Sleeping With the Enemy, Chapter Seven:
Self-Preservation
Sleep blanketed the castle. Sighs and rustlings echoed throughout its empty corridors. A piercing scream shattered the peace. Ron Weasley sat straight up in his bed. He knew that scream.
"Ginny!" he cried groggily, and scrambled out of his bed.
"What?" said Dean sleepily.
"Ginny!" he yelled again. "I heard her scream! Oh shit!" and he ran out of the room. Harry peered out from behind his hangings.
"Did Ron say Ginny..?" he asked worriedly. Dean was already out of his bed, dragging Seamus up with him. He nodded. "Oh no." Harry groaned, and grabbed his glasses. "I'll be back." he whispered to the barely cognizant Slytherin curled up in his bed. The three boys ran after Ron, leaving a snoring Neville behind them. They moved quickly through the halls, and then the Gryffindor trio heard sobbing and cursing. Turning a corner, they found Ron cradling a frightened Ginny in his arms. Harry's heart sank. Her red hair was tangled about her face, only partially covering the ugly bruise appearing on her cheek.
"Did they..?" Seamus asked fearfully. Harry crouched down in front of Ginny and smoothed her hair back tenderly. Ginny sniffled.
"Almost," she croaked, clutching the shreds of her bathrobe. Her brother, Harry, and the other boys enveloped her in a huge hug. "Shhh." they comforted her. "It's okay." "Good Gin," "We're here." "We love you." They walked back to the Gryffindor Tower. She clung to Ron.
"She's gonna sleep with me, okay?" he asked the others, and they nodded. "I'm going to owl Mum in the morning." Ron said grimly. "She's going to be *furious*. Do you know who any of them were?" he asked his sister gently.
She hesitated. "I... no, not really." She confessed. "There was a girl with horrible fingernails..." and she shivered. "And somebody with blonde hair."
"Malfoy." said Ron darkly. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw his curtains rustle *ever* so slightly. Dean looked sharply at Harry, who shook his head. Draco had been with him all night.
"Let's not jump to conclusions." Dean said mildly. But Ron was already gone.
"That scum-sucking parasite! I always knew he was an asshole, sodding wanker, fucking psycho pedophile! That smarmy git who can't even ride a broom straight, let alone do *anything* without his precious Daddy and his dirty money and-" Ron took a deep breath, but someone interrupted him.
Draco Malfoy poked his head out from behind Harry's curtains. "I am not!" he said indignantly, a light blush staining his cheeks. Ginny shrieked and Ron gaped. Draco smirked. "Better shut your mouth Weasley, before-" In one fluid motion, Ron had launched himself at Draco, hands wrapped around the Slytherin's delicate neck.
"Ron!" Harry shouted, trying to heave the seething redhead off his boyfriend. "Stop!" With Dean's help, they managed to pull him off. Seamus and Dean sat on him to keep him from attacking Draco.
"What the *hell* are you doing here?!" Ron spat furiously. Harry shifted uncomfortably. Ron noticed. "Harry-" he warned. Seamus pinched him.
"Let him explain, will you?" he said exasperatedly, though he didn't specify whether he meant Draco or Harry.
"*Why* is *Malfoy* in *your* bed, Harry?" Ron asked icily.
"I...he's... he-" Harry didn't know what to say, so Draco said it for him.
"I've been sleeping with your precious Potter for the past month, Weasley, get used to it," he said, rolling his eyes.
"WHAT?!" Ron exploded.
"Not like that!" Harry yelled crossly. "He's just sleeping in my bed! Draco only said that to piss you off."
"*Draco*." Ron repeated disbelievingly. "I can't believe you, Harry! Our worst enemy and you-"
"Actually," Dean cut in diplomatically, 'I'd say your worst enemy at *Hogwarts* is whoever did this to Ginny, and Seamus, and... Malfoy." Ron did a doubletake. He snorted.
"You have *got* to be kidding me." Harry's face darkened.
"Why would anyone joke about a thing like that?!" he demanded of his friend. Ron immediately looked abashed.
"Well, you can't blame him, Harry," said Seamus. "If I didn't know he was with you every night, I would think he was with them, too." Harry sighed.
"Well he's not," he said stubbornly under his breath, crossing his arms. "And he's gonna be in here at night, okay?" Ron twitched at the thought of having to share his dorm room with *Draco Malfoy* of all people. But then he realized that Malfoy had been there for... how long? A month?! The redhead swore. "Ron," Harry pleaded. "Let's not talk about this now. I understand why..." and he glanced back at Draco, "you're upset. But let's leave it til morning, eh?" he offered, nodding discreetly at Ginny. Ron nodded, and Dean and Seamus let him up. He shot a nasty look at Malfoy, and shook Harry's hand.
