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Chapter 14

Harry left Dumbledore office. It has been a while since he felt this angry at anybody. What was Dumbledore thinking. Is Harry really incapable of defending himself? Hasn't Harry survived Voldemort's attacks five times already, with four of them on his own?

Harry entered the common room after nearly shouting the password at the Fat Lady. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. Harry was satisfied with that, since he could not handle to have a proper conversation with anybody without shouting.

Harry considered the Aurors he was to receive. What will the people say? How is Harry supposed to see anyone without being surrounded by Aurors? How is Harry supposed to see Draco?

Harry's anger dissipated when he thought of his handsome lover.

Cooled down by Draco, Harry drifted off to relatively peaceful sleep.

The morning brought a very tired Harry Potter to breakfast. Strangely, only eight people were at breakfast. Hermione was there already, tucking into her eggs and bacon, looking very cheerful. There were no other Gryffindors. There were no Hufflepuffs and only four Ravenclaws. The last person present was Severus Snape. Snape was looking very lonely, alone at the Head Table. Snape was not looking at anyone, his expression very glum. Harry observed his potions master, what he saw was very bloodshot eyes and an unhealthily pale visage. Snape's face also looked pale, as if he lost significant weight. Perhaps Snape felt someone looking at him, he looked up at Harry. Snape's expression could not be called an expression. Snape's eyes did not harden, soften or change in any other way. His muscles did not twitch or move in any other way. Snape was now giving Harry his morose look.

Very confused, Harry looked away quickly. 'Maybe he is sad that Draco is busy with me now, instead of him?' Harry thought. That did not make sense however because Snape would have been making Harry's life hell lately. Reminding himself to think about Snape later, Harry joined Hermione.

'Hi Harry. What was that look Snape was just giving you?'

'You noticed it too? He seems really strange lately.'

'I've noticed. He looks awful. Do you think he's alright?'

'I dunno. Why do you look so happy today?'

'I don't know, I am just happy. The weather is nice too.'

Harry looked up, grey storm-like clouds were the contents of the ceiling today. 'Right, the weather is nice. Just spit it out Hermione.'

Hermione sighed. 'I guess it's only fair.'

Harry looked at her expectantly, waiting for some story of how Hermione beat Draco in the last Transfiguration assignment.

'It's him Harry. Things happened with him.' Hermione was excessively dreamy.

'With whom?' Harry guessed the answer

'It's Ron isn't it? He finally got the guts to do something with you?'

'Don't insult Ron, Harry.' Hermione looked seriously pissed-off. 'And yes, he asked me out yesterday. Then we kissed. Oh God, it was so sweet.'

'So that's why you haven't been nagging me about Draco, haven't been wondering about Snape or even asked about what happened at Dumbledore's yesterday. Above all, you have not been bothering me about all the schoolwork I am missing.' Harry suddenly understood. 'You did not kiss yesterday, this has been going on for a while! No wonder Ron seems content with me not talking to me.'

Hermione looked caught. 'Harry, this hasn't been going on for a while.'

Harry simply stared at Hermione, she could not meet his penetrating emerald gaze.

'Oh fine, yes it has been going on for a week now. Ron came to me the very same night your had your fight.'

'Wait, what happened to make you so happy then?' Harry secretly guessed the answer, nevertheless he wanted Hermione to squirm in discomfort. After all, she made him squirm like that mere days ago when she found out about Draco.

'Something more happened didn't it? Something more than a kiss.'

Hermione's blush was shameless. She looked the color of Ron's maroon sweater.

'Harry, I...'

'It's alright, I do not want to know the details. This is a bit of a surprise though.'

Hermione bowed her head. Harry was intelligent, despite all the classes he has been skipping.

Finishing off her breakfast at top speed, Hermione waved Harry goodbye and ran away to her most favorite place on Earth - library.

Harry's day was interesting to say the least.

His morning Transfiguration was a nightmare. McGonagall took off 40 points from him because for the second essay in a row Harry has failed to hand it in.

'You're lucky I am busy this week, Potter. It would have been a month's detention in addition.' She screeched.

With McGonagall's voice inside his head, Harry made it to his Charms.

Flitwick was not impressed with Harry's charmwork.

'Mr. Potter, 30 points from Gryffindor for starting a fire in my classroom. You are supposed to produce water, not kill all my students!'

Then it was a glum lunch for Harry. Then his Herbology.

