Moving along. Or, trying to anyway.
Warnings: It's shonen ai, yaoi, slash, etc. Get over it.
Chapter, 28: Quidditch Match
Harry let out a long hard breath trying to get some of his frustration to ebb before he entered the common room. It wouldn't do him any good to lash out at one of his friends or some innocent Gryffindor student, because he didn't like what Asclepius had, had to say or that Dumbledore seemed to have once again vanished from the castle. Hadn't the headmaster learned that every time he stepped out bad things happened? How could he not see the correlations? Harry understood that Dumbledore was important and there would be times he just had to leave, but he hoped the headmaster was staying put unless the circumstances were dire.
The common room was just about empty when he entered. Not surprising, most of the Gryffindor students were either at their last block of classes or getting ready for the Quidditch match for the following day. Hermione and Tom were still at Arithmancy, so Harry still had some time to write a letter to Sirius and Remus demanding to know there thoughts on Asclepius. When he got the chance, he planned to corner Hermione too. He didn't care if this mind healer was some prodigy, his relationship was being threatened as far as he could see and that was the only thing that mattered.
He noticed a sprawled out figure on the couch and recognized it as Draco. Frowning he also noticed that for once Ron was not on top of him. He crossed the common room and plopped down on top of Draco's leg. The Slytherin, who'd been staring up at the ceiling fixed a dark look on Harry.
"I'm not in the mood Potter. Get off."
"I wasn't gone that long, what happened?"
Draco grunted and closed his eyes.
Harry waited a minute for Draco to give him some kind of answer. When he didn't he grabbed Draco's right foot and removed the sock from it.
"POTTER!"
"Just tell me what's wrong. I can't read your mind." Which was good, because Harry didn't think he could handle Tom and Draco's thoughts pouring through his mind all the time. He'd be mad in seconds.
"You're the most annoying person in the school." Draco tried to sit up, but Harry had gotten enough practice over the summer holiday to know exactly where to sit to keep him pinned. His friend gave another hard jerk only to fall back onto the sofa. He growled loudly, his fist hitting the couch's back.
Harry chuckled at Draco's attempt and dropped the dark blue sock onto Draco's face.
"Are you going to talk now?"
"I'm bummed out over Quidditch."
"Right, Quidditch." Harry let out yet another long sigh. Quidditch was always a stressful time for their group. Tom was always under the impression that Harry was going to die whenever he played and then there was the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. "Is Ron giving you a hard time about tomorrow's match?"
"No, the Slytherin captain refused to let me onto the team this year. Said I wasn't actually a Slytherin anymore and I should try out for the Gryffindor team."
"What?" Harry shifted back to get a better look at his friend's face. "And Snape didn't stop him?" That didn't even seem like a possibility. Snape was always looking out for Draco, more so than his own father ever did. The Potion's master had gone out of his way a lot for Draco, why would he stop now? And why with concern to Quidditch that Snape knew Draco loved.
"I didn't ask. Everyone at tryouts agreed with Urquhart. It would have been impossible to have any real fun."
"You could have joined the Gryffindor team," Harry said wondering if that was actually true.
Draco snorted at that and threw his sock back ta Harry. It hit his face and landed on his shoulder.
"We're both seeker Potter. How was that going to work?"
Harry didn't know, but he wanted to do something for his friend. Why had Draco waited so long to bring the subject up anyway? They could have at least tried something. Maybe trained Draco in another position before Gryffindor tryouts. On the other hand, would the Gryffindor students have even accepted such a thing? They may not mind Draco and Tom in the dorm, not that they really had any say in the matter, but the Quidditch team? Harry had a feeling his housemates wouldn't have put up with that for a second.
"You didn't want to cause me any trouble…thanks."
"Even if I sleep here and follow the Gryffindor schedule, I'm still a Slytherin. It would be a disgrace to my house if I helped you win," Draco pointed out before the sneer on his face faded. "But those arses pissed me off."
"We'll humiliate them their first game. They'll be begging for you to come back."
"I don't think I would even if they paid me."
"So why is Ron mad?" This had to be the longest Harry had ever seen the couple apart, save for the summer holiday and even then Ron had been sending owls every few hours. The fact that he was not present and snogging his boyfriend could only mean they were bickering.
