Title:Game Without Tears
Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.
Author: ShaeLynn Teelle
All other information: See first chapter.
Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.
Chapter 28: You Are Not My Hero
"I think it's time August went to bed," Vincent said quietly, looking down at his cousin.
August looked up from where he had been leaning against Vincent, nearly asleep, "I'm not tired, yet."
"Sure you're not," Vincent answered as he stood up. He bent down and picked up the unresisting August whom laid his head on Vincent's shoulder, eyes closing once more. Pansy followed after them into their bedroom, smiling at the sight.
After a moment Draco lightly called Harry's name. When he was looking at the blond, Draco tipped his head and shifted his eyes towards his own room, a questioning tilt to one eyebrow. He was answered with a slight smile from the Gryffindor. They rose as one and moved to the open door, Harry taking Draco's hand on the way.
*edited out for ffn*
As he came down from his high, he was dimly aware of Harry maneuvering him until he was lying back upon the bed. Draco felt his lover pull his trousers and pants down to his ankles only to be interrupted as he realized that Draco's shoes were still on.
The Slytherin laughed lightly as Harry hurriedly took off his shoes before removing the clothing completely. As Harry climbed onto the bed beside him, Draco noticed that Harry had remembered to leave his socks on for him. But he also noticed that Harry's trousers were still on and he didn't think that was very fair. As soon as Harry was even with him on the bed Draco rolled them over and his hands went to Harry's trousers. Both trousers and shorts were pulled down to Harry's ankles where they stopped.
Draco let his head drop forward and silent laughter shook his shoulders as he, too, had forgotten to remove his lover's shoes. Harry laughed out loud as Draco untied his shoes and tossed them on the floor somewhere behind him. The rest of Harry's clothes followed just as quickly until he lay completely bared to Draco's gaze.
Then, the blond did something that surprised Harry. He picked up one of his feet and laid a teasing kiss to the top of it, just beyond Harry's toes. The Gryffindor drew a shaky breath at the sensations that coursed through him. Draco continued to kiss the top of his foot, nipping lightly at his toes while his thumbs massaged the soles of Harry's feet.
It wasn't long before Harry was shaking slightly in pleasure, ragged breaths issuing from his throat. Finally, he had enough of the exquisite torture. Harry sat up suddenly, pulling his foot from Draco's grasp in the process. He lunged forward and his hands gripped Draco's shoulders tightly, his mouth claiming his blond lover's in a fierce kiss. During the kiss Harry tipped them to the side until he was leaning over his lover on the bed.
"Where did you learn that foot thing?" Harry asked breathlessly when he finally tore himself away from the blond's lips.
"Foot thing?" Draco repeated in amusement, equally as breathless as Harry. "Greg told me about it. He was blushing so much when I asked."
"What happened?"
"Daphne said something about her feet one night and Greg went bright red. They retired a moment later. None of us have our wands and even though the walls are thick, we all heard some interesting sounds. I asked Greg the next day. He told me that they found out on accident one night and I wanted to see if it worked like he said it did."
"Did it?" Harry asked.
Draco reached up and pulled his lover's head down into an intense kiss. When he pulled away he crooked an eyebrow, "What do you think?"
Harry laughed and leaned down for another kiss. The kisses moved around Draco's jaw line until they reached his ear where Harry bit lightly at the lobe. Draco released a shaky breath and his head turned of its own accord, further baring his ear and neck to Harry's wandering lips. Then, the kisses moved as far back around Draco's neck as their positions allowed and the Slytherin's breath hitched loudly.
"More," he whimpered quietly, not quite aware of having spoken at all.
Harry indulged him there for a moment and sucked on the skin below his mouth. Draco's moan urged him on and he moved down the slim neckline, keeping his kisses as close to Draco's back as he could reach until Harry got to his shoulder. He bit lightly at the top of the joint and Draco issued a broken cry that had Harry pulling away to look at him in surprise. When he saw the pleasure on his lover's face, Harry smiled with a wicked grin.
"Turn over, Dray," the Gryffindor said quietly, his voice husky.
