and a growl from Malfoy. Harry noticed that Blaise and Theo had their hands inside their robes really to pull out their wands at a moment's notice, though Theo looked like he didn't care at all what happened. He also realized that Pansy had made-up a potion going wrong to cover-up the fact that Malfoy was a girl and in front of him.
"I'm not going anywhere! That was the first time I couldn't sense him, and I've been worried sick. I want to talk to him!" Malfoy yelled as Blaise turned to her, though not completely as that would leave Harry out of his sight.
"Draco, maybe him seeing you now isn't the best time. You can see Potter, later. After we sort out this whole potion-thing." Blaise said firmly as Malfoy actually surprised even Harry by baring teeth at her friend.
"I will see, talk, and even kiss him right now. I don't care about that stupid potion. I need him right now." Draco said as Harry blushed at the mention of kissing, unconsciously remembering Lisa's tongue on his tongue.
"I say let her do what she wants. If she gets hurt it'll only help her to see that I'm right." Theo said with a shrug.
"Umm… do I get any say in this? Ya know, since it's apparently me Malfoy wants?" Harry asked as they all turned to him, giving him a look.
"No… No, you don't, Potter." Pansy sneered out at Harry as Malfoy glared at her.
"Don't talk to him that way." Draco said as she glared at Pansy. Pansy finally sighed and rolled her eyes before throwing her hands up in defeat.
"Fine! Get hurt and humiliated! I don't care! …hormonal bint…" Pansy said as she stepped away from Malfoy, looking tired. It was only then Harry noticed that all of them were still in sleeping wears. Malfoy and the other boys in silk pajamas while Pansy wore a long sleeping gown.
"Harry…" a soft voice said as Harry blinked, coming back to reality as he realized he had been debating sleeping wear in his mind. Harry looked to see Blaise had given up too as Malfoy had calmed down enough to gingerly call for him, though she still looked like she wanted to do nothing more than jump his bones and bear his children.
Weird…
"Yes, Malfoy?" Harry asked coolly, but he felt a little guilty when Malfoy looked away from him with a sadden and hurt expression.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that…" Draco said as Harry sighed.
"Sorry, but it's not like you've truly given me a reason to be friendly with you in the time we've known each other." Harry said, trying to keep his voice as cool as it was.
"I'm sorry… I was just trying to impress you… You were always so difficult though…" Draco said, more to herself than Harry, who raised a brow.
"Difficult? All you had to do was act like a civil person and you would have had my friendship." Harry said with a shake of his head and a sigh.
"I'm sorry… I can be civil." Draco said, so submissively that Harry blinked in shock a few times.
"Mal… Draco, what's with you? I've been hear a lot of… strange things lately." Harry said, casting a glance at Malfoy's friends who looked too calculating for his tastes.
"What things…?" Draco asked quietly with her hands together in front of her dark green silk pajamas.
"I overheard a couple of Slytherins… and then you when you were coming down the corridor. What's this about being in love with me? For years now apparently? And following me?" Harry asked, trying not to seem too astonished by the thoughts as Malfoy winced.
"I was just trying to get closer to you. To be a part of your life other than the stupid way I keep messing up in front of you." Draco said, regaining some of her old-self as she grew more comfortable with her Veela-nature that had roused her from sleep.
"Well then you could have simply told me instead of stalking me. And you still haven't addressed the being in love with me part." Harry said as Malfoy fidgeted nervously in her spot cutely. And then he was a just a little scared of himself as he thought of Malfoy as cute, but reminded himself that it was a girl Malfoy who had apparently been in love with him.
"It started from the first time I was around you. Madam Malkin's Robes Shop. Yeah, I knew it was you, but I didn't want to seem like a fan-boy… umm… girl. My parents told me that you being raised by muggles was a lie cooked up by Dumbledore to hide you with some wizard family in London. I tried to make it seem like you were any other person, but when I saw the confusion on your face-"
"Wait, how did you see me? You didn't even look my way." Harry interrupted as Malfoy shrugged.
"I have excellent peripheral vision. It comes with being quarter-Veela." Draco said as Harry supposed it was true since Hagrid told him being mixed with magical creatures enhanced the senses greatly, "Anyways, I made it seem like I didn't know who you were at all, and after I realized all the stupid things I said to you I locked myself in my room until it was time to go to Hogwarts."
"The train…" Harry groaned out before he could stop himself. Blaise looked amused at him while Pansy looked murderous. Theo smirked a little as Malfoy shot them all a look.
"Yes, the train. I had tried so hard to be nice. I had rehearsed what I was going to say and everything. I even practiced it twenty times in front of these three before I left my compartment." Draco said, looking off as if he were reliving the memories before her face darkened and she scowled, "And then Weasley just had to go and laugh at me. Before I knew I had insulted him… and you were looking at me like I had killed your pet. I was so mad that… Ron Weasley had blown my big chance to make a great real first impression on you and win your love that I started being… well, what most people see of me when I'm angry. Then Weasley's rat attacked us and it went all downhill from there. I went back to my compartment, cried, ranted in anger, and then cried again." Draco said with a shrug, but Harry could see that the careless shrug was faked and stiff.
"Then came the morning before our first flight lesson. I promised myself I wouldn't do anything to screw-up the chance to at least get you to tolerate me-"
"But I do tolerate you… Draco. Just in small portions." Harry joked, trying to make the mood lighter. It worked as Malfoy's friends were chuckling and Malfoy had cracked a smile and blushed.
"So, I came up from the dungeons, ready and raring to show you the better side of me. I was going to storm up to you and kiss you." Draco said as Harry's cheeks heated up. Harry had to admit the idea of kissing was fast becoming one of his favorite activities and obsessions, "But these three talked me out of it by the time we got to the doors, so I settled for opening my mail. My parents had sent me some particularly good sweets that morning, so I decided to treat myself and break my diet since I had actually worked up the confidence to approach you after my few last blunders like the shop, the train, and Snape's class…"
"The… thing Neville got from his Gram and the flying lesson." Harry said, his arms crossed as he raised a brow coolly. Before Draco could say anything, Harry raised a hand to quiet her and anything she might say, "Listen, I understand. You were raised to be just what you are; a spoiled, arrogant, egoistical brat that knows nothing of a hard day's work or the pains of poverty. I get it."
