Snape peered over his book to steal a glance at Harry. He had been doing that the moment the boy had stepped into the common room, but he wasn't particularly sure why. The fact that Harry was mad at him frustrated him, and the reason he was frustrated made him mad. Either way, he kept stealing glances at Harry, but Harry refused to look up, even though he could feel Lexus' eyes on him. Instead, he buried his head back into his charms book, focusing on the spell he had to learn.
"Look at those two," Parvarti sighed, looking from Lexus to Harry. "They are so adorable."
"Lexus is adorable, Parvarti," Lavender corrected.
"No silly. I mean how those two are arguing," Parvarti rolled her eyes. "Lexus made Harry mad. I wonder how he'll apologize. Their relationship will fail if he doesn't—"
"What relationship?" Lavender asked, staring at her friend.
"It's obvious isn't it?" When Lavender didn't respond, she sighed and continued explaining. "Harry is crushing on Lexus."
"He is not!"
"Yes he is!"
"I must say that he is not," a voice whispered in Parvarti's ear, making her jump. She spun around to meet Lexus eye to eye, and her face became flushed.
"When did you--?"
"Never mind that," Severus said, waving her question away, still whispering. "You are making him turn bright red and his hand is clamped a bit too tight on his quill. I must request you stop talking of nonsense. . ."
"I-I-"
"Apology accepted," he nodded before walking away and back to his chair, going back to his book.
Parvarti sat with her mouth open, staring, until Lavender burst out laughing.
"Haha!"
"Oh shut up Lavender," Parvarti whispered, heading for the girl's dormitories, Lavender at her side. "But my point has been somewhat proven! Lexus showed some compassion!!"
"Oh lord," Lavender rolled her eyes, running up the stairs, avoiding the whole conversation.
"You know it's true!" Parvarti said before disappearing up the stairs after her.
Snape sighed when it finally went quiet and looked over at Harry. He was looking around for something but still refused to look in Lexus' direction.
'I wish he'd quit staring at me. . .' Harry thought as he looked for his quill. 'I wish he'd just leave me alone. Or at least apologize!!' He found his quill under his History of Magic book and put into his bag. He then began to cram everything else into it. 'He is so . . .Merlin. I can't even think of a word for what he is.'
Snape watched with eager and hopeful eyes, as Harry got up, but when he decided to walk right past him without a word, he glared. He jumped from the table and spun Harry around, startling him.
"What?" Harry said, recovering his icy tone.
Snape was taken back, but soon got over it. "What is your problem?"
"I don't see why you're worried about it. You wanted me to be mad at you in the first place, right?" Harry snapped. "Now, leave me alone. I'm tire-"
"I never told you to be mad at me."
"But you did imply it," Harry said before escaping up the stairs, leaving Snape to glare at his back again, but this time, he couldn't spin Harry back around.
"Hardheaded child. . ." he mumbled as he went the opposite way of the dorms and to the portrait. "And since when did Potter have a larger snap in his tone . . .?"
Snape left the dormitories, slamming the portrait behind him. The Fat Lady woke with a start and began to yell at him, but he was too angry to actually care. He needed to get away from that worthless little child. . .
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Draco laughed along with Blaise as Pansy tripped a new first year. Her name was Elli Bullsworth, or so he had heard. She was quite pretty with her blonde hair and light brown eyes, but being pretty can only get you so far. Especially in a common room full of Slytherins. You have to have a bit of venom to be a serpent, and Pansy had decided to test this girl.
"What's your problem!?" Elli yelled her face red with fury. She pushed herself up from the floor and threw down the books she'd clung onto when she'd fallen. She quickly pulled out her wand and pointed it at Pansy's neck.
Pansy flinched, but when she remembered something, laughed. "What are you going to do? Use it on me? I doubt you even know a decent hex." It was the girl's turn to draw back that time, making Pansy grin again. "Just as I thought. But I enjoy your courage. Maybe you actually can be a Slytherin."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Pansy, you are way too lenient. This girl is obviously—"
"A slacker in the thought of revenge, but courageous for her trying? And the only reason she was probably put into this house is because her parents were Slytherin as well. That's what you were going to say, right Draco?"
Everyone turned in the common room to see Lexus, leaning on the wall behind them. It was quiet for a while, but then everyone burst in a fit of outrage, screaming about how a Gryffindor shouldn't be in a Slytherin common room. Yells about getting Evanuel came from one direction and yells about just hexing him were screamed everywhere else. Despite the fact they believed Lexus a Slytherin, they didn't like him in their common room. All of the yelling ceased when Draco stood up and silenced them all with a glare. He then looked back at Snape.