"The prat thinks I should have told him the second they turned me down. What was he going to do," Draco asked shaking his head.
Harry wasn't sure what the answer was to that. Ron would have been worked up from the second Draco told him. There would have been fights, the Gryffindor's refusing to let Draco onto the team, Ron boycotting Quidditch, McLaggen being Harry's only other choice for the position. The entire season would have been miserable and Ron would undoubtedly held it against Harry for not letting Draco join, if that was even allowed to begin with.
Yes, Harry decided. Draco's choice to keep quiet had saved all of them a great amount of grief.
"I can talk to him if you want," Harry offered. It was the least he could do for Draco at this point. His friend had sacrificed at even having a chance at playing the game to keep things peaceful. Ron would just have to get over it. Just, because Draco hadn't told Ron what was going on right away given the situation, Harry could easily understand. He could get Ron to come around.
"He'll get over it." Draco sounded so sure of himself that Harry was a little envious. If this fight had been taking place between him and Tom, he'd be terrified they might never speak again. That had yet to happen, but there was always that chance, especially now with Asclepius… "What's wrong with you?"
Draco had managed to pull his legs out from beneath Harry enough so he could sit up. He was looking at Harry with worry.
"…Asclepius isn't happy about the engagement. I think he might try and talk Aderes out of it."
"And you're going to let him?"
"No," Harry hissed turning on Draco. The Slytherin smirked, Harry feeling a blush creep onto his cheeks. "You may be the only one who understands how much I was willing to give up for him…" He closed eyes leaning back against the couch. He'd been willing to give up his life for Tom. Would his soul have been broken if they'd gotten as far as the ministry and Harry had taken the hit from the Death Eater? He may have been captured instead, enduring the torture that Tom had. Harry doubted he could escape from Voldemort like Tom had, but he'd been more than willing. Anything, as long as Tom and Sirius were alive, safe…
"It wouldn't have stopped there. Aderes would have gone after you, time turner or not," Draco pointed out. "You can't escape him, not even in death."
"He still would have had a better plan," Harry laughed. He was sure if their positions had been switched, Tom would have been able to make everything right. Time turners or not, he would have found a way. He always did. "It scares me sometimes. How much I love him. I never thought you could be so consumed by something." Harry's cheeks began to burn just thinking about Tom. Perhaps he could convince him for some alone time after his last class was over.
"Potter, my legs are falling asleep."
Snickering Harry stood up. Draco slid his legs over the edge of the couch and Harry reclaimed his seat.
"What if he's right?" The Gryffindor was staring at the wall above the fireplace now. A few first year students were trying to get a game of Wizard Chess set up. Harry looked at the ceiling. He still couldn't get himself to play the game anymore.
"You going to withdraw if he is?"
"Of course not. But if he is right, I want to know what I can do to make things easier."
"That means sending another letter." Draco dropped his head onto Harry's shoulder. "Do me a favor and ask him if he'll help with my life too."
"He already claims I need help," Harry said. He sighed and shook his head. Of course, he probably could benefit, but first Tom needed to be sorted out. Harry wasn't having nightmares that kept others up. He was still functioning, even if he did question his own thoughts and actions enough. And would he need someone as good as Asclepius to help? He thought he'd managed his life and mental state pretty well considering everything that had happened to him.
"You do."
"Don't we all?"
(X)
By the time, Tom and Hermione had returned from their last class Draco and Ron had already made up and Harry had, after numerous attempts, settled on a single sentence reply to Asclepius.
'We're not calling off the engagement, so figure something else out.'
When he'd returned from delivering the letter Tom and Hermione were sitting next to each other, a book in Hermione's hands, paper and quill in Tom's. They looked so content and at ease with one another. If Tom hadn't asked Harry to marry him, he'd have left him for this view.
The thought had just barely registered in his own mind when Tom looked up, a smile on his face. Harry's breath caught at the sight. The heir set the paper and quill down before making his way over to Harry. He wrapped Harry in a tight hug and brought his lips to his ear.
"Someone is possessive today," he whispered and Harry shuddered.
