Smells Like Teen Spirit

It was 6:55, and Harry was making his way to the Room of Requirement. He had many thoughts going through his mind. The Patronus work shouldn't be that hard, but he wasn't looking forward to the Occlumency work. At all. The training he had to endure with Snape was enough to put him off Occlumency for life, thank you very much! He did try to do it on his own, last year, but having Voldemort in his head was what they needed when they were searching for the Horcruxes, so he gave up. Now, the thought of having Draco in his head, no matter what feelings he had for Draco now, was daunting. There were some things that weren't meant to be seen by others, and Draco was going to have access to the lot. And what with Draco rejecting him right now, who was to say that he wouldn't use what he found as blackmail and go back to hating Harry again? But it was too late to turn back now. The door to the Room was just in front of him, all he had to do now was go in and face his fears. He took a deep breathe, closed his eyes for a moment, and then stepped inside.

xxxDHDHxxx

Draco knew it was early, but he wanted to be the first one there, so, at 6:30, he made his way to the Room. He wanted to be there first, to have the upper hand, to have the Room how he wanted it, not how Harry wanted it. He appeared outside the Room in a quicker time than he expected. He stole himself for a minute, remembering the last times he had used this Room. Last time, it was the Room of Hidden Things, and he was fixing a cupboard. Last time he used this Room, he let Death Eaters into the school. Last time he was in this Room, Harry had saved him from the Fiendfyre after he had watched Vince get killed. This Room held too many memories, but it was where they had agreed to practice, so he had to enter. He emptied his mind, closed his eyes, and thought of the place he needed. We need a place to practice Defence, without being caught. We need a place to practice Defence without being caught. We need a place to practice Defence without being caught. After pacing three times in front of the wall, he opened his eyes and was met with a solid oak door with a gold handle. Grasping the handle tightly, he took a deep breath and stepped inside. The room was big, but not empty and cold. The walls were white, with lit torches lining the walls. In the centre of the back wall was a huge fireplace, flames licking at the sides, making the room warm. In one corner was a pile of cushions, to sit on and to practice with. One of the walls was lined with books with all sorts of titles. Nothing by Gilderoy Lockhart thankfully, Draco noticed, but all by credited witches and wizards: Anna Saxony, the famous Auror, Brian McDermott, inventor of Incarcerous, and a name Draco found interesting, Rick Elliott. I wonder if he is anything to do with Professor Elliott? Draco thought. He decided to ask her about it one day. On the other side of the room, sitting as bold as brass, was a, what was it the muggles called it, a CD player, controlled by magic. Draco flicked his wand towards the player and sat down, listening to the light thumping of the music (the Weird Sisters). Another flick of his wand, this time a silent Temperus, told Draco it was 6:45. Another 15 minutes before he would have to start practising.

He was looking forward to getting into Harry's head, to see what deep dark secrets he held (and to see if the feelings Harry claimed he had for Draco were real, but he refused to mention that), but he wasn't looking forward to practising the Patronus charm. Unbeknown to Harry, Draco had tried to practice the charm many times over the summers past, especially after 4th year, so that he could be prepared when The Dark Lord rose again. Oh yes, Draco knew Voldemort would come to say at his home, most certainly. And he knew he would have to join them. It was all his father talked about when he was at home that summer. So Draco started practising all the Defence spells possible, to protect himself. The only he couldn't master was Expecto Patronum, and that frustrated him. He wanted to master it before he was forced to take the Mark, so that he was like Severus; a Death Eater who could produce a Patronus charm. But he never managed it, not fully. All he managed to obtain was a non-corporeal whisper of light. And after he was branded, not even that. Right now, he was scared. Scared about what form his Patronus would take, if it even produced one at all. He was scared about it being something wimpy, like a fly, something he hated, like a ferret, of something that scared him, like a snake (he might be a Slytherin, but that bloody great snake Voldemort owned was scary, all right?). Most of all, he was scared that his Patronus would betray him. Betray his true feelings. He knew that the forms changed if you had been, how was it that Granger put it, 'emotionally effected'. Draco loved Harry, but he couldn't let the Gryffindor know, and the fact that his Patronus might turn out to be a stag, or worse a doe, would betray and embarrass him. But he couldn't focus too much on that now. The door was opening, and Harry was stepping through.

xxxDHDHxxx

The first thing Harry noticed was the music, of course. Weird Sisters, nice, he thought. The second thing Harry noticed was Draco, sitting on a cushion next to the fire, smirking, and looking absolutely radiant.

