Chapter Seventeen: Slughorn's Christmas Party
It was the hour of Slughorn's Christmas party. Harry waited at the bottom of the Grand Staircase, hoping that Cho hadn't changed her mind at the last minute. He wouldn't blame her if she had.
He didn't know why he was attending the party. There was a gang of upset girls standing nearby, gossiping about him having invited his ex-girlfriend. He'd put on his best shirt and trousers. A red shirt, along with a tie that bespoke an even darker shade of red. He wore his leather jacket over the shirt, figuring that the dungeons would be cold.
He had hoped that the long leather jacket would be suitable for the party. He certainly liked it anyway, and he would've liked it even more if it weren't for the bracelet - no, the portkey - in his pocket. He always kept it in his pocket these days, a constant reminder that he needed to speak to Draco. He'd also been carrying the Marauder's Map and his Invisibility Cloak in his pockets, but the bracelet felt more vital to him at the moment; it was the key to rescuing Narcissa Malfoy and her son.
Cho Chang came down the Grand Staircase a little after eight o'clock in a blue, almost purpling, Asian gown, resembling the white one that she'd worn all those years ago for the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament.
Harry held out his arm. "Hi. Shall we get going, then?"
"Oh, yes," Cho replied, sounding far happier than when he'd come across her yesterday. "Where is the party?"
"Slughorn's office. Did you know that there's supposed to be a vampire coming?" he asked. Since he'd avoided Slughorn's all of dinners earlier in the year, the only news he'd managed to gather about the Christmas party had been from Hermione herself.
"Oh. So, you won't be the only vampire there?" Cho said, sounding surprised. "Isn't that a good thing?"
"Maybe. Must be someone important, though, for Slughorn to invite."
Almost as soon as he squeezed in through the door into the office, Slughorn appeared at his side, beckoning him into the crowd. "Harry, m'boy!" Slughorn roared. "Come in, come in. So many people to converse with, you'll be spoilt for choice. Here, there's some I'd like to introduce you to."
The office was bigger on the inside than it had seemed from out in the corridor. Probably charmed, Harry supposed. There were waiters and waitresses going around holding plates of nibbles and drinks. Tables of food nested in the corners of the room. And there were many, many guests. Harry could see Professor Snape speaking with two waiters, and McLaggen was engaged in a conversation with Professor Sprout, no doubt about the latest homework.
Gripping Harry by the arm, tighter than he'd ever thought someone would want to hold onto a vampire, Slughorn dragged him forward. Harry seized grabbed Cho's hand and dragged her along, not wanting to be forced onto Slughorn's associates by himself. It wasn't until Slughorn introduced them to Sanguini, the elusive vampire, who was far taller than Harry and had dark shadows under his eyes, that he really bothered to pay attention to the conversation.
"Mr Sanguini, a Councillor on the High Council of Vampires," Slughorn addressed him. "Please, meet Mr Harry Potter and his -"
"Miss Cho Chang," Cho said quietly, staring at the tall vampire. "Harry's friend."
"Ah, yes. Miss Chang. Mr Sanguini is famed for being a political tactician. Why, I doubt the wizarding community would even regard vampires as beings now without this man's influence," Slughorn said. "It is very unfortunate that your biographer, Mr Worple, couldn't make it tonight."
"A last minute change of plans, I'm afraid." Sanguini looked almost bored. His gaze moved from Slughorn onto Cho, and he smiled. "Are you enjoying your school year? I hear that most parents were concerned about sending their children here this year, now that half-humans can attend Hogwarts."
"My parents aren't concerned," she replied. "Harry has been more than a gentleman tonight. I'm not afraid of him."
Sanguini looked positively thrilled at that. "Oh, really. The vampire who can't retract his fangs? A gentleman." His gaze switched onto Harry. "You would do best to keep up a gentlemanly image, Mr Potter. There are those on the High Council that do not see eye-to-eye with vampires who can't control themselves appropriately."
