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Chapter eleven: Lions are quiet by nature

'Oh, please, Merlin don't let it be that bad'

Draco glanced at the teacher's table and groaned. Great - just when one might need them neither his father nor Severus, nor Dumbledore were there. He could at least hope that if something really bad was to happen, McGonagall would protect her Golden Boy. He had to think! What would be the right plan of action here? He wasn't sure what exactly had happened. Hermione already knew, but he couldn't just go and ask her- he didn't know how much he was incriminated in the whole situation so he didn't want to risk doing the same to the girl. And they couldn't just leave since it could be interpreted as an escape. They just had to act normal and wait for the development of the events and to act fast and accordingly when needed.

A still shaky Harry thanked Blaise for catching him and turned a questioning gaze to the blond. Draco nodded encouragingly and led his friends to their seats on the Slytherin table. They just had to stay calm!

Harry took a deep breath and walked on his own even though he was still a bit shaken. He understood the look Draco gave him - "Act normal and we'll see what happens." Good, he could do that - after all he had lived through his fifth year with everybody believing him to be crazy. But something was off with the look Hermione shot him. She knew what had caused all the commotion. Instinctively Harry looked at the Gryffindor table. He saw a surprised and worried Seamus and two redheads with unreadable expressions.

What was going on? Well, let's take Draco's advice and go with the flow.

As Harry sat at the empty end of the Slytherin table he heard some hisses from the other side that made all of his friends turn around.

"Faggot," Was what everybody was saying.

Draco turned too, his face with an unreadable, stony expression.

"May I inquire who are you talking to?"

A sixth year boy with a forced manly expression sneered at him.

"Your little Savior lover, Malfoy. Or maybe Zabini. I don't know, I can't quite catch when you change partners, you queers."

Harry was genuinly surprised that somebody actually dared to talk to Draco in such a manner. He was a dead man. The brunet was so shocked that didn't even absorb the information that he had just received. He needed about a minute (provided to him by the stunned silence that followed the boy's words) to realize that everybody knew of his orientation. Could it be that all that commotion was because of that? How stupid.

Draco was completely shocked. This little boy was trying to provoke him - the Slytherin Prince! He had to stay cool though, or he was going to slip and do or say something he would regret later.

"Who I choose to sleep with is my own personal business and I don't see how you even dare to comment on it. And as far as my friends are concerned, you better think twice before insulting either of them. Now I'll advise you to go back to your seat and the pointless conversation you were having with your friends, before I do something more than warn you."

The boy froze for a moment as he saw the Slytherin Prince in action - they all thought Draco had lost his touch (and his guts). Obviously that wasn't the reality and the sixth year almost did as he was told. Almost. He still remembered that they were at the Great Hall and the other Slytherin could do nothing but throw threats at him. What's more, he was a Malfoy, and that family was a thorn in the eye of the Dark Lord. If he hurt Draco, that would make him jump in the hierarchy, quite quickly. So the boy smirked back at the blond and added.
"Since you shagged the Golden boy, who you fuck is not your personal business anymore- it's all in the papers now. And about insulting your friends - some friends you have, ones who cannot defend themselves but need you."

Harry was furious. He was clenching his fists the whole time and only Pansy's hand on his shoulder was stopping him from doing something that would make Voldemort proud. That boy was playing with fire. No, with dynamite. Of course, Harry understood that what he had said was true - so the papers somehow had found out that he was gay and wrote about it. There were only three questions hanging - how did they find out, why was it now that everybody reacted (the papers were received in the morning, not the night) and why were Blaise and Draco involved. The raven-head was distracted from his thoughts by the blonde's voice, which was unusually tense.

Draco counted to ten in his head. So what he suspected was indeed true. He wasn't surprised that he and Blaise were involved (a little surprised Theo wasn't, but that was for the better). He couldn't say anything to protect his friends because he would either step on his or on their pride. Let's hope Blaise would react fast enough.

"I would have thought you Slytherin enough not to believe everything the papers say and smart enough to do as you are told. I guess I was wrong."

"Leave him to talk, Dray, that way maybe I'll have the opportunity to show him just how well Harry and I can defend ourselves."

Thanks Salazar that he had such a smart and quick friend.

The guy expected that kind of reaction. They were rising to his bait - could the ex-rulers of Slytherin be so naive? Well, only one way to find out.

"Go on then, if you dare. "Defend" yourselves! But do it out loud so that the whole school could hear you. I'm not the only one who knows, after all. At least you know that you did something wrong - otherwise you wouldn't need to "defend" yourselves, right Potter?"

Harry had had the time to calm down. He was good at dealing with what others thought of him, so he just gave a friendly smile to the annoying boy.

"Even though I feel this urge to do what you tell me to, I'll have to be strong enough not to oblige, Milord. See, I wouldn't want to have the whole school interested in my sex life in the Slytherin common room, and we all know what happens there. Actually, now I remember you. You're Mark Twiny, right?" Judging from the look the boy gave him he had got the name right. "Oh yes, I remember you." The brunet walked to the boy and leaned into his ear but talked loud enough for the table to hear. "We wouldn't want Tracy to know what happened last May, now would we?" Harry winked at the stunned and blushing boy and sat down between Draco and Blaise.