"Didn't think you would come." Draco drawled, still smirking.

"Why's that?" Harry asked, trying to calm the fluttering in his stomach and chest.

"Because I get to be in your head, and find out all your deep, dark secrets."

"Yeah, and I get to gloat that I'm better at you in one subject. And command you about when casting your Patronus."

"Is that so? We'll see about that then, Potter. Patronuses first." He stood up and strode into the middle of the room, turning the music and lighting down, so the main light was coming from the fire.

"Is it necessary to have the room so dark?" Harry asked, confused.

"Why, you scared?" Draco sneered.

"No. But what is the need?"

"Because, Harry, Patronuses are silver shapes, almost translucent. The best way to see them is in the dark. I thought you knew that? I'll turn the lights back up when we're done."

"Alright fine. One thing first though. Kreacher!" Harry called the elf, which appeared in the Room.

"Master Harry called Kreacher Sir?"

"Yes. Could you please fetch me three big bars of chocolate?"

"Of course Master Harry." He disappeared with a pop, only to return seconds later with the chocolate.

"Thank you Kreacher. That will be all." Harry granted him his leave.

"Of course Master Harry. Kreacher is proud to serve the defeater of the Dark Lord, and the heir to the most Noble and Ancient Houses of Potter and Black." Kreacher said, with a hint of sarcasm in his gravelly voice.

Harry smirked. "Get out of here!" Kreacher once again disappeared, leaving Harry and Draco alone.

"What's with the chocolate?" Draco asked, a gleam in his eye.

"Calm down, chocaholic. It's for when your energy levels start to drop. The Patronus charm can be quite draining, and the best thing for it is chocolate. Remus taught me that." Harry placed the chocolate on the bookcase, before standing in front of Draco. "Right, let's get started. First of all, think of the happiest and strongest memory you own. The one thing the repels a Dementor and a Lethifold the most is happiness, so once you have that memory, bring it to the front of your mind. Block out all other memories and just keep this one. Once you've done that, try and cast the charm."

Draco closed his eyes for a second or two, a little crease forming in between his eyebrows to show his concentration, before raising his wand and speaking the enchantment. "Expecto Patronum." Nothing. Not even a whisper. He sighed before trying again: "Expecto Patronum!" Again, nothing. He sagged in defeat.

"Don't give up," Harry encouraged, "Just keep trying. I didn't expect you to do it first time, nobody can. Not unless you are a really powerful witch or wizard."

Draco gave a snarky comment back. "Unless you're you, you mean."

Harry shook his head and sighed. "That's not what I meant and you know it. Now try again."

"Expecto Patronum." Draco tried again. Again, nothing. "Eurgh, it's no use!" he raged.

"Draco calm down. Getting worked up like this isn't going to help. Just rest for five, alright? Here, have some chocolate." Harry reached for the chocolate before sitting down next to Draco, who had perched himself on a sofa that had appeared out of nowhere in front of the fire. After Draco took the chocolate, Harry asked tentatively, "Maybe the memory isn't powerful enough?"

"It is." Draco snapped.

"Do you mind me asking what it is then?"