"C'mon Ginny." he said, and the siblings crawled into Ron's bed and the curtains swooshed shut. The girl hugged her knees to her chest.
"Ron," she said, "Do you reckon Harry and Malfoy are-"
"I dunno." he said blankly. "It seems I don't know much of anything anymore." he turned to her. "Oh Gin, I'm so sorry!" She squeaked and flung herself at her older brother, and they hugged tightly, a compact two-person family.
Neville sat awake in his bed, listening intently. He was frightened. They got Ginny, and Seamus, and even Malfoy. Who were they going to get next? Neville was afraid that it would be him. He curled himself in a tight ball. He didn't have anyone to keep him safe, like Seamus had Dean and Harry, apparently, Draco. Even Ron had his little sister. Neville trembled like a leaf in a breeze. He didn't *want* to be alone...!
After wishing Harry and Malfoy good night, Dean and Seamus crawled into Dean's bed. Seamus snuggled up to the dark-skinned boy. "I'm so glad we found Ginny before..." Seamus' voice choked. Dean nodded,
"Yes, she was lucky." then Dean realized what Seamus had said. "Lord, Seamus, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" Seamus nodded. Dean could hardly make out his face, a fringe of sandy blonde hair masking his face in shadows. Dean brushed back the silky strands. Light reflected from the tear trails down round cheeks. "I'm sorry, so sorry!" he groaned. "If only I had been a bit sooner, if only we hadn't fought..." Dean's hand cupped Seamus' chin, and Seamus dug his nails into his arm. Dean twined their fingers together, holding their conjoined hands into the light so that their contrasting skin tones stood out. Slowly, Dean pulled Seamus' hand to his mouth and lightly kissed his palm. Then he kissed the tips of his fingers, down to his thumb, which he bit softly. Seamus sighed, eyelashes delicately fluttering. Now Dean trailed kisses up the inside of his arm, and sky blue eyes watched him in fascination.
"Dean. I thought you said..." And Dean gazed steadily at him.
"I was wrong," he said. "I was wrong Seamus, and I love you." and he kissed Seamus' flower petal lips. It was warm, and sweet, and milky, just as he imagined it would be. Seamus clutched at his upper arm in surprise. Dean stopped kissing him. The joy on the small lad's face... Dean knew he'd remember it forever.
"Dean..."
Uneasily, he answered, "Yes?"
"...I love you, too."
Dean half-smiled. "I know." Dark hands played across ivory skin, and it was the purest magic both had ever known. Simple touch. Healing touch. Cocooned in a lover-and-friend heap, Seamus drowsed in the most safe, most secure place in the world: Dean's arms. In the content darkness, when he was mostly sure Dean was asleep, he whispered,
"But you don't understand. You weren't too late. You saved me, you've always saved me."
~*~
One more bed over, and Harry and Draco were arguing. Again.
"Why do you always have to aggravate Ron?" Harry asked vehemently.
"Why does he always assume the worst of me?" Draco countered.
"Because...!" Harry hissed.
"Don't you even start." Draco growled. Their faces were only inches apart, waves of stubborn fury rolling off of the both of them. Harry glared at him. He was such an insufferable git! And then he was heavily involved in a steamy, competitive kiss, anger fueling desire in the bizarrest of ways. A dart of pain stabbed through him, and Harry tasted blood on his tongue. He pushed Draco away.
"You bit me!" he snarled. Draco shook his head, looked up at him, and Harry was suddenly aware of how very *Slytherin* he was.
"You shouldn't screw with me, Harry." he whispered harshly. "I might come to like the taste of your blood." and he fell upon the startled Gryffindor. Colors and sounds whirled round him in a furious scuffle and everywhere there was Draco, blonde and white and gray and his mouth invading his own and cruel fingers pressing down on his skin with bruising force. Harry tore his mouth away from Draco's.
"You're hurting me!" he cried, clawing at Draco's arm. Gray eyes recovered some of their sanity and he saw that his hands were indeed gripping Harry's bare shoulders, pinning him to the bed. Draco gave a small gasp and quickly wrenched his hands from Harry's skin. Red imprints from where his hands had been stood out glaringly on his pale skin. Harry stared up at him, his emerald eyes pools of distress.
