A/N: Yes as the name suggests, this story is inspired by the movie of the same name and it was just an idea that popped into my head and I just could not resist trying it out.
The main pairing of this story is of course Harry and Snape with a few side romances…
I hope that you enjoy this and do in fact let me know your thoughts on this story… x
"Father, you're being unreasonable!"
"Unreasonable? Draco, do not forget who you are speaking to," Lucius watched as Draco lowered his gaze to his boots before continuing, "And you were well aware, from the time you were a mere boy might I add, that come the end of your schooling life, we would find an appropriate witch for you to marry."
As much as Draco wanted to let out an exasperated sigh at his fathers' ignorance, he refrained seeing that he would only be reprimanded once more; he went for a more 'explain-in-detail' approach.
Meeting his fathers' gaze once more he replied, "I understand but I'm merely asking that you allow me the freedom of choosing for myself."
Lucius' eyes widened, almost as if he had just been hit with a startling discovery, "Who is she?"
Draco was not following, "Who father?"
"The girl, Draco, do not play stupid with me. There has to be someone that has captured your attention or you wouldn't be making these ridiculous demands, you know well enough not to on every other day so I ask once more, who is she?"
"There isn't anyone specific," Draco wasn't exactly lying but he wasn't speaking the full truth either and so he continued at his fathers' raised eyebrow, "I just realised that there are now far more opportunities to get to know different people nowadays. There's no more fear of worrying about what the Dark Lord thinks about the people you associate with and-"
"Surely you are not thinking of mating with muggles now are you Draco?" cut in Lucius.
Draco was slowly losing his patience and retorted without thinking, "Would that be so bad after all father?"
Lucius' expression was, for the lack of a better word, nothing less than scandalised.
Draco spoke up before his father had the chance to reply, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for but if you would allow me the chance father; I want to know the woman I'm going to spend the rest of my life with," he held up a hand to stop Lucius from interrupting, "and I most definitely don't want to get to know her while being chaperoned by my parents, I want it to be real."
Lucius scoffed, "Real? Are you saying that your mother and my marriage is a farce? Don't forget Draco that ours was an arranged marriage too and while we have suffered many difficulties, we have always triumphed."
Draco was running out of excuses as well as time; the Hogwarts Express was due to leave in 1 hour for his final year at the school and here he was, still in the manor, grasping at straws to try to convince his father.
Draco could think of nothing more to say to Lucius now and just for the sake of it he tried, "Give me this year father; I will not only find a witch to my liking but also someone you and mother would approve of."
"You know who we approve of, and she is currently in Hogwarts with you," Lucius stared at him for a moment, "And after all these years, you suddenly think it important to come to me for permission to date!"
Lucius scoffed and Draco replied levelly, "If you have so much of confidence in your girl of choice then you will believe that Astoria will be the one I will be bringing home but if I find another-"
"Draco this is ridiculous! You should not be prancing around dating at this time when it is most important to find someone who will bear the next Malfoy heir."
Their back and forth arguments were getting them no where and frankly Draco was no where close to giving up and conceding defeat to his father; he refused to settle down for a miserable loveless marriage, not when times had indeed changed so much.
He glanced at Lucius who was now studying him with a thoughtful look on his face before he turned away and started to pace in front of the fireplace, cane in hand.
Dracos' defiant look must have convinced Lucius that his son was not going to back down so he set forward a challenge of sorts, "If you are so eager to marry someone of your own choice then I shall grant you the permission to date others however there must be a condition fulfilled in order for you to do so."
Draco knew that his father would ask for something in return and therefore refrained from showing any signs of emotion to his fathers' decision until he heard what these conditions were.
"You will be allowed to date only if, and Draco, do not think that I can be fooled, only if your dear Godfather finds a companion for himself as well."
"What?" exclaimed Draco, "So in other words, only if-"
"Yes," said Lucius as he smirked cunningly, "Only if Severus himself finds someone to date."
Xxx
Dracos' entire train ride to Hogwarts was filled with much more chatter and happiness than he had ever remembered there being in the Slytherin compartment, but he for one, just wanted to get to the castle, to his dorm room and sleep at least until he didn't feel so terrible.
The welcoming feast was none the better now that all four houses were in one room together and inter-house communication was at its highest.
He spotted Potter and the Weasley girl side by side at the Gryffindor table along with Granger and Weasley before his attention was captured by the group of fellow Slytherins all gathered around one particular student at the Ravenclaw table.
Upon hearing them all burst out in laughter, Draco stood so that he could see more clearly what all the commotion was about; and there amidst all of the laughing Slytherins, sat a very dreamy eyed Luna Lovegood who looked unfazed at whatever had the snakes in a fit.
And faster than Draco had noticed them there, they all started to disperse, heading for the doors of the Great Hall.