"You know I am." With some effort, Harry managed to turn around in the embrace so he could look at his fiancé. "How long do you think you'll be?"
"We have a study guide to finish for Ancient magic, and afterwards Hermione and I have Runes homework. There are a few other things I'd like to go over for History of Magic. The answer wasn't in the text book, so I'll be in the library tomorrow searching for it, but I thought I'd save some time by writing the questions down tonight."
"Right." Harry wasn't surprised. Tom had been making a habit of staying up until the early hours until his body collapsed from exhaustion. It seemed only during those times did he avoid nightmares consuming his sleep hours. "I just wanted to make sure you were aware that tomorrow is the first Quidditch match."
Tom's eyes drifted away at the same time his arms released Harry.
"Yeah, I know."
"I still don't understand why you hate Quidditch so much."
"Because anything can happen to you during a match and there's not much I can do."
"I won't ask you to watch. I just wanted you to know—"
Tom snorted.
"It's impossible to not know when a match is coming up. The entire school loses its mind. People start wearing more school colors. Even the ghosts get into it sometimes," he growled. "It's sickening."
"Only for those who hate the game," Harry said with a laugh. Tom's emotions were running wild through the bond. Disgust, not understanding why people wasted so much time on some stupid game, the fights that often happened during the Quidditch season. How worried he was that Harry was going to die during one of these matches. "I promise you, Quidditch won't kill me. Not with so many other things out to get me."
"You don't know that." Tom's eyes had narrowed and Harry dropped his forehead onto Tom's own.
"I know it can be dangerous, but this is a school match. No one is going to harmed." He brought his arms up around Tom's neck. "I think Voldemort wants a more personal confrontation then having someone else kill me during a Quidditch match."
'You're probably right,' Tom said mentally. He closed his eyes.
Harry could see he was trying to fight the negative emotions. He pulled a piece of chocolate out of his pocket, unwrapped the single serving piece, and popped it into Tom's mouth. The heir's eyes shot open before he smiled again.
"Lupin's solution to everything," Harry said grinning. "Especially after encounter with Dementors."
"How did your godfather ever end up with someone as brilliant as Remus?" Tom had released Harry and was starting back for his quill and paper. Any tension he'd had seemed to have faded.
"I don't know. I ended up with you."
Tom stopped and looked back at Harry. There was no use in denying how different the two of them were, but on some level, it seemed to work and Harry hoped it always would. They didn't need to be exactly the same, did they? Even if Tom brought more to the relationship, both good and bad. Harry had to have contributed something though or they wouldn't be engaged.
'Your trust,' Tom said mentally causing Harry to jump. 'You trusted me even knowing what kind of person I was. You were willing to look beyond everything, at the real me and still accept me. You have no idea how desperately I needed that.'
Harry looked on eyes wide. His boyfriend had actually given him a straight answer about something. And as to why he'd chosen Harry over everyone else in the world. It was like being on a high. His face broke into a grin and he went to the dorm stairs hoping to hide his embarrassment. He felt like he would start laughing like mad if he didn't leave the room and he refused to cause more drama in the common room.
'And you still continue to put up with me….despite all the hell I've put you through.'
'That's true, very few people would do that,' Harry replied burying his face into his pillow. He was joking and he made sure that was obvious through the bond.
'No, you're right Harry. Most people wouldn't tolerate it. They'd have written me off years ago deciding I wasn't worth the trouble.'
Acceptance, happiness, sadness, rejection, irritation, abandonment. All these feelings and more somehow crossed the bond equally. Harry lied there trying to piece it all together. It was both horrible and refreshing to see that beneath Tom's arrogant exterior was just another human. Someone with as many worries about everyday life as he had.
'I'd never leave you…Not unless you made me. Even this summer…I tried. I had no idea what to do when you told me to stop contacting you….It felt really strange…' he could not quite put words into it and instead tried showing Tom what he meant through his emotions. How lost and confused he'd been, the shock of the rejection, fear he'd never see Tom again or that he'd be replaced. How hard refusing Tom had been, but he had to, because he couldn't handle being cast aside again.
