Chapter 14

The Challenge

Harry jumped up and down in excitement beside Malfoy and Phoenix.

'Yay!' Harry exclaimed. 'We finally get to play Metamorphosis!'

Draco smiled and rolled his eyes.

'I see you're feeling better?'

'Yep!' Harry grinned 'I've never played a video game in my entire life!'

'Don't let anyone hear you call it that,' Phoenix warned 'You'll end up nearly being beaten up…and then getting your back sliced open and then become the property of a stuck up possessive asshole and then find yourself loving the prick and becoming majorly screwed…'

'O-kay,' Harry spoke confused looking to Draco.

'Aether,' Draco mouthed and Harry silently Oooohhhed.

'I've never played one either Harry, you can imagine the outlook my father shares for muggle toys,' Draco spoke and Harry laughed.

'What's so funny?'

'I just got an image in my head of Lucious Malfoy playing with a tickle me Elmo,' Harry giggled.

'I'm sure if I knew what that was I'd find it hilarious,' Draco rolled his eyes once more.

They turned the corner and the metamorphosis chamber came into view. Harry grabbed Draco's hand and ran toward it. Not noticing the strong blush on Draco's face. They entered the room and Harry looked about excited. He felt so happy just like a kid, he just made a new friend and now he was gonna play a really cool video game. The fire house students were excitingly talking to each other. Most were simply there to watch Phoenix instruct the two transfer students on how to fight in Genesis, they wanted to know how to fight just like the child of fire and how to surpass him. Ares walked over to the two eager boys with a large smile.

'Hey, you guys ready? They sure took their time getting you down here,' Ares greeted.

'Yeah I know, every bodies had a go at Metamorphosis except us,'' Harry agreed.

'I can't wait to get in there and kick Potters arse!' Draco exclaimed. Harry pouted.

'You really mean that Draco?'

'Hell yes! After all those years of getting my arse handed to me in Quidditch I can't wait to finally get you on your back…oh shit I mean-,'

'You want to get me on my back huh Draco?' Harry asked 'I won't go down so easy,'

Draco turned bright crimson.

'What's this?' Casi asked bounding up with her big Pom Poms in hand 'From death threats to sexual innuendos?'

'Sexual Innuendos?' Harry gasped and turned bright red, sometimes he could be so damn clueless. Draco laughed at the adorableness of Harry and draped an arm around the confused one's shoulders.

'Haven't you ever heard of a love/hate relationship?' Draco asked and Harry turned even redder trying to hide in Draco's chest.

'Aw isn't it cute?' Casi swooned.

'We're just friends,' Harry mumbled.

'Since when?' Harry turned to find Fred standing there with a large grin on his face.

'Since lunch,' Draco informed him 'Harry finally got wise and accepted my hand. -In friendship! I mean he finally decided to um…yeah we're not rivals anymore,'

'Calm down there Malfoy and take a breath,' Fred laughed.

'What are you doing here anyway?' Harry asked.

'Are you kidding? You and Malfoy going head to head-,' Fred sent a knowing look at Draco who turned bright red '-in combat. Not something I'm gonna miss,'

'Cool!' Harry exclaimed 'So where's George?'

Fred's bright dispositions dimmed.

'He's being an arse, so I needed some breathing room,' Fred shrugged.

'Wow,' Draco raised his eyebrows 'Trouble in paradise?'

'This is a first,' Harry remarked.

'One fights not so bad,' Casi butted in 'Just thank you lucky stars you're not like Ari and Gryps,'

'That's the problem,' Fred spoke under his breath.

'What's he doing here!' someone shouted from the crowd. The group turned to see Draco Lympha descended the stairs and walked toward them with his usual perfect posture and cool calculating eyes.

'What are you doing here Draco?' Ares asked 'Only students from the house of fire are suppose to be here,'

'Oh? I assumed, since I saw a member from the house of air enter, that it was optional?' Lympha asked. Ares scowled, clearly not liking it.

'Well technically you're both not allowed,' Ares folded his arms.

'That's right!' Casi pointed her Pom Pom at the intruder 'You just wanna rip off my little Phoenix's battle moves! Well you can't so go away you sneaky no good spy!'

'She's right, you better leave Draco, you don't want any trouble,' Ares warned.

'With all due respect Ares, you're not the child of fire any longer and the authority to demand my leave does not belong to you,' Lympha pointed out. The group turned to look at Phoenix who had entered during the banter. He looked up and shrugged

'Whatever, I don't care either way,'

'Ohh!' Casi ran up and jumped on Phoenix, pulling him into a great hug 'My little Phoenix is so confident. He doesn't care if Draco copies off all his moves he'll still be able to teach your snobby butt a lesson,'

'It is his decision,' Ares admitted yet still not entirely happy.

'Well that's good news for me,' Fred spoke with a grin.