"Cousin, what are you doing in here?" Draco said in his most calm tone. He was still jealous about today's earlier incident, but knew that he couldn't let his godfather know this. "This is Slytherin common rooms, not Gryffindor."
"Yes, yes," Snape said sarcastically, gently tapping his head. "How could I forget? Just a seven staircase walk up to my dormitories'."
"Lexus, dear, what Draco means is. . .how did you get in here," Pansy said, trying to put on a sweet act.
'Suck up,' Severus thought. "I guessed, honestly. Who knew you'd have such a deadly poison for your password. At first I was going to say pureblood, but certain passwords at Hogwarts are only repeated every so often . . . Not that any of you need reminding because I know this house can't be full of lazy idiots that can't read a copy of Hogwarts, a History. Now, if you're done asking pointless questions, I'd like to talk to Draco. Alone."
Pansy was about to speak again when Draco silenced her with a look. She backed down and waited for him to speak. "All of you. To your dormitories'. Not a groan, not a complaint. Unless you wish to speak to Crabbe and Goyle. Now off with the lot of you."
They all glared at Draco as they left, but dared not to say anything. Crabbe and Goyle were idiots, but they'd surely do some harm, especially under Draco's command.
As soon as Draco was sure they were all gone, he turned back to Snape. "What do you want?"
"Ahhh, so both you and Potter are in bad moods," Snape rolled his eyes.
"Do not compare me to Potter—"
"Why not? Aren't you two friends?"
"Of course we are. . .but I'm obviously superior," Draco said, thinking up a comeback quickly. "But honestly. What do you want?"
"I'm not sure anymore. You might be too. . .superior," Snape snorted.
"Shut up," Draco snapped. "What do you want me to do that relates to Potter?"
Snape cocked an eyebrow at his godson. "You've got quite a mouth on you, don't you Draco? I suggest you watch your tongue before it ends up in one of your own potions."
Draco gulped, but tried to hold his tough figure. "Whatever. Just tell me what you want and leave."
"Find out why Potter is in such a sour mood at me and how I can fix things, Draco, and I'll reward you greatly," he replied simply, instantly wondering why he said he'd award Draco for such a feeble task.
"And what's this reward?" Draco said, his curiosity piqued.
"Do it any you will find out," Severus said.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine. Now, leave. Malfoys need beauty sleep." Draco waved him away, making him bite his lower lip.
"As you wish," Severus said through gritted teeth and quickly slipped from the dormitories.
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"Harry, is everything alright?" Hermione asked. "You seem a bit tense."
"Yeah," Ron said, stuffing his mouth with sausages and eggs, "You should be glad Lexus is off your back."
Harry glared at him. "Shut up Ron."
Harry stared down at his empty plate, not at all hungry. He kept shooting glances down the Gryffindor table at Lexus who was allowing Parvarti to touch his hair, but Harry was the only one who seemed to notice that his body was very tense.
Snape knew Harry was looking, which was why he was allowing Patel to touch his hair. If he could only get Harry to apologize, this whole mess would be over, and he wouldn't need Draco's help after all.
"Speak of the devil. . ." Snape mumbled as Draco burst into the Great Hall, his posture perfect and a smug look on his face. He puffed out his chest and strode over to Harry, leaning over to whisper something in his ear. Snape's hands clamped into a fist as he watched Harry blush and get up, following Draco out of the Great Hall.
Snape sighed and calmed himself, trying to decide if he should eavesdrop or not, but before he could actually decide, Parvarti began playing with his hair again, making him tense and forget about what he was thinking.
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Draco led Harry to one of the far corners in the Entrance Hall. He didn't need to stay near the door. They'd be letting out for classes soon, and he was not going to let himself get pushed by any of the people running out and through the door.
When they'd gotten to the right destination, he smiled and turned to Harry. "Hello Potter. I'm glad I could tug you out of the Great Hall."
"More like blackmail," Harry blushed again. "I thought you said you threw those pictures away!?"
"Never mind that," Draco chuckled. "They're stored away deep in the chest at the foot of my bed. The chest has been customized so that only I may open it, and if it's not me . . . well," Draco laughed again, "we'd all know."
Harry shook his head at his friend's inside joke that only he could understand. "So what'd you call me out here for?"
"It seems as if my cousin is very worried about your . . . wrath . . ." Draco said slowly, trying to choose the right words. "He decided to break into my common room last night and asked me to talk to you for him."
"Ahh, so he sent you for his dirty work," Harry rolled his eyes. "Isn't it obvious why I'm mad? He always treats me like I'm not much of value. I had enough of that from the Dursleys' and Snape." Draco flinched. Hopefully Harry didn't make a connection anytime soon. . . "I bet you'd be pretty tired of it too if you were treated like dirt."