"You won't have any concerns," Slughorn said, slapping Harry on the shoulder. Harry winced. "If his vampire abilities turn out anything like his abilities in Potions, he'll be a star in no time. My best student in Potions, the boy is. Really splendid."
Harry attempted a grin, but didn't think he managed it well. If I turn out as bad as I was last year in Potions, I'll be screwed.
"You'll have no problems in the future with me, Councillor," Harry said. "Now, if you don't mind - I've just seen a friend of mine." He had seen a flair of recognisable red hair passing by, which could only belong to Ginny.
Harry pulled Cho away to catch up with Ginny amidst the crowd. He was surprised to find her standing beside Luna Lovegood, who had come to the party in an odd pink dress that fell to her knees.
"Hello, Harry. Ginny was good enough to invite me," Luna greeted. "It's rather marvellous here, isn't here?"
Harry nodded. He glanced at Ginny, who looked remarkably well in spite of the falling out with her older brother. The fifth-year student was dressed in a sleeveless red gown, which draped around her ankles.
"Blaise will be here in a bit. I invited Luna to come with me; that way, Blaise can bring Malfoy as his plus-one guest," Ginny explained, answering Harry's unsaid question. He'd wondered why Ginny was here with Luna and not her boyfriend. "Apparently, Blaise feels bad because Malfoy has been spending too much time with Snape lately. Detentions, I think."
Harry, who knew all about how much time Draco Malfoy was spending with Professor Snape, having seen their markers together on the Marauder's Map practically every day for weeks now, tried not to let his interest in the subject show too much on his face. For weeks, he had been under the belief that Draco and he wouldn't be able to attend the party together, that Draco wouldn't even be present.
"You have to feel sorry for Malfoy. Not allowed to play Quidditch, endless detentions," Cho said. "I mean. Did you hear, he was even banned from going on the first Hogsmeade trip? Weren't you involved in that, Harry?"
Harry felt his neck grow hot. "Yeah. Umm...yeah, I was involved. We share a dorm."
"It must be awful for you. Having to share a dorm with a Slytherin."
"Do you have something against Slytherins, Chang?" Ginny asked, intervening, much to Harry's thankfulness. He didn't want their topic to remain on Draco. Cho hastily shook her head. "All right...if you say so," Ginny said, even though she was still scowling. "Hey. You're the Seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, right? How do you think you'll fare in your match against Slytherin after the Christmas holidays? Malfoy isn't playing anymore, you might have a shot at winning now."
Harry listened in half-heartedly, his attention moreover fixed on the entrance of Slughorn's office. The crowd of attendees became larger as time dwelled on, and it was becoming harder to even see the entry door from afar, so much so that Harry could feel himself giving up on the idea of Draco Malfoy appearing.
What would you even say to him? Harry pondered, irritated at himself. Hi, Draco. Sorry I've been ignoring you for the past few weeks, I'm still not in control of my fangs but I'd really like to spend time with you this evening, even though it's a party and we can't be seen by any of our friends. Harry didn't think that would go over too well.
"Did you manage to finish Sprout's last essay, Harry?" Cho asked, distracting him.
He turned to her. "Oh. Yeah, mine is done. Well, Hermione helped a bit. Took ages to write it out."
"Look, over there - isn't that Blaise Zabini?" Luna shouted, tapping the youngest Weasley on the arm and motioning her to look at the door to Slughorn's office. "You are dating him, aren't you?"
"Blaise? Isn't he that fit Slytherin Chaser?" Cho said idly, bringing her hand up to tap her cheek in thought. "I did hear that you were dating a Slytherin, Ginny. How do you think you'll do in quidditch now that you're dating? Can't be easy, playing for opposite sides."
"We played fine in the last match, thank you. My quidditch skills aren't going to suffer because of him." Ginny snorted. "And we've been dating since October, anyway. I ran into him in the library back when I'd just broken up with Dean and wasn't doing well. Blaise offered to help me with my Charms homework." She sniggered. "And yeah, he's fit, isn't he? He and Malfoy do a lot of running in their free time, he told me."