Blaise squashed the urge to gape. Was that the Harry Potter they had bullied all these years? It almost seemed impossible that the Gryffindor who always responded hotly with either his fist or his wand could be so...sly...inventive...Slytherin. He had to admit that up until now he didn't quite get why Harry was transfered in his House. Ok, the kiss today was strange, but he put it to the raven head's hot temper, not to some kind of plan he had made. Maybe he would be able to get along with his new House mate better than he had expected.

There was a really nasty commotion going around though. Judging from Dray's lack of surprise he had seen it coming. Blaise could always tell the reactions of his best mate, even those the blond hid behind facades. They have known each other for more than ten years now and in that time he had learned and saw all there was to Draco Malfoy. He knew him through and through. Enough to know that the blond was racking his mind, trying to come up with a plan on what was the most advantegous way to proceed from now on. But they had to have better knowledge about what was going on. They needed to find the paper that started this. He started looking subtly around to try and locate the desired object.

At that moment a girl sat next to him.

"Hey, Blaise, guys, I think you better look at this." Hermione said in a low voice and handed them the exclusive edition of Witch Weekly. On it's front page could be seen three pictures - one for Harry, Draco and Blaise. Above them a title with colored capital letters yelled: "Who will The-Boy-Who-Lived choose?".

In complete contrast to his recent actions Harry just stared at the paper in front of him. He was at a loss for words. Who could even...? His question was partially answered when Pansy began reading parts of the article.

"Today the Boy-Who-Turned-Out-To-Be-Gay was seen kissing one of his classmates- Blaise Zabini in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We were able to get an exclusive interview from the distraught best friend and ex-girlfriend of Harry Potter."

Harry closed his eyes. Well, he hadn't thought of that. So his little demonstration was seen by more people than he had hoped. But what was worse was the last part of the sentence. Could it be...

"When I said that I'll kill Ronald Weasley, I forgot something - his sister!" Was Hermione's angered statement. "To fall that low - they are your friends for Merlin's sake! They've known you since your first year here! How could they do this?!"

Harry smiled sadly at her. Thank Merlin for Draco's vision or right now Harry would be the most irreparably broken person alive. Oh, he was hurt, but at least the damage could be repaired... hopefully.

"Don't make a fuss over it, Hermione, it's not something unexpected after all." Was that his voice? It was low and shaky. He had to brace himself, he didn't want to give those asses the pleasure of seeing him hurt.

---

So Merlin was turning a deaf ear on him today. The worst was happening! The media! Draco couldn't belive that the damn Gryffindors could be this resourceful. He knew that Harry was probably very badly hurt, but he would deal with that later. Now he needed to know how far the Weasels had gone.

"Carry on, Pans."

The girl nodded and with a tint of anger in her voice continued reading.

"Young Ronald Weasley, a former dormitory mate of says: "Potter has been using me and my family for years. He has never wanted to go back to his relatives, saying that they abused him. I've always believed that, even though there were some remarks from people that he was only searching for attention. But after what my sister has brought forth, I think that those people were right and Harry Potter was using my family so that he could satisfy his ego." A heart broken Ginerva Weasley elaborates: "I've always been in love with Harry and he knew it. At the end of last year, my dream came true when he asked me out. I accepted, but soon realised that what I was dreaming about wasn't going to come true. Even though we were officially dating, Harry was always cold and distant. I thought it was because he was shy and I was his first serious girlfriend, but a couple of days ago, I found out the real reason, when he broke up with me. He told me that he had always been gay and that he was using me as a shield, behind which to hide from prying eyes. He told me that he didn't need me anymore since he had found lovers who would take care of him." Pansy was reading every word with more and more malice and in the end she had to stop to take a breath. The magazine was shaking in her hands and was a little crumpled from the force with which she was grabbing onto it.

Well, nothing could be said to that. They hated him. Both of them. Using the Weasleys, the closest thing to a family he had ever had? Lying about his relatives? Trying to get attention? Using Ginny as a shield to hide his debauchery? And the article continued. Harry hoped that that was the commentary by the author and not more interview. He wasn't sure he could keep the cold mask his face now wore if that wasn't the case.

Hermione, who had already read the article twice, was just resting her head on her hands. When she looked up and saw no reaction from Harry, she realised how deep he must be wounded. The girl reached out a hand to soothe him, but her hand was stopped by Blaise who just shook his head. Of course, Harry needed to be here, to hear this and take it with his head held high. And anything that could make him break his composure was not helping at all.

"Is there more from the interview or is the rest only talk about all the signs that Harry gave and how everybody always suspected that he's gay?" Theo's voice was filled with irony. It was a voice of a person who knew just how much better he was than the others and how they did not even deserve his anger. He was smiling and eating as if nothing had happened.
Just what Harry needed. Nott was putting this act for him and he was not one to refuse an offered hand (not anymore). The brunet smiled and looked at Pansy.

"Forget about me. What did they say about Draco and Blaise?" His voice was cold and filled with anger. Ron and Ginny could fuck with him however they pleased, but they had no right to bring others into that.

"I can't read anymore. If one more word of this crap comes out of my mouth, I'm gonna be sick." Pansy declared, her eyes flaring with anger.

Draco took the magazine from her hands and scanned it briefly, only reading the most important bits.

