Ch. 8 Another Surprise
A/N: Where we last saw our cast: Harry and the others have just arrived at the magical Willoughbey. Draco is getting obscenely drunk while waiting for the death eaters meeting to begin. The twins have just apparated to who-knows-where in search of forked mushroom juice. They both have dates later. Guys, I'm really pissed about this chapter, it turned out really bad. Just know that I know it sucks.
M
Harry and the others ran toward the mansion, laughing.
"My god, Seamus! We have to explore this place! It's almost as big as Hogwarts!" Ron was awed, caught somewhere between staring and giggling.
"And this is where we'll be staying for the rest of the year…. Wow." Hermione gently, but uncomfortably brushed Ron's hand away as he tried to hold hers.
Huge white marble doors swung open to meet the group, and Maureen swept her arms out and up, spinning in the middle of the room.
"Welcome, children, to your temporary home and learning center!"
The entry way was huge, like you would expect to see in a palace. The ceiling rose up three stories, and balconies lined the second and third floors. Every surface was marble or silver, and the decorations managed to somehow give this monstrous area a homey feel. There was furniture scattering the area, couches that looked to be big enough for ten people. Statues were placed in every corner, and tapestries in bright colors and pastels covered the walls. There were flags from a hundred different nations hanging from the balconies, and a white staircase led up to second floor. From the second floor leading to the third were two more staircases, also white, and spiraling up on either side of the room. The ceiling was glass, and let sunlight pour in, with the occasional burst of color from a pattern of stained glass swirled in with the clear. To their left was a smaller room decorated entirely with old wooden desks, several oak doors leading out of it. To the right was a long, wide hall filled with plaques, trophies, and paintings of older wizards. There were also several different kinds of weaponry, from slingshots to swords to high tech wands used only by professional duelists. Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood in the doorway with their jaws hanging open, and Seamus was nearly doubled over in laughter at the looks mirrored on each face. The he once again grabbed his boyfriend by the hand.
"C'mon, love, I want to show you my suite! Ron and Hermione, you'll each have a set of rooms, not too far from ours. Your luggage should already be there. Lets go get unpacked, then I'll find someone that can give us the tour." He started towards the stairs, but Maureen stopped him and pulled him aside, becoming instantly serious.
"You know where you aren't allowed, I expect the old rules to be followed. I have to go take care of some things. Give these to your friends." She reached inside her pocket and emerged with a ring, a bracelet, and two necklaces. "To activate the spells, you just have to take the wearer to their room, and say the incantation and their chosen password." She turned, and smiled at the trio, becoming bubbly and bright once again. "You kids have fun now. I won't be around for awhile, but there will be people you know in and out to make sure you're comfortable. We have a small staff of house elves for cleaning, but our chef is human, and Seamus will explain to you how we go about meals and curfew. You'll have about a week and a half break from your studies while we gather tutors, and then you'll resume schoolwork. I'll be in to check on you in a few days." Without another word, she turned to the room on the left. Stepping up to one of the doors, she muttered something under her breath and drew a rune on the door with her wand. Giving the kids one last wave, she took a breath and stepped into, and through, the solid oak.
Seamus held out the jewelry to his friends, he and Harry getting the necklaces, Hermione, taking the bracelet, and Ron grabbing the ring.
"I'll explain these to you when we get to your rooms. One thing you should be aware of though, this house is as alive as Hogwarts is. The stairs don't change, but other things do. These trinkets will help you to find your way." The other three nodded, still not quite ready to speak, and followed as Seamus led them up that stairs and through a maze of hallways.
A (Two days later)
The group raced up the stairs, stumbling after each other, choking on their laughter. Though they had only been at Willoughbey for two days now, they had already memorized the secret passages and other such locations great to use for games. They were outside on the grounds almost all day most of the time, playing Quidditch or a muggle game called Frisbee Hermione had introduce them to. The days were completely carefree, and spending their time having fun outdoors with the sun beating down on them did wonders for the kids.
"What do you think of all this, Harry? Merlin knows you deserve a couple weeks off." Hermione had asked at one point after a rather heated game of Frisbee.