As they left, he heard bits and pieces of their conversations, "Slinklats," and "Diddinims"; all of which he had no clue about but there was one particular thing that sent a pang of emotions through him, "Can you believe her hair though? The colour is just revolting," said a 6th year girl as she walked by.
Draco, almost automatically, reached up and patted his own hair, catching his reflection in a silver goblet in front of him. As he looked up, his own silvery-grey eyes caught those of Luna herself, who seemed to be watching him until she offered a smile before turning away.
As if propelled by something beyond his control, Draco stood up from his spot at the Slytherin table and made his way over to the fairly vacated Ravenclaw table where Luna sat staring intently at a magazine which was upside down; he silently stood beside her, waiting for some sort of acknowledgement.
After a few moments when he realised that he most definitely was not going to receive any sort of response and that he looked rather silly just standing around especially since it was him of all people; Draco coughed lightly hoping to attract Lunas' attention.
Without looking up from her magazine she responded, "Oh hello Draco, would you like to sit down?"
Ignoring her comment about some mythical creature or the other that would take up residence in his legs him if he stood idly for too long, Draco took a seat next to Luna who at last looked to her left and fixed him with a dreamy smile.
Draco hadn't realised that he had been silent for too long until Luna spoke, "So Draco, how was your holidays? Did you come across any interesting friends of nature?"
Draco swallowed before replying, "Uhm, no?"
"It's okay, not many people are that lucky anyway, did you have pudding?"
Draco was quite frankly lost; he had no idea why he had even come here and absolutely no idea where this conversation was heading not to mention the fact that he felt extremely nervous and the need to apologize for something.
Before he could even formulate a response, the Golden trio seated themselves opposite him and Luna at the Ravenclaw table.
"Hey Luna, Draco," that was Potter.
A polite smile from Granger and then, "Oi ferret, whatcha doing here then?" that was Weasley.
After the defeat of Voldemort in their 6th year, there was a sort of tryst between not just the 4 houses of Hogwarts but also between Draco and Harry as well as Hermione and Ron but that didn't stop them from their frequent banter, although lacking the usual venom now.
"I can ask you the same thing Weasel…"
"Luna's our friend," interjected Harry.
"I see."
"So?" asked Harry.
"So what scar head?" replied Draco with a smirk.
"It's gone now, you git. Gonna have to find a new insult."
Just then, Snape walked past their table, nodding slightly to Draco as he exited the hall, to which Draco groaned loudly and slammed his head on the table.
"What's wrong Draco?" asked Hermione.
He mumbled something against the table; the other 4 only managing to catch a few words like "Severus" and "girlfriend" and "dating".
"Old slimy gits' got himself a girlfriend!" exclaimed Ron before he burst into laughter, cut short by two elbows in his ribs from either side of him, "What?"
"I wish," said Draco as he rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward, "I have got a huge problem."
"Well what is it then?" asked Harry, also leaning forward.
"Why, your Gryffindor problem solving skills itching there Potter?"
"In that case," Harry gestured to both Ron and Hermione as they got up to leave.
Time to swallow his pride, "No wait, maybe I could use some Gryffindors' for this; doubt any Slytherins would care," a sound came from his right and he added, "And a Ravenclaw of course."
Luna smiled as the other three sat back down and Draco proceeded to relay his conversation with his father from earlier.
"So you're telling me that you have to live your life based on how your Godfather lives his?" Draco nodded, "That's absolutely thoughtless!" exclaimed Hermione.
There was silence as they contemplated what had been said before Lunas' sweet voice cut through, "So you're going to find the Professor a girlfriend then?"
Draco looked up suddenly, surprise clear on his face since he hadn't thought of that in his haste, "Except," Draco seemed to be choosing his words wisely, "Severus isn't going to settle for a witch."
He waited for that to sink in before Ron spoke up, "Ha! Sounds like someone else we know, whatcha say Harry, wanna seduce Snape?"
Harry choked before glaring angrily at his best friend, "Thanks for keeping that to yourself Ron and no thank you," he huffed before turning away to stare straight ahead again.
Xxx
The silence was heavy, too heavy, like he was missing something. Harry turned back to the 4 others and realised that they were all staring at him.
He stared back for a while before saying in a low whisper, "No! Absolutely not!"
"But Potter,"
"No buts! No, I refuse! I am not going to date Snape just so that you can go on a shagging spree around Hogwarts Draco!"
"Is that what you think I want? After explaining it all I thought you would understand; I just want to have a choice in my life Potter, you know I've never had one and this might be one of my only chances," he paused then, "Please…"
After spending a long moment studying Draco, all Harry could see was the plight of a fellow teenager who as Draco said, had not much of a choice in his life but he still couldn't just do something as drastic as this, there had to be another way!
"I don't get why it has to be me though and why on earth would your father even lay a rule as ridiculous as this one down?"