Draco's hopefully face fell as her eyes watered. There went her only chance at him… and all because of who she was…
"However, I believe I'm the better… person here, and so I'm willing to give you a second chance and a fair shake. I mean, you've been rotten to me and my friends, but you haven't done anything really nasty to us besides trying to get us in trouble. I mean, you're no Voldemort." Harry said with a shrug, but had to roll his eyes when all four Slytherins flinched back at the name, "Oh Merlin… Listen, just promise me you'll try and be civil with my friends, and then we can see where this… thing can go." Harry finished as Draco's grey eyes lit up like lightning through a stormy night.
"I promise!" Draco said quickly as Harry shook his head in amusement.
Harry stepped forward, catching Mal-… Draco off-guard. He wrapped his arms around her waist, noticing and realizing that Draco's frame wasn't much different from when she had been masquerading as a boy. He pulled Draco in close while Draco looked up at him, though not by much as Harry was only a nose taller. Draco's eyes were talking a mile a minute to Harry's soul. Draco wanted him, really wanted him! To love him, be there for him, stay with him, and to kiss him now more than anything.
Harry quickly glanced over to Draco's friends. Pansy looked to have begrudgingly accepted Harry's acceptance of Draco. Blaise was giving a rather animated thumbs-up, and Theo was giving them bored glances while inspecting his nails. Though Harry noted the small smile on the Nott boy's face.
Harry pulled Draco into him completely, pressing their bodies together with a gentle squeeze as he licked his lips. He hadn't been conscious for the start of his first kiss, so he wasn't quite sure how to begin. Draco seemed to sense this as she gingerly placed her hands on his face and looked him right in the eyes. Then, as if they were actors in a movie and had been doing it for years, they slowly leaned into one another.
It wasn't as fierce as his first kiss with Lisa Yadomaru had been. It was soft and calm, but it still had passion to it all the same. It was slow, just his lips on Draco's lips as they moved their heads around each other awkwardly as they tried to deepen the kiss. Harry then, almost like a fire had been lit deep within him, placed both his hands on Draco's hips and pulled her into him like they were still miles apart. Draco gasped lightly into his mouth as Harry and she started kissing far more fiercely. Draco moaned into his mouth as Harry took control of the kiss, Draco submitting completely. Draco's hands went from the sides of his face to wrapped around his neck in a perfectly girly way.
Harry was barely paying attention to the world around him. He faintly heard a wolf-whistle, a gaps of shock, a bored sigh, and someone storming up to the two of them like they were on fire. Then, just as he was about to see if tonguing Draco was as good as it had been with Lisa, Harry heard a loud proclamation and the two of them were pulled apart like a brick wall had slammed in-between them.
Harry looked around wildly, his face heated and his breathing erratic as he pulled out his wand. Then he saw who had separated them. It had been Pansy and she was blushing to her dark roots as her wand was held in front of her. She must have done a spell or something to stop them, but Harry didn't really care as he straighten his clothes. Had Draco been feeling him up. Harry gazed across the way and saw Draco was re-buttoning her own dark green silk pajama-shirt.
When had he been feeling her up…?
"That is quite enough of a show, thank you. You two are 13 years-old! You don't need to start shagging each other in the middle of the corridor. You just now decided to explore a relationship; not relations!" Pansy said, in a very Hermione-like tone of rapprochement and maturity, though the anger and embarrassment in her voice was still notable.
Merlin, it was only then that Harry realized how much he hated that tone of Hermione's condescending…
"Sorry… I didn't even… I'm sorry, Malfoy…" Harry said, trying to get his breathing back under control as Draco looked very flushed where Pansy was straightening her hair. Long… Harry liked, even though he only knew so subconsciously…
"When we're like this, call me Draco, and… it's okay. I can't really complain about it since it was so… Wow…" Draco said as she took a deep breath and looked at her friends, "Umm… Harry…?"
"Yes, Draco?" Harry asked after a breather.
"I can't stay like this while at school. I mean… well… umm… You know…" Draco said, trying very hard to say something while Harry looked at her with a raised brow. Then it dawned to him, and he nodded quickly.
"Oh, yeah, I completely understand… I think. People think you're a boy, and if you suddenly started walking around as a girl and on my arm… Well, more than a few people would be asking questions." Harry said as Draco nodded, smiling sweetly at for some reason, but then a sad look crossed her face as she looked away.
"Yeah… You probably wouldn't want anything to do with me while I'm… well, while I'm in that state. I'd understand if you-"
"Don't be silly!" Harry said way faster than he was thinking, "I don't care what your gender is. If you're willing to be civil, then I'd be more than happy-"
Harry didn't even get to finish his reassurances to the female Draco as she rushed him and consumed him in a bone-crushing that only girls could give while squealing like a boy band had just entered Hogwarts… Now that Harry thought about-
"Oh Harry, you're so wonderful! I love you so much! You're the best!" Draco said faster than even Hermione could talk before rushing over to Pansy, who looked just as giddy and excited for reasons Harry didn't understand at all, to share another girlish squeal. The two girls rushed off toward the Slytherin dorm after a fast-paced conversation that never finished complete sentences, leaving three dumbfound boys who looked at each other in utter bewilderment.
"… The hell…?" Blaise said as Theo blinked twice. Harry was just plain gaping at the sped the two had rushed off at. Theo and Blaise sighed as they walked over to Harry a patted his shoulder.
"Welcome to the family. Draco's our little Drakie and she's like a sister to us." Blaise said in a sweet tone, but the look of complete sugar made Harry think twice about his regards to Draco for some reason.
