A/N I would like to say thank you to my beta readers: Starfish Girl, Padfoot Lover and Just Silver. Thanks :)
Please note- Ben is an OC.



Part VI- Weak shade

The air was warm and stuffy even though it was moving through the trees, blowing a maze of indentations in the uncut grass outside Hogwarts. The lake seemed dead under the low sun, glinting from time to time to ensure the world that it was still there, its surface flat and dull, but extensive; stretching out on the horizon and behind the gentle gradient of the slip-off slope. Draco rolled over languidly onto his front; the sky was making him dizzy with its magnificence. It was Friday, school was out, and so students could be found dotted around the large grounds. He could make out a couple of figures to his left, near Hagrid's hut, playing with some animal or other.

As one of the figures approached Draco was delighted to see that it was Harry. Alone. Squinting, he could make out the fiery hair of a Weasley head, going back into the hut. Hmmm- Harry without Ron. Ahhh, he would have to make the most out of this situation. He spread himself delicately on the grass, letting the wavering stems partially hide his face and cast elegant shadows over his features. His black cloak protected his head from the harshness of broken reed stems. His arms lay open slightly and his shoes and socks lay discarded by the water's edge. Watching the upcoming shadow play over the slope, he closed his eyes and let his lips fall apart a little.

The shadow stopped momentarily, covering his face, then passed over him. Draco pulled himself up onto his elbows in indignance, watching Harry's back retreat, swathed in billowing black fabric. The incandescent light from the sky lit the tips of Harry's black hair, and he felt the want building in him afresh. He didn't even look back! Draco had laid himself open to the other boy and yet could not get a reaction out of him. It made him furious, it made him needy and most of, it turned him on.

He stared a minute after the tiny figure until it disappeared into the main entrance of the school. Squinting into the awkward glare of the sky, he sat up and gathered up his stuff. Still barefoot, he walked across the grass, cool and refreshing under his skin. From here, the Quidditch pitch looked empty and dead, like on those quiet mornings when the team would come out to practice. It was an intense feeling to be in the middle of this expanse of loneliness and knowing it would change in only an hour or so, when the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would begin. It was obvious who the winners would be. It always baffled him, how the Hufflepuffs could persevere even through inevitable defeat. Grudgingly, he admitted to himself the respect this deserved. He liked the evening matches best; the new Quidditch lights cast bright beams over the pitch, but didn't overpower the beauty or mood of the night sky.

He slopped into the nearest chair just below the commentator's position, and stared blandly at the horizon. The Forbidden Forest took up most of his view. It was a line of trees from here, dark and forbidding, but somehow at ease on this summer afternoon. Looking over to Hagrid's hut again, he could see red hair moving round the yard, possibly feeding the new batch of bloody blast-ended beasts that had just been got in. He thought he had seen the last of those damned things, but that giant oaf had decided on giving them another go. He still had the stupid scars from last time. His vision now turned to the huge fairy-tale image that was the castle. Even Draco, who had seen much grandeur in his life, could not deny that it was certainly a sight. Set in the midst of these rich but casual grounds, it was breathtaking. The first time he had seen it; on the boat on the first day, he had stopped thinking about that stupid Potter for a golden moment. The grounds were empty; all the students had retreated into the warmth and comfort of the castle.

Now, through the window of the nearest tower, he could make out a bulky head. A thin stream of green smoke trailed from the dark spot and curled itself into lettering. Decorating the dull blue sky, the words 'Slytherin Rocks, Draco' formed from scrawled wobbly handwriting, unmistakably Goyle's. Draco grinned and waved as the head disappeared into the darkness and the lettering melted into the air. No, they weren't as stupid as they looked. He sighed deeply, taking in the fresh, cool breeze of a lazy wind. God, he wanted that damn Potter. But why, he could not answer. Still chaos in his mind, images of Harry floated into view. When had that awkward scrawny idiot turned into the awkward scrawny idiot? No, wait, that wasn't right.

But that was just it- Harry hadn't changed at all. It was Draco that had seen the light. Harry was still as scrawny as ever- ok, so he had grown a little, but hardly noticeable when compared to the rate everyone else was growing. Oh, and he was still awkward. He never knew how to handle his fame like Draco did. Draco revelled in attention. It was his to control. Harry still blushed when people stared at his scar, he still ignored the stares instead of taking advantage of it, and he still cowered behind Weasley. Silly, silly, sweet Harry.

