Chapter 9
Secrets and Opals
Just as Hermione had predicted, the sixth years' free periods were not the hours of blissful relaxation Ron had anticipated, but times in which to attempt to keep up with the vast amount of homework they were being set. Not only were they studying as though they had exams every day, but the lessons themselves had become more demanding than ever before. Harry barely understood half of what Professor McGonagall said to them these days; even Hermione had had to ask her to repeat instructions once or twice. Incredibly, and to Hermione's increasing resentment, Harry's best subject had suddenly become Potions, thanks to the Half-Blood Prince, and Draco, who made sure that they do an hour of Potions every time they meet.
Nonverbal spells were now expected, not only in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but in Charms and Transfigurations too. Harry frequently looked over at his classmates in the common room or at mealtimes to see them purple in the face and straining as though they had overdosed on U-No-Poo; but he knew that they were really struggling to make spells work without saying incantations aloud.
A result of their busy workload was that Harry, Ron, and Hermione haven't visited Hagrid at all. He had stopped coming to meals at the staff table, an ominous sign, and on the few occasions when they had passed him in the corridors or out in the grounds, he had mysteriously failed to notice them or hear their greetings.
"We've got to go and explain," Hermione said, looking up at Hagrid's huge empty chair at the staff table the following Saturday.
"We've got Quidditch tryouts this morning!" Ron said. "And we're supposed to be practicing that Aguamenti Charm from Flitwick! Anyway, explain what? How are we going to tell him we hated his stupid subject?"
"We didn't hate it!" Hermione said.
"Speak for yourself, I haven't forgotten the skrewts," Ron said darkly. "And I'm telling you now, we've had a narrow escape. You didn't hear him going on about his gormless brother—we'd have been teaching Grawp how to tie his shoelaces if we'd stayed." Harry couldn't help but nod in agreement. Tending to that giant Grawp was…stressful for Harry, if now also annoying.
"I hate not talking to Hagrid," Hermione said looking upset.
"We'll go down after Quidditch," Harry said. "But trials might take all morning, the number of people who have applied." He felt slightly nervous at confronting the first hurdle of his Captaincy. "I dunno why the team's this popular all of a sudden."
"Oh, come on, Harry," Hermione said, suddenly impatient. "It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting and frankly, you've never been more fanciable. Everyone knows you've been telling the truth now, don't they? The whole Wizarding world has had to admit that you were right about Voldemort being back and that you really have fought him twice in the last two years and escaped both times. And now they're calling you the 'Chosen One'—well come on, can't you see why people are fascinated by you?"
Harry was finding the Great Hall very hot all of a sudden, even though the ceiling still looked cold and rainy.
"And you've been through all that persecution from the Ministry when they were trying to make out you were unstable and a liar. You can still see the marks on the back of your hand when that evil woman made you write with your own blood, but you stuck to your story anyway. …"
The postal owls came to save Harry from embarrassment, two owls dropping two large, square packages in front of Harry and Ron. "Ha," Harry said as he unwrapped the parcel, revealing a new copy of Advanced Potion-Making, fresh from Flourish and Blotts.
"Oh good," Hermione said, delighted. "Now you can give that graffitied copy back."
"As if," Harry said. "I'm keeping it!" He pulled the old copy of Advanced Potion-Making out of his bag and tapped the cover of his wand, muttering "Diffindo!" The cover fell off. He did the same thing with the brand-new book (Hermione looked scandalized). He then swapped the covers, tapped each, and said, "Raparo!"
There sat the Prince's copy, disguised as a new book, and there sat the fresh copy from Flourish and Blotts, looking thoroughly secondhand. "I'll give Slughorn back the new one, he can't complain, it cost me nine Galleons."
Hermione pressed her lips together, looking angry and disapproving, but was distracted by a third owl landing in front of her carrying that day's copy of the Daily Prophet. She unfolded it hastily and scanned the front page. "Why are you reading that?" Ron groaned, rolling his eyes.
"I'm looking to see if there are any reports of Voldemort," Hermione said a bit curtly, still annoyed at Harry.
If you are annoyed at me for that, how will you react when you find my book? Harry thought to himself. Hermione read the Daily Prophet while Ron ate breakfast. Harry's eyes began to wander and unconsciously fell onto Draco across the Hall who was sitting with Crabbe and Goyle. The two brutes were grunting to each other while Draco looked bored, making his fork hover over his plate. Harry watched the Slytherin with an intense interest, his mind going back to their kisses in his dreams, and Draco kissing his face, a blush rose to his cheeks as he continued to watch Draco. Ten minutes passed before Draco stopped playing with his fork, and he looked up at Harry. Their gazes instantly met and Draco smirked, nodding his head to the right, indicating that he wanted to talk with Harry.
