Chapter 21: The Morning After
Harry snuggled closer to the body of warmth in his sleep. The soft lifting against his cheek lulled his sleeping form from rest. His eyes were still shut, his body not wanting to move, but something in the back of his mind felt off, as if something were wrong. Harry wanted to push that thought far, far, back into his subconsciousness and just fall back to sleep, but a sudden cry of alarm prevented that.
He slowly opened his eyes to see his arch nemesis, the dreaded sun, blinding him. He quickly scrunched up his eyes and shook his head. Harry stopped when he felt something soft, yet sturdy against his body. He opened his eyes again, this time slowly, and saw in front of him the sleeping form of Draco Malfoy. His features softened when he saw how peaceful Draco looked. Never before had Harry ever seen this expression on the Slytherin, but deep inside his mind he felt like something was amiss, something important. Harry's eyes widened when everything clicked, he quickly twisted his position on the bed and saw that he forgot what he always forgot.
Before him, Ron was staring at Harry and Draco. Their limbs were mixed and all over themselves, and Harry had a tint of red splashed across his face when he realized that he yet again forgot to close his curtains around his bed.
"Mate, I get it," Ron started, feeling uncomfortable, "but you realized you just ruined my breakfast, right?"
Neville rose, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," said Ron, "just lost my appetite."
Harry's mouth opened and closed like a fish, uncertain how to respond. It was too early for him to think. Ron turned and left, Neville yawned and started to get dressed. Draco sat up, staring at Harry.
"What I miss?"
"Just…Ron."
Draco snorted and snaked an arm around Harry's stomach. "Come on," he said, pulling the Gryffindor back down, "I'm not a morning wizard."
Part of Harry wanted to run out and find Ron, tell him it wasn't exactly what he thought, but the warmth coming from Draco, and the calmness that washed over Harry's body made him yawn before following the Slytherin into a morning nap with Harry's head resting against Draco's chest.
Neville made a small noise before leaving the room. Unnoticed by everyone, there was an empty bed that hadn't been slept in.
Harry and Draco walked down to the Great Hall together. Other students were gathering with them, the late arrivals. Draco squeezed Harry's hand before walking over to the Slytherin table. Harry watched, and walked to his table with a smile on his face. For the first time that year, Harry felt hopeful, as if there was nothing but potential in his future.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "what happened last night, Ron looked a little pale and kept mumbling something about curtains?"
"Nothing. It's just…Draco sort of slept over." Hermione's eyes widened and a smile started to creep across her face. Harry waved his hands in front of her, "It's not what you think. I just didn't want Draco getting caught after curfew."
"Sure," mumbled Ron. Hermione slapped his arm, making Ron yelp in an unmanly way.
"Harry." Hermione paused, looking Harry over. "I'm glad that your date with Draco went better than you were thinking, but don't you think you are going a little fast?"
Harry sighed. No matter what he'd say his friends would see it as a lie. Before Harry could continue this conversation Dumbledore stepped up to his podium and tapped his want for attention.
"Good morning," Dumbledore said, "As you have probably heard by now there were some events that occurred yesterday. Potions, charms, and other ill-advised methods were used on many students by students. As such, students have been rushed to the infirmary, and as of this morning I have been told that we have some students missing."
A wave of murmurs erupted inside the Great Hall. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws looked the most shocked. The Slytherins were all snickering. Harry looked over to see Draco was talking with Pansy.
"This has been one of Hogwarts' most troubling events in years. I implore anyone who knows the whereabouts of one Cedric Diggory, Michael Corner, Marcus Flint, and Seamus Finnigan to notify a professor immediately."
Harry and Ron looked at each other in surprise. Neither of them had noticed if Seamus went to bed last night, and neither of them noticed if he was there when they woke up. Harry thought he left because of Ron's overreaction.
"The individuals who thought to celebrate Valentine's Day with a potion instead of their true feelings have been suspended for the rest of the year. However, Professor Snape has yet to find the one responsible for creating such potions. If anyone knows who orchestrated this whole event, please contact a professor immediately. That is all."
Harry watched in silence as Dumbledore got off his podium and exited through the professor's special doorway. The other professors followed suit, leaving behind Snape and McGonagall to monitor the Hall.
"I don't like this," Hermione whispered. She and the two boys looked at Ginny sitting at the end of the table. She was joyfully eating and laughing with her friends, as if she didn't have a care in the world. "If anyone finds out I'm afraid she may get expelled."
"Which is why we haven't said anything," Harry added.
Ron kept staring at his sister, a disappointed look plastered across his face. "Do you think she could have been hexed, or charmed? There's no way she'd do all of that."
Hermione gave him a sad look, a look that said she wanted to believe him. "I don't know, but I am sure we're not the only ones who know about this, and if others tell there'll be nothing we can do."
Across at the Slytherin table Draco was happily eating his breakfast. Pansy smirked at this rare expression that Draco was showing. Crabbe and Goyle were too busy in their own little world to catch it, but Pansy did.
"So where were you last night?" she asked.
Draco opened his mouth to answer, but thought better of it. A light tint of pink appeared across his cheeks before he opened his mouth again, "With Harry."
Pansy's face cracked into a smile, and her eyes sparkled with pure joy. "I knew it! I knew it." Draco was taken aback by her response. Before Pansy could throw herself onto Draco for a hug she gasped. "Did you-?"
"No!" Draco nearly screamed, trying to make sure thoughts didn't get out of hand. "I just stayed over, because…curfew."
Pansy gave him a sly look. "I see. Then that must mean your date went well?"
"You could say that."
Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table. Harry was talking to his friends, and unbeknownst to Draco, Pansy witnessed his true smile.