"The Slytherin dorm is a disgusting place where orgies are happening every night. They are obviously led by Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy who are now constantly seen with the gay hero....Ms Weasley elaborates: "Of course, I expected him to jump immediately into Draco Malfoy's bed with all the tension between them for years. But the kiss he shamlessly paraded in front of the whole school, only proves that they've formed a threesome." ... Harry Potter's lovers are both from two very old pureblooded families with a high society status. Ron Weasley has an explanation: "Potter is thirsty for fame and money. He has found the quickest way to get it: shagging the rich queer bastards."...We'll try to reach the parents of Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini to get their thoughts about their son's chosen partner... What is Dumbledore doing, you might ask dear readers? Under his nose his students are having unprotected sex...Are Malfoy and Zabini in love? What is Harry Potter planning? Is he only using them?...The two will have to answer to the high class society; which in past years has not been very tolerant to same sex relationships due to their diminishing number...Lot of hearts have been broken."

Draco had to drop the magazine before he tore it apart. How dare they?! Now they were all not only in deep shit, but in big trouble also.

Blaise had paled considerably and now was only able to mutter:

"Those son's of bitches!"

Great, now Draco and Blaise, as the only heirs to their bloodlines, will have it even harder to continue the line. Harry doubted anyone knew about Draco's orientation and he was quite sure that apart from that thing he had with the blond, Blaise was quite straight. Now, however, he was stuck with the other... queers. And whose fault was it? And that's the right answer - Harry Potter. If it wasn't for his stupidity and Gryffindor recklessness this wouldn't be happening. Great. He couldn't bring himself to look his ex-friends in the eyes.

Draco calculated fast and turned to Harry.

"Listen to me, Harry. Don't think about the interviews, don't think about the others, just listen to me and answer my questions. What matters is what you want to do from now on. We can still react and either attack back or defend. The first important thing you must decide is:Do you want the the Magical Society to know that you're gay? If yes, then that's fine, we'll just have to repair the damage on your... gay image done by the article. If no, then there is still something we can do to fix this. Answer me: what do you want?"

Harry had to laugh at that.

"Do you really think I care even in the slightest what the "Magical Society" thinks of me? It doesn't matter if I'm straight, gay or even a lesbian - they'll still meddle with my life. So, my answer is - let them do as they please." The brunet sighed and continued somberly. "You better think about yourselves - your families have history, positions - think how to repair the damage done to you."

Hermione's laugh mirrored that of Harry some minutes ago.

"Really, Draco, asking Harry not to think about the others and only care for himself... You still have a lot to learn. But for a first time I have to agree with him. What is done is done - for a moment there, they had forgotten about him with the war going on and all the attacks. But now they have a good way to distract people from that. Even if he denies being gay, they'll start to search for the reasons for which he left Ginny. There's no way out right now." Hermione's look could've killed when she said her next words. "And certain Weasleys knew that very well!".

Pansy decided that she had to join the conversation

"If Draco is saying that he has a solution, then he does. You two don't know how to work your way around and how to sway the public and that's why the press hasn't left you alone. But we're purebloods. We deal with reporters every day and we know how to handle it. And besides, to choose their position, Blaise and Dray have to know where you stand. Please, Harry, honey I know that you are upset, but we have to think rationally now. Mia we better leave this to the boys. They'll be able to handle it. Come on, hun, answer Dray's question. Think just this once about yourself. What do you want?" The girl asked her newest friend.

She could see his pain in the emerald green eyes. She knew the damage done to him by press (some of it was the Slytherins' fault actually), but they could get out of the situation if that was what Harry wanted.

"I really don't care that they know. Actually, I want them to know. I don't want to have to live my life hiding from the one I love, whoever he turns out to be, because I fear for my image. You really don't get it, do you? I. Don't. Care. About them knowing I am gay. The problem comes after that. A gay hero's personal life is far more interesting. Reporters will be everywhere, asking everyone what they knew, or suspected, or imagined about me. It will not go away. You're purebloods and know how to deal with the media and how to silence it. But The Boy Who Lived is an exception."

All this would have sounded as the most selfish thing the Slytherins had ever heard if they had not been with Harry the last few days. Now they saw the self-irony, the despair and the realistic way he saw things.
"I really can't help you, guys. Act as you see fit. I've made my mind up about that. I will not run away like a fairy. I will stand my ground. Fuck them all. Theo, pass me the bread, please."

Draco nodded. Ok, he could understand that. But that left Blaise. The Italian was a Slytherin for much longer than Harry though, he didn't need to explain things to him, so the blond just asked quietly.

"Things are worst for you. Do you want me to do anything. Or if you choose a public display I'm sure Pansy will agree to assist."

Pansy quickly nodded her agreement.

"The biggest problem are my parents." Blaise thought for a moment and then groaned in frustration. "Why the fuck do they waste time with this crap when there is a war going on." He sighed and then said. "No public display. But what are we going to do- a follow up interview, sue the magazine, ruin the magazine?"

The blond considered.

"The best strategy would be a follow up interview and then sue them and if that doesn't turn out right- ruin them."

"Agreed. Are you in, Harry."

"Of course." Was the simple answer.

Hermione intervened.