"Yeah, she may be a spoiled brat, but she's ours." Theo said as he clapped Harry on his other shoulder, opposite of Blaise while Harry got the feeling they were trying to intimidate him.
"So that means, if you break our little Draco's heart…" Blaise said, his mirthful eyes cold as winter as he glared into Harry, who was not feeling the frost at all. Harry looked over to Theo to see the Nott giving him a fierce look.
"Then we'll break you." Theo finished with a strong squeeze to Harry's shoulder. Harry raised a brow as he glanced between both boys.
"Right… I'll be sure to keep that in mind…" Harry said as Blaise gave him another thumbs-up with a way too cheerful look while Theo smiled slightly. Then, without warning, both dashed away from him and off to the Slytherin dorms where Harry got the feeling they'd be talking about him for hours.
Seeing that he was standing there alone in snake territory again, Harry simply decided to go to another part of the castle and try some more of his luck. He wondered if any other girls would be willing to kiss him? You know, to become better at it.
Yeah… that was definitely the reason…
"Enter." the strong and stern voice of the Head-Captain said as Chojiro Sasakibe opened the doors to the ancient Soul Reaper's office.
"Sir, I have come back with a mission update for the first day." Sasakibe said as he knelt at the door.
"Rise up, Chojiro and speak your report.. What news do you have?" Yamamoto asked, stopping his writings as he gave Sasakibe his full attention. After all, it wasn't everyday that they could be calling war down on themselves by practically kidnapping the Savoir of the Wizarding World.
"Sir, we have made contact with the target… or rather, he made contact with us." Sasakibe said as he walked in front of his Captain's desk. To his credit, Yamamoto's heavily narrowed eyes opened enough for Sasakibe to see the wine-colored irises showing the Head-Captain's surprise.
"How did he make first contact with you all? You were supposed to be well-hidden. That was what Minister Fudge said." Yamamoto practically growled as he pushed his paperwork aside to lay his arms out on the table.
"The target just so happened to stumble upon us, Head-Captain. Him being able to see when it was reported before that he couldn't surprised even Captain Shihoin." Sasakibe said as Yamamoto sighed.
"How is this possible?" Yamamoto asked himself as Sasakibe stepped closer to the desk.
"Sir, we've had the Vice President of Research and Development, Mayuri Kurotsuchi look into the matter." Sasakibe said as the Head-Captain raised a brow.
"And the results?"
"Non-conclusive, sir. He says that it's because of the limited amount of equipment they were allowed to bring and the fact that they'd need to invent entirely new equipment-"
"Please spare me young Kurotsuchi's cries for more money in the Twelfth's budget. I will be placing more money into the Department of Research's budget regardless, but perhaps this assignment will get the entire Soul Society a greater budget." Yamamoto said thoughtfully, plans forming on how he was going to blackmail Central 46 into increasing their spending budget and working conditions.
Heh, heh… Who needed unions when you were the only thing keeping 46 old bats from being killed by Hollows?
"Right then. We managed to send off the samples we got from the target while he was unconscious to Captain Urahara. The man speculates that it had something to do with the Dementor attack the boy suffered from while on the train ride to the school."
"Hmm… I will have to speak with that Minister Fudge about all this. Sending tamed Hollows in to protect a school full of children is not only dangerous, but could be deadly as well…"
"Right again, sir. Also, Mayuri was able to get one thing from the boy's samples; a spiritual read-out." Sasakibe said as he reached inside his robes and pulled out a fresh stack of papers. He handed it to the Head-Captain as the man read over the paper carefully. He was silent for a few minutes, placing the paper down as he steeped his hands together and laced his fingers.
"… Is what I have just read true?" Yamamoto asked carefully as Sasakibe's only answer was a nod. Yamamoto sighed, leaning back in his chair as he gave Sasakibe a firm look.
"Proceed as I have instructed before in the case of this… information. Relay the same to Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake. I shall send two others in a week's time to relief Captain Kyoraku and Lieutenant Yadomaru of their stations. That is all." Yamamoto said as Sasakibe bowed.
"Sir, before I leave, who shall be relieving Captain Kyoraku and Lieutenant Yadomaru… if I may ask?" Sasakibe said as Yamamoto glanced at him while he went back to work.
"You shall see… That is all."
Harry pulled away from the rather strange blonde girl he had just kissed. The entire kiss had been different from the others. Kissing Draco made him fill like he was in complete control, as did kissing Susan from Hufflepuff. Kissing Daphne from Slytherin felt like he was doing battle for dominance, but in the end she too submitted to just letting him kiss her. But this girl… Luna Lovegood was her name. She was… Wow… Harry had never tried drugs before, but kissing her made him dizzy and see things that weren't there. Like those grumpy-looking creatures that were floating over the two of them.
"They're called Nargles." Luna said dreamily as she too looked up at them.
"They look mad." Harry said as he stared at them, seeing them grow more transparent with every few passing seconds. He guessed the high he was on wasn't a very big one.
"They are, but I think it's only because you kissed me sooner than you were supposed to." Luna replied, not at all troubled by the fact that he had essentially walked up to her, asked if she had a boyfriend, and when she responded no; kissed her.
"When was I supposed to do it then? I didn't mean to upset them." Harry asked, glancing from the creatures which were disappearing from his sight to Luna, who was smiling at nothing in particular.
"Around your Fifth Year or Seventh. Nargles hate when things don't go as they foresee." Luna said as she looked at Harry, and he got the feeling she was gazing deeply into his soul.
"Oh… Can I still keep kissing you though? It's wonderful." Harry said honestly as Luna smiled at him, but shook her head teasingly.
"I don't think Draco would appreciate that so early in your relationship, especially since I wouldn't be the only one you'd want to kiss besides Draco." Luna said airily, though the teasing undertone was still there.
"You know…? You knew?" Harry said as he stepped back from her.