"Err, be right back," Harry said getting up.
"Something the matter?" Hermione asked, looking up from the Prophet.
"No, just need to stretch my legs for a bit, I'll be back," Harry said standing up from the Gryffindor Table and walked down the row, getting glances from the Gryffindors. He exited the Great Hall and waited in the entrance hall for a couple of minutes till Draco walked out. He looked at Harry, saying nothing, but continued walking to an empty classroom. Harry followed him and close the door behind him, Draco's wand already out and casted a silencing spell.
"Draco—" Harry barely got Draco's name out before Draco placed his finger on Harry's lips. Harry's tongue peaked out for contact but Draco moved the finger away and kissed Harry's cheek.
"Listen, for now," Draco said. Harry nodded and Draco took a step back, examining Harry. "You are holding Quidditch Practice today, correct?" Draco asked.
"Yeah," Harry said. Draco nodded and was quiet for a moment, thinking. "I think I'll watch," he said at last, "just to make sure that there isn't any…'funny business.' And, of course," Draco couldn't help but smirk, "I will be watching how well you ride a broomstick."
"You already saw how well I can ride a broom," Harry said slightly confused.
"I know," Draco said. He walked around Harry slowly, his eyes roaming over every single aspect of his Potter. "But, I just want to make sure that you're…flexible."
"Flexible?" Harry asked, a strange blush reaching his cheeks and neck. Draco chuckled and said "How can you be so innocent Potter? "
"I am not innocent." Harry stated a bit angrily. Draco saw something in his eyes and nodded "Alright, but I want you to explain soon."
"No!" Harry said quickly, that anger turning into fear. "I can't tell you…I can't."
"Okay, I understand," Draco said surprisingly softly. He placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and said "Look at me Harry." Harry hesitated, but did. Draco offered a small smile and said "Forget about that, whatever it is, alright? Right now, today is just about the tryouts. I'll be watching, and if you want, we can spend the afternoon together. Would you like that?"
"Yeah…" Harry blushed, "but me, Ron and Hermione are visiting Hagrid after tryouts."
Draco had to bite his lip to keep from insulting Hagrid. He instead said "Alright then. If you need me, I will be in the library. I have…some things to research."
"What things?" Harry asked.
"Things you shouldn't worry about," Draco said. He kissed Harry's forehead and said "Come on, you need to start the tryouts."
"Right," Harry said. They left the empty classroom and returned to the Great Hall, Harry entering the room three minutes before Draco. Hermione was finished reading the Daily Prophet, instead talking to Ron. Harry rejoined them, and twenty minutes later they left for the Quidditch pitch. As they passed by Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, Parvati suddenly nudged Lavender, who looked around and gave Ron a wide smile. Ron blinked at her, then returned the smile uncertainly.
As Harry had expected, the trials took most of the morning. Half of Gryffindor House seemed to have turned up, from first years who were nervously clutching a selection of the dreadful old school brooms, to seventh years who towered over the rest, looking coolly intimidating. The latter included a large, wiry-haired boy Harry recognized immediately from the Hogwarts Express.
"We met on the train, in old Sluggy's compartment," he said confidently, stepping out of the crowd to shake Harry's hand. "Cormac McLaggen, Keeper."
"You didn't try out last year, did you?" Harry asked, taking note of the breadth of McLaggan and thinking that he would probably block all three goal hoops without even moving. He's as big as Draco, Harry thought, or maybe bigger.
"I was in the hospital wing when they held the trails," McLaggen said with a swagger. "Are a pound of doxy eggs for a bet."
"Right," Harry said. "Well …if you wait over there…"
He pointed over to the edge of the pitch, close to where Hermione was sitting. He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance pass over McLaggen's face and wondered whether McLaggen expected preferential treatment because they were both "old Sluggy's" favorites. He looked over at the stands and thought he spotted platinum-blond hair. He focused on it and saw Draco Malfoy sitting in a top booth, barely visible, but clearly watching Harry and the trial. Harry felt a weird sense of reassurance that Draco was watching him, as if everything was going to be alright. What surprised him, and scared him, however, was that Zabini was sitting next to him. Harry wondered why Zabini was there, and tried to see who he was staring at, but Ron interrupted him. "Where you want me, mate?" he asked.
"You're trying out for Keeper, right?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said blushing a bit. He was clutching his old Cleansweep Eleven very tightly and looked as if he was going to pass out any second.
"Alright, wait by McLaggen over there," Harry said pointing to where McLaggen was. "Don't try to lose your temper," Harry whispered, "no matter how annoying he seems."