Shakily Draco did just that and rather gracelessly rolled over onto his stomach and Harry moved behind him, straddling his upper thighs. Draco could feel Harry's hands lightly brushing over his upper back in teasing caresses and Draco couldn't withhold the shudder that ran through his entire body. Behind him Harry chuckled very quietly, then Draco could feel his lover's breath moist against his back at the top of one shoulder blade. He whimpered nearly inaudibly, then audibly as Harry's mouth sucked at the skin on his shoulder blade.
*edited out for ffn*
\/\/\/\/\/
"Good evening, Daphne."
The young woman turned and saw Narcissa's spirit by the fireplace, another spirit beside her. The other spirit was a startling contrast to Narcissa. Her hair was pitch black and, though it still reached her mid-back, it was done up in an elaborate coif. She was nearly three inches shorter than Narcissa and wore a simple black dress from about the tenth century. Her features were strikingly similar to Narcissa's and Draco's.
It had been almost two hours since Vincent and Pansy had taken August to sleep, but Daphne had been unable to find rest so she had stayed out in the main room, staring into the fire. She knew Pansy had gone to sleep when August had, but Gregory and Vincent were discussing something in her room.
"Good evening, Narcissa. Shall I fetch Draco?"
"No, that won't be necessary. Morgana and I can surprise him."
Then, before Daphne could say anything more, the two floated through the wall and into Draco's room. There they were met with a sight that had both of them grinning. On the bed lay Draco, his hair spread out on the silver pillow, nearly blending into it and the blanket pulled up half-way on his bare chest. His eyes were closed, but a smile graced his face that even Narcissa had rarely seen before.
At his side lay Harry, the blanket just above his waist. He was propped up on one elbow watching Draco as he lay there, one hand lightly rubbing Draco's arm. Then, Draco let loose a silent laugh from the tickling on his arm and cracked an eye open at Harry, proving he hadn't been asleep. Harry grinned back and leaned down to kiss him gently on the lips. It wasn't until the kiss began to get more heated that Narcissa made her presence known.
"Good evening, Harry, Komodo."
Then, Narcissa and Morgana burst out into laughter as the two sprang apart, Harry nearly falling out of the bed, startled. The only thing that saved him from an even more embarrassing moment was Draco's reflexes as he leaned over and grabbed Harry's arms, keeping him on the bed. In the process, the blanket that had mostly covered both teens slipped down to pool around Draco's waist, leaving no doubt in the women's minds that neither teen had anything on under the blankets.
That surprise abruptly choked off the laughter from the two as the teens righted themselves. Harry immediately burrowed himself under the blankets in embarrassment, only the top of his messy hair sticking out. Draco had stayed sitting and pulled the blanket up to carefully hide what he didn't want his mother to see and crossed his arms, unable to suppress the light pink that graced his entire upper half.
"Good evening, Mum," Draco said dryly while a muffled 'Hello' was heard from beneath the covers.
That set both women laughing again as Draco scowled at them both. After several minutes Narcissa got her laughter under control while Morgana continued to chuckle quietly behind her hand.
"Komodo, this is Morgana. She's come to speak to you about some things."
"Good evening, Lady Morgana. I would greet you as is fitting, however, at present I am not properly attired," Draco explained, the scowl quickly disappearing from his face.
"That is quite all right, Draconis. I see that we should have allowed Miss Daphne to fetch you. From what Cissa has told me I can only assume that your companion is Harold James. You do not have to hide, young man. I find nothing wrong with your relationship as long as you are both sincere. I believe your parents and even your godfather would approve of your choice."
That sparked Harry's attention and he sat up, holding the blanket against him. His mouth moved, but no sound came out as he stared at Morgana's spirit. She smiled at him and nodded.
"If you would care for me to, Harold James, I will ask them on your behalf."
"You can do that? Go beyond the veil?" Harry asked quietly in disbelief.
"Yes, I can. It is nearly impossible to bring anyone back from beyond the veil of death if their soul has died as well. However, unlike my descendants I can speak to those who are beyond the veil."
"I would appreciate it, Lady Morgana. Thank you very much," Harry replied in a near whisper, trying to keep the hope from his voice and the tears from his eyes.