"Malfoy doesn't look well," Luna said. "Perhaps he's suffering from an infection of Wrackspurts? They like to live indoors during the winter and make people miserable. That's why we put up mistletoe, you know, to keep them away. Wrackspurts hate it."
"Maybe someone should put mistletoe over his head," Ginny said, snickering.
I wonder if I could kiss him under mistletoe, Harry thought. He quickly dismissed the idea. Kissing Draco Malfoy at the school wasn't an option. And besides that, the last person he'd kissed under the mistletoe had been Cho. He wanted his first kiss with Draco to be different. It will be different, it's Draco Malfoy.
Luna was correct, nonetheless. Draco looked very unwell. His hair was gelled back in the style of his youth, making high cheekbones and pointed nose more prominent. Harry would've enjoyed the look, had the Slytherin not looked so pale as well. He looks delicate, thin.
"Luna, would you like to meet my boyfriend?" Ginny asked, sounding quite sensible, as if she were asking for buttered toast rather than suggesting that her friend should get along with a Slytherin. "Cho, Harry. You can come over, too."
Harry had no excuse now. No method of escaping and no time to think of conversational topics with Draco. Hermione wasn't around either, from what he could see.
He followed Ginny, Cho and Luna over to the corner of the room where Draco and Blaise had congregated to. Blaise was dressed in a tailored jacket and a black shirt, upon which he wore a white tie. Draco was similarly dressed in a black coat, white shirt, and black tie. He looked just as he always did, in fact.
"I told you we'd be late," Blaise said scathingly in Draco's direction before turning to his girlfriend. "Ginny, as beautiful as always. It took me a while but I did finally convince Draco to attend tonight."
"I'm glad you made it. You look good, too, by the way," Ginny replied, before turning her gaze onto Draco Malfoy. "Blaise managed to convince you to come, then? From what he's been telling me, you weren't very keen."
"I promised him I'd stay here an hour. Professor Snape and I have some things to discuss." He inclined his head at Ginny, and then his eyes wandered over Luna, Cho, and finally, Harry. "Lovegood, Chang, Potter, good evening."
"Do you ever wear anything other than black and white, Malfoy?" Harry asked teasingly, his tone pleasant. He half-hoped to one day see the Slytherin wear more colourful clothing.
Or nothing, nothing at all would be good, Harry thought, surprising himself. The thought came as such a shock because he never got to see the Slytherin actually naked. Draco took such care to ensure that no one except Harry ever saw his bandaged arm; for months now, he'd been getting dressed every day inside the dormitory's bathroom.
"And you selected a red shirt and tie for the evening, perhaps to represent your House?" Draco retorted, his gaze wandering from Harry's face down to his chest. Harry flushed under the inspection. "There are other colours available in the world, you know."
"I think Harry looks nice," Cho said.
Draco smirked. "His clothing leaves much to be desired. You have nice skin, though, Potter."
I told him he had nice skin, Harry realised. Months ago, I told him that. Draco was telling him it in return. Harry prayed that none of his friends were paying attention to him. He felt he was being entirely too obvious in his affections. He couldn't stop staring or trying to talk to the Slytherin. And his heart was beginning to beat faster, too.
I could drag him away. Out in the corridor, we could talk -
"What's everyone doing for their holidays?" Luna asked, cutting short his thoughts. As it turned out, she would be going home to spend it with her father, which surprised no one.
Cho would be venturing abroad with her parents, and Ginny planned to visit Blaise at some point during the holidays, although this was apparently still in discussion between the pair. Harry didn't personally know Blaise's mother, but he could guess that she was likely a lot like Draco's mother.
Harry wondered if he should ask Draco after his mother's opinion on taking sanctuary in Grimmauld Place for the foreseeable future. It seemed like a inane idea, but if Narcissa Malfoy didn't want to accept the help from Sirius, would Draco refuse to use the portkey? He probably would. He won't leave Malfoy Manor unless his mother goes with him.
"How about you, Draco?" Blaise questioned, looking towards him. "What are you planning to do with your holidays?"