Harry decided to start with a basic test, asking all applicants for the team to divide into groups of ten and fly once around the pitch. This was a good decision: the first ten were made up of first years, whom Harry told immediately to go to the stands, first years not allowed to join the team. The second group was comprised of ten of the silliest girls Harry had ever encountered, who, when he blew his whistle, merely fell about giggling and clutching one another. Romilda Vane was amongst them. When he told them to leave the pitch, they did so quite cheerfully and went to sit in the stands to heckle everyone else. The third group had a pile up halfway around the pitch. Most of the fourth came without brooms, and the fifth were Hufflepuffs.
"If there's anyone else here who's not from Gryffindor," roared Harry, who was starting to get seriously annoyed, "leave now!"
There was a pause, then a couple of little Ravenclaws went sprinting off the pitch, snorting with laughter.
After two hours, many complaints, and several tantrums, Harry had found himself three Chasers: Katie Bell, returning to the team after an excellent trail; a new find called Demelza Robins, who was particularly good at dodging Bludgers; and Ginny Weasley, who had out-flown all the competition and scored seventeen goals to boot. Pleased though he was with his choices, Harry had also shouted himself hoarse at the many complainers and was now enduring a similar battle with the rejected Beaters.
"That's my final decision and if you don't get out of the way for the Keepers I'll hex you!" he bellowed.
Neither of his chosen Beaters had the old brilliance of Fred and George, but he was still reasonably pleased with them. Harry had deliberately left the trial of the Keepers until last, hoping for an emptier stadium and less pressure on all concerned. Unfortunately, however, all the rejected players and a number of people who had come down to watch had joined the crowd by now, so that it was larger than ever. As each Keeper flew up to the goal hoops, the crowd roared and jeered in equal measure.
None of the first five saved more than two goals apiece. To Harry's disappointment, Cormac McLaggen saved four penalties out of five. On the last one, however, he shot off in completely the wrong direction; the crowd laughed and booed and McLaggen returned to the ground grinding his teeth. Ron looked ready to pass out as he mounted his broom. "Good luck!" cried a voice from the stands. Harry looked around, expecting to see Hermione, but it was Lavender Brown. He turned to Ron, looked less embarrassed, and a tad more annoyed.
It seemed that Harry had nothing to worry about, as Ron saved one, two, three, four, five penalties in a row! Delighted and resisting joining in the cheers of the crowd with difficulty, Harry turned to McLaggen to tell him that, most unfortunately, Ron had beaten him, only to find McLaggen's red face inches from his own. He stepped back hastily, wishing that he was a foot taller. Over the summer he somehow seemed to shrunk, being only five foot five inches. It was a bit obvious that all the other Gryffindors seemed to overshadow him.
"His sister didn't really try," McLaggen said menacingly. There was a vein pulsing in his temple like the one Harry had often admired in Uncle Vernon's. "She gave him an easy save."
"Rubbish," Harry said coldly. "That was the one he nearly missed."
McLaggen took a step nearer Harry, who stood his ground this time.
"Give me another go."
"No," Harry said. "You had your go. You saved four, Ron saved face. Ron's Keeper, he won it fair and square. Now kindly get out of my way."
He thought for a moment that McLaggen might punch him, but he contented himself with an ugly grimace and stormed away, growling what sounded like threats to thin air. Maybe I could practice the Curses on him, Harry thought before dismissing the idea.
"Why not?" Voldemort's voice floated in his head. "Doesn't he deserve it? After disrespecting your authority like so?"
No, that's just awful. Harry thought. Voldemort replied, but Harry didn't hear as Hermione and Ron ran up to him as the crowd roared. The three friends celebrated and Harry glanced up at where Draco and Zabini were to find that they were already gone. They went to Hagrid's hut, and Harry had to threaten to blast the door off to get Hagrid's attention. Hagrid seemed dirtier than ever, his hair standing out at places and a few empty bottles of firewhiskey littering his table. Hagrid let them in, and the four talked, Ron giving a shot-by-shot recap of his tryout. Harry was exhausted by the end of the day, and just wanted to be left alone for a while so he allowed his feet to carry him away from the Great Hall.
He reached the Room of Requirement and walked inside, only slightly surprised to see that his feet and mind led him here, the doors opening up to reveal his and Draco's room. The furniture had changed a bit, there now was a large sofa in front of the fireplace, and Harry forgo all grace and etiquette as he kicked off his shoes and fell onto the crouch.