"Do you have a journalist on your mind about the interview?" She shot an evil look at Harry, who only smirked back.

"I think I have a pretty good idea."

They heard a frustrated sigh.

"I think we'll have problems again." Blaise nodded towards the other end of the table. "We can discuss the reporter thingy either later tonight or tomorrow. I suggest we leave now."

"But you haven't eaten yet." Pansy admonished.

"We'll order something in the Common Room. " Draco promised. That girl worried too much. "Let's go."

Indeed the other Slytherins were talking and looking at them more pointedly than before. They were up to something. Harry got up and walked with his friends out of the Hall, followed by hundreds pairs of eyes. But luck wasn't on their side today. The moment they found themselves out they were greeted by the sight of Ron and Ginny, who had just left and were laughing, heading towards the Gryffindor tower.

Upon seeing them, Blaise moved threateningly towards them.

"How dare you say such crap about us, you..." He was stopped by a hand on his arm.
"Stop it, Blaise. They're not worth wasting your breath on." Draco sneered. "And besides it's not you they should be explaining themselves and apologizing to."

The aforementioned turned around and looked at them as if to assess them.

"I don't see why or to whom we should be apologising, snake." Was the venomous answer that Ginny deigned to give them.

Harry could feel his blood boiling when he saw the smirk on Ron's face at his sister's words.
"Do you really believe what you said? About me using you, and your family and... Look me in the eye and tell me that you really believe all that crap!"

If there was still hope left in him, it fell broken into pieces.

"I belive every word I said in that interview." Ron's voice was full of hatred. "You and your disgusting new friends, doing those disgusting things! I can't believe what you've become. I'm ashamed that I ever called you my friend!"

Harry felt his mask slip. So, Potter, here's your proof. He hates your guts. At least at some point he had "called' you his friend. He couldn't stay here even a second more or he would break. But he couldn't run now, could he - they would see him weak, and he wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

"What did you just say?" Hermione's blood was boiling. "How dare you do this to Harry! After all he did for you? What's gotten into you? There's no excuse for words like this. At least I'm glad that we made things clear - Harry and his "disgusting" friends, we are all leaving."

Hermione was the best person who had ever existed if you asked Harry. She grabbed his hand and was about to lead them all to the dungeons when a voice stopped her.

"If you could just wait for a second there, Miss Granger."

Draco almost groaned aloud. The people he wanted to deal with the least at the moment were striding towards them- Severus and his father. His father's next words though showed him that in fact, there was someone he wanted to see even less.

"You've all been summoned to the Headmaster's office."

And to annoy him further it seamed that the Weasel thought the same.

"Does this apply to us?"

"Yes, he wants to see you too, Mr Weasley, Ms Weasley. Follow us."

Harry almost groaned. What did Dumbledore want now of all times? Couldn't he summon them tomorrow or later that evening? And Ron and Ginny too.

The brunet tried to stay as far away from them as possible. He was walking with Hermione and Pansy on his both sides who were looking around as if they were his bodyguards. He couldn't care less. He knew he had to focus on something different or he would go mad, that's why he decided to study the others. Blaise and Nott were talking quietly, Ron and Ginny were walking in the back - obviously afraid of hexes being thrown their way, and Draco was walking next to his father, trying his hardest to ignore him. Harry thought that looked like an extremely hard task, judging by the look Lucius Malfoy was giving his son. One person was missing though. Before he could turn around, he heard a voice next to him that almost made him jump.

"Care to explain what is going on, Mr Potter?" demanded Snape. He and Lucius had just gone to the Great Hall to search for the teenagers and they'd been greeted with a commotion similar to the one they'd had on their hands around the Triwizard Tournament. The ones they were searching for weren't there (maybe because they were the reason behind said commotion). Before they left in a hurry, they only managed to gather that Harry Potter was gay and that this had something to do with Slytherin and with some of Potter's new roommates and friends.

"I know as much as you do, Sir. Apparently some people decided it would be fun to say... things that do not concern them... about other people. To the press. I'm sure you know the story if you have seen tonight's edition of Witch Weekly." Harry surprised himself at how calm he sounded. He even talked civilly to Snape! He was getting better. Thank Merlin, Pansy saved him from the pain to explain more. It surprised him how freely she was talking to the Potions Master.

"The usual, Sir. It's those Gryffindors can attest to the fact that they are not only stupid, but also disloyal, backstabbing... you get what I mean. We'll explain in more detail later or you can read the article they've composed by yourself. Do you know why the Headmaster wants to see us? It doesn't have to do something with tonight, does it?"

Snape almost smiled.

"No, it doesn't have anything to do with tonight. I don't believe that the Headmaster would bother himself and two teachers with some teenage quarrels. But I cannot tell you about the purpose of this meeting - it's neither the place, nor in my right to say."

The two Malfoys were walking up ahead, far in front of the rest of the group. Lucius was trying to get his son to talk to him. It had been like this all summer - Lucius trying to communicate, trying to break through, and Draco pulling away. The man knew that his son was taking the death of his mother really hard and was trying to get over his grief in his own way, but that didn't mean he had to keep him at a distance. Especially now when things seemed to be getting pretty rough on his boy's end.

"Draco, what's going on? We were on a hurry when we went to the Great Hall and we understood very little about the whole situation. Talk to me, please!"