"Oh yes, of course I did. I wouldn't let a stranger kiss me if I didn't know them, Harry. I also know about Susan, Daphne, and the fact that you'll kiss Hermione and then my friend Ginny next." Luna said as she moved pass Harry, who was too shocked to speak. Was she some kind of Seer? She must have been because he didn't remember telling her his name, "I'm not a Seer, Harry, you told me your name after you asked me if I had a boyfriend. Draco is angry with you. I'll go and talk to her… or him as Draco is now. If he slaps you for seemingly no reason, then don't be alarmed."
She could read minds, too! Oh, now he definitely wanted to get to know her! Harry watched as Luna picked up her books from the spot they had originally been before he had her up against the corridor wall where he was still leaning. She straightened her top and adjusted her skirt as she sent Harry one last smile before walking off, a deliberate sway in her hips as he was sure she knew he was watching.
Harry didn't truly care about the consequences at the moment. He had only just discovered the wonderful world of kissing, and the beautiful appreciation of lips. If Draco slapped him or anything else, Harry would give Draco the best kiss of Draco's 13 year-old life to reassure her of his wanting her. Harry felt so good, he'd even kiss Ron if his friend would let him, but he doubted Ron would. Though he was sure Hermione needed a good snogging to stop being the mini-McGonagall she was.
Harry practically danced all the way back to the Gryffindor dorm. Getting through the portrait, he hummed a tune as he entered, and everyone turned to him the same way they did when he had first awoken. Now though, Harry's mind was so clouded with sensation, he didn't care what they did as he nearly skipped over to his friends, who were staring at him weirdly.
"Hello, friends!" Harry bellowed out joyously as his friends exchanged looks with one another. He had been gone nearly five whole hours and this was the first time they had found him… or rather, he found them.
"Hey Harry… you seem… well." Neville said as Harry smiled brightly and nodded.
"And I feel well, Neville. I can now say that I have a newfound appreciation for the French. I'd even go so far as to say I adore the snail-munching Frenchies! I adore the French, Neville!" Harry said far too chipper for their liking.
"Harry… are you okay…?" Hermione asked as Harry looked at her with a glint in his eye that made her feel… uncomfortable… She shifted her legs some as Harry smiled at her.
"I'm better than okay, Hermione. I'm grand, spectacular, never better! In fact…" Harry said, and before anyone knew it, he pulled Hermione out of her seat by her hand, spun her around and into him before the two locked lips like none of the Gryffindors had ever seen.
Ron stood there gaping and wide-eyed like a fish out of water while Ginny wasn't much better. Both Weasley kids were blending with their hair as Neville fainted. Seamus and Dean were hooting and cheering, wolf-whistling and all with the twins while Lavender and some of the Gryffindor girls were squealing like Draco and Pansy had while talking in a foreign language; girl talk.
While all of that was going on, Harry and Hermione didn't care. Harry was exploring the wonders of Hermione's dry, yet still soft lips. When Harry pulled away from her, Hermione looked like she had gotten lost somewhere up on Cloud Nine and still needed help getting back down to Earth. Harry moved away from her as he walked up to Ginny.
The surprising part was the only female Weasley sibling blinked once, and before Harry knew it, she had jumped atop him and wrapped her legs around his waist. He was only thankful for the chair that had been behind him as Ginny crushed her lips against his. This kiss wasn't like the others. This one wasn't controlled by him because he was still in shock over her jumping him, so it was crude, messy, and rough with their lips simply rubbing against each others. Harry quickly got over his shock though as he wrapped his arms around Ginny's waist and pulled her against him while he took control. It would only be years later that he'd realize his lust for control in intimacy stemmed from feeling no control within his own life and the way he lived it. Ginny soon melted like an ice pop in his hands, though this time Harry didn't hear many of the vague cheers. He heard Seamus and Dean, but not the twins.
Harry broke apart from Ginny, who was nipping at his neck… which he had to admit felt kind of good, only to see that Ron had joined Neville on the floor for a nap. Seamus and Dean looked at him as if he were their muggle God or magical Merlin, and the twins… well, they seemed to be caught in a twist between cheering him on, horror and anger that he was snogging their baby sister so thoroughly, and pride that he was the one who was doing it instead of some other bloke. Finally, they sighed with defeated shrugs as they began making wolf-whistles at him again. Harry glanced over to see Hermione was still misted over and had sat down on the chair that had been behind her.
"Ginny… can you stop that?" Harry asked as Ginny looked at him before sighing.
"Yeah, but why the sudden snogging every girl?" Ginny asked as she stayed straddling him.
"Not every girl, just the ones I was interested in. Ya know, the ones I see around school and think "Hey she's pretty, but she'd never go for a guy like me", and all that. I got half of them, but the others have boyfriends." Harry said with a shrug as Seamus, Dean, and the twins came near him. He vaguely realized he was sitting near the fire.
"Oh, and what about little lady Malfoy, Harrykins?" Fred asked as he and George exchanged amused looks.
"I've talked to Draco this morning, and… he's willing to at least be civil with you guys. Plus, he tastes like a good cup of tea." Harry said with a pleasant sigh before he felt Ginny grind her bottom into his lower regions.
"I'm here, Harry, and Malfoy is way down in the dungeons. Pay attention to me while I'm atop you, would ya?" Ginny said as Harry smiled apologetically.
"Speaking of that…" George began as he and Fred exchanged twin looks.
"Would you get off of him like that! What would Mum say!" both twins roared as Ginny squeaked in surprise and bolted off of Harry, sitting down next to Dean who looked far too amused.
"Umm… Hermione!" Harry called as Hermione turned to them with the same airy look Luna seemed to have.
"…Huh…?" Hermione answered back as though she was lost in her own mind. Harry got up, afraid he had actually broken her.
"You okay?" Harry asked as Hermione nodded dreamily.
"Yeah…" Hermione replied as Harry frowned. He grabbed her hand and kissed it as he pulled her up out of her seat and shook her lightly.
"You with us, Hermione? I'll burn your books if you're not." Harry said as he effect was quicker than he expected. Hermione slapped his arms away and shook her head free of the fog it had been in.
