Chapter 36: Nott fixing anything

Harry had been almost one hundred percent confident that seeing Ron at study group would extinguish the anger that had been knotting his gut over the course of the day. As Harry opened the door he saw Draco was seated next to him and they were already discussing something from the Defense Text book. So, Harry entered the remainder of the way and stood at the head of the table. In a very flustered tone he snapped, "Where is Theo?"

Both Draco and Ron stared up at him as he stood with palms down on the table and his face beginning to flush. Draco rolled his eyes and scoffed, "You're his boyfriend. You should learn to keep track of your own man." Harry stared at him and pursed his lips. Draco saw this as a bad sign and sighed. "He was doing something for Prof. Snape. He probably forgot all about us and study group."

Harry nodded disjointedly and spun on his heels and left them there. Ron and Draco exchanged looks. Harry groaned aloud once he was out in the corridor and slumped against the wall and rubbed at his eyes. Ron was the one who wasn't supposed to show up; not Theo! Harry pulled himself together and decided to head toward the dungeons to find Theo. At least then he could complain until they got back to the library. He supposed he was proud of himself for being conniving enough to get Draco and Ron to become friends. That way neither of them could get too awfully lonely. What was Ron's problem anyway? Harry had been shirked all through Ron's relationship with Hermione. How was he acting any different?

The trek down towards the dungeons was uneventful and inside the Potions Master's classroom sat Theo with a book in his lap and a lucid grin in place. The teacher was on the other end of the room attending to an accident caused earlier in the day by a group of Hufflepuff first years. "I honestly thought no one could get worse than Longbottom," Harry heard the man sneer. Neither student nor teacher had noticed Harry poking his head into the room.

Theo laughed at the man's comment and claimed, "But it took a handful of them to be as bad as Longbottom." There was a pause and some laughter. Snape was laughing? Harry stepped completely into the room and suddenly both the occupants of the room jerked their heads to perceive the intruder. "Harry?" Then, a realization showed upon Theo's face and he began to utter rapid apologies. "I forgot all about study group. I came down to talk to Prof. Snape and he asked if I would like to read this book and then we started talking. Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. Are the others mad?"

Harry shook his head and lifted his hand for silence. "It's fine. I was curious to find out where you went. Draco said you came down here."

"Is everything alright, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked as he rose to height from beside the cauldrons he was attending.

"Everything is fine, Sir."

Neither Snape nor Theo believed him. Both of them did the Slytherin brow quirk and watched him with the same facial contortions and Harry found it to be rather eerie. He really was dating another Snape. At least Theo was much more handsome. Harry went over to an empty seat and placed himself in it and buried his face in his hands as he propped his elbows on the table.

"That's a 'something is wrong' gesture if I've ever seen one," he heard Theo state. Then there was the sound of movement and shuffling. An arm was wrapped around Harry's shoulders and Theo whispered, "Do you need to talk?"

Snape cleared his throat and said, "Perhaps you've been too idle, Potter. Maybe a little work would get your mind off of whatsoever it is that exasperates you." Only Snape would think that work of any kind would make him feel better, but Theo seemed to be on board with the idea and hastily exclaimed his pleasure in such an idea. Harry grunted and allowed Theo to pull him away from the seat so that they could follow Snape toward whatever it was he felt would contribute to relinquish Harry's troubles.

Harry was not so excited as his beloved boyfriend who clasped his hand securely in his own. Harry felt a calm overcome him while Theo kept him close. He always felt at ease in his presence and was quite glad for it or else he probably would have gone mad by this point. The two boys were led down into a room and inside were vials upon vials of potions. Theo looked ready to faint from anticipation.

"These are some potions that have unfortunately gotten tussled about. They need to be organized correctly based on medicament. Though, you will only be able to distinguish what sort of potion based on the properties other than taste."

Harry could feel Theo's radiant expectancy, but he himself felt anxiety. He should be the last one to organize anything that someone was going to consume to feel recovered. Harry glanced sidewise at Theo and saw him hungrily eyeing the walls. Harry had to make up a word to express that look; Theo was a Potionsaphile.