Harry watched as Professor Snape left the students he'd been in conversation with and came charging forward, approaching Blaise from behind. "He will be focusing on his studies, as should you all be if you wish to achieve any N.E.W.T's." The Professor shot a severe look at Draco. "A word - now?"
The professor swept around the students, waiters and waitresses, making to leave Slughorn's office. Draco hesitated. He stood still, his pale lips hard-pressed together into a thin line. If it were possible, his skin seemed even more greyish, sicklier than before.
Cho chortled. "Well, Snape always did single you out in classes, Malfoy. Some things don't change, it appears."
"Why doesn't he want to speak to you, Blaise?" Ginny said, frowning.
"Perhaps because I'm not the veela here?" he replied shortly. It seemed that the dark-skinned man didn't appreciate the attention being paid to his non-human friend. "Draco, if you get into any trouble -"
"Severus will be the one in trouble if he attempts to intervene in my business," Draco cut him off. He adjusted the lapels of his coat, pulling them up to his neck, and then glanced briefly at Harry before looking onward again. "Don't wait up," he murmured, and left, looking resentful.
Harry almost offered to go with him, but in front of their friends, that would've looked suspicious. To Ginny, Luna, Cho, and Blaise, Draco and he were dormmates, certainly not friends.
"I'll be back in a moment, Cho - err - bathroom," he said.
"All right," he heard her say as he shifted away from the group.
It was easy once he was out of the party to locate the two Slytherins. He gathered the Marauder's Map out from his pocket to investigate where Snape had taken Draco. He found their markers overlooking the last classroom down the corridor outside Slughorn's office.
Harry slung on his Invisibility Cloak, crouched down by the keyhole of the classroom, and listened in on the voices inside.
"...cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled -"
"If I am expelled, then my mother will die. I know perfectly well what dire circumstances I find myself in, I don't need the reminder," Harry heard Draco drawl.
There was a pause and then Snape said quietly, "Your Aunt Bellatrix and I have taught you well. You are concealing your thoughts from me. Better now than when we first began. I wonder what you are trying to hide from your master, Draco?"
"The Dark Lord is not my master. A veela has no master," Draco sneered. "And I won't explain to you my business. You should continue teaching Blaise Occlumency, he'll need your expertise after the holidays. I, however, no longer do."
"Dumbledore instructed me to teach you Occlumency, teaching Zabini...he isn't important. He is a side-note. You are the one Dumbledore and I are concerned for. If you tell me what is it you and Dumbledore are planning, I can help -"
"I've got all the assistance I need. I have people on my side, thanks."
"Who? Finnigan? Blaise Zabini? Zabini has chosen to date the youngest Weasley girl, you should not be hanging around with them. If the Dark Lord should see -"
"I am not the one dating Ginevra Weasley. And I have to associate with people like Seamus Finnigan because they are my roommates. Or had you forgotten that I reside in the Half-Human Tower now?" Draco scoffed. "I no longer have the good fortune of sharing a dormitory with Slytherins; the Dark Lord will see that I'm trying to get along with my new roommates in order to complete my mission. If I were to act callous, and not support them, then I would find myself in a precarious position, surrounded by suspicion."
"You are already in a precarious situation. Your actions regarding Harry Potter -"
"That is not up for discussion."
"Everything you are doing should be discussed. You are planning something. I understand that your father's capture terrified you, and you now find yourself trapped due to your mother being imprisoned in the Manor, but I can help. If you would just trust me -"
"You weren't there for my mother and I when Lucius was arrested, Severus. And you weren't there when I became a veela." Draco went quiet. "I'm sorry, but I can't trust you. Not at this moment in time."
"Fair enough. If I cannot get answers from you, then perhaps I'll discover them from your cousin, Sirius Black," Snape threatened. "Let us see how good his Occlumency is."
