Part 7 – Complications and a Headache
Hi all, thank you for waiting for this! Sorry it took long, and thanks for the reviews! Please tell me if there's something wrong and all. I fear I sound kind of skirmish at this part of the story, one day I will revise!!! This is the last part, the endings will come hopefully soon.
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Harry groaned as the lights stung his eyes. His head was swimming about, and it took a lot of effort to sit up.
A glance around the area.
The room was sterile and white, and the smell was not fresh, instead colorless and stale. Harry hated this smell; he sighed and reached out for his glasses on the bedside table.
He grabbed it and put it on. It was a habit to reach out for it on bedside tables, so this was nothing special. He sighed a great, big sigh.
Madam Pomfrey came toddling into the room. She looked at Harry momentarily, then nodded her head.
"Drink some water dear, you must be thirsty."
Indeed Harry was, he looked over to the bedside table where Madam Pomfrey nodded at. "You've been out almost two weeks, thought you should know. And today's a Saturday, no need to worry for you're classes."
Smiling at the Hogwarts nurse, Harry grasped the little silver cup that he didn't notice before. While drinking, Ms. Pomfrey added,
"Does anyone have a grudge on you?"
Harry ruffled his brows. Of all questions asked, it had to be a very oblivious question. Why couldn't this stout woman ask something like, "what did you eat this morning, that tasted funny? Did you feel anything unusual last night?" Something like that at least.
Harry placed the cup back onto the bedside table.
"No, I don't think so."
--"Are you sure? Not even Malfoy?"
Of course Ms. Pomfrey knew that the two rivals were constantly bickering and fighting, but she hasn't heard the recent events yet. Would she understand if Harry said Malfoy was in love? With *him* even?
"No, Maam."
"Well then," she stated, as Harry's bedside table scurried over to her. She took Harry's cup and the table hurried back beside Harry.
"Someone poisoned you. It was remarkably advanced, you had quite a dose on it too. It was fatal, you know. Luckily young Weasley and Ms. Granger hurried you here. Do you know, anyone who came near you this lunch time?"
Harry was thoughtful at this moment. There were a lot of people to choose from. Pansy Parkinson, Professor Snape, Filch, Cho Chang and the Weasley twins... But alas, Harry decided it was best not to create a scene and cause them all trouble.
"No maam, I believe not."
Madam Pomfrey sighed, shook her head and walked away mumbling to herself, "Kids these days, you'd think they'd do better off not telling anyone they're problems…"
She left Harry to himself.
Harry reached out to touch his neck. It was numb, as he also felt a bit dizzy, but at least he was alive. He sighed slowly… who could have done this?
Interrupting his thoughts Harry heard the infirmary entrance door opening and Ms Pomfrey's voice. In a blink of an eye a young boy dashed to Harry's side and he felt a weight atop his, someone hugging him tightly.
"Ron!" Harry cried, as he hugged back with much enthusiasm. More pressure rammed into him as Hermione joined the hug. Madam Pomfrey rushed in, red-faced and huffing.
"Honestly!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. "I told you two to visit some other time!!! Mr. Potter needs some rest!"
Hermione had just let go and Ron had loosened his grip on Harry. Harry held on to Ron, as Hermione smiled, sitting on the bed. "Sorry Ms. Pomfrey, but-"
"No buts, Ms. Granger, I do believe—"
"Uh, I really think I've rested enough. I feel like I can go now… please?"
Madam Pomfrey eyed him silently for quite some time. And with a tight frown, nodded. "I suppose even if I do say no you would find a way out of here."
The trio grinned.
----
"You don't really think *Cho Chang* did it?!" Hermione asked, closing the infirmary door tightly behind her. Ron shrugged, glancing at her, "Well it couldn't have been Fred or George!"
"Maybe it was Pansy!" chimed in Harry.
"Or it could have been Snape!" added Ron, looking around to make sure Snape didn't suddenly materialize then and there to catch him red-handed like he did so many times before.
"Filch is out of the question." Harry said, shaking his head.
Hermione's eyes lit up, "How are you so sure?"
"Potter. I see that you're fine." a voice suddenly droned out, velvet as always. Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced up to meet the tall, blonde, Slytherin boy, leaning on the wall with his arms folded in front of him.
Hermione's voice sounded very irritated, "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
Ron answered that question, his blue eyes staring daggers at Malfoy. With gritted teeth, he muttered, "Waiting for Harry."