"I'm not going to think about the world right now, Hermione. I have to enjoy this while I can, I love it when I can be free and just live." Hermione just grinned and nodded. Later, at supper, Ron pulled her aside.
"I hear you and Harry earlier. I don't know what Seamus did to make him finally realize that he deserves and needs to have a life. It's amazing."
"Whatever it was, I'm going to give him a card or something. I've never seen Harry so happy!" Hermione agreed instantly. At that moment, their friend was stuffing his face with a dinner roll Seamus had just tossed in his direction. Hermione and Ron returned to the table just in time to catch a very interesting piece of information.
"Did you guys know that Mum has Lupin coming here to teach us? I guess Dumbledore decided that Harry needed to learn from someone he trusted, and Lupin is the best man for the job." Seamus said, bits of chicken flying from his mouth to land on his plate.
"Lord, Sea, don't talk while you're eating!" Harry lovingly chastised the other boy.
"Remus is coming back?" Hermione let out a squeal. "Harry, aren't you excited?" She looked at her friend oddly.
"Yeah Harry, you and him got on quite well, right mate?" the redhead prodded. Harry grinned.
"Remus owled me yesterday. I already knew." He flinched away as Hermione jokingly punched him.
"Prat! Why didn't you tell us!" She giggled, and helped herself to a slice of strawberry cheesecake.
"I wasted to surprise you. Apparently, so did Seamus." He made a face at his boyfriend, and Seamus responded by sticking out his tongue and crossing his eyes. Ron yawned.
"Anyone fancy a game of wizard's chess before bed?" Seamus nodded, finishing off his pumpkin pie.
"I'll play a quick one, Ron. Harry? Hermione?" before Harry could respond, Hermione cut him off.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to Harry. You guys don't mind, do you?" the other boys shook their heads, and Harry stood up and stretched. He leaned down and kissed Seamus.
"See you in a little while babe."
"I'll wait up for you."
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Hermione whispered and incantation and her password to her bracelet, and grabbed Harry by the hand. There was a slight twisting sensation, and they were in Hermione's room. They sat of the small loveseat, and worry immediately filled Hermione's face. She clutched a pillow to her chest and bit down on her lower lip.
"What's wrong, 'Mione?" Harry asked, shocked. The girl didn't often get like this, and a few moments ago, there had been no indication that anything was wrong. Hermione looked up, meeting Harry's eyes surprised, almost as though she had already forgotten he was there. She sighed.
"I'm sure you've noticed Harry, he's your best friend. Ron. He likes me. He wants me to be his girlfriend." Harry shrugged.
"Of course I've noticed. But it didn't think I should get into it. I figured you two would work it out in your own time." Hermione shook her head violently.
"But Harry, I don't like him! I thought I did, once, but it was a long time ago. He's an amazing person, but I don't see him as anything more than a friend." Harry let his eyes drop to the floor.
"I thought something like this would happen eventually. It's okay, you can't help what you feel. Remember when I first told you I thought I might like Seamus? Remember what you told me? You said to just let it work itself out. I'm sure Ron will understand." Harry went to wrap his arms around his best friend, but she stopped him, and stared into his eyes.
"You don't get it. Ron could never understand. Harry, if I tell you something, will your promise to keep it completely secret? You can't tell anyone, especially not Seamus or Ron." Harry forced a grin.
"You know you can trust me 'Mione. I won't tell a soul." Hermione worried at her lip again, then took a deep breath.
"I'm engaged."
F
Fred apparated into the apartment the twins shared above the joke shop, yawned, and scratched his head. His date had gone well, so well in fact, that he has spent the last two days at said date's house, sleeping, eating, watching movies, and just having fun in general. George had been in a panic until Fred flooed and said he'd be home today to help him work the shop. He was greeted with a flurry of half hearted punches, and sleepily wondered why he had returned home.
"'Lo to you too, George. How was your date?" George dragged his brother to their couch and sat down.
"The evening was going perfectly until I came home late and you decided you weren't going to come home at all! I was worried, you, you…." George stopped at the grin on Fred's face.
"It went well then? Ah, so did mine. You sound like Mum, old chap. Lighten up, we should be celebrating. Let's go to the Three Broomsticks, have a firewhiskey!"