"Yes, I do mind. All I'm going to tell you is that it's personal." The truth was, Draco was somewhat ashamed of his memory, even if it was the most happiest he had. It was of his tenth birthday. His father had been away for some time regarding some sort of business transaction, and Draco's mother had gone with him, leaving Draco alone, with only the house-elves for company. Yes, Draco had had Dobby, but none of his friends were allowed round because his parents weren't there, and he was terribly lonely, missing them more than he ever had. They had been gone for four months now, and Draco was starting to think they had forgotten him. Then, on the morning of his birthday, he had gone downstairs for breakfast to find his mother and father waiting for him in the kitchen. It was the best birthday present he had ever had (and that was saying something). He saw them, and ran up to them, giving them both the best hug he could have. Tears of joy were running down his face. But he had made a mistake. He had let his mask down. His father had told him to always keep it up, even in front of them, and he had failed. His father berated him for it, of course he did. There was less anger in his voice however, whether that was because it was Draco's birthday or because it was the first time his father had seen him in four months, he did not know. But it still didn't take away the fact that Draco felt ashamed of himself for it. The happiest, and worst, day of his life. That was the memory he chose.

"Well you need to focus on it more then. I know it's hard, Draco, especially if the memory is really special, but you have to try." Harry tried to encourage him.

"I know, I know." Draco agreed, considerably calmer now he'd had some chocolate. "What is the memory you use, if you don't mind me asking?"

Harry sighed. He knew that question would come up at some point. "I'll tell you what I told Remus when he was teaching me. I'm not entirely sure whether it was real or whether it was just a dream. But either way, it's the happiest and strongest memory I have. Do you remember the rumours that the Mirror of Erised was in the school, back in first year?"

"Yeah. There were also rumours that it was one of the things guarding the Philosopher's Stone?"

"They're not just rumours. It's true. The Mirror was the last thing guarding it. Before it was guarding it however, it was sitting in the third floor corridor, abandoned. One night, I stumbled across it, and every night after that, until the Mirror was moved, I go and spend many hours there. Do you know what the mirror does?"

I'm not entirely sure on that one. Too many different theories to try and believe just the one."

"Well, across the top of the Mirror are some words. They read, 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'. Which when read backwards, reads, 'I show not your face, but your heart's desire'. It shows what we desire the most. When I looked in that Mirror, take a guess as to what I saw. Bear in mind I was eleven. I'd not long found out the truth of not just myself, but of my parents as well. What do you think I saw?"

Realisation dawned on Draco's face. "You saw your parents didn't you?"

Harry nodded. "Every night after that, I went back, and I sat for hours just staring into that Mirror. We just sat and talked. Then Dumbledore had it moved to protect the Stone. When I saw the Mirror again, I didn't see them, just the Stone in my hand. That's my memory. Talking to them."

Draco nodded. "I'm sorry about what happened to them by the way. I've never said it before, but now feels like the right time to do so."

"Thank you. Anyway, we should continue. Want to try the Patronus again?" Harry asked, standing up.

Draco stood up also, smirking. "Nope. Now is the time to get in your head. I suggest you sit back down though. There is every chance you might fall over, whereas I, the expert that I am, can keep my balance just fine."

Harry sighed in defeat. "Alright fine. But I must tell you, the last time I tried this, I was absolutely shit at it."

"That's because you had Severus teaching you, and at the time, you two hated each other. Now you have me. So sit." Draco ordered.

"Yes Sir." Harry said sarcastically, though he did as he was told.

xxxDHDHxxx

Draco watched as Harry sat down. He was looking forward to this. "Now then, I'm going to enter your mind using Legillemens first without any teaching or advice to see how you fair first. Then, I can base what I teach you I what I see now. Agreed? Good. You know what, I might sit down actually." At the utterance of the last word, a plush leather armchair appeared behind Draco and he gracefully sat down. "Now then, Harry. You ready?"

Harry took a moment to compose himself before answering. "Ready."

"Good. Be prepared…" Draco slowly entered Harry's mind, immediately being hit with an onslaught of memories. Their kiss the other week; Harry watching as the light left Voldemort's eyes for good; Ron storming out of a tent in the middle of nowhere; Harry watching as Dumbledore fell to his death in the Astronomy tower… Draco pulled out. He stared at Harry incredulously. "You saw what happened that night?" he asked, referring to the last memory.

Harry nodded. "Yes. I was hiding under the Invisibility Cloak next to the stairs. Dumbledore had frozen me under there just before you turned up."

"So you saw everything?"

"Yes. I saw you disarm him. I saw them arrive, Bellatrix and Greyback. I saw Snape kill him. But most of all, I saw you lower your wand. You didn't want to do any of that did you?" Harry asked softly.