Harry groaned and placed his arm against his forehead as he closed his eyes, a dull noise in his head frustrating him. He laid like that for about ten minutes, his headache and the dull noise gradually going away. Harry was surprised, and slightly disappointed, when Draco didn't show up during his time in the room. After wondering around, and looking at the book titles, he turned his attention back to the huge couch, a doziness and sleepiness overtaking him. He fell onto the couch again and instantly fell asleep, his glasses pushing against him as he forgot to take them off.
He woke up the next day to find himself in a large four poster bed, his glasses off and on the small table next to the bed. He looked around and found that he was still in the Room of Requirement, the bed in its own corner of the room. "It seems that we should have the bed as a permanent fixture, especially if you're just going to sleep on the couch like a common muggle." Draco's voice shocked Harry. He jumped up and looked around, finding Draco in his armchair, a desk in front of him. Draco looked up from his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay, which Harry still needs to do, and raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry," Harry blushed as he got out of bed.
"It is okay," Draco said. He pushed back his chair and stood up, meeting Harry halfway. Harry leaned in ,expecting a kiss on his forehead or cheek, but Draco simply shook his head. "You want a kiss Harry?" he asked.
Harry blushed and nodded.
"I don't teach mutes, Harry," Draco said. "Answer me."
"Y-Yes," Harry said.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes I want a kiss," Harry said. Draco chuckled and took out his wand. "After all our work is done," Draco said. He waved his wand and the corner table next to Harry's bed turned into a desk similar to Draco's. "Move the table right next to mine," Draco said.
Harry nodded and took out his wand. With a swish and a flick he said "Wingardium Leviosa!" The desk rattled and hovered into the air. Harry moved his wand and the desk moved with it, floating in the air and moving towards where Draco's chair and desk were. He lowered his wand and the desk lowered with it, landing with a soft thunk sound, next to Draco's desk. He did the same with his chair as Draco returned to his desk.
Harry found his bag near the fireplace and moved it to his desk, before starting on the homework that he had. Harry hated every moment, becoming increasingly annoyed as he tried to reach the length requirement for Snape's essay. Draco glanced over a couple of times, appalled at Harry's handwriting. He tried to fix it, but Harry told him to "shut it" as he worked slowly, and a bit frustratingly to finish the last three inches for Snape's essay. After a few hours of work, Harry was caught up, and even a bit ahead, of all of his classes, and Draco rewarded him by kissing his cheek, then right next to his lips, so close that Harry could feel Draco's lips. That both frustrated Harry as he wanted Draco's lips on his, as well as made Harry want to work harder to earn that kiss that Draco had promised him.
The next few weeks, Harry and Draco met every now and then in the Room of Requirement, and they moved on to another book of Dark Arts, both Harry and Draco mastering the healing spells in the first one. Draco kept the Dark Lord updated on their progress, and told Harry as much. A letter from the Dark Lord came attached with a letter from Draco's mother that simply said "Remember your first task."
Harry was confused about the letter, but Draco told him not to worry about it. Meanwhile, it seemed that Dumbledore had been avoiding Harry wherever he went. He rarely appears at meals anymore, and Harry and Hermione thought that Dumbledore was leaving the school for days at a time. Had Dumbledore forgotten the lessons he was supposed to be giving Harry?
Halfway through October came their first trip of the term to Hogsmeade. Harry had wondered whether these trips would still be allowed, given the increasingly tight security measures around the school, but was pleased to know that they were going ahead; it was always good to get out of the castle grounds for a few hours. Harry woke early on the morning of the trip, which was turning stormy, and whiled away the time by reading his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. It was weird that he was laying in bed, reading a textbook, but the more Harry pored over the book, the more he realized how much was in there. Not only the handy hints and shortcuts on potions that were earning him such a glowing reputation with Slughorn, and Draco too as he reads the book while Harry is practicing Potions in the room, but also the imaginative little jinxes and hexes scribbled in the margins, which Harry was sure, judging by the crossings-out and revisions, that the Prince had invented himself.
Harry had already attempted a few of the Prince's self-invented spells. There had been a hex that caused toenails to grow alarmingly fast, which he had tried on Crabbe in the corridor, with very entertaining results; a jinx that glued the tongue to the roof of the mouth, and the most useful spell of all, Muffliato, a spell that filled the ears of anyone nearby with an unidentifiable buzzing, so that lengthy conversations could be held in class without being overheard. The only person who didn't find these spells amusing was Hermione, who maintained a rigidly disapproving expression throughout and refused to talk at all if Harry had used Muffliato on anyone in the vicinity.
There was a spell written on the side that seemed to have caused some trouble for the Prince. There were many crossings-out and alterations, but finally, crammed into a corner of the page, the scribble: Levicorpus (nvbl).