"It's ten o' clock on the morning, Fred. You're not drinking a firewhiskey at ten in the morning. Rosmerta probably wouldn't serve it to you. Now, down to business. Who were you with? Go on, let's have it." George asked impatiently.
"Only if you tell me who your date was first." George rolled his eye, and glanced around quickly. "Come off it, prat, no one's going to hear us in our own house!" George grinned.
"Can't be to sure, mate." He leaned in close to his brother and whispered in his ear for a moment.
"Bloody hell. You didn't?" George grinned again, his entire face lighting up. "Well Merlin's toenails. You actually did it! Georgie, I'm so proud of you! She honestly…" Fred let his brother from the embrace he had wrapped him in a moment later. "Did you hear that?" George nodded. It was the sound of their floo being activated. George pulled out his wand, and Fred cautiously called out.
"Who's there?"
"Fred? Oh, it's just me, love. You left your wand on the nightstand, and I knew you'd have to have it for… oh. Hello George." Lee Jordan, bleary eyed and in his underwear, had just walked into the room. George stared at the guilty looking man, and turned around slowly to meet his brother's eyes.
"Something you wanted to tell me, Fred?"
"Er….." Lee cleared his throat.
"Well, here's your wand, then. I'll be off." George grabbed his arm just as he had been turning to leave.
"Oh no you don't. You're going to sit right here, next to Fred, until I hear an explanation." Fred and Lee sat silently on the couch, George standing over them doing a damn good impression of Molly Weasley. "Well?"
"As if it isn't already painfully obvious, Lee and I are seeing each other, George."
"Oh, the shock. Be still my heart. I know that. The way you mooned over each other in school? Please. I meant, why has no one got the balls to step up and tell me, and why is Lee in his underwear." Fred giggled.
"Well, the first part I can't help you with. But I believe Lee is in this rather sad state of dress because he was thoughtful enough to put on his boxers before flooing over." George's jaw dropped.
"So you're telling me when you got out of his bed this morning, he wasn't wearing any clothes."
"Right." Fred nodded for emphasis. Lee chose this moment to put in his two cents.
"Well, Fred wasn't either! Took him a good long while to find all his clothes, and then he left his wand!" George sighed at this news.
"Boys, boys. Well, this is a good thing then. We've just run out of last weeks supply of knotted salamander sprouts, and we have to make a trip to the forest to pick some more. Kathleen can take care of the shop, and now we have another pair of hands. Come on, Lee, you can borrow my pants."
An hour later, the boys apparated away.
O
Draco had drunk himself into a stupor before the last meeting, and he was ordered to be sober at the next one. Severus had informed him that this was the meeting in which he was to receive the Mark. Draco, needless to say, was thrilled.
"Sev, there has to be something!"
"I will plead your case, Draco. That is all I can do. If we're lucky, he will see things our way and you'll be sleeping in your own bed this time tomorrow. Stop panicking, boy!" Severus roared the last sentence. He and Draco were once again in his chambers, Severus struggling to calm the boy as he struggled to stay calm himself. Draco stopped pacing, and sat down on the floor at his mentor's feet, resting his head on Severus's leg.
"Draco, do you trust me?" the blonde sighed.
"Yes. You know I do. But can you honestly blame me for being worried? And I thought you were going to tell me where Potter disappeared off to!" Draco jerked his head up and stared into the older man's eyes accusingly. "I know you know, Sev!" Severus just brushed it off and stared back coolly.
"Exactly what, Draco, is this sudden obsession with Harry Potter?" Draco's face flamed hotly, and he stared at Severus for a few more seconds before dropping his eyes and leaning back against the chair.
"Remember the discussion we had a little while ago? About me… liking…" Draco stopped.
"About you liking a male. It's Potter." Severus finished flatly. "Unfortunately, son, I can't tell you where the boy has gone, but here's what I can do. If you want to write to him, I'll see that he gets it."
"That's it? Just write?" Severus lightly kicked the boy. "Oh, alright. If that's all I can do. I'm going to go to bed now. You'll come get me when it's time to go?"
"Draco, just sleep here. I have a perfectly intact, never been used guest bedroom."
"Fine. But you're giving me quite the reputation, you know."
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Please review! I know it sucks, but please review anyways!