Hermione looked confused for a second, eyeing Harry, to Ron, to Draco, and back again. Then she remembered the many incidents that occurred some time ago. And the look of Ron's face… pure jealousy and possession…. It all fitted together in her brain instantly.
Harry looked lost, as both the redhead and the blonde seemed content in having a staring competition. Finally, Draco Malfoy spoke,
"Weasley, you should know when to back off."
"Oh no, YOU should learn how to, you pompous bastard." Ron retorted.
Draco's expression changed violently, a dangerous glint of malice in his eyes.
"Yeah? I'm pretty sure YOUR family's learnt that rule enough, seeing they're the official muggle doormat."
That lit it, the burning hate that Ron had inside of him exploded, and he pounced on Draco, ready to punch that bloody nose out for all it was worth. Draco whirled to the left quickly, Ron barely missed him. The Gryffindor redhead spun around savagely and sprung out for Malfoy again. Draco blinked and jerked back but Ron was swift, and the attack hurled them unto the ground.
Hermione and Harry stood shocked as the two boys clobbered and bashed each other, superior fury at its height. Draco was now atop Ron, throwing punch after punch after punch. Who the hell needed wands anyway? brawling lets their anger out thoroughly.
Finally, some sense knocked into Harry and he dashed forward, made a grab for both boys and hauled them apart. Hermione rushed to Ron's aid, and Harry clutched onto Draco's shirt, who was leaning on him, panting heavily.
Harry glanced at Ron, who was barely awake. Hermione was hovering over him, comforting him in a sisterly manner. Harry wanted to check if his friend was okay, but Draco's body leaning up against him hindered him so. Harry glanced at Draco, and smudged off the blood from Malfoy's chin with the back of his hand. Grey eyes looked up at him expectantly, but Harry looked away.
He was a bit offended when Draco had said Ron's family was a "muggle doormat", but… he couldn't help still feeling something for this Slytherin boy.
He felt lips on his cheek. A faint kiss from Draco, and this kinder kiss didn't fail to send goose bumps up his spine.
With half lidded eyes, Draco Malfoy kissed Harry Potter. He couldn't help it, it was a need to do so. He looked down, he wanted so *badly* to send more tender kisses down Harry's neck, down to his collar bone, rid his shirt and—
"What is this?" A stoic voice which also made Harry shudder, but in another sort all together.
Draco jerked away from Harry almost immediately. He was the first to speak, "Professor, I—"
"Hush, Draco." Snape added, as he eyed the four of them. "In my office, the four of you." And he turned away briskly with a sour look on his face, the others following silently behind him.
"Well it isn't my bloody fault Snape showed up!" Ron retaliated again, bickering under his breath. Hermione kept a disapproving frown on her face, her eyes in front to make sure Snape couldn't hear.
"You didn't have to brawl around, Ron!" She hissed back angrily.
"Well he started it!"
"You pounced out first!"
"Are you siding with HIM!?"
Hermione sighed, extremely exasperated. "Great, next thing you know I'm dating Pansy!"
"You are?" Ron asked, surprised.
"Of course not, you duffass!" she looked goaded, "And of course I'm not siding with him!"
"Do you 'friends' always bicker this much?"
The trio turned to Draco Malfoy who had an amused and superior expression. Ron's anger started building up again, as if Draco was the match and Ron was the short-wicked dynamite.
"Yeah, you probably wouldn't know," Ron started, "Since you—…" he trailed off, as the meaning of those harsh words dawned upon him. He looked up at Malfoy, and with a forced voice, "Sorry… I, uh… nevermind that." he turned away, trying his best to cloud off the look on Malfoy's face, or the way *he* looked at Harry, or the times when the two were together…
"In here," Snape said casually, as another wicked grin played across his pale face. He ushered them into the cold, damp, breezy atmosphere that was his office. Oak shelves were placed on almost every wall, containing some different brew each. In front of them lay a worn out desk, and two, granite, dungy seats in front of it. Cobwebs hung like a typical decoration everywhere, which fitted the room perfectly. The room itself had an eerie shade of green as the torches on some patches of wall emitted that color of flame.
Harry's stomach made a slight lurch—he disliked this place.
They got in solemnly, not daring to say anything unless asked to. But before Snape could lecture them with his cold, low rasp of a voice, someone else came up from outside, and Snape was forced to leave them there. He left them with simple, six words, "Sit and wait. Don't touch anything."