'I wish I could tell you I'm sorry about that, but…Asclepius helped me out a lot during that time…It would have been better if I could have left with him under better terms…' Tom's thoughts ended with a large gaping hole. Harry's eyes shot open. He could not read a single thing from that hole, nor could he get any thoughts across.
He started climbing off the bed thinking Tom had lost himself when he saw the door open to the dorm. Of course, it was his boyfriend, but his cheeks stained with tears, his face bright red. It seemed he couldn't hide his emotions physically for this topic. He on beside Harry in seconds, his face buried in Harry's neck.
"I'm sorry," Tom said his voice breaking. "I don't think I ever really apologized. I never meant to hurt you. I ruined your birthday and risked our relationship. There's no excuse for what I did." He was clinging to Harry then, the Gryffindor sitting there trying to figure out how to handle this. Was his boyfriend always this emotional? Yes, when he was jealous or angry, but had he ever broken down in tears like this? Harry couldn't recall a time when Tom had actually dropped all his defenses.
"I'm not mad, not really," Harry started treading with the utmost care. Experience had taught him one wrong word or thought and the tower would be coming down around them, no question about it. "You hurt me. A lot, but that doesn't change the fact I love you. Even if you've forgiven me, I can't forgive myself for what happened at the ministry. As far as I can tell, I got what I deserved. Your mind wouldn't be in pieces if I hadn't screwed up with the ministry. It's my fault. I can't blame you for going mad from torture when I'm the reason you got tortured."
"I wish I could erase that memory, or at least the guilt," Tom muttered. He pulled Harry down so they were lying side by side, Tom's arms still holding him tight. "I mean one of us were bound to do something stupid sooner or later." He moved his right hand up and began running it through Harry's hair. Both of them seemed to relax at the action.
"I don't want to forget…I don't want to ever make that mistake again."
(X)
Harry could only describe himself as detached the next morning. Tom had decided the only way Harry wouldn't crash into a wall during his first match was to close their bond, despite Harry's protests. The Gryffindor felt like he had a head cold or exhaustion that kept him from using his whole brain. It was weird and frustrating and all he wanted to do was lie down in his bed until it passed. He'd even made the mistake of holding a one sided conversation in his mind during breakfast. He'd become angry when Tom hadn't answered him and so snatched his book from him. Tom had looked shocked until he realized what Harry was trying to do and started laughing, reminding him that the bond was shut and he could not hear Harry no matter how loud he screamed in his head. Flustered Harry had thrown the book back onto the table.
"I'm afraid you have to do it the old fashion way." Tom snickered bending over and kissing Harry on the ear.
Harry's face turned a darker shade of red.
"I was just asking if you were going to watch the match this morning." That had not been the only thing Harry was thinking at his boyfriend, but he was not about to say any of those thoughts aloud. Not when there were others around them.
"…I'll be there. If you do something to get hurt I need to be able to get to you fast." Tom's face had paled just enough for Harry to notice.
"I'm telling you everything will be fine. The worst thing that will happen is I get a Bludger to the head."
"Right, because you can afford a Bludger to the head," Tom asked raising an eyebrow.
Harry scowled, but said nothing. No one would 'afford a Bludger to the head'. Even so, Harry was sure nothing was going to happen. With so many spectators about, Tom among them, he was sure to be safe. He had, had his share of freak accidents on the Quidditch field before, but he didn't think he'd be having another one today.
"I will do my best to avoid all Bludgers," Harry said. While he meant what he said, with how stuffed up his head felt, he knew it would take more effort than usual. "I feel like I have a cold."
"As soon as your game is over I'll open it. I'd never forgive myself if you flew into something, because I have one of my attacks."
"It's hard to focus this way." Harry said. "I don't like it. It kind of feels like my brain is locked up?"
"I feel the same way, but I'll feel better knowing I'm not the reason you get yourself killed out there."
"I'm not going to die," Harry repeated rolling his eyes. It seemed like it would have to deal with the bond remaining shut after all. Harry had never wanted a match to be over so fast. He decided he would catch the snitch as fast as possible and be done with it. As soon as he was on the ground again, Tom would open the bond and he wouldn't have to feel so suffocated.