Harry thought that the "nvbl" meant nonverbal, and while he was still having trouble with nonverbal spells, he decided to trust the Prince and pointing his want at nothing in particular, he gave it an upward flick and said Levicorpus! inside his head.
"Aaaaaaaaargh!"
There was a flash of light and the room was full of voices: Everyone had woken up as Neville let out a yell. Harry sent Advanced Potion-Making flying in panic; Neville was dangling upside down in midair as though an invisible hook had hoisted him up by the ankle.
"Sorry!" Harry yelled as Dean and Seamus roared with laughter, and Ron starting to laugh also once he was fully awake. "Hang on—I'll let you down—"
He groped for the potion book and riffled through it in a panic, trying to find the right page; at last he located it and deciphered one cramped work underneath the spell. Hoping that it was the counter-jinx, Harry thought Liberacorpus! with all his might.
There was another flash and Neville fell to the bed, bouncing slightly as his body hit the mattress. "Sorry…" Harry repeated again as Neville sat up.
Hermione was furious at Harry after Ron told her about it on the way over to Hogsmeade. She wanted to yell at Harry, but Ginny interrupted them. "Harry!" she said, "I'm supposed to give you this."
It was a scroll of parchment with Harry's name written upon it in familiar thin, slanting writing.
"Thanks, Ginny. …It's Dumbledore's next lesson!" He told Ron and Hermione, pulling open the parchment and quickly reading its contents. "Monday evening!" He felt suddenly light and happy. "I have to tell D—never mind." He said quickly.
"Who?" Hermione asked.
"No one, it's not important," Harry said quickly, hiding a blush. Ron looked between the two and whispered "His boyfriend," in Hermione's ear.
"Boyfriend!? You have a boyfriend already Harry!" Hermione piped out, getting a few looks from the students around them, and a glare from Ginny. Harry's face and neck turned a beet red as he tried to explain himself.
"Yeah—well—we're not exactly boyfriends—but—" Harry sputtered and stuttered. He tried to clear his throat and somehow got out "We're not…official… at least I don't think we're not. But we both don't want it…known…"
"Oh, sorry," Hermione said looking a bit ashamed.
"No, no, no don't apologize!" Harry said, "It's just…complicated at the moment."
"Alright… can you at least tell us his name? Or is he still in the closet?" Hermione asked.
"In the closet?" Ron asked confused.
"Muggle saying," Harry said, he turned to Hermione and said "Kind of, we just don't want anyone to know until we…worked things out."
"Alright," Hermione nodded. And that was the last they talked about Harry's love life as they entered Hogsmeade and immediately went to the Three Broomsticks, being one of the only shops that weren't boarded up. There were two men a little ahead of them, standing just outside the Three Broomsticks. One was very tall and thin, squinting through his rain-washed glasses Harry recognized the barman who worked at the Hog's Head, the other Hogsmeade pub. As the three drew closer, the barman drew his cloak more tightly around his neck and walked away, leaving the shorter man to fumble with something in his arms. They were three feet from him when Harry realized who the man was.
"Mundungus!"
The squat, bandy-legged man jumped and dropped an ancient suitcase, which burst open, releasing what looked like the entire contents of a junk shop window.
"Oh, 'ello 'Arry," Mundungus said with a most unconvincing stab at airiness. "Well, don't let me keep ya." Harry looked at the dropped silver objects and the next second he pinned Mundungus against the wall of the pub by the throat. Holding his fast with one hand, he pulled out his wand.
"Harry!" both Hermione and Ron yelled, shocked.
"This is Sirius' stuff!" Harry yelled. "You took that from Sirius' house. That had the Black family crest on it."
"I—no—what?" spluttered Mundungus, who was slowly turning purple.
"What did you do, go back the night he died and strip the place?" snarled Harry.
"I—no—"
"Give it to me!"
"Harry, you mustn't!" shrieked Hermione, as Mundungus started to turn blue.
There was a bang, and Harry felt his hands fly off Mundungus' throat. Gasping and spluttering, he seized his fallen case, then—CRACK—he Disapparated.
Harry swore at the top of his voice, spinning on the spot to see where Mundungus had gone.
"COME BACK YOU THIEVING MOTHER—"
"There's no point, Harry, he's gone." Hermione said. "Come on, let's just go inside."
Harry was in a sour mood the entire time they were in the Three Broomsticks, complaining about Mundungus stealing from Sirius and himself, Ron reminding him that Grimmauld Place now belonged to him. Harry got glimpse of Ginny with Dean Thomas, the two sitting together before getting up and leaving. In the booth next to them, were Neville and Seamus, both of whom seemed to glance around every now and then before returning to their private conversation. After a long half hour, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to leave Hogsmeade.