"Oh God." he breathed, and his small body shook. He backed away from Harry. "I can't-" he half-sobbed, horror-stricken, "I can't stay, I can't stay here." Harry lunged forward and grabbed his wrist.
"Stop! You can't leave, how long do you think you'll last in your own bed?" he demanded. Draco snatched his hand back.
"I'll *hurt* you! That's the way I am." Harry leaned forward and grasped his chin, forcing Draco to meet his eyes. He seemed about to say something, then thought better of it and kissed Draco savagely, picking up where they had left off...
~*~
The next morning, Harry carefully avoided Ron's gaze. He persisted until Ron cornered him after Divination.
"Did you owl your mum?" he asked quickly, heading off any other topic of conversation. Ron scowled.
"Yes, I did, and I sure don't want to be McGonagall when she gets it."
"Me neither!" Harry heartily agreed. "Poor Ginny! Now if you'll excuse me, Ron, I have some-"
"Oh please, Harry." Ron cut him off exasperatedly. "You have nothing to do right now except tell me why the bloody hell Malfoy has apparently been sleeping in our room for the past month!"
"Oh, that." Harry said faintly.
"Yes, that!" Ron said, glaring balefully at him and crossing his arms. "I'm not leaving til you tell me what's going on!"
"All right." Harry knew when he was defeated. He pursed his lips, trying to think of the best way to tell Ron. He decided it might be a better idea to leave out one certain aspect of his relationship with Draco, at least for now. Ron coughed impatiently. "Well..." he began slowly. "I guess the main thing is, it's safer for Draco to be with me, than it is for him to be in his own dorm." Satisfied with his explanation, he gathered up his things.
"What do you mean?!" Ron shouted, losing all pretense of patience. "How did he get there in the first place?! And why do you *trust* him?!"
"I-" Harry swallowed. "What Dean said last night... it's true." Ron's eyes widened slightly. "And he was with me last night, I know, because he was sleeping when we heard Ginny scream. And..." he was absurdly desperate to defend Draco to Ron. "He'd never..." Harry shook his head. "He'd *never* do that to *anyone*. Harry felt the side of his mouth where Draco had bit him. "He may seem like a smarmy git sometimes, and he still is, but..." Harry trailed off helplessly. There was no way to explain without betraying Draco's trust. "I can't explain anymore than that. Sorry." Ron was staring at him strangely, and his face was pale under his freckles.
"You.." he said slowly, as if something great were dawning on him. "You *love* him, don't you Harry? Admit it. I can tell. You're head-over-heels for a *Malfoy*. I don't believe it." But there was no real anger in his voice.
Harry's mouth twitched. "I... it's a complex relationship. I don't know. I don't know!" he suddenly shouted. "I can't tell you if I bloody well don't know myself! That's impossible!" he muttered to himself. Love Draco? Their relationship was a confusing whirlpool of emotions, pain and desire connected in an abusive way. Ron watched the play of emotions on his friend's face.
"Harry," he said softly. Green eyes flashed to him. "I don't know what's going on, but I think there's something you're not telling me." Harry suddenly looked guilty. How could he possibly explain this to Ron? "And I think you don't really know much yourself," he added with a wry grin. "So, when you figure things out, will you at least please tell me if I'm to have a Malfoy as a brother-in-law?" he asked, flashing a lop-sided smile. Harry nodded, and Ron slung an arm around his shoulders. They walked to the library together, to meet Hermione, and the tenuous peace was restored.
~*~
But it did not last long. That evening, during dinner, the students were witness to a very curious event. Professor McGonagall received an owl. Now this in itself was not unusual, very often owls from Dumbledore would arrive at any hour of the day. No, what made this unusual was that the owl delivered a *Howler*. The professor hurriedly left the Great Hall, leaving behind stunned diners. The Headmaster, getting a Howler?!
After a few moments she returned and swept directly to the Gryffindor table. She placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder and spoke softly to her and Ron. Harry, who was seated across from them, could barely make out her words.
"I'd like you two to please go up to your dorms and pack all your things." Harry gave an involuntary gasp. The temporary Headmaster looked up. "Ah, and you too, Harry." she said, and briskly walked back to the Head table. Slowly, eyes wide and mouths gaping, the trio rose slowly and left the Great Hall. They walked in silence, and Ginny was holding back tears. They climbed through the portrait hole. Then Ron gave a shout, because there in the fire was the head of Molly Weasley.
"Mum!" shouted Ginny, and rushed over to the floating head.