Harry had only a single second's warning; he heard the professor's footsteps beyond the door and then flung himself out of the way just as it opened. Snape strode down the corridor, past the open door of Slughorn's office, round the distant corner and out of sight. Harry waited a moment, released a choked breath, and then rose to scamper into the room, closing the door behind him. Draco jumped at the noise and looked visibly shaken as Harry took off his Invisibility Cloak.
"Are you still spying on me?" Draco chided.
"Making a habit of it, am I? Sorry," Harry apologised, a little cheekily. He gave the prefect a small smile, hoping that he hadn't scared the prefect too much by appearing invisible. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, fantastic. Incredible. Having my Head of House on my case is thrilling." Draco sat atop one of the many desks in the classroom and sighed. "Severus believes I am acting as a double agent, and he's right. I did meet with Dumbledore secretly."
"You actually met with the Headmaster?"
Draco nodded. "We spoke on the morning of the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match. Missed breakfast, too. Dumbledore and I came to an agreement, then. I'm working on a mission for him now."
Harry grew aghast at that. "What's he making you do? You shouldn't need to do anything - your mother was tortured!"
"I know that, Harry! Dumbledore wants to trust me, though. He demanded that my Occlumency improve, so I've been receiving lessons from Snape every evening. It's exhausting, but I can cope." Draco leapt off the desk. "Really, you don't need to worry. Dumbledore has told me the location of my cousin's home. It's Twelve Grimmauld Place, in London, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's it." Harry approached the man, passing the desks and chairs to reach him. He stopped himself from reaching out to touch him, barely. "I'm so glad Dumbledore told you. Will your mother - will she be happy to leave the Manor?""
"Happy? No. Will she? Yes. Anything to get away from Bellatrix and her husband and the other Death Eaters. It has been so nightmarish, trying not to worry about her, you know. All the Death Eaters view her as insignificant now that my father is in imprison, but they know she's important to me. My mother matters to me."
"I was going to find a moment alone to chat with you. This seems as good as any." He brought the bracelet out from his pocket. "I have it, Draco. This is it, the portkey."
"A bracelet?"
"Mundungus Fletcher sent me it. He had to bribe Filch to get it into Hogwarts."
Draco snorted. "Filch probably saw it as an opportunity to earn some money. Fletcher works for Dumbledore, so he wouldn't dare to try and send an object of Dark Magic into the castle."
I didn't think of that, Harry thought, flushing.
"Well. Can I place it on your wrist?" he asked, tentatively.
"Yes. Go ahead."
Harry took Draco's hand and lay the bracelet past his palm to hang around his wrist. "It won't go off until Christmas Eve at 7 a.m. So, you can wear it when you like."
"I won't take it off, I swear." Draco examined his wrist and then looked up, his brow set with wrinkles. "I thought...for the last month, I've thought that you didn't want me. That you were done. And Peeves, he's been circling it around the school since yesterday that you're now dating Cho Chang. Harry, be honest with me, are you seeing her?"
"No, I'm not," Harry replied instantly, horrified. "Is that what you thought? Draco, I've been ignoring you for one reason only, because I couldn't control my bloodlust. I'm still interested in you. Cho and I are friends. She...she was only ever interested in me for my connection to Cedric during the Triwizard Tournament. Cho was broken up when Cedric died, and I think, I like to think my presence helped. Going out tonight with her meant nothing, though, I would've preferred to have gone with you."
"Well, how do I know that?" Draco said stubbornly. "We can't be friends openly, never mind boyfriends." Harry gaped. The Slytherin had spent so much time being careful with his emotions, that it astounded Harry how talkative he was being now, vulnerable even. "What if, when my mother and I arrive at my cousin's place, you change your mind? What if you decide that I'm too much trouble? All you've done so far is pin me to a door and hand me a bracelet - sorry, a portkey - so if I'm sceptical about you wanting a relationship, then forgive me."
"What would prove it, then?" Harry rambled, still holding onto Draco's wrist. "I don't care that you're a Death Eater or that you're a veela. You're trying to be good in spite of everything," he empathised. "I want to get to know you, when you're finally free and living with us at Grimmauld Place. Tell me, what can I do that will prove that I care about you and I'll do it. Right now."