They followed Katie Bell and a friend out of the pub and back up the High Street. Harry's thoughts started to stray to Draco as they trudged up the road to Hogwarts through the frozen slush. It was a little while before Harry became aware that the voices of Katie Bell and her friend had become shriller and louder. Harry squinted at their indistinct figures. The two girls were having an argument about something Katie was holding in her hand. "It's nothing to do with you, Leanne!" Harry heard Katie say.
They rounded a corner in the lane, sleet coming thick and fast, blurring Harry's glasses. Just as he raised a gloved hand to wipe them, Leanne made to grab the package Katie was holding. Katie tugged it back and the package fell to the ground.
At once, Katie rose into the air, not like Neville had done, but gracefully, her arms outstretched, as though she was about to fly. Yet there was something wrong, something eerie. …Her hair was whipped around her by the fierce wind, but her eyes were closed and her face was quite empty of expression. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Leanne had all halted in their tracks, watching.
Then, six feet above the ground, Katie let out a terrible scream. Her eyes flew open in terrible anguish. She screamed and screamed; Leanne started to scream too and seized Katie's ankles, trying to tug her back to the ground. Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved to help, but Katie fell immediately, falling on top of her friend. She trashed and screamed, apparently unable to recognize any of them as Leanne got up and the other three rushed to help.
"Move away!" Hagrid's voice boomed. He pushed passed Harry and Ron and scooped Katie up. Within seconds, Katie's piercing screams had died away and the only sound was the roar of the wind. Harry looked down at the ground where the open package was. There was a necklace that had a greenish glitter. Harry bent to pick up with when Hagrid's voice roared. "Don't touch it!"
Harry stopped and looked up at Hagrid. "Use the brown-paper to pick it up, do not let it touch you." Hagrid said. He looked at Leanne and asked her how this happened. She told him as the group quickly made their way back to Hogwarts. Hagrid brought Katie Bell to the hospital wing while Harry and the others went to look for Dumbledore. He wasn't to be found, so they went to Professor McGonagall instead, who told Harry to place the bag gentle on his desk. She used her wand to take the necklace out and hovered it in the air to examine it. She told Filch to get Snape and she turned to Leanne to repeat her story.
"That is why we were arguing," Leanne said pointing to the necklace. "She came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding it, said it was a surprise for Professor Dumbledore and she had to deliver it. She looked all funny when she said it. …Oh no, oh no, oh no I bet she'd been Imperiused and I didn't realize it!"
"Calm down Leanne," Professor McGonagall said. Leanne became so overcome, there was no getting another word out of her. "Go up to the hospital wing, please, Leanne, and get Madam Pomfrey to get you something for shock."
When she had left the room, Professor McGonagall turned back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She sighed and said "Why is it, when something happens it is always you three?"
"Honestly, I've been asking the same thing for the last six years, professor," Ron said.
"Oh, Severus," McGonagall said as Professor Snape entered the room. He immediately went to the necklace, ignoring the three as he and McGonagall turned to the desk. He took out his wand and made the necklace float in the air so he could examine it.
"What do you think?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I think Miss. Bell is lucky to be alive," Snape said.
"She was cursed wasn't she?" Harry asked. "I know Katie off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was going to deliver that to Dumbledore, she wouldn't do it knowingly."
"Yes, she was cursed," McGonagall said.
"Is that all, Potter?" Snape asked, turning to the three.
"Yes…sir," Harry said. Snape took a couple of steps towards the trio and glared at them. "Very well, you three may leave." He said.
They left, and when they were far enough Hermione stopped. "I think I might know who cursed Katie…" she said.
Ron and Harry stopped and looked at her. "Who?" Harry asked.
Hermione took a breath and said "I think it might be a Slytherin…I don't know who yet, but it has to be. They've been acting a bit…dodgy ever since Voldemort came back."
"Of course they're acting dodgy," Harry couldn't help to say, "that's because people are accusing them everywhere!" They were all shocked that Harry said that and Hermione looked at Harry for a moment before composing herself.
"I know, but just think about it Harry," Hermione said. "Isn't it odd that the Slytherins are more aloof this year? Like in the Welcoming Feast, Malfoy was just hovering his fork ignoring Dumbledore's speech!"
"And that makes you think that Malfoy is trying to kill Dumbledore?" Harry asked. "Are you sure that you're workload is making you a bit of a nutter?"
"Harry's right Hermione," Ron said. "I would love to see Malfoy thrown out of Hogwarts, but trying to frame him for trying to kill Dumbledore? That's a bit much, don't you think?" Ron asked.