"Simply because you k-kissed me does not give you the right to burn my property or that of the school's, Harry Potter." Hermione said sharply, but only Harry's brow rose as he saw the way her cheeks colored red at the mention of their kiss.
"Don't worry, Hermione, I think this is only a temporary thing." Harry said as Hermione and Ginny both looked a little saddened, "But if you'd like to continue anything, then you could talk to Draco. You too, Ginny."
"Malfoy? Wait, did you just call him Draco? And why would I need to talk to him? What happened while you were gone, Harry? Did you find out about Malfoy being a Veela? Is that why you-"
Hermione didn't get to finish rapidly firing questions at him as he silenced her with his lips and mouth. She didn't respond back at first due to shock and surprise, but she quickly melted into it as she placed her hands around his neck and one of her legs went up. Almost as soon as it started, Harry pulled away from a breathless Hermione and glanced over to an amused audience of five.
"You talk too much, and way too fast." Harry said honestly as Hermione blushed in embarrassment while she gaped at him.
"I've tried to stop the habit…" Hermione muttered quietly as Harry ran a hand through her brushy hair.
"Maybe, but I suppose I did catch you a bit off-guard with that one. Now stay calm for me, all of you, but I and Draco are going to try and explore a relationship together. Draco's even promised to be civil with you."
Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth and stepped back from him as she took several deep breaths. It was all just too much for her to take in one day. Before anyone could do anything though, she went limp and collapsed in the chair behind her. Harry rolled his eyes while Fred and George inspected her.
"She's down for the count…" the two twins said with shrugs as Harry sighed loudly.
"What is with them and over reacting to things?" Harry said as he gestured between Hermione and Ron. The others shrugged as Harry turned on heel, finally noticing that everyone else had cleared out of the Common Room. He could only wonder where they had gone, and how badly Draco would hurt him for cheating not even an hour after they had planned their courtship.
"I'm hungry. What time is it?" Harry asked as he glanced back at the twins, Seamus, Dean, and Ginny.
"It's around evening now. You left in the late morning and wasn't back for lunch. We're still not sure how you even got into your bed last night when one of us had been up there all the time. One second you weren't there, and the next; you were." Dean said as he and the others followed after Harry and out of the dorms.
"I slipped in… unnoticed. Magic and all that." Harry said shortly and vaguely as his stride did not slow, not even sure how those supposed angels had gotten into the dorm let alone snuck him into his bed unnoticed by all. Harry quickly stopped that line of thought.
He didn't want to think about anything that involved the… Soul Reapers…
"Yeah, and we'd love to learn that trick." Fred said with a sneaky grin at George, who mirrored his brother's expression.
"So Harry, what are your classes?" Seamus asked as Harry stopped dead and tuned to them.
"What are you talking about? They're the same as every year." Harry said as the others shook their heads. George reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment. He handed the neatly folded paper to Harry, who opened it curiously.
"It's your schedule from the classes you picked over the summer. Remember?" Fred said as Harry glanced over the schedule. He vaguely remembered picking out and talking about classes with Ron, but not so much what they had picked.
"Yeah… Sure I do…" Harry said, not truly paying attention as he looked over the classes. It looked like all the normal stuff, but…
What the Hufflepuff was Divination…?
"Well see here. You have all the normal classes like Potions and Transfiguration, but now you have…" Seamus said, looking over the list of Harry's studies, "Divination and Care For Magical Creatures. So do we! We're all together again this year, mate!"
"That's great…" Harry muttered as he walked, still trying to figure out what Divination could be. It sounded kind of mystical, but he wasn't sure. Soon though he stopped thinking about it, resolved to find out when he got to the class, "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"Well, there's the Hogsmeade trips on the weekends." Ginny said, though her voice was quiet as she knew they'd all be able to go while she was stuck in the class.
"Blasted! I forgot to make my Uncle sign the bloody form!" Harry said as he clenched his fists. That whole thing had been gnawing at the back of his mind, but it was only know that he truly remembered it.
Harry saw that the others were looking at each other in uncertainly, probably thinking they could help him, but didn't know how. He decided he wouldn't let them do anything to get in trouble for his sake as he knew they would.
"Guys, while we're walking, can any of you tell me about… Dementors." Harry said as they all shared looks again.
"We don't know much about them. Just that they're… vile." Dean said with a visible shudder as he imagined the creature of their discussion.
"Yeah, but you're little lady nearly pissed… his panties in freight of them while on the train. Ran right into our compartment, didn't… he, George?" Fred said with an amused smile as George nodded.
"Yes he did, Fred." George said in a chipper tone.
"Thank you for proving me not a liar, Gred."
"You're certainly welcome, Forge."
"Enough. I need food." Harry said, trying to block out anything that wasn't food at that point. His mind was riddled with so many questions, concerns, and wild thoughts. Before he knew it, the name Riddle crossed his mind and he was thinking about how Voldemort planned to kill him off this year. Harry shook his head, walking a little faster to get to the Great Hall for an early dinner.
Harry was later glad he did, because as he went into the courtyard to clear his head, Draco came storming toward him in full fury. Harry was actually panicked for a second. His hormones now settled to a normal level and his mind not clouded with the thoughts of soft lips made him frightful of what Draco would do to him for a moment. However, he knew he deserved it. He and Draco had just come to an agreement of at least civil behavior and a possible relationship, but he had gone and probably hurt Draco greatly.
After all, he wasn't sure how he'd feel if he found out the person he had been in love with for years was out kissing others when the person had kissed only just kissed him an hour earlier, and told him they could have a relationship.
Harry stood up from the tree he was resting under, his troubled mind even more troubled as Draco grew closer. The look of anger in Draco's eyes were far greater than what they had ever been, which made Harry realize just how much Draco had either been faking anger or had never truly been angry with him to this level.