Once breakfast was finished, Harry walked with Ron towards the Quidditch dressing room.
"I'm glad the two of you made up," Harry said. The two began taking their uniforms out of their lockers and putting them on. Harry noted Ron didn't seem nearly as nervous as usual.
"Draco and I have more rows than you'd think," Ron said plopping down onto the bench and pulling his boots on. "He should have told me or…at least told you." The accusing look that followed Ron's words had Harry throwing his hands up in defense.
"Draco and I are not dating," Harry said. "I just got in engaged. We're just friends, I promise."
"I know that," Ron said looking down. "But he trusts you—"
"Ron, I'm surprised he didn't claw his way out of my room this summer. He was terrified for most of it and the rest of the time, we were bored out of our minds."
"He told me."
Harry knew he should have had this conversation with Ron months ago, but they'd never had the chance to be alone. Having Draco hiding at his house over the summer, while the safest option, had put a horrible strain on their friendship. Harry knew it was there, but he'd hoped it would fade once Ron saw that Harry and Draco hadn't done anything or intended to date. Slughorn's misunderstanding on the train hadn't helped either.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do to make this better. T-Aderes…I plan to buy him an engagement ring for Christmas. He actually admitted to me last night while he chose me over everyone else." He sat down next to his friend, his fingers fumbling with the boot strings. "I can't explain it, but Aderes is it."
"Engagement ring?" Ginny asked walking towards them. Her face was red, her eyes wide, her broom barely being held up now by her hands. "You got engaged?"
Harry looked up from his boots then.
"Don't tell anyone. It's between us right now," Harry said wishing he had whispered the information to Ron. "But yes, we are and while we don't know when there will be any kind of ceremony, there will be." He finished tying the knots on his boots and stood up. "And Ron, I want you to be there, okay? You're my best mate and no matter what happens or is said, I don't want your boyfriend."
Ginny snorted at that, her surprise seeming to fade.
"No one wants his boyfriend," she said wrinkling her nose. "Malfoy is—"
Harry gave her a dark look and she stormed off. Harry didn't know why. Ginny was dating some Gryffindor guy right now, he was sure he'd seen her snogging someone in the common room the other day. Why was she so worked up over him being engaged?
Granted, Ginny's entire world had been destroyed within the past year. She'd lost her mum, almost last her father. Her brother was dating a Malfoy, her crush was dating a guy whom she hated. Fleur had been thrown into her life a bit too suddenly. Perhaps he should be nicer to her. Actually, talk to her and ask if there was anything, he could do to help? Ginny wasn't their enemy, she was his best friend's sister who wasn't adjusting as well as the other Weasleys.
"I'll meet you on the field." He gripped Ron's shoulder tight who nodded in return and chased after Ginny. The girl had not made it far. She was standing in the tunnel that would lead to the Quidditch pitch. It was no surprise that she was crying despite her efforts to hold it back. "Ginny."
"Leave me alone!"
"I know I've been a real arse," he said quickly. He stopped when he was standing beside her. She looked like any other girl now instead of a threat. "I've been going through a lot, but that doesn't excuse how rude all of us have been to you. I'm sorry. I never really considered what your life was like after everything either. I want us to be friends, but you have to understand that I'm not leaving Aderes and that Draco has changed."
Ginny looked away. Her pride seemed to be fighting with her common sense. Harry knew the look all too well. Ron wore it quite often and Harry had seen it on himself a number of times.
"I know we'll never be close, but I don't want you to hate any of us." He walked out onto the pitch then. He'd said what he needed to, the next move would be Ginny's. If she wanted to be a part of their group in any way, she'd try. Harry had apologized. What more could he do? He wasn't about to leave Tom.
The weather was good for a game. Bright and crisp. It would be better if the wind died down, but Harry would take it. After some of his previous games where they had full-blown storms going, a game in cold weather was nothing.
He noted Tom, Draco, and Hermione in the Gryffindor stands. Hermione and Tom were talking about something, and Draco was staring up at the sky looking like he would rather be dead. Harry felt bad for him.