"I'm not blaming Malfoy, I'm just thinking…" Hermione said. "Look, Harry, you have to admit that some of them were acting a bit suspicious, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," Harry said remembering his encounter with Crabbe and Goyle. "But honestly Hermione, I don't think there's enough yet to prove that a Slytherin is trying to kill Dumbledore."
Hermione sighed in frustration and said "Forget it, I'll just research it myself," before walking away.
"Think she'll be alright?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, she seems very serious," Harry said.
Ron nodded and looked around before saying "Your boyfriend…he's a Slytherin right?"
"Yeah, but I know that he didn't do it," Harry said. "…at least I hope he didn't." he murmured to himself. Ron nodded and said "I'll go after Hermione, maybe you should check on your Slytherin."
"Yeah, thanks Ron! You're the best," Harry said as he went off towards the Room of Requirement, having a feeling that he would find Draco there. He was right, as Draco was in the room working on whatever was under the cover in the back corner. The cover was on the ground and instead stood a large black cabinet that looks oddly familiar to Harry. Harry noticed that Draco's normally perfect hair was a bit disheveled. Draco turned around, wand in hand, and he smiled at Harry. "I didn't expect you to be here so early," he said as he started to lift the sheet to cover the cabinet again.
"No, don't do that. I need to talk with you," Harry said. "It's important."
Draco let the sheet fall and said "Alright, what do you want to know about?"
"Last time there was a letter from the Dark Lord it said 'remember your first task.' You wouldn't tell me what that task was, and now Katie Bell is in the Hospital Wing cursed by a cursed necklace she was supposed to give to Dumbledore. Please tell me that your task has nothing to do with that." Harry pleaded. Draco was quiet, avoiding Harry's gaze as Harry took a step forward. "Draco, answer me!" he demanded.
Draco thought for a moment before saying "It did."
Harry couldn't believe what he heard, "W-What?" he stuttered. His legs seemed to fix in place as he stared at Draco who looked at Harry, a resolve in his eyes that he never saw before.
"I did," Draco said. "I've Imperius the bartender at the Three Broomsticks to leave that necklace in the girls' bathroom, and then I had her Imperius the girl who picked up the necklace, who would then bring it to Dumbledore. He was supposed to die after touching the necklace."
"Why…why would you do that?" Harry asked, still in a state of shock. "Katie Bell is in the hospital wing because of you! She was cursed!"
"I needed to finish my mission!" Draco yelled.
"Your mission! What is this bloody mission!?" Harry yelled, the day's frustrations coming into him. "What was so fucking important that an innocent girl almost died!?"
"I have to kill Dumbledore!" Draco screamed, his chest heaving. Sweat started to fall from his face as his disheveled hair became messier.
"W-What!?" Harry said.
"I. Have. To. Kill. Dumbledore." Draco said, as if he didn't believe it himself. "The Dark Lord has tasked me to kill Dumbledore. It's supposed to make up for my father's failure last year."
"Your father's in Azkaban… but how is…" Harry said, still trying to comprehend that the boy he is falling for is supposed to kill his mentor Dumbledore. He is angry at Dumbledore, yes, but that does not mean he wants to kill him! Harry doesn't want to kill anyone!
"This," Draco said pointing to the old black cabinet, "is a Vanishing Cabinet. Think of it as trying by Floo, two fireplaces that are connected can be traveled to and from, the same can be said with the Vanishing Cabinet. There is another one at Borgin and Burkes, but this one is broken. I am supposed to kill Dumbledore, and I thought that I could simply fix the one here and let the Death Eaters do it, but I can't. I cannot fix this so then I tried the necklace. It's a cursed opal necklace that had claimed the lives of nineteen muggles. I thought that I could have a student bring it to Dumbledore and kill him that way, but it seems that I can't even do that right!" Draco yelled in frustration and pulled his hair. "Then there's bringing you to our side, making sure that my feelings don't blind me when you betray us for Dumbledore and it just doesn't work! Everything doesn't work!" Draco turned and kicked the Vanishing Cabinet in anger.
Harry's legs remembered how to move and he ran to Draco's side. In his mind wheels were turning quickly as he tried to process everything. Finally, he touched Draco's shoulder and said "I'll help…"
Draco jumped at the contact and turned around, shocked at Harry. "You'll what?" he said softly, not believing Harry's words.
"I'll… I said I'll help," Harry said a bit more confidently. "I will help you fix the Vanishing Cabinet… but I don't want to be there when you kill Dumbledore…I still don't think he deserves it."
"Oh, yeah alright…" Draco said in the same quiet voice. "Thanks…Harry."
"Any time," Harry blushed. He and Draco shared a look as Draco stood to his full height, easily overshadowing Harry. "Draco…" he said.