"No. No I didn't. What sane person would? No, I had no choice. I had to fill the place of my father and had to do the task as a punishment to him. If I failed, he would see me tortured and killed. If I succeeded, he would have seen the struggle and pain and suffering I would have to endure. That was what Voldemort's punishment was to my father. For him to watch me suffer. They had to hold me down so that I could be branded. Voldemort was so close to knocking me unconscious and branding me while I slept. And I couldn't say no to what he asked of me after that. I was so scared shitless of him that I just had to do as he said. But trust me, I didn't want any of it."

"I know. I could see it in your eyes. Not only when I confronted you in the bathroom, but when we were brought to the Manor earlier this year. When you saw me, when you looked me in the eye and realised it was me, I could see you pleading with me. Begging me to help you. And you didn't resist when I took your wand from you. I always knew you didn't want any of it. That all you were doing was putting up a brave face."

Draco nodded. "Of course you did. Anyway, that was a pretty abysmal attempt at trying to keep me out Harry."

Harry laughed. "I told you I was shit at it."

"Yes, well, it seems you weren't over-exaggerating. Now then, I want you listen and I want you to listen good. When trying to block someone out, try and imagine something strong and substantial. Like a brick wall, or a Protego shield. If that doesn't work, try imagining pushing it away, like the sea and the waves. If that doesn't work, try imagining you're outrunning it, whether being on a train or on a broom. Three different things to try there. Resistance, fighting back, or just running away. Those are the three ways of shielding your mind. Try and think of one of them, and tell me when you're ready, so we can try again."

Harry paused for a moment, thinking. Then, a slow smile appeared on his face and he nodded, indicating his was ready. Draco wasted no time in penetrating his mind. Harry watching Sirius fall through some sort of veil, before chasing after Bellatrix, realising it was her who killed him; Harry staring in shock at his hand as the words 'I must not tell lies' were etched into his hand by the quill he was writing with; watching as Pettigrew murdered Cedric Diggory, being told to 'kill the spare' by his master…Again, Draco pulled out, this time, panting a little. "Concentrate Harry, concentrate. Again." Realising in shock that he was to compete in the Triwizard Tournament; confronting Sirius Black only to find out that Black was his godfather; killing Tom Riddle by stabbing his diary with a basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets; speaking Parsletongue at duelling club, to the horror of his school mates; getting the Stone out of the Mirror; discovering he was a wizard… "Harry, concentrate!"

"What do you think I'm doing?" Harry snapped back. "This isn't easy."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'll admit, all I've seen so far is stuff I already knew. I was expecting to be deep within your personal memories by now. That's a good start, a very good start. Though I must ask, was that a blood quill Umbridge was using on you?"

"Yeah. Her idea of detention. Lines, but just with a hint of brutality and torture."

"I had no idea…"

"What would you have done if you did, eh Draco? You couldn't have done anything. So don't get feeling sorry for yourself."

"I guess so. Did Voldemort really tell Pettigrew to 'kill the spare'?"

"Yes. Cedric was insignificant to his plan and could have tried to stop him, so he ordered he be killed, rather than just letting him go. He even had the cheek, after he gained his body, to touch Cedric and claim it was 'such a shame' because he was such a 'handsome boy'."

Draco shook his head in disgust. "I hate that bastard."

"How do you think I feel about him? Now come on, again."

"You sure?"

"Yes, come on."

"Fine." Again, Draco entered Harry's mind. Harry sharing his final kiss with Ginny as they broke up; sharing his first kiss with Ginny as they got together in sixth year; kissing Cho as she cried over Cedric… Draco pulled back, smirking. "Never had much luck with the ladies have you Harry?"

"Why do you think that is then? Apart from the fact I was trying to survive every year, I wasn't, and never have been, interested in women. Only reason I dated them was because I felt I had to. I didn't know the social standing of gays in the Wizarding World at that point."

"Say what you will, I won't let you live it down and you know it. Again." Harry seeing his parents in the Mirror of Erised for the first time…Draco felt a bit of resistance so pulled out. "Good. Your defences are working."