Draco sighed, "Father doesn't think that there is anyone out there who would look twice in Severus' direction let alone date him and so in light of the impossible, the condition will remain unfulfilled and I would marry a girl of his choice."
"He's our teacher Draco…" tried Harry.
Hermione spoke up, "Well, there is no rule against students dating teachers."
Harry glared at her, "Hey! Whose side are you on?"
"What does Harry get out of the deal then?" asked Ron.
"I didn't agree to anything!"
"What do you want in return Potter?"
Hermione spoke for him, "You still want to be an auror Harry?" Harry nodded so she continued, "Extra potions lessons then."
"What?" asked Harry and Ron in unison.
Hermione looked at Harry meaningfully and said, "Well up until now, Harry has had help in potions but he will not be subject to that assistance anymore and seeing that I don't have the time and your grades are good enough, maybe you could teach Harry."
"Deal," said Draco before Harry could respond.
"What! No, there is no deal. Why can't you choose one of the teachers?"
"Really Potter, you see Flitwick and Severus in a relationship together?"
Harry didn't dignify that statement with a response; he really wanted to help Draco since it could do wonders for their new friendship but he didn't want to have to date Snape in order to help! He could see all of the things wrong with this plan; Snape will be furious when he finds out but then for once Draco might have a say in his own life…
"Why do you want to hurt him?"
"Hurt who?"
"Snape, he's your Godfather so why do you want to hurt him?"
"I'm not hurting him Potter; I'm actually giving him a chance to date the Boy who Lived; everyone's favourite hero."
Harry snorted, "That's only if I manage to get him to even talk to me, he hates me remember?"
"So you'll do it?"
"I didn't say that! I'm just trying to show you that this is impossible since I have no reason outside DADA lessons to talk to him and even then, the man will no doubt ignore me to his best of ability."
"There's a fine line between love and hate Harry," said Luna in her dreamy voice and from the looks that Hermione and Ron were exchanging, Harry knew that they were thinking of the Half-Blood Prince.
"Even so, I don't see how this is going to work…"
"Potter, stop whining; potions lessons for you giving me the chance to date a girl of my choice, we both get what we want and I promise to take care of Severus in the end when it's all over. It's just until I can get my parents approval of the girl I like."
"But Draco, how sure are you that you'll manage to find her in just one year? It can take years to find the one that's perfect for you," asked Hermione.
"Somehow I don't foresee that as a problem," he couldn't help the glance to his side, "You just need to worry about keeping little Potty in line here and I'll try to soften up Severus from the sidelines."
"If you want a favour, I suggest you can it with the nicknames…"
Draco smiled before standing up and extending his hand towards Harry, "So Potter…"
Harry stood as well, "You've got until Christmas Draco and if Snape doesn't come around until then, the deal is off; I wont be wasting the rest of my year."
Draco dropped his hand, "3 months, Potter are you insane?"
"Take it or leave it," Harry extended his hand and a few seconds later he felt Draco grasp it.
"Deal."
Xxx
Harry decided to take the long way back to the common room; he had let Ron and Hermione go off one their own for their 'couple time' and had left a very flustered Draco behind outside the Great Hall with Luna, I'd have to look into that.
Hermiones' great idea to kick off their plan was for Harry to go return Snapes' old Potions book as a means for a conversation starter but Harry highly doubted that the man would appreciate knowing that Harry had something of his that was so personal; after all, they only did find out that he was the Half-Blood Prince when they stumbled across a few articles on Eileen Prince, Snapes' mother, in the library.
He couldn't believe that he had agreed to date Snape and that too, for his former enemy. He could now admit however that he and Draco had missed out on years of a wonderful friendship during all their time fighting; he'd realised that after the war when they had all sat down and decided to start all over again. He smiled now when recalled that moment.
Harry had noticed Draco standing all by himself, as the rest of their friends celebrated the victory over Voldemort, so he walked over and stood beside him for a while before extending his hand towards Draco saying, "Hi, I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
Those few moments that Draco had looked blankly at his outstretched hand was enough to give him doubts about Dracos' sincerity when they had all initially decided to start over, then Draco spoke, "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks."
Harry wasn't sure whether it was the look of utter disbelief on his face or the fact that Draco was getting such a kick out of it but Draco barely lasted 5 seconds before he doubled over in laughter and grasped Harrys' hand as well as pulled him into a hug, although they both denied it afterwards, blaming it on the alcohol.
Harry was startled out of his thoughts as he bumped into something large that came into his way; looking up he saw an all to familiar face scowling at him, "Pay attention to where you're walking Potter and 5 points from Gryffindor since I know that you wont reach the common room on time," then Snape swept past Harry and turned the corner.
Harry looked at the same spot where Snape had been just seconds ago and once again cursed his decision to help Draco; this man was impossible.
I hate that he's so closed off from the world…
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