His father was worrying again and Draco didn't want that. The man had enough to deal with, without having to worry about some stupid attempt of some stupid Gryffindor to play powerful. Lucius already knew about his orientation and he didn't mind, but he would definitely mind the attention that the damn article would draw to their family. Curse those Weasels!

"It's nothing more than what you've heard, dad. The Gryffindors are throwing accusations left and right without having proof, speculating about a relationship between Harry, Blaise and me, and then giving all that crap to the media."

To his surprise, his father wasn't angry. Lucius only nodded and again the first thing he asked about was Draco.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. The situation is far worse for Blaise and Harry."

"Indeed. Blaise will be in a lot of trouble once his parents find out. He'll have to make a final decision."

"His decision is final. He just has to share it now."

The older blond nodded again. At least his son was alright.

"Is that why Dumbledore is calling us?" The boy asked.

"'s about our decisions."

"He chose the perfect moment." Irony was dripping from Draco's words.

Lucius smirked the infamous Malfoy smirk.

"He always does. You have to give him credit for that." Then his voice turned serious. "You have to talk more to me, Draco. I worry more when you don't, than when you share your thoughts and problems with me."

The Slytherin looked carefully at his father. The man's eyes were full with sadness and hope at the same time. Maybe he was being too harsh. They had both lost someone dear and Draco had made a mistake - it was better to deal with it together as a family, rather than face it alone. His father obviously needed him.

The younger Malfoy nodded and smiled.

"I will."

Lucius' eyes lit immediately and he too smiled brilliantly.

They were already in front of the gargoyle that was hiding the stairs, leading towards the Headmaster's office. Snape hurried to the front and whispered the password – "Twix". Lucius never succeeded in remembering the name of the muggle sweet. The two professors led the students up and they were greeted by a serious (for a change) Dumbledore with Fawkes resting on his shoulder.

"Ah, Severus, Lucius, you're finally here. Here, girls and boys, take a seat." And the Headmaster motioned towards 10 chairs, which were positioned facing his desk. Snape snorted at the way Albus addressed them – Lucius and he, they were as far from boys as one could be.

Dumbledore's eyes pierced his students. He knew about the commotion that had happened in the Great Hall and had already read 'Witch Weekly'. He noticed the smug expressions on the Weasley's faces and that surprised him. He had hoped that the article was not true. Next he turned his gaze to Harry. The boy was looking at him curiously, which made the hurt in his eyes barely visible. Once again Dumbledore admired the strength of the young man sitting in front of him. The others were nervous except for Blaise Zabini, who looked pale but determined.

"What is it that you called us here for, Professor?" Hermione couldn't take the silence any longer.

"Always the impatient one, aren't you, Miss Granger?"

Draco thought that he was either going to kill himself or go and strangle the old man – that damn, annoying twinkle was in his eyes again! He saw his father smirk next to him and glared at the man, who obviously had guessed what he was thinking about.

"I'm sure Harry already knows, but I'll explain things for the others that still don't: Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, Mister Weasley, all of the Slytherins gathered here tonight are our allies."

Even before Ron could take a breath to yell, Harry shouted:

"And what made you think I already knew, Professor? How on earth was I supposed to find out? Oh, yes, I know! You came and told me!"

"Harry, my boy, calm down. You've already become friends with your new housemates. I figured they would have shared with you."

"Oh, yes, I marched there on the first of September and they greeted me with new T-shirts "We joined the Order!" written on them."

"THEY JOINED THE ORDER?!?!?!?" Ron shouted out of himself. "All these years when you wouldn't let us join and now those snakes come here marching, declaring they've suddenly felt the urge to serve the Light? And you greet them with open arms? I mean, Snape I can tolerate… barely, but THEM? Wait, you can't mean… MALFOY?" Ron pointed his finger at his new DADA teacher.

That was greeted with dead silence… at first. And then…

"I'm sorry, Mister Weasley, although I'm afraid to break the balance between the two of us, could you be so kind and explain your bearable tolerance of my humble persona?" Snape's voice made Harry almost want to hide behind the desk.

"Severus, Severus, my boy, please, as I told Harry, calm down. Mister Weasley, please restrain yourself. I'll explain." The look the Potions Master shot Dumbledore almost made Lucius laugh out loud.

"This summer I had some very interesting conversations with some of the parents of our young friends here, and we have all come to an understanding. They have agreed to join our lines, as have their children. Well, except one. Mister Zabini, have you made your decision?"

Draco put his hand on his friend's arm for support and nodded to him encouragingly. Blaise smiled gratefully and declared.

"Yes, I have, Headmaster. I will follow my own path. I will be glad to assist you in the war in any way possible."

Dumbledore smiled at him.

"This is a very brave decision, my boy. I cannot say how proud I am of you. I'm sorry, though, for the sacrifices you'll be forced to make."

"Aren't you going to explain… Sir?" Ron demanded. "You can't be seriously telling us that you trust them just like that!"

"I'm going to explain, of course, Mister Weasley, but you'll just have to wait until Saturday. Which leads me to the other matter at hand- Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, you've been officially invited to join the Order of the Phoenix. If you accept, your initiation will happen together with Mr. Zabini here on Saturday. You have time to think. If your answer is positive, I'll be waiting for you all here, Saturday, at 11 o'clock."