Draco seemed to catch Harry's thought because the look intensified ten-fold, the normally grey eyes now a stormy cold like a blizzard. Draco reached Harry's spot, Harry's friends and other students looking on to see what would. Harry saw Draco's friends far behind Draco, each looking very angry in their own right. Harry would have opened his mouth to let Draco and his friends know they were in public, but he found his throat dry and a lump in it that wouldn't move.
Draco's hand was quick and precise. The moment Draco was in arm's length of Harry, his hand lashed out like a whip and struck Harry across his face so hard that Harry was nearly moved from his spot. The pain coursing through his face wasn't what worried Harry. It was the fact that another blow hadn't followed such a vicious first. Dudley certainly didn't stop at one when he beat him, so why had Draco when Harry would have simply stood there and taken them instead of running?
Harry turned his eyes to Draco for the answer, finding his neck a bit stiff from the power behind Draco's slap. He looked at Draco's face, and felt ten times guiltier than before. Harry hadn't seen it before when he was thinking, but Draco's eyes were puffy and red. Tears stained Draco's pale cheeks as he stood there trying to hold them back with no luck. Though Draco's expression didn't show it, Harry could almost plainly see the hurt in Draco's eyes. It tortured him to see such a think, in anyone.
Harry reached out, a shaking hand and gingerly touched Draco's tears while wiping them away with the back of his hand. Draco leaned into his touch, but looked so hurt and uncared for. Harry almost felt like crying himself, but he knew he couldn't. There were people watching them. So, Harry took Draco by the arm and dragged him away back into the castle. His friends and Draco's friends following as fast as they could while Draco cried silently beside him. Harry said nothing and let nothing show on his face as he searched for an empty classroom or somewhere they could be in private. All the picture frames were empty for some reason, but Harry didn't care as he finally found what he was searching for. He quickly ducked into the classroom, pulling Draco along with him as he did. He was sure that he friends had seen him go in as he heard one of them shout something while Pansy Parkinson raged.
As soon as they were at the front of the empty room, Harry hugged Draco to him, letting Draco cry on his shoulder as he stroked his hair. Draco cried like a girl, which made Harry believe all the more that Draco was just that; a girl. Draco's shoulder's shook and he sobbed while tears dampened Harry's robes. As Draco cried, Harry continued to whisper his apologies like a busted damn. He couldn't say it enough, he felt. At the time he thought it was nothing, but now… Now he only wished that done what he did before meeting with Draco in the morning. He didn't regret what he did, but he was sorry that it had hurt Draco so much.
"Get away from him, Potter! You bastard!" Pansy screeched shrilly as Harry didn't listen. It was obvious that if Pansy could, she would have broken them up on sight, but she hadn't. Harry didn't care about why she hadn't as he pulled Draco out to arm's length.
"Draco… I'm… I'm so sorry…" Harry said, at a lost for any other words as Draco gazed at him with such raw emotion, such pain, as if his entire world had been crushed beneath someone's shoe and spit upon.
"Why…?" Draco asked, his voice making Harry's eyes water as he thought about how much pain he brought to Draco.
"I didn't think… It was only supposed to be… I'm so sorry, Draco…" Harry said as he pulled Draco back in and hugged him, hoping to convey at least a fraction of his feelings to Draco.
"Why…?" Draco asked again as Harry pulled him back out from the hug.
"… I found that I… liked kissing, especially with you… I just didn't think about how you'd feel about my kissing others. I'm so sorry, Draco." Harry said, his throat still dry as his mouth was growing dry too.
"You're not sorry! You know he's part-Veela! You and your friends here want him dead! You want him to end his life in depression! You planned this all along!" Pansy shouted as Harry was so shocked by the outrageous claims that he actually took his eyes off of Draco to stare at Pansy in wide-eyed shock and horror.
Kill himself? Draco…kill himself? If Harry had that in his mind just last week he would have joked about it being a happy day, but now… Now he couldn't even joke about something like that after seeing how hurt and vulnerable Draco looked with the pain Harry had caused him.
"What…?" Harry gasped out as Pansy narrowed her already glaring eyes at him. Blaise was unreadable as he leaned against the closed door. Theo sat at the edge of one of the back desks watching Harry like a hawk raring to kill the prey it was seeing. Harry saw the three Slytherins exchange calculating looks before Pansy sighed loudly and shrugged off George and Fred while Blaise stepped around Seamus, and Theo got up from by Ginny and Dean.
"So you didn't know…?" Blaise said questioning, but not entirely almost in confusion.
"Know what? That Draco would… would…" Harry could feel the color drain from his face as an image flickered through his mind showing Draco's suicide, "No! Of course I didn't know! Why would I want that to happen? I never hated Draco that much!"
"So you truly just got hormonal for the day, huh?" Theo said with a raised brow as Harry raised a brow of his own, but his cheeks colored.
"What's hormonal?" Harry asked as everyone besides him and Draco fell out. Draco looked a little weak himself as he leaned into Harry for support.
"Harry, mate! You don't know about hormones?" Seamus asked, looking as if someone had slapped his God in the face. Dean and Fred had the same look while George just gaped at Harry with an eye twitching. Ginny looked to suppressing a glint in her eye as she subtly rubbed her hands together evilly like she panned to do something wicked.
"Potter, what do you know of where babies come from?" Pansy asked, her anger fading fast in the fact that Harry Potter hadn't been taught about the changes his body was going through like every other kid.
"Umm… the stork… Though I think that's a lie. But, you know with magic existing and all…" Harry mused as he let go of Draco to rub his chin in deep thought.
Was the stork a magical creature, even though his Aunt and Uncle said the stork was normal and still brought babies…?
"That was a lie, Harry! Oh Merlin's beard, man!" Fred wailed as he swooned in his spot before fainting, his twin catching him and fanning his face like those religious television shows his Aunt liked to watch on Sunday.
"Shunsui… what do you think his answer will be?" Jushiro Ukitake asked as Shunsui Kyoraku turned to him with his hat raised to see his oldest friend atop the second floor of their area.