Draco stared down at him. "No...no, you can't be serious, you can't -"
"I am serious. What if I kissed you? Just your cheek, in case you need to keep the memory safe. I know how important staying safe is to you," he babbled, knowing that he had caused Draco's apprehension by ignoring him. He didn't want to ignore him now. Harry didn't want Draco to go back to the Manor thinking that he didn't care about him. "I can maintain control, I can. I'll...I'll try and kiss you, and I'll step back if I feel the need to bite you."
"Keep your voice down! Harry, you could be expelled. It's not worth it."
"I don't feel the urge to bite you. It's been going away, the bloodlust. It's still there, lingering, but I won't be throwing anyone against any doors anymore at the slightest smell of blood." Harry looked down, half-surprised that Draco hadn't pulled his hand away yet. "If you're not interested anymore, I get it. You can have the portkey, you're not under any obligation to -"
"Stop going on. Of course I'm still interested, but you avoided me for a month. A month! Merlin, I can't believe we're talking about this. About - about kissing!" Draco groaned. After a moment, he titled his head, fringe falling over his eyes, his ire seemingly gone. "Okay...all right. You overheard my conversation with Snape, you know my Occlumency has improved. You say your control over your bloodlust, it's better?"
Harry nodded dumbly, unable to speak.
Draco gave him a toothy grin. "Is the door locked?"
All the oxygen in Harry's lungs seemed to dissipate then. He inhaled deeply, trying to regain some semblance of a thought process, which seemed impossible, since he could feel the tension in the room rising.
He brought out his wand, pointed it at the door, and said, "Colloportus."
Draco snorted. "Should've done that sooner. Snape could've walked back in and seen us."
Harry chuckled. "He was certainly interested in discussing your actions towards me." Bashfully, he leaned in to rest his forehead against Draco's shoulder. He suspected the Slytherin to smell of paperwork and ink from reading in the dorm, but that wasn't the case. Instead, he had cologne on. A fierce, rich combination of sandalwood and chocolate enveloped Harry, making him light-headed. "You never go any where, not even to the quidditch grounds. Draco. Why did you come out tonight?"
"Shouldn't that be obvious? I knew you'd be at the party. I wanted to see you," Draco said huskily, almost seductively. "Do you still want to kiss my cheek, Harry?"
"Yes...yes, I want to."
"Do it."
Harry gasped. Slowly, he reached up onto his tiptoes and grasped Draco's chin. He shut his eyes and kissed Draco on the cheek. As Harry pulled back, he opened his eyes. He noticed that Draco had closed his eyes, too. Harry watched the prefect's eyes flutter open, and then he hung his head and raised his free hand to lightly grip Draco's shirt.
"Are you...feeling okay? No bloodlust?" Draco carefully inquired.
Harry could feel the prefect breathing on his hair. It was nice.
"No. None."
"Good...good," he heard Draco whisper above. "I'm sorry for what I said last month, when we argued. I have missed you. I've missed you, Harry, and now I won't see you until Christmas Eve. If something happens -"
"No. Nothing is going to happen," Harry cut in.
An intense hatred for the holidays grew in him in that moment. His grip on Draco's shirt tightened until he was practically clinging on. I don't want to leave him. I don't want to leave Hogwarts for the holidays without him. He would be living at the Burrow or at Grimmauld Place, waiting in agony until the prefect arrived.
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist to hold him close.
It was a long while before Harry could bear it to break away from Draco. He found Hermione hiding in a corner back inside Slughorn's office, surrounded by curtains, and spent the remainder of his evening listening to her rant about Ron and McLaggen. Draco went back to the Half-Human Tower, claiming that he couldn't risk angering Professor Snape anymore.
It did worry Harry that Snape had threatened to use Legilimency on Sirius to find out what Draco was up to, but then, Snape couldn't do too much harm, not when Harry planned to see Sirius in the next few days for the holidays.
Snape can be angry all he likes, I don't care about him.