After this obvious dismissal, Draco stood up and headed for the door.

---

Luckily for everyone, Ron and Ginny left quickly after the meeting. They didn't say anything more – neither about Harry being gay, nor about their future membership in the Order, nor about Snape and Lucius. After their departure, the two professors left for a staff meeting (a late one), in the teacher's lounge and the teenagers went in the direction of the Ravenclaw tower to send off Hermione.

They walked some time in silence, not knowing what to say. Hermione, who had watched Harry the entire time and had bottled up all of her thoughts about what had happened, now turned to the boy.

"Will you stop sulking already? I know it hurts, they were my friends too, remember? But you're not doing anything by pitying yourself! The wound is there, patch it up and continue with your head held high! You cannot allow some stupid… beings… to affect you."

The raven-head stopped dead in his tracks.

"Of course you know everything, Hermione! Yes, he was your friend too, but I believe things are quite different for me! Ron was the first person from the magical world that made me feel at home here! Till some days ago, he was one of the closest friends I've ever had. And now he goes and does something that only he could think of, since he was so close to me! He is perfectly aware what the results of his actions will be! Tomorrow hundreds of owls will storm the Great Hall with all kinds of threats, support or propositions! My life will be stripped off of me again! And to say… to say I have used the Weasley's – the closest thing to a family I've ever had, the closest thing to parents… I'm sure you understand that perfectly well!" Harry was out of breath and strength. He had used it all up in order to maintain his mask just a little longer and maybe he wouldn't have broken up, if it wasn't for his friend's words. Deep down, he knew that she was probably right, but simple logic sometimes just couldn't be applied that easily!

The Slytherins were shocked into silence until now. Pansy, who was the one who always reacted first, was just about to open her mouth and share her opinion when Draco stopped her and whispered.

"We better leave that one to Hermione. Let's fall behind a little and give them some privacy. They're old friends and if there's someone who can help Harry now, that's Hermione. We shouldn't intrude."

Pansy thought a little then nodded in agreement and the Slytherins started walking slower. They were still able to hear the two friends but they could just pretend they weren't paying attention.

Hermione felt bad. Maybe she had reacted too harshly. Harry and Ron had always had a connection she never quite understood. Not to mention that friendship between boys was something completely different than that between girls or between a girl and a boy.

"Harry, I'm sorry, I understand that maybe I said too much. But you can't let yourself fall, just because somebody stabbed you in the back. You have friends that will listen to you, but in front of other people you have to be strong. Don't let them so close as to see your emotions!" Hermione didn't realize that she was seeing through his attempts to hide his feelings just because she was so close to the boy and that for someone who didn't know him, he would appear unfazed by what was happening.

"That's what I'm doing, Hermione! I guess I'm not that good at it, but I did my best not to show… how I feel. Just understand the situation I'm in, please. Right now I need you to be there for me, not to lecture me!" Harry was on the verge of hitting something.

"I'm not lecturing! I believe that friends are meant to tell you the truth and give you advice and not to leave you to your own devices. I want to help you, not to hurt you even more." Hermione caught gently his arm and pulled the raven-head into an embrace.

Well, nothing could be said to that. Sometimes it was very frustrating to have a friend who is always right. But for now, Harry didn't care. He hugged Hermione back and they stayed like that for a while. The others were a few meters away, delicately giving the two friends some time. When the brunet released the girl, he smiled at her and, hand in hand, they continued silently to the Ravenclaw tower. With a peck on the cheek for goodnight, Hermione went inside and the Slytherins turned around and continued their way to the dungeons.

---

When they got back to their Common Room, it was late and all of their housemates were already up in the dorms. Pansy yawned, in a not very lady-like manner and wished her friends good night before disappearing in the corridor that led to her room. Draco considered the situation and decided that after all he was worried about Harry and wanted to talk to him privately.

"Theo, Blaise, why don't you go ahead, guys, and get showered first?"

The Italian saw that his friend wanted to talk to Harry and after nodding, he left together with the silent Theodore.

Draco went to sit on the couch which they had occupied what... the previous night? and motioned for the brunet to join him. Harry complied but said nothing. The blond thought that it would be best to let the ex-Gryffindor gather his thoughts first and start the conversation when he was ready, so the silence stretched. Finally, after 15 minutes or so Harry sighed and said:

"Ha, so who could guess that Ron would act the dirty way? Going and killing me is one thing, but spreading rumors and lies about me and my friends is a completely different thing. Quite the Slytherin he could make." His voice still couldn't go back to normal. With Hermione, he shouted and was angry. When talking to Draco, he had gathered himself. He didn't want to sound like a charity case...

"Oh yes, of course, just killing you off silently would be such a Gryffindor thing to do." Draco joked. "Those lions hate to impose and be noisy about what they think or feel."

The brunet smiled.

"Well, at least now I'm sure about one of the reasons he hates me - I'm gay. I'm almost curious to know the others." Harry looked at the carpet for a while and then asked the question that was bugging him from the beginning of the evening. "Why did you hate me all these years? Only because I was a Gryffindor, or because I refused your hand in the train? Why?"