"Huh? Oh, I'm not sure. Remember what happened the first time something like this happened?" Kyoraku said as Ukitake looked saddened, his hand trembling slightly on the banister of the second floor.
"Yes… I do… Well then, I'll just go back to bed. I've been feeling rather well around this place, but I don't think I'm quite well still." Ukitake said as Kyoraku nodded.
"Alright then, have a good night, Jushiro." Kyoraku said as he watched his best friend walk into the barracks upstairs.
Kyoraku looked over to the giant monitor that displayed data collected by the Department of Research and Development. Apparently, the way the wizards used their Spiritual Energy wasn't quite right, so it caused their electronic technology to short-circuit and break. Mayuri Kurotsuchi had initially been furious about it until Kisuke Urahara had sent the boy a message telling him it would be Kurotsuchi's project to work on: getting their electronics and technology to work, even with all the "magic" around. The boy had worked long into the night apparently, doing just that. In less than a full day, Kurotsuchi had recalibrated every device they needed to work inside of Hogwarts, and even created a machine that would do the recalibrating should he have missed anything. Kyoraku was certain that the boy would go far someday, that was, if he wasn't so creepy and obsessed with science only.
"Ahh, Captain Kyoraku, I see you gazing up at my marvel." Kyoraku expertly suppressed his cringe from hearing that oily voice of the Vice President of Research and Development. He had been a Captain for hundreds of years, so he had no trouble hiding his surprise when Kurotsuchi stepped next to him.
"Yes, it's quite the piece of work. I'm sure the Twelfith Division is quite proud to have you." Kyoraku said as he glanced at Mayuri, who looked like he always did; one of those kids who got into their parent's make-up.
"Yes, they are glad to have me. So, I hear you shall be leaving us soon." Kurotsuchi said as Kyoraku nodded.
"Yes. As you know, the time difference between hear and Soul Society is quite unusual in that it one month in Soul Society could become an entire year here in this Unplottable pocket dimension that Hogwarts is in. Luckily, Captain Urahara was able to manipulate the Dangai to allow us to keep a steady time current in-between the worlds." Kyoraku said as Kurotsuchi nodded.
"Yes, that was quite a long process for him I heard. Took him most of the night from what has reached my ears." Kurotsuchi said as Kyoraku nodded. Saying that Kisuke could normally solve a problem in under thirty minutes was an understatement. The guy could normally solve it with only a once-over look at your problem and then be back to his own problems in less than five minutes. So saying that a time-space distortion problem took him most of the night… ugh… Kyoraku didn't even want to think about what it could entail. He already had headaches and migraines from drinking, he didn't need them from thinking of all the equations, and physics that went into solving the problem of their time.
"Oh and yes, when will that young boy be coming back? I'd like to try analyzing his spiritual energy again with my newest method." Kurotsuchi said as Kyoraku shrugged.
"He'll be back… eventually. Having seen all of this and spoken to us, he'll be curious as to what else there is. So it could be days, weeks, or even months, but he'll be back before he has to leave." Kyoraku said as Kurotsuchi nodded.
"Fantastic! I just want to get the results before my Captain does." Kurotsuchi said as he walked off to his jumbo-sized computer. Kyoraku only shook his head while wondering who would be sent to replace him.
Harry quickly learned that day that the magical baby-bringing stork was not real, and that babies came from a far more far-fetched true. He also learned that when his… "solider" stood at attention and his want to kiss every girl he fancied all stemmed from the wondrous thing called hormones. Harry didn't know quite what to make of some of the facts and things the others had told him, but what he did while sitting and listening to them was stroke Draco's slicked back as Draco laid his head in his lap. They even told him about Veela, and he gave Draco's hand a gentle squeeze afterward to show he understood now.
When they were done telling him things, everyone a little red-faced, but none more than Harry, he got up and gently brought Draco to his feet. Harry took both of Draco's hands in his own as he gazed deeply into Draco's eyes. He wondered how his first two years of Hogwarts would have been if Draco was half as quiet and civil as he was being right now, though Harry could tell it was his somber mood that made him so lacking in his sharp tongue and wit.
"Draco… I can't even begin to express how sorry I am that I've hurt you…" Harry said honestly, feeling anguish over how he had hurt Draco.
"It's… okay, Harry. You didn't understand, and…" Draco said, though he still looked like he wanted to cry.
Harry didn't know what to do, so he went with the best option. He took a deep breath and then hugged Draco close to him. Draco gasped in shock, so Harry took that chance to kiss Draco fully. The others must have been surprised that he'd actually kiss Draco while Draco was in a male-form, but Harry didn't care at that moment. All he could think of was how soft Draco's lips were. He ran his hands down Draco's back while Draco moaned into his mouth under his touch.
He licked at Draco's lips, asking for entrance as Draco gladly gave it. His and Draco's tongues clashed in a fiery battle as their hands free roamed the other's body passionately. Harry wasn't even aware that his hands had gone under and up inside Draco's shirt as he focused on Draco's tongue on his own. He faintly noticed that Draco's mouth tasted of chocolate and mint, but he found the taste to wonderful to care about.
Though it was when he heard a zipper being undone did Harry feel him and Draco being separated by an invisible brick wall again. Pansy was standing there alongside Ginny, both with their wands out and red-faced like never before. Harry felt a chill on his legs, and looked down only to see his pants halfway down his legs, stopping just short of the end of his boxers. He quickly hiked them up and redid them while Draco was pulling his shirt down, which showed flushed skin like Draco had a full body blush going.
That was when Harry noticed it. The small mounds of flesh that Draco was pushing his shirt over. The way Draco's face seemed to hold a more girl-like grace to it. The long eyelashes and the way Draco's hair had seemed longer than before.
Had Draco…?
"Dammit, Draco! You're transforming because of your lust." Pansy said as she, Blaise, and Theo rushed over to Draco's side.