A movement to his right caught his attention. He turned to see Justin walking with his head down, eyes fixed on the ground and a rake in his hand, which he dragged behind him. Here was another one. But his shyness was not the awkward kind like Harry's. It was graceful. Draco had been thinking about this a lot. They were both brought up in similar environments: family names, large fortunes, wealthy relatives and inherited mansions. He could see the inbred elegance, a mirror of his own, natural and charming. Pity he was a Hufflepuff. Pity he didn't have messy black hair and sparkling green eyes. Pity he wasn't unconquerable.

"Oh, h-hello Draco." Draco remained seated, blinking up at Justin, a silhouette against the glaring backdrop. They hadn't spoken since the night Justin had run off after Ron. He had to admit he was curious. He hadn't realised that Justin had had a boyfriend before. And Weasley as well- my God. Weasley had been the one to break that shell! "That night…"

"I know. He was your first, wasn't he?" Draco moved his robes from the seat next to him and Justin accepted the unspoken offer. They looked out at the scene together. Justin spoke quietly.

"I loved him- I still do, I think." Draco smirked at this statement. "So I can't do this anymore. *You* can't do this anymore." Draco smirked again, then turned to the other boy.

"Don't tell me you don't want it. I know you do." It turned into a whisper, which made Justin clench his fists together. Draco lowered his eyelashes, looking out across the field. With carefully concealed enjoyment, he noticed the red blot in Hagrid's hut, stock still at the window. Glancing sidelong over at Justin, his arm crept over the boy's robe until it was at his neck. Slowly, he pulled the fabric towards him, knowing that Ron was still entranced and mad. Justin struggled momentarily until Draco jerked roughly so that their faces were mere breaths apart. He trailed butterfly kisses over his jaw line, pulling at the fabric until it loosened at his neck. "You like this, Justin. You want to be used- admit it." Justin gasped involuntarily. "You just say stop, and I will."

Draco was staring straight into scared and lust-crazed brown eyes. Justin gulped. "No." He whispered- then more loudly- "Stop." He fought free, got to his feet and ran off across the pitch like lightening, leaving Draco laughing softly with his eyes fixed on Ron, twiddling a small lock of jet black hair in his fingers.



Ron watched with shock as Justin pulled himself free from Draco's grip and raced over the pitch. Knocking his shin on the oak table behind him, he yelped with pain and rushed out of the hut, to Hagrid's amusement.

He finally caught up with him halfway down the entrance hall.

"Justin, Justin wait." Justin slowed and turned round, to hear Ron's intake of breath at his teary eyes. "Hey, I didn't realise it was like that… I didn't know." Justin sniffed and smiled a little, wiping his eyes on his robe sleeve.

Ron couldn't stand it anymore, and took Justin in for a big bear hug. The other boy stiffened and tried to push away. "Shhh, shhh. Nobody's here. They won't see you- they won't see us," Ron said comfortingly. "Do you want to and talk it over?"

Justin smiled sadly and nodded, still scrubbing away at his tears. They walked along together, back out into the open air, and round the back of the castle. There was a shady spot where they used to sit, under the boughs of a huge Sycamore and beyond the prying eyes of other students. Both of the boys automatically went there, where their memories were stored- if memories could be stored in a place, it would be here. They had spent many hours talking and chatting, or simply enjoying each other's company here. It was their own personal spot and not even Harry or Ben came here.

They seated themselves on the grass, damper than otherwise because of the weak shade, but still abundant and rich.

"Talk to me." Ron said gently.



Harry stared out over the grounds at the back of the castle, where his dormitory window looked over. He could just see the spot, hidden by foliage, and he *knew* Ron was there- maybe with Justin, maybe alone. He didn't want to disturb his thoughts and what if Justin *was* there? No, he should wait patiently. But it was getting dark and the Quidditch match was in a couple of minutes. Ron had been gone for an hour or so, missing dinner, but he could surely hear the noise from the pitch and would come to watch with Harry, right? Harry sighed, feeling a little rejected, grabbed his cloak and headed out to the commonroom, where a quite few people were still lingering. The Hufflepuff Ravenclaw matches were always less exciting because the outcome never changed.

"Where've you been?" Hermione asked from her place on the sofa, curled up with Crookshanks. Dean frowned up at him. "Are you ready yet, your highness?" Seamus laughed prettily and continued stroking Crookshanks, who was purring contentedly on Hermione's lap.

Harry nodded. "Shall we go then?"

Dean frowned again. "We're still waiting for Neville and Lavender."

"You shouldn't get so uptight Dean. It's only a Quidditch match." Seamus said, his eyes twinkling. "You're as obsessive about this as you are about soccer, or whatever it's called."