Silence reigned upon them for a little while, they were all scattered around ogling the things Snape hid in his office. Harry noted that everything was dusty, and that most shelves smelled like dried herbs and salt water. He wondered why, but after pondering over the thought for quite a while, he shelved it aside. Who the hell cared about it anyway? Snape could make his things smell whatever he wanted for all Harry cared!
Hermione gasped. Both Ron and Harry were by her side at that instant, while Malfoy remained seated on his teacher's table.
"What is it?" inquired Ron, looking over to where Hermione was. Hermione shook her head, and reached out to get the little bottle placed on one of the shelves next to Snape's desk. Malfoy lifted an elegant eyebrow,
"And I thought you were the teacher's pet... Tsk tsk, Granger, he told you not to touch."
Ron grit his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, when Harry finally spoke up.
"Stop it, Draco."
It was vaguely cold, but quite warm too. Green emerald eyes came in contact with sensual, grey ones, and Draco smirked.
"Anything you say, Harry…" It was said with a tinge of sarcasm, sweetness, teasing and sincerity. Especially the last word, Harry… It was filled with emotion Ron never knew Draco had inside him. It made him seethe with protection for Harry, but he knew he couldn't do anything since Harry… Since Harry…
Since Harry liked *him* too.
Hermione turned to them rapidly, her eyes a bit wide. "Harry! This is…"
Harry had his brows in a knot, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Something flickered in Draco's eyes, but they didn't see it.
"What, Hermione?"
"Well, this…uh, well its… erm…"
Draco cocked his head up, "Spit it out, Granger."
"You shut your gap!" snapped Ron, jerking his head to Draco's direction quickly.
Hermione took in a deep breath. The little shock seemed to have passed her now, and her cool intellect kicked in once more.
"Harry, this is the poison that you drank."
Stunned silence. Even Draco seemed surprised, and he jumped down from Snape's table and waltzed over to the trio. With his classic voice, he asked,
"You sure, Granger? Are you sure there's no mistaking it?"
Hermione nodded, "Positive. There's only a bit left, but I'm sure this is the poison. It was in the Most Potent Potions. I read all about—"
"That means Snape did it!!!!" Ron roared, taking a few steps back. "That was why he was at our table, remember?!"
Harry nodded, but then Hermione shook her head, "Ron, lets not jump to conclusions. We—"
"I say we make him confess!!" Ron interrupted again, jerking a finger towards them in an almost comical expression. Harry took a step towards Ron, smiling, "I think that's a good idea, But maybe in an unsuspicious manner…"
Draco grunted, and strutted back to where he sat a while ago, taking the exact same place.
"I say you don't. " the blonde said. "As what Granger was about to say, *you guys* have no real evidence."
Hermione almost dropped the flask containing the poison. Putting it carefully back at its place, she asked, "How… how did you know I was going to say that!?"
"A great person knows thy enemy," Draco quoted, with that condescending voice, "And a great hunter…" A glance at Harry, "Knows thy prey…"
At this Harry looked away, but he was not able to stop the blush from coming to his face. He could feel eyes on him, and he concentrated on watching the stone floor below, as if waiting for it to do something. There was a way his heart would flutter at those words, and it titillated his senses. Ron tried not to snap back, keeping his mouth shut tightly.
Draco suddenly turned his head to the door, and jumped down. Not a moment too soon before Snape barged inside hastily, the door banging behind him and his cloak flowing back with the wind like his ebony hair. He brisked over to the middle of the room, face expressionless… for a while. His eyes fell on the trio, who were still quite close to the shelf that housed the poison.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE!?!?!" Snape's face was distorted with fury. "GET AWAY FROM THERE!!! OUT! OUT!!! FOUR OF YOU, OUT!!!!"
All four students scrambled out of the office, shocked. Some lecture they got.
"Snape seemed a tiny bit mad." Hermione said weakly, as she, Ron and Harry swerved to another, cold dungeon corridor with Draco trailing behind them. The aristocratic blonde snorted,
"Its like saying you have a drop of intellect, Granger."
Hermione stopped, and the others turned as she did too.
"Since when have you started complimenting me?"
A moment's silence.
"Since I found out that you're less annoying than Weasel over there." he replied, with a tone of teasing.