"My pleasure, Harold James. Now, Draconis, Headmaster Albus has given me 'permission'," at this Morgana rolled her eyes. "To come and go as I please from these rooms. Cissa as well. I was hoping to begin teaching you things tonight, but I think that perhaps you would better concentrate tomorrow. If circumstances had been different and Cissa was still alive I simply would have asked various descendants to visit you and have them teach you. As it is, I will spend the next week in the evenings teaching you what I can within that time. I would recommend informing your suite-mates to alternate a watch to let you sleep during the day as you will have little opportunity at night. Headmaster Albus is already aware of this and should not interrupt your sleep for anything trivial. Are there any questions you have for me, Draconis?"
Draco glanced over at Harry briefly before he answered, "Are your teachings only for me or may… others be present as well?"
"Much of what I will be teaching you pertains to the heritage you have received from my blood-line. There will be several days when your suite-mates may be present and the information is more generalized about magic and forms of it they no longer teach within the European magic schools. There may be things about your heritage that you do not wish people to know so choose wisely if you wish for anyone to be in attendance on the remaining nights," Morgana cautioned and when Draco had turned his attention away from her for a moment, she cast a knowing look at Harry that only he caught.
"You said that you wished to begin tomorrow night, Lady Morgana?"
"Yes, Draconis. Tomorrow night I will come with Cissa. We will wait for you in the main room so as not to risk a repeat of tonight's events," she smiled when both Harry and Draco blushed again. "Think carefully on who you would like to be in attendance tomorrow evening. Any questions you may have on your heritage will be answered and information you might not want known will be given. Good evening, Draconis, Harold James."
Then, with a nod to Narcissa, she dissolved in her place until they could see no more of her. Harry stared at where Morgana had just been in surprise while Draco turned to Narcissa, only to see that she too was now gone from the room. He lay back down on the bed, thoughts working overtime on what Morgana had told him and whether or not he wanted anyone to know what she was going to tell him in the future. Harry noticed when Draco lay down and he turned to his companion, just watching him, knowing that he was thinking about what they had been told.
"Harry…" Draco said at last, turning to face the other man sitting beside him. "Are we sincere?"
Harry was startled for a moment, then, his brow creased as he tried to understand what Draco meant. It took nearly a minute before he caught what Draco was really asking; what he himself was maybe not quite aware of. He knew that they were both sincere in whatever it was they had, but he needed to know what they had. Draco needed to know if what was happening between them was more than just a momentary fling that would last until it lasted. He needed to know if he could trust Harry with information that he wouldn't even trust his four suite-mates with, at least not everything.
Slowly Harry nodded, "Yes, Draco. We are sincere."
Draco repeated the gesture, just as slowly when he asked, "Will you stay tomorrow evening? Will you stay here when Morgana returns?"
Harry smiled, "Yes, Draco, I will." Then, he leaned down and lightly touched his lips to the blond's in a simple kiss.
Smiling back, Draco slid his hand behind Harry's neck when he pulled away and brought his lovers mouth back to his own, "Perhaps we should stay awake late tonight and sleep late in the morning to prepare for tomorrow night."
"I like how you plan, Draco."
As their lips met again and the kiss turned more heated, Draco leaned over the other and slipped one leg between the Gryffindor's. Harry's other arm went around Draco's back, smoothing over the muscles as Draco slid one hand behind Harry's back, keeping most of his weight balanced there and the other snuck down between their bodies to encounter the shaft that was stiffening.
In the common room Narcissa was sharing with Daphne and the two males what sight Morgana and her had walked in to when they entered Draco's room unannounced, as Morgana had left until the next evening. She paused for a moment in the telling and tipped her head to the side as though listening to something. Then, she laughed out loud for a moment and informed the other Slytherins that they shouldn't disturb the other couple that night.
Even though the walls of the room were thick enough the others couldn't hear very much, Narcissa could. As part of the heritage that Draco would soon be learning about was that they could hear the spirits of others in their blood-line, even if they were still attached to their bodies. And Draco's spirit was being especially vocal at that moment.
\/\/\/\/\/
The next morning dawned far too early for most of the Slytherins in the rooms. The only person that had already begun to wake was August as he was the first to sleep and far more energetic than the others. That is until the others were woken by a soft, but insistent Phoenix song. The Slytherins sat up and stared at the Phoenix in their respective tapestries. Greg was the first to realize that the song was coming from outside of his room. He nudged Daphne, getting her shocked attention.