Harry shook his head. "That's personal."

"Not to me, and not to anyone who wants information. For now, during training, you better get used to the fact that I can see everything in your head. Just be glad it's me you're partnered with this year and not someone else."

"Oh yeah, because that me feel loads better."

"Why, what do you think I'm going to do, blackmail you with what I see? Don't be so stupid Harry. What I see will stay a secret, I promise you." Draco said most sincerely. "Again?"

Harry nodded, and Draco wasted no time delving into the Gryffindor's mind again. Harry being locked into a cupboard under the stairs for setting a snake free in the local zoo; Harry, sitting alone in the same cupboard a couple of months before, starving after being denied food for three days; being ordered to make breakfast, and then being told off for burning himself; Harry staring at himself in the bathroom mirror, counting the fresh bruises and trying to work out how to hide them from the people at school…

"NO!" Harry shouted, forcing Draco out of his mind and nearly collapsing, panting heavily, eyes closed.

Draco was also panting, but no from over-exertion like Harry. He was in shock. "What the…what the fuck was that?"

Harry looked up at the other boy, green eyes meeting grey. "Which bit?"

"All of it."

"The first one was on my cousin's birthday. We'd gone to the zoo, and started speaking to a snake that was there. Dudley, that's my cousin's name, barged me out of the way, and the next thing I knew, the glass to the exhibit had gone, Dudley has fallen in, and the snake had escaped. Then the glass reappeared, trapping Dudley inside. My Uncle Vernon knew I had done it, even if I didn't know how at the time, so he locked me in my room, which at the time was the cupboard under the stairs."

"So you did really live in a cupboard under the stairs? I thought that was just another rumour?"

"No, it's true. My Hogwarts letter was addressed to Mr. H. Potter at the Cupboard Under the Stairs. The second memory was a regular occurrence. If I did something Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia felt was either not up to scratch of not what they asked, even if it was, they would lock in the cupboard for at least a week with no food, just water. Third memory, again, a regular occurrence. They treated me like a slave, making me do all the chores. Cooking, cleaning, ironing. When I reached eight, they started making me do more manual labour. That's where the last memory comes from. I remember, it was March 1989. Uncle Vernon had told me to paint the fence outside in the garden, after replacing all the panels. I did it, no problem, but I took too long apparently. Uncle Vernon gave me fifteen whippings with his belt. Not the only time either. I was either beaten, burnt, hit, or starved. Reason? I was a freak. My parents were drunks who died in a car crash. I was a freak because I was different, just like them. In truth, they were frightened of me. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia anyway. And she resented me. Said that I reminded her too much of mum. Bit like Snape."

"And you used to sit and take it? Why didn't you fight back?"

"Come on Draco, you know what I looked like when I started this place. Do you really think I would have had a chance if I did try and fight back? No."

"Did they not know who are?"

"They knew I was a wizard, that's all. And when they did find out, they couldn't give a toss anyway."

"They sound vile."

"They are. Dudley's apologised for everything now though, and we're getting on much better. My Aunt and Uncle though, I haven't seen them since last year. Met up with Dudley a couple in the holidays, explained everything to him, but we never spoke about them. Like I said, me and him are almost like friends now. All muggles aren't like them though. I can assure you."

"Oh I know. I know they're not. I've met a couple before. Long story," he dismissed before Harry could ask, "This Dudley sounds a bit like me. Misguided."

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that. That's one of the reasons I refused your hand in first year. Because you reminded me of him. Of a bully."

"Sorry." They lapsed into comfortable silence before Draco spoke again. "Come on, it's almost time for curfew. We need to get back before Filch catches us."

Both boys stood. They made their way to the common room, chatting about mindless trivia, mainly Quidditch. They weren't sure where they stood with each other right now, but one thing was for sure: during the course of the night, even if the conversations had been short, they had both gained a better understanding of each other.

A/N: A longer chapter than usual, hope you don't mind. I haven't forgotten about the other characters, don't worry. They shall be appearing in the next chapter.

Same as before…;)

xxxxx