Snape left them to it, but not before explaining that Theo held all final jurisdiction on discretion of properly sorted potions. Harry was glad that Theo was such a well learned student that he was capable of being trusted not to mix up the potions further. Harry knew he should not even touch the vials or else something would go horribly wrong. He watched Theo begin to examine one of the vials with meticulous observations and even a few smellings. He placed it on a shelf. Harry leaned against the wall and watched for a time.

"This is fun, Harry. Are you sure you don't want to help?" Theo asked while snuffling at a pungent vial. "I think this one is rancid." His nostrils flared and he stuck out his tongue. "Wanna sniff?" Harry shook his head. "Come on, Sweetness. You've been sulky all day. What's gotten into you?"

Harry frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. His green eyes locked with Theo's bright eyes and they just watched one another. Theo placed the vial down and opened his arms—instantly Harry rushed and found himself embraced in his long and secure arms. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm being a prat for no good reason."

"Why are you a prat?" Theo's words rustled through his hair.

"I got mad at Ron. He said we didn't hang out anymore, because I've been dating you. I'm tired of people asking if I'm sure I want to be with you. It's exhausting to tell everyone to mind their business."

Theo snorted onto the boy's crown and said, "Maybe you and Ron need to have friend time. How about once a week we attend to our friends and give each other a break."

Harry openly admitted that he hated the idea, but it was still a good idea none the less. "You're so rational it makes me sick," Harry breathed into his chest. "I love you for it though."

Theo kissed his head and took a step back. "So, do you think we should?"

"Yeah, despite how much I would rather spend time with you. I guess, it's good to maintain my friendship. Am I a bad friend?"

"You're Harry Potter. Nothing is going to be easy for you." Theo was smirking and placed his hand on Harry's cheek. "But I still love you."

Ω

On Friday, Harry awoke to the soft snores of Ron Weasley in the bed beside him. He tiptoed over to the bed and drew open one side of curtains and sat on the bed. He watched as Ron's freckled face twitched in his sleep. Harry snickered and supposed now was as good a time as ever to get close to his ear and whisper, "Ron wake up. We're being chased by vampires. This is no time to sleep."

Ron's head jerked and his skull collided with Harry's and both of them felt pain fill their head because of it. Harry regretted his decision for the little amusement and swore to himself that he would shake Ron's shoulder from now on. "Where's the vampires?" Ron asked dumbstruck. His eyes blinked a few times before he saw he was staring at Harry—still attending to his throbbing dome. "You alright, Harry?"

Harry frowned and nodded. "I wasn't expecting you to get up so fast."

Suddenly, Harry watched as Ron's face went from concerned to confused. "I thought you weren't talking to me anymore. You've been ignoring me all week."

Harry kept the fact that this was Theo's idea to himself, but aloud he said, "I think me and you need to have a day where we hang out. The two of us. Maybe we can invite Neville sometimes. It'll be a day without Theo. Only best mates."

Ron's face lit with happiness, but it was quick to fade as he asked, "Are you sure? I don't want you to be upset and spend a whole day miserable."

Harry shushed him and shook his head. "No, it's fine. It will be a good thing. I can't be with Theo all the time anyway. A whole day won't be bad." Harry found himself in a tight embrace from his best friend. He hadn't realized how much his pushing the red away had hurt him, but apparently Ron had been more distressed than he let on. Harry felt guilty. "Sorry, Ron. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I had a nasty incident at the end of summer. Things have been frenetic."

Ron released his hold on his friend and wiped his brow and smiled wanly. "I was worried that I'd lost my friend. I wasn't even sure what I did wrong at first. I wasn't trying to insinuate anything, but I have been worried. You know that I've always been uncomfortable around Nott."