Dean wrinkled his nose in mock frustration and threw a pillow at Seamus. This made Crookshanks leap from Hermione's lap and straight onto Seamus's front. The sandy haired boy toppled over from his kneeling position, laughing hard and rolling around on the floor with the giant ginger cat still clinging desperately to the front of his robes.

Harry turned to greet Neville and Lavender, rolled his eyes and grinned crookedly at them.



Justin looked up. "We can still catch the last half of the match." Ron smiled down at Justin, who was spread on the grass at his feet.

"Yeah, sure." He replied as Justin stretched his long legs and got to his feet gracefully. He reached down to Ron's hand and pulled the other boy up until they were at the same height again. Realising his hand was still around Ron's, he let go hastily, and they walked side by side to the bright lights of the Quidditch pitch.

They searched the sky at once, for any sign of Ben. "There he is." Ron pointed at the Hufflepuff chaser. "Ooh, that was a great dodge." The pair started to make their way over to the Hufflepuff crowd, where there was the most excitement, but after catching Harry's eye, Justin pulled Ron to the left. Seamus beamed up at them. "Heya Justin, you rooting for Hufflepuff I suppose." He said jovially, scooting over to allow them room on the bench.

"Hey, you trying to crush me?" Dean shoved Seamus back playfully, beginning another one of their scrabbling matches.

"Stop it!" Pavarti cried over their shoulders, leaning in and separating them. "Look! Fiona just saved that goal." Harry put the Omnioculars he bought at the Quidditch World Cup to his eyes.

"Yes, I caught it."

"Let's have a look, Harry." Justin said eagerly.

"Hey Justin! Quick, record that dive!" She shouted.

Justin turned to the Hufflepuff seeker just in time to see her pull off a spectacular nosedive past two bludgers, and Duncan, the Ravenclaw seeker, straight for the speck of gold hovering just over Ben's head. Fortunately, Ben heard the thunderous applause and cheering in time to fly out of the way.

The crowds erupted as she pulled out of the dive, waving the snitch triumphantly.

"My God." Justin sat down heavily with a star-struck expression on his face. "Tell me I wasn't dreaming." Seamus clapped him on the back shouting, "Yes, I think history has been made!" he shouted over the ear-splitting noise.

A lot of the crowd had already rushed onto the pitch to congratulate the players. Even the Slytherins looked excited. That had to be the first time in over a decade- over 50 matches. Everyone was flustered and Ron knew it was going to be talked about for months afterwards. He beamed at Justin and turned to Harry. "You kno-Harry?" Ron furrowed his brow and leant over to tilt Harry's chin up. "Hey, Harry's fainted."

The crowds had filtered away and the noise died down sufficiently to hear Ron announce this. Dean quickly went to Harry's side and felt his forehead. "I guess it was too much for him." Seamus chuckled as Dean tried to arouse some response: "Harry. Harry, wake up."

"Harry?" Ron shook his friend gently on the shoulder. "Harry, can you hear me? What's wrong with him? He usually wakes up by now. Where are Fred and George when we need them?"

"What do mean?" Lavender asked suspiciously.

"Their notorious smelling salts." She didn't question further. "Harry? Oi, scarface!… My God, this is serious, look, he's sweating."

"What's going on here?" A sharp, cold voice startled them out of their panic. Ron looked round to find Snape peering over his shoulder. Ron may have been tall, but it was nothing compared to Snape's height. I mean, God, he was the same height as McGonagall.

"Sir, Harry's fainted and now he's sweating and he won't wake up." Pavarti supplied. Snape cast a sidelong glance at the unconscious youth and everyone automatically stepped backwards. With a faintly disgusted look, he opened each of Harry's eyes with a long pale finger, while shining the tip of his wand into it. The dim white glow showed dilated pupils. He also put his ear next to Harry's mouth to check for breathing, which, disgruntled, he confirmed as positive.

"Well, I think Potter here is sick. Take him to the hospital wing immediately." The students paused expectantly. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

"Um…Aren't you going to conjure a stretcher?" Ron asked uncertainly.

"I'm sure all seven of you can cope with one gaunt little boy." With that, he swept away.

With help, Ron managed to take Harry to the hospital wing. It seemed like such a long walk even though their burden was so light. Halfway there, he had to hand Harry over to Pavarti and Seamus. When they reached the infirmary, they saw Madam Pomfrey transferring a blonde-haired boy from a stretcher to a hospital bed, with Professor Vector and Crabbe standing over them. They looked closer.

"It's Malfoy." Neville said, voicing everyone else's thoughts.



A/N Thanks for the reviews as always :)

~finite