"I haven't really... hated you, Harry. It's true that you've been a pain and you annoyed me (and still do sometimes by the way) to no end and I've been mad with you and with some of your choices and actions, but I haven't really hated you. And that was provoked not because you refused my hand, but because you chose Weasley (Weasley!) over me. I have pride you know. And after that the way you let yourself be blinded and swayed by others. I thought 'You're a man, Potter! The Savior no less damn it! Grow up! Open your eyes!' But you didn't and that irritated me even more. That's why I've behaved like I had."

"I see" Harry thought for a moment and then laughed. "I must admit I understand you. But it's different when you're on the other side. On my eleventh birthday Hagrid came and took me from my relatives. I met you in Madam Malkin's and you said you wanted to be in Slytherin. When I asked Hagrid what that was, he told me all the shit - that all dark wizards came from Slytherin, that Voldemort was there, and so on, and so on. Then, on the train, Ron said the same thing. I wasn't in a position to make a comparison. And all that led to me refusing your hand. After that - I have no excuse. I really let myself be swayed. Till this summer, that is. I must have been quite the asshole! You weren't far behind me, either, by the way."

The boys laughed for a while and then silence was reigning once again. Again the blond waited for Harry to speak first.

"I'm sorry to have gotten you and Blaise involved in all that crap. I hope you can find a way out of it."

"Don't worry about us, Harry. Blaise doesn't really care about public image - never did and never will. And now once he's voiced his choice out loud, he doesn't even have his parents to worry about. And for me it's not a problem since I am gay. My father already knows and doesn't mind. My image as a playboy in Hogwarts will come out and I dare say it's not a bad one at all." The blond lughed quietly. "You should think more about yourself, Harry."

"Yes, maybe your right. At the moment the most important think for me is to find out if what Ron said is his and Ginny's opinion only or the Weasley's share it. If they do... I just hope they don't. I guess we'll see - if tomorrow there is a Howler waiting for Ron - Mrs Weasley doesn't agree." Even though he tried to make a joke out of it, the fear of losing his family was more that evident. Harry cursed himself for that. Hell, Draco was not going to put up with a whiny Hufflepuf!

To his surprise the blond looked sadly at him.

"They are like a family to you aren't they?" Draco put his hand one the raven head's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Harry felt himself lean in to the touch. What was he doing? But he was losing it - all the disappointment, pain, hurt - all of this was coming out and he could do nothing to stop it. The brunet sure hoped that Draco had all of his defences up.

"Thanks. I hope there's nothing to be sorry about."

"Are you going to be ok?" There was genuine worry in the blond boy's voice.

"Yeah, sure, I just need to absorb all that has happened tonight." Harry sighed. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this. I just need to... be myself for a while, if that's ok?"

Draco looked deep in the pair of startingly green eyes. This boy... no, this man... who was he? He certainly wasn't the Harry Potter he'd known for the last six years. Why did Harry trust him? Why did he drop all of his defences in front of his enemy? Was this a game the ex-Gryffindor played to try and confuse him? Or was he this naïve and trusting? No, Draco was being paranoid and he knew it. But he didn't understand. He knew why he was trying to get to understand and get closer to him, but why did Harry do the same? The Slytherin just couldn't see logic in that. So he decided to take the risk and play naive for awhile too.

"Why? Why are you so open in front of me? Don't you hate me? Aren't you afraid that I'm going to betray you?"

Draco was looking into his eyes. Those silvery gray eyes were filled with surprise as the blond muttered his question. Harry knew he couldn't answer it, though. He didn't have a plausible response for himself either. He just felt free talking with Draco. It was different than with Theo. With the other boy he could talk about all kind of stuff and not worry about anything. With Draco, he felt the need to prove himself, but at the same time he wanted to reveal all that he was. He wanted to be liked for who he was.

"I don't know, honestly, I don't. Let's say I just feel comfortable around you. And I don't think you're going to betray me. You have had enough possibilities to do that in the past few days, not to mention the last hours. And I certainly don't hate you. Never had from the beginning of the year. I'm sorry I can't say the same thing about the previous years - I was in Gryffindor, I was too blinded and I hated you by default." Harry turned his gaze from the blond. No matter what he had said, he was afraid of seeing the reaction to his words; he was afraid of being betrayed. He needed a friend at the moment, somebody who could be there for him and Draco was the only one who could do that right now.

Harry was too complicated. Draco wouldn't be able to understand him until the brunet understood himself. For now, the only thing he knew was that Harry needed reassurance and support and he could give him that. His former enemy was now a Slytherin, his room mate, part of his group of friends. And friends were one of Draco Malfoy's top priorities.

"It's ok Harry. I know that we were enemies not long ago, but I want to get to know you, I want to be able to trust you and for you to trust me too. And now I can... I want… to be here for you. So don't worry, you can take down all your masks and be yourself. Tomorrow I can pretend that I have seen nothing."

And there was his reassurance. There was nothing more Harry could do. He let go of his defensive mechanisms and now he was trembling slightly, he was hugging himself with his hands and his eyes were tightly shut. His head was low and hid his expression from the blond.