Sprout was not better.

'Potter! 50 points from Gryffindor for killing my plant, Potter!'

It was double Potions next. Harry was considering skipping. He did not want to see a "D" or even a "T" as the last grade he got for his essays.

Knowing full well that skipping Snape's class was literally calling upon the skies to struck him down with lightning, Harry made it to the class.

To Harry's sheer disappointment, Draco was not present again. 'Is he avoiding me? Can't be another headache.' But then Harry remembered that Draco wanted to see Harry very eagerly only two days ago.

Snape was sitting at his desk as the student's filed in.

Not bothering to give his poisonous facade again, Snape simply called out the same five words as the last class: 'You know what to do.'

Snape then flicked his wand lazily, and twenty or so essays flew back. Harry did not only get the essay though. There was a piece of parchment attached to his essay, on which a spiky "Ex" was written.

Very curious, Harry read the note attached:

Mr. Potter,

As of now you are excused from all the potions essays you have received a letter grade "E" or below. This means you have been excused from all of the assignments this year.

Severus Snape.

Harry had to pinch himself. Snape excusing him? Why did he do that? Looking at his professor, Harry saw that Snape was once again staring at one grey spot on the wall.
Snape did just that for the next two hours.

Harry wondered if he should talk to Snape. The man surprised Harry to say the least. Harry then thought: 'What if this is a fluke. What if I am not the one to be excused?' Deciding to not approach Snape, who once again left as soon as the bell rang, Harry was left to his own thoughts.

The evening approached fast for Harry, who was determined to see Draco. Harry quickly scribbled a note, this was much less elegant than Draco's note two days prior:

Draco,

I would love to see you tonight.

Usual meeting spot?

Love from Harry.

Harry smiled inwardly as he charmed the little paper into an airplane. The airplane zoomed away, finding its new owner.

Harry decided to dispose of pleasantries tonight and went a for a simple blue t shirt and a regular pair of jeans. Harry did not put perfume on tonight, or did his hair. What was his Slytherin prince going to say about the attire?

The blond prince as it seemed, did not mind Harry's choice of clothing at all.

It seemed Draco was taking in the Harry's fairly peaceful mood.

The Room of Requirement stayed the same as last time.

'Couldn't you wish for something of your own, Harry?'

Harry blushed slightly. 'I just couldn't really think of anything. I will next time though.'

'Promise?' Draco sounded almost needy.

'I promise, Draco.' Harry looked at Draco closely. 'Are you okay? You seem extra quiet tonight.'

'I am fine.' Draco easily waved of Harry.

The two boys were sitting in front of the fireplace tonight. Harry had his arms wrapped around Draco's slimmer body. Draco in turn had his head lightly grazing Harry's shoulder.

'Did you want to relax tonight Harry?'

Harry looked over at the bed, feeling mildly aroused already.

Draco has seen Harry look over and chuckled. 'I didn't mean it like that, silly. I meant literally relax. How about wine?'

Harry considered this. He really did not mind staying with Draco like this all night.

'Sure. I am not a big wine-drinker, so I trust your choice Draco.'

Draco smirked at this. Draco was doing lots of un-Malfoyish things lately, this was however the most Malfoy-like smile Harry had witnessed for a while.

Draco got up, turned his back to Harry and thought of Cabernet. The bottle instantly appeared on the table. Draco was now pouring wine, excessively slowly.

'Draco why did it take you so long to pour the wine?'

Draco gave a fake laugh at this. 'Well a Malfoy has to know how to properly serve wine, Potter.'

Harry chuckled at the use of his last name.

Taking the offered glass, Harry did not notice that his seemed to have slightly more wine in it than Draco's.

'Cheers.' Harry toasted Draco and drank the wine.

'Yes, cheers indeed.' Draco watched as Harry took a rather large gulp of the wine.

Harry chuckled again, starting to feel oddly sleepy.

'Harry.' Draco's voice was very quiet and very sorrowful.

'Yeah?' Harry's voice sounded distant, his feeling of sleepiness growing with each passing moment.

'I love you Harry.'

Harry tried to keep himself awake, but the sleepiness was so enjoyable. Harry closed his eyes.

'Draco, I...' Harry yawned. 'I think I love you too.'

Harry's head flopped back against the sofa behind him.

A tear was traveling down Draco's soft, milky cheek.

Still sitting, Draco Malfoy hugged and kissed the sedated Harry Potter.