Harry and Hermione tensed as they thought Ron would spring out and grab Draco, or at least attempt to, but shockingly he didn't. Instead, in a restrained voice, in which Ron seemed to force out of his mouth, he said,
"Malfoy, this is childish."
"Oh, I haven't noticed." Draco retorted sarcastically. Ron grit his teeth,
"Okay fine, so you like Harry as much as I do. But I'd rather win his heart in a civilized way. Can we have a truce?"
Draco's conscience cleared his throat, and said,
/Looks like Weasel's after you now./
::Don't scare me.::
/Oh! So that's what you're afraid of? I should have known!!!/
Draco heard his conscience scribbling down notes.
::Should I?::
/Yeah, propose to him already./
::Fat ass, I meant should I accept it?::
/Do you think you'll be able to get Harry if you did?/
Draco thought about that. Would he? He glanced over at Harry, whose face had glowed in reflection to the torches that lit the corridor. His green eyes fixed on him enticingly, alluringly…
::No… He's mine… Mine. Only mine. ::
Draco was a possessive boy, who always got what he wanted. By all means was he a very domineering lover. He was a boy who said he'd snatch Harry from Ron. He said that Harry belonged to him, and only him. So what does the truce do?
::We be friends and la-di-da, is that it? Or do we share Harry, or something?:: Draco shuddered at that thought.
"Truce?" Draco sneered, "No Weasley. I want to win him with all my damn bloody heart, and I'll f***ing get my way however I want."
Draco was about to shove through them to get on his way, when he heard footsteps from behind. Whirling around and jumping out of the way, he knew who it was.
Pansy Parkinson.
She dashed forward and shockingly slapped Harry hard. Her face was not sulky or sleazy, like it had always been, but sharp and distraught, angry… furious.
A burning urge suddenly coursed through Ron and he tore Harry away. Harry was mildly disturbed, as it was a woman slap anyway, but complied with Ron and stood by his side. Draco growled,
"Pansy! What the F***?!"
she glared at him menacingly, then turned her gaze sharply on the other three.
"I can't take it anymore! I just cant!!!" A nasty scowl just for Harry, "You prat! You-you-YOU BASTARD!!!!"
Harry looked startled, and put an arm on Hermione and Ron to signal that he didn't want them to get any further. He himself walked forward.
"Pansy? Calm down… What's wrong?"
Pansy drew a hand up quickly and attempted another slap, but Harry caught her wrist. She pushed him back; a bit successful. She was red and puffing, boiling hatred flowing through her veins.
"You know, Harry?!" she spat, "Who gave the goddamn poison!?!" a sob, "It was me!!! Damn it was ME!!!
"I watched you every time, Harry. You're so damn famous, so SPECIAL, FREAKING SPECIAL for that stupid scar! And your stupid parents!!!! And those stupid monsters you're lucky to get away from each year!!! I hate you!!! I f***ing hate you!!!"
Harry moved back as she started thrashing around wildly, looking for something—anything to break, especially Harry's face. A few anguished cries, viler, brutal words, before she finally melted to the floor, quieting down slowly. A hoarse whisper. Harry asked,
"Why then, are you just killing me off now?"
Pansy looked up, rubbing fiercely the tears that fell with her sleeve.
Then she glared at Malfoy, pointing at him. "Because of him!!! HIM!!!"
This time Ron stalked forward, beside Harry, scowling at Draco. "I knew it! I KNEW it!!!"
Harry looked suddenly distressed. Had this love thing all been a lie? Did Draco just want to play around? Was this what he called fun? To play with people's hearts and confuse them as what Draco seemed to be doing?
Draco suddenly looked furious at Pansy, "What kind of nonsense is this!?! I never told you to do anything!" A glance at Harry, "If you believe him, Harry, I'd kill myself. Don't you dare believe her… I don't f***ing understand her! Trust me, I'd like to tear her apart for trying to kill you, Harry! Ask her again, tell her to tell the truth!"
It was confusing. Oh so very confusing. Harry's head started to ache. He might just have another concussion.
Harry looked at Pansy, who muffled another sob. Then, in one sentence, all became clear. She whispered,
"I love you, Draco… I love you… why do you have to love him!? He's such a good for nothing goody-two-shoes, Draco…why?!" It was like she was losing her voice, her pained expression drawn up for Draco. Draco stayed expressionless, then snarled,
"Oh, so you try to kill the one I want so you can have me?! Is that it?!"