"Malfoys aren't treated like dirt. That's how we treat others," Draco said matter-of-factly, "but once we get to know the right people, we begin to calm down. Lexus just might not know you enough yet, Potter." Draco silently praised himself for his lie.
"Either way, he's being a twat," Harry said.
"Hah! Strong, muggle words Potter," Draco laughed.
Harry laughed too. "It's true though!" Harry grinned, "But is that all you wanted, not that I'm not enjoying talking to you."
"Obviously. Who wouldn't enjoy talking to me?" Draco asked. "Well, Lexus also wanted to know how he could make it up to you," Draco rolled his eyes. "He's groveling in a way, isn't he?"
"Hmm, I haven't really thought of it that way," Harry grinned, "but he can find his own way to apologize. He's honestly not that clueless, is he?"
"When it comes to emotion, he is—"
The bell rang, cutting him off. He gave a frustrated sigh, and then looked Harry in the eye, making him shiver. Draco's eyes seemed to pierce through his, but not in a bad way. Some kind of emotion was dancing behind them, but Harry couldn't figure out what it was. . .
"I guess our chat has been cut short," Draco said, still looking directly into Harry's eyes. "I guess next time we can actually catch up, rather than talk about relationship issues. . ."
"Yeah, hopefully—"
"Harry!" came two identical shouts. Harry looked to see the twins calling to him from the entrance. He waved, and then looked back to tell Draco bye, but he'd already left.
Harry sighed, and then turned back to the twins, starting to walk to go greet them . . . when he saw Lexus that is. He froze, and searched for an escape route. And then he saw Hermione and Ron, slinking off to go for a short make out session. He knew he'd ruin his friend's "fun time" but it wouldn't be an often occurrence.
"Ron! Hermione! Want to walk to History of Magic together?" he called out to them.
They turned around, Ron's shoulder's slumping, and Hermione jumping as if she'd been caught in the act of doing something bad. She quickly straightened herself and smiled, tugging Ron with her as she made her way to Harry. "Sure, why not? I need a minute to look over my essay. Did you get yours done all the way Harry? Ron only got half of his. . ."
"I stayed up all night working on homework, Hermione. Of course I got it done," Harry smiled. As they began making their way up the staircase, he caught sight of Draco talking to Lexus. He just caught sight of Lexus' scowl as he turned his attention back to his friends.
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Snape couldn't concentrate in class. Not one bit. How could that boy make him so frustrated!? He'd hold this against the child for an eternity. . .
"Lexus, honey, are you alright?" Fred whispered in his ear.
"Yes, we are very worried about you, love," George whispered in his other ear.
Fred placed a hand on his knee and grinned. "Is there any way we may help you?"
"Remove your hand from my knee this instant Weasly. I am not in the mood." Snape snapped, receiving a shush from that bothersome ghost Binns. . .
"Oh, so you have been in the mood from us at one point," chuckled Fred. "Did you hear that George?"
"I certainly did Fred," George chuckled.
"I'm actually not into red heads. . ."
"Fred and I are willing to let you be," George taunted.
Lexus rolled his eyes and turned his head to catch a glimpse at Harry. The boy was busy laughing away with Ron, making a wave of fury spread through his body.
He then turned his attention back to Binns. His transparent back was turned, so he chose this chance to slip from his seat and inconspicuously sneak to the door. He had luckily sat near it today, and everyone in the class was half asleep or asleep, but unluckily, the twins followed.
"We're going wherever you do Lexie," they whispered, chasing after him. Severus felt like hexing them right then and there, but he decided it best not to. He'd rather escape unnoticed. . .
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Harry barely noticed when Lexus left the room, but when he saw the twins follow, his mind began to wander. He kind of wondered what they were going to do, the twins being all about mischief. Lexus probably wouldn't allow it, but who knows? Either way, Harry did his best to push it out of his mind.
"So, how has Ginny been lately?" Harry asked Ron nervously. Things hadn't ended that well since they last talked, but that didn't keep him from worrying about her from time to time.
"Ehh . . . I suppose she's alright. Hermione said she's still trying to find a way to get you back as soon as the tension disappears though," Ron replied, looking over at Hermione who was busy taking notes. "Ginny is a bit obsessive over you, Harry. I'd hate to see what would happen if you got a new girlfriend."
Harry thought that sounded odd. Him and a new girlfriend. He shuddered. "I doubt that will happen anytime soon."
"I hear you, mate," Ron nodded. "Spare the girl from pain."
Harry gave a weak laugh before going back to scribbling on the margin of his book. The thought of having to be with another girl again made him flinch. Cho had ended bad despite how he wished it would have worked better, and things with Ginny were bad now. Did he honestly want to go through all that drama again?