The rest of his team was on the grounds and they got into position. The Slytherins in the stands were shouting insults and booing them. A lot of them were holding signs and Harry knew why Draco was looking at the sky now. The signs were glowing bright and had the words 'Our Seeker is a traitor' while another read 'Gryffindor steals other house members to win Qudditch matches'. And those were the nice ones.
Why didn't the professors make them take those down? There were young students in the stands.
Shaking his head Harry marched up to the other captain.
"Captains shakes hands," Madam Hooch said. As usual, she was the Quidditch referee. Harry eyed the new Slytherin captain. A student named Urquhart. He squeezed Harry's hand enough to crush it, but Harry endured. "Mouth your brooms and on the whistle…"
Everyone was up the second the whistle sounded. Harry made sure to get a look at Ginny. She seemed to have found her resolve, at least for the game. Harry would have never guessed moments ago she'd been crying. Ron too seemed to have a look of complete determination on his face as he got in front of the goal.
We have this, Harry told himself firmly. They would destroy the Slytherin team and Harry would get his brain unwrapped so he could think straight again.
They played hard. Ron managed to save every goal thrown at him, much to the distaste of the Hufflepuff commentator. Zacharias Smith. Harry wasn't sure what the Gryffindor's had done to anger the tall, skinny blond, but he took turns lashing out each and every member.
Harry was pleased to see none of his teammates seemed phased by it. They each kept playing hard. Ginny scored four points, the Bludgers stayed far away from the other teammates, everything for once was going perfect.
A glint of gold caught Harry's eyes. He dashed after it as fast as his broom would let him. Draco's replacement, a Slytherin named Harper, came speeding after him. The Slytherin's new Seeker was nothing compared to Draco. While Draco wasn't the greatest player, he had more skills than this fool. Harry easily outraced him and within seconds, he was holding the Snitch.
Harry held the small golden ball up high so everyone could see. The cheers that followed were tremendous. Gryffindor's began singing, screaming, and waving their own signs fiercely. The Slytherin side booed louder, but Harry barely paid them any mind. Once his team was on the ground they hugged and patted each other with vigor. They bumped into each other, each one congratulating each other on a splendid job.
"I did it," Ron said when he'd gotten passed everyone and up to Harry. "I didn't disappoint Draco! We killed the Slytherin team!"
"Yeah we did," Harry said with a huge grin. So, Ron's new found ability had been for Draco. He'd wanted revenge on Draco's team for what they'd done.
"Maybe if you hadn't kicked Draco out, you'd have won," Ron shouted at the retreating Slytherin. Harry doubted they could hear him, but Draco had. He threw his arms around Ron and kissed him. Harry had to look away.
Harry didn't see Hermione or Tom in the crowd or in the changing room when he'd finally gotten away from the other Gryffindor house members.
"Party in the common room!" Harry heard Dean scream. The Gryffindor team shouted back happily.
Harry changed and when he came out he saw Draco waiting, his arms across his chest, his foot tapping, a glare on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Weasley is taking too long!" The Slytherin gave a growl of frustration and stormed into the changing room. There was a loud yelp and Harry couldn't help laughing as he walked towards the castle. It was a little eerie to go from all the loud cheering and being surrounded by people to suddenly be walking to the castle alone.
Where is my boyfriend? And everyone else for that matter?
When he got into Hogwarts he saw a group of Seventh year Gryffindors laughing loudly. They were holding barrels of Butterbeer and heading up the stairs towards the tower.
Harry couldn't think of anywhere else his boyfriend would go. He followed the rowdy bunch in front of him. Luckily, they didn't seem to notice him or realize who he was. When he entered the tower, the room was in complete chaos. Students were cheering and shouting. There was food being passed around, Butterbeer being passed out. When the barrels of newly obtain Butterbeer were dropped onto a table the cheers doubled.
He scanned the room, but still saw no signs of his boyfriend.
The noise… He made his way to the dorm having to fight a few students off in the process. He promised them he'd be right back, he just wanted to drop something off first. Tom was not in their bed where the silence charm was permanently in place. Then he remembered his talk with Tom the night before. The Library. Shaking his head the Gryffindor left the door and somehow managed to get out of the tower without much fanfare.
(TBC )
On to the next if my cat ever lets me.