Draco reached and placed a hand on Harry's cheek, cupping it gently as emerald eyes met gray. Draco's other hand wrapped around Harry's back and pulled him to his chest. "Draco," Harry said again.
Draco tried to smirk, but only gave a shy smile as he bent down and took Harry's lips with his, finally fulfilling both their wants. Harry was still at first before melting in the kiss, Draco's lips soft and pillowy, making it addicting for Harry to kiss him. Draco's hand moved down from Harry's back, to his lower back where it rested on the edge of Harry's butt. Harry didn't want to move Draco's hand, somehow it felt as if it belong there, that somehow him being here, in his position, is where he is supposed to be. Harry felt Draco's mouth open slightly and he moved with him, opening his mouth as Draco's tongue thrust into his mouth, easily dominating Harry's tongue and mouth. Harry moaned as he gave control to Draco, allowing him to guide the kiss as Draco pushed him against the Vanishing Cabinet, Harry's glasses going askew. Draco's other hand reached for Harry's hair, as Harry did the same, both boys' hands moving on their heads, grabbing fistfuls of hair to hold onto as they kiss. Draco continued to kiss Harry until the need for air was too much and they had to separate, a line of spit connecting their lips as Draco held Harry's head with his hands, Harry's hands and arms around Draco's waist.
Harry's cheeks were red and both boys were breathing deeply as lust were clearly in their eyes. "Draco," Harry breathed. "Does this mean… do you want to be… boyfriends?" Harry breathed out the question.
Draco chuckled and roughly kissed Harry again. "Of course," Draco said breathing as deeply as Harry. "You were always mine, Harry Potter. You just didn't know it." And with that the boys continued to kiss, their worries and responsibilities forgotten as their world narrowed to each other and the touches they each felt.
A/N: Here is my gift to you this holiday season! Thank you all for your patience, Finals were a pain, but they are all done now! Which means I am FREE to write! I want to thank everyone who reads, follows, favorites, and reviews, you all make my day!
Kagome Higurashi: I did update! It only took so long because I was busy lol. Here you are, I hope you liked it!
Magic Freak: Here you are kind person! I hope to see you again!
Littlesprout: Yes, it is very hot. And thanks! Hope to see you again soon!
DeiStarr: Blaise and Draco are JUST FRIENDS! They are not Exs or FWBs. They are just two Slytherin friends who are corrupting two Gryffindors lol. And I hope that you like their first kiss ;)
Imperitrici Vicssutudinis: Yes! Dominant Draco is a sexy Draco. I hope you liked this chapter and I'm looking forward to the next review lol
Kigen Dawn: I'm glad you were happy with the sex scene lol
Outofthisworldgal: Yes, yes it was a hot scene. Thanks for your review lol
PerdidoKitsune: Hmm maybe that could explain his lack of sex appeal, never thought of that. And I am glad that I made Ron hot and steamy for you! Always had a crush on the redhead and now I want to spread that love lol. Thanks for the review! Hope to see your thoughts soon!
HinaLuvLuvChan: Thanks! If this is a drug then here is your dose! Just don't overdose! That is bad!
Ern: Thanks!
Lovingsiri: Yes, darn Hermione for being always right! And the romance is developing! At a pace that may be too fast? Who knows!? Hope to see you again soon!
MadnessIsTheAntidote: Father Voldemort will be interesting to see, their meeting will happen soon, just let the boys sort out their feelings first. And yes, I'm trying to stick as close to canon as possible lol
Fizzydrink101: Yes kissing on foreheads is very cute and fluffy, but I like kisses on lips better. You're welcome for the updates! I hope you liked this one too!
HowlingRain: Yeah, I'm guessing that since Harry is intentionally opening up the connection between him and Voldemort and the Horcrux, his scar wouldn't hurt, expect for either when looking into Voldemort's vision, because that's outside his head. As for Ron's spell… Charlie Weasley was a good teacher, even though he was a bit oblivious about it, and don't worry, Blaise will love that spell and add some…changes too it. Thanks for your review, and I really hope to see you soon!
Jokul Frosti: Yes. Charlie Weasley is gay, I don't care what anyone says. She was oblivious to the fact that Harry was gay, silly Ginny, but she seems to be taking it…well, I guess. And Draco is a bit patient, he claimed Harry when he felt like it… which was after breaking down and somewhat revealed his feelings for the cute Gryffindor.
Littlepanther: Only second!? Wow, I guess I'm picking all the unexpected pairings huh? And thank you for your review! A jealous Draco is a happy reader, and I hope to see you again!
BrotherofBasilisks: Love ya! You better review when you see this babe! XP