"The painting above the fireplace."
She nodded and they both rose, robes were hastily thrown over their nightclothes and the two went into the common room only to stop in shock as they saw the portrait of the Phoenixes. They were soon joined by Vincent and Pansy, August between them, and all five stared at the painting. The Phoenixes were no longer singing, but were tipping their heads, looking at the group before them.
Then, Draco and Harry came out of Draco's room in a hurry. Both were surprised, but Harry seemed shocked as well. They both stared at the painting above the fireplace before the red Phoenix gave a warming chirp.
"The Headmaster is on his way here to collect August. Daphne's mother is with him and so is Neville and Professor Snape," Draco said in a rush, effectively snapping the other four Slytherins from their shock.
Vincent and Pansy hustled August back into their room to get him dressed. Gregory and Daphne returned to their own to do the same. Harry had already reentered Draco's room and called Dobby, asking if he would bring down his trunk for him. The hyper elf was ecstatic to do so for Harry, though he was worried about where Harry was. The Gryffindor reassured the house-elf and his trunk was there in a bare moment, allowing Harry to get dressed.
Draco had already dressed when the Phoenix in the painting above his own fireplace had woken him. Harry had sat stunned as the man in the painting, Salazar Slytherin, had warned Draco of the group coming to the suite. Draco had been shocked as well, but was able to get dressed as he had already known there was more to the paintings and the rooms than they seemed.
Now, he sat in his chair, his eyes on the two Phoenixes above the fireplace. They chirped at him a bit, winked, then ruffled their feathers and settled back down to how they usually were just before Draco heard the portrait guarding the suite slide upwards. Harry entered the main room, fully dressed, as the door was opening.
The Headmaster entered the room and Harry took his place in the chair next to Draco's. He was enjoying the shocked look on Snape's face and the momentary pause Dumbledore did when he noticed their positions. Even Violet had a moment of surprise before she smiled indulgently at the two. The only one that did not seem surprised was Neville as he made his way over to the two. He stopped behind their chairs and bent down so they could both hear his quiet words.
"Hermione told some of us last night. Just Ginny, Luna, and I. Then, she told Ginny how Ron had acted and she scolded his ear off. He was beat red by the end and made the mistake of comparing Ginny to their mother. You know that sent her off again as Mrs. Weasley has accepted Draco and the others. Let him pull his pride back together and he'll apologize, probably with Ginny or Mrs. Weasley dragging him over here by his ear."
That was enough to have Draco chuckle quietly, but Harry was bent over in his armchair, laughing behind the hand he had covering his mouth. Neville stood up and smiled at Harry.
"I thought that'd ease your mind a bit and give you a laugh," Neville said and shared a look with Draco, a smile still on the blond's face.
"Thank you, Neville," Draco said quietly and they both knew that it was for more than just the story. Then, he stood as the Headmaster cleared his throat.
"It is time for young Mr. Crabbe to go. He will be at the Longbottom's residence and the younger Mr. Krum will be staying there as well."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Vincent said quietly, having entered the main room as he spoke.
Dumbledore simply nodded and waited patiently while August said his good-byes. Daphne spoke quietly with her mother and Neville for a moment before August was ready to leave. As the group was moving to the hallway door Dumbledore paused and turned to look at Harry where he now stood next to Draco.
"Harry, could I speak with you in the hallway for a moment?"
Harry nodded and smiled lightly at Draco before he followed the Headmaster from the room. It was only a few minutes before he returned and the five Slytherins had been unable to hear anything from the hallway. When he came in, it was obvious that he was tenser than he had been, and he immediately sat down in his chair in front of the fire. Draco came to stand beside him in concern at the look upon his face and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Harry said quietly, then finally looked at Draco, his eyes clearing. "Nothing to worry about. But the good news is that we've been given 'permission' to sleep some more this morning without interruptions."
"How generous of the Headmaster," Draco replied rather sarcastically, one eyebrow raised.
Just months ago, that response would have had Harry angrily defending Dumbledore from what he would have thought was disrespect. But now, after Harry knew him and knew that it was simply how he was without ill intent, Draco's answer brought a grin to his lover's face and Draco was relieved that whatever had been bothering him was forgotten. At least for the moment.
Reviews are appreciated.