"Gin." said Mrs. Weasley, her voice thick. "My poor baby!"
"I'm okay, Mum." she said.
"Do you know why Professor McGonagall's sending us home, Mum?" asked Ron anxiously.
Mrs. Weasley's face darkened. "I got your owl, dear," she said, tight-lipped, "and I have to tell you I am *furious* about Minerva's lack of control. You'll be safer here at home. You too, Harry." she said kindly, noticing him for the first time. "I've already owled Hermione's parents to inform them of this frightful occurence."
"But Mum!" Ron began.
"No buts, Ronald Weasley. You're coming home and that's it. Now go pack your bags." Angrily, Ron stomped up the stairs; Ginny went up her own set dejectedly. Mrs. Weasley sighed. "You better go get your things, dear." she told Harry. All the while, a sinking feeling had been growing in Harry.
"Er, Mrs. Weasley... I can't go."
Her head swung sharply to him. "What? Why not?" she asked, perplexed. "I know you'd rather stay here Harry, but it simply isn't s-"
"I have a good reason, Mrs. Weasley, please." he interrupted her. He knew very well that it wasn't safe. He couldn't leave Draco, though. Harry met Molly Weasley's gaze evenly. She studied him for a long moment, then nodded reluctantly. Just then, a tall figure stooped through the portrait hole and straightened regally. It was Professor McGonagall. She walked into the room, then stopped when she saw Mrs. Weasley.
"Molly." she nodded courteously, though Harry saw that she was trembling slightly.
"Minerva." said Mrs. Weasley crisply. "Harry will remain here. He says he has a good reason. Send the kids along when they're packed, please. Goodbye, Harry dear," she said fondly, and then normal flames were the only thing contained in the fireplace. Professor McGonagall sat down heavily on one of the chairs, staring off into space. When Ron and Ginny came back to the common room, she regained some of her composure and walked out of the portrait hole and waited in the corridor, giving them time to say their good-byes.
"Harry," said Ron, confused. "Aren't you coming?"
"No. I have to stay." and he smiled apologetically. "I'll write to you everyday."
"All right." said Ron miserably. "Later then." he gave Harry a quick hug and he squared his shoulders and left. Ginny dropped her things and hugged him round the waist. He squeezed her tightly.
"Bye Gin." he said. "I'll owl you too." She smiled up at him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, then picked up her things and followed her brother out. Harry was alone in the common room. Alone... he shivered. Being alone was very dangerous. He stupidly stood there a few moments longer, rubbing his arms. Then, inable to take it, he sprinted our of the portrait hole and didn't stop running until he heard the voices in the Great Hall. Harry immediately felt safer. But then he remembered, at least one of those people was to be feared. A lot. His false feeling of security gone, Harry joined his friends, now two less, at the Gryffindor table and tried not to think of the future...
TBC
Dun dun dun..! Well I've got the whole plot outlined, it's going to be 10 chapters I think. You're all in for a wild ride *evil grin* before it's done! Side note, when Ron is talking to Harry about having a "Malfoy as a brother-in-law" this is because Ron and Harry are so close they think of eachother like brothers. Make sense? Anyway, what were Dean and Seamus arguing about? Where is Dumbledore? What will McGonagall do about the terrible things happening at Hogwarts? *gasp* All this and more will be answered in the next chapter, so keep reading! Oh, and as to when the next chapter will be up... hopefully next week, barring any more stupid people who like to ruin my day and therefore my urge to write... :-P
Thanks to my reviewers!!~ Klee (watch out for dead presidents!!), Minime, Hypothia Malfoy (I know! *sob* but at least we can watch. *evil grin*), Grath Longflech, Cat Samwise, Stellar, Tsuki Tenshi, CrystalStarGuardian, SoulSister (thanks!), sm, Myr (oh me too ^_~), Slytherin Pureblood, Evil Windstar, Morien Alexander (Strangely, I wouldn't mind having a HP toothbrush, either!), Lichan, Exis (*squeals* A good plot? Really?! Thanks!), lise, Stalker of Will Stanton, angelstar (I'm sure Harry's quite glad I didn't use that chapter, too!), Lemie, Meitama Rouko (more snogging!), whitebearwrites (I dunno I just see Blasie as... cool.), Shoujo Kitsune, Gwen (You saw them!! Lucky!!!!),and Lichan (thanks girl, I wrote more, see! I repeat that every night now. "write more write more" just kidding. Or am I..?)
Have a good day, everyone!! And, please review?
~RainShadow