The only contact with Theo that Harry had was a brief wave and a wink as they passed one another leaving breakfast. The remainder of his time was spent with Ron. Neville joined them closer to the end of the day. They went for a ride on their brooms in the Quidditch Pitch. Neville sat in the stands and cheered for a game that wasn't going on. Ron expressed his interest in joining the team. Harry remembered that he was supposed to be in charge. "We'll be having tryouts next week. It would be good to see you there."

Suddenly, as if Harry's good mood was a beacon for disastrous consequence, someone else was clambering up into the stands and Harry instinctually looked in the direction. Ainsley was making himself comfortable on the bench and had a content little smirk on his face. At least Harry had Ron and Neville with him. The man wouldn't dare try anything in front of them; or would he? Ron also noticed the man and flew over toward Harry and asked in a quieted voice, "What's he doing?"

"Being a creep."

Ron and Harry both watched him for a moment and realized that the man was not going to leave. It looked strange for them to both hover in the same spot when they were supposed to be flying around. Ron noticed Harry's monogrammed snitch and quickly took off toward it. Harry gave the man one final stern look before trying to beat his friend to the fluttering object.

When they finished their fun Harry looked into the stands and noticed that Ainsley had left, but for some reason he did not give up on the man lurking in the shadows somewhere. Harry went to the locker room and Ron was with Neville in the stands waiting. Harry had his wand on him and already had it out and pointed in case he was jumped. Nothing happened in the rooms and he left with a much lighter chest. The fear that Ainsley was going to pop out had worried him into a near panic.

It wasn't until he was leaving the locker room that his fears were realized. Ainsley was standing only a foot away with his hands on his hips. "Oh, Hullo, Harry," the man said. The way he said this made it seem like he was playing it off to be a huge coincidence, but Harry wasn't a moron. "Have fun playing some Quidditch?"

"Sure did," Harry replied, deadpan.

Ainsley glanced over his shoulder at the nothingness behind him. "We never got to have that word a few days ago; when your boyfriend rudely interrupted me."

Harry grunted and started to walk in any direction that wasn't closer to Ainsley, but the man rushed toward him and gripped his shoulders. "Let go of me. You helped me over break and I'm sorry I stabbed you, but you need to leave me alone!"

Ainsley's eyes were on Harry's lips and he started to lean forward. Harry's wand was still in hand and he pointed the wand at the man's stomach and shouted, "Diffindo". The front of the man's robes began to shred, but to Harry's horror and the horror of the man it was cutting deeper than his clothing. Ainsley forced his hand hadn't he? Harry did not mean for it to go so far, but he didn't know what else to do. Ainsley let go of him and dropped to his knees clutching at his profusely bleeding stomach. Suddenly he let out a grating moan and slumped over on his side.

Harry stared down at the writhing man and when he noticed Ron and Neville coming to him from the distance he turned and ran. He didn't know where he was going, but he had made a terrible mistake. Why had he not just petrified him? Or confused him? He bodily harmed him for a second time and this time was much more severe than the first.

Ω

Theo and Draco were walking rounds about the court yard. The two regal boys said little and everyone kept out of their path. They found themselves intrigued when rushing towards them was Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom. It was Weasley who caught his breath first and expelled the following statement; "Harry's run off. Ainsley grabbed him and then Harry did some spell. It was self-defense, I'm sure of it."

Theo frowned and exchanged glances with his fellow Slytherin. "Where is he?"

Ron sputtered out, "I don't know where Harry went."

"Not Harry. Where is Ainsley?" Theo's eyes narrowed.

Neville placed his hands on his thighs and inhaled deeply before breathing out, "Beside the Quidditch Pitch."

Draco pointed at Neville and said, "Longbottom, you go get Madam Pomfrey."

Before he could direct Theo, the taller boy said sullenly, "I will retrieve Prof. Snape."

Ron and Draco watched as Neville took off toward the Infirmary Wing and Theo rushed off to do his own thing. Draco looked at Ron with a smirk and said, "Guess that means we get to find Harry." Ron blinked and found his elbow being hooked in Draco Malfoy's as the boy pulled him along. "Keep up, Ronald."