"I just can't believe he did this. Ginny - I can somehow understand, she was always in some form of hysterics, but Ron... He was with me in our first year, he went with me to the Chamber of Secrets, he tried to protect me when he thought Sirius was a killer, he was with me at the Ministry... How... Why..." Harry was no longer coherent. It seemed that his emotions had swept his mind away. The crisis he was so desperately trying to avoid was now there in full force.

Draco moved closer and put his arm around the trembling boy. His other hand was in Harry's hair, playing with the raven locks, trying to offer some comfort.

"Shh, Harry. It's gonna be ok. This pain...it'll go away. Let it all out and it's gonna be better. Grieve now and you'll find tomorrow that you've become stronger. I'm here. Everything will be fine again soon." The blond murmured softly.

"I just... I can't be alone now. I don't feel like I'll be able to take it. And he knows and... Maybe it's for the best. After all because he knows, he has the right to decide for himself. Yes, he better distance himself from me..." Harry had now stopped trembling, relaxed by the blonde's caresses. If it wasn't for Draco, he would probably had gone mad. What an irony, really, but the blond had become one of the few people he could actually trust. He didn't know when that happened, but it did. Harry couldn't remember ever being this weak in front of Ron or Hermione. They would worry, pity him. And Draco was just there, doing nothing but giving the brunet some support. It was infinitely better.

The 'he' person must be Ron, but what does he know? Doesn't matter, I'll find out sooner or later. Harry isn't making any sense now.

"You're not alone. I'm here. We can stay here as long as you want, as long as you need. Realise what's happened, grieve over it, accept it and you'll be able to move on."

Slowly Harry opened his eyes. It was one thing to let go of his emotions and a completely different thing to lose it! He had to get a grip of himself. Even a little late, Ron had made his decision. Better to find out now than in a fight, right? And thank Merlin he had broken up with Ginny - a person who had so much hate in herself, could never really love somebody else. So it was as the old proverb said - "everything bad brings something good".

"Thank you," Harry looked into the silver eyes and inclined his head slightly. "I feel much better now." A small smile was now on the brunet's lips.

Draco returned it and withdrew the hand that was playing with Harry's hair. The other though, stayed on the other's shoulder.

"Do you want to stay here and talk some more? Or we can go to sleep. You must be very tired."

Harry shook his head.

"I believe I've talked enough for a week or so. But if you want to say, ask, share something... I'd be glad to hear it." The brunet felt infinitely in debt to Draco and felt he owed him a great deal. He wasn't so delusional as to not realise that if the blond had any problems, he wouldn't go to Harry, of all people. Rather he would go to Pansy or Blaise... The kiss scene from earlier that day played before his eyes and for a moment Harry gazed into space.

Draco smiled and he withdrew his other hand.

"I'll hold you to that offer someday. But for now, let's get upstairs."

---

When they got in their dormitory all of their room mates were already fast asleep. After a quick shower, Harry was preparing to get in his bed when Draco came up to him and said quietly.

"You haven't told me yet if you wanted my help. With your dreams I mean."

With all that had been going on, Harry had completely forgot about his dreams. Now that Draco mentioned it though...

"Yes, I really need this. What must I do?"

The blond Slytherin nodded.

"Smart decision. Those dreams are dangerous. I'll teach you how to put up a mental shield. It's the type empaths use and it's different from Occlumency. In some part it's easier because once it's put up, it's hard to break. But it requires a lot of energy to actually create it, so we can't do it tonight- you're too tired and too emotionally drained. We'll use something else." Draco motioned to the brunet to get in his bed and Harry complied without asking for an explanation. "I'll use a spell that young empaths often use before they are able to build up their own shields. It'll put a barrier around your bed, which will stop strong emotions or intents directed to you, entering your mind."

Draco took out his wand and made a very intricate movement with it in the air, whispering:

"Cingi aversabilis de affectus.(1)"

The air around Harry's bed glowed silver for a second and then turned back to normal.
"There. You'll still be able to dream, but you won't be in danger of losing yourself."

Harry thanked the blond for what felt like the hundredth time that night and with a good-night he tried to sleep. It wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. Apparently he was tired and after the emotional outburst he had earlier, he didn't have the strength to even think about his problems. They could all wait till tomorrow. He dreamt. But it wasn't about Voldemort. It was something entirely different.

Draco and Blaise were kissing. Blaise had his arms around the blonde's waist and had him pulled as close as possible to his own body. Draco's hands were around the Italian's neck. The kiss was passionate and came naturally, as if they were born to do just that. Harry was watching them with a strange feeling in his stomach. He could feel just how turned on he was by the sight, but there was some part of him that wanted to strangle Blaise.

And then the Italian vanished.


Before Harry could look around he found himself pressed to a wall. Draco was looking into his eyes with the most intense gaze the brunet had ever felt. The Malfoy heir had Harry's hands pinned to the wall above his head and one of his legs was betweеn the brunet's. And when Harry thought this couldn't get any better Draco kissed him. It was nothing like Ginny's kisses - this one was soft, but firm. It took all the air out of his lungs. It was dominant, possessive. Harry felt his legs weaken and now only Draco's leg was helping him stand. Oh, but the feel of his leg...
___

Harry woke up sweaty and feeling a great tension in the lower part of his body. Now what was that?

TBC

1: Cingi aversabilis de affectus (latin) - Protection from emotions

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