Another pained cry. Then, realization seemed to have dominated her, she looked down at the floor.
"I'm…I'm……"
Draco couldn't stand it, he rushed over to Pansy, about to just throttle her, or maybe give her a good punch on the face, when Harry darted out and held him back, arms around Draco's shoulders.
"Don't!" Harry cried, with a strained voice. Malfoy relaxed instantly at Harry's words, and Harry let go, taking a few steps back. Malfoy was disappointed, it seemed.
Pansy met Harry's eyes, and mumbled again, more to herself than anyone, "I'm…sorry…damn it…"
Nothing. No sounds, no words. How long? Who knew.
"Its ok."
The answer was so instant. It was quick. And yet firm. Pansy's mouth dropped open at Harry, and he just smiled.
A silent moment. Their voices tired from yelling, Ron, Draco and Pansy kept unvoiced. Hermione finally asked, voice piercing the silence,
"Pansy? Did you happen to spill a bit of that poison on the corridor somewhere….?"
Pansy blinked, standing up and dusting off imaginary dust, looking ruffled and embarrassed.
"Yeah, how did you know?" she said with quite the same, sultry but annoyed voice. Her answer was a bit gruff, though, since she had just finished crying her lungs out.
Hermione grinned, "Cause Snape has it in his office. I dunno, we just happened to come across it. Filch must have seen it, that's why he was in the great hall at that time. Remember, Harry?"
Harry simply nodded. His headache was still biting. Hermione's voice suddenly filled with concern when she asked her next question, "Harry? Harry, you look pale. What's wrong?"
Both Ron and Draco had the same idea, or rather, reflex. As both were near him now, they reached out to touch him. They turned to each other when they noticed them doing the same thing, and eyes flickered… Harry had to move away just so it wouldn't spark another fight.
Draco lifted his chin, looking at them, "Best be off then," He said, then snickered. "Quidditch practice and all."
With that he walked up to Harry, giving him a rough and quick kiss then strode off, leaving Harry slightly stunned.
Later that night, as Harry ambled quietly down halls to Gryffindors room, he passed a rickety old armor suit. The hall was dark and discreetly lit by the moonlight through the windowpanes, casting large and spidery shadows as it did. He paused for a while, looking at the shaking armor, and blinked. Then, he sighed.
"Hi Peeves," Harry said bluntly, turning back to where he was going. He could see just about the portrait of a fat lady in pink a couple of feet away. But as he took a step forward, Peeves swooped in front of him, a silly smirk on his face. Harry blinked again,
"What?"
Peeves grin looked nastier by the minute. "You've forgotten, haven't you?"
Harry groaned. "Ok, what do I do, Peeves?"
Peeves started floating around the room when he started, in quite a singsong voice, "Oh, don't worry, it is quite simple. All you've gotta do is kissie kissie whoever you want in the great hall tomorrow, and have a by-jolly good time at it, too!"
Before Harry could ask for an explanation, Peeves was long gone, disappearing through the ceiling. Sighing defeatedly, he walked back into the common room… Problems clouded his mind. He had to choose… He had to choose… Ron, or Draco?
Yes, he loved Ron. It was no doubt that Ron was the best guy anyone could ever be, a loyal and protective lover. He was sweet, nice, caring and gentle. But he was naïve and very narrow-minded, too.
Draco was snobbish, no one can argue with that, but he quite funny come to think of it. He was undeniably sexy, and drop dead gorgeous.—Not a lot mistook that.
—This night was going to be a sleepless night. For tomorrow he had to have his problem solved, and his mind clear. It was a hard task, really. Barely 2 weeks since he knew that the two he liked had an immense attraction for him too. Harry smiled as his self-esteem grew, but caught himself before he gloated too much.
He strode up the stairs quietly, up to his respectful dorm.
He had to choose quickly, he DID have to follow Peeves. Plus the bonus ball is within this week! He was dumbfounded at the thought. Oh yes, tonight would be a horribly long night for him.
Somewhere in Hogwarts, the lanky, tall headmaster with a shimmering, white beard and half-moon spectacles frowned and closed the last drawer in his office. He has officially lost his favorite pair of boxer shorts.
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We don't really know what Peeves is planning, and who's Harry gonna chose!?
Endings are coming up next! And yes, you heard me right, multiple endings.
Please review!!!! PLEASE?!?!!??!