As the day went on Dumbledore's morning statements were the only subject of talk. Students whispered to each other, rumors were spread, professors had a hard time quieting their classes. It seemed that the events of Valentine's Day was the only thing anyone could talk about. Harry noticed a few girls looking at Ginny, in a way that made him think they knew what she did. He couldn't believe that Ginny orchestrated everything that happened yesterday by herself. He had faith that there was something more happening.
Throughout his classes for the day Harry couldn't help but be distracted. He imagined the girls talking about Ginny, and while Hermione tried to ease his mind it never helped. He was seriously worried. Ginny was acting out of character, as if something had changed inside her, and there was nothing Harry could do.
He did, however, had a break from worrying about Ginny when he entered potion's class. There, all his attention was given to Draco. From genuine smiles, to curious glances Harry couldn't take his eyes, or attention, away. Although he did catch Snape rolling his eyes a few times. When his final class ended Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered in the corridor.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked.
Ron looked worried, as Ginny's older brother he had a lot more on his mind than Harry. "We're not telling on her if that's what you mean. This could ruin her future, I mean she'd have to be suspended right? Right Hermione?"
Hermione gave Ron a sad look, a look that meant she couldn't do anything to help. "I would assume, but I can't be sure. This was something bigger than drugging the boy you like, Ron. What she did could be worse than a suspension."
"Then can I do?" Ron looked helpless. Unable to understand, and unable to help his little sister.
The next words from Hermione almost hurt her as she watched Ron's reaction to her saying, "I don't know."
Ron nodded. He couldn't do anything. Hermione could see the pain in the boy, and she wanted to hug him and tell him it would be alright, but that would be a lie. If there was one thing she knew it was that consequences always follow you. Something will happen to Ginny, but she didn't know what. With a sigh, Ron said he needed to do some homework, an obvious lie, and left Harry and Hermione in the corridor.
"Come on," Hermione said, "we better start our homework too."
Harry followed Hermione out into the courtyard. Yesterday there were dangerous love plants all over the place, but today Harry only saw students trying to move past what happened. No one seemed to be able to shrug yesterday off, and he wondered when everything would turn back to normal.
Hermione dug out her textbooks and promptly started lecturing Harry on what type of spell works best for their lesson in Transfiguration. Harry grunted when trying to change a pebble into gum. It was much harder than he thought. Hermione swished her wand, changing the rock into gum, and back again.
"Like that," she said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Please Granger, he's never going to learn if you keep doing it for him."
Harry's eyes widened from the voice behind him. His heart skipped a little, and when he turned around he said, "Draco."
Draco and Pansy stood before Harry. Pansy waved while Draco just smirked. Before, Harry would have felt pure anger seeing that smirk, but now he felt something else. Something endearing.
"Yes, I'd be breathless seeing me too." Harry looked away, embarrassed. Draco loved seeing that side of Harry. "If you really want to pass that class, why don't I help?"
"Really?" Harry looked at Draco as if he were his savior.
Silently watching, Hermione smiled as Harry grabbed his stuff, said goodbye, and followed Draco to who knew where. Pansy giggled at the two boys and sat down with Hermione.
"I can't believe they're finally doing it," she said.
"Well, it is a little fast, but I'm happy to see Harry like this."
"Fast? Granger, you do know that nothing happened between them, right?"
Hermione scrunched up her nose, a confused expression on her face. "But Ron said-"
"Honey, if Draco and Harry actually did it Draco would be bragging to everyone, and have the goofiest expression on his face for the rest of the week."
"Draco isn't a virgin?" Hermione gasped.
"Oh, he is. Trust me, Draco hasn't even been seen naked by anyone. I just like to think Draco is a puppy."
"Oh. I can see that."
Students passed by in the afternoon sun, and to Hermione's surprise her little bonding moment with Pansy made her feel like they were part of something special. They were the ones who helped those two, troubled, boys come together.
"Do you think we did the right thing?" Hermione asked. Her expression showed concern.
"As long as they're happy, I'm happy, honey. Truthfully I've never seen Draco this happy."
"I don't think I've seen Harry this happy either, but I'm worried. There's no way they can keep this a secret. I mean, both have a reputation and all, but…I'm just worried."
"I know, I know. Honestly, I think many things will change for them now, but at the same time I think the positives will outweigh whatever they have to face. Believe me, Draco will do everything in his power to keep what he has now. Nothing will destroy that for him."
Harry stood in front of the fat lady's portrait. He faced Draco as they said their goodbyes, and Harry watched Draco leave until the Slytherin was out of sight. Harry felt their bond was closer now. It hasn't even been more than a day since Valentine's Day and Harry already felt so comfortable with Draco. He sighed a sigh of relief, and went into the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately, Harry's bliss didn't last long as Ron came tumbling down the stairs in a panic.
"There you are, mate. We've been looking everywhere for you."
Hermione came up behind him, both of them breathless.
"What, why? What's going on?"
"Someone talked," Ron wheezed out. He tried to continue, but had to gasp for breath.
Hermione patted him on the back, and finished what he had to say, "It's Ginny, she's been suspended."
Wow, definitely late, and I'm sorry for that. This chapter in particular I've been waiting to write for so long. Since chapter 2 I've been dying to write this chapter, and in way that's one of the reasons it's been late. In part I've been delaying this because The Bridge That Formed is coming to a close and I really don't want it to. The next chapter will be the last, and I just can't put it off anymore. I hope everyone who has stayed with this story still finds enjoyment from it, and once the last chapter hits I hope you all will continue with it's sequel into year four where things will really hit the fan. In the meantime, it would be really helpful to me if you could just say what worked really well and what I could improve on. This story started out as an experiment on if I could write romance and was only supposed to be a few chapters long, but it evolved into something bigger. I'll post the last chapter next week, so until then.