Draco didn't seem to hear them as he… or more of she only had eyes for Harry's zipper, though Harry got the feeling it was for what was under the zipper that truly mattered to Draco… that and what was shielded by Harry's boxers and the rest of his clothes.
Merlin, did Harry adore the French…
"Drink this." Theo said as he uncorked a potion from his robes. Harry wondered what it was because Draco seemed to think it was poison the way she was glaring at it.
"What is that?" Harry asked as he walked over to the Slytherins. Theo glanced at him while Blaise had taken out his wand and turned to Draco. Pansy was holding Draco's arms tightly while Draco moved her head to any and every opposite way of the potion they were trying to get her to drink.
"It's a potion that helps Draco keep her… nature in check." Theo said while looking Harry square in the eye, "Always come prepared." Theo said as Harry got the feeling that Theo knew all of this would happen.
"Oh would someone just stun Draco so we could feed him the stupid thing." Pansy said as a red streak zoomed over to Draco quickly, hitting her square in the chest while everyone went wide-eyed. They all turned back to Dean and Seamus, the two having stood together and both with their wands out. Even Harry wasn't sure which one fired the stunner, but the way Seamus was avoiding eye contact while Dean was whistling made him suspect it was-
"What?" they both asked as everyone gave them a look.
"It was Malfoy. Boy or not, in love with Harry or not, Malfoy was still a foul git to us." Seamus said as Dean nodded. Everyone decided they would never know which one had fired the stunner, but Harry resigned to hitting both of them later on sometime.
Draco being stunned made force-feeding her the potion much easier. Harry was amazed when the long blonde hair seemed to recede into Draco's head. When Draco's jaw-line became more defined, but not by much. When Draco's long lashes seemed to cut themselves shorter. And when Draco's chest seemed to deflate like a balloon with a hole in it. Before long, Draco was back to… himself? Harry was getting a little put off by having to refer to gender with Draco, so he decided that whatever form Draco was in, that was the gender Harry would refer to.
"Ugh… Bloody bastards stunned me…" Draco said groggily as he rose from the floor and held his aching head.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked softly as Draco scowled at him.
"Of course I am. The potion helps quiet my Veela-nature and keeps it under control for me. It's only when we…" Draco blushed despite himself as he glanced away from Harry, "do things or I have extreme emotional distress does it ever fail."
"I'm glad you're okay, and I'm sor-"
"If you say your sorry one more time, I promise you; you'll regret it. It's over and done with, so we'll just move on." Draco said curtly as Harry chuckled. He didn't even know why, but hearing Draco be… well, Malfoy, made him feel lighter about the whole situation.
"Sure, Draco." Harry said as he grabbed Draco by the waist and pulled him in close. Draco tried to protest and get away, but Harry realized that he was still a few inches taller than Draco and he was obviously stronger than the pampered spoiled brat.
"Stop it, Potter. Just because I'm in love with you does not mean you can have your way with me however you'd like." Draco said as he pushed against Harry's chest. Harry only laughed at Draco's half-hearted attempts to get away.
"Yeah, yeah. Just know that from now on…" Harry said getting close to Draco's ear as he whispered in it, "You are mine."
Draco's face went flushing pink while he shuddered pleasantly, that was if the muttered moan Harry heard was any indication.
"Potter, you prat." Draco muttered as Harry held Draco at arm's length with a teasing smile.
"And what happened to calling me Harry, Draco." Harry asked teasingly as Draco swatted him, but he barely felt it. Harry never knew Draco was so physically weak compared to him. If he had ever got a good punch to Draco's face, the pale rich boy would be out for the count.
"Shut up, Potter. I'll call you whatever I feel like calling you, Harry. Now let me go, Scarhead." Draco said as Harry shook his head with a chuckle. Draco was always so prideful and unyielding. Harry had to admit he liked it, but Harry also had to admit that making Draco submit to him in moments of kissing was fun too.
"Sure thing, Malfoy. I'll let you go, Draco. Now get to your dungeon, my little Snake Princess." Harry said as he let Draco go, spun Draco around, and then slapped Draco's bottom to get him moving. Draco squeaked in surprise as he turned around and glared at Harry, though the blush on Draco's cheeks wasn't at all intimidating.
Draco was sputtering out nonsense and curses as Pansy and Blaise rolled their eyes. They each grabbed an arm and started dragging Draco away while Theo looked thoroughly bored with the whole scene.
"See ya later, Potter." Theo said as he followed after his friends.
"This isn't over, Potter! I'll get you! No one slaps my bum and gets away with it! No one!" Harry and his friends heard Draco yell from the hall as they all walked out of the abandoned classroom.
It didn't take them long at all to reach their dorm tower. Harry had gone straight to the showers, put on his night cloths and gone to sleep when he realized it was far later than he thought. Harry lay in his bed, eyes closed as his mind tried it's hardest not to think of the angels or "Soul Reapers" and what they had asked of him.
Did he even want the job of being a… liaison, was it? That meant that he'd probably be some kind of connector between the living and the dead. Did he want that? Maybe he'd be able to see his parents just once-
No, that was what his mind feared most. That he'd be able to see them, hear them, hug them and then have it all ripped away from him. He'd have gladly given all the gold Galleons in his vault for five minutes with his parents, but did he really want to have an opportunity like that only for it to be ripped away or denied? No, his heart wouldn't be able to bear it. Plus, would his parents even be there in the… Soul Society, that was what they called Heaven. Would they be there, in the Soul Society? In one of the 320 districts of… Rukon? Yeah, it was Rukon! Would his parents be together there in Rukon? Would he only be able to see one of them? What if they weren't there? What if he couldn't even find them if this "Head-Captain" person gave him permission to search for them?
Harry's mind was riddled with questions and he felt his heart grow heavier with each one. He couldn't stop them from plaguing his mind in his sleep as he tossed and turned restlessly. Thoughts of his parents, their lives in Soul Society, and whether or not he'd be able to see them.
Harry really did adore the French, but even they couldn't stop him from hoping against all hope, and worrying for all his worries.