'What are you doing here anyway Lympha?' Harry asked.

'I came to watch your performance Harry,'

'Oh…really? Why?'

'Because I consider you a friend, and I wish to show you my support,' Lympha smiled, his eyes focused souly on Harry.

'Draco's got a crush on Harry,' Casi squealed in Ares' ear.

'Which one?' Ares asked. Malfoy felt a strong surge of anger and jealousy well up in his chest, he did not bother to cover the emotion in his eyes.

'Oh wow you too Lympha?' Harry asked awkwardly 'Thanks, I guess, it's great my friends like to come out and see me…ahh play stuff. Even if it is only to see me get my arse kicked,'

'Please, I would very much like for you to call me Draco,' Lympha asked. Malfoy clenched his fists and fumed over.

'Actually if you don't mind I'd like to keep calling you by your last name,' Malfoy turned and looked at Harry in shock 'It would just be too confusing with two Draco's. My mind gets stressed enough just around the one,' Harry laughed 'Besides I made a promise,'

Harry turned and gave Malfoy a beautiful smile that made the blond melt and shine with happiness.

'I understand, I should enjoy being called anything, as long as it be by you Harry,' Lympha spoke. Draco's fury returned by Harry simply turned and frowned.

'Huh?'

Casi, Ares, Fred and Malfoy all fell over. Harry could be so damn clueless. Finally Phoenix intervened.

'Alright enough chit chat'

'Little Phoenix!' Casi exclaimed and wrapped her arms around Phoenix's waist. Phoenix sighed and pointed toward the simulator.

'Just get in the box,'

Harry bounded up to the boxes and stood waiting for Draco, childish smile still plastered on his face.

'Come on Draco,' Phoenix urged. Draco looked warily at Phoenix.

'What exactly will happen?' Draco asked.

'Oh stop being a wimp Draco and come on,' Harry grinned. Draco rounded on Harry,

'That sounded awfully like a challenge Potter,' Draco smirked.

'And what if it is? There are friendly challenges between friends right?' Harry asked returning the smirk, childish nature completely evaporated. Draco walked calmly over to Harry and stood not an inch from him. Harry quickly lost his disposition at their proximity and turned a tad pink in his cheeks.

'How about we make this a tad bit interesting huh Harry?' Draco asked.

'What did you have in mind?'

'A simple wager. Metamorphosis is, of course, a form of duel after all?' Draco asked, Harry grinned.

'Alright then, my terms are, that if I win…you have to admit your inferiority and…clean our dorm room for a month!' Harry stated satisfied.

'Ouch, high stakes,' Fred winced.

'Alright, but if I win, you have to get me out of here,' Draco declared.

'Ahh what?'

'You have to take me into town and pay for my entire night out. Dinner and dancing included. I expect a full escort and gentlemanly behaviour,' Draco detailed. The entire room fell silent and mouths hung open.

'Y-you want me to take you out?' Harry asked 'A-as in a…date?'

'See it how you wish Harry, but those are my terms. Oh and of course you'll have to wear something…other than what you own. Honestly Harry you have no style,' Draco looked Harry up and down.

'This is hilarious!' Fred barked.

'Y-you want me to take you dancing?' Harry asked completely shell shocked.

'I greatly enjoy dancing Harry, I go clubbing at least once a fortnight,' Draco explained. In the corner of the room Phoenix slumped against the wall and his body tensed. Willing himself into control.

'I can't dance!'

'I'm painfully aware of that, since your performance in fourth year. However you need not worry, I am a more than capable dancer, no one will be looking at you,' Draco grinned 'Harry I cannot stand being cooped up in this place with all these…foreigners, I need a breather. I need to get out. If only for a night,'

'Why me?'

'Who else? Weasel? Looney Luna Lovegood? The doomsday twins?' Draco asked.

'Oh so I'm the lesser of…four evils?' Harry asked ticked off for some reason.

'Of course not, why else would I befriend you if I didn't genuinely like you?' Draco asked. Harry calmed 'I must warn you however, I am no cheap company,'

'No shit,' Fred rolled his eyes. Phoenix looked downcast to the floor and entered his simulator.

'So do we have a deal?' Draco asked and held out his hand. Harry turned bright red and looked anywhere but at Draco.

'What's wrong? Scared Potter?'

Harry's eyes immediately locked with Draco's and he clasped their hands together.

'You wish Malfoy,'

Draco turned and looked triumphantly in Lympha's eyes. He would not let Harry be taken from him by another boy. Not even one so noble, and eerily calm as Draco Lympha.

A/N: Hehehehee Cliffie for you mwahahahahahahahahaaa. This chapters called 'The challenge' for a reason, but is it regarding the challenge between harry and draco...or a challenge between two other characters. MWahahahahahahaa. oh come on it's not that hard to figure out. ta